[Applied anatomy of the stylomastoid foramina and its relation to the surrounding bone structures].

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between the stylomastoid foramen and surrounding bony structures, enrich anatomical data and provide reference for clinical surgery. METHODS: A total of 62 intact and dry adult skulls were selected. The shape of the stylomastoid foramen was observed, the diameter of the stylomastoid foramen, the distances from the posterolateral point and the anterior medial point to the surrounding bony structures were measured with a vernier caliper. SPSS 25.0 software package was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There were four shapes of stylomastoid foramen, i.e., circular (61.29%), oval (29.84%), irregular (8.06%) and triangular (0.81%). The circular diameter was (2.80±0.61) mm, the oval long and short diameters were (4.43±0.96) and (2.79±0.60) mm. Distances from the posterolateral and anterior medial points of the stylomastoid foramen to the posterolateral point of the external opening of the carotid canal, the anterior medial point of the jugular foramen, the midline, the most anterior point of the foramen magnum, the posterior point of the great palatine foramen, the posterolateral point of the foramen lacerated, the foramen ovale, the posterolateral point of the foramen spinosum, the anterior point of the styloid process root, the outermost point of the tympanomastoid fissure and the tip of the mastoid process were (16.10±2.81), (24.01±2.65), (44.95±3.24), (45.10±2.71), (61.66±4.14), (35.56±4.35), (32.26±2.85), (29.12±3.40), (10.39±3.25), (9.49±2.24) and (12.01±2.79) mm; (12.80±2.41), (21.56±2.51), (42.96±3.97), (42.91±2.76), (58.97±3.97), (32.98±4.14), (29.20±2.77), (25.80±2.87), (7.37±2.33), (11.42±2.00) and (15.41±2.57) mm, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the apertures and distances between the left and right side(P＞0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the stylomastoid foramen are round and oval, understanding the distance between the foramen and surrounding bony structures is helpful for guiding clinical operations and enriching anatomical knowledge.

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Studies on Alkane Chemistry Tuning Ice Nucleation.

Understanding how surface chemistry influences ice nucleation is essential for both forecasting icing phenomena and designing surfaces with desired ice-control abilities. Although alkylating is one of the most common and simplest ways for surface chemical modification, the effect of alkane chemistry on ice nucleation remains ambiguous as a result of the usually accompanying interferences of substrate morphology or heat transfer. Here, we decouple the effect of alkane chemistry on ice nucleation by investigating the ice nucleation behaviors on alkane self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with atomic-level roughness and (sub)nanoscale thickness. Our results indicate that the introduction of alkane chemistry leads to decreased ice nucleation activities, i.e., increased anti-icing abilities, and the longer alkyl chain endows the SAM surface with the more inert ability to promote ice nucleation. The alkyl-chain-length-dependent ice nucleation activities are found to be correlated with the surface polarity. This work sheds light on a long-standing question of how alkane chemistry influences ice nucleation and offers a useful strategy for tuning ice nucleation.

Small-molecule fulvic acid with strong hydration ability for non-vitreous cellular cryopreservation.

The exploitation of biocompatible ice-control materials especially the small molecules for non-vitreous cryopreservation remains challenging. Here, we report a small molecule of fulvic acid (FA) with strong hydration ability, which enables non-vitreous cellular cryopreservation by reducing ice growth during freezing and reducing ice recrystallization/promoting ice melting during thawing. Without adding any other cryoprotectants, FA can enhance the recovery of sheep red blood cells (RBCs) by three times as compared with a commercial cryoprotectant (hydroxyethyl starch) under a stringent test condition. Investigation of water mobility reveals that the ice-control properties of FA can be ascribed to its strong bondage to water molecules. Furthermore, we found that FA can be absorbed by RBCs and mainly locates on membranes, suggesting the possible contribution of FA to cell protection through stabilizing membranes. This work bespeaks a bright future for small-molecule cryoprotectants in non-vitreous cryopreservation application.

Prediction for cardiovascular diseases based on laboratory data: An analysis of random forest model.

BACKGROUND: To establish a prediction model for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the general population based on random forests. METHODS: A retrospective study involving 498 subjects was conducted in Xi'an Medical University between 2011 and 2018. The random forest algorithm was used to screen out the variables that greatly affected the CVD prediction and to establish a prediction model. The important variables were included in the multifactorial logistic regression analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) was compared between logistic regression model and random forest model. RESULTS: The random forest model revealed the variables, including the age, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglyceride (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol (TC), waist circumference, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), were more significant for CVD prediction; the AUC was 0.802 in CVD prediction. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis indicated that the risk factors for CVD included the age [odds ratio (OR): 1.14, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.10-1.17, P < .001], BMI (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.06-1.20, P < .001), TG (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.22, P = .023), and DBP (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02-1.06, P = .001); the AUC was 0.843 in CVD prediction. The established logistic regression prediction model was Logit P = Log[P/(1 - P)] = -11.47 + 0.13 × age + 0.12 × BMI + 0.11 × TG + 0.04 × DBP; P = 1/[1 + exp(-Logit P)]. People were prone to develop CVD at the time of P > .51. CONCLUSIONS: A prediction model for CVD is developed in the general population based on random forests, which provides a simple tool for the early prediction of CVD.

Overexpression of BoNAC019, a NAC transcription factor from Brassica oleracea, negatively regulates the dehydration response and anthocyanin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

NACs are one of the largest transcription factor families in plants and are involved in the response to abiotic stress. BoNAC019, a homologue of AtNAC019, was isolated from cabbage (Brassica oleracea). BoNAC019 was localized in the nucleus and functioned as a transcriptional activator. The expression of BoNAC019 was induced by dehydration, salt, abscisic acid (ABA), and H2O2 treatments. BoNAC019 overexpressing plants were generated to explore the function of BoNAC019 in response to drought stress. Overexpression (OE) of BoNAC019 reduced drought tolerance with lower survival rate, higher water loss rate, lower proline content and ABA content. The seed germination and root length assays of BoNAC019-OE plants showed decreased sensitivity to ABA. Under drought condition, antioxidant enzymes and anthocyanin content decreased in BoNAC019 -OE plants, resulting in the accumulation of more reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause damage to plants. Several stress-responsive genes, antioxidant enzymatic genes, anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and ABA signaling genes were down-regulated under drought condition while the ABA catabolism genes were induced in BoNAC019-OE plants under both normal and drought conditions. Our results demonstrated that BoNAC019 might participated in regulating drought tolerance by inducing ABA catabolism genes and decreasing ABA content.

Lanthanide hybrids of covalently-coordination cooperative post-functionalized metal-organic frameworks for luminescence tuning and highly-selectively sensing of tetrahydrofuran.

A new class of Ln-MOFs (Ln = Eu, Tb, Eu/Tb, Sm) are synthesized through a post-synthetic modification of the parent MOF, UMCM-NH2. The luminescence spectra of Eu-MOF, Tb-MOF and Eu/Tb-MOF exhibit the characteristic emission bands of ligands and corresponding Ln3+, particularly Eu3+. Multi-color luminescence could be modulated by adjusting the excitation wavelength of the Eu-MOF and Tb-MOF. What's more, white-light emission may be realized by co-doping the Eu3+ and Tb3+ due to the synergistic contribution of the three luminescence centers. In addition, the Eu-MOF is selected as a luminescence sensor to explore the potential of sensing organic small molecules. Most interestingly, it exhibits a highly selective, sensitive and rapid response to THF, which could be distinguished easily by the naked eye under UV-light irradiation. Consequently, Eu-MOF is a promising candidate as the "turn on" fluorescent probe for detecting THF that has been rarely reported.

The point-of-care colorimetric detection of the biomarker of phenylamine in the human urine based on Tb3+ functionalized metal-organic framework.

Phenylamine has been recognized as one of the most important industrially relevant ingredient and a crucial intermediate in chemical products. Yet, its internal exposure detection in human remains largely elusive due to the lack of potent monitoring method. Hereby this issue is addressed with a probe based on lanthanide functionalized organic-inorganic hybrid material Al(OH)(bpydc) (1) through post-synthetically modified metal-organic framework. The as-synthesized Tb3+@1 exhibits the strong luminescence of Tb3+ originated from efficient energy transfer from the ligand, which can sense the biological metabolite p-aminophenol (PAP) of the phenylamine in the human urine. Linear correlation between the integrated fluorescence intensity and the concentration of PAP was investigated, enabling quantitative analysis of PAP in physiologically ranges (0.005-5 mg mL-1) with low detection limit (5 µg mL-1). This probe demonstrates excellent sensitivity, high selectivity, good reusability and quick response to PAP. Furthermore, a simple and rapid smartphone-based medical portable test paper was developed, whose quantitative color change can be easily distinguished visually. Hence, the PAP sensing platform can serve as a potential diagnostic tool for home monitoring of PAP.

Novel "Turn-On" Fluorescent Probe for Highly Selectively Sensing Fluoride in Aqueous Solution Based on Tb3+-Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks.

A Zr-based metal-organic framework (Zr-MOF) which has free carbonyl groups is synthesized successfully through mix-ligand strategy. Subsequently, Tb3+ is encapsulated into a Zr-MOF by postcoordinated modification. The Tb3+@Zr-MOF exhibits the characteristic emission of Tb3+ because of efficient sensitization through antenna effects. The Tb3+@Zr-MOF is further developed as a novel "turn-on" fluorescent probe to detect fluoride ions in aqueous solution. The results show that Tb3+@Zr-MOF exhibits excellent selectivity, high stability, low detection limits, and good anti-interference for sensitizing fluoride ions. In addition, the possible sensing mechanism that the induced luminescence properties may be attributed to Lewis acid-base interactions is discussed.

Fabrication of nanoassemblies using flow control.

Synthetic nanostructures, such as nanoparticles and nanowires, can serve as modular building blocks for integrated nanoscale systems. We demonstrate a microfluidic approach for positioning, orienting, and assembling such nanostructures into nanoassemblies. We use flow control combined with a cross-linking photoresist to position and immobilize nanostructures in desired positions and orientations. Immobilized nanostructures can serve as pivots, barriers, and guides for precise placement of subsequent nanostructures.

[Autopsy study for maxillary nerve and its artery supply].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the travel, divisions, and the lengths, diameters, branches, artery supplies of the main segments of maxillary nerve. METHODS: Fifty formalin-preserved adult half-head specimens with intravascular injection of red color emulsion were used for the gross and microanatomical studies of maxillary nerve. The lengths, diameters, branches and artery supplies of four main segments of maxillary nerve were observed. SPSS 11.5 software was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The length and diameter of cranial middle fossa segment of maxillary nerve were (10.70 ± 1.31) mm and (4.01 ± 0.52) mm respectively, which was supplied by inferior-lateral cavernous sinus artery. The length and diameter of pterygopalatine fossa segment were (16.21 ± 1.80) mm and (3.27 ± 0.62) mm respectively, in which one zygomatic branch, one to three posterior superior alveolar nerves, two ganglion branches and tuberal descending branches; were given off, and the segment was supplied by foramen rotundum artery. The length and diameter of infraorbital segment were (25.73 ± 2.03) mm and (3.30 ± 0.52) mm and it gave off middle superior alveolar nerve (64%) and anterior superior alveolar nerve and was supplied by infraorbital artery. Facial segment gave off superior labial branches, internal and external nasal branches, inferior palpebral branches, buccal branch and zygomatic branch and these branches were supplied by infraorbital artery and superior labial and angular artery originating from facial artery. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding of travel and artery supply of maxillary nerve is helpful to regional anaesthesia and surgery for maxillary nerve. Foramen rotundum, sphenopalatine foramen and infraorbital nerve are important marks for endoscopic surgery in pterygopalatine fossa.

Positioning and immobilization of individual quantum dots with nanoscale precision.

We demonstrate a technique for the precise immobilization of nanoscale objects at accurate positions on two-dimensional surfaces. We have developed a water-based photoresist that causes nanostructures such as colloidal quantum dots to segregate to a thin layer at surfaces. By combining this material with electroosmotic feedback control, we demonstrate the ability to position selected, individual quantum dots at specific locations and to immobilize them with 130 nm precision via localized UV exposure.