Investigation on the occupational situation of clinical research associates in China.

Clinical research associates (CRAs) are the sponsor's representatives, monitor the process and quality of clinical trials, their professional quality can affect the quality of clinical trials. But there is a conflict between the large number of CRAs personnel and unsatisfactory quality of clinical trial monitoring, and the reason is unknown. Therefore, our study investigated the occupational status of CRAs through a questionnaire survey.

Investigation of the mechanical behavior of rock-like material with two flaws subjected to biaxial compression.

The biaxial compression experiments of rock-like materials with two flaws are carried out under different flaw inclination angle, rock bridge ligament angle, lateral stress. The experimental studies show that crack propagation modes of rock-like material are as follows: wing crack through mode (Y mode), shear crack through mode (J mode), mixed crack through mode (wing shear JY mode), longitudinal extension of crack and transverse shear splitting. prefabricated fractured rock specimens have experienced the closing stage of prefabricated fractures, the elastic deformation stage, the generation and expansion of cracks (or plastic strengthening), and the residual loading stage.

Independent and combined associations of urinary metals exposure with markers of liver injury: Results from the NHANES 2013-2016.

Background: Heavy metals entering the human body could cause damage to a variety of organs. However, the combined harmful effects of exposure to various metals on liver function are not well understood. The purpose of the study was to investigate the independent and joint relationships between heavy metal exposure and liver function in adults.

Subchronic Microcystin-LR Aggravates Colorectal Inflammatory Response and Barrier Disruption via Raf/ERK Signaling Pathway in Obese Mice.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is an extremely poisonous cyanotoxin that poses a threat to ecosystems and human health. MC-LR has been reported as an enterotoxin. The objective of this study was to determine the effect and the mechanism of subchronic MC-LR toxicity on preexisting diet-induced colorectal damage.

Combination Effect of Microcystins and Arsenic Exposures on CKD: A Case-Control Study in China.

Evidence has shown that exposure to environmental pollutants such as microcystins (MCs), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) can lead to the occurrence and development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). There is a synergistic effect between MCs and Cd. However, the combined effect of MCs and As exposures on CKD remains unclear.

MC-LR Aggravates Liver Lipid Metabolism Disorders in Obese Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet via PI3K/AKT/mTOR/SREBP1 Signaling Pathway.

Obesity, a metabolic disease caused by excessive fat accumulation in the body, has attracted worldwide attention. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a hepatotoxic cyanotoxin which has been reportedly to cause lipid metabolism disorder. In this study, C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for eight weeks to build obese an animal model, and subsequently, the obese mice were fed MC-LR for another eight weeks, and we aimed to determine how MC-LR exposure affects the liver lipid metabolism in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice.

Relationship between postoperative hypothalamic injury and water and sodium disturbance in patients with craniopharyngioma: A retrospective study of 178 cases.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between postoperative hypothalamo-hypophyseal injury (HHI) and postoperative water and sodium disturbances in patients with craniopharyngioma.

Methods: The medical records, radiological data, and laboratory results of 178 patients (44 children and 134 adults) who underwent microsurgery for craniopharyngioma in a single center were reviewed. Postoperative HHI was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging.

A Study of Sr Sorption Behavior in Claystone from a Candidate High-Level Radioactive Waste Geological Disposal Site under the Action of FeOOH Colloids.

Colloids have a significant influence on the migration of nuclides in claystone, which is an important geological barrier. The sorption of strontium on claystone in the presence of FeOOH colloids was investigated in samples from the Suhongtu site, a candidate high-level radioactive waste disposal site in China. The effects of colloid amount, solid content, and pH were investigated by batch tests, and the sorption reaction mechanism was analyzed by kinetic modeling and microscopic characterization techniques.

Adsorption characteristics of strontium by bentonite colloids acting on claystone of candidate high-level radioactive waste geological disposal sites.

The bentonite colloid produced in the deep geological repository of high-level radioactive waste can directly affect the migration of radionuclide strontium when it acts on claystone. The adsorption characteristics of strontium were investigated on claystone with the presence or absence of bentonite colloids from the Suhongtu area of China. The effects of different influencing factors, such as pH and solid content, on the adsorption process were investigated by batch adsorption experiments, and spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the samples before and after adsorption of strontium.

Chronic exposure to low concentration of MC-LR caused hepatic lipid metabolism disorder.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a potent hepatotoxin can cause liver damages. However, research on hepatic lipid metabolism caused by long-term exposure to environmental concentrations MC-LR is limited. In the current study, mice were exposed to various low concentrations of MC-LR (0, 1, 30, 60, 90, 120 μg/L in the drinking water) for 9 months.

The interplay of labile organic carbon, enzyme activities and microbial communities of two forest soils across seasons.

Soil labile organic carbon (LOC) responds rapidly to environmental changes and plays an important role in carbon cycle. In this study, the seasonal fluctuations in LOC, the activities of carbon-cycle related enzymes, and the bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed for soils collected from two forests, namely Betula albosinensis (Ba) and Picea asperata Mast. (Pa), in the Qinling Mountains of China.

Groundwater pollution containing ammonium, iron and manganese in a riverbank filtration system: Effects of dynamic geochemical conditions and microbial responses.

Bench-scale experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of hydraulic loadings and influent concentration on the migration and biotransformation behavior of three groundwater pollutants: ammonium (NH ), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn). Columns packed with aquifer media collected from a river bank filtration (RBF) site in Harbin City, NE China were introduced synthetic groundwater (SGW) or real groundwater (RGW) were at two different constant flow rates and initial contaminant concentrations to determine the impact of system conditions on the fate of the target pollutants biotransformation. The results showed that the biotransformation rate of Fe Mn, and NH decreased by 8%, 39% and 15% under high flow rate (50 L d) compared to low flow rate (25 L d), which was consistent with the residence-time effect.

Influence of colloidal Fe(OH) on the adsorption characteristics of strontium in porous media from a candidate high-level radioactive waste geological disposal site.

Colloids in groundwater or geological barriers generally play a key role in the migration of special nuclides. Adsorption characteristics of strontium were investigated on porous media in the presence of colloidal Fe(OH) from the Beishan Site, the only high-level radioactive waste disposal site candidate in China. The effects of colloid amounts, solid contents, and pH were determined and studied by batch texts.

MSI2-TGF-β/TGF-β R1/SMAD3 positive feedback regulation in glioblastoma.

Purpose: Glioblastoma is the most malignant glioma tumors with inevitable relapse and resistance to chemotherapy; however, the mechanisms driving chemoresistance remain to be fully elucidated. This study is to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms involving in the chemoresistance of glioblastoma.

Methods: The expression of musashi (MSI) RNA-binding protein in the tumor tissues and cells of glioblastoma was measured.

[Patterns of Bacterial Community Through Soil Depth Profiles and Its Influencing Factors Under Burkill in the Xinjiashan Forest Region of Qinling Mountains].

In this study, vertical changes in bacterial α-diversity and community composition were investigated at four soil depths(0-10, 10-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm) in Burkill forest of Qinling Mountains by sequencing of the 16S rDNA regions using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput technology. The results showed that the decreases of OTUs, Chao1 and Shannon were numerical but not significant, and the highest values of 1688, 2314 and 8.66 were obtained in 0-10 cm, respectively.

Brazilian Green Propolis Prevents Cognitive Decline into Mild Cognitive Impairment in Elderly People Living at High Altitude.

Background: Systemic inflammation is known as a risk factor of cognitive decline.

Objective: To investigate the effects of propolis on cognitive decline and systemic inflammation in elderly people living at high altitude.

Methods: Sixty participants (average 72.

Variations in bacterial and fungal communities through soil depth profiles in a Betula albosinensis forest.

Microbial communities in subsurface soil are specialized for their environment, which is distinct from that of the surface communities. However, little is known about the microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) that exist in the deeper soil horizons. Vertical changes in microbial alpha-diversity (Chao1 and Shannon indices) and community composition were investigated at four soil depths (0-10, 10-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) in a natural secondary forest of Betula albosinensis by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S and internal transcribed spacer rDNA regions.

Mechanism for the Excited-State Multiple Proton Transfer Process of Dihydroxyanthraquinone Chromophores.

The single and dual cooperated proton transfer dynamic process in the excited state of 1,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone (1,5-DHAQ) was theoretically investigated, taking solvent effects (ethanol) into account. The absorption and fluorescence spectra were simulated, and dual fluorescence exhibited, which is consistent with previous experiments. Analysis of the calculated IR and Raman vibration spectra reveals that the intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions (O-H···O and O-H···O) are strengthened following the excited proton transfer process.

CD109 is identified as a potential nasopharyngeal carcinoma biomarker using aptamer selected by cell-SELEX.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most prevailing cancers in southern China and southern Asia. Because of the nonspecific symptoms and lack of effective biomarker, most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in poor 5-year survival rate. To identify a novel NPC biomarker facilitating early detection and effective therapy of NPC, a two-step strategy consisting of cancer cell-Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (cell-SELEX) procedure and aptamer-based purification approach was developed.

Microsurgical Management of Craniopharyngiomas via a Unilateral Subfrontal Approach: A Retrospective Study of 177 Continuous Cases.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of 177 cases of craniopharyngioma (CP) treated via a unilateral subfrontal approach.

Methods: A total of 177 continuous microscopic surgeries were performed by the senior author (Y.X.

Ectopic recurrence of pediatric craniopharyngiomas after gross total resection: a report of two cases and a review of the literature.

Introduction: Ectopic recurrent craniopharyngioma is rare. We reported two pediatric cases and reviewed the related literature.

Method: We retrospectively studied 177 craniopharyngioma cases treated by the senior author (Yuan X) between years 2003 and 2013.

Nanoring Arrays on Fe Coated Substrate: Formation and Guidance for the Growth of Hierarchical CNTs.

In this article, we report the formation of nanoring structures on Fe coated substrate and their application in guiding the growth of carbon nanotube (CNT) patterns with hierarchical structures. The formation of nanorings involves the etching of polystyrene (PS) monolayer colloidal crystals (MCCs) under reactive ion etching (RIE), and the redeposition and cross-linkage of the active degradation products at the contact line between the MCCs and the substrate. After washing out the MCCs, insoluble nanorings with hexagonal order on the substrate are developed.

Directional photomanipulation of breath figure arrays.

Porous polymeric films are of paramount importance in many areas of modern science and technology. However, processing methods typically based on direct writing, imprint, and lithography techniques have low throughput and are often limited to specific fabricated shapes. Herein, we demonstrate the directional photomanipulation of breath figure arrays (BFAs) formed by an azobenzene-containing block copolymer to address the aforementioned problems.