Compact optical 90° hybrid based on a wedge-shaped 2 × 4 MMI coupler and a 2 × 2 MMI coupler on a thin-film lithium niobate platform.

We performed an experimental demonstration of a wedge-shaped optical 90° hybrid coupler on the thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) platform, utilizing a paired-interference-based 2 × 4 multimode interference (MMI) coupler and a general-interference-based 2 × 2 MMI coupler. The fabricated optical 90° hybrid coupler has a compact footprint with a width of 18 µm and a length of 134 µm. In a coherent receiving system, the hybrid coupler directly connects to the balanced photodiode array, eliminating the need for waveguide crossings or cascaded phase shifters. The device exhibits a < 1.1 dB excess loss, a > 20 dB common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR), a < 1.3 dB wavelength sensitive loss, and a < ±5° phase deviation over a spectral range of 1530-1560 nm, which is promising to enable a compact heterogeneously integrated coherent receiving system on the thin-film lithium niobate platform.

OsMADS5 interacts with OsSPL14/17 to inhibit rice root elongation by restricting cell proliferation of root meristem under ammonium supply.

Nitrogen (N) is a vital major nutrient for rice (Oryza sativa). Rice responds to different applications of N by altering its root morphology, including root elongation. Although ammonium ( NH 4 + ) is the primary source of N for rice, NH 4 + is toxic to rice roots and inhibits root elongation. However, the precise molecular mechanism that NH 4 + -inhibited root elongation of rice is not well understood. Here, we identified a rice T-DNA insert mutant of OsMADS5 with a longer seminal root (SR) under sufficient N conditions. Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR analysis revealed that the expression level of OsMADS5 was increased under NH 4 + compared with NO 3 - supply. Under NH 4 + conditions, knocking out OsMADS5 (cas9) produced a longer SR, phenocopying osmads5, while there was no significant difference in SR length between wild-type and cas9 under NO 3 - supply. Moreover, OsMADS5-overexpression plants displayed the opposite SR phenotype. Further study demonstrated that enhancement of OsMADS5 by NH 4 + supply inhibited rice SR elongation, likely by reducing root meristem activity of root tip, with the involvement of OsCYCB1;1. We also found that OsMADS5 interacted with OsSPL14 and OsSPL17 (OsSPL14/17) to repress their transcriptional activation by attenuating DNA binding ability. Moreover, loss of OsSPL14/17 function in osmads5 eliminated its stimulative effect on SR elongation under NH 4 + conditions, implying OsSPL14/17 may function downstream of OsMADS5 to mediate rice SR elongation under NH 4 + supply. Overall, our results indicate the existence of a novel modulatory pathway in which enhancement of OsMADS5 by NH 4 + supply represses the transcriptional activities of OsSPL14/17 to restrict SR elongation of rice.

Effects of Aquatic Training and Bicycling Training on Leg Function and Range of Motion in Amateur Athletes with Meniscal Allograft Transplantation during Intermediate-Stage Rehabilitation.

Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) is a treatment modality for restoring knee function in patients with irreversible meniscal injury. Strengthening programs to promote functional recovery are treated with caution during the intermediate rehabilitation phase following MAT. This study analyzed the effects of aquatic training (AQT) and bicycling training (BCT) during the intermediate stage of rehabilitation in amateur athletes that underwent MAT. Participants (n = 60) were divided into AQT (n = 30) and BCT (n = 30) groups. Both groups performed training three times per week from 6 to 24 weeks following surgery. International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form (IKDC) score, knee joint range of motion (ROM), isokinetic knee strength, and Y-balance test (YBT) performance were evaluated. All measured variables for the AQT and BCT groups improved significantly after training compared with pre-training values. The IKDC score and YBT were significantly higher for AQT than for BCT. The knee flexion ROM and isokinetic muscle strength were significantly improved in the BCT group compared to those in the AQT group. The AQT group exhibited greater improvement in dynamic balance, whereas BCT provided greater improvement in isokinetic muscle strength. AQT and BCT were effective in reducing discomfort and improving knee symptoms and functions during intermediate-stage rehabilitation following MAT in amateur athletes.

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP-2) and Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases (TIMP-2) in Male Inguinal Hernia Patients at Different Ages.

BACKGROUND: Collagen metabolism, controlled by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), might be related to inguinal hernia formation. It was reported that the incidence of inguinal hernia and the recurrence rate after inguinal hernia repair were higher in the elderly. The objective of the research was to assess the amounts of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in patients at different ages in order to examine the relationship between age and inguinal hernia occurrence. METHODS: The research included 40 primary inguinal hernia male patients, and four groups were created: 50-59 years old (A group); 60-69 years old (B group); 70-79 years old (C group); 80-89 years old (D group). We got the samples from anterior rectus sheath fascia. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were applied to estimate the levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2. RESULTS: The MMP-2 amounts in C and D group were statistically higher than control group (P < 0.05), and the TIMP-2 levels in C and D group were statistically lower than control group (P < 0.05). We found a positive correlation between age and expression levels of MMP-2 (r = 0.537, P < 0.001; r = 0.569, P < 0.001) and a negative correlation between age and TIMP-2 in inguinal hernia patients (r = - 0.759, P < 0.001; r = - 0.759, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased MMP-2 and reduced TIMP-2 may have some relationships with higher inguinal hernia incidence of the elderly.

Mid-infrared polarization rotator based on a Si3N4-CaF2 hybrid plasmonic waveguide with asymmetric metal claddings.

In this paper, a Si3N4-CaF2 hybrid plasmonic waveguide (HPW) with an asymmetric metal cladding is designed for the mid-infrared polarization rotator (PR). The mode characteristics and polarization rotation performances of the Si3N4-CaF2 HPW-based PR are simulated by using the finite element method. Operating at the wavelength of 3.5 µm, the polarization conversion efficiency between two polarization modes (PM 1 and PM 2) is larger than 99% at a Si3N4-CaF2 HPW length of 104 µm. The Si3N4-CaF2 HPW-based PR maintains good polarization rotation performances within fabrication tolerances from -10 to 10 nm. The polarization rotator based on the Si3N4-CaF2 HPW paves the way to achieve integrated waveplates, driving many important optical functions from free space onto a chip.

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP-2) and Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases (TIMP-2) in Patients with Inguinal Hernias.

BACKGROUND: The development of inguinal hernia might be related with collagen metabolism, which was regulated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in anterior rectus sheath fascia to investigate the function of them in inguinal hernia formation. METHODS: The study enrolled 48 primary inguinal hernia patients: 32 participants had indirect inguinal hernia and 16 patients suffered direct inguinal hernia. Specimens were taken from the anterior rectus sheath fascia. The amounts of MMP-2 mRNA and TIMP-2 mRNA were evaluated by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the protein expression of them. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-2 in direct group were significantly higher than those of control group (P < 0.05) and indirect group (P < 0.05), while the expression levels of TIMP-2 in direct group were significantly lower than those of control group (P < 0.05) and indirect group (P < 0.05). The ratio of MMP-2 mRNA/TIMP-2 mRNA in direct group was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05) and indirect group (P < 0.05), and the ratio of indirect group was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, MMP-2/TIMP-2 can diagnose direct hernia from controls with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.950 and indirect hernia with AUC of 0.730 effectively. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated level of MMP-2 and decreased level of TIMP-2 may play a role in direct inguinal hernia development. The ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 may be useful in identification of direct hernia.

Randomized Trial Comparing Self-Gripping Mesh with Polypropylene Mesh in Female Lichtenstein Hernioplasty.

Several randomized trials comparing self-gripping mesh with polypropylene (PL) mesh in Lichtenstein hernioplasty revealed that the self-gripping mesh significantly reduced the operation time. In these studies, some enrolled only male patients, and in others, the proportion of women was extremely low. The aim of this research was to compare outcomes after self-gripping mesh repair with PL mesh secured with sutures in female Lichtenstein hernioplasty. Female patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were assigned randomly to undergo Lichtenstein hernioplasty with a self-gripping ProGrip (PG) mesh or a sutured PL mesh, followed-up at one week, one month, three months, one year, and two years. Demographics, hernia characteristics, and operative outcomes data were analyzed. Pain was assessed with a visual analog scale (0-10), and quality of life (QOL) was estimated by a 36-item short-form general survey (0-26). Forty eight patients in the PG group and 51 participants in the PL group completed the follow-up. The operation time of the PG (54.1 ± 12 minutes) group was significantly shorter than that of the PL (60.9 ± 11.3 minutes) group (P = 0.045). At the one-month follow-up, the incidence of foreign body feeling in the PG group was significantly higher than that in the PL group (P = 0.031), whereas no significant difference was observed in visual analog scale ≥3 and QOL. In a follow-up of three months, one year, and two years, there was no significant difference in foreign body feeling, chronic pain, QOL, and recurrence between two groups. The surgical outcomes of self-gripping mesh are comparable to those of the ordinary PL mesh with a reduced operation time in female Lichtenstein hernioplasty. Registration number: ChiCTR1800017360 (http://www.chictr.org.cn).

Prospective Analysis of Epigastric, Umbilical, and Small Incisional Hernia Repair Using the Modified Kugel Oval Patch.

The study was performed to determine the complication and recurrence rate using the modified Kugel oval patch for small ventral hernia repair. Another aim of the study was to find risk factors for recurrence in patients with this repair. Seventy-three patients underwent ventral hernia repair with the modified Kugel oval patch between April 2013 and February 2015. Prospective follow-up data (18 months postoperative) were collected and evaluated. A total of 58 primary (18 epigastric/40 umbilical) and 15 incisional ventral hernias were repaired with the modified Kugel oval patch (7.6/10.2 cm/8 × 12 cm). We found three patients suffered superficial wound infection and two participants got hernia recurrence. Placement of mesh was found to be a significant risk factor for hernia recurrence. Small ventral hernia repair using the modified Kugel oval patch is a novel and useful approach and we recommend placing the patch preperitoneally.