The value of maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) was overlooked in current studies comparing stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) versus surgery for stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Herein, we aimed to compare the 3-year outcomes based on patients for whom SUVmax were available, and to explore the role of SUVmax in clinical decision-making. From January 2010 to June 2016, data of eligible patients were collected. Patient variables and clinical outcomes were compared in both unmatched and matched groups using propensity score matching (PSM). Multivariate analysis was performed for predictors of poor outcome. The relationship between treatment approach and survival outcome was also evaluated in subgroup patients stratified by SUVmax level. A total of 425 patients treated with either surgery (325) or SBRT (100) were included. Patients receiving SBRT were significantly older, had a higher level of SUVmax and were more likely to have tumor of centrally located. Multivariate analysis showed that SUVmax and tumor size were significant predictors for 3-year OS, LRC, and PFS, while better PFS was also related to peripheral tumor and surgery. The result of PSM analysis also showed that compared to SBRT, surgery could only achieve better PFS. Subgroup analysis indicated that surgery had added advantage of 3-year LRC and PFS for patients in high SUVmax group (SUVmax > 8), but not in low SUVmax group. The study found a superior PFS after surgery while OS and LRC did not differ between SBRT and surgery. Surgery should be recommended for tumor of high SUVmax.

The role of natural killer (NK) cells in controlling hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and replication has not been fully delineated. We examined NK cell-mediated noncytolytic effect on full cycle HCV infection of human hepatocytes. Human hepatocytes (Huh7.5.1 cells) co-cultured with NK cells or treated with supernatants (SN) from NK cells cultures had significantly lower levels of HCV RNA and protein than control cells. This NK cell-mediated anti-HCV activity could be largely abolished by antibody to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). The investigation of the mechanisms for NK cell-mediated anti-HCV activity showed that NK SN-treated hepatocytes expressed higher levels of IFN-alpha/beta than the control cells. NK SN also enhanced IFN regulatory factor-3 and 7 expression in the hepatocytes. In addition, NK SN enhanced the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 and 2, the nuclear factors that are essential for the activation of IFN-mediated antiviral pathways. These data provide direct evidence at cellular and molecular levels that NK cells have a key role in suppressing HCV infection of and replication in human hepatocytes.

Very little is known about the interactions between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and methamphetamine, which is a highly abused psychostimulant and a known risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV infection. This study examined whether methamphetamine has the ability to inhibit innate immunity in the host cells, facilitating HCV replication in human hepatocytes. Methamphetamine inhibited intracellular interferon alpha expression in human hepatocytes, which was associated with the increase in HCV replication. In addition, methamphetamine also compromised the anti-HCV effect of recombinant interferon alpha. Further investigation of mechanism(s) responsible for the methamphetamine action revealed that methamphetamine was able to inhibit the expression of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, a key modulator in interferon-mediated immune and biological responses. Methamphetamine also down-regulated the expression of interferon regulatory factor-5, a crucial transcriptional factor that activates the interferon pathway. These in vitro findings that methamphetamine compromises interferon alpha-mediated innate immunity against HCV infection indicate that methamphetamine may have a cofactor role in the immunopathogenesis of HCV disease.

In this paper, we study the dynamics of quantum discord and entanglement of two identical two-level atoms A and B coupled with two spatially separate single-mode high-Q cavities a and b in cavity QED, respectively. Making use of geometrical depiction of quantum discord and entanglement of formation (EoF), we show that there exists quantum discord sudden death (DSD) as well as entanglement sudden death (ESD) and the time interval of DSD is shorter than that of ESD in the presented quantum system. In addition, the rate of decreasing of quantum discord is slower than that of entanglement. We have shown that the amount of quantum discord and entanglement and the relative ordering between quantum discord and quantum entanglement depend on the purity p in the presented quantum system. And we have also shown that quantum discord and entanglement of the qubits AB can transfer to the cavities ab and vice versa. Moreover, the transfer of quantum discord is independent of the purity p but that of quantum entanglement is dependent of the purity p. Surprisingly, the sudden changes of quantum discord of qubits and cavities are observed when the initial states of qubits are mixed.

Objective To investigate the effect of add-on exenatide to insulin on glycemic excursion and the counter-regulatory hormone in response to hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods 30 patients with T1DM were recruited and randomly assigned to exenatide + insulin-treated group (group 1, n =3D 15) or insulin-only-treated group (group 2, n =3D 15) for 4 weeks. All patients had continuous glucose monitor system (CGMS) applied at before (week-0) and after (week-4) treatment to evaluate the glycemic variability. All patients had an arginine-stimulated test at before and after treatment. Six patients from each group also had hypoglycemic clamp test to assess counter-regulatory hormone level. Results Patients in the exenatide group had significant reductions in body weight, body mass index (BMI), total insulin dose, bolus insulin dose, fructosamine, and glycemic excursion after 4 weeks' treatment. Compared with patients in group 2, the mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE) and coefficient of variation (CV) of exenatide group decreased significantly. Similarly, a significant decrease of glucagon (GLC) in the arginine-stimulated test was found in group 1. No significant changes of GLC, growth hormone (GH), cortisol (COR), epinephrine (E), and norepinephrine (NE) were found in both groups during hypoglycemia clamp test. However, patients who had residual islet function in group 1 showed an upward trend of basic C-peptide (C-P) and GLC during the hypoglycemia period. Conclusion Although exenatide could inhibit glucagon secretion during euglycemia or hyperglycemia in patients with T1DM, it has no effect on GLC and counter-regulatory hormones during hypoglycemia clamp in patients with no functional residual islet test.

A traditional Ti-13Zr-21Cu-9Ni (wt.%) filler metal was used to join Ti3Al-based alloy and TiAl intermetallics, and the joints brazed at 1213-1233 K for 600s presented a shear strength of 113-149 MPa at room temperature. For the improvement of the joint strength a Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni-Co filler metal was designed. The shear strength of the joints brazed with the Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni-Co filler at 1283 K for 300s reached 278 MPa, increased about 86.6% compared with the Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni system filler. The overall hardness in the joint brazed with the Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni-Co filler was uniformly lower than the joint brazed with Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni filler. The Ti3Al/TiAl joint brazed with Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni mainly consisted of Ti2Al, alpha(2)-Ti3Al and the residual filler metal of Ti(Cu, Al)(2) + CuZr. The phase sequence within the Ti3Al/TiAl joint brazed with Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni-Co filler from TiAl side to Ti3Al side can be described as the follows: TiAl substrate/Ti2Al +alpha(2)-Ti3Al/alpha(2)-Ti3Al+Ti-rich phase/residual filler metal/Ti-rich phase/Ti-rich phase + O-Ti2AlNb/Ti3Al substrate, and the fracture surface of the corresponding joint was characterized by Ti-rich phase, indicating that compared with the traditional Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni filler the joint ductility was increased to a great extent. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An ultra-low-power second-order Chebyshev active-RC complex filter for a low-IF ultra-low-power receiver is presented. By utilising a pole-cancellation push-pull buffer with feedforward phase compensation technology, the operational amplifier (opamp) realises superior stability while maintaining high gain bandwidth and ultra-low power consumption. A second-order complex filter with four proposed opamps and an adaptive bias fabricated in standard 180 nm CMOS process consumes only 460 mu W at 1.8 V power supply. The measured centre frequency is 3 MHz and bandwidth is 2 MHz, while it achieves 32 dB image rejection ratio at the centre frequency.

The thermal stability of the superconducting magnet is one of the important issues for MRI system. In this work, the quench behavior of superconducting ${rm MgB}_{2}$ magnet for MRI is studied by use of the finite element method (FEM) and finite difference method (FDM). This work considers a close winding coil subjected to a thermal disturbance that is a three-dimensional problem. The effective value is adopted in the physical properties of the magnet. The quench propagation velocity (QPV) in various conditions is computed by the parallel-tapes model beforehand. The quench characteristics of the ${rm MgB}_{2}$ magnet with different parameters of superconducting wires are investigated. The effect of the initial quench location on the quench characteristics and the feasibility of dump resistor protection method for the ${rm MgB}_{2}$ magnet are also discussed. The results show that the outer edge of magnet is the worst initial quench location, optimized ${rm MgB}_{2}/{rm Fe}/{rm Cu} {rm MgB}_{2}$ magnet has higher operating security, and the dump resistor protection method is feasible for the small and medium-sized ${rm MgB}_{2}$ magnet.

A thin-walled tube filled with light-weighted foam has wide engineering applications because of its excellent energy absorption capacity. When the structure is axially crushed, the interaction between the tube and foam core plays an important role in its energy absorption performance. Previous theoretical studies so far have largely been concerned with fully in-filled tubes. In this paper, a theoretical model is proposed to predict the axi-symmetric crushing behaviour of such structures but with a partial infill. Using a modified model for shell and considering the volume reduction for the foam core, the mean crushing force is predicted by the energy balance. The proposed formula agrees well with previous results reported in literature. A parametric study is carried out to examine the contribution of foam core plateau stress (sigma(f)), amount of filling and shell's radius-to-thickness ratio (R/h) on the axial crushing behaviour of the structure. This study can give valuable design guidelines in using thin-walled structures as an energy absorber. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.