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The solvent-free fast-curing coating for repairing is prepared using polyurea as matrix and graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) as fillers. The effects of GNPs on the coating are studied. The coating is prepared by HDI tripolymer and polyetheramine. The GNPs is functionalized (f-GNPs) by aminopro-pyltriethoxysilane (APTES) in mixture of water and ethanol. The performances of the coatings are tested by salt spray time, polarization curves and electrochemical impedance. The coating presents solvent-free and fast-curing characteristics and is suitable for repairing. The f-GNPs provide both physical barrier and coulomb block for the coating. When the f-GNPs added amount is 0.6 wt%, the salt spray resistance time of the coating is more than 420 h, and the corrosion potential is –0.6428 V. The effects of GNPs on coating are investigated. The results can provide a new idea for preparation of anticorrosive coating used for repairing, and can benefit in-depth understanding of the influence of f-GNPs on the coatings. The coating for repairing is prepared by adding f-GNP as fillers. The anticorrosive mechanism and performance of the coating are discussed in detail.

A nanoscale core-shell-structured magnetic microsphere (abbreviated as Fe3O4@DhaTph-lipase), which consists of an Fe3O4 core, a porphyrin covalent organic framework DhaTph shell with loaded lipase, is reported. The obtained Fe3O4@DhaTph-lipase microsphere can be a powerful emulsifier to stabilize the water-in-n-hexane Pickering emulsion for at least one month without any demulsification under ambient conditions. Furthermore, Fe3O4@DhaTph-lipase with lipase enzyme and a large specific surface area is a droplet microreactor and displays excellent interfacial catalytic activity to promote enzymatic esterification reaction via visible light-induced photothermal conversion. On the other hand, the magnetically triggered Pickering emulsion interfacial catalyst can be recycled at least 10 times with robust performance. The potential utility of this strategy is highlighted by the fabrication of many more multifunctional covalent organic framework-based Pickering emulsion catalytic systems to promote various organic transformations in a green, smart, and facile way.

Objective Pain is a prevalent and distressing symptom in patients with cancer which has a significant impact on patients’ physical health, psychological well-being, and quality of life (QOL). Deficiency of pain care, inadequate pain communication, and reluctance toward pain medication contribute to the difficulties in improving the situation of patients with cancer pain. Fortunately, the integration of self-management and professional healthcare provides new opportunities for patients with cancer pain. Methods A two-arm randomized controlled trial will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of self-management application compared with routine care among patients with cancer pain. Based on Orem's self-care theory and Naylor's transitional care theory, cancer pain self-management application “Pain-housekeeper” was developed with dual client: patient client and medical client. A total of 120 patients with cancer pain are recruited from two university-affiliated tertiary public hospitals in China. They are randomly assigned to the control group and the intervention group. The patients in the control group get routine care while the patients in the intervention group get routine care and Pain-housekeeper App. The intervention is delivered by registered doctors, nurses, and postgraduate nursing students specialized in pain care. Effect measurements for both groups are carried out with questionnaires at baseline (T0), after 4 weeks (T1) and after 12 weeks (T2). The primary outcomes include pain condition, self-efficacy, and QOL. The secondary outcomes include pain medication adherence, satisfaction, anxiety, and depression. Compliance of data submission, economic evaluation, usage, and clinical data are also considered in the test. Data for the evaluation are gathered continuously during the study period. Discussion This article provides insight into the effectiveness of a theory-based self-management mobile application intervention delivered to patients with uncontrolled cancer pain. The results are used to help patients to improve cancer pain control, self-efficacy, and QOL. Conclusions The findings of this article provide evidence to support the implementation of an innovative and easily accessible intervention that enhances health outcomes. Trial registration ChiCTR: ChiCTR1800020295, Registered 22 December, 2018.

Interactions between plants and insects are among the most important life functions for all organism at a particular natural community. Usually a large number of samples are required to identify insect diets in food web studies. Previously, Sanger sequencing and next generation sequencing (NGS) with short DNA barcodes were used, resulting in low species-level identification; meanwhile the costs of Sanger sequencing are expensive for metabarcoding together with more samples. Here, we present a fast and effective sequencing strategy to identify larvae of Lepidoptera and their diets at the same time without increasing the cost on Illumina platform in a single HiSeq run, with long-multiplex-metabarcoding (COI for insects, rbcL, matK, ITS and trnL for plants) obtained by Trinity assembly (SHMMT). Meanwhile, Sanger sequencing (for single individuals) and NGS (for polyphagous) were used to verify the reliability of the SHMMT approach. Furthermore, we show that SHMMT approach is fast and reliable, with most high-quality sequences of five DNA barcodes of 63 larvae individuals (54 species) recovered (full length of 100% of the COI gene and 98.3% of plant DNA barcodes) using Trinity assembly (up-sized to 1015 bp). For larvae diets identification, 95% are reliable; the other 5% failed because their guts were empty. The diets identified by SHMMT approach are 100% consistent with the host plants that the larvae were feeding on during our collection. Our study demonstrates that SHMMT approach is reliable and cost-effective for insect-plants network studies. This will facilitate insect-host plant studies that generally contain a huge number of samples.

Microwave ablation (MWA) is an effective treatment option for patients with primary liver cancer. However, it has been reported that the MWA procedure induces a hepatic inflammatory response and injury, which may negatively affect the efficacy of MWA. As such, the discovery of reliable markers to monitor the patient's response to MWA is needed. Golgi protein 73 (GP73) has been shown to be associated with chronic liver disease. To date, the potential value of serum GP73 in the dynamic monitoring during MWA of liver cancer remains unclear.To examine the effects of MWA on the serum levels of GP73 in patients with primary liver cancer.A total of 150 primary liver cancer patients with a single small lesion (≤ 3 cm in diameter) were retrospectively enrolled spanning the period between January 2016 and October 2018. All of the patients received MWA for the treatment of primary liver cancer. Serum GP73, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and widely used liver biochemical indicators [serum albumin, total bilirubin (TBIL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)] were compared before MWA and at different time points, including 1, 2, and 4 wk following the ablation procedure.Complete tumor ablation was achieved in 95.33% of the patients at 1 mo after MWA. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 74.67%, 59.33%, and 54.00%, respectively. The serum AFP levels were significantly decreased at 1, 2, and 4 wk after MWA; they returned to the normal range at 12 wk after MWA; and they remained stable thereafter during follow-up in those cases without recurrence. In contrast, the serum GP73 levels were significantly increased at 1 and 2 wk after MWA. The serum GP73 levels reached the peak at 2 wk after MWA, started to decline after hepatoprotective treatment with glycyrrhizin and reduced glutathione, and returned to the pretreatment levels at 12 and 24 wk after MWA. Notably, the changes of serum GP73 in response to MWA were similar to those of TBIL, ALT, and AST.Serum GP73 is markedly increased in response to MWA of liver cancer. Thus, serum GP73 holds potential as a marker to monitor MWA-induced inflammatory liver injury in need of amelioration.

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of a white tussock moth, Laelia suffusa (Walker, 1855) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Lymantriinae), was sequenced and annotated. The genome sequence was 15,502 bp in length and comprised 13 PCGs, 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, and a single noncoding control region (CR). The nucleotide composition of the genome was highly A + T biased, accounting for 79.04% of the whole genome and with a slightly positive AT skewness (0.015). Comparing the gene order with the basal species of Lepidoptera, a typical trnM rearrangement was detected in the mitogenome of L. suffusa. Besides, the trnM rearrangement was found at the head of trnI and trnQ, rather than at the back. The 13 PCGs used ATN as their start codons, except for the cox1 which used CGA. Out of the 22 tRNAs, only 1 tRNA (trnS1) failed to fold in a typical cloverleaf secondary structure. The conserved motif ‘ATAGA + poly-T’ was detected at the start of the control region which was similar to other Lepidoptera species. In total, 10 overlapping regions and 19 intergenic spacers were identified, ranging from 1 to 41 and 2 to 73 bp, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Lymantriinae was a monophyletic group with a high support value and L. suffusa was closely related to tribe Orgyiini (Erebidae, Lymantriinae). Moreover, the phylogenetic relationship of Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) species was reconstructed using two datasets (13 PCGs and 37 genes) and these supported the topology of (Notodontidae + (Erebidae + (Nolidae + (Euteliidae + Noctuidae)))).

Herein, we report a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) sulfide (PNIPAM-S-) brush-tethered and Pd nanoparticle (NP) loaded UiO-66 type NMOF, namely Pd@UiO-66-S-PNIPAM, based on a NMOF–polymer covalent composite approach. The obtained multifunctional composite material can be a highly efficient Pickering emulsifier to stabilize the toluene-in-water emulsion; furthermore, it promotes the biphasic chlorobenzene (CB) dechlorination at the toluene–water interface in excellent yields at room temperature. More importantly, the Pd@UiO-66-S-PNIPAM emulsifier is thermo-responsive and can trigger emulsification at room temperature (25 °C) and demulsification at an elevated temperature (45 °C) of the toluene droplets, which makes product–catalyst in situ separation and recycling feasible. This temperature switchable Pickering emulsion catalytic system can be reused at least five times without any loss of its catalytic activity.

The substitution of base-metal oxides for noble metals is a great challenge for catalysts, sensors, and other functional materials. In this work, the dynamic structure at the interface of binary metal oxides, as a popular natural phenomenon in material science and catalysis, was studied in detail in the case of a binary copper–ceria species (CuOx-CeO2). The catalytic activity of CuOx-CeO2 could be largely improved by doping indium oxide (In2O3). The reaction rate of 1.26 × 10–5 molCO gcat.–1 s–1 for a 1.25In5Cu/CeO2 catalyst toward CO oxidation is 12 times higher than that from commercial Pd catalysts. In addition, the indium-doped catalyst shows strong resistance to CO2 and H2O poisoning. We determined the dynamic interfacial structure of CuOx/CeO2 catalysts induced by In2O3 during CO oxidation using in situ techniques, intrinsic kinetics, and density functional theory calculations (DFT). Indeed, the surface of CuOx particles could be reconstructed through the interaction with In2O3. Such an interaction ...

The determination of the dynamic active sites over binary oxide catalysts is of great challenge in heterogeneous catalysis. In this work, the origin of active sites toward low-temperature CO oxidation ( x -CeO 2 composite oxide catalysts with different Mn/Ce molar ratios, synthesized by a redox co-precipitation method. The optimum Mn 1 Ce 1 catalyst (T 100 = 190 °C), which showed excellent activity, has found to be composed of three phases: (1) CeO 2 ; (2) amorphous MnO x ; (3) MnO x -CeO 2 solid solution (active sites). With the combination of kinetics and characterization results, including Temperature-Programmed-Desorption/Reduction (TPD/TPR), operando Raman spectroscopy and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra (DRIFTS), the dynamic structures of catalysts were rationalized with the identification of the interface of MnO x and CeO 2 . The mechanism for CO oxidation over MnO x -CeO 2 in the temperature range 100–190 °C were proposed that the direct and the formate routes were followed at T 130 °C. Notably, the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism was proceeded in the whole temperature range. We speculate that cheap binary oxides will substitute for noble metal as catalysts for the removal of CO and other toxic gases, especially operating under mild conditions.

Insect chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are small, water-soluble proteins involved in detection and recognition of chemical cues and semiochemicals. A better understanding of CSPs and their function could aid in the development of pest control strategies that are based on chemosensory regulation. We screened our unpublished transcriptome data of Bemisia tabaci and identified five CSP genes ( BtabCSPs ) including two novel BtabCSPs viz. BtabCSP4 and BtabCSP5 . Phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences of the proteins encoded by these genes revealed that BtabCSPs are distinct from CSPs of other hemipterans. Quantitative PCR analysis showed differential expression of these genes in different stages. In the adult stage, BtabCSP1 , 2 and 4 had significantly higher expression than BtabCSP3 and 5 respectively. On the other hand, BtabCSP2 and 5 were relatively highly expressed in stage of pseudopupae compared to BtabCSP1 , 3 and 4 . In the third instar BtabCSP3 , 4 and 5 exhibited higher expression compared to other CSP genes. Expression of all CSP genes was relatively low in the first and second instars compared to later developmental stages. The identification of novel BtabCSPs and the expression profiling of CSP genes in general may help facilitate development of pest management strategies based on disruption of CSP-driven behaviors.

Encarsia sophia (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is a parasitoid utilized for biological control of Bemisia tabaci , with selection of prey aided by chemoreceptor organs. The morphology and distribution of the antennal sensilla (chemoreceptors) of E. sophia were examined using Transmission electron micrographs. The total antennal length for E. sophia was 429.28 ± 0.95 μm for females and 437.19 ± 8.21 for males, and each antennae was found to consist of seven sensilla of different types. Both sexes possessed sensilla chaetica, sensilla trichodea, basiconic capitate peg sensilla, multiporous grooved-surface placoid sensilla (MG-PS), uniporous rod-like sensilla, nonporous finger-like sensilla, and sensilla coeloconica. Transmission electron micrographs of longitudinal sections of female antennae showed that they were composed of fat body, cuticle, mesoscutello-metanotal muscles, neurons, and glandular tissue, and cross-sections of the basal MG-PS showed sensillar lymph cavities and dendrites. The MG-PSs were imbedded in an electron-dense mass with cuticular invaginations which acted as pores that connected to a central lumen. The possible function of each type of sensilla is discussed.

Mn3O4@SiO2 prepared via a Stober route showed a steady reaction rate for CO oxidation at 250 °C after 12 h. The reaction orders, with respect to CO (0.49–0.12) and O2 (0.4–0.6), were obtained for a Mn3O4@SiO2 catalyst (dMn3O4 = 7.6 nm) in the temperature range of 220–280 °C. Via Operando Raman spectroscopy, a COad-induced change in the symmetric stretch of Mn–O–Mn (from 636 cm–1 to 642 cm–1) was observed for Mn3O4@SiO2, indicating a tiny structure modification of core Mn3O4 by the adsorption of CO. With the combination of the catalyst structure and the kinetics of CO oxidation, we assume that this reaction proceeds mainly through the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism at or below 280 °C. In comparison with the reference α-Mn2O3 catalyst, the presence of shell SiO2 does not change the reaction behavior but improves the catalyst stability.

Iron oxychloride (FeOCl) supported on mesoporous silica (SBA-15), as a Fenton-like solid catalyst for phenol degradation, showed supreme activity for production of hydroxyl radical (HO·) by H2O2 decomposition, and the generation capacity was comparable to the conventional Fenton reagent (Fe2++H2O2). The structure of FeOCl was characterized with spectroscopies. The generation of HO· species during the reaction was detected using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide trapped electron paramagnetic resonance. Furthermore, the kinetics in detail was driven for the creation and diffusion of HO· by H2O2 decomposition over FeOCl, which follows a first-order rate through a two-step reaction. With the combination of the catalyst structure and kinetic parameters, the plausible mechanism for H2O2 decomposition during the oxidative degradation of phenol was rationalized. As a Fenton-like solid catalyst, FeOCl/SBA-15 is a promising alternative for the removal of low-level organic contaminates from water. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 166–176, 2015

International audience; In this paper, we report the preparation and dielectric properties of reduced graphene oxide/polypropylene (rGO/PP) composites with an ultralow percolation threshold as low as 0.033 vol%. This value is the lowest among those that have been reported in graphene-filled composites. The rGO/PP composites were prepared through a latex technique, which consists of an in-situ chemical reduction of graphene oxide in PP latex and a subsequent filtration. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrate that the homogeneous dispersion of rGO nanosheets in the PP matrix was realized. A blue shift in Raman G band of the rGO nanosheets was observed in the rGO/PP composites, indicating the strong interaction between the rGO filler and the PP matrix. In the frequency range from 10(2) Hz to 10(7) Hz, the rGO/PP composites showed an insulator-to-conductor percolation transition as the increase of the rGO loading. Near the percolation threshold, the dielectric permittivity of the rGO/PP composites underwent a significant change of three orders of magnitude. Moreover, the permittivity was found to be temperature dependent.

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) of arthropods are thought to be involved in chemical recognition which regulates pivotal behaviors including host choice, copulation and reproduction. In insects, OBPs and CSPs located mainly in the antenna but they have not been systematically characterized yet in Bemisia tabaci which is a cryptic species complex and could damage more than 600 plant species. In this study, among the 106,893 transcripts in the head assembly, 8 OBPs and 13 CSPs were identified in B. tabaci MED based on head transcriptomes of adults. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted to investigate the relationships of B. tabaci OBPs and CSPs with those from several other important Hemipteran species, and the motif-patterns between Hemiptera OBPs and CSPs were also compared by MEME. The expression profiles of the OBP and CSP genes in different tissues of B. tabaci MED adults were analyzed by real-time qPCR. Seven out of the 8 OBPs found in B. tabaci MED were highly expressed in the head. Conversely, only 4 CSPs were enriched in the head, while the other nine CSPs were specifically expressed in other tissues. Our findings pave the way for future research on chemical recognition of B. tabaci at the molecular level.

Piezoresistive nanocomposites using alkyl-functionalized graphene (G-ODA) as a conducting filler and polydimethylsilicone (PDMS) as the polymer matrix were prepared and their piezoresistivity behavior was investigated. One-pot synthesis of G-ODA from graphite oxide and octadecylamine improved its dispersion in nonpolar xylene and PDMS with low surface free energy. Results show that the graphene nanosheets were homogeneously dispersed in the PDMS matrix and an ultra-low percolation threshold (0.63 vol%) of the composites was obtained. The G-ODA/PDMS composites with 1.19 vol% content of G-ODA show a remarkable positive piezoresistivity of high sensitivity (R/R0 > 400 under the pressure of 1.2 MPa), excellent repeatability, small hysteresis, and long-term durability. Under uniaxial compression, the resistance of the composites exponentially increased with the pressure. The resistance–pressure curves remain nearly unchanged after 1000 loading–unloading cycles. The results suggest that the G-ODA/PDMS nanocomposites provide a new route toward fabrication of soft piezoresistive sensors with high performance.

A phase-matched filtering technique is applied to extract fundamental mode signals from Rayleigh waves recorded at 62 digital seismic stations in the Yunnan and Sichuan regions. We use the fundamental mode of vibrations at two stations that are located on the same great circle as the focus to calculate an inter-station attenuation coefficient of the Rayleigh wave with periods between 0. 0 and 80.64 s, and invert for the inter-station S-wave Q-factor (Qβ) at depths of 0–200 km. The results indicate that Qβ in Yunnan is 20–140, presenting a low Qβ background with apparent lateral variation. Taking the Honghe Fault as the boundary, Qβ of the crust is only 20 on the west side, extending to a depth of 120 km. The distribution of Qβ is consistent with large-scale Cenozoic volcanic and intrusive rocks in western Yunnan, implying that the crust and mantle are in the thermally active state. In the eastern Yunnan Block, east of the Xiaojiang Fault, Qβ in the upper 120 km is 140 in the south but only 20 in the north. Additionally, around the Dukou-Chuxiong in the mid-Yunnan Block, Qβ in the lithosphere is relatively high at 60–100, corresponding to a stiff crust. This is because the suture between the Indian and Eurasian plates reversed the tension in the rifting stage into the compression of orogenesis, leading to the closure of a gap in the crust. After some time, interstitial fluids gradually disappeared, resulting in a high velocity layer in the crust and low heat flow on the surface. The Yunnan region consists of an obvious block of elevated Qβ, distributed within the low background, consistent with the distribution of heat-flow values on the surface. The Honghe and Xiaojiang faults are tectonic boundaries in addition to being boundaries between regions of high and low crustal Qβ. The low Qβ is probably the result of crustal rupture and disturbance caused by strong earthquakes and the upwelling of hot substances along the deep fault zones.

A technique of phase-matched filter is applied to extract the fundamental Rayleigh surface waves from 47 seismic events recorded at 65 digital seismic stations deployed in Yunnan and its adjacent region. The phase velocity dispersion between two stations located at the same great circle with the epicenter in the period range 10 to 80 s is computed by the inter-station Green's function. The dispersions within 152 pairs of the stations are extracted from 2000 waveforms, and then the S-wave velocity structure down to a depth of 200 km is obtained by inversion. Our results reveal an overall trend of crustal thickness variation beneath Yunnan from north to south, decreasing gradually from 60 km to 30 km. The Moho has uplift and depression locally, featuring one uplift and two depressions. Additionally, the lithosphere structure varies significantly across the Red-river fault. Beneath the Baoshan, Wanding, Cangyuan and Simao areas that belong geologically to the Yunnan-Myanmar-Thailand block, there exists a low-velocity zone extending from depth 70 km to 120 km. In contrast, on the east side of the fault, the Central-Yunnan block has only a small low-velocity zone in the upper mantle beneath the Kangdian palaeo-uplift, and the S-wave velocity for most of the area ranges from 4.4 to 4.6 km/s.

Tridentate Schiff base ligands L1 and L2, derived from the condensation of 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (L) with 2-aminoethanol or 2-aminobutan-1-ol, react with nickel chloride, azide, or thiocyanate to give rise to two dinuclear complexes of formulas [Ni2(L)(L1)2N3]·H2O (1), [Ni2(L2)3(μ1,1-N3)]·2H2O (2), and one tretranuclear complex [Ni2(L2)2(NCS)]2(C2H5OH)2 (3), where L1 = HOCH2CH(C2H5)NCHC6H3(O−)(OCH3) and L2 = HO(CH2)2NCHC6H3(O−)(OCH3). We have characterized these complexes by analytical, crystal structures, and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. The magnetic properties of the complexes are studied by magnetic susceptibility (χM) vs. temperature measurements. The χM T vs. T plots reveal that compounds 1, 2 and 3 are ferromagnetically coupled. Crystal of two dimers and one tetranuclear nickel (II) complexes were determined. Two dimers are azide/phenolate double bridged, and the tetranuclear is Ni4O4 cubane complex. And magnetic properties show that these compounds are ferromagnetically coupled.

The present research describes a simple low-temperature synthesis route of fabricating porous YVO4:Sm nanoplates via a chemical co-precipitation method using commercially available Y2O3, NH4VO3, Sm2O3 and ethylene glycol as the reacting precursors. The as-synthesized YVO4:Sm was thermally treated at 300°C and 600°C for 2 h which is much lower than that of the conventional preparation methods. The obtained samples were characterized by FTIR, XRD, TEM and PL. The photoluminescence measurement revealed that the luminescence intensity was significantly increased with increasing annealing temperature.

Bemisia tabaci is an important agricultural pest with worldwide distribution and host preference. Therefore, understanding the biology of this pest is important to devise specific pest control strategies. The antennae of herbivorous insects play an important role in the identification of hosts using plant volatiles. To understand the features of antennae in B. tabaci MEAM 1(formerly known as biotype ‘B’) and MED (formerly known as biotype ‘Q’), the morphology and distribution of the antennal sensilla were examined using scanning electron micrographs. The results showed that the average antennae length in MEAM 1 was longer than MED. No differences were observed in the number and distribution of antennal sensilla in MEAM 1 and MED antennae; each antenna had nine different types of sensilla. Both cryptic species possessed Microtrichia, Grooved surface trichodea sensilla, Chaetae sensilla, Coeloconic sensillaⅠandⅡ, Basiconic sensilla Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ and Finger-like sensilla. This is the first report of Grooved surface trichodea sensilla and Basiconic sensilla Ⅱ on B. tabaci flies. The numbers of Chaetae sensilla were different in the females and males of MEAM 1 and MED, which females having 5 and males containing 7. The surface structure of Basiconic sensilla Ⅰ was different with MEAM 1 showing a multiple-pitted linen surface and MED showing a multiple-pitted pocking surface. Basiconic sensillaⅡ were double in one socket with the longer one having a multiple-pitted surface and the shorter one with a smooth surface. Basiconic Ⅲ and Finger-like sensillae were longer in MEAM 1 antennae than in MED antennae. Our results are expected to further the studies that link morphological characteristics to insect behavior and help devise strategies to control insect pests.

Polyacrylamide gel (PAAG) has been used as a soft tissue filler material for cosmetic purposes in Europe and China since 1997. The various complications of PAAG have been reported. A total of 15 patients who received PAAG injections at other institutions were treated for gel migration in the authors' hospitals. During treatment, the authors found that the injected PAAG had not formed capsules within the muscle and was encapsulated only by thin fibrous tissue in skin and mammary glands. Consequently, the filler material migrated easily because of muscular activity or the influence of gravity, especially when the capsule was broken by incorrect massage or incidental force. It is suggested that PAAG should not be injected into muscular tissue or subcutaneous areas with active movement, such as joints and muscles involved in facial expression with thin skin. After years of gel implantation, the thinned capsule may result in an increasing incidence of this complication. Management and some clinical findings in relation to the complication also are discussed.

To observe the effect of Shenluotong Decoction (SD) on serum levels of aldosterone, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), α-smooth muscle protein (α-SMA), and nuclear factor-KB (NF-κB) in obstructive nephropathy rats, and to explore the initial mechanism of SD for inhibiting renal interstitial fibrosis.Totally 48 healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham-operation group (n =12) and the model group (n =36). Renal interstitial fibrosis rat model was established by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). After successful modeling, 36 rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Chinese medicine group, and the Western medicine group, 12 in each group. Eplerenone was added in the forage at the daily dose of 100 mg/kg for rats in the Western medicine group. Chinese medicine was added in the forage at the daily dose of 26 g/kg for rats in the Chinese medicine group. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the sham-operation group and the model group. All medication was performed once daily. The obstructive kidneys were extracted ten days after medication. The pathomorphological changes were observed. The contents of serum aldosterone and MCP-1, and the protein or mRNA expression of MCP-1, α-SMA, and NF-KB were detected.Compared with the sham-operation group, infiltration of a large amount of inflammatory cells and collagen deposition significantly increased, serum contents of aldosterone and MCP-1 obviously increased (P0.01), the expression of MCP-1 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated (P0.01), the protein expression of α-SMA and NF-KB were significantly enhanced in the model group (P0.01). Com- pared with the model group, infiltration of inflammatory cells and renal collagen deposition were attenua- ted in the Chinese medicine group and the Western medicine group, the serum MCP-1 level were reduced, and the mRNA and protein expression of MCP-1 were significantly down-regulated (P0.01), the protein expression of α-SMA and NF-KB were obviously inhibited (P0. 01). At the same time, serum aldosterone level was reduced in the Chinese medicine group (P0.01).inflammatory lesions of the renal tissue could promote the progress of interstitial fibrosis in rats with obstructive nephropathy. SD could attenuate interstitial fibrosis through reducing serum contents of aldosterone and MCP-1, down-regulating MCP-1/ NF-KB, and inhibiting the expression of α-SMA.

Quantitative characterization of skin collagen on photo-thermal response and its regeneration process is an important but difficult task. In this study, morphology and spectrum characteristics of collagen during photo-thermal response and its light-induced remodeling process were obtained by second-harmonic generation microscope in vivo. The texture feature of collagen orientation index and fractal dimension was extracted by image processing. The aim of this study is to detect the information hidden in skin texture during the process of photo-thermal response and its regeneration. The quantitative relations between injured collagen and texture feature were established for further analysis of the injured characteristics. Our results show that it is feasible to determine the main impacts of phototherapy on the skin. It is important to understand the process of collagen remodeling after photo-thermal injuries from texture feature.

A high precision 2-D laser measuring instrument is designed to meet the needs of high precision measurement. Through the error analysis of the measuring system, the geometrical errors show certain stability in the results. Geometrical correction methods are intensively researched. The angle between two axes of the measured plate and axes of the instrument produces deviations of coordinates X and Y of the points on the plate. Different coordinate systems are not roughly aligned. An inclined correction model is proposed to compensate the deviations and transform the coordinate systems. Then the perpendicular compensation model is proposed using the least square approximation method and the relationship between the coordinates X and Y. To reduce the effect of random error and other geometrical errors, a multi-position correction algorithm is presented through two different measuring positions. The measurement results verify that these methods and models are accurate and feasible.

Late hematoma or seroma and galactocele caused by augmentation mammaplasty have been reported in patients with silicon breast prostheses but are extremely rare in patients injected with polyacrylamide gel (PAAG). In a retrospective survey, the incidence, clinical manifestations, and management of late hematoma, seroma, and galactocele in 28 of 2,610 patients who underwent breast augmentation with PAAG injection were investigated, and 5 typical cases are presented. The diagnostic and managing methods for this complication have been assessed. The incidence of late hematoma or seroma was 0.65% and that of galactocele was 0.35% among patients with PAAG-injected breast augmentations. The clinical onsets of such late PAAG complications were of two types: rapid enlargement in 17 patients and progressive expansion in another 11 patients. Aspiration, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful and sensitive tools for diagnosis. Foreign body reaction, PAAG-related tissue necrosis and fibrosis, and granuloma were shown, and the bacterial cultures in all 12 cases were negative. Needle aspiration with pressure dressing has been advocated as a reliable method for small diseases, and surgical exploration with irrigation-vacuum drainage and evacuation with capsulectomy have been considered more effective for recurrent, large, and long-term cases. In conclusion, these late complications rarely present after large-volume injections of PAAG for breast augmentation. The PAAG-related pathologic inflammatory tissue changes are suggested as the pathogenesis for the complication. Trauma and breastfeeding are considered to be stimulating factors.

Three novel Mn(III) polymers, [Mn(phox)(2)(N(3))](n) (1), [Mn(Etphox)(2)(N(3))](n) (2), and [Mn(Etphox)(2)(C(2)N(3))](n) (3), using achiral ligand Hphox (Hphox = 2-(4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)phenol) and chiral ligand HEtphox (HEtphox = 2-(4-ethyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)phenol) were synthesized and structurally and magnetically characterized. All complexes are of 1D chain structures and form 2D frameworks by weak interactions. The adjacent 1D chains of complex 1 are connected by face-to-face pi-pi interactions, C-H...pi interactions, and hydrogen bonding, which leads to the formation of a supramolecular 2D sheet structure. The three compounds show antiferromagnetic coupling between Mn(III) ions. And compound 2 is a spin-canted weak ferromagnet with T(N) = 5.6 K, showing metamagnetic behavior with a two-step magnetic phase transition.

As a rapid analytical technology, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been developed fast in recent years. To improve the accuracy of near-infrared spectral quantitative analysis, the present paper first classifies a testing sample by a support vector machine classifier and selects some similar training samples of the same type to build the calibration model, than predicts the property of the testing sample. To avoid the negative influence of classification failure, a new hybrid algorithm (called H_PLS) was proposed. This algorithm consists of a local PLS model based on the same-type training samples (called C_PLS) and a local PLS model based on the total training samples (called D_PLS). H_PLS calculates the predictive value of the property for the testing sample by comparing the outputs of the two models. For a set of gasoline samples, experimental results show that the prediction accuracy of C_PLS is higher than that of D_PLS if there are no classification errors, otherwise the prediction accuracy of C_PLS will drop obviously. The novel proposed algorithm (H_PLS) combines the advantages of C_PLS and D_PLS. Using H_PLS, can increase from 0.9734 of D_PLS and 0.9656 of C_PLS to 0.9858 even though there are classification errors.

Objective To explore the effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on children's growth by the study of identical twins. Study design Seventeen cases of nonobese children with OSAS were included in this study. The control group was their identical twin sibling, who had no signs of OSAS. Data including height, weight, and serum insulin–like growth factor 1 levels were analyzed before tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) and at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results The mean apnea hyponea index was 3.9 times/hour in patients with OSAS and became normal after surgery. Minimum oxygen saturation gradually increased after T&A. The height and weight of the OSAS group before T&A was lower than the control group. During the follow-up period, height and weight increased but were lower than the control group. Serum insulin–like growth factor 1 levels in the OSAS group before T&A were lower than the control group. The level was significantly increased 3 months after T&A. Conclusion OSAS impairs growth and development. Significant growth recovery occurs after T&A, and early surgical intervention is an important factor for improvement in growth.

Since 1997, the hydrophilic polyacrylamide gel (PAAG), an injectable alloplastic biomaterial, imported from the Ukraine has been used for augmentation mammaplasty in China. There were twelve patients with various complications visiting our hospitals after breast augmentation with injected hydrophilic polyacrylamide gel by other clinics, even though such procedures are not performed in our clinical practices. The complications included four cases of PAAG-induced multiple induration and lumps, and one with lactation, three cases of hematoma, two cases of inflammation (infection), and persistent mastodymia, unsatisfactory contour results and abnormal skin sensations in each case. All patients have been treated by removing the injected gel and giving antibiotics. Other procedures included replacement by silicon breast prostheses, mammotomy, and segmental mastectomy. We suggest that the injectable hydrophilic polyacrylamide gel be contraindications for breast augmentation in any young female who is not married, or without a child, with a tendency to hemorrhage, and with little mammary tissue. Some considerations to prevent and manage these complications are discussed.