1. Flowering plants exhibit striking interspecific and intraspecific variation in flower number, which strongly influences the reproductive success of animal-pollinated plants. However, the ...reproductive consequences of producing a single flower are poorly understood. 2. Here, we test if plants producing a single flower have a reproductive disadvantage compared with plants producing multiple flowers by combining field investigation of five deceptive orchids and a survey of published literature. Pollen limitation was estimated by comparing fruit production between hand pollination and open pollination. Flowering frequency was monitored over years to assess the potential advantage of producing a single flower. 3. Both single- and multiple-flowered species suffered strong pollen limitation. However, single-flowered species had significantly lower fruit set and produced fewer seeds per individual, although they had a significantly higher pollen removal than species with multiple flowers. A phylogenetically independent contrast of 28 species representing four of the five subfamilies of Orchidaceae revealed that fruit set was significantly positively associated with flower number. Both pollen removal and fruit set had a positive relationship with flower number within the multipleflowered species. 4. Synthesis. Current data and phylogenetically independent contrast support the hypothesis that producing a single flower has reproductive disadvantages. Single-flowered species may compensate for low female success through high flowering frequency over years. This study provides insight into costs and benefits of producing a single flower in deceptive orchids.
When comets interacting with solar wind, straight and narrow plasma tails will be often formed. The most remarkable phenomenon of the plasma tails is the disconnection event, in which a plasma tail ...is uprooted from the comet's head and moves away from the comet. In this paper, the interaction process between a comet and solar wind is simulated by using a laser-driven plasma cloud to hit a cylinder obstacle. A disconnected plasma tail is observed behind the obstacle by optical shadowgraphy and interferometry. Our particle-in-cell simulations show that the difference in thermal velocity between ions and electrons induces an electrostatic field behind the obstacle. This field can lead to the convergence of ions to the central region, resulting in a disconnected plasma tail. This electrostatic-field-induced model may be a possible explanation for the disconnection events of cometary tails.
A method for preparing high-purity tellurium based on viscous distillation and gas-phase separation was developed. By adjusting the condenser structure and condensing temperature to achieve viscous ...distillation, the dominant condensation zone for tellurium was controlled; hence, poorly volatile substances remained in the crucible, while selenium was separated from tellurium in the gas phase to achieve the purification of metallurgical-grade crude tellurium. Specifically, the saturated vapor pressure, mean free path of tellurium, impurity distribution, and morphologies of the condensate at different locations were investigated in detail. The results for a 500 g upscaled experiment showed that the direct yield of Te was 83.40%, the purity of Te reached higher than 99.9996 wt.% and the selenium content in the dominant condensation zone was reduced to 2.76×10−4 wt.% under the optimal experimental conditions of 5 Pa, 773 K and 90 min.
Background:
Growing studies have demonstrated that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) can act as crucial roles during the progression of various tumors, including colorectal carcinoma (CRC). We aimed to ...determine lncRNA endogenous bornavirus-like nucleoprotein (EBLN3P) expression in CRC and examine its influence on tumor behaviors of CRC cells.
Materials and Methods:
Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression levels of EBLN3P and miR-323a-3p in CRC tissues and cell lines. Cell viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were assessed by Cell Counting Kit 8, colony formation, Transwell assay, wound healing assays, and flow cytometry. Bioinformatics and dual-luciferase assays were used to investigate the interaction between EBLN3P and miR-323a-3p, as well as between miR-323a-3p and U2AF homology motif kinase 1 (UHMK1). Western blot was applied for detecting the expressions of the related proteins.
Results:
EBLN3P was highly expressed in CRC, and its high expression was distinctly associated with increased tumor size, histology/differentiation and advanced TNM stage, and poor clinical outcome of CRC patients. EBLN3P silencing significantly inhibited the proliferation and metastasis and induced the apoptosis of CRC cells. Mechanistically, overexpression of EBLN3P exhibited tumorigenic effects through downregulating the inhibitory effects of miR-323a-3p on UHMK1 expression. The correlation analysis confirmed the positive or negative association among EBLN3P, miR-323a-3p, and UHMK1.
Conclusion:
EBLN3P promoted the development of CRC
via
targeting miR-323a-3p/UHMK1, which provided a new idea for treating CRC.
Ultrastrong, biomorphic cellular silicon carbide (bio-SiC) ceramics were generated by the carbothermal reduction of gaseous SiO with a pyrolytic carbon template. The anisotropic wood tissue ...microstructure is replicated in the bio-SiC materials, in which almost fully dense cell walls are assembled by directional columnar SiC nanocrystalline structures that are 100–200 nm in diameter and 100–500 nm in length. The resulting bio-SiC ceramics exhibited high porosity (76%∼86%), superior flexural strength to other materials (σ|| ≈ 38.3 MPa), high thermal dissipation characteristics (k ⊥ ≈ 10.3 W·m–1·K–1 at room temperature), and high anisotropic thermal conductivity (k ⊥/k || , ∼1.6). The orientation dependence of the microstructure–property relations may offer a promising perspective for the fabrication of multifunctional ceramics and composites.
Background:
Conventional therapy may be inadequate for many patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may be a viable alternative, but its effectiveness for ...axSpA is unknown. We are currently conducting a pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effectiveness of a TCM collaborative model of care (TCMCMC), which combines usual rheumatologic care with acupuncture for patients with axSpA. This nested qualitative sub-study aims to identify facilitators of and barriers to the implementation of the TCMCMC.
Methods:
We conducted individual in-depth interviews with participants who had completed the acupuncture regimen to elicit opinions on the facilitators of and barriers to the implementation of the TCMCMC. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results:
Twelve participants were included, with data saturation occurring after 10 interviews. The analysis revealed both a number of important ‘facilitators’ and ‘barriers’. Facilitators to the implementation of the TCMCMC included effectiveness of TCM to relieve symptoms, inadequacy of conventional treatment and positive social perceptions of TCM. Barriers included scepticism towards TCM, inability of TCM to provide instant relief, needle-related discomfort, variable effectiveness of TCM influenced by physicians’ skills and experience and the high cost of TCM. Recommendations to overcome barriers included further patient education about TCM.
Conclusion:
Policymakers should take into account the various feasibility factors identified in this study when developing and implementing a TCMCMC.
Trial registration number:
NCT03420404 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
Axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) is a chronic disease which results in fatigue, pain, and reduced quality of life (QoL). Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), especially acupuncture, has shown promise ...in managing pain. Although a TCM collaborative model of care (TCMCMC) has been studied in cancer, there are no randomized controlled trials investigating TCM in AxSpA. Therefore, we will conduct a pragmatic trial to determine the clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of TCMCMC for patients with AxSpA. We define TCMCMC as standard TCM history taking and physical examination, acupuncture, and TCM non-pharmacological advice and communications with rheumatologists in addition to usual rheumatologic care. The purpose of this paper is to describe the rationale for and methodology of this trial.
This pragmatic randomized controlled trial will recruit 160 patients who are diagnosed with AxSpA and have inadequate response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Simple randomization to usual rheumatologic care or the intervention (TCMCMC) with a 1:1 allocation ratio will be used. Ten 30-min acupuncture sessions will be provided to patients assigned to the TCMCMC arm. All participants will continue to receive usual rheumatologic care. The primary endpoint - spinal pain - will be evaluated at week 6. Secondary endpoints include clinical, quality of life, and economic outcome measures. Patients will be followed up for up to 52 weeks, and adverse events will be documented.
This trial may provide evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of a TCMCMC for patients with AxSpA.
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03420404 . Registered on 14 February 2018.
Background
Despite therapeutic advances, treatment of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) continue to pose as a challenge as many do not respond well to conventional Western medications, ...such as nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). Hence, acupuncture is a possible alternative. Some studies found electroacupuncture to be better than manual acupuncture, though no trials have been conducted in patients with axSpA. This clinical trial aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and cost‐effectiveness of electroacupuncture compared to manual acupuncture for patients with axSpA.
Methods/Design
This randomized controlled trial will recruit 100 patients diagnosed with axSpA, who have active disease despite NSAIDs and bDMARDs. Eligible patients will be randomized to receive either electroacupuncture or manual acupuncture in a 1:1 ratio. All participants will receive standard rheumatologic care in addition to 20 acupuncture sessions. The mean difference in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index score between the 2 groups over 12 weeks will serve as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include improvements in other clinical, quality of life, and economic outcomes over 24 weeks. All adverse events will be recorded.
Discussion
Results from this trial may provide evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost‐effectiveness of electroacupuncture compared to manual acupuncture for patients with axSpA, and guide implementation into clinical practice. Limitations of this trial include the lack of patient blinding, use of a repeated measures design, and possible variation in acupuncture technique amongst the various Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners.
Highlights
There are currently a lack of randomised controlled trials comparing the efficacy between manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture.
This is a protocol for a randomised controlled trial comparing the efficacy between manual and electroacupuncture in patients with axial spondyloarthritis with inadequate response to conventional western medications.
The mean difference in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score between the two groups over 12 weeks will serve as the primary outcome.
Graphical of a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture for patients with axial spondyloarthritis. Primary outcome will be the mean difference in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity (BASDAI) score over 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes will include improvements in other clinical, quality of life and economic outcomes over 24 weeks.
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