[Modified Brisson surgery combined with skin flap clipping for the treatment of severe concealed penis in children].

Objective: To explore the effect of modified Brisson surgery combined with the skin flap clipping technique in the treatment of severe concealed penis in children.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 165 children with severely concealed penis treated in our hospital from January 2014 to January 2019, 105 by modified Brisson surgery combined with the skin flap clipping technique and the other 60 by modified Devine surgery, all the operations performed by the same surgeon. We compared the two surgical strategies concerning operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative increase of penile exposure, preputial edema duration, flap necrosis and penile retraction, and satisfaction of the patients' parents with the overall surgical effect.

Occurrence, uptake, and health risk assessment of nonylphenol in soil-celery system simulating long-term reclaimed water irrigation.

Reclaimed water (RW) irrigation provides an effective method to alleviate freshwater resources shortage. However, the residual endocrine disrupting chemicals in RW may cause potential risks to the environment and human body. Pot experiments were conducted to study the occurrence and environmental behavior of nonylphenol (NP) in soil-celery system simulating long-term RW irrigation, and exposure to NP was assessed to identify human health risks.

A Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis Method Based on EEMD-WSST Signal Reconstruction and Multi-Scale Entropy.

Feature extraction is one of the challenging problems in fault diagnosis, and it has a direct bearing on the accuracy of fault diagnosis. Therefore, in this paper, a new method based on ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD), wavelet semi-soft threshold (WSST) signal reconstruction, and multi-scale entropy (MSE) is proposed. First, the EEMD method is applied to decompose the vibration signal into intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), and then, the high-frequency IMFs, which contain more noise information, are screened by the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Pressure Effect on Order-Disorder Ferroelectric Transition in a Hydrogen-Bonded Metal-Organic Framework.

Perovskite-like ABX metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gathered great interest due to their intriguing chemical and physical properties, including their magnetism, ferroelectricity, and multiferroicity. Pressure is an effective thermal parameter in tuning related properties in MOFs due to the adjustable organic framework. Though spectrum experiments have been made on the structural evolution during decompression, there is a lack of electrical studies on the order-disorder ferroelectric transition in the metal-organic frameworks under pressure.

[Expression and Clinical Significance of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and β-MG in Multiple Myeloma Patients with Different Results of Blood Separation].

Objective: To investigate the expression level and the clinical significance of serum interleukin-6(IL-6) , IL-10, tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) and β-microglobulin(β-MG) in multiple myeloma(MM) patients with different blood separation results.

Methods: The clinical data of 124 newly diagnosed MM patients (76 cases of IgG type, 48 cases of IgA type) treated in our hospital from October 2015 to October 2019 were enrolled and analyzed. The blood samples were divided into control group (the order from top to bottom is serum, separator gel and red blood cells) and abnormal group (the order from top to bottom is serum, red blood cells, separator gel and red blood cells) according to the blood separation result.

Stainless steel membranes for harvesting cyanobacteria: Performance, fouling and cleaning.

Stainless steel membranes with 0.45, 1 and 2 μm pore sizes were applied to harvest cyanobacteria. Their critical fluxes were determined and continuous filtration tests were conducted.

Sustainability prioritization of sewage sludge to energy scenarios with hybrid-data consideration: a fuzzy decision-making framework based on full consistency method and fusion ranking model.

This work proposed a novel mathematical framework for the sustainability assessment of sewage sludge to energy (SStE) scenarios, by resorting to fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (MCMD) methods. In which, an evaluation system including twelve criteria from four dimensions was introduced, while the fuzzy triangular number (TFN) was used to address the hybrid-data issue in the decision-making. More importantly, four fuzzy MCDM methods were used to make the following methodological contributions: (1) the fuzzy full consistency method (FUCOM) was extended into uncertain conditions to determine the weights easily and reliably, which preserves the consistency in ambiguous, subjective judgments; (2) a novel TFN-based fusion ranking model was developed by aggregating three fuzzy MCDM approaches, which not only takes the hybrid data as input information for decision-making (by combining the TFN) but also promotes the confidence in final prioritization (by reconciling different sequences).

Diagnostic Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Differential Diagnosis of Malignant and Benign Soft Tissue Masses: A Meta-Analysis.

This meta-analysis was aimed at investigating the value of using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant soft tissue masses (STMs). Relevant studies published before March 24, 2020 were identified through a comprehensive search of PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane and Web of Science. According to the inclusion criteria, five studies were selected comprising 746 patients.

An intelligent platform for ultrasound diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

This paper proposed a non-segmentation radiological method for classification of benign and malignant thyroid tumors using B mode ultrasound data. This method aimed to combine the advantages of morphological information provided by ultrasound and convolutional neural networks in automatic feature extraction and accurate classification. Compared with the traditional feature extraction method, this method directly extracted features from the data set without the need for segmentation and manual operations.

Energy Conversion-Based Nanotherapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by synovial hyperplasia and cartilage/bone destruction, which results in a high disability rate on human health and a huge burden on social economy. At present, traditional therapies based on drug therapy still cannot cure RA, in accompany with the potential serious side effects. Based on the development of nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine, energy conversion-based nanotherapy has demonstrated distinctive potential and performance in RA treatment.

Prognostic value of resting myocardial contrast echocardiography: a meta-analysis.

Background: Resting myocardial perfusion (MP) and wall motion (WM) imaging during real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) improves the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, its prognostic role in different clinical settings (emergency department and outpatient setting) remains unclear.

Methods: A systematic search in PubMed and Embase databases, and the Cochrane library, was conducted to evaluate the role of resting MP and WM in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (NFMI) and urgent revascularization in patients presenting to either outpatient clinics or emergency departments with suspected symptomatic CAD.

Cascade optical coherence tomography (C-OCT).

Significant advances for optical systems in terms of both performance and packaging are enabled by freeform optical components. Yet, surface form metrology for freeform optics remains a challenge. We developed and investigated a point-cloud cascade optical coherence tomography (C-OCT) technique to address this metrology challenge.

[Influence of Nutrient Pulse Input on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations and Algal Growth in the Sediment-Water System of Lake Taihu].

Lake sediments not only act as a reservoir of nutrients, but are also a source of secondary pollution of nutrients for overlying water, which can buffer the variations in nutrients in overlying water and affect nutrient bioavailability and algal growth. In the current study, a simulation experiment was conducted using sediment cores collected in Meiliang Bay. Our aim was to elucidate the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pulse input on variations in the water nutrient level and algal growth.

Entropic Nature of the Debye Relaxation in Glass-Forming Monoalcohols.

The dynamics and thermodynamics of the Debye and structural (α) relaxations in isomeric monoalcohols near the glass transition temperature are explored using dielectric and calorimetric techniques. The α relaxation strength at is found to correlate with the heat capacity increment, but no thermal signals can be detected to link to the Debye relaxation. We also observed that the activation energy of the Debye relaxation in monoalcohols is quantitatively correlated with that of the α relaxation at the kinetic , sharing the dynamic behavior of the Rouse modes found in polymers.

Event-Free Survival Following Successful Percutaneous Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction Depends on Microvascular Perfusion.

Background: Although small trials have detected microvascular obstruction (MVO) with variable frequency following restoration of epicardial blood flow, the independent impact of abnormal microvascular perfusion (MVP) in predicting patient outcome following emergent percutaneous coronary intervention in acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction is unknown. The study aims to determine the impact of abnormal MVP following successful epicardial recanalization in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

Methods: MVP was analyzed by low mechanical index ultrasound imaging within 48 hours of emergent percutaneous coronary intervention in 297 patients with acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who had restoration of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction grade 3 flow in the infarct vessel.

Impact of stand-alone minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation with left atrial appendectomy on left atrial function assessed by echocardiography.

Background: Stand-alone minimally invasive radiofrequency (RF) ablation with left atrial (LA) appendectomy has been an effective surgical intervention for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) (NPAF) in patients with a medical history of thromboembolism for secondary stroke prevention. This study sought to assess the impact of this surgery on LA function.

Methods: A total of 37 NPAF patients with a medical history of stroke or thromboembolism were enrolled in this prospective observational study, all of whom underwent stand-alone minimally RF ablation with LA appendectomy.

Light and Abscisic Acid Coordinately Regulate Greening of Seedlings.

The greening of etiolated seedlings is crucial for the growth and survival of plants. After reaching the soil surface and sunlight, etiolated seedlings integrate numerous environmental signals and internal cues to control the initiation and rate of greening thus to improve their survival and adaption. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms by which light and phytohormones, such as abscisic acid (ABA), coordinately regulate greening of the etiolated seedlings is still unknown.

[Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Patients with Different Results of Blood Separation].

Objective: To investigate clinical characteristics of multiple myeloma（MM） patients with two different results of blood separation in vacum blood collection tubes containing separator gels after centrifugation, and evaluate the prognostic value of these two results.

Methods: The clinical data of 168 patients with newly diagnosed MM treated in our hospital from March 2009 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The blood samples were divided into control group（the order from top to bottom is serum,separator gel and red blood cell） and abnormal group（the order from top to bottom is serum, red blood cell, separator gel and red blood cell） according to the results of blood separation in vacum blood collection tubes containing separator gels after centrifugation.

Malate enhances survival of zebrafish against infection in the same manner as taurine.

Development of low-cost and eco-friendly approaches to fight bacterial pathogens is especially needed in aquaculture. We previously showed that exogenous malate reprograms zebrafish's metabolome to potentiate zebrafish survival against infection. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown.

Establishment of Simple Nomograms for Predicting Axillary Lymph Node Involvement in Early Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Axillary lymph node (ALN) involvement is an important prognostic factor of early invasive breast cancer. The objective of this study was to establish simple nomograms for predicting ALN involvement based on ultrasound (US) characteristics and evaluate the predictive value of US in the detection of ALN involvement.

Patients And Methods: A total of 1328 patients with cT1-2N0 breast cancer by physical exam were retrospectively analyzed.

Hot-water extract of ripened Pu-erh tea attenuates DSS-induced colitis through modulation of the NF-κB and HIF-1α signaling pathways in mice.

Tea consumption has been found to be associated with low incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Asian countries. However, there is very limited knowledge of such potential protection and its underlying mechanism. Ripened Pu-erh tea (RPT) belongs to the variety of microbial fermented tea, but its function regarding anti-inflammation remains unclear.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus FLRH93 protects against intestinal damage in mice induced by 5-fluorouracil.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is widely used as a chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of cancer but it has toxic side effects. It can induce severe intestinal damage and even lead to death. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether milk fermented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus FLRH93 could alleviate intestinal damage induced by 5-FU.

Data on online and face-to-face course enrollments in a public research university during summer terms.

This data article includes information on institutional data at a large public research university in Southern California. In particular, data on undergraduate student enrollments in online and face-to-face courses during summer terms from 2014 to 2017 cumulating in 72,441 course enrollments from 23,610 undergraduate students in 433 courses is provided. This data includes additional information on the statistical models examining factors influencing student enrollment by course modality and the associations of course modality with course grades.

Arabidopsis FAR-RED ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL3 Integrates Age and Light Signals to Negatively Regulate Leaf Senescence.

Leaf senescence is tightly regulated by numerous internal cues and external environmental signals. The process of leaf senescence is promoted by a low ratio of red to far-red (R:FR) light, FR light, or extended darkness and is repressed by a high ratio of R:FR light or R light. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms by which plants assess external light signals and their internal cues to initiate and control the process of leaf senescence remain largely unknown.