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The development of new antibacterial agents is particularly important in the battle against pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, sulfonium ions were used as the structural core to synthesize alkyl-substituted ionic compounds as antibacterial agents. The antimicrobial activity of sulfonium ionic compounds against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was analyzed by measurement of the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. The effects of sulfonium salts on cell membrane integrity and permeability were investigated by detecting the extracellular proteins leakage of E. coli and S. aureus upon contact treatment, and observing the bacteria’s ultrastructural changes with transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that all the sulfonium salts exhibited resistant activity. Sulfonium salt with alkyl chain length of 16 carbon presented the strongest resistance with MIC of 30 and 3.75 lmol/L, and MBC of 120 and 60 lmol/L against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. After treatment with sulfonium salts, the permeability of the membrane of E. coli and S. aureus cells changed, and the exudation of extracellular proteins increased significantly. The transmission electron microscope showed that the surface of the bacteria had shrunk and the cell walls had burst. The group of sulfonium salt compounds can destroy the integrity of cell membrane and change membrane permeability to achieve antibacterial purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method to calculate the optimal reclosing time of AC/DC hybrid system based on dynamic energy is proposed. First, in the whole fault process starting from fault initiation to accelerated tripping of circuit breakers after reclosing, the dynamic energy function that characterizes the stability degree of system is built. On this basis, the variation rate of dynamic energy is defined as the energy accumulation speed, which quantitatively characterizes the accumulation or consumption of dynamic energy in the fault duration. And detailed expressions of energy accumulation speed when single-phase fault and three-phase fault occur in the system are derived respectively. Then, with the accumulated dynamic energy of system being the minimum as the objective, the optimal reclosing time is searched, and the pattern in which the trajectory of operating points passes new equilibrium point when the system is reclosed at the optimal reclosing time is revealed. Finally, hardware-in-the-loop tests are conducted in RT-LAB for simulation verification. Simulation results demonstrate that, as reclosing time varies, total accumulated dynamic energy of system has multiple minimum points. Selecting the reclosing time calculated according to the method can improve stability of system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) fires enhance the need of precise risk assessment on photovoltaic (PV) modules. In the current study, two widely used photovoltaic (PV) panels with different coverings are tested using a cone calorimeter under a wide range of incident heat fluxes (from 18 to 70 kW/m²) to characterize the influence of window flame radiation on the burning behaviors of the samples. Several key parameters including the ignition temperature and time, heat release rate (HRR), and concentration of toxic gases are investigated. The experimental results show that glass covering instead of polyethylene terephthalate covering could effectively improve the flame-retardant and smoke-suppression properties of PV composites. In addition, exposing the two samples to high incident heat fluxes would be very dangerous for the peak HRR and fire growth rate index, and fractional effective exposure dose values rise as the incident heat flux increases from 18 to 70kW/m², while the ignition time and time to peak HRR reduce. Further, three different decomposition regions of the two composites, which are identified within the range of the applied external heat flux, represent the different roles of flame retardants and covering glass, respectively. This work provides a method for fire safety specialists to evaluate the fire hazards of PV modules, which include thermal and toxic hazards, in BIPV safety assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene epitaxy on the Si face of a SiC wafer offers monolayer graphene with unique crystal orientation at the wafer-scale. However, due to carrier scattering near vicinal steps and excess bilayer stripes, the size of electrically uniform domains is limited to the width of the terraces extending up to a few microns. Nevertheless, the origin of carrier scattering at the SiC vicinal steps has not been clarified so far. A layer-resolved graphene transfer (LRGT) technique enables exfoliation of the epitaxial graphene formed on SiC wafers and transfer to flat Si wafers, which prepares crystallographically single-crystalline monolayer graphene. Because the LRGT flattens the deformed graphene at the terrace edges and permits an access to the graphene formed at the side wall of vicinal steps, components that affect the mobility of graphene formed near the vicinal steps of SiC could be individually investigated. Here, we reveal that the graphene formed at the side walls of step edges is pristine, and scattering near the steps is mainly attributed by the deformation of graphene at step edges of vicinalized SiC while partially from stripes of bilayer graphene. This study suggests that the two-step LRGT can prepare electrically single-domain graphene at the wafer-scale by removing the major possible sources of electrical degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic properties of semiconducting monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides can be tuned by electrostatic gate potentials. Here we report gate-tunable imaging and spectroscopy of monolayer MoS2 by atomic-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). Our measurements are performed on large-area samples grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) techniques on a silicon oxide substrate. Topographic measurements of defect density indicate a sample quality comparable to single-crystal MoS2. From gate voltage dependent spectroscopic measurements, we determine that in-gap states exist in or near the MoS2 film at a density of 1.3 × 1012 eV-1 cm-2. By combining the single-particle band gap measured by STS with optical measurements, we estimate an exciton binding energy of 230 meV on this substrate, in qualitative agreement with numerical simulation. Grain boundaries are observed in these polycrystalline samples, which are seen to not have strong electronic signatures in STM imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoscopic thyroidectomy (ET) has gained acceptance among surgeons as its feasibility has been well-documented. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis has been to assess and validate the safety and feasibility of ET when compared to conventional open thyroidectomy (COT) for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and to verify other potential benefits and drawbacks.Materials and Methods: PubMed, Web of Knowledge are searched for studies concerning treatment for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma between 2000 and 2013, the method of meta-analysis is performed to compare the effect of different treatment.Result: Six studies with a total of 1081 patients were included. Primary outcomes include transient recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy, permanent PLN palsy, transient hypocalcemia, permanent hypocalcemia, and overall recurrence. ET experienced a higher incidence of transient RLN palsy than COT. There were no statistically significant differences for the presence of permanent PLN palsy, transient hypocalcemia, and permanent hypocalcemia. Tumor recurrence was detected in the both group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Secondary outcomes include operative time, length of hospitalization, and cosmetic results. Patient satisfactory score significantly favored ET (mean difference [MD] = -1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-1.85, -1.43], P < 0.00001). Operative time was significantly longer in ET (MD = 38.18, 95% CI [22.24, 54.11], P < 0.00001). The length of hospitalization was not significantly different in both groups (MD = -0.46, 95% CI = [-1.40, 0.47], P = 0.33).Conclusion: For PTMC, ET is a feasible, practical, and safe alternative with better cosmetic benefits, and it can be performed with an ease of manipulation that is similar to that of COT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated experimentally and theoretically the fire hazards of thermal-insulation materials used in diesel locomotives under different radiation heat fluxes. Based on the experimental results, the critical heat flux for ignition was determined to be 6.15 kW/m² and 16.39 kW/m² for pure polyurethane and aluminum-polyurethane respectively. A theoretical model was established for both to predict the fire behaviors under different circumstances. The fire behavior of the materials was evaluated based on the flashover and the total heat release rate (HRR). The fire hazards levels were classified based on different experimental results. It was found that the fire resistance performance of aluminum-polyurethane is much better than that of pure-polyurethane under various external heat fluxes. The concentration of toxic pyrolysis volatiles generated from aluminum-polyurethane materials is much higher than that of pure polyurethane materials, especially when the heat flux is below 50 kW/m². The hazard index HI during peak width time was proposed based on the comprehensive impact of time and concentrations. The predicted HI in this model coincides with the existed N-gas and FED models which are generally used to evaluate the fire gas hazard in previous researches. The integrated model named HNF was proposed as well to estimate the fire hazards of materials by interpolation and weighted average calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aim was to explore northward movement and highly-qualified cultivation technology of super-early maturing ratoon rice. [Method] The 2ndseason rice was cultivated in the test with suitable temperature, heat water and fertilizer, on basis of stubbles of the 1st-season rice. Hence, rice can be harvested twice per year, with short growth periods, and high yields, and the cultivation is simple to be operated, avoiding the peak of disease damages, so that pesticides are not required. [Result] The experiment of northward movement of super-early rice achieved success in Shenyang on October 9, 2014, with super-early maturing japonica rice 8501. [Conclusion] Northward movement of ratoon rice enjoys a promising prospect in increasing crop yield and guaranteeing food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the doping, temperature, and spatial evolutions of the electronic structure of NaFe1-xCoxAs studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. In the parent state we directly observe the spin density wave gap, which exhibits unconventional features that are incompatible with simple Fermi surface nesting. The optimally doped sample has a single superconducting gap, but in the overdoped regime a novel pseudogaplike feature emerges. The pseudogaplike phase coexists with superconductivity in the ground state, persists well into the normal state, and shows strong spatial variations. The characteristics of the three distinct electronic states revealed here shed important new lights on the microscopic models for the iron-based superconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual polarization interferometry (DPI) is used for a detailed study of antibody immobilization with and without orientation control, using prostate specific antigen (PSA) and its antibody as model. Thiol modified DPI chips were activated by a heterobifunctional cross-linker (sulfo-GMBS). PSA antibody was either directly immobilized via covalent binding or coupled via the Fc-fragment to protein G covalently attached to the activated chip. The direct covalent binding leads to a random antibody orientation and the coupling through protein G leads to an end-on orientation. Ethanolamine (ETH) was used to block remaining active sites following the direct antibody immobilization and protein G immobilization. A homobifunctional cross-linker (BS3) was used to stabilize the antibody layer coupled on protein G. DPI provides a real-time measurement of the stepwise molecular binding processes and gives detailed geometrical and structural values of each layer, i.e., thickness, mass, and density. These values evidence the end-on orientation of closely packed antibody on protein G layer and reveal structural effects of ETH blocking/deactivation and BS3 stabilization. With the end-on immobilized antibody, PSA at 10 pg/mL can be detected by DPI through a sandwich complex that satisfies the clinical requirement (assuming <30 pg/mL as clinically safe). However, the randomly immobilized antibody failed to detect PSA at 1 ng/mL. In a parallel study using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, random and end-on antibody immobilization on streptavidin-modified gold surface was evaluated to further validate the importance of antibody orientation control. With the closely packed antibody layer on protein G surface, SPR can also detect PSA at 10 pg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcapsules containing tetrachloroethylene as an internal phase were prepared by in situ polymerization of urea-formaldehyde (UF) without prepolymerization. The effects of different emulsifiers on the process of microencapsulation and morphology of microcapsules were investigated. The results show that the emulsifier gum arabic (GA) can effectively slow down the deposition rate of resin onto the oil/water interface, which can lead to smooth and compact surface of microcapsules. The surface activity of GA was also enhanced by complex formation of gum arabic and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate. The microcapsules represent good thermal and barrier property as a result of the formation of capsule wall with compact microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Closely packed lithography is a versatile technology to fabricate different kinds of periodically arranged nanostructures on substrate or in solution. Due to its large diversities and versatilities, it is necessary to predict the shape of the nanostructures under various fabrication conditions. This paper gives a full simulation for the profile of metal nanostructures fabricated by closely packed nanosphere lithography. The simulation applies to both hexagonal and quadrangular nanosphere arrangements, and the nanospheres can be in one layer or stacked in two layers, with each layer having a different size. For metal evaporated at any angle onto the nanosphere mask, three-dimensional metal nanostructures on each layer of the nanosphere as well as the substrate are given. The simulation helps to obtain the desired metal nanostructures by predicting the profiles and facilitating the process design in closely packed lithography, and it is especially beneficial for finding out the profiles of the nanostructures hidden under the nanospheres, which are undetectable without removing the nanosphere layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactide-graft-γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS-g-PLA) was prepared by grafting MPS onto PLA. MPS-g-PLA was characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), and gel permeation chromatography. Furthermore, MPS-g-PLA was used to modify bacterial cellulose (BC), and the changes of surface properties of BC resulting from the treatment were followed by FT-IR and contact angle measurements. The results revealed that the modified BC possessed a much more hydrophobic nature than virgin BC. The surface modification of BC with MPS-g-PLA offers a way to increase the compatibility between the components in biocomposites, and thereby to improve the properties of these composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the use of a genome-wide association study in Korea and the U.S. to identify systemic sclerosis (SSc) susceptibility loci. It is stated in the study that SSc is a connective tissue disease caused by genetic predisposition. It notes that the results of fine-mapping studies in Korea were replicated in SSc patients from the U.S. It also mentions that the study found that the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DPB1 and DPB2 region contained the most susceptible SSc loci.

Abstract  Benzocyclobutene (BCB) is a thermosetting polymer that can form microfluidics and bond top and bottom layers of the microfluidics at the same time, and yields high repeatability and high bonding strength. This paper reports using photosensitive BCB to fabricate microfluidics and to bond with a thermal press for 4 in. wafers. By optimizing the parameters for pattern development and using a three-stage temperature and pressure increment BCB bonding, we realize the whole wafer glass–Si or glass–glass bonding in thermal press without any crack. The wafer-level bonding shows a bonding percentage above 70%, a tensile stress above 4.94 MPa, and a bonding repeatability over 95%. Furthermore, the bonding is compatible with thick electrode integration, that microfluidics with 380 nm thick electrodes underneath can be well-bonded. Our bonding method much reduces the cost compared with bonding BCB in a wafer bonding machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dosimetric characteristics of a 2D diode array device (MAPCHECK™) and provide correction factors for clinically relevant conditions. Measurements were performed for various collimator settings (5×5–40×40 cm2), SSDs (80–110 cm), and depths (5–20 cm) for 6 and 15 MV photon beams. The correction factor was determined as the ratio of dose measured by an ionization chamber in a large full scatter water phantom to the dose measured by the MAPCHECK with 30×30 cm2 solid water phantom. The total correction factor was separated into three components. The phantom scatter factor was evaluated by taking the ratio of dose measured by MAPCHECK with backscatter material and 30×30 cm2 phantom to that by the ionization chamber in an infinite large water phantom renormalized to the reference field size (10×10 cm2). This was also compared to the theoretical calculation using ratios of phantom scatter factor between an infinitely large water phantom and 30×30 cm2 solid water phantoms. The backscatter effect was determined by taking the ratio of the MAPCHECK measurements with and without 10 cm thick solid water backscatter material also normalized to the reference field size at the depth of measurement. The extra correction factor is defined as the ratio of dose measured by the MAPCHECK (without backscatter) to that measured by the ionization chamber in a large water phantom at depth d for the reference field size (10×10 cm2) normalized to the reference depth (10 cm) and reference field size. The total correction factors for 6 and 15 MV photon beams were up to 16% and 11.5%, respectively, due to the difference in phantom scatter in MAPCHECK measurements when the field sizes are larger than 30 cm. The result was consistent with theoretical analysis with phantom scatter alone. The backscatter correction factor varied by up to 2% and increased with increasing field size. The extra correction factor decreases with depths and is <0.4% for all depths. The authors have verified that correction factors for MAPCHECK are a function of the scaled field size and depth only and are independent of the SSD. Results were verified for off-axis points measured by MAPCHECK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Well-dispersed Ag2S nanocrystals with size of about 20~30 nm were prepared in distilled water at room temperature with the assistance of imidazoline surfactant quaternary ammonium salt of 2-undecyl-1-dithioureido-ethyl-imidazoline (SUDEI) prepared in-house. The products were characterized by TEM, XRD, and FT-IR, respectively. The influence of SUDEI concentration on the dispersion of Ag2S products was briefly discussed. Furthermore, the obtained Ag2S nanocrystals product was applied into DNA hybridization analysis, and the results indicated that the detection limit of target ssDNA was up to pmol/L, showing that the DNA probe labeled with Ag2S nanoparticles is of promising application value in electrochemical DNA detection analysis and biosensors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the tribological properties of MoS2 nano-sized hollow spheres in liquid paraffin (LP) and the corresponding action mechanism. Morever, its feasibity of industrial application as an oil additive in the industrial lubrication field is also explored. Design/methodology/approach - The tribological properties of MoS2 nano-sized hollow spheres (NH-MoS2) modified by Cyanex 301(di-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) dithiophosphinic acid) with size of 200?~?300?nm in LP are studied and compared with those of the commercial colloidal MoS2 (CC-MoS2) on a four-ball tester and an Optimol SRV Oscillating friction and wear tester in a ball-on disk configuration. The worn surfaces of the lower flat disc are examined with a scanning electron microscopy and an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. Findings - Results show that NH-MoS2 is a better extreme-pressure additive and anti-wear (AW) and friction-reducing additive in LP than CC-MoS2. Under the optimum concentration of 0.5 per cent for both NH-MoS2 and CC-MoS2 and the load of 400?N, the friction coefficient of NH-MoS2 +?LP and CC-MoS2 +?LP decreases about 43.8 and 6.3 per cent, and the wear volume loss decreases about 60.3 and 12.0 per cent compared with the pure LP. The boundary lubrication mechanism for NH-MoS2 +?LP can be deduced as the effective chemical adsorption protective film formed by the long chain alkyls R and active elements (S and P) in the modification layer and tribochemical reaction film containing the tribochemical products of the additive. Moreover, sliding and rolling frictions co-exist in NH-MoS2 +?LP, doing contributions to the good tribological properties as well. Originality/value - In this paper, the Cyanex 301-modified MoS2 nano-sized hollow spheres with diameter of 200?~?300?nm are firstly added into LP to investigate its tribological properties. The excellent AW and friction-reducing properties indicate that this MoS2 hollow spheres product is a good oil additive, and the fundamental data presented here will be useful for its further industrial application in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quaternary ammonium salts of 2-undecyl (heptadecyl)-1-dithioureido-ethyl-imidazoline (SUDEI/SHDEI) have been synthesized, and their interfacial properties are investigated. The effects of temperature, alkyl chain R length, and polarity of solvents on the surface tension are discussed. The results show that surface tension of SUDEI and SHDEI in water solutions decreases with increasing of temperature, and SHDEI shows lower cmc value than SUDEI at constant temperature, indicating that it is easier for SHDEI to form micelles in water. SUDEI and SHDEI show much higher cmc in ethanol-water (1:4, v/v) than that in pure water. The molecular structure of SUDEI/SHDEI is composed of lipophilic group R and hydrophilic group comprising active elements S, N and imidazoline ring and the two groups are of similar length, which is similar to that of bi-block copolymer. Thus, interesting results have been found in the preparation of nanomaterials in the presence of imidazoline surfactants. The corresponding mechanisms are still under investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(fluoroalkyl mathacrylate)‐block‐poly(butyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer latices were synthesized by a two‐step process. In the first step, a homopolymer end‐capped with a dithiobenzoyl group [poly(fluoroalkyl mathacrylate) (PFAMA) or poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA)] was prepared in bulk via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate as a RAFT agent. In the second step, the homopolymer chain‐transfer agent (macro‐CTA) was dissolved in the second monomer, mixed with a water phase containing a surfactant, and then ultrasonicated to form a miniemulsion. Subsequently, the RAFT‐mediated miniemulsion polymerization of the second monomer (butyl methacrylate or fluoroalkyl mathacrylate) was carried out in the presence of the first block macro‐CTA. The influence of the polymerization sequence of the two kinds of monomers on the colloidal stability and molecular weight distribution was investigated. Gel permeation chromatography analyses and particle size results indicated that using the PFAMA macro‐CTA as the first block was better than using the PBMA RAFT agent with respect to the colloidal stability and the narrow molecular weight distribution of the F‐copolymer latices. The F‐copolymers were characterized with 1H NMR, 19F NMR, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Comparing the contact angle of a water droplet on a thin film formed by the fluorinated copolymer with that of PBMA, we found that for the diblock copolymers containing a fluorinated block, the surface energy decreased greatly, and the hydrophobicity increased. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 471–484, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the systems of mica reinforced polymers based on polystyrene and polypropylene, block copolymers polystyrene-b–polyisoprene-b–polyvinyltriethoxysilane (PS-b–PI-b–PVTOSI) and polystyrene–polyvinyltriethoxysilane (PS-b-PVTOSI) were used as macromolecular coupling agents to treat mica. Compared to common coupling agents, e.g. A-174, A-151 and A-1100, such block copolymer coupling agents can much more effectively improve the interfacial adhesion of mica reinforced polystyrene and significantly increase the mechanical properties of the composites. In a certain range, an appropriate increase in the block lengths of polystyrene and polyvinyltriethoxysilane is desirable for the mechanical properties. The introduction of the middle flexible polyisoprene block and the increase in its length are of advantage to the impact strength of the composites. The good compatibility of the matrix polymer and the block copolymer coupling agent is in favor of the improvement in the interfacial adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mono-dispersed molybdenum disulfide solid spheres with the diameter of 0.5–2 μm have been successfully synthesized by a solvothermal method with a homemade quaternary ammonium salt of 2-undecyl-1-dithioureido-ethyl-imidazoline (SUDEI) as surfactant. The obtained solid spheres are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The influences of reaction conditions are discussed while a mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of the peculiar morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine), or osteonectin, is a matricellular protein. Recently, it was observed to be overexpressed in fibroblasts obtained from the skin of patients with scleroderma, as well as in different tissues from patients with several other fibrotic disorders. Moreover, a genetic polymorphism in SPARC has been associated with susceptibility to scleroderma. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is a profibrotic cytokine that stimulates excessive collagen production in patients with scleroderma or other fibrotic diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine whether specific inhibition of SPARC can influence the expression of type I collagen and ameliorate the profibrotic activity of TGFβ1 on normal human fibroblasts.Fibroblasts obtained from the skin of 4 healthy individuals were cultured and transfected with SPARC small interfering RNA (siRNA). TGFβ was used as a fibrosis stimulus in cultured fibroblasts. Real‐time quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to measure transcription and protein levels of SPARC and type I collagen, respectively.The fibroblasts transfected with SPARC siRNA showed decreased expression of both SPARC and type I collagen. Exogenous TGFβ1 induced increased expression of both SPARC and type I collagen in cultured normal human fibroblasts, but this response was significantly blunted in the fibroblasts transfected with SPARC siRNA.TGFβ1 can induce increased expression of both SPARC and type I collagen. Specific inhibition of SPARC led to decreased expression of type I collagen and attenuated the profibrotic effect of TGFβ1 in cultured normal human fibroblasts. Use of siRNA to silence SPARC represents a potential therapeutic approach to fibrotic disorders such as scleroderma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research showed that the Choctaw Indians of Oklahoma exhibit considerable linkage disequilibria (LD) in a number of regions of the genome that has allowed genetic fine mapping for potential susceptibility genes for the autoimmune connective tissue disease scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis (SSc). In principle, such enhanced background LD in the Choctaws could be caused by population bottleneck event(s) followed by recent population expansion. This investigation utilizes genome-scan data on 175 dinucleotide loci from 76 Choctaw individuals to seek genetic evidence of the demographic history of the Choctaw Nation. Of the 175 loci examined, 105 are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The average unbiased homozygosity over the 105 loci for the Choctaws (29.3%) is significantly higher than that in the European descent group (20.9%); and when adjusted for sample-size differences, the Choctaw also exhibit a significantly smaller number of segregating alleles (6.65 vs. 8.14) at these loci. Both of these observations are consistent with the trend expected in an isolated population. Comparison of the allele size variance and gene diversity yields an imbalance index (lnβ) of 0.811 in the Choctaw. Of the 105 loci examined, 93 exhibit excess expected homozygosity in comparison to the expectations of a stepwise mutation model in a population of constant size. Taken together, these observations are consistent with a signature of the recent population size expansion of the Choctaws, preceded by bottleneck event(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex, multisystem connective tissue disease in which genetic factors contribute to disease susceptibility. The aim of this study was to localize chromosome regions associated with susceptibility to SSc in a relatively isolated and homogenous population of Choctaw Indians with a high prevalence of SSc. A genome-wide microsatellite screen at 10 cM resolution (400 markers) was performed in 20 Choctaw patients with SSc and 76 ethnically matched controls. Based on the results of the initial screen, fine-scale microsatellite mapping at ≤1 cM resolution was performed in 10 selected chromosome regions. Allele and marker haplotype frequencies were compared between SSc patients and controls. From the genome-wide screen, 12 markers showed evidence of highly significant associations with SSc in this population (P < 0.01), while 5 other markers showed significant associations (0.01 < P < 0.05). Among these markers, loci D5S410, D6S422, D15S978, and D20S107 are near the SPARC, MHC, FBN1, and TOPOI genes, respectively, confirming the results of our previous studies, which used different markers. D1S2800 and D14S63 have been reported to show linkage to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in family-based studies, and D1S206, D6S422, and D6S264 are loci on 1p21.2, 6p22.3, and 6q23-27, respectively, which are in regions reported as showing linkage to SLE and other autoimmune diseases. Other markers showing unique associations with SSc were D7S510 (7p12-11), D7S661 (7q35), D8S514 (8q24.12), D19S221 (19p13.2), D19S220 (19q13.2), D22S423 (22q13.1), DXS1068 (Xp11.4), and DXS8055 (Xq21-23). Further analysis with fine-scale microsatellite mapping revealed at least 14 potential haplotypes associated with SSc. Our findings indicate that a number of genetic loci may contribute to the high prevalence of SSc in the Choctaw and are consistent with the paradigm that some autoimmune rheumatic diseases are likely to share genetic determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the fire situation of China in 1998. Fire statistics data have been analyzed with a view to understand the characteristics of fire accidents, including vocation and location distribution, cause analysis, monthly frequency and frequency of fires by time of day etc. It is revealed that specific work on fire protection should be taken so as to meet the demands of the society. In addition, some of the major fire accidents are also recapitulated briefly. Finally, the study highlights the importance to carry out fire statistics and gives some suggestions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examines the interface of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) fiber-reinforced thermoplastic starch composites to address market demand for their mechanical properties. We first used a combination of solution treatment (acid/alkali) and plasma modification to modify fibers. This method improves surface roughness and increases oxygen-containing groups of the fibers, which enhances the mechanical interlocking at the interface and promotes stronger hydrogen bonds between fibers and starch, respectively. Their synergy effect significantly strengthens interfacial adhesion and interfacial shear strength (IFSS). In contrast, cold plasma modification alone results in a smaller increase in IFSS because of its lower roughness and fewer oxygen-containing groups. Alkaline treatment and increased cold plasma power level are more conducive to higher IFSS through stronger synergistic effects. Although IFSS improved from 2.41 to 4.40 MPa after alkali and plasma treatments of 200 W, the tensile strength decreased from 811.46 to 351.55 MPa. To optimize the mechanical properties of composite materials, it is crucial to choose a kind of modification method that balances IFSS enhancement and tensile strength reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: CdS nanowires and Bi2S3 nanorods have been successfully synthesized by the extraction–solvothermal method. The Cd2+ or Bi3+ ions were extracted into gasoline by the extractant Cyanex 301 firstly, then the extracted solution was given solvothermal treatment in a teflon-lined stainless autoclave at 130–170 °C for 24 h to synthesize CdS nanowires and Bi2S3 nanorods. The CdS nanowire is hexagonal crystal with diameters of 70–200 nm or more, and the Bi2S3 nanorod is orthorhombic crystalline. The extractant Cyanex 301 plays several functions in the whole procedure: to be as the extractant for metal ions, the sulfur source for metal sulfides and the growth controller for the nanowire or nanorod sulfide crystals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recently, two-dimensional (2D) GaS and GaSe nanosheets were successfully fabricated and the measured electronic, mechanical, and optoelectronic properties are excellent. Here, using the first-principles density functional theory, we investigate the magnetic, optical, and magneto-optical (MO) Kerr and Faraday effects in hole-doped GaS and GaSe multilayers. GaS and GaSe monolayers (MLs) manifest ferromagnetic ground states by introducing even a small amount of hole doping, whereas the magnetism in GaS and GaSe multilayers are significantly different under hole doping. Our results show that ferromagnetic states can be easily established in GaS bilayers and trilayers under proper hole doping, however, most of GaSe multilayers are more favorable to nonmagnetic states. The magnetic moments in GaS multilayers are weakened remarkably with the increasing of thin film thickness and are negligible more than three MLs. This leads to the thickness dependence of MO Kerr and Faraday effects. Furthermore, the MO effects strongly depend on the doping concentration and therefore are electrically controllable by adjusting the number of holes via gate voltage. The substrate effects on the MO properties are also discussed. Combining the unique MO and other interesting physical properties make GaS and GaSe a superior 2D material platform for semiconductor MO and spintronic nanodevices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new nucleic acid-based fluorescence sensor is reported for simultaneous detection of Pb2+, Ag+, and Hg2+ based on the specific catalytic activity of Pb2+ for a particular DNAzyme, specific regulation of Ag+ on “C-Ag+-C” complex, and stable complex formed by Hg2+ and rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RBITC). Three fluorescence dyes, aminomethylcoumarin acetic acid (AMCA), 5-carboxyfluorescein (FAM), and RBITC, were modified on the probes and served as fluorescent donors. Upon DNA interaction with these metal ions and AuNP fluorescence quenching effect on the fluorescence dyes, the fluorescence recovery of RBITC and the fluorescence quenching of AMCA and FAM were monitored to detect Hg2+, Pb2+, and Ag+, separately, without the need of using any masking reagents. This sensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity. The limit of detection (LOD) is 0.48 nM for Pb2+, 0.23 nM for Ag+, and 0.17 nM for Hg2+. Finally, this sensor was successfully applied for simultaneous detection of Pb2+, Ag+, and Hg2+ in real sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An association between male and female sex hormones and selenium (Se) status has been reported in animals and humans. These relationships may be important relative to the use of selenium in hormone related diseases such as breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of estrogen status on the tissue distribution of Se and liver mRNA levels of selenoprotein P (SelP) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). 60 µCi of 75Se as selenite was orally administered to each bilaterally ovariectomized rat 5 weeks after implantation of either placebo pellet (-E) or pellet with estradiol (+E). Blood and tissues were collected 1, 3, 6, and 24 h after dosing. Differences (P<0.05) in 75Se in blood, liver, heart, kidney, spleen, brain, and thymus were noted at certain times. Plasma SelP in +E group contained a greater percentage of 75Se at 3, 6 and 24 h compared to -E group (P<0.05); 75Se in plasma GPx also was greater in +E compared to -E group at 24 h (P<0.05). Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that both hepatic SelP/GAPDH (0.93 vs. 0.50) and GPx/GAPDH (2.81 vs. 2.24) were significantly greater in +E group than in -E group. These results suggest that estrogen status affects distribution of ingested Se in tissue- and time-dependent manners, as well as the expression of hepatic SelP and GPx at both protein and mRNA level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fewer than 5% of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs are clinically concordant for systemic sclerosis (SSc), yet the majority of MZ twins are concordant for antinuclear antibodies. To discover genetic versus nongenetic molecular pathways important to the pathogenesis of SSc, we compared global gene expression patterns in twins discordant for SSc.Total RNA from dermal fibroblasts of 15 discordant twin pairs (10 MZ and 5 DZ) and 5 normal controls were used in microarray analysis. Aberrantly expressed genes were confirmed using quantitative real‐time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction.Lesional and nonlesional fibroblasts from SSc patients showed no significant differences in gene expression, while SSc patients had gene profiles that were significantly different from those of unaffected DZ twins and normal controls. Unaffected MZ twins, however, were not significantly different from SSc patients. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering segregated the fibroblast samples as originating from 2 major groups. Group A contained 5 discordant MZ twin pairs, 3 affected MZ twins, and 3 affected DZ twins. Group B contained all 5 normal population controls, all 5 healthy DZ twins, 2 discordant MZ twins, and 2 discordant DZ twin pairs. Normal fibroblasts incubated with serum from an SSc‐affected patient or with serum from her unaffected MZ twin sister developed the increased expression of COL1A2, SPARC, and CTGF typically seen in SSc fibroblasts.These results demonstrate that dermal fibroblasts from SSc patients and from 40–50% of their genetically identical but clinically unaffected MZ twins exhibit a similar gene expression pattern which can be induced in normal fibroblasts by sera from both. Thus, a stronger genetic predisposition to SSc (than can be detected clinically) is apparent at the molecular level in skin fibroblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use scanning tunneling microscopy to investigate the doping dependence of quasiparticle interference (QPI) in NaFe1-xCox As iron-based superconductors. The goal is to study the relation between nematic fluctuations and Cooper pairing. In the parent and underdoped compounds, where fourfold rotational symmetry is broken macroscopically, the QPI patterns reveal strong rotational anisotropy. At optimal doping, however, the QPI patterns are always fourfold symmetric. We argue this implies small nematic susceptibility and, hence, insignificant nematic fluctuation in optimally doped iron pnictides. Since Tc is the highest this suggests nematic fluctuation is not a prerequistite for strong Cooper pairing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a novel solid-phase colorimetric sensor facilely fabricated by loading unmodified gold nanoparticles into poly(oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylate) (POEGMA) brushes grown on glass. Our work reports the first synergistic combination of metallic nanoparticles acting as a colorimetric sensing module with a nonfouling polymer matrix acting both as a nonrigid scaffold and a screen to reduce interference from nontarget molecules. In addition, as the nanocomposite is formed on a transparent substrate, solid-phase detection can be performed in the same manner as in the solution-phase. We demonstrate the use of this unique platform for label-free lead detection based on the release of gold nanoparticles from the polymer brush upon exposure to lead ions. An ultralow limit-of-detection of 25 pM (S/N = 3) and a dynamic range of 100 pM to 100 nM (R2 = 0.987) are achieved. Furthermore, the detection is up to 1000-fold more selective to lead over other common heavy metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated heparin was associated with adverse reactions by activating the contact system. Chemically oversulfated/modified glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) consisting of heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate have been identified as heparin contaminants. Current studies demonstrated that each component of oversulfated GAGs was comparable with oversulfated chondroitin sulfate in activating the contact system. By testing a series of unrelated negatively charged compounds, we found that the contact system recognized negative charges rather than specific chemical structures. We further tested how oversulfated GAGs and contaminated heparins affect different cell signaling pathways. Our data showed that chemically oversulfated GAGs and contaminated heparin had higher activity than the parent compounds and authentic heparin, indicative of sulfation-dominant and GAG sequence-dependent activities in BaF cell-based models of fibroblast growth factor/fibroblast growth factor receptor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor/c-Ret, and hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met signaling. In summary, these data indicate that contaminated heparins intended for blood anticoagulation not only activated the contact system but also modified different GAG-dependent cell signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper has studied the influence of ambient pressure and oxygen content on spontaneous ignition of wood by conducting contrastive experiments with wood slab exposed to high temperature radiation at two different altitudes. The measurement of mass loss, time to ignition, and surface temperature of wood are carried out. Results show that mass loss rate of wood at high altitudes (3650m) is higher than the one at low altitudes (50m), while ignition delay time of the sample at high altitude is shorter. The surface temperatures at the time of ignition in the two different places are both close to each other, which indicates that the pressure did not affects the ignition temperature. The theoretical analysis on the phenomenon of different ignition behavior of wood in these two altitude environments has been presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the analysis of six lots of heparin associated with contamination and 28 lots of heparin produced by a heparin manufacturer from 2004 to 2007.

Contaminated heparin was linked to at least 149 deaths and hundreds of adverse reactions. Published report indicates that heparin contaminants were a natural impurity, dermatan sulfate, and a contaminant, oversulfated chondroitin sulfate (OSCS). OSCS was assumed to derive from animal cartilage. By analyzing 26 contaminated heparin lots from different sources, our data indicate that the heparin contaminants were chemically sulfated or chemically sulfated/desulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) consisting of heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and dermatan sulfate based on monosaccharide quantification, CE, heparin lyase digestion, and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. Since currently recommended heparin quality control assays had failed to detect certain heparin contaminants, a simple method that detects most contaminants in heparin was developed. This assay detects specific heparin structures that most contaminants cannot mimic and can be performed in any laboratory equipped with an UV spectrometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Hollow spherical molybdenum disulfide has been successfully synthesized via a solvothermal method using Cyanex 301 as sulfur source and modification agent. The hollow spheres are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis. The influences of reaction conditions are also discussed while a mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of the peculiar morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As the mechanism of interaction between circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating the development of prostate cancer (PCa) is not clear, this study focuses on investigating these effects. Materials and Methods: Sample tissues were collected from the PCa of patients, and microarray analysis of human circRNAs was conducted. The expression of circ_0001686, hsa_ miR-411-5p (miR-411-5p) were also detected by qRT-PCR. Circ_0001686 and miR-411-5p mimics were transfected into the PCa cell lines (CWR22RV1and LNCaP) and MTT, colony formation, Transwell, and scratch wound assays were used to analyze the biological behaviors of PCa cells. Si-circ_0001686 and ASO-miR-411-5p were used as negative controls, and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to verify the interactions among circ_0001686, miR-411-5p, and SMAD3/TGFBR2. The levels of SMAD3 and TGFBR2 in different treated PCa cells were measured by western blot, and in vivo experiments in a nude mouse model were carried out to strengthen the in vitro findings of miR-411-5p. Results: The expression of circ_0001686 was up-regulated, while the expression of miR-411-5p was down-regulated in PCa cells. Moreover, circ_0001686 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Molecular mechanism exploration revealed that circ_0001686 could reduce miR-411-5p, affecting the downstream target genes of SMAD3 and TGFBR2. In vitro and in vivo studies verified that miR-411-5p inhibits PCa progression. Conclusions: Circ_0001686 can reduce miR-411-5p to increase the expression of SMAD3/TGFBR2, which consequently promotes the proliferation, invasion, and migration of PCa cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Periampullary diverticulum (PAD), although commonly discovered in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), remains controversial regarding its role in pancreaticobiliary diseases and the failure rate of cannulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of PAD with pancreaticobiliary diseases and its impact on the outcome of ERCP.Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 1455 patients who underwent an ERCP. Patients were divided into a PAD group and a control group without PAD, and propensity score matching was performed to adjust for clinical differences. The comparison was focused on pancreaticobiliary diseases, technical success, and complications of ERCP.Results: The occurrence of PAD is associated significantly with increasing age (p < 0.001). Incidences of acute pancreatitis (AP), suppurative cholangitis, and pancreatic head cancer were significantly higher in the PAD group (p < 0.05). After propensity score matching, the PAD group exhibited a higher rate of post-ERCP complications including haemorrhage, post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP), and hyperamylasaemia (p < 0.05). However, the prevalence of perforation and the success rate of ERCP did not differ between groups (p > 0.05).Conclusions: Periampullary diverticulum develops with aging and seems to be associated with an increase in pancreaticobiliary diseases and post-ERCP complications except for perforation. Additionally, the presence of PAD does not affect the technical success of ERCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problem that inertial measurement element is not suitable for low-cost guided ammunition, a method for estimating the line of sight (LOS) angular rate of missile motion parameters instead of inertial measurement element is designed. Based on the missile target motion model and seeker measurement model, a LOS angular rate filtering model is constructed. Aiming at the characteristics of nonlinearity and parameter uncertainty of the model, robust cubature Kalman filter (RCKF) is proposed to transform the filtering problem of the uncertain filtering model into the problem of minimizing the upper bound with parameter error covariance. Compared with the cubature Kalman filter (CKF), the effectiveness and robustness of RCKF were verified by digital simulation. The experimental results showed that RCKF was effective and its accuracy was slightly better than CKF under the condition of small disturbance; Under the condition of large disturbance, the maximum error of LOS inclination angle decreased by 55.56%, the standard deviation decreased by 55.53%. The maximum error of LOS deflection angle decreased by 56.5%, the standard deviation decreased by 55.51%. The maximum error of LOS inclination angle rate decreased by 53.92%. The standard deviation decreased by 55.96%. The maximum error of LOS deflection angle rate decreased by 55.57%, the standard deviation decreased by 55.41%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specific scheme of two-loop attitude control system was formulated based on the design principle of attitude control system with the damping circuit as the inner loop and the overload control loop as the outer one. As required by the formulated scheme, the damping loop is designed firstly, of which the stability and the dynamic response quality are improved by adjusting the damping coefficient and the addition of the correction network. After that, the design and optimization of the overload control loop are implemented. With the same design method, gain coefficient and correction network are introduced to reduce overshoot of overload response curve, shorten response time and improve efficiency. Besides, the validity of the overload control loop is tested with square wave as input to reflect the real overload command signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An accurate diagnosis for high-suspicion nodules based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines would reduce unnecessary invasive examinations. Elastography is a useful tool for discriminating benign and malignant thyroid nodules. The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic efficiency of elastography for high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 ATA guidelines in the Chinese population. Methods: Thyroid nodules with high-suspicion characteristics based on the 2015 ATA guidelines were subjected to conventional ultrasound (US) and ultrasound strain elastography (USE) examinations at 12 hospitals from 4 geographic regions across China. Cytology/histology of thyroid nodules was used as a reference method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the elasticity score (ES) and strain ratio (SR). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of malignancy. Results: Overall, a total of 1445 thyroid nodules (834 malignant, 611 benign) from 12 centers were included in the final analysis. The areas under the curve of the ES and SR were 0.828 and 0.732, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the ES were 92.4, 60.7, 79.0, 76.3 and 85.5%, respectively, and those of the SR were 81.1, 50.1, 68.9, 65.9 and 67.9%, respectively. The combination of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) and ES led to a significant increase in the sensitivity and NPV (97.1 and 91.9%, respectively) compared with the TI-RADS alone. Logistic regression analysis showed that microcalcifications (OR = 5.290), taller than wide (OR = 12.710), irregular margins (OR = 10.117), extrathyroidal extension (ETE; OR = 6.412), the ES (OR = 3.741) and the SR (OR = 1.083) were independent predictors of malignant thyroid nodules. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of the ES were all superior in nodules ≥1 cm than in those < 1 cm (95.0% vs 90.4, 68.8% vs 56.8, 85.9% vs 74.4, 85.2% vs 69.9, and 87.8% vs 84.2%, respectively). Conclusions: Elastography combined with the ES is a valuable tool for the assessment of high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 ATA guidelines, especially in nodules ≥1 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specific scheme of two-loop attitude control system was formulated based on the design principle of attitude control system with the damping circuit as the inner loop and the overload control loop as the outer one. As required by the formulated scheme, the damping loop is designed firstly, of which the stability and the dynamic response quality are improved by adjusting the damping coefficient and the addition of the correction network. After that, the design and optimization of the overload control loop are implemented. With the same design method, gain coefficient and correction network are introduced to reduce overshoot of overload response curve, shorten response time and improve efficiency. Besides, the validity of the overload control loop is tested with square wave as input to reflect the real overload command signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The case-control study aimed to investigate the association between the -31G>C polymorphism in the promoter of survivin gene and the susceptibility to sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) in a Southern Chinese population.Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 711 healthy controls and 702 CRC cases of a Southern Chinese population. Survivin gene -31G>C genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The association between CRC risk and -31G>C genetic polymorphism was estimated using an unconditional logistic regression model.Results: The number of CC genotype carried in CRC patients was much higher than those of controls (P < 0.001). Compared with CC genotypes, GC, GG genotypes and -31G wild-type genotypes (i.e., GC + GG) had a significantly decreased risk of CRC (P < 0.001). In addition, survivin -31G wild-type genotypes were not associated with decreased risk of sporadic CRC patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥28.0 kg/m2, family cancer history, and premenopausal.Conclusion: Survivin -31G>C polymorphism is associated with sporadic CRC risk in the Southern Chinese population. The -31G wild-type genotypes and GC, GG genotypes are the independent protective factors against sporadic CRC excluding those with a BMI ≥28.0 kg/m2, family cancer history, and premenopausal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High quality electrical contact to semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) such as MoS2 is key to unlocking their unique electronic and optoelectronic properties for fundamental research and device applications. Despite extensive experimental and theoretical efforts reliable ohmic contact to doped TMDCs remains elusive and would benefit from a better understanding of the underlying physics of the metal-TMDC interface. Here we present measurements of the atomic-scale energy band diagram of junctions between various metals and heavily doped monolayer MoS2 using ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy (UHV-STM). Our measurements reveal that the electronic properties of these junctions are dominated by two-dimensional metal-induced gap states (MIGS). These MIGS are characterized by a spatially growing measured gap in the local density of states (L-DOS) of the MoS2 within 2 nm of the metal-semiconductor interface. Their decay lengths extend from a minimum of ∼0.55 nm near midgap to as long as 2 nm near the band edges and are nearly identical for Au, Pd, and graphite contacts, indicating that it is a universal property of the monolayer semiconductor. Our findings indicate that even in heavily doped semiconductors, the presence of MIGS sets the ultimate limit for electrical contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celastrol, a natural triterpene, exhibits potential anti-inflammatory activity in a variety of inflammatory diseases. The present study aimed to investigate its biological effect on activated fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The primary FLSs of the synovial tissues were obtained from synovial biopsies of patients with RA. The normal human FLS line (HFLS) was used as a control. After the RA-FLSs and HFLSs were treated with or without celastrol, various approaches, including the WST-1 assay, transwell assay, real-time PCR and ELISA analysis, were performed to estimate proliferation, invasion and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines of the RA-FLSs. Microarray analysis was performed to screen for differentially expressed genes in RA-FLSs before and after celastrol treatment. The results showed that treatment of celastrol attenuated both the proliferation and invasion of the RA-FLSs. The expression of several chemokine genes, including CCL2, CXCL10, CXCL12, CCR2 and CXCR4, was significantly changed after celastrol treatment. The genes involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway appeared to be regulated by celastrol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Percutaneous ablation has quickly arisen as one of the important alternative treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and other ablative techniques on HCCs. Methods: Databases were searched to identify literature on complete tumor ablation (CTA), overall survival (OS), local tumor recurrence (LTR), and complications of RFA in the treatment of HCC, compared with those of microwave ablation (MWA), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), PEI plus RFA, cryoablation (CRA), laser ablation (LSA), and high-intensity focused ultrasound. Randomized controlled trials and high-quality cohort studies were included in the assessment. Results: The effects of MWA and CRA appeared to be similar to those of RFA, but lower rates of LTR and higher rates of CTA in large tumors compared with RFA were reported (P < 0.05). CTA rates were lower in patients treated with PEI (odds ratio [OR] 0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06-0.42), and higher in those treated with PEI plus RFA (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.19-3.60), with an increased incidence of fever (P < 0.05). LSA resulted in lower CTA rates (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.13-0.81) and OS (hazard ratio 1.47, 95% CI 1.01-2.15), with a lower incidence of complications. Conclusions: Compared with RFA, identical effects were found in MWA and CRA groups. Fewer complications were observed in PEI and LSA group. PEI plus RFA appeared more effective, with a higher rate of complications. Well-designed randomized controlled trials are further needed to confirm above results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]