Modeling and experimental analysis of the linear ultrasonic motor with in-plane bending and longitudinal mode.

A novel linear ultrasonic motor based on in-plane longitudinal and bending mode vibration is presented in this paper. The stator of the motor is composed of a metal plate and eight piezoelectric ceramic patches. There are four long holes in the plate, designed for consideration of the longitudinal and bending mode coupling.

Comment on "Progesterone/RANKL is a major regulatory axis in the human breast".

In vivo menstrual cycle data support the findings by Tanos et al. that progesterone regulates RANKL in an ex vivo microstructure model of the human breast, but dispute the suppression of estradiol on progesterone-stimulated RANKL expression. RANKL responds to progesterone in a three-dimensional organoid culture model under conditions mimicking luteal-phase hormone concentration, suggesting that the microstructure may not be crucial to demonstrate progesterone responsiveness.

Highly Efficient Graphene-Based Ternary Composite Catalyst with Polydopamine Layer and Copper Nanoparticles.

A synergistically integrated graphene-based ternary composite (rG-Cu) consisting of uniform natural polydopamine (Pdop)-functionalized graphene sheets (Dop-rG) and well-dispersed Cu nanoparticles (NPs) has been developed. By a one-step reduction and modification of graphene oxide with dopamine, water-dispersible Dop-rG was first prepared. Cu NPs were then incorporated homogeneously onto Dop-rG by a simple solution route leading to activated rG-Cu, which showed an ultrahigh catalytic activity and good reusability for catalytic reductions of different types of dyes, including methylene blue and azo-based acid and reactive dyes.

In vitro growth and carbon utilization of the green-leaved orchid Dendrobium officinale are promoted by mycorrhizal associations.

Background: Mycorrhizal associations play a key role in the life cycle and evolutionary history of orchids. All orchids grow from extremely small seeds that are lacking in reserves, and germination and growth into an underground heterotrophic, achlorophyllous stage depend upon symbiotic fungi to provide nutrient. However, the nutritional physiology between this symbiosis and green-leaved orchids is still unclear.

Inactivation and regrowth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by PAA disinfection in the secondary effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Inactivation and microbial regrowth of penicillin-, ampicillin-, cefalexin-, tetracycline-, chloramphenicol-, and rifampicin-resistant bacteria were studied to explore risks associated with selection and regrowth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria after PAA disinfection. The results showed that after exposure to 20 mg/L PAA for 10 min, inactivation of ampicillin-resistant bacteria reached 2.3-log, which was significantly higher than that of total heterotrophic bacteria with a decrease of 2.

Anti-estrogenic activity formation potential assessment and precursor analysis in reclaimed water during chlorination.

Chlorination was reported to increase the anti-estrogenic activity in reclaimed water from domestic wastewater treatment plants, which may add to the risk of reclaimed water reuse. In order to assess the anti-estrogenic disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors, the anti-estrogenic activity formation potential (AEAFP) during chlorination was studied. Firstly, the conditions for the experimental measurement of AEAFP were determined.

Notch-1-mediated esophageal carcinoma EC-9706 cell invasion and metastasis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition through Snail.

Notch has recently been shown to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by involving in the EMT process that occurs during tumor progression and converts polarized epithelial cells into motile, invasive cells. However, it is still unclear whether the Notch signaling pathway is associated with the regulation of EMT in esophageal carcinoma. The present study explored Notch-1-mediated esophageal carcinoma EC-9706 cell invasion and metastasis by inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition through Snail.

A 5-fluorouracil-loaded polydioxanone weft-knitted stent for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

In-stents restenosis caused by tumour ingrowth is a major problem for patients undergoing stent displacement because the conventional stents often lack a sustained anti-tumour capability. The aim of this paper was to develop a weft-knitted polydioxanone stent which can slow release 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In order to determine the most suitable drug concentration, the 5-FU safe concentration in vivo and appropriate loading percentage in the membranes were investigated, and then 5-FU-loaded poly-l-lactide membranes at concentration of 3.

Pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma from uterine leiomyoma.

Background: Benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) occurs in a low proportion of uterine leiomyomas and treatment methods for BML are diverse and controversial. The study introduces preliminary experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of BML with the purpose of finding a suitable management strategy for these patients.

Methods: Three patients with BML were treated in our department from April 2008 to July 2012.

Regional differences of maternal health care utilization in China.

Objective: To describe regional differences in maternal health care (MHC) utilization in China.

Study Design: Cross-sectional comparisons of 4 MHC utilization indicators, namely, early (13 weeks within pregnancy) examinations rate (EER), prenatal examination (>4 times) rate (PER), hospital delivery rate (HDR), and postnatal visit (>1 time) rate (PVR), using index of dissimilarity (ID), linear correlation analysis, and geographical mapping.

Results: Significant differences existed across regions in all the indicators (P < .

Correlation between target motion and the dosimetric variance of breast and organ at risk during whole breast radiotherapy using 4DCT.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the correlation between the respiration-induced target motion and volume variation with the dosimetric variance on breast and organ at risk (OAR) during free breathing.

Methods And Materials: After breast-conserving surgery, seventeen patients underwent respiration-synchronized 4DCT simulation scans during free breathing. Treatment planning was constructed using the end inspiration scan, then copied and applied to the other phases and the dose distribution was calculated separately to evaluate the dose-volume histograms (DVH) parameters for the planning target volume (PTV), ipsilateral lung and heart.

Biodegradable weft-knitted intestinal stents: fabrication and physical changes investigation in vitro degradation.

Biodegradable stents can alleviate intestinal obstruction and stenosis in patients. The objective of this study was to develop a biodegradable polydioxanone (PDO) stent using weft-knitting technology and then investigate its biodegradation behaviors in vitro. PDO monofilament with linear density of 100 ± 10 tex was knitted into a tubular stent using a tubular weft-knitting machine.

Lipid metabolism genes in contralateral unaffected breast and estrogen receptor status of breast cancer.

Risk biomarkers that are specific to estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes of breast cancer would aid the development and implementation of distinct prevention strategies. The contralateral unaffected breast of women with unilateral breast cancer (cases) is a good model for defining subtype-specific risk because women with ER-negative (ER-) index primaries are at high risk for subsequent ER-negative primary cancers. We conducted random fine needle aspiration of the unaffected breasts of cases.

Effect of growth temperature on the electron flow for photorespiration in leaves of tobacco grown in the field.

Photorespiration has been indicated as an important mechanism for maintaining CO2 assimilation and alleviating photodamage under conditions of high light and low CO2 . We tested the hypothesis that plants grown under a high temperature had greater electron flow for photorespiration compared with those grown under a relative low temperature. Responses of photosynthetic electron flow and CO2 assimilation to incident light intensity and intercellular CO2 concentration were examined in leaves of tobacco cultivar 'k326'.

Codon optimization significantly improves the expression level of a keratinase gene in Pichia pastoris.

The main keratinase (kerA) gene from the Bacillus licheniformis S90 was optimized by two codon optimization strategies and expressed in Pichia pastoris in order to improve the enzyme production compared to the preparations with the native kerA gene. The results showed that the corresponding mutations (synonymous codons) according to the codon bias in Pichia pastoris were successfully introduced into keratinase gene. The highest keratinase activity produced by P.

Evaluation of dosimetric variance in whole breast forward-planned intensity-modulated radiotherapy based on 4DCT and 3DCT.

This study was performed to explore and compare the dosimetric variance caused by respiratory movement in the breast during forward-planned IMRT after breast-conserving surgery. A total of 17 enrolled patients underwent the 3DCT simulation scans followed by 4DCT simulation scans during free breathing. The treatment planning constructed using the 3DCT images was copied and applied to the end expiration (EE) and end inspiration (EI) scans and the dose distributions were calculated separately.

Differences in the responses of photosystem I and photosystem II of three tree species Cleistanthus sumatranus, Celtis philippensis and Pistacia weinmannifolia exposed to a prolonged drought in a tropical limestone forest.

Drought stress can induce closure of stomata, thus leading to photoinhibition. The effects of prolonged severe drought under natural growing conditions on photosystem I (PSI), photosystem II (PSII) and cyclic electron flow (CEF) in drought-tolerant tree species are unclear. In spring 2010, southwestern China confronted severe drought that lasted several months.

Predictive factors of lymph node status in small peripheral non-small cell lung cancers: tumor histology is more reliable.

Background: During the past two decades, many studies have sought to find reliable predictors of N0 status in small-sized lung cancers. However, the way of tumor size measurement was usually not clearly stated, and controversy remains as to whether systematic lymph node dissection should be performed in patients with subcentimeter tumors.

Methods: We reviewed correlations between lymph node involvement and clinicopathological variables in 243 small peripheral non-small cell lung cancers with their size measured in fresh specimens before formalin fixation.

Expression of a keratinase (kerA) gene from Bacillus licheniformis in Escherichia coli and characterization of the recombinant enzymes.

The gene kerA (1,047 bp) encoding the main keratinase from Bacillus licheniformis was cloned into two conventional vectors, pET30α and pET32α, and expressed in Escherichia coli. From SDS-PAGE analysis, the recombinant keratinases were 45 and 55 kDa. They had different optimal pH values (7.

Seasonal variation of nonylphenol concentrations and fluxes with influence of flooding in the Daliao River Estuary, China.

Nonylphenol is an endocrine disruptor with harmful effects including feminization and carcinogenesis on various organisms. This study aims to investigate the distribution and ecological risks of nonylphenol in the Daliao River Estuary, China. Nonylphenol, together with other phenolic endocrine disruptors (bisphenol A, 4-t-butylphenol, 4-t-octylphenol, and 2,4-dichlorophenol), was detected in surface water and sediment on three cruises in May 2009, June 2010, and August 2010, respectively.

Glutaraldehyde-chitosan and poly (vinyl alcohol) blends, and fluorescence of their nano-silica composite films.

In this study, a commercial chitosan cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA-chitosan) having the autofluorescent property was effectively blended with a poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix, in the formation of a transparent and fluorescent blend film. The fluorescent efficiency of the film was enhanced with red-shifted emission band by increasing the concentrations of the GA-chitosan and decreasing the PVA crystallinity. It was found that the incorporation of silica nanoparticles could further decrease the PVA crystallinity, enhance the fluorescent efficiency, and largely redshift the emission band, as compared with the neat GA-chitosan-PVA blend film.

[Short-term clinical efficacies of esophageal carcinoma treated surgically by Ivor-Lewis approach].

Objective: To explore the short-term clinical efficacies of treating esophageal carcinoma surgically by Ivor-Lewis approach so as to summarize the characteristics of lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of surgical treatment of middle and lower esophagus.

Methods: Our hospital started the Ivor-Lewis approach of esophageal cancer from 2005. During the period of 2007 - 2010, a total of 404 patients underwent the Ivor-Lewis approach for esophageal cancer.

Microbial diversity of genital ulcer disease in men enrolled in a randomized trial of male circumcision in Kisumu, Kenya.

Background: Medical male circumcision (MMC) reduces the risk of genital ulcer disease (GUD) in men by 50%. In Ugandan and Kenyan trials, a sexually transmissible agent was not identified in 50-60% of GUD specimens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. We sought to better define the etiology of GUD in men participating in the Kenyan trial and examine how MMC affects GUD etiology.

A prediction model for N2 disease in T1 non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: Controversy remains over the routine use of mediastinoscopy or positron emission tomography in T1 non-small cell lung cancer without lymph node enlargement on computed tomography because the risk of N2 involvement is comparatively low. We aimed to develop a prediction model for N2 disease in cT1N0 non-small cell lung cancer to aid in the decision-making process.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 530 patients with computed tomography-defined T1N0 non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgical resection with systematic lymph node dissection.

Evolutionary association of stomatal traits with leaf vein density in Paphiopedilum, Orchidaceae.

Background: Both leaf attributes and stomatal traits are linked to water economy in land plants. However, it is unclear whether these two components are associated evolutionarily.

Methodology/principal Findings: In characterizing the possible effect of phylogeny on leaf attributes and stomatal traits, we hypothesized that a correlated evolution exists between the two.