Prevention of postsurgical atrial tachycardia with a modified right atrial free wall incision.

Background: Most postsurgical macroreentry atrial tachycardias (PS-MATs) are atriotomy related; however, underlying mechanisms and prevention remain undefined.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the electrophysiological and histologic bases of right atriotomy incision arrhythmogenicity and whether a modified atriotomy that extends the incisional line to the tricuspid annulus (TA) and inferior vena cava (IVC) prevents PS-MAT.

Methods: Atrial arrhythmia induction and electrophysiological and histologic characteristics were studied 8 weeks after right atriotomy in 30 adult swine according to incision distance to TA or IVC (groups A, B, and C: broad, narrow, and closed corridors, respectively; group D, no-incision sham; n = 6 per group, except n = 12 for group B).

Radiocarbon-based impact assessment of open biomass burning on regional carbonaceous aerosols in North China.

Samples of total suspended particulates (TSPs) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were collected from 29th May to 1st July, 2013 at a regional background site in Bohai Rim, North China. Mass concentrations of particulate matter and carbonaceous species showed a total of 50% and 97% of the measured TSP and PM2.

A tale of two recent spills--comparison of 2014 Galveston Bay and 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill residues.

Managing oil spill residues washing onto sandy beaches is a common worldwide environmental problem. In this study, we have analyzed the first-arrival oil spill residues collected from two Gulf of Mexico (GOM) beach systems following two recent oil spills: the 2014 Galveston Bay (GB) oil spill, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. This is the first study to provide field observations and chemical characterization data for the 2014 GB oil spill.

Interface tension-induced synthesis of monodispersed mesoporous carbon hemispheres.

Here we report a novel interface tension-induced shrinkage approach to realize the synthesis of monodispersed asymmetrical mesoporous carbon nanohemispheres. We demonstrate that the products exhibit very uniform hemispherical morphology (130 × 60 nm) and are full of ordered mesopores, endowing them high surface areas and uniform pore sizes. These monodispersed mesoporous carbon hemispheres display excellent dispersibility in water for a long period without any aggregation.

[Effect of oral alloy post and core on magnetic resonance imaging].

Objective: This study aims to observe and compare the influences of the casting alloy post and cores on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Six casting alloy post and sores were fabricated for the experimental groups, and zirconia post and core served as the control. The seven types of post and cores were of the same size and shape.

Hemispheric activation during planning and execution phases in reaching post stroke: a consort study.

Enhanced activation in the non-lesion hemisphere in stroke patients was widely observed during movement of the affected upper limb, but its functional role related to motor planning and execution is still unknown.This study was to characterize the activation in the non-lesion hemisphere during movement planning and execution by localizing sources of high-density electroencephalography (EEG) signal and estimating the source strength (current density [A/m]).Ten individuals with chronic stroke and shoulder/elbow coordination deficits and 5 healthy controls participated in the study.

Investigation of methanogenic community structures in rural biogas digesters from different climatic regions in Yunnan, southwest China.

Understanding of the microbial community structures of the biogas digesters in different climatic regions can help improve the methane production in the fermentation process. The methanogenic archaeal diversity in four rural biogas digesters (BNA, JSA, LJA, and XGA) was investigated by a culture-independent rRNA approach in different climatic regions in Yunnan. Community structure composed of 711 clones in the all libraries.

Discovery of fruquintinib, a potent and highly selective small molecule inhibitor of VEGFR 1, 2, 3 tyrosine kinases for cancer therapy.

VEGF/VEGFR signal axis has been proven to be an important target for development of novel cancer therapies. One challenging aspect in small molecular VEGFR inhibitors is to achieve sustained target inhibition at tolerable doses previously seen only with the long-acting biologics. It would require high potency (low effective drug concentrations) and sufficient drug exposures at tolerated doses so that the drug concentration can be maintained above effective drug concentration for target inhibition within the dosing period.

Long-term monitoring data to describe the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Deepwater Horizon oil submerged off Alabama's beaches.

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) catastrophe had considerable impact on the ∼ 50 km long sandy beach system located along the Alabama shoreline. We present a four-year dataset to characterize the temporal evolution of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their alkylated homologs trapped in the residual oil buried along the shoreline. Field samples analyzed include the first arrival oil collected from Perdido Bay, Alabama in June 2010, and multiple oil spill samples collected until August 2014.

In-situ confined growth of monodisperse pt nanoparticle@graphene nanobox composites as electrocatalytic nanoreactors.

Monodisperse Pt nanoparticles (NPs) studded in a three-dimensional (3D) graphene nanobox are successfully synthesized through a simple in-situ confined growth route for the first time. The nano-zeolite A was used as a 3D substrate for in-situ growth of tri-layered graphenes on the crystal-surfaces, meanwhile, the inner micropores of which can also be utilized for the confined growth of Pt nanoparticles. The graphene sheets are curved on the edges to form a 3D hollow box morphology, where the monodisperse Pt nanoparticles are homogeneously studded on the inner surfaces.

Identification and quantification of shipping emissions in Bohai Rim, China.

Rapid development of port and shipbuilding industry in China has badly affected the ambient air quality of coastal zone due to shipping emissions. A total of 60 ambient air samples were collected from background site of Tuoji Island in Bohai Sea strait. The air samples were analyzed for PM2.

Characterization of Bbx, a member of a novel subfamily of the HMG-box superfamily together with Cic.

High mobility group (HMG)-box proteins, a large and functionally diverse superfamily of architectural protein, are involved in the regulation of DNA-dependent processes such as transcription, replication and DNA repair via the HMG-box domain. Bobby sox homolog (BBX), a newly identified HMG-Box protein, may function as a sequence-specific transcription factor. However, its expression pattern and biological functions are largely unknown.

Interaction of diet and the masou salmon Δ5-desaturase transgene on Δ6-desaturase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene expression and N-3 fatty acid level in common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

The masou salmon Δ5-desaturase-like gene (D5D) driven by the common carp β-actin promoter was transferred into common carp (Cyprinus carpio) that were fed two diets. For P1 transgenic fish fed a commercial diet, Δ6-desaturase-like gene (D6D) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) mRNA levels in muscle were up-regulated (P < 0.05) 12.

On the feasibility of polyurethane based 3D dosimeters with optical CT for dosimetric verification of low energy photon brachytherapy seeds.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of and challenges yet to be addressed to measure dose from low energy (effective energy <50 keV) brachytherapy sources (Pd-103, Cs-131, and I-125) using polyurethane based 3D dosimeters with optical CT.

Methods: The authors' evaluation used the following sources: models 200 (Pd-103), CS-1 Rev2 (Cs-131), and 6711 (I-125). The authors used the Monte Carlo radiation transport code MCNP5, simulations with the ScanSim optical tomography simulation software, and experimental measurements with PRESAGE(®) dosimeters/optical CT to investigate the following: (1) the water equivalency of conventional (density = 1.

Circulating endothelial cells and chronic kidney disease.

Endothelial dysfunction may play a crucial role in initiation of the pathogenesis of vascular disease and atherosclerosis. The identification and quantification of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) have been developed as a novel marker of endothelial function. We describe, in great detail, mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction and CEC detachment.

Oriented mesoporous nanopyramids as versatile plasmon-enhanced interfaces.

We developed a facile interfacial oriented growth and self-assembly process to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) aligned mesoporous iron oxide nanopyramid arrays (NPAs). The unique NPAs possess a 3D mesostructure with multiple features, including high surface area (~175 m(2)/g), large pore size (~20 nm), excellent flexibility (bent over 150 times), and scalability at the foot scale for practical applications. More importantly, these NPAs structures enable versatile enhancement of localized surface plasmon resonance and photoelectrochemical conversion.

Dual-pore mesoporous carbon@silica composite core-shell nanospheres for multidrug delivery.

Monodispersed mesoporous phenolic polymer nanospheres with uniform diameters were prepared and used as the core for the further growth of core-shell mesoporous nanorattles. The hierarchical mesoporous nanospheres have a uniform diameter of 200 nm and dual-ordered mesopores of 3.1 and 5.

Timing and intensity of exposure to interferon-γ critically determines the function of monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

A growing body of evidence suggests that inflammatory cytokines have a dualistic role in immunity. In this study, we sought to determine the direct effects of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) on the differentiation and maturation of human peripheral blood monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC). Here, we report that following differentiation of monocytes into moDC with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4, IFN-γ induces moDC maturation and up-regulates the co-stimulatory markers CD80/CD86/CD95 and MHC Class I, enabling moDC to effectively generate antigen-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses for multiple viral and tumour antigens.

Core promoter regulates the expression of cathepsin B gene in the fat body of Bombyx mori.

Bombyx mori cathepsin B (BmCatB) is involved in the programmed cell death of the fat body during B. mori metamorphosis. For a better understanding of the functional regulatory mechanism, the promoter region of BmCatB in the transcriptional regulation has been identified and analyzed in the present study.

Impact of agricultural waste burning in the Shandong Peninsula on carbonaceous aerosols in the Bohai Rim, China.

A total of 11 5PM2.5 samples were collected for analyzing organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) at Tuoji Island (TI), China from November 2011 to December 2012. The results showed that annual arithmetical means of OC and EC concentrations were 3.

Down-regulated Six2 by knockdown of neurofibromin results in apoptosis of metanephric mesenchyme cells in vitro.

Embryonic Six2-positive nephron progenitor cells adjacent to ureteric bud tips ultimately give rise to nephron structures, including proximal and distal tubules, podocytes, Bowman's capsules, and the glomeruli. This process requires an internal balance between self-renew and differentiation of the nephron progenitor cells, which is mediated by numerous molecules. Recent studies have shown that the neurofibromin (Nf1) null mutant mouse embryos have an 18- to 24-h developmental delay in metanephros manifesting retardation in its cephalad repositioning and reduction number of glomeruli.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells to treat tissue damage in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients: correlation of biological markers with clinical responses.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) have been used to treat acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and other complications following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). We conducted a phase I trial using third party, early passage BMSCs for patients with steroid-refractory GVHD, tissue injury, or marrow failure following SCT to investigate safety and efficacy. To identify mechanisms of BMSC immunomodulation and tissue repair, patients were serially monitored for plasma GVHD biomarkers, cytokines, and lymphocyte phenotype.