Topological magnetoplasmon

Classical wave fields are real-valued, ensuring the wave states at opposite frequencies and momenta to be inherently identical. Such a particle-hole symmetry can open up new possibilities for topological phenomena in classical systems. Here we show that the historically studied two-dimensional (2D) magnetoplasmon, which bears gapped bulk states and gapless one-way edge states near zero frequency, is topologically analogous to the 2D topological p+\Ii p superconductor with chiral Majorana edge states and zero modes. We further predict a new type of one-way edge magnetoplasmon at the interface of opposite magnetic domains, and demonstrate the existence of zero-frequency modes bounded at the peripheries of a hollow disk. These findings can be readily verified in experiment, and can greatly enrich the topological phases in bosonic and classical systems.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 1 supporting materia

A Deafness Mechanism of Digenic Cx26 (\u3cem\u3eGJB2\u3c/em\u3e) and Cx30 (\u3cem\u3eGJB6\u3c/em\u3e) Mutations: Reduction of Endocochlear Potential by Impairment of Heterogeneous Gap Junctional Function in the Cochlear Lateral Wall

Digenic Connexin26 (Cx26, GJB2) and Cx30 (GJB6) heterozygous mutations are the second most frequent cause of recessive deafness in humans. However, the underlying deafness mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we created different double Cx26 and Cx30 heterozygous (Cx26+/−/Cx30+/−) mouse models to investigate the underlying pathological changes and deafness mechanism. We found that double Cx26+/−/Cx30+/− heterozygous mice had hearing loss. Endocochlear potential (EP), which is a driving force for hair cells producing auditory receptor current, was reduced. However, unlike Cx26 homozygous knockout (Cx26−/−) mice, the cochlea in Cx26+/−/Cx30+/− mice displayed normal development and had no apparent hair cell degeneration. Gap junctions (GJs) in the cochlea form two independent networks: the epithelial cell GJ network in the organ of Corti and the connective tissue GJ network in the cochlear lateral wall. We further found that double heterozygous deletion of Cx26 and Cx30 in the epithelial cells did not reduce EP and had normal hearing, suggesting that Cx26+/−/Cx30+/− may mainly impair gap junctional functions in the cochlear lateral wall and lead to EP reduction and hearing loss. Most of Cx26 and Cx30 in the cochlear lateral wall co-expressed in the same gap junctional plaques. Moreover, sole Cx26+/− or Cx30+/− heterozygous mice had no hearing loss. These data further suggest that digenic Cx26 and Cx30 mutations may impair heterozygous coupling of Cx26 and Cx30 in the cochlear lateral wall to reduce EP, thereby leading to hearing loss

Comparison of Sterile and Clean Dressing Techniques in Post-operative Surgical Wound Infection in a Chinese Healthcare Facility

Purpose: To investigate the effect of sterile and clean dressing techniques on wound management in a Chinese hospital, and to compare their impact on wound healing and the cost of the dressing materials with respect to postoperative surgical wounds.Methods: A total of 130 patients, comprising 70 (53.8 %) males and 60 (46.2 %) females, who had undergone surgery in The Affiliated Hospital of Changchun Traditional Chinese Medicine University, Changchun, China in 2012 – 2014 were enrolled in the study. Of these, 65 (50 %) received sterile dressings and 65 (50 %) clean dressings. A control group comprising 25 patients, 15 (60 %) males and 10 (40 %) females, who attended the clinic for change dressings only, was also included. The patients’ dressings were changed four times daily with 2x sterile and 2x clean dressings. Details of all the changes, including the nutritional status of the patients, were recorded. The patients were followed-up up to the time of their discharge.Results: Twelve (18.5 %) patients out of those who received sterile or clean dressings were found to have acquired an infection. The size of the wounds was approximately 1.8 to 32.4 cm3 (mean: 5.2 ± 6.4 cm3) in size at the start of the study and 0.6 to 4.2 cm3 at the end of the study. A significant difference was identified between the sterile and clean dressing groups at the beginning of the study (U = 72.5; p < 0.12). A decrease in wound size was observed in both of these groups but was not statistically significant, while the change in wound volume, was significantly different (U = 84.5; p < 0.25). When the cost of the two dressing types was compared, the sterile items were more expensive than that of the clean items; thus, sterile dressing procedure was significantly more costly than clean dressing procedure (p < 0.01).Conclusion: With mounting concern regarding antimicrobial resistance and hospital-acquired infections, suitable wound dressing techniques are required to prevent infection and reduce the duration of wound healing after surgery without compromising patient safety.Keywords: Wound dressing, Postoperative, Antimicrobial resistance, Hospital acquired infection

IT USAGE BEHAVIOR OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY BASED ON THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR

Digitalization of regional public health information is an irreversible trend in the course of China\u27s social development. This is also one of the key tasks to reform China\u27s medicine and public health system. To learn more about the influence of using information technology for medical personnel and hospital performance, this study reviews in the personal perspective to know more about the sustainable action of using IT in hospitals based on the Theory of Planned Bahavior. We proposed a research model which expanded TPB and tested it based on 278 valid data collected from employees in a large-scale hospital in Anhui Province, East China. The results of study reveal: 1.We verified TPB in the Chinese context and found that attitude and subjective norm not only have a directly influence on behavioral intention, but also can influence the use behavior.2.The habit of using IT of medical personnel has a directly influence on the attitude of using IT, and it also has significant influence on the behavioral intention. Our research model discovered the relationship between subjective factors of IT users’ and their behaviour. The founding of this study not only can provide references regarding the direction of public hospitals reform in China for decision makers of hospitals, but also is very helpful for management teams in hospitals to adopt more rational management measures for better IT use among medical personnel, and better hospital performance

Progressive decay of Ca2+ homeostasis in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Cardiac dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy may be associated with abnormal Ca(2+) homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-associated proteins on cardiac function in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 12, each): a control group, and streptozotocin-induced rat models of diabetes groups, examined after 4, 8, or 12 weeks. Evaluations on cardiac structure and function were performed by echocardiography and hemodynamic examinations, respectively. Cardiomyocytes were isolated and spontaneous Ca(2+) spark images were formed by introducing fluorescent dye Fluo-4 and obtained with confocal scanning microscopy. Expressions of Ca(2+)-associated proteins were assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements revealed that cardiac dysfunction is associated with the progression of diabetes, which also correlated with a gradual but significant decline in Ca(2+) spark frequency (in the 4-, 8- and 12-week diabetic groups). However, Ca(2+) spark decay time constants increased significantly, relative to the control group. Expressions of ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2), sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-2ATPase (SERCA) and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX1) were decreased, together with quantitative alterations in Ca(2+)regulatory proteins, FKBP12.6 and phospholamban progressively and respectively in the diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS: Ca(2+) sparks exhibited a time-dependent decay with progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy, which may partly contribute to cardiac dysfunction. This abnormality may be attributable to alterations in the expressions of some Ca(2+)-associated proteins

Expanded CURB-65: A new score system predicts severity of community-acquired pneumonia with superior efficiency

Aim of this study was to develop a new simpler and more effective severity score for communityacquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. A total of 1640 consecutive hospitalized CAP patients in Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University were included. The effectiveness of different pneumonia severity scores to predict mortality was compared, and the performance of the new score was validated on an external cohort of 1164 patients with pneumonia admitted to a teaching hospital in Italy. Using age≥ 65 years, LDH>230u/L, albumin<3.5g/dL, platelet count<100×109/L, confusion, urea>7mmol/L, respiratory rate≥30/min, low blood pressure, we assembled a new severity score named as expanded-CURB-65. The 30-day mortality and length of stay were increased along with increased risk score. The AUCs in the prediction of 30-day mortality in the main cohort were 0.826 (95%CI, 0.807–0.844), 0.801 (95%CI, 0.781–0.820), 0.756 (95%CI, 0.735–0.777), 0.793 (95%CI, 0.773–0.813) and 0.759 (95%CI, 0.737–0.779) for the expanded-CURB-65, PSI, CURB-65, SMART-COP and A-DROP, respectively. The performance of this bedside score was confirmed in CAP patients of the validation cohort although calibration was not successful in patients with health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP). The expanded CURB-65 is objective, simpler and more accurate scoring system for evaluation of CAP severity, and the predictive efficiency was better than other score systems

Exploration and practice of performance assessment and evaluation system in teaching and research office

参照学校相关政策和文件规定，按照一致性、系统性、创新性、可操作性原则制定学院教研室绩效考核评价标准，分为基本考核分（包括教研室管理、教学管理、师资队伍建设）和增减分（包括教学研究、科学研究、获奖情况、参加集体活动、教学事故，本项指标得分需除以教研室总人数）两部分，每一项均有可量化的分值，每一项得分均需提供支撑材料，按照考评得分向学校推荐优秀教研室和先进个人，对优秀者给予表彰及一定的物质奖励。该考核评价体系实施两年来，收到了良好的效果。Subject to policies and relevant provisions of the school, and according to according to the consistency, system, innovation, operational principles of performance assessment standards, the evaluation system is divided into two parts. One is basic evaluation scores (including management of teaching and research office, teaching management and teaching staff construction) and other part is increase or decrease in points (including teaching research, scientific research, honors and awards, participating in group activities, teaching accident, the scores of indicators need to be divided by the total number of staff). There are quantifiable scores for each item and each item needs supporting materials for application. Excellent teaching and research office and outstanding individuals will be recommended to the school in accordance with the evaluation score, and the outstanding individuals will get certain material rewards. The evaluation system received good effect upon its implementation during the past two years