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Objective To explore the influence of calcium channel blocker(CCB), verapamil, on steroid hormone profile of primary cultured aldosterone producing adenoma(APA)cells. Methods The adrenal tumor tissues of 6 APA patients with hypokalemia operated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were cultured and treated with different concentrations of verapamil. The steroid hormone profile was detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS). Results The level of aldosterone in 50 μmol/L verapamil group was lower than that in 10 μmol/L verapamil group and control group(P＜0.01). The levels of aldosterone precursor, 11-deoxycorticosterone in verapamil 10 μmol/L group was lower than that in control group (P＜0.05). The levels of 18-oxocortisol(18-OXOF) and 18-hydroxycortisol(18-OHF) in verapamil 50 μmol/L group and verapamil 10 μmol/L group were lower than that in the control group (P＜0.05). In addition, verapamil also had some inhibitory effects on glucocorticoids such as cortisol and cortisone, and adrenal derived sex hormones such as dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEA-S) and 11 beta-hydroxytestosterone(11β-OHT). Conclusions In addition to inhibit-ing aldosterone secretion in primary cultured APA cells, CCB has significant inhibitory effects on a variety of other steroid hormones, such as precursor 11-deoxycorticosterone, cortisol, metabolites, 18-OXOF and 18-OHF.

Objective To explore the effect of gender, age and season on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(25OHD). Methods Clinical data was collected from the laboratory information system at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from December 2014 to October 2018. A total of 34 062 25OHD samples were obtained and analyzed. 25OHD concentrations were measured using a Roche e601 automatic analyzer. Regression analysis was used to explore the effect of gender, age and season on 25OHD level. Results The median serum 25OHD concentration was significantly higher in males than that in females(P＜0.001). The median serum 25OHD concentration at the peak level in August was 22.1 ng/mL. Regression analysis revealed that summer had the highest impact on 25OHD (standardization coefficient=0.273). Conclusions Gender and season significantly affected serum 25OHD levels.

In IaaS cloud computing platform, live migration of virtual machines plays a significant role in resource dy-namic dispatching and management. Under many scenarios, multiple virtual machines in the same server need to be moved online concurrently.Since live migration algorithm utilizes bandwidth as more as possible to send data, there is a bandwidth competition among the concurrent migration processes, which cannot guarantee the optimal allocation for the bandwidth and finally degrades the overall performance of the parallel live migration. A cooperative game based band-width allocation mechanism in live migration of multip virtual machines was proposed, which models the bandwidth allocation problem as a Nash bargaining game and attains a desirable bandwidth sharing scheme that guarantees Pareto optimality. Experiment results show that the proposed method can assign the bandwidth fairly and efficiently and im-prove the performance of the parallel live migration.

Background: Metals in single spot urine samples are often used to estimate individual exposure in human studies. However, measurements in urine could vary greatly over time due to variable exposure, potentially leading to exposure misclassification. OBJECTIVE: We examined the variability of metal levels in the urine of 11 men who provided 529 samples on 8 days during a 3-month period, which corresponds to the duration of spermatogenesis. METHOD: The urinary levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), molybdenum (Mo), and nickel (Ni) were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. We calculated the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) to assess the reproducibility of metal measures and computed the sensitivity and specificity to evaluate how well spot urine samples determined the individuals' 3-month average exposure. RESULTS: Fair to good reproducibility was observed for the serial measurements of Cd (ICC = 0.53) in spot samples collected during the 3-month period, whereas the serial measurements of As, Co, Cu, Pb, Mo, and Ni showed poor reproducibility (ICCs = 0.01-0.29). Use of single spot urine samples to classify the high (top 33%) 3-month average metal levels had uniformly high specificities (0.70-0.84) but relatively low sensitivities (0.40-0.57), except for Cd (0.77). The minimum number of specimens (k) required to estimate the participant-specific mean for the seven metals within 20% of the 'true' values ranged from 3 for Cd to 27 for Ni. CONCLUSIONS: The high variability observed in the urinary levels of As, Co, Cu, Pb, Mo, and Ni suggests that a single measurement provides only a brief snapshot in time of the exposure levels of an individual, which can result in a moderate degree of exposure misclassification. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409551, Introduction Metals, including essential and nonessential elements, are naturally present in the environment at highly varying concentrations and are also widely used in industrial processes and human activities; humans can [...]

The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of three irrigation methods, i.e., subsurface drip irrigation with a tank system (SDI), plastic film mulched-drip irrigation (MDI), and conventional drip irrigation ( DI) on the regulation between root and crown function of Vitis vinifera ' Cabernet Sauvignon' seedlings. The results showed that both the SDI and MDI systems promoted the growth of the grape seedlings compared with DI, with the SDI system promoting the root growth, and MDI system promoting the aboveground growth. Root area, root volume, and root activity and SOD enzyme activity in the SDI treatment were greater than those of MDI or DI treatment in the 20-60 cm soil layer. SDI treatment increased root penetration and physiological activity. Symptoms of drought stress appeared earlier in DI treatment than in either MDI or SDI treatment in the same watering schedule. Net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (gs) of leaves were higher in SDI and MDI treatments than in DI treatment, ΦPS II and qP at 12; 00-14; 00 were lower in the MDI treatment than in SDI treatment at 7 d after irrigation, suggesting that the degree of photoinhibition in the fluorescence process in MDI treatment was more than that in SDI treatment. The high biomass and physiological activity of roots in the 20-40 cm depth could increase both of total plant biomass and aboveground biomass. The regulation between root and crown function was better in SDI treatment than in MDI and DI treatments. Therefore, SDI could be used as an alternative technique of water-saving irrigation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection probability is an important index of camouflage assessment. Based on statistical decision model, the relationship between single image feature and psychological perception quantity is set up by defining the similarity of four image features. Five psychological experiments were carried out, and the relation between perception quantity and detection probability was found. The verification of target interpretation shows that the target detection probability can be obtained by the model objectively. A new method is provided for camouflage assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the correlation between neonatal and maternal vitamin D levels., Methods: From June 1 to July 10, 2015, umbilical venous blood samples were collected from 102 full-term single neonates, and venous blood samples were collected from their mothers. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography with isotope dilution was applied to measure the serum 25(OH)D level., Results: Vitamin D insufficiency was found in 39 mothers (38.2%) and 27 neonates (26.5%), and vitamin D deficiency was found in 25 mothers (24.5%) and 66 neonates (64.7%). Neonatal serum 25(OH)D level differed significantly between the groups of mothers with different serum 25(OH)D levels (P<0.001). Maternal 25(OH)D level was positively correlated with neonatal vitamin D level (r=0.914, P<0.001). When the receiver operating characteristic curve for maternal 25(OH)D level was used to predict neonatal vitamin D deficiency (≤15 ng/mL), the area under the curve was 0.962 (95%CI: 0.930-0.994; P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of maternal serum 25(OH)D level≤27.55 ng/mL to predict neonatal vitamin D deficiency were 97.2% and 80.3%, respectively., Conclusions: Neonatal vitamin D level is positively correlated with maternal vitamin D level. Maternal vitamin D level can help to predict neonatal vitamin D deficiency.

The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of three irrigation methods, i.e., subsurface drip irrigation with a tank system (SDI) , plastic film mulched-drip irrigation (MDI), and conventional drip irrigation (DI) on the regulation between root and crown function of Vitis vinifera 'Cabernet Sauvignon' seedlings. The results showed that both the SDI and MDI systems promoted the growth of the grape seedlings compared with DI, with the SDI system promoting the root growth, and MDI system promoting the aboveground growth. Root area, root volume, and root activity and SOD enzyme activity in the SDI treatment were greater than those of MDI or DI treatment in the 20-60 cm soil layer. SDI treatment increased root penetration and physiological activity. Symptoms of drought stress appeared earlier in DI treatment than in either MDI or SDI treatment in the same watering schedule. Net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (g(s)) of leaves were higher in SDI and MDI treatments than in DI treatment. ΦPS II and qP at 12:00-14:00 were lower in the MDI treatment than in SDI treatment at 7 d after irrigation, suggesting that the degree of photoinhibition in the fluorescence process in MDI treatment was more than that in SDI treatment. The high biomass and physiological activity of roots in the 20-40 cm depth could increase both of total plant biomass and aboveground biomass. The regulation between root and crown function was better in SDI treatment than in MDI and DI treatments. Therefore, SDI could be used as an alternative technique of water-saving irrigation practices.

Aim: To describe a three-dimensional model (3DM) to accurately reconstruct anatomic relationships of centrally located hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs)., Methods: From March 2013 to July 2014, reconstructions and visual simulations of centrally located HCCs were performed in 39 patients using a 3D subject-based computed tomography (CT) model with custom-developed software. CT images were used for the 3D reconstruction of Couinaud's pedicles and hepatic veins, and the calculation of corresponding tumor territories and hepatic segments was performed using Yorktal DMIT software. The respective volume, surgical margin, and simulated virtual resection of tumors were also estimated by this model preoperatively. All patients were treated surgically and the results were retrospectively assessed. Clinical characteristics, imaging data, procedure variables, pathologic features, and postoperative data were recorded and compared to determine the reliability of the model., Results: 3D reconstruction allowed stereoscopic identification of the spatial relationships between physiologic and pathologic structures, and offered quantifiable liver resection proposals based on individualized liver anatomy. The predicted values were consistent with the actual values for tumor mass volume (82.4 ± 109.1 mL vs 84.1 ± 108.9 mL, P = 0.910), surgical margin (10.1 ± 6.2 mm vs 9.1 ± 5.9 mm, P = 0.488), and maximum tumor diameter (4.61 ± 2.16 cm vs 4.53 ± 2.14 cm, P = 0.871). In addition, the number and extent of portal venous ramifications, as well as their relation to hepatic veins, were visualized. Preoperative planning based on simulated resection facilitated complete resection of large tumors located in the confluence of major vessels. And most of the predicted data were correlated with intraoperative findings., Conclusion: This 3DM provides quantitative morphometry of tumor masses and a stereo-relationship with adjacent structures, thus providing a promising technique for the management of centrally located HCCs.

Objective: To assess the clinical application value of iodine metabolism biomarkers in assessing iodine nutrition status in surgically treated patients with thyroid disease., Methods: Blood,morning urine and 24-hour urine samples were collected in 31 healthy volunteers and in 30 surgically treated patients with thyroid disease before and after surgery. Iodine concentration was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The iodine metabolism biomarkers including serum iodine (SI), morning urine iodine(UI), morning urine iodine/urine creatinine ratio (UI/UCr), 24-hour urine iodine (24 h UI), and 24-hour urine iodine excretion (24 h UIE) were evaluated in these two groups. In addition, the validation coincidence rate of iodine metabolism biomarkers in healthy volunteers to different reference ranges including World Health Organization, Mayo Clinic, and Quest Diagnostics were calculated., Results: The UI/UCr ratio of pre-operative thyroid disease patients was significantly lower than that of healthy volunteers (P<0.05), while the other biomarkers showed no significant differences (all P>0.05) between these two groups. The SI, UI ,and 24 h UI in postoperative thyroid disease patients were significantly higher than those of the pre-operative patients (all P<0.05). Though the medians of all biomarkers in healthy volunteers were within the reference ranges,only the validation coincidence rates of SI, UI, and UI/UCr in the 41-70-year populations were over than 90% according to Mayo Clinic; furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve about UI/UCr ratio (0.737) was the biggest within the iodine metabolism biomarkers., Conclusion: The UI/UCr ratio may be used for iodine nutrition evaluation in surgically treated patients with thyroid disease.

Measuring the glucose concentrations in the interstitial fluid is currently the main method to achieve the continuous blood glucose monitoring. The MIR-ATR(Mid-infrared, Attenuated Total Reflection)Spectroscopy has prominent advantage on the analysis of small biological molecule for composition information like the glucose, but it is still an unresolved problem that how to detect the subcutaneous glucose concentration by using the MIR-ATR Spectroscopy. In the present paper, we carry out the experiment based on MIR-ATR for the detection of subcutaneous glucose information on both the natural state and the penetration state based on the theoryanalysis of MIR penetration depth. Firstly, collect spectral data of the subcutaneous glucose concentration of human finger on the natural state were collected as the light shined the skin directly, and it was discussed whether the MIR can penetrate the skin to get the information of subcutaneous glucose. On this basis, collect spectral data of the subcutaneous glucose concentration of human finger at the penetration state were collected when the Interstitial fluid is permeated to the surface layer by using low-frequency ultrasound and vacuum, then it analyzed that whether it can detect the glucose-specific information or not. As the two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy has high resolution and good versatility, it is widely used to analyze the inter-molecular reaction and judge the absorption peaks information in many fields including the MIR spectroscopy field, so we choose the Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy to analyze the information of subcutaneous glucose concentration at the natural state and the penetration state. The experiment result shows that the MIR-ATR spectroscopy can't be applied in the detection of subcutaneous glucose concentrationdirectly, and it is a promising direction to make the Interstitial fluid permeated to the surface layer by the physical methods or chemical methods.

The authors proposed a method of control and stabilization for laser emission wavelengths and power, and presented the mid-infrared wavelength tunable laser with broad emission spectrum band of 9.19-9.77 microm, half wave width of 4 cm(-1), spectral resolution of 2.7 x 10(4) and max power of 800 mW with fluctuation < 0.8% in the present paper. The tunable laser was employed as the light source in combination with ATR sensor for glucose measurement in PBS solution. In our experiments, absorbance at the five laser emission wavelengths, including 1 081, 1 076, 1 051, 1 041 and 1 037 cm(-1) in the 9R and 9P band of the laser emission spectrum, all correlates well with the glucose concentration (R2 > 0.99, SD < 0.0004, P < 0.000 1). Especially, the sensitivity of this laser spectroscopy system is about 4 times as high as that of traditional FTIR spectrometer.

The type and activity of protein kinase induced and activated by heat stress were studied in leaves of "Jingxiu" grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Jingxiu). The results showed that a 52-kD protein kinase was evidently activated by heat stress in 10 to 60 min. Myelin basic protein (MBP) embedded in gel could be phosphorylated by the 52 kD protein kinase. The phosphorylating activity of this kinase was determined by using MBP as the substrate and measuring the products of phosphorylation by autoradiography. The 52 kD protein kinase could not affect histone-III embedded as the substrate in gel and the products of phosphorylation by autoradiography was not displayed. High phosphorylation activity of this protein kinase was found with MBP substrate in solution reaction system. After 60 min heat stress, the activity of this protein kinase reached its maximum value, and then declined rapidly. Compared with control, the activity of protein kinase had no difference when histone-III was used as substrate in reaction system. The activity of this protein kinase was not enhanced by Ca(2+), showing that it was not Ca(2+)-dependent. The tyrosine-specific protein phosphatase (YOP) could significantly inactivate the phosphorylation activity of protein kinase. All results demonstrate that the 52 kD protein kinase activated by heat stress belong to the MAPK family.