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Gastrochilus yehii S. I. Hsieh, C. T. Lee & J. H. Wu, a new species of Orchidaceae discovered in Taiwan, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically close to G. ciliaris F. Maek., G. deltoglossus T.C. Hsu, S.I. Hsieh, J.H. Wu & H.C. Hung, and G. raraensis Fukuy. The distinguishing characters of G. yehii are semiorbicular epichile, which is whitish with purple dots and adaxial with densely long-hairy ciliate margin, and subconical hypochile, which is purple with reddish speckles.

To describe the nursing experiences and care needs of family caregivers caring for neonates with enterostomies in China.A qualitative study.We conducted semi-structured interviews with family caregivers who care for neonates undergoing enterostomy. Family caregivers were selected using a purposive sampling method from three children's hospitals until no new data were generated (N = 26). Data analysis applied the thematic analysis method. The caregivers' experiences were described using qualitative content analysis.The experience of family caregivers was described as growing in adaptation, where five main themes emerged: (1) complex emotional responses; (2) uncertainty about everything; (3) lack of confidence, anxiety and helplessness; (4) eagerness for professional support; (5) active adaptation, gain-harvest and gain-growth. These findings increased understanding and added knowledge on this topic that is rarely studied in China. Healthcare authorities and professionals should recognize and understand the lives and situations of family caregivers (whose neonates undergo enterostomy) to better identify their difficulties and needs.

Here, we describe a family case carrier with 3q29 microduplication, a 1.56Mb and 1.68 Mb duplicate region, that was identified by CNV-seq. Different from the common clinical traits of previously reported cases, this family of individuals shows an apparently normal phenotype.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to identify the family members carried the same microdeletion and to discover the symptoms of a familial 16p11.2 microdeletion were greatly different. Case Report: The son, a 6-years-old boy, displayed scoliosis, mental retardation, and language retardation. The mother displayed mild mental retardation, but no scoliosis or language retardation or genital tract malformation. Pedigree research revealed that the mother, her son, and her fetus carried the same 16p11.2 microdeletion through CNV-sequencing, Whole Exon Sequencing, and PCR, but the father was normal. And her fetal displayed no scoliosis by ultrasound. After birth, the baby displayed genital tract malformation, but no scoliosis or mental retardation.Conclusions: This finding uncovered that the symptoms of 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome are greatly different, even in the same segment microdeletion.

Background: More than 100,000 neonates undergo enterostomy every year in China, and the incidence continues to increase gradually. Most neonates undergoing enterostomy are cared for by family after hospital discharge. However, there is a lack of qualitative studies on family caregivers’ experiences in caring for neonates undergoing enterostomy in China.Method: An explorative design was used in which qualitative semi-structured interviews with family caregivers were conducted. Family caregivers were selected using a purposive sampling method from a children’s hospital until no new data were generated (n = 26). Reporting adhered to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research checklist.Results: The experience of family caregivers was described as growing in adaptation, where five main themes emerged: (1) complex emotional responses; (2) uncertainty about everything; (3) lack of confidence, anxiety, and helplessness; (4) eagerness for professional support; (5) active adaptation, harvest, and growth.Conclusion: These findings increased understanding and added knowledge on this topic that is rarely studied in China. Healthcare authorities and professionals should recognise and understand the lives and situations of family caregivers (whose neonates undergo enterostomy) to better identify their difficulties and needs. Appropriate and effective support, both from government and society, should be planned and implemented for family caregivers caring for neonates undergoing enterostomy and maintaining the quality of their own lives.

With the excellent ability to transform near-infrared light to localized visible or UV light, thereby achieving deep tissue penetration, lanthanide ion-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) have emerged as one of the most striking nanoscale materials for more effective and safer cancer treatment. Up to now, UCNPs combined with photosensitive components have been widely used in the delivery of chemotherapy drugs, photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy. Applications in these directions are reviewed in this article. We also highlight microenvironmental tumor monitoring and precise targeted therapies. Then we briefly summarize some new trends and the existing challenges for UCNPs. We hope this review can provide new ideas for future cancer treatment based on UCNPs.

A new species, Gastrochilus deltoglossus, is described and illustrated from Taiwan. This species is characterized by the presence of pendulous stems, leaves without awned apex, 3.5–4.0 mm tall subconical hypochile, and broadly deltoid, ciliate, adaxially sparsely short-hairy epichile that are approximately as wide as hypochile. Notes on its distribution, ecology, conservation status and taxonomic affinities are presented.

Spherical nano-structured and nano-agglomerated Li1.2Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 cathode materials were prepared by simple blending and mechanical ball-milling process, respectively. The phase structure of Li1.2Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 cathodes were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrochemical tests of the cathodes were performed to examine the effect of particle morphology on the cycle performance, as well as the rate capability. The results show that spherical nano-structured sample prepared by simple blending process exhibits an initial discharge capacity of ∼234.0 mAh g−1 and remains ∼98.0% of that after 50 cycles. In contrast, the nano-agglomerated cathode synthesized by mechanical ball milling process retains only ∼84.0% of its initial discharge capacity after 50 cycles although it shows a better rate performance than the spherical nano-structured cathode. The good rate performance for the nano-agglomerated cathode can be attributed to th...

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish a rapid and accurate method for the detection of the Streptococcus agalactiae antibody (SA-Ab) to determine the presence of the bovine mastitis (BM)-causative pathogen. Methods: The multi-subunit fusion protein rSip-Pgk-FbsA was prokaryotically expressed and purified. The triple activities of the membrane surface-associated proteins Sip, phosphoglycerate kinase (Pgk), and fibronectin (FbsA) were used as the diagnostic antigens to establish an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for the detection of SA-Ab in BM. Results: The optimal antigen coating concentration was 2 μg/mL, the optimal serum dilution was 1:160, and the optimal dilution of the enzyme-labeled secondary antibody was 1:6000. The sensitivity, specificity, and repeatability tests showed that the method established in this study had no cross-reaction with antibodies to Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis in the sera. The results of the sensitivity test showed that a positive result could be obtained even if the serum dilution reached 1:12,800, indicating the high sensitivity and good repeatability of the method. The positive coincidence rate of this method was 98.6%, which is higher than that of previous tests established with the Sip or Pgk mono-antigen fusion protein, respectively, demonstrating the relatively higher sensitivity of this newly established method. The detection rate for 389 clinical samples was 46.53%. Conclusions: The indirect ELISA method established in this study could provide a more accurate and reliable serological method for the rapid detection of S. agalactiae in cases of BM.

Aim To describe the clinical characteristics with genetic lesions in a Chinese family with Crouzon syndrome. Methods All five patients from this family were included and received comprehensive ophthalmic and systemic examinations. Direct sequencing of the FGFR2 gene was employed for mutation identification. Crystal structure analysis was applied to analyze the structural changes associated with the substitution. Results All patients presented typical Crouzon features, including short stature, craniosynostosis, mandibular prognathism, shallow orbits with proptosis, and exotropia. Intrafamilial phenotypic diversities were observed. Atrophic optic nerves were exclusively detected in the proband and her son. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) implied a cystic lesion in her sellar and third ventricular regions. A missense mutation, FGFR2 p.Cys342Trp, was found as disease causative. This substitution would generate conformational changes in the extracellular Ig-III domain of the FGFR-2 protein, thus altering its physical and biological properties. Conclusion We describe the clinical presentations and genotypic lesions in a Chinese family with Crouzon syndrome. The intrafamilial phenotypic varieties in this family suggest that other genetic modifiers may also play a role in the pathogenesis of Crouzon syndrome.

To study the protective effect of Saussurea involucrata alcohol extract on liver mitochondria in mice under hypoxia condition.The hypoxia mice model was established, the BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups:normal group ,hypoxia model group, positive control group and Saussurea involucrata alcohol extract group. Mice were put into low pressure oxygen chamber and decompressed, adapted to hypobaric hypoxia environment of simulated altitude of 8,000 m for 12 h, and then recovered to normal altitude. The mice were sacrificed and the liver mitochondria was isolated, the mitochondrial membrane potential and the activity of malate dehydrogenase, aconitase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial complex I, II and V were measured.Compared with hypoxia model group, Saussurea involucrata alcohol extract protected mitochondrial membrane potential, sustained the activities of aconitase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and mitochondrial complex I, II and V under hypoxia condition.Saussurea involucrata alcohol extract can protect the liver mitochondrial function in mice under hypoxia condtion.

Management is an effective tool for increasing the productivity of Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica). This species has been widely planted in China, especially in sandy lands. However, optimization of management practices had not been fully explored. We established a system dynamic model to evaluate the effects of thinning and of manipulation of water supply on the productivity and population density of a Mongolian pine forest (17 scenarios in total). Different levels of thinning increased the mean biomass of Mongolian pine over no-management to a range from 202 to 256 t·ha-1. Increasing water supply decreased the mean biomass of Mongolian pine to a range from 176 to 199 t·ha-1. These results indicated that thinning at different levels may lead to an increase in biomass accumulation, while manipulating water supply may decrease biomass. Further, thinning appeared more effective than increasing water supply in efforts at maintaining high productivity of Mongolian pine forests. Moreover, the highest biomass occurred in a scenario with a thinning intensity of 30% in over-mature trees, indicating that this thinning intensity was the most effective choice for to the maintenance of the highest biomass in Mongolian pine forests. This study informs about the interactions between Mongolian pine and forest management, and provides guidelines for the practice of management of this forest type.