The electron cooler at the experimental Cooler Storage Ring (CSRe) has been upgraded with an embedded electron energy fast detuning system for the merged-beams electron–ion collision experiments. A ...plastic scintillation detector (PSD) and a multi-wire proportional chamber (MWPC) detector have been developed and installed downstream of the electron cooler to detect the recombined and ionized ions in the electron–ion collision experiments at the CSRe. Both detectors have been tested successfully in a recent dielectronic recombination (DR) experiment of Na-like Kr25+ ions at the CSRe. In addition, the measured DR rate coefficients for Kr25+ ions from both detectors were compared with the flexible atomic code (FAC) calculations, and a very good agreement is achieved. The present experimental results demonstrate that the new experimental setups at the CSRe including the electron energy fast detuning system and the particle detectors have high stability and efficiency and meet the needs of the forthcoming electron–ion collision precision spectroscopy at the CSRe.
Abstract
Background
A recent dramatic surge in pet ownership has been observed across metropolitan areas in Asia. To date, there is a dearth of information on the risk associated with pet ownership ...for the transmission of parasites on a large scale in Asia, despite this continent giving rise to the largest burden of zoonotic infections worldwide.
Methods
We explored the nature and extent of zoonotic internal (endo-) and external (ecto-) parasites and arthropod-borne pathogens in 2381 client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas of eight countries in East and Southeast Asia using reliable diagnostic tests and then undertook extensive statistical analyses to define predictors of exposure to zoonotic pathogens.
Results
The estimated ORs for overall parasite infections are 1.35 95% CIs 1.07;1.71 in young animals and 4.10 1.50;11.2 in the animal group older than 15 years as compared with adult animals, 0.61 0.48;0.77 in neutered animals as compared to unneutered animals, 0.36 0.26;0.50 in animals living in urban areas as compared with rural areas, 1.14 1.08;1.21 for each 1 °C increase of annual mean temperature which varies from 12.0 to 28.0 °C, and 0.86 0.78;0.95 for each year of life expectancy which varies from 70.9 to 83.3 years.
Conclusions
Here we highlight the influence of human life expectancy and the neutering status of the animals, which reflect increased living standards through access to education and human and veterinary health care, to be both strongly associated with exposure to zoonotic parasites. An integrated approach of local and international authorities to implement and manage educational programs will be crucial for the control of zoonotic infections of companion animals in Asia.
Although approximately 20 common genetic susceptibility loci have been identified for breast cancer risk through genome-wide association studies (GWASs), genetic risk variants reported to date ...explain only a small fraction of heritability for this common cancer. We conducted a four-stage GWAS including 17 153 cases and 16 943 controls among East-Asian women to search for new genetic risk factors for breast cancer. After analyzing 684 457 SNPs in 2062 cases and 2066 controls (Stage I), we selected for replication among 5969 Chinese women (4146 cases and 1823 controls) the top 49 SNPs that had neither been reported previously nor were in strong linkage disequilibrium with reported SNPs (Stage II). Three SNPs were further evaluated in up to 13 152 Chinese and Japanese women (6436 cases and 6716 controls) (Stage III). Finally, two SNPs were evaluated in 10 847 Korean women (4509 cases and 6338 controls) (Stage IV). SNP rs10822013 on chromosome 10q21.2, located in the zinc finger protein 365 (ZNF365) gene, showed a consistent association with breast cancer risk in all four stages with a combined per-risk allele odds ratio of 1.10 (95% CI: 1.07-1.14) (P-value for trend = 5.87 × 10−9). In vitro electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated the potential functional significance of rs10822013. Our results strongly implicate rs10822013 at 10q21.2 as a genetic risk variant for breast cancer among East-Asian women.
This work presents the development of a daily imaging scheduling system for a low-orbit, Earth observation satellite. The daily imaging scheduling problem of satellite considers various imaging ...requests with different reward opportunities, changeover efforts between two consecutive imaging tasks, cloud-coverage effects, and the availability of the spacecraft resource. It belongs to a class of single-machine scheduling problems with salient features of sequence-dependent setup, job assembly, and the constraint of operating time windows. The scheduling problem is formulated as an integer-programming problem, which is NP-hard in computational complexity. Lagrangian relaxation and linear search techniques are adopted to solve this problem. In order to demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of our solution methodology, a Tabu search-based algorithm is implemented, which is modified from the algorithm in Vasquez and Hao, 2001. Numerical results indicate that the approach is very effective to generate a near-optimal, feasible schedule for the imaging operations of the satellite. It is efficient in applications to the real problems. The Lagrangian-relaxation approach is superior to the Tabu search one in both optimality and computation time.
A biodegradable drug delivery system (DDS) is one the most promising therapeutic strategies for cancer therapy. Here, we propose a unique concept of light activation of black phosphorus (BP) at ...hydrogel nanostructures for cancer therapy. A photosensitizer converts light into heat that softens and melts drug-loaded hydrogelbased nanostructures. Drug release rates can be accurately controlled by light intensity, exposure duration, BP concentration, and hydrogel composition. Owing to sufficiently deep penetration of near-infrared (NIR) light through tissues, our BP-based system shows high therapeutic efficacy for treatment of s.c. cancers. Importantly, our drug delivery system is completely harmless and degradable in vivo. Together, our work proposes a unique concept for precision cancer therapy by external light excitation to release cancer drugs. If these findings are successfully translated into the clinic, millions of patients with cancer will benefit from our work.
Status of the HIRFL–CSR complex Yuan, Y.J.; Yang, J.C.; Xia, J.W. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms,
12/2013, Volume:
317
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
•HIRFL is in a very positive state and can provide all ion species with maximum energy to 1GeV/u (A/q=2).•Present status of HIRFL complex is given as well as the new progress on operation and ...improvement.•With emphasize on HIRFL–CSR project, main features realized during the commissioning and operation are described in detail.•The progress on physics experiments and hadron cancer therapy are also presented.
The HIRFL–CSR, as an upgrade of the HIRFL, has been put into operation since 2008. Together with a series of improvements of injector cyclotrons, the HIRFL is in a very good state and can provide all ion species from proton to uranium with energy variable from ion source energy to 1GeV/u (A/q=2). Present status of the HIRFL–CSR complex is given. Main features realized during the commissioning and operation are described in detail. The progress on physics experiments and cancer therapy are also presented.
Abstract Objective To compare the efficacy of a new dentifrice containing 1.5% arginine, an insoluble calcium compound and 1450 ppm fluoride to arrest and reverse naturally occurring buccal caries ...lesions in children relative to a positive control dentifrice containing 1450 ppm fluoride alone. Study design Participants from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China tested three dentifrices: a new dentifrice containing 1.5% arginine, an insoluble calcium compound, and 1450 ppm fluoride, as sodium monofluorophosphate, a positive control dentifrice containing 1450 ppm fluoride, as sodium fluoride, in a silica base, and a matched negative control dentifrice without arginine and fluoride. Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence (QLF) was used to assess buccal caries lesions at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of product use. Results 438 participants (initial age 9–13 years (mean 11.1 ± 0.78) and 48.6% female) completed the study. No adverse events attributable to the products were reported during the course of the study. The subject mean Δ Q (mm2 %), representing lesion volume, was 27.26 at baseline. After 6 months of product use, the Δ Q values for the arginine-containing, positive and negative control dentifrices were 13.46, 17.99 and 23.70 representing improvements from baseline of 50.6%, 34.0% and 13.1%. After 6 months product use, the differences between the pair wise comparisons for all three groups were statistically significant ( p < 0.01). The arginine-containing dentifrice demonstrated an improvement after only 3 months that was almost identical to that achieved by the conventional 1450 ppm fluoride dentifrice after 6 months. Conclusion The new dentifrice containing 1.5% arginine, an insoluble calcium compound, and 1450 ppm fluoride provides statistically significantly superior efficacy in arresting and reversing buccal caries lesions to a conventional dentifrice containing 1450 ppm fluoride alone.
The LUX-ZEPLIN experiment is a dark matter detector centered on a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota, USA. This ...Letter reports results from LUX-ZEPLIN's first search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with an exposure of 60 live days using a fiducial mass of 5.5 t. A profile-likelihood ratio analysis shows the data to be consistent with a background-only hypothesis, setting new limits on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon, spin-dependent WIMP-neutron, and spin-dependent WIMP-proton cross sections for WIMP masses above 9 GeV/c^{2}. The most stringent limit is set for spin-independent scattering at 36 GeV/c^{2}, rejecting cross sections above 9.2×10^{-48} cm at the 90% confidence level.
Full text
Available for:
CMK, CTK, FMFMET, NUK, UL
Background & aims: Biopsy is the gold standard for staging liver fibrosis, but it may be accompanied by complications. As an alternative, non-invasive markers such as transient elastography (for ...liver fibrosis) and certain combinations of routine blood markers (liver function tests, full blood count) have been developed although their clinical significance remains controversial. Here, we compare the diagnostic values of non-invasive markers for liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.
Methods: Transient elastography and routine laboratory tests were performed in 196 patients. Diagnostic performances were compared and were assessed based on the area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.
Results: Elevated GGT to platelet ratio (GPR), the fibrosis index FIB-4 based on age, AST, platelets and ALT, platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and total bilirubin were independent predictors of liver stiffness defined by transient elastography (all P < 0.001). The AUCs of GPR in predicting both advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis were significantly larger than that of FIB-4 (P = 0.037 and P = 0.008, respectively) and AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) (P = 0.008 and P = 0.005). FIB-4, APRI and red cell volume distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR) had similar diagnostic values in discriminating different levels of liver fibrosis.
Conclusions: GPR showed the best diagnostic value and RPR and PLR are easily available and inexpensive markers in evaluating fibrosis and cirrhosis. The diagnostic values of these laboratory markers are useful in diagnosing advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, and in confirming the different levels of liver fibrosis.
The ulnar-sided approach for arthroscopic peripheral triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) repair may be associated with injury to the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve (DBUN). The goal of this ...study was to develop a small incision to help minimize DBUN injury. Ten cadaveric upper limbs were used to measure the anatomic parameters of the DBUN. Based on these measured anatomical relationships, a 20 mm longitudinal incision with the ulnar styloid process as the midpoint was designed to explore and protect the DBUN. Three additional cadaveric upper limbs were used to test the feasibility of this method. Then this method was applied in 15 patients with TFCC injury (IB type). In 10 cadavers, the DBUN was located volar to the ulnar styloid process. The mean linear distance between the DBUN and the ulnar styloid process was 8.04 mm (range: 7.02–8.82mm) in the transverse-volar direction and 13.78 mm (range: 11.06–16.02mm) in the longitudinal-distal volar direction. In three additional cadavers, the DBUN was successfully explored and retracted with this incision, creating a safer space for passing sutures and tying knots. This modified method was used successfully in 15 patients, and the DBUN was protected during surgery. There were no complications, and most importantly, no injuries to the DBUN at the 6-month follow-up visit. Therefore, we recommend that a 20 mm longitudinal incision with the ulnar styloid process as the midpoint be made prior to passing sutures during the arthroscopic repair of TFCC tears to avoid injuring the various branches of the DBUN.
L’abord ulnaire pour la réparation arthroscopique des lésions périphériques du complexe fibrocartilagineux triangulaire (TFCC) peut être responsable de lésions du rameau dorsal du nerf ulnaire (RDNU). Le but de cette étude était d’utiliser une petite incision pour minimiser les blessures du RDNU. Dix membres supérieurs de cadavres ont été employés pour mesurer les paramètres anatomiques du DBUN. Selon les rapports anatomiques mesurés, une incision longitudinale de 20mm avec le processus styloïde ulnaire comme point médian a été conçue pour explorer et protéger le RDNU. Trois membres supérieurs de cadavres supplémentaires ont été employés pour tester la faisabilité de cette méthode. Puis cette méthode a été utilisée chez 15 patients atteints de lésions du TFCC (type IB). Chez 10 cadavres, le RDNU a été localisé en avant du processus styloïde ulnaire, et la distance linéaire moyenne entre le DBUN et le processus styloïde ulnaire était palmaire de 8,04mm (7,02–8,82mm) et distale de 13,78mm (11,06–16,02mm). Chez 3 cadavres supplémentaires, le DBUN a été cherché avec succès et récliné avec cette incision, créant plus d’espace sûr pour passer des sutures et les nouer. Cette méthode modifiée a été utilisée avec succès chez 15 patients, et le RDNU a été protégé utilisant cette incision pendant la chirurgie. Il n’y a eu aucune complication, y compris de possibles lésions au RDNU au suivi clinique de 6 mois. Par conséquent, nous recommandons qu’une incision longitudinale de 20mm avec le processus styloïde ulnaire comme point médian soit faite avant le passage des sutures dans la réparation arthroscopique des déchirures de TFCC pour éviter de blesser les différentes branches du RDNU.
PDF
