Tillering is a crucial trait closely associated with yield potential and environmental adaptation in cereal crops,regulated by the synergy of endogenous(genetic)and exogenous(environmental)factors.The physiological an...Tillering is a crucial trait closely associated with yield potential and environmental adaptation in cereal crops,regulated by the synergy of endogenous(genetic)and exogenous(environmental)factors.The physiological and molecular regulation of tillering has been intensively studied in rice and wheat.However,tillering research on barley is scarce.This review used the recent advances in bioinformatics to map all known and potential barley tiller development genes with their chromosomal genetic and physical positions.Many of them were mapped for the first time.We also discussed tillering regulation at genetic,physiological,and environmental levels.Moreover,we established a novel link between the genetic control of phytohormones and sugars with tillering.We provided evidence of how environmental cues and cropping systems help optimize the tiller number.This comprehensive review enhances the understanding of barley’s physiological and genetic mechanisms controlling tillering and other developmental traits.展开更多
Testicular cancer survival rates improved dramatically after cisplatin-based therapy was introduced in the 1970s. However, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are potentially carcinogenic. The purpose of this study was...Testicular cancer survival rates improved dramatically after cisplatin-based therapy was introduced in the 1970s. However, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are potentially carcinogenic. The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of developing second primary cancers including the risk associated with primary histologic type （seminoma and non-seminoma） among testicular cancer survivors in Germany. We identified 16 990 and 1401 cases of testicular cancer in population-based cancer registries of East Germany （1961-1989 and 1996-2008） and Saarland （a federal state in West Germany; 1970-2008）, respectively. We estimated the risk of a second primary cancer using standardized incidence ratios （SIRs） with 95% confidence intervals （95% Cls）. To determine trends, we plotted model-based estimated annual SIRs. In East Germany, a total of 301 second primary cancers of any location were observed between 1961 and 1989 （SIR： 1.9; 95% Ch 1.7-2.1）, and 159 cancers （any location） were observed between 1996 and 2008 （SIR： 1.7; 95% Ch 1.4-2.0）. The SIRs for contralateral testicular cancer were increased in the registries with a range from 6.0 in Saarland to 13.9 in East Germany. The SIR for seminoma, in particular, was higher in East Germany compared to the other registries. We observed constant trends in the model-based SIRs for contralateral testicular cancers. The majority of reported SIRs of other cancer sites including histology-specific risks showed low precisions of estimated effects, likely due to small sample sizes. Testicular cancer patients are at increased risk especially for cancers of the contralateral testis and should receive intensive follow-ups.展开更多
By removing a part of the structure,the tooth preparation provides restorative space,bonding surface,and finish line for various restorations on abutment.Preparation technique plays critical role in achieving the opti...By removing a part of the structure,the tooth preparation provides restorative space,bonding surface,and finish line for various restorations on abutment.Preparation technique plays critical role in achieving the optimal result of tooth preparation.With successful application of microscope in endodontics for>30 years,there is a full expectation of microscopic dentistry.However,as relatively little progress has been made in the application of microscopic dentistry in prosthodontics,the following assumptions have been proposed:Is it suitable to choose the tooth preparation technique under the naked eye in the microscopic vision?Is there a more accurate preparation technology intended for the microscope?To obtain long-term stable therapeutic effects,is it much easier to achieve maximum tooth preservation and retinal protection and maintain periodontal tissue and oral function health under microscopic vision?Whether the microscopic prosthodontics is a gimmick or a breakthrough in obtaining an ideal tooth preparation should be resolved in microscopic tooth preparation.This article attempts to illustrate the concept,core elements,and indications of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation,physiological basis of dental pulp,periodontium and functions involved in tool preparation,position ergonomics and visual basis for dentists,comparison of tooth preparation by naked eyes and a microscope,and comparison of different designs of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation techniques.Furthermore,a clinical protocol for microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation based on target restorative space guide plate has been put forward and new insights on the quantity and shape of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation has been provided.展开更多
BackgroundDisagreement exists on the association between changes in blood pressure and cognitive impairment. We aimed to ex-amine whether 4-year changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure （SBP and DBP） are ass...BackgroundDisagreement exists on the association between changes in blood pressure and cognitive impairment. We aimed to ex-amine whether 4-year changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure （SBP and DBP） are associated with cognitive status in a representative sample of older men and women.MethodsAnalysis of longitudinal data from 854 participants of a population-based German sample （aged 60-87 years） was performed with standard cognitive screening and blood pressure measurements. Effects of changes in SBP and DBP （10 mmHg and 5 mmHg respectively as unit of regression effect measure） on cognitive status were evaluated using non-parametric and lin-ear regression modeling.ResultsNo clear associations were seen between changes in SBP or in DBP and cognitive scores. Small effects were found after stratification for sex and hypertension awareness. Specifically, larger decreases in SBP were associated with higher cogni-tive scores in those men aware of their hypertension （10 mmHg decrease in SBP,b =-0.26, 95% CI：-0.51 to-0.02） and men with con-trolled hypertension （10 mmHg decrease in SBP,b =-0.44, 95% CI：-0.92 to-0.03）. Additionally larger increases in DBP were associated with higher cognitive scores in men with controlled hypertension （5 mmHg increase in DBP,b = 0.67, 95% CI： 0.19-1.15）. For women aware of their hypertension, larger decreases in DBP were associated with higher cognitive scores （5 mmHg decrease in DBP,b =-0.26; 95%CI：-0.51 to-0.01）.ConclusionsChanges in blood pressure were only weakly associated with cognitive status. Specifically, decreases in SBP were associated with higher cognitive scores in men aware of their hypertension and especially those that were medically controlled.展开更多
A 51-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute substernal chest pain. ECG showed ST-segment elevation in the left precordial leads. Coronary angiography demonstrated an occlusion of the right coron...A 51-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute substernal chest pain. ECG showed ST-segment elevation in the left precordial leads. Coronary angiography demonstrated an occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA) and no significant stenosis in left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The occlusion of a non-dominant RCA may result in anterior ST-segment elevation ECG changes, which could disorient both general and interventional cardiologists.展开更多
Explicit attitude measures seem to be rather poor predictors of organ donation behaviour. This study examined whether implicit attitude measures acted as better predictors. Special attention was paid to the moderating...Explicit attitude measures seem to be rather poor predictors of organ donation behaviour. This study examined whether implicit attitude measures acted as better predictors. Special attention was paid to the moderating role played by attitude strength in predicting deliberate donation behaviour. In this study (N = 78), explicit and implicit measures of attitudes towards organ donation, as well as behavioural commitment, were assessed. Implicit associations were measured by an Implicit Association Test;five constructs assessed self-reported—understood as reflected—attitude strength. The explicit attitude measure appeared to be the best single predictor of whether the participant ended up taking an organ donor card. More importantly, test results demonstrated the moderating role of attitude strength. In the case of low attitude strength, the likelihood of taking a donor card increased with an increasing positive implicit association. In contrast, increasing strength was associated with a weaker link between card taking and the implicit attitude measure. The results are discussed in light of the power of implicit associations to predict more deliberate behaviours.展开更多
Common opal was dissolved in NaOH lyes in rotating autoclaves. The starting material was characterized by X-ray diffraction and adsorption spectroscopy, thermal and chemical analysis, electron and atomic force microsc...Common opal was dissolved in NaOH lyes in rotating autoclaves. The starting material was characterized by X-ray diffraction and adsorption spectroscopy, thermal and chemical analysis, electron and atomic force microscopy. The opal proved to be an Opal-CT with a microstructure consisting of microcrystalline tridymite, traces of low-quartz, and amorphous parts built up by random packings of size distributed amorphous silica colloids. The dissolution conditions have been inspired by the technological process of hydrothermal water glass synthesis by dissolving silica. Temperature and time of the dissolution process as well as initial molar SiO2:Na2O (Rm) ratios of the starting materials were varied systematically. The particle size of the samples was varied, too, but due to the nanoscopic microstructure without greater impact on dissolution kinetics. The process products were analyzed chemically. Additionally, some of them were characterized by X-ray diffraction, viscosimetry and dynamic light scattering. Already after short dissolution times, water glasses with quite high silica concentrations of up to 27 wt.% and SiO2:Na2O ratios of up to 3.7 were obtained. At longer dissolution times low-quartz and analcime precipitated and the SiO2 contents were reduced to about 22 wt.% and Rm to about 2.7. The silica contents in equilibrium with low-quartz were almost independent on temperature.展开更多
Invariably, it is the poorest of the poor who are mostly affected by perverse disasters, policies and laws. A major concern in disaster research is to explore the relationship between shock experiences and victims＇ p...Invariably, it is the poorest of the poor who are mostly affected by perverse disasters, policies and laws. A major concern in disaster research is to explore the relationship between shock experiences and victims＇ perceptions of risk, as well as their possible effect on victims＇ behavior for resilience and adaptation. We explore this relationship on victimized households of the 1986 Lake Nyos disaster, employing a quasi-experimental design. Matching was done with non-affected households. Both groups affected and non-affected households were of adequate size, and subject to the same questionnaire. Selection of （470） test and matching households was purposely limited to nine of the ten towns accommodating both survivors and non survivors of the examined disaster. A list constructed with traditional rulers in each village allowed for random sampling of non victims for comparative analysis. We then compare households affected by the disaster with those who were not. The results reveal differentiated perceptions of risk and management behavior contingent on whether households experienced the shock or not. However, solidarity and reciprocity remained extremely high and not significantly different amongst both household types, suggesting resilience of endogenous, informal risk response mechanisms to natural shocks. The article concludes that analyzing risk perceptions can help explain why some individuals, households or communities may be resilient to shocks and others not. We argue for a combination of subjective perceptions and objective shock analysis, especially if the analyst hopes to influence policy.展开更多
The literature is consistent that regular physical activity in children has to be increased in order to compensate the negative health effects resulting from growing sedentary lifestyle. Thus, we analyzed in 45 studen...The literature is consistent that regular physical activity in children has to be increased in order to compensate the negative health effects resulting from growing sedentary lifestyle. Thus, we analyzed in 45 students （aged 6.6 ± 0.7 years） the effects of a regular exercise intervention, on top of the normal physical education classes, on motor performance （MP） and hemodynamic parameters. The students were randomized either to an intervention （INT） （n = 23） or a control （CON） （n = 22） group. Throughout a 9 months period, INT received additional exercise interventions two days a week for 45 minutes. The main outcome measures were MP, peripheral and central blood pressure （BP）, augmentation index （Alx） and aortic pulse wave velocity （aPWV）. After the exercise intervention, we found significant （P 〈 0.05） positive effects on various test items of MP and significant decreases in peripheral and central systolic BP in INT. In contrast, in CON the respective parameters increased in CON alter the observation period. Moreover, aPWV decreased significantly in INT （P = 0.047） and increased in CON, thus resulting in a significant difference in the mean change （P = 0.043）. There were no considerable changes in AIx in both groups. In conclusion, we demonstrated that an increase in regular physical activity has a positive influence on development of MP and hemodynamic parameters even in early childhood. The findings of this study suggest that an increase in exercise time should be initiated as early as possible to improve motor ability and prevent future cardiovascular risk.展开更多
Background:We compared the human lens documented,using the Scheimpflug densitometry,with the light microscopic changes in the epithelium of the anterior central lens in patients with age-related cataract and diabetes ...Background:We compared the human lens documented,using the Scheimpflug densitometry,with the light microscopic changes in the epithelium of the anterior central lens in patients with age-related cataract and diabetes mellitus type II and verified the findings on the control tissue of the clear eye lens.We wanted to determine the relevance of the lens epithelium in cataract formation in type II diabetics compared to non-diabetics.Materials and methods:One hundred fifty central lens capsules(138 cataract and 12 clear lenses)of type II diabetics(n=77,45 female,32 male)and non-diabetics(n=73,41 female,32 male)were examined by light microscope,regarding defined histomorphological parameters.Further criteria were duration of diabetes,diabetic retinopathy,cataract(PENTACAM,scheimpflug densitometric definition),protein content in the aqueous humour(laser flare meter 500 KOWA,tyndallometry),different blood parameters and glucose content in the aqueous humour.Results:The mean cell density in the cataractous lens in type II diabetics was 3,951± 528 cells/mm2 and in nondiabetics 4,329± 580 cells/mm2(P< 0.001);in the clear lens it corresponded to 4,593± 409 cells/mm2(type II diabetics)and 4,894± 333 cells/mm2(non-diabetics,P=0.207).The cell density of the cataractous lens in type II diabetics(P=0.005)and in non-diabetics(P=0.035)is smaller than that of the clear lens.The cell area of the lens epithelium in the cataractous diabetic lens is larger(P< 0.001)and the nucleus-plasma ratio is lower(P< 0.001)than those of the clear non-diabetic lens.The increase in damage of the lens epithelium correlates with the decrease of cell density(P< 0.001),the increase of nucleus area and volume(P< 0.001),and the decrease of nucleus-plasma ratio(P< 0.001).Risk factors for the decrease of cell density are advanced age(P=0.015),type II diabetes(P=0.01),increase in glucose content in the aqueous humour(P=0.014),increase in blood sugar(P=0.003)and increase in glycosylated haemoglobin(P=0.039).Conclusions:The lens epithelium is primarily damaged in type II diabetics who develop age-related cataract.This might play an important role in cataract formation.展开更多
Background and aims: The diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy (CE) compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in small bowel Crohn‘s disease is not well established. We prospectively investigated CE, MRI, and do...Background and aims: The diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy (CE) compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in small bowel Crohn‘s disease is not well established. We prospectively investigated CE, MRI, and double contrast fluoroscopy in patients with suspected small bowel Crohn‘s disease. Methods: Fifty two consecutive patients (39 females, 13 males) were investigated by MRI, fluorosco py and if bowel obstruction could be excluded-by CE. In 25, Crohn‘s disease wa s newly suspected while the diagnosis of Crohn‘s disease (non-small bowel) had been previously established in 27. Results: Small bowel Crohn‘s disease was di agnosed in 41 of 52 patients (79%). CE was not accomplished in 14 patients due to bowel strictures. Of the remaining 27 patients, CE, MRI, and fluoroscopy dete cted small bowel Crohn‘s disease in 25 (93%), 21 (78%), and 7 (of 21; 33%) c ases, respectively. CE was the only diagnostic tool in four patients. CE was sli ghtly more sensitive than MRI (12 v 10 of 13 in suspected Crohn‘s disease and 1 3 v 11 of 14 in established Crohn‘s disease). MRI detected inflammatory conglom erates and enteric fistulae in three and two cases, respectively. Conclusion: CE and MRI are complementary methods for diagnosing small bowel Crohn‘s disease. CE is capable of detecting limited mucosal lesions that may be missed by MRI, bu t awareness of bowel obstruction is mandatory. In contrast, MRI is helpful in id entifying transmural Crohn‘s disease and extraluminal lesions, and may exclude strictures.展开更多
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)remains a devastating disease,and selecting patients who might benefit from complex arterial resection continues to be a challenge.However,in the era of modern multimodal treatmen...Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)remains a devastating disease,and selecting patients who might benefit from complex arterial resection continues to be a challenge.However,in the era of modern multimodal treatments,surgery for pancreatic cancer has become increasingly safe.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens such as modified-FOLFIRINOX(mFOLFIRINOX)and nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine are effective in a significant proportion of patients.展开更多
Grass species display a wide array of inflorescences ranging from highly branched compound/panicle inflorescences to unbranched spike inflorescences. The unbranched spike is a characteristic feature of the species of ...Grass species display a wide array of inflorescences ranging from highly branched compound/panicle inflorescences to unbranched spike inflorescences. The unbranched spike is a characteristic feature of the species of tribe Triticeae, including economically important crops,such as wheat and barley. In this review, we describe two important developmental genetic mechanisms regulating spike inflorescence architecture in barley and wheat.These include genetic regulation of(i) row-type pathway specific to Hordeum species and(ii) unbranched spike development in barley and wheat. For a comparative understanding, we describe the branched inflorescence phenotypes of rice and maize along with unbranched Triticeae inflorescences. In the end, we propose a simplified model describing a probable mechanism leading to unbranched spike formation in Triticeae species.展开更多
Aims Soil respiration(Rs)is a major process controlling soil carbon loss in forest ecosystems.However,the underlying mechanisms leading to variation in Rs along forest successional gradients are not well understood.In...Aims Soil respiration(Rs)is a major process controlling soil carbon loss in forest ecosystems.However,the underlying mechanisms leading to variation in Rs along forest successional gradients are not well understood.In this study,we investigated the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on Rs along a forest successional gradient in southeast China.Methods We selected 16 plots stratified by forest age,ranging from 20 to 120 years.In each plot,six shallow collars and six deep collars were permanently inserted into the soil.Shallow and deep collars were used to measure Rs and heterotrophic respiration(Rh),respectively.Autotrophic soil respiration(Ra)was estimated as the difference between Rs and Rh.Litter layer respiration(R_(L))was calculated by subtracting soil respiration measured in collars without leaf litter layer(R_(NL))from Rs.Rs was measured every 2 months,and soil temperature(ST)and soil volumetric water content(SVWC)were recorded every hour for 19 months.We calculated daily Rs using an exponential model dependent on ST.Daily Rs was summed to obtain cumulative annual Rs estimates.Structural equation modelling(SEM)was applied to identify the drivers of Rs during forest succession.Important Findings Rs showed significant differences among three successive stages,and it was the highest in the young stage.Ra was higher in the young stage than in the medium stage.Cumulative annual Rs and Ra peaked in the young and old stages,respectively.Cumulative annual Rh and respiration measured from soil organic matter(R_(SOM))decreased,whereas R_(L)increased with forest age.The SEM revealed that cumulative annual Rs was influenced by fine root biomass and SVWC.Our results indicated that the dominant force regulating Rs on a seasonal scale is ST;however,on a successional scale,belowground carbon emerges as the dominant influential factor.展开更多
Adaptive evolution along geographic gradients of climatic conditions is suggested to facilitate the spread of invasive plant species,leading to clinal variation among populations in the introduced range.We investigate...Adaptive evolution along geographic gradients of climatic conditions is suggested to facilitate the spread of invasive plant species,leading to clinal variation among populations in the introduced range.We investigated whether adaptation to climate is also involved in the invasive spread of an ornamental shrub,Buddleja davidii,across western and central Europe.Methods We combined a common garden experiment,replicated in three climatically different central European regions,with reciprocal transplantation to quantify genetic differentiation in growth and reproductive traits of 20 invasive B.davidii populations.Additionally,we compared compensatory regrowth among populations after clipping of stems to simulate mechanical damage.Important Findings Our results do not provide evidence for clinal variation among invasive B.davidii populations:populations responded similarly to the different environments,and trait values were not correlated to climatic conditions or geographic coordinates of their home sites.Moreover,we did not detect differences in the compensatory ability of populations.We suppose that the invasive spread of B.davidii has been facilitated by phenotypic plasticity rather than by adaptation to climate and that continent-wide shuffling of cultivars due to horticultural trade may have limited local adaptation so far.展开更多
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFD1000706)the Key Research Project of Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province,China(2021C02064-3)the Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production,China.
文摘Tillering is a crucial trait closely associated with yield potential and environmental adaptation in cereal crops,regulated by the synergy of endogenous(genetic)and exogenous(environmental)factors.The physiological and molecular regulation of tillering has been intensively studied in rice and wheat.However,tillering research on barley is scarce.This review used the recent advances in bioinformatics to map all known and potential barley tiller development genes with their chromosomal genetic and physical positions.Many of them were mapped for the first time.We also discussed tillering regulation at genetic,physiological,and environmental levels.Moreover,we established a novel link between the genetic control of phytohormones and sugars with tillering.We provided evidence of how environmental cues and cropping systems help optimize the tiller number.This comprehensive review enhances the understanding of barley’s physiological and genetic mechanisms controlling tillering and other developmental traits.
文摘Testicular cancer survival rates improved dramatically after cisplatin-based therapy was introduced in the 1970s. However, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are potentially carcinogenic. The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of developing second primary cancers including the risk associated with primary histologic type （seminoma and non-seminoma） among testicular cancer survivors in Germany. We identified 16 990 and 1401 cases of testicular cancer in population-based cancer registries of East Germany （1961-1989 and 1996-2008） and Saarland （a federal state in West Germany; 1970-2008）, respectively. We estimated the risk of a second primary cancer using standardized incidence ratios （SIRs） with 95% confidence intervals （95% Cls）. To determine trends, we plotted model-based estimated annual SIRs. In East Germany, a total of 301 second primary cancers of any location were observed between 1961 and 1989 （SIR： 1.9; 95% Ch 1.7-2.1）, and 159 cancers （any location） were observed between 1996 and 2008 （SIR： 1.7; 95% Ch 1.4-2.0）. The SIRs for contralateral testicular cancer were increased in the registries with a range from 6.0 in Saarland to 13.9 in East Germany. The SIR for seminoma, in particular, was higher in East Germany compared to the other registries. We observed constant trends in the model-based SIRs for contralateral testicular cancers. The majority of reported SIRs of other cancer sites including histology-specific risks showed low precisions of estimated effects, likely due to small sample sizes. Testicular cancer patients are at increased risk especially for cancers of the contralateral testis and should receive intensive follow-ups.
基金supported by a funding from Chengdu Science and Technology Benefiting Project(Grant number 2016-HM02-00018-SF)
文摘By removing a part of the structure,the tooth preparation provides restorative space,bonding surface,and finish line for various restorations on abutment.Preparation technique plays critical role in achieving the optimal result of tooth preparation.With successful application of microscope in endodontics for>30 years,there is a full expectation of microscopic dentistry.However,as relatively little progress has been made in the application of microscopic dentistry in prosthodontics,the following assumptions have been proposed:Is it suitable to choose the tooth preparation technique under the naked eye in the microscopic vision?Is there a more accurate preparation technology intended for the microscope?To obtain long-term stable therapeutic effects,is it much easier to achieve maximum tooth preservation and retinal protection and maintain periodontal tissue and oral function health under microscopic vision?Whether the microscopic prosthodontics is a gimmick or a breakthrough in obtaining an ideal tooth preparation should be resolved in microscopic tooth preparation.This article attempts to illustrate the concept,core elements,and indications of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation,physiological basis of dental pulp,periodontium and functions involved in tool preparation,position ergonomics and visual basis for dentists,comparison of tooth preparation by naked eyes and a microscope,and comparison of different designs of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation techniques.Furthermore,a clinical protocol for microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation based on target restorative space guide plate has been put forward and new insights on the quantity and shape of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation has been provided.
文摘BackgroundDisagreement exists on the association between changes in blood pressure and cognitive impairment. We aimed to ex-amine whether 4-year changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure （SBP and DBP） are associated with cognitive status in a representative sample of older men and women.MethodsAnalysis of longitudinal data from 854 participants of a population-based German sample （aged 60-87 years） was performed with standard cognitive screening and blood pressure measurements. Effects of changes in SBP and DBP （10 mmHg and 5 mmHg respectively as unit of regression effect measure） on cognitive status were evaluated using non-parametric and lin-ear regression modeling.ResultsNo clear associations were seen between changes in SBP or in DBP and cognitive scores. Small effects were found after stratification for sex and hypertension awareness. Specifically, larger decreases in SBP were associated with higher cogni-tive scores in those men aware of their hypertension （10 mmHg decrease in SBP,b =-0.26, 95% CI：-0.51 to-0.02） and men with con-trolled hypertension （10 mmHg decrease in SBP,b =-0.44, 95% CI：-0.92 to-0.03）. Additionally larger increases in DBP were associated with higher cognitive scores in men with controlled hypertension （5 mmHg increase in DBP,b = 0.67, 95% CI： 0.19-1.15）. For women aware of their hypertension, larger decreases in DBP were associated with higher cognitive scores （5 mmHg decrease in DBP,b =-0.26; 95%CI：-0.51 to-0.01）.ConclusionsChanges in blood pressure were only weakly associated with cognitive status. Specifically, decreases in SBP were associated with higher cognitive scores in men aware of their hypertension and especially those that were medically controlled.
文摘A 51-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute substernal chest pain. ECG showed ST-segment elevation in the left precordial leads. Coronary angiography demonstrated an occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA) and no significant stenosis in left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The occlusion of a non-dominant RCA may result in anterior ST-segment elevation ECG changes, which could disorient both general and interventional cardiologists.
文摘Explicit attitude measures seem to be rather poor predictors of organ donation behaviour. This study examined whether implicit attitude measures acted as better predictors. Special attention was paid to the moderating role played by attitude strength in predicting deliberate donation behaviour. In this study (N = 78), explicit and implicit measures of attitudes towards organ donation, as well as behavioural commitment, were assessed. Implicit associations were measured by an Implicit Association Test;five constructs assessed self-reported—understood as reflected—attitude strength. The explicit attitude measure appeared to be the best single predictor of whether the participant ended up taking an organ donor card. More importantly, test results demonstrated the moderating role of attitude strength. In the case of low attitude strength, the likelihood of taking a donor card increased with an increasing positive implicit association. In contrast, increasing strength was associated with a weaker link between card taking and the implicit attitude measure. The results are discussed in light of the power of implicit associations to predict more deliberate behaviours.
文摘Common opal was dissolved in NaOH lyes in rotating autoclaves. The starting material was characterized by X-ray diffraction and adsorption spectroscopy, thermal and chemical analysis, electron and atomic force microscopy. The opal proved to be an Opal-CT with a microstructure consisting of microcrystalline tridymite, traces of low-quartz, and amorphous parts built up by random packings of size distributed amorphous silica colloids. The dissolution conditions have been inspired by the technological process of hydrothermal water glass synthesis by dissolving silica. Temperature and time of the dissolution process as well as initial molar SiO2:Na2O (Rm) ratios of the starting materials were varied systematically. The particle size of the samples was varied, too, but due to the nanoscopic microstructure without greater impact on dissolution kinetics. The process products were analyzed chemically. Additionally, some of them were characterized by X-ray diffraction, viscosimetry and dynamic light scattering. Already after short dissolution times, water glasses with quite high silica concentrations of up to 27 wt.% and SiO2:Na2O ratios of up to 3.7 were obtained. At longer dissolution times low-quartz and analcime precipitated and the SiO2 contents were reduced to about 22 wt.% and Rm to about 2.7. The silica contents in equilibrium with low-quartz were almost independent on temperature.
文摘Invariably, it is the poorest of the poor who are mostly affected by perverse disasters, policies and laws. A major concern in disaster research is to explore the relationship between shock experiences and victims＇ perceptions of risk, as well as their possible effect on victims＇ behavior for resilience and adaptation. We explore this relationship on victimized households of the 1986 Lake Nyos disaster, employing a quasi-experimental design. Matching was done with non-affected households. Both groups affected and non-affected households were of adequate size, and subject to the same questionnaire. Selection of （470） test and matching households was purposely limited to nine of the ten towns accommodating both survivors and non survivors of the examined disaster. A list constructed with traditional rulers in each village allowed for random sampling of non victims for comparative analysis. We then compare households affected by the disaster with those who were not. The results reveal differentiated perceptions of risk and management behavior contingent on whether households experienced the shock or not. However, solidarity and reciprocity remained extremely high and not significantly different amongst both household types, suggesting resilience of endogenous, informal risk response mechanisms to natural shocks. The article concludes that analyzing risk perceptions can help explain why some individuals, households or communities may be resilient to shocks and others not. We argue for a combination of subjective perceptions and objective shock analysis, especially if the analyst hopes to influence policy.
文摘The literature is consistent that regular physical activity in children has to be increased in order to compensate the negative health effects resulting from growing sedentary lifestyle. Thus, we analyzed in 45 students （aged 6.6 ± 0.7 years） the effects of a regular exercise intervention, on top of the normal physical education classes, on motor performance （MP） and hemodynamic parameters. The students were randomized either to an intervention （INT） （n = 23） or a control （CON） （n = 22） group. Throughout a 9 months period, INT received additional exercise interventions two days a week for 45 minutes. The main outcome measures were MP, peripheral and central blood pressure （BP）, augmentation index （Alx） and aortic pulse wave velocity （aPWV）. After the exercise intervention, we found significant （P 〈 0.05） positive effects on various test items of MP and significant decreases in peripheral and central systolic BP in INT. In contrast, in CON the respective parameters increased in CON alter the observation period. Moreover, aPWV decreased significantly in INT （P = 0.047） and increased in CON, thus resulting in a significant difference in the mean change （P = 0.043）. There were no considerable changes in AIx in both groups. In conclusion, we demonstrated that an increase in regular physical activity has a positive influence on development of MP and hemodynamic parameters even in early childhood. The findings of this study suggest that an increase in exercise time should be initiated as early as possible to improve motor ability and prevent future cardiovascular risk.
文摘Background:We compared the human lens documented,using the Scheimpflug densitometry,with the light microscopic changes in the epithelium of the anterior central lens in patients with age-related cataract and diabetes mellitus type II and verified the findings on the control tissue of the clear eye lens.We wanted to determine the relevance of the lens epithelium in cataract formation in type II diabetics compared to non-diabetics.Materials and methods:One hundred fifty central lens capsules(138 cataract and 12 clear lenses)of type II diabetics(n=77,45 female,32 male)and non-diabetics(n=73,41 female,32 male)were examined by light microscope,regarding defined histomorphological parameters.Further criteria were duration of diabetes,diabetic retinopathy,cataract(PENTACAM,scheimpflug densitometric definition),protein content in the aqueous humour(laser flare meter 500 KOWA,tyndallometry),different blood parameters and glucose content in the aqueous humour.Results:The mean cell density in the cataractous lens in type II diabetics was 3,951± 528 cells/mm2 and in nondiabetics 4,329± 580 cells/mm2(P< 0.001);in the clear lens it corresponded to 4,593± 409 cells/mm2(type II diabetics)and 4,894± 333 cells/mm2(non-diabetics,P=0.207).The cell density of the cataractous lens in type II diabetics(P=0.005)and in non-diabetics(P=0.035)is smaller than that of the clear lens.The cell area of the lens epithelium in the cataractous diabetic lens is larger(P< 0.001)and the nucleus-plasma ratio is lower(P< 0.001)than those of the clear non-diabetic lens.The increase in damage of the lens epithelium correlates with the decrease of cell density(P< 0.001),the increase of nucleus area and volume(P< 0.001),and the decrease of nucleus-plasma ratio(P< 0.001).Risk factors for the decrease of cell density are advanced age(P=0.015),type II diabetes(P=0.01),increase in glucose content in the aqueous humour(P=0.014),increase in blood sugar(P=0.003)and increase in glycosylated haemoglobin(P=0.039).Conclusions:The lens epithelium is primarily damaged in type II diabetics who develop age-related cataract.This might play an important role in cataract formation.
文摘Background and aims: The diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy (CE) compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in small bowel Crohn‘s disease is not well established. We prospectively investigated CE, MRI, and double contrast fluoroscopy in patients with suspected small bowel Crohn‘s disease. Methods: Fifty two consecutive patients (39 females, 13 males) were investigated by MRI, fluorosco py and if bowel obstruction could be excluded-by CE. In 25, Crohn‘s disease wa s newly suspected while the diagnosis of Crohn‘s disease (non-small bowel) had been previously established in 27. Results: Small bowel Crohn‘s disease was di agnosed in 41 of 52 patients (79%). CE was not accomplished in 14 patients due to bowel strictures. Of the remaining 27 patients, CE, MRI, and fluoroscopy dete cted small bowel Crohn‘s disease in 25 (93%), 21 (78%), and 7 (of 21; 33%) c ases, respectively. CE was the only diagnostic tool in four patients. CE was sli ghtly more sensitive than MRI (12 v 10 of 13 in suspected Crohn‘s disease and 1 3 v 11 of 14 in established Crohn‘s disease). MRI detected inflammatory conglom erates and enteric fistulae in three and two cases, respectively. Conclusion: CE and MRI are complementary methods for diagnosing small bowel Crohn‘s disease. CE is capable of detecting limited mucosal lesions that may be missed by MRI, bu t awareness of bowel obstruction is mandatory. In contrast, MRI is helpful in id entifying transmural Crohn‘s disease and extraluminal lesions, and may exclude strictures.
基金partially supported by the Advanced Clinician Scientist Program of the Medical Faculty of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg,Halle(Saale),Germany(No.FKZ ACS23/06).
文摘Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)remains a devastating disease,and selecting patients who might benefit from complex arterial resection continues to be a challenge.However,in the era of modern multimodal treatments,surgery for pancreatic cancer has become increasingly safe.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens such as modified-FOLFIRINOX(mFOLFIRINOX)and nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine are effective in a significant proportion of patients.
基金funding from the European Research Council(ERC)under the Horizon2020 Framework Programme(grant agreement number[681686-"LUSH SPIKE"ERC-2015-CoG]financial support from the HEISENBERG Program of the German Research Foundation(DFG),grant no.SCHN 768/8-1,and IPK core budget
文摘Grass species display a wide array of inflorescences ranging from highly branched compound/panicle inflorescences to unbranched spike inflorescences. The unbranched spike is a characteristic feature of the species of tribe Triticeae, including economically important crops,such as wheat and barley. In this review, we describe two important developmental genetic mechanisms regulating spike inflorescence architecture in barley and wheat.These include genetic regulation of(i) row-type pathway specific to Hordeum species and(ii) unbranched spike development in barley and wheat. For a comparative understanding, we describe the branched inflorescence phenotypes of rice and maize along with unbranched Triticeae inflorescences. In the end, we propose a simplified model describing a probable mechanism leading to unbranched spike formation in Triticeae species.
基金EU 7th FP Project BACCARA(226299)and the National Basic Research Program of China(2014CB954004).
文摘Aims Soil respiration(Rs)is a major process controlling soil carbon loss in forest ecosystems.However,the underlying mechanisms leading to variation in Rs along forest successional gradients are not well understood.In this study,we investigated the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on Rs along a forest successional gradient in southeast China.Methods We selected 16 plots stratified by forest age,ranging from 20 to 120 years.In each plot,six shallow collars and six deep collars were permanently inserted into the soil.Shallow and deep collars were used to measure Rs and heterotrophic respiration(Rh),respectively.Autotrophic soil respiration(Ra)was estimated as the difference between Rs and Rh.Litter layer respiration(R_(L))was calculated by subtracting soil respiration measured in collars without leaf litter layer(R_(NL))from Rs.Rs was measured every 2 months,and soil temperature(ST)and soil volumetric water content(SVWC)were recorded every hour for 19 months.We calculated daily Rs using an exponential model dependent on ST.Daily Rs was summed to obtain cumulative annual Rs estimates.Structural equation modelling(SEM)was applied to identify the drivers of Rs during forest succession.Important Findings Rs showed significant differences among three successive stages,and it was the highest in the young stage.Ra was higher in the young stage than in the medium stage.Cumulative annual Rs and Ra peaked in the young and old stages,respectively.Cumulative annual Rh and respiration measured from soil organic matter(R_(SOM))decreased,whereas R_(L)increased with forest age.The SEM revealed that cumulative annual Rs was influenced by fine root biomass and SVWC.Our results indicated that the dominant force regulating Rs on a seasonal scale is ST;however,on a successional scale,belowground carbon emerges as the dominant influential factor.
基金Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt(20004/705 to S.K.E.).
文摘Adaptive evolution along geographic gradients of climatic conditions is suggested to facilitate the spread of invasive plant species,leading to clinal variation among populations in the introduced range.We investigated whether adaptation to climate is also involved in the invasive spread of an ornamental shrub,Buddleja davidii,across western and central Europe.Methods We combined a common garden experiment,replicated in three climatically different central European regions,with reciprocal transplantation to quantify genetic differentiation in growth and reproductive traits of 20 invasive B.davidii populations.Additionally,we compared compensatory regrowth among populations after clipping of stems to simulate mechanical damage.Important Findings Our results do not provide evidence for clinal variation among invasive B.davidii populations:populations responded similarly to the different environments,and trait values were not correlated to climatic conditions or geographic coordinates of their home sites.Moreover,we did not detect differences in the compensatory ability of populations.We suppose that the invasive spread of B.davidii has been facilitated by phenotypic plasticity rather than by adaptation to climate and that continent-wide shuffling of cultivars due to horticultural trade may have limited local adaptation so far.
