Flexible Resistive Gas Sensor Based on Molybdenum Disulfide-Modified Polypyrrole for Trace NO2 Detection.

High sensitivity and selectivity and short response and recovery times are important for practical conductive polymer gas sensors. However, poor stability, poor selectivity, and long response times significantly limit the applicability of single-phase conducting polymers, such as polypyrrole (PPy). In this study, PPy/MoS2 composite films were prepared via chemical polymerization and mechanical blending, and flexible thin-film resistive NO2 sensors consisting of copper heating, fluorene polyester insulating, and PPy/MoS2 sensing layers with a silver fork finger electrode were fabricated on a flexible polyimide substrate using a flexible electronic printer. The PPy/MoS2 composite films were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. A home-built gas sensing test platform was built to determine the resistance changes in the composite thin-film sensor with temperature and gas concentration. The PPy/MoS2 sensor exhibited better sensitivity, selectivity, and stability than a pure PPy sensor. Its response to 50 ppm NO2 was 38% at 150 °C, i.e., 26% higher than that of the pure PPy sensor, and its selectivity and stability were also higher. The greater sensitivity was attributed to p-n heterojunction formation after MoS2 doping and more gas adsorption sites. Thus, PPy/MoS2 composite film sensors have good application prospects.

Duration of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis and surgical site infection in orthopaedic surgery: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal duration for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) for preventing surgical site infection (SSI) in orthopaedic surgeries remains poorly supported by high-level evidence. This study aimed to assess the association between SAP duration and the occurrence of SSI within one year postoperatively. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was based on the database from Surgical Site Infection Surveillance and Improvement Project (SISIP) of a tertiary orthopaedic university hospital from October 2014 to December 2020. The main outcome was SSI, defined according to the CDC/NHSN criteria, determined by review of index hospitalization medical records, microbiology laboratory reports, and readmission records for SSI treatment within one-year after discharge. Adjusted Generalized additive models (GAMs) were performed to assess the relationships between SAP duration and SSI, determined the cut-off point of SAP duration, and estimate the relative contribution of each included variable, across the overall cohort and the three subgroups (open fracture, closed fracture, and non-traumatic group). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between prolonging SAP duration based on the cut-off point and SSI. RESULTS: There were 37,046 patients (55.1% male) included, with the overall SSI incidence of 2.35% (871/37,046). In adjusted GAMs, no statistically significant relationships were observed in overall cohort and open or closed group (P>0.05), but a nonlinear relationship was exhibited non-traumatic group (P=0.03); the cut-off point were 2.4 days for overall cohort and 3.6 days (open), 2.6 days (closed), 1.1 days (non-trauma) for three subgroups. In adjusted logistic regression, prolonging SAP duration did not demonstrate a statistically significant protective effect in overall cohort (aOR=0.868; 95% CI, 0.746-1.011) and three groups (open: aOR=0.867; 95% CI, 0.668-1.124; closed: aOR=0.925; 95% CI, 0.754-1.135; non-trauma: aOR=1.184; 95% CI, 0.832-1.683). The relative contribution ranks of SAP duration were 21st overall among 34 factors, 14th for open fractures, 28th for closed fractures, and 3rd for non-traumatic group among 33 factors. CONCLUSION: Prolonged postoperative SAP duration has no protective effect against SSI in orthopaedic surgery. Our findings support current guidelines against the practice of continuing SAP postoperatively.

Clustering on heterogeneous IoT information network based on meta path.

As the Internet and Internet of Things (IoT) continue to develop, Heterogeneous Information Networks (HIN) have formed complex interaction relationships among data objects. These relationships are represented by various types of edges (meta-paths) that contain rich semantic information. In the context of IoT data applications, the widespread adoption of Trigger-Action Patterns makes the management and analysis of heterogeneous data particularly important. This study proposes a meta-path-based clustering method for heterogeneous IoT data called I-RankClus, which aims to improve the modeling and analysis efficiency of IoT data. By combining ranking with clustering algorithms, the PageRank algorithm was used to calculate the intraclass influence of objects in the network. The HITS algorithm then transfers the influence to the core objects, thereby optimizing the classification of objects during the clustering process. The I-RankClus algorithm does not process each meta-path individually, but instead integrates multiple meta-paths to enhance the interpretability and clustering performance of the model. The experimental results show that the I-RankClus algorithm can process complex IoT datasets more effectively than traditional clustering methods and provide more accurate clustering outcomes. Furthermore, through a detailed analysis of meta-paths, this study explored the influence and importance of different meta-paths, thereby validating the effectiveness of the algorithm. Overall, the research presented in this paper not only improves the application effects of HINs in IoT data analysis but also provides valuable methods and insights for future network data processing.

Design of a cofactor self-sufficient whole-cell biocatalyst for enzymatic asymmetric reduction via engineered metabolic pathways and multi-enzyme cascade.

NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductases are crucial biocatalysts for synthesizing chiral compounds. Yet, the industrial implementation of enzymatic redox reactions is often hampered by an insufficient supply of expensive nicotinamide cofactors. Here, a cofactor self-sufficient whole-cell biocatalyst was developed for the enzymatic asymmetric reduction of 2-oxo-4-[(hydroxy)(-methyl)phosphinyl] butyric acid (PPO) to L-phosphinothricin (L-PPT). The endogenous NADP+ pool was significantly enhanced by regulating Preiss-Handler pathway toward NAD(H) synthesis and, in the meantime, introducing NAD kinase to phosphorylate NAD(H) toward NADP+. The intracellular NADP(H) concentration displayed a 2.97-fold increase with the strategy compared with the wild-type strain. Furthermore, a recombinant multi-enzyme cascade biocatalytic system was constructed based on the Escherichia coli chassis. In order to balance multi-enzyme co-expression levels, the strategy of modulating rate-limiting enzyme PmGluDH by RBS strengths regulation successfully increased the catalytic efficiency of PPO conversion. Finally, the cofactor self-sufficient whole-cell biocatalyst effectively converted 300 mM PPO to L-PPT in 2 h without the need to add exogenous cofactors, resulting in a 2.3-fold increase in PPO conversion (%) from 43% to 100%, with a high space-time yield of 706.2 g L-1 d-1 and 99.9% ee. Overall, this work demonstrates a technological example for constructing a cofactor self-sufficient system for NADPH-dependent redox biocatalysis.

A new technique of autologous bone grafting for open-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

Purpose: This study aimed to demonstrate the application of orthotopic bone flap transplantation with a fibula transplantation (OBFT-FT) in open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OW-HTO) and to assess the effect of OBFT-FT on gap healing. Patients and methods: From January to July 2020, 18 patients who underwent OW-HTO with OBFT-FT were reviewed for this study. Demographics, postoperative complications, and radiological and clinical outcomes of patients were collected. Finally, the clinical outcomes of patients were analyzed. Results: A total of 14 patients were included in this study. The average age and body mass index were 59.6 ± 9.2 years and 28.1 ± 4.5 kg/m2, respectively. The average correction angle and gap width were 9.5 ± 1.8° and 10.2 ± 2.7 mm, respectively. The rates of radiological gap healing at sixth week, third month, and sixth month were 42.9%, 85.7%, and 100%, respectively. The mean Lysholm score, International Knee Documentation Committee score, and visual analog scale scores at sixth-month follow-up were significantly better than the preoperative scores (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). And, no delayed union or non-union, collapse, loss of correction, or surgical site infection were found. Conclusions: As a new technique for autologous bone graft, the OBFT-FT could be successfully applied in the treatment of gap healing after OW-HTO, and excellent radiological and clinical outcomes could be seen on patients' short-term follow-up.

Outcomes after ORIF are similar in young and elderly patients with tibial plateau fractures: A minimum 2-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of open reduction internal fixation in young and elderly patients with tibial plateau fractures. METHODS: A total of 224 patients with tibial plateau fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation at a level I trauma center from 2014 to 2019 were reviewed. The patients with a minimum follow-up of 2 years were divided into two groups, with those aged 60 years and older divided into the elderly group and those under 60 years divided into the young group. The mean follow-up time was 55 months (range: 24-80), and the primary outcomes were quality of reduction and function. The secondary outcomes included complications, fracture healing time, and conversion to total knee arthroplasty. RESULTS: The elderly group had a higher proportion of women than the young group (61.1% vs. 23.9%, p < 0.001). Diabetes was more prevalent in the elderly cohort than in the young cohort (18.9% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.030). The rate of bone grafts was higher in the elderly group (57.8% vs. 41.8%, p = 0.019), but no significant differences were found between the groups regarding fracture characteristics, the operative time or intraoperative blood loss. The reduction quality, knee function, postoperative complications, healing time, and total knee arthroplasty conversion rate were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Open reduction internal fixation remains a satisfactory technique to treat tibial plateau fractures in the elderly. Although the rate of bone grafts is higher in elderly patients, they had comparable outcomes compared with their younger counterparts.

[Highly efficient production of L-valine by multiplex metabolic engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum].

As a branched chain amino acid, L-valine is widely used in the medicine and feed sectors. In this study, a microbial cell factory for efficient production of L-valine was constructed by combining various metabolic engineering strategies. First, precursor supply for L-valine biosynthesis was enhanced by strengthening the glycolysis pathway and weakening the metabolic pathway of by-products. Subsequently, the key enzyme in the L-valine synthesis pathway, acetylhydroxylate synthase, was engineered by site-directed mutation to relieve the feedback inhibition of the engineered strain. Moreover, promoter engineering was used to optimize the gene expression level of key enzymes in L-valine biosynthetic pathway. Furthermore, cofactor engineering was adopted to change the cofactor preference of acetohydroxyacid isomeroreductase and branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase from NADPH to NADH. The engineered strain C. glutamicum K020 showed a significant increase in L-valine titer, yield and productivity in 5 L fed-batch bioreactor, up to 110 g/L, 0.51 g/g and 2.29 g/(L‧h), respectively.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Trends of Primary Hip Arthroplasty in Five Tertiary Hospitals: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: The number of primary hip arthroplasty (PHA) has increased sharply in recent years. Whether the epidemiological characteristics and trends of PHA have changed are unknown. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and trends of those patients are urgent for public health institutions. METHODS: The data of patients who underwent PHA in five tertiary hospitals from January 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 21,898 patients were included, most of whom were aged 60-69 years (25.1% males and 31.5% females). According to the hospitalization date, the patients were divided into two groups (Group A and Group B). The patients admitted between January 2011 and December 2015 were designated as Group A (7862), and those admitted between January 2016 and December 2020 were designated as Group B (14036). The patient data of the two groups, including sex, age, disease causes, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, surgical procedures, hospital stay duration, and hospitalization costs, were analyzed by Pearson chi-Square test, Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: More women were included in Group B than in Group A (58.5% vs 52.5%, P < 0.001). The mean age of Group B was less than that of Group A (62.27 ± 14.77 vs 60.69 ± 14.44 years, P < 0.001). Femoral head necrosis was the primary pathogenic factor in both groups, with a higher proportion in Group B than in Group A (55.5% vs 45.5%, P < 0.001). Significant differences were found between the two groups in BMI, comorbidities, surgical procedures, hospital stay duration, and hospitalization costs. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) was the most common surgical procedure in both groups, with a higher proportion in Group B than in Group A (89.8% vs 79.3%, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with one or more comorbidities was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (69.2% vs 59.9%, P < 0.001). In addition, Group B had a shorter hospital stay duration and higher hospitalization costs than Group A. CONCLUSION: Femoral head necrosis was the primary etiology for PHA in this study, followed by femoral neck fracture and hip osteoarthritis. Patients who underwent PHA exhibited a higher percentage of femoral head necrosis; underwent THA more often; and had larger BMIs, more comorbidities, higher medical costs, and younger age in the past decade.

CD39 Expression in Peripheral T Cells is Associated with Clinicopathological Characteristics in Patients with Cervical Cancer.

Background: CD39 is an inhibitory checkpoint exerting rate-limiting effects on the ATP-adenosine pathway. It can be targeted to block adenosine-mediated immunosuppression. Objective: To analyze the relationship between the CD39 expression and clinicopathological characteristics including FIGO stage, lymph node and distant metastasis, and to further explore its potential role in cervical cancer. Methods: Peripheral blood was collected from 59 healthy people and 43 patients with cervical cancer. The percentage and absolute counts of CD3-positive, CD4-positive and CD8-positive T lymphocytes, CD4/CD8 ratio and the percentage of the CD39+ T cells in T lymphocytes were assessed by flow cytometry, and their correlations with clinical parameters were analyzed. Results: Absolute numbers of CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD4/CD8 ratios, and the percentage of the CD39+ T cells were linked with FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. The total numbers of CD8+ T lymphocytes were significantly higher in the peripheral blood of patients with cervical cancer in the early and middle stages than in the advanced stage. In addition, patients with early and middle-stage cervical cancer had considerably lower percentage of CD4+ CD39 + and CD8 + CD39 + T lymphocytes than those with advanced cervical cancer. Conclusion: These results suggest that the absolute counts of CD8+ T lymphocytes may be associated with the patient's prognosis and that the CD39 molecule, expressed on the surface of CD8+ T cells, is also related to FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. CD39 expression on CD8-positive T cells exhibits a negative correlation with the number of CD8-positive T lymphocytes.

The impact of both-bone forearm fractures on acute compartment syndrome: An analysis of predisposing factors.

OBJECTIVES: Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a severe medical condition that, if left untreated, can cause permanent nerve and muscle damage, and may even require amputation. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with the development of ACS in patients with both-bone fractures of the forearm. METHODS: Between November 2013 and January 2021, a retrospective data collection was conducted on 611 individuals who experienced both-bone forearm fractures at a level 1 trauma center. Among these patients, 78 patients were diagnosed with ACS, while the remaining 533 patients did not have ACS. Based on this division, the patients were categorized into two groups: the ACS group and the non-ACS group. Demographics (including factors such as age, gender, body mass index, crush injury, etc.), comorbidities (including conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, anemia, etc.), and admission lab results (including complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, and coagulation profiles, etc.) were analyzed using univariate analysis, logistic regression, and ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: Predictors of ACS were identified through the final multivariable logistic regression analysis, which revealed that crush injury (p < 0.001, OR = 10.930), the levels of neutrophils (NEU) (p < 0.001, OR = 1.338) and the levels of creatine kinase (CK) (p < 0.001, OR = 1.001) were significant risk factors. Additionally, age (p = 0.045, OR = 0.978) and albumin (ALB) level (p < 0.001, OR = 0.798) were found to provide protective effects against ACS. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined cut-off values for NEU and CK to predict ACS: 7.01/L and 669.1 U/L respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified crush injury, NEU, and CK as significant risk factors for ACS in patients with both-bone forearm fractures. We also determined the cut-off values of NEU and CK, allowing for the individualized evaluation of ACS risk and the implementation of early targeted treatments.

Combination of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio with plasma D-dimer level to improve the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) following ankle fracture.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR)/platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) following ankle fracture and the diagnostic ability of combination model. METHOD: This retrospective study included patients with a diagnosis of ankle fracture who had undergone preoperative Duplex ultrasound (DUS) examination for detecting the possible deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The variables of interest, the calculated NLR and PLR and others (demographics, injury, lifestyles and comorbidities) were extracted from the medical records. Two independent multivariate logistics regression models were used to detect the relationship between NLR or PLR and DVT. If any, combination diagnostic model was constructed and its diagnostic ability was evaluated. RESULTS: There were 1103 patients included, and 92 (8.3%) were found to have preoperative DVT. The NLR and PLR, which had respective optimal cut-off point of 4 and 200, were significantly different between patients with and without DVT either in continuous or categorical variable. After adjustment for covariates, both NLR and PLR were identified as independent risk factors associated with DVT, with odd ratio of 2.16 and 2.84, respectively. The combination diagnostic model, including NLR, PLR and D-dimer, demonstrated to significantly improved the diagnostic performance than any one alone or combined (all P < 0.05), and the area under the curve was 0.729 (95% CI 0.701-0.755). CONCLUSION: We concluded the relatively low incidence rate of preoperative DVT after ankle fracture, and both NLR and PLR were independently associated with DVT. The combination diagnostic model can be considered as a useful auxiliary tool for identifying high-risk patients for DUS examination.

EZH2 regulates pancreatic cancer cells through E2F1, GLI1, CDK3, and Mcm4.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in digestive tract. To explore the role of epigenetic factor EZH2 in the malignant proliferation of PC, so as to provide effective medical help in PC. Sixty paraffin sections of PC were collected and the expression of EZH2 in PC tissues was detected by immunohistochemical assay. Three normal pancreas tissue samples were used as controls. The regulation of EZH2 gene on proliferation and migration of normal pancreatic cell and PC cell were determined by MTS, colony forming, Ki-67 antibody, scratch and Transwell assays. Through differential gene annotation and differential gene signaling pathway analysis, differentially expressed genes related to cell proliferation were selected and verified by RT-qPCR. EZH2 is mainly expressed in the nuclei of pancreatic tumor cells, but not in normal pancreatic cells. The results of cell function experiments showed that EZH2 overexpression could enhance the proliferation and migration ability of PC cell BXPC-3. Cell proliferation ability increased by 38% compared to the control group. EZH2 knockdown resulted in reduced proliferation and migration ability of cells. Compared with control, proliferation ability of cells reduced by 16%-40%. The results of bioinformatics analysis of transcriptome data and RT-qPCR demonstrated that EZH2 could regulate the expression of E2F1, GLI1, CDK3 and Mcm4 in normal and PC cells. The results revealed that EZH2 might regulate the proliferation of normal pancreatic cell and PC cell through E2F1, GLI1, CDK3 and Mcm4.

Drain vs. no-drain for acetabular fractures after treatment via a modified stoppa approach: A retrospective study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of close suction drainage (CSD) and no-CSD after a modified Stoppa approach for the surgical fixation of acetabular fractures. Methods: This retrospective study included 49 consecutive acetabular fracture patients, who presented to a single level I trauma center for surgical fixation, using a modified Stoppa approach from January 2018 to January 2021. All surgeries were performed by a senior surgeon using the same approach, and the patients were divided into two groups based on whether CSD was used after the operation. Details of the patient demographics, fracture characteristics, intraoperative indicators, reduction quality, intra and postoperative blood transfusion, clinical outcomes, and incision-related complications were collected. Results: No significant differences were found in the demographics, fracture characteristics, intraoperative indicators, reduction quality, clinical outcomes, and incision-related complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). The use of CSD was associated with a significantly higher postoperative blood transfusion volume (P = 0.034) and postoperative blood transfusion rate (P = 0.027). In addition, there was a significant difference in postoperative temperatures, especially on postoperative Day 2 (no-CSD 36.97 ± 0.51°C vs. CSD 37.34 ± 0.69°C, P = 0.035), and higher visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, especially on postoperative Day 1 (no-CSD 3.00 ± 0.93 vs. CSD 4.14 ± 1.43, P = 0.002) and 3 (no-CSD 1.73 ± 0.94 vs. CSD 2.48 ± 1.08, P = 0.013). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that routine use of CSD should not be recommended for patients with acetabular fractures after surgical fixation using a modified Stoppa approach.

Proximal tibia osteotomy with absorbable spacer combined with fibular osteotomy versus high tibial osteotomy for medial compartmental knee osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to compare the perioperative complications, short-term clinical outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, and radiographic parameters of tibiofibular proximal osteotomy combined with absorbable spacer insertion (TPOASI) and open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) in a two year postoperative time period. METHODS: A total of 160 patients with Kellgren-Lawrence classification grade 3 medial compartmental knee OA were randomized to receive either TPOASI (n = 82) or OWHTO (n = 78). The primary and secondary outcomes were measured preoperatively, postoperatively, and at each follow-up examination. The primary outcomes were the between-group change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Global score (WOMAC). Secondary measures included visual analog scale (VAS), radiographic parameters, American Knee Society Score (KSS), operation time, blood loss, length of incision, hospital stay, and relevant complications. Postoperative radiographic parameters, including the femorotibial angle (FTA), varus angle (VA), and joint line convergence angle (JLCA), were measured to evaluate the correction of varus deformity. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the baseline data between the two groups. Both methods improved functional status and pain postoperatively. For primary outcomes of both groups, statistical difference was observed in WOMAC scores at the 6-month follow-up (P < 0.001). For secondary outcomes, no statistical difference was observed between the groups during the 2-year follow-up (P > 0.05). For TPOASI vs. OWHTO, the mean hospital stay (6.6 ± 1.3 days vs. 7.8 ± 2.1 days) was shorter (P < 0.001), and both blood loss (70.56 ± 35.58 vs. 174.00 ± 66.33 mL) and complication rate (3.7% vs. 12.8%) were significantly lower (P < 0.005 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Both approaches showed satisfactory functional outcomes and alleviated pain. However, TPOASI is a simple, feasible method with few complications, and it could be widely used.

Clinical effect of closed reduction minimally invasive fixation in intra-articular comminuted fractures of the femoral condyle.

Objective: To evaluate the advantages of double reverse traction closed reduction combined with minimally invasive fixation in treating femoral condylar comminuted fractures. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled a total of 24 patients with femoral condylar comminuted fractures (AO = 33C3) admitted to Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from March 2018 to February 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: experimental group (double reverse traction, n = 12) and control group (conventional surgery, n = 12). Patient demographics, fracture characteristics, operation time, incision length, and postoperative complications were then collected. The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores were recorded at the last follow-up visit. Results: The average surgical time was 52.2 (41-73) min in the experimental group and 71.2 (45-103) min in the control group. In addition, the mean total incision length was 13.8 (11-17) cm in the experimental group and 16.3 (14-19) cm in the control group. The average HHS scores at the final follow-up were 86.3 (78-93) and 82.7 (76-90) in the experimental group and control group, respectively. Conclusion: It was found that double reverse traction closed reduction combined with minimally invasive fixation can provide good repositioning results and functional extremity. Moreover, patients tolerate postoperative functional knee exercises well.

Microbial production of vitamin B5: current status and prospects.

Vitamin B5, also called D-pantothenic acid (D-PA), is a necessary micronutrient that plays an essential role in maintaining the physiological function of an organism. It is widely used in: food, medicine, feed, cosmetics, and other fields. Currently, the production of D-PA in industry heavily relies on chemical processes and enzymatic catalysis. With an increasing demand on the market, replacing chemical-based production of D-PA with microbial fermentation utilizing renewable resources is necessary. In this review, the physiological role and applications of D-PA were firstly introduced, after which the biosynthesis pathways and enzymes will be summarized. Subsequently, a series of cell factory development strategies for excessive D-PA production are analyzed and discussed. Finally, the prospect of microbial production of D-PA production has been prospected.

Self-adjusting inverse design method for nanophotonic devices.

Nanophotonic devices, which consist of multiple cell structures of the same size, are easy to manufacture. To avoid the optical proximity effect in the ultraviolet lithography process, the cell structures must be maintained at a distance from one another. In the inverse design process, the distance is maintained by limiting the optimized range of the location. However, this implementation can weaken the performance of the devices designed during transmission. To solve this problem, a self-adjusting inverse design method based on the adjoint variable method is developed. By introducing artificial potential field method, the location of one cell structure is modified only when the distances between this cell structure and other cell structures are smaller than a threshold. In this case, the range of the location can be expanded, and thus the performance of the designed devices can be improved. A wavelength demultiplexer with a channel spacing of 1.6 nm is designed to verify the performance of the proposed method. The experiment reveals that the transmission of the designed devices can be improved by 20%, and the self-adjusting inverse design process is 100 times faster than the inverse-design process based on the genetic algorithm.

Displacement Pattern of Anterior and Posterior Column Fragments in Both-Column Acetabular Fractures: A 3D Reconstruction-Based Study.

Background: Few studies have been conducted to examine the displacement characteristics of both-column acetabular fractures (BCAFs). The goal of this study was to investigate the displacement pattern of anterior column (AC) and posterior column (PC) fragments in BCAFs using 3D virtual software. Materials and Methods: BCAFs were retrospectively reviewed, and 81 patients were enrolled. Computed tomography (CT) images were imported into Mimics software. A 3D model of each pelvis was generated. Four marked points and the rotation angle of each of the injured ACs and PCs were identified. The fracture fragments were reduced virtually using the software, and the change in coordinates of the marked points after reduction was recorded while the rotation angle was measured. The measurements of positional and directional displacement were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the binomial test, respectively. Results: There was a propensity for AC fragments to shift superomedially and to rotate externally (p < 0.001). Additionally, the posteroinferior fracture area of AC fragments showed the greatest displacement (p < 0.05). PC fragments moved superomedially (p < 0.001) and moved more at the proximal end than the distal end (p < 0.001). PC displacement was always accompanied by internal rotation (p < 0.001). Greater AC displacement was observed in the fracture area further away from the acetabulum (p < 0.05). Greater rotation was observed for the AC than the PC (p < 0.001). Conclusion: After a BCAF occurs, there are regular patterns regarding the direction and distance of AC and PC fragment displacement. Information on these patterns may provide insight into the injury mechanism and fracture morphology and facilitate surgical decision-making for orthopaedic trauma surgeons.

Advances in microbial production of feed amino acid.

Feed amino acids have numerous applications, and the market demand for them is likely to grow. Microbial cell factories promise the sustainable production of feed amino acids; however, their performance is significantly affected by the availability of precursors, carbon metabolic flux, and transporter systems. To circumvent these potential roadblocks, high-performance microbial cell factories have been constructed by strengthening the supply of precursors, increasing metabolic pathway flux, and engineering transporters. In this review, limiting factors and recent technical advances affecting the production of feed amino acids in microbial cell factories are discussed. In addition, existing challenges and potential strategies for increasing the output of these amino acids are described.

Regulation of Light Spectra on Cell Division of the Unicellular Green Alga Haematococcus pluvialis: Insights from Physiological and Lipidomic Analysis.

Commercial scale production of natural astaxanthin is currently conducted through cultivation of the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis. This study comprehensively investigated the impact of seven different light spectra on the growth, morphology and photosynthesis of H. pluvialis vegetative cells. Further, the lipidomes of vegetative H. pluvialis grown under various light spectra were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The results showed the existence of blue light-alone or with red light-promoted cell division, while pure red light or white light enabled increased cell sizes, cellular pigment, starch and lipid contents, and biomass production. Although the photosynthetic performance of H. pluvialis measured as chlorophyll a fluorescence was not significantly affected by light spectra, the lipid profiles, particularly chloroplast membrane lipids, showed remarkable changes with light spectra. The contents of most lipid species in the blue/red light 1/2 group, which showed the fastest cell division, remained at a moderate level compared with those under other light spectra, indicating the fastest dividing cells were featured by a fine-tuned lipid profile. From biotechnical perspective, this comprehensive study can provide insights into the development of appropriate light regimes to promote the cell density or biomass of H. pluvialis mass culture.