Band-gap and strain engineering in GeSn alloys using post-growth pulsed laser melting

The pseudomorphic growth of Ge_1-xSn_xon Ge causes in-plane compressive strain, which degrades the superior properties of the Ge_1-xSn_xalloys. Therefore, efficient strain engineering is required. In this article, we present strain and band-gap engineering in Ge_1-xSn_xalloys grown on Ge a virtual substrate using post-growth nanosecond pulsed laser melting (PLM). Micro-Raman and x-ray diffraction (XRD) show that the initial in-plane compressive strain is removed. Moreover, for PLM energy densities higher than 0.5 J cm^-2, the Ge_0.89Sn_0.11layer becomes tensile strained. Simultaneously, as revealed by Rutherford Backscattering spectrometry, cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy investigations and XRD the crystalline quality and Sn-distribution in PLM-treated Ge_0.89Sn_0.11layers are only slightly affected. Additionally, the change of the band structure after PLM is confirmed by low-temperature photoreflectance measurements. The presented results prove that post-growth ns-range PLM is an effective way for band-gap and strain engineering in highly-mismatched alloys.

Potential global distribution area projections of the aphid Lipaphis erysimi and its predator Eupeodes corollae in the context of climate change

Climate change affects the population distribution of pests and their natural enemies, and predicting these effects is necessary for pest monitoring and green control. Lipaphis erysimi is an important vegetable pest, and its natural enemy, the Eupeodes corollae Fabricius has a strong predatory effect on the L. erysimi. To assess the spread trends of L. erysimi and its natural enemy, the hoverfly, E. corollae under current (1970-2000) and future climates (2041-2060), based on the MaxEnt model, this paper uses data on the geographical distribution of the historical occurrence of L. erysimi and E. corollae to speculate on their potential distribution areas worldwide and analyze the key environmental factors affecting the survival and spread of both. The results showed that the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 and RCP4.5 climatic conditions are favorable for the spread of L. erysimi, the RCP8.5 climatic conditions are unfavorable for the spread of L. erysimi, and all three future climatic conditions are unfavorable for the spread of E. corollae. The highest fitness of L. erysimi was found at the annual average temperature of 18 °C and the annual average precipitation of 900 mm, while the highest fitness of E. corollae was found at the annual average temperature of 10 °C and the lowest temperature in the coldest month of 0 °C. This study can provide a reference basis for monitoring and early warning and biological control of L. erysimi.

[Application of the "virtual-real combination" experimental teaching model in Human Parasitology teaching: a case study of comprehensive schistosome experiments]

Information technology has become an important driver to facilitate higher education developments in the context of new medical sciences. A new "virtual-real combination" experimental teaching model was designed and created through integrating information technology with experimental teaching by Experimental Teaching Center of Basic Medical Sciences and Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University and was applied in Human Parasitology teaching, which achieved satisfactory teaching effectiveness. This new model showed effective to deepen the understanding of the basic human parasitology knowledge, improve the operative skills, and cultivate the moral literacy and comprehensive capability among medical students. This report presents the teaching protocols and implementation, teaching effectiveness and evaluation, and experiences of comprehensive schistosome experiments.

Optimization of Sensors Data Transmission Paths for Pest Monitoring Based on Intelligent Algorithms

The harm of agricultural pests presents a remarkable effect on the quality and safety of edible farm products and the monitoring and identification of agricultural pests based on the Internet of Things (IoT) produce a large amount of data to be transmitted. To achieve efficient and real-time transmission of the sensors' data for pest monitoring, this paper selects 235 geographic coordinates of agricultural pest monitoring points and uses genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and simulated annealing (SA) to optimize the data transmission paths of sensors. The three intelligent algorithms are simulated by MATLAB software. The results show that the optimized path based on PSO can make the shortest time used for transmitting data, and its corresponding minimum time is 4.868012 s. This study can provide a reference for improving the transmission efficiency of agricultural pest monitoring data, provide a guarantee for developing real-time and effective pest control strategies, and further reduce the threat of pest damage to the safety of farm products.

Abnormal handling mechanism and improvement measures of optical DC current transformer in smart grid environment

An optical DC current transformer anomaly handling mechanism is proposed to address the problem that the conventional DC current transformer anomaly handling mechanism cannot compensate for the defect of capacitor anomaly blocking. First, the implementation principle, modulation loop, demodulation method and its anomaly warning mechanism of the sine-wave modulated all-fibre-optic current transformer (FOCT) are investigated, and the effects of light source intensity and modulation voltage on current decoding are explained. The modulation loop is then simulated and modelled and a FOCT anomaly handling mechanism is proposed based on the Bessel function with real-time dynamic current compensation for small changes in modulation depth. Finally, an integrated dynamic test system for DC current transformers and DC protection is designed, and the actual system operation and fault model is established using the RTDS simulation system. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed FOCT anomaly handling and improvement measures can effectively improve the transient performance of FOCT, and at the same time provide a complete set of testing means for the engineering application and later upgrade and replacement of FOCT.

Function of Vitellogenin receptor gene in reproductive regulation of Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) after short-term high-temperature treatment

Climate change has increased the frequency of extreme heat events. Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) is an important tropical pest that typically changes its reproductive strategies in response to extremely high temperatures. Newly emerged adults of three consecutive generations (F₁, F₂, and F₃) of Z. cucurbitae (Coquillett) were exposed to 25°C, 33°C, 37°C, 41°C, and 45°C treatments for 1 h to clarify the effects of short-term high temperatures on its reproduction. The influence of these temperatures on reproduction was evaluated using indicators, such as egg number. Newly emerged adults were exposed to 25°C and 45°C treatments for 1 h, and the expression of Vitellogenin receptor (VgR) gene in females was interfered with siRNA, and silencing efficiency of RNAi was evaluated. Results showed that short-term high temperatures, except for F₁ treated at 45°C for 1 h to stimulate oviposition, exert a general adverse effect on the reproduction of Z. cucurbitae (Coquillett). All F₃ died after the 45°C treatment for 1 h. Silencing of the VgR gene resulted in the significant downregulation of VgR gene expression at both 24 and 72 h. The egg number, oviposition days, and hatchability of eggs were significantly lower than those of other treatment groups after interference, and the inhibition effect of egg number was the most evident, with a decrease of 88.4% and 95.2% at 25°C and 45°C, respectively, compared with that of the Control Check (CK). Ovarian development speed and diameter were also significantly lower than those of other treatment groups after the interference. The results of this study can provide a theoretical reference for the integrated control of Z. cucurbitae (Coquillett) during high-temperature seasons.

A retrospective single-center analysis of prenatal diagnosis and follow-up of 626 chinese patients with positive non-invasive prenatal screening results

This study explored the diagnostic efficiency of different prenatal diagnostic approaches for women with positive non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) results by analyzing their clinical information and pregnancy outcomes. We collected data on 626 NIPS-positive pregnant women from January 2017 to June 2021 and arranged subsequent prenatal diagnostic operations for them after genetic counseling, along with long-term intensive follow-up. A total of 567 women accepted invasive prenatal diagnosis (IPD) (90.58%), and 262 cases were confirmed as true positives for NIPS. The positive predictive values for trisomies 21 (T21), 18 (T18), and 13 (T13); sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs); rare autosomal trisomies (RATs); and microdeletion and microduplication syndromes (MMS) were 81.13%, 37.93%, 18.42%, 48.83%, 18.37%, and 41.67%, respectively. Discordant results between NIPS and IPD were observed in 48 cases, with the discordance rate being 8.47%. Additionally, there were 43 cases with discordant results between karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA)/copy number variation sequencing. Additional reporting of RATs and MMS with routine NIPS that only detects T21/T18/T13 and SCAs can yield more accurate diagnoses. However, NIPS cannot be used as a substitute for IPD owing to its high false positive rate and discordance with other diagnostic methods. Therefore, we recommend CMA combined with karyotyping as the preferred method for accurately diagnosing NIPS-positive women.

Colour Preference and Healing in Digital Roaming Landscape: A Case Study of Mental Subhealth Populations

From the perspective of emotional preference, studies have been conducted about landscape healing for subhealth people in the National High-Tech Zone (the study area). Combined with a preliminary practice investigation, Unity 2019 was used to make a digital roaming landscape, and 91 subjects with a history of mental subhealth diseases were randomly invited to participate in the immersive experimentation of the Human-Machine Environment Synchronisation (ErgoLAB) platform. After the experiment, the subjects were invited to fill in a Likert scale as the control group. The interest preference, emotion fluctuation, and healing effect of landscape colour were verified. The results show that: (1) The variation trend of interest reflected the concentration of interest in landscape, and the order of degree of interest, ranging from high to low, went Green > Yellow > Blue > Red > Orange > Purple > Cyan. (2) The subjects' interest in landscape colour was correlated with the arousal of positive emotions. The correlation between interest in landscape colour and positive emotions, from high to low, went Blue > Green > Yellow, while the correlation between red, cyan, orange, and purple was not significant. (3) The mean skin conductance (SC) fluctuation variance of subjects was 5.594%, which confirmed that the healing effect of digital roaming landscape scenes was significant under the state of low arousal. According to the Likert scale data, subjects' scores of the healing effect of landscapes, from high to low, went as follows: Green > Yellow > Red > Blue > Cyan > Orange > Purple. The results provide a new method for demonstrating the logical relationship between the digital landscape interest experience-emotional awakening-healing effect and providing a theoretical method and construction scheme for landscape colour configuration in the implementation of landscape healing projects.

Distribution and interaction of the suitable areas of Beauveria bassiana and Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)

Climate is a key factor affecting the potential distribution of insects, and the host is another important constraint for the distribution of pests. To elucidate changes in the potential distribution of Beauveria bassiana under climate change scenarios, this paper used the data of two different greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP8.5) to predict the potential distribution of B. bassiana and its typical host, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), based on the MaxEnt model. Then, the potential distribution of B. bassiana and B. dorsalis (Hendel) was compared, and their suitable growth area’s change and expansion trend under two different GHG emission scenarios were mastered. The results of this study show that the potential distribution area of B. bassiana will increase by 2,050 under the RCP8.5 climate scenario, mainly in central Europe and southwestern Asia, with an increased area of 3.28 × 105 km2. However, under the climate scenario of RCP2.6, the potential distribution area for B. bassiana decreased by 2.0 × 105 km2, mainly in North America. This study will provide a theoretical basis for the control of B. dorsalis (Hendel) with B. bassiana.

[Health economic evaluation of four prenatal screening strategies for Down syndrome in Changsha, China]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical application and health economic values of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and second trimester serum screening (STSS).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was carried out on 54 026 singleton pregnant women undergoing NIPT and STSS from March 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 in Changsha Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital. For pregnant women with high-risk results of NIPT, prenatal diagnosis and follow-up of pregnancy outcomes were conducted. The data was grouped to 4 screening models, and their cost-benefit was analyzed.

RESULTS

The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of NIPT were all higher than STSS. Screening models 1 to 4 have prevented the birth of 71, 29, 52 and 54 patients with Down syndrome, respectively. The safety index of screening models 1 to 4 were 0.0036, 0.3944, 02215 and 0.1281, respectively. When the price of NIPT was decreased to 600 RMB, the cost-benefit of the screening models 1 to 4 was 0.46, 0.65, 0.44 and 0.40 million RMB, respectively.

CONCLUSION

NIPT has a better detection performance than STSS. When the price of NIPT is 600 RMB, screening model 1 has the best screening effect and the highest accuracy, safety index and health economical value.

[Assessment of MS-Score and HScore in timeliness of diagnosis of macrophage activation syndrome associated with adult-onset Still's disease]

The data of 33 patients with adult-onset still's disease (AOSD)-associated macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) were retrospectively collected from January 2013 to December 2020 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)-2004 criteria, macrophage activation syndrome/juvenile idiopathic arthritis (MS-Score) and hemophagocytic syndrome diagnostic score (HScore) were used to diagnose AOSD-associated MAS, respectively. The time of diagnosis of AOSD-associated MAS by MS-Score was 19.0 (4.5, 31.0) days [M (Q₁,Q₃)] earlier than by HLH-2004 criteria, and 13.5 (0.5, 21.5) days earlier than by HScore (both P<0.05). The difference was not statistically significant between the time of diagnosis of AOSD-associated MAS by Hscore and by HLH-2004 criteria (P>0.05). There was significant difference among the three criteria (P<0.001). MS-Score can be used to diagnose AOSD-associated MAS earlier than HLH-2004 criteria, while the timeliness of HScore is not certain.

Defective MOFs-based electrocatalytic self-cleaning membrane for wastewater reclamation: Enhanced antibiotics removal, membrane fouling control and mechanisms

In order to resolve the poor antibiotics rejection and serious fouling of ultrafiltration (UF) membrane during municipal wastewater reclamation, a novel anodic membrane (defective UiO-66 (D-UiO-66)/Graphite/Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)) with high pure water flux (596.1 L•h ^- 1•m ^- 2•bar^-1) was fabricated by incorporating defective zirconium based metal-organic framework (D-UiO-66) and conductive graphite particles into PVDF matrix and applied in the coupling of electro-oxidation and membrane filtration process. Compared to the other anodic membranes (i.e., Graphite/PVDF and UiO-66/Graphite/PVDF), D-UiO-66/Graphite/PVDF possesses superior anti-fouling and self-cleaning abilities (flux recovery=100%, model foulant: bovine serum albumin) in both intermittent and continuous supply of electric field under current density of 0.01 mA/cm²; moreover, efficient antibiotics (tetracycline, norfloxacin, tylosin and sulfamethoxazole) removal (> 96.6%) and bactericidal efficiency against E. coli and S. aureus (100%) were achieved simultaneously without the addition of chemical reagents due to the higher electrocatalytic activity of anodic membrane for oxidation of pollutants by •OH and •O₂^- free radicals. Three degradation pathways of antibiotics were proposed and the self-cleaning mechanism of membrane was dominated by the synergy of the partial mineralization and the reduced fouling potential of foulants after oxidation as revealed by the increase in hydrophilicity, and decrease in negative charge and molecular weight. The fabricated membrane also presents excellent electrochemical stability, separation and self-cleaning performance for treatment of municipal secondary effluent during long-term filtration with low electric energy consumption, which is promising in wastewater reclamation.

Biopsy-tract haemocoagulase injection reduces major complications after CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsy

AIM

To determine whether the injection of haemocoagulase into the biopsy tract can reduce pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage after computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsy (PTLB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was performed involving patients with undiagnosed pulmonary lesions scheduled for PTLB between January 2020 and March 2021. Patients were assigned to the haemocoagulase group or the non-haemocoagulase group. After CT-guided biopsies were performed with a 17 G coaxial system, patients in the haemocoagulase group received a haemocoagulase injection (0.2-0.5 units) in the biopsy tract as the sheath was withdrawn. Postoperative image studies were performed to evaluate complications, including pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage. Factors, including the patient's position, lesion location, and pathological results, were evaluated to determine their associations with the complications.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients were included, with 44 men and a mean age of 53 years old. The overall incidences of pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage were 15% and 13%, respectively. The incidences of pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage were statistically significantly lower in the haemocoagulase group (8% and 6%, respectively) than in the non-haemocoagulase group (22% and 20%, respectively; p=0.04 and 0.03, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in haemoptysis between the haemocoagulase (6%) and non-haemocoagulase (2%) groups (p=0.23). There were also no statistically significant associations of pneumothorax or pulmonary haemorrhage with the patients' positions, lesion location, or pathological results.

CONCLUSION

Biopsy tract haemocoagulase injection reduced the incidences of postoperative pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage after PTLB.

[Screening and identification of key genes ATP1B3 and ENAH in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma: based on data mining and clinical validation]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the marker genes correlated with the prognosis, progression and clinical diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on bioinformatics methods.

METHODS

The TCGA-LIHC, GSE84432, GSE143233 and GSE63898 datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were analyzed. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) shared by different disease types were obtained using GEO2R and edge R packages, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Gene and Genome Encyclopedia (KEGG) enrichment analyses of the DEGs were performed. The expression levels of these DEGs in normal and cancerous tissues were verified in TCGA-LIHC to identify the upregulated genes in HCC. Survival analysis, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and correlation analysis between the key genes and the clinical features of the patients were carried out using the R language. The differential expressions of 15 key genes were verified in clinical samples of HCC and adjacent tissues using RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

A total of 118 common DEGs were obtained in the database, and among them two genes, namely ATPase Na +/K + transport subunit beta 3 (ATP1B3) and actin regulator (ENAH), showed increased expressions with disease progression. Survival analysis combined with the TCGA-LIHC dataset suggested that high expressions of ATP1B3 and ENAH were both significantly correlated with a poor prognosis of HCC patients (P < 0.05), and their AUC values were 0.821 and 0.933, respectively. A high expression of ATP1B3 was correlated with T stage, pathological stage and pathological grade of the tumors (P < 0.05), while that of ENAH was associated only with an advanced tumor grade (P < 0.05). The results of RT-qPCR showed that ATP1B3 and ENAH were both significantly upregulated in clinical HCC tissues (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

ATPIB3 and ENAH are both upregulated in HCC, and their high expressions may serve as biomarkers of progression of liver diseases and a poor prognosis of HCC.