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Primary central nervous system lymphoma, a rare primary intracranial tumor, is highly malignant and usually associated with poor prognosis. Recent years, owing to the remarkable progress in intervention techniques, survival time reported has been significantly prolonged. Strategies targeting alleviation and remission are primarily depended on the early diagnosis. However, due to the heterogeneity of the clinical symptoms and imaging features, the disease is frequently misdiagnosed especially in the early phase, rendering a delay of optimal treatment. Herein, we reported the case of a 61-year-old man who was initially misdiagnosed as demyelinating encephalopathy. MRI images showed multifocal lesions across the cerebral cortex and deep white matter, which are not strengthened on contrast enhancements. In respect of clinical symptoms, no significant progress was observed over about 11 months. Finally, the diagnosis was revealed by brain biopsy. After reviewing all the images of the patient, we found that the corpus callosum was involved early in the course of the disease. Therefore, for multifocal intracranial lesions involving the corpus callosum, we should always be vigilant about the possibility of primary central nervous system lymphoma. Histopathological examination of brain biopsy is helpful for early definitive diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new polyene compound (1) and a new diketopiperazine (2), as well as three known compounds (3–5), were isolated from the Antarctic marine-derived fungus Penicillium crustosum HDN153086. The structures of 1–5 were deduced based on MS, NMR and TD-DFT calculations of specific ECD spectra. These compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against K562 cell line and only compound 2 exhibited cytotoxicity against K562 cell, with IC50 value of 12.7 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the relationship between of endogenous enzymes and physiochemical indicators during the processing of dry-salted Decapterus maruadsi produced by the traditional method. The evolution of the endogenous enzymes (cathepsin B, cathepsin L, cathepsin H, acid lipase, neutral lipase, and phospholipase) and physical and chemical parameters (moisture content, salt content and pH) of dry-salted Decapterus maruadsi during processing were investigated. Principal component analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient analysis were used to explore the main factors influencing the endogenous enzyme activity and the interactions between endogenous enzymes. The following results were observed during the processing of dry-salted Decapterus maruadsi: the salt content could stimulate cathepsin (L and B) activity and inhibit lipase activity; a lower moisture content could inhibit lipase activity, while the inhibitory effect on cathepsin was inconspicuous; pH had a minor influence on the endogenous enzyme activities; cathepsin B and L could partially inhibit lipase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Three new Lycopodium alkaloids (1–3), together with 15 known alkaloids, were isolated from club moss Lycopodium japonicum. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Compound 1 has an unusual β-oriented methyl group substituted at C-15 and an α-hydroxy cyclopentenone moiety. All new alkaloids were evaluated for the inhibition of T-type calcium channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To develop and validate a refined traumatic brain injury (TBI) classification system to supplement the existing systems which have limited accuracy for predicting long-term consciousness recovery. Methods: The refined classification system was developed using medical records of 527 patients according to clinical presentations within 12-24 hrs after injury. Multiple linear regression was applied to identify protective and risk factors for Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at 12-month follow-up. The TBI severity was moved to a less or more severe level when more than half of the protective or risk factors were present. The capability and reliability of each system for predicting 12 month GCS and GOS scores, and mortality were assessed using ROC curve analysis and Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient. Results: One protective factor and four risk factors were identified for predicting long-term outcomes. The refined system had higher sensitivity and specificity in predicting 12-month GCS and GOS scores, and mortality than the other two systems. The refined system had lower reliability than the GCS system and higher reliability than the Chinese system. Conclusions: The refined system incorporates the advantages of both GCS and Chinese systems and provides a better prediction of long-term consciousness outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we developed a novel active targeting and pH-responsive system for delivering the drug doxorubicin (DOX) to tumor sites using folic acid (FA)-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Acid-treated MWCNTs with carboxyl groups were first covalently conjugated with polyethyleneimine (PEI). Subsequent sequential modification with FA (via a polyethylene glycol spacer), fluorescein isothiocyanate (FI), and acetic anhydride/triethylamine resulted in multifunctional FA-bound MWCNT (MWCNT-PEI.Ac-FI-PEG-FA) nanomaterials that possessed exceptional colloidal stability and good biocompatibility in a given concentration range. The FA-bound MWCNTs were characterized using various techniques and exhibited a high drug loading and an encapsulation efficiency as high as 70.4%. DOX/MWCNT-PEI.Ac-FI-PEG-FA nanocomplexes (DOX/MWCNT NCs) exhibited pH-responsive release in acidic environments. Importantly, the DOX/MWCNT NCs targeted tumor cells overexpressing FA receptors (FARs) and effectively inhibited their growth. In vivo anticancer experiments demonstrated that DOX/MWCNT NCs not only enhanced the suppression of tumor growth but also decreased the side effects of free DOX. The developed FA-modified MWCNTs with an unconventionally high DOX loading boosted in vivo anti-tumor efficacy, and the lower systemic toxicity may be utilized for tumor therapy upon clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The most preferable vascular access for patients with end-stage renal failure needing hemodialysis is native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) on account of its access longevity, patient morbidity, hospitalization costs, lower risks of infection and fewer incidence of thrombotic complications. Meanwhile, according to National Kidney Foundation (NKF)̸Dialysis Out-comes Quality Initiative (DOQI) guidelines, AVF is more used than before. However, a significant percentage of AVF fails to support dialysis therapy due to lack of adequate maturity. Among all factors, the presence of diabetes mellitus was shown to be one of the risk factors for the development of vascular access failure by some authors. Therefore, this review evaluates the current evidence concerning the correlation of diabetes and AVF failure. Methods: A search was conducted using MEDLINE, SCIENCE DIRECT, SPRINGER, WILEY-BLACKWELL, KARGER, EMbase, CNKI and WanFang Data from the establishment time of databases to January 2016. The analysis involved studies that contained subgroups of diabetic patients and compared their outcomes with those of non-diabetic adults. In total, 23 articles were retrieved and included in the review. Results: The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significantly higher rate of AVF failure in diabetic patients compared with non-diabetic patients (OR = 1.682; 95% CI, 1.429-1.981, Test of OR = 1: z = 6.25, p <.001). Conclusions: This review found an increased risk of AVF failure in diabetes patients. If confirmed by further prospective studies, preventive measure should be considered when planning AVF in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Fibrocyte localization to the airways and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) overexpression in the lung are features of severe asthma. The aim of this study was to determine whether TSLP contributes to fibrocyte trafficking and airway remodeling in a mouse model of allergic asthma. Methods: We established a chronic asthma animal model by administering house dust mite (HDM) extracts intranasally for up to 5 consecutive weeks. Mouse anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody (mAb) was given intraperitoneally starting the 4th week. Fluorescence-labeled CD34/collagen I (Col I)-dual-positive fibrocytes were examined by confocal microscopy. The level of TGF-β1 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was determined by ELISA. Results: We found significantly increased levels of TSLP and TGF-β1 in the lung of the mice subjected to repeated allergen exposure, which was accompanied by increased number of fibrocytes in the sub-epithelial zone and the BAL fluid. However, blocking TSLP markedly decreased the production of TGF-β1, reduced the number of fibrocytes and subsequently prevented alterations of both airway and vascular structures. Conclusions: Our data suggested that TSLP might function in airway remodeling by promoting circulating fibrocyte recruitment to the lung in the mice subjected to chronic allergen exposure. These results provide a better rationale for targeting the interaction between TSLP and fibrocytes as a therapeutic approach for chronic allergic asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoene synthase (PSY) plays a key role in the biosynthesis and accumulation of carotenoids as the first rate-limiting enzyme in the plant carotenoid pathway. In the present study, the 'Granny Smith' apple PSY gene, MdPSY, was cloned using in silico cloning. The length of the MdPSY was 1500 bp, which included a complete open reading frame of 1194 bp, encoding a predicted protein of 397 amino acids. Sequence analysis revealed that the 'Granny Smith' apple PSY protein shared high homology with MdPSY2 (99%), MdPSY1 (93.9%), FaPSY (71.8%), CuPSY (70.7%) and NtPSY (69.7%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the MdPSY protein was closely related to the PSY protein of Rosaceae. An expression profile analysis of different tissues indicated that MdPSY expression in the roots was higher than that in other tissues. MdPSY expression was tested throughout the fruit development period. The results showed that MdPSY plays a role in carotenoid biosynthesis in 'Granny Smith' apple. In addition, bagging treatment inhibits PSY gene expression, which in turn affects the synthesis and accumulation of carotenoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allele frequency data and forensic statistical parameters were determined for 20 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci of the PowerPlex 21 System in 214 unrelated healthy individuals of a Uyghur ethnic minority group living in Xinjiang province, northwest China. A total of 232 alleles were observed with the corresponding allele frequencies ranging from 0.0023 to 0.5304. All loci were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) after the Bonferroni correction (p > 0.0025). The combined probability of exclusion, power of discrimination, probability of matching value were 0.999999999, 0.9999999999999999999999995, and 4.78246 × 10−25, respectively. Our results revealed that the 20 STRs were highly polymorphic and informative, and could be suitable for forensic application, especially parentage test and personal identification. The further population comparison between the Uyghur and other 26 reference populations revealed that the loci of D13S317, TH01 and D6S1043 showed high ethnical specificity. Phylogenetic analysis based on 19 shared loci demonstrated that the Uyghur had a close genetic relationship with the Kazakh, but a distinct genetic distance with other Chinese populations from different ethnicity and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese housing prices have increased rapidly in recent years. Concerned about the potential for a burst bubble, the Chinese government has been intervening in the market to rein in the rising price trend since 2010. In March 2017, a new housing policy, called house-sale restriction, was developed to curtail speculation in the Chinese housing market. This study uses a difference-in-difference model to examine the policy effect of this new restriction. By using house-sale and price data of 43 cities across 30 provinces in China, we find that house-sale restrictions could effectively reduce speculation in the market as well as decrease housing prices in the short term. This study analyses only the short-term effect of this new housing policy; the long-term effect requires further examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reasonable project was presented for the extraction and separation of Pt(IV), Pd(II), Ru(III), and Rh(III) from the mixed imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) [C6mim]Cl, [C6mim][NTf2], and [C6mim][DDTC]. Pt(IV) was first separated from other three platinum group metals with a mixture of [C6mim]Cl and [C6mim][NTf2]. Then, separation of Pd(II) and Ru(III) from Rh(III) was realized by changing the concentration of [C6mim][DDTC]. Back-extraction of Pt(IV), Pd(II), and Ru(III) from loaded hydrophobic phase and the recovery of Rh(III) in aqueous phase were also investigated. Mechanisms between Pd(II)/Ru(III) and [C6mim][DDTC] were further explored using ultraviolet spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), the method of continuous variations, ab initio quantum chemical studies, and X-ray crystallographic analysis. The results afford more directions for extracting and separating metals by introducing devisable functionalized group into ILs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological security of urban surface water is subject to significant risk due to rapid urbanization. Pollutant discharge and accumulation are among the most critical stressors endangering urban surface water and affecting the normal operation of urban aquatic ecosystem services. In this study, we assessed how pollutant accumulation stresses water purification systems, which perform important urban ecosystem services. First, we applied a water environmental capacity model to calculate thresholds of urban surface water environmental capacity under a given water quality target. Second, based on a stepwise regression method, an equation was used to describe the relationship between stressor factors (pollutant accumulation) and measurable socioeconomic indicators. Third, an ecological risk index was used as an assessment endpoint indicator to assess the negative ecological effect of pollutant accumulation. Finally, risk level was classified according to the risk quotient method. Taking Xiamen City as an example, we analyzed the contribution of different sources of pollutants and evaluated the urban ecological risk posed by two major contaminants present in the environment by measuring chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N). The results show that the ecological risk indexes of both COD and NH4+-N are expected to decrease from 2020 to 2030; that of COD is expected to fall from medium to low, whereas that of NH4+-N is expected to fall from high to medium. These findings demonstrate that the ecological risk posed to the surface water in Xiamen City can be reduced by controlling population growth, optimizing industrial structure, and promoting economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Eight-and-a-half syndrome is caused by a lesion in the dorsal tegmentum of the caudal pons involving parapontine reticular formation and median longitudinal fasciculus, as well as the nucleus and/or the fasciculus of the facial nerve. It is characterized by one-and-a-half syndrome and an ipsilateral cranial nerve VII palsy. Also, many variants of eight-and-a-half syndrome have been described, including nine syndrome, thirteen-and-a-half syndrome and fifteen-and-a-half syndrome. Methods: We describe a case of a 49-year-old man who presented with eight-and-a-half syndrome combined with contralateral hemiparesis. We reviewed the literature describing the related spectrum of eight-and-a-half syndrome associated with various etiologies. Results: Brain computed tomography scan revealed a hyperdensity located in the left paramedian aspect of the dorsal pons. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at the 11-month follow-up showed hyperintensity and enlargement of the inferior olivary nuclei, which were compatible with a diagnosis of hypertrophic olivary degeneration. In light of our observations and cases reported in the literature, we categorize the spectrum of eight-and-a-half syndrome into three types, namely classic eight-and-a-half syndrome, eight-and-a-half syndrome variants and eight-and-a-half plus syndrome. Besides, the clinical feature and outcome of the three types are discussed in this article. Conclusions: Recognition of the spectrum of eight-and-a-half syndrome allows precise anatomic localization of the lesion to pontine tegmentum region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn(NbO3)2 doped Sr0.98Ca0.02TiO3 (SCT-xZN) paraelectric ceramics have been obtained by the traditional electroceramic processing. Phase structures and doping effects were investigated by using XRD and Raman. Surface morphology was observed by SEM to evaluate grain growth. The P-E curves were measured and employed to calculate the energy storage density and efficiency. The doping effects on dielectric properties such as permittivity, dielectric loss and breakdown strength were also measured and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) can improve motor functions in stroke patients and ischemic rats. This study examined the effect of CIMT in ischemic rats using positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: We used middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) procedure to induce cerebral ischemia in rats. Male rats were divided into a negative control group (Normal, n = 4), a sham-operated group (Sham, n = 6), an ischemic group (Control, n = 6) and an ischemic CIMT-treated group (CIMT, n = 6). CIMT started at postoperative day 8 (d8) and lasted for 2 weeks. We utilized 2-[18F]-fluoro-2- deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) micro PET/CT imaging to evaluate glucose metabolism in different brain regions at baseline, before, and after treatment, respectively. Results: CIMT improved behavioral performance in the ischemic CIMT group. At the end of treatment, the CIMT group showed lower standardized uptake values (SUVs) in the ipsilateral cingulate, motor and somatosensory cortex, respectively; as well as the anterodorsal hippocampus compared to the Control group (1.80% ± 0.10% vs. 1.92% ± 0.08%, 1.32% ± 0.14% vs. 1.48% ± 0.09%, 1.18% ± 0.14% vs. 1.42% ± 0.15%, 1.68% ± 0.09% vs. 1.79% ± 0.06%, P < 0.05). We also observed higher SUVs in the acbcore shell and cortex insular of the contralateral hemisphere compared to the Control group (2.07% group in the acbcore shell and cortex insular of contralateral P < 0.05). Conclusion: CIMT improved behavioral outcomes in cerebral ischemic rats and this effect can be attributed to increased glucose utilization in the contralateral hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was the first report for the complete chloroplast genome of Passiflora serrulata Jacq. (Passifloraceae). The cp genome was 149,683 bp in length contained two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,470 bp, which were separated by large single-copy (LSC) and small single-copy (SSC) of 86,252 bp and 13,491 bp, respectively. A total of 110 functional genes were encoded, comprised 76 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The GC content was 37.0%. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree indicated that P. serrulata was recovered as the member of subg. Passiflora and most closely related to the clade formed by P. serratodigitata and P. ligularis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete chloroplast genome of Passiflora miniata Vanderpl. was reported in this study. The cp genome was 149,573 bp in length including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,012 bp, which were separated by LSC and SSC of 86,070 bp and 13,479 bp, respectively. The GC content was 37.1%. The genome encoded 106 functional genes, including 72 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree indicated that P. miniata was recovered in the clade of subg. Passiflora and most related to P. vitifolia. This newly reported plastid genome will provide essential data for further study on the phylogeny and evolution of the genus and family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article first uses dynamic probability of informed trading (DPIN) for measuring the probability of informed trading in the CSI300 index futures market and proves its validity for predicting future price movements. Instead of using the original Lee-Ready algorithm, this study uses bulk volume classification (BVC) for classifying volume. BVC could effectively improve the predictive power of DPIN for future price movements. The relationship between DPIN and returns indicates that informed buying raises the futures price while informed selling moves the futures price downward. DPIN could effectively capture price information in the index future markets in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the level of inflammatory cytokines in endometriosis patients, and explore the relationship between IL-37 concentration and endometriosis stages. Methods: Inflammatory cytokine concentrations from 27 patients with different stages of endometriosis and 52 controls without endometriosis were examined by ELISA. Then, the specificity and sensitivity of cytokines for distinguishing from controls and the different stages of endometriosis were analyzed using the ROC curve. Results: The difference in serum concentrations of IL-37, IL-17A, IL-10, and IL-2 between the endometriosis and control groups was statistically significant (p < .01). Compared with controls, significantly higher levels of serum IL-37 and IL-10, and significantly lower levels of serum IL-17A and IL-2 were detected in patients with endometriosis (p < .01). Furthermore, IL-2 concentration was significantly higher in peritoneal fluid (PF) in the endometriosis group (p = .0034), IL-10 concentrations in PF were significantly lower in the early-stages of endometriosis than in the more advanced groups (p = .0439), and IL-4 concentration in PF was significantly higher in more advanced endometriosis (p = .0228). The sensitivity and specificity of serum IL-37 for distinguishing endometriosis were 81.48% and 83.33%, respectively, and the cutoff concentration was 69.84 pg/ml. For IL-17A, the sensitivity and specificity were 96.30% and 100%, respectively, and the cutoff concentration was 57.54 pg/ml. For IL-10, the sensitivity and specificity was 92.59% and 100%, respectively, and the cutoff concentration was 3.301 pg/ml. For IL-2, the sensitivity and specificity were 74.07% and 93.75%, respectively, and the cutoff concentration was 1.813 pg/ml. For PF IL-2, the sensitivity and specificity were 29.73% and 100%, respectively, and the cutoff concentration was 1.06 pg/ml. Conclusions: IL-37, IL-17A, IL-10, and IL-2 may play a significant role in immune response in endometriosis. IL-37 levels may be used as a diagnostic marker for endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection and establishment of research partners is increasingly important in innovation and strategic research. Using a panel dataset of patents by 2846 researchers from a large US biotechnology company between 1976 and 2013, we examined the relationships between spanning structural holes and partner dynamics, which are captured by the entry of new partners and the persistence of existing partners. Then, we tested the possible moderating effect of dynamic exploratory ability. Based on the results of negative binomial regression models with fixed effects in the longitudinal design, we found that spanning structural holes was negatively associated with the entry of new partners and positively associated with the persistence of existing partners. Furthermore, exploratory ability positively moderated these relationships. Aside from having managerial implications for innovators, the findings of our interdisciplinary study are relevant for research on partner dynamics, strategy research, and exploration processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the associations between HLA-A/B/DRB1 polymorphisms and aplastic anemia (AA), we carried out the meta-analysis. Methods: In this meta-analysis, all publications in English and Chinese were considered up to 30 September 2015. The electronic databases we searched were Pubmed, Science Direct, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data and VIP. We conducted all statistical data analyses in the Stata11.0 software. Results: A total of 17 studies including 9164 subjects (containing 1372 cases and 7792 controls) were retrieved, which studied the relationship between HLA-A/B/DRB1 and AA. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the comparisons between cases and controls were calculated. The result revealed that HLA-A*02 and HLA-DRB1 (*0407, *15 and *1501) polymorphisms might increase the risk of AA. Otherwise, HLA-DRB1 (*0301, *04, *0406, *0802, *1301, *1302 and *14) were protective against AA. But, other sites of HLA-A/B/DRB1 in our study had no correlations with AA (all Pc > 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, HLA-A/B/DRB1 polymorphisms may play an important role in AA, but higher quality and larger sample studies are needed to confirm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study establishes an evidence base regarding the experiences of older adults living in poverty in Beijing. Given the factors that shape the lives of low-income older adults, the findings are relevant for many middle- and low-income countries. Based on a series of in-depth interviews conducted with government officials and low-income older adults in Beijing, the study finds that poverty manifests as cumulative stress arising from four sources: financial strain, poor health, care burden and poverty-related shame. This stress is attributable to the co-existence of individual and structural factors that reflect the framing of anti-poverty policies in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new cytochalasin metabolite [11]-cytochalasa-5(6),13-diene-1,21-dione-7,18-dihydroxy-16,18-dimethyl-10-phenyl-(7S*,13E,16S*,18R*) (1), together with three known compounds (2–4) were obtained from the EtOAc extract of the endophytic fungus Daldinia eschscholtzii HJ001 isolated from the mangrove Brguiera sexangula var. rhynchopetala collected in the South China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by the detailed analysis of comprehensive spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate clinical features, diagnosis, surgical management, and treatment of parapharyngeal space tumors in a single-center setting due to limited knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of parapharyngeal space. Methods: Clinical records of 103 patients were included for the analysis of such clinical characteristics. Results: A total of 29 different types of tumors were diagnosed after operation: 20 benign and 9 malignant. With a follow-up of 31–84 months for 90 benign cases, 84 cases had no recurrence and 6 cases were lost to follow-up. In contrast, with an 8- to 51-month follow-up for 13 malignant cases, 11 patients died and 2 were lost to follow-up. Furthermore, for postoperative complications, 3 cases had Horner syndrome, 2 had hoarseness, 2 had facial nerve dysfunction, and each for other types. Conclusions: Surgery remains the first choice for the treatment of parapharyngeal space tumors, with the transcervical approach used for most tumors. Moreover, CT or MRI may assist in making decisions about operation schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the phenomenon of steam condensation in a rectangle horizontal channel with a mass flux range of 20–70 kg/m2/s and a vapor quality of 0.2–0.8. Mass flux and vapor quality were presented to primarily affect the heat transfer coefficient in shear-dominated flow regime, such as the mass flux is greater than 40 kg/m2/s. At the low mass flux, only slug flow, plug flow, and wave flow were observed. At the high mass flux, the wave flow and annular flow were observed even at the low-vapor quality, and the slug and plug flow were not found during the entire condensation process. Observed flow patterns agreed with Tandon’s flow pattern map. Four kinds of correlations are employed to predict the condensing heat transfer coefficient, and the result reveals that Cavallini’s correlation agrees with the experimental results relatively well. The measured pressure drop has a good agreement with the Lockhart–Martinelli correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this study, various amount of SnO2was doped into Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3ceramics. The effects of SnO2doping on phases, densities and microstructures, energy storage densities of prepared BST ceramics were studied. XRD patterns indicated that Sn4+has entered the BST lattice. SnO2also showed the effect to inhibit the grain growth. When SnO2content was 0.05 mol%, the energy storage efficiency can be greatly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study was designed to investigate the relationship of insulin resistance (IR) and cellular immune abnormalities associated with women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Women with RPL were divided into two groups according to their homeostasis model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) scores. The IR group received metformin approximately 3 months before pregnancy. The percentage of lymphocyte subsets and other blood biochemical indices were tested. The HOMA-IR and fasting serum insulin levels were related to the percentage of lymphocyte subsets. The women with RPL had higher CD3+and CD3+CD4+cell levels while CD56+CD16+cell levels were lower. A higher likelihood of cellular immune abnormalities was observed. Women with normal lymphocyte subsets had normal pregnancy outcomes. Metformin significantly downregulated CD3+and CD3+CD4+cells and improved pregnancy outcomes. IR was associated with cellular immune abnormalities in RPL. The data suggests that metformin affected the immune/inflammatory response, which may regulate the cellular immune balance and improve pregnancy outcomes. AbbreviationsRPL: recurrent pregnancy loss; IR insulin resistance; HOMA-IR: homeostasis model assessment for IR [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural antioxidants have received considerable research interest nowadays, especially their usage in oil products. Blueberry anthocyanin extracts were added to crude camellia seed oil and lipophilized with free fatty acids in the oil through enzymatic process. The results showed that lipophilized anthocyanin derivates were synthesized, the oxidative stability of the oil under high temperature was improved, and the content of free fatty acids of the crude camellia seed oil was decreased. In conclusion, enzymatic lipophilization of blueberry extracts with free fatty acids in crude camellia seed oil could improve the quality of oil, especially the performance under high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stinky mandarin fish is a nutritious fermented dish widely consumed in China. We evaluated changes in mandarin fish' (Siniperca chuatsi) moisture and texture during fermentation to determine why the dish has a unique flavor. The moisture content was analyzed by the direct drying method and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance. Change in the hardness, chewiness, resilience, elasticity, gumminess, and adhesiveness of the meat was measured using a texture analyzer, and all improved gradually during fermentation. The moisture content decreased from 77.72% to 55.50%, water-holding capacity increased from 85.63% to 98.81%, and cooking loss decreased and then increased. Bound water and intermediate water content changed little, whereas free water content decreased significantly and intercellular binding increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the design problem of distributedH∞Luenberger-type partial differential equation (PDE) observer for state estimation of a linear unstable parabolic distributed parameter system (DPS) with external disturbance and measurement disturbance. Both pointwise measurement in space and local piecewise uniform measurement in space are considered; that is, sensors are only active at some specified points or applied at part thereof of the spatial domain. The spatial domain is decomposed into multiple subdomains according to the location of the sensors such that only one sensor is located at each subdomain. By using Lyapunov technique, Wirtinger's inequality at each subdomain, and integration by parts, a Lyapunov-based design of Luenberger-type PDE observer is developed such that the resulting estimation error system is exponentially stable with anH∞performance constraint, and presented in terms of standard linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). For the case of local piecewise uniform measurement in space, the first mean value theorem for integrals is utilised in the observer design development. Moreover, the problem of optimalH∞observer design is also addressed in the sense of minimising the attenuation level. Numerical simulation results are presented to show the satisfactory performance of the proposed design method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Antrodia camphorata is a rare and precious traditional food and medicine for improving health-related conditions in Taiwan. The phytochemical research of the mushroom led to the isolation of a new naphthalenecarboxaldehyde, named as 1-Naphthalenecarboxaldehyde,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2-(hydroxymethyl)-5,5,8a–trimethyl (1). Meanwhile, seven other known compounds of nerolidol (2), cadinol (3), herbarulide (4), 3β-Hydroxy-5a,8a-epidioxyergosta-6,22-diene (5), ergosta-7,22-diene-3,6-dione (6) 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-p-benzoquinone (7) and β-sitosterol (8) were also obtained from A. camphorata for the first time except compound (8). The new compound was elucidated by 2D NMR techniques (COSY, HMBC, HSQC, NOESY) and HRMS while those known compounds deduced by comparing 1H NMR and 13C NMR data with other literatures. Then, the hepG2 cell toxicity screening was conducted and the results demonstrated that only compound 7 and 8 exhibited significant toxicity to hepG2 cell at the concentration of 50 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death, and alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth. Adolescents acquire cigarettes and alcohol through the retail environment. This paper investigates the relationships between underage cigarette and alcohol sales resulting from compliance checks and associated factors in Hawaii. Methods: Four hundred and two retail establishments were inspected by minors for compliance to underage cigarette and alcohol age restrictions. Findings: The overall compliance rate for selling cigarettes to a minor was 93% and alcohol was 84% from April 2012 to March 2013. There were 5.7% of stores that sold cigarettes only, 14.4% that sold alcohol only, 1.7% that sold both and 78.1% that did not sell any. No similarities between the gender of the minor or the gender of the clerk were found. Selling cigarettes and alcohol to a minor was significantly associated with whether identification or age was asked of the minor. Selling alcohol to a minor was significantly associated with smaller stores, having alcohol advertisements and correct wording on warning signs. Conclusions: Results are useful for future compliance education and enforcement and to further understand what factors may be contributing to, or preventing, underage cigarette and alcohol sales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power generation determines coal resource utilization in China. However, the development and construction of coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) are bringing new challenges to coal resource utilization efficiency, coal exploiting and utilizing technology, and ecosystem and environmental protection. To better resolve these challenges, various governmental agencies and industrial organizations have sponsored a series of research projects for top research institutions in China. In this special issue, based on a series of research in Xilingol, Inner Mongolia, we focus on the impacts of CFPP construction on ecosystems from the aspects of ecological carrying capacity, ecological sensitivity, and ecological compensation. The articles published in this special issue support a general conclusion that CFPP construction is a double-edge sword to eco-environmental protection. Therefore, it is especially important to take the countermeasures of ecosystem and environmental protection while developing CFPPs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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p53R2 is a p53-inducible ribonucleotide reductase subunit involved in deoxyribonucleotide biosynthesis and DNA repair. Although p53R2 has been linked to human cancer, its role in cervical cancer remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression and clinical significance of p53R2 in early-stage cervical cancer. p53R2 expression is significantly upregulated at both mRNA and protein levels in cervical cancer cells and tissues, compared with that in matched normal cervical cells and tissues, respectively. p53R2 overexpression is associated with increased risk of pelvic lymph node metastasis (PLNM, p = 0.001) and cancer relapse (p = 0.009). Patients with high p53R2 expression have a shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). p53R2 is an independent factor for predicting OS and DFS of cervical cancer patients. We further show that p53R2 is important for oncogenic growth, migration and invasion in cervical cancer cells. Mechanistically, p53R2 promotes Akt signaling and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). In conclusion, our study demonstrates for the first time that p53R2 protein is overexpressed in early-stage cervical cancer and unravels some unconventional oncogenic functions of p53R2. p53R2 may be a useful prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Time-series maps have become more detailed in terms of numbers of categories and time points. Our paper proposes methods for raster datasets where detailed analysis of all categorical transitions would be initially overwhelming. We create two measurements: Incidents and States. The former is the number of times a pixel’s category changes across time intervals; the latter is the number of categories that a pixel represents across time points. The combinations of Incidents and States summarize change trajectories. We also describe categorical transitions in terms of annual flow matrices, which quantify the additional information generated by intermediate time points within the temporal extent. Our approach summarizes change at the pixel and landscape levels in ways that communicate where and how categories transition over time. These methods are useful to detect hotspots of change and to consider whether the apparent changes are real or due to map error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel sulfone derivatives containing a [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine moiety was synthesized and characterized via1H NMR,13C NMR, IR, and elemental analyses. Bioassay results indicated some of the derivatives displayed good antifungal activities and insecticidal activity. The inhibition rates of 8-chloro-3-((2,6-difluorobenzyl)sulfonyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine against Rhizotonia erealis and Helminthosporium maydis were 78.6% and 76.4% activities at 50 μg mL−1, respectively. And compound 8-chloro-3-(((6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl)sulfonyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine showed >95% mortality at 500 μg mL−1and >65% mortality at 200 μg mL−1against Plutella xylostella, respectively. As well as 8-chloro-3-(((6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl)sulfonyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine displayed >90% mortality at 500 μg mL−1against Helicoverpa armigera. A preliminary structure activity relationship (SAR) is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: To make a comprehensive analysis with a variety of diagnostic maneuvers is conducive to the correct diagnosis and classification of BPPV. Objective: Based on the standard spatial coordinate-based semicircular canal model for theoretical observation on diagnostic maneuvers for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) to analyze the meaning and key point of each step of the maneuver. Materials and methods: This study started by building a standard model of semicircular canal with space orientation by segmentation of the inner ear done with the 3D Slicer software based on MRI scans, then gives a demonstration and observation of BPPV diagnostic maneuvers by using the model. Results: The supine roll maneuver is mainly for diagnosis of lateral semicircular canal BPPV. The Modified Dix-Hallpike maneuver is more specific for the diagnosis of posterior semicircular canal BPPV. The side-lying bow maneuver designed here is theoretically suitable for diagnosis of anterior semicircular canal BPPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: Airtraq® laryngoscope can obviously improve laryngeal visualization and may provide a useful solution to treatment of patients with difficult laryngeal exposure (DLE) under a conventional suspension laryngoscope in phonomicrosurgery. Objective: In phonomicrosurgery, otolaryngologists may inevitably encounter DLE. Attempts to improve laryngeal exposure have yielded important advances, but the prevalence of DLE yet remains persistent. To overcome this problem, this study applied the Airtraq® laryngoscope to perform phonomicrosurgery combined with a video system. The aim of this study is, thus, to explore the clinical usefulness of the Airtraq® laryngoscope in patients with DLE. Methods: One hundred and fifty-eight cases who underwent phonomicrosurgery for benign lesions of vocal cord at this hospital were enrolled in this study, of which nine patients were confirmed to be DLE under direct suspension laryngoscope. These nine patients were treated by Airtraq® laryngoscope together with a video system. Results: In comparison with the traditional suspension laryngoscope, exposure of larynx was remarkably improved by Airtraq® laryngoscope. Under the excellent laryngeal visualization provided by Airtraq®, phonomicrosurgery was successfully accomplished for vocal fold lesions without any severe complications in all cases with DLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new phytoecdysteroid compound, named Niuxixinsterone D (1), together with two known phytoecdysteroid compounds (2 and 3) were isolated from Achyranthes bidentata Bl.. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by extensive spectral analysis, including HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR methods. Compounds 1–3 were tested for their inhibitory effects against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and compound 1 and 3 exhibited anti-neuroinflammatory activity with inhibited 29.7 and 26.0% NO production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Autophagy is an essential component of host immunity and used by viruses for survival. However, the autophagy signaling pathways involved in virus replication are poorly documented. Here, we observed that rabies virus (RABV) infection triggered intracellular autophagosome accumulation and results in incomplete autophagy by inhibiting autophagy flux. Subsequently, we found that RABV infection induced the reduction of CASP2/caspase 2 and the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-AKT-MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) and AMPK-MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathways. Further investigation revealed that BECN1/Beclin 1 binding to viral phosphoprotein (P) induced an incomplete autophagy via activating the pathways CASP2-AMPK-AKT-MTOR and CASP2-AMPK-MAPK by decreasing CASP2. Taken together, our data first reveals a crosstalk of BECN1 and CASP2-dependent autophagy pathways by RABV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Effective clinical supervision is necessary for high-quality care in community-based substance use disorder treatment settings, yet little is known about current supervision practices. Some evidence suggests that supervisors and counselors differ in their experiences of clinical supervision; however, the impact of this misalignment on supervision quality is unclear. Clinical information monitoring systems may support supervision in substance use disorder treatment, but the potential use of these tools must first be explored. First, the current study examines the extent to which misaligned supervisor–counselor perceptions impact supervision satisfaction and emphasis on evidence-based treatments. This study also reports on formative work to develop a supervision-based clinical dashboard, an electronic information monitoring system and data visualization tool providing real-time clinical information to engage supervisors and counselors in a coordinated and data-informed manner, help align supervisor–counselor perceptions about supervision, and improve supervision effectiveness. Clinical supervisors and frontline counselors (N= 165) from five Midwestern agencies providing substance abuse services completed an online survey using Research Electronic Data Capture software, yielding a 75% response rate. Valid quantitative measures of supervision effectiveness were administered, along with qualitative perceptions of a supervision-based clinical dashboard. Through within-dyad analyses, misalignment between supervisor and counselor perceptions of supervision practices was negatively associated with satisfaction of supervision and reported frequency of discussing several important clinical supervision topics, including evidence-based treatments and client rapport. Participants indicated the most useful clinical dashboard functions and reported important benefits and challenges to using the proposed tool. Clinical supervision tends to be largely an informal and unstructured process in substance abuse treatment, which may compromise the quality of care. Clinical dashboards may be a well-targeted approach to facilitate data-informed clinical supervision in community-based treatment agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A highly selective and rapid analytical method was proposed to detect cysteine in aqueous solution by using poly(thymine)-templated copper nanoparticles. In a neutral aqueous condition, the fluorescence of poly(thymine)-templated copper nanoparticles could be quenched by cysteine in 10 min effectively coexisting with common biological small molecules. Under the optimal experimental condition, the present assay allowed for the selective determination of cysteine in the range of 12.5–100 µM, with a detection limit of 7.3 µM. The results indicated that the poly(thymine)-templated copper nanoparticles probe would find potential application in bioanalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context:Extensive or long-time use of corticosteroids often causes many toxic side-effects. The ion exchange resins and the coating material, Eudragit, can be used in combination to form a new oral delivery system to deliver corticosteroids. Objectives:The resin microcapsule (DRM) composed by Amberlite 717 and Eudragit S100 was used to target hydrocortisone (HC) to the colon in order to improve its treatment effect on ulcerative colitis (UC) and reduce its toxic side-effects. Methods:Hydrocortisone sodium succinate (HSS) was sequentially encapsulated in Amberlite 717 and Eudragit S100 to prepare the HSS-loaded resin microcapsule (HSS-DRM). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to investigate the morphology and structure of HSS-DRM. Thein vitrorelease andin vivostudies of pharmacokinetics and intestinal drug residues in rat were used to study the colon-targeting of HSS-DRM. The mouse induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid was used to study the treatment of HSS-DRM on experimental colitis. Results:SEM study showed good morphology and structure of HSS-DRM. In thein vitrorelease study, > 80% of HSS was released in the colon environment (pH 7.4). Thein vivostudies showed good colon-targeting of HSS-DRM (Tmax = 0.97 h,Cmax = 118.28 µg/mL of HSS;Tmax = 2.16 h,Cmax = 64.47 µg/mL of HSS-DRM). Moreover, the HSS-DRM could reduce adverse reactions induced by HSS and had good therapeutic effects on the experimental colitis. Conclusions:The resin microcapsule system has good colon-targeting and can be used in the development of colon-targeting preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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