Microfluidic SERS biosensor based on Au-semicoated photonic crystals for melanoma diagnosis.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) shows great promise for early diagnosis due to its high specificity and rapid detection capabilities. However, its application is often hindered by substrate instability and insufficient interaction between the substrate and incident light. To address these challenges, a photonic-plasmonic strategy is often employed to enhance sensing performance but it is generally limited by the low efficiency of plasmonic metal and optical cavity resonances.

Precise Control Light Emission of PVDF-CHNHPbBrCl Nanocrystalline Films Using a Cl(CHOH) System.

Methylammonium lead halide perovskites with highly efficient pure-color or white-light generation have gained increasing scientific interest and promote the development of a great commercial opportunity in displays, lighting, and other applications. However, the poor stabilities, lead toxicity, and unfriendly solvents and ligands in the growth process severely restrict their commercial application. Here, we proposed a green method for preparing uniform and stable polymer-encapsulated photoluminescence (PL) tunable CHNHPbBrCl NC thin films at room temperature.

Rapid and multi-target genotyping of Helicobacter pylori with digital microfluidics.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection correlates closely with gastric diseases such as gastritis, ulcers, and cancer, influencing more than half of the world's population. Establishing a rapid, precise, and automated platform for H.

Effect of Swirling Flow Nozzle on Fluid Flow and Solidification in a Round Bloom Continuous Casting Mold.

The nozzle structure has an important effect on the fluid flow in the mold, which can significantly improve the solidified shell and product quality of alloy steel round bloom. The transient fluid flow, heat transfer, and solidification behavior under different nozzle structures and mold electromagnetic stirring (M-EMS) are investigated using a 3D transient mathematical model. The results show that a third small recirculation zone appears near the meniscus after the application of the swirling flow nozzle (SFN).

Expression of silent information regulator 1 in chronic rhinosinusitis and regulatory effects of inflammatory factors.

We aimed to investigate the expression of silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and the regulatory effects of inflammatory factors. The mucosal epithelial tissues of the nasal ethmoid sinus were collected from 30 patients with CRS from March 2017 to March 2019, and tissues from patients undergoing functional rhinoplasty were included as a control group. H&E staining and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect the histopathologic changes in the nasal mucosa and the expression of Sirt1.

Engineering for Magnetic Control and the Spatial Localization of Functions.

The fast-developing field of synthetic biology enables broad applications of programmed microorganisms including the development of whole-cell biosensors, delivery vehicles for therapeutics, or diagnostic agents. However, the lack of spatial control required for localizing microbial functions could limit their use and induce their dilution leading to ineffective action or dissemination. To overcome this limitation, the integration of magnetic properties into living systems enables a contact-less and orthogonal method for spatiotemporal control.

Low Temperature Joining and High Temperature Application of Segmented Half Heusler/Skutterudite Thermoelectric Joints.

A low temperature joining process has been developed to fabricate segmented half Heusler/skutterudite thermoelectric joints, and high temperature service behavior of the joints has been studied. The microstructure and electrical resistance across the joint before and after aging were investigated. The joint is well bonded and no cracks appear at the interfaces of the joint before and after aging, which can attribute to the formation of high melting point intermetallic compounds.

Self-assembly of magnetically-functionalized molecular motors and microtubules into active gels.

The diversity of functions achieved by living cells result from the collective behavior of biological components that interact through multiple scales in time and space. The cytoskeleton constitutes one canonical system forming dynamic organizations when interacting with molecular motors. These materials constitute a state of active matter that exhibit out-of-equilibrium behavior with oriented order in the presence of energy.

Expression and Distribution of the Auxin Response Factors in During Development and Temperature Stress.

Auxin response factor (ARF) is a transcription factor that can specifically bind to the promoter of auxin-responsive genes in plants and plays an important regulatory role in plant growth and development. The previous studies have predicted 25 genes in () and indicated that SbARFs play complex roles in salt and drought stresses. In this study, we reclassified and analyzed the structures of ARFs in three plants, including sorghum, rice, and .

USEAQ: Ultra-fast Superpixel Extraction via Adaptive Sampling from Quantized Regions.

We present a novel and highly efficient superpixel extraction method called USEAQ to generate regular and compact superpixels in an image. To reduce the computational cost of iterative optimization procedures adopted in most recent approaches, the proposed USEAQ for superpixel generation works in a one-pass fashion. It firstly performs joint spatial and color quantizations and groups pixels into regions.

Programmed Self-Assembly of a Biochemical and Magnetic Scaffold to Trigger and Manipulate Microtubule Structures.

Artificial bio-based scaffolds offer broad applications in bioinspired chemistry, nanomedicine, and material science. One current challenge is to understand how the programmed self-assembly of biomolecules at the nanometre level can dictate the emergence of new functional properties at the mesoscopic scale. Here we report a general approach to design genetically encoded protein-based scaffolds with modular biochemical and magnetic functions.

iGC-an integrated analysis package of gene expression and copy number alteration.

Background: With the advancement in high-throughput technologies, researchers can simultaneously investigate gene expression and copy number alteration (CNA) data from individual patients at a lower cost. Traditional analysis methods analyze each type of data individually and integrate their results using Venn diagrams. Challenges arise, however, when the results are irreproducible and inconsistent across multiple platforms.

Development of a prediction model for radiosensitivity using the expression values of genes and long non-coding RNAs.

Radiotherapy has become a popular and standard approach for treating cancer patients because it greatly improves patient survival. However, some of the patients receiving radiotherapy suffer from adverse effects and do not obtain survival benefits. This may be attributed to the fact that most radiation treatment plans are designed based on cancer type, without consideration of each individual's radiosensitivity.

[The effect of laryngoscopic surgery combined with nasal endoscopic system for the treatment of vocal cords benign lesions].

Objective: To investigate the effect of laryngoscopic surgery combined with nasal endoscopic system for the treatment of vocal cords benign lesions.

Method: Fifty-two patients admitted to our department with vocal cords benign lesions (including vocal polyps, vocal nodules, vocal cord cyst) underwent laryngoscopic surgery combined with nasal endoscopic system.

Result: All patients were treated successfully once and for all without any significant postoperative complication.

Improvement of clinical parameters in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease after radiofrequency energy delivery.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of Stretta procedure with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) based on symptom control, medication changes and oesophagitis grade.

Methods: Ninety patients with a history of GERD underwent Stretta procedure from June 2007 to March 2010. All patients with GERD diagnosed by the presence of endoscopically evidenced oesophagitis or abnormal esophageal pH testing.

[Pneumo-peritoneum helico-CT imaging in post-operative peritoneal adhesion].

Objective: To discuss the diagnostic value of pneumoperitoneum helico-CT imaging (PHCT) in cases of post-operative peritoneal adhesion (POPA).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the PHCT scan pictures from 32 consecutive patients with chronic abdominal pain or recurrent mechanical intestinal obstruction after abdominal operation.

Results: In a normal peritoneal cavity without adhesion, an air distended dome-like space would be demonstrated with the abdominal organs arranged smoothly on the bottom of the shadow.

Irritable bowel syndrome: an international study of symptoms in eight countries.

Objectives: This report is a preliminary comparative study of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms in eight countries, USA, Mexico, Canada, England, Italy, Israel, India, and China. We also assessed global symptom patterns and correlations and relationships to several psychosocial variables.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-nine participants completed a bowel symptom scale composed of four symptoms, abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation as well as two psychosocial questionnaires, quality of relationship and attribution of symptoms to physical or emotional factors.

[Evaluation of the quality of life of patients with irritable bowel syndrome].

Objective: To explore and assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients in the population.

Methods: Random clustered sampling involving permanent inhabitants aged 18 - 80 yr was carried out under stratification of urban and suburban areas in Guangdong Province. Altogether 231 IBS patients fulfilling the Rome II criteria and 636 Non-IBS as control were collected.

[A population-based epidemiologic study of irritable bowel syndrome in Guangdong province].

Objective: To explore the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its risk factors in Guangdong province.

Methods: A questionnaire was used to screen IBS by face-to-face interviews according to Manning (modified including symptoms of constipation) and Rome II criteria. Random clustered sampling involving permanent inhabitants aged 18 - 80 years was carried out under stratification of urban and suburban areas.

[Treatment of refractory irritable bowel syndrome with subclinical dosage of antidepressants].

Objective: To investigate the effect of antidepressant on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods: A self-control and follow-up study on subclinical dosage of antidepressants therapy (fluoxetine 10 mg/d, paroxetine 10 mg/d or doxepin 45 mg/d) for 9-12 wks in 46 patients with refractory IBS symptoms according to Rome II criteria was performed, the clinical outcomes were evaluated by scales changes of symptom-related-anxiety, severity index of symptom, and quality of life specific of IBS, as well as general psychiatric health by SCL-90 during treatment and follow-up periods.

Results: All 46 cases completed therapy and first follow-up unit (12 wks after treatment) (FFU), at the end of FFU, clinical symptoms in all patients were improved (P < 0.

[Effect of psychological factors on visceral sensation of patients with irritable bowel syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the features of selective attention in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the effect of psychological hint on visceral sensation in IBS patients.

Methods: A set of 36 modified investigation cards originally developed for depression patients and including 12 cards describing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, 12 cards describing respiratory symptoms, and 12 cards with neutral terms, was used to investigate selective attention. 36 patients with diagnosis of IBS based on Rome II criteria, 23 patients with asthma, and 26 healthy volunteers, all without hemorrhoid, were asked to select one card from the set and put it in an envelop.

[Cognitive therapy for patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the procedure and tactics used in the cognitive therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive therapy in the treatment of refractory IBS.

Methods: A self-control study on the cognitive therapy for 22 patients with refractory IBS symptoms (according to Rome II criteria) was performed. The procedure of cognitive therapy included five steps, namely health education, patients' questioning, relaxing training, dissensitization training, and patients' homework for enforcing the effect of former four steps.