Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with over 38000 deaths in 2013. The opportunity to detect pancreatic cancer while it is still curable is dependent on ou...Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with over 38000 deaths in 2013. The opportunity to detect pancreatic cancer while it is still curable is dependent on our ability to identify and screen high-risk populations before their symptoms arise. Risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer include multiple genetic syndromes as well as modifiable risk factors. Genetic conditions include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch Syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome, familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome, hereditary pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and ataxia-telangiectasia; having a genetic predisposition can raise the risk of developing pancreatic cancer up to 132-fold over the general population. Modifiable risk factors, which include tobacco exposure, alcohol use, chronic pancreatitis, diet, obesity, diabetes mellitus, as well as certain abdominal surgeries and infections, have also been shown to increase the risk of pancreatic cancer development. Several largevolume centers have initiated such screening protocols, and consensus-based guidelines for screening high-riskgroups have recently been published. The focus of this review will be both the genetic and modifiable risk factors implicated in pancreatic cancer, as well as a review of screening strategies and their diagnostic yields.展开更多
Variable nozzle turbine （VNT） has become a popular variable geometry turbine （VGT） technology for the diesel engine application. Nozzle clearance, which can＇t be avoided on the hub and shroud side of the VNT turb...Variable nozzle turbine （VNT） has become a popular variable geometry turbine （VGT） technology for the diesel engine application. Nozzle clearance, which can＇t be avoided on the hub and shroud side of the VNT turbine due to the pivoting stators, can lead to turbine performance deterioration. However, its mechanism is still not clear. In this paper, numerical investigation, which is validated by experiment, is carried out to study the mechanism of the nozzle clearance＇s effect on the turbine performance. Firstly, performance of the mixed flow turbine with fixed nozzle clearances tested on flow bench. Performance of the tested turbine with the same nozzle clearance is numerically simulated. The numerical result agrees well with the test data, which proves correct of the numerical method. Then the turbine performance with different nozzle clearances is numerically analyzed. The research showed that with nozzle clearance, flow loss in the nozzle increases at first and it reaches the maximum value when the clearance ratio is 5%. Flow at the exit of the nozzle becomes less uniform with nozzle clearance. The negative incidence angle of the rotor also increases with nozzle clearance and leads to more incidence angle loss in the rotor. The low energy fluid formed in the nozzle due to the nozzle clearance migrates from hub to shroud side in the rotor, which is another main reason for the rotor＇s performance degradation. The present research exposed the mechanism of the dramatically decrease of the turbine performance with nozzle clearance： （a） The loss associated with the nozzle leakage increases with the nozzle clearance; （b） The flow loss grows up quickly in the rotor due to the incidence angle loss and migration of the low energy fluid from hub to shroud side.展开更多
The effects of two geometric refinement strategies widespread in natural structures, chirality and self-similar hierarchy, on the in-plane elastic response of two-dimensional honeycombs were studied systematically. Si...The effects of two geometric refinement strategies widespread in natural structures, chirality and self-similar hierarchy, on the in-plane elastic response of two-dimensional honeycombs were studied systematically. Simple closed-form expressions were derived for the elastic moduli of several chiral, anti- chiral, and hierarchical honeycombs with hexagon and square based networks. Finite element analysis was employed to validate the analytical estimates of the elastic moduli. The results were also compared with the numerical and experimental data available in the literature. We found that introducing a hier- archical refinement increases the Young＇s modulus of hexagon based honeycombs while decreases their shear modulus. For square based honeycombs, hierarchy increases the shear modulus while decreasing their Young＇s modulus. Introducing chirality was shown to always decrease the Young＇s modulus and Poisson＇s ratio of the structure. However, chirality remains the only route to auxeticity. In particular, we found that anti-tetra-chiral structures were capable of simultaneously exhibiting anisotropy, auxeticity, and remarkably low shear modulus as the magnitude of the chirality of the unit cell increases.展开更多
Many nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds （NACs）, such as nitrobenzene （NB）, 4-nitrophenol （4-NP）, aniline （AN）, and 2,4-dinitrophenol （2,4-DNP）, are environmentally hazardous, and their removal from conta...Many nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds （NACs）, such as nitrobenzene （NB）, 4-nitrophenol （4-NP）, aniline （AN）, and 2,4-dinitrophenol （2,4-DNP）, are environmentally hazardous, and their removal from contaminated water is one of the main challenges facing wastewater treatment plants. In this study, synthetic wastewater containing NB, 4-NP, 2,4-DNP, and AN at concentrations ranging from 50 to 180 mg/L was fed into a sequencing batch reactor （SBR）. Analyses of the SBR system indicated that it simultaneously removed more than 99% of the NACs at loading rates of 0.36 kg NB/（m^3·d）, 0.3 kg 4-NP/（m^3·d）, 0.25 kg AN/（m^3·d）, and 0.1 kg 2,4-DNP/（m^3·d）. Bacterial groups of Bacteriodetes, Candidate division TM7, α-Proteobacteria, and β-Proteobacteria were dominant in the clone libraries of 16S rRNA genes retrieved from the microbial communities in the SBR system. ＂Cycle tests＂ designed to alter feeding and aeration parameters of the SBR system demonstrated that the resident microbial biome of the SBR system responded rapidly to changing conditions. Consumption of O2 was concomitant with the apparent mineralization of NACs. Aromatic ring-cleaving dioxygenase activities suggested that （1） AN and NB were degraded via catechol 2,3-dioxygenase; （2） 4-NP was degraded via 1,2,4-benzentriol 1,2-dioxygenase; and （3） 2,4-DNP was degraded via an unresolved pathway.展开更多
background While diffuse atherosclerotic disease affecting the posterior circulation has been described extensively,the prevalence,natural history and angiographic characteristics of isolated symptomatic basilar arter...background While diffuse atherosclerotic disease affecting the posterior circulation has been described extensively,the prevalence,natural history and angiographic characteristics of isolated symptomatic basilar artery stenosis(ISBAS)remain unknown.Methods We reviewed our prospective institutional database to identify patients with≥50% symptomatic basilar artery(BA)stenosis without significant atherosclerotic burden in the vertebral or posterior cerebral arteries.Stroke mechanism,collateral circulation,and degree and length of stenosis were analysed.The primary outcome was time from index event to new transient ischaemic attack(TIA),acute ischaemic stroke(AIS)or death.Other outcome variables included modified Rankin Scale(mRS)score on discharge and last follow-up.results Of 6369 patients with AIS/TIA,91(1.43%)had ISBAS.Seventy-three(80.2%)patients presented with AIS and 18(19.8%)with TIA.Twenty-nine(31.9%)were women and the median age was 66.8±13.6 years.The mean follow-up time was 2.7 years.The most common stroke mechanism was artery-to artery thromboembolism(45.2%),followed by perforator occlusion(28.7%)and flow-dependent/hypoperfusion(15.1%).The percentage of stenosis was lower in patients who had favourable outcome compared with those with mRS 3-6 on discharge(78.3±14.3 vs 86.9±14.5,p=0.007).Kaplan-Meier curves showed higher recurrence/death rates in patients with≥80% stenosis,mid-basilar location and poor collateral circulation.Approximately 13% of patients with ISBAS presented with complete BA occlusion.Conclusion ISBAS is an uncommon(1.43%)cause of TIA and AIS.Men in their 60s are mostly affected,and artery-to artery embolism is the most common stroke mechanism.Mid-basilar location,≥80% stenosis and poor collateral circulation are important factors associated with worse prognosis.展开更多
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) eating and cooking quality is mainly influenced by its starch properties. Mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) for starch properties not only helps us understand their genetic basis leading to ...Rice (Oryza sativa L.) eating and cooking quality is mainly influenced by its starch properties. Mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) for starch properties not only helps us understand their genetic basis leading to acceleration of quality improvement, but also helps us find possible genes participating in the synthesis of starch. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 107 lines, derived from an indica (Zaiyeqing 8, ZYQ 8) and a japonica (Jingxi 17, JX 17) rice, was used to investigate the genetic factors affecting starch quality parameters, such as apparent amylose content (AAC), gel consistency (GC), starch pasting viscosity parameters, gel textural properties, gelatinization temperature (GT) and starch retrogradation properties. A total of 44 QTLs covered chromosomes 2-6, 8, 9 and 11 were detected for the 22 traits, with at least one QTL and as many as four QTLs for each individual trait. The results indicated that two major genes were responsible for most starch property traits. The Wx gene that encodes granule bound starch synthase on chromosome 6 was significant for AAC, GC, starch pasting viscosity parameters, gel textural properties and starch retrogradation properties. The alk gene linked with Wx on chromosome 6 was significant for starch gelatinization temperature characteristics. All other QTLs were minor genes. One QTL on chromosome 9 flanked by RZ404 and G295 was significant for gel hardness (HD), gumminess (GUM), chewiness (CHEW), peak temperature of retrogradated starch (RTp), and percentage retrogradation (R%) and all these traits were not tested before.展开更多
文摘Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with over 38000 deaths in 2013. The opportunity to detect pancreatic cancer while it is still curable is dependent on our ability to identify and screen high-risk populations before their symptoms arise. Risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer include multiple genetic syndromes as well as modifiable risk factors. Genetic conditions include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch Syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome, familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome, hereditary pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and ataxia-telangiectasia; having a genetic predisposition can raise the risk of developing pancreatic cancer up to 132-fold over the general population. Modifiable risk factors, which include tobacco exposure, alcohol use, chronic pancreatitis, diet, obesity, diabetes mellitus, as well as certain abdominal surgeries and infections, have also been shown to increase the risk of pancreatic cancer development. Several largevolume centers have initiated such screening protocols, and consensus-based guidelines for screening high-riskgroups have recently been published. The focus of this review will be both the genetic and modifiable risk factors implicated in pancreatic cancer, as well as a review of screening strategies and their diagnostic yields.
基金supported by Advanced Boost System Development for Diesel HCCI Application of DOE(Grant No. DE-FC26-07-NT43280)
文摘Variable nozzle turbine （VNT） has become a popular variable geometry turbine （VGT） technology for the diesel engine application. Nozzle clearance, which can＇t be avoided on the hub and shroud side of the VNT turbine due to the pivoting stators, can lead to turbine performance deterioration. However, its mechanism is still not clear. In this paper, numerical investigation, which is validated by experiment, is carried out to study the mechanism of the nozzle clearance＇s effect on the turbine performance. Firstly, performance of the mixed flow turbine with fixed nozzle clearances tested on flow bench. Performance of the tested turbine with the same nozzle clearance is numerically simulated. The numerical result agrees well with the test data, which proves correct of the numerical method. Then the turbine performance with different nozzle clearances is numerically analyzed. The research showed that with nozzle clearance, flow loss in the nozzle increases at first and it reaches the maximum value when the clearance ratio is 5%. Flow at the exit of the nozzle becomes less uniform with nozzle clearance. The negative incidence angle of the rotor also increases with nozzle clearance and leads to more incidence angle loss in the rotor. The low energy fluid formed in the nozzle due to the nozzle clearance migrates from hub to shroud side in the rotor, which is another main reason for the rotor＇s performance degradation. The present research exposed the mechanism of the dramatically decrease of the turbine performance with nozzle clearance： （a） The loss associated with the nozzle leakage increases with the nozzle clearance; （b） The flow loss grows up quickly in the rotor due to the incidence angle loss and migration of the low energy fluid from hub to shroud side.
基金made possible by a NPRP award(NPRP 7-882-2-326)from the Qatar National Research Fund(a member of the Qatar Foundation)
文摘The effects of two geometric refinement strategies widespread in natural structures, chirality and self-similar hierarchy, on the in-plane elastic response of two-dimensional honeycombs were studied systematically. Simple closed-form expressions were derived for the elastic moduli of several chiral, anti- chiral, and hierarchical honeycombs with hexagon and square based networks. Finite element analysis was employed to validate the analytical estimates of the elastic moduli. The results were also compared with the numerical and experimental data available in the literature. We found that introducing a hier- archical refinement increases the Young＇s modulus of hexagon based honeycombs while decreases their shear modulus. For square based honeycombs, hierarchy increases the shear modulus while decreasing their Young＇s modulus. Introducing chirality was shown to always decrease the Young＇s modulus and Poisson＇s ratio of the structure. However, chirality remains the only route to auxeticity. In particular, we found that anti-tetra-chiral structures were capable of simultaneously exhibiting anisotropy, auxeticity, and remarkably low shear modulus as the magnitude of the chirality of the unit cell increases.
基金Project supported by the Pilot Project of Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-G-009)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 20577067, 30230010).
文摘Many nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds （NACs）, such as nitrobenzene （NB）, 4-nitrophenol （4-NP）, aniline （AN）, and 2,4-dinitrophenol （2,4-DNP）, are environmentally hazardous, and their removal from contaminated water is one of the main challenges facing wastewater treatment plants. In this study, synthetic wastewater containing NB, 4-NP, 2,4-DNP, and AN at concentrations ranging from 50 to 180 mg/L was fed into a sequencing batch reactor （SBR）. Analyses of the SBR system indicated that it simultaneously removed more than 99% of the NACs at loading rates of 0.36 kg NB/（m^3·d）, 0.3 kg 4-NP/（m^3·d）, 0.25 kg AN/（m^3·d）, and 0.1 kg 2,4-DNP/（m^3·d）. Bacterial groups of Bacteriodetes, Candidate division TM7, α-Proteobacteria, and β-Proteobacteria were dominant in the clone libraries of 16S rRNA genes retrieved from the microbial communities in the SBR system. ＂Cycle tests＂ designed to alter feeding and aeration parameters of the SBR system demonstrated that the resident microbial biome of the SBR system responded rapidly to changing conditions. Consumption of O2 was concomitant with the apparent mineralization of NACs. Aromatic ring-cleaving dioxygenase activities suggested that （1） AN and NB were degraded via catechol 2,3-dioxygenase; （2） 4-NP was degraded via 1,2,4-benzentriol 1,2-dioxygenase; and （3） 2,4-DNP was degraded via an unresolved pathway.
文摘background While diffuse atherosclerotic disease affecting the posterior circulation has been described extensively,the prevalence,natural history and angiographic characteristics of isolated symptomatic basilar artery stenosis(ISBAS)remain unknown.Methods We reviewed our prospective institutional database to identify patients with≥50% symptomatic basilar artery(BA)stenosis without significant atherosclerotic burden in the vertebral or posterior cerebral arteries.Stroke mechanism,collateral circulation,and degree and length of stenosis were analysed.The primary outcome was time from index event to new transient ischaemic attack(TIA),acute ischaemic stroke(AIS)or death.Other outcome variables included modified Rankin Scale(mRS)score on discharge and last follow-up.results Of 6369 patients with AIS/TIA,91(1.43%)had ISBAS.Seventy-three(80.2%)patients presented with AIS and 18(19.8%)with TIA.Twenty-nine(31.9%)were women and the median age was 66.8±13.6 years.The mean follow-up time was 2.7 years.The most common stroke mechanism was artery-to artery thromboembolism(45.2%),followed by perforator occlusion(28.7%)and flow-dependent/hypoperfusion(15.1%).The percentage of stenosis was lower in patients who had favourable outcome compared with those with mRS 3-6 on discharge(78.3±14.3 vs 86.9±14.5,p=0.007).Kaplan-Meier curves showed higher recurrence/death rates in patients with≥80% stenosis,mid-basilar location and poor collateral circulation.Approximately 13% of patients with ISBAS presented with complete BA occlusion.Conclusion ISBAS is an uncommon(1.43%)cause of TIA and AIS.Men in their 60s are mostly affected,and artery-to artery embolism is the most common stroke mechanism.Mid-basilar location,≥80% stenosis and poor collateral circulation are important factors associated with worse prognosis.
文摘Rice (Oryza sativa L.) eating and cooking quality is mainly influenced by its starch properties. Mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) for starch properties not only helps us understand their genetic basis leading to acceleration of quality improvement, but also helps us find possible genes participating in the synthesis of starch. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 107 lines, derived from an indica (Zaiyeqing 8, ZYQ 8) and a japonica (Jingxi 17, JX 17) rice, was used to investigate the genetic factors affecting starch quality parameters, such as apparent amylose content (AAC), gel consistency (GC), starch pasting viscosity parameters, gel textural properties, gelatinization temperature (GT) and starch retrogradation properties. A total of 44 QTLs covered chromosomes 2-6, 8, 9 and 11 were detected for the 22 traits, with at least one QTL and as many as four QTLs for each individual trait. The results indicated that two major genes were responsible for most starch property traits. The Wx gene that encodes granule bound starch synthase on chromosome 6 was significant for AAC, GC, starch pasting viscosity parameters, gel textural properties and starch retrogradation properties. The alk gene linked with Wx on chromosome 6 was significant for starch gelatinization temperature characteristics. All other QTLs were minor genes. One QTL on chromosome 9 flanked by RZ404 and G295 was significant for gel hardness (HD), gumminess (GUM), chewiness (CHEW), peak temperature of retrogradated starch (RTp), and percentage retrogradation (R%) and all these traits were not tested before.
