Visualization and quantitation of fetal movements by real-time three-dimensional ultrasound with live xPlane imaging in the first trimester of pregnancy

AIM: To prove whether real-time three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound with live xPlane imaging is better in observing fetal movements than standard ultrasound imaging. METHODS: 50 healthy women with singleton pregnancies (22-43 years old) at 11 to 14 weeks of gestation underwent real-time 3D ultrasound examination with live xPlane imaging from July 2014 to February 2015. The incidence and frequency of 10 fetal movement patterns in 10 minutes were evaluated, including general movements (GMs), isolated arm movements, isolated leg movements, hiccup, stretching, breathing, startle, jaw opening, isolated head retroflexion, and isolated head anteflexion. The correlation between gestational age and frequency of each fetal movement pattern was analyzed. RESULTS: GM had the highest incidence (100%), followed by startle (84%) and isolated arm movements (68%). Their median frequency was 5 (IQR 3-6), 5 (IQR 1.75-11.5), and 1 (IQR 0-2), respectively. GM (Z = 5.875, P < 0.001) and startle (Z = 5.302, P < 0.001) had significantly higher frequency than isolated arm movements. The other 7 fetal movement patterns had much lower incidence and frequency. The frequency of GM was positively correlated with gestational age (r = 0.360, P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Real-time 3D ultrasound with live x Plane imaging was shown to be a feasible tool for observing fetal movements

Primary psoas abscess extending to thigh adductors: case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Psoas abscess is a rare condition consisting of pyomyositis of the psoas. The worldwide incidence was 12 cases per 100,000 per year in 1992, but the current incidence is unknown. Psoas abscess can descend along the psoas sheath and reach the inner upper third of the thigh, but only infrequently does it penetrate the sheath and involve the thigh adductors. Because of insidious clinical presentation, the diagnosis of psoas abscess is a challenge. Delayed diagnosis can result in poor prognosis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 45-year-old male with no significant past medical history presented with pain in the left thigh, and limitation of movement at the left hip and knee joint for one month. Ultrasound, CT, and MRI revealed a liquid mass in the left psoas. Percutaneous drainage of this mass yielded 300 ml pus from the psoas. After surgery, the patient reported relief of pain; however, ten days after removal of the drainage tube, the patient complained of persistent pain in his left thigh. CT revealed that the psoas abscess had extended inferiorly, and involved the entire set of adductors of the left thigh. Open surgical drainage was performed at the flank and at the thigh, yielding 350 ml of pus from the thigh. After open drainage and adequate antibiotic therapy, the patient made a good recovery. Follow-up CT confirmed complete resolution of the abscess.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Large psoas abscess can penetrate the psoas sheath, and descend to thigh adductors even after percutaneous drainage. Appropriate treatment includes open surgical drainage along with antibiotic therapy.</p

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Network Positions, Similarities, Prior Collaboration Experiences and the Evolution of Co-authorship Networks

Based on the articles published by Chinese inland scholars in 35 SCI and SSCI journals in the field of information science, the paper examines the impact of the network positions, similarities and prior collaboration experiences of core authors on the evolution of international co-authorship networks. The empirical results show that, (1) central positions of authors in co-authorship networks may lead to the establishment co-authorships; (2) The similarities and prior collaboration experiences may also lead to the formation of co-authorships. Specifically, authors within the same affiliations are more likely to establish co-authorships, and prior collaboration experiences will lead to the continuation co-authorship

Network Positions, Similarities, Prior Collaboration Experiences and the Evolution of Co-authorship Networks

Based on the articles published by Chinese inland scholars in 35 SCI and SSCI journals in the field of information science, the paper examines the impact of the network positions, similarities and prior collaboration experiences of core authors on the evolution of international co-authorship networks. The empirical results show that, (1) central positions of authors in co-authorship networks may lead to the establishment co-authorships; (2) The similarities and prior collaboration experiences may also lead to the formation of co-authorships. Specifically, authors within the same affiliations are more likely to establish co-authorships, and prior collaboration experiences will lead to the continuation co-authorship

A survey of mechanical antennas applied for low-frequency transmitting

Summary: The mechanical antenna (MA) is a new type of low-frequency (LF) transmitting antenna that generates an alternating electromagnetic (EM) signal through the mechanical movement of electric charges or magnetic dipoles, which is an interdisciplinary field including not only antennas but also electromagnetics, materials science, and dynamics. This principle of signaling makes it possible to break the constraints on physical dimensions decided by the wavelength of the traditional antenna so as to achieve LF communications with a smaller size and to provide a novel solution for long-range, underwater, and underground communications, navigation over the horizon, and geological exploring. Therefore, MA has become a research hotspot in the field of LF communications in recent 5 years, and this work proposed a survey on this topic of MA applied for LF transmitting. Firstly, we briefly review traditional low-frequency transmitting antennas and summarize the defect; then we introduce research progress of different implementation schemes for MA, comparing the signaling performance, advantages, and disadvantages of each scheme. Furthermore, we discuss the experiment setup, results, and related technology for MA including signal modulation methods. Finally, we explore prospects for future research about MA. This work presents a comprehensive and critical survey of small LF transmitters based on MA to help the readers to understand and identify the background, status, and challenges of research in this field

Changes in Soil Arthropod Abundance and Community Structure across a Poplar Plantation Chronosequence in Reclaimed Coastal Saline Soil

Poplar plantations have the capacity to improve the properties of soils in muddy coastal areas; however, our understanding of the impacts of plantation development on soil arthropods remains limited. For this study, we determined the community dynamics of soil dwelling arthropods across poplar plantations of different ages (5-, 10-, and 21-years) over the course of one year in Eastern Coastal China. The total abundance of soil arthropods differed with stand development. Further, there were some interactions that involved the sampling date. On average, total abundance was highest in the 10-year-old stands and lowest in the 5-year-old stands. Total abundance exhibited strong age-dependent trends in June and September, but not in March or December. The abundance of Prostigmata and Oribatida increased in the 5- to 21-year-old stands, with the highest levels being in the 10-year-old stands. The abundance of Collembola increased with stand development; however, the stand age had no significant impact on the abundance of epedapic, hemiedaphic, and euedaphic Collembola. Order richness (Hill number q = 0) curve confidence intervals overlapped among three stand ages. Shannon and Simpson diversity (Hill numbers q = 1 and q = 2) differed between 10- and 21-year-old stand age. They showed almost similar trends, and the highest and lowest values were recorded in the 21- and 10-year-old stand ages, respectively. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance demonstrated that composition also varied significantly with the sampling date and stand age, and the 10-year-old stands that were sampled in June stood well-separated from the others. Indicator analysis revealed that Scolopendromorpha and Prostigmata were indicators in June for the 10-year-old stands, while Collembola were indicators for the 21-year-old stands sampled in September. Our results highlight that both stand development and climate seasonality can significantly impact soil arthropod community dynamics in the reclaimed coastal saline soils of managed poplar plantations

Ultrasound Trigger Ce‐Based MOF Nanoenzyme For Efficient Thrombolytic Therapy

Abstract The inflammatory damage caused by thrombus formation and dissolution can increase the risk of thrombotic complications on top of cell death and organ dysfunction caused by thrombus itself. Therefore, a rapid and precise thrombolytic therapy strategy is in urgent need to effectively dissolve thrombus and resist oxidation simultaneously. In this study, Ce‐UiO‐66, a cerium‐based metal–organic framework (Ce‐MOF) with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties, encapsulated by low‐immunogenic mesenchymal stem cell membrane with inflammation‐targeting properties, is used to construct a targeted nanomedicine Ce‐UiO‐CM. Ce‐UiO‐CM is applied in combination with external ultrasound stimulation for thrombolytic therapy in rat femoral artery. Ce‐UiO‐66 has abundant Ce (III)/Ce (IV) coupling sites that react with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to produce oxygen, exhibiting catalase (CAT) activity. The multi‐cavity structure of Ce‐UiO‐66 can generate electron holes, and its pore channels can act as micro‐reactors to further enhance its ROS scavenging capacity. Additionally, the porous structure of Ce‐UiO‐66 and the oxygen produced by its reaction with H2O2 may enhance the cavitation effects of ultrasound, thereby improving thrombolysis efficacy