[Effects of reduced nitrogen application on the yield, quality, and economic benefit of sugarcane intercropped with soybean].

A two-factor field experiment of randomized block design was conducted in Guangzhou to investigate the effects of reduced nitrogen application on the yield, quality, and total biomass dynamic of sugarcane as well as the economic benefit of the sugarcane population under different sugarcane/soybean intercropping patterns. Neither N application nor intercropping pattern had significant effects on the yield and quality of sugarcane, and no significant differences were observed in the yield and quality of sugarcane among all treatments. The land equivalent ratio (LER) of sugarcane/soybean intercropping at different N application levels was from 1.

Bone metastasis in a novel breast cancer mouse model containing human breast and human bone.

In practice, investigations for bone metastasis of breast cancer rely heavily on models in vivo. Lacking of such ideal model makes it difficult to study the whole process or accurate mechanism of each step of this metastatic disease. Development of xenograft mouse models has made great contributions in this area.

Broadband absorption enhancement in randomly positioned silicon nanowire arrays for solar cell applications.

In this Letter, the optical properties of randomly positioned silicon nanowire arrays are studied. The result shows that position randomization with a filling ratio larger than 36% renders better absorptance over a broadband ranging from 300 to 1130 nm compared to regular structures. The ultimate efficiency of a 48% filling ratio position randomized nanowire structure is 13.

Enhanced optical absorption in nanopatterned silicon thin films with a nano-cone-hole structure for photovoltaic applications.

In this paper, the optical properties of the silicon nano-cone-hole (NCH) structure array are studied. The ultimate efficiency of the optimized NCH array is enhanced by 23.11% compared to an optimized nanohole array of the same thickness.

From cutting to casting: impact and initial barriers to the Ponseti method of clubfoot treatment in China.

In 2005, a nationwide clubfoot treatment program focused on the Ponseti method -an effective, affordable and minimally-invasive method- was initiated in China. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and identify barriers to the program. A qualitative study (rapid ethnographic study) was conducted using semi-structured interviews of 44 physicians who attended four of the 10 Ponseti training workshops, focus groups with parents of children with clubfoot, and observation.

Human tissue-specific microenvironment: an essential requirement for mouse models of breast cancer.

An ideal mouse model should closely mimic a clinical situation. However, for most models available, this is not the case since clinical trials frequently fail to reproduce the highly encouraging therapeutic results obtained from pre-clinical studies performed using mouse models. In this study, in the process of extending the application of our previously established breast tissue-derived orthotopic and metastatic (BOM) model, the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 failed to exhibit any osteotropic features that differed from previous studies.

Determinants for high maternal mortality in multiethnic populations in western China.

Our purpose of this study was to investigate determinants and patterns of associations with high maternal mortality in poor and multiethnic populations from the Xinjiang Uigur autonomous region of Western China. The researcher found that the maternal mortality ratio of Xinjiang was very high; almost half of the participants delivered at home without clean delivery, and nearly one-fifth of the participants had not received any medical treatment. Eighty-seven percent of maternal deaths were among ethnic minority groups.

Chitosan/Kollicoat SR 30D film-coated pellets of aminosalicylates for colonic drug delivery.

The purpose of the study was to (i) prepare the chitosan/Kollicoat SR 30D film-coated pellets for colonic drug delivery, and (ii) evaluate the colonic delivery and efficacy of these coated pellets in the rat. The pellets were coated to different film thickness with chitosan/Kollicoat SR 30D formulations. In vitro drug release was assessed in simulated gastrointestinal (GI) tract conditions.

Studies of chitosan/Kollicoat SR 30D film-coated tablets for colonic drug delivery.

The aim of the study was to define in vitro and in vivo characteristics of chitosan/Kollicoat SR30D film-coated tablets of theophylline for colonic delivery. The tablet cores were coated to different film thicknesses with blends of Kollicoat SR30D and chitosan (2.5:1, 3.

Second-harmonic generation in photonic crystals with a pair of epsilon-negative and mu-negative defects.

A conventional one-dimensional photonic crystal with a conjugated pair of epsilon-negative and mu-negative defects has been presented, and only the defects are presumed to possess quadratic nonlinearity. Large enhancement of second-harmonic generation is predicted in numerical simulation. Interface and volume nonlinearity are both utilized in the process of second-harmonic generation due to the strong localization of the fundamental wave.

A novel orthotopic and metastatic mouse model of breast cancer in human mammary microenvironment.

The studies of breast cancer heavily rely on the availability of experimental animal models. An ideal model of breast cancer is not only required to mimic the whole processes of tumor progress and metastasis, but also required to provide a normal human mammary microenvironment for the breast cancer cells to proliferate and metastasize. Numerous mouse models have been introduced in the literature but failed to achieve the two requirements simultaneously.

Therapeutic effects of rectal administration of muscovite on experimental colitis in rats.

Background And Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate whether rectal administration of muscovite can ameliorate colonic inflammation in a rat model of experimental colitis, and its possible mechanism.

Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis were treated with rectal administration of muscovite or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) daily for 14 days. The changes in body weight, macroscopic damage and histologic scores were subsequently evaluated.

Design and in vitro/in vivo evaluation of multi-layer film coated pellets for omeprazole.

The purpose of the study is to perform the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of multi-layer film coatings for omeprazole. The system consists of drug-layered or drug-containing core pellets coated with salt (sodium chloride and disodium hydrogen phosphate), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), and enteric film-coating layer, respectively. The drug-layered core pellets were prepared by a coating layer of omeprazole on inert pellet cores in fluidized bed coater.

Pectin/Kollicoat SR30D isolated films for colonic delivery [I]: a comparison of normal and colitis-induced models to assess the efficiency of microbially triggered drug delivery.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate digestion of pectin/Kollicoat SR30D free films for colonic delivery in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: Free films containing different ratios of pectin to Kollicoat SR30D were prepared by casting/solvent evaporation method. An in-vitro comparison of swelling, degradation and permeability of the free films was carried out in simulated colon fluids containing caecal contents from normal rats with colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) or oxazolone.

Selective drug delivery to the colon using pectin-coated pellets.

A combination of ethylcellulose and pectin, when applied as a film coat, has a potential value as a colon-specific delivery system. Dispersions of pectin in ethylcellulose were used as the film former for coating of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) pellet cores. Drug release behavior was assessed, in vitro, under simulating conditions in term of pH and time in vivo during transit to the colon.

An investigation into the characteristics of chitosan/Kollicoat SR30D free films for colonic drug delivery.

The purpose of the study was to establish the physico-mechanical, digestibility, permeability and swelling properties of chitosan/Kollicoat SR30D films as potential coatings for colonic drug delivery. Free films containing different ratios of chitosan to Kollicoat SR30D were prepared by casting/solvent evaporation method. The resultant mixed films were characterized in terms of puncture strength and elongation (%), glass transition temperature, swellability, polymer miscibility, permeability, and digestibility under different media.

Biphasic drug release: permeability and swelling of pectin/ethylcellulose films, and in vitro and in vivo correlation of film-coated pellets in dogs.

The major objectives of this study were i) to evaluate the permeability and swelling characteristics of isolated films prepared by mixing of pectin with ethylcellulose; and ii) to assess the absorption and in vitro/in vivo correlation (IVIVC) of 5-FU film-coated colon-targeted pellets in dogs. Free films were prepared by casting and solvent evaporation method. These free films were evaluated by swelling experiment and permeability to 5-FU in different media.

[Analysis on the status of anemia among children under 3 years old in 10 provinces in western China].

Objective: To analyze the status of anemia among children under 3 years old from western China based on the data gathered from the project area.

Methods: 9616 children under 3 years old and their families were investigated, using stratified random sampling method in 46 counties in western China. To measure the content of haemoglobin by cyanmethemoglobin and hemocue, under the diagnostic criterion as 110 g/L for child aged 6 months to 6 years old, proposed by WHO and UNICEF.

Grafting BSA onto poly[(L-lactide)-co-carbonate] microspheres by click chemistry.

Model protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) was covalently grafted onto poly[(L-lactide)-co-carbonate] microsphere surfaces by "click chemistry." The grafting was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The maximum amount of surface-grafted BSA was 45 mg x g(-1).

[Investigation on biologically characterst of wild species and herbal quality of Changium smyrnioides].

Objective: To investigate the species resources of Changium smyrnioides.

Method: Nine habitat populations of C. smyrnioides, included with population environment, time limit, morphological characters and so on were investigated.

In-vitro and in-vivo studies of pectin/ethylcellulosefilm-coated pellets of 5-fluorouracil for colonic targeting.

The aim of the present study was to define in-vitro and in-vivo characteristics of pectin/ethylcellulose-film-coated pellets of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for colonic targeting. The pellet cores were coated to different film thicknesses with three different pectin/ethylcellulose formulations using a fluidized bed coater. The gastrointestinal (GI) transit of coated pellets was determined by counting the percentage of coated pellets in the GI lumen by celiotomy at certain times after oral administration.

The Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire adapted for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients in China: reliability and validity analysis.

Study Design: Outcome investigation to verify the internal consistency, reproducibility and validity of the adapted Chinese version of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with idiopathic scoliosis.

Objective: To develop this questionnaire for the outcome measurement in treating Chinese adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and evaluate its metric qualities. The SRS-22 questionnaire has proven to be a valid instrument for clinical assessment of patients with idiopathic scoliosis and has been successfully translated into Spanish and Turkish.

Study on colon-specific pectin/ethylcellulose film-coated 5-fluorouracil pellets in rats.

The purpose of the present study is to assess the biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of pectin/ethylcellulose film-coated and uncoated pellets containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in rats. Both coated and uncoated pellets were orally administered to the rats at a dosage equivalent to 15mg/kg. 5-FU concentrations in different parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and plasma were quantitatively analyzed using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay.