CX43 and oxidative stress are the targets of BCB staining to predict the developmental potential of buffalo oocytes.

This study used the brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining method to group buffalo oocytes (BCB+ and BCB-) and perform in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization and embryo culture. At the same time, molecular biology techniques were used to detect gap junction protein expression and oxidative stress-related indicators to explore the molecular mechanism of BCB staining to predict oocyte developmental potential. The techniques of buffalo oocytes to analyse their developmental potential and used immunofluorescence staining to detect the expression level of CX43 protein, DCFH-DA probe staining to detect ROS levels and qPCR to detect the expression levels of the antioxidant-related genes SOD2 and GPX1. Our results showed that the in vitro maturation rate, embryo cleavage rate and blastocyst rate of buffalo oocytes in the BCB+ group were significantly higher than those in the BCB- group and the control group (p < .05). The expression level of CX43 protein in the BCB+ group was higher than that in the BCB- group both before and after maturation (p < .05). The intensity of ROS in the BCB+ group was significantly lower than that in the BCB- group (p < .05), and the expression levels of the antioxidant-related genes SOD2 and GPX1 in the BCB+ group were significantly higher than those in the BCB- group (p < .05). Brilliant cresyl blue staining could effectively predict the developmental potential of buffalo oocytes. The results of BCB staining were positively correlated with the expression of gap junction protein and antioxidant-related genes and negatively correlated with the reactive oxygen species level, suggesting that the mechanism of BCB staining in predicting the developmental potential of buffalo oocytes might be closely related to antioxidant activity.

Hydrogen peroxide as a mitigation against Microcystis sp. bloom.

Microcystis sp. is a harmful cyanobacterial species commonly seen in earthen ponds. The overgrowth of these algae can lead to fluctuations in water parameters, including DO and pH. Also, the microcystins produced by these algae are toxic to aquatic animals. This study applied hydrogen peroxide (7 mg/L) to treat Microcystis sp. in a laboratory setting and in three earthen pond trials. In the lab we observed a 64.7% decline in Microcystis sp. And in our earthen pond field experiments we measured, on average, 43% reductions in Microcystis sp. cell counts within one hour. The treatment was found to eliminate specifically Microcystis sp. and did not reduce the cell count of the other algae species in the pond. A shift of the algae community towards the beneficial algae was also found post-treatment. Lastly, during the pond trials, the gill status of Tilapia and Giant tiger prawn were not affected by the H2O2 treatment suggesting this may be a good mitigation strategy for reducing cyanobacteria in pond aquaculture.

Exact optical path difference and complete performance analysis of a spectral zooming imaging spectrometer.

The optical path difference (OPD) equations of the dual Wollaston prisms (DWP) with an adjustable air gap (AG) are derived by the wave normal tracing method, which is suitable for arbitrary incidence plane and angle. The spatial distribution of the OPD for various AG is presented. The validity of the OPD equation is verified by comparing the calculated interferograms with experimentally observed one. The performance of a novel static birefringent Fourier transform imaging spectrometer (SBFTIS) based on the DWP is investigated. The spectral resolution can be adjusted by changing the AG and the field of view can reach 10.0°, which is much larger than that predicted by our previous work. The results obtained in this article provide a theoretical basis for completely describing the optical transmission characteristic of the DWP and developing the high-performance birefringent spectral zooming imaging spectrometer.

Evaluating the quantum Ziv-Zakai bound for phase estimation in noisy environments.

In the highly non-Gaussian regime, the quantum Ziv-Zakai bound (QZZB) provides a lower bound on the available precision, demonstrating the better performance compared with the quantum Cramér-Rao bound. However, evaluating the impact of a noisy environment on the QZZB without applying certain approximations proposed by Tsang [Phys. Rev. Lett.108, 230401 (2012)10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.230401] remains a difficult challenge. In this paper, we not only derive the asymptotically tight QZZB for phase estimation with the photon loss and the phase diffusion by invoking the variational method and the technique of integration within an ordered product of operators, but also show its estimation performance for several different Gaussian resources, such as a coherent state (CS), a single-mode squeezed vacuum state (SMSVS) and a two-mode squeezed vacuum state (TMSVS). In this asymptotically tight situation, our results indicate that compared with the SMSVS and the TMSVS, the QZZB for the CS always shows the better estimation performance under the photon-loss environment. More interestingly, for the phase-diffusion environment, the estimation performance of the QZZB for the TMSVS can be better than that for the CS throughout a wide range of phase-diffusion strength. Our findings will provide an useful guidance for investigating the noisy quantum parameter estimation.

Low-cost and simple fabrication of hierarchical Al nanopit arrays for deep ultraviolet refractive index sensing.

Herein, we proposed a simple non-lithographic way to fabricate hierarchical Al nanopit arrays performed as deep ultraviolet (DUV, 200-300 nm) refractive index sensing. Only by adjusting the Al deposition thickness on the Al nanopit array, the hierarchical Al nanopit arrays with tunable plasmonic properties in the DUV region were obtained. The prepared hierarchical Al nanopit arrays are of very good time stability and its RI sensitivity and concentration detection limit of adenine ethanol solution reach 311 nm/RIU and5×10-6M,respectively, as the Al deposition thickness is 60 nm. Furthermore, the electric field distribution simulation results show that high RI sensing characteristic are mainly attributed to the local surface plasmon resonance. This investigation provides a facile way to develop low cost, high efficient and easily fabricated Al-based RI sensor in the DUV region.

Protective effects of L-arginine on the intestinal epithelial barrier under heat stress conditions in rats and IEC-6 cell line.

Heat stress (HS) and the associated restricted blood flow to the intestine have been proven to destroy intestinal integrity. Considering the beneficial properties of L-arginine on gut function, we investigated the protective effects of L-arginine on the intestine under HS conditions. In vivo, the serum cortisol level and the rectal temperature increased in response to HS. Under HS, the intestinal damage showed obvious morphological changes. Furthermore, HS decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of Nurr1, ZO-1, occludin, claudin-6 and E-cadherin, increased the mRNA expression of NF-κB and IL-1ß, and increased the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3. In contrast, L-arginine supplementation maintained intestinal integrity and increased the villus/crypt ratio. L-arginine also suppressed the expression of inflammation-related genes and the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3, whereas it upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of tight junction proteins and LC3B protein expression. In vitro, L-arginine attenuated HS-induced apoptosis as demonstrated by flow cytometry and decreased cleaved caspase-3 protein expression. L-arginine induced autophagy, which was demonstrated by decreased expression of p62 and p-mTOR/mTOR, and increased expression of LC3B. The protein expression levels of TJ proteins also enhanced by L-arginine in IEC-6 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that L-arginine can alleviate intestinal damage and protect the intestinal integrity by suppressing local inflammation response, promoting the production of TJs and facilitating autophagy under HS conditions.

Facile fabrication of 2D hetero core-satellites patterned Ag nanoparticle arrays with tunable plasmonic bands for SERS detection.

A core-satellites metal nanostructure with high local electromagnetic (EM) intensity and density has shown great potential in ultrasensitive detection technologies, but complexity and uncontrollability of fabrication is a major obstacle for further application. Here, only by controlling the deposited Ag thickness, we facilely achieved 2D hetero core-satellites patterned Ag nanoparticle (NP) arrays for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection. The Ag nanoparticles were assembled by electron beam evaporation of Ag onto the anodized patterned aluminum template (APAlT) at a temperature above 0.24 times the melting point of Ag. The plasmonic bands can be continuously tuned from the visible to near-infrared region. The SERS enhancement factor (EF) and relative standard deviation (RSD) of as-prepared SERS active substrates for R6G molecules reached 107 and about 5%, respectively, and a SERS detection limit down to 10-9 M was obtained. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations revealed that the high SERS activity originates mainly from the local electromagnetic (EM) enhancement in the gaps between the core and satellites. The simple and controllable fabrication strategy and superior SERS performance make the 2D hetero core-satellites patterned Ag NPs arrays promising candidates for SERS-based sensor applications and provide a new approach for developing an inexpensive, efficient, and mass-produced SERS active substrate.

L-Arginine alleviates heat stress-induced intestinal epithelial barrier damage by promoting expression of tight junction proteins via the AMPK pathway.

Heat stress (HS) and secondary restricted blood flow to the intestines cause dysfunction of the intestinal epithelial barrier. Tight junctions (TJs) are essential to maintain intestinal integrity. L-Arginine has beneficial effects on gut functions. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that L-arginine regulates the TJ network by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, which in turn improves intestinal barrier functions under HS. IEC-6 cells and rat small intestines were used as experiment models of heat stress. AICAR and dorsomorphin were used to activate and inhibit the AMPK pathway, respectively. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, differential gene expression and KEGG pathway analysis, intestinal paracellular permeability, intestinal morphology, and expression of HSP and TJ proteins, and p-AMPK were determined. L-Arginine promoted cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis after heat exposure at an optimal concentration of 5 mmol. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes associated with the HSP family and TJs were elevated by L-arginine. According to KEGG pathway analysis, L-arginine activated the AMPK signaling pathway. In vivo, intestinal damage resulted in obvious morphological changes as well as apoptosis with TUNEL and caspase-3 staining under HS and dorsomorphin treatments. Furthermore, HS and dorsomorphin increased the serum D-lactate concentration, diamine oxidase activity, and mRNA expression level of MLCK (P < 0.05). In contrast, L-arginine and AICAR treatments reduced intestinal injury, maintained intestinal permeability, and increased the villus/crypt ratio under hyperthermia. L-Arginine had the same effect as AICAR both in vitro and in vivo, namely increasing p-AMPK protein expression. L-Arginine and AICAR also upregulated the mRNA expression level of HSP70 and HSP90, and downregulated mRNA expression of MLCK (P < 0.05). The protein expression levels of TJ proteins ZO-1 and claudin-1 were suppressed by heat stroke and dorsomorphin, but enhanced by L-arginine and AICAR. Our findings indicate that activation of AMPK signaling by L-arginine is associated with improved intestinal mucosal barrier functions by enhancing the expression of TJs in rat small intestines and IEC-6 cells during HS.

Experimental study on the sensitive depth of backwards detected light in turbid media.

In the recent past, optical spectroscopy and imaging methods for biomedical diagnosis and target enhancing have been widely researched. The challenge to improve the performance of these methods is to know the sensitive depth of the backwards detected light well. Former research mainly employed a Monte Carlo method to run simulations to statistically describe the light sensitive depth. An experimental method for investigating the sensitive depth was developed and is presented here. An absorption plate was employed to remove all the light that may have travelled deeper than the plate, leaving only the light which cannot reach the plate. By measuring the received backwards light intensity and the depth between the probe and the plate, the light intensity distribution along the depth dimension can be achieved. The depth with the maximum light intensity was recorded as the sensitive depth. The experimental results showed that the maximum light intensity was nearly the same in a short depth range. It could be deduced that the sensitive depth was a range, rather than a single depth. This sensitive depth range as well as its central depth increased consistently with the increasing source-detection distance. Relationships between sensitive depth and optical properties were also investigated. It also showed that the reduced scattering coefficient affects the central sensitive depth and the range of the sensitive depth more than the absorption coefficient, so they cannot be simply added as reduced distinct coefficients to describe the sensitive depth. This study provides an efficient method for investigation of sensitive depth. It may facilitate the development of spectroscopy and imaging techniques for biomedical diagnosis and underwater imaging.

The crosstalk between endometrial stromal cells and macrophages impairs cytotoxicity of NK cells in endometriosis by secreting IL-10 and TGF-ß.

The dysfunction of NK cells in women with endometriosis (EMS) contributes to the immune escape of menstrual endometrial fragments refluxed into the peritoneal cavity. The reciprocal communications between endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and lymphocytes facilitate the development of EMS. However, the mechanism of these communications on cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells in endometriotic milieus is still largely unknown. To imitate the local immune microenvironment, the co-culture systems of ESCs from patients with EMS and monocyte-derived macrophages or of ESCs, macrophages and NK cells were constructed. The cytokine levels in the co-culture unit were evaluated by ELISA. The expression of functional molecules in NK cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The NK cell behaviors in vitro were analyzed by cell counting kit-8 and cytotoxic activation assays. After incubation with ESCs and macrophages, the expression of CD16, NKG2D, perforin and IFN-γ, viability and cytotoxicity of NK cells were significantly downregulated. The secretion of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß in the co-culture system of ESCs and macrophages was increased. Exposure with anti-IL-10 receptor ß neutralizing antibody (αhIL-10Rß) or αTGF-ß could partly reverse these effects of ESCs and macrophages on NK cells in vitro These results suggest that the interaction between macrophages and ESCs downregulates cytotoxicity of NK cells possibly by stimulating the secretion of IL-10 and TGF-ß, and may further trigger the immune escape of ectopic fragments and promote the occurrence and the development of EMS.

Protective Effects of Isorhamnetin on Cardiomyocytes Against Anoxia/Reoxygenation-induced Injury Is Mediated by SIRT1.

It has been reported that apoptosis plays a very important role on anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R)-induced injury, and human silent information regulator type 1 (SIRT1) can inhibit the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. It has been proved that isorhamnetin (IsoRN), 3'-O-methyl-quecetin, can protect the cardiomyocytes, but the mechanism is still not clear. The aim of the study was to explore whether the protective effects of IsoRN on the cardiomyocytes against the A/R-induced injury are mediated by SIRT1. The effects of IsoRN on cardioprotection against A/R injury in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were monitored by cell viability, the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), apoptosis, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and mitochondrial permeability transition pores (mPTP). The effects on protein expression were measured by western blot assay. The results showed that IsoRN can reduce A/R-induced injury by decreasing the level of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase release from the cardiomyocytes, increasing cell viability and expression of SIRT1, reducing the generation of reactive oxygen species, inhibiting opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores and loss of Δψm and activation of caspase-3, and decreasing the release of cytochrome c, and reducing apoptosis. In addition, sirtinol, a SIRT1 inhibitor, drastically reduced the protective effects of IsoRN on cardioprotective effects in cardiomocytes. In conclusion, we firstly demonstrated that SIRT1 may be involved in the protective effects of IsoRN on cardiomocytes against the A/R-induced injury.

[Optical Properties of Ag-Al Nanosphere Heterodimer].

Metal nanostructure material has attracted great attention due to its surface plasmon resonance. The optical properties of heterodimer metallic nanostructure materials are different compared with that of homogeneous nanostructure materials because their symmetry structure is broken. The symmetry of the original structures will be changed, and the interaction between the two particles will produce Fano resonance. The Fano resonances are the result of the double or more surface plasmon resonances coupling, and be controlled by properly controlling the nanostructures. The electric field enhancement and the radiation characteristics of the nanostructure are further optimized for the Fano resonance controlled. Aluminum nanostructure materials have become the best choice of the surface plasmon resonance in the UV region, because gold, silver and other noble metals have inter-band transition effects. In this work, we study the local field and absorption spectra of heterodimer composed of a silver nanosphere and an aluminum nanosphere by the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) theory. Firstly, the effects of the incident polarization, the geometric like, nanospheres separation, nanosphere radius and physical dielectric media on the optical response of silver-aluminum nanospheres heterodimer are analyzed. Secondly, the near field distributions of heterodimer are given in-depth discussion. Due to the destruction of the symmetry of dimer material, heterodimeric optical character is significantly different from homodimer. Fano resonances are produced in UV and visible light in the heterodimer respectively when silver-aluminum nanospheres heterodimer is illuminated by the Y-polarized light. More favorable Fano resonance effects can be obtained by regulating the spacing and size of heterodimer in the given dielectric environment which is also an effect factor certainly. Finally, the absorption of the heterodimer contributed from each nanosphere structure is also analyzed. In this way, the result which is a general and complete description of the optical properties of silver-aluminum nanospheres heterodimer nanostructure in the paper, leads to the suppression and enhancement of the surface plasmon resonance in different frequency bands and may be valuable for the design and development of plasmonic devices and optical tools in UV-visible light and could serve as the basis of the future experimental analysis of surface enhanced spectroscopy, molecular detection and biosensor etc.

Origin and adult renewal of the gut lacteal musculature from villus myofibroblasts.

Intestinal smooth muscles are the workhorse of the digestive system. Inside the millions of finger-like intestinal projections called villi, strands of smooth muscle cells contract to propel absorbed dietary fats through the adjacent lymphatic vessel, called the lacteal, sending fats into the blood circulation for energy production. Despite this vital function, how villus smooth muscles form, how they assemble alongside lacteals, and how they repair throughout life remain unknown. Here we combine single-cell RNA sequencing of the mouse intestine with quantitative lineage tracing to reveal the mechanisms of formation and differentiation of villus smooth muscle cells. Within the highly regenerative villus, we uncover a local hierarchy of subepithelial fibroblast progenitors that progress to become mature smooth muscle fibers, via an intermediate contractile myofibroblast-like phenotype. This continuum persists in the adult intestine as the major source of renewal of villus smooth muscle cells during adult life. We further found that the NOTCH3-DLL4 signaling axis governs the assembly of villus smooth muscles alongside their adjacent lacteal, and we show that this is necessary for gut absorptive function. Overall, our data shed light on the genesis of a poorly defined class of intestinal smooth muscle and pave the way for new opportunities to accelerate recovery of digestive function by stimulating muscle repair.

Villus myofibroblasts are developmental and adult progenitors of mammalian gut lymphatic musculature.

Inside the finger-like intestinal projections called villi, strands of smooth muscle cells contract to propel absorbed dietary fats through the adjacent lymphatic capillary, the lacteal, sending fats into the systemic blood circulation for energy production. Despite this vital function, mechanisms of formation, assembly alongside lacteals, and maintenance of villus smooth muscle are unknown. By combining single-cell RNA sequencing and quantitative lineage tracing of the mouse intestine, we identified a local hierarchy of subepithelial fibroblast progenitors that differentiate into mature smooth muscle fibers via intermediate contractile myofibroblasts. This continuum persists as the major mechanism for villus musculature renewal throughout adult life. The NOTCH3-DLL4 signaling axis governs the assembly of smooth muscle fibers alongside their adjacent lacteals and is required for fat absorption. Our studies identify the ontogeny and maintenance of a poorly defined class of intestinal smooth muscle, with implications for accelerated repair and recovery of digestive function following injury.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for non-motor symptoms in Parkinson disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, which has impacts on the patient's quality of life due to non-motor symptoms such as sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained increasing attention in the diagnosis and treatment of PD with the concept of "overall concepts and dialectical treatment." Therefore, exploring the characteristics of TCM in the treatment of PD can improve the level of diagnosis and treatment of PD. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared TCM intervention with conventional treatments or placebo for non-motor symptoms in PD. The quality of the included RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. RESULTS: A total of 9 RCTs involving 1714 participants with PD were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that TCM was effective in improving non-motor symptoms, including depression (Hamilton depression rating scale [HAMD], weighted mean difference [WMD] = 4.24, 95% CI = 2.84-5.65, P < .0001), anxiety (HAMA, WMD = 4.03, 95% CI = 2.64-5.41, P < .0001), autonomic dysfunction (Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's disease-Autonomic, WMD = 4.57, 95% CI = 1.69-7.45, P = .002), non-motor symptoms (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-part 1, WMD = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.20-1011, P = .004), and quality of life (PDQ-39, WMD = 6.72, 95% CI = 0.87-12.58, P < .05), compared with baseline. Zishen Pingchan granules was particularly effective for depression (HAMD, WMD = -1.94, 95% CI = -3.07 to -0.81, P < .001, compared to placebo; HAMD, WMD = 3.40, 95% CI = 0.52-6.28, P < .05, after treatment). Pingchan granules was particularly effective for quality of life after treatment (PDQ-39, WMD = 10.20, 95% CI = 1.87-18.53, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: TCM is effective and safety for improvement of depression, anxiety, autonomic dysfunctions, and quality of life in PD. Zishen Pingchan granules was particularly effective for depression; and Pingchan granules was particularly effective for quality of life.

Analysis and Application of Matrix-Form Neural Networks for Fast Matrix-Variable Convex Optimization.

Matrix-variable optimization is a generalization of vector-variable optimization and has been found to have many important applications. To reduce computation time and storage requirement, this article presents two matrix-form recurrent neural networks (RNNs), one continuous-time model and another discrete-time model, for solving matrix-variable optimization problems with linear constraints. The two proposed matrix-form RNNs have low complexity and are suitable for parallel implementation in terms of matrix state space. The proposed continuous-time matrix-form RNN can significantly generalize existing continuous-time vector-form RNN. The proposed discrete-time matrix-form RNN can be effectively used in blind image restoration, where the storage requirement and computational cost are largely reduced. Theoretically, the two proposed matrix-form RNNs are guaranteed to be globally convergent to the optimal solution under mild conditions. Computed results show that the proposed matrix-form RNN-based algorithm is superior to related vector-form RNN and matrix-form RNN-based algorithms, in terms of computation time.

Two Recurrent Neural Networks With Reduced Model Complexity for Constrained l1-Norm Optimization.

Because of the robustness and sparsity performance of least absolute deviation (LAD or l1 ) optimization, developing effective solution methods becomes an important topic. Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are reported to be capable of effectively solving constrained l1 -norm optimization problems, but their convergence speed is limited. To accelerate the convergence, this article introduces two RNNs, in form of continuous- and discrete-time systems, for solving l1 -norm optimization problems with linear equality and inequality constraints. The RNNs are theoretically proven to be globally convergent to optimal solutions without any condition. With reduced model complexity, the two RNNs can significantly expedite constrained l1 -norm optimization. Numerical simulation results show that the two RNNs spend much less computational time than related RNNs and numerical optimization algorithms for linearly constrained l1 -norm optimization.

Simulation and optimization of the thermal sterilization process of puree cans using the production of chestnut puree as an example.

In the production process of puree cans such as chestnuts cans, it is easy to browning due to excessive heating, which causes a lot of waste every year. The heat and mass transfer model of Chinese Chestnut Puree was established through the finite element method. The model simulated the change process of the temperature field, heat flow velocity field and F value during the production of Chinese Chestnut Puree. After comparing and confirming the effectiveness of the model through the thermal penetration test, the model was used to adjust and optimize the production process. For #9121 cans, the two-stage sterilization method was adopted. Through the sterilization method at 10-65-48-14/118-110°C, a sterilization effect equivalent to that of the original process at 10-86-24/121°C was achieved, the browning problem of the product was alleviated, and the product quality was improved. This practice can also provide a reference for canning enterprises to adjust their production processes in the future.

In situ generation of highly localized chlorine by laser-induced graphene electrodes during electrochemical disinfection.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has gained popularity for electrochemical water disinfection due to its efficient antimicrobial activity when activated with low voltages. However, the antimicrobial mechanism of LIG electrodes is not yet fully understood. This study demonstrated an array of mechanisms working synergistically to inactivate bacteria during electrochemical treatment using LIG electrodes, including the generation of oxidants, changes in pH-specifically high alkalinity associated with the cathode, and electro-adsorption on the electrodes. All these mechanisms may contribute to the disinfection process when bacteria are close to the surface of the electrodes where inactivation was independent of the reactive chlorine species (RCS); however, RCS was likely responsible for the predominant cause of antibacterial effects in the bulk solution (i.e., ≥100 mL in our study). Furthermore, the concentration and diffusion kinetics of RCS in solution was voltage-dependent. At 6 V, RCS achieved a high concentration in water, while at 3 V, RCS was highly localized on the LIG surface but not measurable in water. Despite this, the LIG electrodes activated by 3 V achieved a 5.5-log reduction in Escherichia coli (E.coli) after 120-min electrolysis without detectable chlorine, chlorate, or perchlorate in the water, suggesting a promising system for efficient, energy-saving, and safe electro-disinfection.

Intestinal obstruction due to congenital bands from vitelline remnants: sonographic features and review of the literature.

An anomalous congenital band is a well-known cause of intestinal obstruction, but it is rare and usually presents a diagnostic challenge. With high-frequency sonography, it is possible for intestinal obstruction due to a vitelline band to be diagnosed preoperatively. We describe the sonographic findings of 2 cases that led us to make the correct diagnosis, which was confirmed by surgery.