The countervailing effects of disturbances (e.g., high mortality and enhanced recovery) on population dynamics can occur through demographic processes under rapidly increasing climatic extremes. ...Across an extreme‐event gradient, we mechanistically demonstrated how dramatic changes in streamflow have affected the population persistence of endangered salmon in monsoonal Taiwan over a three‐decade period. Our modeling indicated that the dynamics of the age‐structured population were attributed to demographic processes, in which extensive mortality was characterized as a function of climatic extremes and vulnerability in the young stage of fish. In the stochastic simulations, we found that the extensive mortality and high proportion of large fish resulted from extreme flooding, which caused high values of postimpact population recovery. Our empirical evidence suggests that the magnitudes and timing of disturbance can explain the population persistence when facing climatic extremes and thereby challenges the understanding of the mechanistic drivers of these countervailing phenomena under changing environmental conditions.
The countervailing effects of disturbances (e.g., high mortality and enhanced recovery) on population dynamics can occur through demographic processes under rapidly increasing climatic extremes. We mechanistically demonstrated how dramatic changes in streamflow have affected the population persistence of endangered salmon in monsoonal Taiwan over a three‐decade period. The extensive mortality and high proportion of large fish resulted from extreme flooding, which caused high values of postimpact population recovery. Our empirical evidence challenges the understanding of the mechanistic drivers of these countervailing phenomena under changing environmental conditions.
The areas where dengue virus (DENV) is endemic have expanded rapidly, driven in part by the global spread of Aedes species, which act as disease vectors. DENV replicates in the mosquito midgut and is ...disseminated to the mosquito's salivary glands for amplification. Thus, blocking virus infection or replication in the tissues of the mosquito may be a viable strategy for reducing the incidence of DENV transmission to humans. Here we used the mariner Mos1 transposase to create an Aedes aegypti line that expresses virus-specific miRNA hairpins capable of blocking DENV replication. These microRNA are driven by the blood-meal-inducible carboxypeptidase A promoter or by the polyubiquitin promoter. The transgenic mosquitoes exhibited significantly lower infection rates and viral titers for most DENV serotypes 7 days after receiving an infectious blood meal. The treatment was also effective at day 14 post infection after a second blood meal had been administered. In viral transmission assay, we found there was significantly reduced transmission in these lines. These transgenic mosquitoes were effective in silencing most of the DENV genome; such an approach may be employed to control a dengue fever epidemic.
Multiinstitutional analysis of single-port video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for anatomic pulmonary resection is rare. This study aimed to address the technical feasibility and applicability of ...single-port video-assisted anatomical resection for primary lung cancer.
A total of 121 patients with primary lung cancer undergoing single-port video-assisted anatomical resection between 2011 and 2014 in 4 hospitals were included. The clinicopathologic variables and perioperative outcomes were collected and analyzed retrospectively.
Single-port VATS segmentectomies and lobectomies were performed in 24 (19.8%) and 97 (80.2%) patients, respectively. One hundred seven of 121 (88.4%) patients had adenocarcinoma and 93 of 121 (76.9%) had pathologic stage I lung cancer. The average operative time and estimated blood loss was 198.8 ± 65.4 minutes and 99.1 ± 147.6 mL, respectively. The conversion and complication rates were 2.5% (3 of 121 cases) and 14.0% (17 of 121 cases), respectively. There was no surgical mortality, and the average length of hospital stay was 6.6 ± 2.6 days. The mean resected lymph node was 22.6 ± 12.0. We also identified patient age of 60 years or more, male sex, and tumor size greater than 3 cm as unfavorable perioperative outcome predictors after single-port video-assisted anatomical pulmonary resection.
This first multiinstitutional single-port VATS study demonstrated that anatomical resection for primary lung cancer can be safely and effectively completed through a single-port VATS approach in hospitals experienced in VATS techniques.
BACKGROUND:Incompletely obliterated cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) after initial treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) can be treated with a repeat session of SRS. However, the ...relative efficacy of repeat vs initial SRS is not well specified.
OBJECTIVE:To retrospectively compare in matched cohorts the outcomes of repeat vs initial SRS for the treatment of matched cohorts with angioarchitecturally similar AVMs.
METHODS:We studied a data set of patients with AVM treated with radiosurgery during the period spanning 1989 to 2013. Patients with AVM who underwent repeat SRS with radiologic follow-up of ≥2 years or nidus obliteration were identified for the study and matched, in a 1:1 fashion that was blinded to outcome, to patients with previously untreated AVMs who underwent initial SRS. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the outcomes after repeat vs initial SRS.
RESULTS:The matching approach resulted in 84 patients for the repeat and the initial SRS cohort (mean margin doses, 20.7 and 20.9 Gy, respectively; P = .74). In the repeat SRS cohort, obliteration was achieved in 67%; the radiologic, symptomatic, and permanent radiation-induced change rates were 35%, 10%, and 4%, respectively; and the post-SRS hemorrhage rate was 3.1%/y. Compared with the initial SRS cohort, the repeat SRS cohort had significantly lower obliteration rates (P = .04) and higher post-SRS hemorrhage rates (P = .04). The radiation-induced change rates of the 2 cohorts were not significantly different.
CONCLUSION:Repeat SRS yields considerably poorer outcomes than initial SRS for angioarchitecturally comparable AVMs. Further studies in AVM radiobiology and vascular structure are necessary to elucidate this potentially differential response.
ABBREVIATIONS:AVM, arteriovenous malformationRIC, radiation-induced changeRBAS, radiosurgery-based arteriovenous malformation scoreSRS, stereotactic radiosurgeryVRAS, virginia radiosurgery AVM scale
Objective Incomplete microsurgical resection of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) occurs uncommonly. However, such patients harboring postoperative residual nidi remain exposed to the risk ...of AVM hemorrhage and are therefore reasonable candidates for further intervention. The goals of this retrospective case-control study are to analyze the radiosurgery outcomes for partially resected AVMs and determine the effect of prior resection on AVM radiosurgery outcomes. Methods We evaluated a prospective database of AVM patients treated with radiosurgery from 1989−2013. Previously resected AVMs with radiologic follow-up ≥2 years or nidus obliteration were selected for analysis and matched, in a 1:1 fashion and blinded to outcome, to previously unresected AVMs. Statistical analyses were performed to assess relationship between prior resection and AVM radiosurgery outcomes. Results The matching process yielded 88 patients in each of the previously resected and unresected AVM cohorts. In the resected AVM cohort, the actuarial AVM obliteration rates at 3 and 5 years were 47% and 75%, respectively; the rates of radiologic and symptomatic radiation-induced changes (RICs) were 10% and 3%, respectively; and the annual postradiosurgery hemorrhage risk was 1.1%. The lack of prior AVM resection ( P < 0.001) and superficial AVM location ( P = 0.009) were independent predictors of radiologic RIC. The actuarial rates of obliteration ( P = 0.849) and postradiosurgery hemorrhage ( P = 0.548) were not significantly different between the resected and unresected AVM cohorts. Conclusions Radiosurgery affords a reasonable risk-to-benefit profile for incompletely resected AVMs. For those with a small-volume residual nidus after resection, radiosurgery should be considered an effective alternative to repeat resection.
•NTUHi005-A cells derived from an HLA-B27 (+) AS patient with syndesmophyte formation.•AS is depicted by axial inflammation and syndesmophyte formation, leading to ankylosis.•HLA-B27 is the strong ...genetic marker of AS with unclear roles in new bone formation.•This iPSC cell line can model the pathogenic syndesmophyte formation in HLA-B27 (+) AS.
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 is the genetic marker for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a male AS patient carrying HLA-B27 with syndesmophyte formation by using the Sendai-virus delivery system. The resulting iPSCs had a normal karyotype, expressed pluripotent markers, and could differentiate into three germ layers. This cellular model will provide a platform for studying pathological mechanisms of new bone formation in HLA-B27 positive AS patients.
The photovoltaic characteristics of Ga-face GaN/InGaN p-i-n solar cells are investigated numerically. The severe polarization and barrier effects induced by the GaN/InGaN hetero-interfaces are ...demonstrated to be detrimental for the carrier collection. The conversion efficiency could be degraded to be out of application when the degree of polarization and/or indium composition are high. To efficiently eliminate both critical issues, the solar cell structure with appropriate band engineering is introduced. In the proposed structure, the photovoltaic characteristics not only show high-grade performance but also become insensitive to the degree of polarization, even in the situation of high indium composition.
A simple method to prepare aluminum nanowires was achieved by using the injection molding process in the air. The Al nanowires were made with the average diameter of 60nm and length of several ...micrometers. The difference between mold dimension and nanowires was caused by removing the outer oxide shell of Al nanowires. XRD, EDS and SAED results showed that the Al crystalline nanowires were fabricated exactly. The proposed concept successfully established a simple and low-cost method to have high-temperature and soft nano-materials under the non-vacuum surroundings.
•We fabricated pure aluminum nanowires in ambient air.•Below 650°C, the Al nanowires were synthesized by using injection molding process.•The substrate of AAO should be replaced by an electroless nickel deposition.•The nanowires were crystalline and with the average diameter of 60nm.
To analyze the prognostic factors associated with stage IB-IVA cervical cancer in patients who underwent concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) and to compare the clinical toxicities and dosimetric ...parameters of organs at risk between the different radiotherapy techniques.
This retrospective study enrolled 93 patients with stage IB-IVA cervical cancer who underwent definitive CCRT between April 2009 and December 2017. Nine patients (9.7%) received 3DCRT, 43 patients (46.2%) underwent VMAT, and 41 patients (44.1%) received tomotherapy, and all of them followed by brachytherapy using a 2D planning technique. The treatment outcomes and related prognostic factors were analyzed. We also compared the clinical toxicities and dosimetric parameters between the different techniques used for the last 30 patients.
With a median follow-up of 52.0 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), and distant metastases-free survival (DMFS) were analyzed. In a Cox proportional hazards regression model, pretreatment SCC Ag > 10 ng/mL was a significant prognostic factor for PFS (hazard ratio HR 2.20; 95% confidence interval CI 1.03-4.70; P = 0.041), LRRFS (HR, 3.48; 95% CI 1.07-11.26; P = 0.038), and DMFS (HR 2.80; 95% CI 1.02-7.67; P = 0.045). Increasing the rectal volume receiving a radiation dose exceeding 30 Gy (V
of rectum; odds ratio OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.10-1.30; P = 0.03) was associated with a higher possibility of ≥ Grade 2 acute radiation therapy (RT)-related diarrhea. The median rectal V
values were 56.4%, 97.5%, and 86.5% for tomotherapy, 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), respectively (P < 0.001). In addition, the chance of experiencing ≥ Grade 2 acute diarrhea were 10.0%, 66.7%, and 54.5% for tomotherapy, 3DCRT, and VMAT, respectively (P = 0.029).
Patients with pretreatment SCC Ag ≤ 10 ng/mL have better PFS, LRRFS, and DMFS than those with pretreatment SCC Ag > 10 ng/mL. The rectal V
is a significant predictor of severe acute diarrhea. Tomotherapy significantly decreased the rectal V
, reducing the severity of acute RT-related diarrhea during external beam RT. Trial registration This study was approved by the institutional review board at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. The registration number is KMUHIRB-E(I)-20190054 and retrospectively registered on 2019/3.
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