Exploring global symmetry-breaking superradiant phase via phase competition.

Superradiant phase transitions play a fundamental role in understanding the mechanism of collective light-matter interaction at the quantum level. Here we investigate multiple superradiant phases and phase transitions with different symmetry-breaking patterns in a two-mode V-type Dicke model. Interestingly, we show that there exists a quadruple point where one normal phase, one global symmetry-breaking superradiant phase, and two local symmetry-breaking superradiant phases meet. Such a global phase results from the phase competition between two local superradiant phases and cannot occur in the standard Λ- and Ξ-type three-level configurations in quantum optics. Moreover, we exhibit a sequential first-order quantum phase transition from one local to the global again to the other local superradiant phase. Our study opens up a perspective of exploring multilevel quantum critical phenomena with global symmetry breaking.

The Association of Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, and Daily Carbohydrates Intake with the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL) and daily carbohydrates intake have been associated with a variety of cancers, but their implications in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain controversial. The purpose of our study is to investigate the association of GI, GL and daily carbohydrates intake with the risk of HCC. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science until November 2020. According to the degree of heterogeneity, random effect model or fixed effect model was chosen to obtain the pooled relative risks (RRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Four cohort studies and three case-control studies were eventually included. The pooled results showed no significant association of GI (RR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.80-1.53), GL (RR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.76-1.55), and daily carbohydrates intake (RR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.84-1.32) with the risk of HCC in the general population. Subgroup analysis revealed that in hepatitis B virus (HBV) or/and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive group, GI was irrelevant to the risk of HCC (RR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.32-1.32), while a high GL diet was associated with a higher risk of HCC (RR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.04-2.23). In contrast, in HBV and HCV-negative group, both GI (RR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.88-1.70) and GL (RR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.83-1.64) were not associated with the risk of HCC. Conclusion: A high GL diet increases the risk of HCC in those with viral hepatitis. A low GL diet is recommended for them to reduce the risk of HCC.

Construction of cellulose-based highly sensitive extended-gate field effect chiral sensor.

Chiral recognition is an emerging field of modern chemical analysis, and the development of health-related fields depends on the production of enantiomers. Cellulose is a kind of natural polymer material with certain chiral recognition ability. Limited by the chiral recognition ability of natural cellulose itself, more cellulose derivatives have been gradually developed for chiral recognition and separation. Based on the difference in action between cellulose derivatives and enantiomers, this work synthesized cellulose-tris(4-methylphenylcarbamate) (CMPC) chiral recognition mediators and a CMPC-functionalized extended-gate organic field effect transistor (EG-OFET) was constructed for the first time. Three chiral molecules were selected as model analytes to evaluate the enantiomeric recognition ability of the platform, including threonine (Thr), 2-chloromandelic acid (CA), and 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (DPEA). The detection limit for 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (DPEA) is down to 10-13 M. Through the amplification effect of the EG-OFET platform, the difference in the interaction between CMPC and three chiral molecules with different structures is converted into a current signal output. At the same time, the enantiomer discrimination mechanism of CMPC was further studied by means of spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Prognostic value of soluble programmed cell death-1 (sPD-1) and soluble programmed cell death ligand-1 (sPD-L1) for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Preliminary studies have suggested that soluble programmed death-1 (sPD-1) and soluble programmed cell death ligand-1 (sPD-L1) have prognostic implications in many malignant tumors. However, the correlation between sPD-1/sPD-L1 level and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unclear. METHODS: We searched several electronic databases from database inception to October 7, 2021. Meta-analyses were performed separately for overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), time to progression (TTP), and tumor-free survival (TFS). Random effects were introduced to this meta-analysis. The correlation between sPD-1/sPD-L1 level and prognosis was evaluated using hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). RESULTS: A total of 11 studies (1291 patients) were incorporated into this meta-analysis, including seven on sPD-L1, two on sPD-1, and two about both factors. The pooled results showed that high sPD-L1 level was associated with worse OS (HR = 2.46, 95%CI 1.74-3.49, P < 0.001; I2 = 31.4, P = 0.177) and poorer DFS/RFS/TTP/TFS of patients with HCC (HR = 2.22, 95%CI 1.47-3.35, P < 0.001; I2 = 66.1, P = 0.011), irrespective of method of detection, study type, treatment, cut-off value and follow-up time. In contrast, the level of sPD-1 was not correlated to the OS (HR = 1.19, 95%CI 0.55-2.56, P = 0.657) and DFS/TFS of patients with HCC (HR = 0.94, 95%CI 0.36-2.49, P = 0.906). CONCLUSION: sPD-L1 rather than sPD-1 could be a good predictor for recurrence and survival after treatment for HCC. More high-quality prospective studies are warranted to assess the prognostic value of sPD-1 or sPD-L1 for HCC.

Construction of a CRISPR-Biolayer Interferometry Platform for Real-Time, Sensitive, and Specific DNA Detection.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology has been widely applied for nucleic acid detection because of its high specificity. By using the highly specific and irreversible bond between HaloTag and its alkane chlorine ligand, we modified dCas9 (deactivated CRISPR/Cas9) with biotin as a biosensor to detect nucleic acids. The CRISPR biosensor was facilely prepared to adequately maintain its DNA-recognition capability. Furthermore, by coupling biolayer interferometry (BLI) with the CRISPR biosensor, a real-time, sensitive, and rapid digital system called CRISPR-BLI was established for the detection of double-stranded DNA. The CRISPR biosensor immobilised on the biolayer could recruit the target DNA onto the biosensor surface and change its optical thickness, resulting in a shift in the interference pattern and responding signal of the BLI. The CRISPR-BLI system was further applied to detect the ALP gene of Escherichia coli DH5α combined with a polymerase chain reaction, which demonstrated a linear range from 20 to 20 000 pg and a low detection limit (1.34 pg). The CRISPR-BLI system is a promising approach for rapid and sensitive detection of target DNA analytes.

Strong single-photon optomechanical coupling in a hybrid quantum system.

Engineering strong single-photon optomechanical couplings is crucial for optomechanical systems. Here, we propose a hybrid quantum system consisting of a nanobeam (phonons) coupled to a spin ensemble and a cavity (photons) to overcome it. Utilizing the critical property of the lower-branch polariton (LBP) formed by the ensemble-phonon interaction, the LBP-cavity coupling can be greatly enhanced by three orders magnitude of the original one, while the upper-branch polariton (UBP)-cavity coupling is fully suppressed. Our proposal breaks through the condition of the coupling strength less than the critical value in previous schemes using two harmonic oscillators. Also, strong Kerr effect can be induced in our proposal. This shows our proposed approach can be used to study quantum nonlinear and nonclassical effects in weakly coupled optomechanical systems.

Effects of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and hypoxia-inducible factor-2α overexpression on hepatocellular carcinoma survival: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) has been implicated in the clinical prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the results remain controversial. We aim to investigate the association of HIF-1α and HIF-2α overexpression with the prognosis and clinicopathological features of HCC. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library until June 20, 2020. Meta-analysis was conducted to generate combined HRs with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CI were also derived by fixed or random effect model. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies involving 3238 patients were included. Combined data suggested that overexpression of HIF-1α in HCC was not only correlated with poorer OS [HR = 1.75 (95% CI: 1.53-2.00)] and DFS [HR = 1.64 (95% CI: 1.34-2.00)] but was also positively associated with vascular invasion [OR = 1.83 (95% CI: 1.36-2.48)], tumor size [OR = 1.36 (95% CI: 1.12-1.66)], and tumor number [1.74 (95% CI: 1.34-2.25)]. In contrast, HIF-2α overexpression was not associated with the prognosis and clinicopathological features of HCC. CONCLUSION: Our data provided compelling evidence of a worse prognosis of HCC in HIF-1α overexpression patients but not HIF-2α overexpression ones.

Modified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy versus conventional oxygen therapy in patients undergoing bronchoscopy: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxemia frequently occurs during bronchoscopy. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy may be a feasible alternative to prevent the deterioration of gas exchange during bronchoscopy. With the convenience of clinical use in mind, we modified an HFNC using a single cannula. This clinical trial was designed to test the hypothesis that a modified HFNC would decrease the proportion of patients with a single moment of peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) < 90% during bronchoscopy. METHODS: In this single-center, prospective randomized controlled trial, hospitalized patients in the respiratory department in need of diagnostic bronchoscopy were randomly assigned to a modified HFNC oxygen therapy group or a conventional oxygen therapy (COT) group. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a single moment of SpO2 < 90% during bronchoscopy. RESULTS: Eight hundred and twelve patients were randomized to the modified HFNC (n = 406) or COT (n = 406) group. Twenty-four patients were unable to cooperate or comply with bronchoscopy. Thus, 788 patients were included in the analysis. The proportion of patients with a single moment of SpO2 < 90% during bronchoscopy in the modified HFNC group was significantly lower than that in the COT group (12.5% vs. 28.8%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the fraction of inspired oxygen between the two groups. The lowest SpO2 during bronchoscopy and 5 min after bronchoscopy in the modified HFNC group was significantly higher than that in the COT group. Multivariate analysis showed that a baseline forced vital capacity (FVC) < 2.7 L (OR, 0.276; 95% CI, 0.083-0.919, p = 0.036) and a volume of fluid instilled > 60 ml (OR, 1.034; 95% CI, 1.002-1.067, p = 0.036) were independent risk factors for hypoxemia during bronchoscopy in the modified HFNC group. CONCLUSIONS: A modified HFNC could decrease the proportion of patients with a single moment of SpO2 < 90% during bronchoscopy. A lower baseline FVC and large-volume bronchoalveolar lavage may predict desaturation during bronchoscopy when using a modified HFNC. Trial registration ClinicalTrials. Gov: NCT02606188. Registered 17 November 2015.

Deficiency of mitochondrial outer membrane protein 64 confers rice resistance to both piercing-sucking and chewing insects in rice.

The brown planthopper (BPH) and striped stem borer (SSB) are the most devastating insect pests in rice (Oryza sativa) producing areas. Screening for endogenous resistant genes is the most practical strategy for rice insect-resistance breeding. Forty-five mutants showing high resistance against BPH were identified in a rice T-DNA insertion population (11,000 putative homozygous lines) after 4 years of large-scale field BPH-resistance phenotype screening. Detailed analysis showed that deficiency of rice mitochondrial outer membrane protein 64 (OM64) gene resulted in increased resistance to BPH. Mitochondrial outer membrane protein 64 protein is located in the outer mitochondrial membrane by subcellular localization and its deficiency constitutively activated hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) signaling, which stimulated antibiosis and tolerance to BPH. The om64 mutant also showed enhanced resistance to SSB, a chewing insect, which was due to promotion of Jasmonic acid biosynthesis and related responses. Importantly, om64 plants presented no significant changes in rice yield-related characters. This study confirmed OM64 as a negative regulator of rice herbivore resistance through regulating H2 O2 production. Mitochondrial outer membrane protein 64 is a potentially efficient candidate to improve BPH and SSB resistance through gene deletion. Why the om64 mutant was resistant to both piercing-sucking and chewing insects via a gene deficiency in mitochondria is discussed.

A nuclease specific to lepidopteran insects suppresses RNAi.

More than 70% of all agricultural pests are insects in the order Lepidoptera, which, unlike other related insect orders, are not very sensitive to RNAi, limiting genetic studies of this insect group. However, the reason for this distinct lepidopteran characteristic is unknown. Previously, using transcriptome analysis of the Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis, we identified a gene, termed up56, that is up-regulated in response to dsRNA. Here we report that this Lepidoptera-specific gene encodes a nuclease that contributes to RNAi insensitivity in this insect order. Its identity was experimentally validated, and sequence analysis indicated that up56 encodes a previously uncharacterized protein with homologous sequences in seven other lepidopteran species. Its computationally predicted three-dimensional structure revealed a high structural similarity to human exonuclease I. Exposure to dsRNA in O. furnacalis strongly up-regulated this gene's expression, and the protein could digest single-stranded RNA (ssRNA), dsRNA, and dsDNA both in vitro and in vivo Of note, we found that this up-regulation of up56 expression is faster than that of the gene encoding the key RNAi-associated nuclease Dicer. up56 knockdown in O. furnacalis significantly enhanced RNAi efficiency. Moreover, up56 overexpression in Drosophila melanogaster suppressed RNAi efficiency. Finally, up56 knockdown significantly increased the amount and diversity of small RNAs. Therefore, we renamed this protein RNAi efficiency-related nuclease (REase). In conclusion, we propose that REase may explain why lepidopterans are refractory to RNAi and that it represents a target for further research of RNAi efficiency in this insect order.

High-efficiency four-wave mixing beyond pure electromagnetically induced transparency treatment.

We present a theoretical study of high-efficiency four-wave mixing (FWM) sum-frequency generation beyond a pure electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) technique in a five-level atomic system. In our FWM scheme, with the assistance of two Λ-type subsystems utilized to create EIT and Autler-Townes splitting (ATS), a synergetic mechanism of EIT and ATS, or a dual-ATS mechanism is induced. These novel mechanisms can have a significant impact on the FWM process in the optically thick medium, and the FWM efficiency can be several orders of magnitude larger than that obtained from the pure EIT method. This Letter opens up a new perspective for exploring enhanced quantum nonlinear optical phenomena.

Dressed-state realization of the transition from electromagnetically induced transparency to Autler-Townes splitting in superconducting circuits.

We investigate electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler-Townes splitting (ATS) in a driven three-level superconducting artificial system which is a dressed-state system resulting from the coupling of a superconducting charge qubit (an artificial atom) and a transmission line resonator. In the frame of the dressed-state approach and steady-state approximation, we study the linear absorption of the dressed artificial system to a weak probe signal in depth. In light of the spectrum-decomposition method and some other restrictions, we obtain the explicit conditions for the dressed-state realization of EIT and ATS and present a corresponding "phase diagram". In contrast to usual bare systems, these conditions given in the dressed system have an extra dependency on the qubit-resonator parameters. And by varying the qubit's Josephson coupling energy we demonstrate a transition from EIT to ATS.

Coexistence of three-wave, four-wave, and five-wave mixing processes in a superconducting artificial atom.

We present a theoretical study of multiwave mixing in a driven superconducting quantum qubit (artificial atom) with a cyclic Ξ-type three-level structure. We first show that three-wave mixing (3WM), four-wave mixing (4WM), and five-wave mixing (5WM) processes can coexist in the microwave regime in such an artificial system due to the absence of selection rules. Because of electromagnetically induced transparency suppression of linear absorption in a standard Ξ-type configuration, the generated 4WM is enhanced greatly and its efficiency can be as high as 0.1% for only a single artificial atom. We also show that Autler-Townes splitting occurs in the 3WM and 5WM spectra and quantum interference has a significant impact on the total signal intensity being a coherent superposition of these two signals.

Comparison of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition and the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment for diagnosing malnutrition in patients undergoing surgery for hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancies.

Introduction: Objective: to analyse the differences in malnutrition assessment between the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria and the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) among patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancies. Method: this study was a cross-sectional study and included 126 hospitalised patients who underwent surgery for hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancies between November 1, 2019 and August 1, 2020. The patients' clinical data were collected, and malnutrition assessments were completed using the different nutritional assessment tools. The consistency of both tools was analysed using Cohen's kappa coefficient. Results: the prevalence of malnutrition showed a difference in diagnosis results between the GLIM criteria (36.51 %) and the PG-SGA (55.56 %). The two methods had moderate consistency (kappa = 0.590, p < 0.01). The sensitivity of a malnutrition diagnosis using a combination of GLIM and PG-SGA was 65.7 % (53.3 % and 76.4 %, respectively), and specificity was 100 % (92 % and 100 %, respectively). When malnutrition was evaluated using only PG-SGA, sensitivity was 88.9 % (95 % confidence interval (CI) 63.9 % to 98.1 %), whereas when only the GLIM score was used for malnutrition evaluation, sensitivity was 98.2 % (95 % CI, 92.8 % to 99.7 %). In addition, the PG-SGA score and the GLIM score had significant correlations. Conclusion: GLIM performed better than PG-SGA in the correlation analysis of nutritional indicators. GLIM is more suitable for patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancies than PG-SGA.

Introducción: Objetivo: analizar las diferencias en la evaluación de la desnutrición en pacientes con tumores malignos hepatobiliares y pancreáticos entre los criterios de la Iniciativa Global de Liderazgo en Desnutrición (Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition, GLIM) y la Evaluación Global Subjetiva Generada por el Paciente (PG-SGA). Métodos: el estudio fue un estudio transversal que incluyó a 126 pacientes hospitalizados que fueron operados de tumores malignos hepatobiliares y pancreáticos entre el 1 de noviembre de 2019 y el 1 de agosto de 2020. Recopilar datos clínicos de pacientes y completar la evaluación de la desnutrición con diferentes herramientas de evaluación nutricional. La consistencia de las dos herramientas se analizó utilizando el coeficiente Kappa de Cohen. Resultados: los criterios GLIM (36,51 %) y PG-SGA (55,56 %) presentan diferencias en los resultados diagnósticos de desnutrición. Ambos métodos tienen una consistencia moderada (kappa = 0590, p < 0,01). La sensibilidad de GLIM y PG-SGA para el diagnóstico conjunto de desnutrición es del 65,7 % (53,3 % y 76,4 %, respectivamente). La especificidad fue del 100 % (92 % y 100 %, respectivamente). Cuando solo se utilizó la PG-SGA para evaluar la desnutrición, la sensibilidad fue del 88,9 % (intervalo de confianza del 95 % (IC) 63,9 % a 98,1 %), mientras que cuando solo se utilizó la GLIM para evaluar la desnutrición, la sensibilidad fue del 98,2 % (IC del 95 %: 92,8 % a 99,7 %. Además, la puntuación PG-SGA tuvo una correlación significativa con la puntuación GLIM. Conclusión: en el análisis de correlación de los indicadores nutricionales, GLIM es mejor que PG-SGA. GLIM es más adecuado para pacientes con tumores malignos hepatobiliares y pancreáticos que PG-SGA.

Long-term outcomes of survivors with influenza A H1N1 virus-induced severe pneumonia and ARDS: a single-center prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Systematic evaluation of long-term outcomes in survivors of H1N1 is still lacking. This study aimed to characterize long-term outcomes of severe H1N1-induced pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Method: This was a single-center, prospective, cohort study. Survivors were followed up for four times after discharge from intensive care unit (ICU) by lung high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function assessment, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and SF-36 instrument. Result: A total of 60 survivors of H1N1-induced pneumonia and ARDS were followed up for four times. The carbon monoxide at single breath (DLCO) of predicted values and the 6MWT results didn't continue improving after 3 months. Health-related quality of life didn't change during the 12 months after ICU discharge. Reticulation or interlobular septal thickening on HRCT did not begin to improve significantly until the 12-month follow-up. The DLCO of predicted values showed negative correlation with the severity degree of primary disease and reticulation or interlobular septal thickening, and a positive correlation with physical functioning. The DLCO of predicted values and reticulation or interlobular septal thickening both correlated with the highest tidal volume during mechanical ventilation. Levels of fibrogenic cytokines had a positive correlation with reticulation or interlobular septal thickening. Conclusion: The improvements in pulmonary function and exercise capacity, imaging, and health-related quality of life had different time phase and impact on each other during 12 months of follow-up. Long-term outcomes of pulmonary fibrosis might be related to the lung injury and excessive lung fibroproliferation at the early stage during ICU admission.

Sensitive room-temperature phosphorescence for luminometric and visual monitoring of the dynamic evolution of acrylate-vinylidene chloride copolymers.

Unlike fluorescence, room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) has never been utilized to monitor the dynamic variation of polymer. In the present study, acrylate-vinylidene chloride (VDC) copolymers were doped with a good RTP molecule, N-hydroxyethyl 4-bromo-1,8-naphthalimide (HBN). During the maturation process, marked RTP-intensity enhancement of HBN was observed due to the crystallinity increase of copolymers, verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). For ensuring the more efficient RTP emission of HBN, copolymers with a higher content of crystallizable VDC segments and a more polar acrylate comonomer, i.e. methyl acrylate (MA) were preferred. According to the RTP characterizations, the following deductions could be obtained: (1) Maturation for 8-9 days at room temperature was needed for the copolymers with a high VDC content to ensure the complete crystallization; (2) Raising the maturation temperature to 50 and 70 °C not only accelerated the crystallization rate, but also increased the crystallinity of copolymers; (3) RTP method was more sensitive to the slight crystallinity variation than XRD and FTIR. Moreover, the dynamic maturation processes of acrylate-VDC copolymers could be also visually monitored through contacting with certain organic solvents that led to the emission color transition from orange to blue.

[Retrospective analysis of relationship between radiological features and prognoses of pneumocystis pneumonia in non-AIDS immunocompromised patients].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the relationship between the radiological features and prognoses of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (non-AIDS) immunocompromised patients. METHODS: Retrospective analyses were performed for the radiological features and prognoses of 36 non-AIDS immunocompromised PCP patients hospitalized at Peking University First Hospital from April 2006 to April 2010. There were 24 males and 12 females with an average age of (51.7 ± 18.9) years. RESULTS: All patients underwent chest photographic examinations and chest computed tomography (CT) was performed on 29 of them. The overall case fatality rate (CFR) of 36 patients was 33.3% (12/36). At the start of anti-PCP treatment, there were normal chest radiography (n = 7), bilateral diffuse infiltration (n = 21), bilateral diffuse consolidation (n = 8), aerothorax, mediastinal emphysema or pneumohypoderma (n = 6) and numbers of deceased patients (n = 0, 8, 5 and 5 respectively). The CFRs of the patients with normal chest radiography and aerothorax, mediastinal emphysema or pneumohypoderma were both statistically significant as compared with the overall rate (P < 0.05). At the start of anti-PCP treatment, there were bilateral diffuse ground glass opacities (GGO) (n = 29), "mosaic sign" (n = 19), air bronchogram (n = 19), pulmonary consolidation (n = 17), bilateral pleural effusion (n = 7), thickened lobular septa (n = 6), cystic lesions (n = 5), aerothorax, mediastinal emphysema or pneumohypoderma (n = 4) and numbers of deceased patients (n = 8, 5, 5, 5, 2, 2, 2 and 4 respectively). The CFRs of the patients with aerothorax, mediastinal emphysema or pneumohypoderma were statistically significant as compared with the overall rate (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The major radiological features of PCP in non-AIDS immunocompromised patients are bilateral diffuse infiltration. And bilateral diffuse GGO on chest CT scans are usually accompanied with "mosaic" sign, air bronchogram or pulmonary consolidation. The prognoses are excellent for the patients with normal chest radiograph and poor for those with aerothorax, mediastinal emphysema or pneumohypoderma.

Efficiently unsterile polyhydroxyalkanoate production from lignocellulose by using alkali-halophilic Halomonas alkalicola M2.

The alkali-halophilic Halomonas alkalicola M2 was isolated and developed for an open unsterile polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) fermentation from lignocellulose at pH 10.0 and NaCl 70 g/L. The alkaline pretreatment liquid (APL) was converted into PHA by the strain, which was significantly affected by the cultural conditions, including pH, NaCl concentration, nitrogen source, and APL concentration. The extracted PHA was composed of three monomers and similar in physicochemical properties to conventional short chain-length PHA. A record yield of 2.1 and 5.9 g of PHA was accumulated from 100 g dry bamboo powder (BP) by using APL and APL combined with hydrolysate during a 48-h open unsterile fermentation process, respectively. In summary, the alkali-halophilic H. alkalicola M2 achieved the open unsterile fermentation for lignocellulose efficient bioconversion into PHA under high alkalinity and salinity conditions and would be an ideal producer in the field.

The role of surface functional groups of pectin and pectin-based materials on the adsorption of heavy metal ions and dyes.

Natural macromolecules have been used to adsorb pollutants including heavy metal ions and organic dyes due to low-cost, accessible, biodegradable, and eco-friendly advantages. Pectin, an important natural polymer, possesses abundant carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups that can interact with the metal and organic cations via electrostatic interaction; as well as be modified by other chemicals for preparing hybrid and composite materials. The resultant materials have been employed to remove pollutants from aqueous solution; the importance of chemical composition was unlocked. Here, we reviewed contaminant removal by pectin, and pectin-based hybrid and composite materials, and highlighted the role of functional groups on pollutant removal. The removal of heavy metal ions was mainly due to surface coordination, while that of organic cations to electrostatic interactions of the functional groups. Moreover, the influence of initial contaminant concentration was critically discussed. The comprehensive review can provide valuable information on pectin and its application in contaminant removal.

The Effects of Combining Two Postures and Two Ventilator Flow Waveforms on the Cuff Leak Test.

BACKGROUND: The cuff leak test (CLT) has been shown to have excellent specificity and moderate sensitivity for predicting postextubation stridor (PES). However, the ventilator flow waveform and the subject position are not uniform in current clinical practice. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study in the respiratory ICU of the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University. Prior to extubation, 4 CLTs, combining 2 different postures and ventilator flow waveforms, were conducted, and the diagnostic performance of each test was assessed. RESULTS: Of the 143 included subjects, PES occurred in 13 (9.1%), and 10 (7%) subjects required re-intubation. Initially, an air leak volume of 110 mL was used as the standard to judge performance. The test that involved the square waveform and the subject in semi-recumbent position (test 4) had the best diagnostic performance, with a specificity of 80% and a sensitivity of 67% for predicting PES. After analyzing the receiver operating characteristic curve, an optimal diagnostic threshold of 116 mL for air leak volume was found to result in a specificity of 92% and a sensitivity of 63% for test 4. Additionally, when the air leak ratio of test 4 was 0.32, the area under the curve was 0.76, the specificity was 92%, and the sensitivity was 62%. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, performing the CLT with the subject in semi-recumbent position using the square waveform appeared to allow for the best prediction of PES.