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Braille system is widely used worldwide for communication by visually impaired people. However, there are still some visually impaired people who are unable to learn Braille system due to various factors, such as the age (too young or too old), brain damage, etc. A wearable and low-cost Braille recognition system may substantially help these people recognize Braille or assist them in Braille learning. In this work, we fabricated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based flexible pressure sensors to construct an electronic skin (E-skin) for the application of Braille recognition. The E-skin mimics human touch sensing function for collecting Braille information. Braille recognition is realized with a neural network based on memristors. We utilize a binary neural network algorithm with only two bias layers and three fully connected layers. Such neural network design remarkably reduces the calculation burden and, thus, the system cost. Experiments show that the system can achieve a recognition accuracy of up to 91.25%. This work demonstrates the possibility of realizing a wearable and low-cost Braille recognition system and a Braille learning-assistance system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undifferentiated uveitis (intraocular inflammation, IOI) is an idiopathic sight-threatening, presumed autoimmune disease, accountable for ~ 10% of all blindness in the developed world. We have investigated the association of uveitis with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using a mouse model of spontaneous experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU). Mice expressing the transgene (Tg) hen egg lysozyme (HEL) in the retina crossed with 3A9 mice expressing a transgenic HEL-specific TCR spontaneously develop uveoretinitis at post-partum day (P)20/21. Double transgenic (dTg TCR/HEL) mice also spontaneously develop clinical signs of colitis at ~ P30 with diarrhoea, bowel shortening, oedema and lamina propria (LP) inflammatory cell infiltration. Single (s)Tg TCR (3A9) mice also show increased histological LP cell infiltration but no bowel shortening and diarrhoea. dTg TCR/HEL mice are profoundly lymphopenic at weaning. In addition, dTg TCR/HEL mice contain myeloid cells which express MHC Class II-HEL peptide complexes (MHCII-HEL), not only in the inflamed retina but also in the colon and have the potential for antigen presentation. In this model the lymphopenia and reduction in the absolute Treg numbers in dTg TCR/HEL mice is sufficient to initiate eye disease. We suggest that cell-associated antigen released from the inflamed eye can activate colonic HEL-specific T cells which, in a microbial micro-environment, not only cause colitis but feedback to amplify IOI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microelectronics packages play a vital role in not only interconnecting the electronic signals from the die to the printed circuit board (PCB), but also in protecting the chips during the manufacturing process and their subsequent service lives. Epoxy molding compound (EMC) is widely used in electronic packaging due to its superior processing capability and low circuit signal delay. However, interfacial delamination is a common problem in encapsulated silicon devices, particularly at the interface between the copper leadframe (LF) pads and the EMC due to the weaker adhesion strength. Accordingly, the present study employs a double cantilever beam (DCB) experimental testing method and a numerical model based on the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) to investigate the fracture behavior at the EMC/Cu LF interface in a quad flat no leads (QFN) package. The experiments are performed on an MTS-Acumen microforce tester equipped with a load unit capable of applying a force of 0.01 to 1250 N with a displacement resolution of 0.1 μm. The DCB specimens are prepared with a pre-crack length of 12 mm. The validity of the simulation model is confirmed by comparing the predicted values of the critical strain energy release rate (SERR, Gc) between the EMC and the copper LF pads with the experimental observations. In general, the results show that the Gc value provides a useful parameter for evaluating the delamination risk of encapsulated microelectronics packages and assessing the reliability of alternative package architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the axial compressive performance of glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite structure, a full-scale axial compression experiment was conducted on GFRP composite bushing (GFRP-CB) column specimens. The axial compressive mechanical properties, failure mode, and load–displacement curves were obtained and analyzed. It is found that brittle fracture occurs in the GFRP-CB column specimens. Diagonal cracks as the main failure mode appear in the upper part of the GFRP pipe. Moreover, the maximum stress in specimens is less than the compressive strength of the GFRP composite material. The steel casing remains in the elastic state during the entire loading process. Based on the strength theory of transversely orthotropic material, the finite element method was used to scrutinize the influence of eccentricity and diameter–thickness ratios on strength of specimens. Numerical results prove that the ultimate bearing capacity of the eccentric compression specimens decreases with the eccentricity ratio. Reduction in diameter–thickness ratio can improve the ultimate bearing capacity of the specimens. As the diameter–thickness ratio decreases by 20%, the ultimate bearing capacity increases by 20%. Finally, an equation for calculating the ultimate bearing capacity of the GFRP-CB column is proposed according to test results. The calculated and test results are fairly consistent, which indicates the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of recovery on the subsequent recrystallization of tantalum were investigated via two-step annealing at two temperatures. Transmission electron microscopy, electron back-scattered diffraction, and X-ray diffraction were employed to determine the respective microstructures and textures after various annealing regimes. The results show that many large grains with {111} orientations are developed when heating at 1573 K without pre-recovery, while pre-recovery can introduce a homogeneous fine microstructure and weaken the texture. This difference can be attributed to the recovery-induced change in nucleation mechanisms. Elongated grains stretch along grain boundaries or locate in the interior of deformed grains, mainly due to the heterogeneous distribution of stored energy. Dislocations characterized by submicron bands in the deformed state evolve into sub-grains during pre-recovery and grow continuously, indicating a homogeneous distribution of dislocation or stored energy after pre-recovery, which can significantly influence subsequent nucleation and grain growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A concise review is given on the past two decades' results from laboratory experiments on collisionless magnetic reconnection in direct relation with space measurements, especially by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. Highlights include spatial structures of electromagnetic fields in ion and electron diffusion regions as a function of upstream symmetry and guide field strength, energy conversion and partitioning from magnetic field to ions and electrons including particle acceleration, electrostatic and electromagnetic kinetic plasma waves with various wavelengths, and plasmoid-mediated multiscale reconnection. Combined with the progress in theoretical, numerical, and observational studies, the physics foundation of fast reconnection in collisionless plasmas has been largely established, at least within the parameter ranges and spatial scales that were studied. Immediate and long-term future opportunities based on multiscale experiments and space missions supported by exascale computation are discussed, including dissipation by kinetic plasma waves, particle heating and acceleration, and multiscale physics across fluid and kinetic scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondhand smoke is one of the most common toxic environmental exposures to children, and maternal health problems also have substantial negative effects on children. We are unaware of any studies examining the association of living with smokers and maternal health. To investigate whether non-smoking mothers who live with smokers have worse physical and mental health than non-smoking mothers who live in homes without smokers. Nationally representative data from the 2000-2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were used. The health of non-smoking mothers with children <18 years ( n = 18,810) was assessed, comparing those living with one or more smokers ( n = 3,344) to those living in households with no adult smokers ( n = 14,836). Associations between maternal health, household smoking, and maternal age, race/ethnicity, and marital, educational, poverty and employment status were examined in bivariable and multivariable analyses using SUDAAN software to adjust for the complex sampling design. Scores on the Medical Outcomes Short Form-12 (SF-12) Physical Component Scale (PCS) and Mental Component Scale (MCS) were used to assess maternal health. About 79.2% of mothers in the USA are non-smokers and 17.4% of them live with ≥1 adult smokers: 14.2% with 1 and 3.2% with ≥2 smokers. Among non-smoking mothers, the mean MCS score is 50.5 and mean PCS is 52.9. The presence of an adult smoker and increasing number of smokers in the home are both negatively associated with MCS and PCS scores in bivariable analyses ( P < 0.001 for each). Non-smoking mothers with at least one smoker in the household had an 11% (95% CI = 0.80-0.99) lower odds of scoring at or above the mean MCS score and a 19% (95% CI = 0.73-0.90) lower odds of scoring at or above the mean PCS score compared to non-smoking mothers with no smokers in the household. There is an evidence of a dose response relationship with increasing number of smokers in the household for PCS ( P < 0.001). These findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized child health risk: living with smokers is independently associated with worse physical and mental health among non-smoking mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liquid domain of the Zn-Fe-Al-Mn quaternary system at 460 °C was experimentally investigated. The nature of relevant intermetallic compounds was studied using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). A total of 12 Fe-oversaturated baths with various Mn additions was prepared for the study. When the Al addition was fixed at 0.14 wt.%, δ-FeZn and δ-MnZn were found to co-exist with the liquid phase at low Mn additions. Increasing Mn additions above 1.3 wt.% greatly stabilized δ-MnZn so that it became the sole compound existing in the liquid phase. When the Al addition was fixed at either 0.16 or 0.27 wt.%, η-FeAl was found at low Mn additions but ceased to exist as Mn additions increased above 0.8 wt.%. The current study indicates that the addition of Mn to the bath promotes the formation of δ phases, thus shifting the invariant point of δ/η in the Zn-Fe-Al ternary system to a higher Al level. Based on experimental results, the liquidus surfaces in the Zn-rich corner of the quaternary system at 460 °C were schematically constructed, and implications for practical galvanizing operations were suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cascading failures often occur in congested complex networks. Cascading failures can be expressed as a three phase process: generation, diffusion and dissipation of congestion. Different from betweenness centrality, we propose a congestion function to represent the extent of congestion on a given node. By introducing the concept of “delay time”, we construct an intergradation between permanent removal and nonremoval. We also build a new evaluation function of network efficiency, based on congestion, which measures the damage caused by cascading failures. Finally, based on Statnet and Webgraph topologies we investigate the effects of network structure and size, delay time, processing ability and traffic generation speed on congestion propagation. Also we uncover cascading process composed of three phases and some factors affecting cascade propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply the Himmelberg fixed-point theorem to establish existence theorems of equilibria for generalized abstract economies with two constraint correspondences in which the strategic spaces may not be compact and the set of players may not be countable. Our results have applications in other sciences or disciplines (e.g. game theory, optimization theory and economics) in our subsequent paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we use existence theorems for the equilibria of generalized abstract economies proved recently to establish existence theorems for systems of generalized vector quasiequilibrium problems. Then, these existence theorems for equilibrium problems are used to derive existence theorems for systems of generalized vector quasivariational-like inequality problems, and vector quasioptimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation laryngeal surgery is an increasingly available alternative for the treatment of laryngeal cancer. Understanding anatomy of laryngeal lymph drainage is essential for clinicians to diagnose, grade and surgically manage the laryngeal cancer. Although the lymphatic drainage of the larynx has been extensively studied, few studies revealed the relationship of the lymphatic drainage between various parts of the larynx. The distribution of lymphatic vessels in the inferior surface of the vocal cord also remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the communication of the lymphatic networks between the vocal cord, the supraglottic and subglottic parts of the larynx, paying special attention to the lymphatic drainage of the inferior surface of the vocal cord. Eighteen larynx specimens from 18 fresh fetal cadavers were manually injected with prassion blue solution into the mucosal or submucosal layer of the larynx in order to reveal the lymphatic vessels in the inner larynx. We found that a rich lymphatic network is present in the inferior surface of the vocal cord, and the lymphatic networks in the superior and inferior surfaces of the vocal cord appear as two different patterns. These findings provide an anatomical basis for the design of a partial or conservation laryngeal surgery, particularly when considering the precise resection margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonmotile gram-negative, short, rod-shaped strain, BGMRC 2024T, was isolated from the sediment of Rhizophora stylosa collected in the Beibu Gulf, China. The strain BGMRC 2024T exhibited optimal growth at 25 to 28°C, pH 7.0, and in the presence of 1–4% (wt/v) NaCl. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that BGMRC 2024T was closely related to Pseudooceanicola antarcticus CGMCC 1.12662T (96.23% sequence similarity), P. algae Lw-13eT (96.17%), P. lipolyticus 157T (96.16%), and P. pacificus 216_PA32_1T (96.09%). The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values and the average nucleotide identity (ANI) of the strain Pseudooceanicola antarcticus CGMCC 1.12662T were 24.7 and 77.52%, respectively. The DNA G+C content was 67.4 mol %. The main respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The polar lipids of strain BGMRC 2024T included four unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified ninhydrin-positive lipids, one unidentified ninhydrin-positive phospholipid, and three unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were C19:0 cyclo ω8c, summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c), and C16:0. Based on these results, BGMRC 2024T represents a novel species of the genus Pseudooceanicola, for which the name Pseudooceanicola albus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BGMRC 2024T (=KCTC52117T = DSM102086T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dendrite structure of aluminum alloys can be refined with titanium, boron, and rare earth elements. The effect of a refiner on the dendrite sizes was currently neglected in the cellular automata method. The parameter setting of the cellular automata method, considering the effect of rare earth elements on the α-Al dendrite of a hypereutectic AlSi alloy, was systematically investigated. The α-Al primary phase sizes of an AlSi7Cu3Mg alloy with different Y contents are experimentally studiedю With the Y addition of up to 0.2 wt.%, the refinement effect was the most effective, and grain sizes decreased to 0.67 mm. The microstructure simulation by the cellular automata method was studied experimentally and theoretically. By the use of this model, the parameter-setting effect on the Y refinement was more consistent with physical meaning. The calculation results fit the experimental ones well, and the validity and applicability of the model were verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grey mold disease results from Botrytis cinerea, a classical "high-risk" plant pathogenic fungus in meaning of resistance development to fungicides, and its management depends largely on the frequent applications of fungicides. The evolution of resistance to benzimidazole chemicals during 2008 and 2016 was monitored continuously in strawberry greenhouses located in Zhejiang province. Results showed that extensive applications of the mixture of carbendazim and diethofencarb caused the rapid spread of Ben MR subpopulation. The withdraw of this mixture lead to the sharply decrease of Ben MR and re-dominance of Ben HR isolates of B. cinerea with the E198A mutation in β-tubulin gene. The LAMP primers, based on the E198A point mutation, were designed to detect the E198A genotype specifically. HNB (Hydroxynaphthol blue), a metalion indicator, acted as a visual LAMP reaction indicator that turned the violet colored into a sky-blue color. The detection limit of concentration of DNA was 100 × 10−2 ng/μL and this LAMP assay could be applied to detect the E198A genotype with 100% accuracy in strawberry greenhouses of three Province and was more rapid and easier to operate. In summary, we establish a simple and sensitive on-field LAMP assay which can be adopted to determine within 1.5 h whether the benzimidazoles or the mixture of a benzimidazole fungicide and diethofencarb is suitable for management of B. cinerea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis, smoking, and alcohol drinking are major public health and social issues worldwide. We investigated the joint effect of smoking plus alcohol drinking on TB treatment. Retrospective study was conducted among TB patients in 49 units from eight provinces in China. All patients enrolled were classified into four groups according to their smoking and/or alcohol status. Current smokers plus drinkers belonged to group 1; ex-smokers plus ex-drinkers were in group 2; current smokers and ex-drinkers, current smokers and never drinkers, ex-smokers and current drinkers, ex-smokers and never drinkers, never smokers and current drinkers, and never smokers and ex-drinkers belonged to group 3; while the never smokers plus never drinkers were in group 4. We used a chi-square test to compare adverse drug reaction, lesions absorption and cavities of lung, sputum culture at the end of the second month, and treatment outcomes among the four groups. Among the 1256 participants enrolled in the study, 6.1% (76/1256) were current smokers plus drinkers; 25.9% (325/1256) were ex-smokers plus drinkers; 29.1% (366/1256) were current/never/ex-smokers and/or drinkers, and 38.9% (489/1256) were never smokers plus drinkers, respectively. Compared to the never smokers and drinkers, smoker plus drinker TB patients were more likely to experience adverse drug reaction (x2 = 8.480, P = 0.037), less proportion of lesions absorption in lungs (x2 = 10.330, P = 0.016), lower proportion of culture conversion (x2 = 18.83, P = 0.04), and more unfavorable outcomes. Smoking plus alcohol drinking adversely affect response against TB treatment, which increase adverse drug reactions, sputum culture-positive rate at the end of the second month, and failure rate of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two mononuclear nickel(II) complexes, [Ni(L1)2] (1) and [Ni(L2)2] (2), where L1 and L2 are the anions of 4-methylbenzoic acid (1-pyridin-2-ylmethylidene)hydrazide (HL1) and benzoic acid (1-pyridine-2-ylethylidene)hydrazide (HL2), respectively, were prepared and characterized by physico-chemical methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The tridentate Schiff base ligands coordinate to the Ni atoms through the pyridine nitrogen, imino nitrogen and enolate oxygen atoms. The Ni atom in each complex is six coordinated by two Schiff base ligands, to form octahedral coordination. To investigate the influence of the position of methyl group on the antibacterial activities, the complexes have been studied on the bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Austenite stability is essentially important in improving the cryogenic toughness of cryogenic Ni steels and guiding the development of Ni-saving cryogenic steels. The austenite stability in the cryogenic Ni steels is influenced by many microstructure features, making it a complicated issue which is lack of a systematic discussion. In this article, the microstructural effects on the thermal and mechanical stability of austenite in the cryogenic Ni steels are reviewed and discussed. The thermal stability of austenite (TSA) will be enhanced by the enrichment of austenite-stabilizing elements in the austenite which decreases the martensite-start (Ms) temperature. The grain refinement enhances the TSA by synergistically increasing the nonchemical driving force for the martensite transformation and the concentrations of austenite-stabilizing elements in the austenite. The excessive increase in the volume fraction of austenite weakens the TSA by decreasing the concentrations of austenite-stabilizing elements in the austenite. The film austenite is usually thermally more stable than the block austenite owing to its higher concentrations of austenite-stabilizing elements. The mechanical stability of austenite (MSA) is also influenced by the concentrations of austenite-stabilizing elements which affect the Ms temperature. The reports on the effect of grain size of austenite on the MSA are inconsistent. Both negligible and important effects of the grain size of austenite on the MSA are analyzed. The grain orientation of austenite affects the MSA via changing the Schmid factor and the additional driving force for the martensite transformation. The orientation which yields a larger value of Schmid factor would exhibit a lower MSA. The MSA is affected by the matrix or the neighboring phase due to the stress and strain partitioning among austenite and other constituent phases. The dislocation multiplication could weaken the MSA by assisting the nucleation and growth of martensite embryo and enhance the MSA by hindering the motion of embryo/austenite interfaces when dislocation density is sufficiently large. Austenite with a combination of a high TSA and a moderate or high MSA is considered to be effective strategies to enhance cryogenic toughness of the cryogenic Ni steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current therapies to treat hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are limited. Recently, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) systems, originally identified in bacteria and archaea, have been found to consist of an RNA-based adaptive immune system that degrades complimentary sequences of invading plasmids and viruses. Here, we studied the effects of the CRISPR/CRISPR-associated Cas9 system that was targeted to the surface antigen (HBsAg)-encoding region of HBV, both in a cell culture system and in vivo. The HBsAg levels in the media of the cells and in the sera of mice were analyzed by a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The HBV DNA levels were assessed by quantitative PCR and HBsAg expression in mouse livers was assessed by an immunohistochemical assay. The amount of HBsAg secreted in the cell culture and mouse serum was reduced by CRISPR/Cas9 treatment. Immunohistochemistry analyses showed almost no HBsAg-positive cells in the liver tissue of CRISPR/Cas9-S1+X3-treated mice. The CRISPR/Cas9 system efficiently produced mutations in HBV DNA. Thus, CRISPR/Cas9 inhibits HBV replication and expression in vitro and in vivo and may constitute a new therapeutic strategy for HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Animal studies have suggested that betaine, but not choline, may improve body composition, but little evidence is available in humans. We examined the association of serum concentrations of choline and betaine with body composition and fat distribution in adults.Methods: This community-based study recruited 1996 adults (women/men: 1380/616) aged 40-75 years in urban Guangzhou, China. General information and anthropometric measurements were taken, and serum choline and betaine levels were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry between July 2008 and June 2010. After 3.2 years, 1623 of the 1996 participants were measured for fat mass (FM and %FM) over the total body (TB), trunk, limbs, android (A) and gynoid (G) regions. The %FM ratios of the A/G regions and the trunk and limbs were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Results: Univariate analyses showed that higher serum betaine levels were significantly associated with lower values of adiposity indices (all P-trends<0.05), except in the case of the %FM at the gynoid area. After adjusting for potential covariates, similar associations were observed. The mean percentage differences between quartiles 4 and 1 of the serum betaine levels were -4.9% (weight), -4.7% (body mass index, BMI), -2.5% (waist circumference), -7.9% (TB FM) and -3.4% (TB %FM). The mean differences in the FM and %FM were much more pronounced at the trunk (-10.0 and -4.5%) or android areas (-10.7 and -4.7%) than those at the limbs (-0.8 and -2.3%) or gynoid areas (-0.6 and -1.4%). Such favorable associations were stronger in men than in women. No significant associations between serum choline and the adiposity indices were observed, except in the cases of body weight and BMI.Conclusions: Greater circulating betaine, but not choline, was dose-dependently associated with better body composition and fat distribution due to a lower FM in the trunk regions in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Animal studies have suggested that betaine, but not choline, may improve body composition, but little evidence is available in humans. We examined the association of serum concentrations of choline and betaine with body composition and fat distribution in adults.Methods:This community-based study recruited 1996 adults (women/men: 1380/616) aged 40-75 years in urban Guangzhou, China. General information and anthropometric measurements were taken, and serum choline and betaine levels were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry between July 2008 and June 2010. After 3.2 years, 1623 of the 1996 participants were measured for fat mass (FM and %FM) over the total body (TB), trunk, limbs, android (A) and gynoid (G) regions. The %FM ratios of the A/G regions and the trunk and limbs were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Results:Univariate analyses showed that higher serum betaine levels were significantly associated with lower values of adiposity indices (all P-trends<0.05), except in the case of the %FM at the gynoid area. After adjusting for potential covariates, similar associations were observed. The mean percentage differences between quartiles 4 and 1 of the serum betaine levels were −4.9% (weight), −4.7% (body mass index, BMI), −2.5% (waist circumference), −7.9% (TB FM) and −3.4% (TB %FM). The mean differences in the FM and %FM were much more pronounced at the trunk (−10.0 and −4.5%) or android areas (−10.7 and −4.7%) than those at the limbs (−0.8 and −2.3%) or gynoid areas (−0.6 and −1.4%). Such favorable associations were stronger in men than in women. No significant associations between serum choline and the adiposity indices were observed, except in the cases of body weight and BMI.Conclusions:Greater circulating betaine, but not choline, was dose-dependently associated with better body composition and fat distribution due to a lower FM in the trunk regions in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This large cross-sectional study examined the associations of dietary intakes of total flavonoids and their subtypes with bone density in women and men. We found that greater flavonoid intake was associated with higher bone density in women but not in men. Introduction: Studies in vitro and in animal models suggest a potential effect of flavonoids on bone health. Few studies have examined the association between the habitual intake of flavonoids and bone mineral density (BMD) in humans. Methods: The cross-sectional study recruited 2,239 women and 1,078 men. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was administered in face-to-face interviews to assess habitual dietary flavonoid intake using food composition databases. BMD was measured over the whole body (WB) and in the femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (LS) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: After adjusting for covariates, women who consumed higher total flavonoids, and the subtypes of flavonols, flavan-3-ols, flavones, and proanthocyanidins tended to have greater BMD at the WB, LS, and FN (all P-trend < 0.05). Women in the highest (vs. the lowest) quartile of total flavonoids intake had 0.020 (1.91 %), 0.021 (2.51 %), and 0.013 (1.99 %) g/cm greater BMD at the whole body, LS, and FN, respectively. For the subtypes of flavonoids, the corresponding differences in BMD (in g/cm) were 0.012-0.021 (flavan-3-ols), 0.013-0.020 (flavonols), 0.016-0.019 (flavones), and 0.014-0.016 (proanthocyanidins), respectively. A higher intake of flavonones was associated with a greater BMD at the whole body (P-trend 0.041) and the FN (P-trend 0.022). In men, there were no significant positive associations between the consumption of total flavonoids and the subclasses and BMD at any sites. Conclusion: Dietary flavonoids intake was positively associated with BMD in women. Further large studies are needed to clarify this issue in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the conserved regions of known resistance genes, an NBS-LRR-type CCN resistance gene analog was isolated from the CCN resistant E-10 near isogenic lines (NILs) of wheat, designated as CreZ (GenBank accession number: EU327996). It contained a complete ORF that was 2775 bp in length and encoded 924 amino acids. Sequence comparison indicated that it shared 92% nucleotide and 87% amino acid identity with those of the known CCN-resistance gene Cre3 and had similar characteristic conserved motifs to those in other established NBS-LRR disease resistance genes. The expression profiling of CreZ indicated that it was specifically expressed in the roots of resistant plants and real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that expression levels drastically increased when the plants were inoculated with cereal cyst nematodes. It could be inferred, then, that CreZ belongs to the NBS-LRR resistance gene family and is a candidate gene for potential resistance to the cereal cyst nematode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress is one major threats to field crops. The cold tolerant ability is a key limiting factor for the popularization of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in cold areas. Our previous research showed three key metabolic change time points of peanut buds in response to low temperature. The present study applied iTRAQ proteomic to further quantify differentially expressed proteins in three key metabolic change time points. A total of 2684 non-redundant proteins and 333 differentially expressed proteins across the three cold stress treatment points were identified. The results enrich the cold stress regulation network and provide useful information for further improving the ability of peanut under cold stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deleterious health sequelae caused by licit and illicit substance use is a serious problem in our society. Adolescent students and particularly those who are prone to substance use are of special concern in the prevention of drug abuse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and illicit drug use and to identify the risk factors related to these habits among adolescent students. A total of 1358 adolescent students aged 16–18 y old were recruited into this study via stratified random sampling from a vocational school in Kaohsiung city. Students were asked to complete a structured questionnaire anonymously and a 96.7% response rate was achieved. Prevalence of substances use was estimated as follows: alcohol drinking, 70.7% (boys 75.1%, girls 51.4%); tobacco smoking, 56% (boys 61.8%, girls 30.2%); illicit drug use 6.4% (boys 6.6%, girls 5.6%). Significant risk factors that emerged as common correlates with substances use were behaviour problems, non-negative attitude toward parent’s substance use, and peer influence. A dose–response relationship was found between the prevalence of drinking, smoking, illicit drug use and the number of risk factors adolescents were exposed to. Prevention of adolescent substance abuse should be attempted and risk factors should be reduced. An educational approach is essential not only to gain/impart knowledge of substance abuse, but also to develop an effective program for health and social development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a case of a 34-year-old woman with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) overlap syndrome (OS) complicated with Sweet’s syndrome. OS has been defined as entities satisfying classification criteria of at least two connective tissue diseases (CTD) occurring at the same or at different times in the same patient. The CTD include RA, SSc, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), polymyositis, and dermatomyositis. Sweet’s syndrome also known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis was first described by Robert Sweet in 1964. Sweet’s syndrome is characterized by fever, neutrophilia, erythematous skin lesions, and a diffuse dermal infiltrate of mature neutrophils. There are sets of associations that we will discuss in this article between OS and Sweet’s syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of metformin (MET) on treatment effect of diabetic tuberculosis (TB) patients has not been studied in China. Thus, we conducted a retrospective study to investigate whether MET exhibited more efficacy in combination with anti-TB regimens for diabetic TB patients. All patients recruited came from five tuberculosis control and prevention institutes from July 2009 to July 2016 and completed 3 years of follow-up. We used chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test to evaluate the demographic characteristics and the frequency of clinical outcome between MET and non-MET group. A total of 58 TB patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), of these 27.6% (16/58) patients in the MET group and 72.4% (42/58) patients in the non-MET group, there was no significant difference in blood glucose level between MET and non-MET group (P = 0.494), in addition, there was a higher proportion of treatment success (93.8 vs. 71.4%) and culture conversions by the end of 2 months (87.5 vs. 71.4%) among MET group; the relapse rates of patients in MET and non-MET group were 6.3% (1/16) and 35.7% (15/42) through a 3-year follow-up (P = 0.045). Our data revealed that the use of MET as a combination drug with existing regimen improved the success rate of anti-TB treatment and reduced the relapse rate in TB patients with DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Oxidative stress is generated during the pathophysiology of endometriosis (EMT). Hydrogen (H2) has been demonstrated as a gas antioxidant. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the protective effect of H2 on EMT in rats. Study Design: Sprague Dawley rats with surgically induced EMT were randomly received the inhalation of 67% H2–33% oxygen (O2) mixture (1 h/d, 4 weeks) immediately after the EMT surgery or 4 weeks after the operation. The mixture of 67% N2–33% O2 was also used to exclude the possible influence of the increased O2. Eight weeks after the operation, the endometrial tissues were weighted and analyzed using histology, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Several antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde were also measured in serum and tissue. The estrous cycles were monitored for H2 safety. Results: The results showed that both profiles of high-dose H2 breathing reduced the size of the endometrial explants, inhibited cell proliferation, improved superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, and catalase activities, and regulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and cyclooxygenase 2. However, inhalation of the same dose of nitrogen failed to show the protection. High-dose H2 breathing did not change the normal estrous cyclicity. Conclusion: These results suggest that 67% H2–33% O2 breathing has a beneficial effect on EMT model rats, and inhalation of a high dose of H2 could be a potential method applied in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), neurodegenerative signals such as amyloid-beta (Aβ) and the precursors of neurotrophins, outbalance neurotrophic signals, causing synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration. The neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR) is a receptor of Aβ and mediates Aβ-induced neurodegenerative signals. The shedding of its ectodomain from the cell surface is physiologically regulated; however, the function of the diffusible p75NTR ectodomain (p75ECD) after shedding remains largely not known. Here, we show that p75ECD levels in cerebrospinal fluid and in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP)/PS1 transgenic mice were significantly reduced, due to inhibition of the sheddase-tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme by Aβ. Restoration of p75ECD to the normal level by brain delivery of the gene encoding human p75ECD before or after Aβ deposition in the brain of APP/PS1 mice reversed the behavioral deficits and AD-type pathologies, such as Aβ deposit, apoptotic events, neuroinflammation, Tau phosphorylation and loss of dendritic spine, neuronal structures and synaptic proteins. Furthermore, p75ECD can also reduce amyloidogenesis by suppressing β-secretase expression and activities. Our data demonstrate that p75ECD is a physiologically neuroprotective molecule against Aβ toxicity and would be a novel therapeutic target and biomarker for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Association between 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TNFSF11, TNFRSF11A, and TNFRSF11B genes in the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway with bone mineral density (BMD) in 881 post-menopausal women. Our results suggest that TNFSF11 and TNFRSF11A, but not TNFRSF11B, genetic polymorphisms influence BMD mainly in the femoral neck in post-menopausal Chinese women. Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of polymorphisms in the TNFSF11, TNFRSF11A, and TNFRSF11B genes in the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway with bone mineral density (BMD) in a cohort of Chinese post-menopausal women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 881 post-menopausal women aged 50-89 years. All participants underwent lumbar spinal (LS) and femoral neck (FN) BMD evaluation by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Twenty-two TNFSF11, TNFRSF11A, and TNFRSF11B SNPs were genotyped. We tested whether a single SNP or a haplotype was associated with BMD variations. Results: Two SNPs in the TNFSF11 gene (rs2277439 and rs2324851) and one in the TNFRSF11A gene (rs7239261) were found to be significantly associated with FN BMD ( p = 0.014, 0.013, and 0.047, respectively). Haplotype TGACGT of TNFSF11 rs9525641-rs2277439-rs2324851-rs2875459-rs2200287-rs9533166 was a genetic risk factor toward a lower FN BMD (beta = −0.1473; p = 0.01126). In contrary, haplotype TAGCGT of TNFSF11 rs9525641-rs2277439-rs2324851-rs2875459-rs2200287-rs9533166 was genetic protective factor for LS BMD (beta = 0.3923; p = 0.04917). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that TNFSF11 and TNFRSF11A, but not TNFRSF11B, genetic polymorphisms influence BMD mainly in the femoral neck in post-menopausal Chinese women. This contributes to the understanding of the role of genetic variation in this pathway in determining bone health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this multicentre study, we examined 60 cases of Type II enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) from the Asia-Pacific region by histological review, immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques. Patients were mostly adult males (median age: 58 years, male:female 2.6:1), presenting with abdominal pain (60%), intestinal perforation (40%) and weight loss (28%). None had a history of coeliac disease and the median survival was only 7 months. Histologically, these tumours could be divided into (i) central tumour zone comprising a monotonous population of neoplastic lymphocytes, (ii) peripheral zone featuring stunted villi and morphologically atypical lymphocytes showing epitheliotropism, and (iii) distant mucosa with normal villous architecture and cytologically normal intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs). Characterized by extensive nuclear expression of Megakaryocyte-associated tyrosine kinase (MATK) (87%) and usually a CD8+CD56+ (88%) cytotoxic phenotype, there was frequent aberrant expression of CD20 (24%). T-cell receptor (TCR) expression was silent or not evaluable in 40% but of the remainder, there was predominant expression of TCRαβ over TCRγδ (1.6:1). In keeping with the normal ratio of IEL subsets, CD8+ cases showed predominant CD8αα homodimer expression (77%), regardless of TCR lineage. These tumours constitute a distinct entity from classical EATL, and the pathology may reflect tumour progression from IEL precursors, remnants of which are often seen in the distant mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol, a phytochemical found in various plants and Chinese herbs, is associated with multiple tumor-suppressing activities, has been tested in clinical trials. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in resveratrol-mediated tumor suppressing activities are not yet completely defined. Here, we showed that treatment with resveratrol inhibited cell mobility through induction of the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) in lung cancer cells. We also found that downregulation of FOXC2 (forkhead box C2) is critical for resveratrol-mediated suppression of tumor metastasis in an in vitro and in vivo models. We also identified a signal cascade, namely, resveratrol-∣miRNA-520h-∣PP2A/C-∣Akt → NF-κB → FOXC2, in which resveratrol inhibited the expression of FOXC2 through regulation of miRNA-520h-mediated signal cascade. This study identified a new miRNA-520h-related signal cascade involved in resveratrol-mediated tumor suppression activity and provide the clinical significances of miR-520h, PP2A/C and FOXC2 in lung cancer patients. Our results indicated a functional link between resveratrol-mediated miRNA-520h regulation and tumor suppressing ability, and provide a new insight into the role of resveratrol-induced molecular and epigenetic regulations in tumor suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is upregulated and has an oncogenic role in several types of human cancer. However, the abnormalities of EZH2 and its underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain unknown. In this study, we found that high expression of EZH2 in NPC was associated closely with an aggressive and/or poor prognostic phenotype (P<0.05). In NPC cell lines, knockdown of EZH2 by short hairpin RNA was sufficient to inhibit cell invasiveness/metastasis both in vitro and in vivo, whereas ectopic overexpression of EZH2 supported NPC cell invasive capacity with a decreased expression of E-cadherin. In addition, ablation of endogenous Snail in NPC cells virtually totally prevented the repressive activity of EZH2 to E-cadherin, indicating that Snail might be a predominant mediator of EZH2 to suppress E-cadherin. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation (IP), chromatin IP and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that in NPC cells, (1) EZH2 interacted with HDAC1/HDAC2 and Snail to form a repressive complex; (2) these components interact in a linear fashion, not in a triangular fashion, that is, HDAC1 or HDAC2 bridge the interaction between EZH2 and Snail; and (3) the EZH2/HDAC1/2/Snail complex could closely bind to the E-cadherin promoter by Snail, but not YY1, to repress E-cadherin. The data provided in this report suggest a critical role of EZH2 in the control of cell invasion and/or metastasis by forming a co-repressor complex with HDAC1/HDAC2/Snail to repress E-cadherin, an activity that might be responsible, at least in part, for the development and/or progression of human NPCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telomere maintenance is essential for cancer growth. Induction of telomere dysfunction, for example, by inhibition of telomeric proteins or telomerase, has been shown to strongly enhance cancer cells' sensitivity to chemotherapies. However, it is not clear whether modulations of telomere maintenance constitute cancer cellular responses to chemotherapies. Furthermore, the manner in which anti-cancer drugs affect telomere function remains unknown. In this study, we show that anthracyclines, a class of anti-cancer drugs widely used in clinical cancer treatments, have an active role in triggering telomere dysfunction specifically in telomerase-positive cancer cells. Anthracyclines interrupt telomere maintenance by telomerase through the downregulation of PinX1, a protein factor responsible for targeting telomerase onto telomeres, thereby inhibiting telomerase association with telomeres. We further demonstrate that anthracyclines downregulate PinX1 by inducing this protein degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent pathway. Our data not only reveal a novel action for anthracyclines as telomerase functional inhibitors but also provide a clue for the development of novel anti-cancer drugs based on telomerase/telomere targeting, which is actively investigated by many current studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous second-harmonic generation and electric-optic coupling in a periodic or quasi-periodic optical superlattice has been demonstrated experimentally. The output of the second harmonic can be controlled by the DC electric field or the temperature. The results offer us a way to manipulate the nonlinear interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate nonequilibrium quasiparticle dynamics measured by ultrafast optical spectroscopy on underdoped Bi2212 crystals, which provide direct evidence that superconducting (SC) and pseudogap (PG) quasiparticles coexist below T c. We verify that the ratio of signals from SC and PG quasiparticles depends on both excitation energy and polarization of the probe beam due to the anisotropy of the probe transition matrix elements and the interband transition probability. Based on this property, we successfully separate the SC or PG component and precisely evaluate the temperature dependence of them across T c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied pollen fertility, seed set and cytogenetic characteristics of restorer lines and F1 hybrids of autotetraploid rice. T4002, T4063, T461A × T4002 and T461A × T4063 showed significantly higher pollen fertility and seed set than T4132 and T461A × T4132. Meiotic pairing configurations of T4002, T4063, T4132, T461A × T4002, T461A × T4063 and T461A × T4132 were 0.05 I + 19.96 II (9.89 rod + 10.07 ring) + 0.01 III + 2.00 IV, 0.11 I + 19.17 II (8.90 rod + 10.37 ring) + 0.09 III + 2.26 IV + 0.01 VI, 1.34 I + 9.46 II (4.50 rod + 4.96 ring) + 0.80 III + 6.02 IV + 0.09 VI + 0.09 VIII, 0.02 I + 14.36 II (6.44 rod + 7.91 ring) + 0.01 III + 4.80 IV + 0.01 VIII, 0.06 I + 17.67 II (11.01 rod + 6.67 ring) + 0.06 III + 3.10 IV + 0.01 VI and 1.11 I + 11.31 II (5.80 rod + 5.51 ring) + 0.41 III + 5.63 IV + 0.03 VI + 0.03 VIII, respectively. Configuration 16 II + 4 IV and 12 II + 6 IV occurred in the highest frequency among the autotetraploid restorers and hybrids. Meiotic chromosome behaviors were less abnormal in the tetraploids with high seed set than those with low seed set. The hybrids had fewer frequencies of bivalents, univalents, trivalents and multivalents than the restorers, but higher frequency of quatrivalents than the restorers at MI. The frequency of univalents at MI had the most impact on pollen fertility and seed set, i.e., pollen fertility decreased with the increase of univalents. The secondary impact factors were trivalents and multivalents, and bivalents and quatrivalents had no effect on pollen fertility and seed set. The correlative relationship between pollen fertility and cytogenetic behaviors could be utilized to improve seed set in autotetraploidy breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By X-ray diffraction combined with Rietveld structure refinement, the crystal structure of FeZn13 was determined experimentally in this study. The results indicated that the structure of FeZn13 is monoclinic and the lattice parameters are a = 1.3408 nm, b = 0.7605 nm, c = 0.5074 nm, and β = 127.206°. It was confirmed that Fe atoms occupy the 2c position (0, 0, 0.5) in space group C2/ m, and the coordinates of Zn atoms at the Zn(1) position are (0.114, 0.5, 0.293), which supports the results from Belin et al. ( Acta Cryst. C 56:267, 2000). In addition, an atomistic calculation was carried out to determine the crystal structure based on the interatomic potentials obtained using the lattice inversion method, and Fe atoms are substituted by Zn atoms in the narrow solubility range of FeZn13, which is the fundamental for studying the solubility and site preference of alloying elements of FeZn13. Good agreement between the experimental results and the theoretical calculations was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of the hyperphosphorylated tau is a hallmark pathological event for the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer disease (AD). Until now, there is no effective way to antagonize this accumulation. Recently, it has been reported that carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP) is the specific tau E3 ligase and it mediates tau degradation in vitro. However, the nature of CHIP on in vivo tau degradation is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated that hippocampal transfection of CHIP plasmid in rats could reach a time-dependent elevated expression of CHIP mRNA and protein in 24 h. Concomitantly, expression of exogenous CHIP could promote the degradation of the hyperphosphorylated tau induced by overactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) or inhibition of protein phosphatase-2A (PP-2A) in the rat brains and N2A cells. CHIP also degraded tau in normal rats regardless the phosphorylation status of tau proteins. Though CHIP overexpression was not able to improve significantly the spatial memory retention deficits induced by overactivation of GSK-3, it did not cause significant damage to the memory function in normal rats. These results suggest that CHIP may degrade tau both in physiological and pathological conditions without affecting the behavior of the rats, implying that overexpression of CHIP may antagonize tau accumulation in the AD brains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanisms of two F1 hybrids (D46A × DTP-4 and D46A × Dminghui63) of autotetraploid rice (2n = 4x = 48) showing extremely high pollen fertility 87.40% and 85.97%, respectively, seed set 82.00% and 79.00%, respectively and extremely high level of heterosis were analyzed cytologically. The chromosome pairing of D46A × DTP-4 and D46A × Dminghui63 was normal at metaphase I(MI), and had almost no I or III, with an average of 0.020I +14.36 II 6.44rod+7.91ring) +0.01III + 4.80 IV + 0.01VIII and 0.06 I + 17.67 II (11.01rod + 6.67ring)] + 0.06 III +3.10IV+0.01VI, respectively. The most frequent chromosome configurations were 10II+7IV and 12II+bIV. The bivalent frequency was less frequent in hybrids than that in restoring parents, and the same results were gained from univalents, trivalent and multivalents. However, the quadrivalent frequency was significantly higher in hybrids than that in restoring parents at MI. The other meiotic phases progressed normally, except for low percentages of PMCs with lagging chromosomes at AI and low percentages of PMCs with micronuclei at telophaseI (TI) and telophaseII (TII). PMCs with lagging chromosomes at AI and PMCs with micronuclei at TI and TII showed negative correlation between pollen fertility and seed set. Above 90% of the PMCs could form normal microspores, which resulted in the production of viable pollen grains, abnormal microspores were observed including penta-fission and hexa-fission. Based on these results we suggest that the two F1 hybrids had better behaviors of chromosome pairing and genetic stability than autotetraploid rice and other autotetraploid plants ever studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concentrates on the design of the optimal measurement placement for the parameter identification of two-dimensional orthotropic composites, which is modeled by the boundary element. From the analysis of the well-posedness of the parameter identification processes using the Levenberg–Marquardt method, a performance indicator and an estimation of the maximum bias of identified parameters are deduced. Based on these results, a method for selecting the optimal measurement placement is proposed. The validity of this method is illustrated by some numerical examples. These examples reveal that the measurement placement has significant influence on identification results. Furthermore, an iterative process of selecting measurement placement is suggested for practical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, numeric control systems or CNC systems are still mainly offered by specific manufacturers, which cannot meet the developing demand of modern technology toward openness, networking, and intelligence. With the decrease of chip cost, the improvement of its performance and the development of fieldbus technology, it becomes easier to develop an open, configurable and intelligent CNC system. In this paper, a new configuration-style CNC system architecture based on CANBUS is presented, including the building of its UML model, the design of communication protocol, the realization of system configures, and the design of software and hardware structures. Finally, an experiment based on configuration-style methods is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L., cv. Jingchun 3) were grown in a greenhouse under PAR illumination of 400–600 μmol/(m2 s) at 30/15°C (day/night) temperature. Two enhanced biologically effective UV-B radiation levels per day were applied: 8.82 kJ/m2 (T1) and 12.6 kJ/m2 (T2). Cucumber seedlings were irradiated 7 h per day for 25 days under T1 and T2. A comparative study of growth, membrane permeability, and polyamine content in cucumber leaves under T1 and T2 treatments was conducted. UV-B radiation resulted in the dose-dependent decrease in leaf area, dry weight of foliage, and plant height. The T1 and T2 treatments caused an increase in the contents of putrescine, spermine, and spermidine. However, the total polyamine content declined slightly when electrolyte leakage increased dramatically on the 18th day of treatment, especially after T2 treatment. It can be concluded that polyamine accumulation in the cucumber leaves is an adaptive mechanism to the stress caused by UV-B radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the doping of zinc ions into bismuth titanate crystals by the chemical solution decomposition method, and photocatalytic properties of as-prepared samples were evaluated using methyl orange as a model organic compound. Starting materials used with glacial acetic acid as a solvent; Examination of the photocatalytic activity of as-prepared samples using photo-decolorization of aqueous methyl orange.

Discusses the phase stability and electrical properties of bismuth titanium oxide thin films by chemical solution deposition. Ferroelectric material with properties for optical memory and piezoelectric devices; Gate insulating material in advanced metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors; Phase becomes unstable at high temperature; Mixed-phase structure.

Background: Incisional recurrence after thoracoscopic surgery has been reported infrequently. In recent years, several reports of port-site recurrence after laparoscopic oncologic procedures have been published. This study evaluates the incidence of incisional recurrence among patients with intrathoracic malignancy after diagnostic and therapeutic thoracoscopy.Methods: The medical records of all patients with intrathoracic malignancies who underwent thoracoscopic procedures between 1992 and 1998 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center were reviewed. Information includes preoperative tumor status, thoracoscopic findings, primary tumor location, tumor pathology, procedures performed, and perioperative complications were recorded.Results: A total of 1,069 patients with known intrathoracic malignancies underwent thoracoscopy. The mean follow-up time was 17.1 months (range, 1-68 months). Two recurrences at the incision were identified (0.19%). Both patients with incision-site recurrence had advanced intrathoracic disease at the time of thoracoscopy. The one patient had a malignant pleural effusion (T4), and the other had diffuse pleural metastasis.Conclusion: The incidence of incisional recurrence after thoracoscopic oncologic surgery is very low. When recurrence occurs at the incision, it is associated most commonly with advanced intrathoracic disease. Additional patients and a longer follow-up evaluation are required, however, to confirm this observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Empyema frequently complicates the hospitalization of children; and in advanced stages, it often requires surgical intervention. In this study, we investigated the use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for the management of postpneumonic empyema in children who have had an unsatisfactory medical response. Methods: We did a retrospective review of the medical records of 51 consecutive patients with loculated empyema (mean age, 5 years; range, 2 months to 15 years) hospitalized at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 1995 and 2000. All patients underwent debridement of the necrotic lung tissue and evacuation of the loculated empyema cavity using a VATS approach. Results: The mean operating time for the 51 patients was 90 min (range, 50–210); mean blood loss was 70 cc. Fever subsided within 72 h postoperatively in all patients. On average, chest tubing was removed on the 7th postoperative day (range, 4–18 days). However, in one patient who suffered from a prolonged air leak, the chest tube was not removed until day 18. The mean postoperative stay for all patients was 13.7 days (range, 9–23). No deaths occurred, and all of the children made a good recovery. A follow-up revealed that one of the 51 children patient suffered a left upper lung abscess 7 months after discharge. Left upper lobectomy was performed in this case, and the patient was discharged uneventfully 10 days after the operation. Conclusions: VATS is a safe and effective treatment for pediatric empyema. Thoracoscopic-assisted surgery facilitates visualization, evacuation, and debridement of the necrotizing lung tissue. Early surgical intervention can avoid lengthy hospitalization and prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy, and it can accelerate clinical recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the microstructure, mechanical property, castability, corrosion behavior and in vitro cytocompatibility of binary Ti-2X alloys with various alloying elements, including Ag, Bi, Ga, Ge, Hf, In, Mo, Nb, Sn and Zr, were systematically investigated, in order to assess their potential applications in dental field. The experimental results showed that all binary Ti-2X alloys consisted entirely α-Ti phase. The tensile strength and microhardness of Ti were improved by adding alloying elements. The castability of Ti was significantly improved by separately adding 2 wt.% Bi, Ga, Hf, Mo, Nb, Sn and Zr. The corrosion resistance of Ti in both normal artificial saliva solution (AS) and extreme artificial saliva solution (ASFL, AS with 0.2 wt.% NaF and 0.3 wt.% lactic acid) has been improved by separately adding alloying elements. In addition, the extracts of studied Ti-2X alloys produced no significant deleterious effect to both fibroblasts L929 cells and osteoblast-like MG63 cells, indicating a good in vitro cytocompatibility, at the same level as pure Ti. The combination of enhanced mechanical properties, castability, corrosion behavior, and in vitro cytocompatibility make the developed Ti-2X alloys have great potential for future stomatological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]