Broadband second harmonic generation in one-dimensional randomized nonlinear photonic crystal

We study experimentally second harmonic generation in a one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal with randomized inverted-domain structure. We show that the randomness enables one to realize an efficient broadband emission of high-quality second harmonic beam.The authors acknowledge financial support from the Australian Research Council and Australian Academy of Science

Modular stem in total hip arthroplasty for patients with trochanter valgus deformity: surgical technique and case series.

BACKGROUND: Trochanter valgus deformity (TVD) is a rare condition of total hip arthroplasty (THA). Femoral osteotomy could be required in correcting the deformity to implant femoral stem in severe TVD. In this study, we described one unpublished technique of reverse sleeve of S-ROM to get through the complex situation. This study aimed to summarize and evaluate its technical challenges, safety and effectiveness. METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2014, we enrolled patients whose sleeves were implanted towards the great trochanter in THA with TVD. Their demographics, perioperative and postoperative information were recorded. To explore its indication, we measured and analyzed the ratio of greater trochanter/lesser trochanter (G/L ratio) and trochanter valgus angle (TVA). RESULTS: Twelve patients (1 male and 11 female, average age 42.30 ± 10.23) had mean follow-up of 6 years. Among them, only two patients had intraoperative femoral fracture. The survivorship of femoral prosthesis was 100%. The Harris hip score (HHS) increased from preoperative 34.31 ± 14.43 to postoperative 84.12 ± 11.33. All patients\u27 G/L ratio were larger than 1.50. CONCLUSIONS: The reverse sleeve of S-ROM was a reliable method for the patients with severe TVD, which brought satisfying clinical outcomes in mid-term follow-up

Fucoxanthin improves functional recovery of orbitopathy in Graves’ disease by downregulating IL-17 mRNA expression in a mouse model

Purpose: To explore the efficacy of fucoxanthin (FX), a carotenoid, against inflammation via inhibition of IL-17 mRNA expression, and its anti-oxidant activity in Graves’ orbitopathy (GO)-induced mice model.Methods: The effects of FX on IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, MCP-1, and TNF-α, in orbital fibroblast tissues extracted from GO-induced BALB/c mice was  investigated. Anti-oxidative stress markers, 8-hydroxy-2’- deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were quantified in tear samples collected from GO-induced FX treated mice.Results: FX administration in cultured human orbital fibroblast cells revealed almost complete cell viability and no cell apoptosis. FX resulted in IL-1β induced Beclin-1 and Atg-5 silencing, in cultured human orbital fibroblasts. BALB/c mice immunized with Ad-TSHR289 indicated elevated levels ofthyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies in the serum sample. FX predominantly downregulated the mRNA expression of IL-17, and also reduced increased 8-OHdG and MDA in the tear secretion of GO-induced mice.Conclusion: FX may be an effective and useful molecule for the treatment of GO, through its antiinflammatory and anti-oxidative potential, but it requires further investigation to ascertain its therapeutic effectiveness. Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, Anti-oxidant, Fucoxanthin, Graves’ disease, Graves’ orbitopathy, IL-1

Traffic by multiple species of molecular motors

We study the traffic of two types of molecular motors using the two-species symmetric simple exclusion process (ASEP) with periodic boundary conditions and with attachment and detachment of particles. We determine characteristic properties such as motor densities and currents by simulations and analytical calculations. For motors with different unbinding probabilities, mean field theory gives the correct bound density and total current of the motors, as shown by numerical simulations. For motors differing in their stepping probabilities, the particle-hole symmetry of the current-density relationship is broken and mean field theory fails drastically. The total motor current exhibits exponential finite-size scaling, which we use to extrapolate the total current to the thermodynamic limit. Finally, we also study the motion of a single motor in the background of many non-moving motors.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures, late

Spirit-empowered Discipleship in Acts

Discipleship study had unavoidably been focused on the Gospels, and rightfully so. Whereas missions and church planting tended to occupy centre stage in the study of the book of Acts, and discipleship was often overshadowed. Nevertheless, Spirit-empowered discipleship, undoubtedly, had played a crucial role in the explosive growth of the early church. The purpose of this project is to utilize the four “E” principles of discipleship implicit in Acts: empowerment, exhortation, encouragement and exaltation to galvanize growth in Faith Hope Love Chinese church. It shall investigate the discipleship pattern that existed, apply the underlying principles given, and subsequently, analyze the lives through surveyed responses from church members, and conclude with a model for disciple multiplication. The project seeks to show that by applying these principles, new believers of Faith Hope Love can become powerful change agents for God’s Kingdom

New digital infrastructure, cross-border e-commerce and global vision of creating Electronic World Trade Platform

The rapid development of cross-border e-commerce has integrated with the global economy more closely in the past decade. How to create global digital customs to facilitate cross-border e-commerce on the basis of national Single Window system has become an important task for national governments and international organizations such as World Customs Organizations? The paper aims to explore the relationship between technological progress, cross-border e-commerce and the establishment of global digital customs from the dimensions of the latest development of new digital infrastructure, national Single Window system and global vision of creating Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP). It is argued that cross-border e-commerce platforms, national Single Window and eWTP, all of which are indispensable for the establishment of global digital customs, have close linkages in business regulation, data sharing and information exchange. The establishment of global digital customs requires global governance through the joint efforts by firms, national governments and international organizations

Gray-level co-occurrence matrix bone fracture detection

Problem statement: Currently doctors in orthopedic wards inspect the bone x-ray images according to their experience and knowledge in bone fracture analysis. Manual examination of x-rays has multitude drawbacks. The process is time-consuming and subjective. Approach: Since detection of fractures is an important orthopedics and radiologic problem and therefore a Computer Aided Detection(CAD) system should be developed to improve the scenario. In this study, a fracture detection CAD based on GLCM recognition could improve the current manual inspection of x-ray images system. The GLCM for fracture and non-fracture bone is computed and analysis is made. Features of Homogeneity, contrast, energy, correlation are calculated to classify the fractured bone. Results: 30 images of femur fractures have been tested, the result shows that the CAD system can differentiate the x-ray bone into fractured and nonfractured femur. The accuracy obtained from the system is 86.67. Conclusion: The CAD system is proved to be effective in classifying the digital radiograph of bone fracture. However the accuracy rate is not perfect, the performance of this system can be further improved using multiple features of GLCM and future works can be done on classifying the bone into different degree of fracture specifically