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As a kind of non-coding RNA, circular RNA (circRNA) plays a regulatory role in many tumors. Our intention was to investigate the clinical significance, biological function, and molecular regulation mechanisms of circ_0067934 in laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) progression.The expression levels of circ_0067934 in LSCC tumor samples and cells were determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The associations of circ_0067934 expression with clinicopathological features and overall survival in LSCC patients were statistically analyzed. The biological function of circ_0067934 in LSCC cells was analyzed by CCK-8, colony formation, EdU, and transwell assays. Dual-Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to verify that circ_0067934 may sponge miR-1324 to regulate proliferation and migration of LSCC.Circ_0067934 expression was remarkably upregulated in LSCC tissues and cells. High level of circ_0067934 was significantly related to tumor size, lymph node status, and distant metastasis of LSCC. Furthermore, highly expressed circ_0067934 could result in notably worse survival. In vitro experiments showed that down-regulation of circ_0067934 inhibited proliferation and migration of LSCC cells. Mechanism analysis revealed that circ_0067934 regulated LSCC development by sponging miR-1324.Circ_0067934 may function as an oncogene in LSCC, which provided a feasible prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for LSCC.

MicroRNA-16 (miR-16) expression has been proved to take part in the initiation and development of several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its role and its molecular mechanism in HCC cells remain unclear. Our study aimed to elucidate miR-16 probable role and potential mechanism in HCC cells.MiR-16 expression in HCC was measured by Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). MiR-16 mimic or inhibitor was applied to increase or decrease miR-16 expression in Huh7 cells separately. The cell viability was measured by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide). The invaded cells and migrated cells were detected by the transwell assay. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were performed using Western blot. The tumor growth was measured via xenograft tumor formation assay. Moreover, bioinformatical methods and luciferase reporter assay were carried out to confirm the miR-16 target gene.MiR-16 expression was downregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Furthermore, the increasing miR-16 expression was suppressed, whereas the decreasing miR-16 expression promoted cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in Huh7 cells. Moreover, miR-16 targeted FEAT in regulating HCC progression. FEAT was associated with a poor prognosis of HCC patients. Especially, miR-16 suppressed EMT and NF-κB pathway in HCC and inhibited the tumor growth in vivo.We stated that miR-16 suppressed HCC cell progression by targeting FEAT and inhibiting EMT and NF-κB pathway. MiR-16 may be clinically utilized as a factor for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.

The organic content of municipal solid waste has long been an attractive source of renewable energy, mainly as a solid fuel in waste-to-energy plants. This study focuses on the potential to use microbial fuel cells to convert municipal solid waste organics into energy using various operational conditions. The results showed that two-chamber microbial fuel cells with carbon felt and carbon felt allocation had a higher maximal power density (20.12 and 30.47 mW m-2 for 1.5 and 4 L, respectively) than those of other electrode plate allocations. Most two-chamber microbial fuel cells (1.5 and 4 L) had a higher maximal power density than single-chamber ones with corresponding electrode plate allocations. Municipal solid waste with alkali hydrolysis pre-treatment and K3Fe(CN)6 as an electron acceptor improved the maximal power density to 1817.88 mW m-2 (~0.49% coulomb efficiency, from 0.05–0.49%). The maximal power density from experiments using individual 1.5 and 4 L two-chamber microbial fuel cells, and serial and parallel connections of 1.5 and 4 L two-chamber microbial fuel cells, was found to be in the order of individual 4 L (30.47 mW m-2) > serial connection of 1.5 and 4 L (27.75) > individual 1.5 L (20.12) > parallel connection of 1.5 and 4 L (17.04) two-chamber microbial fuel cells . The power density using municipal solid waste microbial fuel cells was compared with information in the literature and discussed.

Pulsed magnets were characterized for use for injection in the top-up mode for Taiwan Photon Source (TPS). Two kicker magnets in vacuum were implemented to inject and to extract electron beams for the booster ring. Five septum and four kicker magnets of in-air type were provided for injection into a 3-GeV storage ring. All pulsed magnets are of home design, manufactured and assembled in National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center. To verify the quality of a magnetic field and its distribution, measurement systems including long-coil and search-coil systems were installed. The pulsed power supply was improved to gain exact stability. We report that through our shielding design, the maximum leakage field of the septum along the beam trajectory is less than 0.02% of the main field.

We read with great interest the recent publication by Kumar et al , concerning gastrointestinal tract (GIT) symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain) among hospitalised children admitted with H1N1 influenza A virus infection.1 They have concluded that patients with GIT symptoms should not be ignored for the virus infectivity, especially during the outbreak period. Now the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) beginning in Wuhan has rapidly spread around China and other countries.2 According to the latest reports, the most common symptoms at onset of illness included fever, fatigue, dry cough, myalgia and dyspnoea, and the less common symptoms were headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.3 Few patients initially presented with only GIT symptoms were reported. On 29 January 2020, a 22-year-old man presented himself to the local fever clinic, with a 4-day history of diarrhoea and low-grade fever. The highest temperature was 38.3°C, and diarrhoea was …

Taiwan Photon Source (TPS) has been operated for 6 years, and the mean time between fails has reached world-class standards since the first light was delivered on 31 December 2013. To maintain satisfactory research facilities, all subsystems are constantly updating their equipment. The power supply group dramatically increases the output current bandwidth on bipolar corrector magnet power supplies, thereby increasing the number of calculations of the fast orbit feedback system and improving the stability of beam current. Finally, a DC/DC high-bandwidth corrector was built in the laboratory with the maximum prototype output current and voltage of 10 A/40 V. The power switch is metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET,) and the power state is a full-bridge (H-Bridge) circuit with a 145 kHz signal. The effectiveness of the control loop design can be verified from the gain margin and output current ripple. The prototype achieved a 11 kHz bandwidth with less than 3 dB attenuation for a reference signal of 0.1 V (equal to 0.1 A). Finally, a hardware prototype circuit was constructed in a power group laboratory. It had an input voltage of 48 V, output current of 10 A and maximum power of 400 W.

We aimed at exploring the positive feedback loop in eutopic and ectopic endometrial glandular epithelial cells (EuECs and EECs) in endometriosis.Normal epithelial cells (NECs), EuECs and EECs were treated with fibroblast growth factor (FGF)2, FGF2 neutralizing antibody, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) inhibitors U0126 and PD98059. FGF2 protein level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expressions of FGF2, FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2/pERK1/2 and Sproutys (SPRYs) (Sprouty1, Sprouty2, Sprouty4) and dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) were detected by Western blot. The mRNA levels of FGF2, FGFR1 (FGF receptor 1), SPRYs (Sprouty1, Sprouty2, Sprouty4) and DUSP6 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR.Among treatment groups, the content of FGF2 in EuECs and EECs was significantly higher than that in NECs (p0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of FGF2, FGFR1, SPRYs (Sprouty1, Sprouty2, Sprouty4) and DUSP6 in EuECs and EECs were increased after adding FGF2 (p0.05), but decreased after adding FGF2 neutralizing antibody, no significant change was found in NECs (p0.05). The inhibitory effect of PD9805 on NECs was not significantly different from that of U0126 (p0.05); however, the inhibitory effects of PD9805 on EuECs and EECs were significantly lower than those of U0126 (p0.05).The positive feedback loop existed in EuECs and EECs, but maybe not in NECs. The results may provide the guideline to treat endometriosis patients.

Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) have an inherent value because of nonferrous metal copper and noble metals. From the viewpoint of resource recycling and environmental protection, it is significant to recover metal materials from WPCBs. In this study, metal powders recovered from WPCBs were used to prepare ultrafine copper oxide powders using a microemulsion reaction. First, WPCBs were pretreated to obtain the metal powders with a copper content of 86.1% using a mechanical physical method. The leaching of the metal powders was carried out in a sulfuric acid solution by adding chloride and copper ions under aeration condition. By a solvent-extraction technology, copper ions in the leaching solution were extracted by N902 extractant and the raffinate was used to leach metal powders again. The loaded organic phase (N902 extractant) was stripped by an oxalic acid solution to form a microemulsion system. Ultrafine copper oxalate precipitations were produced in the microemulsion interfaces, and then...

Two new octaketides, cytosporones T (1) and U (2), together with ten known metabolites including cytosporones A, B, C, M, and N, pestalotiopsones A, B, and F, and aspergillides A and C, were obtained from the culture of Phomopsis sp. IFB-ZS1-S4 habituating inside the healthy stem of Scaevola hainanensis Hance. The structures were unambiguously assigned by a combination of spectroscopic analyses. In vitro neuraminidase inhibitory bioassays of all compounds showed that aspergillide C and pestalotiopsone F were moderately active with IC50 values of 5.59 ± 0.44 and 9.90 ± 0.42 μM, respectively.

Summary Introduction: Virological responses to interferon (IFN) treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) have been found to be correlated with racial differences. Furthermore, higher sustained virological response (SVR) rates were obtained in many randomised clinical trials (RCT) in Caucasian patients with CHC after treating with peg-IFN than those with IFN. However, it is not clear whether this conclusion can be adapted to patients of Chinese descent. Methods: A search of MEDLINE and China National Knowledge Infrastructure between 1966 and 2008 was performed. Trials comparing the use of peg-IFN plus ribavirin vs. IFN plus ribavirin in treating Chinese patients with CHC were assessed. Results: Of the 94 studies screened, seven RCTs including 398 patients (peg-IFN therapy 232, IFN therapy 166) were analysed. The SVRs obtained in patients treated with peg-IFN plus ribavirin were significantly higher than in patients treated with IFN plus ribavirin [70% vs. 35%, relative risk, 1.76; 95% confidence interval: 1.21–2.56; p (0.01)]. Withdrawal rates were similar between patients treated with peg-IFN plus ribavirin and IFN plus ribavirin. Conclusion: Chinese patients with CHC also have a greater likelihood of achieving an SVR with peg-IFN plus ribavirin.

The location and field size of the incident X‐ray beam in panoramic dental radiography cannot be ascertained visually most of the time. However, these parameters are needed for quality control and dosimetry determination. To alleviate this problem, we tested GafChromic XR‐QA film on two panoramic systems. For each system, we used the length of a cross‐sectional image of the incident beam and the exposure measurement with a pencil ion chamber to compute the dose–area product. The result was confirmed by direct analysis of a dose distribution on a film. Placement of the ion chamber was determined by the latter images. The GafChromic XR‐QA version of radiochromic film has thus been demonstrated to usefully complement a pencil ion chamber in the testing of a panoramic radiography system. PACS numbers: 87.52.Df, 87.59Bh, 87.66.Cd, 87.66Jj

More than 21% of the Chinese herbs tested contained substances in their aqueous extracts inhibitory to conidial germination of the powdery mildew fungus Oidium murrayae. Extracts from Chinese rhubarb and Japanese knotweed were very effective in controlling powdery mildew on cucumber, pumpkin, and eggplant. The inhibitory substance in Chinese rhubarb was soluble in polar solvents and less soluble in nonpolar solvents. The inhibitor in the aqueous extract was not dialyzable in the membrane tubing with molecular weight cut-off of 14,000, but was exchangeable by anion but not cation exchange resins, indicating that the inhibitor has a molecular weight larger than 14,000 and negative charge on its molecule.

Many of the newer X‐ray machines are equipped with electronic means to provide dose–area product (DAP) information. For machines without that ability, an alternative method is to record radiation on a film that can handle a large amount of cumulative exposure. The use of GafChromic XR Type R film was investigated for this purpose by placing it at the X‐ray tube assembly to record the radiation in interventional radiological procedures. Dose‐area product was determined with a reflective densitometer and then with a flatbed scanner. Precisions were demonstrated to be 5% and 2%, respectively. In a comparison with the machine‐recorded DAP, a regression analysis showed the validity of both techniques for values less than 1200 Gy‐cm2. PACS numbers: 87.52.Df, 87.66.Cd

Pulsed magnets including septum magnets and kicker magnets of type in vacuum serve to inject and to extract the electron beams for the booster ring in Taiwan Photon Source (TPS), which is a third-generation synchrotron accelerator. The design of the magnetic fields of the kicker and septum was simulated with OPERA 2D and 3D models. To verify the quality of the magnetic field and the distribution of the leakage field, the magnetic fields were measured with a long-coil system and a search-coil system. We present the characteristics of the magnetic fields of the pulsed magnets and the field-shielding performance for the septum magnets. The injection and extraction efficiency are significantly influenced by the performance of the pulse system. This system constructed in house was implemented with a short pulse at large voltage and large current. The improvements of the pulsed power supply are described to obtain highly stable and precise requirements. We report here also the field performance of the pulsed magnet for the booster.

In this paper, we demonstrate an approach for the local synthesis of ZnO nanowires (ZnO NWs) and the potential for such structures to be incorporated into device applications. Three network ZnO NW devices are fabricated on a chip by using a bottom-up synthesis approach. Microheaters (defined by standard semiconductor processing) are used to synthesize the ZnO NWs under a zinc nitrate (Zn(NO3)2·6H2O) and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA, (CH2)6·N4) solution. By controlling synthesis parameters, varying densities of networked ZnO NWs are locally synthesized on the chip. The fabricated networked ZnO NW devices are then characterized using UV excitation and cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments to measure their photoresponse and electrochemical properties. The experimental results show that the techniques and material systems presented here have the potential to address interesting device applications using fabrication methods that are fully compatible with standard semiconductor processing.

An accelerated testing procedure with a multi-pin die has been established for the study of the erosive wear of die materials and surface treatments in die casting applications, under production conditions. This test procedure utilizes the wear of core pins as a surrogate measure of die erosive wear, and is used to evaluate the efficacy of coatings and die surface treatments in reducing erosive wear in dies under actual production conditions. Metallic coatings of W, Mo, and Pt deposited on the test pins using the plasma source ion implantation technique (PSII) technology in the ion assisted deposition mode, were then evaluated for erosion resistance using this developed test procedure. The results of this evaluation on the effectiveness of these metallic coatings are presented here along with possible reasons for such coating behavior.

An accelerated erosion test was developed to evaluate the erosion resistance of die materials and coatings for die casting application. An acceleration in wear was achieved by selecting pyramid-shaped core pins, hypereutectic aluminum silicon casting alloy, high melt temperatures and high gate velocities. Multiple pin design was selected to enable multiple test sites for comparative evaluation. Apilot run was conducted on a 300 ton commercial die casting machine at various sites (pins) to verify the thermal and flow similarities. Subsequently, campaigns were run on two different 300 ton commercial die casting machines to evaluate H13 die material and different coatings for erosive resistance. Coatings and surface treatments evaluated included surface micropeening, titanium nitride, boron carbide, vanadium carbide, and metallic coatings—tungsten, molybdenum, and platinum. Recent campaigns with different melt temperatures have indicated a possible link between soldering phenomena and erosive wear. This paper presents the details of the test set up and the results of the pilot and evaluation tests.

The objective of this study was to find the optimum process variables for minimizing the amount of air entrapped within the shot sleeve during the slow shot phase of the injection process. To achieve this objective, the relations between process variables (e.g., plunger speed/acceleration, initial filling percentage, sleeve diameter, etc.) and the wave formation within the shot sleeve of a die casting machine have to be determined. For this purpose, a mathematical model has been developed to study the transient wave formation in shot sleeve. The model based on the theory of waves of finite amplitude can predict the critical plunger speed and the profile of wave front, which in turn affect the degree of air entrapment. The optimum plunger speeds for minimum air entrapment are thus determined based on the predicted profile of wave front. Good agreement with the results from water analogue experiments is found.

Doppel (Dpl) is a recently identified prion (PrP)-like protein due to the structural and biochemical similarities, however, its natural function and pathogenic role in neurodegenerative diseases remains unclear. To investigate the possible pathogenic pathway of Dpl and its structural analog for cell apoptosis, mammalian expressing recombinant plasmids containing human PRND gene encoding the full-length Dpl and a truncated human PRNP gene deleting the sequences encoding the peptide from aa 32 to 121 (PrPDelta32-121) were generated. MTT assays showed the cell viabilities of the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y receiving Dpl and PrPDelta32-121 expressing plasmids were remarkably lower. Obvious apoptosis phenomena were observed to be associated with the cells transient expressing Dpl and PrPDelta32-121, including reduced mitochondrial transmembrane potential (psim), decreased pro-caspase-3 quantity, more numbers of annexin V- and annexin V/PI-double-stained cells and depressed Bcl-2 level. Moreover, we also found that the Dpl- and PrPDelta32-121-induced cytotoxicities and relevant apoptotic events in SH-SY5Y cells could be fully antagonized by co-expression of the human full-length PrP. These data highly indicate that cytotoxicity induced by the expression of Dpl and truncated PrP in neural derived cells are closely related with the apoptosis process, probably triggering the mitochondrial pathway. It also implies that the cell-benefit activity of the full-length PrP may result from its anti-apoptosis capacity.

A high spatial resolution computed radiography (CR) detector was used to develop a phase contrast x-ray imaging prototype with a microfocus x-ray source. The phase contrast imaging was realized with appropriate magnifications. Meanwhile, the basic system parameters, such as the modulation transfer function (MTF) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) were measured with and without phase contrast effect. The experimental results indicated that the phase contrast can enhance the detectability of the imaging system.

The interface of an Au/Al contact to BiSrCaCuO (BSCCO) superconducting film has been studied. The minimum contact resistivity of 7 × 10 −7 Ω cm 2 at 77 K was obtained for the Au/Al/BSCCO contact system annealed at 750°C for 10 min in air. After 750°C annealing severe intermixing between the Au/Al contact and the BSCCO film was observed; meanwhile small amounts of Ca 3 Al 2 O 6 and Al 2 O 3 compounds as well as some unknown phases were formed. After 820°C annealing the contact resistivity was increased to 6 × 10 −6 Ω cm 2 due to the growth of Au 2 O 3 .

The formation temperatures of Bi 2 Sr 2 CuO x (2201) and Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O x (2212) phases are about 550°C and 775°C respectively for sputtered films on MgO(100) substrates. A preferred grain growth appeared at 820°C. A reversible transformation between the 2201 and 2212 phases was observed in the temperature range 780–870°C. Two-step annealing enabled the zero-resistance temperature T 0 of films with non-stoichiometric composition to be higher than 78K. The syntactic growth of the 2201 and 2212 phases, and the twin and the low angle grain boundary of the 2212 phase were also present. Two modes of localized epitaxial growth of 2212 grains on MgO(100) substrates were observed. The orientation relationships between the 2212 overlayer and the MgO substrate are (001) 2212 (100) MgO and [100] 2212 [011] MgO , and (001) 2212 (100) MgO and [100] 2212 [010] MgO . No interfacial reaction between the BiSrCaCuO film and the MgO substrate during heat treatment was observed.

To investigate the optimal codons of dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) minus Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO dhfr-).A cDNA library of CHO dhfr- containing high abundence mRNA was constructed and protein-coding sequences were obtained after identification and analysis. Codon frequence of CHO dhf- was compared with that of Chinese hamster in CUTG database. Then codon usage variation among cDNA was investigated using correspondence analysis (COA).Fifty qualified cDNAs from CHO dhfr- were selected, which encodes proteins of high abundence. Comparing with the codon frequence of Chinese hamster, the highest frequence of synonymous codons for amino acids in CHO dhfr- cells were the same as Chinese hamster except that of Arg and Pro. This method of COA identifies the first main factor which can account for the largest fractions (14.7%) of variation among cDNAs. Twenty-two synonymous codons were identified as the optimal codons of CHO cell.CHO dhfr- cell has its own optimal codons, it is suggested that codon bias is one of reasons for functional diversity of different mammal cells and it is an effective stratagy to modification of the codon usage of the foreign gene according to the optimal codons of CHO dhfr- to increase the production of foreign gene.

The esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has high incidence in Shaanxi Province of China. More and more researches indicated that human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) might play an important role in carcinogenesis of ESCC but the relationship between HPV16 and CD44v6, nm23H1 has not been elucidated. HPV16 was detected by amplifying HPV16 E6 gene through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and the expression of CD44v6, nm23H1 in 40 ESCCs and fifteen normal esophageal mucosa (NEM) from Shaanxi Province was examined by Streptavidin-Peroxidase (SP) method using monoclonal antibody specific to CD44v6 and nm23H1. The positive rates of HPV16 E6 gene, CD44v6 and nm23H1 were 60% (24/40), 65% (26/40) and 45% (18/40) respectively in ESCCs and 26.67% (4/15), 33.33% (5/15) and 86.67% (13/15) respectively in NEMs. There exited statistical difference for HPV16, CD44v6 and nm23H1 between NEMs and ESCCs respectively (p0.05). The relationship between HPV16 and the expression of CD44v6 in ESCCs was statistical significance (P = 0.021), but no significant correlation was found between HPV16 and the expression of nm23H1 (P = 0.436) in ESCCs. The infection rate of HPV16 had no statistical difference in all pathological features we observed, but the expression rates of CD44v6 and nm23H1 had statistical correlation with invasion (p = 0.001, 0.013) and lymph nodes metastasis (p = 0.014, 0.002) respectively. In different histology grade of ESSCs, the relationship between HPV16 and CD44v6 was statistical significance in grade I (p = 0.044) but was not in grade II (p = 0.165) and grade III (p = 0.658), however as to the expression of nm23H1 there exited no statistical significance in all histology grades of ESCC (p0.05). The expression rates of CD44v6 and nm23H1 were statistically different between grade I and II (p = 0.004, 0.016) respectively and between grade I and grade III (p = 0.014, 0.020), but not statistically different between grade II and III (p = 0.792, 0.943) respectively. Our data firstly suggested that there existed the statistical relationship between the infection of HPV16 and the expression of CD44v6 in ESCCs and that HPV16 may be involved in invasion and metastasis of ESCC.

The GafChromic XR Type R film is a relatively new product for recording high radiation dose in interventional radiological procedures. Means of measuring the film response were studied in this investigation. Two handheld reflective‐type densitometers of different models were compared in the range of 0–8 Gy. They were found to be in excellent agreement. Five reflective flatbed scanners of different models were compared by a simple preliminary test. Their widely differed performances suggest the need of testing a scanner before using it for dosimetry measurement. A selected scanner was further tested for its ability to measure radiation in the range of 0–8 Gy and for the development of a scanning protocol. This experiment suggested the inclusion of a calibration pattern with known exposures and a black reference step in the scanning of a film in RGB mode. Then the red component of this image should be used for dosimetry computation. This method was compared to the use of a red acetate filter. The latter was demonstrated to be a possible alternative for measurement below 5 Gy and when there is no software ability to split an image into color components. PACS number(s): 87.66.–a, 87.52.–g

We propose a novel process whereby Antimony Assisted Arsenic Source/Drain Extension (A/sup 3/ SDE) is employed to realize a steep and retrograde indium pocket profile for sub-0.1 /spl mu/m nMOSFETs. By engineering the defect distributions in the amorphous layer created by an indium implant, this new process improves by 8% the current drive while maintaining the same I/sub off/. It reduces nMOS diode leakage by two orders of magnitude and sidewall junction capacitance near the gate by 14%. Reliability assessment of devices fabricated by the A/sup 3/ SDE process reveals significant improvement in hot carrier effects and no observable degradation of gate oxide integrity.

In this study, phantoms were used to illustrate the dependence of photostimulable phosphor's characteristic response on beam quality. These phantoms, consisting of sheets of acrylic and aluminum, represented an extremity, an abdomen, a skull and a chest. Images were taken with 50 to 65 kVp, 60 to 110 kVp, 65 to 80 kVp and 70 to 120 kVp, respectively. In general, the amount of resulting luminescence of the photostimulable phosphor per unit of air kerma (exposure) increased with kVp.

Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) the changes of the angiotensin II receptor subtype 1-a (AT1a) and 1-b (AT1b) mRNA levels were examined in hypertrophied ventricles caused by ventral aorta-caval fistula of SD rats. The results show as follows. (1) Three days after operation, the ventricular weight increased significantly, whereas the level of AT1a and AT1b mRNA in both ventricles remained unchanged. (2) Twelve days after operation, the weight increase of both ventricles was more evident, the levels of AT1a and AT1b mRNA in the right ventricle increased (by 62.6% and 72.0%), as compared with control. In the left ventricle, on the other hand, the level of AT1a mRNA increased by 79.0%, while the level of AT1b mRNA showed no obvious increase. (3) Thirty-five days after operation, the levels of AT1a and AT1b mRNA in both ventricles increased still more significant, (i.e., 70.0% and 83.9% in the right and 96.5% and 86.9% in the left). Moreover, 12 d and 35 d after operation, the level of AT1a mRNA was higher than that of AT1b mRNA in both ventricles. (4) There was a positive correlation between the degree of ventricular hypertrophy with the level of AT1 mRNA in ventricular myocardium (r = 0.6168-0.8223). The results suggest that the increased mRNA expression of AT1 in myocardial hypertrophy caused by volume overload may be a mechanism underlying the increased responsiveness of hypertrophic myocardial cells to Ang II, and a difference in the expression between AT1a and AT1b mRNAs in myocardial hypertrophy may be related to the different physiological or pathophysiological roles of Ang II, mediated by the two subtypes of AT1.

Radiation doses to adult male patients from abdominal aortogram and aorta femoral runoff examinations in a medical center were determined with the help of a dose-area product meter. The abdominal aortogram and aorta femoral runoff examination consisted of scout radiographs, fluoroscopy (to position a catheter near the area of interest), and serial films (to record the flow of contrast media). Measurements were converted to effective doses with the help of published results from Monte Carlo simulation calculations. Data from 19 male adult patients weighing 53 to 86 kg were analyzed. The resulting total effective dose had a value of 14.0 +/- 4A mSv (mean and standard deviation). The percent contribution by fluoroscopy was 18.5 +/- 9.9%. The fluoroscopy effective dose had a stronger correlation with the dose-area product (correlation coefficient of 0.97) than with duration of exposure (correlation coefficient of 0.84). Most of the radiation exposure in the observed abdominal aortogram and aorta femoral runoff examination was attributed to radiography.

Skin entrance exposure measurements obtained with a dose-area-product meter and thermoluminescent dosimeters were compared at posteroanterior and lateral chest radiography in 52 adult male patients. In a linear regression analysis of data collected in both views, values of 1.23 +/- 0.02 and 1.26 +/- 0.01 (r = .98 and .99) were found for the ratios of thermoluminescent-dosimeter and dose-are-product exposures, respectively. Skin entrance exposures from 16 mR (4.13 microC/kg) to 150 mR (38.7 microC/kg) in the posteroanterior view and 24 mR (6.19 microC/kg) to 475 mR (123 microC/kg) in the lateral view were found. Dose-area-product meters offer a rapid and accurate means to measure skin entrance exposure when the radiography field size is known.

The acronym HELLP describes a syndrome of (H) hemolysis, (EL) elevated liver enzymes, and (LP) low platelets, which symptomatically defines a unique group of preeclamptic/eclamptic women. Pregnancies complicated by this syndrome are associated with poor maternal and fetal outcome. This poses a considerable challenge to the anesthesiologists as many of these patients require emergent Cesarean section. We reported a 30-year-old woman with gestation of 32 wk who sustained Cesarean section under the impression of pregnancy with HELLP syndrome. General anesthesia was performed for this patient. The preoperative evaluation, general management, and intraoperative monitoring system were described. The individual role and use of labetalol and propofol were also discussed in this report.

A 2-year-old patient of Goldenhar's syndrome received an operation for corneal transplantation. Difficult endotracheal intubation from the congenital anomaly was treated with laryngeal mask airway and pediatric fiberoptic laryngoscope. Long-term propofol infusion (10 h) for anaesthetic maintenance in this small child was used with rapid and smooth recovery.

This paper presents the design of magnets for the storage ring of the 3-GeV Taiwan Photon Source project. Detailed calculations of the field were performed according to a three-dimensional model, and the magnetic geometry was determined in transverse and longitudinal planes to conform to highly precise magnetic fields. The final tolerances of the pole profiles of the magnets within 20 μm were manufactured and measured in all prototype magnets. The characteristics of the magnetic fields were measured with Hall-probe and rotating-coil systems to verify the quality of the magnetic fields. The centers of the magnets will be aligned on the girder with precisely machined rails within 20 μm, and the magnets have no provision for shimming on the girder. The features of the main field and homogeneity of these magnets are described and analysed to reveal the satisfactory magnetic performance.

Mild hydrochloric acid was used to induce injury in the caudal section of one lung in each of 10 dogs. 99m Tc-red blood cells were injected intravenously. Blood samples were drawn prior to sacrifice. Lung and blood samples were weighed, assayed for radioactivity and dried to constant weight. Assuming a uniform hematocrit, and hence a constant density, we computed blood volumes in terms of mass. The control lung had 4.32 ± 0.62 g of extravascular lung water (EVLW) per g of bloodless dried weight (BLDW). Injury in the other lung was characterized by an elevated average of 7.08 ± 0.79 g of EVLW per g of BLDW. The control lung contained 2.49 ± 0.43 g of blood per g of BLDW and the injured lung contained a reduced amount of 1.69 ± 0.55 g of blood per g of BLDW. In 8 subjects, injured portions retained the least blood volume per g of BLDW (a limiting value of 1.43 ± 0.47 g per g). These results support a thesis of a reduction of blood volume in an injured area.

From Nov. 1976 to Dec. 1989, 9 patients with congenital coronary artery-cardial chamber fistula were operated upon in our hospital. In this series right coronary artery-right ventricle fistula was found in 3 patients, right coronary artery-left ventricle fistula in 2, left coronary artery-right ventricle fistula in 2, left circumflex artery-right atrium fistula in 1, and bilateral coronary artery-cardiac chamber fistula in 1. Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed in 8. The fistula was closed by interrupted mattress sutures outside the cardiac chamber plus ligation of terminal portion of the coronary artery near the fistula in 5 patients, and by mattress sutures inside the dilated coronary artery or cardiac chamber in other 4. There was no operative death in the 8 patients with single fistula. One patient with bilateral coronary artery fistula died from hypoxemia postoperatively. Late complications or recurrent fistulas were not found in the follow-up period from 3 months to 12 years. The diagnosis, operative indications and technique of closing fistula were discussed.

Southern blot hybridization was performed with probe v-erbB + A in 4 subjects. Two of them were patients with similar erythroid alterations of bone marrow: one of them was diagnosed as erythroleukemia (EL). The other two were members of a same family (husband and wife). The husband had normal erythroid cellularity of bone marrow but the wife and their 7 living sons and daughters had erythroid hypercellularity. In the second generation of this family 4 hematological patients (1 with AML and 3 with CAA) were found in the past decade. Rearrangement of cerbB and c-erbA genes was found in 3 of the 4 subjects (2 with EL and the wife mentioned above). They had 4 new hybridization bands besides 3 germlines, but the husband had only 3 germlines. The result suggests that using Southern blot hybridization technique with probe v-erbB + A, the rearrangement of c-erbB/c-erbA genes might be a diagnostic indicator of erythroleukemia at early stage of leukomogenesis in familial and sporadic patients. The etiological significance of the rearrangement of c-erbB/c-erbA in leukomogenesis was discussed.

14021 Background: Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a traditional Chinese medicine which is widely used to ‘strengthen immunity’ among patients with cancers. However, there is no published randomized ...

The microstructure of oxide films formed on Zircaloy-4 and Alloy No. 3, which has a composition similar to ZIRLO™, was investigated by high resolution transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and by scanning probe microscopy after corrosion tests performed at 360°C/18.6 MPa in deionized water or lithiated water with 0.01 M LiOH. The microstructural evolution of the oxide films was analyzed by comparing the microstructure at different depths in the oxide layer. The defects, consisting of vacancies and interstitials, such as points, lines, planes, and volumes, were produced during the oxide growth. Monoclinic, tetragonal, cubic, and amorphous phases were detected and their coherent relationships were identified. The characteristic of oxide with such microstructure had an internal cause, and the temperature and time were the external causes that induced the microstructural evolution during the corrosion process. The diffusion, annihilation, and condensation of vacancies and interstitials under the action of stress, temperature, and time caused stress relaxation and phase transformation. It was observed, in the middle of the oxide layer, that the vacancies absorbed by grain boundaries formed pores to weaken the bonding strength between grains. Pores formed under compressive stress lined up along the direction parallel to the compressive stress. Thus, cracks developed from the pores were parallel to the oxide/metal interface. Li+ and OH− incorporated in oxide films were adsorbed on the wall of pores or entered into vacancies to reduce the surface free energy of the zirconium oxide during exposure in lithiated water. As a result, the diffusion of vacancies and the formation of pores were enhanced, inducing the degradation of the corrosion resistance. The relationship between the corrosion resistance of zirconium alloys and the microstructural evolution of oxide films affected by water chemistry and composition is also discussed.

Purified rat renal brush-border membrane vesicles possess a heat-labile enzyme activity which hydrolyses NAD+. A reciprocal relationship exists between the disappearance of NAD+ and the appearance of adenosine; 2 mol of Pi are liberated from each mol of NAD+ incubated with brush-border membrane vesicles. Freezing and thawing brush-border membrane vesicles does not enhance the initial rate of NAD+ hydrolysis. Preincubation of brush-border membrane vesicles with NAD+ results in inhibition of Na+-dependent Pi-transport activity, whereas Na+-dependent glucose transport is not affected. EDTA, which prevents the release of Pi from NAD+ and which itself has no direct effect on brush-border membrane Pi transport, reverses the NAD+ inhibition of Na+-dependent Pi transport. These results suggest that it is the Pi liberated from NAD+ and not NAD+ itself that inhibits Na+-dependent Pi transport.