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Trichloroethylene (TCE), as one of the most common chlorinated organic compounds in soils and aquifers at many industrial sites, is carcinogenic and often recalcitrant in environment. TCE degradation in artificially contaminated soil samples was conducted using Fenton-like processes, i.e. , by addition of excess hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). H 2 O 2 could directly oxidize TCE without addition of ferrous iron in contaminated soil. Under the optimal condition (H 2 O 2 concentration of 300 mg kg −1 , pH at 5.0, and reaction time of 30 min), the removal efficiency of TCE in the soil was up to 92.3%. When the initial TCE concentration increased from 30 to 480 mg kg −1 in soil, the TCE removal rates varied from 89.2% to 86.6%; while the residual TCE in soil ranged from 2.28 to 47.57 mg kg −1 . Results from successive oxidations showed that the TCE removal rate with the TCE concentration of 180 mg kg −1 increased slightly from 91.6% to 96.2% as the number of successive oxidation cycle increased from one to four. Therefore, increasing the frequency of H 2 O 2 oxidation was perhaps a feasible way to increase TCE removal rate for TCE-contaminated soil.

Delay is the time taken by the electrical signal to reach from the transmitter to the receiver. If the delays of interconnects are not controlled properly, it may lead to significant error like serious clock skew in high-speed digital systems. Thus delay extraction is important for the performance of sequential control. In this paper, an improved algorithm for delay extraction is proposed. The algorithm is based on the Hilbert transform of tabulated data and has significant performance in various structures, such as vias, couple lines and serpentine design. Results from circuit simulators show that this method is simple and efficient.

In this paper, we have developed a new structure to suppress 3D noise coupling in 3D silicon substrates. This technique consists of contact arrays and grid ground planes. The contact arrays suppress the low-frequency noise while the grid ground suppresses the high-frequency noise. This isolation method can be used for noise suppression between circuits and/or TSVs, and it can be applied in 3D ICs with multiple dies. This method is more efficient compared to guard rings. Results show that it has significant and stable performance.

To identify more therapeutic targets and clarify the detailed mechanisms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (PA-MSHA) on breast cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. PA-MSHA was administered to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive human breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231HM and MDA-MB-468 in vitro and to mice bearing tumor xenografts. The mannose cocultured test was used to detect the effect of mannose on PA-MSHA-induced cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and EGFR pathway signaling. We found that cells stimulated with PA-MSHA exhibited a downregulation of EGFR signaling. The addition of mannose partially inhibited the PA-MSHA-stimulated cell anti-proliferative effect, cell apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, activation of apoptosis-associated caspases, and even downregulation of the EGFR signaling pathway. In vivo, PA-MSHA treatment significantly suppressed mammary tumorigenesis in xenografts in mice and decreased lung metastasis in MDA-MB-231HM cell-transplanted mice. Tumor sample analyses confirmed inhibition of the EGFR pathway in the PA-MSHA-treated mice. In conclusion, this study showed that the involvement of the mannose-mediated EGFR pathway has a critical function in the preclinical rationale for the development of PA-MSHA for the treatment of human breast cancer. It also suggests the potentially beneficial use of PA-MSHA in adjuvant therapy for breast tumors with EGFR overexpression.

Aims and background To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of breast cancer subtypes classified by quantitative estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and Her2. Methods and study design 923 patients with primary breast cancer having a median age of 53 years who were treated at the Cancer Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai between January 2002 and June 2004 were retrospectively analyzed. Four molecular subtypes were constructed from the immunohistochemical results of quantitative hormone receptor (HR) and Her2 status. HR+ was defined as ER+ and PR+, HR± as ER/PR+ at lower levels or lacking either ER or PR, and HR- as both ER- and PR-. The four subtypes were HR+/Her2-, HR±/Her2-, HR-/Her2- (triple-negative), and Her2+. Clinical and pathological parameters, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) measurements were compared between patients with different molecular subtypes. Results The proportions of HR+/Her2-, HR±/Her2-, triple-negative, and Her2+ breast cancer were 36.6% (338/923), 22.9% (211/923), 20.6% (190/923), and 19.9% (194/923). The median follow-up was 49.0 months (4–77 months). In 145 cases disease recurrence or death occurred. In multivariate analysis with the HR+/Her2- subtype taken as the reference category, triple-negative and Her2+ subtypes were associated with increased recurrence and death with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.05 (95% CI 1.31–3.20; P = 0.002) and 1.89 (95% CI 1.20–2.97, P = 0.006) for DFS and 2.84 (95% CI 1.45–5.55; P = 0.002) and 2.95 (95% CI 1.51–5.77, P = 0.002) for OS, respectively; the HR±/Her2- subtype was marginally associated with poor prognosis with HR 1.51 (95% CI 0.94–2.43; P = 0.088) and 1.90 (95% CI 0.92–3.94; P = 0.084) for DFS and OS, respectively. Conclusions Breast cancer subtypes based on quantitative ER, PR, and Her2 may be predictive of prognosis. Patients whose tumors were not HR+/Her2- had a worse outcome in our study.

In this brief, the trap-related characteristics of high-breakdown AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) were investigated. Compared with a conventional multifinger layout, the square-gate design presented reduced the current collapse from 19% to 6% and almost eliminated the gate lag. The flicker noise density and the gate leakage decreased from 1.16 times10-10 to 1.17 times10-11 1/Hz (f = 100 Hz) and from 7.36 times10-5 to 1.80 times10-6 A/mm ( V GS = -4 V and V DS = 100 V), respectively. The breakdown voltage was also improved from 350 to 650 V. With the channel area away from the defects generated by the mesa etching process, the square-gate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs demonstrated excellent performance with much less trapping effects.

NR2A-containing N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors have important roles in influencing the long-term potentiation and spatial memory. Here using Morris water maze, we found that inhibition of NR2A-containing NMDA receptors by [(R)-[(S)-1-(4-bromophenyl)-ethylamino]-(2, 3-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxalin-5-yl)-methyl]-phosphonic acid (NVP-AAM077) hindered the formation of spatial memory. An increasing number of reports suggest that adult hippocampal neurogenesis is involved in hippocampal-mediated learning. To explore the possible mechanisms understanding the reduced spatial memory by NVP-AAM077, we investigated the effects of NVP-AAM077 on neurogenesis. We found that NVP-AAM077 inhibited progenitor cells proliferation in the subventricular zone and dentate gyrus and reduced the survival of newborn cells in the dentate gyrus in the adult mice. In null mutant mice lacking neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) gene (nNOS−/−), the effects of NVP-AAM077 on neurogenesis disappeared. In addition, NVP-AAM077 increased nNOS enzymatic activity. Our findings suggest that NVP-AAM077 reduced spatial learning through down-regulating neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus.

Several lines of evidence suggest involvement of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) in the regulation of neurogenesis in adults and the formation of spatial memory. Functional properties of NMDARs are strongly influenced by the type of NR2 subunits incorporated. In adult forebrain regions such as the hippocampus and cortex, only NR2A and NR2B subunits are available to form the receptor complex with NR1 subunit. NR2B is predominant NR2 subunit in any of rat or human neural stem cells (NSCs). Thus, we suppose that NR2B-containing NMDAR should be critical in regulating adult neurogenesis, and thereby playing a role in the formation of spatial memory. In the cultured NSCs derived from the embryonic brain of rats, NR2B subunit-specific NMDAR antagonist Ro25-6981 increased cell proliferation, whereas MK-801, non-selective open-channel blocker of NMDARs, inhibited cell proliferation. Blockade of NR2B-containing NMDAR stimulated neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus and facilitated the formation of spatial memory. The enhanced spatial memory dropped back to base level when the NR2B antagonist-induced neurogenesis was neutralized by 3'-azido-deoxythymidine, a telomerase inhibitor. In addition, blockade of NR2B inhibited neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) enzymatic activity. In null mutant mice lacking nNOS gene (nNOS-/-), the effects of NR2B antagonist on neurogenesis disappeared. Moreover, nitric oxide donor DETA/NONOate attenuated and nNOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole enhanced the effect of Ro 25-6981 on NSCs proliferation. Our findings suggest that NR2B-containing NMDAR subtypes negatively regulate neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus by activating nNOS activity and thereby hinder the formation of spatial memory.

To investigate the association between the level of serum testosterone and atherosclerosis in middle-aged and elderly men.We conducted a population-based study of 413 males aged 40-75 years in a community in Guangzhou. We obtained the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical data, physical measurements, and laboratory results of sex hormones, blood glucose, and blood lipid of the subjects. We also measured the carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) by color Doppler ultrasonography.The subjects were divided into a carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) group (CIMT ≥ 0.9 mm) and a non-CAS group (CIMT0.9 mm). The medians of free testosterone (FT) were 57.41 and 59.72 pmol/L in the CAS and non-CAS groups, respectively (P = 0.005), and no significant difference was found between the two groups in total testosterone (TT). The levels of serum FT and TT were negatively correlated to CIMT, with Spearman's rank correlation coefficients of -0.126 (P = 0.011) and -0.188 (P0.001), respectively. The incidence rates of CAS were 23.30, 13.46, 17.48, and 7.77% in the Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups, respectively according to the quartile of FT (P for trend = 0.008) and 17.48, 18.27, 16.50, and 9.71% respectively according to the quartile of TT (P for trend = 0.116). Based on the quartile of FT and after adjustment for age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and HbAlc, the risk of CAS was significantly increased in the Q1 group as compared with Q4 (OR = 2.491, 95% CI 1.01-6.149), but no statistically significant differences were observed according to the quartile of TT.A low serum FT level may be a risk factor of atherosclerosis in Chinese men aged 40 years or older.

A novel means of combining thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using a liquid matrix is proposed. Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) mass spectrometry, which uses a mixture of a micrometer-sized carbon powder (graphite or activated carbon, the SALDI solid) and 15% sucrose/glycerol, dissolved in an equal volume of methanol (SALDI liquid) as a SALDI matrix, is used for laser desorption mass analysis. The ablation of carbon powder from a pencil drawing was used as an alternative to the SALDI solid. The liquid matrix resembled that used in a conventional SALDI matrix system. A line was drawn before separation with a pencil on the track of the sample developed on the TLC plate. After TLC separation, approximately 0.1 microl of SALDI liquid was directly applied to the chromatographic spots on the TLC plate. Porphyrins were used to demonstrate this combination owing to the visible colors of this type of compound. The analyte signal can be easily detected by irradiating the laser along the pencil line on the TLC plate. An additive, p-toluenesulfonic acid, is added to the SALDI liquid to enhance the signal's intensity. This additive dramatically improves the signal-to-noise ratio. A detection limit of approximately 500 pg is demonstrated for porphines, which is 50 times better than that corresponding to conventional TLC SALDI.

In this paper, a substrate noise suppression method using P+ contact array and grid ground plane is proposed, which yield excellent noise suppression below −60 dB in extremely wide frequency range from DC up to 50 GHz. P+ contact array suppresses the low-frequency noise while the grid ground suppresses the high-frequency noise. Accurate circuit models are developed by simple extraction. The noise suppression performance of the proposed structure is compared with guard ring. Results show that our method yields excellent noise suppression performance.

Background This retrospective study investigated the therapeutic benefit of adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) in breast cancer patients with hormone receptor (HR) status change from positive to negative after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Methods From December 2000 to November 2010, 97 eligible patients with a positive-to-negative switch of HR status after NAC were identified. All patients were categorized into 2 groups on the basis of the administration of ET: 57 ET-administered patients and 40 ET-naïve patients. Survival analyses were performed to examine the prognostic value of ET administration as well as other clinical and pathologic variables. Results The administration of ET was significantly associated with improved disease-free survival (p=0.018) in patients with a positive-to-negative switch of HR status. The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 77.0% and 55.5%, respectively, in ET-administered patients and ET-naïve patients. The 5-year overall survival rate for ET-administered patients was also higher than that of ET-naïve patients (81.3% vs. 72.7%, p=0.053), albeit this was statistically insignificant. Conclusions This study revealed that patients with HR altered from positive to negative after NAC still benefit from ET. The HR status should be evaluated not only in specimens obtained during post-NAC surgery but also in specimens biopsied before NAC.

A nanophase TiC Ti-Al composite powder has been synthesized by ball milling a mixture of elemental Ti, Al and graphite powder with the nominal composition Ti 50 Al 30 C 20 . The nanophase TiC is distributed homogeneously as ultrafine particles in an amorphous Ti-Al matrix. The present process combines alloying with solid-state reaction, which is controlled by interdiffusion of elements.

In this paper, the effects of thermal exposure on the microstructure and wear behavior of the Al-10 wt. % Ti alloy have been investigated. The as-extruded material contains Al 3 Ti particles homogeneously distributed in the α-Al matrix. Al 3 Ti particles coarsened during thermal exposure at 630 °C, via a diffusional growth mechanism. Block-on-ring tests under dry sliding conditions show that the alloy exhibits a transition from mild wear to severe wear with increasing applied load. In the low load regime wear is controlled by a combination of delamination and oxidation, and at high load severe adhesion occurs. Thermal exposure reduces wear resistance of the alloy due to coarsening of Al 3 Ti particles.

To compare the sensitivity of mammogram and breast dedicated MRI in detecting ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvaion (DCIS-MI) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions, and to further investigate the independent predictive factors of mammogram and MRI sensitivity.From August 2009 to November 2011, 122 consecutive confirmed breast cancer patients who had received operations were recruited for this clinical research. These patients were divided into two groups including DCIS (72 cases) and DCIS-MI (50 cases) based on pathologic reports. All the patients were female, with mean ages of 52.6 years and 54.4 years. Preoperative bilateral breast mammogram, breast dedicated MRI depictions and reports as well as histopathological reports were collected.Sensitivity of MRI outstood mammogram in each subgroups: 84.7% vs. 42.4% in DCIS (χ(2) = 27.028, P = 0.000), 94.0% vs. 80.0% in DCIS-MI group (χ(2) = 4.540, P = 0.040). And further analysis showed that MRI was more sensitive to high nuclear grade DCIS and DCIS-MI lesions than low nuclear grade ones (OR = 3.471, P = 0.031).of logistic regression analysis proved microcalcification was an independent predictive factor of mammogram sensitivity (OR = 11.287, P = 0.001).Sensitivity of breast dedicated MRI is superior to mammogram in detecting DCIS and DCIS-MI groups. Lesions with microcalcifiation is an independent predictive marker which meant that mammogram would achieve high detection rate in cancers presented calcification on mammogram image when compared with non-calcification. Diagnostic performance of breast MRI is less affected by clinical and pathological characteristics of the early stage breast cancer patients but further increased detection rate is observed in DCIS and DCIS-MI with high nuclear grade lesions which indicated that MRI could detect more early stage cancers with relative more aggression biological behaviour and provide these patients with early surgical interventions before possible progression to invasive breast cancers.

Active belts of global strong earthquakes were divided into 17 seismic zones based on the principles of global plate tectonics. The seismicity index numberA(b) was used to denote the yearly seismicity level. Using the stepwise regression method, an empirical formula was derived to predict the North China seismic risk in the next year by the aid of strong earthquakes in the world.

Background To validate the clinical value of the One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) Breast Cancer System for the intraoperative detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases in early-stage breast cancer patients in a Chinese population, a prospective, multicenter trial, the China Breast Cancer Clinical Study Group (CBCSG)-001c trial, was conducted. The present study focused on the prospective comparison of the performance between OSNA and touch imprint cytology (TIC). Methods The retrieved SLNs were divided into sections. Alternate slices from the tissue blocks were subjected either to OSNA analysis or to postoperative histopathology evaluation through serial sectioning. TIC was performed on every sample surface of each tissue block and was used by the surgeon to determine whether to perform an immediate ALND. Results A total of 552 patients qualified for the analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of OSNA were 87.8%, 89.6%, and 88.4%, respectively, on a per-patient basis compared with those of TIC, which were 81.3%, 96.9%, and 92.0%, respectively. OSNA detected more micrometastasis-involved nodes than TIC (52.8% vs. 25.0%; p = 0.029) on a per-node basis. Tissue allocation bias (TAB) was the main cause of discordant results. The performance of TIC varied significantly among the institutes, while the performance of OSNA was steady. Conclusions Both OSNA and TIC can serve as qualified intraoperative assessments of SLNs. For institutes lacking the support of experienced cytopathologists, OSNA can be the first choice for the intraoperative assessment. In addition, OSNA can be applied as a complement to histopathology assessment. However, the results of the present study do not support the routine application of OSNA in the entire SLNs in place of pathology with serial sectioning.

This article reports an economic assessment on a hydride hydrogen recovery, purification, storage, transportation and application project (HRPSTA) set for a system including a nitrogenous fertilizer plant and a float glass factory. In this project, a pretreatment unit and metal hydride containers are used to recover and purify the hydrogen from the purge gas of the ammonia fertilizer plant and to transport and use the hydrogen in the tin bath in the float glass factory. Detailed economic assessment, cost analysis and a cash flow statement are presented, and financial net present value (NPV), as well as intrinsic rate of return (IRR), is calculated. The result shows that this project, which is feasible technologically, is profitable economically.

We investigated whether molecular subtype can predict the response and prognosis in Chinese locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients treated with preoperative therapy. LABC patients treated with preoperative therapy in Cancer Hospital, Fudan University between August 2001 and May 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Molecular subtypes were constructed from the immunohistochemical results of hormonal receptors (HR) and HER2 status, which were classified as luminal (HR+/HER2-), triple negative (HR-/HER2-) and HER2 positive subtypes. Preoperative tumor parameters, chemotherapy regimens and response as well as outcome were compared among these subtypes. A total of 225 cases were included into analysis. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that the pathological complete remission (pCR) independent predictive factors were molecular subtype and preoperative regimens. Compared with luminal subtype, patients with HER2 positive or triple negative tumor had significantly higher pCR rate, with odds ratio 3.02 (95% CI=1.07-8.07; P=0.037) and 3.10 (95% CI=1.01-9.52; P=0.048), respectively. However, HER2 positive or triple negative breast cancer patients were also associated with increased recurrence (P=0.072) and death rates (P=0.019) compared with luminal subtype in the whole population, and was especially worse in patients with residual disease after preoperative therapy with decreased disease-free survival (P=0.022) and overall survival (P=0.007). Our results show that molecular subtype can predict the response and prognosis of Chinese LABC patients treated with preoperative therapy. Compared with luminal subtype, patients with HER2 positive or triple negative disease had increased pCR rates, but associated with significantly worse survival, especially in those with residual disease after preoperative therapy.

To examine the effect of postoperative pregnancy upon the prognosis of young Chinese breast cancer patients.Four hundred and thirty-two female unilateral breast cancer patients aged 35 or younger were retrospectively reviewed. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log Rank test were used for univariate analysis of factors predictive of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis was carried out using the Cox proportional hazards model.Eighteen patients were identified to have postoperative pregnancy, including 5 full-term pregnancy and 13 abortions with the earliest pregnancy taking place at Month 17 post-operation. After a median follow-up of 62 months (6 - 237 months), the DFS and OS rates were 72.5% (313/432) and 88.7% (383/432) respectively. On multivariate analysis, postoperative pregnancy, clinical stage and number of pathologically involved axillary lymph node were significantly associated with DFS. And the axillary lymph node status was also predictive of OS. No death occurred in patient with postoperative pregnancy. There was no significant association between postoperative pregnancy and OS.Postoperative pregnancy has no adverse effect upon the prognosis of young breast cancer patients.

To identify predictive markers of the long-term outcome for neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NC) in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) treated with intravenous vinorelbine (V) and epirubicin (E) combination regimen.One hundred and nineteen patients with LABC were treated from September 2001 to May 2006. All patients were diagnosed as invasive breast cancer by 14G core needle biopsy and treated with three cycles of VE regimen before the operation. The patients were subjected to surgery and subsequently were given other three cycles of VE or cyclophosphamide+epirubicin+fluorouracil (CEF) regimen according to the clinical responses. Local-regional radiotherapy was applied to all patients after the chemotherapy and followed by hormone-therapy according to hormone receptor status. The impact of clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical features on disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated.All patients were evaluable for responses: clinical complete response was documented in 27 patients (22.7%), 78 patients (65.5%) obtained partial clinical response. The pathological complete response was found in 22 cases (18.5%). Of the patients, 115 cases (96.6%) were followed-up for a median time of 63.4 months (range, 9-76 months), the 5-year DFS rate and OS rate was 58.7% and 71.3%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, high pre-Ki-67 (P=0.012) and post-Ki-67 expression (P=0.045), no pathological complete response after NC (P=0.034) were associated with the higher risk of disease relapse; high pre-Ki-67 (P=0.017) and post-Ki-67 expression (P=0.001), negative pre-ER (P=0.002) and no pathological complete response after NC (P=0.034) were associated with a shorter survival.Pathological response in primary tumor, pre-Ki-67 and post-Ki-67 expression, pre-ER expression are important predictors of long-term outcome for LABC patients with three cycles of VE regimen before operation.

Background This study is a retrospective evaluation of the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) with a vinorelbine (V) and epirubicin (E) intravenous combination regimen and is aimed at identification of predictive markers for the long-term outcome in noninflammatory locally advanced breast cancer (NLABC). Methods One-hundred-and-nineteen patients with NLABC were identified from September 2001 to May 2006. Analysis was performed in March 2008, with a median follow-up of 63.4 months (range, 9-76 months). All patients were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer using 14 G core needle biopsy and treated with three cycles of VE before surgery. Local-regional radiotherapy was offered to all patients after the completion of chemotherapy followed by hormonal therapy according to hormone receptor status. Tissue sections cut from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks from biopsy specimens and postoperative tumor tissues were stained for the presence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), HER-2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2), and MIB-1(Ki-67). Results Patients characteristics were median age 52 years (range: 25-70 years); clinical TNM stage, stage IIB (n = 32), stage IIIA (n = 56), stage IIIB (n = 22) and stage IIIC (n = 9). All patients were evaluable for response: clinically complete response was documented in 27 patients (22.7%); 78 (65.6%) obtained partial response; stable disease was observed in 13 (10.9%); 1 patient (0.8%) had progressive disease. Pathological complete response was found in 22 cases (18.5%). Seventy-five patients were alive with no recurrence after a median follow-up of 63.4 months, the 5-year rates for disease-free survival and overall survival were 58.7% and 71.3%, respectively, after the start of NC. On multivariate analysis, the independent variables associated with increased risk of relapse and death were high pre-Ki-67(p = 0.012, p = 0.017, respectively), high post-Ki-67 expression (p = 0.045, p = 0.001, respectively), and non-pCR (p = 0.034, p = 0.027, respectively). A significantly increased risk of death was associated with lack of pre-ER expression (p = 0.002). Among patients with non-pCR, those with a pathological response at the tumor site with special involvement (i.e. skin, vessel and more than one quadrant) were at a higher risk of disease relapse and death (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion This study suggests the promising use of a VE regimen as NC for Chinese NLABC after a median follow-up of 63.4 months. Pathological response in the tumor site, pre-Ki-67 and post-Ki-67 expression, and pre-ER expression were the important variables that predicted long-term outcome. Patients with pathological special involvement at the primary site after NC had the lowest survival rates.

Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become an alternative procedure of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with a lower risk of significant operative morbidity. The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate the morbidity and quality-of-life (QoL) after SLNB or ALND. The second aim was to analyze whether the number of SLNs removed was associated with an increased incidence of postoperative morbidity. Methods From Apr-2006 to Aug-2007, 140 patients treated with SLNB and 81 patients treated with ALND were enrolled in the study. Patients' data were collected preoperatively and at 1, 6, and 12 months after operation. Measurement of arm volume and shoulder function, evaluation of subjective sensory abnormality of both arms and chest wall were performed at every follow-up visit. Besides, patients were required to fill out the simplified Chinese version of the functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast questionnaire at 12 months after operation. Results Patients treated with SLNB suffered less morbidity compared with ALND. Elevated body mass index and ALND procedure were independent risk factors associated with postoperative lymphedema. Moreover, patients treated with wide local excision or SLNB had better QoL compared with those treated with mastectomy or ALND. No relationship was observed between the number of SLNs and the morbidity or QoL. Conclusion SLNB is associated with a better QoL and less morbidity compared with ALND regardless of the number of SLNs in Chinese women with breast cancer. To limit the number of SLNs less than five did not show any evidence to reduce morbidity.

Preparation of inorganic molecularly imprinted polymers (IMIPs) with higher adsorption and selectivity has been developed on caffeine as model compound by sol–gel processes. In our study, by introducing pore-forming agent, lactic acid, into sol–gel process, the porosity of IMIPs was enhanced and the performance of IMIPs was thus improved. And, by introducing base catalyst in the sol–gel process, large pore volume was obtainable, and the caffeine adsorption of IMIPs was increased. Competition adsorption experiments between caffeine (CAF) and structure analogous molecule, theophylline (TH), were determined by HPLC analysis. It was found that adding pore-forming agent method produced better caffeine adsorption (ca. 20 μmol/g) than by adding base catalyst. But adding base catalyst method was found to yield better selectivity (ca. 4) (Selectivity (α) is the ratio of CAF bound to TH bound.) In addition, caffeine adsorption of IMIPs with template removed by calcination is two times that by extraction without sacrificing the selectivity of IMIPs.

The sleeve regulating valve is a typical flow regulating component, which is indispensable in various industrial applications. This work investigates the effects of the body structure on the overall performance and the flow characteristic of a sleeve regulating valve. The anterior cavity h, the diameter of the center cavity Dc, and the eccentricity of the center cavity e are studied in a parametric way. When the relative increment of h, Dc, and e all take the value of 0.15, the rated flow coefficient Kve of the optimized valve is promoted by 33.99% relative to the Kve of the original model. The optimized model presents less wear between the valve core and the sleeve relative to the original model. It results from the fact that the non-centrosymmetric pressure distribution is reduced on the valve core. Besides, the optimized model has smaller lateral fluid force imposed on the valve core FL than the original model when the relative travel L/Lmax > 0.625, and they have close FL in the other range. Also, the optimized model has larger axial fluid force imposed on the valve core FA than the original model when L/Lmax > 0.875, and they have close FA in the other range.