Abstract
Nodal-line semimetals are new members of the topological materials family whose experimental characterization has seen recent progress using both ARPES and quantum oscillation measurements. ...Here, we theoretically study the presence of a disorder-induced phase transition in a cubic lattice nodal-line semimetal using numerical diagonalization and spectral calculations. In contrast to the 3D nodal-point semimetals, we found that nodal-line semimetals do not display a stable disordered semimetal phase, as an infinitely weak disorder can lead to a diffusive metal phase. The absence of a semimetal phase is also reflected in the quadratic relationship of the electronic specific heat at low temperatures. Furthermore, we illustrate that a localization transition occurs under the influence of strong disorder, shifting the material from a weakly localized diffusive metal state to an Anderson insulator. This transition is substantiated by calculating the adjacent gap ratio and the typical density of states.
This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of midodrine on treating patients with septic shock.
Literature search was conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase. The Mantel-Haenszel ...method was used to calculate pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The mean differences (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) were calculated using the inverse variance for continuous variables. Data analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3.
A total of 6 studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. Adding midodrine to patients with septic shock was associated with a reduction in hospital mortality risk ratio (RR) 0.76; 95% CI, 0.57-1.00; p=0.05 and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality (RR 0.59; 95% CI, 0.41-0.87; p=0.008). However, there were no significant differences in the duration of intravenous vasopressors standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.18; 95% CI, -0.47-0.11; p=0.23, intravenous vasopressor reinstitution (RR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.19-1.80; p=0.35), the length of ICU stay mean difference (MD) -0.53 days; 95% CI, -2.24-1.17; p=0.54, and the length of hospital stay (MD -2.40 days; 95% CI, -5.26-0.46; p=0.10) between midodrine group and intravenous vasopressor alone group.
The additional use of midodrine might reduce hospital mortality and ICU mortality in patients with septic shock. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to verify this conclusion.
Equiatomic CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloys (HEAs) were prepared by vacuum hot-pressing sintering with single phase precursor powders made from mechanical alloying (MA) or spray-drying (SD), ...respectively. MA process was found beneficial for the following precipitation and formation of secondary phases during sintering, after which multiphase bulk HEAs were formed consisting of FCC, M23C6, and precipitated nanoscale σ phases. The tensile and compressive yield strengths of bulk HEAs fabricated from MA powders reached 1150 and 1200 MPa, respectively, which were about three times than SD powders. The excellent mechanical properties of the former were found due to the precipitation of nanoscale σ phase and M23C6 intermetallic resulted from the MA treatment and sintering processing. Nanoscale σ and M23C6 phase can effectively strengthen the alloy not only by self-reinforcement but also through the grain boundaries of the refined grains induced by the precipitation.
Summary
The kinetics of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during the natural history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been studied, but the factors affecting them remain unclear. We ...aimed to investigate the factors affecting HBsAg titres, using data from multicentre, large‐sized clinical trials in China. The baseline data of 1795 patients in 3 multicentre trials were studied, and the patients were classified into 3 groups: hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg)‐positive chronic HBV infection (n = 588), HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B (n = 596), and HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B (n = 611). HBsAg titres in the different phases were compared, and multiple linear progression analyses were performed to investigate the implicated factors. HBsAg titres varied significantly in different phases (P = .000), with the highest (4.60 log10 IU/mL 10%‐90% confidence interval: 3.52 log10 IU/mL‐4.99 log10 IU/mL) in patients with HBeAg‐positive chronic HBV infection. In all phases, age and HBV DNA were correlated with serum HBsAg level. In HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients, a negative correlation between HBsAg titres and fibrosis stage was observed. Alanine amonitransferase or necroinflammatory activity was also correlated with HBsAg titres in HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B patients. In conclusion, decreased HBsAg titres may be associated with advancing fibrosis in HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients or increased necroinflammation in those with HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B. Our findings may help clinicians better understand the kinetics of HBsAg and provide useful insights into the management of this disease.
Identification of mechanisms that decrease cadmium accumulation in plants is a prerequisite for minimizing dietary uptake of cadmium from contaminated crops. Here, we show that cadmium inhibits ...nitrate transporter 1.1 (NRT1.1)-mediated nitrate (NO₃⁻) uptake in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and impairs NO₃⁻ homeostasis in roots. In NO₃⁻-containing medium, loss of NRT1.1 function in nrt1.1 mutants leads to decreased levels of cadmium and several other metals in both roots and shoots and results in better biomass production in the presence of cadmium, whereas in NO₃⁻-free medium, no difference is seen between nrt1.1 mutants and wild-type plants. These results suggest that inhibition of NRT1.1 activity reduces cadmium uptake, thus enhancing cadmium tolerance in an NO₃⁻ uptake-dependent manner. Furthermore, using a treatment rotation system allowing synchronous uptake of NO₃⁻ and nutrient cations and asynchronous uptake of cadmium, the nrt1.1 mutants had similar cadmium levels to wild-type plants but lower levels of nutrient metals, whereas the opposite effect was seen using treatment rotation allowing synchronous uptake of NO₃⁻ and cadmium and asynchronous uptake of nutrient cations. We conclude that, although inhibition of NRT1.1-mediated NO₃⁻ uptake by cadmium might have negative effects on nitrogen nutrition in plants, it has a positive effect on cadmium detoxification by reducing cadmium entry into roots. NRT1.1 may regulate the uptake of cadmium and other cations by a common mechanism.
Objective
To assess the association of baseline anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels with ovulation, time to ovulation and fertility outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) receiving ...clomiphene citrate (CC) and compare this with placebo.
Design
Secondary analysis of the PCOSAct trial (NCT01573858).
Setting
27 trial centres in mainland China.
Population or sample
1000 infertile women with PCOS receiving either CC or placebo.
Methods
Baseline serum AMH was measured and analysed as a continuous and as a categorical variable. Interaction between AMH and CC was tested. Predictive values of AMH for ovulation, time to ovulation and fertility outcomes were assessed.
Main outcome measures
Ovulation and time to ovulation.
Results
900 baseline AMH data were available for analysis. There were no significant interactions with ovulation or conception for AMH and CC treatment (P = 0.782 and 0.419, respectively). Women in the upper quartile of AMH >15.88 ng/ml had significant lower ovulation (odds ratio OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.20–0.58) and conception rates (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.42–1.00) compared with women in the lower quartile. Associations of AMH with clinical pregnancy (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95–1.01) and live birth (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–1.01) were not significant. Ovulation rate increased until baseline AMH levels ≥7.0 ng/ml in women treated with CC but decreased when AMH increased in women with placebo. When AMH <7.0 ng/ml, an AMH threshold at 4.11 ng/ml predicted ovulation in women receiving CC (area under the curve AUC 0.64, 95% CI 0.42–0.86), with a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 62%, whereas prediction was poor for AMH ≥7.0 ng/ml (AUC 0.38, 95% CI 0.28–0.47). Median time to ovulation was 35 days in the lower quartile for women with placebo but this was significantly prolonged up to 98 days in the upper quartile. CC significantly shortened the time to ovulation up to 56 days.
Conclusions
Among women with PCOS, high baseline AMH levels were associated with a 20.1% lower chance of ovulation with a 63‐day longer time to ovulation. AMH can predict ovulation only when the baseline AMH level was <7.0 ng/ml in women with PCOS undergoing ovulation induction with CC.
Tweetable
Ovulation rate increased until baseline AMH levels ≥7.0 ng/ml in women treated with CC; a successful ovulation and time to ovulation was highly associated with baseline AMH level in these women.
Tweetable
Ovulation rate increased until baseline AMH levels ≥7.0 ng/ml in women treated with CC; a successful ovulation and time to ovulation was highly associated with baseline AMH level in these women.
In this paper, we report new results of spectroscopic observations of γ-ray blazar S5 0716+714 from 2019 September to 2020 March with the 2.4 m optical telescope at Lijiang Observatory of Yunnan ...Observatories. The median cadence of observations is ∼1 day. During the second observation period (Epoch2), the observational data reveal an extremely bright state and a bluer-when-brighter (BWB) chromatism. The BWB trend of Epoch2 differs significantly from that of the first observation period (Epoch1). A significantly brightness-dependent BWB chromatism emerges in the total data of Epoch1 and Epoch2. The BWB trend becomes weaker toward the brighter states, and likely becomes saturated at the highest state. Based on a log-parabolic function, a power law of synchrotron peak flux and frequency p, and a power law of the curvature of synchrotron spectrum and its p, simulation well reproduces the brightness-dependent BWB trend of S5 0716+714. The BWB trend is seemingly controlled by the shift of p with respect to the observational window, and effectively may be dominated by the variations of electron average energy and magnetic field in the emitting region.
The morbidity and mortality of pancreatic cancer vary considerably around the world. The aim of this study was to characterize and evaluate recent changes in incidence and incidence-based mortality ...in the USA.
Incidence and incidence-based mortality data were based on the 18 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries through SEER
Stat software. We adopted joinpoint regression to analyze the temporal trends stratified by age, gender, ethnicity, stage, tumor site, and size.
Based on 18 SEER data sets, the age-adjusted incidence of pancreatic cancer increased from 11.85/100,000 in 2000 to 14.70/100,000 in 2014, increasing by an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 1.6 (95% CI 1.5-1.8,
<0.05). The incidence-based mortality also increased, from 9.96/100,000 in 2001 to 12.96/100,000 in 2014, increasing by an AAPC of 1.9 (95% CI 1.3-2.5,
<0.05). However, we observed a deceleration in mortality since 2005, with the annual percentage change decreasing from 4.1 (2001-2005) to 1.0 (2005-2014). These increasing trends in pancreatic cancer were observed in most subgroups (stratified by age, gender, ethnicity, stage, tumor site, and size).
The incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer in the USA have increased significantly since 2000, highlighting the need for increased preventive, screening, and surveillance efforts.
TiN, TiAlN, and TiSiN coatings were deposited on the W
6
Mo
5
Cr
4
V
2
steel substrate by hollow cathodicassisted multiarc ion plating technology. The tribological properties of these coatings are ...comparatively studied. The microstructure, element composition, nanomechanics, and wear properties of the substrate and coating surface of high-speed steel were evaluated by XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, XPS, and nanoindentation tests. The results show that the mechanical properties of ternary coating TiAlN and TiSiN are improved compared with high-speed steel and binary TiN coatings, with TiAlN hardness and elastic modulus of 44.8 and 438.6 GPa and TiSiN hardness and elastic modulus of 34.8 and 333.2 GPa. The TiAlN coating has the strongest ability to resist plastic deformation due to solid solution strengthening. TiSiN can improve the plasticity and toughness of hard coatings after fine-grain strengthening. A strong positive correlation exists between the amount of sample wear and the
H
3
⁄
E
∗2
value. The surface friction coefficients of TiN, TiAlN, and TiSiN were all small compared with high-speed steel, and the roughness at the wear tracks of high-speed steel increased while the roughness at the wear tracks of the coating samples decreased.
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