Research on compressive mechanical properties of metal rubber and its constitutive relation model

The static compression test of metal rubber components was carried out by using the control variable method. Influences of technological parameters such as relative density and metal wire diameter as well as structural parameters such as height and bearing area on mechanical properties of metal rubber material were studied. Based on micro-element infinitesimal spring theory, one-dimensional (1D) constitutive model of metal rubber material bearing compressive load was established, and it was found by comparing with experimental data that the curve fitted well and the model was reliable, could accurately describe the mechanical behaviors of metal rubber component when bearing load. The model provides theoretical basis for further study of mechanical properties of metal rubber material. It also guides design and manufacture of metal rubber products as well as its engineering application

Experimental cyclic inter-conversion between Coherence and Quantum Correlations

Quantum resource theories seek to quantify sources of non-classicality that bestow quantum technologies their operational advantage. Chief among these are studies of quantum correlations and quantum coherence. The former to isolate non-classicality in the correlations between systems, the latter to capture non-classicality of quantum superpositions within a single physical system. Here we present a scheme that cyclically inter-converts between these resources without loss. The first stage converts coherence present in an input system into correlations with an ancilla. The second stage harnesses these correlations to restore coherence on the input system by measurement of the ancilla. We experimentally demonstrate this inter-conversion process using linear optics. Our experiment highlights the connection between non-classicality of correlations and non-classicality within local quantum systems, and provides potential flexibilities in exploiting one resource to perform tasks normally associated with the other.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, comments welcom

Postoperative steroids after Kasai portoenterostomy for biliary atresia: A meta-analysis

AbstractAim: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine if adjunct steroids affect jaundice-free, cholangitis, and survival rates after Kasai portoenterostomy. Methods: The literature was searched using the following terms: biliary atresia, portoenterostomy, steroids, glucocorticoids, dexamethasone, prednisolone, and hydrocortisone. The primary outcome was the jaundice-free rate. Secondary outcomes were cholangitis and survival rates. Results: Ten studies were included in the systematic review and 8 in the meta-analyses. Steroid treatment regimens were inconsistent between studies. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for the jaundice-free rate did not significantly favor steroid over non-steroid treatment (1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91–4.11; P = 0.087), nor did the pooled OR for the cholangitis rate (0.75; 95% CI: 0.48–1.17; P = 0.202). Overall survival ranged from 58 to 95% in the steroid group and from 36 to 96% in the control group. Native liver survival ranged from 30 to 56% in the steroid group and from 31 to 48% in the control group. The survival data were not suitable for meta-analysis. Conclusions: Although these results imply that adjunct steroids after Kasai portoenterostomy for BA may not improve jaundice-free or cholangitis rates, the quality of available evidence is limited and therefore not definitive. Additional high quality studies are needed

(±)-5-Ethyl-2-(4-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)nicotinic acid

In the title compound, C15H19N3O3, owing to an intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond, the pyridine and imidazole rings are nearly coplanar and are twisted from each other by a dihedral angle of only 0.92 (9)°. The mol­ecules are linked through inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding, forming an infinite chain parallel to the b axis

Towards Effective Management: Toxicity, Causal Mechanism and Controlling Strategy of Toxic Rangeland Weeds in Western China

Toxic rangeland weeds (TRWs) pose a great threat to animal husbandry. Currently, an estimated 33 million hectares of pasture (10%) in western China is infested by a variety of toxic weeds, including Stellera chamaejasme, Oxytropis spp., Astragalus spp., Achnatherum inebrians. The spread of these toxic weeds results in huge annual economic losses of more than $2.4 billion USD (direct and indirect). A combination of ecology, molecular biology, biochemistry and field practise methods will be used to identify and evaluate TRWs, explore the mechanism of toxicity, and more importantly, understand the causal mechanism by which TRWs flourish. The knowledge will underpin the development of effective management strategies

Treatment of cerebrospinal fluid leakage with prolonged use of subfascial epidural drain and antibiotics in patients of thoracic myelopathy after posterior decompression surgery

BackgroundCerebrospinal fluid leakage (CSFL) is a prevalent and vexing complication associated with spine surgery. No standard protocol is available guiding CSFL management, especially for thoracic CSFL. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of prolonged use of subfascial epidural drain and antibiotics to treat CSFL after posterior thoracic decompression surgery.MethodsFifty-six patients with an average age of 52.3 years (24–76 years), who underwent thoracic decompression with CSFL (group A) and 65 patients with an average age of 54.9 years (25–80 years) without CSFL (group B) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients in group A had prolonged use of subfascial drainage and antibiotics and patients in group B were treated with conventional methods. The surgical results and rate of wound related complications was compared between the two groups.ResultsThe average subfascial drainage time was 7.0 ± 2.7 days (2–16 days) and 3.8 ± 1.4 days (2–7 days) in group A and B, respectively. Higher occupation rate (>49%), presence of dural ossification and higher MRI grade (>2) were more likely to presented with CSFL. In group A, four patients (7.1%) presented with deep wound infection and were successfully managed with wound debridement or intravenous antibiotics. In group B, one patient (1.5%) had a superficial wound infection and was treated with antibiotics. No patients presented with wound dehiscence, wound exudation or CSF fistulation.ConclusionThe occupation rate of ossified mass and presence of dural ossification were the major risk factors of CSFL. No significant difference in infection rates was observed between the patients in group A and B

MicroRNA-483 amelioration of experimental pulmonary hypertension.

Endothelial dysfunction is critically involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and that exogenously administered microRNA may be of therapeutic benefit. Lower levels of miR-483 were found in serum from patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), particularly those with more severe disease. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analyses showed that miR-483 targets several PAH-related genes, including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), TGF-β receptor 2 (TGFBR2), β-catenin, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Overexpression of miR-483 in ECs inhibited inflammatory and fibrogenic responses, revealed by the decreased expression of TGF-β, TGFBR2, β-catenin, CTGF, IL-1β, and ET-1. In contrast, inhibition of miR-483 increased these genes in ECs. Rats with EC-specific miR-483 overexpression exhibited ameliorated pulmonary hypertension (PH) and reduced right ventricular hypertrophy on challenge with monocrotaline (MCT) or Sugen + hypoxia. A reversal effect was observed in rats that received MCT with inhaled lentivirus overexpressing miR-483. These results indicate that PAH is associated with a reduced level of miR-483 and that miR-483 might reduce experimental PH by inhibition of multiple adverse responses