Vision matters for shape representation: Evidence from sculpturing and drawing in the blind.

Shape is a property that could be perceived by vision and touch, and is classically considered to be supramodal. While there is mounting evidence for the shared cognitive and neural representation space between visual and tactile shape, previous research tended to rely on dissimilarity structures between objects and had not examined the detailed properties of shape representation in the absence of vision. To address this gap, we conducted three explicit object shape knowledge production experiments with congenitally blind and sighted participants, who were asked to produce verbal features, 3D clay models, and 2D drawings of familiar objects with varying levels of tactile exposure, including tools, large nonmanipulable objects, and animals.

A cytotoxicity and mechanistic investigation of mono- and di-chloro naphthalenes.

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) were characterized as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that were widely distributed in the environment. Although the striking in vivo toxicity of these pollutants towards both animals and humans was well documented, their cytotoxicity and mechanism of action have not been extensively investigated. In this study, the in vitro antiproliferative activity of mono- and di-chloronaphthalenes as representative PCNs were evaluated and the results indicated strong growth inhibitory effects against mammalian cells, especially the human breast MCF-10A cell and human hepatic HL-7702 cells.

Anti-Cancer Activity of Synthesized 5-Benzyl juglone on Selected Human Cancer Cell Lines.

Background: Cancer is a malignant disease that causes millions of deaths each year worldwide. As one of the cancer therapeutic strategies, chemotherapy is a means to destroy rapidly dividing cells. The main problem with cancer chemotherapy is the lack of selectivity of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, leading to toxicity towards normal cells.

Aerosol microphysical parameters' vertical profiles measured by a dual Raman-Mie lidar during 2007-2013 at Hefei, China.

L625 4-wavelength dual Raman-Mie lidar was used to detect elastically Mie backscattered light at emitting wavelengths (532 and 355 nm) emitted by one Nd:YAG laser, and the nitrogen Raman light (607 and 386 nm) inelastically backscattered by nitrogen molecules at Hefei (117.3°E, 31.9°N), China from 2007 to 2013.

Portable fluorescence-based microRNA detection system based on isothermal signal amplification technology.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) diagnostics can be useful for diagnosing or confirming miRNA abundance and are used in screening tests and to assess changes in miRNAs in vivo. At present, the use of traditional nucleic acid amplification assays to detect miRNAs has been limited in laboratory environment because of the time, equipment, and technical expertise required to perform these assays. A specialized, rapid affordable miRNA detection system is necessary when there are limited resources or point-of-care testing needs.

Characteristics of white coat hypertension in Chinese Han patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: This study documented the prevalence and clinical features of white coat hypertension (WCH) among Chinese Han patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Clinic and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurements were compared in 856 patients with T2DM to determine the frequency of WCH (WCH was defined as clinical blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg and daytime blood pressure <135/85 mmHg and/or 24-h ambulatory BP (ABP) mean value of <130/80 mmHg on ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Weight, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist to height ratio (WHtR), fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin level and circadian BP patterns were also measured to find clinical features predictive of WCH in T2DM.

Prevalence and distinguishing features of masked hypertension in type 2 diabetic patients.

Objective: The prevalence and clinical features of masked hypertension (MH) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (T(2)DM) were investigated to define clinical indices which may aid diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: Clinical blood pressure (CBP) and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) were measured in 856 T(2)DM patients to differentiate normotensive (NT), essential hypertensive (EH), and MH. Waist circumference (WC), abdominal circumference (AC), body mass index (BMI), waist to height ratio (WHtR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and glycated hemoglobin levels were measured and compared between BP groups.

[Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on the expression of nitric oxide synthase mRNA in cortex after acute traumatic cerebral injury].

Objective: To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA in cortex after acute traumatic cerebral injury, and to study the mechanism of HBO on brain injury.

Methods: Acute traumatic brain injury model was established with rest received free fall injury method in SD rats. 0.