mlsa-iai-msu-lab/ru_sci_bench_zho_cite_reranking huggingface dataset:
Effect of prolonged isothermal heat treatment on the mechanical behavior of advanced NANOBAIN steel

The microstructural evolution and consequent changes in strength and ductility of advanced NANOBAIN steel during prolonged isothermal heat-treatment stages were investigated. The microstructure and mechanical properties of nanostructured bainite were not expected to be influenced by extending the heat-treatment time beyond the optimum value because of the autotempering phenomenon and high tempering resistance. However, experimental results indicated that the microstructure was thermodynamically unstable and that prolonged austempering resulted in carbon depletion from high-carbon retained austenite and carbide precipitations. Therefore, austenite became thermally less stable and partially transformed into martensite during cooling to room temperature. Prolonged austempering did not lead to the typical tempering sequence of bainite, and the sizes of the microstructural constituents were independent of the extended heat-treatment times. This independence, in turn, resulted in almost constant ultimate tensile strength values. However, microstructural variations enhanced the yield strength and the hardness of the material at extended isothermal heat-treatment stages. Finally, although microstructural changes decreased the total elongation and impact toughness, considerable combinations of mechanical properties could still be achieved.
Reconciling individual and population levels of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus evolution

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), a member of the family Arteriviridae, represents one of the most challenging pathogens in the swine industry, with serious economic impact. Unfortunately, despite widespread application, vaccination has not been successful in effectively controlling the virus, mainly because of the limited cross-protection among different strains (Kimman et al., 2009).
大前庭水管综合征患者听力随访观察

目的动态观察大前庭水管综合征(large vestibular aqueduct syndrome,LVAS)患者的听力变化,为更好地保护LVAS患者的听力提供参考。方法选取2007年7月至2016年5月经确诊且资料完整、能够准确完成纯音听阈检测的双耳大前庭水管综合征患者21例为研究对象,年龄5~29岁,中位年龄11岁,其中男12例,女9例;12例患者行单侧人工耳蜗植入手术,另一耳佩戴助听器,其余患者均双耳佩戴助听器。动态观察非耳蜗植入耳听力2~7年,中位数3年4个月;在随访期间发现患者听力下降就诊,及时给予扩血管改善循环、营养神经等药物保守治疗1~2周,比较用药前后的听力变化;病情稳定者一年复查一次纯音听阈,动态观察听力变化。结果21例(30耳)中随访期间有15例发生过听力波动(下降),治疗前500、1 000、2 000、4 000Hz平均纯音听阈分别为85.3±4.4、91.5±4.3、95.9±5.7、99.1±6.6dB HL,治疗后分别为66.5±4.1、74.4±4.1、76.8±5.0、80±5.9 dB HL,各频率治疗前后比较差异均有统计学意义(均为P<0.05)。结论大前庭水管综合征患者可表现为波动性或进行性感音神经性听力损失;早期发现、及时治疗,可使LVAS患者的听力维持在一定的水平或使之听力下降的速度明显减缓。
甲状腺外科能量器械应用专家共识(2017版)

能量器械在甲状腺外科的应用提高了甲状腺手术的安全性和精细化程度,但不同能量器械均有其自身适用范围,不同的能量器械在手术过程的不同阶段各有其优缺点。甲状腺外科医师应具备能量器械应用的科学知识,富有技巧地使用不同的能量器械,以期更好地开展甲状腺手术,提高甲状腺手术的安全性。
Introduction to Contemporary Chinese Historic Preservation and Urban Conservation Reader

At the First Urban Design Conference held at Harvard University in 1956, facing the phenomena of urban expansion, city center recession, and so on after World War II, many attendees were confidently looking forward to creating a new environment and a new order for a new urban era, through professional cooperation and using the federal government's billion dollar investment plan. However, at that moment, Lewis Mumford, a culturalist, seemed to pour a bucket of cold water by saying that “If this conference does nothing else, it can at least [lead its participants to] go home and report on the absolute folly of creating a physical structure at the price of destroying the intimate social structure of a community's life" (Krieger and Saunders, 2009: 102).
Influence of cerium doping on structure and electrochemical properties of LiNi_(0.5)Mn_(1.5)O_4 cathode materials

Pristine LiNi_(0.5)Mn_(1.5)O_4 and cerium doped LiCe_xNi_(0.5-x)Mn_(1.5)O_4 (x=0.005, 0.01, 0.02) cathode materials were synthesized by solid-state method. The effect of Ce doping content on structure and electrochemical properties of LiNi_(0.5)Mn_(1.5)O_4 cathode material was systematically investigated. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and constant-current charge/discharge tests. The results showed that Ce doping did not change the cubic spinel structure with Fd3m space group, but effectively restrained the formation of Li_xNi_(1-x)O impurity phase. Appropriate Ce doping (x=0.005) could decrease the extent of confusion between lithium ions and transition metal ions, increase the lattice parameter and Ni/Mn disordering degree (Mn~(3+) content). The synergic effects of the above factors led to the optimal electrochemical performance of LiCe_(0.005)Ni_(0.495)Mn_(1.5)O_4 sample. The discharge capacity at 10C rate could reach 115.4 mAh/g, 94.82% of that at 0.2C rate, and the capacity retention rate after 100 cycles at 1C rate could reach 94.51%. However, heavier Ce doping had an adverse effect on the electrochemical properties, which might be due to the lower disordering degree and existence of more CeO_2 secondary phase.
Enhancement of structure stability and luminescence intensity of LiYF_4:Ln~(3+) nanocrystals

LiYF_4 nanocrystals with tetragonal structure were adopted as the host materials for the phosphors and scintillators owing to the low phonon energy and high optical transparency. LiYF_4:Ln~(3+)(Ce~(3+),Eu~(3+)) nanocrystals were fabricated by solvothermal method. Under UV excitation, they could emit visible light. In order to improve the luminescence intensity, the method of co-doping LiYF_4 nanocrystals with Sc was adopted. Sc~(3+) ions could reduce the lattice expansion caused by the doping of Ce~(3+) or Eu~(3+) whose ionic radius was larger than Y~(3+). Crystal structure of Li(Y,Sc)F_4:Ln~(3+) kept much more stable and the luminescence intensity could be significantly enhanced when the concentration of Sc was a moderate value. Thermoluminescence was employed to analyze the electron traps in Li(Y,Sc)F_4:Ce~(3+). Results suggested that the suppression of the generation of electron traps with the co-doping of Sc contributed to the enhancement of luminescence intensity of LiYF_4:Ce~(3+).
儿童Bartter综合征26例病例分析

目的分析儿童Bartter综合征临床特征,探讨临床极易忽视的不典型表现,从而达到早期诊断、早期干预的目的,改善其预后。方法收集1999年1月至2016年12月四川大学华西第二医院儿科收治的26例儿童Bartter综合征的病例资料,分析其临床特征。结果本病主要儿童期起病,3岁前发病约61.5%,该病起病首发症状多样化,以呕吐、纳差起病约占53.8%,生长发育落后高达80.8%,伴有不同程度的低钾,低钠、低氯性碱中毒及脱水等水电解质紊乱,肾素及血管紧张素Ⅱ增高,生长发育及智力低下是儿童Bartter的特点。结论当患儿出现呕吐、纳差,生长发育落后,同时伴有低钾血症性代谢性碱中毒者,应该警惕Bartter综合征,及早行肾素-血管紧张素-醛固酮检测,必要时行基因检测。
慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期和急性加重期血浆和诱导痰中S100A8/A9变化及其意义

目的通过观察S100A8/A9在不同分期慢性阻塞性肺疾病(简称慢阻肺)患者血浆和诱导痰中的水平及其与患者肺功能和血浆中炎症介质的相关性分析,探讨S100A8/A9在慢阻肺发病机制中的作用。方法收集2013年8月至2014年1月于川北医学院附属医院门诊就诊的稳定期和住院的急性加重期慢阻肺患者以及门诊健康体检者各30例。采用ELISA法检测三组研究对象血浆和诱导痰中S100A8/A9及血浆白细胞介素(IL) -1β、 IL-8和肿瘤坏死因子-α (TNF-α)的浓度。应用相关分析法对慢阻肺患者血浆、诱导痰中S100A8/A9与肺功能及血浆中炎症介质的相关性进行分析。结果慢阻肺急性加重期和稳定期组患者血浆及诱导痰中S100A8/A9、血浆IL-1β、IL-8、TNF-α的浓度均较健康对照组显著增高(P<0.01),而慢阻肺急性加重期组患者血浆及诱导痰中 S100A8/A9、血浆IL-1β、IL-8、TNF-α的浓度又较慢阻肺稳定期组显著增高(P<0.01)。慢阻肺患者血浆和诱导痰中S100A8/A9水平与FEV_1%pred呈负相关。慢阻肺患者血浆和诱导痰中S100A8/A9水平与血浆中IL-1β、IL-8、 TNF-α的水平均呈正相关。结论慢阻肺患者体内S100A8/A9合成和释放显著增多,其S100A8/A9水平与气流受限严重程度和血浆炎症介质水平相关。提示S100A8/A9参与了慢阻肺的发生发展,可能主要参与慢阻肺的炎症机制。
聚乙二醇干扰素α治疗慢性乙型肝炎专家共识

作为国内应用聚乙ニ醇干扰素(pegylated interferon,Peg-IFN)治疗慢性乙型肝炎(以下简称慢乙肝)的临床专家建议和共识,《干扰素治疗慢性乙型肝炎专家建议》(简称 《专家建议》)于2007年在《中华传染病杂志》上发布,并于2010年和2012年分别进行了更新。既往几个版本的《专家建议》描述了聚乙ニ醇干扰素适用人群(baseline guided therapy, BGT),根据治疗应答调整治疗方案(response guided therapy, RGT)的基本原则,以及根据不良反应进行剂量调整以及不良反应对症处理的方案。《专家建议》作为慢乙肝管理临床指南的补充,加深了临床医师对干扰素个体化治疗慢乙肝的认识,对合理应用干扰素起了积极的指导作用。
基于现代名老中医经验的肺胀病因病机及证素规律研究

目的:通过对百余年名老中医诊疗肺胀文献的研究,探究名老中医对肺胀病因病机的认识,以期为完善肺胀病因病机及证素规律理论提供依据。方法:在已建立的《现代名老中医肺病数据库》和《期刊中医肺病数据库》基础上,提取肺胀相关数据建立《现代名老中医诊治肺胀文献研究数据库》,利用SPSS22.0软件进行统计分析。结果:肺胀病因较常见的有痰邪、久病等。常见病机为气虚、痰热蕴肺等。共提取出20个证素,其中病性证素以痰、热、气虚较为常见。病位证素主要为肺,多涉及他脏。证素组合形式以两证素和三证素组合较多见。两病性+单一靶点的证素组合类型以痰+热+肺、痰+湿+肺等较常见。结论:现代名老中医对肺胀病因病机的认识与目前教材、专著论述基本一致,其个性部分见解独到,为丰富现有理论提供了依据。
聂莉芳教授治疗慢性肾脏病验案分析

聂莉芳教授从事肾脏病中医临床工作30余年,积累了丰富的临床经验,是国家中医药管理局第四批和第五批名老中医,亦是中国中医科学院西苑医院肾病科学科带头人。因就读聂老师的博士生,有幸随师侍诊,聆听师训,获益匪浅,现将3则有效病例总结如下。
肾上腺神经纤维瘤二例

讨论神经纤维瘤(adrenal neurofibroma, ANF)是来源于间叶组织的良性肿瘤,起源于神经外膜、神经束膜或神经内膜,可发生于神经末梢或沿神经干的任何部位,一般以皮肤及皮下组织多见,发生于肾上腺的ANF较罕见[1],文献以个案报道为主。肾上腺ANF生长缓慢,患者多无临床表现,好发于20~40岁青壮年,男女发病率无明显差异,发病部位以右侧肾上腺多见,常于体检或因其他疾病检查时被偶然发现,无内分泌功能,按肿瘤国际组织分类,属于良性肿瘤[1]。本文例2患者高血压3级极高危,通过手术证实高血压与肿瘤无关,因此2例患者与文献报道一致。病理学上ANF-般呈类椭圆形,边界清楚,大多直径3~7 cm。对于>6 cm肾上腺肿瘤有恶变可能,因此建议手术切除,且少数ANF可恶变为神经鞘瘤[2]。ANF多为较大肿块,所以临床一般采用手术治疗方式,并且尽可能彻底切除,以防止复发和恶性变可能[3]。本文2例患者术后随访4年、1年半无复发。近年文献相关报道,肾上腺ANF CT征象多为肾上腺区较大、单发肿块影,呈圆形、类圆形,可浅分叶,肿瘤大多包膜完整,CT平扫高于脂肪及囊肿密度,CT值一般在20-40 HU,肿块较大密度可均匀或不均匀,瘤内可有囊变,可有少许斑点状钙化[4,5];余洪等[6]认为肾上腺ANF增强扫描表现为轻微强化或无强化,本文2例均表现为CT值随时间的推移而缓慢升高,其中1例见穿行小血管影。从肿块位置、大小、形态、钙化表现与文献报道基本相符,本文1例肿块与右侧肾脏粘连,以往文献未见报道,笔者将继续随访患者术后情况。遗憾的是本例无MR检查。根据CT扫描影像学表现,并结合近年文献报道,笔者认为肾上腺ANF具有以下特点:位于肾上腺区较大单发肿块,呈类圆形,边界清楚、稍低密度,但高于囊肿,瘤内可有少许钙化,增强扫描呈无强化或轻微强化或延迟强化,临床无内分泌症状’多偶然发现,确诊仍靠术后病理。ANF需要与肾上腺皮质腺癌、肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤、肾上腺髓样脂肪瘤、节细胞瘤等鉴别[7]。(1)皮质腺癌:肿瘤通常较大,外形不规则,或呈分叶状,肿块内可见坏死、出血,常见斑点状、小片状钙化,肿瘤容易侵犯、包绕周围血管,或形成瘤栓,伴周围淋巴结受侵。CT平扫肿块密度表现为不均匀,外形不规则,与邻近结构分界不清;MR扫描T_1WI肿块信号不均匀,以长1信号为主,伴有出血时,可见短T_1信号;T_2WI肿块以中高信号为主,伴液化坏死时信号更高。注入对比剂后肿瘤表现为不均匀强化,实性部分动脉期明显强化,静脉期及延迟扫描肿块强化持续,呈“渐进式”特点;(2)嗜铬细胞瘤形态较规则,一般较小,通常伴有内分泌改变,CT扫描密度不均,注入对比剂后动脉期扫描可见明显强化。MR扫描为等信号或稍低信号,T_1WI以高信号为特征性表现;(3)髓样脂肪瘤:其内可见成熟脂肪和骨髓造血组织,比例不同其信号多变,如果CT扫描或MR扫描病变内含有成熟脂肪组织是其特征性的影像学证据;(4)节细胞瘤:良性肿瘤,起源于肾上腺髓质,肿瘤多沿邻近脏器间隙生长,呈塑形改变,推移周围大血管或包绕。肿瘤内以黏液成分为主,可见点状、针尖状钙化。CT平扫呈圆形均质肿块,边界可见,肿瘤密度稍低于肌层密度;增强扫描肿瘤轻度强化。磁共振扫描T_1WI呈等信号,T_2WI以高信号为主,可不均匀,注入对比剂后扫描动脉期多无明显强化,实质期可见不均匀轻度强化或强化较均匀。
弥漫性肝脏上皮样血管内皮瘤影像表现一例

高度侵袭性,患者中位生存期短。HEHE生长缓慢,转移率低,预后相对较好,对化疗、放疗均不敏感。如不伴有肝脏转移,可首选根治性肝切除,对于已有肝外转移的病例,应行肝移植。此病例诊断明确,具备典型征象。
右冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉1例

讨论冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉少见,右冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉罕见。患者血流动力学异常,可能导致心肌缺血、心肌纤维化、充血性心力衰竭、心肌梗死等严重并发症,甚至猝死。因此该病一经诊断明确,即应积极手术治疗,尽量将右冠状动脉开口置入主动脉根部适当位置,重建双重冠状动脉供血。
上尿路结石患者围手术期抗菌药物应用的专家意见

感染性并发症是上尿路结石微创手术最常见的并发症,正确的围手术期抗菌药物应用可减少此类手术感染性并发症的发生。但上尿路结石合并泌尿系感染的表现千差万别,从无症状尿路感染至危及生命的脓毒症。目前,国内学界在上尿路结石与感染相互关系和治疗原则上还存在一些问题和错误需要厘清、纠正:如结石合并感染甚至出现全身炎症反应综合征(systemic inflammatory response syndrome, SIRS)时外科干预时机的掌握不当,不积极引流或者激进地采用微创方式取石导致患者感染加重、脓毒性休克甚至死亡;具有感染高危因素或尿培养阳性者术前未进行相应的抗菌药物治疗,增加了术后出现感染性并发症的概率;对简单的经尿道输尿管镜取石术盲目地术前、术后长时间应用抗菌药物,不仅增加医疗支出,还会增加细菌耐药性的产生。
Lithiation-enhanced charge transfer and sliding strength at the silicon-graphene interface: A first-principles study

The application of silicon as ultrahigh capacity electrodes in lithium-ion batteries has been limited by a number of mechanical degradation mechanisms including fracture, delamination and plastic ratcheting, as a result of its large volumetric change during lithiation and delithiation. Graphene coating is one feasible technique to mitigate the mechanical degradation of Si anode and improve its conductivity. In this paper, first-principles calculations are performed to study the atomic structure, charge transfer and sliding strength of the interface between lithiated silicon and graphene. Our results show that Li atoms segregate at the (lithiated) Si-graphene interface preferentially, donating electrons to graphene and enhancing the interfacial sliding resistance. Moreover, the interfacial cohesion and sliding strength can be further enhanced by introducing single-vacancy defects into graphene. These findings provide insights that can guide the design of stable and efficient anodes of silicon/graphene hybrids for energy storage applications.
肺大泡相关性肺癌的临床特征

肺大泡相关性肺癌最早由Tsutsui等于1988年提出,它是指发生于肺大泡内、肺大泡壁上或邻近肺大泡的原发性肺癌。目前临床对于肺大泡和肺癌之间的相关性研究有限,且对其认识也并不充分。本研究中,我们回顾性分析了19例原发癌灶邻近肺大泡的肺癌患者的临床资料,并以同期收治的466例非肺大泡相关肺癌患者作为对照,对其各项临床病理特征进行分析,现将结果报告如下。
胸腰椎椎弓根螺钉内固定术后螺钉松动的研究进展

椎弓根螺钉内固定技术能提供脊柱三柱固定,重建脊柱的稳定性,增加相应节段的融合率,是目前治疗胸腰椎侧后凸畸形、骨折、滑脱、肿瘤及退行性病变等的重要方法[1]。随着脊柱生物力学的研究以及内固定材料的发展,椎弓根螺钉内固定技术取得了显著的进步,但螺钉松动仍是椎弓根螺钉内固定最常见的并发症[2]。大量研究报道了术后螺钉松动的发生,但是采用的诊断标准及研究方法不尽相同,报道的螺钉松动的发生率也相差很大;很多研究探讨了螺钉松动的危险因素,并且介绍了多种减少螺钉松动发生的方法。笔者就螺钉松动的诊断标准、发生率、危险因素等研究进展进行文献综述,旨在提高对椎弓根螺钉松动的认识。
Identification of a novel mtDNA lineage B3 in chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)

In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial DNA genome (mitogenome) of the Zhengyang Yellow chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) by next-generation sequencing technology. Samples were taken from Zhumadian city, Henan Province, China. The complete mitogenome was 16 785 bp in size, and had a nucleotide composition of 30.3% (A), 23.7% (T), 32.5% (C), and 13.5% (G), with a high AT content of 54.0%. The assembled mitogenome exhibited typical mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) structure, including a non-coding control region, two rRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and 22 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this mitogenome defined a novel sub-haplogroup B3 within haplogroup B. These results should provide essential information for chicken domestication and insight into the evolution of genomes.
Effect of continuous negative pressure water supply on the growth, development and physiological mechanism of Capsicum annuum L

Effects of continuous negative pressure water supply on water consumption, growth and development, as well as physiological mechanism and quality of Capsicum annuum L. were investigated in this paper. Meanwhile, the optimal negative pressure water supply conditions for growth of C. annuum L. were screened out to achieve the goals of water conservation, high yield and high quality, thus providing theoretical foundation for its field production. The pot experiment within the greenhouse was utilized; the continuous negative pressure water supply was adopted; the four treatments, artificial watering (CK), –5 kPa (T1), –10 kPa (T2), and –15 kPa (T3) were set; and the daily water consumption, yield, as well as the biomass, nitrate reductase, root activity, vitamin C, capsaicin, and nutrient uptakes of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) during various stages of its growth were determined. Compared with CK, when the water supply pressure was controlled at –5 to –15 kPa in the experiment, the total water consumption of C. annuum L. reduced by 53.42 to 67.75%, the total water consumption intensity reduced by 54.29 to 67.14%, and the water use efficiency increased by 12.66 to 124.67%. The N accumulation in a single strain of C. annuum L. from the color turning stage to the red ripe stage increased by 15.99 to 100.55%, respectively, compared with that of CK; the P accumulation increased by 20.47 to 154.00% relative to that of CK, and the K accumulation increased by 64.92 to 144.9% compared with that of CK. Compared with CK, C. annuum L. yield was remarkably improved by 13.79% at T1, and contents of vitamin C, capsaicin as well as carotenoids at all growth stages were enhanced by 13.42–147.01%, 11.54–71.01%, and 41.1–568.06%, respectively. Nitrate reductase activity, root activity and chlorophyll (a+b) were markedly increased by 335.78–500%, 79.6–140.68% and 114.95–676.19%, respectively, from immature stage to full ripe stage. Adopting the continuous negative pressure water supply for C. annuum L. has a significant water-saving effect, and the water supply pressure being stable at –5 kPa contributes to its growth and development, improves yield, enhances root activity, promotes nutrient uptake, and improves its quality, thus achieving the effects of water conservation, high yield, high quality and high efficiency.
Susceptible time window and endurable duration of cotton fiber development to high temperature stress

The development of the cotton fiber is very sensitive to temperature variation, and high temperature stress often causes reduced fiber yield and fiber quality. Short-term high temperature stress often occurs during cotton production, but little is known about the specific timing and duration of stress that affects fiber development. To make this clear, pot experiments were carried in 2014 and 2015 in a climate chamber using cotton cultivars HY370WR (less sensitive variety) and Sumian 15 (heat sensitive variety), which present different temperature sensitivities. Changes of the most important fiber quality indices (i.e., fiber length, fiber strength and marcironaire) and three very important fiber development components (i.e., cellulose, sucrose and callose) were analyzed to define the time window and critical duration to the high temperature stress at 34°C (max38°C/min30°C). When developing bolls were subjected to 5 days of high temperature stress at different days post-anthesis (DPA), the changes (Δ%) of fiber length, strength and micronire, as a function of imposed time followed square polynomial eq. as y=a+bx+cx~2, and the time around 15 DPA was the most sensitive period for fiber quality development in response to heat stress. When 15 DPA bolls were heat-stressed for different durations (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 days), the changes (Δ%) of fiber length, strength and micronire, as a function of stress duration followed logistic equations y= A_1–A_2/1+(x/x_0)~p+A_2. Referred to that 5, 10 and 15% are usually used as criteria to decide whether techniques are effective or changes are significant in crop culture practice and reguard to the fiber quality indices change range, we suggested that 5% changes of the major fiber quality indices (fiber length, fiber strength and micronaire) and 10% changes of fiber development components (cellulose, sucrose and callose) could be taken as criteria to judge whether fiber development and fiber quality have been significantly affected by high temperature stress. The key time window for cotton fiber development in response to the high temperature stress was 13–19 DPA, and the critical duration was about 5 days.
Association of growth rate with hormone levels and myogenic gene expression profile in broilers

Background: The growth rate often varies among individual broilers of the same breed under a common management condition. To investigate whether a variation in the growth rate is associated with a difference in hormone levels and myogenic gene expression profile in broilers, a feeding trial was conducted with 10,000 newly hatched Ross 308 chicks in a commercial production facility under standard management. At 38 d of age, 30 fast-, 30 medium-, and 30 slow-growing broilers were selected among 600 healthy male individuals. The levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and growth hormone in the serum or breast muscle were assayed by ELISA or RIA kits, and the expression levels of several representative pro- and anti-myogenic genes in the breast muscle were also measured by real-time PCR. Results: Results showed that both absolute and relative weights of the breast muscle were in linear positive correlations with the body weight of broilers (P < 0.001). Fast-growing broilers had higher concentrations of IGF-1 than slow-growing broilers (P < 0.05) in both the serum and breast muscle. The serum concentration of T3 was significantly higher in fast-growing birds than in slow-growing birds (P<0.05). However, no difference was observed in growth hormone or T4 concentration among three groups of birds. Additionally, a decreased expression of an anti-myogenic gene (myostatin) and increased expressions of pro-myogenic genes such as myogenic differentiation factor 1, myogenin, muscle regulatory factor 4, myogenic factor 5, IGF-1, and myocyte enhancer factor 2B, C, and D were observed in fast-growing broilers (P < 0.05), relative to slow-growing broilers. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings suggested that the growth rate is linked to the hormone and myogenic gene expression levels in broiler chickens. Some of these parameters such as serum concentrations of IGF-1 and T3 could be employed to breed for enhanced growth.
Degradation behavior of electrical properties of GaInAs (1.0 eV) and GaInAs (0.7 eV) sub-cells of IMM4J solar cells under 1-MeV electron irradiation

In this work the degradation effects of the Ga_(0.7)In_(0.3)As(1.0 eV) and Ga_(0.42)In_(0.58)As(0.7 eV) sub-cells for IMM4J solar cells are investigated after 1-MeV electron irradiation by using spectral response and photoluminescence(PL) signal amplitude analysis, as well as electrical property measurements. The results show that, compared with the electrical properties of traditional single junction(SJ) GaAs(1.41 eV) solar cell, the electrical properties(such as I_(sc), V_(oc), and P_(max)) of the newly sub-cells degrade similarly as a function of log φ, where φ represents the electron fluence. It is found that the degradation of V_(oc) is much more than that of Isc in the irradiated Ga_(0.42)In_(0.58)As(0.7 eV) cells due to the additional intrinsic layer, leading to more serious damage to the space charge region. However, of the three types of SJ cells with the gap widths of 0.7, 1.0, and 1.4 eV, the electric properties of the Ga_(0.7)In_(0.3)As(1.0 eV) cell decrease largest under each irradiation fluence. Analysis on the spectral response indicates that the J_(sc) of the Ga_(0.7)In_(0.3)As(1.0 eV) cell also shows the most severe damage. The PL amplitude measurements qualitatively confirm that the degradation of the effective minority carrier life-time(τ_(eff)) in the SJ Ga_(0.7)In_(0.3)As cells is more drastic than that of SJ GaAs cells during the irradiation. Thus, the output current of Ga_(0.7)In_(0.3)As sub-cell should be controlled in the irradiated IMM4J cells.
Molecular dynamics simulation of the response of bi-disperse polyelectrolyte brushes to external electric fields

Langevin dynamics simulations have been performed to investigate the response of bi-disperse and strong polyacid chains grafted on an electrode to electric fields generated by opposite surface charges on the polyelectrolyte(PE)-grafted electrode and a second parallel electrode. Simulation results clearly show that, under a negative external electric field, the longer grafted PE chains are more strongly stretched than the shorter ones in terms of the relative change in their respective brush heights. Whereas under a positive external electric field, the grafted shorter chains collapse more significantly than the longer ones. It was found that, under a positive external electric field, the magnitude of the total electric force acting on one shorter PE chain is larger than that on one longer PE chain, or vice versa. The effects of smeared and discrete charge distributions of grafted PE chains on the response of PE brushes to external electric fields were also examined.
Synergistic effects of electrical and optical excitations on TiO_2 resistive device

The influences of electrical and optical excitations on the conductivity characteristic are investigated in bulk and edge devices of ITO/TiO_2/ITO structure. Driven by the electrical and optical stimuli independently, the conductivity relaxation behaviors of the pristine resistive state(PRS) are observed and ascribed to the electron trapping and the oxygen transport processes. For a resistive switching(RS) device, the conductance change under optical illumination is about two orders of magnitude smaller than the conductance change corresponding to the variation of background current due to the emergence of a great number of oxygen vacancies in the RS device. With the illumination being off, the conductance slowly decays, which suggests that the oxygen diffusion process dominates the conductance relaxation. The difference in conductance relaxation between the bulk and edge devices indicates that the oxygen exchange plays a critical role in the relaxation process of conductivity. The synergistic effects of both electrical and optical excitations on the RS devices could be used for novel applications in integrated optoelectronic memory devices.
Gas treatment protection of metallic lithium anode

The effects of different coating layers on lithium metal anode formed by reacting with different controlled atmospheres(argon, CO_2–O_2(2:1), N_2, and CO_2–O_2–N_2(2:1:3)) have been investigated. The obtained XRD, second ion mass spectroscopy(SIMS), and scanning probe microscope(SPM) results demonstrate the formation of coating layers composed of Li_2CO_3, Li_3N, and the mixture of them on lithium tablets, respectively. The Li/Li symmetrical cell and Li/S cell are assembled to prove the advantages of the protected lithium tablet on electrochemical performance. The comparison of SEM and SIMS characterizations before/after cycles clarifies that an SEI-like composition formed on the lithium tablets could modulate the interfacial stabilization between the lithium foil and the ether electrolyte.