Structural health monitoring technology can assess the status and integrity of structures in real time by advanced sensors, evaluate the remaining life of structure, and make the maintenance ...decisions on the structures. Piezoelectric materials, which can yield electrical output in response to mechanical strain/stress, are at the heart of structural health monitoring. Here, we present an overview of the recent progress in piezoelectric materials and sensors for structural health monitoring. The article commences with a brief introduction of the fundamental physical science of piezoelectric effect. Emphases are placed on the piezoelectric materials engineered by various strategies and the applications of piezoelectric sensors for structural health monitoring. Finally, challenges along with opportunities for future research and development of high-performance piezoelectric materials and sensors for structural health monitoring are highlighted.
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is one of the 10 most frequent cancers worldwide, with an estimated over 500 000 new cases being diagnosed annually. The overall 5‐year survival rate in patients with HNC ...is one of the lowest among common malignant neoplasms and has not significantly changed during the last two decades. Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) shares part of HNC and has been reported to be increasing in the betel quid chewing area in recent years. During 2006, OSCC has become the sixth most common type of cancer in Taiwan, and it is also the fourth most common type of cancer among men. It follows that this type of cancer wreaks a high social and personal cost. Environmental carcinogens such as betel quid chewing, tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking have been identified as major risk factors for head and neck cancer. There is growing interest in understanding the relationship between genetic susceptibility and the prevalent environmental carcinogens for HNC prevention. Within this review, we discuss the molecular and cellular aspects of HNC carcinogenesis in Taiwan, an endemic betel quid chewing area. Knowledge of molecular carcinogenesis of HNC may provide critical clues for diagnosis, prognosis, individualization of therapy and molecular therapeutics. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1507–1514)
Background Different kinds of minimally invasive surgery （MIS） procedures have now been used in total knee arthroplasty （TKA）. Compared with traditional TKA procedure with a long skin incision, ...clinical studies showed MIS procedures had some advantages. Quadriceps sparing （QS） procedures are the most minimally invasive MIS procedure until now. This study was aimed to find the insertion types for Chinese patients＇ vastus medialis and if the QS procedure had some advantages in patients＇ early recovery. Methods Between February 2006 and May 2007, 120 consecutive patients underwent unilateral primary TKA under general anesthesia, among whom 14 patients were lost to follow-up, the remaining 106 cases were enrolled in this study. Among the 106 cases there were 85 right knees, 21 left knees （15 men and 91 women, with a mean age of 65.1±7.4 years）; osteoarthritis in 97 patients （91.5%） and rheumatoid arthritis in 9 patients （8.5%）. MIS TKA was performed in 49 cases （MIS TKA group）, while MIS-QS TKA in 57 cases （MIS-QS TKA group）. During the operation, the type Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ insertions of the vastus medialis for all patients were recorded. Each knee was rated post-operatively according to the Hospital of Special Surgery （HSS） scoring system. Clinical follow-up was undertaken at 1 week, 2, 6, 12 and 24 weeks. Operating time and complications were recorded. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for gender distribution, age, left or right knee incidence, pre-operative diagnosis, incidence of varus or valgus deformity. Of the 106 cases there was 1 （0.9%） case with a type Ⅰ insertion of the vastus medialis, 4 （3.8%） cases with type Ⅱ insertions, 101 （95.3%） cases with type Ⅲ insertions. The HSS scoring was significantly different between the MIS-QS TKA group and MIS TKA group within the first two weeks post operation. From 2 weeks later to 24 weeks, no significant difference was found. The average operating time was （53.3±12.4） minutes in the MIS TKA group and （64.1±15.1） minutes in the MIS-QS TKA group （P 〈0.001）. In the MIS-QS TKA group, 1 patient had delayed healing of the partial skin incision （1.8%）. No other complications were found in either group. Conclusions Although most of the Chinese patients had type Ⅲ insertions of the vastus medialis, the MIS-QS TKA procedure showed less injury to the quadriceps than the standard MIS TKA and this could contribute to the earlier recovery of of the patients. But a shorter-skin incision and more tension on the skin may also lead to more skin complications.
We present PandaX-II constraints on candidate WIMP-nucleon effective interactions involving the nucleon or WIMP spin, including, in addition to standard axial spin-dependent (SD) scattering, various ...couplings among vector and axial currents, magnetic and electric dipole moments, and tensor interactions. The data set corresponding to a total exposure of 54-ton-days is reanalyzed to determine constraints as a function of the WIMP mass and isospin coupling. We obtain WIMP-nucleon cross section bounds of 1.6×10−41 cm2 and 9.0×10−42 cm2 (90% c.l.) for neutron-only SD and tensor coupling, respectively, for a mass MWIMP∼40GeV/c2. The SD limits are the best currently available for MWIMP>40GeV/c2. We show that PandaX-II has reached a sensitivity sufficient to probe a variety of other candidate spin-dependent interactions at the weak scale.
A novel chiral 1,5‐N,N‐bidentate ligand based on a spirocyclic pyrrolidine oxazoline backbone was designed and prepared, and it coordinates CuBr in situ to form an unprecedented catalyst that enables ...efficient oxidative cross‐coupling of 2‐naphthols. Air serves as an external oxidant and generates a series of C1‐symmetric chiral BINOL derivatives with high enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee) and good yield (up to 87 %). This approach is tolerant of a broader substrates scope, particularly substrates bearing various 3‐ and 3′‐substituents. A preliminary investigation using one of the obtained C1‐symmetric BINOL products was used as an organocatalyst, exhibiting better enantioselectivity than the previously reported organocatalyst, for the asymmetric α‐alkylation of amino esters.
Enabler: An asymmetric aerobic oxidative cross‐coupling of 2‐naphthols, enabled by a novel Cu/SPDO system, generates a series of chiral C1‐symmetric BINOLs bearing 3,3′‐substituents. This method features high enantioselectivity, good chemoselectivity, and a broad substrate scope. The prepared C1‐symmetric BINOL organocatalysts gave better enantioselectivity than the previously reported catalyst for the asymmetric α‐alkylation of amino esters.
Not only were social events and public facilities closed temporarily due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, but health services also were affected greatly. In this commentary, the ...authors discuss how the national program of mammography screening in Taiwan was affected, even without known community‐acquired transmission.
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Construction of high-efficiency, low cost and stable non-noble metal catalyst on air cathode is of great importance for design and assembly of rechargeable Zn-air battery. Eriochrome ...black T (EBT) has phenolic hydroxyl and -N=Ν- groups, which provides multiple coordination sites for metal ions. Herein, Co9S8 nanoclusters implanted in Co/Mn-S,N multi-doped porous carbon (Co9S8@Co/Mn-S,N-PC) are fabricated with the mixture (i.e. EBT, metal precursors and dicyandiamide) by a coordination regulated pyrolysis strategy. Specifically, EBT effectively chelates with the Co and Mn ions, resulting in multiple incorporation and fine modulation of the carbon electronic structures. Meanwhile, its sulfonic acid groups are reduced at such high temperature, accompanied by simultaneously embedding S element in the carbon, ultimately in situ forming Co9S8 nanoclusters. The Co9S8@Co/Mn-S,N-PC performs as an effective bifunctional oxygen catalyst, displaying a positive half-wave potential of 0.85 V and a large limiting current density of 5.89 mA cm−2 for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media, coupled with a small overpotential of 320 mV at 10 mA cm−2 towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER), outperforming commercial Pt/C and RuO2 catalysts, respectively. Furthermore, the assembled rechargeable Zn-air battery with Co9S8@Co/Mn-S,N-PC exhibits the much better charge/discharge performance and long-term durability (210 h, 630 cycles). This research opens an instructive avenue to develop high-efficient and stable bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts in energy transformation and storage devices.
Maize (Zea mays L.) is considered one of the most important grains in the world. Straw return has the effect of reducing soil bulk density and increasing soil porosity. Straw returning and potassium ...fertilizer can supplement soil potassium content. The improvement of soil structure and the optimization of soil nutrient levels provide a good environment for high yield and high efficiency of maize. Therefore, three field experiments were carried out over a three-year period (2018-2020) to study the effects of straw returning on photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation and yield of maize 'Xianyu 335' under two different fertilization methods and four potassium application levels. The results showed that straw returning and potassium application had significant effects on the above indicators. The above indicators were significantly improved by deep tillage straw returning compared with no tillage straw returning. Increasing potassium supply can promote the effect of straw returning. The photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation and yield parameters of maize treated with straw returning and deep tillage combined with 60 kg/hm
potassium fertilizer (SFK60) reached the highest in the three harvest seasons. The corn planting profit of SFK45 treatment is the highest, which is $1868.92 per ha. Therefore, SFK45 is an effective way to ensure stable and high yield of corn and maximize farmers' income.
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress promotes tumor cell escape from immunosurveillance. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We hypothesized that ER stress induces hepatocellular ...carcinoma (HCC) cells to release exosomes, which attenuate antitumor immunity by modulating the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) in macrophages. In this study, we demonstrated that expression of several ER stress markers (glucose‐regulated protein 78, activating transcription factor 6, protein kinase R–like ER kinase, and inositol‐requiring enzyme 1α) was up‐regulated in HCC tissues and negatively correlated with the overall survival and clinicopathological scores in patients with HCC. Expression of ER stress–related proteins positively correlated with CD68+ macrophage recruitment and PD‐L1 expression in HCC tissues. High‐throughput sequencing analysis identified miR‐23a‐3p as one of the most abundant microRNAs in exosomes derived from tunicamycin (TM)‐treated HCC cells (Exo‐TMs). miR‐23a‐3p levels in HCC tissues negatively correlated with overall survival. Treatment with Exo‐TMs up‐regulated the expression of PD‐L1 in macrophages in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that miR‐23a‐3p regulates PD‐L1 expression through the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)–phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase–protein kinase B (AKT) pathway. This notion was confirmed by in vitro transfection and coculture experiments, which revealed that miR‐23a‐3p inhibited PTEN expression and subsequently elevated phosphorylated AKT and PD‐L1 expression in macrophages. Finally, coculture of T cells with Exo‐TM–stimulated macrophages decreased CD8+ T‐cell ratio and interleukin‐2 production but increased T‐cell apoptosis in vitro. Conclusion: ER‐stressed HCC cells release exosomes to up‐regulate PD‐L1 expression in macrophages, which subsequently inhibits T‐cell function through an exosome miR‐23a–PTEN–AKT pathway. Our findings provide insight into the mechanism how tumor cells escape from antitumor immunity.
Aims and objectives
To explore the effects of a home care mobile app on the outcomes of stoma patients who discharged from hospital.
Background
Patients with a newly formed stoma experience many ...difficulties after surgery. Mobile application (app) has the potential to help patients self‐manage their diseases and adjust to the changes in their lives and is a convenient way to ensure the continuity of care. However, there is a lack of studies about the effects of a mobile app on the transitional care for improving discharged stoma‐related health outcomes.
Design
A randomised controlled trial.
Methods
A total of 203 patients with a permanent stoma in tertiary hospitals in China were randomly assigned into two groups. Patients in the control group (n = 103) received routine discharge care. Patients in the intervention group (n = 100) received home care via a mobile app besides routine care. The psychosocial adjustment level, self‐efficacy scale and stoma complications incidence were measured in the follow‐up period and compared between the two groups. Data were collected at four time points: before intervention (baseline), at 1, 3 and 6 months after discharge.
Results
The psychosocial adjustment level and stoma self‐efficacy score of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group, respectively, at 1‐, 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up (all p < 0.05). The incidence of stoma complications in the intervention group was tending to reduce at 1, 3 and 6 months after discharge.
Conclusion
The findings indicated that follow‐up care at home via a mobile app can effectively improve the psychosocial adjustment level, self‐efficacy scale and other related outcomes of stoma patients.
Relevance to clinical practice
The home care mobile app is an effective intervention to support the psychosocial adjustment and self‐efficacy of stoma patients after discharge. It ensures the continuity of care and provides nursing guidance for the patients timely.
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