Molecular dynamics study of the mechanical properties of hydrated calcium silicate enhanced by functionalized carbon nanotubes.

Context: The incorporation of functionalized carbon nanotubes can enhance the mechanical properties of cement-based materials. However, the types of functional groups and their roles in composite materials are not yet clear. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation methods were employed to investigate the mechanical performance of hybridized calcium silicate hydrate gel reinforced with pure carbon nanotubes, epoxy-coated carbon nanotubes, carboxylated carbon nanotubes, and hydroxylated carbon nanotubes.

First-principles study on the mechanical properties of cement mortar modified with functionalized graphene oxide.

Context: In this paper, first-principle calculations reveal that the shear strength of the graphene-cementitious interface (G/C-S-H) (12 MPa) is lower than that of the epoxy, hydroxyl and carboxyl graphene-cementitious interfaces (G-O/C-S-H, G-OH/C-S-H and G-COOH/C-S-H) (21 MPa, 29 MPa and 14 MPa). This indicates that the introduction of functional groups helps to improve the mechanical properties of the graphene-cementitious contact interface. Electrical analysis of the interface reveals that functional groups adsorbed on graphene change the electron distribution on the graphene surface.

Risk factors of peripheral venous catheter-related complication and infection in children with bronchopneumonia.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors associated with the peripheral venous catheter-related complication and infection in children with bronchopneumonia.

Methods: A total of 185 patients were divided into case group (n = 114) and control group (n = 71) according to the presence of catheter-related infection and complications related to indwelling needle. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to explore the risk factors associated with the infection.

Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of the Antioxidation Mechanism of Loureirin C by Radical Scavenging for Treatment of Stroke.

Recent pharmacological studies have shown that dragon's blood has an anti-cerebral ischemia effect. Loureirin C (LC), a kind of dihydrochalcone compound in dragon's blood, is believed to be play an important role in the treatment of ischemia stroke, but fewer studies for LC have been done. In this paper, we report the first experimental and theoretical studies on the antioxidation mechanism of LC by radical scavenging.

The Use of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Measures for Predicting Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Children.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the association of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for predicting clinical outcomes in critically ill children.

Methods: This single-center prospective observational study included patients admitted to a mixed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). All patients underwent anthropometric measurement and BIA measurements in the first 24 h of admission.

Delayed diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of cutaneous tuberculosis: A case report.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a widespread infectious disease, with an incidence that is increasing worldwide. Cutaneous TB (CTB) occurs rarely, accounting for less than 1% of all TB cases. Due to the clinical presentation and diagnostic difficulties, CTB is often clinically neglected and misdiagnosed.

Density functional theory study on the influence of tension and compression deformation on the electrical and phonon properties of monolayer and bilayer graphene.

Based on first-principles calculations using density functional theory, this paper systematically studies the effects of uniaxial tension-compression deformation on the stability and electrical and thermal properties of monolayer graphene and AA stacked bilayer graphene. The study shows that the original symmetry of graphene is broken by the tensile and compression deformations, catalyzing the interlayer coupling of bilayer graphene. Its electronic energy band, phonon dispersion, and other physical properties have changed.

Theoretical study of the reduction in sensitivity of copper azide following encapsulation in carbon nanotubes.

Research aimed at reducing the sensitivity of primary explosives with excellent ignition performance is of great significance for their practical application. In this work, we theoretically studied the effect of inserting the primary explosive copper azide (Cu(N)) into single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the sensitivity of the explosive to changes in hydrostatic pressure. The electronic structure of Cu(N) was found to be more sensitive to external pressure than lead azide, which is consistent with their experimental impact sensitivities.

Aerobic Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid over Holey 2 D Mn O Nanoflakes from a Mn-based MOF.

The aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a promising renewable monomer to produce bio-based polymers such as polyethylene furanoate (PEF), has recently emerged as the subject of increasing interest. Here, holey 2 D Mn O nanoflakes were obtained by a facile thermal treatment of a Mn-based metal-organic framework (MOF) precursor. The structural and morphological properties of the nanoflakes were characterized by powder XRD, FTIR, SEM and TEM to explore the formation process.

Increased expression of miR-153 predicts poor prognosis for patients with prostate cancer.

Deregulation of miR-153 has recently been observed in several common human cancer, while miR-153 serves an oncogene or tumor suppressive role in different cancer types. Previously, miR-153 has been identified to be overexpressed in prostate cancer. miR-153 played an important role in promoting proliferation of human prostate cancer cells and presented a novel mechanism of microRNA-mediated direct suppression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression in prostate cancer cells.

Aqueous Extracts of Kob Induce Apoptosis to Exert Anticancer Activity.

Cancer has become the leading cause of mortality since 2010 in China. Despite the remarkable advances in cancer therapy, a low survival rate is still a burden to the society. The antineoplastic activity of aqueous extracts of Kob (AECK) was measured in this study.

Overexpression of lncRNA ANRIL promoted the proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells via regulating let-7a/TGF-β1/ Smad signaling pathway.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were playing critical roles in tumorigenesis. However, in prostate cancer, the roles and mechanisms of lncRNAs especially ANRIL were largely unknown. We investigated the effects of ANRIL on the proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells using CCK-8 assay and Transwell migration assay.

HPIP Silencing Prevents Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Induced by TGF-β1 in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells.

Hematopoietic pre-B-cell leukemia transcription factor (PBX)-interacting protein (HPIP/PBXIP1) is a nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling protein, and its expression is associated with cancer aggressiveness. However, the role of HPIP in ovarian cancer is still unclear. Here, we aimed to clarify the role of HPIP in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of ovarian cancer cells, stimulated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1.

Three-dimensional computed tomography for assessing lung morphology in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis following posterior spinal fusion surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the changes in lung morphology in subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) following posterior spinal fusion surgery.

Methods: From April 2009 to August 2013, 30 AIS patients (nine males and 21 females) were enrolled in this study. All scans were obtained with the patient in the supine position and the breath held in deep inspiration and performed both before and after surgery.

[Effects of erythropoietin on serum NSE and S-100B levels in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy].

Objective: To study the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100B in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and the underlying mechanism.

Methods: Forty neonates with HIE were randomly divided into conventional treatment (n=20) and EPO treatment groups (n=20). Twenty healthy full-term neonates born during the same period were randomly selected as the normal control group.

Coracoclavicular ligaments anatomical reconstruction: a feasibility study.

Background: This study assessed the feasibility of anatomical coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments reconstruction, using three-dimensional (3D) measurement and virtual drilling.

Methods: One-hundred-and-five 3D shoulder models were constructed using SuperImage software, based on computed tomography (CT) scan data. For each model the attachment sites and footprint dimensions of the CC ligaments were defined and adjusted according to constant anatomical ratios and individual measurement results.

[Epithelial-mesenchymal transition induces cancer stem cell generation in human thyroid cancer cells in vitro].

Objective: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in the initiation and conversion of early stage tumors into invasive malignancies and is associated with the "stemness" of cancer cells. The present study was designed to identify whether EMT induces cancer stem cell generation and tumor progression in human thyroid cancer cells in vitro.

Methods: FTC133 cells, as EMT-negative cells, were used for EMT induction by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) transfection.

Clavicle and coracoid process drilling technique for truly anatomic coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction.

Background: High-grade acromioclavicular (AC) joint separations require surgical treatment, as conservative treatment may result in functional decline or persistent pain. Although many surgical techniques have been described in the literature, there is still no non-controversial gold standard procedure for AC joint dislocation. The different orientation of the two components of the coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments has been proven to account for different functions.

[Effects of wide posterior release on the correction of severe and rigid thoracic scoliosis in sagittal plane].

Objective: To explore the effects of wide posterior release on the correction of severe and rigid thoracic scoliosis in sagittal plane.

Methods: A total of 37 idiopathic scoliosis patients (26 females and 11 males) with severe and rigid thoracic curves corrected with posterior pedicle screw system between 2006 and 2009 were recruited. Their average age was 17.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition triggers cancer stem cell generation in human thyroid cancer cells.

Increasing evidence has shown that cancer stem cells or tumor initiating cells are the 'root cause' of malignant cancers. However, the exact origin of cancer stem cells still remains obscure in thyroid research. EMT has been implicated in the initiation and conversion of early-stage tumors into invasive malignancies and is associated with the stemness of cancer cells.

Impact of diabetes on the prognosis of hip fracture: a cohort study in the Chinese population.

Background: Diabetes has been associated with increased risk of fracture and impaired fracture healing. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of diabetes on perioperative complications, length of stay and ambulatory ability recovery in individuals with hip fracture, and to determine whether changes could be made to improve treatment outcome.

Methods: The study included 707 hip fracture patients treated at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital between July 2009 and December 2010.

Palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl halides with CuSCN.

A palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl halides and borons has been developed by employing cuprous thiocyanate as a safe cyanide source. This protocol avoids the use of a highly toxic cyanide source, providing aromatic nitriles in moderate to good yields with good functional tolerance.

Broadband and omnidirectional, nearly zero reflective photovoltaic glass.

A novel two-step etching approach is used to modify the surface layer of photovoltaic glasses, leading to a porous surface layer with a graded refractive index, and nearly 100% transmittance over a broad range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet to near infrared.

[Comparative investigation of hearing injury in workers exposed to punching machine noise and to steady state noise].

Objective: To compare the difference of effects on hearing injury between punching machine noise and steady state noise.

Methods: The subjects of present study were 100 workers, included 38 workers exposed to punching machine noise from forging shops and 62 workers exposed to steady state noise from drawbench or abrasive dust workshops. The individual noise dosimetries were used to detect noise that workers exposed, and cumulative noise exposure (CNE) was then calculated.