Richard Wilhelm （1873-1930）, a German missionary and student of Chinese philosophy known in China as Wei Lixian 卫礼贤, spent more than two decades of his life in China, mostly in the then German colony Qingdao. In ...Richard Wilhelm （1873-1930）, a German missionary and student of Chinese philosophy known in China as Wei Lixian 卫礼贤, spent more than two decades of his life in China, mostly in the then German colony Qingdao. In 1924, he acquired a sinology professorship at the recently founded Goethe University Frankfurt, only the second such professorship under the Weimar Republic.展开更多
Traditional taxonomic sorting of samples into recognizable taxonomic units, such as morphospecies or morphotypes, is commonly relied upon in conservation biology and ethnobiological studies. However, understanding the...Traditional taxonomic sorting of samples into recognizable taxonomic units, such as morphospecies or morphotypes, is commonly relied upon in conservation biology and ethnobiological studies. However, understanding the criteria used for traditional nomenclature of fungi, particularly wild edible mushrooms across linguistic groups, remains limited, leading to frequent errors in species recognition. This study seeks to assess how linguistic affiliations influence the local naming of useful wild mushrooms, and is the first of its kind in Benin. In order to understand how local people recognize, classify and name mushrooms that develop in or close to their villages, 2234 respondents from five socio-linguistic groups across three geographical areas were interviewed. Structured and semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data on the local naming criteria for edible wild mushrooms. Citation scores were recorded for both nomenclature criteria and species, considering variables such as linguistic groups, age, and language. Twenty-two nomenclature criteria were used by local people to name edible wild species. Strong similarity in classification and naming of species was shown in 97% of the languages, while 3% showed differing classification criteria. The Gur, Atlantic, and Mande linguistic groups demonstrated more comprehensive traditional taxonomic and nomenclatural knowledge, sharing six common criteria: texture, taste, size, kingdom (Fungi), form, and substrate. Overall, local populations possess extensive knowledge regarding the diversity of wild edible mushrooms in their environment.展开更多
1) Introduction: Ventilation disorders of the middle ear play a major role in everyday clinical ENT-practice and sometimes represent a major therapeutic challenge. In addition to the conventional therapy of tympanosto...1) Introduction: Ventilation disorders of the middle ear play a major role in everyday clinical ENT-practice and sometimes represent a major therapeutic challenge. In addition to the conventional therapy of tympanostomy tube insertion, tuboplasty (TP) offers a less invasive option for treating this problem. The study should examine whether TP can be performed in a rural setting. 2) Material and methods: This is a prospective, monocentric study of patients scheduled for TP because of tubal ventilation disorder (TVD) in a rural region of Germany. The diagnosis was established after a thorough clinical examination and by assessing the possibility of performing the Valsalva maneuver, the tympanogram type, recording the middle ear pressure and air-bone gap. The subjective impairment caused by the TVD was evaluated using the EDTQ-7 questionnaire pre- and approximately 3 months postoperatively. 3) Results: Sixty-two patients with 92 TP were included with a mean age of 44.1 years. The EDTQ-7 score decreased highly significantly from 3.6 to 1.7 (p < 0.0001) without correlating with parameters such as age, sex, BMI, allergies or smoking. Middle ear pressure fell in average by −87 daPa, resulting in an improvement of the tympanogram type. The preoperative air-bone gap of 10.2 dB also was reduced significantly in most patients to 8.0 dB after the procedure. No notable complications occurred beside a sore throat due to the use of a laryngeal mask for ventilation during anesthesia in two cases. 4) Conclusion: In our experience, TP represents a less invasive and, in many cases, successful alternative to the established tympanostomy tube insertion with the advantage of an intact eardrum. It can also be offered and successfully performed in a rural setting.展开更多
In this article,we discuss the article recently published by Zhao et al.This study focused on the intersection of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)and drug-induced liver injury(DILI),two ...In this article,we discuss the article recently published by Zhao et al.This study focused on the intersection of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)and drug-induced liver injury(DILI),two major contributors to the global burden of liver disease.By analyzing clinical characteristics,metabolic parameters,immune profiles,and liver pathology,Zhao et al comprehensively explored how MASLD influences the presentation,severity,and prognosis of DILI.Additionally,this study underscores the importance of structured diagnostic tools,such as the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method,to accurately assess the causality of DILI within the MASLD population.Although this study provides valuable insights,limitations such as its retrospective design and cohort heterogeneity underscore the need for future prospective research to refine diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies.展开更多
Directed x-rays produced in the interaction of sub-picosecond laser pulses of moderate relativistic intensity with plasma of near-critical density are investigated. Synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation occurs in the ...Directed x-rays produced in the interaction of sub-picosecond laser pulses of moderate relativistic intensity with plasma of near-critical density are investigated. Synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation occurs in the process of direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in a relativisticlaser channel when the electrons undergo transverse betatron oscillations in self-generated quasi-static electric and magnetic fields. In anexperiment at the PHELIX laser system, high-current directed beams of DLA electrons with a mean energy ten times higher than the ponderomotive potential and maximum energy up to 100 MeV were measured at 10^(19) W/cm^(2)laser intensity. The spectrum of directed x-raysin the range of 5–60 keV was evaluated using two sets of Ross filters placed at 0°and 10°to the laser pulse propagation axis. The differential x-ray absorption method allowed for absolute measurements of the angular-dependent photon fluence. We report 10^(13) photons/sr withenergies >5 keV measured at 0°to the laser axis and a brilliance of 10^(21) photons s^(−1) mm^(−2) mrad−2(0.1%BW)−1. The angular distributionof the emission has an FWHM of 14°–16°. Thanks to the ultra-high photon fluence, point-like radiation source, and ultra-short emissiontime, DLA-based keV backlighters are promising for various applications in high-energy-density research with kilojoule petawatt-class laserfacilities.展开更多
An improved understanding of biodiversity-productivity relationships(BPRs)along environmental gradients is crucial for effective ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.The stress-gradient hypothesis sugges...An improved understanding of biodiversity-productivity relationships(BPRs)along environmental gradients is crucial for effective ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.The stress-gradient hypothesis suggests that BPRs are stronger in stressful environments compared to more favorable conditions.However,there is limited knowledge regarding the variation of BPRs along elevational gradients and their generality across different landscapes.To study how BPRs change with elevation,we harnessed inventory data on 6,431 trees from152 plots surveyed twice in eight to ten year intervals in mountain forests of temperate Europe and subtropical Asia.We quantified the relationship between aboveground productivity and different biodiversity measures,including taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic diversity.To elucidate the processes underlying BPRs,we studied the variation of different functional traits along elevation across landscapes.We found no general pattern of BPRs across landscapes and elevations.Relationships were neutral for all biodiversity measures in temperate forests,and negative for taxonomic and functional diversity in subtropical forests.BPRs were largely congruent between taxonomic,functional and phylogenetic diversity.We found only weak support for the stress-gradient hypothesis,with BPRs turning from negative to positive(effect not significant)close to the tree line in subtropical forests.In temperate forests,however,elevation patterns were strongly modulated by species identity effects as influenced by specific traits.The effect of traits such as community-weighted mean of maximum plant height and wood density on productivity was congruent across landscapes.Our study highlights the context-dependence of BPRs across elevation gradients and landscapes.Species traits are key modulating factors of BPRs and should be considered more explicitly in studies of the functional role of biodiversity.Furthermore,our findings highlight that potential trade-offs between conserving biodiversity and fostering ecosystem productivity exist,which require more attention in policy and management.展开更多
In this study,we present an artificial neural network(ANN)-based approach for travel-time tomography of a volcanic edifice under sparse-ray coverage.We employ ray tracing to simulate the propagation of seismic waves t...In this study,we present an artificial neural network(ANN)-based approach for travel-time tomography of a volcanic edifice under sparse-ray coverage.We employ ray tracing to simulate the propagation of seismic waves through the heterogeneous medium of a volcanic edifice,and an inverse modeling algorithm that uses an ANN to estimate the velocity structure from the“observed”travel-time data.The performance of the approach is evaluated through a 2-dimensional numerical study that simulates i)an active source seismic experiment with a few(explosive)sources placed on one side of the edifice and a dense line of receivers placed on the other side,and ii)earthquakes located inside the edifice with receivers placed on both sides of the edifice.The results are compared with those obtained from conventional damped linear inversion.The average Root Mean Square Error(RMSE)between the input and output models is approximately 0.03 km/s for the ANN inversions,whereas it is about 0.4 km/s for the linear inversions,demonstrating that the ANN-based approach outperforms the classical approach,particularly in situations with sparse ray coverage.Our study emphasizes the advantages of employing a relatively simple ANN architecture in conjunction with second-order optimizers to minimize the loss function.Compared to using first-order optimizers,our ANN architecture shows a~25%reduction in RMSE.The ANN-based approach is computationally efficient.We observed that even though the ANN is trained based on completely random velocity models,it is still capable of resolving previously unseen anomalous structures within the edifice with about 5%anomalous discrepancies,making it a potentially valuable tool for the detection of low velocity anomalies related to magmatic intrusions or mush.展开更多
Gastroenteric tube feeding plays a major role in the management of patients with poor voluntary intake,chronic neurological or mechanical dysphagia or gut dysfunction,and patients who are critically ill.However,despit...Gastroenteric tube feeding plays a major role in the management of patients with poor voluntary intake,chronic neurological or mechanical dysphagia or gut dysfunction,and patients who are critically ill.However,despite the benefits and widespread use of enteral tube feeding,some patients experience complications.This review aims to discuss and compare current knowledge regarding the clinical application of enteral tube feeding,together with associated complications and special aspects.We conducted an extensive literature search on PubMed,Embase and Medline using index terms relating to enteral access,enteral feeding/nutrition,tube feeding,percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy/jejunostomy,endoscopic nasoenteric tube,nasogastric tube,and refeeding syndrome.The literature showed common routes of enteral access to include nasoenteral tube,gastrostomy and jejunostomy,while complications fall into four major categories:mechanical,e.g.,tube blockage or removal;gastrointestinal,e.g.,diarrhea;infectious e.g.,aspiration pneumonia,tube site infection;and metabolic,e.g.,refeeding syndrome,hyperglycemia.Although the type and frequency of complications arising from tube feeding vary considerably according to the chosen access route,gastrointestinal complications are without doubt the most common.Complications associated with enteral tube feeding can be reduced by careful observance of guidelines,including those related to food composition,administration rate,portion size,food temperature and patient supervision.展开更多
Herbal traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is used to treat several ailments, but its efficiency is poorly documented and hence debated, as opposed to modern medicine commonly providinge ffective therapies. The aim of t...Herbal traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is used to treat several ailments, but its efficiency is poorly documented and hence debated, as opposed to modern medicine commonly providinge ffective therapies. The aim of this review article is to present a practical reference guide on the role of herbal TCM in managing gastrointestinal disorders, supported by systematic reviews and evidence based trials. A literature search using herbal TCM combined with terms for gastrointestinal disorders in Pub Med and the Cochrane database identified publications of herbal TCM trials. Results were analyzed for study type, inclusion criteria, and outcome parameters. Quality of placebo controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trials was poor, mostly neglecting stringent evidence based diagnostic and therapeutic criteria. Accordingly, appropriate Cochrane reviews and meta-analyses were limited and failed to support valid, clinically relevant evidence based efficiency of herbal TCM in gastrointestinal diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric or duodenal ulcer, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. In conclusion, the use of herbal TCM to treat various diseases has an interesting philosophical background with a long history, but it received increasing skepticism due to the lack of evidence based efficiency as shown by high quality trials; this has now been summarized for gastrointestinal disorders, with TCM not recommended for most gastrointestinal diseases. Future studies should focus on placebo controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trials, herbal product quality and standard criteria for diagnosis, treatment, outcome, and assessment of adverse herb reactions. This approach will provide figures of risk/benefit profiles that hopefully are positive for at least some treatment modalities of herbal TCM. Proponents of modern herbal TCM best face these promising challenges of pragmaticmodern medicine by bridging the gap between the two medicinal cultures.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the effect of portal vein thrombosis and arterioportal shunts on local tumor response in advanced cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transarterial chemoembolization. METHODS: A ...AIM: To evaluate the effect of portal vein thrombosis and arterioportal shunts on local tumor response in advanced cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transarterial chemoembolization. METHODS: A retrospective study included 39 patients (mean age: 66.4 years, range: 45-79 years, SD: 7) with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were treated with repetitive transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the period between March 2006 and October 2009. The effect of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) (in 19 out of 39 patients), the presence of arterioportal shunt (APS) (in 7 out of 39), the underlying liver pathology,Child-Pugh score, initial tumor volume, number of tumors and tumor margin definition on imaging were correlated with the local tumor response after TACE. The initial and end therapy local tumor responses were evaluated according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) and magnetic resonance imaging volumetric measurements. RESULTS: The treatment protocols were well tolerated by all patients with no major complications. Local tumor response for all patients according to RECIST criteria were partial response in one patient (2.6%), stable disease in 34 patients (87.1%), and progressive disease in 4 patients (10.2%). The MR volumetric measurements showed that the PVT, APS, underlying liver pathology and tumor margin definition were statistically significant prognostic factors for the local tumor response (P = 0.018, P = 0.008, P = 0.034 and P = 0.001, respectively). The overall 6-, 12- and 18-mo survival rates from the initial TACE were 79.5%, 37.5% and 21%, respectively. CONCLUSION: TACE may be exploited safely for palliative tumor control in patients with advanced unresectable HCC; however, tumor response is significantly affected by the presence or absence of PVT and APS.展开更多
Eclogite lenses in marbles from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure （UHP） terrane are deeply subducted meta-sedimentary rocks. Zircons in these rocks have been used to constrain the ages of prograde and UHP metamorphi...Eclogite lenses in marbles from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure （UHP） terrane are deeply subducted meta-sedimentary rocks. Zircons in these rocks have been used to constrain the ages of prograde and UHP metamorphism during subduction, and later retrograde metamorphism during exhumation. Inherited （detrital） and metamorphic zircons were distinguished on the basis of transmitted light microscopy, cathodoluminescence （CL） imaging, trace element contents and mineral inclusions. The distribution of mineral inclusions combined with CL imaging of the metamorphic zircon make it possible to relate zircon zones （domains） to different metamorphic stages. Domain 1 consists of rounded, oblong and spindly cores with dark-luminescent images, and contains quartz eclogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under high-pressure （HP） metamorphic conditions of T = 571-668℃ and P =1.7-2.02 GPa. Domain 2 always surrounds domain 1 or occurs as rounded and spindly cores with white-luminescent images. It contains coesite eclogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under UHP metamorphic conditions of T = 782-849℃ and P 〉 5.5 GPa. Domain 3, with gray-luminescent images, always surrounds domain 2 and occurs as the outermost zircon rim. It is characterized by low-pressure mineral inclusion assemblages, which are related to regional amphibolite facies retrograde metamorphism of T = 600- 710℃ and P = 0.7-1.2 GPa. The three metamorphic zircon domains have distinct ages; sample H1 from the Dabie terrane yielded SHRIMP ages of 245 ± 4 Ma for domain 1, 235 ± 3 Ma for domain 2 and 215± 6 Ma for domain 3, whereas sample H2 from the Sulu terrane yielded similar ages of 244 ± 4 Ma, 233 ± 4 Ma and 214 ± 5 Ma for Domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The mean ages of these zones suggest that subduction to UHP depths took place over 10-11 Ma and exhumation of the rocks occurred over a period of 19-20 Ma. Thus, subduction from - 55 km to 〉 160 km deep mantle depth took place at rates of approximately 9.5-10.5 km/Ma and exhumation from depths 〉160 km to the base of the crust at -30 km occurred at approximately 6.5 km/Ma. We propose a model for these rocks involving deep subduction of continental margin lithosphere followed by ultrafast exhumation driven by buoyancy forces after break-off of the UHP slab deep within the mantle.展开更多
Causality assessment of suspected drug induced liver injury(DILI) and herb induced liver injury(HILI) is hampered by the lack of a standardized approach to be used by attending physicians and at various subsequent eva...Causality assessment of suspected drug induced liver injury(DILI) and herb induced liver injury(HILI) is hampered by the lack of a standardized approach to be used by attending physicians and at various subsequent evaluating levels. The aim of this review was to analyze the suitability of the liver specific Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences(CIOMS) scale as a standard tool for causality assessment in DILI and HILI cases. PubMed database was searched for the following terms: drug induced liver injury; herb induced liver injury; DILI causality assessment; and HILI causality assessment. The strength of the CIOMS lies in its potential as a standardized scale for DILI and HILI causality assessment. Other advantages include its liver specificity and its validation for hepatotoxicity with excellent sensitivity, specificity and predictive validity, based on cases with a positive reexposure test. This scale allows prospective collection of all relevant data required for a valid causality assessment. It does not require expert knowledge in hepatotoxicity and its results may subsequently be refined. Weaknesses of the CIOMS scale include the limited exclusion of alternative causes and qualitatively graded risk factors. In conclusion, CIOMS appears to be suitable as a standard scale for attending physicians, regulatory agencies, expert panels and other scientists to provide a standardized, reproducible causality assessment in suspected DILI and HILI cases, applicable primarily at all assessing levels involved. 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All展开更多
Chronic mesenteric ischemia is caused by stenosis or occlusion of one or more visceral arteries. It represents a therapeutic challenge and diagnosis and treatment require close interdisciplinary cooperation between ga...Chronic mesenteric ischemia is caused by stenosis or occlusion of one or more visceral arteries. It represents a therapeutic challenge and diagnosis and treatment require close interdisciplinary cooperation between gastroenterologist, vascular surgeon and radiologist. Although endovascular treatment modalities have been developed, the number of restenoses ultimately resulting in treatment failure is high. In patients fit for open surgery, the visceral arteries should be revascularized conventionally. These patients will then experience long term relief from the symptoms, a better quality of life and a better overall survival.展开更多
AIM: To study the transepithelial transport characteristics of the polyamine putrescine in human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers to elucidate the mechanisms of the putrescine intestinal absorption. METHODS: The tran...AIM: To study the transepithelial transport characteristics of the polyamine putrescine in human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers to elucidate the mechanisms of the putrescine intestinal absorption. METHODS: The transepithelial transport and the cellular accumulation of putrescine was measured using Caco-2 cell monolayers grown on permeable filters. RESULTS: Transepithelial transport of putrescine in physiological concentrations (】 0.5 mM) from the apical to basolateral side was linear. Intracellular accumulation of putrescine was higher in confluent than in fully differentiated Caco-2 cells, but still negligible (less than 0.5%) of the overall transport across the monolayers in apical to basolateral direction.EGF enhanced putrescine accumulation in Caco-2 cells by four fold, as well as putrescine conversion to spermidine and spermine by enhancing the activity of S adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. However, EGF did not have any significant influence on putrescine flux across the Caco-2 cell monolayers. Excretion of putrescine from Caco-2 cells into the basolateral medium did not exceed 50 picomoles, while putrescine passive flux from the apical to the basolateral chamber, contributed hundreds of micromoles polyamines to the basolateral chamber. CONCLUSION :Transepithelial transport of putrescine across Caco2 cell monolayers occurs in passive diffusion, and is not influenced when epithelial cells are stimulated to proliferate by a potent mitogen such as EGF.展开更多
文摘Richard Wilhelm （1873-1930）, a German missionary and student of Chinese philosophy known in China as Wei Lixian 卫礼贤, spent more than two decades of his life in China, mostly in the then German colony Qingdao. In 1924, he acquired a sinology professorship at the recently founded Goethe University Frankfurt, only the second such professorship under the Weimar Republic.
文摘Traditional taxonomic sorting of samples into recognizable taxonomic units, such as morphospecies or morphotypes, is commonly relied upon in conservation biology and ethnobiological studies. However, understanding the criteria used for traditional nomenclature of fungi, particularly wild edible mushrooms across linguistic groups, remains limited, leading to frequent errors in species recognition. This study seeks to assess how linguistic affiliations influence the local naming of useful wild mushrooms, and is the first of its kind in Benin. In order to understand how local people recognize, classify and name mushrooms that develop in or close to their villages, 2234 respondents from five socio-linguistic groups across three geographical areas were interviewed. Structured and semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data on the local naming criteria for edible wild mushrooms. Citation scores were recorded for both nomenclature criteria and species, considering variables such as linguistic groups, age, and language. Twenty-two nomenclature criteria were used by local people to name edible wild species. Strong similarity in classification and naming of species was shown in 97% of the languages, while 3% showed differing classification criteria. The Gur, Atlantic, and Mande linguistic groups demonstrated more comprehensive traditional taxonomic and nomenclatural knowledge, sharing six common criteria: texture, taste, size, kingdom (Fungi), form, and substrate. Overall, local populations possess extensive knowledge regarding the diversity of wild edible mushrooms in their environment.
文摘1) Introduction: Ventilation disorders of the middle ear play a major role in everyday clinical ENT-practice and sometimes represent a major therapeutic challenge. In addition to the conventional therapy of tympanostomy tube insertion, tuboplasty (TP) offers a less invasive option for treating this problem. The study should examine whether TP can be performed in a rural setting. 2) Material and methods: This is a prospective, monocentric study of patients scheduled for TP because of tubal ventilation disorder (TVD) in a rural region of Germany. The diagnosis was established after a thorough clinical examination and by assessing the possibility of performing the Valsalva maneuver, the tympanogram type, recording the middle ear pressure and air-bone gap. The subjective impairment caused by the TVD was evaluated using the EDTQ-7 questionnaire pre- and approximately 3 months postoperatively. 3) Results: Sixty-two patients with 92 TP were included with a mean age of 44.1 years. The EDTQ-7 score decreased highly significantly from 3.6 to 1.7 (p < 0.0001) without correlating with parameters such as age, sex, BMI, allergies or smoking. Middle ear pressure fell in average by −87 daPa, resulting in an improvement of the tympanogram type. The preoperative air-bone gap of 10.2 dB also was reduced significantly in most patients to 8.0 dB after the procedure. No notable complications occurred beside a sore throat due to the use of a laryngeal mask for ventilation during anesthesia in two cases. 4) Conclusion: In our experience, TP represents a less invasive and, in many cases, successful alternative to the established tympanostomy tube insertion with the advantage of an intact eardrum. It can also be offered and successfully performed in a rural setting.
文摘In this article,we discuss the article recently published by Zhao et al.This study focused on the intersection of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)and drug-induced liver injury(DILI),two major contributors to the global burden of liver disease.By analyzing clinical characteristics,metabolic parameters,immune profiles,and liver pathology,Zhao et al comprehensively explored how MASLD influences the presentation,severity,and prognosis of DILI.Additionally,this study underscores the importance of structured diagnostic tools,such as the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method,to accurately assess the causality of DILI within the MASLD population.Although this study provides valuable insights,limitations such as its retrospective design and cohort heterogeneity underscore the need for future prospective research to refine diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies.
基金supported by the Czech Ministry of Education,Youth and Sports(Project No.CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/18_053/0016980)the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic(Grant No.GM23-05027M).
文摘Directed x-rays produced in the interaction of sub-picosecond laser pulses of moderate relativistic intensity with plasma of near-critical density are investigated. Synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation occurs in the process of direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in a relativisticlaser channel when the electrons undergo transverse betatron oscillations in self-generated quasi-static electric and magnetic fields. In anexperiment at the PHELIX laser system, high-current directed beams of DLA electrons with a mean energy ten times higher than the ponderomotive potential and maximum energy up to 100 MeV were measured at 10^(19) W/cm^(2)laser intensity. The spectrum of directed x-raysin the range of 5–60 keV was evaluated using two sets of Ross filters placed at 0°and 10°to the laser pulse propagation axis. The differential x-ray absorption method allowed for absolute measurements of the angular-dependent photon fluence. We report 10^(13) photons/sr withenergies >5 keV measured at 0°to the laser axis and a brilliance of 10^(21) photons s^(−1) mm^(−2) mrad−2(0.1%BW)−1. The angular distributionof the emission has an FWHM of 14°–16°. Thanks to the ultra-high photon fluence, point-like radiation source, and ultra-short emissiontime, DLA-based keV backlighters are promising for various applications in high-energy-density research with kilojoule petawatt-class laserfacilities.
基金supported by the Sino-German Postdoc Scholarship Program of the China Scholarship Council(CSC)the German Academic Exchange Service(DAAD)+4 种基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32071541,41971071)the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(Nos.2021FY100200,2021FY100702,2023YFF0805802)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association,CAS(No.2021392)the International Partnership Program,CAS(No.151853KYSB20190027)the“Climate Change Research Initiative of the Bavarian National Parks”funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection.
文摘An improved understanding of biodiversity-productivity relationships(BPRs)along environmental gradients is crucial for effective ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.The stress-gradient hypothesis suggests that BPRs are stronger in stressful environments compared to more favorable conditions.However,there is limited knowledge regarding the variation of BPRs along elevational gradients and their generality across different landscapes.To study how BPRs change with elevation,we harnessed inventory data on 6,431 trees from152 plots surveyed twice in eight to ten year intervals in mountain forests of temperate Europe and subtropical Asia.We quantified the relationship between aboveground productivity and different biodiversity measures,including taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic diversity.To elucidate the processes underlying BPRs,we studied the variation of different functional traits along elevation across landscapes.We found no general pattern of BPRs across landscapes and elevations.Relationships were neutral for all biodiversity measures in temperate forests,and negative for taxonomic and functional diversity in subtropical forests.BPRs were largely congruent between taxonomic,functional and phylogenetic diversity.We found only weak support for the stress-gradient hypothesis,with BPRs turning from negative to positive(effect not significant)close to the tree line in subtropical forests.In temperate forests,however,elevation patterns were strongly modulated by species identity effects as influenced by specific traits.The effect of traits such as community-weighted mean of maximum plant height and wood density on productivity was congruent across landscapes.Our study highlights the context-dependence of BPRs across elevation gradients and landscapes.Species traits are key modulating factors of BPRs and should be considered more explicitly in studies of the functional role of biodiversity.Furthermore,our findings highlight that potential trade-offs between conserving biodiversity and fostering ecosystem productivity exist,which require more attention in policy and management.
文摘In this study,we present an artificial neural network(ANN)-based approach for travel-time tomography of a volcanic edifice under sparse-ray coverage.We employ ray tracing to simulate the propagation of seismic waves through the heterogeneous medium of a volcanic edifice,and an inverse modeling algorithm that uses an ANN to estimate the velocity structure from the“observed”travel-time data.The performance of the approach is evaluated through a 2-dimensional numerical study that simulates i)an active source seismic experiment with a few(explosive)sources placed on one side of the edifice and a dense line of receivers placed on the other side,and ii)earthquakes located inside the edifice with receivers placed on both sides of the edifice.The results are compared with those obtained from conventional damped linear inversion.The average Root Mean Square Error(RMSE)between the input and output models is approximately 0.03 km/s for the ANN inversions,whereas it is about 0.4 km/s for the linear inversions,demonstrating that the ANN-based approach outperforms the classical approach,particularly in situations with sparse ray coverage.Our study emphasizes the advantages of employing a relatively simple ANN architecture in conjunction with second-order optimizers to minimize the loss function.Compared to using first-order optimizers,our ANN architecture shows a~25%reduction in RMSE.The ANN-based approach is computationally efficient.We observed that even though the ANN is trained based on completely random velocity models,it is still capable of resolving previously unseen anomalous structures within the edifice with about 5%anomalous discrepancies,making it a potentially valuable tool for the detection of low velocity anomalies related to magmatic intrusions or mush.
文摘Gastroenteric tube feeding plays a major role in the management of patients with poor voluntary intake,chronic neurological or mechanical dysphagia or gut dysfunction,and patients who are critically ill.However,despite the benefits and widespread use of enteral tube feeding,some patients experience complications.This review aims to discuss and compare current knowledge regarding the clinical application of enteral tube feeding,together with associated complications and special aspects.We conducted an extensive literature search on PubMed,Embase and Medline using index terms relating to enteral access,enteral feeding/nutrition,tube feeding,percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy/jejunostomy,endoscopic nasoenteric tube,nasogastric tube,and refeeding syndrome.The literature showed common routes of enteral access to include nasoenteral tube,gastrostomy and jejunostomy,while complications fall into four major categories:mechanical,e.g.,tube blockage or removal;gastrointestinal,e.g.,diarrhea;infectious e.g.,aspiration pneumonia,tube site infection;and metabolic,e.g.,refeeding syndrome,hyperglycemia.Although the type and frequency of complications arising from tube feeding vary considerably according to the chosen access route,gastrointestinal complications are without doubt the most common.Complications associated with enteral tube feeding can be reduced by careful observance of guidelines,including those related to food composition,administration rate,portion size,food temperature and patient supervision.
文摘Herbal traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is used to treat several ailments, but its efficiency is poorly documented and hence debated, as opposed to modern medicine commonly providinge ffective therapies. The aim of this review article is to present a practical reference guide on the role of herbal TCM in managing gastrointestinal disorders, supported by systematic reviews and evidence based trials. A literature search using herbal TCM combined with terms for gastrointestinal disorders in Pub Med and the Cochrane database identified publications of herbal TCM trials. Results were analyzed for study type, inclusion criteria, and outcome parameters. Quality of placebo controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trials was poor, mostly neglecting stringent evidence based diagnostic and therapeutic criteria. Accordingly, appropriate Cochrane reviews and meta-analyses were limited and failed to support valid, clinically relevant evidence based efficiency of herbal TCM in gastrointestinal diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric or duodenal ulcer, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. In conclusion, the use of herbal TCM to treat various diseases has an interesting philosophical background with a long history, but it received increasing skepticism due to the lack of evidence based efficiency as shown by high quality trials; this has now been summarized for gastrointestinal disorders, with TCM not recommended for most gastrointestinal diseases. Future studies should focus on placebo controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trials, herbal product quality and standard criteria for diagnosis, treatment, outcome, and assessment of adverse herb reactions. This approach will provide figures of risk/benefit profiles that hopefully are positive for at least some treatment modalities of herbal TCM. Proponents of modern herbal TCM best face these promising challenges of pragmaticmodern medicine by bridging the gap between the two medicinal cultures.
文摘AIM: To evaluate the effect of portal vein thrombosis and arterioportal shunts on local tumor response in advanced cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transarterial chemoembolization. METHODS: A retrospective study included 39 patients (mean age: 66.4 years, range: 45-79 years, SD: 7) with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were treated with repetitive transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the period between March 2006 and October 2009. The effect of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) (in 19 out of 39 patients), the presence of arterioportal shunt (APS) (in 7 out of 39), the underlying liver pathology,Child-Pugh score, initial tumor volume, number of tumors and tumor margin definition on imaging were correlated with the local tumor response after TACE. The initial and end therapy local tumor responses were evaluated according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) and magnetic resonance imaging volumetric measurements. RESULTS: The treatment protocols were well tolerated by all patients with no major complications. Local tumor response for all patients according to RECIST criteria were partial response in one patient (2.6%), stable disease in 34 patients (87.1%), and progressive disease in 4 patients (10.2%). The MR volumetric measurements showed that the PVT, APS, underlying liver pathology and tumor margin definition were statistically significant prognostic factors for the local tumor response (P = 0.018, P = 0.008, P = 0.034 and P = 0.001, respectively). The overall 6-, 12- and 18-mo survival rates from the initial TACE were 79.5%, 37.5% and 21%, respectively. CONCLUSION: TACE may be exploited safely for palliative tumor control in patients with advanced unresectable HCC; however, tumor response is significantly affected by the presence or absence of PVT and APS.
基金the National 973 Project of Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology （Grant No. 2003CB716502） the Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No. 40399143） +1 种基金 the German Science Foundation （DFG grant No. GE 1152/2-2 , WE2850/3- 1）.
文摘Eclogite lenses in marbles from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure （UHP） terrane are deeply subducted meta-sedimentary rocks. Zircons in these rocks have been used to constrain the ages of prograde and UHP metamorphism during subduction, and later retrograde metamorphism during exhumation. Inherited （detrital） and metamorphic zircons were distinguished on the basis of transmitted light microscopy, cathodoluminescence （CL） imaging, trace element contents and mineral inclusions. The distribution of mineral inclusions combined with CL imaging of the metamorphic zircon make it possible to relate zircon zones （domains） to different metamorphic stages. Domain 1 consists of rounded, oblong and spindly cores with dark-luminescent images, and contains quartz eclogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under high-pressure （HP） metamorphic conditions of T = 571-668℃ and P =1.7-2.02 GPa. Domain 2 always surrounds domain 1 or occurs as rounded and spindly cores with white-luminescent images. It contains coesite eclogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under UHP metamorphic conditions of T = 782-849℃ and P 〉 5.5 GPa. Domain 3, with gray-luminescent images, always surrounds domain 2 and occurs as the outermost zircon rim. It is characterized by low-pressure mineral inclusion assemblages, which are related to regional amphibolite facies retrograde metamorphism of T = 600- 710℃ and P = 0.7-1.2 GPa. The three metamorphic zircon domains have distinct ages; sample H1 from the Dabie terrane yielded SHRIMP ages of 245 ± 4 Ma for domain 1, 235 ± 3 Ma for domain 2 and 215± 6 Ma for domain 3, whereas sample H2 from the Sulu terrane yielded similar ages of 244 ± 4 Ma, 233 ± 4 Ma and 214 ± 5 Ma for Domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The mean ages of these zones suggest that subduction to UHP depths took place over 10-11 Ma and exhumation of the rocks occurred over a period of 19-20 Ma. Thus, subduction from - 55 km to 〉 160 km deep mantle depth took place at rates of approximately 9.5-10.5 km/Ma and exhumation from depths 〉160 km to the base of the crust at -30 km occurred at approximately 6.5 km/Ma. We propose a model for these rocks involving deep subduction of continental margin lithosphere followed by ultrafast exhumation driven by buoyancy forces after break-off of the UHP slab deep within the mantle.
文摘Causality assessment of suspected drug induced liver injury(DILI) and herb induced liver injury(HILI) is hampered by the lack of a standardized approach to be used by attending physicians and at various subsequent evaluating levels. The aim of this review was to analyze the suitability of the liver specific Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences(CIOMS) scale as a standard tool for causality assessment in DILI and HILI cases. PubMed database was searched for the following terms: drug induced liver injury; herb induced liver injury; DILI causality assessment; and HILI causality assessment. The strength of the CIOMS lies in its potential as a standardized scale for DILI and HILI causality assessment. Other advantages include its liver specificity and its validation for hepatotoxicity with excellent sensitivity, specificity and predictive validity, based on cases with a positive reexposure test. This scale allows prospective collection of all relevant data required for a valid causality assessment. It does not require expert knowledge in hepatotoxicity and its results may subsequently be refined. Weaknesses of the CIOMS scale include the limited exclusion of alternative causes and qualitatively graded risk factors. In conclusion, CIOMS appears to be suitable as a standard scale for attending physicians, regulatory agencies, expert panels and other scientists to provide a standardized, reproducible causality assessment in suspected DILI and HILI cases, applicable primarily at all assessing levels involved. 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All
文摘Chronic mesenteric ischemia is caused by stenosis or occlusion of one or more visceral arteries. It represents a therapeutic challenge and diagnosis and treatment require close interdisciplinary cooperation between gastroenterologist, vascular surgeon and radiologist. Although endovascular treatment modalities have been developed, the number of restenoses ultimately resulting in treatment failure is high. In patients fit for open surgery, the visceral arteries should be revascularized conventionally. These patients will then experience long term relief from the symptoms, a better quality of life and a better overall survival.
文摘AIM: To study the transepithelial transport characteristics of the polyamine putrescine in human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers to elucidate the mechanisms of the putrescine intestinal absorption. METHODS: The transepithelial transport and the cellular accumulation of putrescine was measured using Caco-2 cell monolayers grown on permeable filters. RESULTS: Transepithelial transport of putrescine in physiological concentrations (】 0.5 mM) from the apical to basolateral side was linear. Intracellular accumulation of putrescine was higher in confluent than in fully differentiated Caco-2 cells, but still negligible (less than 0.5%) of the overall transport across the monolayers in apical to basolateral direction.EGF enhanced putrescine accumulation in Caco-2 cells by four fold, as well as putrescine conversion to spermidine and spermine by enhancing the activity of S adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. However, EGF did not have any significant influence on putrescine flux across the Caco-2 cell monolayers. Excretion of putrescine from Caco-2 cells into the basolateral medium did not exceed 50 picomoles, while putrescine passive flux from the apical to the basolateral chamber, contributed hundreds of micromoles polyamines to the basolateral chamber. CONCLUSION :Transepithelial transport of putrescine across Caco2 cell monolayers occurs in passive diffusion, and is not influenced when epithelial cells are stimulated to proliferate by a potent mitogen such as EGF.
