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Benzophenone (BP)-type ultraviolet (UV) filters are estrogenic chemicals used extensively in sunscreen products, leading to concerns over human exposure. To assess exposure to BP derivatives in sunscreens, we tested 14 BP UV filters in 50 products representing 44 brands marketed in the United States in 2021, finding BP, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BP-3 or oxybenzone), 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BP-8), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-methylbenzophenone (BP-10), 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone (2,3,4-OH-BP), and 4-methylbenzophenone (4-Me-BP) in ≥70% of the samples. The geometric mean (GM) concentration of the sum of these BPs (∑

BackgroundIntussusception can occur at any age and is common in children but less common in adults. In addition, adult intussusception differs from intussusception in children with respect to etiology and clinical presentation, which makes the diagnosis difficult. MethodsThis retrospective analysis assessed the clinical manifestations, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of adult intussusception in 51 adult patients at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University from January 2010 to December 2020.ResultsThe mean age of the cohort was 54.43±18.21 years, and 42 patients were diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography (CT). Among them, 76.5% (39/51) had abdominal pain, 11.8% (6/51) had blood in stool, and 5.9% (3/51) had a palpable abdominal mass. Of these, 62.7% had tumors: malignant accounted for 39.2% (20/51) and benign accounted for 23.5% (12/51). CT is the preferred imaging method with a sensitivity of 92.2%, while colonoscopy provides a complementary diagnosis in patients involving the colon. All patients underwent surgical treatment, including 21.6% (11/51) laparoscopic surgery, 74.5% (38/51) open surgery, and 5.9% (3/51) intussusception reduction during the operation. The average operation time of the open group was 133.27±43.75 min and the average hospital stay was 16.24±12.55 days, while the average operation time of the laparoscopic group was 140.50±46.15 mins, and the average hospital stay was 16.60±16.98 days (P>0.05).ConclusionThe most common cause of adult intussusception is underlying pathological change. CT is the preferred method for adult intussusception diagnosis, and laparoscopic surgery is the preferred treatment for adult intussusception.

Introduction Reliability in the use of placentome (including placenta, umbilical cord, and cord blood) biomarkers requires an understanding of their distributions. Here we aim to develop a simple and proper placenta sampling scheme, and to evaluate the placental distributions of biomarkers. Methods We developed a continuous cooling chain protocol off delivery room and cryo-subsampling method for placenta sampling. The levels of thyroid hormones (THs), elements, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), monoamines, and vitamin E were measured using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, HPLC-ICP-MS, HPLC-EcD, and HRGC-HRMS, respectively. The distributions of biomarkers were assessed. Results In human placentome, l -thyroxine (T4), Cd, Se, Zn, Cu, Fe, Ca, K, Mg, α-tocopherol, β-tocopherol, and β-tocotrienol levels were higher in placenta than in umbilical cord, while Pb and Mn were concentrated in human cord. In porcine placentome, T4, 3,3′,5′-triiodo- l -thyronine (rT3), 3,3′-diiodo- l -thyronine, Cd, Pb, Zn, K, and Al levels were higher in the cord. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was l -thyronine, rT3, α-tocopherol, and 7 elements in human basal plate, indicating low reliability. rT3, Cd, Zn, Mn, and Cu were significantly concentrated in the central region in human placenta, while higher levels of As, Cd, Cr, and Al were found in the periphery region in porcine placenta. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) showed moderate reliability (ICC: 0.40–0.98) except PCB-81, -126, and BDE-208, while polychlorinated dibenzo-p-doixins/furans (PCDD/Fs) showed poor reliability (ICC: 0.07–0.31). Discussion These results highlight the complexity of placenta sampling. This study provides a novel and simple sampling approach in investigating placental exposomics.

The extensive use of herbicides, such as glyphosate and glufosinate, in crop production during recent decades has raised concerns about human exposure. Nevertheless, analysis of trace levels of these herbicides in human biospecimens has been challenging. Here, we describe a method for the determination of urinary glyphosate, its degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and glufosinate using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The method was optimized using isotopically labelled internal standards (13C2, 15N-glyphosate, 13C, 15N, D2-AMPA, and D3-glufosinate) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) with cation-exchange and anion-exchange cartridges. The method provides excellent chromatographic retention, resolution and peak shape of target analytes without the need for strong acidic mobile phases and derivatization steps. The instrument linearity was in the range of 0.1–100 ng/mL, with R > 0.99 in the matrix for all analytes. The method detection limits (MDLs) and the method quantification limits (MQLs) were in the ranges of 0.12 (AMPA and glufosinate)–0.14 (glyphosate) ng/mL and 0.40 (AMPA)–0.48 (glyphosate) ng/mL, respectively. The recoveries of analytes spiked into urine matrix ranged from 79.1% to 119%, with coefficients of variation (CVs) of 4–10%. Repeated analysis of samples for over 2 weeks showed intra-day and inter-day analytical variations of 3.13–10.8% and 5.93–12.9%, respectively. The matrix effects for glyphosate, AMPA, and glufosinate spiked into urine matrix averaged −14.4%, 13.2%, and 22.2%, respectively. The method was further validated through the analysis of external quality assurance proficiency test (PT) urine samples. The method offers optimal sensitivity, accuracy, and precision for the urine-based assessment of human exposure to glyphosate, AMPA, and glufosinate.

Benzalkyldimethylammonium (or benzalkonium; BACs), alkyltrimethylammonium (ATMACs), and dialkyldimethylammonium compounds (DDACs) have been widely used for over six decades as disinfectants, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we describe methods for the determination of 7 BACs, 6 ATMACs, 6 DDACs, 8 BAC metabolites, and the structurally similar quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) herbicides diquat, paraquat, and difenzoquat in human serum and urine using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The methods were optimized using isotopically labelled internal standards and solid-phase extraction with weak cation-exchange cartridges. We separated diquat and paraquat chromatographically using a mixed-mode LC column, and BACs, ATMACs, DDACs, difenzoquat, and BAC metabolites using reversed-phase (C8 and C18) LC columns. Method limits of detection (MLODs) and quantification (MLOQs) were 0.002-0.42 and 0.006-1.40 ng/mL, respectively. Recoveries of all analytes fortified at 1, 5, and 20 ng/mL concentrations in serum and urine matrices were 61-129%, with standard deviations of 0-20%. Repeated analysis of similarly fortified serum and urine samples yielded intra-day and inter-day variations of 0.22-17.4% and 0.35-17.3%, respectively. Matrix effects for analytes spiked into serum and urine matrices ranged from -27% to 15.4%. Analysis of real urine and serum samples revealed the presence of several QACs in human serum. Although no parent BACs were found in urine, we detected, for the first time, several ω-hydroxy and ω-carboxylic acid metabolites of BACs at average concentrations in the range of 0.05-0.35 ng/mL. The developed method is suitable for application in large-scale biomonitoring of human exposure to QACs and their metabolites in human serum and urine.

3-iodothyronamine (3-T

The transplacental passage of thyroid hormones (THs) is of great significance since the maternal THs are vitally important in ensuring the normal fetal development. In this paper, we determined the concentrations of seven THs, viz. L-thyroxine (T4), 3,3′,5-triiodo- l -thyronine (T3), 3,3′,5′-triiodo- l -thyronine (rT3), 3,3′-diiodo- l -thyronine (T2), 3,5-diiodo- l -thyronine (rT2), 3-iodo- l -thyronine (T1) and 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM), in placenta using isotope dilution liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We optimized the method using isotopically labeled quantification standards (13C6-T4, 13C6-T3, 13C6-rT3 and 13C6-T2) and recovery standard (13C12-T4) in combination with solid-liquid extraction, liquid–liquid extraction and solid phase extraction. The linearity was obtained in the range of 0.5–150 pg uL−1 with R2 values >0.99. The method detection limits (MDLs) ranged from 0.01 ng g−1 to 0.2 ng g−1, while the method quantification limits (MQLs) were between 0.04 ng g−1 and 0.7 ng g−1. The spike-recoveries for THs (except for T1 and T1AM) were in the range of 81.0%–112%, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.5–6.2%. The intra-day CVs and inter-day CVs were 0.5%–10.3% and 1.19%–8.88%, respectively. Concentrations of the THs were 22.9–35.0 ng g−1 T4, 0.32–0.46 ng g−1 T3, 2.86–3.69 ng g−1 rT3, 0.16–0.26 ng g−1 T2, and

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are ubiquitous contaminants with adverse health effects in the ecosystem. One of such effects is endocrine disruption in humans and wildlife even at background exposure concentrations. This study assessed maternal breastmilk concentrations of POPs; brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs), and the potential health risks posed to the nursing infants. We also evaluated the association of these POPs with total 3,3′,5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), L-thyroxine (T4), and 3,3′,5′-triiodo-L-thyronine (rT3) levels measured in human breast milk. Thirty breastmilk samples were collected from Kampala, Uganda between August and December 2018. Hexabromobenzene was not detected while the maximum level of 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexabrombiphenyl was 64.7 pg/g lw. The median levels of total indicator PCBs, PBDEs, dioxin-like PCBs, and PCDD/Fs in the samples were 159 pg/g lw, 511 pg/g lw, 1.16 pg TEQ/g lw, and 0.4 pg TEQ/g lw, respectively. These levels were lower than those reported in other countries. Owing to their bio accumulative nature, PCBs −81, −169, and ∑PCDD/Fs increased with increase in maternal age. Estimated dietary intakes for dioxin-like PCBs and PCDD/Fs were lower than those reported elsewhere but were higher than the WHO tolerable daily intakes suggesting potential health risks to nursing infants. In adjusted single pollutant models, PCB-126, PCB-169, and ∑PCBTEQ were negatively associated with T3, while 1,2,3,4,5,7,8-HpCDF was positively associated with rT3. Although these associations did not persist in multipollutant models, our findings suggest potential thyroid hormone disruption by POPs in mothers. This may reduce the levels of thyroid hormones transferred from the mother to the neonates and, hence, adversely influence infant growth. A temporal study with a bigger sample size is required to corroborate these findings.

3-iodothyronamine (3-T1AM) has been suggested as a novel chemical messenger and potent trace amine-associated receptor 1 ligand in the CNS that occurs naturally as endogenous metabolite of the thyroid hormones. Discrepancies and variations in 3-T1AM plasma and tissue concentrations have nonetheless caused controversy regarding the existence and biological role of 3-T1AM. These discussions are at least partially based on potential analytical artefacts caused by differential decay kinetics of 3-T1AM and the widely used deuterated quantification standard D4-T1AM. Here, we report a novel LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of 3-T1AM in biological specimens using stable isotope dilution with 13C6-T1AM, a new internal standard that showed pharmacodynamic properties comparable to endogenous 3-T1AM. The method detection limit (MDL) and method quantification limit (MQL) of 3-T1AM were 0.04 and 0.09 ng/g, respectively. The spike-recoveries of 3-T1AM were between 85.4% and 94.3%, with a coefficient of variation of 3.7–5.8%. The intra-day and inter-day variations of 3-T1AM were 8.45–11.2% and 3.58–5.73%, respectively. Endogenous 3-T1AM liver values in C57BL/6J mice were 2.20 ± 0.49 pmol/g with a detection frequency of 50%. Higher liver 3-T1AM values were found when C57BL/6J mice were treated with N-acetyl-3-iodothyronamine or O-acetyl-3-iodothyronamine. Overall, our new stable isotope dilution LC-MS/MS method improves both the sensitivity and selectivity compared with existing methods. The concomitant possibility to quantify additional thyroid hormones such as thyroxine, 3,5,3′-triiodo-L-thyronine, 3,3′,5′-triiodo-L-thyronine, 3,3′-diiodo-L-thyronine, and 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine further adds to the value of our novel method in exploring the natural occurrence and fate of 3-T1AM in biological tissues and fluids.

Biotransformation of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) can form potentially more toxic metabolites. However, the responsible cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoform(s) and phase II metabolism have not been studied in humans. Here, we characterized the in vitro metabolism of 8:2 FTOH by recombinant human CYPs, human liver microsomes, and human liver cytosol. The results showed that among the 11 isoforms investigated, CYP2C19 was the only enzyme capable of catalyzing 8:2 FTOH with Km and Vmax values of 18.8 μM and 8.52 pmol min−1 pmol−1 P450, respectively. The phase I metabolite was identified as 8:2 fluorotelomer aldehyde (8:2 FTAL). HLMs also catalyzed 8:2 FTOH transformation, with the Vmax and intrinsic clearance (CLint) values similar to those of CYP2C19 after the protein content is taken into account. Molecular docking showed that the hydroxyl group of 8:2 FTOH accesses the heme iron-oxo of CYP2C19 in an energetically favored orientation. 8:2 FTOH was also transformed by phase II enzymes to form O-glucuronide and O-sulfate conjugates. The CLint values follow the order of sulfation > oxidation > glucuronidation, suggesting that conjugation is the major metabolic pathway, which explains the low yield of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFCAs). These results provide new insight into fluorotelomer alcohol biotransformation and indirect human exposure to PFCAs.

Background: Few prospective studies have examined the preventive role of fruit and vegetable intake against cancer in Asian populations. Objective: This prospective study evaluated the associations between total fruit intake, total vegetable intake, and total fruit and vegetable intake and total cancer incidence and mortality. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 14,198 men 40–59 y of age enrolled in the Seoul Male Cohort Study from 1991 to 1993. Fruit and vegetable intakes were assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire. We used Cox proportional hazard regression models to compute RR ratios and 95% CIs. Results: During the follow-up period from 1993 to 2008, 1343 men were diagnosed with cancer, and 507 died of cancer. Total vegetable intake was linearly associated with cancer incidence but was nonlinearly associated with cancer mortality; by comparing $500 g/d with

Energy consumption is an open issue in research field of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH) protocol is the most additional routing protocol in WSNs. In LEACH, Cluster Head (CH) is selected randomly, not considering any parameter such as node energy, distance, which causes shortening its lifetime while energy consumption is unbalanced in WSNs. In this paper, it proposes a new LEACH-based protocol, energy consumption balance LEACH protocol. Firstly, all nodes are grouped based on their locations, and a CH is elected in every group, which ensures CHs even distribution in the network area. And an important factor selecting CHs, node energy is considered, which further energy consumption in WSNs. The results of simulation show that ECB-LEACH can increase energy efficiency and prolong the network lifetime.

In the applications based on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) , localization is one of the most fundamental and important technologies if the accurate location information cant be determined, these application cant be accomplished. Then main idea in localization algorithms is that every unknown node in WSN can localize itself by position information from the landmarks or other nodes. in the last years localization is still a hot field and some new algorithms are proposed. In this paper, the localization algorithms are classified on the basis of the way to get position information, and a simple analysis is present. the paper are ended by discussing some open issues.

In the applications of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), the factor affecting the performance is energy consumption. In all operations in the WSN, Data transmission consumes a lot of energy because of its frequency. LEACH is proposed to reduce transmission distance. Cluster Head (CH) is selected randomly without any parameter, so CHs distribution is uneven and the distance between some nodes and their connected nodes is remote, which causes shortening system lifetime. In this paper, we proposed a new LEACH-based algorithm. The main purpose of new algorithm is to make CHs distribution even. In the improved algorithm, a node connects to a CH or acts as a temp CH based on the distance to the closest CH. The results of simulation show that improved LEACH algorithm increases energy efficiency and prolongs the network lifetime.

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) play more and more important role in all kinds of applications. Because of its characteristics, energy consumption is an open issue in research field. In LEACH Cluster Head (CH) is selected randomly without any parameter, such as node energy, distance. There exists a probability that energy consumption is unbalanced in WSN, which causes shortening its lifetime. In this paper, we proposed a new LEACH-based protocol, Energy Weight LEACH (EW-LEACH). The main purpose of EW-LEACH is to provide important parameters, node energy, to determine the CH selection strategy. Node energy acts as a weight to alter the probability that a node becomes CH. The results of simulation show that EW-LEACH increases energy efficiency and prolong the network lifetime.

In recent years, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been promising approaches for a variety of application monitoring and capturing the required data from the environment. Due to the restricted communication range and high density of sensor nodes, routing in WSNs has been considered an important field of research over the past decade. The most popular protocol for clustering in WSNs is Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH) which is based on adaptive clustering technique. The factors affecting LEACH efficiency include Cluster Head (CH), topology structure and routing algorithm. This paper provides in the past years the taxonomy of various clustering and routing techniques based on LEACH in WSNs. The paper highlights the primary principle of each improved protocol and emphasize on their advantages and disadvantages compared to the LEACH.

This study was designed to assess the clinical effect of bone marrow mononuclear cells including mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).One hundred patients were divided into a study (n=60) or a control group (n=40). Bone marrow mononuclear cells from the same patient were injected to the perihemorrhage area in the base ganglia through an intracranial drainage tube 5.9 days after ICH. National Institute Stroke Scale (NIHSSS) and Barthel index was used to assess neurologic impairment and daily activities, respectively, before and 6 months after intervention.Six months after implantation, the NIHSS score in the study group was lower than in the control group (10.09 ± 8.86 vs 14.35 ± 10.14, P0.01), whereas the Barthel scores were higher (57.39 ± 23.51 vs 46.90 ± 20.29, P0.01). Neurological and functional improvement was observed in 52 (86.7%) of the study group patients, and in 17 (42.5%) of the control group patients (P=0.001). No allergic or other adverse effects were observed in the study group.Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell implantation reduced neurological impairment and improved activities of daily living in a selected group of ICH patients. Further studies are required to ascertain the long-term safety and efficacy of this treatment.

The intelligent substation realizes the digitization of information in the whole substation and thus time synchronization system becomes more and more important. This paper introduces time synchronization technology of intelligent substation and puts forward the principles for designing intelligent substation time synchronization system. According to some relay protection malfunction examples caused by time synchronization system fault, analyze the influence of time synchronization system fault to relay protection and correspondingly put forward some improving measures.

The reform of credit system is an important measure to promote the teaching reform in colleges and universities in China. It is a key link how to carry out curriculum setting in the credit system reform in colleges and universities. Therefore, we must break the original training mode, optimize the current curriculum system and work out the innovation curriculum system based on the credit system. In this paper, we implement the educational idea of “student-oriented”, combined with the aviation characteristics of our school, to carry out the holistic optimization of the curriculum system of communication engineering, and develop a "platform + module" innovation curriculum system based on credit system with aviation characteristics, which promotes the construction of diversification training mode in accordance with students’ aptitude.

To investigate the short-term effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) on patients with severe traumatic brain injury.One hundred and fifty-nine patients with severe traumatic brain injury were randomly divided into EPO (n=79) and control group (n=80). EPO group was treated with subcutaneous injection of EPO (100 units/kg) on day 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 following the brain injury. Glasgow outcome scores (GOS) were used to evaluate the outcomes three months after the treatment. Serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) and S-100β protein were measured within the first three months after treatment.In the end, 146 patients (75 of the EPO group and 71 of the control group) completed the trial. Three months after the treatment, Good recovery was found in 33.3% of the EPO and 12.6% of the control group patients (p0.05). Serum NSE and S-100β protein were decreased gradually in both groups after treatment, but their levels in the EPO group were lower than that of control group (p0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in blood pressure, hemoglobin levels, pneumonia, sepsis or thromboembolic events between the two groups three months after the treatment (p0.05).Treatment with five doses of recombinant human erythropoietin is associated with an improved functional recovery in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. This treatment does not seem to increase the risk of thromboembolic events or severe infections.

This study evaluated cancer risk for adult residents near Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) in Korea through a valid prospective cohort study during 1992-2010. The study cohort was composed of 11,367 adults living within a five km radius from the NPPs for the exposed and 24,809 adults for the non-exposed or reference cohort set at two different levels of proximity; 5-30 km radius and more than 30 km radius away from NPPs. In 303,542.5 person-years of follow-up, a total of 2,298 cancer cases of all sites, or 1,377 radio-inducible cancers diagnosed during 1992-2008 were ascertained. Multiple adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. There were no epidemiological evidence for increased risk of cancer due to radiation from NPPs. Radiological study results or surveillance data of radiation doses around NPPs could be well documented for risk estimation of radio-inducible cancers, instead of epidemiological study results of the long-time required. Continuous surveillance of quantitative measures of dose levels around NPPs and radiation exposures to the residents is warranted.

The paper shows the comparison of energy and exergy analysis of thermal power plants based on advanced steam parameters in China climatic conditions. The research contains coal-based thermal power plants using sub-critical, super-critical, and ultra-supercritical steam conditions. The design configurations of 500 MW unit size were considered. The research contains the effect of condenser pressure on plant and exergy efficiency. The effect of high grade coal on performance parameters as compared to typical China low grade coal was also studied. The major exergy loss took place in coal combustion followed by the steam generator. Due to condenser pressure limitation, the maximum possible overall energy efficiency was found to be about 44.4% with the ultra-supercritical power plant. Installing coal-based thermal power plants based on advanced steam parameters in China will be a prospective option aiding energy self-sufficiency.

This paper studies the characteristics of both the dynamic heat and mass transfer of liquid nitrogen thin film which have vital significance to improve heat transfer efficiency and optimize the cryogenic heat exchanger. Liquid nitrogen laminar film flows in the brazed cryogenic heat exchanger with 2.3mm distance between plates. Relationship between the dimensionless thickness and the coefficient of heat convection of liquid nitrogen film is derived. And the impact of rate of vapor content, intensity of interfacial convection heat transfer and Reynolds numbers are calculated and analyzed.

The combined heat and power plant furnish heat and electric, which are two different quality energy. And benefit returns to electric, benefit returns to heat and their trade off compose three methods to share the cost of the combined heat and power plant. Theory of energy grade is the thermodynamic viewpoint, which is not only considering the energy conservation, but also the energy matching. It takes into account all the quality and quantity of the utilized energy. In the present article, theory of energy grade is applied to analyze the heat usage of heat consumer. That takes the price of electric as basis. This method simplifies the calculation, has the reasonable theory foundation and meets the practice condition. It also reflects the idea of using energy according to the quality and high quality, high price

The power plant boiler mainly constitutes of pipelines for the main steam, hot sections of the reheated steam, cold sections of the reheated steam and the high pressure feed water. Material selection of the four main pipelines will have a marked effect on the security and economy of the power plant operation. The main steam pressure of the 1000MW ultra supercritical unit in Tianjin SDIC Jinneng Electric Power CO.LTD is 27.56MPa, and the main steam temperature is 605°C. It puts forward the high mechanical performance and high temperature performance of the four main pipelines. The thermal stress, coefficient of the heat expansion, operation reliability and the economy, and the compositions of the four main pipelines material selection should be taken into account when demonstration is processed.

Infrared weak small target detection is one of the key technologies in the early infrared imaging guidance and wide-field view surveillance system. In the complex and low signal-to-noise ratio background, the target has only a few pixels. There is no shape and texture information to use. It brings great difficulties to the infrared weak small target detection. In this paper, we sum up the research status of infrared weak small target detection method, and analyze the key problems of infrared weak small targets detection.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between plasma cortisol levels and stress ulcer following acute severe head injury. Patients and Methods: The plasma cortisol levels were prospectively measured by radioimmunoassay in 68 patients following acute head injury. The diagnosis of stress ulcer was based on clinical evidence and was confirmed by endoscopic examination. Results: Patients with stress ulcer and gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 30, 44.1%) were older than those without stress ulcer(38.2 ± 7.9 vs. 28.3 ± 9.7 years, p < 0.01). The combined rate of poor recovery and death in the stress ulcer patients (70.0%) was significantly higher than in the nonulcer patients (42.1%, p = 0.02). On each of the first 3 days following the head injury, the average plasma cortisol levels in the stress ulcer patients were higher than in the nonulcer patients (p < 0.01). Univariate analysis showed a positive relationship between plasma cortisol on admission and stress ulcer (r = 0.329, p = 0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma cortisol levels on admission (OR = 2.326, 95% CI = 1.982–2.466) and age (OR = 1.064, 95% CI = 0.861–1.219) were independent predictors of stress ulcer. Conclusions: The data showed that acute severe head injury was associated with a significant increase in plasma cortisol. Plasma levels of cortisol and age were independent predictors of stress ulcer following acute head injury.

Summary Objectives The seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Northeastern Asia is unknown. This study was conducted to gain insight into the epidemiology of HEV that has been obscure in Northeastern China, South Korea and Japan. Methods A total of 1500 samples of serum were collected (300 each) from 5 groups of inhabitants over 40 years of age (Korean Chinese, indigenous Chinese, South Koreans, Koreans living in Japan, and indigenous Japanese) and screened for antibodies to HEV by the antigen–antibody–antigen sandwich Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay system. Results The positivity for HEV antibodies was 50.7% (95%CI: 45.0–56.3) in Korean Chinese, 47.7% (95%CI: 42.1–53.3) in indigenous Chinese, 34% (95%CI: 28.9–39.5) in South Koreans, 14.3% (95%CI: 10.8–18.8) in Koreans living in Japan, and 6.0% (95%CI: 3.8–9.3) in indigenous Japanese. Conclusions This result emphasizes that HEV is endemic in Northeastern Asia and tends to accumulate in developing countries. Further studies are needed to elucidate the genotype of HEV circulating in these areas and its transmission route—water-borne outbreaks, smaller outbreaks or sporadic forms attributed to zoonosis—with reference to past epidemics, food culture, and sanitary conditions.

Recently rapid environmental changes due to desertification and industrialization in China make a threat to Korea, especially during Asian Dust Event (ADE). This study was aimed to compare symptoms and behaviors related to ADE between Korea and China. We conducted questionnaires on self-reported symptoms and behaviors before and during ADE. Korean and Chinese subjects were grouped into children, adults, and elderly by nation (n