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Neonatal cholestasis disease (NCD) is a complex and easily mis-diagnosed condition. We analyzed microbiota community structure in feces and measured short-chain fatty acids, bile acids (BAs) and liver function of 12 healthy, 13 NCD, and 13 treated infants after diagnosis. Based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and gas-chromatographic-mass-spectrometric analysis of secondary BAs, we identified microbial genera and metabolites that associate with abnormal bile secretion. Streptococcus gallolyticus and Parabacteroides distasonis, and Lactobacillus gasseri had higher relative abundance in healthy and NCD infants respectively. Compared to NCD patients, healthy infants had higher LCA, CDCA and GCDCA fecal concentrations. The three microbial species and three secondary bile acids were selected as potential non-invasive combined biomarkers to diagnose NCD. We propose that microbiota-metabolite combined biomarkers could be used for diagnosis of NCD, and this may contribute to improved early clinical diagnosis of NCD in the future.

Analgesic strategy of a single drug analgesia in bone cancer pain (BCP) has shifted to combined analgesia with different drugs which have different mechanism. After tumor cell inculation, the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway are involved in the development and maintenance of BCP, whereas a decrease in the expression of spinal STAT3 and ERK through using their specific blocker, lead to attenuation of BCP. Hence, in this study, we clarified that intrathecal (i.t.) injection of midazolam (MZL) and ropivacaine (Ropi) induces synergistic analgesia on BCP and is accompanied with different mechanisms of these analgesic effect. Hargreaves heat test was used to detect the analgesic effect of single dose of i.t. MZL, Ropi and their combination on the BCP rats. At consecutive daily administration experiment, thermal hyperalgesia was recorded, and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of c-Fos, spinal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium binding adapter molecule-1 (IBA-1). Then, western blot analysis was used to examine spinal TSPO, GFAP, IBA-1, pERK/ERK and pSTAT3/STAT3 levels on day 14 after tumor cell inoculation. i.t. MZL or Ropi showed a short-term analgesia dose-dependently, and MZL displayed better effect on inhibition of pSTAT3 expression than pERK, but Ropi was just the reverse, then consecutive daily administrations of their combination acted synergistically to attenuate thermal hyperalgesia with downregulated spinal 'neuron-astrocytic activation' in the BCP rats. i.t. co-delivery of MZL and Ropi shows synergistic analgesia on the BCP with the inhibition of spinal 'neuron-astrocytic activation'. Spinal different signaling pathway inhibition for MZL and Ropi may be involved in this process.

Background Low haematocrit (Hct) is associated with a higher rate of post-operative complications, increased mortality, and additional medical costs following cardiac surgery. Predictors of post-operative Hct in lumbar fusion are unclear and may be beneficial in avoiding adverse surgical outcomes. Methods A total of 704 lumbar disc herniation patients (385 males, 319 females) who underwent primary lumbar fusion surgery were reviewed in this retrospective study. Results In the 687 patients who met the selection criteria, the pre-operative Hct was 41.23 ± 4.57%, the post-operative Hct was 32.61 ± 4.52%, the peri-operative Hct decline was 8.62 ± 4.07%, the estimated intra-operative blood loss was 586.76 ± 346.62 mL, and the post-operative drainage was 489.33 ± 274.32 mL. Pre-operative Hct, estimated blood volume, estimated intra-operative blood loss, post-operative drainage, allogeneic blood transfusion, and age showed significant correlations with post-operative Hct, and all factors were involved in the final multiple regression model. Patients who received intensive care had lower post-operative Hct values, and the length of post-operative hospital stay was negatively correlated with post-operative Hct. Conclusions Dangerously low post-operative Hct is related to the length of ICU stay and post-operative hospital stay. Age, pre-operative Hct, intra-operative blood loss, post-operative drainage, and units of allogeneic blood transfusion are significant predictors of post-operative Hct and Hct decline. Hct variations during the operation make the calculation of total blood loss difficult.

In 2004, the Ministry of Education, National Development and Reform Commission, State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly released a special document On Training High-Caliber Backbone Personnel from the Ethnic Minorities, as a supporting measure for the strategy of human resources in western development of China. The central government takes it as an important force in thriving and developing the western region, especially the region where ethnic minority groups reside in the west. However, more and more graduates through the Program have breached or intend to break the contract of the Program. Why do they not abide by the contract and return to their hometown province for the work after they have enjoyed the preferential Program? This case study focused on three graduates who broke the employment contract through the Program, traced the origin and development of their minds and action, and demonstrated more about what hid behind the phenomenon. According to the deep interaction with these ethnic minority students, the research found that the social background under which high education policies for the ethnic minorities had greatly changed. The changes have challenged the implementation of the Program. Furthermore, under the socialistic market economy system, the employment contract of the Program couldn’t be processed and secured as the involved actors have expected. Last but not the least, the graduates benefited from the Program have become more and more individualistic and diversified in their career development due to different micro and macro reasons.En el año 2004 y de manera conjunta, el Ministerio de Educación, la Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo y las Reformas, la Comisión Estatal de Asuntos Étnicos, el Ministerio de Economía, el Ministerio de Recursos Humanos y la Seguridad Social, publicaron una normativa especial para la Formación de Alto Nivel de Personal Backbone entre las Minorías Étnicas, como medida de apoyo a la estrategia de recursos humanos para el desarrollo de la zona occidental de China. El gobierno central considera un elemento clave el desarrollo de la región occidental, especialmente allí donde residen los grupos minoritarios. Sin embargo, cada vez más graduados universitarios que pasaron por el Programa han intentado pasar por encima o romper el contrato suscrito en él. ¿Por qué no cumplen con el contrato y regresan a sus provincias de origen para trabajar tras haber disfrutado de los beneficios que les brinda el Programa? Este estudio de casos se centra en tres estudiantes de grado que rompieron el contrato de trabajo suscrito dentro del Programa, se establecen el origen y evolución de sus pensamientos y acciones, y se avanza en el conocimiento de lo que hay detrás de este fenómeno. A través de una interacción profunda con estos estudiantes que pertenecen a alguna minoría étnica, la investigación ha determinado que las motivaciones sociales de las políticas educativas para grupos étnicos minoritarios han cambiado mucho. Los cambios han desafiado la implementación del Programa. Además, bajo el sistema económico de mercado socialista, el contrato de empleo del Programa no podría desarrollarse ni asegurarse en el sentido en que sus actores lo preveían. Por último, los graduados universitarios que se beneficiaron de este Programa, son cada vez más individualistas y presentan una mayor diversidad en su desarrollo profesional como consecuencia de razones de tipo micro y macro.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is responsible for at least 80% of all lung tumors and has a poor prognosis, since 75% of NSCLCs are first diagnosed at an advanced stage. This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of CyberKnife in combination with chemotherapy and hyperthermia for selected patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical charts, imaging and pathology reports of patients with advanced NSCLC who underwent CyberKnife therapy in our Tumor Therapy Center were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical efficacy was evaluated for local control, Karnofsky performance status scale (KPS) and toxicity analysis. A total of 119 patients with 136 target areas were evaluated. A prescribed dose of 24–51 Gy to the gross tumor volume was delivered in 3–6 fractions. The median prescription dose was 35 Gy (mean, 34.73±4.80 Gy), with an average of five fractions. Patients, who voluntarily participated in the study, were assigned to one of three groups, which were as follows: CyberKnife therapy alone, CyberKnife combined with chemotherapy and CyberKnife combined with chemotherapy and hyperthermia. The median follow-up period was 6 months and curative efficiencies were 62.16, 71.79 and 90.70%, respectively, as determined by radiographic and clinical re-examinations. Patients treated by CyberKnife combined with chemotherapy and hyperthermia achieved optimal improvement in the aspect of KPS, which was statistically different compared to the other two groups (P

In the process of imaging, transmission and recording, there would be some decline in the quality of medical image typically displayed as fuzzy image, distorition, noise, and so on. To remedy the defects of traditional genetic algorithm of image restoration, the image restoration method was presented based on coding design, species initialization, genetic operator and update mechanism. The simulation experiment on image distortion caused by motion was also carried out in MATLAB 7.0 environment.

As a new technology, digital microfluidic chip based on EWOD (Electrowetting on Dielectric) has good prospect of application in biological, medical, chemical and optic fields. Firstly, the working principle is introduced. Then the major application domains are summarized. Finally, the key problems in design and two fabrication methods are discussed, the clean-room-processing chip is more precise and PCB(Printed Circuit Board) chip is cheaper. New technologies developed in these fields speed up the step from lab to commercial application.

A new method to correct a distorted image is proposed, which is based on the relationship between image magnification and distortion coefficient. Firstly, the image magnification is solved. Then, the image distorted coefficient can be obtained by simple linear operation. Ultimately, experiments are carried out, where the correction results obtained by the collinear points-based method are compared with the method proposed in this paper. The results show both provide good correction effects, but, the accuracy of the new proposed method is higher and the proposed method takes the advantages of simple algorithm, few known conditions and fast computing speed. The new method has great significance in engineering metrology and complex condition.

A new effective imaging detecting system has been used to determinate of intracellular calcium. The fluorescence Image acquisition and analysis was realized with fluorescence imaging detecting system. A designed microfluidic chip has been built. Cell fostering, staining and other operations can be implemented on it. Based on it, a new detecting means was developed for fluorometric measurement. The concentration of intracellular calcium ion can been calculated by using the fluorescence ratio method. A series of experiments were performed by using the detecting system. The experimental results show the ratio of fluorescence intensity was positively correlated to the raising temperature and enhancing shear stress.

The paper proposes a new U-type integral rod for a miniature DLP projector's optical engine with a high-power LED source and L-type optics in order to minimize volumetric size of optical engine. In addition, Taguchi method is applied in this research in order to extendedly optimize the performance of optical engine after initial optimization by damped least square (DLS). A miniature optical engine with LED light source has the advantages of good power consumption, useable projected image, reasonable brightness and uniformity, compactness in volumetric size and decent performance specifically for high spatial frequencies. However, there are still rooms for development with regard to light efficiency and uniformity due to non-uniformity of LED light distribution. Two critical design methods are proposed in this research. Firstly, a “U-type integrator” working with high-power LED which not only causes rays to make a “U-turn” in order to minimize volumetric size of optical engine but also, after optimization, controls output uniformity well after extended optimization by Taguchi method. With regard to gain of optical efficiency, we also consider the factors of a U-type integrator: shape and length with a Taguchi optimizer. It is concluded that the newly developed design achieves good results for the performance and volumetric size of the module. Extended optimized parameter design is able to improve the luminous flux by 4.84%, the illumination uniformity 5.62% and the packing size by 12%.

Backlights based on white LEDs have significant advantages for liquid crystal display(LCD) such as good optical property,low power dissipation,long lifetime,high contrast,simple drive system and so on.However,not all LEDs are suitable for light source of backlights.The influence of liquid panel and different white LEDs on color gamut are investigated.Results showed that,to obtain high color gamut,LCD pannel and the corresponding LED light source are needed.Due to the mixed crest,2-band LEDs which used for illumination only achieved 75.2% NTSC gamut.Then for 3-band LEDs,as its crests are independent relatively,it could obtained 84.2% color gamut.

In this paper, flower-like Cu 2 NiSnS 4 (CNTS) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal method for the first time. The as-synthesized CNTS nanoparticles were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission election microscopy (TEM) and UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy. The CNTS semiconductor nanoparticles possessed pure cubic structure with size of the flowers around 400 nm in diameter. The UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy showed strong light absorption in the visible light region with band gap of 1.41 eV, suggesting its potential application in the field of thin film solar cells.

Radiation-induced defect annealing in He+ ion-implanted 4H-SiC via H+ ion irradiation is investigated by Raman spectroscopy. There are 4H-SiC wafers irradiated with 230 keV He+ ions with fluences ranging from 5.0x10(15) cm(-2) to 2.0 x 10(16) cm(-2) at room temperature. The post-implantation samples are irradiated by 260 keV H+ ions at a fluence of 5.0 x 10(15) cm(-2) at room temperature. The intensities of Raman lines decrease after He implantation, while they increase after H irradiation. The experimental results present that the magnitude of Raman line increment is related to the concentration of pre-existing defects formed by He implantation. A strong new peak located near 966 cm(-1), which is assigned to 3C-SiC LO (Gamma) phonon, is found in the He-implanted sample with a fluence of 5.0 x 10(15) cm(-2) followed by H irradiation. However, for the He-implanted sample with a fluence of 2.0 x 10(16) cm(-2) followed by H irradiation, no 3C-SiC phonon vibrations are found. The detailed reason for H irradiation-induced phase transformation in the He-implanted 4H-SiC is discussed.

Design optimization of a novel integrated triplexer based on planar lightwave circuit (PLC) for fiber-to-the-home applications is described. The two-mode interference coupler and Mach-Zehnder interference are used to construct the filter chip. Simulation results of high isolation and low insertion loss are gotten for proposed design. Technique tolerance is improved for fabricating device.

The specific application of power devices has imposed the requirement for intensive investigation of their reliability. In this paper we have investigated the reliability and failure mechanism of power VDMOS. In constant-stress accelerated life test, the three different temperatures (150°C, 165°C and 180°C) are imposed on the devices. Under the bias VDS=7.5V, IDS=0.8A, and the channel temperature T=117°C, the average lifetime is 3.67×106 h , the activation energy E is 0.54eV, and the main failure mechanism is gate damage.

Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common life-threatening fungal infection and is associated with high mortality in children. Amphotericin B plus flucytosine and fluconazole is the optimal current therapy. Implantation of an Ommaya reservoir for intraventricular infusion of medication and aspiration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the treatment of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) has been reported. Intraventricular injection of amphotericin B through an Ommaya reservoir in children with cryptococcal meningitis has not been reported previously. We report two children who had cryptococcal meningitis and associated increased intracranial pressure, and were treated with an Ommaya reservoir. Both patients experienced rapid reversal of symptoms. At the time of discharge both patients had recovered and have remained asymptomatic.

Based on the resarch of the traditional Fourier transform profilometry, Fourier transform profilometry of tilted measurement system is proposed in this paper. The proposed technology makes the three constraints of the traditional Fourier transform profilometry measurement system less stringent. The optical axis in the CCD imaging system is not necessarily perpendicular (with a certain tilting angle) to the reference plane. The connection line between the centers of the exit pupil of the projecting system and the entrance pupil of the CCD imaging system is not required to be horizontal to the reference plane. The optical axis of the CCD imaging system and that of the projecting system are not coplanar, moreover, the two axises do not intersect at a point in the reference plane. Through the stringent theoretical analysis, the mathematical relationship between phase and height is obtained. Compared with the traditional Fourier transform profilometry, the tilted measurement system is more practical.

The paper proposes a hybrid approach, integrating a combination of Taguchi methods, principal component analysis (PCA) and fuzzy theory for the extended optimization of multiple quality characteristics in optimization experiments of non-image optics; a miniature light emitting diode pocket-sized projection display system is demonstrated in this research as an optimization sample. Traditionally, the performance of projector optics can be evaluated by modulation transfer function and its optimization method is DLS (damped least square). Comparatively, light efficiency and uniformity play a part in non-image optics where the optimized method is based on the concept of non-sequential rays; for example, in the optical engine of a projector, which demands better light efficiency and uniformity. The DLS method is occasionally employed in the optimization of non-image optics such as optical engines, but it is sometimes sensitive to the number of rays employed and some over-optimization problems. In this research we propose as an alternative method to optimize in an extended way the optical engine of a miniature projector. Control factors were checked and then repeatedly examined before the experiments started. In the experiment, optimization works through an L18 orthogonal array. Finally, this proposed optimization work shows good success for the optimization of non-image optical engines because this method is less sensitive to the number of non-sequential rays. Compared with the initial design, the optimized parameter design is able to improve the luminous flux by 11.46 dB, the illumination uniformity by 3.14 and the packing size by 1.125 dB.

Optical rotatory dispersion of LiKSO_4 crystal was pleasured at room temperature. The "crystal" nsodel of optical rotation fits well to the experimental results. In the temperature range from -180℃? to 680℃?, four phase transitions were observed by means of optical rotation measurement: Phase F3 Phase F2 Phase F_1 Phase X 670℃ →Phase α. The two transitions at low temperatures show obvious temperature hysteresis. All the transition temperatures are different from sample to sample. The relation between the transition sequence shown above and the data reported in literatures is discussed.