Background The presence of mental health conditions is pervasive in patients who experienced acute myocardial infarction(AMI),significantly disrupting their recovery.Providing timely and easily accessible psychologica...Background The presence of mental health conditions is pervasive in patients who experienced acute myocardial infarction(AMI),significantly disrupting their recovery.Providing timely and easily accessible psychological interventions using virtual reality-based cognitive-behavioural therapy(VR-CBT)could potentially improve both acute and long-term symptoms affecting their mental health.Aims We aim to examine the effectiveness of VR-CBT on anxiety symptoms in patients with AMI who were admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU)during the acute stage of their illness.Methods In this single-blind randomised clinical trial,participants with anxiety symptoms who were admitted to the ICU due to AMI were continuously recruited from December 2022 to February 2023.Patients who were Han Chinese aged 18-75 years were randomly assigned(1:1)via block randomisation to either the VR-CBT group to receive VR-CBT in addition to standard mental health support,or the control group to receive standard mental health support only.VR-CBT consisted of four modules and was delivered at the bedside over a 1-week period.Assessments were done at baseline,immediately after treatment and at 3-month follow-up.The intention-to-treat analysis began in June 2023.The primary outcome measure was the changes in anxiety symptoms as assessed by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HAM-A).Results Among 148 randomised participants,70 were assigned to the VR-CBT group and 78 to the control group.The 1-week VR-CBT intervention plus standard mental health support significantly reduced the anxiety symptoms compared with standard mental health support alone in terms of HAM-A scores at both post intervention(Cohen’s d=−1.27(95%confidence interval(CI):−1.64 to−0.90,p<0.001)and 3-month follow-up(Cohen’s d=−0.37(95%CI:−0.72 to−0.01,p=0.024).Of the 70 participants who received VR-CBT,62(88.6%)completed the entire intervention.Cybersickness was the main reported adverse event(n=5).Conclusions Our results indicate that VR-CBT can significantly reduce post-AMI anxiety at the acute stage of the illness;the improvement was maintained at the 3-month follow-up.Trial registration number The trial was registered at www.chictr.org.cn with the identifier:ChiCTR2200066435.展开更多
To improve the thermoelectric converting performance in applications such as power generation,reutilization of heat energy,refrigeration,and ultrasensitive sensors in scramjet engines,a thermoelectric film/substrate s...To improve the thermoelectric converting performance in applications such as power generation,reutilization of heat energy,refrigeration,and ultrasensitive sensors in scramjet engines,a thermoelectric film/substrate system is widely designed and applied,whose interfacial behavior dominates the strength and service life of thermoelectric devices.Herein,a theoretical model of a thermoelectric film bonded to a graded substrate is proposed.The interfacial shear stress,the normal stress in the thermoelectric film,and the stress intensity factors affected by various material and geometric parameters are comprehensively studied.It is found that adjusting the inhomogeneity parameter of the graded substrate,thermal conductivity,and current density of the thermoelectric film can reduce the risk of interfacial failure of the thermoelectric film/graded substrate system.Selecting a stiffer and thicker thermoelectric film is advantageous to the reliability of the thermoelectric film/graded substrate system.The results should be of great guiding significance for the present and upcoming applications of thermoelectric materials in various fields.展开更多
IL-23/IL-17 axis is an important regulator in various inflammatory diseases. However, the role of IL-23 in allergic airway inflammation is not well understood. In this study, we show that in an allergen-induced asthma...IL-23/IL-17 axis is an important regulator in various inflammatory diseases. However, the role of IL-23 in allergic airway inflammation is not well understood. In this study, we show that in an allergen-induced asthma model, mice with transgenic overexpression of IL-23R exhibited increased airway infiltration of eosinophils and Th2 cytokine production, whereas those deficient in IL-23 displayed reduced airway inflammation. In vitro, IL-23-IL-23R signaling promoted GATA-3 expression and enhanced Th2 cytokine expression. Conversely, in the absence of this signal, Th2 cell differentiation was partially inhibited. Therefore, IL-23 signaling may regulate allergic asthma through modulation of Th2 cell differentiation.展开更多
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) can significantly improve the survival rate of patients...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) can significantly improve the survival rate of patients with HCC and is the first treatment choice for patients who are not suitable for surgical resections. The evaluation of the response to TACE treatment affects not only the assessment of the therapy efficacy but also the development of the next step in the treatment plan. The use of imaging to examine changes in tumor volume to assess the response of solid tumors to treatment has been controversial. In recent years, the emergence of new imaging technology has made it possible to observe the response of tumors to treatment prior to any morphological changes. In this article, the advances in studies reporting the use of computed tomography perfusion imaging, diffusionweighted magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), intravoxel incoherent motion, diffusion kurtosis imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, magnetic resonance perfusionweighted imaging, blood oxygen level-dependent MRI, positron emission tomography(PET)/computed tomography and PET/MRI to assess the TACE treatment response are reviewed.展开更多
The morbidity and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)rank 6th and 4th,respectively,among malignant tumors worldwide.Traditional diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)uses the apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)obtaine...The morbidity and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)rank 6th and 4th,respectively,among malignant tumors worldwide.Traditional diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)uses the apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)obtained by applying the monoexponential model to reflect water molecule diffusion in active tissue;however,the value of ADC is affected by microcirculation perfusion.Using a biexponential model,intravoxel incoherent motion(IVIM)-DWI quantitatively measures information related to pure water molecule diffusion and microcirculation perfusion,thus compensating for the shortcomings of DWI.The number of studies examining the application of IVIM-DWI in patients with HCC has gradually increased over the last few years,and many results show that IVIMDWI has vital value for HCC differentiation,pathological grading,and predicting and evaluating the treatment response.The present study principally reviews the principle of IVIM-DWI and its research progress in HCC differentiation,pathological grading,predicting and evaluating the treatment response,predicting postoperative recurrence and predicting gene expression prediction.展开更多
AIMTo investigate whether the abnormal differentiation of the pterygium epithelium is related to the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in vitro.METHODSThe expression levels of phosphorylate...AIMTo investigate whether the abnormal differentiation of the pterygium epithelium is related to the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in vitro.METHODSThe expression levels of phosphorylated ERK (P-ERK), keratin family members including K19 and K10 and the ocular master control gene Pax-6 were measured in 16 surgically excised pterygium tissues and 12 eye bank conjunctiva. In colony-forming cell assays, the differences in clone morphology and in K10, K19, P-ERK and Pax-6 expression between the head and body were investigated. When cocultured with the ERK signaling pathway inhibitor PD98059, the changes in clone morphology, colony-forming efficiency, differentiated marker K10, K19 and Pax-6 expression and P-ERK protein expression level were examined by immunoreactivity and Western blot analysis.RESULTSThe expression of K19 and Pax-6 decreased in the pterygium, especially in the head. No staining of K10 was found in the normal conjunctiva epithelium, but it was found to be expressed in the superficial cells in the head of the pterygium. Characteristic upregulation of P-ERK was observed by immunohistochemistry. The clone from the head with more differentiated cells in the center expressed more K10, and the clone from the body expressed more K19. The P-ERK protein level increased in the pterygium epithelium compared with conjunctiva and decreased when cocultured with PD98059. The same medium with the ERK inhibitor PD98059 was more effective in promoting clonal growth than conventional medium with 3T3 murine feeder layers. It was observed that the epithelium clone co-cultured with the inhibitor had decreased K10 expression and increased K19 and Pax-6 expression.CONCLUSIONWe suggest ERK signaling pathway activation might play a role in the pterygium epithelium abnormal differentiation.展开更多
Background: Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) can not only observe the diffusion of tissue water molecules but also reflect the blood perfusion information of tissue microcirculation. ...Background: Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) can not only observe the diffusion of tissue water molecules but also reflect the blood perfusion information of tissue microcirculation. IVIM-DWI has been applied in many clinical areas. However, few studies have addressed the use of IVIM-DWI for the evaluation of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) response in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to explore the role of IVIM-DWI for the therapeutic response of TACE for HCC. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients underwent IVIM-DWI scan on a 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging instrument 1 - 3 days before and 30 to 40 days after TACE. The values of IVIM-DWI parameters, including standard apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pure diffusion coefficient (Dslow), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (Dfast) and perfusion fraction (f) were measured. The values of IVIM-DWI parameters before and after TACE were compared using paired t tests. The values between responsive and non-responsive groups were compared using independent-samples t test. P 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results: After TACE, the ADC and Dslow values in the tumors increased significantly, and the values of Dfast decreased significantly, while the values of f value did not change obviously. The ADC values in responsive group were remarkably higher than those in non-responsive group, the Dfast values in responsive group were significantly lower than those in non-responsive group, but the values of Dslow and f between the two groups were not different significantly. Conclusions: IVIM-DWI parameters can be used as potential markers for the therapeutic response of TACE for HCC.展开更多
BACKGROUND The main treatment methods for cancer include surgery,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,targeted drug therapy and so on.Patients often feel anger,anxiety,depression,and other negative psychological reactions in the...BACKGROUND The main treatment methods for cancer include surgery,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,targeted drug therapy and so on.Patients often feel anger,anxiety,depression,and other negative psychological reactions in the process of treatment.AIM To explore the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on the personality characteristics of cancer patients.METHODS According to the matching design requirements,150 cancer patients were divided into 3 groups based on sex,age,condition,and cultural background.Patients in the control group received conventional treatment.Patients in experimental group 1 received an intervention based on conventional treatment combined with cognitive behavioral therapy.Patients in experimental group 2 received family members'participation in addition to the treatment given in experimental group 1.An Eysenck personality questionnaire was used to investigate all the patients before and after the intervention,and the scores for psychosis,introversion,neuroticism,and concealment degree were analyzed.RESULTS Compared with the control group,for experimental group 1 and experimental group 2 before and after the intervention,the four dimensions of mental quality,neuroticism,introversion and concealment degree all decreased,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).After the intervention,there were no obvious or statistically significant differences(P>0.05)among the control group,experimental group 1,and experimental group 2 for two personality traits,psychoticism and neuroticism,both inside and outside degree and all four dimensions.CONCLUSION Simple cognitive behavioral therapy could not change the personality characteristics of cancer patients quickly,but the patients’personality characteristics were significantly improved after treatment.展开更多
BACKGROUND Nickel(Ni)may accumulate in the human body and has biological toxicity and carcinogenicity.Ni has an extensive impact on the health of pregnant women and fetuses during gestation.AIM To evaluate Ni exposure...BACKGROUND Nickel(Ni)may accumulate in the human body and has biological toxicity and carcinogenicity.Ni has an extensive impact on the health of pregnant women and fetuses during gestation.AIM To evaluate Ni exposure in pregnant women in Kunming,Yunnan Province,China;to describe the distribution of Ni in the maternal-fetal system and placental barrier function;and to investigate the effect of Ni exposure on fetal health in mothers with pregnancy complications.METHODS Seventy-two pregnant women were selected using a case-control design.The women were divided into two groups:The control group(no disease;n=29)and the disease group[gestational diabetes(GDM),hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy(HDCP),or both;n=43].The pregnant women in the disease group were further divided as follows:14 cases with GDM(GDM group),13 cases with HDCP(HDCP group)and 16 cases with both GDM and HDCP(disease combination group).Basic information on the pregnant women was collected by questionnaire survey.Maternal blood,placenta blood and cord blood were collected immediately after delivery.The Ni content in paired samples was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.RESULTS Compared to the control group,age was higher and body mass index was greater in pregnant women in the disease groups(28.14±2.54 vs 28.42±13.89,P<0.05;25.90±3.86 vs 31.49±5.30,P<0.05).The birth weights of newborns in the HDCP group and the control group were significantly different(2.52±0.74 vs 3.18±0.41,P<0.05).The content of Ni in umbilical cord blood in the entire disease group was higher than that in the control group(0.10±0.16 vs 0.05±0.07,P<0.05).CONCLUSION In the maternal-fetal system of women with pregnancy complications,the barrier effect of the placenta against Ni is weakened,thus affecting healthy growth of the fetus in the uterus.展开更多
Room temperature Na-ion batteries(SIBs) show great potential for use as renewable energy storage systems.However, the large-scale application of SIBs has been hindered by the lack of an ideal SIBs anode material. We s...Room temperature Na-ion batteries(SIBs) show great potential for use as renewable energy storage systems.However, the large-scale application of SIBs has been hindered by the lack of an ideal SIBs anode material. We synthesized MoS2 on carbonized graphene-chitosan(G-C) using the hydrothermal method. The strong interaction between the MoS2 and the G-C greatly improved the electron transport rate and maintained the structural stability of the electrode, which lead to both an excellent rate capability and long cycle stability. The G-C monolith was proven to enhance the electrical conductivity of the composites and served as a matrix for uniformly dispersing active MoS2 nanosheets(NSs), as well as being a buffer material to adapt to changes in volume during the cycle.Serving as an anode material for SIBs, the MoS2-G-C electrode showed good cycling stability(527.3mAh g-1 at100 m A g-1 after 200 cycles), excellent rate capability, and a long cycle life(439.1 m Ah g-1 at 1 A g-1 after 200 cycles).展开更多
Amino acid transporters( AATs) play an important role in transport process of various amino acids,which are indispensable in plant growth and development,while many putative AATs have been identified and the complete ...Amino acid transporters( AATs) play an important role in transport process of various amino acids,which are indispensable in plant growth and development,while many putative AATs have been identified and the complete genomic sequences of the important plants have already been completed by splicing and assembling. There is still little knowledge about the expression,regulation and various biological functions of AATs in plants,including the major food crops. This study mainly reviewed the expression,regulation and various biological functions of AATs in plants,and the application of AATs in crop genetic improvement was also prospected. Thus,this review will provide important information for genetic improvement of staple food crops in plants.展开更多
Starch and the storage proteins are the main nutritious substances in crop grains,and their composition and content in grains play a decisive role in the grain quality of rice and other staple food crops.This review h...Starch and the storage proteins are the main nutritious substances in crop grains,and their composition and content in grains play a decisive role in the grain quality of rice and other staple food crops.This review has mainly summarized the new advances in the expression regulation of starch and storage protein synthesis related genes in rice grains.Moreover,the challenges of the starch and storage protein synthesis substances in rice genetic improvement were also discussed.This review will provide important information for genetic improvement of grain quality in rice and,potentially,other staple cereals.展开更多
The rapid ascent of digital platforms and the gig economy has prompted concerns about the gender pay gap.The results show that in the gig economy,gender continues to be a crucial determinant of workers'earnings,wi...The rapid ascent of digital platforms and the gig economy has prompted concerns about the gender pay gap.The results show that in the gig economy,gender continues to be a crucial determinant of workers'earnings,with women earning 85%of what men earn on a monthly basis.Nevertheless,in comparison to the traditional waged employment during the same period,the gender pay gap in the gig economy has narrowed.While some gig jobs(e.g.,ride-hailing services,delivery services,online education)exhibit certain occupational segregation,women in gig economy work are no longer concentrated in low-paying roles,thereby challenging the occupational crowding hypothesis prevalent in traditional employment.In the gig economy,the vast majority of the gender pay gaps arise from factors within occupations,and occupational segregation only has a very limited impact on the earnings gap.Additionally,the gender pay gap among platform gig workers can be mostly explained by observable factors,which implies that compared to traditional employment,the gig economy exhibits a lower level of implicit gender discrimination in China.Finally,we investigate new factors that determine the gender pay gap in the gig economy.Women exhibit a stronger aversion to algorithmic control,a preference for job flexibility,and a tendency toward more isolated and less socially interactive work environmentsall of which serve to widen the gender pay gap that might have otherwise narrowed.The results of this research suggest that despite the criticisms surrounding the gig economy,it continues to exert a positive influence on China's labor market。展开更多
The formation of cocrystallization in two various conjugated components may endow the newly formed conjugated cocrystals with multiple functionalities and improved charge transport properties.However,compared to conju...The formation of cocrystallization in two various conjugated components may endow the newly formed conjugated cocrystals with multiple functionalities and improved charge transport properties.However,compared to conjugated small molecules,this strategy is rather limitedly realized in conjugated polymers.Herein,a simple meniscus-assisted solution printing(MASP)strategy is utilized to achieve the cocrystallization in the blends of two conjugated polymers,i.e.,poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT)and poly(3-octylthiophene)(P3OT),and the cocrystalline structures are correlated closely to their charge mobilities.The P3HT/P3OT blends phase separate and crystallize individually in their drop-cast thin films.When subjecting the P3HT/P3OT blended solution to MASP,the confined solvent evaporation between two nearly parallel plates triggers them to cocrystallize progressively when accelerating the moving lower plate.The cocrystallization kinetics and the changes in P3HT/P3OT molecular structures are elucidated.Finally,these different crystalline structures of P3HT/P3OT blends are applied in organic fieldeffect transistors,imparting the cocrystallization-enhanced charge transport than respective P3HT and P3OT crystal domains.Such MASP method can be extended to craft cocrystals of other conjugated polymer blends for their diverse optoelectronic applications.展开更多
For rapid and simultaneous detection of （fluoro）quinolones, a broadly specific monoclonal antibody （mAb） that recognizes 32 （fluoro）quinolone antibiotics was prepared using a mixture of a norfloxacin derivative ...For rapid and simultaneous detection of （fluoro）quinolones, a broadly specific monoclonal antibody （mAb） that recognizes 32 （fluoro）quinolone antibiotics was prepared using a mixture of a norfloxacin derivative and a sarfloxacin derivative as the hapten. An immunochromatographic strip based on gold nanoparticles （AuNPs） was then assembled with goat anti-mouse antibody and antigen （sarfloxacin coupled to ovalbumin）, used to form the C line and T line, respectively. This antigen competes with the （fluoro）quinolones in a sample incubated with mAbs labeled with AuNPs. The strip can detect 32 （fluoro）quinolones including oxolinic acid, nalidixic acid, miloxacin, pipemidic acid, piromidic acid, rosoxacin, cinoxacin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin, lomfloxacin, enofloxacin, fleroxacin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, dafloxacin, orbifloxacin, sparfloxacin, gemifloxacin, besifloxacin, balofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, nadifloxacin, ofloxacin, marbofloxacin, flumequine, pazufloxacin, prulifloxacin, sarafloxacin, difloxacin, trovafloxacin, and tosufloxacin in milk within 10 min with the naked eye. The cut-off values of the strip range from 1 to 100 ng/mL and the limits of detection are 0.1- 10 ng/mL. The strip does not cross-react with antibiotics including tetracycline, sulfamethazine, ampicillin, erythromycin, aflatoxin B1, or gentamicin. In short, this immunochromatographic strip is a very useful tool for the primary screening of （fluoro）quinolones in milk.展开更多
The potential application of high-capacity Sn_(4)P_(3)anode for potassium-ion batteries(PIBs)is hindered by the poor cycle stability mainly rooted from the huge volume changes upon cycling and low electronic conduc-ti...The potential application of high-capacity Sn_(4)P_(3)anode for potassium-ion batteries(PIBs)is hindered by the poor cycle stability mainly rooted from the huge volume changes upon cycling and low electronic conduc-tivity.To address the above issues,sandwich-like struc-tured Sn_(4)P_(3)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)was designed and synthesized as anode material for PIBs.As a result,Sn_(4)P_(3)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)pre-sents superior cycle stability(retains a capacity of 103.2 mAh·g^(-1)even after 300 cycles at 1000 mA·g^(-1))and rate capability(delivers 60.7 mAh·g^(-1)at high current density of 2000 mA·g^(-1)).The excellent electrochemical perfor-mance of sandwich-like structured Sn_(4)P_(3)/Ti_(3)C_(2)Tx is orig-inated from the synergistic effect between Sn_(4)P_(3)and Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x),where Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)acts as a conductive matrix to facilitate electron transfer and buffer the volume change of Sn_(4)P_(3)particles upon cycling,while Sn_(4)P_(3)serves as pillars to prevent the collapse and stacking of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)sheets.Moreover,significant capacitive contribution is demonstrated as a major contributor to the excellent rate capability.展开更多
基金The study was supported by the Transverse Project of Zhongshan Hospital and Hangzhou Xinjing Science and Technology(XH,H2022-009)National Key Research and Development Program of China(XH,2023YFC2506200)Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine(JBG,19MC1910300).
文摘Background The presence of mental health conditions is pervasive in patients who experienced acute myocardial infarction(AMI),significantly disrupting their recovery.Providing timely and easily accessible psychological interventions using virtual reality-based cognitive-behavioural therapy(VR-CBT)could potentially improve both acute and long-term symptoms affecting their mental health.Aims We aim to examine the effectiveness of VR-CBT on anxiety symptoms in patients with AMI who were admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU)during the acute stage of their illness.Methods In this single-blind randomised clinical trial,participants with anxiety symptoms who were admitted to the ICU due to AMI were continuously recruited from December 2022 to February 2023.Patients who were Han Chinese aged 18-75 years were randomly assigned(1:1)via block randomisation to either the VR-CBT group to receive VR-CBT in addition to standard mental health support,or the control group to receive standard mental health support only.VR-CBT consisted of four modules and was delivered at the bedside over a 1-week period.Assessments were done at baseline,immediately after treatment and at 3-month follow-up.The intention-to-treat analysis began in June 2023.The primary outcome measure was the changes in anxiety symptoms as assessed by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HAM-A).Results Among 148 randomised participants,70 were assigned to the VR-CBT group and 78 to the control group.The 1-week VR-CBT intervention plus standard mental health support significantly reduced the anxiety symptoms compared with standard mental health support alone in terms of HAM-A scores at both post intervention(Cohen’s d=−1.27(95%confidence interval(CI):−1.64 to−0.90,p<0.001)and 3-month follow-up(Cohen’s d=−0.37(95%CI:−0.72 to−0.01,p=0.024).Of the 70 participants who received VR-CBT,62(88.6%)completed the entire intervention.Cybersickness was the main reported adverse event(n=5).Conclusions Our results indicate that VR-CBT can significantly reduce post-AMI anxiety at the acute stage of the illness;the improvement was maintained at the 3-month follow-up.Trial registration number The trial was registered at www.chictr.org.cn with the identifier:ChiCTR2200066435.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11972363 and12272401)the Opening Project of State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication(Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics)(No.LSL-20012001)the Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures(Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)(No.MCMS-E-0221G01)。
文摘To improve the thermoelectric converting performance in applications such as power generation,reutilization of heat energy,refrigeration,and ultrasensitive sensors in scramjet engines,a thermoelectric film/substrate system is widely designed and applied,whose interfacial behavior dominates the strength and service life of thermoelectric devices.Herein,a theoretical model of a thermoelectric film bonded to a graded substrate is proposed.The interfacial shear stress,the normal stress in the thermoelectric film,and the stress intensity factors affected by various material and geometric parameters are comprehensively studied.It is found that adjusting the inhomogeneity parameter of the graded substrate,thermal conductivity,and current density of the thermoelectric film can reduce the risk of interfacial failure of the thermoelectric film/graded substrate system.Selecting a stiffer and thicker thermoelectric film is advantageous to the reliability of the thermoelectric film/graded substrate system.The results should be of great guiding significance for the present and upcoming applications of thermoelectric materials in various fields.
文摘IL-23/IL-17 axis is an important regulator in various inflammatory diseases. However, the role of IL-23 in allergic airway inflammation is not well understood. In this study, we show that in an allergen-induced asthma model, mice with transgenic overexpression of IL-23R exhibited increased airway infiltration of eosinophils and Th2 cytokine production, whereas those deficient in IL-23 displayed reduced airway inflammation. In vitro, IL-23-IL-23R signaling promoted GATA-3 expression and enhanced Th2 cytokine expression. Conversely, in the absence of this signal, Th2 cell differentiation was partially inhibited. Therefore, IL-23 signaling may regulate allergic asthma through modulation of Th2 cell differentiation.
基金Supported by Projects of Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province,No.2016JY0105
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) can significantly improve the survival rate of patients with HCC and is the first treatment choice for patients who are not suitable for surgical resections. The evaluation of the response to TACE treatment affects not only the assessment of the therapy efficacy but also the development of the next step in the treatment plan. The use of imaging to examine changes in tumor volume to assess the response of solid tumors to treatment has been controversial. In recent years, the emergence of new imaging technology has made it possible to observe the response of tumors to treatment prior to any morphological changes. In this article, the advances in studies reporting the use of computed tomography perfusion imaging, diffusionweighted magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), intravoxel incoherent motion, diffusion kurtosis imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, magnetic resonance perfusionweighted imaging, blood oxygen level-dependent MRI, positron emission tomography(PET)/computed tomography and PET/MRI to assess the TACE treatment response are reviewed.
基金Supported by the Project of Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province,No.2016JY0105Project of Medical Association of Sichuan Province,No.S20070the Project of City-University Science and Technology Strategic Cooperation of Nanchong City(North Sichuan Medical College),No.20SXQT0324.
文摘The morbidity and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)rank 6th and 4th,respectively,among malignant tumors worldwide.Traditional diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)uses the apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)obtained by applying the monoexponential model to reflect water molecule diffusion in active tissue;however,the value of ADC is affected by microcirculation perfusion.Using a biexponential model,intravoxel incoherent motion(IVIM)-DWI quantitatively measures information related to pure water molecule diffusion and microcirculation perfusion,thus compensating for the shortcomings of DWI.The number of studies examining the application of IVIM-DWI in patients with HCC has gradually increased over the last few years,and many results show that IVIMDWI has vital value for HCC differentiation,pathological grading,and predicting and evaluating the treatment response.The present study principally reviews the principle of IVIM-DWI and its research progress in HCC differentiation,pathological grading,predicting and evaluating the treatment response,predicting postoperative recurrence and predicting gene expression prediction.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81100649)
文摘AIMTo investigate whether the abnormal differentiation of the pterygium epithelium is related to the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in vitro.METHODSThe expression levels of phosphorylated ERK (P-ERK), keratin family members including K19 and K10 and the ocular master control gene Pax-6 were measured in 16 surgically excised pterygium tissues and 12 eye bank conjunctiva. In colony-forming cell assays, the differences in clone morphology and in K10, K19, P-ERK and Pax-6 expression between the head and body were investigated. When cocultured with the ERK signaling pathway inhibitor PD98059, the changes in clone morphology, colony-forming efficiency, differentiated marker K10, K19 and Pax-6 expression and P-ERK protein expression level were examined by immunoreactivity and Western blot analysis.RESULTSThe expression of K19 and Pax-6 decreased in the pterygium, especially in the head. No staining of K10 was found in the normal conjunctiva epithelium, but it was found to be expressed in the superficial cells in the head of the pterygium. Characteristic upregulation of P-ERK was observed by immunohistochemistry. The clone from the head with more differentiated cells in the center expressed more K10, and the clone from the body expressed more K19. The P-ERK protein level increased in the pterygium epithelium compared with conjunctiva and decreased when cocultured with PD98059. The same medium with the ERK inhibitor PD98059 was more effective in promoting clonal growth than conventional medium with 3T3 murine feeder layers. It was observed that the epithelium clone co-cultured with the inhibitor had decreased K10 expression and increased K19 and Pax-6 expression.CONCLUSIONWe suggest ERK signaling pathway activation might play a role in the pterygium epithelium abnormal differentiation.
文摘Background: Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) can not only observe the diffusion of tissue water molecules but also reflect the blood perfusion information of tissue microcirculation. IVIM-DWI has been applied in many clinical areas. However, few studies have addressed the use of IVIM-DWI for the evaluation of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) response in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to explore the role of IVIM-DWI for the therapeutic response of TACE for HCC. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients underwent IVIM-DWI scan on a 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging instrument 1 - 3 days before and 30 to 40 days after TACE. The values of IVIM-DWI parameters, including standard apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pure diffusion coefficient (Dslow), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (Dfast) and perfusion fraction (f) were measured. The values of IVIM-DWI parameters before and after TACE were compared using paired t tests. The values between responsive and non-responsive groups were compared using independent-samples t test. P 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results: After TACE, the ADC and Dslow values in the tumors increased significantly, and the values of Dfast decreased significantly, while the values of f value did not change obviously. The ADC values in responsive group were remarkably higher than those in non-responsive group, the Dfast values in responsive group were significantly lower than those in non-responsive group, but the values of Dslow and f between the two groups were not different significantly. Conclusions: IVIM-DWI parameters can be used as potential markers for the therapeutic response of TACE for HCC.
基金Supported by Science and Technology Foundation of the Guizhou Health Department,No.GZWKJ2011-1-026National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81760548.
文摘BACKGROUND The main treatment methods for cancer include surgery,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,targeted drug therapy and so on.Patients often feel anger,anxiety,depression,and other negative psychological reactions in the process of treatment.AIM To explore the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on the personality characteristics of cancer patients.METHODS According to the matching design requirements,150 cancer patients were divided into 3 groups based on sex,age,condition,and cultural background.Patients in the control group received conventional treatment.Patients in experimental group 1 received an intervention based on conventional treatment combined with cognitive behavioral therapy.Patients in experimental group 2 received family members'participation in addition to the treatment given in experimental group 1.An Eysenck personality questionnaire was used to investigate all the patients before and after the intervention,and the scores for psychosis,introversion,neuroticism,and concealment degree were analyzed.RESULTS Compared with the control group,for experimental group 1 and experimental group 2 before and after the intervention,the four dimensions of mental quality,neuroticism,introversion and concealment degree all decreased,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).After the intervention,there were no obvious or statistically significant differences(P>0.05)among the control group,experimental group 1,and experimental group 2 for two personality traits,psychoticism and neuroticism,both inside and outside degree and all four dimensions.CONCLUSION Simple cognitive behavioral therapy could not change the personality characteristics of cancer patients quickly,but the patients’personality characteristics were significantly improved after treatment.
基金Yunnan Provincial Health Committee Senior Talent Project,No.L-2018006 and No.H-2018045International Science and Technology Cooperation Special Key Research and Development Plan,No.2017IB004and Academician Expert Workstation of Yunnan Province,No.202005AF150033.
文摘BACKGROUND Nickel(Ni)may accumulate in the human body and has biological toxicity and carcinogenicity.Ni has an extensive impact on the health of pregnant women and fetuses during gestation.AIM To evaluate Ni exposure in pregnant women in Kunming,Yunnan Province,China;to describe the distribution of Ni in the maternal-fetal system and placental barrier function;and to investigate the effect of Ni exposure on fetal health in mothers with pregnancy complications.METHODS Seventy-two pregnant women were selected using a case-control design.The women were divided into two groups:The control group(no disease;n=29)and the disease group[gestational diabetes(GDM),hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy(HDCP),or both;n=43].The pregnant women in the disease group were further divided as follows:14 cases with GDM(GDM group),13 cases with HDCP(HDCP group)and 16 cases with both GDM and HDCP(disease combination group).Basic information on the pregnant women was collected by questionnaire survey.Maternal blood,placenta blood and cord blood were collected immediately after delivery.The Ni content in paired samples was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.RESULTS Compared to the control group,age was higher and body mass index was greater in pregnant women in the disease groups(28.14±2.54 vs 28.42±13.89,P<0.05;25.90±3.86 vs 31.49±5.30,P<0.05).The birth weights of newborns in the HDCP group and the control group were significantly different(2.52±0.74 vs 3.18±0.41,P<0.05).The content of Ni in umbilical cord blood in the entire disease group was higher than that in the control group(0.10±0.16 vs 0.05±0.07,P<0.05).CONCLUSION In the maternal-fetal system of women with pregnancy complications,the barrier effect of the placenta against Ni is weakened,thus affecting healthy growth of the fetus in the uterus.
基金financially supported by the Singapore National Research Foundation under NRF RF Award No. MOE2016-T2-1-131, Tier 1 2017-T1-001-075, MOE2018-T3-1-002
文摘Room temperature Na-ion batteries(SIBs) show great potential for use as renewable energy storage systems.However, the large-scale application of SIBs has been hindered by the lack of an ideal SIBs anode material. We synthesized MoS2 on carbonized graphene-chitosan(G-C) using the hydrothermal method. The strong interaction between the MoS2 and the G-C greatly improved the electron transport rate and maintained the structural stability of the electrode, which lead to both an excellent rate capability and long cycle stability. The G-C monolith was proven to enhance the electrical conductivity of the composites and served as a matrix for uniformly dispersing active MoS2 nanosheets(NSs), as well as being a buffer material to adapt to changes in volume during the cycle.Serving as an anode material for SIBs, the MoS2-G-C electrode showed good cycling stability(527.3mAh g-1 at100 m A g-1 after 200 cycles), excellent rate capability, and a long cycle life(439.1 m Ah g-1 at 1 A g-1 after 200 cycles).
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(U1604110,U1404319,31600992,31801332)Key Project of Science and Technology in Henan Province(182102110442,152102110036)+6 种基金Nanhu Scholars Program for Young Scholars of XYNU(2016054)Scientific Research Innovation Project for Postgraduate of XYNU(2018KYJJ47)Major Science and Technology Project in Henan Province(121100110200)National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for Undergraduates(201810477004)Student Research Fund Project of XYNU(2018-DXS-066)Key Scientific Research Projects of Universities in Henan Province(19A180030)Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains
文摘Amino acid transporters( AATs) play an important role in transport process of various amino acids,which are indispensable in plant growth and development,while many putative AATs have been identified and the complete genomic sequences of the important plants have already been completed by splicing and assembling. There is still little knowledge about the expression,regulation and various biological functions of AATs in plants,including the major food crops. This study mainly reviewed the expression,regulation and various biological functions of AATs in plants,and the application of AATs in crop genetic improvement was also prospected. Thus,this review will provide important information for genetic improvement of staple food crops in plants.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(U1604110,U1404319,31600992,31801332)Key Project of Science and Technology in Henan Province(182102110442,152102110100,152102110036)+6 种基金Nanhu Scholars Program for Young Scholars of XYNU(2016054)Scientific Research Innovation Project for Postgraduate of XYNU(2018KYJJ47)Major Science and Technology Project in Henan Province(121100110200)Student Research Fund Project of XYNU(2018-DXS-066)National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for Undergraduates(201810477004)Key Scientific Research Projects of Universities in Henan Province(19A180030)Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains
文摘Starch and the storage proteins are the main nutritious substances in crop grains,and their composition and content in grains play a decisive role in the grain quality of rice and other staple food crops.This review has mainly summarized the new advances in the expression regulation of starch and storage protein synthesis related genes in rice grains.Moreover,the challenges of the starch and storage protein synthesis substances in rice genetic improvement were also discussed.This review will provide important information for genetic improvement of grain quality in rice and,potentially,other staple cereals.
文摘The rapid ascent of digital platforms and the gig economy has prompted concerns about the gender pay gap.The results show that in the gig economy,gender continues to be a crucial determinant of workers'earnings,with women earning 85%of what men earn on a monthly basis.Nevertheless,in comparison to the traditional waged employment during the same period,the gender pay gap in the gig economy has narrowed.While some gig jobs(e.g.,ride-hailing services,delivery services,online education)exhibit certain occupational segregation,women in gig economy work are no longer concentrated in low-paying roles,thereby challenging the occupational crowding hypothesis prevalent in traditional employment.In the gig economy,the vast majority of the gender pay gaps arise from factors within occupations,and occupational segregation only has a very limited impact on the earnings gap.Additionally,the gender pay gap among platform gig workers can be mostly explained by observable factors,which implies that compared to traditional employment,the gig economy exhibits a lower level of implicit gender discrimination in China.Finally,we investigate new factors that determine the gender pay gap in the gig economy.Women exhibit a stronger aversion to algorithmic control,a preference for job flexibility,and a tendency toward more isolated and less socially interactive work environmentsall of which serve to widen the gender pay gap that might have otherwise narrowed.The results of this research suggest that despite the criticisms surrounding the gig economy,it continues to exert a positive influence on China's labor market。
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.21922503 and 22173023)Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(No.21ZR1405800)。
文摘The formation of cocrystallization in two various conjugated components may endow the newly formed conjugated cocrystals with multiple functionalities and improved charge transport properties.However,compared to conjugated small molecules,this strategy is rather limitedly realized in conjugated polymers.Herein,a simple meniscus-assisted solution printing(MASP)strategy is utilized to achieve the cocrystallization in the blends of two conjugated polymers,i.e.,poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT)and poly(3-octylthiophene)(P3OT),and the cocrystalline structures are correlated closely to their charge mobilities.The P3HT/P3OT blends phase separate and crystallize individually in their drop-cast thin films.When subjecting the P3HT/P3OT blended solution to MASP,the confined solvent evaporation between two nearly parallel plates triggers them to cocrystallize progressively when accelerating the moving lower plate.The cocrystallization kinetics and the changes in P3HT/P3OT molecular structures are elucidated.Finally,these different crystalline structures of P3HT/P3OT blends are applied in organic fieldeffect transistors,imparting the cocrystallization-enhanced charge transport than respective P3HT and P3OT crystal domains.Such MASP method can be extended to craft cocrystals of other conjugated polymer blends for their diverse optoelectronic applications.
基金Acknowledgements This work is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Nos. 21522102,21503095, 21471068, 21371081, and 21301073）, the Key Programs from MOST （Nos. 2016YFD0401101 and 2012YQ09019410）, and grants from Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, MOF and MOE （Nos. BK20150145, BX20151038, BK20140003, BE2014672, BE2013613, BE2013611）.
文摘For rapid and simultaneous detection of （fluoro）quinolones, a broadly specific monoclonal antibody （mAb） that recognizes 32 （fluoro）quinolone antibiotics was prepared using a mixture of a norfloxacin derivative and a sarfloxacin derivative as the hapten. An immunochromatographic strip based on gold nanoparticles （AuNPs） was then assembled with goat anti-mouse antibody and antigen （sarfloxacin coupled to ovalbumin）, used to form the C line and T line, respectively. This antigen competes with the （fluoro）quinolones in a sample incubated with mAbs labeled with AuNPs. The strip can detect 32 （fluoro）quinolones including oxolinic acid, nalidixic acid, miloxacin, pipemidic acid, piromidic acid, rosoxacin, cinoxacin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin, lomfloxacin, enofloxacin, fleroxacin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, dafloxacin, orbifloxacin, sparfloxacin, gemifloxacin, besifloxacin, balofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, nadifloxacin, ofloxacin, marbofloxacin, flumequine, pazufloxacin, prulifloxacin, sarafloxacin, difloxacin, trovafloxacin, and tosufloxacin in milk within 10 min with the naked eye. The cut-off values of the strip range from 1 to 100 ng/mL and the limits of detection are 0.1- 10 ng/mL. The strip does not cross-react with antibiotics including tetracycline, sulfamethazine, ampicillin, erythromycin, aflatoxin B1, or gentamicin. In short, this immunochromatographic strip is a very useful tool for the primary screening of （fluoro）quinolones in milk.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52100084)Shenzhen Natural Science Fund (No. GXWD2020123015542700320200824094017001)
文摘The potential application of high-capacity Sn_(4)P_(3)anode for potassium-ion batteries(PIBs)is hindered by the poor cycle stability mainly rooted from the huge volume changes upon cycling and low electronic conduc-tivity.To address the above issues,sandwich-like struc-tured Sn_(4)P_(3)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)was designed and synthesized as anode material for PIBs.As a result,Sn_(4)P_(3)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)pre-sents superior cycle stability(retains a capacity of 103.2 mAh·g^(-1)even after 300 cycles at 1000 mA·g^(-1))and rate capability(delivers 60.7 mAh·g^(-1)at high current density of 2000 mA·g^(-1)).The excellent electrochemical perfor-mance of sandwich-like structured Sn_(4)P_(3)/Ti_(3)C_(2)Tx is orig-inated from the synergistic effect between Sn_(4)P_(3)and Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x),where Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)acts as a conductive matrix to facilitate electron transfer and buffer the volume change of Sn_(4)P_(3)particles upon cycling,while Sn_(4)P_(3)serves as pillars to prevent the collapse and stacking of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)sheets.Moreover,significant capacitive contribution is demonstrated as a major contributor to the excellent rate capability.
