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Aims: To correlate the hyperfluorescent lines in the peripheral fundus on late-phase indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) to infrared and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings. Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Multimodal imaging data, including ICGA, fluorescein angiography, infrared imaging, and OCT were analyzed. The hyperfluorescent lines were categorized into 2 grades according to their extents. In addition, serum levels of apolipoprotein (Apo) A and B were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: A total of 247 patients who underwent multimodal imaging were reviewed. The hyperfluorescent lines in the peripheral fundus on late-phase ICGA were detected in 96 patients, and were correlated to superficial choroidal arteries by infrared imaging and OCT. The incidence of hyperfluorescent choroidal arteries in the peripheral fundus (HCAP) on late-phase ICGA increased in groups of older ages (0–20 years, 4.3%; 20–40 years, 2.6%; 40–60 years, 48.9%; >60 years, 88.7%; p< 0.001). In addition, the mean age increased with the grades of HCAP (grade 1, 52.3 ± 10.8 years; grade 2, 63.3 ± 10.5 years; p< 0.001). The hyperfluorescence was also detected in posterior choroidal arteries in 11 eyes, all patients in grade 2. There was no significant correlation between grades of HCAP and gender, or serum level of ApoA and ApoB. Conclusion: The occurrence and grades of HCAP increased with age. The superficial location of choroidal arteries in the peripheral fundus exposes their hyperfluorescence on late-phase ICGA. HCAP might reveal the local lipid degeneration of choroidal artery walls, according to ICG binding properties.

Overexpression of PD-L1 can be a predictive marker for anti-PD-1 therapeutic efficacy in classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL); however, harmonization of different IHC assays remains to be accomplished, and interpretations of PD-L1 immunostaining results remain controversial in CHL. In this study, we sought to optimize the PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay in CHL. All tests were performed on a tumour tissue microarray established from 54 CHL cases. Three IHC antibodies (405.9A11, SP142, 22C3) for detecting PD-L1 expression were compared semi quantitatively with the RNAscope assay (No. 310035, ACD), and the difference in the expression in background immune cells (ICs) between assays and the associations of expression levels with densities of TILs/TAMs were also analysed. 405.9A11 demonstrated best specificity in HRS cells and best sensitivity in ICs. Positive expression of PD-L1 was more frequent in ICs (85.2%) than in HRS cells (48.1%). Different subgroups of background ICs, including tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), were assessed and scored for CD4, CD8, FOXP3, and CD163 expression. PD-L1 expression on ICs was the factor most associated with the density of TAMs. 405.9A11 provided the most convincing PD-L1 expression results. Pathologists should report PD-L1 expression in a combined manner, including both the status of HRS cells and the percentage of PD-L1-positive ICs.

In the characterization of mar/scratch resistance of coatings/materials with single-probe techniques, the probe usually scrapes the tested surface under a constant load or increasing load, followed by dimensional measurements of [...]

Simplicity and stability of an analytical method are the key to practical applications. In order to achieve such a goal, a molecule with multifunction could be one of the strategies. In this work, the multifunctional characteristics of branched polyethylenemine (bPEI) were employed for verification of this hypothesis. Three types of amines in the bPEI can be used to synthesize core-shell nanostructures (bPEI@Au and SiO2@bPEI@Au) in a simple one-pot process within 1 h, and as coreactants with over 500-fold enhancement for electrochemiluminescent (ECL) detection. Based on the remarkable performance of bPEI, a label-free ECL immunosensor and its array with the same assembly strategy were constructed for the simple and rapid determination of three acute myocardial infarction (AMI) biomarkers: cardiac troponin I (cTnI), human-type fatty acid binding protein (hFABP) and copeptin. Both methods exhibited excellent stability and sensitivity with wide linear range and low limits of detection down to fg/mL level by the photomultiplier tube and pg/mL level by the electron-multiplying charge-coupled device.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to estimate the global burden of atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (AF/AFL).MethodsWe retrieved data from the Global Health Data Exchange query tool and estimated the age-standardised rates (ASRs) of prevalence, incidence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of AF/AFL, as well as the population attributable fraction (PAF) of risk factors contributing to DALYs. ASRs and sociodemographic index (SDI) were assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients.ResultsIn 2017, there were 37.6 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 32.5 to 42.6 million) individuals with AF/AFL globally. The prevalence rates increased with increased SDI values in most regions for all years. Men had a higher prevalence than women across all regions except for China. From 1990 to 2017, global prevalence rate decreased by 5.08% (95% UI −6.24% to −3.82%), with the largest decrease noted in the region with high SDI values. The global DALYs rate declined by 2.53% (95% UI −4.16 to −0.29). PAF of elevated systolic blood pressure for attributable DALYs accounted for the highest percentage, followed by high body mass index, alcohol use, high-sodium diet, smoking and lead exposure.ConclusionsAlthough the ASRs of prevalence, incidence and DALYs decreased from 1990 to 2017, the absolute number of patients with AF/AFL, annual number of new AF/AFL cases and DALYs lost due to AF/AFL increased. This indicates that the burden of AF/AFL is likely to remain high. Systematic surveillance is needed to better identify and manage AF/AFL so as to prevent its various risk factors and complications.

Potential-resolved electrochemiluminescence (PRECL)-based strategies utilizing novel nanoluminophores have become a research hotspot in analytical sciences in virtue of the superior versatility, specificity, and sensitivity they offer to bioassays. In this work, novel PRECL nanoluminophore graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C3N4) functionalized by N-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) (ABEI) (g-C3N4/ABEI) were developed, exhibiting two potential-resolved ECL emissions in the presence of H2O2/K2S2O8as coreactants with the peak potentials at +1.2 and −1.6 V, respectively. It was found that Hg2+could simultaneously decrease the ABEI electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity while increasing the intensity of g-C3N4on the contrary. Using Hg2+as the ECL signal moderator based on specific interactions between Hg2+and thymine–thymine pairs, conjoined with the synthesized g-C3N4/ABEI/Hg2+nanohybrids with outstanding PRECL properties as the sensing interface, a label-free and all-in-one ratiometric ECL bioassay combined with a rolling circle amplification (RCA) strategy was designed for the detection of miR-133a as a biomarker in early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The proposed bioassay provided a quantitative readout proportional to the target miR-133a concentrations in the range from 0.1 fM to 1.0 pM with a detection limit of 48.0 aM. Owing to its inherent merits for an effective amplification of the ECL signals ratio and a simple one-step assembly procedure, the proposed bioassay demonstrated excellent analytical performance with remarkable sensitivity, specificity, and low measurement deviations, manifesting its potential application in early AMI diagnosis.

This study proposed label-free fluorescence lifetime imaging and phasor analysis methods to discriminate different grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The human cervical tissue lesions associated with cellular metabolic abnormalities were detected by the status changes of important coenzymes in cells and tissues, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P)H) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) was used to study human cervical tissues, human cervical epithelial cells, and standard samples. Phasor analysis was applied to reveal the interrelation between the metabolic changes and cancer development, which can distinguish among different stages of cervical lesions from low risk to high risk. This approach also possessed high sensitivity, especially for healthy sites of CIN3 tissues, and indicated the dominance of the glycolytic pathway over oxidative phosphorylation in high-grade cervical lesions. This highly adaptive, sensitive, and rapid diagnostic tool exhibits a great potential for cervical precancer diagnosis.

Here, we report a double-amplified sensing platform for ultrasensitive chemiluminescence (CL) miRNA detection in real patients’ blood in which a hemin-bridged metal–organic framework (MOF) is employed as a functional interface to boost the payload and catalysis of G-quadruplex (G4) DNAzymes. Hemin is here used as the organic ligand for the MOF synthesis, which endows the MOF with an intrinsic peroxidase-like catalytic activity. Most importantly, the MOF surface provides a large amount of binding sites for polymeric G4 DNAzymes that are produced by miRNA-triggered rolling circle amplification reactions, and meanwhile, the interfaced G4 DNAzymes on MOFs (G4/MOFzymes) display an about 100-fold higher catalytic activity than those in solution. By using the G4/MOFzyme catalysts in the luminol/H2O2CL system, the amplification detection of two acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-related miRNAs (low to 1 fM seen with naked eyes) is achieved in human serum with a smartphone as a portable imaging detector, which provides a facile methodology for point-of-care (POC) diagnosis of AMI. Compared with previous smartphone-based counterparts not requiring sophisticated equipment, this new facile methodology shows both 6 orders of magnitude higher sensitivity and an ∼50-fold longer duration for CL miRNA imaging. These unique features allow our developed G4/MOFzymes to be further employed as a novel luminescent ink for printing commonly used patterns.

Multiclass metabolomics has become a popular technique for revealing the mechanisms underlying certain physiological processes, different tumor types, or different therapeutic responses. In multiclass metabolomics, it is highly important to uncover the underlying biological information on biosamples by identifying the metabolic markers with the most associations and classifying the different sample classes. The classification problem of multiclass metabolomics is more difficult than that of the binary problem. To date, various methods exist for constructing classification models and identifying metabolic markers consisting of well-established techniques and newly emerging machine learning algorithms. However, how to construct a superior classification model using these methods remains unclear for a given multiclass metabolomic data set. Herein, MultiClassMetabohas been developed for constructing a superior classification model using metabolic markers identified in multiclass metabolomics. MultiClassMetabocan enable online services, including (a) identifying metabolic markers by marker identification methods, (b) constructing classification models by classification methods, and (c) performing a comprehensive assessment from multiple perspectives to construct a superior classification model for multiclass metabolomics. In summary, MultiClassMetabois distinguished for its capability to construct a superior classification model using the most appropriate method through a comprehensive assessment, which makes it an important complement to other available tools in multiclass metabolomics. MultiClassMetabocan be accessed at http://idrblab.cn/multiclassmetabo/.

Introduction: Aberrant activity of cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 (CDK4/6) is frequently detected in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL), indicating the therapeutic implications of CDK4/6 inhibitors for B‐cell malignancies. What's more, the introduction of agents targeting B cell receptor signaling, especially phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) isoform-specific inhibitors, is rapidly changing how B cell malignancies are treated. In this study, we aim to investigate whether the combination of CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib (PAL) and PI3Kδ inhibitor idelalisib (IDE) has synergistic anti-tumor effects in B cell lymphoma. Besides, we also evaluated the effect of co-administration PAL and IDE in Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) resistant model.

A high level of circulating myocardial microRNAs (miRNAs) is commonly considered as one indicator of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for early stage diagnosis, and hence, it is of particular significance to develop ultrasensitive methodologies for detecting these miRNAs in circulating blood. Here we build an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing platform for circulating miRNAs utilizing AuNPs@G-quadruplex (G4) spherical nucleic acid enzyme (SNAzyme) as the nanocatalyst, which shows good stability, strong nuclease resistance, and improved catalytic performance toward a luminol–H2O2ECL system than the commonly used G4 DNAzyme. Target miRNA is employed to open the probe hairpin DNA to trigger the cascade amplification and then produce a long dsDNA chain with many sticky linkers that capture the SNAzyme nanocatalyst onto the electrode. In this way, two AMI-related miRNAs are detected accurately. The detection limit is 0.4 fM (S/N = 3), and the platform shows high selectivity in circulating blood. Given the good controllability, our ECL biosensors are promising for developing clinical diagnostic platforms for multiple indicators.

As acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has now become a severe death threat to humans and may abruptly occur at home or outdoors where sophisticated equipment is not available, it is of great importance to develop facile methodologies for the point-of-care (POC) diagnosis of AMI. Toward this goal, here we build a sensing platform for chemiluminescence (CL) microRNA (miRNA) imaging with a smartphone as the portable detector, and for the first time we achieve visualization of AMI-related miRNAs in real patients’ serum. We first construct a spherical nucleic acid enzyme (termed SNAzyme) derived from a dense layer of G-quadruplex (G4) DNAzyme formed on the gold nanoparticle core, which displays ∼100-fold and higher catalytic activity and improved resistance to nuclease degradation in a real blood sample as compared to those of the G4 DNAzyme itself. These unique features endow the SNAzyme-boosted CL platform with superior imaging performance for analyzing an AMI-related miRNA, miRNA-133a. This miRNA is employed to trigger the target-catalyzed hairpin assembly to produce a sticky dsDNA linker that captures the SNAzyme nanolabel onto the substrate. In this way, miRNA-133a is successfully detected, with a limit of detection of 0.3 pM (S/N = 3) and a high selectivity over other miRNA analogs in patients’ blood. Given its unique features in physiological environments, our SNAzyme-boosted imaging platform holds great promise for use in the POC diagnosis of AMI.

To make up for the shortcomings of the suture-based approach and current coupler devices including long suturing time, exhaustive training, additional mechanical setting, and narrow working windows for size and type of diverse vessel types, a new, suture-free microneedle coupler was developed in this study. The needle shape for improved anastomosis performance and the condition for antithrombotic surface immobilization were determined. In particular, the polymer materials help to maintain healthy phenotypes of main vascular cell types. The performance in rabbit and porcine models of end-to-end vascular anastomosis indicate that this device can serve as a potent alternative to the current approaches.

Developing ultrasensitive probes holds great significance for simultaneous detection of multiplexed cancer-associated nucleic acids. Bimetallic nanoparticles containing silver may be exploited as nanoprobes for disease detection, which can produce stable and strong surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals. However, it remains extremely challenging that such SERS nanoprobes are directly synthesized. Herein gold–silver nanosnowmen, grown via a DNA-mediated approach and attached to thiol-containing Raman dyes, are successfully synthesized. Stable SERS-enhanced gold substrates are also prepared and used as the enriching containers, where the capture DNAs are tethered to sense the target genes jointly enhanced by the SERS nanoprobes in a sandwich hybridization assay. This means detection of the target gene can obtain a limit of detection close to 0.839 fM. Such double-enhanced SERS nanosensors are further employed to simultaneously detect the three types of prostate carcinoma-related genes with high sensitivity and specificity, which meanwhile exhibit robust capacity of resisting disturbance in practical samples. Simultaneous and multiplexed detection of cancer-related genes may provide further biomedical applications with new opportunity.

A method of rapidly differentiating lung tumor from healthy tissue is extraordinarily needed for both the diagnosis and the intraoperative margin assessment. We assessed the ability of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) for differentiating human lung cancer and normal tissues with the autofluorescence, and also elucidated the mechanism in tissue studies and cell studies. A 15-patient testing group was used to compare FLIM results with traditional histopathology diagnosis. Based on the endogenous fluorescence lifetimes of the testing group, a criterion line was proposed to distinguish normal and cancerous tissues. Then by blinded examined 41 sections from the validation group of other 16 patients, the sensitivity and specificity of FLIM were determined. The cellular metabolism was studied with specific perturbations of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis in cell studies. The fluorescence lifetime of cancerous lung tissues is consistently lower than normal tissues, and this is due to the both decrease of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) lifetimes. A criterion line of lifetime at 1920ps can be given for differentiating human lung cancer and normal tissues.The sensitivity and specificity of FLIM for lung cancer diagnosis were determined as 92.9% and 92.3%. These findings suggest that NADH and FAD can be used to rapidly diagnose lung cancer. FLIM is a rapid, accurate and highly sensitive technique in the judgment during lung cancer surgery and it can be potential in earlier cancer detection.

Synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA) containing a covalently integrated drug is capable of releasing therapeutic molecules and is an attractive candidate for the intra-articular treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Herein, self-assembled PEGylated kartogenin (PEG/KGN) micelles consisting of hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hydrophobic KGN, which has been shown to induce chondrogenesis in human mesenchymal stem cells, were prepared by covalent crosslinking. HA hydrogels containing PEG/KGN micelles (HA/PEG/KGN) were prepared by covalently bonding PEG chains to HA. The physicochemical properties of the HA/PEG/KGN conjugate gels were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H NMR, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). HA/PEG/KGN gels exhibited larger micelles in aqueous solution than PEG/KGN. SEM images of PEG/KGN micelles showed a dark core and a bright shell, whereas PEG/KGN micelles covalently integrated into HA had an irregular oval shape. Covalent integration of PEG/KGN micelles in HA hydrogels significantly reduced drug release rates and provided sustained release over a prolonged period of time. HA/PEG/KGN hydrogels were degradable enzymatically by collagenase and hyaluronidase in vitro. Injection of HA/PEG/KGN hydrogels into articular cartilage significantly suppressed the progression of OA in rats compared with free-HA hydrogel injection. These results suggest that the HA/PEG/KGN hydrogels have greater potency than free-HA hydrogels against OA as biodegradable synthetic therapeutics.

Human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine due to their multipotent differentiation capacity and immunomodulatory capabilities. Substantial research has elucidated mechanisms by which extracellular cues regulate hMSC fate decisions, but considerably less work has addressed how material properties can be leveraged to maintain undifferentiated stem cells. Here, we show that synthetic culture substrates designed to exhibit moderate cell-repellency promote high stemness and low oxidative stresstwo indicators of naïve, healthy stem cellsin commercial and patient-derived hMSCs. Furthermore, the material-mediated effect on cell behavior can be tuned by altering the molar percentage (mol %) and/or chain length of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), the repellant block linked to hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) in the copolymer backbone. Nano- and angstrom-scale characterization of the cell-material interface reveals that PEG interrupts the adhesive PCL domains in a chain-length-dependent manner; this prevents hMSCs from forming mature focal adhesions and subsequently promotes cell–cell adhesions that require connexin-43. This study is the first to demonstrate that intrinsic properties of synthetic materials can be tuned to regulate the stemness and redox capacity of hMSCs and provides new insight for designing highly scalable, programmable culture platforms for clinical translation.

Oblique-incidence reflectivity difference (OI-RD) is a form of polarization-modulation ellipsometry that measures properties of thin films on a solid surface through the change in polarization state of light upon reflection from the surface. The measurement accuracy depends on the precision of the phase modulation amplitude and azimuthal alignments of key polarizing optical elements and, thus, requires careful calibration. In the present work, we describe robust methods of such calibrations that enable precise determination of the modulation amplitude and static retardation of a phase modulator and azimuths of key polarizing optics in an OI-RD system.

This study investigates whether and how the perception of carbon abatement pressure affects corporate financing behavior. The results show that carbon abatement pressure increases corporate cash holdings via the channel of financing constraints, and this positive relationship still holds after a series of robustness tests. This positive relationship is pronounced for private firms, those with higher operational risks, and firms in regions with lower levels of marketization.

To report the novel imaging findings in persistent placoid maculopathy (PPM) from the first case series of Asian subjects.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Longdanxieganformula granule (LDXGFG), a Chinese traditional medicine on Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway in recurrent genital herpes.

Osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) is irreversible disease which treatment is almost depending on total joint replacement. The synergistic effect by co-transplantation of adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) in enhancing the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) proved in critical sized calvarial defect model of rat in our previous study. In this study, porcine ASCs and BMSCs were co-transplanted to ONFH model of minipig. In the results of X-rays and CT, defect of cells transplantation group was complete healed up with new bone tissue while control group had unfilled bone defect. Histological findings also corroborated the radiological findings. We observed very rapid and good quality osteogenesis in combined ASCs and BMSCs implantation group compared with control group.

The three-dimensionally ordered nanopores 3DON lithium ionic sieve precursors Li4Ti5O12 were synthesized by homemade polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) colloidal crystal templates filled with lithium acetate, tetrabutyl titanate, oxalic acid and critric acid mixed solution after melt crystallization. The corresponding LiTi-H as a new lithium ion-sieve was obtained after the dilute hydrochloric acid treatment. The morphology and structure of the material were analyzed with SEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and saturated exchange capacity, adsorptive selectivity and reusability characterized the ion exchange properties. It turns out that PMMA colloidal crystal templates and 3DON precursors Li4Ti5O12 arranged orderly and macro pore diameter was approximately 80nm. What’s more, Li4Ti5O12 were spinel phase and lithium ionic sieve LiTi-H had a high selectivity for Li+, saturated exchange capacity for Li, 56.81mg (Li+).g-1 and good acid stability.

Introduction:Intra-articular (IA) drug delivery is very useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), the most common chronic joint affliction. However, the therapeutic effect of IA administration depends mostly on the efficacy of drug delivery.Areas covered:The present article reviews the current status of IA therapy for OA treatment as well as its rationale. Outlines of drug delivery parameters such as release profile, retention time, distribution, size and transport that influence the drug's biological performance in the joints are summarized. New delivery systems, currently under investigation, including liposome, nanoparticle, microparticle and hydrogel formulations are introduced. Functionalized drug delivery systems by targeting and thermoresponsiveness that are being investigated for OA treatment via IA therapy are also addressed.Expert opinion:Several delivery systems, including liposome, microparticles, nanoparticles and hydrogels, have been investigated for the sustained drug delivery to the joints. These can be advanced by the use of functionalized drug delivery systems that can lead targeting to specific regions and thermoresponsiveness for prolonged drug release in the joints. Further advances will bring forth new biocompatible and biodegradable materials as a drug carrier or new combination regimens. Future innovations in this field should be directed toward the development of adapted delivery systems that can induce tissue regeneration in OA patients.

Introduction Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive and incurable B-cell-derived malignant disease. MCL is treated using general chemotherapy; however, disease progression and relapse are common; thus, the development of novel therapeutic targets for treatment of MCL is urgently required. Serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) is involved in various cellular activities, and its dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple types of cancer. However, little is known regarding its functional roles and associated molecular mechanisms in MCL.Methods SGK1 inhibition mediated by either shRNA or treatment with SGK1 inhibitor (GSK650394) was conducted in MCL cell lines. Western blotting analysis was performed to figure out the expression of related proteins. MCL-cell-derived xenograft models were constructed to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of SGK1 inhibition or/and Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibition in vivo.Results In this study, it was shown that inhibition of SGK1 significantly reduced cell proliferation, invasion and migration, increased apoptosis and blocked cell cycle progression in MCL cells. Furthermore, SGK1 inhibition significantly reduced the activation of ERK, AKT/mTOR, JAK2/STAT3 and the NF-κB signaling pathways. Using MCL-cell-derived xenograft mice models, SGK1 inhibition decreased tumor cell proliferation and tumor growth. Importantly, SGK1 overexpression significantly promoted xenograft tumor growth. Moreover, simultaneous inhibition of SGK1 and Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) resulted in synergistic anti-tumor effects on MCL both in vitroand in vivo.Conclusion SGK1 may be a novel candidate therapeutic target and simultaneous inhibition of SGK1 and BTK may be a promising therapeutic strategy for MCL patients. Further pre-clinical and even clinical studies of SGK1 inhibitor or combination with BTK inhibitor are essential.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniaeis the etiologic agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, a highly contagious pulmonary disease in pigs with major economic losses for pig producers worldwide. Whereas A. pleuropneumoniaeisolates are divided into 15 serotypes, the isolates secrete 4 types of exotoxins (ApxI, ApxII, ApxIII, and ApxIV), which are known as major virulence factors. In the current study, the ApxIA, ApxIIA, and ApxIIIAgenes were amplified and their recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coliM15 cells. The antigenicity of each recombinant protein was demonstrated by Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using sera from pigs vaccinated with a subunit vaccine. When ELISAs using the recombinant antigens were optimized and then applied to sera from 320 randomized pigs in Korea, an observed increase in seroprevalence was found among sows in comparison with weaned piglets and growing pigs, indicating an age-dependent seroprevalence. The results obtained in the study suggest that the developed ELISAs may be useful for A. pleuropneumoniaevaccination strategy as a screening tool for pig herds as well as for detection of specific antibodies to Apx exotoxins.

The heat penetration depth of mould for Semi-solid net-shape forming affects not only the life of moulds, but also the quality of products. By integral approximate solution of temperature field and analyses of solidification process, a theoretical model of heat penetration depth for semi-solid net-shape forming mould was obtained, and in this model the influence factors such as product material thermal properties, mould material thermal properties and solidification time are given much consideration. Studies show that the heat penetration depth increases exponentially with interface thermal resistance and time respectively, and increase as a cubic curve with pouring temperature and preheating temperature.

This paper analyzed the core characteristics of Chinese farmers using digital content service based on persona building method, which involved quantitative research, persona hypothesis, quantitative research and persona building. Common Goals are concluded and 4 groups of design concepts are developed later in this paper, based on the demand of 6 built personas.

In this paper, we discuss a novel approach to multimodal input design in Tangible User Interface (TUI). We present a prototype Bubble Journey, a game platform where users control the avatar in flash game by blowing a real handle. This computer game was combined multimodal input tool embedded sensor, which augment experience of user’s (children’s) five senses and body into game’s digital world with previous experience in daily life. Sensor embodied in multimodal input tool can convert data of sounds and movements produced by users (children) into digital signals to manipulate the virtual characters’ performance in the game.

Prion diseases, which are called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), comprise a group of fatal infectious neurodegenerative disorders. Investigation of prion strains and generation of species dependent TSE model are necessary to understand pathogenesis of the disease. To establish a BSE-specific in vitro cell culture model, N2a and GT1 mouse neuronal cell lines were generated to express the bovine prion protein by transfection of the bovine prion gene (Prnp). In addition, the endogenous mouse prion protein was suppressed in N2a, NbP, GT1, and GbP cell lines using the siRNA duplexes, siRNA1 and siRNA2 that target the N- and C- termini of murine Prnp, respectively. Both siRNA1 and siRNA2 effectively decreased murine prion protein levels by more than 80% and the down-regulation efficacy was increased in siRNA dose-dependent manner. The greatest down-regulation was observed 48 h after siRNA delivery. The moPrnpknockdown NbP and GbP cell lines and the Prnp-targeting siRNA technique established in the present study would be useful tools for dissecting the basic mechanisms of prion infection, especially for BSE.

An analytical model of apparent viscosity was built up based on analysis of energy dissipation during rheocasting. By study the evaluation law of microstructure analyzed with a quantitative metallographic analysis system for semi-solid alloys, the variation law of apparent viscosity with time has been obtained. The model was verified in the experiment of A356 alloys with a coaxial double-bucket rheometer, and the results of simulated experiment and theoretical calculation are in a good agreement.

Fimbriae and enterotoxins are major virulence factors associated with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC). In this study, 3 sets of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assays targeting fimbriae, enterotoxins, and other adherence factors were developed for detecting ETEC. A total number of 188 E. colifield isolates were examined, and percentages of E. colistrains carrying each virulence factors were as follows: F4 (7.45%), F5 (29.79%), F6 (6.38%), F18 (15.43%), F41 (3.72%), STa (10.11%), STb (20.74%), LT (9.57%), Stx2e (2.13%), EAST1 (42.02%), F1 (67.55%), AIDA-I (2.66%), and pAA (7.45%). Of the 188 E. colifield isolates examined, 25.53% were found to be pathogenic ETEC, having both fimbriae and enterotoxins. However, the ratio increased to 44.68% when the presence of other adhesins was considered as criteria for virulence. Among the adherence factors, F1 was found to be the most prevalent. AIDA-I and pAA were also found with similar ratio as compared with other virulence factors. In addition, virulence patterns carrying these alternate adhesive genes with enterotoxins were detected with significant ratio. Therefore, it is desirable that alternate adhesins be considered as markers for diagnosis of ETEC.

In steel squeeze casting process, the working condition of a punch was very rigorous. The abnormal failure models of an H13 punch, such as plastic rubbed damnification, could not be avoided easily, Based on the analysis of the flow stress and the friction-shearing stress of an H13 punch in steel squeeze casting process, the following results were obtained: if the flow stress of an H13 punch was smaller than its friction-shearing stress, these abnormal failures could not be avoided; and if there were some protection measures that enable the flow stress to have a greater value than its friction-shearing one, the abnormal failures would not occur. In the production of 45#steel valves and catenary system components, the flow stress of a lateral H13 punch without any protection measure was about 29 MPa and its friction-shearing stress was about 51 MPa, then, the abnormal failures occurred1 however, when the protection measures of the punch enabled its working temperature to have a value below 682 °C, its flow stress was greater than its friction-shearing stress, and the abnormal failures were avoided.

With the rapid development of science and technology, our country has basically entered into the network era, Internet and convenient optical fiber communication technology has covered all areas of the application. At the same time, electric power industry also vigorously applies network technology to improve its market competition strength. This technology plays an important role in electric power industry development, the operation and service of electric power industry in our country. The paper makes analysis and research about the wireless communication network technology on electric power automation.

Introduction: Cephalomedullary nailing presents several biomechanical benefits for treatment of intertrochanteric fractures, but posterior sagging (PS) of the proximal fragment occurs postoperatively in some patients despite intraoperative achievement of an adequate reduction. We investigated the risk factors for PS in those patients, with specific attention to posterior split fragment involving the greater trochanter (GT separation) as a possible significant risk factor.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 50 (12 males, 38 females) patients ≥50 years old at diagnosis of an intertrochanteric fracture after low-energy trauma who underwent cephalomedullary nailing between April 2015 and February 2017 and were not lost to follow-up within 12 months postoperatively.Results: Thirteen (26%) patients experienced PS postoperatively. Average time to bone union was significantly longer in the PS (9.5 months) than in the non-PS (4.8 months) groups (P= .002). Three patients in the PS group experienced nonunion compared to none in the non-PS group (P= .015). Significant difference was found in postoperative level of ambulatory ability (Koval score) and deterioration of the score after the injury between 2 groups (4.2 vs 2.8, P= .043 and 2.5 vs 0.8, P= .005). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, GT separation (P= .010) was a significant risk factor for PS.Discussion and Conclusion: The presence of GT separation in cases of intertrochanteric fractures seems to weaken posterior stability in the proximal fragment, thus showing poor clinical outcomes.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful intractable disease that significantly affects patients' quality of life. However, current therapies, such as pain killers and joint replacement surgery, do not lead to cartilage protection. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proposed as an alternative strategy for OA therapy because MSCs can secrete chondroprotective and anti‐inflammatory factors. However, interleukin‐4 (IL‐4), a potent anti‐inflammatory cytokine, is barely produced by MSCs, and MSC therapy suffers from rapid MSC death following intra‐articular implantation. MSCs in spheroids survive better than naïve MSCs in vitro and in vivo. IL‐4‐transfected MSCs in spheroids (IL‐4 MSC spheroid) show increased chondroprotective and anti‐inflammatory effects in an OA chondrocyte model in vitro. Following intra‐articular implantation in OA rats, IL‐4 MSC spheroids show better cartilage protection and pain relief than naïve MSCs. Thus, IL‐4 MSC spheroid may potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs for OA. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is a rising strategy for treating osteoarthritis (OA). However, MSCs undergo rapid death after implantation and anti‐inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) is barely produced in MSCs. Here, IL‐4 gene‐transfected MSCs in spheroids may potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs for OA by alteration the microenvironment in arthritic joint and prolonging survival of implanted MSCs.

Single-molecule spectral imaging is a powerful technique for simultaneous study of biological samples labeled by multiple fluorophores. We have developed a robust prism-based single-molecule spectral tracking technique based on a dual-objective fluorescence-reflection system with tunable spectral dispersion (DOFR-SD). The system can capture the spatial position of a single molecule in real time, and rather than splitting photons into two channels its intrinsic spectral characteristics can also be captured without compromising the precision of the (x, y) position. Thus, the DOFR-SD technique is suitable for tracking the spectral variation of single particles in living cells and for multicolor coding.