A smartphone-based support system coupled with a bluetooth breathalyzer in the treatment of alcohol dependence: A 12-week randomized controlled trial.

Background: Our prior open trial showed the feasibility of a smartphone-based support system coupled with a Bluetooth breathalyzer (SoberDiary) in assisting recovery for patients with alcohol dependence (AD). In this 24-week follow-up study, we further explored the efficacy of supplementing SoberDiary to treatment as usual (TAU) over 12 weeks of intervention and whether the efficacy persisted in the post-intervention 12 weeks. Methods: 51 patients who met the DSM-IV criteria of AD were randomly assigned to the technological intervention group (TI group, receiving technology intervention of SoberDiary plus TAU, n = 25) or those receiving only TAU (TAU group, n = 26). After 12 weeks of intervention (Phase I), all participants were followed for another post-intervention 12 weeks (Phase II). We collected the drinking variables and psychological assessment data every 4 weeks (i.e., weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24). In addition, the cumulative abstinence days and retention rates were recorded. We used mixed-model analysis to compare the difference in outcomes between groups. Results: In Phase I or Phase II, we did not find differences in drinking variables, alcohol craving, depression, or anxiety severity between the two groups. However, the TI group showed greater self-efficacy for drinking refusal in Phase II than the TAU group. Conclusions: Although our system (SoberDiary) did not demonstrate benefits in drinking or emotional outcomes, we found the system holds promise to enhance self-efficacy on drinking refusal. Whether the benefit in promoting self-efficacy persists longer than 24 weeks requires further investigation.

Hybridization affects the structure and function of root microbiome by altering gene expression in roots of wheat introgression line under saline-alkali stress.

The mutually beneficial relationship between plants and their root microbiota is essential for plants to adapt to unfavorable environments. However, the molecular mechanism of wheat regulating the structure of root microbiome and the influence of distant hybridization on this process are poorly understood. In this study, we systematically compared the root transcriptome and microbiome between a saline-alkali tolerant wheat introgression line SR4 (derived from somatic hybridization between wheat and tall wheatgrass) and its parent wheat variety JN177. The results indicated that root microorganisms were key factor maintaining better homeostasis of the sodium and potassium ion contents in SR4 than in JN177 under saline-alkali stress. Through systematic comparisons, we identified SR4-specific root bacterial and fungal taxa under saline-alkali stress. Through a weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) combining microbiome and transcriptome data, key functional genes and pathways, which were strongly related to root bacteria and fungi with differential abundance between JN177 and SR4, were identified. These results suggest that somatic hybridization has altered the key genes regulating root microbiome in wheat, further improving the saline-alkali tolerance of wheat introgression line. These findings provide the key bacterial and fungal taxa and functional target genes for wheat root microbiome engineering under saline-alkali stress.

Prevalence and Correlates of Prescription Drug Misuse in a Nationwide Population Survey in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Prescription drug misuse (PDM) is a critical mental health issue relating to psychiatric morbidity. This study investigated the prevalence of PDM and its associated psychopathology and psychosocial factors in the general population in Taiwan. METHODS: The survey randomly selected a representative sample >15 year-olds using the stratified proportional randomization method. The measurements included demographic variables, previous experience with PDM, self-rated physical and mental health, health self-efficacy, risk factors for suicidality, and psychological distress. RESULTS: The weighted one-year prevalence of PDM was 8.5% (n = 180) among 2126 participants. Those with psychological distress and lifetime suicide ideation (23.3%) or suicide attempts (5.0%) were significantly associated with PDM. PDM was also prevalent among those with poorer self-rated health and lower self-efficacy. Insomnia (OR = 1.52), depression (OR = 1.77), and low self-efficacy (OR = 2.29) had higher odds of PDM after adjustment in the logistic regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who misused prescription drugs had a higher prevalence of psychological distress and suicidality and lower levels of self-rated health. Prescription drug misuse problems should be screened for early prevention when prescribing medications for people with insomnia, depression, or lower perceived health beliefs or conditions.

[Comparison of Floating Chamber and Diffusion Model Methods for Measuring Methane Emissions from Inland Fish-Aquaculture Ponds].

Freshwater aquaculture ponds collectively cover a large area in southeast China. They are an important anthropogenic source of CH4 emissions, however current knowledge of CH4 emissions from aquaculture ponds is limited. During September 2017 and August 2018, two independent sampling campaigns of CH4 flux measurements over annual cycles were carried out in a fish-aquaculture pond in southeast China using a floating chamber and diffusion model methods for comparison. The purpose of this study is to investigate the variation of CH4 fluxes obtained from the fish-aquaculture pond, analyze the emission mechanisms, and amplify the CH4 emissions inventory. The diffusion model method can further quantify the contribution of diffusion transmission to CH4 emissions. The seasonal variations of CH4 fluxes measured by the two methods were similar, with higher CH4 fluxes appearing in summer and fall and lower CH4 fluxes appearing in spring and winter. CH4 fluxes measured by the floating chamber method and diffusion model method ranged from 0.14-3.13 mg·(m2·h)-1 and 0.04-1.41 mg·(m2·h)-1, respectively, and the respective average values were (0.86±0.30) mg·(m2·h)-1and (0.45±0.08) mg·(m2·h)-1. The CH4 fluxes were positively related to water temperature, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), but negatively related to the water dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in the fish-aquaculture pond. CH4 fluxes calculated by diffusion model methods were 45% lower than those determined by the floating chamber methods over annual cycles. The result suggested that the floating chamber method is more suitable than the diffusion model method for measurements of CH4 fluxes in freshwater aquaculture ecosystems.

Lead as a legendary pollutant with emerging concern: Survey of lead in tap water in an old campus building using four sampling methods.

In this study, a sampling campaign with a total of nine sampling events investigating lead in drinking water was conducted at 7 sampling locations in an old building with lead pipes in service in part of the building on the National Taiwan University campus. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of four different sampling methods, namely first draw sampling, sequential sampling, random daytime sampling and flush sampling, in lead contamination detection. In 3 out of the 7 sampling locations without lead pipe, lead could not be detected (<1.1 µg/L) in most samples regardless of the sampling methods. On the other hand, in the 4 sampling locations where lead pipes still existed, total lead concentrations >10 µg/L were consistently observed in 3 locations using any of the four sampling methods while the remaining location was identified to be contaminated using sequential sampling. High lead levels were consistently measured by the four sampling methods in the 3 locations in which particulate lead was either predominant or comparable to soluble lead. Compared to first draw and random daytime samplings, although flush sampling had a high tendency to reduce total lead in samples in lead-contaminated sites, the extent of lead reduction was location-dependent and not dependent on flush durations between 5 and 10 min. Overall, first draw sampling and random daytime sampling were reliable and effective in determining lead contamination in this study. Flush sampling could reveal the contamination if the extent is severe but tends to underestimate lead exposure risk.

Robust microscale superlubricity under high contact pressure enabled by graphene-coated microsphere.

Superlubricity of graphite and graphene has aroused increasing interest in recent years. Yet how to obtain a long-lasting superlubricity between graphene layers, under high applied normal load in ambient atmosphere still remains a challenge but is highly desirable. Here, we report a direct measurement of sliding friction between graphene and graphene, and graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) under high contact pressures by employing graphene-coated microsphere (GMS) probe prepared by metal-catalyst-free chemical vapour deposition. The exceptionally low and robust friction coefficient of 0.003 is accomplished under local asperity contact pressure up to 1 GPa, at arbitrary relative surface rotation angles, which is insensitive to relative humidity up to 51% RH. This ultralow friction is attributed to the sustainable overall incommensurability due to the multi-asperity contact covered with randomly oriented graphene nanograins. This realization of microscale superlubricity can be extended to the sliding between a variety of two-dimensional (2D) layers.

Transcriptome profiling reveals the genetic basis of alkalinity tolerance in wheat.

BACKGROUND: Soil alkalinity shows significant constraints to crop productivity; however, much less attention has been paid to analyze the effect of soil alkalinity on plant growth and development. Shanrong No. 4 (SR4) is an alkalinity tolerant bread wheat cultivar selected from an asymmetric somatic hybridization between the bread wheat cultivar Jinan 177 (JN177) and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum), which is a suitable material for studying alkalinity tolerant associate genes. RESULTS: The growth of SR4 plant seedlings was less inhibited than that of JN177 when exposed to alkalinity stress conditions. The root cytosolic Na+/K+ ratio in alkalinity stressed SR4 was lower than in JN177, while alkalinity stressed SR4 contained higher level of nutrient elements than in JN177. SR4 plant seedlings accumulated less malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), it also showed higher activity of ROS scavenging enzymes than JN177 under alkalinity stress. The root intracellular pH decreased in both alkalinity stressed JN177 and SR4, however, it was much lower in SR4 than in JN177 under alkalinity stress. The transcriptomes of SR4 and JN177 seedlings exposed to alkalinity stress were analyzed by digital gene expression tag profiling method. Alkalinity stress conditions up- and down-regulated a large number of genes in the seedling roots that play the functions in the categories of transcription regulation, signal transduction and protein modification. CONCLUSIONS: SR4 expresses a superior tolerance to alkaline stress conditions which is due to its strong absorbing ability for nutrient ions, a strong regulating ability for intracellular and rhizosphere pH and a more active ROS scavenging ability.

Nanodroplet-Vaporization-Assisted Sonoporation for Highly Effective Delivery of Photothermal Treatment.

Sonoporation refers to the use of ultrasound and acoustic cavitation to temporarily enhance the permeability of cellular membranes so as to enhance the delivery efficiency of therapeutic agents into cells. Microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents are often used to facilitate these cavitation effects. This study used nanodroplets to significantly enhance the effectiveness of sonoporation relative to using conventional microbubbles. Significant enhancements were demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo by using gold nanorods encapsulated in nanodroplets for implementing plasmonic photothermal therapy. Combined excitation by ultrasound and laser radiation is used to trigger the gold nanodroplets to induce a liquid-to-gas phase change, which induces cavitation effects that are three-to-fivefold stronger than when using conventional microbubbles. Enhanced cavitation also leads to significant enhancement of the sonoporation effects. Our in vivo results show that nanodroplet-vaporization-assisted sonoporation can increase the treatment temperature by more than 10 °C above that achieved by microbubble-based sonoporation.

Knockdown of USP39 by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference suppresses the growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a frequently diagnosed life-threatening oral cancer worldwide and has become one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality. However, the pathogenesis of this disease is very limited. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional relationship between OSCC and a potential tumor related gene ubiquitin-specific proteases 39 (USP39). METHODS: The lentivirus-based RNA interference was utilized to knock down USP39 expression in human OSCC CAL27 cells. The effect of USP39 on cell proliferation was detected by MTT and colony formation assays. RESULTS: The results uncovered that the proliferation rate was significantly decreased in specific USP39-targeting lentivirus infected cells compared to control lentivirus infected cells. The colony formation capacity was also attenuated in CAL27 cells after USP39 knockdown. Moreover, knockdown of USP39 arrested CAL27 cells in S and G1/M phases of the cell cycle. Furthermore, USP39 silencing induced apoptosis of CAL27 cells via activations of Caspase 3 and PARP. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the inhibition of USP39 in CAL27 cells suppressed cell growth probably via induction cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. USP39 might act as an oncogenic factor in OSCC and could be a potential molecular target for OSCC gene therapy.

Isolation and characterization of novel Glu-St1 alleles from Pseudoroegneria spicata and Pd. strigosa.

Pseudoroegneria is a small genus of the Triticeae tribe; its St genome is present in over half of allopolyploid Triticeae species. The high molecular weight (HMW) subunits of glutenin (GS) encoded by the St genome are not well described. In this paper, we report the characterization of fourteen alleles of HMW-GS genes from the two species Pd. spicata and Pd. strigosa. Analysis shows that all fourteen sequences possess a typical primary structure shared by other known HMW-GS, but with some unique modifications. All fourteen Glu-St1 alleles are significantly smaller than normal Glu-1 genes due to fewer repeat motifs in a repetitive region with no indication of large deletion in other conserved regions. Thus, the small size is a common feature of HMW-GS encoded by Glu-St1 loci of Pseudoroegneria species. Sequence analysis indicated that all fourteen Glu-St1 alleles were intermediate type between x- and y-type, which represent an intermediate stage in the evolutionary divergence of x- and y-type subunits.

Acquisition of thin coronal sectional dataset of cadaveric liver.

PURPOSE: To obtain the thin coronal sectional anatomic dataset of the liver by using digital freezing milling technique. METHODS: The upper abdomen of one Chinese adult cadaver was selected as the specimen. After CT and MRI examinations verification of absent liver lesions, the specimen was embedded with gelatin in stand erect position and frozen under profound hypothermia, and the specimen was then serially sectioned from anterior to posterior layer by layer with digital milling machine in the freezing chamber. The sequential images were captured by means of a digital camera and the dataset was imported to imaging workstation. RESULTS: The thin serial section of the liver added up to 699 layers with each layer being 0.2 mm in thickness. The shape, location, structure, intrahepatic vessels and adjacent structures of the liver was displayed clearly on each layer of the coronal sectional slice. CT and MR images through the body were obtained at 1.0 and 3.0 mm intervals, respectively. CONCLUSION: The methodology reported here is an adaptation of the milling methods previously described, which is a new data acquisition method for sectional anatomy. The thin coronal sectional anatomic dataset of the liver obtained by this technique is of high precision and good quality.

[Two new Cypriniformes fish records from Yunnan Province-Carassioides acuminatus and Hemimyzon pumilicorpora].

Two new Cypriniformes fish records from Yunnan Province, Carassioides acuminatus (collected from mainstream of Red River in Hekou County) and Hemimyzon pumilicorpora (collected from Gula River, Gula Town, Funing County, upper stream of the Pearl River drainage), were identified during fish specimen sorting at Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. These two new records not only clarify the distribution patterns of the two species, but also enrich the knowledge of native fishes of Yunnan Province.

Spindle and kinetochore associated complex subunit 1 regulates the proliferation of oral adenosquamous carcinoma CAL-27 cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma is very poor due to local recurrence and metastasis. This study explores the molecular events involved in oral carcinoma with the goal of developing novel therapeutic strategies. The mitotic spindle is a complex mechanical apparatus required for the accurate segregation of sister chromosomes during mitosis. Spindle and kinetochore associated complex subunit 1 (SKA1) is a microtubule-binding subcomplex of the outer kinetochore that is essential for proper chromosome segregation. In recent years, much attention has been focused on determining how SKA proteins interact with each other, as well as their biological role in cancer cells. However, the precise role of SKA1 in oral carcinoma remains unknown. METHODS: In order to investigate the role of SKA1 in oral cancer, we employed lentivirus-mediated shRNA to silence SKA1 expression in the CAL-27 human oral adenosquamous carcinoma cell line. RESULTS: Depletion of SKA1 in CAL-27 cells significantly decreased cell proliferation, as determined by MTT and colony formation assays. These results strongly demonstrate that reduced SKA1 protein levels may cause inhibition of tumor formation. The shRNA-mediated depletion of SKA1 also led to G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. CONCLUSION: This is the first report to show that SKA1 plays an important role in the progression of oral adenosqamous carcinoma. Thus, silencing of SKA1 by RNAi might be a potential therapy for this disease.

Lentivirus-based RNA silencing of Nemo-like kinase (NLK) inhibits the CAL 27 human adenosquamos carcinoma cells proliferation and blocks G0/G1 phase to S phase.

BACKGROUND: The Nemo-like kinase (NLK) is a serine/threonine-protein kinase that involved in a number of signaling pathways regulating cell fate. Variation of NLK has been shown to be associated with the risk of cancer. However, the function of NLK in oral adenosquamous carcinoma cells line CAL-27 is unknown. METHODS: In this study, we evaluated the function of NLK in CAL-27 cells by using lentivirus-mediated RNA silence. The targeted gene expression, cell proliferation and cell cycle are investigated by RT-PCR, western-blot, MTT method, colony forming assay and flow cytometry analysis respectively. RESULTS: After NLK silencing, the number of colonies was significantly reduced (54 ± 5 colonies/well compared with 262 ± 18 colonies/well in non-infected or 226 ± 4 colonies/well in negative control group (sequence not related to NLK sequence with mismatched bases). Using crystal violet staining, we also found that the cell number per colony was dramatically reduced. The RNA silencing of NLK blocks the G0/G1 phase to S phase progression during the cell cycle. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NLK silencing by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference would be a potential therapeutic method to control oral squamous carcinoma growth.

[Effects of functional connectivity between anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on executive control of attention in healthy individuals].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the presence of functional connectivity between anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during the manipulation of attentional network test (ANT) and its relationship with behavioral performance. METHODS: Functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 25 healthy subjects aged 17 - 20 years. And ANT was used as a paradigm. Functional connectivity between ACC-DLPFC was tested and correlation analysis conducted between functional connectivity coefficients and behavioral scores of ANT. RESULTS: Significant functional connectivity between the dorsal ACC (dACC) with bilateral DLPFC was found. Furthermore, event-related functional connectivity coefficients between left dACC and left DLPFC were negatively associated with the behavioral scores of executive control (r = -0.63; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings provide new evidence that ACC and DLPFC are functionally connected and such functional connectivity has advantageous influence on executive control function of attention so as to contribute to our understanding of the integrated role of these brain regions in attentional network.

[Mapping fetal brain development in the second trimester with 7.0T magnetic resonance imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To obtain the three dimensional visualization model with normal measurements of fetal brain in the second trimester and analyze the developmental changes with gestational age (GA), sexual dimorphisms and cerebral asymmetries. METHODS: The brains of 69 fetal specimens of 12 - 22 weeks GA were scanned by 7.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The developing structures were analyzed and a three dimensional visualization model was rebuilt with Amira 4.1 software. RESULTS: Most sulci, except for postcentral and intraparietal sulcus, were present until 22 weeks GA. And none developed secondary branches. Laminar organization, described as early as 12 weeks GA, was delineated as layers with different signal intensities and became typical after 16 weeks GA. Basal nuclei was distinctly visible. Brains had different growth rates linearly increasing with GA. But neither sexual dimorphisms nor cerebral asymmetries was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The initial developmental stage of fetal brain occurs at 12 - 22 weeks GA. The developing structures may be distinctly visualized on 7.0T post-mortem MRI. And the three dimensional visualization model aids greatly in the precise cognition of immature brain.

Pulmonary intersegmental planes: imaging appearance and possible reasons leading to their visualization.

PURPOSE: To describe the normal imaging appearance of pulmonary intersegmental planes on thoracic computed tomographic (CT) scans and determine the possible reasons related to their visualization in terms of aging and anatomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the internal ethics review board. Informed consent was obtained. A retrospective review was undertaken of 104 thoracic multidetector CT scans of an older group (>65 years) and younger group (<55 years). The number, location, and appearance rate of intersegmental planes were assessed. Group comparisons were made, and linear regression analysis was used to assess relationships between age and visualization of intersegmental planes. Thirty lung samples (10 × 10 × 10 mm(3)) from autopsy were scanned by using micro-CT. Thicknesses of intersegmental planes were measured. Significant differences of the thickness between visible and invisible intersegmental planes were assessed with the independent t test. In five fetal specimens (17-21 weeks in gestational age), 7.0-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed to determine the congenital difference of thickness of intersegmental planes. RESULTS: Within the right lung, appearance rates of visible intersegmental planes were 71.2% at S1-S3, 54.8% at S4-S5, and 70.2% at S7-S10. Within the left lung, appearance rates of visible intersegmental planes were 39.4% at S1+2 to S3, 64.4% at S4-S5, 18.3% at S7-S8, and 89.4% at S7-S10. Appearance rates of visible intersegmental planes on thoracic CT scans were not significantly different (P ≥ .38) between younger and older groups. Mean thicknesses of visible and invisible intersegmental planes were 681.3 µm ± 75.3 (standard deviation) and 221.7 µm ± 54.1, respectively. Visible intersegmental planes were significantly thicker than invisible intersegmental planes (P < .05). Visible intersegmental planes were also seen on fetal lung 7.0-T MR images. CONCLUSION: The thickness of pulmonary intersegmental planes and variation of intersegmental veins were closely related to visualization of intersegmental planes on thoracic CT scans. Aging was excluded as the possible reason.

[Discovery and its significance of spawning grounds of Jinshaiasinensis from upper and middle Jinshajiang River].

During April, July to August and November of 2012,three surveys were conducted to estimate the early-stage fish resources in the area of Liyuan power station on Jinshajiang River of Yunnan Province. During the survey conducted at the crossing of Daju Town, Yulong County, Yunnan Province, from July to August, 2012, two egg-tides of Jinshaia sinensis were detected. One was from 8:00 of August 1(st) to 10:00 of August 4(th) and the other one was from 23:00 of August 9(th) to 6:00 of August 13(th). The average egg diameter was 3.89 mm, ranging from 3.37 to 4.41 mm. Natural fertilization and hatching rate as well as abnormality rate in mimic wild environment were 91.5%, 97.1% and 2.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, three spawning grounds had been conjectured, which were Longpan Town, Liming Town and Judian Town of Yulong County, Yunnan Province. Moreover, the total number of eggs from those three spawning grounds during the two egg-tides was approximately 1.49×10(7) ind.. The discovery of the three spawing grounds is of importance in fullfilling the study of Jinshaia sinensis, and in protecting fish resources under the influences of power stations.

Quantitative assessment of gait and neurochemical correlation in a classical murine model of Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Gait deficits are important clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, existing behavioral tests for the detection of motor impairments in rodents with systemic dopamine depletion only measure akinesia and dyskinesia, and data focusing on gait are scarce. We evaluated gait changes in the methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced C57BL/6 murine model of PD by using a computer-assisted CatWalk system. Correlations of gait parameters with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein levels in the substantia nigra (SN) were also investigated. RESULTS: The gait readouts, including the walking duration, variation of walking speed, step cycle, duty cycle, stance, initial dual stance, terminal dual stance, three- and four-point supports, and the base of support between hind limbs was noted to increase significantly one week after MPTP injection. In contrast, values of the stride length, cadence, swing speed, and diagonal dual support decreased substantially following MPTP treatment (p < 0.05). All of these changes lasted for three weeks after the last MPTP administration. Except for the stance in the fore limbs and the swing speed in the hind limbs, the gait variability in the PD mice showed a closer correlation with the protein levels of TH in the SN than the walking distances in the conventional open field test. Coordination parameters of the regularity index and step pattern were not affected in mice treated with MPTP. CONCLUSION: Data of the study suggest that the computer-assisted CatWalk system can provide reliable and objective criteria to stratify gait changes arising from MPTP-induced bilateral lesions in C57/BL6 mice. The extent of gait changes was noted to correlate with the expression of the biomarker for dopaminergic neurons. This novel analytical method may hold promise in the study of disease progression and new drug screening in a murine PD model.