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A NiO flake and reduced graphene oxide sheet (NiO/RGO) composite was synthesized via an in situ ultrasonic agitation method after heat calcination in a nitrogen atmosphere. The NiO/RGO composite displayed a high reversible capacity of 825 mA h/g after 50 cycles at 100 mA/g, which was higher than the pure NiO flakes (197 mA h/g). The RGO sheets (115 mA h/g) used in lithium-ion batteries as anode materials. The NiO/RGO electrode showed excellent rate capacities that were higher than the pure NiO flakes and the RGO sheets electrodes within the same experimental conditions. These improvements could be attributed to the RGO sheets improved the electrical conductivity of NiO flakes and buffered the volume expansion of the NiO/RGO composite electrode during lithium cycling.

In this paper, a type of macroporous carbon (MPC) material was produced using water-soluble sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) as the template and glucose as the carbon precursor. After annealing in an argon atmosphere (Ar) at 700 °C, the samples exhibited specific surface areas up to 600 m2 g−1 with different proportions of sodium carbonate and glucose. When the samples were employed as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries, the electrodes delivered a stable reversible capacity at 200 mA g−1 and favourable cycling stability at 500 mA g−1. Moreover, all MPC samples exhibited excellent rate performances at 5000 mA g−1.

Fusiform shape MnO/C composite was fabricated for the first time by heat calcining of MnCO3/C precursor, which was produced via a two-step hydrothermal method using glycine, KMnO4 and glucose as reagents. When the composite applied in LIBs as anode materials, the electrodes deliver a reversible capacity as high as 691 mA h g−1 after 120 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1 and can retain a stable capacity of 187 mA h g−1 at 1000 mA g−1. Compared with pure MnO particles sample, the enhanced electrochemical performances of MnO/C electrodes were attributed to the carbon layers can effectively improve the transfer rate of electrons and buffer the volume expansion of MnO particles during the charge/discharge process.

In this review, an attempt was made to introduce the traditional concepts and materials in thermoelectric application and the recent development in searching high-performance thermoelectric materials. Due to the use of nanostructural engineering, thermoelectric materials with a high figure of merit are designed, leading to their blooming application in the energy field. One dimensional nanotubes and nanoribbons, two-dimensional planner structures, nanocomposites, and heterostructures were summarized. In addition, the state-of-the-art theoretical calculation in the prediction of thermoelectric materials was also reviewed, including the molecular dynamics (MD), Boltzmann transport equation, and non-equilibrium Green’s function. The combination of experimental fabrication and first-principles prediction significantly promotes the discovery of new promising candidates in the thermoelectric field.

Through-hole TiO2 nanotube arrays (THTNA) are fabricated successfully by applying a large-voltage pulse (ΔV ≥ 40 V) at the end of anodization, and a mechanism is proposed that the fluoride-rich layer (FRL) between Ti substrate and nanotubes is the key factor for fabricating THTNA. In order to confirm the mechanism, the effects of temperature of voltage pulse on the morphology of the bottom of TiO2 nanotubes are explored. The results show the inner diameter of the bottom became larger with the temperature increasing due to the wall thickness of bottom of TiO2 nanotubes decreased and assisted by the increased fluorine content of the bottom, which is strong evidence for the mechanism proposed. What is more, the inner diameter of the bottom of THTNA can be manipulated via this novel mechanism.

Research has shown that the hypomagnetic field (HMF) can affect embryo development, cell proliferation, learning and memory, and in vitro tubulin assembly. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which the HMF exerts its effect, by comparing the transcriptome profiles of human neuroblastoma cells exposed to either the HMF or the geomagnetic field. A total of 2464 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, 216 of which were up-regulated and 2248 of which were down-regulated after exposure to the HMF. These DEGs were found to be significantly clustered into several key processes, namely macromolecule localization, protein transport, RNA processing, and brain function. Seventeen DEGs were verified by real-time quantitative PCR, and the expression levels of nine of these DEGs were measured every 6 h. Most notably, MAPK1 and CRY2, showed significant up- and down-regulation, respectively, during the first 6 h of HMF exposure, which suggests involvement of the MAPK pathway and cryptochrome in the early bio-HMF response. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed biological effects of the HMF.

Mass graphene sheets were obtained by a re-expansion and exfoliation method which uses the commercially available graphite intercalation compounds as the starting materials. The as-prepared samples have been characterized by scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electron microscope, atomic force microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer spectroscopies, and Raman microscope. Using high resolution transmission electron microscopy on 60 samples, it was shown that the final samples exhibit 8 % monolayer, 19 % bilayer, and 77 % less than or equal to five layers, and the sheets are largely free of defects and chemical functional groups after thermal reduction.

Accumulating evidence has shown that absence of the geomagnetic field (GMF), the so-called hypomagnetic field (HMF) environment, alters the biological functions in seemingly non-magnetosensitive cells and organisms, which indicates that the GMF could be sensed by non-iron-rich and non-photo-sensing cells. The underlying mechanisms of the HMF effects on those cells are closely related to their GMF sensation but remain poorly understood so far. Previously, we found that the HMF represses expressions of genes associated with cell migration and cytoskeleton assembly in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y cell line). Here, we measured the HMF-induced changes on cell morphology, adhesion, motility and actin cytoskeleton in SH-SY5Y cells. The HMF inhibited cell adhesion and migration accompanied with a reduction in cellular F-actin amount. Moreover, following exposure to the HMF, the number of cell processes was reduced and cells were smaller in size and more round in shape. Furthermore, disordered kinetics of actin assembly in vitro were observed during exposure to the HMF, as evidenced by the presence of granule and meshed products. These results indicate that elimination of the GMF affects assembly of the motility-related actin cytoskeleton, and suggest that F-actin is a target of HMF exposure and probably a mediator of GMF sensation.

Background Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are effectors of the innate immune system that are able to recognize hepatitis C virus (HCV) and give rise to an immune response. Failure of interferon (IFN)-α-based treatment is related to host immunity. Therefore, we sought to study the clinical importance of TLRs in HCV genotype 1 patients who received pegylated IFN (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy. Methods We enrolled 79 treatment-naïve patients with HCV genotype 1. Patients completed a 24- to 48-week course of response-guided therapy. Peripheral blood monocyte (PBMC) expression of mRNA for TLRs 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9 was quantified by real-time PCR before therapy. TLR mRNA expression is shown as a log ratio relative to GAPDH mRNA (log 2 -(∆Ct)). Results Forty-five patients (57.0 %) showed a rapid virological response (RVR). Univariate analysis revealed that TLR 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9 were significantly lower in the RVR group than in the non-RVR group (P = 0.001, 0.014

Accumulating evidence has shown that absence of the geomagnetic field (GMF), the so-called hypomagnetic field (HMF) environment, alters the biological functions in seemingly non-magnetosensitive cells and organisms, which indicates that the GMF could be sensed by non-iron-rich and non-photo-sensing cells. The underlying mechanisms of the HMF effects on those cells are closely related to their GMF sensation but remain poorly understood so far. Previously, we found that the HMF represses expressions of genes associated with cell migration and cytoskeleton assembly in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y cell line). Here, we measured the HMF-induced changes on cell morphology, adhesion, motility and actin cytoskeleton in SH-SY5Y cells. The HMF inhibited cell adhesion and migration accompanied with a reduction in cellular F-actin amount. Moreover, following exposure to the HMF, the number of cell processes was reduced and cells were smaller in size and more round in shape. Furthermore, disordered kinetics of actin assembly in vitro were observed during exposure to the HMF, as evidenced by the presence of granule and meshed products. These results indicate that elimination of the GMF affects assembly of the motility-related actin cytoskeleton, and suggest that F-actin is a target of HMF exposure and probably a mediator of GMF sensation.

The long-term trend of platelet count in chronic hepatitis C virus patients with sustained virological response (SVR) has rarely been investigated.To elucidate changes of thrombocytopenia after SVR, trajectory patterns of platelet count over time and their associated factors.From May 1999 to July 2005, a total of 135 patients (mean age 50.2 ± 11.1 years) that received interferon-α based regimen plus ribavirin were enrolled. Platelet counts were followed every 6 months prospectively. The patterns of platelet counts over time were identified by trajectory analysis.Mean follow-up duration was 4.4 ± 1.7 years (median 4.5; range 1.0-8.5 years). Baseline platelet count in all and thrombocytopenic patients increase significantly at the end of follow-up, from 172 ± 56 × 10(9)/l and 115 ± 21 × 10(9)/l to 196 ± 57 × 10(9)/l and 148 ± 37 × 10(9)/l, respectively (all p0.001). In patients with advanced fibrosis (n = 50), pretreatment platelet count also increased significantly (146 ± 45 × 10(9)/l vs. 173 ± 51 × 10(9)/l, p0.001). Twenty-six of 37 (69.2 %) patients with pretreatment mild thrombocytopenia (100-150 × 10(9)/l) had normalization of platelet count, while seven of 13 (53.8 %) patients with pretreatment moderate to severe thrombocytopenia (100 × 10(9)/l) had elevation of platelet count up to 100-150 × 10(9)/l. Three trajectory groups were identified, i.e., elevation (n = 43, 31.9 %), stationary (n = 79, 58.5 %), and decrease (n = 13, 9.6 %) groups. Multiple logistic regression showed pretreatment thrombocytopenia was the factor in elevation of platelet count (OR = 2.28, 95 % confidence interval = 1.01-5.11, p = 0.046).Platelet count increased significantly in patients with SVR after long-term follow-up. Patients with low baseline platelet count benefit more from SVR with respect to increased platelet count, compared to those with higher platelet count at baseline.

[corrected] The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increased with progression of hepatic fibrosis as assessed by liver stiffness measurement (LSM). This study used LSM to assess the risk of HCC presence in patients with chronic hepatitis.The patients with liver tumor or chronic hepatitis indicated for biopsy were prospectively enrolled. LSM was performed on the same day as biopsy. The diagnostic performances of clinical parameters and LSM in predicting HCC presence were compared with the areas under receiver operating characteristics curves (AUROC). The risk of HCC presence was assessed with stratum-specific likelihood ratios (SSLR). The cut-off values and its diagnostic validity were calculated for LSM.A total of 435 patients, including 106 HCC and 329 chronic hepatitis, were enrolled. The AUROC in predicting HCC presence was 0.736, 0.733, 0.594, 0.579 and 0.532 for LSM, alpha-fetoprotein, platelet count, total bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio index, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed liver stiffness was an independent factor for HCC presence (odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.09). SSLR for HCC presence by liver stiffness was 0.43 (95% CI 0.32-0.57) in12 kPa, 1.28 (0.89-1.84) in 12-24 kPa, and 5.94 (3.77-9.35) in24 kPa. With 12 and 24 kPa as the cut-offs in predicting HCC presence, the sensitivity was 69.8 and 41.5%, respectively. The specificity was 69.6 and 92.7%, respectively.LSM identified the risk group for HCC presence in chronic hepatitis patients and had high specificity in the prediction of HCC with the cut-off of 24 kPa.

Synergy between radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and chemotherapy was demonstrated for liver malignancy. We assess the efficacy of intravenous pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) for RFA in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).This study was designed as a non-randomized control trial. Patients received either PLD (20 mg) intravenously before RFA, or standard RFA alone. Computed tomography was performed immediately and 4 weeks after RFA to obtain ablative diameter, area and volume for each tumor. The changes in ablation size were analyzed by paired images for each tumor. All patients were followed up regularly.A total of 24 patients with 29 HCCs, including 12 patients with 16 tumors (mean 2.2 cm ± 0.9) in the PLD and RFA group, and 12 patients with 13 tumors (2.4 cm ± 0.5) in the RFA alone group, were enrolled. The ablative diameter, area and volume significantly decreased 4 weeks after RFA. The ablative volume decrease was significantly greater for the RFA alone group than for the combination group (26.1 vs. 12.1%, p = 0.018). The 3-year cumulative tumor progression and survival rates did not differ significantly between the two groups.Intravenous PLD before RFA reduced contraction of ablative volume and might have no impact on tumor progression and survival in patients with small HCC after RFA.

To meet the challenge of heat spreading in electronic products, highly efficient high heat flux heat transfer vapor chambers have been manufactured and their heat transfer characteristics have been studied by a fast test system. A solid copper block with the same shape as the vapor chamber is used to compare the performance of the vapor chamber. The result shows that, it will take about 5 min to achieve a steady state in the fast test system. The heat transfer characteristics of the vapor chamber are more superior to those of the copper block. In this paper, total thermal resistance of the test system is used to evaluate the heat transfer characteristics of the vapor chamber, because it has already been used to consider both the spreading thermal resistance and the flatness of the vapor chamber.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is a well-known complication of lymphoma treatment in the pre-rituximab era. This complication has not been as well studied, however, since monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody became the standard regimen for B cell lymphoma. In this retrospective study, 115 B cell lymphoma patients who received rituximab-containing therapy were analyzed. Of 15 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients, five received lamivudine prophylaxis and did not develop HBV-related hepatitis during lymphoma treatment. Eight of ten HBV carriers without lamivudine prophylaxis experienced HBV-related hepatitis, including one fatal hepatic failure. Four (4.2%) of 95 HBsAg-negative patients developed de novo HBV-related hepatitis and two died of fulminant hepatitis. In conclusion, rituximab-based therapy may cause serious HBV-related complications and even death in both HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative patients.

The proportion of B-HCC cases in Taiwan has progressively decreased over the last 20 years. It was not really due to an overall decrease in B-HCC but due to an increase in HCV-related HCC. The identification of potential HCV endemic areas in Taiwan has consequently become important.Data were collected retrospectively from eight Taiwan medical centers from 1981 to 2001, the geographical variations of male C-HCC townships in Taiwan were illustrated on maps. Goodness of fit was used to compare the anti-HCV prevalence in townships and cities, with the mean anti-HCV prevalence for Taiwan as a whole. Township-, city-, and county-specific prevalence of anti-HCV was presented as the median, ranges, and SMRs.Geographic variation can be analyzed in only 263 townships and cities. The maps were designed on the basis of different SMRs. The mean anti-HCV prevalence for male HCC patients in Taiwan was 31.9% (95% confidence interval: 30.7-33.0). Twenty-five townships distributed throughout central-western and south-western Taiwan have significantly higher prevalence (P0.05) (12 townships SMR/= 2; 13 townships 1.5/= SMR2). Twenty-two townships have significantly lower prevalence (P0.05) (6 townships 0.5/= SMR1; 16 townships SMR0.5). Four different patterns of geographic variation in different counties were also noted and demonstrated.We successfully highlighted some potential high HCV endemic townships in Taiwan.

This hospital-based analysis was conducted to identify prognostic factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a hepatitis B virus endemic area.A total of 6381 HCC cases, diagnosed from 1986 to 2002, were enrolled, and 2890 (42.3%) of them were not treated. Survival rates were analyzed by correlation with the national mortality databank. Missing data and correlations among prognostic factors were considered in the analysis.The overall 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 7-year survival rates were 44.3%, 24.9%, 17.1%, and 13%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the independent factors influencing survival were the initial treatment modality, degree of liver function impairment, hepatitis B surface antigen positivity, tumor status, and alpha-fetoprotein. Besides these well-known prognostic factors, high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and a high aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/ALT ratio were identified as independent poor prognostic factors.This study, which considered untreated cases, missing data, and correlations between variables and official survival data sets, provides a large-scale comprehensive survival analysis. According to our results, high ALT and high AST/ALT were independent poor prognostic factors. Therefore, viral activity should be controlled in HCC patients, and patients with elevated AST/ALT ratios should be carefully monitored.

We aimed to evaluate the validity of ultrasonography (US) in the diagnosis of cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or C virus (HCV) infection. Methods: A total of 210 patients, 67 with chronic HBV and 143 with HCV infection, were evaluated for the cirrhotic status of liver by both needle biopsy and US. According to the pathological findings, a fibrosis score 4 on the histology activity index was the gold standard for the diagnosis of cirrhosis. A US scoring system consisting of liver surface, parenchyma, vascular structure, and splenic size was used to describe the severity of hepatic parenchymal damage. Results: Cirrhosis was found in 27 (40%) of the 67 HBV patients and in 51 (36%) of the 143 HCV patients pathologically. The mean fibrosis scores were 0.95, 1.24, 2.35, 2.95, 3.8 and 3.7 in patients with US scores of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 or more, respectively. The US scores were significantly correlated with the hepatic fibrosis scores (P < 0.05). Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, a US score of 7 was the best cutoff point for the prediction of HBV-related cirrhosis, with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 77.8%, 92.5%, 87.5%, 86.0%, and 86.6%, respectively. In HCV-related cirrhosis, a US score of 6 provided results of 82.4%, 70.7%, 60.9%, 87.8%, and 74.8%, respectively. The specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy were significantly higher in patients with HBV than in those with HCV infection (P = 0.012, P = 0.032, and P = 0.079, respectively). Conclusions: Cirrhosis can be predicted well by US, especially in patients with HBV infection.

Indium nitride (InN) thin films have been deposited on Si(1 0 0) substrates at temperature of 100–400 °C by reactive radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. We measured the ellipsometric spectra of the InN film samples, and obtained the optical constants for the wavelength range of 410–1100 nm. The absorption edge of the InN films is 1.85–1.90 eV. The thicknesses of various InN films are found to be dependent on the substrate temperature.

Objective: The effect of β2-adrenoceptor agonist-induced hypokalaemia on cardiac arrhythmias might be exacerbated during exercise, especially in patients with more compromised airway function. Methods: To evaluate the effect of β2-adrenoceptor agonists on plasma potassium and cardiopulmonary function during exercise, two identical submaximal treadmill exercise tests were performed, at least 48 h apart, by 13 patients with moderate to severe COPD (11 men and 2 women, mean age 66 y, mean FEV1/FVC ratio 48.9 (2.8)%) 30 min after they had received nebulised fenoterol or salbutamol (2 mg). The experiment was done as a randomised, double-blind, crossover trial after an initial baseline study with vehicle (0.45% saline). Plasma potassium concentration, spirometry and the degree of breathlessness (Borg scale) were measured before treatment and immediately after exercise; oxygen saturation, QTc interval and cardiac rhythm were monitored continuously before, during and for 30 min after exercise. Results: After the saline control, exercise caused an increase in Borg rating (of 4.9), a premature ventricular contractions (VPC) (2.8 beats/min), and a fall in oxygen saturation (-6.7%), but no significant change in plasma potassium (+0.04 mEq·dl−1), FEV1 or QTc interval. Inhalation of fenoterol and salbutamol did not affect QTc interval, Borg scale or VPC frequency at rest, but significantly increased the duration of exercise undertaken to reach the submaximal levels (786 s, versus 783 s) compared to the vehicle control. Following exercise, plasma potassium fell after fenoterol by 0.2 mEq·dl−1 and it increased after salbutamol by 0.1 mEq·dl−1 compared to baseline levels. Plasma potassium after exercise was significantly lower after fenoterol (3.2 mEq·dl−1) compared to the saline control (3.7 mEq · dl−1) and salbutamol (3.6 mEq · dl−1). Neither fenoterol nor salbutamol had any significant effect on the change in FEV1, oxygen saturation, Borg scale, frequency of VPCs or QTc interval during or after exercise compared to the saline control. Conclusion: When compared to salbutamol 2 mg, fenoterol 2 mg caused more marked hypokalaemia but no significant difference in cardiopulmonary response in patients with COPD during exercise.