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Background Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with coronary sinus (CS) ostial atresia (CSA) or coronary sinus stenosis (CSS) causes difficulty in electrophysiological procedures, but its characteristics are poorly understood. Objective Study the anatomical and clinical features of SVT patients with CSA/CSS. Methods Of 6128 patients with SVT undergoing electrophysiological procedures, consecutive patients with CSA/CSS were enrolled, and the baseline characteristics, imaging materials, intraoperative data, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed. Results Thirteen patients, seven with CSA and six with CSS, underwent the electrophysiological procedure. Decapolar catheters were placed into the proximal CS in three cases, while the rest were placed at the free wall of the right atrium. Fourteen arrhythmias were confirmed: four atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardias, five left-sided accessory pathways, three paroxysmal atrial fibrillations, and two atrial flutters (AFLs). In addition to three patients who underwent only an electrophysiological study, the acute ablation success rate was 100% in 10 cases, with no procedure-related complications. After a median follow-up period of 59.6 months, only one case of atypical AFL recurred. For those cases (seven CSA and two CSS) with a total of 10 anomalous types of CS drainage, three types were classified: from the CS to the persistent left superior vena cava (n = 3), from an unroofed CS (n = 3), and from the CS to the small cardiac vein (n = 3) or Thebesian vein (n = 1). Conclusion Patients with CSA/CSS may develop different kinds of SVT. Electrophysiological procedures for such patients are feasible and effective. An individualized mapping strategy based on the three types of CS drainage will be helpful.

Many studies have already suggested the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the functions of lncRNA Taurine Upregulated Gene 1 (TUG1) in AD have been scarcely discussed. This study aims to verify how TUG1 affects hippocampal neurons in AD through modulation of microRNA-15a (miR-15a)/Rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1). AD mice was modeled through injection of β-amyloid 25-35 (Aβ25-35) into the lateral ventricle. After modeling, the mice were injected with altered TUG1 and/or miR-15a agomir lentiviruses. The spatial learning ability and memory ability of mice were detected through Morris water maze test. Hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and oxidative stress indicators in AD mice were then detected. The hippocampal neuron AD model was induced by Aβ25-35. Next, the neurons were, respectively, transfected with altered TUG1 vector and/or miR-15a mimics to determine the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. The interactions between TUG1 and miR-15a, and between miR-15a and ROCK1 were assessed using bioinformatic prediction, dual luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA-pull-down assay. In the animal models, Aβ25-35-induced mice exhibited decreased spatial learning and memory ability, obvious pathological injury, promoted hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and decreased antioxidant ability. TUG1 silencing and miR-15a elevation improved spatial learning ability and memory ability, ameliorated pathological injury, depressed neuronal apoptosis, and strengthened antioxidant ability of hippocampal neurons in AD mice. In cellular models, Aβ25-35-treated hippocampal neurons presented inhibited neuronal viability and promoted neuronal apoptosis. TUG1 silencing and miR-15a elevation increased viability and limited apoptosis of Aβ25-35-treated hippocampal neurons. TUG1 specifically bound to miR-15a, and miR-15a targeted ROCK1. Collectively, this study reveals that TUG1 knockdown restricts apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in AD by elevating miR-15a and suppressing ROCK1 expression, and provides a new therapeutic target for AD treatment.

Background: A variety of supraventricular arrhythmias (SVAs) may occur in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The characteristics and long-term ablation outcomes of different types of SVAs in HCM have not been comprehensively investigated.Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 101 consecutive patients with HCM who were referred to the electrophysiology and arrhythmia service from May 2010 to October 2020. The clinical features and ablation outcomes were analyzed.Results: Seventy-eight patients had SVAs, which comprised 50 (64.1%) cases of atrial fibrillation (AF), 16 (20.5%) of atrial flutter (AFL), 15 (19.2%) of atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT), 11 (14.1%) of atrial arrhythmia (AT), and 3 (3.8%) of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Thirty-four patients underwent catheter ablation and were followed up for a median (interquartile range) of 58.5 (82.9) months. There was no recurrence in patients with non-AF SVAs. In patients with AF, the 1- and 7-year AF-free survival rates were 87.5 and 49.5%, respectively. A receiver operator characteristic analysis showed that a greater left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) was associated with a higher recurrence of AF, with an optimum cutoff value of 47 mm (c-statistic = 0.91, p = 0.011, sensitivity = 1.00, specificity = 0.82). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, patients with a LVEDD ≥ 47 mm had worse AF-free survival than those with a LVEDD p = 0.014).Conclusions: In this unique population of HCM, AF was the most common SVA, followed in order by AFL, AVRT, AT, and AVNRT. The long-term catheter ablation outcome for non-AF SVAs in HCM is satisfactory. A greater LVEDD predicts AF recurrence after catheter ablation in patients with HCM.

The relationship between the structure and function of forest ecosystems is the main intere-sts in the research area of forest ecology and management. However, over complex terrains in particular, these studies had been challenged as uneasy tasks due to the limitations in the forest survey and measurement techniques and other supporting technologies. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) funded "Multi-Tower LiDAR/ECFlux Platform for Monitoring the Structure and Function of Secondary Forest Ecosystems" (Multi-Tower Platform, MTP) as a field station network corner-stone research infrastructure project, which was completed by Qingyuan Forest CERN (Chinese Ecosystem Research Network). In a distinctively-bounded and monitored-outlet watershed, the MTP was integrated by light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanners, eddy covariance (EC) flux instrument systems, whole- and sub-watershed hydrology station network, long-term forest plot arrays, and live data center. Using LiDAR scanning, the MTP can get cloud data for holographic information on canopy structure. The EC-flux instrument system and hydrology station network along with forest plot arrays could ensure the reliability of water and carbon observations over this complex terrain, which allows to verify the studies on flux measurement technologies and methods, as well as to understand the processes of ecohydrology and CO森林生态系统结构与生态服务功能关系是森林生态学和林学的永恒研究主题。受传统森林调查方法及技术手段的限制,对复杂地形下森林生态系统结构和功能的监测及二者关系的研究面临诸多挑战。在中国科学院野外站网络重点科技基础设施建设项目的支持下,中国科学院清原森林生态系统观测研究站在独立流域内建成了以观测塔群(三座观测塔覆盖各自子流域代表性森林类型)为主体,集激光雷达(LiDAR)、通量仪器、水文站网、固定标准地和数据中心为综合体的“次生林生态系统塔群激光雷达监测平台”(简称塔群平台)。塔群平台采用激光雷达扫描获取森林点云数据,描述森林生态系统的全息三维结构;依托独立流域/子流域内的通量监测系统、水文监测站网和通量源区内的长期固定标准地,可保证碳-水过程观测的可靠性,并用于验证复杂地形下的通量监测技术与方法,揭示森林生态水文与碳交换过程,准确估算森林生态系统主体生态服务功能(水源涵养和固碳)。所有“塔-站”数据通过无线网络实时汇集于数据中心,便于数据监视、管理与共享。此外,塔群平台将侧重研究森林生态系统结构量化的新方法和新指标,探索复杂地形森林生态系统中H

Many studies have already suggested the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the functions of lncRNA Taurine Upregulated Gene 1 (TUG1) in AD have been scarcely discussed. This study aims to verify how TUG1 affects hippocampal neurons in AD through modulation of microRNA-15a (miR-15a)/Rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1).AD mice was modeled through injection of β-amyloid 25-35 (Aβ25-35) into the lateral ventricle. After modeling, the mice were injected with altered TUG1 and/or miR-15a agomir lentiviruses. The spatial learning ability and memory ability of mice were detected through Morris water maze test. Hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and oxidative stress indicators in AD mice were then detected. The hippocampal neuron AD model was induced by Aβ25-35. Next, the neurons were, respectively, transfected with altered TUG1 vector and/or miR-15a mimics to determine the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. The interactions between TUG1 and miR-15a, and between miR-15a and ROCK1 were assessed using bioinformatic prediction, dual luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA-pull-down assay.In the animal models, Aβ25-35-induced mice exhibited decreased spatial learning and memory ability, obvious pathological injury, promoted hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and decreased antioxidant ability. TUG1 silencing and miR-15a elevation improved spatial learning ability and memory ability, ameliorated pathological injury, depressed neuronal apoptosis, and strengthened antioxidant ability of hippocampal neurons in AD mice. In cellular models, Aβ25-35-treated hippocampal neurons presented inhibited neuronal viability and promoted neuronal apoptosis. TUG1 silencing and miR-15a elevation increased viability and limited apoptosis of Aβ25-35-treated hippocampal neurons. TUG1 specifically bound to miR-15a, and miR-15a targeted ROCK1.Collectively, this study reveals that TUG1 knockdown restricts apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in AD by elevating miR-15a and suppressing ROCK1 expression, and provides a new therapeutic target for AD treatment.

The fabrication of high aspect ratio macropore silicon arrays (MSA) on n-type silicon under optimum photo-electrochemical (PEC) etching (anodization) conditions was demonstrated. The depth of the MSA can reach 350 μm with an aspect ratio of more than 100. With the presence of AOS (a type of anionic surfactant) in the electrolyte, the pore walls solution is slowest, and is more suitable for the preparation of high aspect ratio n-type MSA. The etching voltage is critical for the formation of high aspect ratio MSA on n-type silicon. The relative spectral response curve was measured for silicon photo-electrochemical etching. An IR-LEDs (850 nm) array was proposed as light source for illumination of whole silicon wafers, which was proved available.

The relationship between the etching current density and the macropore diameter was studied in the macroporous silicon (MPS) photo-electrochemical (PEC) etching. By measuring the depth of the channel with different etching time, the variation of critical current density with time was calculated. The importance to real-time adjust the etching current was discussed in the etching process. Based on the PSoC chip, an automatic control system for etching current was designed. The MPS growth was realized with the pore diameter constant using the automatic control system for etching current with a pre-set curve of etching current versus time.

Anisotropic etching of monocrystalline silicon plays an important role in Microsystems technology in the recent years. TMAH, as one of the anisotropic etchants, is used to fabricate pores with square cross-section. Careful choice of concentration, isopropyl alcohol additives and temperature of alkaline solution allows for certain crystallographic directions to be preferentially etched. In this way, pores with square, eight-sided (octagonal) or rotated square shapes can be attained and convert to each other. We show the etch selectivity on (100) and (110) planes in TMAH solution with low concentration. The etch rates on (100) and (110) planes at different temperature and concentration has been measured. The results indicated that the perfect orthogonal array of pores with sharp edges and corners can be obtained at more than 40℃ in 1wt% TMAH solution. There is good etch selectivity on (110) surface and the etch rate on (110) surface is slower than (100) surface under the condition.

The application fields of high aspect ratio Si microchannel arrays have increased considerably, for example, Si microchannel plates, MEMS devices and so on. By the method of photo-electrochemical etching (PEC), Si microchannel arrays are prepared using n-Si wafer covered by anti-corrosion layers and initiation array pits. The dark current intensity curve of an n-type silicon wafer was presented in aqueous HF. The relationship among temperature, etching voltage and carrier transportation was presented. The influences of temperature and etching voltage on the surface morphology of silicon microchannel arrays were researched. The perfect Si microchannel arrays structure with the pore depth of 297 μm, the pore size of 3 μm and the aspect ratio of 99 was obtained by the method of reducing etching voltage gradually.

The influence of several surfactants in electrolyte during silicon electrochemical etching was reported in this paper. The morphologies of macroporous silicon arrays in n-type silicon are strongly influenced by the chemical nature of these additives. Conventional solvents (HF-Ethanol) with cationic (hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride), non-ionic (Triton-X100) and anionic (sodium alpha-olefin sulfonate) surfactants were experimented respectively. Prominent differences in microchannel morphologies and apertures were observed depending on the nature of the additive. The different behaviors of the additives during the electrochemical etching process were linked to the physical properties of the additives. We found the electric double layer model of the reaction interface partially to explain these results. However, not only the morphology of the microchannel but also the degree of electrochemical reaction is affected by surfactant. The anionic surfactant is more suitable for the preparation of silicon microchannel plate with high aspect ratio and pore size uniform. The depth of microchannels etched by photoelectrochemical etching silicon with anionic surfactant is 264 μm, and the pore size is 2 μm.