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The clinical data and follow-up results of 27 paraspinoid aneurysms treated by Willis covered stent (WCS) in Department of Neurosurgery, Army Medical University from May 2014 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 17 cases (63.0%) were treated with WCS alone, and 10 cases (37.0%) were assisted with coiling embolization. During the follow-up, postoperative internal leakage occurred in 2 patients(7%), of which 1(type Ⅰ) wasself-healing and the other 1 (type Ⅲ) was cured by WCS implantation again. The remaining patients had no aneurysm recurrence, unobstructed parent artery, stent displacement and internal stenosis. 92.6% (25/27) of the improved mRS scores were good. WCS is a safe and effective method for the treatment of parabedinal aneurysms.回顾陆军特色医学中心神经外科2014年5月至2021年1月应用Willis覆膜支架（WCS）系统治疗27例床突旁动脉瘤患者的临床资料和随访结果，其中17例（63.0%）单纯应用WCS，10例（37.0%）辅助弹簧圈栓塞。随访期间2例发生术后内漏（7%），其中1例（Ⅰ型内漏）自愈，另1例（Ⅲ型内漏）再次置入WCS治愈，其余患者无动脉瘤复发，载瘤动脉通畅、无支架移位及内狭窄。改良mRS评分良好率92.6%（25/27）。应用WCS治疗床突旁动脉瘤是一种安全、有效的治疗方法。.

In the previous experiment by Li et al., [Phys. Plasmas 19, 113511 (2012)], a deep virtual cathode was measured within an ion sheath near a negatively biased stainless steel plate immersed in an ion-beam-plasma system. The appearance of a virtual cathode was attributed to secondary electrons produced by the high speed ion beam instead of the plasma electrons since these electrons are depleted in the sheath. This paper presents a theoretical model of the sheath structure in the ion-beam-plasma system near an electron-emitting wall. The results show that the presence of the ion beam will compress the whole sheath and make it more difficult to form the virtual cathode, i.e., it causes the increase in the threshold density of the emitted electrons at the wall needed to form the virtual cathode. When comparing with the previous experimental results, it is found that the needed secondary electron yield is unrealistically high in order to obtain the experimentally measured depth of the virtual cathode. Possible experimental uncertainties are discussed concerning the use of an emissive probe when it is too close to the wall.

As the progress of population aging in China, the proportion of elderly population is increasing. Both chronic diseases and infectious diseases can threaten the health of the elderly. There are many kinds of infectious diseases, including vaccine preventable infectious diseases affecting the health of adults, such as influenza, pneumococcal diseases and herpes zoster. In addition, the newly emerged COVID-19 has caused a pandemic in the world, resulting the highest proportion of deaths occurred in the elderly and posing a serious threat to the health of the elderly. This paper mainly summarizes the prevention and control of vaccine preventable diseases and COVID-19 to which the elderly are susceptible, analyzes the infectious disease problems affecting the health of elderly population, and recommends countermeasures for the prevention and control of these diseases in elderly population.随着我国逐步步入老龄社会，老年人群占比越来越大，其健康受到慢性病和传染病的双重威胁。传染病种类繁多，针对成年人的重要疫苗可预防传染病有流感、肺炎球菌性疾病和带状疱疹等，另外新发传染病新型冠状病毒肺炎造成了全世界的大流行，死亡人群中老年人占比最高，对老年人的健康造成重大威胁。本研究主要针对老年人群的疫苗可预防疾病和新型冠状病毒肺炎进行概述，总结老年人群所面临的部分传染病问题，并提出防控建议。.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has spread quickly across 114 countries/territories/areas in six continents worldwide and has been announced as a pandemic by WHO. This study analyzed global COVID-19 epidemiological trends, examined impact of the pandemic on global health security, diplomacy, and social environment in China, and provided short- and long-term strategic policy recommendations for China's subsequent preparedness and responses.当前全球六大洲、114个国家、领土或地区受到新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情不同程度的影响，WHO已宣布本次疫情构成"全球大流行"。为进一步加强对全球新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情的防控，应对全球疫情升级对中国的挑战，本研究着重回答3个问题：新型冠状病毒肺炎全球流行现状及各国防疫情况；全球疫情对中国影响；中国应对全球疫情的短期预案和中长期策略建议。.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcomes of breast reconstruction with employing improved techniques throughout the tissue expander/implant two-stage breast reconstructed process, which involved the tissue expander placement, the saline filling intraoperatively and postoperatively, the implant selection, and the permanent implant replacement. METHODS: In this study, 68 patients who had been provi-ded immediate or delayed tissue expander/implant two-stage breast reconstruction with autologous fat injection post-mastectomy in Peking University Third Hospital from April 2014 to September 2018 were involved, and the relevant information was analyzed retrospectively. The enhancements of the techniques, involving the incision selection, the expander placement, the principle of expansion, the management of capsule, the prosthesis selection, and the assisted reconstruction method were summarized, and the reconstruction outcomes were evaluated objectively through three-dimensional surface imaging. RESULTS: Among the 68 patients in this study, immediate reconstruction was conducted in 25 patients and 43 patients underwent delayed reconstruction. The median time of tissue expansion was 7.0 (3.0, 20.0) months, and the average volume of expansion was (372.8±87.2) mL. The median size of breast implant was 215 (100, 395) mL. The median number of injections for fat grafting was 1 (1, 3), and the average volume of fat grafting was (119.3±34.1) mL. The median follow-up time was 7.0 (4.0, 24.0) months. During the process of breast reconstruction, the tissue expander leakage was observed in two patients, and one of them underwent expander replacement due to the secondary infection. In the immediate reconstruction cases, the volume symmetry of bilateral breasts after reconstruction got even better than that before mastectomy (t=4.465, P0.1). CONCLUSION: Good results of tissue expander/implant two-stage breast reconstruction could be achieved through the techniques enhancement, which involved the preferred transverse incision, the downward placement of expander, the rapid expansion of chest soft tissue, the release of capsule tension, the application of sizer in prosthesis selection, and the assisted autologous fat grafting.

Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is being found to have relevance to human cancers, including prostate cancer (PCa). Taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) has been demonstrated to have a potential oncogenic role in PCa. Then the aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of TUG1 on PCa progression.The expression levels of TUG1, YES proto-oncogene 1 (YES1) mRNA and miR-128-3p were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell proliferation ability, apoptosis, and migration and invasion capacities were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay, respectively. Western blot analysis was employed to evaluate the indicated proteins levels. The interaction between miR-128-3p and TUG1 or YES1 was determined using the Dual-Luciferase reporter assay. In vivo assay was used to observe the effect of TUG1 on tumor growth in vivo.Our data indicated that TUG1 was upregulated in PCa tissues and cells and predicted poor prognosis. TUG1 knockdown weakened PCa cell proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and accelerated cell apoptosis in vitro. Mechanistically, TUG1 directly interacted with miR-128-3p and miR-128-3p mediated the regulatory effects of TUG1 depletion on PCa cell progression. YES1 was a direct target of miR-128-3p and TUG1 modulated YES1 expression by sponging miR-128-3p. Moreover, TUG1 silencing repressed PCa cell progression in vitro through YES1. Additionally, TUG1 silencing mitigated tumor growth in vivo.Our study suggested that TUG1 silencing retarded PCa cell progression in vitro and tumor growth in vivo through miR-128-3p/YES1 axis, showing that targeting TUG1 might be a novel therapeutic strategy for PCa management.

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) is the main source of extracellular pyrophosphate. Along with tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), ENPP1 plays an important role in balancing bone mineralisation. Although well established in pre-osteoblasts, the regulating mechanisms of ENPP1 in osteoblasts and osteocytes remain largely unknown. Using bioinformatic methods, osterix (Osx), an essential transcription factor in osteoblast differentiation and osteocyte function, was found to have five predicted binding sites on the ENPP1 promoter. ENPP1 and Osx showed a similar expression profile both in vitro and in vivo. Over-expression of Osx in MC3T3-E1 and MLO-Y4 cells significantly up-regulated the expression of ENPP1 (p < 0.05). The consensus Sp1 sequences, located in the proximal ENPP1 promoter, were identified as Osx-regulating sites using promoter truncation experiments and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. The p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway was demonstrated to be responsible for ENPP1 promoter activation by Osx. Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) was confirmed to have synergistic effects with Osx in activating ENPP1 promoter. Taken together, these results provided evidence of the regulating mechanisms of ENPP1 transcription in osteoblasts and osteocytes.

Recent researches have proved that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has an important role in many diseases. In this research, lncRNA AK027294 was explored to identify how it functions in the development of gastric cancer (GC).Real Time-quantitative-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to detect AK027294 expression in GC patients. Then, MTT assay, colony formation assay, and EdU incorporation assay were performed to identify its function in GC cells. Furthermore, the potential mechanism was also explored using mechanism assays.AK027294 expression level was significantly higher in GC tissue samples and cell lines. Results of MTT assay, colony formation assay, and EdU incorporation assay showed that cell proliferation was inhibited through the silence of AK027294 in GC cells, while cell proliferation was promoted through overexpression of AK027294 in GC cells. Furthermore, the expression of PCNA was downregulated via silence of AK027294 in GC cells, while the expression of PCNA was upregulated via overexpression of AK027294 in GC cells. The correlation analysis showed that PCNA expression was positively correlated with AK027294 expression in GC tissues.Our results suggest that AK027294 could enhance cell proliferation of GC cells by upregulating PCNA and might be applied as a novel target for therapy of GC.

Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted much attention for their roles in tumor progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the specific role of lncRNA MNX1-AS1 in the development of gastric cancer (GC), and to explore the underlying mechanism.MNX1-AS1 expression in both GC cells and tissue samples was detected by Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Moreover, the relationship between MNX1-AS1 expression and the overall survival rate of GC patients was explored. Furthermore, wound healing assay and transwell assay were conducted. In addition, the underlying mechanism of MNX1-AS1 in GC was explored by performing RT-qPCR and Western blot assay.MNX1-AS1 expression in GC samples was significantly higher than that of the corresponding normal tissues. Meanwhile, MNX1-AS1 expression was associated with the overall survival time of GC patient. Moreover, the migration and invasion of GC cells were markedly promoted after MNX1-AS1 overexpression in vitro. The mRNA and protein expressions of CDKN1A were remarkably down-regulated after MNX1-AS1 overexpression. Furthermore, the expression level of CDKN1A was negatively correlated with the expression of MNX1-AS1 in GC tissues.Our results suggested that MNX1-AS1 could enhance the metastasis and invasion of GC cells via suppressing CDKN1A. Furthermore, MNX1-AS1 might be a potential therapeutic target for GC.

The Third UN High-level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases was held on September 2018. The conference carried out a series of activities on the theme of "Time To Deliver", and adopted the 2018 Political Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases. The new "5×5" strategy for non-communicable diseases prevention and control was clearly put forward, slow progress of non-communicable diseases prevention and control was criticized and the seven major challenges hindering the progress of non-communicable diseases prevention and control was analyzed, the main role and responsibility of governments at all levels in coping with the challenges of non-communicable diseases was reiterated, and put forward clear requirements. The declaration also reiterates the importance of strengthening public health measures. The meeting and declaration aroused strong repercussions and were regarded as a milestone to promote the global prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, and also brought a series of important inspirations for the development of public health in China in the new era. In order to cope with the heavy burden of non-communicable diseases in China, we must give full play to our institutional advantages, mobilization advantages and organizational advantages, adhere to prevention-oriented, emphasize the role of professional public health institutions, and consolidate and strengthen the disease control system and capacity building.2018年9月联合国第三次慢性病防控高级别会议召开，会议围绕"行动起来，兑现承诺"（Time to Deliver）的主题开展一系列活动，并通过了2018年政治宣言。该宣言明确提出慢性病防控新的"5×5"策略，对各国慢性病防控进展缓慢提出批评，客观分析了阻碍慢性病防控进展的七大挑战，重申各级政府在应对慢性病挑战方面承担的主要作用和责任，并提出了明确要求。宣言还再次强调一定要加强公共卫生。此次会议及宣言引起强烈反响，被认为是促进全球慢性病防控的里程碑，也为新时期我国公共事业发展带来一系列重要启示。为了应对我国慢性病带来的沉重疾病负担，必须充分发挥我国的制度优势、动员优势和组织优势，坚持预防为主，强调发挥专业公共卫生机构的作用，巩固和加强慢性病防控能力建设。.

In order to evaluate the intervention effect of the school-based salt reduction model, 28 primary schools were selected in Shandong Province in September 2014 and randomly divided into intervention group (1 361 students, 1 306 parents) and control group (1 364 students,1 340 parents). A series of "small hands and big hands" salt reduction intervention activities were conducted in intervention group for 8 months. After the intervention, the total awareness rate of salt reduction knowledge, the total holding rate of related beliefs and the total reporting rate of related behaviors were 70.65%, 80.30% and 67.03% among students, and 85.66%, 93.77% and 87.93% among parents, in the intervention group, which were higher than those in the control group (37.12%, 66.52% and 50.07% among students; 55.11%, 87.52% and 57.96% among parents) (all为评价以学校带动家庭的减盐模式的干预效果，于2014年9月在山东省抽取28所小学，随机分为干预组（学生1 361名，家长1 306名）和对照组（学生1 364名，家长1 340名），干预组开展8个月的"小手拉大手"系列减盐干预活动。干预后，干预组学生减盐知识总知晓率、减盐相关信念总持有率和减盐相关行为总报告率分别为70.65%、80.30%、67.03%；家长分别为85.66%、93.77%、87.93%，均高于对照组（学生分别为37.12%、66.52%和50.07%；家长分别为55.11%、87.52%和57.96%）（

Salt reduction is the most cost-effective population strategy to prevent and control hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Accurate measurement of salt intake is an important basis for implementing salt reduction interventions, while the urine sodium measurement is the most objective method to evaluate salt intake. According to different time spans, it is mainly divided into 24-h urine, overnight urine and spot urine collection methods. This article reviewed the application and evaluation of these three urine measurement methods, and compared their advantages and disadvantages. According to the accuracy and feasibility of different urine measurement methods, it is suggested that the 24-h urine collection method can be applied to the correlation study with small sample size, and the overnight urine method and the spot urine method can be applied to the daily population salt reduction interventions and monitoring activities.减盐是防控高血压及心血管病最具成本效果的人群策略，准确测量盐摄入量是实施人群减盐干预的重要基础，而尿钠测定是评价盐摄入量最客观的方法。根据收集尿液时间跨度的不同，主要有24 h尿、夜间尿及时点尿三种测算方法。本文主要综述了这三种不同时间尿样测算方法的应用与评价，并比较它们的优缺点。根据不同尿样测算方法的准确性与可行性不同，建议24 h尿样测算方法可应用于样本量较小的相关性研究，而在日常人群减盐干预与监测活动中可应用夜间尿与时点尿样测算方法。.

Evidence has demonstrated that miR-630 is involved in multiple processes in cancer development and progression. However, the exact functions of miR-630 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and the underlying mechanisms remain undefined. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to investigate the role and potential mechanism of miR-630 in tumorigenicity of PTC.Microarrays were used to analyze the differentially expressed miRNAs in PTC tissues. Expression of miR-630 in PTC tissues and cell lines were determined by a qRT-PCR assay. CCK-8 assays, clonogenic survival assays, cell apoptosis analysis, wound healing assays and transwell invasion assays were used to examine the tumorigenesis function of miR-630 in vitro. Protein expression of signaling pathways was determined by using Western blot.We found that miR-630 was significantly downregulated in PTC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-630 inhibited PTC cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis via suppressing the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-6. In addition, up-regulation of miR-630 suppressed the migration and invasion in PTC cells by suppressing EMT progress. Mechanistic investigations showed forced miR-660 expression decreased proteins expression of phosphorylation levels in JAK2/STAT3 signaling.We firstly provided the evidence that miR-630 displayed a tumor-promotive role in PTC progression through modulating JAK2/STAT3 pathway, and that a potential therapeutic strategy through enhancing miR-630 expression might benefit PTC patients.

We report ordering of the cobalt electron configuration in ferromagnetic strained epitaxial ${\mathrm{LaCoO}}_{3}$. Specifically, the presence of charge order is demonstrated from distinct features of the resonant cobalt contribution to superstructure reflections. Density functional theory calculations show that the observed order is consistent with the spin-state periodicity predicted to give rise to ferromagnetism in ${\mathrm{LaCoO}}_{3}$. Through the modification of symmetry by strain, concurrent frozen charge and spin-state order are stabilized, giving rise to long-range magnetic order.

BackgroundOdontoid fractures are common C-spine fractures in the elderly. However, the optimal treatment of odontoid fractures in the elderly is, still subject to controversy.HypothesisSurgical treatment has several advantages on conservative treatment, such as reduced mortality and lower incidence of non-union. This meta-analysis was performed to identify the efficacy of conservative treatment compared with surgical treatment and provides recommendations for using these procedures to treat type II odontoid fractures in the elderly.Materials and methodsA systematic search of all studies published was conducted using the PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, ScienceDirect and Cochrane CENTRAL databases. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs) that compared conservative treatment with surgical treatment and provided data on clinical effects were identified. The included trials were screened out strictly based on the criterion of inclusion and exclusion. The quality of included trials was evaluated. RevMan 5.1 was used for data analysis.ResultsTwelve studies involving 730 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were 441 patients with conservative treatment and 289 with surgical treatment. The results of meta-analysis indicated that no difference with regard to the mortality was noted (P>0.05) between the two procedures. However, there was statistically significant difference with respect to the non-union numbers (P

The present study aimed to explore the role of long non-coding RNA NEAT1 (NEAT1) in mediating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell migration and invasion, as well as the underlying regulatory mechanisms.The NEAT1 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines was measured using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The relationships between NEAT1 expression and clinicopathological parameters were examined by chi-square test. Overall survival curves were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Effects of NEAT1 on cell growth, invasion and migration were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 assay and transwell assay, respectively. Western blotting was used to address the impact of NEAT1 on Wnt/β‑catenin signaling.We observed that the expression of NEAT1 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines were much higher than that in normal control, respectively. High NEAT1 expression was statistically associated with poor differentiation, Lymph node metastasis and advanced TMN stage (all p0.05). According to the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, NSCLC patients with high NEAT1expression had a significantly shorter overall survival than those with high NEAT1 expression(p0.001). Moreover, the downregulation of NEAT1 expression significantly inhibited the NSCLC cells proliferation, migration, and invasiveness. Finally, we found that decreased expression of NEAT1 inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activity.Our data for the first time showed that NEAT1 contribute to the tumorigenesis and development of NSCLC by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting that NEAT1 may provide a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of NSCLC patients.

In this paper, ion waves were experimentally investigated in a microwave electron cyclotron resonance plasma. By applying a ramp voltage to a negatively biased excitation grid, multimode ion waves were excited. It was found through the time-of-flight method that the velocities of the excited ion waves are independent of the excitation signals, suggesting that the waves are eigenmodes of the plasma. Plasma potential, electron temperature, and electron density decrease from the source chamber to the target chamber, which establishes a spatial electrostatic field for ion acceleration. There exists a broad and multimodal ion distribution function along the magnetic field axis, which was observed using a retarding-field-energy-analyzer. Applying the model of an ion-beam-background-plasma system, three kinds of ion waves were identified as fast and slow ion-beam modes and an ion acoustic mode. In addition, the dependence of the amplitudes of the excited ion waves on the rise time of the ramp signal was presented, which is correlated with the difference in the times that the beam ions and background ions take to pass through the plasma sheath.In this paper, ion waves were experimentally investigated in a microwave electron cyclotron resonance plasma. By applying a ramp voltage to a negatively biased excitation grid, multimode ion waves were excited. It was found through the time-of-flight method that the velocities of the excited ion waves are independent of the excitation signals, suggesting that the waves are eigenmodes of the plasma. Plasma potential, electron temperature, and electron density decrease from the source chamber to the target chamber, which establishes a spatial electrostatic field for ion acceleration. There exists a broad and multimodal ion distribution function along the magnetic field axis, which was observed using a retarding-field-energy-analyzer. Applying the model of an ion-beam-background-plasma system, three kinds of ion waves were identified as fast and slow ion-beam modes and an ion acoustic mode. In addition, the dependence of the amplitudes of the excited ion waves on the rise time of the ramp signal was presente...

To investigate the clinical features and outcomes of high-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients.A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare the clinical characteristics and prognosis of 118 high-risk APL patients (WBC≥10 × 10(9)/L) and 234 low and intermedia-risk patients (WBC10×10(9)/L) from January 2003 to April 2015, who were treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University and Yinzhou People's Hospital affiliated to Medical College of Ningbo University.The initial platelet counts of high-risk APL were significantly lower than that of low and intermediate-risk groups (P=0.003); the major type of PML-RARα isoforms in high-risk patients was short-form (51.8% vs 28.2%, P0.001); the early death (ED) rate of high-risk patients was higher than low and intermedia-risk patients (20.3% vs 2.6%, P0.001); in contrast, the complete remission (CR) rate and 5 years estimated overall survival (OS) rate of the former were lower than the latter (76.3% vs 94.9%, P0.001; 74.2% vs 93.7%, P0.001). However, the CR rate (P=0.682) and 5 years estimated OS rate (P=0.481) did not have difference when the ED patients were excluded. The 5 years estimated relapse-free survival (RFS) and central nervous system (CNS) relapse were 82.7%, 9.4%, respectively, which were lower than low and intermediate-risk groups (87.8%, 1.4% ) with statistic difference (P=0.048, 0.002). High-dose cytarabine and intrathecal chemotherapy may reduce the risk of CNS relapse.The outcomes of high-risk APL patients were worse than low and intermediate-risk group owing to the high ED rate and CNS relapse, it was important to decrease the ED rate and emphasis the CNS prophylaxis for high-risk APL patients.

A dusty plasma model is presented to study the small scale structures of plasma densities in mesopause region associated with polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSE). The heavy dust grains (ice particles) are treated as a flowing background of negative charge. Numerical results show that the electron and ion densities drop rapidly while the electric field increases dramatically within a short distance of several meters. The scalelengths of the electron density are comparable to the typical wavelength of the PMSE radars, which may be responsible for strong radar backscatter. Furthermore, the increase of the ice particle concentration results in the reduction of the density gradient and electric field.

Downy blight, caused by Peronophythora litchii, is an important disease of lychee (litchi) plants in China. The in vitro sensitivities of various asexual stages of P. litchii to the three carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides dimethomorph, flumorph and pyrimorph were studied with four single-sporangium isolates. None of the three fungicides affected zoospore discharge from sporangia, but they strongly inhibited mycelial growth (mean EC50 values of 0·075, 0·258 and 0·115 mg L−1, respectively); sporangial production (mean EC50 values of 0·085, 0·315 and 0·150 mg L−1, respectively); germination of cystospores (mean EC50 values of 0·140, 0·150 and 0·645 mg L−1, respectively); and germination of sporangia (mean EC50 values of 0·203, 0·5 and 0·743 mg L−1, respectively). As mycelial growth was the most sensitive stage to dimethomorph and pyrimorph, it was chosen to test baseline sensitivities to the three fungicides. In 2007, from 131 isolates collected in Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, 127, 116 and 113 isolates were used to establish baseline sensitivity for dimethomorph, flumorph and pyrimorph respectively. Isolates from different provinces exhibited similar baseline sensitivity to the same fungicide. Baseline sensitivities to dimethomorph, flumorph and pyrimorph were distributed as unimodal curves, with mean EC50 values of 0·082 (± 0·01), 0·282 (± 0·047), and 0·115 (± 0·032) mg L−1, respectively. This information will serve as a baseline for tracking future changes in sensitivities of P. litchii populations to these three CAA fungicides.

The hydrodynamic equations describing the propagation of nonlinear dust-ion-acoustic solitary waves in an inhomogeneous dusty plasma are solved numerically, taking into consideration dust charging process. Equilibrium plasma densities and dust charge are assumed to be spatially nonuniform, but dust number density is taken to be uniform. It is shown that wave evolutions depend sensitively on the plasma density distributions and electron-to-ion density ratios. Numerical results show that an initial solitary pulse evolves into a dispersive pulse with an oscillatory tail when the wave propagates from high- into low-density region and whereas the pulse can keep its shape when it propagates in the opposite direction. The dust charging process results in the damping of the solitary pulses.

To determine in Type 1 diabetes patients if levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), an anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant factor, are increased in individuals with complications and positively related to vascular and renal dysfunction, body mass index, glycated haemoglobin, lipids, inflammation and oxidative stress.Serum PEDF levels were measured by ELISA in a cross-sectional study of 123 Type 1 diabetic patients (71 without and 52 with microvascular complications) and 31 non-diabetic control subjects. PEDF associations with complication status, pulse-wave analysis and biochemical results were explored.PEDF levels [geometric mean (95% CI)] were increased in patients with complications 8.2 (7.0-9.6) microg/ml, vs. complication-free patients [5.3 (4.7-6.0) microg/ml, P0.001] and control subjects [5.3 (4.6-6.1) microg/ml, P0.001; anova between three groups, P0.001], but did not differ significantly between control subjects and complication-free patients (P0.05). In diabetes, PEDF levels correlated (all P0.001) with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.317), pulse pressure (r = 0.337), small artery elasticity (r = -0.269), glycated haemoglobin (r = 0.245), body mass index (r = 0.362), renal dysfunction [including serum creatinine (r = 0.491), cystatin C (r = 0.500)], triglycerides (r = 0.367), and inflammation [including log(e)C-reactive protein (CRP; r = 0.329), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (r = 0.363)]. Age, blood urea nitrogen, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and log(e)CRP correlated with PEDF levels in control subjects (all P0.04). PEDF levels were not significantly correlated with measures of oxidative stress: isoprostanes, oxidized low-density lipoprotein or paraoxonase-1 activity. On stepwise linear regression analysis (all subjects), independent determinants of PEDF levels were renal function, triglycerides, inflammation, small artery elasticity and age (r(2) = 0.427).In Type 1 diabetes, serum PEDF levels are associated with microvascular complications, poor vascular health, hyperglycaemia, adiposity and inflammation.

Based on the hydrodynamic equations, the characteristics of nonlinear dust-ion-acoustic shock propagation in an inhomogeneous dusty plasma are numerically studied, by means of the fifth-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) finite difference scheme. The inhomogeneous dust charging process for different plasma parameters has been incorporated and its effect on the shock propagation has been investigated. Comparisons of the shocks in the cases of different ion density distributions and different electron-to-ion density ratios are presented. The results show that the dust charging process results in wave damping and dissipation, and the decrease of the electron-to-ion density ratio leads to the increase of the speed, amplitude and width of the shock front. Moreover, the dispersion effect is dominant in the case of sharp shocks whereas the smooth shocks are easily dissipated.

The excitation of ion-acoustic waves with a grid immersed in an inhomogeneous flowing plasma was studied experimentally. Consideration of the effects of the ion flow was examined. The experiments indicated that there were two features of distinct interest. First, there could be a significant difference in the received signals if the wave was launched along or against the direction of the plasma flow. Second, the dominant “propagating response” whose waveform resembled the time derivative of the applied voltage signal was excited at low excitation frequencies.

The propagation of dust-acoustic solitons in an inhomogeneous plasma is studied for the case in which the equilibrium dust density is a constant but the equilibrium dust charge is spatially nonuniform and determined by the self-consistent charging equation. It is shown that the amplitude of the solitons is inversely proportional to the one-fourth power of the equilibrium dust charge number and only compressive solitons exist in this case. When the soliton propagates from high to low density regions, its amplitude and width increases with distance while its velocity shows complex variations. The spatial distribution of the relative amplitude of the dust density perturbation exhibits a transition from decrease to increase, which differs significantly from that of the potential perturbation.