Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of CoSb Thin Films by Ag and Ti Co-Doping.

The Skutterudites CoSb material has been the focus of research for the conversion applications of waste heat to electricity due to its ability to accommodate a large variety of ions in the cages that have been proven effective in improving the thermoelectric performance. Although the co-doped CoSb bulk materials have attracted increasing attention and have been widely studied, co-doped CoSb thin films have been rarely reported. In this work, Ag and Ti were co-doped into CoSb thin films via a facile in situ growth method, and the influence of doping content in the thermoelectric properties was investigated.

Association between preconception serum lipid concentrations and treatment outcomes in women with PCOS who underwent ovulation induction.

Research Question: What is the association between preconception serum lipid concentrations and reproductive outcomes after ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

Design: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial with 1000 PCOS women undergoing ovulation induction with clomiphene with or without acupuncture. Preconception serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) were measured. Outcomes were ovulation, conception, pregnancy, live birth and miscarriage.

Crystal Growth Promotion and Defect Passivation by Hydrothermal and Selenized Deposition for Substrate-Structured Antimony Selenosulfide Solar Cells.

Antimony sulfide-selenide (Sb(S,Se)) is a promising light-harvesting material for stable and high-efficiency thin-film photovoltaics (PV) because of its excellent light-harvesting capability, abundant elemental storage, and excellent stability. This study aimed to expand the application of Sb(S,Se) solar cells with a substrate structure as a flexible or tandem device. The use of a hydrothermal method accompanied by a postselenization process for the deposition of Sb(S,Se) film based on the solar cell substrate structure was first demonstrated.

Organic Chloride Salt Interfacial Modified Crystallization for Efficient Antimony Selenosulfide Solar Cells.

Antimony selenosulfide, Sb(SSe), is recognized as an excellent photoactive material owing to its light harvesting capability. There is still room for improvement of the film quality for device performance improvement. Herein, an organic chloride salt [diethylamine hydrochloride, DEA(Cl)] has been introduced for fabricating Sb(SSe) solar cells for the first time.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol for elderly gastric cancer patients: A prospective study for safety and efficacy.

Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) has been used to improve surgical outcomes in recent years. However, its safety and efficacy in elderly patients with gastric cancer remain unclear. The aim of this study was to reveal the safety and efficacy of the ERAS protocol in elderly patients with gastric cancer.

p66Shc-mediated oxidative stress is involved in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with a heightened level of oxidative stress, which is characterized by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from mitochondria. Previous studies showed that mitochondrial dysfunction is regulated by dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and p66Shc in GDM.

Aim: The aim was to investigate the expression of Drp1 and p66Shc and their possible mechanisms in the pathogenesis of GDM.

Associations of Serum Magnesium With Insulin Resistance and Testosterone in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Objective: This article aimed to investigate whether serum magnesium is associated with insulin resistance index and testosterone level in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Materials And Methods: Overall 1000 women with PCOS were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and a cross-sectional analysis of the association of serum magnesium with glucose metabolism markers and testosterone was performed. Serum magnesium, glucose metabolism markers and testosterone were measured.

Decreased Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin Indicated Worse Biometric, Lipid, Liver, and Renal Function Parameters in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and comprehensive metabolic parameters including biometric, glycemic, lipid, liver, and renal functions of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). . A total of 1000 women diagnosed as PCOS by modified Rotterdam criteria were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial.

Lateral ventricular volume and calcarine sulcus depth: a fetal MRI analysis of mild ventriculomegaly: A STROBE compliant article.

The aim of this study was to quantify changes in the lateral ventricular volume, the depth of the calcarine sulcus (CS), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of occipital lobe in fetuses with isolated mild ventriculomegaly (IMVM) using MRI.Seventy-one fetuses with IMVM at 25 to 38 weeks gestational age (GA) and 58 fetuses with normal lateral ventricles at 25 to 38 weeks GA were enrolled. Volumes of the lateral ventricles were measured by 3D magnetic resonance hydrography.

Volume growth trend and correlation of atrial diameter with lateral ventricular volume in normal fetus and fetus with ventriculomegaly: A STROBE compliant article.

To explore the growth trend of fetal lateral ventricular volume, for understanding the relationship between atrial diameter (AD) and volume in normal fetus and fetus with ventriculomegaly.Overall, 97 sequential fetal head magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed; these pertained to 50 fetuses with normal lateral ventricles [normal group; gestational age (GA): 24-38 weeks] and 47 fetuses with ventriculomegaly (VM) (VM group; GA: 24-37 weeks). The left, right, and total lateral ventricular volume were measured using 3-dimensional magnetic resonance hydrography (MRH).

[Comparison of Prenatal Diagnostic Value between Fast Imaging Employing Steady State Acquisition and Single Shot Fast Spin Echo Sequence in Diagnosis of Placental Invasion].

Objective To compare the prenatal diagnostic value and image quality of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)with fast imaging employing steady state acquisition(FIESTA)or single shot fast spin echo(SSFSE)sequence,in order to provide references for sequence selection of prenatal diagnosis.Methods The MRI data of 121 patients with suspected placental invasion were retrospectively analyzed. The ability of FIESTA in displaying MRI signs associated with placental invasion and its image quality were assessed and compared with SSFSE.

Acupuncture and clomiphene for Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOSAct): statistical analysis approach with the revision and explanation.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy of reproductive-aged women. Clomiphene is regarded as the first-line medical treatment for ovulation induction in PCOS patients and acupuncture is often used as an alternative and complementary treatment for fertility issues such as those associated with PCOS. The efficacy of acupuncture alone or combined with clomiphene still lacks strong supporting evidence.

High-performance p-type inorganic-organic hybrid thermoelectric thin films.

The performance of organic-inorganic hybrid thermoelectric thin films can be dramatically enhanced by optimizing energy filtering and carrier transport states at the organic-inorganic interfaces. In this work, p-type "Sb2Te3/CH3NH3I/Sb2Te3" multilayer thin films were firstly fabricated with varied contents of CH3NH3I, and then an annealing process was used in order to form homogeneous organic-inorganic hybrid thin films. The results revealed that the introduced organic component can promote thin film growth and develop a dense nanostructure with improved crystallinity, thus resulting in a significantly increased Seebeck coefficient and a reduced thermal conductivity as a result of the optimized electronic transport characteristics and enhanced effects of phonon scattering.

Lateral ventricular volume measurement by 3D MR hydrography in fetal ventriculomegaly and normal lateral ventricles.

Background: In fetuses with prenatal ventriculomegaly (VM), ventricular volume on MRI has been shown to correlate with poor postnatal outcomes and in utero death. 3D magnetic resonance hydrography (MRH) has been widely used for MR cholangiopancreatography.

Purpose: To investigate the reliability of 3D MRH for lateral ventricular volume measurement in fetuses with VM and normal lateral ventricles, using manual multisection planimetry (MSP) as a reference standard.

Effect of Acupuncture and Clomiphene in Chinese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Acupuncture is used to induce ovulation in some women with polycystic ovary syndrome, without supporting clinical evidence.

Objective: To assess whether active acupuncture, either alone or combined with clomiphene, increases the likelihood of live births among women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A double-blind (clomiphene vs placebo), single-blind (active vs control acupuncture) factorial trial was conducted at 21 sites (27 hospitals) in mainland China between July 6, 2012, and November 18, 2014, with 10 months of pregnancy follow-up until October 7, 2015.

The effect of berberine on insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: detailed statistical analysis plan (SAP) for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used in clinical settings, a major challenge that remains in TCM is to evaluate its efficacy scientifically. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of berberine in the treatment of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. In order to improve the transparency and research quality of this clinical trial, we prepared this statistical analysis plan (SAP).

[Body acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure for menstrual headache: a randomized controlled clinical trial].

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of body acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure for treatment of menstrual headache of hyperactivity of "liver fire".

Methods: A total of 85 menstrual headache patients with hyperactivity of "liver-fire" were randomly divided into control group (n = 42) and treatment group (n = 43). Patients of the control group were treated by oral administration of Flunarizine Hydrochloride Capsules (Sibelium, 5 mg/time, twice daily) for 5 days beginning at the headache attack in the first menstrual cycle, and for two weeks (except weekends) in the second and third menstrual cycles.

[Output strategies for publication of international papers on clinical trials of Chinese medicine].

Scientific research output of clinical trials in Chinese medicine (CM) is insufficient, but international papers hold an important scientific position in China. Based on the current situation, we analyzed the present publication situation of international medical papers in our country, and the feasibility and urgency of publishing international papers on clinical trials of CM. Finally, we proposed to use the PDCA (plan-do-check-action) cycle method to improve the quality control and management of CM clinical trials.

Quantum cutting in Pr3+-Yb3+ codoped chalcohalide glasses for high-efficiency c-Si solar cells.

Downconversion materials, which can convert one high-energy photon to two low-energy photons, have provided a promising avenue for the enhancement of solar cell efficiency. In this work, the Pr3+-Yb3+ codoped 25GeS2-35Ga2S3-40CsCl chalcohalide glasses were synthesized in a vacuumed silica ampoule by the melting-quenching technique. Under 474 nm excitation, the visible and near-IR emission spectra reveal the energy transfer from Pr3+ to Yb3+ ions, resulting in the intense 1008 nm near-IR emission for the c-Si solar cells.

[Effect of mild moxibustion on macrophage number and collagen expression of raw surface tissue in chronic refractory skin ulcer rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of mild moxibustion on the number of macrophages and contents of collagen I and III in the raw surface tissue in chronic skin ulcer rats so as to study its mechanism underlying promoting scar formation.

Methods: Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal (n = 8), model (n = 24), TDP (n = 24) and moxibustion (n = 24) groups. Chronic refractory skin ulcer was established by making an open wound at the back and local intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone sodium succinate.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on lipid metabolism in male and female obesity rats].

Objective: To investigate the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) on lipid metabolism in both sexes of obesity model rats.

Methods: A total of 30 male and 30 female SD rats were randomized into normal control, model and EA groups respectively, with 10 rats in each group. EA (2 Hz, 1-2 mA) was applied to the ipsilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36)-"Sanyin-jiao"(SP 6) and bilateral "Fenglong" (ST 40) for 30 min, once daily for 28 days.