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To study the adjunctive roles of Qingliu Lianghou Recipe (QLR) in treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma.A total of 156 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were recruited, including 21 cases of stage I, 34 in stage II, 55 in stage III, and 46 in stage IV. Of them, 31 patients (Group A) were managed with operation and post-operative radiotherapy, 40 patients (Group B) with operation, post-operative radiotherapy, and QLR, 45 patients (Group C) were managed with concomitant chemoradiotherapy, 40 patients (Group D)with concomitant chemoradiation and QLR. QLR was given for 12 weeks. The radio- and chemotoxic reactions, quality of life (KPS score), and long-term efficacy (the recurrence time and the survival time) were observed.The toxicity levels were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A, manifested as radioactive dermatitis, mucositis, dysphagia, changes in body weight, and lymphatic edema (P0.05, P0.01). The toxicity levels were significantly lower in Group D than in Group C, manifested as radioactive dermatitis, mucositis, dysphagia, marrow depression, changes in body weight, and gastrointestinal reactions (P0.05, P0.01). After treatment the KPS scores of all patients obviously decreased (P0.05, P0.01). But the KPS scores were significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (P0.05), and they were significantly higher in Group D than in Group C (P0.05). The 3-year recurrence rate of patients in Group A was 41.94%, 20.00% in Group B, 60.00% in Group C, and 37.50% in Group D (P0.05). The 5-year survival rate of patients in Group A was 38.71%, 62.50% in Group B, 22.22% in Group C, and 42.50% in Group D (P0.05).QLR could effectively prevent and reduce the toxicity response caused by operation, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The combination therapy of integrative medicine could postpone the recurrence and prolong the lifespan of patients. Therefore, we must not neglect the adjunctive therapy of QLR in treating hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Our aim was to compare the efficacy and safety of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication with pantoprazole-based 7-day standard triple therapy (PAC) and 10-day quadruple therapy (PBMT), and to study the primary resistance of H. pylori to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole and tetracycline.A total of 170 patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) and H. pylori infection were allocated to two study groups. The PAC group received pantoprazole 40 mg b.i.d., amoxicillin 1.0 g b.i.d. and clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. for 7 days; the PBMT group received pantoprazole 40 mg b.i.d., colloidal bismuth subcitrate 220 mg b.i.d, metronidazole 400 mg t.i.d. and tetracycline 750 mg b.i.d. for 10 days. A total of 80 H. pylori strains were isolated and antibiotic resistance was measured by the agar dilution method.A total of 166 patients completed the therapy. The intention-to-treat eradication rates in the PAC and PBMT groups were 63.5% and 89.4%, respectively (P0.05). By per protocol analysis, the eradication rates of the two groups were 65.1% and 91.6%, respectively (P0.05). Overall 77 clinical isolated H. pylori strains were cultured successfully. The H. pylori primary resistance rates to metronidazole and clarithromycin were 41.6% and 20.8%, respectively, whereas all the H. pylori isolates were sensitive to amoxicillin and tetracycline.The efficacy of PAC declines in many regions in China because of high antibiotic resistance rates. The PBMT regimen achieved a high eradication rate of H. pylori and might be used as a first-line therapy.

A novel adaptive assembly algorithm called Cross-counter Balance Adaptive Assembly Period (CBAAP) is proposed in this paper. The major difference between CBAAP and other adaptive assembly algorithms is that the threshold of CBAAP can be dynamically adjusted according to the cross counter and step length value. In terms of assembly period and the burst loss probability, we compare the performance of CBAAP with those of three typical algorithms FAP (Fixed Assembly Period), FBL (Fixed Burst Length) and MBMAP (Min-Burst length-Max-Assembly-Period) in the simulation part. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm.

The protection scheme is a key issue in survivable wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks. In this paper, we investigate the problem of multicast requests in survivable networks against any single-link failure and propose a novel scheme called segment protection with segment route (SPSR). Through dynamically adjusting link-cost according to the current network state, SPSR establishes a primary light-tree and corresponding link-disjoint backup segments for each multicast connection request. An analytical model was proposed for blocking probability analysis and adaptive routing algorithm to solve the potential shortcomings in the real network. We make the use of the idea of segmented routes according to the branch nodes. We then combine the each segment to get the whole blocking probability. Simulation results show that with the consideration of load balancing SPSR exhibits better blocking probability and resource utilization performance relative to other schemes.

The protection scheme is a key issue in survivable wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks. In this paper, we investigate the problem of multicast requests in survivable networks against any single-link failure and propose a novel scheme called segment protection with segment route (SPSR). Through dynamically adjusting link-cost according to the current network state, SPSR establishes a primary light-tree and corresponding link-disjoint backup segments for each multicast connection request. An analytical model was proposed for blocking probability analysis and adaptive routing algorithm to solve the potential shortcomings in the real network. We make the use of the idea of segmented routes according to the branch nodes. We then combine the each segment to get the whole blocking probability. Simulation results show that with the consideration of load balancing SPSR exhibits better blocking probability and resource utilization performance relative to other schemes.

The medical and economic importance of ticks has long been recognized due to their ability to transmit diseases to humans and animals. Ticks cause great economic losses to livestock, and adversely affect livestock hosts in several ways. Loss of blood is a direct effect of ticks acting as potential vector for haemo-protozoa and helminth parasites. Blood sucking by large numbers of ticks causes reduction in live weight and anemia among domestic animals, while their bites also reduce the quality of hides. However, major losses caused by ticks are due to their ability to transmit protozoan, rickettsial and viral diseases of livestock, which are of great economic importance world-wide. There are quite a few methods for controlling ticks, but every method has certain shortcomings. The present review is focused on ticks importance and their control.

An analysis model of the dV/dt capability for a metal—oxide—semiconductor (MOS) controlled thyristor (MCT) is developed. It is shown that, in addition to the P-well resistance reported previously, the existence of the OFF-FET channel resistance in the MCT may degrade the dV/dt capability. Lower P-well and N-well dosages in the MCT are useful in getting a lower threshold voltage of OFF-FET and then a higher dV/dt immunity. However, both dosages are restricted by the requirements for the blocking property and the forward conduction capability. Thus, a double variable lateral doping (DVLD) technique is proposed to realize a high dV/dt immunity without any sacrifice in other properties. The accuracy of the developed model is verified by comparing the obtained results with those from simulations. In addition, this DVLD MCT features mask-saving compared with the conventional MCT fabrication process. The excellent device performance, coupled with the simple fabrication, makes the proposed DVLP MCT a promising candidate for capacitor discharge applications.

A novel controllable hybrid-anode AlGaN/GaN field-effect rectifier (HA-FER) with low operation voltage (LOV) is proposed. Its mechanism can be explained by the field-controlled energy band model. This model reveals that the electric field in the AlGaN layer alters the energy band to result in a variation of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at AlGaN/GaN interface; the field can be changed by the thickness d of the AlGaN layer and the applied bias. As the d reduces below the critical thickness, the 2DEG vanishes and then the channel is pinched of. Therefore, the threshold voltage of HA-FER can be designed as low as 0 V leading to LOV (< 1 V). The analytical characteristic of the HA-FER is calculated and validated by the simulated results. These results also demonstrate that the forward properties of HA-FER are superior to the conventional SBD due to the high Schottky barrier.

In this paper, we present a monolithic integration of a self-protected AlGaN/GaN metal—insulator field-effect transistor (MISFET). An integrated field-controlled diode on the drain side of the AlGaN/GaN MISFET features a self-protected function for a reverse bias. This diode takes advantage of the recessed-barrier enhancement-mode technique to realize an ultra-low voltage drop and a low turn-ON voltage. In the smart monolithic integration, this integrated diode can block a reverse bias (> 70 V/μm) and suppress the leakage current (< 5 × 10−11 A/mm). Compared with conventional monolithic integration, the numerical results show that the MISFET integrated with a field-controlled diode leads to a good performance for smart power integration. And the power loss is lower than 50% in conduction without forward current degeneration.

Background The phylogenetic position of the Protura, traditionally considered the most basal hexapod group, is disputed because it has many unique morphological characters compared with other hexapods. Although mitochondrial genome information has been used extensively in phylogenetic studies, such information is not available for the Protura. This has impeded phylogenetic studies on this taxon, as well as the evolution of the arthropod mitochondrial genome. Results In this study, the mitochondrial genome of Sinentomon erythranum was sequenced, as the first proturan species to be reported. The genome contains a number of special features that differ from those of other hexapods and arthropods. As a very small arthropod mitochondrial genome, its 14,491 nucleotides encode 37 typical mitochondrial genes. Compared with other metazoan mtDNA, it has the most biased nucleotide composition with T = 52.4%, an extreme and reversed AT-skew of -0.351 and a GC-skew of 0.350. Two tandemly repeated regions occur in the A+T-rich region, and both could form stable stem-loop structures. Eighteen of the 22 tRNAs are greatly reduced in size with truncated secondary structures. The gene order is novel among available arthropod mitochondrial genomes. Rearrangements have involved in not only small tRNA genes, but also PCGs (protein-coding genes) and ribosome RNA genes. A large block of genes has experienced inversion and another nearby block has been reshuffled, which can be explained by the tandem duplication and random loss model. The most remarkable finding is that trnL2(UUR) is not located between cox1 and cox2 as observed in most hexapod and crustacean groups, but is between rrnL and nad1 as in the ancestral arthropod ground pattern. The "cox1-cox2" pattern was further confirmed in three more representative proturan species. The phylogenetic analyses based on the amino acid sequences of 13 mitochondrial PCGs suggest S. erythranum failed to group with other hexapod groups. Conclusions The mitochondrial genome of S. erythranum shows many different features from other hexapod and arthropod mitochondrial genomes. It underwent highly divergent evolution. The "cox1-cox2" pattern probably represents the ancestral state for all proturan mitogenomes, and suggests a long evolutionary history for the Protura.