Earthquake-enhanced dissolved carbon cycles in ultra-deep ocean sediments.

Hadal trenches are unique geological and ecological systems located along subduction zones. Earthquake-triggered turbidites act as efficient transport pathways of organic carbon (OC), yet remineralization and transformation of OC in these systems are not comprehensively understood. Here we measure concentrations and stable- and radiocarbon isotope signatures of dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (DOC, DIC) in the subsurface sediment interstitial water along the Japan Trench axis collected during the IODP Expedition 386. We find accumulation and aging of DOC and DIC in the subsurface sediments, which we interpret as enhanced production of labile dissolved carbon owing to earthquake-triggered turbidites, which supports intensive microbial methanogenesis in the trench sediments. The residual dissolved carbon accumulates in deep subsurface sediments and may continue to fuel the deep biosphere. Tectonic events can therefore enhance carbon accumulation and stimulate carbon transformation in plate convergent trench systems, which may accelerate carbon export into the subduction zones.

Clinical factors associated with functional outcomes in patients with single subcortical infarction with neurological deterioration.

Objective: Factors that predict poor outcomes in patients with single subcortical infarction (SSI) may differ from those that predict poor outcomes in the SSI subgroup with neurological deterioration (ND). This study aimed to investigate the effect of ND on functional outcomes in patients with SSI and the clinical factors that predict poor outcomes in patients with SSI with ND (SSI-ND) and in all patients with SSI. Methods: Patients with SSI were consecutively enrolled in this study. ND was defined as an increase of ≥2 points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) total score, an increase of ≥1 point in the NIHSS subscore of consciousness or motor function, or any new neurological deficit. Results: A total of 255 patients were enrolled, and nine (3.53%) were lost to a follow-up. ND [adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22-1.55, p < 0.001], female sex (aRR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03-1.24, p = 0.12), initial NIHSS (aRR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.07-1.10, p < 0.001), and parental arterial disease (PAD) (aRR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.07-1.26, p = 0.038) were associated with a poor 90-day outcome (the modified Rankin scale (mRS) > 2 points) in patients with SSI. In the SSI-ND subgroup, PAD (aRR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.20-3.86, p = 0.01), glycosylated hemoglobin (aRR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.01-1.35, p = 0.035), and severe NIHSS (aRR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.06-1.25, p = 0.001) were predictive of a poor outcome, and PAD (aRR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.19-2.95, p = 0.007) was correlated with higher/worsened NIHSS [> 2 points (median)]. For predicting poor outcomes in patients with SSI-ND with PAD, a more severe NIHSS (aRR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.02-1.17, p = 0.01) was the only determinant, with a cutoff of 4.5 points, a sensitivity of 94.0%, and a specificity of 83.3%. Conclusions: ND is an independent predictor of poor outcomes in patients with SSI, and poor outcome determinants in the SSI-ND subgroup and in all patients with SSI are not identical. For patients with SSI-ND, PAD could aggravate ND and was therefore an essential predictor of poor outcomes.

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease presenting as dizziness and cognitive decline: A case report.

RATIONALE: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is an infrequent and rapidly fatal neurodegenerative disease without effective cure. Common presentations of CJD include rapidly progressive cognitive decline, behavioral changes, cerebellar dysfunction, and visual disturbances. Since clinicians may see only very few cases during their professional career, it is important to be familiar with the clinical presentation and progression, and allow for quick diagnosis. PATIENT CONCERNS: We reported an elderly woman had recurrent attacks of dizziness in the preceding month. She began to suffer progression of memory disturbance half a month before admission and was admitted to our department in a coma. DIAGNOSIS: The accessory examinations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), 14-3-3 protein in cerebrospinal fluid and S100 protein in serum support the diagnosis of sporadic CJD (sCJD). Combined with this evidence and clinical symptom, we made a clinical diagnosis of sCJD. INTERVENTIONS: Supportive treatment. OUTCOMES: After 2 months of active treatment, the patient's condition had not improved, and the patient died 82 days after admission. LESSONS: Clinicians should attach importance to sCJD, which is significant for the prevention of transmission and treatment.

A Novel Displacement and Tilt Detection Method Using Passive UHF RFID Technology.

The displacement and tilt angle of an object are useful information for wireless monitoring applications. In this paper, a low-cost detection method based on passive radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is proposed. This method uses a standard ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID reader to measure the phase variation of the tag response and detect the displacement and tilt angle of RFID tags attached to the targeted object. An accurate displacement result can be detected by the RFID system with a linearly polarized (LP) reader antenna. Based on the displacement results, an accurate tilt angle can also be detected by the RFID system with a circularly polarized (CP) reader antenna, which has been proved to have a linear relationship with the phase parameter of the tag’s backscattered wave. As far as accuracy is concerned, the mean absolute error (MAE) of displacement is less than 2 mm and the MAE of the tilt angle is less than 2.5° for an RFID system with 500 mm working range.