This paper investigates the occurrence and severity of collisions involving multiple vehicles on mountain expressways (MMEs) in Western China. A total of 1 521 crash samples occurring on one typical mountain expressway in Shaanxi, China, between 2012 and 2017, were analysed through a partially constrained generalised ordered logit to identify the significant risk factors contributing to the severity of such crashes. Elasticity analysis was performed to quantify the effects of each independent explanatory variable on the collision severity outcomes. Fourteen total explanatory variables were found to have a significant and pronounced influence on the likelihood of MME crashes. These include the type of collision, the at-fault driver's age, driving while fatigued, cell phone use while driving, alcohol-impaired driving, speeding, risky following and dangerous overtaking behaviour, sharp curves in the roadway and slippery pavement conditions, seasons, day of the week, time of day, and adverse weather (rain/snow/fog). The impacts of the variables on the collision severity were also explored. Taken together, the findings may serve as a useful guide for developing legislation and technical countermeasures to ensure traffic safety on mountain expressways in Western China.

Both theoretical and field research have shown that protective layer mining with pressure-relief gas extraction in protected coal seams is an effective and economical way of controlling coal and gas outbursts in underground mines. Given the influences of coal seam angles, layer spacing, pressure-relief angles, coal pillars, and other factors in the protected areas of protected seams, the protection range is often smaller than the area of protective seam mining. This problem can be solved by using a gas drainage method based on coal seam geology and the conditions of coalbed methane (CBM) occurrence during protective layer mining. If a protective layer is prone to outbursts, crossing boreholes and bedding boreholes can be used to eliminate outburst hazards. The crossing boreholes should control the upper side of the roadway contour for at least 20 m and the lower side for at least 10 m. For other coal seams, the boreholes should control both sides of the roadway contour for at least 15 m. Crossing boreholes can not only extract CBM from the protective layer but can also extract from the protected coal seam, thus leading to a larger protection range in the protective layer than that predicted by the pressure-relief boundary, as well as expanding the protection range. The actual protection range of the protected layer was determined using an index of residual gas content. The results of the study indicate that the pressure-relief angle increased from 56° to 69° in the strike direction and from 75° to 90° in the inclination direction. The protection range was approximately equal to the mining area of the working face of the protective layer, thereby extending the protection range. One of the important reasons for protection range expansion was the influence of gas drainage via crossing boreholes. The protection range extension mitigated the outburst danger over a large area of the coal seam, thus enabling high efficiency and safe exploitation.

ABSTRACT The black-bone chicken has special economic value in Chinese poultry breeds, which also are valued for the medicinal properties of their meat in traditional Chinese medicine. In order to protect the genetic resources of native black-bone chicken breeds, we analyzed the genetic diversity and matrilineal components of 64 mtDNA D-loop partial sequences from three native black-bone chicken breeds, together with reported 596 black-bone chicken mtDNA sequences from China, Japan, and Korea. A total of 108 haplotypes were observed from 73 variable sites. These domestic chicken mtDNA sequences could be assigned into seven clades (A-G). The results indicated that 71.97% of the black-bone haplotypes were related to the reference sequence that may originate from Eurasia, while the minor part of mtDNA sequences presumably derive from Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. Three clades were shared by Korean, Japanese, and Chinese black-bone chickens. These results provide basic data useful for making new breeding and conservation strategies for the black-bone chicken in China.

The stabilization of roadways in soft rock under high stress has always been a major concern for deep underground coal mines. This paper describes a case study focusing on the stability of a soft-rock roadway in Yuandian coal mine in Anhui Province, China. The Beiyi main return roadway in this mine was primarily supported by U-steel support; however, considerable deformation and severe failures occurred. Therefore, a new support design, the yielding bolt - grouting support design, was proposed based on the physical and mechanical parameters, in situ stress measurements, and the failure characteristics of the roadway. The mechanics of the yielding bolt - grouting support was analysed and compared to the normal bolt - grouting support. A field experiment was conducted in a 100 m long section of the roadway. The monitoring results showed that compared with the old support, the new support design reduced the deformations of roof, floor, and rib by 41.4%, 56.1%, and 64.7% respectively, and the maximum deformation rate decreased from 15.12 mm/d to 9.28 mm/d. This case study indicates that the yielding bolt - grouting support design is an effective method to support roadways in soft rock under high stress.

Two new Mg(II)-based and Zn(II)-based coordination polymers, {[Mg3(BTB)(DMA)4](DMA)2}n (1, H3BTB=1,3,5-benzenetrisbenzoic acid, DMA=N,N-dimethylacetamide) and {(H2NMe2)2[Zn3(BTB)2(OH)(Im)](DMF)9(MeOH)7}n (2, Im=imidazole, DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide), have been successfully synthesized and structurally characterized under solvothermal conditions. 1 contains a linear [Mg3(COO)6] cluster that connected by the fully deprotonated BTB3- ligands to give a kgd-type 2D bilayer structure; 2 represents a microporous 3D pillar-layered system based on the binuclear Zn units and pillared Im ligands, which shows a (3,5)-connected hms topological net. In addition, in vitro anticancer activities of compounds 1 and 2 on 4 human liver cancer cells (HB611, HHCC, BEL-7405 and SMMC-7721) were determined.

Staphylococcus aureus colonization in the nares of patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery increases the potential risk of surgical site infections. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has gained recognition as a pathogen that is no longer only just a hospital-acquired pathogen. Patients positive for MRSA are associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality following infection. MRSA is commonly found in the nares, and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) is even more prevalent. Recently, studies have determined that screening for this pathogen prior to surgery and diminishing staphylococcal infections at the surgical site will dramatically reduce surgical site infections. A nasal mupirocin treatment is shown to significantly reduce the colonization of the pathogen. However, this treatment is expensive and is currently not available in China. Thus, in this study, we first sought to determine the prevalence of MSSA/MSRA in patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery in northern China, and then, we treated the positive patients with a nasal povidone-iodine swab. Here, we demonstrate a successful reduction in the colonization of S. aureus. We propose that this treatment could serve as a cost-effective means of eradicating this pathogen in patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery, which might reduce the rate of surgical site infections.

Glutathione synthetase deficiency (GSSD) is a rare inborn error of glutathione metabolism with autosomal recessive inheritance. The severe form of the disease is characterized by acute metabolic acidosis, usually present in the neonatal period with hemolytic anemia and progressive encephalopathy. A case of a male newborn infant who had severe metabolic acidosis with high anion gap, hemolytic anemia, and hyperbilirubinemia is reported. A high level of 5-oxoproline was detected in his urine and a diagnosis of generalized GSSD was made. DNA sequence analysis revealed the infant to be compound heterozygous with two mutations, c.738dupG in exon 8 of GSS gene resulting in p.S247fs and a repetitive sequence in exon 3 of GSS gene. Treatment after diagnosis of GSSD included supplementation with antioxidants and oral sodium hydrogen bicarbonate. However, he maintained a variable degree of metabolic acidosis and succumbed shortly after his parents requested discontinuation of therapy because of dismal prognosis and medical futility when he was 18 days old.

ABSTRACT Objective: To detect the skewness of T cell receptor (TCR) Vα and TCR Vβ of patients with Type 1 diabetes. Methods: The heparinized venous blood was collected from ten patients with Type 1 diabetes. The peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were isolated and used to extract mRNA. Reverse amplyfication was performed for cDNA synthesis. The skewness of TCR Vα and Vβ was detected with real-time florescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) and analysed by DNA melting-curve analysis technique, respectively. Results: Among the TCR Vα genes, the skewness frequency rate (SFR) of Vα22 was 30%; both of Vα5 and Vα24 were 20%; the SFR of Vα28 was 10%, which was the only gene that showed restricted-clone. In all the Vβ genes, Vβ7 and Vβ17 were the the highest expression genes, and their SFRs were both 60%. Vβ11 was near them with the SFR of 40%; the restricted clonal genes were Vβ18 and Vβ20, and their SFRs were 10% and 20%, respectivley. Conclusions: There were skewed genes in TCR Vα and TCR Vβ, which were probably relative to the onset of Type 1 diabetes.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Detectar la asimetría de RCT Vα y RCT Vβ de pacientes con diabetes tipo 1 (DT1). Métodos: Muestras de sangre venosa heparinizada fueron tomadas de diez pacientes con DT1. Los linfocitos de la sangre periférica (LSP) fueron aislados y usados para extraer el ARNm. La amplificación inversa se realizó para la síntesis del ADNc. La asimetría de RCT Vα y Vβ fue detectada mediante reacción en cadena cuantitativa fluorescente de la polimerasa en tiempo real (QF-PCR) y analizada mediante la técnica de análisis de curva de fusión del DNA, respectivamente. Resultados: Entre los genes RCT Vα, el índice de frecuencia de asimetría (SFR, en inglés) de Vα22 fue de 30%; tanto el de Vα5 como el de Vα24 fue 20%; y el SFR de Vα28 fue 10%, siendo el único gene que mostró clon restringido. De todos los genes Vβ, los de mayor expresión fueron Vβ7 y Vβ17, y sus índices SFR fueron de 60%. El gen Vβ11 estuvo cerca de estos valores, con un SFR de 40%; los genes clónicos restringidos fueron Vβ18 y Vβ20, y sus SFR fueron de 10% y 20%, respectivamente. Conclusiones: Hubo genes sesgados en RCT Vα y RCT Vβ, probablemente relacionados con el inicio de DT1.

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) biological patch for abdominal wall reconstruction and in the treatment of infant and neonatal giant omphalocoele as well as other large abdominal wall defects. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the surgical use of an ADM biological patch for reconstructing the abdominal wall was performed. Eleven infants with giant omphalocoele, one with an iatrogenic large abdominal wall defect, and one with a large abdominal wall hernia were treated by filling the abdominal wall defect with the biological patch and expanding the abdominal cavity volume to avoid sharply increased pressure after the direct suture closure of the abdominal incision. This procedure obtained good results. Results: Infants with giant omphalocoele had good results in 10 of 11 cases (the parents of one patient ended treatment). One infant with an iatrogenic abdominal wall defect and one with a large abdominal wall hernia had good results; at follow-up, neither infant has had complications. Conclusion: Large abdominal wall defects in neonates and infants can be reconstructed by ADM patches with good results.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Este estudio tiene como objetivo investigar la viabilidad del uso del parche de matriz dérmica acelular (MDA) biológico para la reconstrucción de la pared abdominal y el tratamiento de onfaloceles gigantes, así como otros defectos de la pared abdominal en infantes y neonatos. Métodos: Se realizó un análisis retrospectivo del uso quirúrgico del parche biológico de MDA para reconstruir la pared abdominal. Once infantes con onfalocele, uno con un defecto iatrogénico grande de la pared abdominal, y otro con una hernia grande de la pared abdominal, fueron tratados rellenando el defecto de la pared abdominal con el parche biológico y ampliando el volumen de la cavidad abdominal, para evitar un aumento agudamente considerable de la presión tras el cierre de la sutura directa de la incisión abdominal. Este procedimiento dio buenos resultados. Resultados: Los infantes con onfalocele gigante tuvieron buenos resultados en 10 de los 11 casos (los padres de un paciente dieron por terminado el tratamiento). Un niño con defecto iatrogénico de la pared abdominal y uno con una hernia grande de la pared abdominal tuvieron buenos resultados. En el seguimiento, ninguno de los niños tuvo complicaciones. Conclusión: Los defectos grandes de la pared abdominal en recién nacidos y niños pequeños pueden ser reconstruidos con parches de MDA con buenos resultados.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. In the present study, we determined whether the effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on diabetic cardiomyopathy was associated with its impact on oxidative stress. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and heterozygous superoxide dismutase (SOD2+/-) knockout mice were administered APS. The hemodynamics, cardiac ultrastructure, and the apoptosis, necrosis and proliferation of cardiomyocytes were assessed to evaluate the effect of APS on diabetic and oxidative cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, H2O2 formation, oxidative stress/damage, and SOD activity in cardiomyocytes were evaluated to determine the effects of APS on cardiac oxidative stress. APS therapy improved hemodynamics and myocardial ultrastructure with reduced apoptosis/necrosis, and enhanced proliferation in cardiomyocytes from both STZ-induced diabetic mice and heterozygous SOD2+/- knockout mice. In addition, APS therapy reduced H2O2 formation and oxidative stress/damage, and enhanced SOD activity in both groups of mice. Our findings suggest that APS had benefits in diabetic cardiomyopathy, which may be partly associated with its impact on cardiac oxidative stress.

The objective of this study was to evaluate lung protection by the volatile anesthetic sevoflurane (SEVO), which inhibits apoptosis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250–280 g; n=18) were randomly divided into three groups. The LPS group received 5 mg/kg endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), which induced acute lung injury (ALI). The control (CTRL) group received normal saline and the SEVO group received sevoflurane (2.5%) for 30 min after ALI was induced by 5 mg/kg LPS. Samples were collected for analysis 12 h after LPS. Lung injury was assessed by pathological observations and tissue wet to dry weight (W/D) ratios. Apoptotic index (AI) was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and electron microscopy. Caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-3 protein levels were determined by immunocytochemistry and western blotting, respectively. Bcl-xl levels were measured by western blotting and Bcl-2 levels by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. In the LPS group, W/D ratios, AI values, caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-3 levels were significantly higher than in the CTRL group and lung injury was more severe. In the SEVO group, W/D ratios, AI, caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-3 were lower than in the LPS group. Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl expression were higher than in the LPS group and lung injury was attenuated. Sevoflurane inhalation protected the lungs from injury by regulating caspase-3 activation and Bcl-xl and Bcl-2 expression to inhibit excessive cell apoptosis, and such apoptosis might be important in the pathogenesis of LPS-induced ALI.

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the establishment of a human cancer xenograft model using samples from computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous biopsy. Fresh tumor tissues obtained from 10 cancer patients by CT-guided percutaneous biopsy were subcutaneously inoculated into NOD-Prkdcem26Il2rgem26Nju (NCG) mice to establish human patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) models. The formation of first and second generation xenografts was observed, and tumor volume was recorded over time. Tumor tissue consistency between the PDTX model and primary tumors in patients was compared using H&E staining and immunohistochemistry. Pharmacodynamic tests of clinically used chemotherapeutic drugs were conducted on second generation xenografts, and their effects on tumor growth and body weight were observed. CT-guided percutaneous biopsy samples were successfully collected from 10 patients with advanced cancers. The PDTX model was established in mice using tumor samples obtained from 4 cancer patients, including one small cell carcinoma sample, two adenocarcinoma samples, and one squamous cell carcinoma sample. The success rate was 40%. The obtained PDTX model maintained a degree of differentiation, and morphological and structural characteristics were similar to primary tumors. The pharmacodynamic test of chemotherapeutic drugs in the PDTX model revealed a therapeutic effect on tumor growth, as expected. CT-guided percutaneous biopsy samples can be effectively used to establish a PDTX model, and test these chemotherapy regimens.

A 55-year-old male presented with fever, stupor, aphasia, and left hemiparesis. A history of head trauma 3 months before was also reported. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed slight contrast enhancement of lesions under the right frontal skull plate and right frontal lobe. Because of deterioration in nutritional status and intracranial hypertension, the patient was prepared for burr hole surgery. A subdural empyema (SDE) recurred after simple drainage. After detection of Brucella species in SDE, craniotomy combined with antibiotic treatment was undertaken. The patient received antibiotic therapy for 6 months (two doses of 2 g ceftriaxone, two doses of 100 mg doxycycline, and 700 mg rifapentine for 6 months) that resulted in complete cure of the infection. Thus, it was speculated that the preexisting subdural hematoma was formed after head trauma, which was followed by a hematogenous infection caused by Brucella species.

We conducted pot experiments on the cypress Thujopsis dolabrata (Linn. f.) Sieb. et Zucc. in order to study the interaction of silicon (Si) and root exudates on cadmium (Cd) bioavailability in the rhizosphere,. Each variety was planted with 100 mg/kg Cd and/or 400 mg/kg Si for 210 days. The results showed that adding Si increased Cd tolerance in T. dolabrata, but that the mechanism was specifical. In T. dolabrata, Si did not prevent Cd translocation from roots to shoots, and it significantly enhanced Cd accumulation without inhibiting growth. Moreover, Si mobilized Cd from the rhizospheric soil by stimulating phenolic exudation from the roots, suggesting that Cd-chelation combined with Si-induced phenolics were involved in Cd detoxification.

Se condujeron experimentos en potes con el ciprés Thujopsis dolabrata (Linn. f.) Sieb. et Zucc. para estudiar la interacción del silicio (Si) y exudados radicales sobre la biodisponibilidad de cadmio (Cd) en la rizósfera. Cada variedad se plantó con 100 mg/kg de Cd y/o 400 mg/kg de Si durante 210 días. Los resultados mostraron que el agregado de Si incrementó la tolerancia al Cd en T. dolabrata, pero que el mecanismo fue específico. En T. dolabrata, el Si no previno la movilización de Cd desde las raíces a los tallos, y mejoró significativamente la acumulación de Cd pero sin inhibir el crecimiento. Más aún, el Si movilizó el Cd desde el suelo rizosférico estimulando la exudación de compuestos fenólicos desde las raíces, sugiriendo que el ligamento de Cd combinado con los compuestos fenólicos exudados desde las raíces estuvieron implicados en eliminar la toxicidad del Cd.