A Nationwide Nitrogen Deposition Monitoring Network (NNDMN) containing 43 monitoring sites was established in China to measure gaseous NH3, NO2, and HNO3 and particulate NH4+ and NO3− in air and/or ...precipitation from 2010 to 2014. Wet/bulk deposition fluxes of Nr species were collected by precipitation gauge method and measured by continuous-flow analyzer; dry deposition fluxes were estimated using airborne concentration measurements and inferential models. Our observations reveal large spatial variations of atmospheric Nr concentrations and dry and wet/bulk Nr deposition. On a national basis, the annual average concentrations (1.3–47.0 μg N m−3) and dry plus wet/bulk deposition fluxes (2.9–83.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1) of inorganic Nr species are ranked by land use as urban > rural > background sites and by regions as north China > southeast China > southwest China > northeast China > northwest China > Tibetan Plateau, reflecting the impact of anthropogenic Nr emission. Average dry and wet/bulk N deposition fluxes were 20.6 ± 11.2 (mean ± standard deviation) and 19.3 ± 9.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1 across China, with reduced N deposition dominating both dry and wet/bulk deposition. Our results suggest atmospheric dry N deposition is equally important to wet/bulk N deposition at the national scale. Therefore, both deposition forms should be included when considering the impacts of N deposition on environment and ecosystem health.
We compared intestinal, hepatic, and other organ function after hepatic portal occlusion with or without dexmedetomidine administration under general anaesthesia.
In this prospective, randomized ...double-blind investigation, 44 patients undergoing elective hepatectomy with inflow occlusion were randomized into a dexmedetomidine group or a control group. The dexmedetomidine group received an initial dexmedetomidine loading dose of 1 μg kg−1 over 10 min followed by a maintenance dose of 0.3 μg kg−1 h−1. In the control group, 0.9% sodium chloride was administered. The primary outcome was serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity reflecting intestinal injury. The secondary outcomes included variables reflecting intestinal, hepatic, kidney, and cardiopulmonary function, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and systemic inflammatory response.
DAO activity was lower in the dexmedetomidine group than in the control group at 6 and 24 h after liver reperfusion 9.77 (1.07) vs14.29 (1.43) units ml−1, P=0.021; 9.67 (0.98) vs 13.97 (1.31) units ml−1, P=0.017. d-lactate acid levels were lower during 1–72 h after liver reperfusion compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Also, the intestinal injury severity grade was decreased by dexmedetomidine (P=0.038). The biomarkers reflecting liver injury increased over time, but were lower in the dexmedetomidine group (all P<0.05), while the variables reflecting cardiopulmonary and renal function showed no differences between the groups (all P>0.05).
Dexmedetomidine administered perioperatively attenuates intestinal and hepatic injury in patients undergoing elective liver resection with inflow occlusion without any potential risk.
ChiCTR-TRC-11001530, September 2011.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Brown fat generates heat via the mitochondrial uncoupling protein UCP1, defending against hypothermia and obesity. Recent data suggest that there are two distinct types of brown fat: classical brown ...fat derived from a myf-5 cellular lineage and UCP1-positive cells that emerge in white fat from a non-myf-5 lineage. Here, we report the isolation of “beige” cells from murine white fat depots. Beige cells resemble white fat cells in having extremely low basal expression of UCP1, but, like classical brown fat, they respond to cyclic AMP stimulation with high UCP1 expression and respiration rates. Beige cells have a gene expression pattern distinct from either white or brown fat and are preferentially sensitive to the polypeptide hormone irisin. Finally, we provide evidence that previously identified brown fat deposits in adult humans are composed of beige adipocytes. These data provide a foundation for studying this mammalian cell type with therapeutic potential.
Display omitted
Display omitted
► A subset of precursor cells from white fat gives rise to beige adipocytes ► Beige adipocytes have a highly inducible thermogenic capacity upon stimulation ► Beige adipocytes express distinct genes and are sensitive to irisin ► “Brown” fat in human adults is composed primarily of beige adipocytes
A subset of adipocytes in adult human fat depots shows a distinctive gene expression pattern and deploys a thermogenic program in response to the hormone irisin. These so-called beige cells may therefore represent a therapeutic target for treating obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The moiré-pattern with slightly interlayer-twisted bilayer two-dimensional (2D) materials has recently been receiving substantial attention. One of the major characters for these intriguing ...structures is the appearance of low-energy ultra-flat bands and thus a package of new physics associated with strong electron correlation emerges. However, such new physics may become vague unless the twist-angle θ is sufficiently small such as θ ∼ 1°, making practical applications and control-flexibility hard to handle. In this work, we explore the possible flat-band moiré physics in recently concerned 2D bilayer α-In2Se3 which is antiferroelectric with sublayer out-of-plane (OP) polarizations, addressing the potential role of polarization-bound charges in modulation of electron–electron correlation and interlayer hybridization, based on the extensive first-principles calculations. On one hand, it is found that the low energy band becomes extremely flat in the bilayer α-In2Se3 moiré-pattern with relatively large twist-angle, e.g. θ = 13.17°, which is more easily accessible experimentally. On the other hand, the impact of the sublayer OP polarizations on the band structure is asymmetric, and the flattening effect is much more remarkable for the end-to-end polarization alignment but weaker for the head-to-head alignment. This work thus opens a broad roadmap for technological access to artificial fabrication of novel moiré-patterned 2D materials by means of low-dimensional ferroelectricity.
Objective: To investigate the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) in a Chinese Han population.
Methods: A face-to-face investigation was performed in the Han ...population of Dalang Town, Yangshan County, Guangdong Province, China, using a questionnaire established in France in 1999. First the clinical features associated with SpA were investigated, then the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 and sacroiliac joint radiographic examinations were carried out. Finally, the diagnosis of SpA was determined by rheumatologists.
Results: A total of 13 315 subjects participated in the study and 10 921 were aged >16 years; of these, 787 (7.21%) had LBP. There were 92 axial SpA patients (0.782% in subjects >16 years old and 11.96% in subjects with LBP). There were 29 (0.253%) cases of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 60 (0.507%) undifferentiated axial SpA (USpA), and three (0.022%) psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Patients in the SpA groups had higher percentages in onset <40 years, insidious onset, morning stiffness, and affected for >3 months compared with those in other LBP groups. Simultaneous symptoms associated with spondylitis, such as buttock pain, heel pain, psoriasis, and SpA family history, were more commonly present. Of the axial SpA patients, 82.67% were HLA-B27 positive, clearly a greater percentage than those (11.65%) in other LBP groups.
Conclusions: The survey questionnaire for SpA in this study is useful for axial SpA screening in China. In southern China, the prevalence of LBP is 7.21%. The prevalence of axial SpA is 0.782%. USpA is the most common subtype of SpA, followed by AS.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
The aim of the study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of capecitabine plus bevacizumab compared with capecitabine alone in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) from ...a Chinese societal perspective.
Methods
A decision-analytic Markov model was conducted to simulate the process of metastatic CRC. Three distinct health states: progression-free survival (PFS), progressive disease and death were included. Clinical data were derived from the AVEX trial. Health effectiveness was denoted in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and health utilities were derived from previously published studies. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was regarded as the primary endpoint and willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold was set at $26,753.37/QALY (3 × per capita GDP of China, 2017). One-way sensitivity analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were also performed to explore the parameters uncertainty in the study.
Results
Over a 10-year life horizon, capecitabine plus bevacizumab gained 1.14 QALYs at an average cost of $21,609.48, while the effectiveness and cost of capecitabine group were 0.99 QALYs and $7274.83, respectively. The ICER between the two groups was $95,564.33/QALY. Parameters that mostly influenced the results of the model were utility of PFS state, duration of PFS state for capecitabine plus bevacizumab, total cost of PFS state for capecitabine plus bevacizumab and price of bevacizumab. The probabilities of capecitabine plus bevacizumab and capecitabine as the dominant option were 0% and 100% at the WTP threshold of $26,753.37/QALY.
Conclusions
The results of the study showed that capecitabine plus bevacizumab is unlikely to be a cost-effective treatment option for elderly patients with metastatic CRC.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Summary
Background
Although elevated serum IgE levels have been reported in psoriasis, the role of IgE in psoriasis still needs to be clarified.
Objectives
To analyse serum total IgE levels in ...addition to the presence and distribution of IgE and FcεRI in psoriatic lesions, and to investigate alteration of IgE and FcεRI after successful systemic treatment.
Methods
Total serum IgE levels were determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The expression and localization of IgE and FcεRI was investigated using immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence.
Results
Elevated total serum IgE levels were found in 39% of patients with psoriasis. The levels of total serum IgE were significantly higher in male patients compared with female patients. Furthermore, total serum IgE levels decreased after successful systemic treatment. A positive correlation between IgE+ and FcεRI+ cells and a significant increase of these cells was found in psoriatic lesions when compared with normal skin. Interestingly, IgE+ and FcεRI+ cells decreased significantly after successful therapy with ustekinumab. IgE and FcεRI were coexpressed on mast cells, epidermal Langerhans cells, dermal dendritic cells, macrophages and a small number of neutrophils.
Conclusions
IgE might participate in the development of psoriasis by activating FcεRI‐bearing cells.
What's already known about this topic?
Serum total IgE levels are elevated in patients with psoriasis.
What does this study add?
The expression of IgE and FcεRI was particularly enhanced on innate cells in psoriatic lesions. The numbers of IgE+ and FcεRI+ cells in psoriatic lesions significantly decreased after treatment with ustekinumab.
What is the translational message?
IgE‐mediated mechanisms may perpetuate cutaneous inflammation in a subset of patients with psoriasis.
Linked Comment: Heeringa and van Zelm. Br J Dermatol 2016; 175:16–17
Plain language summary available online
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
A
bstract
Using 24.1 fb
−
1
of
e
+
e
−
collision data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, the Born cross sections and effective form factors of the
e
+
e
−
→
Σ
+
Σ
¯
−
reaction ...are measured. The measurements are performed at center-of-mass energies ranging from 3.510 to 4.951 GeV. No significant evidence for the decay of the charmonium(-like) states,
ψ
(3770),
ψ
(4040),
ψ
(4160),
Y
(4230),
Y
(4360),
ψ
(4415), and
Y
(4660), into a
Σ
+
Σ
¯
−
final state is observed. Consequently, upper limits for the products of the branching fractions and the electronic partial widths at the 90% confidence level are reported for these decays.
Borrowed dislocations for ductility in ceramics Dong, L. R.; Zhang, J.; Li, Y. Z. ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
07/2024, Volume:
385, Issue:
6707
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The inherent brittleness of ceramics, primarily due to restricted atomic motions from rigid ionic or covalent bonded structures, is a persistent challenge. This characteristic hinders dislocation ...nucleation in ceramics, thereby impeding the enhancement of plasticity through a dislocation-engineering strategy commonly used in metals. Finding a strategy that continuously generates dislocations within ceramics may enhance plasticity. Here, we propose a “borrowing-dislocations” strategy that uses a tailored interfacial structure with well-ordered bonds. Such an approach enables ceramics to have greatly improved tensile ductility by mobilizing a considerable number of dislocations in ceramic borrowed from metal through the interface, thereby overcoming the challenge associated with direct dislocation nucleation within ceramics. This strategy provides a way to enhance tensile ductility in ceramics.
Editor’s summary Ceramics break instead of deforming plastically, which can be partially attributed to their low number of dislocation defects compared with more ductile materials such as metals. Dong et al . show that by carefully choosing a ceramic-metal interface, the dislocation defects generated in the metal during straining can migrate into the ceramic. The result is a dramatic improvement in the tensile properties, suggesting a different way to improve the properties of brittle ceramics. —Brent Grocholski
PDF
