Sports activity (SA) recognition based on error correcting output codes (ECOC) and convolutional neural network (CNN).

The increasing use of motion sensors is causing major changes in the process of monitoring people's activities. One of the main applications of these sensors is the detection of sports activities, for example, they can be used to monitor the condition of athletes or analyze the quality of sports training. Although the existing sensor-based activity recognition systems can recognize basic activities such as: walking, running, or sitting; they don't perform well in recognizing different types of sports activities. This article introduces a new model based on machine learning (ML) techniques to more accurately distinguish between sports and everyday activities. In the proposed method, the necessary data to detect the type of activity is collected through his two sensors: an accelerometer and a gyroscope attached to a person's foot. For this purpose, the input signals are first preprocessed and then short-time Fourier transform (STFT) is used to describe the characteristics of each signal. In the next step, each STFT matrix is used as input to a convolutional neural network (CNN). This CNN describes various motion characteristics of the sensor in the form of vectors. Finally, a classification model based on error correction output code (ECOC) is used to classify the extracted features and detect the type of SA. The performance of the proposed AS recognition method is evaluated using the DSADS database and the results are compared with previous methods. Based on the results, the proposed method can recognize sports activities with an accuracy of 99.71. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed method based on precision and recall criteria are 99.72 and 99.71, respectively, which are better than the compared methods.

Dapagliflozin attenuates renal fibrosis by suppressing angiotensin II/TGFß signaling in diabetic mice.

AIMS: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) complicates diabetes Mellitus and intimately relates to intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity. Dapagliflozin, a selective inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), has been validated to improve renal outcomes in diabetic patients from clinical research by elusive mechanisms. This study explored the presumption that the eagerness activity of intrarenal RAS in DN generated oxidative stress to promote renal fibrosis, and the process can be interrupted by dapagliflozin. METHODS: A streptozotocin-induced DN model was established in male C57BL/6J mice. Mice were treated with dapagliflozin or losartan for 14 weeks. Biochemical data, renal fibrosis, oxidative stress, and RAS were measured. RESULTS: DN mice were characterized by overtly low body weight, high levels of blood glucose, and renal injury. Interrupting SGLT2 and RAS significantly improved renal dysfunction and pathological lesions in DN mice. Consistent with these favorable effects, dapagliflozin revoked the local RAS/oxidative stress and the succeeding transforming growth factor beta (TGFß) signaling. CONCLUSIONS: This research clarifies that intrarenal RAS activity triggers renal injury in DN, and dapagliflozin attenuates renal fibrosis by suppressing Angiotensin II/TGFß signaling. It unravels a novel insight into the role of prevention and treatment of SGLT2 inhibitors to DN.

Comparative Genomic Analyses of Cellulolytic Machinery Reveal Two Nutritional Strategies of Marine Labyrinthulomycetes Protists.

Labyrinthulomycetes are a group of ubiquitous and diverse unicellular Stramenopiles and have long been known for their vital role in ocean carbon cycling. However, their ecological function from the perspective of organic matter degradation remains poorly understood. This study reports high-quality genomes of two newly isolated Labyrinthulomycetes strains, namely, Botryochytrium sp. strain S-28 and Oblongichytrium sp. strain S-429, and provides molecular analysis of their ecological functions using comparative genomics and a biochemical assay. Our results suggest that Labyrinthulomycetes may occupy multiple ecological niches in marine ecosystems because of the significant differences in gene function among different genera. Certain strains could degrade wheat bran independently by secreting cellulase. The key glycoside hydrolase families (GH1, GH5, and GH9) related to cellulase and the functional domains of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) were more enriched in their genomes. This group can actively participate in marine biochemical cycles as decomposers. In contrast, other strains that could not produce cellulase may thrive as "leftover scavengers" and act as a source of nutrients to the higher-trophic-level plankton. In addition, our findings emphasize the dual roles of endoglucanase, acting as both exo- and endoglucanases, in the process of cellulose degradation. Using genomic, biochemical, and phylogenetic analyses, our study provides a broader insight into the nutritional patterns and ecological functions of Labyrinthulomycetes. IMPORTANCE Unicellular heterotrophic eukaryotes are an important component of marine ecosystems. However, their ecological functions and modes of nutrition remain largely unknown. Our current understanding of marine microbial ecology is incomplete without integrating these heterotrophic microeukaryotes into the food web models. This study focuses on the unicellular fungus-like protists Labyrinthulomycetes and provides two high-quality genomes of cellulase-producing Labyrinthulomycetes. Our study uncovers the basis of their cellulase production by deciphering the results of genomic, biochemical, and phylogenetic analyses. This study instigates a further investigation of the molecular mechanism of organic matter utilization by Labyrinthulomycetes in the world's oceans.

Dietary patterns, oxidative Stress, inflammation and biological variation in hemoglobin A1c: Association and Mediation analysis in a rural community in north China.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to assess the relationship between the hemoglobin glycation index(HGI) and dietary patterns, and investigates whether inflammation and oxidative stress mediate the relationship. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected from 453 dwellers in a Chinese rural community. Diet was assessed using 24 h food recalls. Based on the energy intake ratio from three macronutrients, dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis. The HGI was defined as the observed HbA1c minus predicted HbA1c. Indicators of inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed. RESULT: 3 dietary patterns were clustered, namely "fat(n = 100)", "balance(n = 186)" and "carbohydrate(n = 167)". The fat dietary patterns had lower HGI than the other two dietary patterns. TNFα was higher in the carbohydrate dietary pattern. Linear regression analysis suggested that the carbohydrate dietary pattern was correlated with higher HGI levels(ß = 0.204,95 %CI(0.071,0.338)), compared with the fat dietary pattern. The relationship disappeared after accounting for biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Mediation analyses indicated that TNFα might explain for 19.15 % effects of the carbohydrate dietary pattern on HGI, compared with the fat dietary pattern. CONCLUSION: The carbohydrate dietary pattern had positive associations with HGI and TNFα. TNFα partly mediated the relationship between dietary patterns and HGI.

The optimal diagnostic criteria of endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia based on a large cohort of Chinese patients.

Purpose: An end-of-fast insulin level ≥ 3 µIU/ml, C-peptide level ≥ 0.6 ng/ml, and proinsulin level ≥ 5 pmol/l with end-of-fast glucose level ≤ 3.0 mmol/l have been established as the criteria for endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. However, all these criteria have been proposed based on patients in Western populations. This study aimed to determine the optimal criteria using a large series of Chinese patients. Methods: This retrospective study comprised 144 patients with surgically proven insulinoma and 40 controls who underwent a 72-h fasting test at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH) from 2000 to 2020. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used for analysis. Results: In this series of patients, the optimal diagnostic criteria for endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia were insulin ≥ 5.5 µIU/ml, C-peptide ≥ 0.7 ng/ml, and proinsulin ≥ 12 pmol/l with end-of-fast glucose ≤ 2.8 mmol/l; the sensitivity and specificity were 99% and 100% for insulin, 100% and 100% for C-peptide, and 93% and 100% for proinsulin, respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of the criteria based on Western populations was then tested. The sensitivity and specificity of end-of-fast insulin ≥ 3 µIU/ml, C-peptide ≥ 0.6 ng/ml, and proinsulin ≥ 5 pmol/l with end-of-fast glucose ≤ 3.0 mmol/l were 100% and 83%, 100% and 80%, and 97% and 78%, respectively. Conclusions: New and optimized diagnostic criteria for endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in Chinese populations have been proposed, and these criteria yield satisfactory accuracy.

Analysis of 55 patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-associated insulinoma from a single center in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)-related insulinoma and their relationship with specific biochemical changes and to summarize the features of treatment options for the Chinese population with this disease and the impact on long-term prognosis. METHODS: "MEN1" and "insulinoma" were used when searching the Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) medical record retrieval system to obtain clinical information about patients. We identified patients diagnosed with MEN1-associated insulinoma based on endocrinological, radiological, and pathological examinations, and subsequently analyzed their clinical data. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients with MEN1-associated insulinoma were included, including 29 (52.7%) men and 26 (47.3%) women. The parathyroid gland was the most commonly affected (78.2%), followed by the pituitary gland (69.1%) and adrenal gland (16.4%). Insulinoma was the first manifestation of MEN1 in at least 23.6% (13/55) of patients. Nineteen (34.5%) patients presented with initial symptoms of hypoglycemia before the age of 22 years. Among the 24 Patients with high serum calcium (Ca) had significantly lower serum insulin levels than those with normal serum Ca levels (p < 0.001) during hypoglycemic episodes. However, serum C-peptide level at 0.5 h and serum insulin level at 1 h was higher in patients with hypercalcemia than in patients with normal serum Ca levels in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), although the differences were not statistically significant. Multifocal pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) were present in 38 (69.1%) patients; most of them (55.6%, 20/36) underwent multiple enucleations, and 45% (9/20) had a postoperative recurrence. Five patients (10%) who underwent distal pancreatectomy developed pancreatic insufficiency after an average of seven years. patients who underwent genetic testing, 23 (95.8%) were positive for MEN1 mutation, with mutations most commonly found in exons 2 (21.7%) and 3 (13%). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the rates of postoperative recurrence and long-term complications in patients with MEN1 with multifocal pNETs were significantly different from those in other international centers and might be related to the choice of surgical method. In addition, elevated serum Ca levels in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism may affect insulin secretion.

A study of energy investment and environmental sustainability nexus in China: a bootstrap replications analysis.

Environmental sustainability is increasing emphasis on global environmental concerns at the forefront of public policy debate. This paper investigates the relationship between energy investments and environmental sustainability in China from 1980 to 2018 while considering the moderating effect of international trade and economic growth under the environment Kuznets curve (EKC) framework. We apply advanced econometric modeling for empirical analysis. Our findings show that energy investment and economic growth are positive, while international trade is negatively associated with ecological footprints. Moreover, economic growth and energy investment deteriorate, while international trade improves environmental sustainability. This empirical evidence suggests the improvements in cleaner energy infrastructure with the participation of the private sector to promote clean energy investment. We argue that policymakers should ensure environmental provisions in the regional and bilateral trade agreements to harmonize the environmental regulations, and develop crucial trade and ecological policy indicators to monitor policy consistency.

High Hemoglobin Glycation Index Is Associated With Telomere Attrition Independent of HbA1c, Mediated by TNFα.

CONTEXT: The hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) is correlated with metabolic diseases and inflammation. Whether the HGI is associated with the aging process and how inflammation and oxidative stress affect the relationship remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze links between the HGI and aging biomarkers, and to explore a potential role of inflammation and oxidative stress in the correlations. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 434 subjects with different glucose intolerances in a rural community was enrolled. The HGI was calculated as the difference between the measured and predicted hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The population was categorized into tertiles of the HGI. Telomere length (LTL) and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) determined by polymerase chain reaction assay. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α and interleukin (IL) 6, 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured. RESULTS: Participants in the high HGI group were older and reported a shorter LTL, higher levels of TNFα, SOD activities, and HbA1c. Correlation analyses demonstrated that HGI was correlated with LTL (r = -0.25, P < .001) and TNFα (r = 0.19, P < .001) regardless of HbA1c levels. No relationship was found between HGI and mtDNAcn. HGI (ß = -0.238, 95% CI -0.430, -0.046, P = .015) and TNFα (ß = -0.02, 95% CI -0.030, -0.014, P < .001) were proved to be correlated with LTL independently, using multiple linear regression analysis. Ordinal logistic regression models showed that compared with subjects the high HGI group, the possibilities of a higher-level LTL was 5.29-fold in the low HGI group (OR 5.29, 95% CI (2.45, 11.41), P < .001), 2.41-fold in the moderate HGI group (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.35, 4.30, P = .003) after controlling for confounding variables. Mediation analyses indicated that TNFα accounted for 30.39% of the effects of the HGI on LTL. CONCLUSION: HGI was negatively related to telomere attrition, independent of HbA1c. TNFα acted as a mediator of the relationship between HGI and LTL.

Mobilization upon Cooling.

Phase transitions between different aggregate states are omnipresent in nature and technology. Conventionally, a crystalline phase melts upon heating as we use ice to cool a drink. Already in 1903, Gustav Tammann speculated about the opposite process, namely melting upon cooling. So far, evidence for such "inverse" transitions in real materials is rare and limited to few systems or extreme conditions. Here, we demonstrate an inverse phase transition for molecules adsorbed on a surface. Molybdenum tetraacetate on copper(111) forms an ordered structure at room temperature, which dissolves upon cooling. This transition is mediated by molecules becoming mobile, i.e., by mobilization upon cooling. This unexpected phenomenon is ascribed to the larger number of internal degrees of freedom in the ordered phase compared to the mobile phase at low temperatures.

Cultivation and diversity analysis of novel marine thraustochytrids.

Thraustochytrids are a group of unicellular marine heterotrophic protists, and have long been known for their biotechnological potentials in producing squalene, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and other bioactive products. There are less than a hundred known strains from diverse marine habitats. Therefore, the discovery of new strains from natural environments is still one of the major limitations for fully exploring this interesting group of marine protists. At present, numerous attempts have been made to study thraustochytrids, mainly focusing on isolating new strains, analyzing the diversity in specific marine habitats, and increasing the yield of bioactive substances. There is a lack of a systematic study of the culturable diversity, and cultivation strategies. This paper reviews the distribution and diversity of culturable thraustochytrids from a range of marine environments, and describes in detail the most commonly used isolation methods and the control of culture parameters. Furthermore, the perspective approaches of isolation and cultivation for the discovery of new strains are discussed. Finally, the future directions of novel marine thraustochytrid research are proposed. The ultimate goal is to promote the awareness of biotechnological potentials of culturable thraustochytrid strains in industrial and biomedical applications.

TNFα Mediates the Interaction of Telomeres and Mitochondria Induced by Hyperglycemia: A Rural Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

This study is aimed at evaluating the relationship between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) in a noninterventional rural community of China with different glucose tolerance statuses. In addition, we investigate whether the indicators of oxidative stress and inflammation were involved and identify mediators among them. A total of 450 subjects in rural China were included and divided into two groups according to a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): the abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM, n = 257, 57.1%) group and the normal glucose tolerance (NGT, n = 193, 42.9%) group. Indicators of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR)) and inflammatory indices (tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)) were all determined by ELISA. LTL and mtDNAcn were measured using a real-time PCR assay. Linear regressions were used to adjust for covariates that might affect the relationship between LTL and mtDNAcn. Mediation analyses were utilized to evaluate the mediators. In the AGM, LTL was correlated with mtDNAcn (r = 0.214, p = 0.001), but no correlation was found in the NGT. The association between LTL and mtDNAcn was weakened after adjusting for inflammatory factors in the AGM (p = 0.087). LTL and mtDNAcn were both inversely related to HbA1c, IL-6, TNFα, and SOD activity. Mediation analysis demonstrated that TNFα was a significant mediator in the telomere-mitochondrial interactome in the AGM. This result suggests that inflammation and oxidative stress may play a vital role in telomere shortening as well as mitochondrial dysfunction. In the subjects with hyperglycemia, a significant positive correlation is observed between LTL and mtDNAcn, which is probably mediated by TNFα. TNFα may be considered a potential therapeutic target against aging-related disease in hyperglycemia.

[Case-control study on self-setting calcium phosphate cement and allograft for Sanders II-IV fractures of calcaneus].

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical results of Sanders II-IV fractures of calcaneus treated by self-setting calcium phosphate cement and allograft with locking reconstruction bone plate internal fixation. METHODS: From March 2012 to December 2015, 48 patients with Sanders II-IV fractures of calcaneus were treated by open reduction and internal fixation through L-shape incision, bone grafting were performed on reserved bone defect of calcaneal fracture. The patients were divided into self-setting calcium phosphate cement and allograft group according to different materials. Twenty-eight patients in self-setting calcium phosphate cement group, including 23 males and 5 females aged from 22 to 52 years old with an average of (34.46±7.33) years old; 8 cases were type II, 11 cases were type III and 7 cases were type IV according to Sanders classification. Twenty patients in allograft group, including 17 males and 3 females aged from 24 to 55 years old with an average of(36.40±7.93) years old; 6 cases were type II, 7 cases were type III and 9 cases were type IV according to Sanders classification. Postoperative wound complications, Böhler angle before and after operation and 12 months, Maryland functional score were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients obtained bone union, and were followed up from 12 to 42 months with an average of 25 months. There were no statistical significance in Böhler angle and Manyland score before and after operation and 12 months between two groups. Five patients occurred wound complications in allograft group and 2 cases occurred wound complications in self-setting calcium phosphate cement and allograft group. CONCLUSIONS: Both of open reduction bone grafting and reconstructive plate internal fixation have good effective results for calcaneal fracture. Compared with allograft, self-setting calcium phosphate cement, which has no rejection response and less complications, has equal effects for calcaneal fracture and deserves to be popularized.

Interfacial Electronic Structures of Photodetectors Based on C8BTBT/Perovskite.

Comprehensive measurements of ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy are adopted to investigate the corelevance of energy level alignment, molecular orientation, and film growth of Au/C8BTBT/perovskite interfaces. A small energy offset of valence band maximum of 0.06 eV between perovskite and C8BTBT makes hole transportation feasible. About 0.65 eV upward shift of energy levels is observed with the deposition of the Au film on C8BTBT, which enhances hole transportation to the Au electrode. The observations from the interface analysis are supported by a prototype photodetector of Au (80 nm)/C8BTBT (20 nm)/perovskite (100 nm) that exhibits excellent performances whose responsivity can reach up to 2.65 A W-1, 4 times higher than the best CH3NH3PbI3 photodetectors.

The correlations of the electronic structure and film growth of 2,7-diocty[1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) on SiO2.

Combining ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and small angle X-ray diffraction (SAXD) measurements, we perform a systematic investigation on the correlations of the electronic structure, film growth and molecular orientation of 2,7-diocty[1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) on silicon oxide (SiO2). AFM analysis reveals a phase transition of disorderedly oriented molecules in clusters in thinner films to highly ordered standing-up molecules in islands in thicker films. SAXD peaks consistently support the standing-up configuration in islands. The increasing ordering of the molecular orientation with film thickness contributes to the changing of the shape and lowering of the leading edge of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). The end methyl of the highly ordered standing molecules forms an outward pointing dipole layer which makes the work function (WF) decrease with increasing thickness. The downward shift of the HOMO and a decrease of WF result in unconventional downward band bending and decreased ionization potential (IP). The correlations of the orientation ordering of molecules, film growth and interface electronic structures provide a useful design strategy to improve the performance of C8-BTBT thin film based field effect transistors.

[Effects of culture supernatant of human amnion mesenchymal stem cells on biological characteristics of human fibroblasts].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of culture supernatant of human amnion mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs-CS) on biological characteristics of human fibroblasts. METHODS: (1) hAMSCs were isolated from deprecated human fresh amnion tissue of placenta and then sub-cultured. The morphology of hAMSCs on culture day 3 and hAMSCs of the third passage were observed with inverted phase contrast microscope. (2) Two batches of hAMSCs of the third passage were obtained, then the expression of vimentin of cells was observed with immunofluorescence method, and the expression of cell surface marker CD90, CD73, CD105, and CD45 was detected by flow cytometer. (3) hAMSCs-CS of the third passage at culture hour 72 were collected, and the content of insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. (4) Human fibroblasts were isolated from deprecated human fresh prepuce tissue of circumcision and then sub-cultured. Human fibroblasts of the third passage were used in the following experiments. Cells were divided into blank control group and 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% hAMSCs-CS groups according to the random number table (the same grouping method below), with 48 wells in each group. Cells in blank control group were cultured with DMEM/F12 medium containing 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS), while cells in the latter 4 groups were cultured with DMEM/F12 medium containing corresponding volume fraction of hAMSCs-CS and 2% FBS. The proliferation activity of cells was detected by cell counting kit 8 and microplate reader at culture hour 12, 24, 48, and 72, respectively, and corresponding volume fraction of hAMSCs-CS which causing the best proliferation activity of human fibroblasts was used in the following experiments. (5) Human fibroblasts were divided into blank control group and 50% hAMSCs-CS group and treated as in (4), with 4 wells in each group, at post scratch hour (PSH) 0 (immediately after scratch), 12, 24, 48, and 72, the migration distance of cells was observed and measured with inverted phase contrast microscope. (6) Human fibroblasts were grouped and treated as in (5), with 3 battles in each group, and apoptosis rate of cells was detected by flow cytometer. Data were processed with analysis of variance of factorial design, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, one-way analysis of variance, LSD test, and t test. RESULTS: (1) On culture day 3, most hAMSCs were in large form, and spindle-shaped with much prominences like fibroblasts or in flat polygonal shape. hAMSCs of the third passage were spindle-shaped. The expression of vimentin of hAMSCs of the third passage was strongly positive, and the expressions of surface markers CD90, CD73, and CD105 of the cells were positive, while the expression of CD45 of the cells was negative. (2) The content of IGF-Ⅰ, VEGF, EGF, and bFGF in hAMSCs-CS were respectively (11.7±1.0), (316±68), (6.1±0.4), and (1.49±0.05) pg/mL. (3) At culture hour 12-72, the proliferation activity of human fibroblasts in each hAMSCs-CS group was significantly higher than that in blank control group (with P values below 0.01), and the proliferation activity of human fibroblasts in 50% hAMSCs-CS group was the highest. (4) The width of scratch in two groups was nearly the same at PSH 0. The migration distance of cells in 50% hAMSCs-CS group was significantly longer than that in blank control group at PSH 12-72 (with P values below 0.01). (5) The apoptosis rate of human fibroblasts in blank control group was (16.2±2.4)%, which was significantly higher than that in 50% hAMSCs-CS group [(7.4±3.6)%, t=6.710, P<0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: hAMSCs-CS can promote proliferation and migration of human fibroblasts and inhibit the apoptosis of human fibroblasts.

From Water Oxidation to Reduction: Transformation from Ni(x)Co(3-x)O4 Nanowires to NiCo/NiCoO(x) Heterostructures.

A homologous Ni-Co based nanowire catalyst pair, composed of Ni(x)Co(3-x)O4 nanowires and NiCo/NiCoO(x) nanohybrid, is developed for efficient overall water splitting. Ni(x)Co(3-x)O4 nanowires are found as a highly active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst, and they are converted into a highly active hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst through hydrogenation treatment as NiCo/NiCoO(x) heteronanostructures. An OER current density of 10 mA cm(-2) is obtained with the Ni(x)Co(3-x)O4 nanowires under an overpotential of 337 mV in 1.0 M KOH, and an HER current density of 10 mA cm(-2) is obtained with the NiCo/NiCoO(x) heteronanostructures at an overpotential of 155 mV. When integrated in an electrolyzer, these catalysts demonstrate a stable performance in water splitting.

Orientation-dependent energy level alignment and film growth of 2,7-diocty[1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) on HOPG.

Combining ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction measurements, we performed a systematic investigation on the correlation of energy level alignment, film growth, and molecular orientation of 2,7-diocty[1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. The molecules lie down in the first layer and then stand up from the second layer. The ionization potential shows a sharp decrease from the lying down region to the standing up region. When C8-BTBT molecules start standing up, unconventional energy level band-bending-like shifts are observed as the film thickness increases. These shifts are ascribed to gradual decreasing of the molecular tilt angle about the substrate normal with the increasing film thickness.

Electronic structures at the interface between Au and CH3NH3PbI3.

The electronic properties of interfaces formed between Au and organometal triiodide perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) are investigated using ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS), inverse photoemission spectroscopy (IPES) and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). It is found that the CH3NH3PbI3 film coated onto the substrate of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/indium tin oxide (ITO) by a two-step method presents n-type semiconductor behavior, with a band gap of 1.7 eV and a valence band (VB) edge of 1.0 eV below the Fermi energy (EF). An interface dipole of 0.1 eV is observed at the CH3NH3PbI3/Au interface. The energy levels of CH3NH3PbI3 shift upward by ca. 0.4 eV with an Au coverage of 64 Å upon it, resulting in band bending, hence a built-in field in CH3NH3PbI3 that encourages hole transport to the interface. Hole accumulation occurs in the vicinity of the interface, facilitating the hole transfer from CH3NH3PbI3 to Au. Furthermore, the shift of the VB maximum of CH3NH3PbI3 toward the EF indicates a decrease of energy loss as holes transfer from CH3NH3PbI3 to Au.

Preliminary study of semi-quantitative and quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in evaluating the response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the capability of semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) to predict the response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy( CCRT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 24 patients with stage III or IIIB NSCLC, who underwent 3.0T DCE-MRI before CCRT, were enrolled in this study. Semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters were calculated by Funtool and Omnikinetics software. The relationship between these obtained parameters and tumor response was evaluated by Spearmen' s correlation analysis. The patients were classified into two groups according to the tumor regression rate after treatment, as response group (group A) and non-response group ( group B). Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the parameters of responders and non-responders. The value of the parameters on predicting response was calculated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The tumor regression rate after treatment was negatively correlated with time to peak (TTP) and the extravascular-extracellular volume fraction (Ve), and was positively correlated with signal enhancement ratio (SERmax) and volume transfer constant (Ktrans) (P < 0.05 for all). Statistical significant differences were found between group A and group B both in semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters (P < 0.05). Group A had a lower TTP value [(34.66 ± 16.37) s vs. (44.09 ± 17.41) s] and Ve value [(0.19 ± 0.03) vs. (0.25 ± 0.05)] than group B, whereas group A had a higher SERmax [(166.50 ± 44.95)% vs. (113.57 ± 46.62)%] and Ktrans [(0.41 ± 0.17) min(-1) vs. (0.28 ± 0.12) min(-1)] than group B (P < 0.05 for all). The ROC analysis indicated that when setting the threshold of Ve on ≤ 0.21 for predicting response, the specificity, sensitivity and accuracy were 85.7%, 80.0% and 83.3%, respectively, with an area under curve of 0.875 (P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both the semi-quantitative and quantitative DCE-MRI parameters are helpful for predicting the response after CCRT of NSCLC. Quantitative parameters seem to be more meaningful than semi-quantitative parameters.</p>