Better synchronizability predicted by a new coupling method

In this paper, inspired by the idea that the hub nodes of a highly heterogeneous network are not only the bottlenecks, but also effective controllers in the network synchronizing process, we bring forward an asymmetrical coupling method where the coupling strength of each node depends on its neighbors' degrees. Compared with the uniform coupled method and the recently proposed Motter-Zhou-Kurth method, the synchronizability of scale-free networks can be remarkably enhanced by using the present coupled method.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures; to be published in EPJ

γ-Tocotrienol Induces Paraptosis-Like Cell Death in Human Colon Carcinoma SW620 Cells

Colorectal cancer is one of the most serious illnesses among diagnosed cancer. As a new type of anti-cancer composition from tocotrienol-rich fraction of palm oil, γ-tocotrienol is widely used in anti-cancer research. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of γ-tocotrienol on human colon cancer SW620 and HCT-8 cells. We showed that treatment with different concentrations of γ-tocotrienol resulted in a dose dependent inhibition of cell growth. Cell death induced by γ-tocotrienol was mediated by a paraptosis-like cell death in SW620 and HCT-8 cells. Real-time RT-PCR and western blot analyses showed that γ-tocotrienol inhibited the expression level of β-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-jun. These data suggest that a paraptosis-like cell death induced by γ-tocotrienol in SW620 cells is associated with the suppression of the Wnt signaling pathway, which offers a novel tool for treating apoptosis-resistance colon cancer

One-stage coclear implantation via a facial recess approach in children with otitis media with effusion

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate surgical indications, operative techniques, complications and auditory and speech rehabilitation for cochlear implant (CI) in children with otitis media with effusion (OME).Material and methodsThis is a retrospective review of records of 24children with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss and OME who were implanted during January 2011 to November 2014 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at the PLA Hospital, using one-stage implantation via the facial recess approach and round window insertion. The incus was removed in 8 cases during the implantation procedure. Local infiltration of dexamethasone and adrenaline in the middle ear was also performed. Postoperative complications were examined. Preoperative and postoperative questionnaires including Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP), Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR), and the Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS) were collected.ResultsAll electrodes were implanted successfully without any immediate or delayed complications. Inflammatory changes of middle ear mucosa with effusion were noted in all implanted ears. The scores of post-implant CAP and SIR increased significantly in all 24 cases (t = −25.95 and −14.09, respectively for CAP and SIR, p < 0.05).ConclusionsOne-stage CI via the facial recess approach with round window insertion is safe and effective in cochlear implant candidates with OME, as seen in the 24 children in our study who achieved improved auditory performance and speech intelligibility after CI

Objective assessment of urban built environment related to physical activity — development, reliability and validity of the China Urban Built Environment Scan Tool (CUBEST)

Background: Some aspects of the neighborhood built environment may influence residents’ physical activity, which in turn, affects their health. This study aimed to develop an urban built environment evaluation tool and conduct necessary reliability and validity tests. Methods: A 41-item urban built environment scan tool was developed to objectively assess the neighborhood built environment features related to physical activity. Six neighborhoods in Hangzhou were selected from three types of administrative planning units. A pair of auditors independently assessed all of the 205 street segments at the same time. Half of the segments (n = 104) were audited twice by the same auditor after a two-week time interval. Inter-rater reliability was assessed by comparing the audits of paired observers, while intra-rater reliability was evaluated by comparing an auditor’s repeated assessments of the same segments. The construct validity was tested using factor analysis. Results: The inter-rater reliability for most items was above 0.8. The intra-rater reliability for most items was above 0.4, and was lower than corresponding inter-rater reliability. Six factors were extracted by factor analysis and the factor loading matrix showed good construct validity. Conclusions: The CUBEST is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used to assess the physical activity-related built environment in Hangzhou, and potentially other cities in China

Dietary Intake of Fatty Acids, Total Cholesterol, and Stomach Cancer in a Chinese Population.

To investigate the associations between dietary fatty acids and cholesterol consumption and stomach cancer (SC), we analyzed data from a population-based case-control study with a total of 1900 SC cases and 6532 controls. Dietary data and other risk or protective factors were collected by face-to-face interviews in Jiangsu Province, China, from 2003 to 2010. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multiple unconditional logistic regression models and an energy-adjusted method. The joint associations between dietary factors and known risk factors on SC were examined. We observed positive associations between dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and total cholesterol and the development of SC, comparing the highest versus lowest quarters. Increased intakes of dietary SFAs (p-trend = 0.005; aOR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.22 with a 7 g/day increase as a continuous variable) and total cholesterol (p-trend &lt; 0.001; aOR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.06-1.22 with a 250 mg/day increase as a continuous variable) were monotonically associated with elevated odds of developing SC. Our results indicate that dietary SFAs, MUFAs, and total cholesterol are associated with stomach cancer, which might provide a potential dietary intervention for stomach cancer prevention

The temperature in Hawking radiation as tunneling

The quasi-classical method of deriving Hawking radiation under the consideration of canonical invariance is investigated. We find that the horizon should be regarded as a two-way barrier and the ingoing amplitude should be calculated according to the negative energy particles tunneling into the black hole because of the whole space-time interchange and thus the standard Hawking temperature is recovered. We also discuss the advantage of the Painlev\'{e} coordinates in Hawking radiation as tunneling

Bis[tris­(ethyl­enediamine-κ2 N,N′)cobalt(III)] octa­kis-μ-3-oxido-hexa­deca-μ2-oxido-tetra­deca­oxido-μ12-tetra­oxo­silicato-octa­molybdenum(VI)hexa­vanadium(IV,V) hexa­hydrate

The title compound, [Co(C2H8N2)3]2[SiMo8V4O40(VO)2]·6H2O, was prepared under hydro­thermal conditions. The asymmetric unit consists of a transition metal complex [Co(en)3]3+ cation (en is ethyl­enediamine), one half of an [SiMo8V4O40(VO)2]6− heteropolyanion, two solvent water mol­ecules in general positions and two half-mol­ecules of water located on a mirror plane. In the complex cation, the Co3+ ion is in a distorted octa­hedral coordination environment formed by six N atoms of the three chelating en ligands. One of the en ligands exhibits disorder of its aliphatic chain over two sets of sites of equal occupancy. The [SiMo8V4O40(VO)2]6− heteropolyanion is a four-electron reduced bivanadyl-capped α-Keggin-type molybdenum–vanadium–oxide cluster. In the crystal, it is located on a mirror plane, which results in disorder of the central tetra­hedral SiO4 group: the O atoms of this group occupy two sets of sites related by a mirror plane. Furthermore, all of the eight μ2-oxide groups are also disordered over two sets of sites with equal occupancy. There are extensive inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the complex cations and inorganic polyoxidoanions, leading to a three-dimensional supra­molecular network

Poly[tetra­aqua-μ4-bromido-di-μ2-bromido-μ2-hydroxido-di-μ3-iso­nicotinato-tetra-μ2-isonicotinato-tetra­copper(I)dithulium(III)]

A new thulium(III)–copper(I) heterometallic coordination polymer, [Cu4Tm2Br3(C6H4NO2)6(OH)(H2O)4]n, has been prepared by a hydro­thermal method. The Tm and both Cu atoms lie on mirror planes. The Tm atom is seven-coordinate with a capped distorted trigonal–prismatic coordination geometry, while the Cu atoms adopt trigonal CuBrN2 and tetra­hedral CuBr3N coordination modes, respectively. The Cu atom in the trigonal coordination environment is disordered over two sites of equal occupancy. The crystal structure is constructed from two distinct units of dimeric [Tm2(μ2-OH(IN)6(H2O)4] cores (IN = isonicotinate) and one-dimensional inorganic [Cu4Br3]n chains, which are linked together, forming heterometallic Cu–halide–lanthanide–organic layers