Are Chinese Workers from the One-child-policy Generation Selfish in a Group? Evidence from Worker Surveys in Six Major Chinese Cities

Many claim that Chinese people born after the one-child policy of 1979 are very individualistic or even selfish. This research tested the hypothesis that Chinese workers of the one-child-policy generation have difficulty working in a team, addressing the absence of nation-wide evidence. Using workers’ surveys, for the first time, across six major Chinese cities, the results denied the hypothesis, at least in the workplace

An innovative culture technique for microalgae using hollow fiber membranes

A hollow fiber culture system has been proposed for supplying the carbon dioxide to the microalgae, to replace the conventional air bubbling system which has been adopted to supply carbon dioxide in most conventional microalgal culture. In order to examine the usefulness of hollow fiber membranes for the microalgal culture, the microalgal growth rate for Chlorella sp. and the effective mass transfer coefficient of carbon dioxide through the hollow fiber membranes have been measured using the proposed photobioreactor filled with hollow fibers. The microalgal growth rate using hollow fiber membranes was found to be three times greater than that observed in the conventional non-membrane photobioreactor. Please download the full abstract below

Ovarian fibrothecoma with massive edema

We report a rare case of ovarian fibrothecoma with massive edema. The patient was a 59-year-old woman with a left ovarian mass measuring 11x10x7 cm. Magnetic resonance images revealed a solid mass showing unhomogeneous content with predominantly high signal intensity on T2-weighted image. Microscopically, the ovarian mass was composed of a cellular area and an edematous hypocellular area. The latter accounted for more than 75% of the tumor. In the cellular area, spindle-shaped or plump tumor cells were randomly distributed or arranged in a fascicular fashion. These cells contained abundant intracytoplasmic lipid. There was dense collagenous connective tissue in the stroma of the cellular areas. In contrast, in the edematous areas spindle or stellate cells were scattered. Alcian blue stain revealed only a small amount of stromal mucin even in the edematous areas. The microscopic findings were consistent with that of fibrothecoma with massive edema. The present case must be differentiated from massive edema of the ovary and sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary. Immunohistochemistry was not helpful in distinguishing them. The age of the patient and careful histologic observation are important

Lipase-catalyzed domino Michael-aldol reaction of 2-methyl-1,3-cycloalkanedione and methyl vinyl ketone for the synthesis of bicyclic compounds

Synthesis of bicyclic compounds was achieved via a lipase-catalyzed, stereoselective, domino Michael–aldol reaction of 2-methyl-1,3-cycloalkanedione and methyl vinyl ketone. Appropriate reaction conditions, including the type of enzyme, solvent, and temperature, were determined. In addition, the effects of solvent polarity and addtives were investigated. The reaction proceeded in the presence of lipase AS in a solution of 20% acetone in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at 10 °C for 8 days, followed by the addition of p-toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH) to afford bicyclic compounds in 51–83% yields with moderate stereoselectivity. Although this domino Michael–aldol reaction showed only moderate stereoselectivity, even with the acid-supported enhancement of the reaction, these results represent potential new applications for lipase

Extended Hemi-Hepatectomy with Portal Vein Reconstruction in a Patient with Situs Ambiguous

We report a case of far-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with situs ambiguous, complex visceral and vascular anomalies, who was successfully managed by extended hemi-hepatectomy. A 67-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a large liver mass. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography and angiography revealed HCC with a diameter of 10 cm, with tumor thrombus in the main and first branch of the portal vein. Multiple complex anomalies in the abdomen were determined preoperatively. He had right-sided spleens-stomach-duodenum, liver at midline, inferior vena cava interruption with azygous continuation, and hepatic arterial anomaly. Extended left lobectomy of the liver with reconstruction of the portal vein was performed. Postoperatively, the patient recovered without major complications, and he was discharged on postoperative day 21. We report the first successful extended hepatectomy with portal vein reconstruction for HCC in a patient with rare situs anomalies