Prospects for observing and localizing gravitational-wave transients with Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo and KAGRA

We present our current best estimate of the plausible observing scenarios for the Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo and KAGRA gravitational-wave detectors over the next several years, with the intention of providing information to facilitate planning for multi-messenger astronomy with gravitational waves. We estimate the sensitivity of the network to transient gravitational-wave signals for the third (O3), fourth (O4) and fifth observing (O5) runs, including the planned upgrades of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. We study the capability of the network to determine the sky location of the source for gravitational-wave signals from the inspiral of binary systems of compact objects, that is binary neutron star, neutron star-black hole, and binary black hole systems. The ability to localize the sources is given as a sky-area probability, luminosity distance, and comoving volume. The median sky localization area (90% credible region) is expected to be a few hundreds of square degrees for all types of binary systems during O3 with the Advanced LIGO and Virgo (HLV) network. The median sky localization area will improve to a few tens of square degrees during O4 with the Advanced LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA (HLVK) network. During O3, the median localization volume (90% credible region) is expected to be on the order of 10 5 , 10 6 , 10 7 Mpc 3 for binary neutron star, neutron star-black hole, and binary black hole systems, respectively. The localization volume in O4 is expected to be about a factor two smaller than in O3. We predict a detection count of 1 - 1 + 12 ( 10 - 10 + 52 ) for binary neutron star mergers, of 0 - 0 + 19 ( 1 - 1 + 91 ) for neutron star-black hole mergers, and 17 - 11 + 22 ( 79 - 44 + 89 ) for binary black hole mergers in a one-calendar-year observing run of the HLV network during O3 (HLVK network during O4). We evaluate sensitivity and localization expectations for unmodeled signal searches, including the search for intermediate mass black hole binary mergers.

[Investigation of treatment and analysis of prognostic risk on enterocutaneous fistula in China: a multicenter prospective study]

Objective: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment for enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) in China, and to explore the prognostic factors of ECF. Methods: A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted based on the Registration System of Chinese Gastrointestinal Fistula and Intra-Abdominal Infections to collect the clinical data of ECF patients from 54 medical centers in 22 provinces/municipalities from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. The clinical data included patient gender, age, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, underlying diseases, primary diseases, direct causes of ECF, location and type of ECF, complications, treatment and outcomes. All medical records were carefully filled in by the attending physicians, and then re-examined by more than two specialists. The diagnosis of ECF was based on the clinical manifestations, laboratory/imaging findings and intraoperative exploration. Results: A total of 1521 patients with ECF were enrolled, including 1099 males and 422 females, with a median age of 55 years. The top three primary diseases of ECF were malignant tumors in 626 cases (41.2%, including 540 gastrointestinal tumors, accounting for 86.3% of malignant tumors), gastrointestinal ulcers and perforations in 202 cases (13.3%), and trauma in 157 cases (10.3%). The direct causes of ECF were mainly surgical operation in 1194 cases (78.5%), followed by trauma in 156 (10.3%), spontaneous fistula due to Crohn's disease in 92 (6.0%), radiation intestinal injury in 41 (2.7%), severe pancreatitis in 20 (1.3%), endoscopic treatment in 13 (0.9%) and 5 cases (0.3%) of unknown reasons. All the patients were divided into three groups: 1350 cases (88.7%) with simple ECF, 150 (9.9%) with multiple ECF, and 21 (1.4%) with combined internal fistula. Among the patients with simple ECF, 438 cases (28.8%) were jejuno-ileal fistula, 313 (20.6%) colon fistula, 170 (11.2%) rectal fistula, 111 (7.3%) duodenal fistula, 76 (5.0%) ileocecal fistula, 65 (4.3%) ileocolic anastomotic fistula, 55 (3.6%) duodenal stump fistula, 36 (2.4%) gastrointestinal anastomotic fistula, 36 (2.4%) esophagogastric/esophagojejunal anastomotic fistula, 29 (1.9%) gastric fistula and 21 (1.4%) cholangiopancreatiointestinal. Among all the simple ECF patients, 991 were tubular fistula and 359 were labial fistula. A total of 1146 patients finished the treatment, of whom 1061 (92.6%) were healed (586 by surgery and 475 self-healing) and 85 (7.4%) died. A total of 1043 patients (91.0%) received nutritional support therapy, and 77 (6.7%) received fistuloclysis. Infectious source control procedures were applied to 1042 patients, including 711 (62.0%) with active lavage and drainage and 331 (28.9%) with passive drainage. Among them, 841 patients (73.4%) underwent minimally invasive procedures of infectious source control (replacement of drainage tube through sinus tract, puncture drainage, etc.), 201 (17.5%) underwent laparotomy drainage, while 104 (9.1%) did not undergo any drainage measures. A total of 610 patients (53.2%) received definitive operation, 24 patients died within postoperative 30-day with mortality of 3.9% (24/610), 69 (11.3%) developed surgical site infection (SSI), and 24 (3.9%) had a relapse of fistula. The highest cure rate was achieved in ileocecal fistula (100%), followed by rectal fistula (96.2%, 128/133) and duodenal stump fistula (95.7%,44/46). The highest mortality was found in combined internal fistula (3/12) and no death in ileocecal fistula. Univariate prognostic analysis showed that primary diseases as Crohn's disease (χ(2)=6.570, P=0.010) and appendicitis/appendiceal abscess (P=0.012), intestinal fistula combining with internal fistula (χ(2)=5.460, P=0.019), multiple ECF (χ(2)=7.135, P=0.008), esophagogastric / esophagojejunal anastomotic fistula (χ(2)=9.501, P=0.002), ECF at ileocecal junction (P=0.012), non-drainage/passive drainage before the diagnosis of intestinal fistula (χ(2)=9.688, P=0.008), non-drainage/passive drainage after the diagnosis of intestinal fistula (χ(2)=9.711, P=0.008), complicating with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) (χ(2)=179.699, P<0.001), sepsis (χ(2)=211.851, P<0.001), hemorrhage (χ(2)=85.300, P<0.001), pulmonary infection (χ(2)=60.096, P<0.001), catheter-associated infection (χ(2)=10.617, P=0.001) and malnutrition (χ(2)=21.199, P<0.001) were associated with mortality. Multivariate prognostic analysis cofirmed that sepsis (OR=7.103, 95%CI:3.694-13.657, P<0.001), complicating with MODS (OR=5.018, 95%CI:2.170-11.604, P<0.001), and hemorrhage (OR=4.703, 95%CI: 2.300-9.618, P<0.001) were independent risk factors of the death for ECF patients. Meanwhile, active lavage and drainage after the definite ECF diagnosis was the protective factor (OR=0.223, 95%CI: 0.067-0.745, P=0.015). Conclusions: The overall mortality of ECF is still high. Surgical operation is the most common cause of ECF. Complications e.g. sepsis, MODS, hemorrhage, and catheter-associated infection, are the main causes of death. Active lavage and drainage is important to improve the prognosis of ECF.

Relationship Between Carcass Weight, Muscle, Fat, and Predicted Lean Yield for Commercial Pigs in Ontario

ObjectivesGreater knowledge of variance and relationships of pork carcass parameters could be used to improve performance, efficiency, and profitability of the pork industry. Previous research has investigated the correlation between pork carcass parameters; however, there are still many misunderstandings, particularly in commercially representative pigs. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the correlation and variance of carcass weight, fat depth, muscle depth, and predicted lean yield in commercial pigs.Materials and MethodsThe second largest commercial pig slaughter facility in Ontario slaughtered approximately 1.5 million pigs in 2018. Carcass data (hot carcass weight, fat depth, muscle depth, and predicted lean yield) from 1025,572 pigs was used for this study with pigs slaughtered on each production day of 2018 (between January 2, 2018 and December 31, 2018). Hot carcass weight was reported immediately following slaughter as a head-on weight, and fat depth and muscle depth were measured with a Destron PG-100 probe (International Destron Technologies, Markham, Ontario). The equation used for predicted lean yield was the Canadian Lean Yield equation (CLY (%) = 68.1863– (0.7833 × fat depth) + (0.0689 × muscle depth) + (0.0080 × fat depth2) – (0.0002 × muscle depth2) + (0.0006 × fat depth × muscle depth). Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were calculated among all parameters using RStudio version 1.1.456 and R version 3.5.1 statistical software. Correlation coefficients were considered significantly different from 0 at P < 0.05. Correlations were considered weak (in absolute value) for r < 0.35, moderate for 0.36 ≤ r ≤ 0.67, and strong for r ≥ 0.68. Linear regression models were created between parameters that had meaningful relationships using the RStudio statistical software. Gnuplot version 5.2 was used to create scatter plots to allow for better visualization of the correlation between meaningful parameters.ResultsThe mean ± standard deviation for fat depth, muscle depth, hot carcass weight, and predicted lean yield were 18.27 ± 4.12 mm, 65.69 ± 9.06 mm, 105.93 ± 8.39 kg, and 61.03 ± 1.91%, respectively. We observed weak positive correlations between fat depth and hot carcass weight (r = 0.27; P < 0.0001), and between muscle depth and hot carcass weight (r = 0.17; P < 0.0001). We obtained a weak negative correlation between predicted lean yield and hot carcass weight (r = –0.21; P < 0.0001). The predicted lean yield equation used for this set of pigs included measurements for fat depth and muscle depth, so strong correlation between these parameters was expected. We obtained a moderate positive correlation between muscle depth and predicted lean yield (r = 0.39; P < 0.0001) and a strong negative correlation between fat depth and predicted lean yield (r = –0.96; P < 0.0001).ConclusionResults from this dataset revealed that hot carcass weight was generally not correlated with fat depth, muscle depth, or predicted lean yield. The conclusion of this study based on the current dataset is that pigs do not reach a weight threshold where they consistently become fatter or heavier muscled.

Measurement of ϒ(1S) Elliptic Flow at Forward Rapidity in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

The first measurement of the ϒ(1S) elliptic flow coefficient (v_{2}) is performed at forward rapidity (2.5<y<4) in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The results are obtained with the scalar product method and are reported as a function of transverse momentum (p_{T}) up to 15  GeV/c in the 5%-60% centrality interval. The measured ϒ(1S)v_{2} is consistent with 0 and with the small positive values predicted by transport models within uncertainties. The v_{2} coefficient in 2<p_{T}<15  GeV/c is lower than that of inclusive J/ψ mesons in the same p_{T} interval by 2.6 standard deviations. These results, combined with earlier suppression measurements, are in agreement with a scenario in which the ϒ(1S) production in Pb-Pb collisions at LHC energies is dominated by dissociation limited to the early stage of the collision, whereas in the J/ψ case there is substantial experimental evidence of an additional regeneration component.

P6299Dietary nitrate restores cardiac ischemic tolerance in type 2 diabetic mice and protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury via soluble guanylate cyclase in red blood cells

Background

Inorganic nitrate has been shown to exert beneficial cardiovascular effects, which are thought to be mediated via sequential reduction of nitrate to nitrite and nitric oxide (NO). We have previously reported that hearts from type 2 diabetic db/db mice have impaired cardiac ischemic tolerance and that this effect involves reduced export of NO-like bioactivity from red blood cells (RBCs). It remains unknown whether nitrate supplementation may affect cardiac ischemic tolerance in diabetes through interference with RBC function.

Purpose

To test the hypothesis that dietary nitrate supplementation improves cardiac ischemic tolerance of hearts via an effect mediated through RBCs in type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Type 2 diabetic (db/db) and wild type (WT) mice on nitrate-free chow were treated with vehicle or nitrate (1 mM) in the drinking water for 4 weeks. Hearts were isolated and perfused using the Langendorff technique. After 30 min stabilization, the hearts were subjected to 40 min global ischemia followed by 60 min reperfusion. In protocol 1, isolated hearts from db/db and WT mice given vehicle or nitrate were perfused with buffer. In protocol 2, only hearts from untreated WT mice were used. Washed RBCs from WT or db/db mice treated with vehicle or nitrate were administered to WT hearts at the onset of ischemia with and without the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitor (1H-[1,2,4] Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, ODQ). In both protocols post-ischemic recovery of cardiac function was evaluated by determination of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP).

Results

In Protocol 1, post-ischemic recovery of LVDP was impaired in hearts from db/db mice in comparison with hearts from WT mice (Fig. A). Dietary nitrate restored the ischemic tolerance of hearts from db/db mice but did not affect post-ischemic recovery of hearts from WT mice (Fig. A). In Protocol 2, administration of RBCs collected from vehicle-treated db/db mice significantly impaired post-ischemic recovery of hearts from WT mice (Fig. B). Notably, administration of RBCs from nitrate-treated db/db mice completely reversed the impairment of post-ischemic cardiac function induced by diabetic RBCs (Fig. B). Interestingly, post-ischemic cardiac function did not differ between hearts given RBCs from nitrate-treated db/db and WT mice (Fig. B). The protective effect of RBCs from nitrate-treated mice was abolished by pre-incubation of the RBCs with ODQ, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) (Fig. C). By contrast, pretreatment of isolated WT hearts with ODQ failed to block the protective effect of RBCs from nitrate-treated mice (Fig C) indicating that sGC in the RBC but not in the heart is critical for nitrate-induced cardiac protection.

Conclusion

Dietary nitrate restores cardiac ischemic tolerance in db/db mice and protects the heart against ischemia–reperfusion injury via an RBC NO-sGC pathway.

Search for Subsolar Mass Ultracompact Binaries in Advanced LIGO's Second Observing Run

We present a search for subsolar mass ultracompact objects in data obtained during Advanced LIGO's second observing run. In contrast to a previous search of Advanced LIGO data from the first observing run, this search includes the effects of component spin on the gravitational waveform. We identify no viable gravitational-wave candidates consistent with subsolar mass ultracompact binaries with at least one component between 0.2  M_{⊙}-1.0  M_{⊙}. We use the null result to constrain the binary merger rate of (0.2  M_{⊙}, 0.2  M_{⊙}) binaries to be less than 3.7×10^{5}  Gpc^{-3} yr^{-1} and the binary merger rate of (1.0  M_{⊙}, 1.0  M_{⊙}) binaries to be less than 5.2×10^{3}  Gpc^{-3} yr^{-1}. Subsolar mass ultracompact objects are not expected to form via known stellar evolution channels, though it has been suggested that primordial density fluctuations or particle dark matter with cooling mechanisms and/or nuclear interactions could form black holes with subsolar masses. Assuming a particular primordial black hole (PBH) formation model, we constrain a population of merging 0.2  M_{⊙} black holes to account for less than 16% of the dark matter density and a population of merging 1.0  M_{⊙} black holes to account for less than 2% of the dark matter density. We discuss how constraints on the merger rate and dark matter fraction may be extended to arbitrary black hole population models that predict subsolar mass binaries.

Investigations of Anisotropic Flow Using Multiparticle Azimuthal Correlations in pp, p-Pb, Xe-Xe, and Pb-Pb Collisions at the LHC

Measurements of anisotropic flow coefficients (v_{n}) and their cross-correlations using two- and multiparticle cumulant methods are reported in collisions of pp at sqrt[s]=13  TeV, p-Pb at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, Xe-Xe at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.44  TeV, and Pb-Pb at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV recorded with the ALICE detector. The multiplicity dependence of v_{n} is studied in a very wide range from 20 to 3000 particles produced in the midrapidity region |η|<0.8 for the transverse momentum range 0.2<p_{T}<3.0  GeV/c. An ordering of the coefficients v_{2}>v_{3}>v_{4} is found in pp and p-Pb collisions, similar to that seen in large collision systems, while a weak v_{2} multiplicity dependence is observed relative to nucleus-nucleus collisions in the same multiplicity range. Using a novel subevent method, v_{2} measured with four-particle cumulants is found to be compatible with that from six-particle cumulants in pp and p-Pb collisions. The magnitude of the correlation between v_{n}^{2} and v_{m}^{2}, evaluated with the symmetric cumulants SC(m,n) is observed to be positive at all multiplicities for v_{2} and v_{4}, while for v_{2} and v_{3} it is negative and changes sign for multiplicities below 100, which may indicate a different v_{n} fluctuation pattern in this multiplicity range. The observed long-range multiparticle azimuthal correlations in high multiplicity pp and p-Pb collisions can neither be described by pythia 8 nor by impact-parameter-Glasma, music, and ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics model calculations, and hence, provide new insights into the understanding of collective effects in small collision systems.

3055Interactions between metabolism regulator adiponectin and intrinsic cardiac autonomic nervous system: a potential treatment target for atrial fibrillation

Background

Previous studies indicated that inhibiting the cardiac autonomic nervous system (CANS) suppressed atrial fibrillation (AF). Clinical research revealed that high levels of serum adiponectin (APN) could exert a beneficial influence on sympathetic and vagal tone in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether APN could regulate CANS and subsequently suppress rapid atrial pacing (RAP)-induced AF.

Methods

Eighteen anesthetized male beagles were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (saline plus sham RAP, N=6), the RAP group (saline plus 3 h RAP, N=6) and the APN + RAP group (APN plus 3 h RAP, N=6). Multielectrode catheters were attached to all atria and pulmonary veins. After bilateral thoracotomy, APN (10 μg, 0.1 μg/μL) or saline was microinjected into 4 fat pads, each containing one of the major atrial ganglionated plexi (GP), prior to RAP. Electrophysiological parameters including atrial effective refractory period (ERP), cumulative window of vulnerability (ΣWOV), anterior right GP (ARGP) function and neural activity were measured at baseline and 3 h after pacing. The fat pads containing the GP were excised for molecular biological testing and pathological staining at the end of the protocol.

Results

Compared with the control treatment, RAP markedly shortened ERP values at all tested sites and increased ΣWOV, ARGP function and neural activity, whereas APN injection into the GP reversed these changes. Mechanistically, APN treatment ameliorated the increased inflammatory response induced by RAP. In addition, the APN receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 were detected both in neurons and in non-neuronal cells. Downstream of the AdipoRs, AMPK signaling was significantly activated and NF-κB signaling was significantly inhibited. More importantly, binding between APN and AdipoRs promoted macrophage phenotype switching from proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory.

Figures

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that local administration of APN into atrial GP suppress RAP-induced AF by regulating the activity of the CANS. AMPK activation and macrophage phenotype switching may contribute to the attenuation of GP inflammation after APN injection. Therefore, APN signaling may provide a potential therapeutic target to AF.

First Observation of an Attractive Interaction between a Proton and a Cascade Baryon

This Letter presents the first experimental observation of the attractive strong interaction between a proton and a multistrange baryon (hyperon) Ξ^{-}. The result is extracted from two-particle correlations of combined p-Ξ^{-}⊕p[over ¯]-Ξ[over ¯]^{+} pairs measured in p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV at the LHC with ALICE. The measured correlation function is compared with the prediction obtained assuming only an attractive Coulomb interaction and a standard deviation in the range [3.6, 5.3] is found. Since the measured p-Ξ^{-}⊕p[over ¯]-Ξ[over ¯]^{+} correlation is significantly enhanced with respect to the Coulomb prediction, the presence of an additional, strong, attractive interaction is evident. The data are compatible with recent lattice calculations by the HAL-QCD Collaboration, with a standard deviation in the range [1.8, 3.7]. The lattice potential predicts a shallow repulsive Ξ^{-} interaction within pure neutron matter and this implies stiffer equations of state for neutron-rich matter including hyperons. Implications of the strong interaction for the modeling of neutron stars are discussed.

[Progress in epidemiological research on relationship between psychological and social factors and stroke]

Stroke has caused a heavy disease burden across the world, and it has become a worldwide public health problem. Several studies have assessed the relationship between psychological and social factors and risk of stroke so far. This paper summarizes the progress in epidemiological research on the relationship between psychological and social factors (depression, psycho-social stress, anxiety, loneliness, psychological distress, social support, social isolation, and social network) and the risk for stroke, the results of these studies were inconsistent. Most studies showed an association between these factors and the incidence of stroke, but there were still some studies showing no such association.

Investigating seed dormancy in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.): understanding the physiological changes in embryo during after-ripening and germination

The dormancy of seeds of upland cotton can be broken during dry after-ripening, but the mechanism of its dormancy release remains unclear. Freshly harvested cotton seeds were subjected to after-ripening for 180 days. Cotton seeds from different days of after-ripening (DAR) were sampled for dynamic physiological determination and germination tests. The intact seeds and isolated embryos were germinated to assess effects of the seed coat on embryo germination. Content of H₂ O₂ and phytohormones and activities of antioxidant enzymes and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were measured during after-ripening and germination. Germination of intact seeds increased from 7% upon harvest to 96% at 30 DAR, while embryo germination improved from an initial rate of 82% to 100% after 14 DAR. Based on T₅₀ (time when 50% of seeds germinate) and germination index, the intact seed and isolated embryo needed 30 and 21 DAR, respectively, to acquire relatively stable germination. The content of H₂ O₂ increased during after-ripening and continued to increase within the first few hours of imbibition, along with a decrease in abscisic acid (ABA) content. A noticeable increase was observed in gibberellic acid content during germination when ABA content decreased to a lower level. Coat removal treatment accelerated embryo absorption of water, which further improved the accumulation of H₂ O₂ and changed peroxidase content during germination. For cotton seed, the alleviation of coat-imposed dormancy required 30 days of after-ripening, accompanied by rapid dormancy release (within 21 DAR) in naked embryos. H₂ O₂ acted as a core link between the response to environmental changes and induction of other physiological changes for breaking seed dormancy.

T^{3} Stern-Gerlach Matter-Wave Interferometer

We present a unique matter-wave interferometer whose phase scales with the cube of the time the atom spends in the interferometer. Our scheme is based on a full-loop Stern-Gerlach interferometer incorporating four magnetic field gradient pulses to create a state-dependent force. In contrast to typical atom interferometers that make use of laser light for the splitting and recombination of the wave packets, this realization uses no light and can therefore serve as a high-precision surface probe at very close distances.

A52 MERS coronaviruses from camels in Africa exhibit region-dependent genetic diversity

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes a zoonotic respiratory disease of global public health concern, and dromedary camels are the only proven source of this zoonotic infection. Although MERS-CoV infection is ubiquitous in dromedaries across Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, the continuous appearance of zoonotic MERS cases in humans is confined to the Arabian Peninsula. MERS-CoV from Africa has hitherto been poorly studied. Here, we report the genetic and phenotypic characterization of MERS-CoV from dromedaries in African countries. Phylogenetically, viruses from dromedaries in Africa formed a monophyletic clade, which we have provisionally designated as virus clade C. Molecular dating analyses of MERS-CoV, including clade C viruses, suggests that the ancestral MERS-CoV in dromedaries could have spread to the two continents within a short timeframe. Camel MERS-CoVs from west and north African countries form a subclade (C1) that shares genetic signatures of a major deletion in the accessory gene ORF4b. Compared with human and camel MERS-CoV from Saudi Arabia, virus isolates from Burkina Faso (BF785) and Nigeria (Nig1657) had lower virus replication competence in Calu-3 cells and in ex vivo cultures of human bronchus and lung, and BF785 replicated to lower titer in lungs of human DPP4-transduced mice. However, it is still inconclusive whether ORF4b deletions may lead to the reduced replication competence of BF785 and Nig1657. Genetic and phenotypic differences in West African viruses may be relevant to the zoonotic potential of MERS-CoV.

[Characteristics of secretory otitis media in children with cleft palate and timing of intervention of tympanic membrane]

Objective:To explore the characteristics of otitis media with effusion(OME) in children with cleft palate(CP),including the incidence rate, age peak,relationship between cleft palate type and OME. And to explore the timing of VTI intervention in CP children with OME.Method: This study included congenital CP children who were plant to do palatoplasty.They all finished acoustic impedance tests and auditory brainstem responses(ABR) before surgery.Analyze the characteristics of OME and compare the hearing effects and complications between CP children underwent palatoplasty with VTI and those underwent palatoplasty without VTI.Result:The incidence of OME in CP children is 82% and the average is (11.59±6.60) months.The average ABR V wave threshold of CP children with OME is 46.5 dB nHL,of which about 68% children had moderate hearing loss. The latency of Ⅰ,Ⅲ and Ⅴ waves was prolonged, and there was no change in wave interval compared with whom without OME. The type of cleft palate was not related to the incidence of OME(χ²=2.532, P=0.639).Compared with the preoperative hearing thresholds, the percentage of hearing recovery in 1 month,6 months and 12 months after VTI was 92.4%, 92.2% and 96.2% respectively.Persistent OME still exists in 41% of the children in the only palatoplasty group after operation.Conclusion: It is found that the incidence of OME in CP children is higher, the average age is earlier, and the degree of hearing loss is greater. Thus, no matter what the the type of cleft palate is,the doctors should pay attention to the hearing status of the CP children.If they are accompanied by OME with hearing loss, VTI is needed at the same time of palatoplasty.Palatoplasty alone has limitations on hearing improvement in some children with cleft palate.

Heat stress negatively affects the transcriptome related to overall metabolism and milk protein synthesis in mammary tissue of midlactating dairy cows

Inadequate dry matter intake only partially accounts for the decrease in milk protein synthesis during heat stress (HS) in dairy cows. Our hypothesis is that reduced milk protein synthesis during HS in dairy cows is also caused by biological changes within the mammary gland. The objective of this study was to assess the hypothesis via RNA-Seq analysis of mammary tissue. Herein, four dairy cows were used in a crossover design where HS was induced for 9 days in environmental chambers. There was a 30-day washout between periods. Mammary tissue was collected via biopsy at the end of each environmental period (HS or pair-fed and thermal neutral) for transcriptomic analysis. RNA-Seq analysis revealed HS affected >2,777 genes (false discovery rate-adjusted P value < 0.05) in mammary tissue. Expression of main milk protein-encoding genes and several key genes related to regulation of protein synthesis and amino acid and glucose transport were downregulated by HS. Bioinformatics analysis revealed an overall decrease of mammary tissue metabolic activity by HS (especially carbohydrate and lipid metabolism) and an increase in immune activation and inflammation. Network analysis revealed a major role of TNF, IFNG, S100A8, S100A9, and IGF-1 in inducing/controlling the inflammatory response, with a central role of NF-κB in the process of immunoactivation. The same analysis indicated an overall inhibition of PPARγ. Collectively, these data suggest HS directly controls milk protein synthesis via reducing the transcription of metabolic-related genes and increasing inflammation-related genes.

Tests of General Relativity with GW170817

The recent discovery by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo of a gravitational wave signal from a binary neutron star inspiral has enabled tests of general relativity (GR) with this new type of source. This source, for the first time, permits tests of strong-field dynamics of compact binaries in the presence of matter. In this Letter, we place constraints on the dipole radiation and possible deviations from GR in the post-Newtonian coefficients that govern the inspiral regime. Bounds on modified dispersion of gravitational waves are obtained; in combination with information from the observed electromagnetic counterpart we can also constrain effects due to large extra dimensions. Finally, the polarization content of the gravitational wave signal is studied. The results of all tests performed here show good agreement with GR.

Evaluating predictive factors for determining the presence of lateral pelvic node metastasis in rectal cancer patients following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

AIM

The need or otherwise for lateral pelvic node dissection (LPND) in rectal cancer patients with clinical lateral pelvic node metastasis (LPNM) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is controversial. This study was designed to explore the predictive factors for pathological LPNM in rectal cancer patients with clinical LPNM after nCRT.

METHOD

From January 2010 to February 2018, a consecutive series of patients with rectal cancer and clinical LPNM after nCRT who underwent total mesorectal excision and LPND were reviewed. Patient demographics, operative and pathological outcomes were collected and analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 76 consecutive cases were included in this study: 53 (69.7%) patients underwent unilateral LPND and 23 (30.3%) bilateral LPND. The pathological results showed that LPNM was found in 13 (17.1%) patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the post-nCRT lateral pelvic node size ≥ 5 mm (OR = 7.67, 95% CI = 1.45-40.63, P = 0.017) and mucinous/signet-ring adenocarcinoma (OR = 4.60, 95% CI = 1.11-19.08, P = 0.035) were independent risk factors for pathological LPNM.

CONCLUSION

Post-nCRT lateral pelvic node size ≥ 5 mm and mucinous/signet-ring adenocarcinoma were independent predictive factors of pathological LPNM for rectal cancer patients with clinical LPNM after nCRT, and patients with these characteristics may benefit from LPND.

The effect of oral polyethylene glycol combined with simethicone for colonoscopy on cecal intubation rate, tolerability and acceptability : a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy adjunction of oral simethicone to polyethylene glycol as bowel preparation agent on cecal intubation rate.

METHODS

We searched EMBASE, PubMed and Cochrane library for randomized controlled trials regarding simeticone plus polyethylene glycol as oral drinking agents before gastroscopy,we used the soft RevMan5.3 to perform statistical analysis and stata12.0 for publication bias.

RESULTS

12 randomized trials that met the inclusion criteria were therefore pooled into a meta-analysis, which included a total of 5,112 patients. There were no significant differences on cecal intubation rate in two groups(RR=1.0,95%CI : 0.99-1.01, P=0.93) with moderate level of evidence;Subgroups analysis of 2LPEG+ Simethicone VS 2LPEG(RR =1.0, 95% CI : 0.98,1.01), 2LPEG+ Simethicone VS 4L PEG (RR=1.00, 95% CI : 0.98,1.02), PEG+ Simethicone with bisacodyl vs PEG (RR =1.00, 95% CI : 0.99,1.02), PEG+Simethicone without bisacodyl vs PEG (RR =1.00, 95% CI : 0.98,1.02) showed no difference on cecal intubation rate.There was aslo no significant difference on cecal intubation time.Abdominal bloating incidence was lower in PEG+Simethicone group than that in PEG group (RR=0.53, 95%CI : 0.31, 0.91, P=0.02). The meta-analysis result also showed a better acceptability in PEG+Simethicone group (RR=1.28, 95% CI : 1.01, 1.49, P=0.001).

CONCLUSION

Adjunction of oral simethicone to polyethylene glycol as bowel preparation agent dose not improve cecal intubation rate on colonoscopy,but with better gastrointestinal tolerability and acceptability.