Correlating micro/meso pore evolution and chemical structure variation in a mild thermal treatment of a subbituminite

This work investigates the evolution of micro/meso pores during a mild thermal treatment of subbituminous coal based on the observation of coal structure changes with the gradual detachment of organic matter from the coal. Pores in coal can be described as super-micropores (d < 1 nm), micropores (1 nm < d < 2 nm) and mesopores (2 nm < d < 50 nm). The decomposition of the carboxyl group at 200 °C decreases the super-micropore volume. A mild and sustained reaction takes place at 300 °C to gradually change the aromaticity and CH₂/CH₃ ratio of the treated coal. The amount of micropore structure sharply decreases in the early stages of heating, while the amount of mesopore structure continuously decreases during the whole process. A dramatic reaction takes place at 400 °C to sharply change the aromaticity and CH₂/CH₃ ratio of the treated coal, while the detachment of volatile compounds from the coal matrix caused an evident variation in the mesopore structure of the coal. The aromaticity and CH₂/CH₃ ratio of coal organics are found to correlate with the volumes of super-micropores and mesopores, respectively. The super-micropores are identified as comprising the inter-layer distance between stacks of aromatic rings, and mesopores are the spaces between macromolecular aromatic rings which are inter-connected via aliphatic chains.

The aromaticity and CH₂/CH₃ ratio of coal organics correlate with the volumes of super-micropores and mesopores, respectively.

Co-occurrence of DSM-IV mental disorders and alcohol use disorder among adult Chinese males

BACKGROUND

Studies from high-income countries report moderate-to-strong positive associations between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other mental disorders, but there is little evidence about the comorbidity of AUD from low-and-middle-income countries.

METHODS

A sample of 74 752 adults from five provinces that account for >12% of China's adult population was screened using the General Health Questionnaire, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV was administered by psychiatrists to a subsample of 9619 males. The associations between AUD and other mental disorders at each site and the characteristics of men with AUD with and without comorbid mental disorders were estimated using logistic regression and summarized across sites using meta-analysis. Generalized estimation equations estimated the associations between the clinical features of alcohol dependence and comorbidity.

RESULTS

Robust inverse associations were found between current AUD and any mood disorder (adjusted OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-0.8) and any anxiety disorder (OR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3-1.0). Compared with men without AUD, men with AUD without comorbid disorders were more likely to be middle-aged, to be currently married, and to have higher family incomes. Men with comorbid AUD and other disorders were more likely to have the clinical features of alcohol dependence than men with AUD without comorbid disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Inverse associations between AUD and other mental disorders and the higher social status of men with AUD than men without AUD found in this large, representative sample of community-dwelling Chinese males highlight the importance of considering the local substance-use culture when designing clinical or preventive interventions for addictive conditions.

BDNF and BMI effects on brain structures of bipolar offspring: results from the global mood and brain science initiative

OBJECTIVE

To compare brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels between offspring of individuals with bipolar disorders (BD) and healthy controls (HCs) and investigate the effects of BDNF levels and body mass index (BMI) on brain structures.

METHOD

Sixty-seven bipolar offspring and 45 HCs were included (ages 8-28). Structural images were acquired using 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Serum BDNF levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance were conducted.

RESULTS

Significantly higher BDNF levels were observed among bipolar offspring, relative to HCs (P > 0.025). Offspring status moderated the association between BDNF and BMI (F₁ =4.636, P = 0.034). After adjustment for relevant covariates, there was a trend for a significant interaction of group and BDNF on neuroimaging parameters (Wilks'λ F_56,94 =1.463, P = 0.052), with significant effects on cerebellar white matter and superior and middle frontal regions. Brain volume and BDNF were positively correlated among HCs and negatively correlated among bipolar offspring. Interactions between BDNF and BMI on brain volumes were non-significant among HCs (Wilks'λ F_28,2 =2.229, P = 0.357), but significant among bipolar offspring (Wilks'λ F_28,12 =2.899, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

Offspring status and BMI moderate the association between BDNF levels and brain structures among bipolar offspring, underscoring BDNF regulation and overweight/obesity as key moderators of BD pathogenesis.

Orbital-dependent charge dynamics in MnP revealed by optical study

Unconventional superconductivity often emerges at the border of long-range magnetic orders. Understanding the low-energy charge dynamics may provide crucial information on the formation of superconductivity. Here we report the unpolarized/polarized optical conductivity study of high quality MnP single crystals at ambient pressure. Our data reveal two types of charge carriers with very different lifetimes. In combination with the first-principles calculations, we show that the short-lifetime carriers have flat Fermi sheets which become gapped in the helimagnetic phase, causing a dramatic change in the low-frequency optical spectra, while the long-lifetime carriers are anisotropic three-dimensional like which are little affected by the magnetic transitions and provide major contributions to the transport properties. This orbital-dependent charge dynamics originates from the special crystal structure of MnP and may have an influence on the unconventional superconductivity and its interplay with helimagnetism at high pressures.

Effect of Retrievable Stent Size on Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In clinical practice, stent diameter is one of the variable properties important for endovascular treatment. A consensus guideline for stent retriever size selection has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different diameters of Solitaire retrievers on outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Of 628 patients enrolled from the Endovascular Treatment for Acute Anterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke Registry, 256 were treated with the Solitaire 4-mm device and 372, with the 6-mm device. We matched patients treated with the 2 stent sizes using propensity score analysis. The successful outcome was reperfusion as measured by the modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score immediately postprocedure and the dichotomized modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and in-hospital mortality were also recorded.

RESULTS

After propensity score analysis, group outcomes did not differ. In addition, in patients with atherosclerosis-related occlusion, a higher reperfusion rate (P = .021) was observed in the Solitaire 4 group, as well as a shorter time interval (P = .002) and fewer passes (P = .025). Independent predictors of successful reperfusion in patients with atherosclerotic disease on logistic analysis were the small stent (OR, 3.217; 95% CI, 1.129-9.162; P = .029) and the propensity score acting as a covariate (OR, 52.84; 95% CI, 3.468-805.018; P = .004).

CONCLUSIONS

We found no evidence of a differential effect of intra-arterial therapy based on the size of Solitaire retrievers. In patients with atherosclerotic disease, favorable reperfusion was associated with deployment of a small stent.

Enhancement of anaerobic digestion of grass by pretreatment with imidazolium-based ionic liquids

In this work, the toxicity of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) and the enhancement of high-solid anaerobic digestion by pretreatment were studied. Compared with [Bmim]Cl, [Bmim]OAc and [Bmim]BF₄, [Bmim]PF₆ had the highest toxicity. When the mass ratio of [Bmim]PF₆ to grass was higher than 1:10, biogas was not produced within 30 days. The ability to remove lignin and hemicellulose followed the sequence of [Bmim]OAc, [Bmim]Cl, [Bmim]BF₄ and [Bmim]PF₆. The crystallinity index of grass pretreated with [Bmim]OAc, [Bmim]Cl, [Bmim]BF₄ and [Bmim]PF₆ reduced by 73.83%, 54.44%, 17.52% and 7.47%, respectively. The pretreatment with ILs enhanced the methane yield of grass by reducing crystallinity and particle size. The grass pretreated with [Bmim]OAc had the highest methane yield, about 221 mL/g volatile solids, due to its good lignin removal ability and relative low toxicity. After 10 times recycling, the cumulative methane yield of grass pretreated by recycled [Bmim]OAc decreased by 11.95%.

[The understanding of Epstein-Barr virus associated lymphoproliferative disorder]

In recent years, there are increasing articles concerning Epstein-Barr virus associated lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV+ LPD), and the name of EBV+ LPD is used widely. However, the meaning of EBV+ LPD used is not the same, which triggered confusion of the understanding and obstacles of the communication. In order to solve this problem. Literature was reviewed with combination of our cases to clarify the concept of EBV+ LPD and to expound our understanding about it. In general, it is currently accepted that EBV+ LPD refers to a spectrum of lymphoid tissue diseases with EBV infection, including hyperplasia, borderline lesions, and neoplastic diseases. According to this concept, EBV+ LPD should not include infectious mononucleosis (IM) and severe acute EBV infection (EBV+ hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, fatal IM, fulminant IM, fulminant T-cell LPD), and should not include the explicitly named EBV+ lymphomas (such as extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, aggressive NK cell leukemia, Burkitt lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma, etc.) either. EBV+ LPD should currently include: (1) EBV+ B cell-LPD: lymphomatoid granulomatosis, EBV + immunodeficiency related LPD, chronic active EBV infection-B cell type, senile EBV+ LPD, etc. (2) EBV+ T/NK cell-LPD: CAEBV-T/NK cell type, hydroa vacciniforme, hypersensitivity of mosquito bite, etc. In addition, EBV+ LPD is classified, based on the disease process, pathological and molecular data, as 3 grades: grade1, hyperplasia (polymorphic lesions with polyclonal cells); grade 2, borderline (polymorphic lesions with clonality); grade 3, neoplasm (monomorphic lesions with clonality). There are overlaps between EBV+ LPD and typical hyperplasia, as well as EBV+ LPD and typical lymphomas. However, the most important tasks are clinical vigilance, early identification of potential severe complications, and treating the patients in a timely manner to avoid serious complications, as well as the active treatment to save lives when the complications happened.

[Application of voice acoustic analysis of surgical effect in children with benign hyperplastic vocal cord disease]

Objective:To evaluate the use of voice acoustic analysis in children with hyperplasia diseases of vocal cords. Method:The software developed by Dr.Speech was used to do acoustic analysis for 93 children patients with vocal cords hyperplasia diseases before the operation, 15 and 30 days after the operation, and 76 normal subjects were also analyzed as the controls. Result:The Jitter, Shimmer and NNE parameters were higher, and HNR, SNR parameters were significant lower in vocal cords hyperplasia diseases group than in normal controls (P<0.01). The Jitter, Shimmer and NNE decreased, HNR, SNR increased 15 days and 30 days after the operation in vocal cords hyperplasia diseases group. Compared with preoperative group, there was a highly statistically significant at 15 and 30 days after the operation (P<0.01). All the data returned to normal levels 30 days after surgery. Conclusion:Voice acoustic analysis can evaluate the quality of children voice and the surgical effect objectively and quantitatively.

Structure similarity-guided image binarization for automatic segmentation of epidermis surface microstructure images

Partitioning epidermis surface microstructure (ESM) images into skin ridge and skin furrow regions is an important preprocessing step before quantitative analyses on ESM images. Binarization segmentation is a potential technique for partitioning ESM images because of its computational simplicity and ease of implementation. However, even for some state-of-the-art binarization methods, it remains a challenge to automatically segment ESM images, because the grey-level histograms of ESM images have no obvious external features to guide automatic assessment of appropriate thresholds. Inspired by human visual perceptual functions of structural feature extraction and comparison, we propose a structure similarity-guided image binarization method. The proposed method seeks for the binary image that best approximates the input ESM image in terms of structural features. The proposed method is validated by comparing it with two recently developed automatic binarization techniques as well as a manual binarization method on 20 synthetic noisy images and 30 ESM images. The experimental results show: (1) the proposed method possesses self-adaption ability to cope with different images with same grey-level histogram; (2) compared to two automatic binarization techniques, the proposed method significantly improves average accuracy in segmenting ESM images with an acceptable decrease in computational efficiency; (3) and the proposed method is applicable for segmenting practical EMS images. (Matlab code of the proposed method can be obtained by contacting with the corresponding author.).

Distinctive oil shale pyrolysis behavior in indirectly heated fixed bed with internals

Variation of chemical species from pyrolysis with temperature, with light oil/diesel and VGO dominant at temperatures below 450 °C and above 300 °C.

The recycle of red mud as excellent SCR catalyst for removal of NOx

The red mud is reused as catalyst with excellent DeNO_x efficiency at high temperature by milling and neutralization method.

Structure and performance of a V2O5–WO3/TiO2–SiO2 catalyst derived from blast furnace slag (BFS) for DeNOx

The excellent DeNOx performances for a slag-based catalyst derived from its presence of proper amounts of Al₂O₃/Fe₂O₃/SO₄²⁻ as the catalyst dopants or impurities from processing Ti-bearing BFS in making the catalyst.

Family member-based supervision of patients with hypertension: a cluster randomized trial in rural China

Empirical evidence has suggested that social support from family can help patients take their medicines correctly. This study aims to evaluate the role of a family member-based supervision package in the management of hypertension using a cluster randomized trial in rural China. We recruited patients with hypertension from four villages in Yangzhong and randomly allocated them to the control group (n=288) and the intervention group (n=266). A family member-based supervision package was applied to the intervention group, while the usual service was applied to the controls. Patients were followed for 12 months and completed face-to-face interviews at the end of 6 and 12 months. The primary outcomes were patients' medication adherence and frequency of blood pressure measurement. Secondary outcomes included changes in blood pressure, altered risk behaviours and occurrence of hypertension-related complications. To control for the effects of cluster randomization, multilevel mixed-effects regression models were used to compare group changes. We observed that the intervention improved patients' blood pressure measurement frequency (OR: 9.00, 95% CI: 4.52-17.91) and adherence to antihypertensive treatment (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 0.91-3.32). Its effect on the blood pressure control rate was significant at the mid-term investigation (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.40-0.93), but the long-term effect was not significant (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.64-1.26). After 6 months of intervention, either systolic or diastolic blood pressure was significantly decreased in the intervention group. However, this difference was not significant at the final investigation. Findings from this study revealed that the family member-based supervised therapy may have positive effects on patients' adherence to blood monitoring and hypertensive medications.

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae based on cross-priming amplification

Rapid, sensitive and specific isothermal nucleic acid amplification methods of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) have been developed based on cross-priming amplification (CPA). The amplicon of CPA can be detected by a disposable amplicon cross-contamination proof device. The whole assay takes 1-1·5 h from amplification to read out. Ten fold serial dilutions of quantified plasmids were used to test the CPA assay sensitivities, with the detection limits of 45 copies per reaction and 65 copies per reaction for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae respectively. The specificities of CPA assays for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae were tested by using total DNA extracted from nine other bacterial strains, and no cross-reactivity was detected. Eighty clinical cervical or vaginal swab specimens were tested by both CPA and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the consistencies of 98·75% (79/80) and 97·5% (78/80) for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae respectively. Using real-time PCR as a reference standard, the clinical sensitivity (positive) and specificity (negative) of CPA was found to be 98·15% (53/54) and 100% (26/26) for C. trachomatis, and 93·75% (30/32) and 100% (48/48) for N. gonorrhoeae. Eight swab specimens tested positive for both C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae simultaneously by real-time PCR and CPA assay. This study demonstrated that CPA is an affordable and accessible assay for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae detection, with high sensitivity and specificity.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Rapid and specific detection of the sexually transmitted pathogens Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) would enable early treatment and management of their spread. Here, for the first time, a user friendly DNA isothermal amplification method named cross-priming amplification (CPA), was used to test C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae with high sensitivity and specificity. The results indicate that CPA has great potential for improving C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae diagnostics which could be particularly advantageous in resource-limited areas.

Liver and Muscle Contribute Differently to the Plasma Acylcarnitine Pool During Fasting and Exercise in Humans

BACKGROUND

Plasma acylcarnitine levels are elevated by physiological conditions such as fasting and exercise but also in states of insulin resistance and obesity.

AIM

To elucidate the contribution of liver and skeletal muscle to plasma acylcarnitines in the fasting state and during exercise in humans.

METHODS

In 2 independent studies, young healthy males were fasted overnight and performed an acute bout of exercise to investigate either acylcarnitines in skeletal muscle biopsies and arterial-to-venous plasma differences over the exercising and resting leg (n = 9) or the flux over the hepato-splanchnic bed (n = 10).

RESULTS

In the fasting state, a pronounced release of C2- and C3-carnitines from the hepato-splanchnic bed and an uptake of free carnitine by the legs were detected. Exercise further increased the release of C3-carnitine from the hepato-splanchnic bed and the uptake of free carnitine in the exercising leg. In plasma and in the exercising muscle, exercise induced an increase of most acylcarnitines followed by a rapid decline to preexercise values during recovery. In contrast, free carnitine was decreased in the exercising muscle and quickly restored thereafter. C8-, C10-, C10:1-, C12-, and C12:1-carnitines were released from the exercising leg and simultaneously; C6, C8, C10, C10:1, C14, and C16:1 were taken up by the hepato-splanchnic.

CONCLUSION

These data provide novel insight to the organo-specific release/uptake of acylcarnitines. The liver is a major contributor to systemic short chain acylcarnitines, whereas the muscle tissue releases mostly medium chain acylcarnitines during exercise, indicating that other tissues are contributing to the systemic increase in long chain acylcarnitines.

Comparison of clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer located in the lesser and greater curve

PURPOSE

Little is known about the features of gastric cancer located in the lesser and greater curve. This study aims to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer located in the lesser and greater curve.

PATIENTS

From September 2008 to March 2015, 780 gastric cancer patients were enrolled in the present study. The associations between locations and features of patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 571 male (73.2 %) and 209 female (26.8 %) patients. The median age was 56 years (ranged 21-86). There were 684 tumors located in the lesser curve (87.7 %) and 96 located in the greater curve (12.3 %). The incidence of melena was significantly lower in patients with tumors located in the lesser curve than that in the greater curve (8.5 vs 15.6 %, P = 0.024). The median size of tumors in the lesser curve was significantly larger than that in the greater curve (5.0 (0.3-15) vs 4.0 cm (0.5-15), P = 0.001). The remaining clinicopathological features were comparable between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Tumor location was not a risk factor for the prognosis of gastric cancer by univariate and multivariate analysis (both P > 0.05). The postoperative complications (all P > 0.05) and prognoses (P = 0.279) were comparable between tumors located in the lesser and greater curve.

CONCLUSIONS

The ratio of gastric cancer located in the lesser to greater curve was 7.1:1. Compared with tumors located in the greater curve, the incidence of melena was significantly lower and the tumor size was significantly larger in tumors located in the lesser curve. The prognoses were comparable between tumors located in the lesser and greater curve.

Decoupled polarization dynamics of incoherent waves and bimodal spectral incoherent solitons

We consider the propagation of strongly incoherent waves in optical fibers in the framework of the vector nonlinear Schrödinger equation (VNLSE) accounting for the Raman effect. On the basis of the wave turbulence theory, we derive a kinetic equation that greatly simplifies the VNLSE and provides deep physical insight into incoherent wave dynamics. When applied to the study of polarization effects, the theory unexpectedly reveals that the linear polarization components of the incoherent wave evolve independently from each other, even in the presence of weak fiber birefringence. When applied to light propagation in bimodal fibers, the theory reveals that the incoherent modal components can be strongly coupled. After a complex transient, the modal components self-organize into a vector spectral incoherent soliton: The two solitons self-trap and propagate with a common velocity in frequency space.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with end-stage liver disease: a 5-year follow-up study of 48 patients

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the long-term therapeutic effect of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with End-stage Liver Disease (ESLD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-eight ESLD patients underwent autologous CD34+ stem cell transplantation were retrospectively reviewed. Changes in clinical and biochemical data, complications, and quality of life were monitored at 3, 6, 12, 36, and 60 months following the stem cell transplantation. Liver biopsies were obtained for histopathological analysis using Ishak system.

RESULTS

Marked improvement in clinical and biochemical data was observed during the long-term follow-up. Serum albumin was significantly increased (p<0.001), while total serum bilirubin, prothrombin time (PT), and international normalized ratio (INR) were all significantly decreased (p<0.001). Ishak inflammation and fibrosis scores were significantly decreased with the increased time (p<0.001). The number of patients with ascites, model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, Child-Pugh class, and indocyanine green (ICG) score were all markedly reduced with increased time. Meanwhile, the quality of life score of the patients was significantly increased (p<0.001). Six patients died during the 5-years follow-up, and complications occurred in 17 patients. The incidence of complications was significantly associated with mortality of the patients (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The study provided the evidence that autologous CD34+ stem cell transplantation could offer a long-term therapeutic benefit to patients with ESLD. The complications occurred during the process was significantly associated with survival of the patients. Future studies on a large cohort of patients are needed to confirm the long-term effect of stem cell therapy on ESLD.

Coexistence of intracranial aneurysm and hemangioblastoma: A case report and literature review

The association of intracranial aneurysm and hemangioblastoma is extremely rare. This report regards a patient affected by Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome with multiple hemangioblastoma and two intracranial aneurysms, of which one was on a hemangioblastoma feeder vessel and the other on an unrelated vessel. Review of the literature revealed 13 other previously reported cases. Possible mechanisms to explain the association are discussed.

[Outcomes of total deafness type of idiopathic suddendeafness in different ages]

Objective:This retrospective study was aimed to investigate the characteristics of hearing recovery in the complete deafness type of SSNHL(≥81 dBHL) in patients with different ages.Method:Clinical outcomes of 179 total deafness type of idiopathic sudden deafness were compared.Patients were divided into 5 groups according to age,they were,pediatric group(13 years or less),youthful group(14-44 years),middle-aged group(45-59 years),presenium group(60-74 years),senectitude group(75 years or higher).Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the initial degree of hearing loss: 81 dB group (81-89 dBHL),90 dB group(90- 99 dBHL),100 dB group(100 dBHL or higher).Routine comprehensive treatment including corticosteroids,the inner ear microcirculation improvement drugs,neurotrophic drugs,saturationoxygen and hyperbaric oxygen therapy,etc.was applied.Patients were treated in accordance with the age and body weight.Result:The percentage of youthful group(83/179,46.4%) was highest(P<0.05),middle-aged group(57/179,31.8%)followed(P<0.05),presenium group(26/179,14.5%)was lower(P<0.05),pediatric group(8/179,4.5%) and senectitude group(5/179,2.8%)were the lowest.No a complete recovery in either pediatric group or senectitude group.A complete recovery was rare in the other groups.Recovery rate of the different aged groups was similar(P>0.05).The percentage of 100 dB group(108/179,60.3%) was highest(P<0.05).The percentage of 81 dB group(39/179,21.8%)was similar to 90 dB group(32/179,17.9%)(P>0.05).Recovery rate was similar in 81 dB group(25/39,64.1%)and 90 dB group(18/32,56.2%)(P>0.05).Recovery rate of both 81 dB group and 90 dB group were greater than 100 dB group(24/108,22.2%)(P<0.05).The 100 dB group reduced the satisfactory recovery effects.There were no differences in the proportion of the patients with dizziness(95/179,53.1%)and without dizziness(84/179,46.9%)(P>0.05).Recovery rate of patients without dizziness(43/84,51.2%) was greater than with dizziness(24/95,25.3%)(P<0.05).The percentage of the patients without dizziness(31/39,79.5%)in 81 dB group was the highest(P<0.05),90 dB group(18/32,56.2%)followed(P<0.05).The percentage of the patients with dizziness in 100 dB group(73/108,67.6%)was highest(P<0.05).Recovery rate was similar in the patients without dizziness of 81 dB group(21/31,67.7%)and 90 dB group(11/18,61.1%)(P>0.05).Recovery rate of the above two groups was greater than that of 100 dB group(11/35,31.4%)(P<0.05).Conclusion:Recovery rate of the different aged groups was similar.The percentage of the patients with dizziness in 100 dB group was highest.Initial hearing threshold in excess of 100 dB reduced the satisfactory recovery in patients with total deafness type of SSNHL.Our results provided a good reference for other clinicians.

Shock wave generation triggered by a weak background in optical fibers

We experimentally report the observation of dispersive shock waves from a short pulse superimposed onto a small continuous wave background in optical fibers. We show that the background allows us to strongly enhance the extension and contrast of the oscillatory wave train inherent to the dispersive shock. More than seven periods of oscillations with high contrast are observed experimentally and confirmed with numerical simulations. The dynamics of the process are simply explained from spectro-temporal representations.

Alkaline thermal pretreatment at mild temperatures for biogas production from anaerobic digestion of antibiotic mycelial residue

This paper aims at lowering the temperature for thermal pretreatment (TPT) of antibiotic mycelial residue (AMR) by alkali addition but without significantly worsening subsequent anaerobic digestion (AD) for biogas. Batch TPT and AD experiments were conducted in a bench-scale autoclave and several bench-scale anaerobic digesters, respectively. The results showed that the methane yield (<200 ml·(g VS)(-1)) was visibly lower with lowering pretreatment temperature, compared to that (290 ml·(g VS)(-1)) for TPT at the optimal temperature of 120°C, while it rebounded to 231 ml·(g VS)(-1) when proper amounts of alkali were employed (to adjust the pH of the AMR to 12) for TPT at 80°C. Further analysis indicated that low-temperature alkaline TPT was significantly less energy-consumption compared to only TPT, at cost of small amounts of alkali. It was more convenient and economical to implement AD of AMR in combination with alkaline TPT at mild temperatures for biogas.

Industrial demonstration plant for the gasification of herb residue by fluidized bed two-stage process

A fluidized bed two-stage gasification process, consisting of a fluidized-bed (FB) pyrolyzer and a transport fluidized bed (TFB) gasifier, has been proposed to gasify biomass for fuel gas production with low tar content. On the basis of our previous fundamental study, an autothermal two-stage gasifier has been designed and built for gasify a kind of Chinese herb residue with a treating capacity of 600 kg/h. The testing data in the operational stable stage of the industrial demonstration plant showed that when keeping the reaction temperatures of pyrolyzer and gasifier respectively at about 700 °C and 850 °C, the heating value of fuel gas can reach 1200 kcal/Nm(3), and the tar content in the produced fuel gas was about 0.4 g/Nm(3). The results from this pilot industrial demonstration plant fully verified the feasibility and technical features of the proposed FB two-stage gasification process.

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa caused by a de novo interstitial deletion spanning COL7A1 and a hemizygous splicing mutation in trans

BACKGROUND

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare heritable blistering skin condition caused by loss-of-function mutations in the COL7A1 gene. Incongruent gene transmission is occasionally reported in recessive diseases, and its underlying mechanism is often uniparental disomy (UPD).

AIM

To understand the genetic basis of incongruent gene transmission in a Chinese family with RDEB, in which a discrepancy of COL7A1 genotyping was encountered during our mutation analysis.

METHODS

We used a pCAS2 minigene-based in vitro splicing assay to confirm the pathogenicity of the splicing variant we identified in the proband. Next, a combination of genetic tools, including whole-genome SNP array analysis and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification copy number analysis, was used to unravel the cause of the discrepancy in the COL7A1 genotyping.

RESULTS

Sanger sequencing identified a novel, single-peak mutation, c.4980+5G>C, in COL7A1 in the proband, which was heterozygous in his father and wild type in his mother. In vitro splicing assay showed that c.4980+5G>C was pathogenic and led to skipping of COL7A1 exon 53. SNP array analysis and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification of the proband's DNA revealed a maternally derived, de novo, interstitial deletion on chromosome 3p21.31, which removed COL7A1 and 15 flanking genes, excluding the possibility of UPD.

CONCLUSION

Our findings favour an exceptionally rare event, namely a de novo COL7A1 microdeletion in concurrence with an inherited mutation in trans. This study should aid molecular diagnosis and genetic counselling of RDEB and possibly other recessive diseases in which genotyping discrepancy is encountered.

[Scalp surface skin grafts in reconstruction of external auditory meatus in congenital aural atresia]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical application of scalp skin grafts in reconstruction of external auditory meatus in congenital aural atresia.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study on 85 patients of congenital aural atresia, all of whom were unilateral, operated from March of 2008 to December of 2010 in ENT department of the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital. The patients enrolled in the study were between 6 to 37 years old (median age 12 years), 55 male and 30 female. Scalp surface graft in ipsilateral temporal region was harvested to cover the bony external auditory meatus.

RESULTS

All of these scalp split-thickness skin grafts survived without necrosis, no restenosis was found in these external auditory meatus. Neither scar nor alopecia was found in the skin-harvesting region, and hairs grew well. Granulations occurred in 27 cases in the first to sixth month posteroperatively, 20 cases recovered after local treatment. In the first year, 30 cases obtained hearing improvement more than 15 dB, 36 cases gained more than 25 dB and 19 cases gained more than 35 dB. Totally 8 patients were lost in the 4 to 5 years of follow-up, 70 cases (70/77, 90.9%) developed new external auditory meatus, 7 cases (7/77, 9.1%) suffered from stenosis in different degrees, but no atresia was found in these patients.

CONCLUSION

Scalp split-thickness skin grafts has significant clinical advantage in meatoplasty of congenital aural atresia.

Inherent predominance of high chiral angle metallic carbon nanotubes in continuous fibers grown from a molten catalyst

We present evidence that high temperature CVD growth of SWNTs under conditions of continuous spinning of macroscopic fibers leads to an inherent predominance of high chiral angle CNTs, peaking at the armchair end. Raman, UV-vis-NIR absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements show the prevalence of metallic SWNTs. The complete chiral angle distribution is obtained by electron diffraction of over 390 CNTs. It is biased towards high chiral angles and peaks at the armchair end (30°), in good agreement with the established atomistic models for SWNT growth from a liquid catalyst. Based on the Fe-C-S constituent binary and ternary phase diagrams, thermodynamic calculations of phase compositions from fast cooling and experimental evidence of a post-synthesis catalyst, the proposed thermodynamic path of the catalyst is to form a solid FCC Fe core and a liquid Fe-S shell. S in the outer liquid shell first stabilizes the edge of the nascent CNT, but once a graphitic wall forms it is rejected due to the high interfacial energy of the Fe-C-S alloy.

Low nanomolar concentrations of Cucurbitacin-I induces G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis by perturbing redox homeostasis in gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Cucurbitacin-I (Cu-I, also known as Elatericin B or JSI-124) is developed to inhibit constitutive and abnormal activation of STAT3 in many cancers, demonstrating a potent anticancer activity by targeting disruption of STAT3 function. Here, we for the first time systematically studied the underlying molecular mechanisms of Cu-I-induced gastric cancer cell death both in vitro and in vivo. In our study, we show that Cu-I markedly inhibits gastric cancer cell growth by inducing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis at low nanomolar concentrations via a STAT3-independent mechanism. Notably, Cu-I significantly decreases intracellular GSH/GSSG ratio by inhibiting NRF2 pathway to break cellular redox homeostasis, and subsequently induces the expression of GADD45α in a p53-independent manner, and activates JNK/p38 MAPK signaling. Interestingly, Cu-I-induced GADD45α and JNK/p38 MAPK signaling form a positive feedback loop and can be reciprocally regulated by each other. Therefore, the present study provides new insights into the mechanisms of antitumor effects of Cu-I, supporting Cu-I as an attractive therapeutic drug in gastric cancer by modulating the redox balance.