Cost-Effective and Scalable Solar Interface Evaporators Derived from Industry Waste for Efficient Solar Steam Generation.

Interfacial solar steam generation for sustainable and eco-friendly desalination and wastewater treatment has attracted much attention. However, costly raw materials and complex preparation processes pose constant challenges to its wide promotion. Herein, a novel, cost-effective, and scalable strategy is presented for preparing solar interface evaporators using industrial waste as a raw material. Modified polyethylene foam evaporators (M-EPEs) are simply prepared by drilling and then hydrophilic modification of industrial waste (EPE-1). M-EPEs not only retain the strong mechanical properties and thermal insulating properties (0.047 W·m-1·K-1) of EPE-1 but also exhibit superhydrophilicity and strong light absorption (over 90%). M-EPEs achieve a high evaporation rate of 1.497 kg·m-2·h-1 and photothermal efficiency of up to 93.8% under 1 kW·m-2 solar illumination. Moreover, it has excellent stability and salt tolerance. Our work addresses the environmental issues of recycling polyethylene waste and provides a facile and efficient strategy for designing low-cost, large-scale solar interface evaporators for desalination.

Achieved High-Sensitivity Single-Band Ratiometric Optical Thermometry by Manipulating the Intervalence Charge-Transfer Band Position.

Currently, optical thermometry has received widespread attention because of its noncontact and wide temperature range, but most of them are based on the application of dual-band optical ratiometric thermometry, so the development of a single-band ratiometric (SBR) optical thermometry, which is easier to analyze and use, is particularly important. In this work, the position of the intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) band for Na2Gd2-xLaxTi3O10:Pr3+ (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) was modulated using Gd/La substitution, enhancing the thermal response difference of Pr3+ 1D2 → 3H4 under charge-transfer band (CTB) and IVCT band excitation, thereby achieving high-sensitivity SBR optical thermometry, and the maximum relative sensitivity (Sr-max) reached 2.95% (at 298 K). In addition, this series of phosphors has high-color-purity red emission, indicating that it has potential for multifield applications.

Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a prominent cause of neonatal mortality and neurodevelopmental disorders; however, effective therapeutic interventions remain limited. During neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury events, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased antioxidant levels lead to the induction of oxidative stress, which plays a pivotal role in the pathological process of neonatal HIE. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key endogenous antioxidant transcription factor that protects against oxidative stress by promoting the transcription of various antioxidant genes. It has been demonstrated that Nrf2 signaling pathway activation by different compounds may protect against neonatal HIE. This review outlines the role of oxidative stress in neonatal HIE and summarizes the impact of antioxidants on neonatal HIE via activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, Nrf2 signaling pathway potentially exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic and antiferroptotic effects, thereby emerging as a focal point for future neonatal HIE treatment strategies.

Oxygen concentration titration guided by oxygen reserve index during pediatric laryngeal surgery with high-flow nasal cannula oxygen: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether adjusting the oxygen concentration guided by the Oxygen Reserve Index (ORI) during pediatric laryngeal surgery with High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen (HFNO) could achieve postoperative PaO2 close to physiological levels while ensuring adequate oxygenation in surgery. METHODS: Sixty pediatric patients undergoing laryngeal surgery or examination were randomly assigned to two groups. The ORI group received oxygen concentration adjustments every 5 min to maintain a target ORI value of 0.21, whereas the control group did not undergo any adjustments. Postoperative PaO2, time weighted average fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), and mean Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) were compared between groups. Finally, some analyses were conducted to examine the relationship of ORI with PaO2. RESULTS: In general, the postoperative PaO2 was 164.9 ± 48.8 mmHg in ORI group and 323.0 ± 87.7 mmHg in control group (P < 0.01). The time weighted average FiO2 in the ORI group was 85.9 [81.8-92.7] %. There was no significant difference in mean SpO2 between the two groups (ORI vs. control: 98.4 [97.7-99.2] vs. 98.8 [97.7-99.5]; P = 0.36). According to the analyses, the optimal cut value for ORI was determined to be 0.195 when PaO2 was 150 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric laryngeal surgery with HFNO, reducing oxygen concentration guided by ORI helped achieve postoperative PaO2 levels closer to physiological norms without compromising intra-operative oxygenation.

To Assess the Role of Immune Infiltrating Immune Cells of Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Atrial Fibrillation and Nursing Care in These Patients.

This research aimed to assess the role of immune infiltrating immune cells of patients with chronic heart failure with atrial fibrillation and nursing care in these patients. For this aim, 400 patients from 22 centres across our nations were recruited in the index cohort based on worsening signs/symptoms and poor management of HF. The validation cohort consisted of patients who had previously participated in the index cohort. The primary goal was to reduce all-cause mortality as well as unscheduled hospitalisations due to heart failure. Hospitalizations for heart failure (HF), total mortality, and death attributable to cardiovascular disease were secondary objectives. Results showed that interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in patients ranged from 3.1 to 11.21 pg/mL on average, with 228 patients (or 57% of the total) having IL-6 levels that were higher than the 95th percentile of normal values (> 4.45 pg/mL). The average age of the group was 69.85±9.68 years, and there were 295 males in the group (73.75 percent). 17 Patients who had higher levels of IL-6 tended to be older, more frequently suffered from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and more frequently suffered from anaemia, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation. Patients who had higher levels of IL-6 also had a greater likelihood of suffering from these conditions. Patients who had higher levels of IL-6 also had a shorter distance travelled during the 6MWT and had a lower chance of completing the test. Both test completion [OR (95% CI) per doubling of IL-6: 0.81 (0.71 - 0.91), P< 0.001] and total distance covered [B (95% CI) per doubling of IL-6: 28.11 (32.58 to-21.98), P< 0.001] were negatively associated with increasing levels of IL-6, Patients who had high levels of IL-6 had higher median hepcidin levels than patients who had low levels of IL-6. This was discovered by comparing the two groups' hepcidin levels. There was a correlation between increased levels of IL-6 and increased levels of NT-proBNP and CRP, as well as a reduction in eGFR. In conclusion, independent predictors of IL-6 were younger age, high-flow partial ejection fraction (HFpEF), atrial fibrillation (AF), iron insufficiency, and higher levels of NT-proBNP, PCT, hepcidin, and TNF-/IL-1 related biomarkers. Last but not least, IL-6 levels in the plasma were able to predict death and/or hospitalisation due to HF on their own, although they did not contribute to differentiation in prior models.

Long noncoding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 promotes progression of colorectal cancer by sponging microRNA-152-3p and regulating E2F3/MAPK8 signaling.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and the effects of the long noncoding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) on CRC progression. Bioinformatics analysis verified PVT1 expression in tumor and normal tissues. Quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to measure mRNA and protein levels, respectively. The MTT, Transwell, colony formation, and in vivo assays were used to assess the effects of PVT1 on proliferation, migration, and invasion by CRC cells. Both PVT1 and microRNA (miR)-152-3p were shown to be colocalized in CRC cells using FISH assay. The target genes of miR-152-3p were predicted and verified by bioinformatics analysis, luciferase assay, and RNA pull-down assay. The ChIP assay revealed that E2F3 binds with the promoter of MAPK8. We found that PVT1 was overexpressed in CRC specimens, and its expression was higher in CRC cells than normal intestinal cells. Overexpression of PVT1 enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells, whereas PVT1 knockdown inhibited these processes. MicroRNA-152-3p was a target of PVT1, and E2F3 was a target of miR-152-3p. Rescue experiments confirmed the interaction between miR-152-3p and PVT1 and between miR-152-3p and E2F3. Luciferase and ChIP assay results confirmed that E2F3 modulates the transcriptional activation of MAPK8. Long noncoding RNA PVT1 activated E2F3 signaling by sponging miR-152-3p. The PVT1/miR-152-3p/E2F3/MAPK8 axis promoted CRC progression.

Genome-wide identification, molecular evolution and expression analysis of the non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP) family in Setaria italica.

BACKGROUND: Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is a millet species with high tolerance to stressful environments. Plant non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are a kind of small, basic proteins involved in many biological processes. So far, the genome of S. italica has been fully sequenced, and a comprehensive understanding of the evolution and expression of the nsLTP family is still lacking in foxtail millet. RESULTS: Forty-five nsLTP genes were identified in S. italica and clustered into 5 subfamilies except three single genes (SinsLTP38, SinsLTP7, and SinsLTP44). The proportion of SinsLTPs was different in each subfamily, and members within the same subgroup shared conserved exon-intron structures. Besides, 5 SinsLTP duplication events were investigated. Both tandem and segmental duplication contributed to nsLTP expansion in S. italica, and the duplicated SinsLTPs had mainly undergone purifying selection pressure, which suggested that the function of the duplicated SinsLTPs might not diverge much. Moreover, we identified the nsLTP members in 5 other monocots, and 41, 13, 10, 4, and 1 orthologous gene pairs were identified between S. italica and S. viridis, S. bicolor, Z. mays, O. sativa, and B. distachyon, respectively. The functional divergence within the nsLTP orthologous genes might be limited. In addition, the tissue-specific expression patterns of the SinsLTPs were investigated, and the expression profiles of the SinsLTPs in response to abiotic stress were analyzed, all the 10 selected SinsLTPs were responsive to drought, salt, and cold stress. Among the selected SinsLTPs, 2 paired duplicated genes shared almost equivalent expression profiles, suggesting that these duplicated genes might retain some essential functions during subsequent evolution. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provided the first systematic analysis for the phylogenetic classification, conserved domain and gene structure, expansion pattern, and expression profile of the nsLTP family in S. italica. These findings could pave a way for further comparative genomic and evolution analysis of nsLTP family in foxtail millet and related monocots, and lay the foundation for the functional analysis of the nsLTPs in S. italica.

Expression and Prognostic Value of PIK3CA, VEGF, IL-8, IL-10, and RIP2 in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Background: To explore clinical features and prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL) 8, IL-10, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA), and receptor-interacting protein-2 (RIP2) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods: A total of 68 DLBCL patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Engineering University from January 2017 to June 2021 were included in this retrospective analysis. Serum VEGF was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, serum IL-8 and IL-10 were detected by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay, and expression of PIK3CA and RIP2 in tumors was detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between clinical features of DLBCL and tumor-related index were analyzed. Cox regression was conducted to explore risk factors and hazard ratio. Results: The serum level or expressions of VEGF, IL-8, IL-10, and RIP2 were significantly elevated with the increase of Ann Arbor Stage, International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and the number of extranodal sites (all P < 0.05). Beside, these serum indexes were significantly higher in patients with the presence of extranodal involvement and germinal center B-cell (GCB), but significantly lower in patients with the presence of bone marrow involvement (all P < 0.05). Cox regression analysis for overall survival revealed that high expression of VEGF, high level of serum IL-8, serum IL-10, and RIP2, Ann Arbor Stage (III-IV), number of extranodal sites (>1), serum LDH level (≥245 U/L), IPI scores (3-5), ECOG scores (≥2), and bone marrow involvement were independent risk factors for the prognosis of DLBCL patients (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: The serum levels of VEGF, IL-8, and IL-10, as well as the expression of RIP2 and PIK3CA in tumor tissues, were highly correlated to clinical features of DLBCL, and high expression level of these indexes may have adverse effects for the prognosis of DLBCL patients.

Genome-wide survey, characterization, and expression analysis of bZIP transcription factors in Chenopodium quinoa.

BACKGROUND: Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (quinoa) is a pseudocereal crop of the Amaranthaceae family and represents a promising species with the nutritional content and high tolerance to stressful environments, such as soils affected by high salinity. The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor represents exclusively in eukaryotes and can be related to many biological processes. So far, the genomes of quinoa and 3 other Amaranthaceae crops (Spinacia oleracea, Beta vulgaris, and Amaranthus hypochondriacus) have been fully sequenced. However, information about the bZIPs in these Amaranthaceae species is limited, and genome-wide analysis of the bZIP family is lacking in quinoa. RESULTS: We identified 94 bZIPs in quinoa (named as CqbZIP1-CqbZIP94). All the CqbZIPs were phylogenetically splitted into 12 distinct subfamilies. The proportion of CqbZIPs was different in each subfamily, and members within the same subgroup shared conserved exon-intron structures and protein motifs. Besides, 32 duplicated CqbZIP gene pairs were investigated, and the duplicated CqbZIPs had mainly undergone purifying selection pressure, which suggested that the functions of the duplicated CqbZIPs might not diverge much. Moreover, we identified the bZIP members in 3 other Amaranthaceae species, and 41, 32, and 16 orthologous gene pairs were identified between quinoa and S. oleracea, B. vulgaris, and A. hypochondriacus, respectively. Among them, most were a single copy being present in S. oleracea, B. vulgaris, and A. hypochondriacus, and two copies being present in allotetraploid quinoa. The function divergence within the bZIP orthologous genes might be limited. Additionally, 11 selected CqbZIPs had specific spatial expression patterns, and 6 of 11 CqbZIPs were up-regulated in response to salt stress. Among the selected CqbZIPs, 3 of 4 duplicated gene pairs shared similar expression patterns, suggesting that these duplicated genes might retain some essential functions during subsequent evolution. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provided the first systematic analysis for the phylogenetic classification, motif and gene structure, expansion pattern, and expression profile of the bZIP family in quinoa. Our results would lay an important foundation for functional and evolutionary analysis of CqbZIPs, and provide promising candidate genes for further investigation in tissue specificity and their functional involvement in quinoa's resistance to salt stress.

Changes in the gene expression profile of Arabidopsis thaliana under chromium stress.

Based on previous studies and preliminary test results, 200 µM was used as the test concentration of chromium (Cr), and changes in the gene expression profile of Arabidopsis thaliana in response to 24-h treatments of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were analyzed using the Arabidopsis ATH1 Genome Array. The results were as follows. There were 238 upregulated genes and 858 downregulated genes in response to treatments with Cr(III) and Cr(VI). For Cr(III) and Cr(VI) treatments, there were 185 and 587 specifically upregulated genes as well as 220 and 956 specifically downregulated genes, respectively. Among the common differentially expressed genes (DEGs), the expression levels of genes involved in redox, secondary metabolism, and energy metabolism processes were significantly downregulated, while those of genes related to the stress response, photosynthesis, and sulfur metabolism were significantly upregulated. These findings indicated that Cr seriously affected the normal activities of A. thaliana cells. Some genes associated with stress and regulation were upregulated to adapt to the stress caused by Cr. Among the unique DEGs, the expression levels of genes involved in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) regulatory pathway were significantly increased in response to Cr(III) treatment; the expression levels of genes involved in the abscisic acid (ABA) regulation pathway and carotenoid synthesis were significantly increased following Cr(VI) treatment. These results revealed some differences in response to Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in A. thaliana.

Evaluation for Perioperative Blood Transfusion during Major Abdominal Procedures in a Pediatric Population: A Retrospective Observation Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine modifiable factors and their impact on perioperative blood transfusion for pediatric patients with major abdominal procedures. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 1,506 patients who underwent major abdominal surgical procedures in a tertiary medical center from January 2008 to June 2018. Clinical data about blood administration including triggers and targets for intra- or postoperative transfusion were collected and analyzed. The inappropriate transfusion (transfusion > 8.0 g/dL of hemoglobin [Hb] trigger) and overtrans-fusion criteria (target transfusion > 10.0 g/dL or > 2 g/dL of target minus trigger level) were applied to examine the intraoperative factors with the intraoperative transfusion practice. Perioperative morbidity was further assessed based on the inappropriate transfusion and overtransfusion status. RESULTS: Intraoperative transfusion was used in 468 (31.1%) of the 1,506 patients included in the study. Among them, 212 (45.3%) intraoperative transfusion episodes were classified as inappropriate, and 135 cases (28.8%) were confirmed as overtransfusion. On univariate analysis, inappropriate transfusions were observed more commonly among patients with younger age (p < 0.001) and who underwent hepatic resection (p < 0.001) or intestinal resection (p < 0.001). Overtransfusion was also associated with elevated trigger of 8.0 g/dL Hb (p = 0.006) and younger age (p = 0.003). No perioperative complications were associated with inappropriate transfusions and overtransfusion under multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Overtransfusion was common in hepatic resection and younger age, but to definitely prove this hypothesis, a prospective randomized trial needs to be performed.

Prediction of perioperative outcome after hepatic resection for pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic resection is associated with significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Optimising the surgical techniques and perioperative management may improve in operative morbidity and mortality. However, perioperative variables involved in the improvement for postoperative outcomes in pediatric hepatectomy have not been defined. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 156 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent hepatectomy at our center (an academic tertiary care hospital) between 2006 and 2016. Baseline demographic variables, intraoperative variables, complications, and hospital stay were explored. The patients were further investigated using univariate and multivariate analysis for the factors involved in the postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Of the conditions requiring resections, malignant and benign liver diseases accounted for 47.4% (74/156) and 52.6% (82/156), respectively. The overall hospital mortality was 1.9% (3/156) and the overall postoperative complication rate was 44.2% (69/156). Anatomical resections were performed in 128 patients (82.1%), including 14(9.0%) extended hepatectomies. Eighty percent of patients had three or more segments resected. The median operative time was 167.7 (65-600) minutes and median estimated blood loss was 320.1(10-1600) mL. On multivariate analysis, the estimated blood loss (EBL) (mL) (OR, 2.19; 95CI, 1.18-3.13; p = 0.016), extent of hepatectomy (OR, 1.81; 95CI, 1.06-2.69; p = 0.001) and pringle maneuver (OR, 1.38; 95CI, 1.02-1.88; p = 0.038) were the independent predictors of postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Extent of hepatectomy and estimated blood loss are largely responsible for the perioperative complications. With the surgical devices and management amelioration, like pringle maneuver, the treatment planning may be optimize in pediatric liver resection.

Sedation effects of intranasal dexmedetomidine combined with ketamine and risk factors for sedation failure in young children during transthoracic echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Sedation is often required for young children during transthoracic echocardiography. Dexmedetomidine and ketamine are two sedatives that are commonly used in children for procedural sedation, but they have some disadvantages when they are used alone. AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the effects and safety of intranasal sedation with a combination of dexmedetomidine and ketamine during transthoracic echocardiography in young children and to analyze risk factors for sedation failure. METHODS: After IRB approval, we retrospectively evaluated data on patients who underwent echocardiography between May 2016 and August 2017 utilizing a combination of dexmedetomidine 2 µg/kg and ketamine 1 mg/kg. We collected information including heart rate, pulse oxygen saturation, sedation onset time, exam time, recovery time, and adverse reactions. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the risk factors for sedation failure. RESULTS: Sedation was successful in 2212 patients (96%) and took effect in 15.7 (IQR: 10-23) min, while sedation failed in 92 patients. Cyanotic heart disease, history of sedation failure, history of congenital heart disease surgery, and fever were independent risk factors for sedation failure. Most of the patients in this study had an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade of II to III, but no severe adverse reactions were observed. CONCLUSION: Intranasal sedation with a combination of dexmedetomidine and ketamine is effective and appears to have an acceptable safety profile for young children during transthoracic echocardiography.

Ultrasound-guided lower forearm median nerve block in open surgery for trigger thumb in 1- to 3-year-old children: A randomized trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Trigger thumb is a common hand disability in children and is primarily treated with open surgery. A conscious median nerve block can usually meet the requirements for trigger thumb-releasing surgery in adults; however, its effectiveness in children requires further clarification. The present study aims to demonstrate whether ultrasound-guided lower forearm median nerve blockade is a viable option for children undergoing open surgery for trigger thumb. METHODS: A prospective randomized study was designed to compare median nerve blocks guided by ultrasonography with those guided by anatomic landmarks. Following induction of general anesthesia, the children received a median nerve block performed either by ultrasound-guided block of the lower forearm (group U) or landmark-based blocking at the proximal wrist crease level (group T) with a 0.2% ropivacaine injection. The success rates were compared between groups as the primary endpoint; additional sufentanil and propofol administration, anesthesia recovery time, and other secondary endpoints were also compared. RESULTS: A total of 100 children (age 1-3 years) with ASA status I who were scheduled for open surgery for trigger thumb were included in this study (n = 50 per group). Thirty-seven children in group T and 50 children in group U underwent successful blocks. The rate of unsuccessful blockade was significantly lower in group U than group T (0% and 26%, respectively), and rate of additional sufentanil and propofol administration was also lower in group U than in group T. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided lower forearm median nerve block can provide more effective analgesia, a higher success rate, and lower general and local anesthetic dosages than the anatomic landmark-based blocking method in children undergoing open surgery for trigger thumb.

Phase-Shifted Eccentric Core Fiber Bragg Grating Fabricated by Electric Arc Discharge for Directional Bending Measurement.

A phase-shifted eccentric core fiber Bragg grating (PS-ECFBG) fabricated by electric arc discharge (EAD) is presented and demonstrated. It is composed of a fraction of eccentric core fiber fusion spliced in between two pieces of commercial single mode fibers, where a PS-FBG was written. The EAD in this work could flexibly change the amount of phase-shift by changing the discharge number or discharge duration. Because of the offset location of the eccentric core and the ultra-narrow resonant peak of the PS-ECFBG, it has a higher accuracy for measuring the directional bend. The elongation and compression of the eccentric core keep the magnitude of phase shift still unchanged during the bending process. The bending sensitivities of the PS-ECFBG at two opposite most sensitive directions are 57.4 pm/m-1 and -51.5 pm/m-1, respectively. Besides, the PS-ECFBG has the potential to be a tunable narrow bandpass filter, which has a wider bi-directional adjustable range because of the bending responses. The strain and temperature sensitivities of the PS-ECFBG are experimentally measured as well, which are 0.70 pm/µÎµ and 8.85 pm/°C, respectively.

Early ketamine exposure results in cardiac enlargement and heart dysfunction in Xenopus embryos.

BACKGROUND: Ketamine is a commonly used clinical anesthetic and a popular recreational drug. However, with the exception of studies about the nervous system, studies about the effect of early ketamine exposure on embryos are rare. Xenopus laevis is a commonly used vertebrate model for assessing teratogenicity. Therefore, we treated Xenopus embryos with ketamine to evaluate its teratogenicity on embryos. METHODS: Xenopus embryos were treated with ketamine from stages 8 to 21. Embryonic and cardiac morphology were analyzed using living embryo imaging and whole-mount RNA in situ hybridization (WMISH). Heart function was measured by heart rate and ventricular shortening fraction (VSF). The mRNA expression levels of several heart development-related genes were determined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The protein expression levels of XMLC2, phospho-histone H3 (pH3) and histone H3 were determined by western blot. RESULTS: Ketamine caused concentration-dependent increases in mortality and shortening of body length. At a dose of 0.5 mg/ml, ketamine exposure resulted in cardiac enlargement as the primary manifestation of several malformations: gut defects, a curved axis and shortened body length. Cardiac cells underwent increased proliferation. Moreover, the heart rate and ventricular shortening fraction were decreased, findings indicative of heart dysfunction. XMLC2 expression levels were down-regulated at stages 28, 32/33, 35/36 and 46. CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine exposure during early development has teratogenic effects on Xenopus embryos. The heart enlargement and decreased VSF may result from the down-regulation of XMLC2 mRNA and protein levels. These findings provide new insight into the potential fetal defects induced by ketamine exposure during early pregnancy.

Polarization dependency of the metal-coated eccentric fiber.

The transmission losses and lengths of two polarized fundamental modes for a metal-coated eccentric core optical fiber (ECOF) are considered based on the finite-element method. Three typical thin metal films (Au, Ag, and Cu) are used and deposited on the walls of the cladding of ECOF. The variations of the transmission losses and lengths are investigated with different eccentricity, core radii, and metal film species. The numerical results indicate that the optical spectrum of a metal-coated ECOF can be tuned easily by changing the structure parameters of the fiber. The fundamental mode of metal-coated ECOF shows good polarization dependency. It is forecasted that the attenuation difference between the two polarization modes may be used to design an in-fiber polarizer.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for triclocarban in aquatic environments.

A sensitive, competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of triclocarban (TCC) in waters and sediments. Haptens were synthesized by derivatizing the paraposition of a phenyl moiety of TCC. The synthesized hapten was then coupled to bovine thyroglobulin to be used as an immunogen, based on which, a high affinity monoclonal antibody 4D5 was produced with the hybridoma technique. Under the optimized conditions, using the monoclonal antibody, excellent performances of the assay were obtained: satisfactory sensitivity (IC50 (50% inhibition concentration) value, 0.43 ng/mL; limit of detection, 0.05 ng/mL); good linear range (0.05-10 ng/mL); and satisfactory accuracy (recoveries 70.7-107% in waters; 74.8-98.3% in sediments). Furthermore, TCC was found with the concentration ranging from not detected to 422.12 ng/L in waters and from 6.68 ng/g to 78.67 ng/g in sediments in Yunliang River, Ancient Canal and Hongqiao Port in Zhenjiang City. In conclusion ELISA could be applied for monitoring TCC in aquatic environments.

Evanescent field characteristics of eccentric core optical fiber for distributed sensing.

Fundamental core-mode cutoff and evanescent field are considered for an eccentric core optical fiber (ECOF). A method has been proposed to calculate the core-mode cutoff by solving the eigenvalue equations of an ECOF. Using conformal mapping, the asymmetric geometrical structure can be transformed into a simple, easily solved axisymmetric optical fiber with three layers. The variation of the fundamental core-mode cut-off frequency (V(c)) is also calculated with different eccentric distances, wavelengths, core radii, and coating refractive indices. The fractional power of evanescent fields for ECOF is also calculated with the eccentric distances and coating refractive indices. These calculations are necessary to design the structural parameters of an ECOF for long-distance, single-mode distributed evanescent field absorption sensors.

Monitoring of pesticide residues levels in fresh vegetable form Heibei Province, North China.

In this study, 226 samples of seven types of domestic vegetables collected from several vegetable-growing regions in Hebei Province of China were tested for the presence of 38 different agricultural pesticides using a gas chromatograph equipped with electron capture and nitrogen phosphorus detectors. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of pesticides in main vegetables from Hebei Province. Results showed that, in 65.93% of the samples, no residues were found, 31.42% of the samples contained pesticide residues at or below the maximum residue levels (MRLs), and 2.65% of the samples contained pesticide residues above MRL. The most frequently detected pesticides were acephate (31), followed by cyhalothrin (15), bifenthrin (8), omethoate (6), isazophos (6), dimethoate (5), chlorpyrifos (2), and malathion (1). Some (1.33%) of the samples contained multiple residues. The results provide useful information on the current contamination status of a key agricultural area in North China, and points to the continuous monitoring and strict regulation of pesticide use on vegetables are necessary.