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To observe the clinical effect of quick puncture with collateral-pricking cupping for facial acne. Twenty-eight patients with acne were treated with pricking acne spot and abdominal region of three toes for bloodletting combined with collateral-pricking cupping on the back, once every 5 days, for 3 weeks in succession. A 3-month follow-up was applied to observe the reducing rate and clinical effect of facial skin lesions after treatment. Of the 28 cases, 9 were cured, 12 remarkably effective, 5 effective, and 2 ineffective. The total effective rate was 92.86%. The effect of pricking acne spot and abdominal region of three toes combined with collateral-pricking cupping on the back is good, being worthy of further clinical discussion to promote its application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture(EA) at Zhǒulíng (Extra) and Ashi points in combination with blood-letting cupping for the treatment of external humeral epicondylitis (EHE). Thirty EHE patients were treated with EA at Zhǒulíng (Extra) and Ashi points in combination with blood-letting cupping, once every 2 days, twice a week, 4 times as one course of treatment, and 2 successive courses of treatment were given. Before treatment, after 1 course of treatment, and after 2 courses of treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) were adopted to evaluate the curative effect. Before treatment, the VAS score of patients was 7.81±1.39. After 1 course of treatment and after 2 courses of treatment, it was 4.77±1.56 and 2.95±1.23 respectively, lowered than before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (both P <0.01). Before treatment, the Mayo score of patients was 32.17±19.31. After 1 course of treatment and after 2 courses of treatment, it was 47.39±19.85 and 85.21±20.47 respectively, increased than before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (both P <0.01). Of the 30 patients, 5 were cured, accounting for 16.67%; 14 cases obviously effective, accounting for 46.67%; 8 cases effective, accounting for 26.67%; 3 cases ineffective, accounting for 10.00%, and the total effective rate was 90.00%. EA at Zhǒulíng (Extra) and Ash i points and blood-letting cupping used in combination are remarkably effective in the treatment of EHE, being worthy for popularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fracture repair is a complex yet well orchestrated regenerative process involving numerous signaling and cell types including osteoblasts. Here we showed that NPY, a neurotransmitter with regulatory functions in bone homeostasis, may contribute to the post-fracture bone healing in patients with traumatic brain injury-fracture combined injuries. Our results suggested NPY levels were increased in patients with the combined injuries, accomplished by arising of bone healing markers, such as ALP, OC, PICP and ICTP, than in those with simple fractures, and NPY have direct actions on MSCs to promote their osteogenic differentiation. Our results provided clinical evidences for NPY participating in the bone healing process in a nonhypothalamic manner, most probably by directly promoting osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective method for evaluating the hydrogen-donating activity of hydrogen-donor solvents in direct coal liquefaction was established. Due to stronger hyperconjugation, the hydrogenated aromatic hydrocarbons with lower hydrogenation depth would have higher hydrogen-donating activity. [Display omitted] • The H-donating activity of H-donor solvents were analyzed by rate constant. • Hyperconjugation has an impact on the H-donating activity of H-donor solvents. • Characteristics of solvent molecular structure with strong H-donating was proposed. To investigate the sustainability of direct coal liquefaction, evaluating the hydrogen-donating activity of hydrogen-donor solvents (H-donors) is one of the critical parameters to determining the distribution and quality of liquid fuels. However, it is difficult to assess the capability of H-donors through experiments alone. Therefore, in this work, the density functional theory calculations and transition state theory were employed quantitatively to analyze the rate constants of hydrogen transfer from H-donors to coal radicals. Results indicated that hyperconjugation and ring strain play essential roles in the hydrogen-donating activity of H-donors. The hydrogen-donating activity is enhanced when the methyl group is substituted at the α position of tetralin. With the increase of alkyl substituents' chain length, the hydrogen-donating activity of 1-ethyltetralin, 1-propyltetralin, and 1-butyltetralin are close but lower than that of 1-methyltetralin. The alkyl isomerization has a significant influence on the hydrogen-donating activity of H-donors. Due to a higher ring strain, the hydrogen-donating activity of H-donors containing five-membered saturated rings is lower than that of the hydrogenated aromatics with similar structures. Experimental data from the literature confirm the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we shall study the uniqueness problems of meromorphic functions sharing a small function. Our results improve or generalize many previous results on value sharing of meromorphic functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis of potential faults concealed inside power transformers is the key of ensuring stable electrical power supply to consumers. Support vector machine (SVM) is a new machine learning method based on the statistical learning theory, which is a powerful tool for solving the problem with small sampling, nonlinearity and high dimension. The selection of SVM parameters has an important influence on the classification accuracy of SVM. However, it is very difficult to select appropriate SVM parameters. In this study, support vector machine with genetic algorithm (SVMG) is applied to fault diagnosis of a power transformer, in which genetic algorithm (GA) is used to select appropriate free parameters of SVM. The experimental data from several electric power companies in China are used to illustrate the performance of the proposed SVMG model. The experimental results indicate that the SVMG method can achieve higher diagnostic accuracy than IEC three ratios, normal SVM classifier and artificial neural network. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: To investigate the effects of artery-ligating varicocelectomy (ALV) and artery-preserving varicocelectomy (APV) on the ipsilateral testes in experimental varicocele (EV) rats. Methods: Fifty adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks old, weighing 170 ± 10 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups: EV without treatment group (EV group), EV with ALV group (EV+ALV group), EV with APV group (EV+APV group), and a control group. EV was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein to an external diameter of 50% of its original at the position of medialis to both the adrenal and internal spermatic veins. ALV was performed by total ligation of the dilated left internal spermatic vein, along with the internal spermatic artery. APV was performed by ligation of the dilated left internal spermatic vein only. Johnsen''s score, ultrastructure of seminiferous tubules, and intratesticular testosterone concentration (ITC) of the left testes were measured. Results: ITC and Johnsen''s score in the control group were significantly higher than those in the EV group (P < .05) and markedly higher than those in the EV+ALV group (P < .01), and no statistical difference compared with those in the EV+APV group (P > .05). Ultrastructural abnormalities of seminiferous tubules were observed in the EV group, especially in the EV+ALV group. Conclusions: APV was able to repair the varicocele-induced lesions of ipsilateral testes; whereas, the ALV caused further lesions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Secondary identification key (SIK) is a new tool for species identification which enables users to identify possible specimens from a particular group of species (as rice insect pests). The SIK has proved more efficient and easier to be adapted than traditional keys for targeted diagnosis. Since it is hard and time-consuming for taxonomists to design SIK manually, a Web-based tool, SIKey, was developed for both experts and non-experts to acquire or revise SIK rapidly and conveniently. SIKey operates on secondary use of existing identification keys with logical reasoning and involves construction of computerized taxonomic knowledge base, tree-tracing for crossing nodes and generation of sub-keys. Currently a software called InsectID has been developed for the computerization of dichotomous keys while SIKey offers online, real-time auto-generation of SIKs for user-defined group of taxa. The principles, construction methods and testing of SIKey were described in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Phytoremediation offers a cost-effective, non-intrusive, and safe alternative to conventional cleanup techniques. In this study, we used ornamental hydrophytes plants as constructed wetlands to treat urban or rural domestic wastewater. Most ornamental hydrophytes adapted to the wastewater well, and were fairly efficient in scavenging BOD5 (biological oxygen demand 5 d), COD (chemical oxygen demand), TN (total nitrogen), TP (total phosphorus) and heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd) in the wastewater. However, the efficiency varied a lot for various species to different contaminants, Iris pseudacorus L. and Acorus gramineus Soland were good choices for treatment of composite-polluted urban wastewater. Some variation in the change of membrane peroxidation and endogenous protective system in responses to wastewater was found among six hydrophytes, which have a correlation with the efficiency of wastewater treatment. It may demonstrate that the developed antioxidative systems of I. pseudacorus and A. gramineus contributed much to their superiority. On the other hand, interaction of different components in the wastewater might have certain effects on phytoremediation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of cryptococcal antigen-lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (CrAg-LFA) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC). Methods: A total of 308 patients were divided into the PC group (n = 72) and the non-PC group (n = 236). The clinical data, pathogen detection, radiological imaging, and the detection of the cryptococcal antigen in blood and BALF samples were analyzed. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predicted values of CrAg-LFA in the serum were 75.0%, 99.6%, 98.2%, and 92.9%, respectively, while those in the BALF were 93.1%, 100.0%, 100.0%, and 97.9%, respectively. The sensitivity of the CrAg-LFA in BALF was significantly higher than that in the serum of the patients in the PC group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: CrAg-LFA has a higher diagnostic value for PC when analyzing BALF samples compared to serum samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the efficacy and safety of retention enema with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for ulcerative colitis (UC) through a meta-analysis of published studies. Literatures were retrieved from five electronic databases. Quality evaluation and meta-analysis were respectively conducted using the Cochrane collaboration and RevMan5.3. Overall quality of evidence was evaluated using GRADE system. Effect sizes were pooled using random effect models. Seventeen RCTs were included. Compared with routine pharmacotherapies (RPs), TCM enema exhibited a statistically significant difference in clinical efficacy and reduction of the recurrence rate. The results of qualitative description for other endpoints, such as improvements in anabrosis, ulcer, diarrhea, and hematochezia, suggested that TCM enema had better efficacy than RPs. Furthermore, the incidence of side effects in TCM was lower than that in RPs. This meta-analysis confirmed the efficacy and safety of TCM enema for improving UC symptoms. However, further well-designed researches are needed. • Evidence of efficacy of retention enema with traditional Chinese medicine on ulcerative colitis is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spherical and well-dispersed alginate-chitosan microcapsules, with a mean diameter of 77.28±0.93 μm (n=3), were prepared by the emulsification–gelation method. Adriamycin hydrochloride (ADM) was used as a model drug to investigate the drug loading capacity and release characteristics of the microcapsules. The drug/carrier ratio and chitosan concentration influenced the encapsulation efficiency of adriamycin. The adriamycin release from microcapsules was obviously different in 0.1 mol/l HCl from that in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4). The drug was completely and rapidly released in 0.1 mol/l HCl, while it showed a sustained release after a burst release in PBS. The increase in chitosan concentration had no effect on adriamycin release in PBS. Using sulforhodamin B (SRB)-staining survival assay, the inhibition of adriamycin alginate-chitosan microcapsules (ADM-ACM) to different cancer cell lines (human BGC-823 cells, Bel-7402 cells and Hela cells) in vitro was determined. The inhibitory rate of ADM-ACM suspension to the three cell lines significantly outran that of ADM solution, no matter at high or low concentration. The effects of blank alginate-chitosan microcapsules (BACM) on renal arterial embolization were examined with transcatheter arterial embolization in rabbits. The angiogram and histopathological results indicated the blank microcapsules had excellent short- and long-term effects on renal arterial embolization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] Investigating the role of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 10 (USP10) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Analyzed USP10 expression levels in tumors using public databases. Detected USP10 mRNA and protein levels in cell lines. Examined USP10 expression in tumor tissues from breast cancer patients. Conducted USP10 knockdown experiments and analyzed changes in cell proliferation and metastasis. Confirmed protein–protein interactions with USP10 through mass spectrometry, Co-IP, and fluorescence experiments. Assessed impact of USP10 on transcription factor 4 (TCF4) ubiquitination and validated TCF4′s influence on TNBC cells. We initially identified a pronounced overexpression of USP10 across multiple tumor types, including TNBC. Subsequently, we observed a conspicuous upregulation of USP10 expression levels in breast cancer cell lines compared to normal breast epithelial cells. However, upon subsequent depletion of USP10 within cellular contexts, we noted a substantial attenuation of malignant proliferation and metastatic potential in TNBC cells. In subsequent experimental analyses, we elucidated the physical interaction between USP10 and the transcription factor TCF4, whereby USP10 facilitated the deubiquitination modification of TCF4, consequently promoting its protein stability and contributing to the initiation and progression of TNBC. Collectively, this study demonstrates that USP10 facilitated the deubiquitination modification of TCF4, consequently promoting its protein stability and contributing to the initiation and progression of TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new concept on a non-solvent polymer network system which was called thermal-grinding supramolecular network (TGSN) was proposed, in which the monomer, crosslinker and drug were grinded together followed by subsequent heat induced polymerization as well as crosslinking. This polymer network system was appropriate for loading liposoluble drugs or water-insoluble drugs. • Other than heavy metal ions or alkene compounds, poly(thioctic) acid could be crosslinked by natural derived proteins. • Without solvent phase, poly(thioctic acid)-based polymeric network and high concentration paeonol aggregates constituted the main structure of TGSNs. • TGSN could be used as a transdermal patch for sustained release of paeonol. Lipophilic drugs loaded into hydrogel vehicles for controlled release often encounters drawbacks such as low loading capacity, tedious inclusion methods and invalidity caused by syneresis. Facing this issue, we proposed a non-solvent drug loading system, thermal-grinding supramolecular network (TGSN), in which the monomer, crosslinker and drug molecules in solid state were grinded and then subjected to melting gelation. Paeonol, with a poor water solubility of 0.54 mg/mL, was chosen as a model drug. Both organosulfur-based polymeric network and paeonol aggregates constituted the main structure of TGSNs. Thus, the network had special properties such as stretchability, anti-swelling, elasticity, antibacterial activity, surface hydrophilicity, self-healing and adhesion. In vitro cellular toxicity assay demonstrated that TGSN improved L929 cell proliferation with minimal cytotoxicity. Viewed by transdermal release assay, TGSN could achieve sustained release of paeonol. Proved by skin eczema model in Kunming mice, TGSN possessed an excellent therapeutic effect and a low recurrence probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Single bubble rising from quiescent liquid oxygen is studied numerically for the first time. • Effects of the magnetic field on the bubble rising velocity and aspect ratio are investigated. • Bubble rising velocity can be changed under the effects of magnetic field. • Magnetic field causes large oscillations on the rising velocity and shape of the bubble. Cryogenic distillation is one of the main methods to produce air products, during which the key process is the separation of oxygen and nitrogen through the two-phase flow, heat and mass transfer. In recent years, it has become difficult to improve the efficiency of the cryogenic distillation process by traditional engineering optimizations. A new method of introducing the magnetic field to enhance the two-phase binary transport process based on the paramagnetism of oxygen was proposed and validated preliminarily in our previous studies. Since the single bubble rising is the basic phenomenon of the bubbling process on the sieve trays of the distillation tower, the influence of the magnetic field on the bubble rising process in the liquid oxygen needs to be further investigated. In this paper, the process of a single oxygen bubble rising from quiescent state in the liquid oxygen under the magnetic field is numerically studied in the region of M 0 = 4.65 e - 12 and R e > 1000 , which has not been revealed before. Bubbles of different sizes under different magnetic fields are simulated and compared. It is concluded that the magnetic field can influence the inertia force in balance with viscous force and the surface tension force, thus accelerate or decelerate the bubble motion. Therefore, the residence time of the gas phase in the liquid, the gas fraction and the interfacial area can be influenced, leading to a difference in the mass transfer efficiency under the magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An image reconstruction experiment on the LN2-VN2 flow is conducted. • One deep neural network (DNN) is used to replace the conventional algorithm, and two DNNs are applied to modify the linear error of the LBP and Landweber algorithms. • The generalization ability of the three DNNs is presented and evaluated in the numerical and cryogenic experiments. • The experiments demonstrate the DNN with the input of the measure capacitance data (DNN-C) is a better choice for the practical cryogenic application. The deep neural network (DNN) method is applied to better map the phase distribution compared with the conventical reconstruction algorithm for nonlinear problems of electrical capacitance tomography (ECT). Three DNNs are trained and evaluated in the numerical experiment for cryogenic two-phase flow. A capacitance acquisition unit is designed. And a cryogenic experiment with liquid nitrogen and nitrogen vapor (LN2-VN2) as the working fluids is conducted to verify the imaging solution for practical application. The DNN with the input of the measured capacitance data (DNN-C) has shown its generalization ability for the practical imaging application. Further, the DNN optimal method is coupled to the conventional LBP and Landweber iteration algorithm by evaluating the nonlinearity between the error capacitance vector and the real phase distribution vector (DNN-EC). The comparison shows that the DNN modification method can significantly improve the phase distribution closed to the pattern in the training input samples with an elimination of the artifacts and sharpening interface, but it fails to recognize the flow pattern which is not included in the samples. The result shows that compared with the DNN-EC, DNN-C is a better choice for the image reconstruction for the cryogenic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] DFT calculations are applied to verify the ground states of V6O n −/0 clusters. [•] The V6O n −/0 clusters appear to prefer the polyhedral cage structures. [•] Generalized Koopmans’ theorem is applied to simulate the photoelectron spectra. [•] Spin density analyses show that the spin densities of V6O n − favor the V3+ site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the effects of artery-ligating varicocelectomy (ALV) and artery-preserving varicocelectomy (APV) on the ipsilateral epididymis of varicocele-induced rats. Methods: A total of 50 adolescent male rats were randomly divided into the 4 groups: control group (n = 8), experimental varicocele (EV) without treatment (EV group, n = 14), EV with ALV (ALV group, n = 14), and EV with APV (APV group, n = 14). The EV was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein. ALV was performed by total ligation of the left internal spermatic artery and vein. APV was performed by ligation of the left internal spermatic vein only. The microstructure, epithelial ultrastructure, sialic acid and carnitine concentration, and epithelial apoptotic index of the left epididymis were measured. Results: Microstructural and ultrastructural abnormalities of the left epididymis were observed in the EV group and especially in the ALV group. Both the mean epididymal tubular diameter and the concentration of sialic acid, carnitine gradually decreased or increased from the control group to the EV group then to the ALV group (P < .05). However, the epithelial apoptotic index orderly increased for the control group, EV group, and ALV group (P < .05). Furthermore, no significant difference was found between the control and APV groups for these parameters (P > .05). Conclusions: Varicocele was demonstrated to cause lesions of the ipsilateral epididymis. APV was able to repair the lesions; however, ALV led to additional lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]