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Understanding sources of oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) in the atmosphere still has large uncertainties. In this study, an improved OVOC source apportionment model was developed by principal component analysis and multiple linear regression based on the online monitoring of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and OVOCs in a dense urban agglomeration in the winter. The modeled concentrations were in good agreement with the measured concentrations (R2 = 0.56–0.97). The concentrations of major OVOCs, except for 2‐methylacrolein, were greatly affected by anthropogenic sources (15.8%–76.8%) and secondary generation (0.0%–51.7%), while transport and natural sources contributed to 0.0%–26.8% and 0.0%–32.0%, respectively. The selection of isoprene as the natural tracer led to an underestimation of the OVOC species from primary emission and an overestimation from natural sources. In addition, photochemical reactions significantly reduced the simulation accuracy of the model for NMHCs in the afternoon, with the R2 of 0.60 ± 0.23, which was lower than the overall value of 0.82 ± 0.11. However, the R2 for OVOCs (0.83 ± 0.14) did not decrease significantly in the afternoon due to the compensation of secondary oxidation. Furthermore, the concentration gradient distribution of the species gradually changes from a normal distribution to an exponential normal distribution with a decrease in concentration, the accuracy of the model was influenced by the degree of matching between tracer and species concentration gradient as species concentration change. Developing models with additional tracers at different concentration levels may enhance the robustness of the OVOC source apportionment model without increasing its complexity. Plain Language Summary: The precision of oxygenated volatile organic compound (OVOC) source apportionment models is subject to external factors that affect the accuracy of the analysis. Thus, understanding their sources in the atmosphere still has large uncertainties. In this study by measuring the full spectrum of VOCs, we developed a source apportionment model. The model had good agreement with the measured concentrations (R2 = 0.56–0.97) and quantified main sources of OVOCs, except for 2‐methylacrolein, as follows: (a) anthropogenic sources (15.8%–76.8%), (b) secondary generation (0.0%–51.7%), (c) regional transport (0.0%–26.8%), and (d) natural sources (0.0%–32.0%). However, due to the selection of isoprene as the natural source tracer, the concentrations of OVOCs were higher in the natural source category and lower in the anthropogenic source category. In addition, the photochemical reaction can reduce the simulation accuracy of NMHCs with the R2 of 0.60 ± 0.23, but has little effect on the simulation accuracy of OVOCs (R2 = 0.83 ± 0.14). A downside of the model is that the predicted concentrations are higher at low concentration gradients and lower at high concentration gradients. Thus, we recommend implementing a model with more tracers at different concentration levels in order to improve the source apportionment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective: to study the state of androgen supply and erectile function in men with chronic distress. Materials and methods. We examined 30 internally replaced males (Average age, M±σ=50.50±3.83) with manifestations of chronic distress (Group I) and 20 practically healthy males (Group II), (Average age, M±σ=51.95±4.60). All men underwent general clinical examination, body mass index evaluation, assessment of depression according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), assessment of symptoms of androgen deficiency according to the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS). Severity of erectile dysfunction was evaluated according to the International Index of Erectile Function scale (IIEF). The following parameters were determined in blood serum: luteinizing hormone (LH), folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (TF), estradiol (E), cortisol (K). Results. According to the HADS scores in group I men, the average anxiety domain score was 12.03±1.50 points, the average depression domain score was 13.93±1.49, and the total score was 26.0±2.64 points. In patients of group II, the average anxiety domain score was 2.20±0.88 points, the average depression domain score was 2.60±1.00, and the overall score was 4.80±1.40 points. The comparison of the total score of group I and the total score of group II is statistically significant (p<0.05). According to the AMS, in men of group I, androgen deficiency was more expressed comparing to the control group (45.93±3.30 and 13.30±2.04 points, respectively, p<0.001). Analysis of the IIEF-15 questionnaire revealed a decrease in all indicators of erectile function in men of group I comparing to group II. A study of the hormonal state showed a decrease in the level of TT in men of group I compared to the indicators of group II: 9.30±2.84 and 15.27±0.96 ng/ml, respectively (p<0.001). The average TF levels in group I were reduced comparing to group II and reached 10.23±1.38 and 17.39±1.03 pg/ml, respectively (p<0.001). The levels of LH and FSH in men of group I were within normal age-related fluctuations and did not differ statistically significantly from similar levels of group II. The average E level in men with chronic distress was significantly increased comparing to the control group and reached up to 0.25±0.05 versus 0.11±0.03 nmol/l, respectively (p<0.001). The average C level in men with chronic distress was significantly increased comparing the control group and reached up to 13.33±2.19 versus 6.72±1.33 μg/dL, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusions. 1. The survey results indicate that chronic distress is a factor that worsens sexual function in men. In addition to erectile dysfunction, as evidenced by a decrease in the corresponding IIEF integrative indicator 15 «erectile function», the survey found a decrease in both the frequency of occurrence and the degree of sexual desire, a deterioration in orgasmic sensations in the form of a decrease in the frequency of ejaculation and orgasms. 2. Cortisol is an important hormone that forms protective reaction in stressful situations, but loses its positive properties during chronic distress. A prolonged increase in cortisol levels can lead to a pathological condition accompanied by an increase in BMI, depression, anxiety, decreased testosterone levels and ED. 3. A decrease in testosterone levels in chronic distress and visceral obesity in men is not accompanied by a compensatory increase in LH and FSH levels. This can be explained by increased aromatization of testosterone in visceral adipose tissue and a decrease in the pituitary gland's response to the development of androgen deficiency as a result of combined damage to the central and peripheral parts of the regulation of testosterone synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaN samples were implanted with Be and annealed in different conditions in order to activate the shallow BeGa acceptor. Low-temperature photoluminescence spectra were studied to find BeGa-related defects in the implanted samples. A yellow band with a maximum at about 2.2 eV (the YLBe band) was observed in nearly all samples protected with an AlN cap during the annealing and in samples annealed under ultrahigh N2 pressure. A green band with a maximum at 2.35 eV (the GL2 band), attributed to the nitrogen vacancy, was the dominant defect-related luminescence band in GaN samples annealed without a protective AlN layer. The ultraviolet luminescence (UVLBe) band with a maximum at 3.38 eV attributed to the shallow BeGa acceptor with the ionization energy of 0.113 eV appeared in implanted samples only after annealing at high temperatures and ultrahigh N2 pressure. This is the first observation of the UVLBe band in Be-implanted GaN, indicating successful activation of the BeGa acceptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonothermal GaN samples with the concentration of free electrons of 1018 and 1019 cm−3 were annealed in a wide range of temperatures (Tann = 300–1400 °C) under atmospheric N2 pressure and under ultra-high N2 pressure conditions to avoid the GaN decomposition. Photoluminescence (PL) studies reveal the YL2 band with a maximum at 2.3 eV before annealing and two new PL bands after annealing at Tann > 600 °C: the OL3 band with a maximum at 2.1 eV and the RL4 band with a maximum at 1.6–1.7 eV. The ammonothermal GaN samples have high concentrations of complexes containing gallium vacancy (VGa), hydrogen, and oxygen. The first-principles calculations suggest that the VGa-3Hi complex is the origin of the YL2 band, while the VGa-3ON complex is responsible for the RL4 band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was found that a combination of the advantages of ultrasonic testing and electronic speckle-interferometry in the case of elimination of their disadvantages is the base for development of the method of non-destructive evaluation of residual welding stresses in full-scale structures. A procedure of non-destructive evaluation of the distribution of residual tensile welding stresses in the weld zone of a butt welded joint was developed. It is based on a simultaneous application of ultrasonic testing and electronic speckle-interferometry and fulfillment of the condition of "area equality" of the epures of balanced compressive and tensile residual stresses. The procedure was proposed for the application on specimens of single-pass welded joints of thin-sheet constructions from metallic materials with a stable structure. The subject of the study is tensile residual welding stresses in a MIG-welded specimen of a butt joint of structurally stable 1561 aluminium alloy. Residual welding stress σx component longitudinal relative to the weld was evaluated in the plate central area. It was found that the discrepancy of the values of residual welding stresses near the center of the welded joint of 1561 aluminium alloy is equal to approximately 0.1σ0.2 for this material, which corresponds to the claimed accuracy of the methods. Based on the research results, a range of procedures was proposed for the non-destructive evaluation of the residual welding stresses in full-scale welded structures, based on a combination of ultrasonic testing and electronic speckle-interferometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We used two-sample Mendelian Randomization to reveal causal estimates of type 1 diabetes and bone. Type 1 diabetes was found to be a risk factor for bone metabolic health, although there was no clear evidence to support a genetic association between type 1 diabetes and osteoporosis and fracture risk. Introduction: Based on the random assignment of gametes at conception, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis simulates randomized controlled trials in an observational setting. Therefore, we used MR to assess the association causality of type 1 diabetes (T1D) with fractures and osteoporosis. Methods: From a genome-wide association meta-analysis, independent single nucleotide polymorphisms closely associated with T1D were selected as instrumental variables. Data on fracture and osteoporosis were obtained from the FinnGen Consortium. We performed a two-sample MR analysis, using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) as the primary analysis method, to assess possible causal associations between T1D and bone risk. The results were verified by MR-Egger regression and median weighted method (WME). MR-PRESSO and MR-Egger intercepts were used to evaluate the horizontal pleiotropy of instrumental variables, and the Q-test and "leave-one-out" methods were used to test the heterogeneity of MR results. Results: IVW (OR=1.040, 95% CI=0.974-1.109, P=0.238), MR-Egger regression (OR=1.077, 95% CI=0.921-1.260, P=0.372) and WME (OR=1.021, 95% CI=0.935-1.114, P=0.643) all showed that there was no causal relationship between T1D and osteoporosis, but the direction was consistent. The indicative significance of IVW results in T1D and forearm fractures (OR=1.062, 95% CI=1.010-1.117, P=0.020), but the results are not robust enough. There was no causal effect in femur, lumbar and pelvis, or shoulder and upper arm fractures. Conclusions: After MR analysis, although T1D may be a risk factor for bone health, we do not have sufficient evidence to support a causal effect of T1D on osteoporosis and fractures at a genetically predicted level. More cases need to be included for analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals in soil are dangerous contaminants that limit the development of modern agriculture. The terahertz time-domain spectroscopy technique has shown its potential for rapid detection of heavy metals. However, the related detection mechanism has not been revealed. We combined terahertz technology with path analysis to observe and identify lead pollution in soil at different pH levels (5.5, 7.0, 8.5), and to analyze the related mechanism. First, solutions with pH values of 5.5, 7.0, and 8.5 were configured to prepare the soil samples with lead contents of 300, 600, 900, and 1200 mg/kg. The pressed-slice method with a pressure of 3.5 t and 200 mg in weight was selected to produce the soil tablets at each level. The terahertz technique was used to provide the terahertz absorption spectra. Then, the distribution of each chemical binding state of lead in soil samples under different pH conditions was observed. Finally, a path analysis method was used to explore the influence of each chemical binding state on the terahertz spectrum. The results showed that the bound state of Fe–Mn oxide lead and exchangeable lead had the greatest influence on the terahertz spectral curve, promoting and inhibiting the terahertz absorption, respectively, whereas other bound states presented an auxiliary role. This research investigates the detection mechanism of the influence of different bound lead in the soil on the terahertz absorption spectrum and provides a theoretical basis for the development of a rapid detection method using terahertz technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Ecology is the property of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose. Development of a calculation methodology for three-layer cylindrical shell stability, which will significantly improve the calculation practice for these structures regarding the determination of critical external pressure. Methodology. When determining the critical external pressure, the method of variational calculation using the Euler equation of the mixed variational problem was used. To determine three-layer cylindrical shell stability, the factors of significant influence on its strength and stability were taken into consideration, namely the reduced modulus of a three-layer wall elasticity. Bending stiff ness Dh was substituted with flexural stiff ness of three-layer shell with account for the shear deformation. Findings. The current situation of the three-layer cylindrical shell stability issue is investigated. Using the variational calculation methods via the Euler equation of the mixed variational problem an equation is composed of equality condition of inner and external force action of an orthotropic structure, which is under the state of neutral equilibrium with radial displacement. The previously obtained equation for radial displacements having been taken and applied to the system potential energy per unit of length equation, an equation for the critical pressure determination is determined. The analytical solution obtained was proposed for the structure of the crane travelling wheel with an elastic insert. Pcr =1267 MPa was obtained. The allowable wheel pressure on rail for the crane travelling wheels is adopted to be within 250 MPa, i. e. the available stability margin is nc = 1267/250 = 5.1. As we can see, the stability margin is more than sufficient. Originality. A new methodology for the three-layer cylindrical shell under external pressure calculation is developed. A quantitative assessment of the crane travelling wheel with flexible insert critical pressure is carried out. Practical value. A determination methodology for critical pressure of a three-layer cylindrical structure under external pressure is created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraneoplastic arthritides (PA) are a group of inflammatory arthropathies associated with latent or manifest malignancy, localized in a distant site in relation to the primary focus and caused by immune-mediated mechanisms. Although the pathogenesis of PA is unknown, immune-mediated mechanisms can cause paraneoplastic syndrome with a dominant feature of polyarthritis. Arthritis can be both the initial manifestation of the disease, and it can manifest itself some time before the oncological process. Common forms of PA include paraneoplastic oligo/ polyarthritis; hypertrophic osteoarthropathy; remitting seronegative symmetric synovitis with pitting edema; palmar fasciitis and pancreatic panniculitis associated with pancreatic carcinoma. The purpose of this review article was to describe the clinical characteristics, diagnostic assessment and treatment of paraneoplastic arthritis, and highlight the challenges that healthcare professionals may face in order to distinguish these conditions from other autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms associated with PA and to develop new diagnostic biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty quantification (UQ) is a key component when using computational models that involve uncertainties, e.g. in decision-making scenarios. In this work, we present uncertainty quantification patterns (UQPs) that are designed to support the analysis of uncertainty in coupled multi-scale and multi-domain applications. UQPs provide the basic building blocks to create tailored UQ for multiscale models. The UQPs are implemented as generic templates, which can then be customized and aggregated to create a dedicated UQ procedure for multiscale applications. We present the implementation of the UQPs with multiscale coupling toolkit Multiscale Coupling Library and Environment 3. Potential speed-up for UQPs has been derived as well. As a proof of concept, two examples of multiscale applications using UQPs are presented. This article is part of the theme issue 'Reliability and reproducibility in computational science: implementing verification, validation and uncertainty quantification in silico'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bol Sustavy Pozvonochnik is the property of Zaslavsky O.Yu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Three-dimensional printing of high laser reflectivity metals and metal matrix composites continues to be a challenge because of loss of laser energy and lack of high-quality composite powders. Modifying powders to enhance the interaction between laser and powder and improve the uniformity of reinforcement is a possible solution. However, traditional powder mixing methods such as ball milling destroy the spherical nature of powders. We report here commercial-scale coating of powder by electroless plating for high laser-reflectivity metals and fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition (FBCVD) for composite powders without changing the sphericity. The results indicated that coating high-laser-absorptivity Co and Ni on Al powder enhances the printability leading to good physical and mechanical properties. Similarly, the composite powder made by FBCVD had a good combination of uniformity, sphericity and flowability, which also exhibited improved printability and excellent mechanical properties for the printed bulk composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leg weakness (LW) issues are a great concern for pig breeding industry. And it also has a serious impact on animal welfare. To dissect the genetic architecture of limb-and-hoof firmness in commercial pigs, a genome-wide association study was conducted on bone mineral density (BMD) in three sow populations, including Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire. The BMD data were obtained by ultrasound technology from 812 pigs (including Duroc 115, Landrace 243 and Yorkshire 454). In addition, all pigs were genotyped using genome-by-sequencing and a total of 224 162 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained. After quality control, 218 141 SNPs were used for subsequent genome-wide association analysis. Nine significant associations were identified on chromosomes 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 18 that passed Bonferroni correction threshold of 0.05/(total SNP numbers). The most significant locus that associated with BMD (P value = 1.92e−14) was detected at approximately 41.7 Mb on SSC6 (SSC stands for Sus scrofa chromosome). CUL7, PTK7, SRF, VEGFA, RHEB, PRKAR1A and TPO that are located near the lead SNP of significant loci were highlighted as functionally plausible candidate genes for sow limb-and-hoof firmness. Moreover, we also applied a new method to measure the BMD data of pigs by ultrasound technology. The results provide an insight into the genetic architecture of LW and can also help to improve animal welfare in pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bol Sustavy Pozvonochnik is the property of Zaslavsky O.Yu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bol Sustavy Pozvonochnik is the property of Zaslavsky O.Yu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bol Sustavy Pozvonochnik is the property of Zaslavsky O.Yu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We reported the fabrication of silicon (Si) nanorods and springs on arrays of seeds with different diameters by using glancing angle deposition technique. Single nanorod is possible to grow on individual seeds if the size of the seeds is small enough. On large size seeds, however, multiple Si nanorods are observed in experiments. The effects of the size of seeds were studied by using Monte Carlo simulations based on a ballistic aggregation model. The simulation model also includes ballistic sticking, shadowing, and surface mobility. Both of the top-view and cross-sectional images of the nanostructures were generated in simulation and compared to the images of experimental samples taken by scanning electron microscopy. We also investigated the effect of surface diffusion on the formation of nanostructures. In our experiments, no separate rods formed when the surface mobility is sufficiently high, such as the deposition of cobalt on the large size seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metallic coating method is used to modify the optical properties of a dielectric photonic lattice and to achieve a near visible photonic band edge. It is experimentally shown that the linear scaling rule of a metallic band edge versus lattice constant holds only for perfect conducting metals. When a metal deviates from a perfect conducting behavior near the plasma wavelength, the metallic photonic band edge is pinned and is nearly independent of lattice constant. For our tungsten photonic lattice, the pinning occurs at λ≈1.5–2 μm. By using a thin copper coating (∼70 nm) to a dielectric photonic lattice, a photonic band edge at λ∼750 nm is observed. This achievement is made possible by the fact that copper is a good conductor at visible wavelengths and the linear scaling rule holds. Finally, this coating method allows for tailoring photonic properties through material engineering at the nanometer scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic properties of columnar Co films on SiO[sub 2] substrates fabricated by oblique-angle incident thermal evaporation at room temperature were systematically examined by multiple techniques, including magnetic force microscopy (MFM), magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Films with thickness ranging from 50 to 500 nm were deposited at the incident angles θ (with respect to substrate normal) from 0° to 85°. For films with thickness of ∼500 nm, the SEM shows the column tilt angle β increases as the θ angle increases and β < θ. The MFM images show that for 55° < θ < 75°, stripe domains are formed and are nearly parallel to the direction of incident vapor beam. The hysteresis loops obtained from MaKE show that along the direction perpendicular to the incident vapor beam the coercivity H[sub c] stays almost constant for all θ angles and the squareness decreases as the θ increases. This is in contrast to the increase of H[sub c] and the increase of squareness in the direction parallel to the incident vapor beam for θ > 60°. The result implies that for θ > 60°, the axis parallel to the incident beam behaves more like the in-plane easy axis. These magnetic anisotropies are correlated to the angular-dependent columnar structure of Co films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumor cells attenuates the efficacy of anticancer drugs and has become the main reason for chemotherapy failure. It is indispensable to establish an effective way to reverse multidrug resistance. Our previous work has shown that downregulation of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway activity can reverse the drug resistance of resistant cells. Furthermore, the effect of signal transduction is strongly associated with lipid rafts. The drug resistance is reversed successfully after lipid rafts are destroyed by heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD). However, reversal of the drug resistance is not associated with downregulation of ERK1/2 expression. Cell membrane permeability may increase when lipid rafts are destroyed by MβCD, causing the reversal of drug resistance due to an increased drug accumulation in cytoplasm. To minimize the influence of MβCD on the cell membrane structure, we selected flotillin, a marker protein of lipid rafts, as the target molecule to further investigate the mechanism of changes in drug resistance after destruction of lipid rafts. The effect of flotillin on the reversal of drug resistance was examined using RNA interference (RNAi) in a retroviral system in human drug resistant strains of colorectal cancer cell line HCT-15. The results demonstrate that flotillin-1 downregulation by RNAi (Flot1-RNAi) reduced the drug resistance, caused cell cycle arrest and decreased the expression of ERK1/2; however, apoptosis was not significantly affected. Knockdown of flotillin-2 by RNAi (Flot2-RNAi) had effects similar to those of Flot1-RNAi except that the effects on ERK1/2 expression and apoptosis were different. Screening of multiple pathways indicated that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was closely related. This experiment demonstrates an association between PI3K and drug resistance through the activation of PI3K and suggests that PI3K may play a key role during the development of resistance in CRC. The results reveal that the levels of IRS-1 and PI3K proteins in the Flot1-RNAi and Flot2-RNAi groups were significantly downregulated. Knockdown of flotillins by RNAi reduced the resistance of HCT-15/ADM cells; and the results on Akt pathway indicate a decrease in resistance after lipid raft destruction. These data confirm that knockdown of flotillin reduces the resistance of HCT-15/ADM cells and the mechanism may be relevant to the PI3K/Akt pathway. Additionally, flotillin may be used as a potential target for chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bol Sustavy Pozvonochnik is the property of Zaslavsky O.Yu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bol Sustavy Pozvonochnik is the property of Zaslavsky O.Yu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective To evaluate the impact of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessed with SF-36 and explore factors associated with HRQoL in SLE patients. Methods A random-effect meta-analysis was performed to calculate extracted data. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to distinguish sources of heterogeneity. Results A total of 36 articles were finally included in this meta-analysis, including 6510 patients. The pooled mean scores of SF-36 physical component summary and mental component summary were 46.10 (95% confidence interval (CI): 43.09–49.10) and 50.37 (95% CI: 47.78–52.87), respectively. Spearman's correlation analysis found that mean age, proportion of female participants, and publication decades were negatively associated with some of the SF-36 domains. Sample size and SLEDAI were positively associated with some of the SF-36 domains. Patients with SLE have lower HRQoL in comparison to the general population. Conclusions SLE has a significant impact on HRQoL, which proves that the necessity of improving HRQoL in SLE patients cannot be ignored. Measuring HRQoL should be considered as an indispensable part of the overall evaluation of health conditions of SLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) reside in postnatal dental pulp and exhibit the potential to differentiate into odontoblasts as well as neurons. However, the intercellular signaling niches necessary for hDPSC survival and self-renewal remain largely unknown. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the existence of intercellular purinergic signaling in hDPSCs and to assess the impact of purinergic signaling on hDPSC survival and proliferation. hDPSCs were isolated from extracted third molars and cultured in minimum essential medium. To demonstrate responsiveness to ATP application and inhibitions by purinergic receptor antagonists, whole cell patch-clamp recordings of ATP-induced currents were recorded from cultured hDPSCs. Immunofluorescence and enzymatic histochemistry staining were performed to assess purinergic receptor expression and ectonucleotidase activity in hDPSCs, respectively. To determine the effects of purinergic signaling on hDPSC, purinergic receptor antagonists and an ectonucleotidase inhibitor were applied in culture medium, and hDPSC survival and proliferation were assessed with DAPI staining and Ki67 immunofluorescence staining, respectively. We demonstrated that ATP application induced inward currents in hDPSCs. P2X and P2Y receptors are involved in the generation of ATP-induced inward currents. We also detected expression of NTPDase3 and ectonucleotidase activity in hDPSCs. We further demonstrated that purinergic receptors were tonically activated in hDPSCs and that inhibition of ectonucleotidase activity enhanced ATP-induced inward currents. Furthermore, we found that blocking P2Y and P2X receptors reduced-and inhibition of ecto-ATPase activity enhanced-the survival and proliferation of hDPSCs, while blocking P2X receptors alone affected only hDPSC proliferation. Autocrine/paracrine purinergic signaling is essential for hDPSC survival and proliferation. These results reveal potential targets to manipulate hDPSCs to promote tooth/dental pulp repair and regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bol Sustavy Pozvonochnik is the property of Zaslavsky O.Yu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Background and Aims: The concentration and composition of nitrogen (N) in must is critical to yeast fermentation and aroma profiles in wine. We investigated the effect of adding branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs, including l‐valine, l‐leucine and l‐isoleucine) to a non‐limited N medium on the formation of aromatic compounds and on gene expression patterns of the wine yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Methods and Results: A synthetic N‐sufficient must was supplemented with BCAAs and fermented with S. cerevisiae. The fermentation kinetics, aroma characteristics and yeast global gene expression in wine with addition of BCAAs were compared with that of the Control. Addition of BCAAs improved yeast growth and fermentation activity, increased the production of higher alcohols, medium‐chain fatty acids and their corresponding esters (82, 34 and 49% increment compared to that of the Control, respectively). The comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that 25 genes varied in their expression during fermentation with added BCAAs relative to that of the Control, which are mainly involved in yeast growth and proliferation (GIP1, DIT2, RCK1, SPO1 and MEK1) and transport of amino acids (GAP1). Conclusions: An increase in BCAA transport ability and in yeast population is the main reason for achieving an increased concentration of volatile aroma compounds in wine with addition of BCAAs. Significance of the Study: Our results suggest that adding BCAAs into N‐sufficient must is still an efficient way to adjust wine's aromatic composition and improve aroma complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern solar follow-up systems make it possible to increase a solar cell's efficiency and, as a result, solar energy utilization. The paper considers modern solar follow-up methods and their operational principles. Trackers are separated onto uniaxial and biaxial according to the plane which tracking occurs. Biaxial trackers are the most efficient. The operational principles of active and passive trackers are studied. A laboratory model of a biaxial solar tracker with precise solar orientation is described, based on an algorithm for calculating the voltage with current sensors. The following are given in the paper: the current–voltage characteristic obtained for different solar array positions and using trackers; the relationships between the power and measured currents and voltages. The efficiency is calculated for different solar array positions and using a tracker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a novel feature selection method which can suppress the input features during the process of model construction automatically. The main idea is to obtain better performance and sparse solutions by introducing Tikhonov regularization terms and measuring the objective function with L1-norm, based on projection twin support vector machine. Furthermore, to make the problem easy to solve, the exterior penalty theory is adopted to convert the original problem into an unconstrained problem. In contrast with twin support vector machine which needs solve two QPPs, our method only solves two linear equations by using a fast generalized Newton algorithm. In order to improve performance, a recursive algorithm is proposed to generate multiple projection axes for each class. To disclose the feasibility and effectiveness of our method, we conduct some experiments on UCI and Binary Alpha-digits data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In hypoxic conditions, miRNA-210 plays an important role in regulating the expression of hypoxia-inducing factor-1α (HIF-1α) and the differentiation of T helper 17 (Th17) cells, and this may be involved in the development and function of the immune system.Aims: This study was to investigate the miR-210 expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its association with the clinical and laboratory features of both diseases.Methods: Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect miR-210 expression levels in PBMCs from 35 patients with SLE, 38 patients with RA, and 35 healthy controls.Results: Compared with the healthy controls, the miR-210 expression levels were significantly increased in patients with SLE (P = 0.001) and there was increased significantly expression of miR-210 in SLE with pleuritis (Z = −2.345, P = 0.019) and anti-SSB/La-positive group (Z = −2.076, P = 0.038). However, we have not found the significant correlation between the miR-210 levels and the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score (rs = 0.091, P = 0.602). Although, no significant difference between miR-210 levels in RA patients and those in healthy controls was found (Z = −1.226, P = 0. 220). There was a significant decreased expression of miR-210 in active RA patients than inactive RA patients (Z = −4.011, P < 0.001).Conclusions: The dysregulation of miR-210 levels in SLE and RA patients suggests that miR-210 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medical Perspectives / Medičnì Perspektivi is the property of Dnipropetrovsk Medical Academy of Health Ministry of Ukraine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The single-phase, body-centered orthorhombic-structured, Cu-doped PbPdO films with a nanograin structure were synthesized by using the sol-gel spin-coating method and an oxidation treatment. It was found that large amounts of Pb vacancies exist in the nanograin film and Pb ions possess a mixed valence state of 2+ and 4+. Besides the superparamagnetism and the charge ordering state, the magnetic studies displayed that ferromagnetism, which can persist up to 380 K, exists in the Cu-doped PbPdO nanograin film. As a peculiar characteristic of the spin gapless semiconductor, the ferromagnetic saturation magnetization increasing unusually with temperatures above 300 K was also discovered. The bound magnetic polarons based on the Pb vacancies, the doped Cu ions, and the Pb ions with a valence higher than 2+ were believed to be the origin of such high-temperature ferromagnetism. Graphical abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bol Sustavy Pozvonochnik is the property of Zaslavsky O.Yu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bol Sustavy Pozvonochnik is the property of Zaslavsky O.Yu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In order to determine whether tumor necrosis factor alpha inducible protein 3 ( TNFAIP3) gene polymorphisms confers susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE) in ethnically different populations. A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the association between TNFAIP3 polymorphisms and susceptibility to SLE. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify all relevant studies. Pooled odds ratios ( ORs) with 95% confidence intervals ( CIs) were used to estimate the strength of the association. A total of 23 studies from 20 articles, involving 18,501 patients with SLE and 30,435 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, we found significant association between SLE and the TNFAIP3 rs2230926, rs5029937, rs5029939, and rs3757173 polymorphisms (all P < 0.001). Stratification by ethnicity indicated that rs5029939 polymorphism was associated with SLE in Europeans, while rs2230926, rs5029937, and rs3757173 polymorphisms were associated with SLE both in Europeans and Asians (all P < 0.001). The results of our meta-analysis suggest that TNFAIP3 (rs2230926, rs5029937, rs5029939, and rs3757173) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the plasma interleukin (IL)-37 levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, as well as its association with major clinical and laboratory features. Ninety consecutively selected SLE patients and 78 community-based healthy controls were recruited. Plasma IL-37 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The major clinical and laboratory data of SLE patients were also recorded. The results showed that IL-37 level was significantly higher in the plasma of patients with SLE compared with controls (p = 0.028). The correlation of plasma IL-37 levels with major clinical and laboratory data of SLE patients was also analyzed, and the results showed that anti-Sm and anti-RNP were negatively associated with plasma IL-37 levels of SLE patients, while C3 was positively associated with plasma IL-37 levels of SLE patients. No significant associations of IL-37 with other clinical and laboratory parameters were observed (all p > 0.05). In conclusion, elevated plasma IL-37 level and its associations with anti-Sm, anti-RNP and C3 in SLE patients suggest that IL-37 may be implicated in this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is uncertain whether concurrent use of low-dose aspirin removes the gastrointestinal benefit displayed by COX-2 selective inhibitors (coxibs) when compared to traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs). Aim To evaluate the gastrointestinal risks associated with coxibs and traditional NSAIDs and the interaction with concurrent use of low-dose aspirin. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library through April 2016 to identify randomised trials comparing the gastrointestinal risk between coxibs and traditional NSAIDs in patients taking or not taking low-dose aspirin. Results were combined using random effects meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses by concurrent use of aspirin were undertaken. Results Eleven trials (84 150 participants) were included. The overall relative risk ( RR) of coxibs vs. traditional NSAIDs for complicated gastrointestinal events was 0.54 (95% CI, confidence interval 0.32-0.92), with a significant subgroup difference ( P = 0.04) according to concurrent use of aspirin (used: RR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.66-1.24; not used: RR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.14-0.83). The overall RR for clinical gastrointestinal events was 0.59 (95% CI 0.47-0.75), with a significant subgroup difference according to aspirin usage ( P = 0.008; used: RR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.62-0.95; not used: RR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.39-0.64). Overall coxibs were associated with significantly lower risk of symptomatic ulcers ( RR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.50-0.72) and endoscopic ulcers ( RR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.16-0.53) than traditional NSAIDs; a significant subgroup difference was shown for endoscopic ulcers ( P = 0.05) but not for symptomatic ulcers ( P = 0.27). Conclusion Concomitant use of low-dose aspirin reduces but does not completely eliminate the gastrointestinal benefit of coxibs over traditional NSAIDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Local excision or a wait-and-see policy may offer the possibility of organ preservation for locally advanced rectal cancer ( LARC) after preoperative chemoradiotherapy ( CRT). Identifying associated factors of good responders ( GR) with stage ypT0-1N0 would probably influence the selection of potential candidates who were theoretically eligible for organ-sparing management. This study was to establish a scoring system to select stage ypT0-1N0 for LARC following preoperative CRT. Method Between 2009 and 2014, 262 patients with middle and low LARC were treated with CRT and radical surgery. Clinicopathological data which were found to be significantly associated with GR were incorporated into a scoring system. Results Fifty-seven (21.8%) patients were GR with stage ypT0-1N0 in the operative specimen. Multivariate analyses indicated that a low level of pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen ( CEA) and post-treatment CEA <2.55 ng/ml ( P = 0.008 and P = 0.009 respectively) and long-axis diameter of residual tumours ( P = 0.006) were independently associated with stage ypT0-1N0. The three factors were incorporated into a scoring system. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we determined a cutoff value of −0.3 for scores, at which the system's sensitivity was 71.9% and specificity 73.1%. When applied to testing samples, the sensitivity was 74.1% and specificity 76.2%. Conclusion We demonstrated that low levels of pretreatment and post-treatment CEA and the long-axis diameter of residual tumours were associated with stage ypT0-1N0 for LARC after CRT. Therefore, the three-factor scoring system may be used to select potential candidates for organ-sparing management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A camera aided autocollimation (CAAC) system is proposed to enhance the working range of a photoelectric collimator (PEC). This system consists of a camera surrounded by point light sources (LSs), a PEC, a rotary table, and a translation stage. As the tilt angle of the target varies, the intensity of the light from the LSs that is reflected by the target and received by the camera exhibits two symmetric peaks. The camera guides the target into the scope of the PEC by scanning these two peaks. This CAAC approach can automatically collimate a prism with an edge length of 10 mm and an initial tilt angle of 5° at a working range of 1.5 m. The error of the coarse collimation at 99.7% confidence is 602″. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) supply is essential for achieving high grain yield in maize production, but excessive N application can lead to lodging risks and potential yield loss. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of ethephon application under different N fertilizer rates in reducing maize lodging. Field experiments were conducted to determine the interactive effects of ethephon (0 and 180 g/ha) and N rate (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg N/ha) on the morphological and chemical characteristics of basal internode and yield across two summer maize-growing seasons (2011/12) in Wuqiao of the North China Plain. Findings showed that ethephon significantly increased the maximum diameter of the 7th to 14th internodes, and decreased the internode lengths, which led to a decrease in plant and ear heights under different N rates. Significant ethephon × N interaction effects were observed on the diameter and length of internode, dry weight per unit internode length and breaking resistance. Ethephon significantly increased N, cellulose and hemicellulose contents of the basal internode, but cellulose and hemicellulose contents decreased as the rate of N application increased. Internode diameter, dry weight per unit internode length, and N content of the basal internode were significantly positively correlated with breaking resistance. Ethephon significantly increased grain yield and harvest index in 2011, but not in 2012. Grain yield and above-ground biomass were increased with increasing N application in both growing seasons, showing linear and quadratic responses. These results suggested that ethephon could increase stalk strength by improving the morphological and chemical characteristics of the basal internode, and maintain high yield and biomass under high N rates. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is an acute contagious condition caused by a spectrum of human enteroviruses. HFMD reinfection is common in the absence of cross-protection from other virus subtypes. This study focused on reinfection in children in Anhui province, China between 2008 and 2013 using surveillance system data. We classified 8960 cases as reinfected, corresponding to a rate of 2·02%. The reinfection rate was higher in boys than in girls [odds ratio (OR) 1·27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·21–1·32, P < 0·001], children aged < 3 years (OR 3·82, 95% CI 3·58–4·07, P < 0·001), and children living in rural areas (OR 1·09, 95% CI 1·04–1·14, P = 0·001). The reinfection rate in children who were originally infected with non-enterovirus A71 (non-EVA71) enteroviruses was higher than those infected with EVA71 (OR 1·36, 95% CI 1·02–1·80, P = 0·034). Influential factors of reinfection rate included annual incidence (β coefficient = 0·715, P = 0·002) and the proportion of EVA71 in patients with mild HFMD (β coefficient = −0·509, P = 0·018). These results demonstrate that boys aged <3 years, especially those in rural areas or regions with a lower EVA71 proportion are more prone to reinfection, and specific health education programmes should be developed to protect these susceptible populations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background:Telomere-related genes play an important role in carcinogenesis and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). It is not fully understood whether genetic variations in telomere-related genes are associated with development and progression in PCa patients.Methods:Six potentially functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of three key telomere-related genes were evaluated in 1015 PCa cases and 1052 cancer-free controls, to test their associations with risk of PCa. Among 426 PCa patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP), the prognostic significance of the studied SNPs on biochemical recurrence (BCR) was also assessed using the Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression model. The relative telomere lengths (RTLs) were measured in peripheral blood leukocytes using real-time PCR in the RP patients.Results:TEP1 rs1760904 AG/AA genotypes were significantly associated with a decreased risk of PCa (odds ratio (OR): 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64-0.93, P=0.005) compared with the GG genotype. By using median RTL as a cutoff level, RP patients with TEP1 rs1760904 AG/AA genotypes tended to have a longer RTL than those with the GG genotype (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.04-2.30, P=0.031). A significant interaction between TEP1 rs1713418 and age in modifying PCa risk was observed (P=0.005). After adjustment for clinicopathologic risk factors, the presence of heterozygotes or rare homozygotes of TEP1 rs1760904 and TNKS2 rs1539042 were associated with BCR in the RP cohorts (hazard ratio: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.36-0.79, P=0.002 and hazard ratio: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.07-2.48, P=0.017, respectively).Conclusions:These data suggest that genetic variations in the TEP1 gene may be biomarkers for risk of PCa and BCR after RP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]