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Siraitia grosvenorii, an economically important plant species with high medicinal value, is endemic to subtropical China. To determine the population structure and origin of cultivated S. grosvenorii, we examined the variation in three chloroplast DNA regions (trnR‐atpA, trnH‐psbA, trnL‐trnF) and two orthologous nuclear genes (CHS and EDL2) of S. grosvenorii in 130 wild individuals (selected from 13 wild populations across its natural distribution range) and 21 cultivated individuals using a phylogeographic approach. The results showed three distinct chloroplast lineages, which were restricted to different mountain ranges, and strong plastid phylogeographic structure. Our findings suggest that S. grosvenorii likely experienced ancient range expansion and survived in multiple refuges in subtropical China during glacial periods, resulting in population fragmentation in different mountainous areas. Our results also demonstrated that wild populations in Guilin (Guangxi, China) share the same gene pool as cultivated S. grosvenorii, suggesting that current cultivars were collected directly from local wild resources, consistent with the principles of "nearby domestication." The results of this study provide insights into improving the efficiency of S. grosvenorii breeding using a genetic approach and outline measures for the conservation of its genetic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of CO2 and CO2-based fluids imbibition on the mechanical properties of shale are of great importance in Sc-CO2 enhanced shale gas production and geological sequestration of CO2 in shale gas reservoirs. To investigate the influence of sub-CO2, Sc-CO2, sub-CO2–water, Sc-CO2–water, sub-CO2–Nacl, and Sc-CO2–Nacl imbibitions on shale strength, a series of triaxial compression tests is performed. A statistical damage constitutive model of shale after CO2, CO2–water, and CO2–NaCl saturation is applied to present the stress–strain relationships of shale under different immersion conditions. The results show that, after CO2, CO2–water, and CO2–NaCl imbibitions, the axial stress, Young's modulus, and axial strain are changed due to the physical and chemical reactions between shale and soaking fluids. The mechanical properties of shale display the largest variations after sub-CO2–water and Sc-CO2–water imbibitions. The variations in mechanical properties of shale resulted from precipitation of NaCl crystals under the sub-CO2–NaCl and Sc-CO2–NaCl immersion conditions are smaller than those of shale under the sub-CO2–water and Sc-CO2–water immersion conditions. Pure CO2 saturation has the smallest effect on shale's mechanical properties among the three kinds of fluids. For the same kind of fluids, CO2 at a supercritical state shows larger effect on shale than the subcritical state. In addition, shale samples after immersion show a mixed tensile-shear failure mode. The cohesion force of shale is increased after sub-CO2 and Sc-CO2 saturation, whereas it is decreased after CO2–water and CO2–NaCl saturation. A reduction of the internal friction angles is observed for all of the soaked shale samples. Because of the anisotropy of shale samples, the actual failure angle is larger than the failure angle calculated by the Mohr–Coulomb criterion. The statistical damage constitutive equations of shale under different soaking conditions can well describe the stress–strain relationship of shale under different confining pressures. The variations of two parameters (F0 and m) in the statistical damage constitutive model well reflect the brittleness and strength of shale samples with different soaking conditions. Highlights: Influences of CO2 and CO2-based fluids imbibition on mechanical properties of shales were evaluated through triaxial compression tests. The stress–strain relationships of shale under different immersion conditions were analyzed. A statistical damage constitutive model of shale after CO2, CO2-water, and CO2-NaCl saturation was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: endolymphatic sac decompression; hearing Loss; Meniere's disease; semicircular canal occlusion; vertigo EN endolymphatic sac decompression hearing Loss Meniere's disease semicircular canal occlusion vertigo 319 322 4 02/17/22 20220301 NES 220301 Key points Triple semicircular canal occlusion is an efficient strategy for vertigo control in patients with intractable Meniere's disease. Approximately 10% of patients suffered from persistent vertigo, despite an optimal conservative treatment, are considered as intractable MD.1 To date, many methods have been attempted to treat these patients, including a variety of surgeries: selective vestibular neurotomy, labyrinthectomy and endolymphatic sac surgeries. The surgery can block the movement of endolymph in the canals to eliminate vertigo attacks induced by position changing Patients with advanced-stage MD suffered more from hearing deterioration postoperatively. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: To investigate optimal approaches for appropriate removal of the parotid gland in the management of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the external auditory canal (EAC) at different tumor stages. Methods: In total, 39 patients with SCC of EAC treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between September 2003 and April 2019 were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent lateral temporal bone resection or subtotal temporal bone resection. Total parotidectomy was performed in patients with direct parotid invasion. Superficial parotidectomy was performed in patients with parotid node metastasis and patients with advanced stages without evidence of parotid involvement. Results: The mean follow-up period was 68.7 months. Local recurrences or distant metastases occurred in five patients (12.8%). The 5-year overall survival rate was 78.4%. The 5-year survival rate was 100% in early stage (T1 and T2) patients, and 58.9 and 50.0% in patients staged III and IV, respectively. Direct parotid invasion was observed in only advanced-stage patients, while parotid node metastasis was noted in both early and advanced-stage patients preoperatively. There were no significant differences (χ2 = 0.1026; p = 0.749) between different tumor primary locations. However, soft tissue or preauricular organs became vulnerable once the anterior wall was infiltrated or eroded. Conclusion: Parotid management is important for achieving safer and wider tumor-free margins. Total parotidectomy should be mandatory for all advanced-staged (T3 and T4) patients. An optimal decision for parotid management in early stages depends on the infiltration or erosion of the anterior wall of the EAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An implantable optrode with micro-thermal detectors was designed to investigate the availability and safety of INS using high repetition rates. Optical auditory brainstem responses (oABRs) were recorded in normal-hearing guinea pigs, and the energy thresholds, pulse durations, and amplitudes evoked by the varied stimulus repetitions were analyzed. Stable oABRs could be evoked through INS even as the repetition rate of stimulation reached 19 kHz. The energy threshold of oABRs was elevated, the amplitudes decreased as pulse durations increased and repetition rates were higher, and the latencies were delayed as the pulse durations increased. The temperature variation curves on the site of stimulation significantly increased as the pulse duration increased to 400 μ s. INS elevated the temperature around the stimulus site area via thermal accumulation during radiation, especially when higher repetition stimuli were used. Our results demonstrate that high repetition infrared stimulations can safely evoke stable and available oABRs in normal-hearing guinea pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]