Adult-type rhabdomyoma of the thyroid: A case report

Adult-type rhabdomyoma (AR) is a benign myogenous neoplasm. It is rarely located in the thyroid. We present a case of a 61-year-old man, presenting with complaints of a mass found in his left neck for three years. Ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a mass in the left lobe of the thyroid. Subsequently, a fine-needle aspiration biopsy showed that the lesion was suspected to be an oncocytic neoplasm, and the patient underwent surgery. Finally, the lesion was confirmed to be an AR of the thyroid by postoperative pathological diagnosis. In conclusion, AR that occurs in the thyroid is remarkably rare. No case reports to date have described in detail the imaging findings of AR in the thyroid. This study demonstrates the imaging characteristics of a patient with AR of the thyroid, in order to provide more extensive insights to consider the differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions

Microbial regulation of aggregate stability and carbon sequestration under long-term conservation tillage and nitrogen application

peer reviewedThe stability of aggregates plays a significant role in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in conservation agriculture soils. However, the regulation of microorganisms within aggregates on aggregate stability and SOC sequestration remains elusive. By dividing the soil into three aggregate size classes [mega-aggregates (>2000 μm), macro-aggregates (250–2000 μm), and micro-aggregates (<250 μm)], we evaluated the response of aggregate stability, SOC and microbial communities within aggregates to long-term conservation tillage, which consisted of two tillage methods (conventional tillage and no-tillage) and three nitrogen application rates (105, 180, and 210 kg N ha−1). Under no-tillage treatment, high nitrogen application rate increased SOC by 2.1–3.7 g·kg−1 within mega- and macro-aggregates but reduced the total amount of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) within all aggregates. Under conventional tillage, high N application rate increased mean weight diameter (MWD) and reduced total PLFAs within all aggregates only in 0–10 cm. With the same nitrogen application rate, no-tillage increased MWD by 8.7 %–42.7 %, SOC content within mega-aggregates by 7.3 %–27.8 % and within macro-aggregates by 13.2 %–28.3 % when compared with conventional tillage. Actinobacteria were recruited by straw under no-tillage and their biomass increased 1.5–7.8 times in all aggregates compared with conventional tillage, where they might participate in aggregate formation via degradation of straw and increasing SOC within mega- and macro-aggregates. Conversely, desulfovibrio biomass within all aggregates was diminished under no-tillage compared with conventional tillage, while desulfovibrio possibly directly inhibited soil aggregate formation and decreased SOC within mega- and macro-aggregates under conventional tillage. Moreover, under no-tillage, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biomass increased by 0.4–1.6 nmol g−1 within all aggregates compared with conventional tillage in 0–10 cm, potentially indirectly contributing to soil aggregate formation via co-metabolic processes and increasing SOC within mega- and macro-aggregates. Overall, high nitrogen application under long-term no-tillage protects SOC within mega-aggregates by altering aggregate formation through the microbial communities, providing information that may be useful in developing management strategies to enhance carbon sequestration in agricultural soils

Efficacy and safety of the new biopsy strategy combining 6-core systematic and 3-core MRI-targeted biopsy in the detection of prostate cancer: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundRecent EAU guideline strongly recommended combined targeted biopsy (TBx) with systematic biopsy (SBx) for biopsy naïve patients with suspected multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) lesions; However, the clinical goal is to find out how to determine the optimal SBx and TBx cores for biopsy in order to maximize the detection of csPCa and minimize the associated defects. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of the new biopsy strategy combining 6-core systematic and 3-core MRI- TBx compared to 12-core systematic and 3-core MRI-TBx strategy.MethodsThis is a single-center, prospectively randomized controlled clinical trial. 280 men meeting inclusion criteria will be recruited and will be randomly allocated to either 6-core systematic plus 3-core MRI-TBx group (Group A) or 12-core systematic plus 3-core MRI-TBx group (Group B). The primary outcome compares the detection rate of PCa and clinically significant prostate cancer(csPCa) between group A and group B. The secondary outcomes compare the participant-reported pain score immediate post biopsy using pain measurement scale; proportion of men with post-biopsy complications and adverse events (Time frame: 7 days post biopsy, 30 days post biopsy); proportion of the men who undergo radical prostatectomy and have cancer upgraded histopathology from the biopsy to the radical prostatectomy.Results and DiscussionA new biopsy strategy should be developed with the goal of minimizing procedure invasion, our study will provide the results of efficacy and safety of the new biopsy strategy (6-core systematic and 3-core MRI-TBx) in biopsy naïve men with suspicious mpMRI lesion in comparison with 12-core systematic and 3-core MRI-TBx.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200056437; http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=151413&amp;htm=

Nitrogen addition mediates the effect of soil microbial diversity on microbial carbon use efficiency under long-term tillage practices

peer reviewedTillage practices can influence soil microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE), which is critical for carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. The effect of tillage practices could also be regulated by nitrogen (N) addition. However, the soil microbial mechanism relating to N fertilizer effect on microbial CUE under no-tillage (zero-tillage) is still unclear. We investigated how N fertilizer regulates the effect of tillage management on microbial CUE through changing microbial properties and further assessed the impact of microbial CUE on particulate (POC) and mineral-associated organic matter carbon (MAOC). For this we used a 16-year field experiment with no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), both of which combined with 105 (N1), 180 (N2), and 210 kg N ha−1 (N3) N application. We found that microbial CUE increased with increasing N application rate. NT increased microbial CUE compared with CT in the 0–10 cm. The bacterial and fungal diversities of NT were higher than CT and N application decreased their diversities in 0–10 cm. The partial least squares path model showed that bacterial and fungal diversity had a significant influence on microbial CUE. Furthermore, POC and MAOC under NT were higher than CT and they also increased with increasing N application rate. It suggested that increasing microbial CUE induced by N application had the potential to increase POC and MAOC. Overall, this study highlights that N addition can alter the effect of soil microbial diversity on CUE, which further improves our understanding to explain and predict the fractions of SOC (i.e., POC and MAOC) in tillage systems

Potential Disease-Modifying Effects of Lithium Carbonate in Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C1

Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NP-C1) is a rare, autosomal-recessive neurodegenerative disorder with no United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug. Lithium has been shown to have considerable neuroprotective effects for neurological disorders such as bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and stroke and has been tested in many clinical trials. However, the pharmacological effect of lithium on NP-C1 neurodegenerative processes has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to provide an initial evaluation of the safety and feasibility of lithium carbonate in patients with NP-C1.Methods: A total of 13 patients diagnosed with NP-C1 who met the inclusion criteria received lithium orally at doses of 300, 600, 900, or 1,200 mg daily. The dose was reduced based on tolerance or safety observations. Plasma 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC), an emerging biomarker of NP-C1, was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included NPC Neurological Severity Scores (NNSS) and safety.Results: Of the 13 patients with NP-C1 (12–33 years) enrolled, three withdrew (discontinuation of follow-up outpatient visits). The last observed post-treatment values of 7-KC concentrations (128 ng/ml, SEM 20) were significantly lower than pretreatment baselines values (185 ng/ml, SEM 29; p = 0.001). The mean NNSS was improved after lithium treatment at 12 months (p = 0.005). Improvement in swallowing capacity was observed in treated patients (p = 0.014). No serious adverse events were recorded in the patients receiving lithium.Conclusion: Lithium is a potential therapeutic option for NP-C1 patients. Larger randomized and double-blind clinical trials are needed to further support this finding.Clinical Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03201627

Dissimilatory iron reduction: insights from the interaction between Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and ferric iron (oxy)(hydr)oxide mineral surfaces

Dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) is significant to the biogeochemical cycling of iron, carbon and other elements, and may be applied to bioremediation of organic pollutants, toxic metals, and radionuclides; however, the mechanism(s) of DIR and factors controlling its kinetics are still unclear. To provide insights into these questions, the interaction between a common dissimilatory iron reducing bacterium (DIRB)was studied, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, and ferric iron (Fe(III)) (oxy)(hydr)oxide mineral surfaces. Firstly, atomic force microscopy was used to study how S. oneidensis MR-1 dissolved Fe(III) (oxy)(hydr)oxides and compared it to two other cases where Fe(III) (oxy)(hydr)oxides were either dissolved by a chemical reductant or by a mutant with an electron shuttling compound. Without the electron shuttling compound, the mutant is unable to respire on Fe(III) (oxy)(hydr)oxides, but with the electron shuttling compound, it can. It was found that the cells of S. oneidensis MR-1 formed microcolonies on mineral surfaces and dissolved the minerals in a non-uniform way which was consistent with the shape of microcolonies, whereas Fe(III) (oxy)(hydr)oxides were uniformly dissolved in both of the other cases. Secondly, confocal microscopy was used to study the adhesion behavior of S. oneidensis MR-1 cells on Fe(III) (oxy)(hydr)oxide surfaces across a broad range of bulk cell densities. While the cells were evenly distributed under low bulk cell densities, microcolonies were observed at high bulk cell densities. This adhesion behavior was modeled by a new, two-step adhesion isotherm which fit better than a simple Langmuir or Freundlich isotherm. The results of these studies suggest that DIR is in-part transport limited and the surface cell density may control DIR.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Stack, Andrew; Committee Member: DiChristina, Thomas; Committee Member: Ingall, Ellery; Committee Member: Loeffler, Frank; Committee Member: Shapiro, Ale

AUGMENTING HOME ENVIRONMENTS WITH “SORT,” AN ASSISTIVE ROBOTIC SYSTEM SUPPORTING THE DOMESTIC ORGANIZATIONAL ROUTINES OF HUMAN INHABITANTS

162 pagesMaintaining an organized lifestyle is an important domestic routine that reduces the effects of poor mental and physical health associated with clutter. While there have been many previous studies on domestic assistive robotics, a gap remains in creating a system of (wall-based) robotic organizers to understand human behaviors. This dissertation proposes a multi-robot system of wall-climbing organizers called SORT (Stuff Organizing Robot Team), aimed to help people sort, retrieve and deliver domestic items. This research contributes knowledge in four main areas: wall-climbing assistive robots, human-multi robot interaction, impact of cultural differences on HRI, and understanding people’s organizational behaviors. To explore previously under-utilized domains within the home where robots can live, SORT is proposed as a wall-climbing system that demonstrates potentials for indoor assistive uses. This dissertation presents the design and fabrication process of two prototypes, one based on vacuum suction which was successfully tested on a whiteboard wall with a tethered controller, the other based on magnets and was successfully tested on a ferrous surface controlled by a cellphone app. To enrich the field of human-multi robot interaction, multiple user studies (online and in-person) were conducted to understand people’s reactions toward SORT. The results showed users’ preferences on robot group size, speed, formation shapes, movement path, communication gestures and perceived usefulness and usability. An additional online study was conducted to explore how cultural differences may play a role in shaping users’ preferences and perceptions toward SORT with 191 participant responses from US, China and India. Our results showed significant differences that contradict prior stereotypes and reinforced the importance of considering cultural differences in HRI studies. The qualitative results in this dissertation reveal important findings on human behaviors in sorting tasks, such as organizational logic, decision making, and perceptions of control. These findings can provide insights on how future researchers may design multi-robot assistive systems at home. As assistive robots are becoming more ubiquitous in our everyday lives, it is important for designers, engineers and researchers to understand people’s needs, preferences and perceptions toward robotic assistants, especially when the robots are embedded within a larger Internet of Things ecosystem. This dissertation shows that a multi-robot group, like SORT, can successfully enhance domestic routines to improve people’s life qualities (80% participant satisfaction). We as design researchers must also take a multi-disciplinary approach, considering previously under-studied areas such as human-multi robot interaction and building cultural differences as design variables to ensure the robot group’s holistic success

Comprehensive Analyses of PPP-B2b Performance in China and Surrounding Areas

BeiDou Global Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) provides a regional Precise Point Positioning (PPP) service, called PPP-B2b, for users in China and surrounding areas through B2b signal transmitted from its three geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites. The information broadcasted by the B2b signal include satellite orbit corrections, satellite clock offset corrections, and differential code bias (DCB) corrections of BDS-3 satellites. In this study, the accuracies of PPP-B2b corrections along with real-time PPP performance are comprehensively evaluated referenced to precise orbit and clock products from GFZ and the precise DCB products from CAS. The result indicates that the accuracy of the BDS-3 broadcast orbit is similar to that of the PPP-B2b real-time orbit. The PPP-B2b clock offset correction improved the satellite clock offset precision of the BDS-3 broadcast ephemeris. The Signal-in-Space Range Error (SISRE) of broadcast ephemeris and PPP-B2b are calculated, which are 0.536 and 1.24 m, respectively. The large SISRE value of PPP-B2b is caused by the satellite-specified systematic bias to IGS final products. The positioning performance evaluation of real-time PPP with B2b service is carried out and compared with the real-time product provided by Wuhan University (WHU) based on the eight IGS MGEX stations in China and surrounding countries. The positioning accuracy of static positioning mode with PPP-B2b service achieved centimeter-level accuracy in the selected station, and that of kinematic positioning mode achieved decimeter-level accuracy. The availability rate of PPP-B2b corrections in the surrounding area of China, however, degrades from 88.76% to 60.91% in the selected stations. The accuracy of the PPP solution using PPP-B2b correction is better than that of using WHU real-time product within China. The positioning performance of stations located at the boundary of the PPP-B2b service area, however, is affected by the number of PPP-B2b available satellites. The positioning accuracy in kinematic positioning mode is worse than that of using WHU real-time precise product

Application Progress of Shared Decision Making Model in Patients with Thoracic Cancer

As a new diagnosis and treatment decision-making model, shared decision making (SDM) can effectively solve the problem of patient compliance in the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic tumors, balance the status of both doctors and patients, and gradually get attention and application in the clinical practice of thoracic surgery. The application of SDM in the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic tumors is conducive to improve doctors' diagnosis and treatment level and alleviating the pressure of responsibility, reduce patients' psychological pressure and improve patients' compliance and also improve medical trust and reduce doctor-patient conflict. Due to the limited medical literacy and autonomy of patients, the time for diagnosis and treatment is short due to the imbalance of doctor-patient ratio. Meanwhile, due to the limited sample size of existing studies, SDM model cannot be proved to have a clear gain for the treatment of thoracic tumors, and the implementation of SDM model still faces resistance. In the future, the development of auxiliary decision-making system and the improvement of doctors' humanistic care ability will be conducive to promote the practical application of SDM model in thoracic surgery