[Evaluation on the confidence of refusing unprotected sex behavior and related factors among college students in Zhejiang province]

Objective: To understand the confidence-related factors of refusing unprotected sex behavior among college students in Zhejiang province. Methods: Stratified cluster random sampling method was conducted among college students from 13 colleges and universities in Zhejiang province, from October to November, 2018. A total of 3 718 students who self-reported "ever having had sexual contacts" were enrolled. Chi-square test was used to compare the confidence of rejecting unprotected sex under different demographic characteristics, sexual attitude/behaviors and different intervention approaches. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors. Results: A total of 3 718 college students were involved in this study with average age as (20.17±1.38) years old and 70.5% (2 620/3 718) were male. The proportions of having confidence to refuse unprotected sex behavior were 74.9% (1 963/2 620) of male and 77.9% (896/1 098) of female students, respectively. According to the results from multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors that related to the confidence of refusing unprotected sex behavior in male students would include, did not accept casual sex behavior (compared with accepted students, OR=2.247, 95%CI: 1.828-2.762), did not accept homosexual behavior (compared with accepted students, OR=1.810, 95%CI: 1.302- 2.516), having casual sex behavior in the past one year (compared with having no sex behavior, OR=1.345, 95%CI: 1.051-1.721), aware of the availability of HIV self-test reagents service in college (compared with did not knew, OR=1.381, 95%CI: 1.011-1.887), having taken the HIV infection risk self-assessment in college (compared with did not take, OR=1.707, 95%CI: 1.374-2.121). In female students, the factors would include: being urban resident (compared with rural residence, OR=1.816, 95%CI: 1.225-2.693), 21 years old or above (compared with 20 years old or below, OR=1.469, 95%CI: 1.075-2.007), having taken the HIV infection risk self-assessment in college (compared with did not take, OR=1.597, 95%CI: 1.093-2.333), etc. Conclusions: Both male and female college students had higher confidence in refusing unprotected sex behavior. For male students, refusing casual or homosexual contacts, having casual sex in the recent year, knowing HIV self-test reagents service and having had HIV-related risk self-assessment in college as related factors. However, for female students; city residence, 21 years old and above, and having a HIV infection risk self- assessment in college appeared as related factors. Sexual health education should be strengthened to reduce unprotective sex behavior and to promote HIV infection risk self-assessment among the college students.

Mechanical writing of in-plane ferroelectric vortices by tip-force and their coupled chirality

Recent experiments have demonstrated the existence of vortex or flux-closure domains in ferroelectric nanostructures, which are attractive to develop high-density data storage and novel configurable electronic devices. However, it remains challenging to stabilize in-plane vortex or flux-closure domains in ferroelectric film for the absence of a lateral geometry confinement. Based on a 3D phase field model, here we show that stabilization of isolated or interacting in-plane vortices in ferroelectric film can be achieved via applying a mechanical tip-force. The formation of such dipole vortices is caused by a conjoint effect of the tip-force-induced depolarization effect and in-plane strain. The effects of factors like film thickness, misfit strain, tip force and temperature on the vortex formation are systematically revealed and summarized as phase diagrams. The interaction between tip-induced vortices is also investigated. It is found that as the two tips get closer than the critical distance, the two initially isolated vortices become coupled, with identical or opposite chirality, depending on the distance between the two tips. A maximum data storage density of isolated in-plane vortices in ferroelectric thin film is estimated to be ~1 Tb in^-2. Our work thus demonstrates a mechanical strategy to stabilize dipole vortices, and provides a comprehensive insight into the characteristics of ferroelectric film under a mechanical tip force.

[A clinical performance study of modified CT angiography in detecting bronchial artery-pulmonary artery fistula]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of modified computed tomography angiography(CTA) in detecting bronchial artery-pulmonary artery fistula(BPF). Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on 246 patients with hemoptysis admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from July 2017 to December 2018, who underwent modified CTA and DSA examination at the same time. CT was performed with Toshiba Aquilion one 320 row 640-slice spiral CT scanner. All modified CTA images were read blindly by two radiologists above the attending doctors. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the modified CTA in diagnosing BPF were calculated with the DSA results as the reference,and the consistency of the two tests was analyzed. Results: DSA detected 186 cases of positive and 60 cases of negative, modified CTA detected 160 cases of positive and 86 cases of negative. The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of modified CTA for BPF diagnosis was 85.5%(159/186),98.3%(59/60), 88.6%(218/246) respectively, and they were with high consistency with DSA examination results (kappa=0.73,P<0.01). Conclusion: Modified CTA has high diagnostic specificity for BPF,which can be used as the preferred method for non-invasive screening of suspected BPF patients.

[Analysis on the transmission characteristics of newly reported human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases based on the molecular transmission network in Huzhou, Zhejiang, 2017]

Objective: Using field epidemiological investigation and molecular analysis to construct the molecular transmission network of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases (HIV/AIDS) newly diagnosed in Huzhou in 2017, Zhejiang Province. Methods: A total of 160 participants were obtained through a web-based system from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) with the features of diagnosed in Huzhou in 2017 who also had been collected samples for the first follow-up. The basic information of demographic characteristics and risk factors was extracted from the website. RNA was extracted from plasma samples of untreated cases, followed by RT-PCR and nest-PCR for pol gene amplification, sequencing. Phylogenetic tree was constructed by MEGA software for HIV gene subtyping. TN93 model was used for calculating the distance between two sequences. Cytoscape software was used for drawing molecular transmission network. And then an epidemiological survey was conducted to cases in the primary cluster. Results: A total of 138 sequenced individuals (86.3%) were acquired from 160 individuals. Among which, 123 (89.1%) were male. The highest proportion of subtype was CRF07_BC (60, 43.5%), followed by CRF01_AE (46, 33.3%), and with four cases of Unique Recombinant Form (URF, CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC) and one case of URF (subtype B and C). A total of 18 molecular clusters included 56 individuals (40.6%) were found in the transmission network under the optimal genetic distance threshold (1.0%). The clustering proportion of CRF07_BC (66.1%, 37 cases) was higher than that of CRF01_AE. There were 9 clusters formed among CRF07_BC, including 37 cases (accounting for 61.7%, 37/60). The primary transmission cluster contained 11 cases, among which 9 cases were transmitted by homosexual sex. The first time of the cases to have homosexual behavior is range from 2010 to 2016, whose media number (P(25), P(75)) of partners was 6 (3.5, 8.5). Most of the cases come from Anhui Province and engaged in garment industry (5 cases), between which there were 8 cases used Blued software to seek for casual partners, 1 case seeking for casual partners in garden. Conclusion: With CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE predominantly circulating, HIV genetic diversity had been noticed in this area. The primary cluster was consisted of high proportion of locally new infections, and a specific population aggregation in limited place existed.

Downregulation of miR-1294 associates with prognosis and tumor progression in epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

Increasing evidence has revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) act as key players in the regulation of tumor growth and metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). However, the clinical role and functional effects of miR-1294 in EOC remain unknown.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We examined the expression of miR-1294 in 69 cases of EOC tissues and cell lines by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The associations of miR-1294 expression with clinicopathologic features and overall survival of EOC patients were analyzed. Biological functional effects of miR-1294 expression on cell growth were analyzed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assays and flow cytometry assays in vitro.

RESULTS

In the present study, we identified that miR-1294 expression was lower in 76 specimens of EOC compared to adjacent normal tissues. Lower miR-1294 expression was related to FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis and shorter overall survival rate in EOC patients. Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that miR-1294 expression was an independent prognostic indicator of EOC patients. Gain function assays showed that miR-1294 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in EOC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that miR-1294 acted as a prognostic biomarker and potential target of EOC treatment.

P2556TXNDC5 is a novel therapeutic target of atrial fibrosis and fibrillation

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias, increases the risk of stroke, systemic embolization and cardiovascular mortality. Atrial fibrosis, a hallmark of chronic AF, provides substrates to initiate/propagate fibrillation waves in the atria. There, however, lacks effective and specific therapeutics targeting atrial fibrosis. We have recently identified an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein thioredoxin domain containing 5 (TXNDC5) as a critical mediator of cardiac ventricular fibrosis. We hypothesized that TXNDC5 could also play an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrosis and fibrillation.

Purpose

To determine the role of TXNDC5 in atrial fibrosis and fibrillation.

Methods and results

TXNDC5 transcript and protein levels were both significantly upregulated in the atrial tissue from patients with AF. In addition, TXNDC5 mRNA expression levels were positively correlated with those of transcripts encoding transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in human atrial tissue. Knockdown of TXNDC5 in human atrial fibroblasts (hAF) attenuated TGFβ1–induced hAF activation, proliferation and ECM protein upregulation, whereas overexpression of TXNDC5 was sufficient to trigger hAF activation, proliferation and ECM protein production. Further experiments revealed that the fibrogenic effects of TXNDC5 were dependent on c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling. Furthermore, using α-MHC-TGFβcys33ser mice, a transgenic mouse model with cardiac-specific overexpression of constitutively active TGFβ, which develop extensive atrial fibrosis and inducible AF, we showed that TXNDC5 was strongly upregulated in the fibrotic atria of α-MHC-TGFβcys33ser mice and specifically enriched in collagen-secreting atrial fibroblasts. Targeted deletion of TXNDC5 (Txndc5−/−) in α-MHC-TGFβcys33ser mice considerably mitigated the extent of atrial fibrosis. In addition, transesophageal atrial burst pacing induced AF in 75% (3 out of 4) α-MHC-TGFβcys33ser mice, whereas knockout of Txndc5 markedly reduced the inducibility of AF (25%, 3 out of 12) in α-MHC-TGFβcys33ser mice (Figure).

TXNDC5 KO Reduces AF Inducibility

Conclusion

The present study revealed that ER protein TXNDC5 augments atrial fibrosis by promoting cardiac fibroblast proliferation and ECM protein production via JNK signaling activation. Targeted deletion of Txndc5 protects against TGFβ induced atrial fibrosis and AF. Targeting TXNDC5, therefore, could be a promising new therapeutic approach to treat or prevent atrial fibrosis and AF.

[Status and associatied factors of anal sexual intention in casual sex behavior among heterosexual college students in Zhejiang Province]

Objective: To identify the status and risky factors of anal sexual intention in casual sex behavior in Zhejiang province. Methods: Stratified cluster sampling was conducted among college students in 13 colleges in 11 cities between October to November, 2018. 482 students were enrolled who self-reported "heterosexuality "and" ever had casual sex behavior". A self-designed network questionnaire was complimented containing basic information, knowledge of HIV, sexual behavior. Chi-square test was used to compared the difference of anal sex intention between different characteristic. The multivariate logistic regression methods was used to analyze the influence factors. Results: Among 482 students, the age was (20±1.442) years old. And 87.3% (421) were male and 29.0% (140) were from other province. The rate of anal sex intention were 19.4% (94/482) in total, with the rates of 38.1% (24/63) and 14.4% (53/367) in students with sexual number more than 5 and less than 5 (P<0.001), separately. Compared with students searching casual sexual partner with non-internet access (17.0%, 16/201), students searching sexual partner with internet access had higher risk of anal sex practice (27.8%, 78/281) (P<0.001). The rate of anal sex practice among students reporting "ever had casual sex after drinking "and" never had casual sex after drinking" were 30.5% (64/210) and 9.4% (25/266) (P<0.001). The multivariate logistic regression results revealed that compared with students searching casual sexual partner with non-internet access and reporting "never had casual sex after drinking", subjects searching sexual partner with internet access(OR (95%CI)=2.65 (1.34-5.23)) and "ever had casual sex after drinking" OR (95%CI)=3.02 (1.65-5.33) were more likely had higher risk of anal sex practice. Conclusion: Heterosexual college students in Zhejiang Province tend to have anal intercourse with causal sexual partners. Searching for causal sexual partners on internet or mobile phone dating software and having temporary sexual behavior after drinking were correlated factors.

[Epidemiological characteristics of molecular transmission cluster among reported HIV/AIDS cases in Jiaxing city, Zhejiang province, 2017]

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of one large HIV molecular transmission cluster in Jiaxing city, Zhejiang province, 2017 in order to select those people under high-risk and providing basis for programs on prevention. Methods: During 2017, newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases in this city were recruited. Plasma samples were collected from subjects, followed by RNA extraction, RT-PCR and nest-PCR for pol gene amplification, before being sequenced and aligned. Mega 6.0 software was used to construct phylogenetic tree, and Cytoscape 3.6.0 software was used to identify HIV molecular transmission clusters. Cases within the large transmission clusters were investigated, using a field-epidemiology-questionnaire. Data related to socio-demographics and previous sexual behaviors were collected and EpiData 3.0 and SPSS 20.0 software were used. Results: In the large transmission cluster with subtype identified as CRF07_BC, in Jiaxing, 2017, 26 cases of the total 30 cases were investigated. A total of 80.8% (21/26) could be identified as newly infected within the last two years and 30.8%(8/26) could be identified as newly infected within the last one year, including 22 cases infected locally. Among several infected cases who were at age 45 years or older, they admitted that they had experienced unprotected sexual contacts in local city for long time and having had more than 10 disclosed sexual contacts within the last two years at the local venues. Conclusions: This molecular cluster had been formed and scaled up quickly in recent two years, it has played an important role in promoting and scaling up the HIV transmission. Three cases identificed as high risk played an importantrde role in scaling up this cluster.

On the mechanisms of tip-force induced switching in ferroelectric thin films: the crossover of depolarization, shear strain and flexoelectricity

The recent observation of mechanical switching of ferroelectric polarization has placed the mechanical manipulation of ferroelectrics on an equal footing with the conventional electrical manipulation. However, discussions on the exact switching mechanisms due to mechanical loads are ongoing for the complexity in experimental situations. In this work, based on continuum mechanical and thermodynamic modeling and simulation, we analyze the mechanisms of tip-force induced switching in ferroelectric thin films. The roles of depolarization, shear strain and flexoelectricity in mechanical switching, both in normal and sliding loading modes, are separated out and the switching characteristics are analyzed. The depolarization field in the film is demonstrated to enable bidirectional switching. The coupling between shear strain and polarization components is shown to be important in the sliding loading mode. A great influence of flexoelectricity-modified polarization boundary condition on the switching process is revealed. The previous speculation that the switching process experiences an intermediate paraelectric phase is proved. The regulation of loading force, misfit strain, temperature and film thickness on the switching are further given for each mechanism. Taking all of the three mechanisms into account, we present the phase diagrams of mechanical switching for films in an initial upward or downward polarization state. The revealed characteristics of various switching mechanisms should provide useful guidelines for their verification in experiments, and the tunability of the switching by various influencing factors is instructive for the design and optimization of ferroelectric devices via mechanical engineering.

[All levels miniplate fixation and a modified hybrid fixation method in expansive open-door cervical laminoplasty: a retrospective comparative study]

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively compare the effect of alternate levels miniplate and anchor fixation with the effect of all levels miniplate fixation in expansive open-door cervical laminoplasty (EOLP).

METHODS

Patients with cervical spondylosis underwent EOLP between July 2015 and June 2016 were included in the study. There were 33 patients in the alternate group (alternate levels miniplate and anchor fixation group) and 34 patients in the miniplate group (all levels miniplate fixation group). Neurological function was evaluated with the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and degree of pain was assessed with the visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Basic clinical and surgical data, complication rates and medical costs of the two groups were compared. In addition, radiological examinations were performed pre- and post-operatively and at the final follow-up. Relative imaging data such as anteroposterior diameter (APD), cervical curvature index (CCI) and open angle were collected and compared.

RESULTS

(1) The mean follow-up time was 18.6 months in the alternate group and 18.9 months in the miniplate group. There were no significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, perioperative complication rates, post-operative hospital stays, VAS scores and neurological recovery rates preoperatively and at the final follow-up between the two groups. (2) Additionally, no obvious differences were observed about CCIs and APDs at the three follow-up time points between the two groups. Post-operative open angles at C4 and C6 in the alternate group were significantly smaller than those in the miniplate group. However, there were no significant differences in C3, C5 and C7 open angles between the two groups post-operatively. Notably, no significant differences were detected about the open angles at all levels between the two groups at the final follow-up. (3) When comparing radiologic data at different time points in each group, CCIs and open angles at each level had no significant differences, but APDs after surgery and at the final follow-up were significantly larger than pre-operative APDs. (4) Total costs in the alternate group were significantly lower than those in the miniplate group.

CONCLUSION

The two surgical methods showed almost the same neurological recovery rates and complication rates. However, use of alternate levels miniplate and anchor fixation in EOLP can reduce medical expenses.

Note: Real-time wavelength matching system designed for the motional Stark effect polarimeter on HL-2A tokamak

A 7-channel motional Stark effect diagnostic based on dual photo-elastic modulators is installed and operated routinely for rather low beam energy and magnetic field on the HL-2A tokamak, with a spatial resolution of ∼3 cm and a temporal resolution of 10 ms. The instrument observes the σ component of the full energy D_α from the first or the fourth ion source of a neutral beam injector. However, the change in beam energy during a discharge causes variation of the Doppler shift with the maximum of 1 Å, which leads to the polarization fraction drop from 30%-40% to 10% and then makes the signal-to-noise ratio of the system become very poor. Therefore, a real-time wavelength matching system is designed to promote polarization fraction. The beam emission spectra are filtered by using a monochrometer in real time. And a narrowband filter is tilted by using an absolutely calibrated rotator through beam energy in order to make sure that the deviation of wavelength matching is less than 0.1 Å.

[Electrophysiological and pathological features of peripheral nerve in rats exposed to 1-bromopropane]

Objective: To study the electrophysiological changes and pathological characteristics of peripheral nerve in rats exposed to 1-bromopropane through chronic inhalation. Methods: 40 male SD rats were randomed divided into 4 groups, and exposed to 1-bromopropane vapor at concentrations of 1 000 mg/m(3), 2 000 mg/m(3), 4 000 mg/m(3) and fresh air respectively, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 12 weeks. The changes of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) , electromyography (EMG) and pathology were observed. Results: After 4 weeks of exposure, the body weights of high dose group are lower than that of the control group. Compared with the control group, the high and medium dose group have a decline in MCV and CMAPs, while SCV and SNAPs descend in the high dose group (P<0.05) . The EMG examination showed that there are denervation changes in high dose group. Sciatic nerve biopsy observed by electron microscope showed that axonal degeneration and demyelination coexist in the rats exposed to high concentration. Conclusion: Chronic inhalation of 1-bromopropane at the concentration of 4 000 mg/m(3) can cause peripheral nerve injury, which is characterized by axonal degeneration and demyelination. Axonal degeneration is the main pathological change.

[Effect of nerve growth factor on chronic peripheral neuropathy in rats induced by 1-bromopropane]

Objective: To observe the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) and Mecobalamin on chronic peripheral neuropathy in rats induced by 1-bromopropane. Methods: 36 male SD rats were exposed to 1-bromopropane vapor at concentrations of 4 000 mg/m(3), 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 12 weeks. The rats were randomed divided into 4 groups, and treated by Mecobalamin for 300 μg/kg qd, NGF for 40 μg/kg qd, Mecobalamin+NGF with the dose as mentioned above, respecively. The control group were fed in normal condition. The changes of Sciatic nerve conduction velocity (NCV) , electromyography (EMG) and pathology were observed 30 days later. Results: The nerve conduction velocity were decreased in all the rats. Compared with the control group, the motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) was improved in group Mecobalamin and group Mecobalamin+NGF, The difference was statistically significant, as the sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) was improved only in group Mecobalamin+NGF. Sciatic nerve biopsy observed by electron microscope showed that myelinated nerve fibers were obvious swelling, lamellar separation, partial myelin vacuolization, and axonal degeneration. After treatment with exogenous nerve growth factor, the number and severity of damaged nerve fibers were restored. Conclusion: Exogenous nerve growth factor contributes to the recovery of peripheral nerve damage induced by 1-bromopropane.

[Retrospective analysis of cuffed-tunneled catheters in pediatric patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis]

Objective: To summarize the characteristics of cuffed-tunneled catheters insertion and investigate the values of cuffed-tunneled catheters in pediatric patients. Methods: Between March 2015 and July 2017, all the pediatric patients who received maintenance hemodialysis at least 3 consecutive months in our center were included. Sixteen cuffed-tunneled hemodialysis catheters were inserted in patients for long-term hemodialysis access. The clinical manifestations and complications were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Fifteen pediatric patients with end stage ranal disease (ESRD) were included in this study and they received 16 cuffed-tunneled catheters for long-term vascular access, including 10 males and 5 females; median age at start of catheter insertion was 11.5 (4.2-14.5) years. Body weight was (27.8±8.0)kg (16.0-39.4 kg) . The size and the length of the catheters were based on the height of patients as follows: 28 cm for (115.6±10.6) cm (102.0-130.0 cm) ,36 cm for (148.6±9.9)cm (140.0-167.0 cm) . Cuffed-tunneled catheters outcome: 10 cuffed-tunneled catheters were still functional at the end of the study; 5 catheters were removed after successful kidney transplantation. Catheter failure occurred in 1 out of 16 cuffed-tunneled catheters due to catheter-related infections. The median catheter survival time was 11.9 months (range 3.5-21.3 months). Complications of cuffed-tunneled catheters: Catheter placements operation was successful in 15 cases using ultrasound guidance. No serious complications were observed in any patients receiving catheter inserting operation. The overall rate of catheter-related infections and thrombosis/malposition was 6.3% and 18.7%, respectively. Conclusions: Ultrasound guidance is suggested in pediatric patients during the catheters insertion. The size and the length of the catheters should be based on the height of patients. Cuffed-tunneled hemodialysis catheters could be effectively used for maintenance of hemodialysis vascular access for pediatric patients with ESRD.

[Technical specification for clinical application of critical ultrasonography]

Critical ultrasonography(CUS) is different from the traditional diagnostic ultrasound, the examiner and interpreter of the image are critical care medicine physicians. The core content of CUS is to evaluate the pathophysiological changes of organs and systems and etiology changes. With the idea of critical care medicine as the soul, it can integrate the above information and clinical information, bedside real-time diagnosis and titration treatment, and evaluate the therapeutic effect so as to improve the outcome. CUS is a traditional technique which is applied as a new application method. The consensus of experts on critical ultrasonography in China released in 2016 put forward consensus suggestions on the concept, implementation and application of CUS. It should be further emphasized that the accurate and objective assessment and implementation of CUS requires the standardization of ultrasound image acquisition and the need to establish a CUS procedure. At the same time, the standardized training for CUS accepted by critical care medicine physicians requires the application of technical specifications, and the establishment of technical specifications is the basis for the quality control and continuous improvement of CUS. Chinese Critical Ultrasound Study Group and Critical Hemodynamic Therapy Collabration Group, based on the rich experience of clinical practice in critical care and research, combined with the essence of CUS, to learn the traditional ultrasonic essence, established the clinical application technical specifications of CUS, including in five parts: basic view and relevant indicators to obtain in CUS; basic norms for viscera organ assessment and special assessment; standardized processes and systematic inspection programs; examples of CUS applications; CUS training and the application of qualification certification. The establishment of applied technology standard is helpful for standardized training and clinical correct implementation. It is helpful for clinical evaluation and correct guidance treatment, and is also helpful for quality control and continuous improvement of CUS application.

Morphology-controlled epitaxial vanadium dioxide low-dimensional structures: the delicate effects on the phase transition behaviors

As an important strongly correlated electron material, VO2 undergoes a metal-insulator transition (MIT) accompanied by a huge change of several orders of magnitude in conductance and transmittance. The MIT behavior can be controlled by low-dimensional structures (LDSs) and the interaction between LDSs and substrates. Consequently, fabricating the LDSs and understanding the phase transition behaviors have great significance for the investigation of fundamental properties and applications. Using the pulsed laser deposition technique, we fabricate abundant LDSs (i.e., from zero-dimensional nanodots, one-dimensional nanowires, nanobelts and nanorods to two-dimensional nanoplatelets and ultra-thin films, and zero-/one-/two-dimensional mixed structures), and investigate the controllability of each deposition factor on the growth of the LDSs. TEM results confirm the high crystallinity of the as-synthesized LDSs. AFM results and ab initio calculations demonstrate the great influence of substrates on the growth orientation of the LDSs. More importantly, we systematically investigate the phase transition characteristics of the LDSs by temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and XRD. The results clearly reveal the structural dependence of the phase transition features due to the delicate effects of substrates and structures. Our technique provides a rapid, controllable and easy method for fabricating VO2 LDSs, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the electrical, optical, and magnetic properties and potential applications of VO2.

[Molecular epidemiology and transmission of HIV-1 infection in Zhejiang province, 2015]

Objective: To understand the distribution of HIV-1 subtype diversity and its transmission characteristics in Zhejiang province. Methods: A total of 302 newly diagnosed HIV-1 positive patients were selected through stratified random sampling in Zhejiang in 2015. HIV-1 pol genes were sequenced successfully with reverse transcription PCR/nested PCR and phylogenetic analysis was conducted for 276 patients. Then a molecular epidemiologic study was performed combined with field epidemiological investigation. Results: Of 276 sequence samples analyzed, 122 CRF07_BC strains (44.2%), 103 CRF01_AE strains (37.3%), 17 CRF08_BC strains (6.1%), 9 B strains (3.2%), 6 CRF55_01B strains (2.2%), 5 C strains (1.8%), 1 CRF59_01B strain (0.4%), 1 CRF67_01B strain (0.4%), 1 A1 strain (0.4%), and 11 URFs strains (4.0%) were identified. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 16 clusters with only 15.1% (34/225) sequences involved among CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE strains. The clustered cases in MSM were higher than that in populations with other transmission routes. And clusters existed between the populations with different transmission routes. Conclusion: The major strains of HIV-1 in Zhejiang are CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. The HIV subtypes showed more complexity in Zhejiang. It is necessary to strengthen the surveillance for HIV subtypes, carry out classified management and conduct effective prevention and control in the population at high risk.

[Analysis on HIV-1 subtypes and transmission clusters in newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, 2016]

Objective: To understand the characteristics of distribution on HIV-1 subtypes and the transmission clusters in Yiwu in Zhejiang province. Methods: A cross-sectional study of molecular epidemiology was carried out on newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu. RNA was extracted from 168 plasma samples, followed by RT-PCR and nest-PCR for pol gene amplification, sequencing, phylogenetic tree construction used for analyzing the subtypes and transmission clusters. Mutations on drug resistance was analyzed by CPR 6.0 online tool. Results: Subjects were mainly males (86.3%, 145/168), with average age as (39.1±13.4) years old and most of them were migrants (66.7%, 112/168). The major routes of transmission included homosexual (51.2%, 86/168) and heterosexual (48.8%, 82/168) contacts. The rate of success for sequence acquisition was 89.9% (151/168). The dominant subtypes showed as CRF01_AE (74, 49.0%) and CRF07_BC (64, 42.4%), followed by CRF08_BC (5, 3.3%), CRF55_01B (3, 2.0%), each case of subtype B, CRF45_cpx, CRF59_01B, CRF85_BC and URF (B/C). CRF45_cpx and CRF85_BC were discovered the first time in Zhejiang province. Twenty-six transmission clusters involving 65 cases were found, with the total clustered rate as 43.0% (65/151), in which the CRF01_AE clustered rate appeared as 54.1% (40/74), higher than that of CRF07_BC (21/64, 32.8%). The average size of cluster was 2.5 cases/cluster, with average size of cluster in CRF01_AE patients infected through heterosexual transmission as the largest (3.5 cases/cluster). The prevalence of transmitted drug resistance was 4.6% (7/151). Seven cases with surveillance drug resistant mutations (SDRM) were found, including 5 cases of M46L (3.3%), and one case of F77L or Y181C. Conclusion: HIV genetic diversity and a variety of transmission clusters had been noticed in this study area (Yiwu). Programs on monitoring the subtypes and transmission clusters should be continued and strengthened.

[CT perfusion analysis on the association of permeability surface with hematoma and edema volume in acute spontaneous putaminal and thalamic hematoma]

Objective: To discuss the correlation of permeability surface (PS) with hematoma and edema volume in acute spontaneous putaminal and thalamic hematoma using CT perfusion imaging. Methods: A total of 48 acute spontaneous putaminal and thalamic hemorrhage patients were enrolled in this study during October 2015 and December 2016 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. At the image slice with maximum size of hematoma, PS was measured by drawing various regions of interest (ROI) including"hot spots", perihematomal regions, outward regions, hemisphere regions and contralateral mirror regions. The relative PS (rPS) was calculated as the ratio of ipsilateral to contralateral PS value in each ROI. Hematoma and edema volumes were traced and obtained with commercial software. Results: The"hot spots"PS ((2.8±1.5) ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1)) and perihematomal PS ((2.1±1.4) ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1)) were both significantly higher than the PS of the contralateral mirror regions ((1.1±0.5) ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1)) (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in outward regions PS and contralateral mirror regions PS (P>0.05), nor in hemisphere regions PS and contralateral mirror regions PS (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in"hot spots"rPS and perihematomal rPS (P=0.218). The"hot spots"rPS and Perihematomal rPS were both higher than the rPS of the outward and hemisphere regions (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the outward and hemisphere regions (P<0.01). The median hematoma volume was 12.63 ml and the median edema volume was 12.36 ml. The edema volume had a positive association with the hematoma volume(r=0.799, P<0.001) and perihematomal PS(r=0.465, P=0.001). Perihematomal PS had a positive association with the hematoma volume (r=0.386, P=0.007). Conclusion: The damage of blood-brain barrier around acute spontaneous hematoma can be measured via CT perfusion imaging. Perihematomal PS was associated with the hematoma and edema volume.

Polygenic risk for schizophrenia and neurocognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia

Both neurocognitive deficits and schizophrenia are highly heritable. Genetic overlap between neurocognitive deficits and schizophrenia has been observed in both the general population and in the clinical samples. This study aimed to examine if the polygenic architecture of susceptibility to schizophrenia modified neurocognitive performance in schizophrenia patients. Schizophrenia polygenic risk scores (PRSs) were first derived from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) on schizophrenia, and then the scores were calculated in our independent sample of 1130 schizophrenia trios, who had PsychChip data and were part of the Schizophrenia Families from Taiwan project. Pseudocontrols generated from the nontransmitted parental alleles of the parents in these trios were compared with alleles in schizophrenia patients in assessing the replicability of PGC-derived susceptibility variants. Schizophrenia PRS at the P-value threshold (PT) of 0.1 explained 0.2% in the variance of disease status in this Han-Taiwanese samples, and the score itself had a P-value 0.05 for the association test with the disorder. Each patient underwent neurocognitive evaluation on sustained attention using the continuous performance test and executive function using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. We applied a structural equation model to construct the neurocognitive latent variable estimated from multiple measured indices in these 2 tests, and then tested the association between the PRS and the neurocognitive latent variable. Higher schizophrenia PRS generated at the PT of 0.1 was significantly associated with poorer neurocognitive performance with explained variance 0.5%. Our findings indicated that schizophrenia susceptibility variants modify the neurocognitive performance in schizophrenia patients.

Diverse polarization bi-stability in ferroelectric tunnel junctions due to the effects of the electrode and strain: an ab initio study

Both electrodes and substrates are factors of great significance for the performance of ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) in designing functional nanodevices. To provide a comprehensive view on the polarization stability in FTJs due to the effects of an electrode and a substrate misfit strain, in this work we calculated more than 1000 FTJ structures by utilizing an ab initio density functional theory (DFT) method, via changing the symmetry of the FTJ structure (i.e., both asymmetric and symmetric FTJs), electrodes (including Au, Ag, Cu, Pt, Co, Fe, and SrRuO₃), barrier thickness (ranging from 2 to 10 unit cells), polarization direction (both positive and negative polarizations) and epitaxial strain (i.e., -3%, -2.5%, -2%, -1.5% and -1%) as variables. This shows that the FTJs can exhibit quite diverse polarization bi-stability due to the combined effect of the electrode and strain control, which indicates diverse performance of the FTJs modulated by the electrode and strain. In particular, the polarization-mediated electrostatic potential in the barriers with different electrodes forecasts an electrode-tailored tunnel electroresistance effect. Our study provides guidance on the practical applications of FTJs with regard to the selection of electrodes and substrates.

Characteristics and controllability of vortices in ferromagnetics, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics

Topological defects in condensed matter are attracting e significant attention due to their important role in phase transition and their fascinating characteristics. Among the various types of matter, ferroics which possess a switchable physical characteristic and form domain structure are ideal systems to form topological defects. In particular, a special class of topological defects-vortices-have been found to commonly exist in ferroics. They often manifest themselves as singular regions where domains merge in large systems, or stabilize as novel order states instead of forming domain structures in small enough systems. Understanding the characteristics and controllability of vortices in ferroics can provide us with deeper insight into the phase transition of condensed matter and also exciting opportunities in designing novel functional devices such as nano-memories, sensors, and transducers based on topological defects. In this review, we summarize the recent experimental and theoretical progress in ferroic vortices, with emphasis on those spin/dipole vortices formed in nanoscale ferromagnetics and ferroelectrics, and those structural domain vortices formed in multiferroic hexagonal manganites. We begin with an overview of this field. The fundamental concepts of ferroic vortices, followed by the theoretical simulation and experimental methods to explore ferroic vortices, are then introduced. The various characteristics of vortices (e.g. formation mechanisms, static/dynamic features, and electronic properties) and their controllability (e.g. by size, geometry, external thermal, electrical, magnetic, or mechanical fields) in ferromagnetics, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics are discussed in detail in individual sections. Finally, we conclude this review with an outlook on this rapidly developing field.

Astragalus polysaccharides improve cardiomyopathy in STZ-induced diabetic mice and heterozygous (SOD2+/-) knockout mice

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. In the present study, we determined whether the effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on diabetic cardiomyopathy was associated with its impact on oxidative stress. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and heterozygous superoxide dismutase (SOD2+/-) knockout mice were administered APS. The hemodynamics, cardiac ultrastructure, and the apoptosis, necrosis and proliferation of cardiomyocytes were assessed to evaluate the effect of APS on diabetic and oxidative cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, H₂O₂ formation, oxidative stress/damage, and SOD activity in cardiomyocytes were evaluated to determine the effects of APS on cardiac oxidative stress. APS therapy improved hemodynamics and myocardial ultrastructure with reduced apoptosis/necrosis, and enhanced proliferation in cardiomyocytes from both STZ-induced diabetic mice and heterozygous SOD2+/- knockout mice. In addition, APS therapy reduced H₂O₂ formation and oxidative stress/damage, and enhanced SOD activity in both groups of mice. Our findings suggest that APS had benefits in diabetic cardiomyopathy, which may be partly associated with its impact on cardiac oxidative stress.