Ultrawide-view achromatic circular polarization dynamic converter using an easy-to-integrate multi-layer structure.

What we believe to be a novel integrated circular polarization dynamic converter (CPDC) is proposed based on the four-layer mirror symmetry structure. By designing the twisted structure and rearranging the orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules for each layer, the application wavelength range could be broadened. For the viewing angle expansion, negative birefringent films are selected to compensate for the retardation deviation under oblique incidence. Finally, the particle swarm algorithm is used to optimize the whole configuration, and the polarization conversion efficiency calculated by the finite element method (FEM) can achieve 90% in the wavelength range from 320 nm to 800 nm at an ultrawide view of 160°. Compared with traditionally active liquid crystal waveplates, the design has potential advantages in both wavelength and field of view (FOV) and provides the possibility for the integrated and flimsy fabrication of devices.

Design of a high-speed circular polarization converter with a large field of view and wavelength range.

A high-speed circular polarization converter (CPC) with a wide field of view (FOV) and wavelength range is designed and fabricated in this paper. The multi-waveplate combined structure is applied to constitute the basic configuration of the CPC for broadening the wavelength range. An electrically suppressed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal (ESHFLC) material with fast response is used as a medium for dynamic polarization operation. The compensation films are used to expand the FOV by attaching to the configuration. The simulation results demonstrate that the optimized CPC structure can achieve over 97% orthogonal circular polarization conversion efficiency in 300 nm bandwidth at a 90° viewing cone for both working states. Finally, we have experiments and the results show well consistency with the theoretical results.

A Novel Zwitterionic Hydrogel Incorporated with Graphene Oxide for Bone Tissue Engineering: Synthesis, Characterization, and Promotion of Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Zwitterionic materials are widely applied in the biomedical field due to their excellent antimicrobial, non-cytotoxicity, and antifouling properties but have never been applied in bone tissue engineering. In this study, we synthesized a novel zwitterionic hydrogel incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) using maleic anhydride (MA) as a cross-linking agent by grafted L-cysteine (L-Cys) as the zwitterionic material on maleilated chitosan via click chemistry. The composition and each reaction procedure of the novel zwitterionic hydrogel were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), while the morphology was imaged by scanning electron microscope (SEM). In vitro cell studies, CCK-8 and live/dead assay, alkaline phosphatase activity, W-B, and qRT-CR tests showed zwitterionic hydrogel incorporated with GO remarkably enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs); it is dose-dependent, and 2 mg/mL GO is the optimum concentration. In vivo tests also indicated the same results. Hence, these results suggested the novel zwitterionic hydrogel exhibited porous characteristics similar to natural bone tissue. In conclusion, the zwitterionic scaffold has highly biocompatible and mechanical properties. When GO was incorporated in this zwitterionic scaffold, the zwitterionic scaffold slows down the release rate and reduces the cytotoxicity of GO. Zwitterions and GO synergistically promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs in vivo and in vitro. The optimal concentration is 2 mg/mL GO.

Antibiotic resistance genes and their links with bacteria and environmental factors in three predominant freshwater aquaculture modes.

Rapid development of aquaculture industry and increasing demand of various inputs (especially antibiotics), are suspected to promote the occurrence and spread of ARGs in aquaculture related environments. However, the occurrences of ARGs under different freshwater aquaculture practices are rarely known. Here, we investigated the seasonal profiles of the main ARGs, intI1 and bacteria in waters from three kinds of predominant freshwater aquaculture practices around the Honghu Lake (China), as well as their co-occurrences and interrelationships with antibiotics, heavy metals and general water quality. The results indicate that quinolone resistance genes (qnrB), tetracycline resistance genes (tetB and tetX) and sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1 and sul2) were the top five predominant ARGs with seasonal variations of abundance. Fish ponds were of the highest absolute abundances of tested ARGs than the other two modes. Crayfish ponds and their adjacent ditches shared similar ARGs profile. Different subtypes of ARGs belonging to the same class of resistance were varied in abundances. Some bacteria were predicted to carry different ARGs, which indicating multi-antibiotic resistances. Moreover, the combined environmental factors (antibiotics, heavy metals and water quality) partially shaped the profiles of ARGs and bacteria composition. Overall, this study provides new comprehensive understanding on the characterization of ARGs contamination in different freshwater aquaculture practices from the perspectives of environmental chemistry, microbiology and ecology. The results would benefit the optimization of aquaculture practices toward environmental integrity and sustainability.

First report of Colletotrichum fructicola causing anthracnose on cherry (Prunus avium) in China.

Cherry (Prunus avium) has become an important economical fruit in China. In October 2020, a leaf spot disease was found on cherry in the orchard of Taizhou Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Zhejiang, China. The symptoms appeared as small, water-soaked spots on the leaves, which later became larger, dark brown, and necrotic lesions of 1 cm to 3 cm in width, 4 cm to 8 cm in length. Disease incidences of approximately 60% of the leaves were observed by sampling five locations. To isolate the causing agent, small fragments from five target symptomatic leaves were surface-sterilized with 1.0% sodium hypochlorite solution for 1 min and then rinsed three times with sterilized water. Afterwards the leaf fragments were air-dried, plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium, and incubated at 25 ℃ in the dark for 2 days. The pure cultures were obtained by transferring hyphal plug of 2 mm in diameter onto PDA, which followed single spore isolation. The colony morphology showed light to dark gray, cottony mycelium, with the underside of the culture became brownish after 7 days. Conidia (n = 28) were hyaline, smooth-walled, cylindrical, aseptate, broadly rounded ends, and average size around 3.84 × 12.82 µm (2.99 to 4.87 × 10.27 to 15.68 µm). Appressoria (n = 27) were mostly brown, ovoid and slightly irregular in shape, and average size around 8.04 × 9.68 µm (6.29 to 9.67 × 9.32 to 12.06 µm). Perithecia average size is 106.25 µm, textura angularis, thick-walled. Asci 26.35-49.18 × 5.00-12.03 µm (average size 37.44 × 7.80 µm, n = 17), unitunicate, thin-walled, clavate or cymbiform. Ascospores 13.69-20.93 × 3.86-6.69 µm (average size 16.00 × 5.42 µm, n = 30), one-celled, hyaline, one or two large guttulate at the centre, slightly rounded ends. The morphological characteristics matched well with previous descriptions of Colletotrichum species of C. gloeosporioides species complex, including C. fructicola (Prihastuti et al. 2009; Fu et al. 2019). The identity of two representative isolates (cf2-3 and cf4-4) from different leaves was confirmed by means of multi-locus gene sequencing. To this end, genomic DNA was extracted by the Plant Direct PCR kit (Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd, China). Molecular identification was conducted by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region, partial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene, partial actin (ACT) gene, partial beta-tubulin 2 gene (TUB2), and partial chitin synthase gene (CHS). The obtained sequences have been deposited in GenBank under accession numbers MW581851 and MW581852 (ITS), MW590586 and MW590587 (GAPDH), MW616561 and MW616562 (ACT), MW729380 and MW729381 (TUB2), MW729378 and MW729379 (CHS). The results of Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis revealed that the ITS, GAPDH, ACT, TUB2 and CHS sequences of both isolates matched with 100% identity to Colletotrichum fructicola culture collection sequences in GenBank database (JX010165, JX009998, JX009491, JX010405, and JX009866 respectively). These morphological characteristics and molecular analyses allowed the identification of the pathogen as C. fructicola. Koch's postulates were performed with healthy detached cherry leaves of cultivar namely 'HongMi' from Taizhou Academy of Agriculture Sciences. Surface-sterilized leaves were inoculated with five-day-old cultures of C. fructicola mycelial discs of 2 mm in diameter after being wounded with a needle or non-wounded. Control leaves were inoculated with discs of same size PDA agar. Treated leaves were incubated at 25 ℃ in the dark at high relative humidity. Anthracnose symptoms appeared within 3 days both on non-wounded and wounded inoculation approaches. Mock-inoculated controls remained asymptomatic. Biological repetitions were carried out three times. The fungus was reisolated from infected leaves and confirmed as C. fructicola following the methods described above. Until recently, it has been found that C. fructicola can infect tea, apple, pear, Pouteria campechiana in China (Fu et al. 2014; Li et al. 2013; Shi et al. 2018; Yang et al. 2020). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. fructicola on cherry in China.

[Dynamic changes of chest CT imaging in patients with COVID-19].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the dynamic changes of chest CT images of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Fifty-two cases of COVID-19 were admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The consecutive chest CT scans were followed up for all patients with an average of 4 scans performed per patient during the hospitalization. The shortest interval between each scan was 2 days and the longest was 7 days. The shape, number and distribution of lung shadows, as well as the characteristics of the lesions on the CT images were reviewed. RESULTS: The obvious shadows infiltrating the lungs were shown on CT images in 50 cases, for other 2 cases there was no abnormal changes in the lungs during the first CT examination. Ground-glass opacities (GGO) were found in 48 cases (92.3%), and 19 cases (36.5%) had patchy consolidation and sub-consolidation, which were accompanied with air bronchi sign in 17 cases (32.7%). Forty one cases (78.8%) showed a thickened leaflet interval, 4 cases (7.6%) had a small number of fibrous stripes. During hospitalization, GGO lesions in COVID-19 patients gradually became rare,the fibrous strip shadows increased and it became the most common imaging manifestation. The lesions rapidly progressed in 39 cases (75.0%) within 6-9 days after admission. On days 10-14 of admission, the lesions distinctly resolved in 40 cases (76.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The chest CT images of patients with COVID-19 have certain characteristics with dynamic changes, which are of value for monitoring disease progress and clinical treatment.

Morphological classification of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the morphological classification of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB), as well as morphological differences between IPNB without mucin secretion (IPNB-NM) and IPNB with mucin secretion (IPMN-B). METHODS: Eighty-one patients with IPNB were retrospectively analysed. Imaging examinations included computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). According to the morphology of tumours and extent of bile duct dilations, IPNB was classified into seven types: I, upstream-ductectatic type; II, typical type; III, superficial-spreading type; IV, no-mass-forming type; V, intrahepatic-cystic type; VI, extrahepatic-cystic type; and VII, infiltrating type. RESULTS: Thirteen IPNB-NM patients comprised type I (11 cases), type II (1 case) and type VII (1 case); 68 IPMN-B patients comprised type I (2 cases), type II (30 cases), type III (6 cases), type IV (11 cases), type V (13 cases), type VI (2 cases) and type VII (4 cases). Bile duct dilations were more severe in IPMN-B than in IPNB-NM. PET-CT and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI clearly demonstrated the extension of infiltrating IPNB. CONCLUSIONS: IPNB can be classified into seven morphological types. IPNB-NM and IPMN-B have different morphological features. KEY POINTS: • IPNB can be classified into seven morphological types. • IPNB-NM and IPMN-B have different morphological features. • Enhanced CT and MRI can display different types of IPNB. • Morphological classification of IPNB facilitates management of the disease.

The prognostic value of pretreatment tumor apparent diffusion coefficient values in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) has increasingly contributed to the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. The objective of this paper was to explore the prognostic significance of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in 93 NPC patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included 93 newly diagnosed NPC patients. Pretreatment ADC values were determined and compared with patients' age, gender, alcohol intake, smoking, tumor volume, pathological type, tumor stage, and nodal stage. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, overall survival (OS), local relapse-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were calculated and the values compared between the low and high ADC groups. Multivariate analysis of ADC values and other 9 clinical parameters was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model to test the independent significance for OS, LRFS and DMFS. RESULTS: The mean ADC value for the initial nasopharyngeal tumors was 0.72 × 10-3 mm2/s (range: 0.48-0.97 × 10-3 mm2/s). There was no significant difference between pretreatment ADCs and patient' gender, age, smoking, alcohol intake, or tumor stage. A significant difference in the ADCs for different N stages (P = 0.022) and correlation with initial tumor volume (r = -0.26, P = 0.012) were observed. In comparison, the ADC value for undifferentiated carcinoma was lower than that for other 3 pathological types. With a median follow-up period of 50 months, the 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 88.2% and 83.3%, respectively, 3-year and 5-year LRFS rates were 93.5% and 93.3%, respectively, and 3-year and 5-year DMFS rates were 83.9% and 83.3%, respectively. Patients with tumor ADC values ≥0.72 × 10-3 mm2/s exhibited longer OS and LRFS periods compared with tumor ADC values <0.72 × 10-3 mm2/s, with P values 0.036 and 0.018, respectively. In addition, patients with deaths or recurrences or distant metastasis had significant lower ADC values than those without disease failures. According to a multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard test, ADC values showed a significant correlation with OS (P = 0.0004), LRFS (P = 0.0009), and DMFS (P < 0.0001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment tumor ADC values supposed to be a noninvasive important prognostic parameter for NPC.

Transition metal (Co, Ni) nanoparticles wrapped with carbon and their superior catalytic activities for the reversible hydrogen storage of magnesium hydride.

Magnesium hydride (MgH2) exhibits long-term stability and has recently been developed as a safe alternative to store hydrogen in the solid state, due to its high capacity of 7.6 wt% H2 and low cost compared to other metal hydrides. However, the high activation energy and poor kinetics of MgH2 lead to inadequate hydrogen storage properties, resulting in low energy efficiency. Nano-catalysis is deemed to be the most effective strategy in improving the kinetics performance of hydrogen storage materials. In this work, robust and efficient architectures of carbon-wrapped transition metal (Co/C, Ni/C) nanoparticles (8-16 nm) were prepared and used as catalysts in the MgH2 system via ball milling to improve its de/rehydrogenation kinetics. Between the two kinds of nano-catalysts, the Ni/C nanoparticles exhibit a better catalytic efficiency. MgH2 doped with 6% Ni/C (MgH2-6%Ni/C) exhibits a peak dehydrogenation temperature of 275.7 °C, which is 142.7, 54.2 and 32.5 °C lower than that of commercial MgH2, milled MgH2 and MgH2 doped with 6% Co/C (MgH2-6%Co/C), respectively. MgH2 doped with 6% Ni/C can release about 6.1 wt% H2 at 250 °C. More importantly, the dehydrogenated MgH2-6%Ni/C is even able to uptake 5.0 wt% H2 at 100 °C within 20 s. Moreover, a cycling test of MgH2 doped with 8% Ni/C demonstrates its excellent hydrogen absorption/desorption stability with respect to both capacity (up to 6.5 wt%) and kinetics (within 8 min at 275 °C for dehydrogenation and within 10 s at 200 °C for rehydrogenation). Mechanistic research reveals that the in situ formed Mg2Ni and Mg2NiH4 nanoparticles can be regarded as advanced catalytically active species in the MgH2-Ni/C system. Meanwhile, the carbon attached around the surface of transition metal nanoparticles can successfully inhibit the aggregation of the catalysts and achieve the steadily, prompting de/rehydrogenation during the subsequent cycling process. The intrinsic catalytic effects and the uniform distributions of Mg2Ni and Mg2NiH4 result in a favorable catalytic efficiency and cycling stability. Nano-catalysts with this kind of morphology can also be applied to other metal hydrides to improve their kinetics performance and cycling stability.

Glioblastoma multiform with ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis: carotid artery stent promote tumor growth?

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke and glioblastoma multiforme have similar features on anatomic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and thus may require a surgical biopsy for a definitive diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old male complained of dysphasia for 4 weeks and continuous deterioration for 5 days. Cerebral infarction was considered based on MRI, which showed hyperintensity at the border zone of the left hemisphere, and computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed left carotid artery severe stenosis. The patient underwent placement of a left carotid artery stent, and his symptoms recurred 2 months after carotid artery stent (CAS). MRI showed multiple ring-enhanced lesions in the left temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes accompanied by massive brain edema. The final pathologic diagnosis was glioblastoma multiforme. CONCLUSION: Although there is no evidence that stent therapy for carotid artery stenosis will worsen an ipsilateral glioblastoma, we should be careful to perform surgeries involving carotid artery stents when the patient has a glioblastoma.

Iron deposition influences the measurement of water diffusion tensor in the human brain: a combined analysis of diffusion and iron-induced phase changes.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate the impact of iron deposition during aging on the measurement of water diffusion in the brain. METHODS: Diffusion tensor images (DTI) and phase images collected from a group of healthy adults from 23 to 72 years old were retrospectively analyzed. The axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) in the frontal white matter and deep gray matter nuclei were calculated. The phase changes in these regions were used to estimate local iron concentration. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the age dependence of DTI metrics and iron concentration. Multiple linear regression models were then built to examine the independent effect of age and iron deposition on DTI metrics. RESULTS: Age-related iron deposition occurred in the putamen (r = 0.680, P < 0.001) and frontal white matter (r = 0.333, P = 0.007). In the putamen, FA increased with elevated iron concentration (P = 0.042) excluding the effect of age, and MD decreased with iron deposition with marginal statistical significance (P = 0.067). In the frontal white matter, increase in iron level was also associated with a decrease in MD and an increase in FA. Moreover, radial diffusivity was more reduced than axial diffusivity as local iron concentration increased. CONCLUSION: Iron deposition in the brain during aging decreases water diffusion and increases the degree of anisotropy. Caution is needed when using DTI metrics for diagnosis of various neurological diseases involving abnormal iron deposition.

Differing default mode network activities in men with homosexual or heterosexual preferences.

INTRODUCTION: Neuroimaging studies have reported differences in brain structure and function between homosexual and heterosexual men. The neural basis for homosexual orientation, however, is still unknown. AIM: This study characterized the association of homosexual preference with measures of fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and functional connectivity (FC) in the resting state. METHODS: We collected echo planar magnetic resonance imaging data in 26 healthy homosexual men and 26 age-matched heterosexual men in the resting state. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sexual orientation was evaluated using the Kinsey scale. We assessed group differences in fALFF and then, taking the identified group differences as seed regions, we compared groups on measures of FC from those seeds. The behavioral significance of the group differences in fALFF and FC was assessed by examining their associations with the Kinsey scores. RESULTS: Compared with heterosexual participants, homosexual men showed significantly increased fALFF in the right middle frontal gyrus and right anterior cerebellum, and decreased fALFF in the left postcentral gyrus, left lingual gyrus, right pallidum, right postcentral gyrus, left interior parietal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, left cuneus, and left inferior frontal gyrus. Additionally, fALFF in the left postcentral gyrus and left cuneus correlated positively with Kinsey scores in the homosexual participants. When the seeds in the left cuneus, left cuneus, and left superior parietal gyrus also had reduced FC in homosexual participants, FC correlated positively with the Kinsey scores. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in fALFF and FC suggest male sexual preference may influence the pattern activity in the default mode network.

Detection of renal allograft rejection using blood oxygen level-dependent and diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute rejection (AR) and acute tubular necrosis (ATN) are main causes of early renal allograft dysfunction. Blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD MRI) and Diffusion weighted (DW) MRI can provide valuable information about changes of oxygen bioavailability and water diffusion by measuring R2* or apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) respectively. We aimed to determine the value of BOLD MRI and DW MRI in detecting causes for early allograft dysfunction in renal allograft recipients. METHODS: Fifty patients received renal allografts from deceased donors were analyzed, including 35 patients with normal renal function (control group), 10 AR patients and 5 ATN patients. Cortical R2* (CR2*) and medullary R2* (MR2*) were measured by BOLD MRI. Ten diffusion gradient b values (0, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1200s/mm2) were used in DW MRI. ADC values were measured in renal cortex (CADC) and medulla (MADC). CADCl and MADCl were measured under low b values (b ≤ 200 s/mm2), while CADCh and MADCh were measured under high b values (b > 200 s/mm2). RESULTS: MR2* was significantly lower in AR group (18.2 ± 1.5/s) than control group (23.8 ± 5.0/s, p = 0.001) and ATN group (25.8 ± 5.0/s, p = 0.004). There was a tendency of lower levels on CADCl, MADCl, CADCh or MADCh in AR group than in control group. There were no differences on ADC values between AR group and ATN group. CONCLUSIONS: BOLD MRI was a valuable method in detection of renal allografts with acute rejection.

[CT and MRI findings in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). METHODS: The imaging findings of pancreas and extra-pancreas in 24 patients with AIP were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, CT scan was performed in 18 patients, MRI in 11, and bGth CT and MRI in 10. RESULTS: The pancreas showed diffuse enlargement (25%, 6/24), focal enlargement (37. 5%, 9/24), combined enlargement (25%, 6/24) ,and no enlargement (12. 5%, 9/24). Unenhanced CT showed hypoattenuation in AIP area (n = 2) . After intravenous injection of contrast medium, 17 patients showed abnormal contrast enhancement in the affected pancreatic parenchyma, including hypoattenuation during the arterial phase (50%, 9/18) and hyper attenuation during the delayed phase (94. 4%, 17/18). Precontrast MRI showed abnormal signal intense (n =9), including hypointense on T1-weight images (T1 WI) (n = 7), hyperintense (n = 7) and hypointense (n = 2) on T2-weight images (TIWI). Enhanced MRI demonstrated abnormal contrast enhancement within lesions (n = 11), including hypoattenuation during the arterial phase (81. 8%, 9/11) and good enhancement during the delayed phase (100%, 11111). A capsule-like rim was seen around pancreas (37. 5%, 9/24), among which CT detected in 6 out of 18 patients and MRI found in 7 out of 11 patients.The main pancreatic duct lumen within lesions has no visualization (100%, 24/24) and upstream dilation of the main pancreatic duct (n = 8) , ranging from 2. 2 to 4. 5 mm(mean 3. 1 0. 47 mm) in diameter. Narrowing of the common bile duct was shown in 14 patients. Miscellaneous findings were: infiltration of extrapancreatic vein (n = 9) and artery (n = 1); mild fluid collection around pancreas (n = 2); pseudocysts (n = 3). Fourteen patients also presented one or more of the following extrapancreatic imaging findings: narrowing of the intra-hepatic bile duct or hilar duct (n = 5); thickening of gallbladder wall (n = 5); fibrosis in mesenteric (n = 2), in retroperitoneal (n = 2) and in ligamentum teres hepatis (n = 1); renal involvement (n = 3); peri-pancreatic or para-aortic lymphadenopathy (n = 10); and ulcerative colitis (n = 3). CONCLUSION: AIP display some characteristic CT and MRI imaging features: sausage-like change of the pancreas; capsule-like rims around lesions; delayed contrast enhancement in the affected pancreatic parenchyma; segment or diffuse pancreatic duct stenosis but mild upstream dilation and extrapancreatic organs involvement. CT and MRI findings combining with serological tests and pancreas biopsy can assist physicians to make accurate and timely diagnosis.

Dietary fatty acid transfer in pelagic food webs across trophic and climatic differences of Chinese lakes.

In eutrophic lake ecosystems, cyanobacteria typically lead to unbalanced phytoplankton community structure and low dietary quality for consumers at higher trophic levels. However, it still remains poorly understood how zooplankton manage to respond to seasonal and spatial differences in lake trophic gradients and temperature factors to retain highly required dietary nutrients from phytoplankton. In this field study, we investigated seston and different size classes of zooplankton of temperate and subtropical large lakes of different trophic conditions in China. We used fatty acids (FA) as dietary nutrients from seston to zooplankton to investigate how eutrophication affects the FA composition of various zooplankton size classes. This study revealed a curvilinear relationship between total phosphorus (TP) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) contents of edible phytoplankton ("seston") across 3 seasons and 2 climatic areas. The PUFA content of seston increased until mesotrophic lake conditions (TP: 11-20 µg L-1), after which the dietary provision of PUFA for respective consumers declined. Seston FA, rather than trophic condition or water temperature, primarily predicted changes in zooplankton FA, while this predictive power decreased with zooplankton size. Despite increasing eutrophic lake conditions, LC-PUFA content of the zooplankton consistently increased per unit biomass. The results indicate that the nutritional value of phytoplankton was highest in mesotrophic lakes, and lake zooplankton selectively increased their LC-PUFA retention with body size and/or were able to convert dietary FA endogenously to meet their size-specific FA demands, independent of lake location or time (season) or the measured trophic condition of the lake (from oligo- to eutrophic).

Nutrient characteristics driven by multiple factors in large estuaries during summer: A case study of the Yangtze River Estuary.

Nutrients directly control the level of primary productivity and are crucial for the stability of marine ecosystems. Focusing on the survey results in August 2020 of the Yangtze River Estuary, this study elucidated the distribution characteristics and controlling factors of three nutrients: NO3-N, PO4-P, SiO3-Si. The results showed that the concentrations of NO3-N, PO4-P, SiO3-Si in the study area were generally higher near the shore than far shore, with average concentrations of 11.40, 0.70, and 23.73 µmol/L, respectively. The ocean currents drove the distribution of nutrients, and the transport of CDW and YSCC increased the nutrient levels. The resuspension of sediment caused by factors such as terrain and weather may lead to an abnormal increase in nutrients in the bottom waters. The main controlling factors of the three nutrients were different. NO3-N was significantly affected by human activities, PO4-P and SiO3-Si were mainly affected by natural factors.

Corals-inspired magnetic absorbents for fast and efficient removal of microplastics in various water sources.

Microplastics (MPs) as the formidable pollutants with high toxicity and difficult degradation may threaten the aquaculture industry and human health, making it highly necessary to develop the effective removal methods. In this article, Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were initially fabricated with mesoporous structure, but showing undesirable adsorption efficiencies for the adsorption of MPs (lower than 70%). Inspired by the reefs-rebuilding corals acting as the sinks for various marine pollutants like plastic, Fe3O4 NPs were coated further with adhesive polymerized dopamine (PDA) yielding Fe3O4@PDA absorbents. Unexpectedly, it was discovered that the corals-mimicking absorbents so formed could allow for the removal of MPs with dramatically enhanced efficiencies up to 98.5%, which is over about 30% higher than those of bare Fe3O4 NPs. Herein, the PDA shells might conduct the increased adhesion to MPs, presumably through the formation of hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and hydrophobic interactions. A fast (within 20 min) and stable adsorption of MPs can also be expected, in addition to the PDA-improved environmental storage of Fe3O4 NPs. Subsequently, the Fe3O4@PDA adsorbents were utilized to remove MPs from different water sources with high efficiencies, including pure water, suburban streams, village rivers, lake water, inner-city moats, and aquaculture water. Such a magnet-recyclable adsorbent may provide a new way for rapid, effective, and low-cost removal of MPs pollutants from various water systems.

Predictors for replanning in loco-regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Replanning in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has been reported to improve quality of life and loco-regional control in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Determination of the criteria for replanning is, however, urgently needed. We conducted a prospective study to determine when and for what type of patients is replanning preferred through weekly repeat computed tomography (CT) imaging during the course of IMRT. METHODS: We recruited 20 patients who were diagnosed as having loco-regionally advanced, non-metastatic stage III or IVa NPC and treated with concurrent platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) using IMRT. Patients received CT simulation (sim-CT) and plain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plus diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) weekly for five consecutive weeks. The gross tumor volume (GTV) and clinical target volume (CTV) were delineated and recorded weekly based on the CT-CT fusion. The relationship between GTV/CTV reduction and clinical characteristics of the patients were assessed using Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: GTV and CTV decreased during the treatment by 36.03 mL (range, 10.91-98.82 mL) and 76.79 mL (range, 33.94-125.14 mL), respectively, after 25 fractions of treatment. The percentage reductions from their initial volume were 38.4% (range, 25.3-50.7%) and 11.8% (range, 6.7-18.3%), respectively. The greatest reductions in GTV and CTV were observed at the fourth week (i.e., upon completion of 20 fractions), compared to pre-treatment sim-CT. Weight loss and CTV reduction were significantly correlated with pre-treatment body mass index (BMI ) (r =0.58, P =0.012, and r =0.48, P =0.046, respectively). However, no significant correlation was observed between CTV reduction and initial tumor volume. In addition, GTV reduction was not significantly correlated with pre-treatment tumor volume (P =0.65), but negatively correlated with pre-treatment tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values (r = -0.46, P =0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the most appropriate replanning time is after 20 fractions of treatment, and pre-treatment BMI and ADC are potential predictive factors for the determination of replanning during IMRT.

Reaction kinetics, mechanical characteristics, and microstructure of steel slag-cement binder modified with graphene oxide.

Graphene oxide (GO) was utilized as an additive to encourage the development of early strength in order to improve steel slag cement's low early strength. This work investigates the compressive strength and setting time of cement paste. The hydration process and its products were explored using hydration heat, low-field NMR, and XRD; in addition, the internal microstructure of the cement was analyzed utilizing MIP, SEM-EDS, and nanoindentation testing technologies. The results demonstrated that the inclusion of SS retarded cement's hydration, leading to a degradation of compressive strength and microstructure. However, the addition of GO was able to accelerate the hydration of steel slag cement, giving rise to a reduction in total porosity, a strengthening of the microstructure, and an improvement in compressive strength, particularly the material developing trends at the early stage. Due to its nucleation and filling capabilities, GO increases the total amount of C-S-H gels present in the matrix, specifically vast amounts of C-S-H gels with high density. It has been established that the addition of GO is capable of greatly enhancing steel slag cement's compressive strength.

Curing Kinetics and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy-Cyanate Ester Composite Films for Microelectronic Applications.

In general, although abundant literature studies are available on epoxy resin systems, a complete description of the curing kinetics in epoxy-cyanate ester composites relevant to the microelectronics industry is still lacking. Herein, curing behaviors of Ajinomoto build-up films, which are epoxy/silica composites, were studied by the non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry method, and then, three non-isothermal curing kinetics models and model-free curing methods were used to analyze curing behaviors. In addition, a copper layer was also deposited onto the surface of the build-up film, and its interfacial adhesion property was also analyzed at different pre-curing conditions. The results showed that the curing reaction of the build-up film contains two curing reaction processes, and the first curing process is suited for the autocatalytic curing model, while the other curing process is suited for the Kamal curing kinetics model. Three model-free curing methods were used to calculate the activating energy at different degrees of curing, which indicated that the activating energy is variable during the whole curing process. The interfacial adhesion strength between the build-up film and copper layer decreased with the increase in the degree of curing, which is attributed to the contribution of mechanical anchoring. This work will offer guidance in curing behaviors for improving interfacial bonding force and controlling warpage behavior for chip substrates in the future.