Thick branes with inner structure in mimetic f(R)f(R) gravity

In this paper, we study the structure and gravitational resonances of thick branes generated by a mimetic scalar field in $f(R)$ gravity. We obtain several typical thick brane solutions for $f(R)=R+\alpha R^2$. To study their stability, we analyze the tensor perturbation of the metric. It is shown that any thick brane model with $df/dR>0$ is stable and the graviton zero mode can be localized on the brane for each solution, which indicates that the four-dimensional Newtonian gravity can be restored. The effect of the parameter $\alpha$ on the gravitational resonances is studied. As a brane splits into multi sub-branes, the effective potential of the tensor perturbation will have an abundant inner structure with multi-wells, and this will lead to new phenomena of the gravitational resonances.Comment: 14 pages, 26 figures, improved version, references adde

Emergent management of penetrating trauma of aortic arch in a countryside hospital

AbstractAccording to the literature, only a small proportion of occurrences regarding penetrating trauma of the thoracic aorta can be treated successfully. Herein we reported our experience of a recent rescue of such a patient in a countryside hospital lacking advanced instruments for cardiopulmonary bypass operations. A 20-year-old male was admitted for a penetrating injury with disrupted innominate vein and right common carotid artery together with a 1.5-cm laceration on the aortic arch between the innominate artery and the left common carotid artery. The patient was successfully saved without the implementation of cardiopulmonary bypass. Presentation and management in this case were discussed

Simulation and Experimental Validation of Hypersonic Shock Wave Interaction

Abstract: The present paper examines the relevance of grid and simulation accuracy of hypersonic CFD in terms of hypersonic sharp double-cone flow. The flow grid and normal grid each adopted 250×100, 500×100, 1000×100, 500×200, 1000×200, 1000×400 and so on grids. When the normal grid was 100, the wall pressure and heat flux distribution obtained from flow grid 500 and 1000 were consistent, indicating that the solution of flow grid convergence was obtained. However, some difference was observed when the separation zone was compared with the experimental data. In increasing the normal grid number and adopting grid 500×200, the position of the separation point, wall pressure and heat flux peak was shown to be consistent with the experiment. When the grid was further encrypted, the calculation using grid 1000×200 and 1000×400 was equal to that using grid 500×200. The simulation of hypersonic sharp double-cone flow also showed that when the separation zone of the simulation was less than the experimental measurement, the wall pressure and heat flux peak moved forward. This is because the backwardness of the intersection of the separation shock and the first shock resulted in the forwardness of the intersection of the first shock and the second shock after interference, making the work region of the induction shock and boundary layer move forward. The key challenge in achieving the correct simulation of the hypersonic sharp double-cone flow is explained as follows: the algorithm can not only capture shock wave strength correctly and give the adverse pressure gradient formed by the interfering shock wave near the wall accurately. It can also prevent the numerical dissipation of the algorithm from affecting the simulation accuracy of the viscous boundary layer to ensure the correct prediction of the size of the separation zone

6-Nitro­benzimidazolium dihydrogen phosphate 6-nitro­benzimidazole solvate dihydrate

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C7H6N3O2 +·H2PO4 −·C7H5N3O2·2H2O, the components are connected through O—H⋯O, N—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen-bonding inter­actions, forming a sheet-like structure parallel to (101). Adjacent sheets are further linked together by strong O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonds involving the dihydrogenphosphate groups. π–π stacking inter­actions between neighbouring aromatic constituents [centroid–centroid distance 3.653 (3) Å] help to consolidate the crystal packing

Dual blockage of STAT3 and ERK1/2 eliminates radioresistant GBM cells.

Radiotherapy (RT) is the major modality for control of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive brain tumor in adults with poor prognosis and low patient survival rate. To improve the RT efficacy on GBM, the mechanism causing tumor adaptive radioresistance which leads to the failure of tumor control and lethal progression needs to be further elucidated. Here, we conducted a comparative analysis of RT-treated recurrent tumors versus primary counterparts in GBM patients, RT-treated orthotopic GBM tumors xenografts versus untreated tumors and radioresistant GBM cells versus wild type cells. The results reveal that activation of STAT3, a well-defined redox-sensitive transcriptional factor, is causally linked with GBM adaptive radioresistance. Database analysis also agrees with the worse prognosis in GBM patients due to the STAT3 expression-associated low RT responsiveness. However, although the radioresistant GBM cells can be resensitized by inhibition of STAT3, a fraction of radioresistant cells can still survive the RT combined with STAT3 inhibition or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated STAT3 knockout. A complementally enhanced activation of ERK1/2 by STAT3 inhibition is identified responsible for the survival of the remaining resistant tumor cells. Dual inhibition of ERK1/2 and STAT3 remarkably eliminates resistant GBM cells and inhibits tumor regrowth. These findings demonstrate a previously unknown feature ofSTAT3-mediated ERK1/2 regulation and an effective combination of two targets in resensitizing GBM to RT

Clausenain B, a phenylalanine-rich cyclic octapeptide from Clausena anisum-olens

A new cyclic octapeptide, named clausenain B, was isolated by a multi-step chromatography procedure from Clausena anisum-olens. Its structure was established as cyclo(-Phe¹-Ser-Leu¹-Phe²-Phe4-Gly-Leu²-Phe³-) (1) based on extensive spectroscopic studies and chemical evidence. Clausenain B (1) is a phenylalanine-rich cyclic octapeptide

Immune modulation of Th1/Th2/Treg/Th17/Th9/Th21 cells in rabbits infected with Eimeria stiedai

IntroductionDespite long-term integrated control programs for Eimeria stiedai infection in China, hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits persists. Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg, Th9, and Th21 cells are involved in immune responses during pathogen infection. It is unclear whether Th cell subsets are also involved in E. stiedai infection. Their roles in the immunopathology of this infection remain unknown. Therefore, monitoring these T-cell subsets’ immune responses during primary infection of E. stiedai at both transcriptional (mRNA) and protein (cytokines) levels is essential.MethodsIn experimentally infected New Zealand white rabbits, mRNA expression levels of their transcript—TBX2 (Th1), GATA3 (Th2), RORC (Th17), Foxp3 (Treg), SPI1 (Th9), and BCL6 (Th21)—were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), whereas Th1 (IFN-g and TNF-a), Th2 (IL4), Th17 (IL17A and IL6), Treg (IL10 and TGF-b1), Th9 (IL9), and Th21 (IL21) cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).ResultsWe found that levels of TBX2, GATA3, RORC, SPI1, and BCL6 in the livers of infected rabbits were elevated on days 5 and 15 post-infection (PI). The concentrations of their distinctive cytokines IFN-g and TNF-a for Th1, IL4 for Th2, IL17A for Th17, IL9 for Th9, IL21 for Th21, and IL10 for Treg IL10 were also significantly increased on days 5 and 15 PI, respectively (p < 0.05). On day 23 PI, GATA3 with its cytokine IL4, RORC with IL17A, Foxp3 with IL10 and TGF-b1, and SPI1 with IL9 were significantly decreased, but TBX2 with IFN-g and IL6 remained elevated.DiscussionOur findings are the first evidence of Th1/Th2/Treg/Th17/Th9/Th21 changes in E. stiedai-infected rabbits and provide insights into immune regulation mechanisms and possible vaccine development

En bloc resection for treatment of refractory pre-auricular fistula

AbstractObjectiveTo report a surgical method for the treatment of pre-auricular fistula to lower post-operative recurrence rate.MethodsClinical data of 187 patients with pre-auricular fistula who underwent en bloc resection at the Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College from August 2006 to November 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Factors that might affect the prognosis following En bloc fistula resection bordered by the superficial temporalis fascia, helix perichondrium and auriculocephalic sulcus were investigated.ResultsOf the 187 patients, 181 achieved primary healing and 6 ended up with delayed healing. During the follow-up period (one to seven years), there were 4 cases of recurrence (2.1%).ConclusionsClear demarcation of surgical resection can facilitate easy and thorough resection of preauricular fistula and lead to low recurrence rate. Proper timing and careful search for potential fistula branches are the two crucial factors affecting prognosis