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Background The genomic profile of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Asians is distinct from that of Caucasians, but comprehensive genetic profiling reports have been limited for Asian patients. We aimed to elucidate genomic characteristics of Chinese NSCLC patients and develop potential model including genomic characteristics to predict postoperative prognosis. Methods Resected tumor samples from 511 patients with stage I-IV lung cancer were subjected to targeted sequencing using a panel of 295 cancer-related genes. Based on the molecular profiles and clinical features, we established nomogram models with predictors consisting of integrated clinical and genomic characteristics to provide post-operative risk stratification. Results Compared to the TCGA population (mainly Caucasians), there was a significantly higher frequency of EGFR (53.7% vs. 14.4%) and NOTCH3 (8.4% vs. 1.3%) mutations and less mutated KRAS (11.0% vs. 32.6%), KEAP1 (4.4% vs. 17.4%) and LRP1B (16.3% vs. 29.6%) in Chinese lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD). Distinct patterns of mutually exclusive and co-occurring mutations were identified between LUAD and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), indicating the unique histology-specific tumorigenesis mechanism of each subtype. We observed alterations in pathways correlated with clinical characteristics. Additionally, we constructed nomogram model with predictors consisting of clinical and genomic characteristics, which were more accurate than models with clinical characteristics or TNM staging only both in stage I-IIIA patients and T1-2N0M0 sub-cohort. Conclusions This study revealed Chinese NSCLC patients have unique genomic profile. Furthermore, the nomogram model combining clinical features with genomic characteristics could improve risk stratification in early-stage NSCLC.

Metal silicides are used to reduce the polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) gate and contact resistances during fabrication of transistors in microelectronics devices. Generally, Titanium disilicides and Cobalt disilicides are widely utilized on transistors while Nickel monosilicides (NiSi) are still under intense investigation for future transistor technology. However, reactions between parent metals (Ti, Co and Ni) and silicon often present many different problems during silicides formation. DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (SME)

Ya-jie SUN§, Ying CHEN, Chong PANG, Ning WU*, Jin LI* Department of New Drug Evaluation, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China Aim: Acetazolamide (AZA), a carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor, has been found to alleviate inflammatory and neuropathic pain in rats. In the present study, we investigated the effects of AZA on thermal- and chemical-stimulated acute pain in mice and the possible mechanisms underlying the effects. Methods: Five acute pain models based on thermal and chemical stimuli were established to investigate the effects of AZA on different types of nociception in mice. The antinociceptive effects of methazolamide (another CA inhibitor) and diazepam (a positive allosteric modulator of GABAA receptor) were also examined. The drugs were administered either intraperitoneally (ip) or intrathecally. Results: AZA (50–200 mg/kg, ip) did not produce analgesia in two thermal-stimulated acute pain models, ie, mouse tail-flick and hot-plate tests. In contrast, AZA (50–200 mg/kg, ip) dose-dependently reduced paw licking time in both capsaicin and formalin tests in mice. A similar result was observed in a mouse acetic acid-induced writhing test. However, AZA (10 nmol/mouse, intrathecally) did not produce significant analgesia in the 3 chemical-stimulated acute pain models. In addition, methazolamide (50–200 mg/kg, ip) and diazepam (0.25–1.0 mg/kg, ip) did not produce significant analgesia in either thermal- or chemical-stimulated acute pain. Conclusion: AZA produces analgesia in chemical-stimulated, but not thermal-stimulated acute pain in mice. The attenuation of chemical-stimulated acute pain by AZA may not be due to enhancement of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition via inhibiting CA activity but rather a peripheral ion channel-related mechanism. Keywords: acetazolamide; methazolamide; diazepam; analgesia; tail-flick test; hot-plate test; capsaicin test; formalin test; acetic acid-induced writhing test; carbonic anhydrase; GABAA receptor This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No 81171046). § Now at Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail jinli9802@163.com (Jin LI); wuning7671@126.com(Ning WU) Received 2013-05-05 Accepted 2013-09-18

Crack growth and closure behavior of short cracks are investigated for various stress ratios, using in-plane bending specimens of 2024-T351 aluminum alloy. Artificially prepared two-dimensional, short through-thickness cracks are used. Crack length and closure of short cracks are measured continuously during the test by employing an unloading elastic compliance technique and a personal computer system. For most of all the stress ratios tested, short cracks grow faster than long cracks in the low stress intensity factor range region, and the growth rates of short cracks merge with the long crack growth curve with increases in the value of stress intensity factor range. The variation in growth rates between short and long cracks is reduced as the value of stress ratio is increased, and finally disappears at a stress ratio of R = 0.5. The growth rates of short cracks are well described by the effective stress intensity factor range. The growth rates of short cracks in terms of the effective stress intensity factor range coincide well with the long crack data. However, the closure behavior of short cracks is significantly different from that of long cracks. The crack opening ratio of a short crack decreases from an initial high value corresponding to a fully open crack linearly with the value of effective stress intensity factor range, and merges with the long crack results. Based on the test results obtained, a relatively simple procedure is proposed to predict closure and growth behavior of short cracks. The validity of the proposed procedure is examined using the test data of other workers. In addition, some methods proposed by other workers are also discussed.

A wavelength scanning demodulation system based on continuous wave tunable frequency is given in this paper. Based on fiber Bragg grating's (FBG) axial strain character, the practical FBG strain sensor is designed. At the same time, tunable narrow-band light source, which is composed of wide-band light source and tunable optical filter, is adopted to demodulate multiplex signals. This method not only supply wider tunable range but also afford higher signal to noise ratio. A mixture multiplexing method that combines optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is proposed to address FBG sensing network. The proposed system scheme is testified to have faster demodulation and higher stability by analyzing theoretically and researching experimentally.