Single-shot angular compounded optical coherence tomography angiography by splitting full-space B-scan modulation spectrum for flow contrast enhancement

We proposed a single-shot spatial angular compounded optical coherence tomography angiography (AC-Angio-OCT) for blood flow contrast enhancement. By encoding incident angles in B-scan modulation frequencies and splitting the modulation spectrum in the spatial frequency domain, angle-resolved independent subangiograms were obtained and compounded to improve the flow contrast. A full space of the spatial frequency domain allows a wide modulation spectrum. To get access to the full space of the spatial frequency domain and avoid the complex-conjugate ambiguity of the modulation spectrum, a complex-valued OCT spectral interferogram was retrieved by removing one of the conjugate terms in the depth space. To validate the proposed concept, both flow phantom and live animal experiments were performed. The proposed AC-Angio-OCT offers a ∼50% decrease of misclassification errors, and an improved flow contrast and vessel connectivity, which contributes to the interpretation of OCT angiograms.

Murine Double Minute 2 SNP T309G Polymorphism and Urinary Tract Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis

Urinary tract cancer is a common cause of cancer-related death. The etiology and pathogenesis of urinary tract cancer remain unclear, with genetic and epigenetic factors playing an important role. Studies of the polymorphism of murine double minute 2 (MDM2) have shown inconclusive trends in the risk of urinary tract cancer.To clarify this inconsistency, we conducted updated meta-analyses to evaluate the role of MDM2 T309G polymorphism in urinary tract cancer susceptibility.Data sources were Pubmed (1966-May 2015), Chinese biomedicine literature database (1978-May 2015), and hand searching of the reference lists of included studies:(1) research categories case-control study or a nested case-control study; (2) information evaluating the association between the MDM2 SNP309 and urinary tract cancer risk; (3) studies with sufficient data to perform a meta-analysis.It included the use of odds ratios (ORs) to assess the strength of the association, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) give a sense of the precision of the estimate. We used I for the assessment of between-study heterogeneity, and publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot and the Egger test. Statistical analyses were performed by Review Manage, version 5.0 and Stata 11.0.A total of 18 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in our analyses. Overall, there was no statistical association between MDM2 SNP309 and prostate cancer risk for the allele contrast, the GG genotype, the recessive genetic model, the dominant genetic model, and prostate cancer risk in all subjects (OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.87-1.05, P = 0.36; OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.75-1.15, P = 0.50; OR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.87-1.15, P = 0.99; OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.80-1.07, P = 0.30), and between MDM2 SNP309 and bladder cancer risk (the allele contrast: OR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.89-1.27, P = 0.50; the GG genotype: OR = 1.12, 95% CI 0.79-1.61, P = 0.52; the dominant genetic model: OR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.83-1.28, P = 0.78; the recessive genetic model: OR = 1.12, 95% CI 0.84-1.49, P = 0.45). However, there was positive association between MDM2 SNP309 and kidney cancer risk for the allele contrast (OR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.05-1.46, P = 0.01), the GG genotype (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.11-2.20, P = 0.01), dominant model contrast (OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.00-1.68, P = 0.05), the recessive genetic model (OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.02-1.83, P = 0.04).First, only the data of published studies were included in this meta-analysis. Unpublished studies tend to show more negative results; therefore, publication bias may be present. Second, because of the lack of the original data, we did not perform stratification analysis by age, hormone levels, dietary habit, or other variables. This might have caused confounding bias. Third, because the number of studies was relatively small for kidney cancer, the results might not have enough statistical power for us to investigate the association of the polymorphism with kidney cancer susceptibility, and we could not perform subgroup analyses. Finally, there were no studies about Africans in this meta-analysis.In summary, the results of our meta-analysis suggest an increased risk role of the MDM2 SNP T309G in renal cancer. However, there was no association between the MDM2 SNP T309G and prostate cancer risk or between the MDM2 SNP T309G and bladder cancer risk. Moreover, well-designed studies should estimate different ethnicities, degree of malignancy and clinical progression on the association between MDM2 SNP309 and urinary cancer risk in the future.

Genotypes of Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in dogs and cats in Shanghai, China

Background

Controversies exist on the potential role of companion animals in the transmission of enteric pathogens in humans. This study was conducted to examine the genotype distribution of Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis in companion animals in Shanghai, China, and to assess their zoonotic potential.

Methods

Fecal specimens from 485 dogs and 160 cats were examined for the occurrence and genotype distribution of the three pathogens by PCR. PCR products were sequenced to determine the species and genotypes. The χ² test was used to compare differences in infection rates between living conditions or age groups.

Results

Cryptosporidium spp., E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis were found in 39 (8.0 %), 29 (6.0 %) and 127 (26.2 %) of dogs, and 6 (3.8 %), 9 (5.6 %) and 21 (13.1 %) of cats, respectively. Infection rates of the pathogens in dogs from pet shops and a clinic were higher than those in household dogs, and higher in cats from one animal shelter than from pet shops. No significant differences in infection rates were detected among age groups. Cryptosporidium canis and C. felis were the only Cryptosporidium species found in dogs and cats, respectively. Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype PtEb IX was the dominant genotype in dogs, whereas Type IV and D were the most common ones in cats. Multi-locus sequence typing at the glutamate dehydrogenase, β-giardin, and triosephosphate isomerase loci revealed the presence of G. duodenalis assemblages A (n = 23), B (n = 1), C (n = 26), and D (n = 58) in dogs (only A in household dogs) and assemblages A (n = 2), B (n = 6), C (n = 2), D (n = 1), and F (n = 7) in cats. Co-infection was detected in 24 dogs and 5 cats, especially those living in crowded conditions.

Conclusions

Living condition is a major risk factor affecting the occurrence of enteric protists in companion animals in China, and although dogs and cats can be potential sources of human infections, the different distribution of pathogen species and genotypes between dogs and cats suggests that inter-species transmission of these pathogens is probably rare in the study area.

Continuous Cavitation Designed for Enhancing Radiofrequency Ablation via a Special Radiofrequency Solidoid Vaporization Process

Lowering power output and radiation time during radiofrequency (RF) ablation is still a challenge. Although it is documented that metal-based magnetothermal conversion and microbubbles-based inertial cavitation have been tried to overcome above issues, disputed toxicity and poor magnetothermal conversion efficiency for metal-based nanoparticles and violent but transient cavitation for microbubbles are inappropriate for enhancing RF ablation. In this report, a strategy, i.e., continuous cavitation, has been proposed, and solid menthol-encapsulated poly lactide-glycolide acid (PLGA) nanocapsules have been constructed, as a proof of concept, to validate the role of such a continuous cavitation principle in continuously enhancing RF ablation. The synthesized PLGA-based nanocapsules can respond to RF to generate menthol bubbles via distinctive radiofrequency solidoid vaporization (RSV) process, meanwhile significantly enhance ultrasound imaging for HeLa solid tumor, and further facilitate RF ablation via the continuous cavitation, as systematically demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, this RSV strategy can overcome drawbacks and limitations of acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) and optical droplet vaporization (ODV), and will probably find broad applications in further cancer theranostics.

[Telescopic technique associated with mucosectomy in pancreaticoduodenectomy]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the feasibility of the telescopic technique associated with mucosectomy in preventing pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

METHODS

The data of 39 patients who received PD in the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University was retrospecively analyzed. We developed a safe and simple method of pancreaticojejunostomy in 39 patients, in whom approximately 3 cm of jejunal mucosa was cut to improve the adhesion between the loop and pancreatic parenchyma after end-to-end invagination.

RESULTS

This procedure was proved to be much more expeditious, and only 2 of 39(5.1%)patients had pancreatic leakages, who were treated with drainage only. No hemorrhage or cholangitis was observed. No postoperative mortality was observed.

CONCLUSION

The telescopic technique associated with mucosectomy is an acceptable and safe surgery for pancreaticojejunal anastomosis.

CD39+ regulatory T cells attenuate allergic airway inflammation

BACKGROUND

The suppressive mechanism of regulatory T cells (Tregs) has remained incompletely clarified. Recent studies found that CD39 expressed by Tregs may participate in the immunoregulatory role of Tregs. CD39-induced ATP hydrolysis and/or adenosine generation contribute to the suppressive mechanism of Tregs. Previous studies suggested that ATP is involved in allergic airway inflammation by acting on type 2 purinergic (P2) receptors, but the role of CD39 and CD39(+) Tregs in allergic airway inflammation has not been elaborated.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of CD39 expression by Tregs in allergic airway inflammation.

METHODS

A model of allergic asthma was developed with ovalbumin-alum in female Cd39 wild type (Cd39(+/+) ) and deficient (Cd39(-/-) ) C57BL/6 mice. Foxp3-GFP knock-in Cd39(+/+) and Cd39(-/-) mice were used to sort CD4(+) GFP(+) cells (Tregs) for exploring the role of CD39 expression by Tregs in allergic asthma. The effects of modulating CD39 activity with ARL67156 (inhibitor) or apyrase were also observed.

RESULTS

ARL67156 greatly worsened airway inflammation including increased lung inflammatory cells infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, and higher levels of Th2 and Th17 cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), accompanied by an increment in transcription factor (GATA-3 and RORγt) and P2R (P2Y2, P2Y4 and P2Y6) mRNA expression in lungs. This potentiating effect was rescued by intratracheal injection of apyrase. Airway inflammation was markedly increased in Cd39(-/-) mice compared to Cd39(+/+) mice. In contrast to CD39(-) Tregs, CD39(+) Tregs showed stronger suppressive effects on airway inflammation. In vitro suppression assay suggested that CD39(+) Tregs have more potent suppressive effect on cytokines secretion from CD4(+) CD25(-) responder T cells and the inhibitory effects were reduced by addition of adenosine A2A receptor antagonist.

CONCLUSION

CD39 expressed on Tregs participates in the regulation of limiting allergic airway inflammation by regulating extracellular ATP and/or adenosine. CD39 may represent a new therapeutic target for asthma.

Determination of the energy value of corn distillers dried grains with solubles containing different oil levels when fed to growing pigs

This experiment used indirect calorimetry to determine the net energy (NE) content of five corn distillers dried grains with solubles (corn DDGS) containing different oil levels and to compare the NE obtained using indirect calorimetry with that calculated using previously published prediction equations. There were two samples of high-oil DDGS, one sample of medium-oil DDGS and two samples of low-oil DDGS. Twelve barrows (initial BW of 32.8 ± 2.0 kg) were used in a repeated 3 × 6 Youden square design with three periods and six diets. The diets were comprised of a corn-soybean meal basal diet and five diets containing 29.25% of one of the corn DDGS added at the expense of corn and soybean meal. During each period, the pigs were individually housed in metabolism crates for 16 days which included 7 days for adaption to feed and environmental conditions. On day 8, the pigs were transferred to respiration chambers and fed one of the six diets at 2300 kJ ME/kg BW^0.6 /day. Faeces and urine were collected from day 9 to 13 and heat production (HP) was also measured. From day 14 to 15, the pigs were fed 893 kJ ME/kg BW^0.6 /day to allow them to adapt from the fed to the fasted state. On the last day of each period (day 16), the pigs were fasted and fasting HP was measured. The digestible energy value was 16.0, 17.1 and 15.3 MJ/kg DM, the metabolizable energy value was 14.6, 15.5 and 13.7 MJ/kg DM and the NE value was 10.7, 11.0 and 9.4 MJ/kg DM, for the high-oil, medium-oil and low-oil corn DDGS, respectively. The NE obtained with indirect calorimetry in the present study did not differ from values calculated using previously published prediction equations.

Restoration of the spinal canal volume in stenosis dependent on pedicle-lengthening distance in pedicle-lengthening osteotomy: A three dimensional simulation

AIMS

This study aimed to determine the relationship between pedicle-lengthening distance and bulge-canal volume ratio in cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, to provide a theoretical basis for the extent of lengthening in pedicle-lengthening osteotomies.

METHODS

Three-dimensional reconstructions of CT images were performed for 69 patients (33 men and 36 women) (mean age 49.96 years; 24 to 81). Simulated pedicle-lengthening osteotomies and disc bulge and spinal canal volume calculations were performed using Mimics software.

RESULTS

The mean spinal canal volume of the two groups, L4 and L5, were 14 646.81 mm(3) (5918.60 to 22 717.77) and 16 408.47 mm(3) (8678.21 to 31 204.79), respectively. The mean lengthening distance was 2.17 mm (0.5 to 4.8) and the mean bulge-canal volume ratio was 0.23 (0.05 to 0.48). The pedicle-lengthening distance of the two groups were very strongly correlated with disc bulge volume and bulge-canal volume ratio (p < 0.001); the predictive equation was established as L = 0.06 + 9.06R (where L equals the pedicle-lengthening distance and R represents the bulge-canal volume ratio).

DISCUSSION

Our findings indicated that lumbar pedicle-lengthening distance strongly correlates with bulge-canal volume ratio, which can be estimated before surgery from CT images.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

The predictive equation could help surgeons to decide the pedicle lengthening distance according to individual's condition and guide the surgery effectively.

Genomewide association study of immune traits in chicken F2 resource population

Immune traits play pivotal roles in animal immune capacity development and disease resistance. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are common forms of genetic variations among individuals, which are thought to account for the majority of inherited phenotypic variations. In this study, we performed genomewide association, using the Illumina 60K SNP BeadChip studies to detect molecular markers and candidate genes associated with immune traits in an F2 population. Sixteen immune traits were measured. We identified 85 significant SNPs (p < 2.98 × 10(-6) ) with 5% as the genomewide significance threshold, 380 SNPs of suggestive significance (p < 5.96 × 10(-5) ) from simple model (general linear model, GLM) and 15 SNPs of suggestive significance (p < 5.96 × 10(-5) ) from the compressed mixed linear model (MLM), which were also found in GLM (six significant SNPs and seven suggestive SNPs). Three significant SNPs (GGaluGA151406, Gga_rs14554319 and Gga_rs13593979) and candidate genes (LYRM4 and KTN1) were found to be associated with avian influenza antibody titres, and the first two SNPs are from the results of two-model analysis. For the immune organs, through the analysis of GLM, 19 SNPs were found to be significantly associated with the thymus weight, 61 SNPs were significantly associated with the bursa of Fabricius weight, six of which were located within a 34-Mb region (125 846 474-159 649 698 bp) on chicken chromosome 1 (GGA1). A candidate region relevant to haematological traits from GLM was found in GGA4 and 9 loci were located on it. Three loci (GGaluGA348521, Gga_rs16098446 and GGaluGA348518) within 179 kb (16 286 868-16 466 134 bp) on GGAZ from GLM provided evidence that this genomic segment may be relevant to red blood cell volume distribution width (RDW). Our study provides a list of significant SNPs and candidate genes that will be valuable information for unveiling the underlying molecular mechanism of immune regulation.

Tuning Polyelectrolyte-Surfactant Interactions: Modification of Poly(ethylenimine) with Propylene Oxide and Blocks of Ethylene Oxide

Significantly enhanced adsorption at the air-water interface arises in polyelectrolyte/ionic surfactant mixtures, such as poly(ethylenimine)/sodium dodecyl sulfate (PEI/SDS), down to relatively low surfactant concentrations due to a strong surface interaction between the polyelectrolyte and surfactant. In the region of charge neutralization this can result in precipitation or coacervation and give rise to undesirable properties in many applications. Ethoxylation of the PEI can avoid precipitation, but can also considerably weaken the interaction. Localization of the ethoxylation can overcome these shortcomings. Further manipulation of the polyelectrolyte-surfactant interaction can be achieved by selective ethoxylation and propoxylation of the PEI amine groups. Neutron reflectivity and surface tension data are presented here which show how the polyelectrolyte-surfactant interaction can be manipulated by tuning the PEI structure. Using deuterium labeled surfactant and polymer the neutron reflectivity measurements provide details of the surface composition and structure of the adsorbed layer. The general pattern of behavior is that at low surfactant concentrations there is enhanced surfactant adsorption due to the strong surface interaction; whereas around the region of the SDS critical micellar concentration, cmc, the surface is partially depleted of surfactant in favor bulk aggregate structures. The results presented here show how these characteristic features of the adsorption are affected by the degree of ethoxylation and propoxylation. Increasing the degree of propoxylation enhances the surfactant adsorption, whereas varying the degree of ethoxylation has a less pronounced effect. In the region of surfactant surface depletion increasing both the degree of ethoxylation and propoxylation result in an increased surface depletion.

Low Temperature Storage of Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus-Infected Rice Plants Cannot Sustain Virus Transmission by the Vector

Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) is a novel virus transmitted by white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Hováth) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). Due to low virus transmission efficiency by the planthopper, researchers are frequently confronted with shortage of viruliferous vectors or infected rice plants, especially in winter and the following spring. To find new ways to maintain virus-infected materials, viral rice plants were stored at -80°C for 45 or 140 d and evaluated as virus sources in virus transmission by the vector. SRBSDV virions were not degraded during storage at -80°C as indicated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcription real-time PCR detection. The planthopper nymphs fed on the infected thawed plants for 48 h survived at about 40% and showed positive detection of SRBSDV, but they lost the virus after feeding for another 20 d (the circulative transmission period) on noninfected plants. Transmission electron microscope images indicated broken capsid of virions in infected thawed leaves in contrast to integrity capsid of virions in infected fresh leaves. These results show that low temperature storage of SRBSDV-infected rice plants cannot sustain virus transmission by white-backed planthopper.

Investigation of the extraordinary null reconstruction phenomenon in polarization volume hologram

Polarization holography is the superposition of differently polarized beams. Due to its ability to record the polarization states, some extraordinary optical phenomena were found in the polarization holography. For example, the recently reported null-reconstruction phenomenon in polarization volume hologram is odd for the conventional holography which only records the amplitude and phase. In this paper, we perform a thorough investigation of the null reconstruction of polarization hologram recorded by orthogonal circularly polarized waves. To explore the mechanism behind this phenomenon, an interferometry was built to measure the phase difference between the same polarized components within the reconstructed wave. The phase difference of π was secured in our experiment, indicating a destructive interfering effect, which nicely explains the extraordinary null reconstruction observed in the polarization hologram.

Tranexamic acid in life-threatening military injury and the associated risk of infective complications

BACKGROUND

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to reduce mortality from severe haemorrhage. Although recent data suggest that TXA has anti-inflammatory properties, few analyses have investigated the impact of TXA on infectious complications in injured patients. The aim was to examine the association between TXA administration and infection risk among injured military personnel.

METHODS

Patients who received TXA were matched by Injury Severity Score with patients who did not receive TXA. Conditional logistic regression was used to examine risk factors associated with infections within 30 days. A Cox proportional analysis evaluated risk factors in a time-to-first-infection model.

RESULTS

A total of 335 TXA recipients were matched with 626 patients who did not receive TXA. A greater proportion of TXA recipients had an infection compared with the comparator group (P < 0·001). Univariable analysis estimated an unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2·47 (95 per cent c.i. 1·81 to 3·36) for the association between TXA and infection risk; however, TXA administration was not significant in multivariable analysis (OR 1·27, 0·85 to 1·91). Blast injuries, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and receipt of 10 units or more of blood within 24 h after injury were independently associated with infection risk. The Cox proportional model confirmed the association with ICU admission and blood transfusion. Traumatic amputations were also significantly associated with a reduced time to first infection.

CONCLUSION

In life-threatening military injuries matched for injury severity, TXA recipients did not have a higher risk of having infections nor was the time to develop infections shorter than in non-recipients. Extent of blood loss, blast injuries, extremity amputations and ICU stay were associated with infection.

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging study of schizophrenia in the context of abnormal neurodevelopment using multiple site data in a Chinese Han population

Schizophrenia has increasingly been considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, and the advancement of neuroimaging techniques and associated computational methods has enabled quantitative re-examination of this important theory on the pathogenesis of the disease. Inspired by previous findings from neonatal brains, we proposed that an increase in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) mean diffusivity (MD) should be observed in the cerebral cortex of schizophrenia patients compared with healthy controls, corresponding to lower tissue complexity and potentially a failure to reach cortical maturation. We tested this hypothesis using dMRI data from a Chinese Han population comprising patients from four different hospital sites. Utilizing data-driven methods based on the state-of-the-art tensor-based registration algorithm, significantly increased MD measurements were consistently observed in the cortex of schizophrenia patients across all four sites, despite differences in psychopathology, exposure to antipsychotic medication and scanners used for image acquisition. Specifically, we found increased MD in the limbic system of the schizophrenic brain, mainly involving the bilateral insular and prefrontal cortices. In light of the existing literature, we speculate that this may represent a neuroanatomical signature of the disorder, reflecting microstructural deficits due to developmental abnormalities. Our findings not only provide strong support to the abnormal neurodevelopment theory of schizophrenia, but also highlight an important neuroimaging endophenotype for monitoring the developmental trajectory of high-risk subjects of the disease, thereby facilitating early detection and prevention.

Relationship between TLR4 and CCL2 expression and recurrent spontaneous abortion

The increasing incidence of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) severely affects women's health. The involvement of the immune system during pregnancy and its contribution to RSA draw researchers' attention. Both Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) have been linked to various pregnancy disorders. In this study, we quantified TLR4 and CCL2 levels in a case-control study in order to elucidate the correlation between these factors and RSA, and the potential to use them as disease markers. A total of 36 RSA patients and 36 healthy control individuals were recruited for the donation of decidual and chorionic tissues and venous blood samples. Fluorescent quantitative-polymerase chain reaction was used to measure mRNA levels and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify serum levels of TLR4 and CCL2. RSA patients had higher TLR4 and CCL2 mRNA levels compared to controls (P < 0.05). Serum levels of the two factors were also significantly higher in RSA patients than in the control group (P < 0.05). Positive correlations were found between serum levels and tissue mRNA levels of TLR4 and CCL2. In conclusion, both TLR4 and CCL2 were closely related to the occurrence of RSA, suggesting that serum TLR4 and CCL2 levels could be used as indices for monitoring RSA in pregnant women.

Effects of electrode size and spacing on sensory modalities in the phantom thumb perception area for the forearm amputees

Tactile sensory feedback plays a key role in accomplishing the dexterous manipulation of prosthetic hands for the amputees, and the non-invasive transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) of the phantom finger perception (PFP) area would be an effective way to realize sensory feedback clinically. In order to realize the high-spatial-resolution tactile sensory feedback in the PFP region, we investigated the effects of electrode size and spacing on the tactile sensations for potentially optimizing the surface electrode array configuration. Six forearm-amputated subjects were recruited in the psychophysical studies. With the diameter of the circular electrode increasing from 3 mm to 12 mm, the threshold current intensity was enhanced correspondingly under different sensory modalities. The smaller electrode could potentially lead to high sensation spatial resolution. Whereas, the smaller the electrode, the less the number of sensory modalities. For an Φ-3 mm electrode, it is even hard for the subject to perceive any perception modalities under normal stimulating current. In addition, the two-electrode discrimination distance (TEDD) in the phantom thumb perception area decreased with electrode size decreasing in two directions of parallel or perpendicular to the forearm. No significant difference of TEDD existed along the two directions. Studies in this paper would guide the configuration optimization of the TENS electrode array for potential high spatial-resolution sensory feedback.

NMR metabolic profiling of lipopolysaccharide-induced mice sepsis and the treatment effects of berberine

¹H NMR metabolomics to study lipopolysaccharide-induced mice sepsis and the treatment effects of berberine.

Fabrication and ionic transportation characterization of funnel-shaped nanochannels

We demonstrate funnel-shaped nanochannels with a gradual structural transformation and controlled ionic transportation properties.