ABSTRACT: Rhododendron fortune belongs to a scented Rhododendron species native to China, which produces fragrant flowers of great ornamental and environmental values for landscaping or indoor beautification. However, the scents in Rhododendron fortuneihave not yet been investigated, let alone the mechanism of the formation of these fragrance in the flowers. In this study, we measured the scents in terms of its volatile components and contents (VOC) in Rhododendron fortuneiat four different flowering stages and in different tissues of the plant by headspace solid-phase micro-extraction combined (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Then the characteristic aromatic values, which reflects the degree of scent perception by human, of each VOC in the plant was calculated according to its respective aromatic thresholds. Results showed that three main VOCs measured from highest to lowest are methyl benzoates, terpenes and fatty acid derivatives. Their content increased after the flower bud opening and reached the highest at half to full blossom. In a flower most VOC contents were measured in petals and only trace amount in other tissues such as stamen, pistil. A small amount of VOCs was determined in leaves as well.All aromatic values were almost corresponded to the contents of three main VOCs, indicating that the flower fragrance arises truly from these VOC components. S-adenosyl-L-methionine: benzoic acid carboxyl methyl transferase (BAMT) catalyzes the final step to form methyl benzoates. To understand the mechanism of the formation of this main type fragrance and its regulation, we firstly isolate a gene of RfBAMT from petal of Rhododendron fortuneiby using homologous cloning and RACE technology. The full length of its cDNA was 1383 bp，with an open reading frame of 1104 bp, encoding a total of 368 amino acids. The phylogenetic tree analysis showed that RfBAMT was the closest to the BSMT of Camellia japonica, belonging to methyltransferases family. Then we measured the expression level of RfBAMT again at four flower developmental stages and in different flower tissues and leaves. The results showed that the expression level of this gene was highly positively correlated with the emitted content of methyl benzoates in the flowering, implying that RfBAMT plays a pivotal role in the formation and regulation of methyl benzoates in Rhododendron fortune.Thisresearchshowed that the RfBAMT was cloned and identified in our study and its expression level was highly positively correlated with the emitted content of methyl benzoates in the flowers and leaves, which indicated this gene may play an important role on regulation of methyl benzoate synthesis in Rhododendron fortunei.

RESUMO: Rhododendron fortunei pertence a uma espécie de rododendro perfumada nativa da China, que produz flores perfumadas de grande valor ornamental e ambiental para paisagismo ou embelezamento de interiores. No entanto, os aromas em Rhododendron fortunei ainda não foram investigados, muito menos o mecanismo de formação dessas fragrâncias nas flores. Neste estudo, medimos os aromas em termos de seus componentes e conteúdos voláteis (VOC) em Rhododendron fortunei em quatro diferentes estágios de floração e em diferentes tecidos da planta por microextração em fase sólida headspace combinada com cromatografia gasosa-espectrometria de massa. Em seguida, foram calculados os valores aromáticos característicos, que refletem o grau de percepção olfativa pelo ser humano, de cada VOC na planta de acordo com seus respectivos limiares aromáticos. Os resultados mostraram que três COVs principais medidos do mais alto ao mais baixo são benzoatos de metila, terpenos e derivados de ácidos graxos. Seu conteúdo aumentou após a abertura do botão floral e atingiu o máximo na metade da floração total. Em uma flor, a maioria dos teores de COV foram medidos em pétalas e apenas traços em outros tecidos, como estame, pistilo. Uma pequena quantidade de COVs foi determinada nas folhas também. Todos os valores aromáticos foram quase correspondentes aos teores de três COVs principais, indicando que a fragrância da flor surge verdadeiramente desses componentes de COV. Para entender o mecanismo de formação deste tipo principal de fragrância e sua regulação, primeiramente isolamos um gene de RfBAMT da pétala de Rhododendron fortunei usando clonagem homóloga e tecnologia RACE. O comprimento total de seu cDNA era de 1383 bp, com um quadro de leitura aberto de 1104 bp, codificando um total de 368 aminoácidos. A análise da árvore filogenética mostrou que RfBAMT foi o mais próximo do BSMT de Camellia japonica, pertencente à família das metiltransferases. Em seguida, medimos o nível de expressão de RfBAMT novamente em quatro estágios de desenvolvimento da flor e em diferentes tecidos e folhas de flores. Os resultados mostraram que o nível de expressão deste gene foi altamente correlacionado positivamente com o conteúdo emitido de benzoatos de metila na floração, implicando que RfBAMT desempenha um papel fundamental na formação e regulação de benzoatos de metila em Rhododendron fortune foi clonado e identificado em nosso estudo e seu nível de expressão foi altamente correlacionado positivamente com o conteúdo emitido de benzoatos de metila nas flores e folhas, o que indicou que este gene pode desempenhar um papel importante na regulação da síntese de benzoato de metila em Rhododendron fortunei.

Abstract To evaluate the effect of medical nutritional therapy (MNT) combined with low glycaemic index (LGI) formula at breakfast for 4 weeks on the glycaemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Ninety-six participants were recruited and randomly equally divided into two groups. The intervention group was offered with 40g LGI formula at breakfast adjusted according to MNT, and the control group with regular MNT. After 4 weeks, fasting blood glucose, glycated albumin (GA), insulin, C-peptide levels and metabolic index were compared between the two groups. Compared to the intervention group, the total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and the change of FBG (–0.64 ± 1.4 vs. 0.3 ± 2.2; p < 0.05) and 2h-PBG (–1.8 ± 3.6 vs.0.8 ± 3.2; p < 0.01) in the control group were significantly decreased. The LGI formulations, having a significant effect on controlling glucose and lipid metabolism, could be used as a non-pharmacological intervention for T2DM self-management.

ABSTRACT A novel inclusion complexes nanofibrous membrane fluorescent sensor was prepared for recognizing F- via electrospinning and host–guest interaction. The host α-cyclodextrin on the surface of the electrospun nanofiber membrane is assembled into the guest azobenzene molecule which modified with F- fluorescent probe, and the formation of the inclusion complex is fixed on the surface of the nanofibrous membrane without external force, to prepare a novel surface controllable composite nanofiber membrane for F- detection. The inclusion complexes nanofibrous membrane exhibited favourable sensitivity and selectivity for F-. The introduction of F- would result in notable fluorescent decreasing of the membrane, but the other most common anions would not disturb the detection of F-. Moreover, this nanofibrous membrane was not only a fluorescent sensor for detecting F-, but also a good adsorbent for F- in solution.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effect of intermittent vibration at different intervals on bone fracture healing and optimize the vibration interval. Methods: Ninety sheep were randomized to receive no treatment (the control group), incision only (the sham control group), internal fixation with or without metatarsal fracture (the internal fixation group), and continuous vibration in addition to internal fixation of metatarsal fracture, or intermittent vibration at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 17-day interval in addition to internal fixation of metatarsal fracture (the vibration group). Vibration was done at frequency F=35 Hz, acceleration a=0.25g, 15 min each time 2 weeks after bone fracture. Bone healing was evaluated by micro-CT scan, bone microstructure and mechanical compression of finite element simulation. Results: Intermittent vibration at 7-day interval significantly improved bone fracture healing grade. However, no significant changes on microstructure parameters and mechanical properties were observed among sheep receiving vibration at different intervals. Conclusions: Clinical healing effects should be the top concern. Quantitative analyses of bone microstructure and of finite element mechanics on the process of fracture healing need to be further investigated.

Abstract By using computer program we created a virtual environment to study the possible impacts of sense of agency and sense of ownership on anxiety. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether our setup could achieve the similar effect as traditional rubber hand illusion had, and how sense of self (mainly sense of agency and sense of ownership) affects participants' anxiety. Study 1 the sample consisted of 24 first grade students (12 female, 12 male) who moved a 3D virtual hand in a synchronous or asynchronous situation. Study 2 included 48 first or second grade students (24 female, 24 male) who passed the SCL-90 rating-scale and completed the SCL-90 rating-scale again after they performed a catching/avoiding task. In study 1, all the results only provided evidence for a virtual hand illusion but no other effect. Study 2 showed that asynchronous conditions had higher anxiety scores than synchronous one in terms of modality and sex, different virtual images would lead to participants' different anxious feelings. Sex itself was not a differentiating factor, however, men and women reacted differently in different situations. Results indicated that, in general, sense of agency has more impacts on anxiety level compared with sense of ownership. However, sense of agency seemed to affect male more than female while sense of ownership placed more influence on female than on male. This finding may because the different contribution styles and empathy abilities between men and women.

Resumen Usando un programa de ordenador, creamos un entorno virtual para estudiar los posibles impactos del sentido de agencia y sentido de pertenencia sobre la ansiedad. El objetivo del presente estudio es investigar si nuestra configuración podría lograr el efecto similar al que tenía la ilusión de goma tradicional, y cómo el sentido del yo (principalmente sentido de agencia y sentido de pertenencia) afecta la ansiedad de los participantes. Estudio 1, la muestra consistió en 24 estudiantes de primer grado (12 mujeres, 12 hombres) que movieron una mano virtual en 3D en una situación sincrónica o asincrónica. El estudio 2 incluyó 48 estudiantes de primer o segundo grado (24 mujeres, 24 hombres) que pasaron la escala de calificación SCL-90 y completaron la escala de calificación SCL-90 nuevamente después de realizar una tarea de captura / evitación. En el estudio 1, todos los resultados solo proporcionaron evidencia de una ilusión de mano virtual pero ningún otro efecto. El estudio 2 mostró que las condiciones asincrónicas tenían puntuaciones de ansiedad más altas que las sincrónicas en términos de modalidad y sexo, diferentes imágenes virtuales conducirían a los diferentes sentimientos de ansiedad de los participantes. El sexo en sí mismo no era un factor diferenciador, sin embargo, los hombres y las mujeres reaccionaron de manera diferente en diferentes situaciones. Los resultados indicaron que, en general, el sentido de agencia tiene más impactos en el nivel de ansiedad en comparación con el sentido de pertenencia. Sin embargo, el sentimiento de agencia pareció afectar más a los hombres que a las mujeres, mientras que el sentido de pertenencia ejerció más influencia sobre las mujeres que sobre los hombres. Este hallazgo puede deberse a los diferentes estilos de contribución y habilidades de empatía entre hombres y mujeres.

Abstract Background: The rate of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions is low, and these reactions can result in death or disability. An evidence-based epidemiological study of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions in China has not been reported. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze epidemiology and characteristics of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions of Chinese inpatients during the recent 15 years with meta-analysis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed Chinese literature reporting severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions and collecting data from 2000 to 2015, which were in accordance with our inclusion criteria. All included data were analyzed with the Launch Open Meta-Analyst software. Results: Twenty-five articles involving 928 cases with severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions were included. Men to women ratio was 1.14:1. Twenty-one per cent of the patients had drug allergy history. Antibiotics (26.0%), sedative hypnotics and anticonvulsants (21.6%), and antipyretic analgesics (17.1%) were the most common causative drugs. The most frequent clinical subtype was Stevens-Johnson syndrome (50.1%), followed by toxic epidermal necrolysis (25.4%), exfoliative dermatitis (21.0%) and drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (1.6%). In addition to skin rashes, patients with severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions suffered mostly from fever (73%), and blood routine abnormality (66.7%). Study limitations: This meta-analysis is limited by its retrospective design and by its methodological variation. Conclusion: The most common causative drugs were antibiotics and sedative hypnotics and anticonvulsants. Stevens-Johnson syndrome was the most frequent clinical subtype of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions. In addition to skin rashes, patients with severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions suffered mostly from fever, mucosal lesion, and hematologic abnormalities.

The shock response and dynamic fracture of concrete gravity dams under impact load are the key problems to evaluate the antiknock safety of the dam. This study aims at understanding the effects of impact shock on the elastic response and dynamic fracture of concrete gravity dams. Firstly, this paper uses acceleration records of a concrete gravity dam under impact to establish the correct way to determine the concrete gravity dam of the fundamental frequency and present cut sheets multi-degree-of-freedom dynamic modeling. Under strong impact loading, the constitutive relation of concrete gravity dam and the highest frequency of the impact are uncertain. So, the main advantage of this method is avoiding the use of elastic modulus in the calculation. The result indicates that the calculation method is a reliable computational method for concrete gravity dams subjected to impact. Subsequently, the failure process of dam models was numerically simulated based on ABAQUS commercial codes. Finally, this paper puts forward suggestions for future research based on the results of the analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a three-stage intervention to reduce caesarean deliveries in a Chinese tertiary hospital. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to assess whether educating staff, educating patients and auditing surgeon practices (introduced in 2005) had reduced caesarean delivery rates. Multiple logistic regression was used to check for a potential association between caesarean rates and rates of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). FINDINGS: The caesarean delivery rate ranged from 53.5% to 56.1% in 2001-2004 and from 43.9% to 36.1% in 2005-2011. When 2001-2004 and 2005-2011 were treated as "before" and "after" periods to evaluate the intervention's impact on the mean caesarean section rate, a significant reduction was noted: from 54.8% to 40.3% (odds ratio, OR: 0.56; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.52-0.59; χ2 test: P < 0.001). The overall drop in the caesarean section rate was significant (χ2 test: P < 0.001) and inversely correlated with the years (Spearman's ρ: -0.096; P < 0.001). Although complicated pregnancies increased after 2004, the primary caesarean section rate decreased annually by 20% on average in 2005-2011, after practice audits were implemented. Multiple logistic regression showed a positive association between the caesarean delivery rate and the rate of admission to the NICU (adjusted OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.14-1.40). CONCLUSION: Patient and staff education and practice audits reduced the Caesarean section rate in a tertiary referral hospital without an increase in admissions to the NICU.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la eficacia de una intervención en tres etapas para reducir los partos por cesárea en un hospital de atención terciaria en China. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo para evaluar si el programa educativo para el personal y los pacientes y la auditoría de las prácticas de los cirujanos (que se pusieron en marcha en el año 2005) habían disminuido la tasa de partos por cesárea. Se empleó una regresión logística múltiple para comprobar la posible relación entre la tasa de cesáreas y la tasa de admisión en la unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales (UCIN). RESULTADOS: La tasa de partos por cesárea osciló entre el 53,5% y el 56,1% entre 2001 y 2004 y entre el 43,9% y el 36,1% entre 2005 y 2011. Se constata una reducción significativa en la misma si se consideran los años 2001-2004 y 2005-2011 como periodos «antes» y «después» para evaluar el impacto de la intervención sobre la tasa media de partos por cesárea: del 54,8% al 40,3% (razón de posibilidades, OR: 0,56; intervalo de confianza, IC, del 95%: 0,54 - 0,59; χ2test P<0,001). La disminución general en la proporción de cesáreas fue significativa (χ2 test: P<0,001) y estuvo relacionada de forma inversa con los años (correlación de Spearman ρ: -0,096; P<0,001). A pesar del aumento de embarazos complicados después de 2004, la tasa de cesáreas primarias disminuyó anualmente hasta un 20% de media entre los años 2005-2011 después de haber puesto en marcha las auditorías de las prácticas. La regresión logística múltiple mostró una relación positiva entre la tasa de partos por cesárea y la tasa de admisión en la unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales UCIN (OR ajustada: 1,26; IC del 95%: 1,14-1,40). CONCLUSIÓN: El programa educativo para el personal y los pacientes, así como las auditorías de las prácticas redujeron la tasa de cesáreas en un hospital de atención terciaria sin aumentar el número de admisiones en la UCIN.

OBJECTIF: Evaluer l'efficacité d'une intervention en trois étapes pour réduire les accouchements par césarienne dans un hôpital de troisième ligne chinois. MÉTHODES: Une étude rétrospective a été menée afin de déterminer si l'éducation du personnel, l'éducation des patients et l'audit des pratiques des chirurgiens (introduit en 2005) avaient réduit les taux d'accouchement par césarienne. Une régression logistique multiple a été utilisée pour vérifier une éventuelle corrélation entre les taux de césarienne et les taux d'admission à l'unité de soins intensifs néonataux. RÉSULTATS: Le taux de césarienne variait de 53,5% à 56,1% en 2001-2004 et de 43,9% à 36,1% en 2005-2011. Lorsque 2001-2004 et 2005-2011 ont été traités en tant que périodes "avant" et "après" pour évaluer l'impact des interventions sur le taux moyen de césarienne, une réduction significative a été mise en évidence: de 54,8% à 40,3% (rapport des chances, OR: 0,56; intervalle de confiance à 95%, IC: 0,52 à 0,59; test de χ2: P <0,001). La baisse globale du taux de césarienne était significative (test de χ2: P <0,001) et inversement corrélée avec les années (ρ de Spearman: -0,096; P <0,001). Bien que les grossesses compliquées aient augmenté après 2004, le taux de césarienne primaire a diminué chaque année de 20% en moyenne en 2005-2011, après que l'audit de bonnes pratiques ait été mis en œuvre. Une régression logistique multiple a montré une corrélation positive entre le taux de naissance par césarienne et le taux d'admission à l'unité de soins intensifs néonataux (OR ajusté: 1,26, IC 95%: 1,14 à 1,40). CONCLUSION: L'éducation des patients et du personnel ainsi que l'audit de bonnes pratiques ont réduit le taux de césarienne dans un hôpital de troisième ligne, sans augmentation des admissions en soins intensifs néonataux.