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Background. Femoral nerve block (FNB) and fascia iliac compartment block (FICB) are alternative methods of pain relief during hip surgery. Nevertheless, the effectiveness and safety of FNB compared with FICB are yet to be fully determined. Methods. Electronic databases were systematically searched. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on hip surgery were included. Postoperatively, the pain scores at different time points, narcotic requirements in 24 h, mean arterial pressure, spinal anesthesia (SA) time, patient satisfaction, and adverse effect rates between the two groups were extracted throughout the study. Results. Fourteen RCTs including 1179 patients were included. Compared to the FICB, FNB decreased the VAS scores postoperatively at 24 h at rest (P < 0.05) and the incidence rate of some side effects (nausea, vomiting, and sedation) (P < 0.05). However, compared to the FICB, no significant difference was found in the FNB regarding the VAS scores postoperatively at any of the other time points (2 min, 20 min, 2 h, 24 h at movement, 48 h at rest, and 48 h at movement). Patients in both groups had similar narcotic needs after 24 h, mean arterial pressure, SA time, and patient satisfaction (P > 0.05). Conclusions. FNB has more advantages in reducing VAS scores postoperatively at 24 h at rest and the odds of some adverse effects. A better quality RCT is needed to properly compare FNB with FICB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the tax of carbon emission is popular and consumers are exhibiting low-carbon preference, the green manufactures have to spend more extra cost on investing carbon emission reduction (CER) technology to decrease the carbon emission. To encourage the manufacture's CER investment efforts, this paper explores the impact of carbon tax, CER cost, and consumers' low-carbon preference on low-carbon decision-making and designs a revenue-sharing contract (RS) by constructing Stackelberg models. Based on the theoretical and numerical analysis, this paper finds that the supply chain would benefit from the increment of consumer's environmental awareness but be depressed by the increase of the CER investment cost factor. Additionally, there exists a unique optimal carbon tax to make CER degree the maximum. Furthermore, RS can effectively promote manufacturers to reduce carbon emissions and also improve the supply chain efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is difficult to determine the safe operation window of drilling fluid density (SOWDFD) for deep igneous rock strata. Although the formation three-pressure (pore pressure, collapse pressure, and fracture pressure) prediction method with credibility improves the accuracy of formation three-pressure prediction, it still has a large error for deep igneous strata. To solve this problem, a modified method of the SOWDFD in deep igneous rock strata is proposed based on the leakage statistics of adjacent wells. This method is based on the establishment of the SOWDFD with credibility. Through statistical analysis of drilling fluid density of igneous rock leaky formation group in adjacent wells, the fracture leakage law of the formation is revealed and the upper limit of leak-off pressure containing probability information is obtained. Finally, the modified SOWDFD with credibility for deep igneous rock strata is formed. In this work, the proposed method was used to compute the SOWDFD with credibility of SHB well in Xinjiang, China. Results show that the modified density window is consistent with the field drilling conditions and can reflect the narrow density window in the Permian and lower igneous strata. Combined with the formation three-pressure prediction method with credibility and the actual leakage law of adjacent wells, it can effectively improve the prediction accuracy of the SOWDFD for deep igneous rock strata. The findings of the study can help in better understanding of the complex downhole geological environment in deep igneous rock strata and making reasonable drilling design scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of myocardial biopsy using a new approach, the Liwen procedure.Background: Myocardial biopsy is essential when other methods could not differentiate other etiologies from hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Our previous work using intramyocardial radiofrequency ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (Liwen procedure) may provide another approach to obtain the myocardial samples.Method: Seventeen patients with HOCM were enrolled for biopsies through percutaneously accessed intramyocardial septum and evaluated possible complications.Results: We obtained 31 specimens from 17 patients with a success rate of sample acquisition 100.0%. The number of myocardial samples taken per patient was 1.8 ± 0.8, and the average length of all samples was 16.7 ± 5.6 mm which could be used for pathological diagnosis. The complications included pericardial effusion with and without tamponade in one patient (5.9%), and no incidence of nonsustained and sustained ventricular tachycardia, conduction abnormity, perforation, stroke, and pneumothorax. The inhospital and 30-day mortality was 0%.Conclusion: This study has shown that myocardial biopsy of the Liwen procedure is relatively safe and technically feasible with adequate tissue sampling, which may help pathological diagnosis and further research of HOCM of diverse etiologies. This trial is registered with NCT04355260. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional passive nonlinear isolators have been paid much attention in recent literatures due to their excellent performance compared to linear vibration isolators. However, they are incapable of dealing with varying conditions such as changing excitation frequency due to the nonadjustable negative stiffness. To solve this drawback, a new approach to achieve variable negative stiffness is proposed in this paper. The negative stiffness is realized by an electromagnetic asymmetric magnetic tooth structure and can be changed by adjusting the magnitude of the input direct current. Analytical model of the electromagnetic force is built and simulations of magnetic field are conducted to validate the negative stiffness. Then the EATS is applied to vibration isolation and an electromagnetic vibration isolator is designed. Finally, a series of tests are conducted to measure the negative stiffness experimentally and confirm the effect of the EATS in vibration isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes, a group of vesicles originating from the multivesicular bodies (MVBs), are released into the extracellular space when MVBs fuse with the plasma membrane. Numerous studies indicate that exosomes play important roles in cell-to-cell communication, and exosomes from specific cell types and conditions display multiple functions such as exerting positive effects on regeneration in many tissues. It is widely accepted that the therapeutic potential of stem cells may be mediated largely by the paracrine factors, so harnessing the paracrine effects of stem and progenitor cells without affecting these living, replicating, and potentially pluripotent cell populations is an advantage in terms of safety and complexity. Ascending evidence indicated that exosomes might be the main components of paracrine factors; thus, understanding the role of exosomes in each subtype of stem cells is far-reaching. In this review, we discuss the functions of exosomes from different types of stem cells and emphasize the therapeutic potentials of exosomes, providing an alternative way of developing strategies to cure diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes, a group of vesicles originating from the multivesicular bodies (MVBs), are released into the extracellular space when MVBs fuse with the plasma membrane. Numerous studies indicate that exosomes play important roles in cell-to-cell communication, and exosomes from specific cell types and conditions display multiple functions such as exerting positive effects on regeneration in many tissues. It is widely accepted that the therapeutic potential of stem cells may be mediated largely by the paracrine factors, so harnessing the paracrine effects of stem and progenitor cells without affecting these living, replicating, and potentially pluripotent cell populations is an advantage in terms of safety and complexity. Ascending evidence indicated that exosomes might be the main components of paracrine factors; thus, understanding the role of exosomes in each subtype of stem cells is far-reaching. In this review, we discuss the functions of exosomes from different types of stem cells and emphasize the therapeutic potentials of exosomes, providing an alternative way of developing strategies to cure diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most in vitro fertilization (IVF) experts and infertility patients agree that the most ideal assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcome is to have a healthy, full-term singleton born. To this end, the most reliable policy is the single-embryo transfer (SET). However, unsatisfactory results in IVF may result from plenty of factors, in which aneuploidy associated with advanced maternal age is a major hurdle. Throughout the past few years, we have got a big leap in advancement of the genetic screening of embryos on aneuploidy, translocation, or mutations. This facilitates a higher success rate in IVF accompanied by the policy of elective SET (eSET).As the cost is loweringwhile the scale of genome characterization continues to be up over the recent years, the contemporary technologies on trophectoderm biopsy and freezing-thaw, comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS) with eSET appear to be getting more and more popular for modern IVF centers. Furthermore, evidence has showen that, by these avant-garde techniques (trophectoderm biopsy, vitrification, and CCS), older infertile women with the help of eSET may have an opportunity to increase the success of their live birth rates approaching those reported in younger infertility patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gap between learning courses and practical demands has existed in Taiwanese solar photovoltaic and LED industries; therefore, this study attempts to analyze the existing curriculum design of universities. This study collected the current 103 course programs from all optoelectronics-related departments in Taiwanese 36 colleges and universities and sorted these curriculums by three domains of education objectives theory. This theoretical framework was verified on the basis of samples from 150 Taiwanese industrial experts and 354 optoelectronics-related undergraduates and postgraduates. We found that the levels of correlation among the independent variables including cognitive, affective, and skill-based domains and the dependent variable employability are all positively related to each other. We also found the currently curriculum design in Taiwanese universities rarely fit into theory of education objectives from the results of multiple regression analysis. Industrial and student's group also have few consistent ideas on courses within the curriculum. Finally in order to bridge the gap between learning and practical application, the study provides an idea on curriculum design and suggests that curriculum review should be executed by industrial experts to confirm the courses related to the employability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A suite of Paleogene mafic rocks was collected from boreholes in the Huimin Sag of the Jiyang Depression with the aim of investigating the petrogenesis and nature of mantle source for these rocks and further providing insights into the characteristic of related mantle plume. Whole-rock geochemical data indicate that the mafic rocks have relatively lower SiO2 (42.93%–48.57%) contents and similar characteristics to alkaline basalt and belong to transitional calc-alkaline series. These samples were clearly enriched in LREEs and depleted in HREEs and were also characterized by the enrichment of LILEs, incompatible elements, and HFSEs, similar to those of the Ocean Island Basalt (OIB). In addition, they exhibited Pb enrichment; Y, Pr, and Yb depletion; absence of Nb-Ta anomalies; high Hf and low Zr; and Rb/Yb ratios exceeding 1.0, indicating characteristics of intraplate rift-type alkaline basalt. The samples exhibited (Th/Ta)PM and (La/Nb)PM ratios less than 1 and plotted within the OIB, EMI, and EMII fields, indicating that crustal components had no role in the generation of the rocks. With the exception of individual samples that have a distinctive range of ε Nd values, the majority of samples have complex ε Nd values of -1.15 to 5.56, indicating a mixture of different sources, which was also apparent in the δ18O-87Sr/86Sr diagram, in which the samples plot close to the downward nonlinear curve. Based on the isotopic and trace elemental analyses, these igneous rocks are intraplate rift-type alkaline basalt and are of mantle plume origin. The variations in 87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd, ε Nd values, LREEs, and HFSEs were probably due to the different locations of the mantle plume for different samples. The primary magma of the rocks likely originated from the melting of a mantle plume and the further metasomatism of lithospheric mantle, continental, or oceanic crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the swallowing motor area of the cerebellum in patients with dysphagia after brainstem stroke. Methods. A total of 36 patients with dysphagia after brainstem stroke were recruited and divided into 3 groups. Before stimulation, single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to determine the swallowing dominant cerebellar hemisphere and the representation of the mylohyoid muscle. The three groups of patients received bilateral cerebellar sham stimulation, dominant cerebellar rTMS + contralateral sham stimulation, or bilateral cerebellar rTMS. The stimulus plan for each side was 10 Hz, 80% resting movement threshold (rMT), 250 pulses, 1 s per stimulus, and 9 s intervals. Sham rTMS was performed with the coil held at 90° to the scalp. The changes in the motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and the clinical swallowing function scales of the patients after stimulation were compared among the three groups. Results. 34 patients were finally included for statistical analysis. The scores of penetration aspiration scale (PAS) and functional dysphagia scale (FDS) of the patients after 2 weeks of rTMS in the unilateral stimulation group and bilateral stimulation group were better than that in the sham stimulation group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. The increase in the MEP amplitude of the cerebral hemisphere in the bilateral stimulation group was higher than that in the other two groups, and the increase in the MEP amplitude in the unilateral stimulation group was higher than that in sham stimulation group. There was no correlation between the improvement in patients' clinical swallowing function (PAS scores and FDS scores) and the increase in MEP amplitude in either the unilateral stimulation group or the bilateral stimulation group. Conclusion. High-frequency rTMS in the cerebellum can improve swallowing function in PSD patients and increase the excitability of the representation of swallowing in the bilateral cerebral hemispheres. Compared with unilateral cerebellar rTMS, bilateral stimulation increased the excitability of the cerebral swallowing cortex more significantly, but there was no significant difference in clinical swallowing function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An endoplasmic reticulum resident protein, calreticulin (CRT), participates in many cellular processes. CRT is a tumor-associated antigen with an important role in antitumor immunity. Previously, we reported that the recombinant CRT fragment 39-272 (CRT/39-272) exhibited superior immunobiological activity, activating macrophages to release cytokines and promoting dendritic cell (DC) maturation. However, the effect of CRT/39-272 in vivo, especially its adjuvant effect on in vivo antitumor immune responses, was not fully investigated. In this study, we constructed a fusion protein linking CRT/39-272 to an ovalbumin (OVA) peptide (residues 182-297, OVAp) and used the fusion protein (OVAp-CRT) to examine the adjuvant effect of CRT. We investigated whether CRT/39-272 could induce bone marrow-derived DC maturation and strongly promote the proliferation of OVA-specific T cells in vitro. Compared with OVAp, OVAp-CRT induced stronger antigen-specific T lymphocyte responses, including antigen-specific T cell proliferation, interferon-γ secretion, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. OVAp-CRT-immunized mice generated significantly increased OVAp-specific antibody and CD4+/CD8+ memory T cells, which mediated long-term protective effects. OVAp-CRT upregulated CD40, CD80, and CD86 expressions in splenic conventional DCs. Furthermore, OVAp-CRT protected immunized mice against OVA-expressing B16 melanoma cells in vivo. Moreover, mice that were adoptively transferred with OVAp-CRT-pulsed DCs showed inhibited tumor growth and prolonged mouse survival. Our results demonstrate that CRT/39-272 can be used as a potential new adjuvant for tumor vaccines, and this finding may be useful in tumor vaccine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dexmedetomidine is an α2 adrenergic receptor agonist that has been reported to modulate the polarization of CD4+ T cells. However, the underlying mechanisms by which dexmedetomidine induces T-helper 1 (Th1) cell differentiation remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the potential mechanisms through which dexmedetomidine can induce Th1 cell differentiation. Purified CD4+ T cells were stimulated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 and then treated with dexmedetomidine. Flow cytometry analysis was adopted to measure the concentration of Th1 cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were performed to detect protein levels and mRNA expression, respectively, of IFN-γ and IL-4. Western blotting was used to determine the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and T-bet expression. The Th1 cell subset and IFN-γ levels were elevated in the dexmedetomidine-induced CD4+ T cells. Dexmedetomidine enhanced the phosphorylation of STAT1 and the expression of T-bet in the CD4+ T cells. Atipamezole (an α2 adrenergic antagonist) and fludarabine (a STAT1 inhibitor) reversed the dexmedetomidine-induced Th1 cell differentiation. These results suggested that dexmedetomidine induced Th1 cell differentiation via the STAT1-T-bet signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]