倾斜入射下的单截面平面度绝对检验

针对大尺寸光学平面的直线度的纳米级测量精度需求，提出了倾斜入射下单截面平面度绝对检验方法，实现了对超过相移干涉仪口径的长平晶绝对检验。利用棱镜转向实现倾斜入射角度的精密预标定，棱镜标定角度的精度高于圆光栅和图像分析等方法，可提高测量不确定度到0.0042 μm。对比了常规三面互检绝对检验结果与本方法的差异，在相同尺寸下，直线度误差仅为1.2 nm。在确认标定反射镜位置后，整个倾斜入射的干涉图调整过程将被完全集中到待测长平晶的工作面上，不需要再对反射平晶进行操作。调整长平晶时各个维度的操作互不干涉，可快速简便地得到测量结果。     

温度、保湿时间及菌龄对扩展青霉 H1侵染柑橘能力的影响

近年来,由扩展青霉(Penicillium expansum)引起的柑橘病害日益严重,目前对于柑橘采后病原菌侵染的研究主要以指状青霉(P.digitatum)和意大利青霉(P.italicum)为主,而对P.expansum侵染柑橘条件的研究还未见相关文献报道。作者以实验室前期筛选鉴定的P.expansum H1为研究对象,研究了不同温度、保湿时间和菌龄对P.expansum H1侵染柑橘的影响,结果表明,P.expansum H1在25℃时潜育期最短,侵染能力最强,4℃时P.expansum H1侵染能力受到抑制;保湿时间越长,越有利于P.expansum H1侵染柑橘;菌龄也会影响P.expansum H1侵染柑橘,不同菌龄的P.expansum H1侵染能力高低排序为:培养7 d培养11 d培养15 d培养9 d培养3 d。     

Co纳米线阵列的掠入射中子小角散射研究

本文采用掠入射中子小角散射（GISANS）技术，研究了沉积在多孔阳极氧化铝（AAO）模板中的Co磁性纳米线阵列的空间结构，利用计算机软件对GISANS实验进行了理论模拟，并与扫描电子显微镜（SEM）观察的结果进行比较。结果表明，GISANS实验结果、GISANS理论模拟结果和SEM实验结果三者相吻合。纳米线直径约为60 nm，纳米线中心平均距离约为121 nm，垂直于样品表面相互平行排列，在样品平面内呈现出二维局域六角有序排布。本工作证明了GISANS实验技术结合计算机理论模拟，是研究纳米线阵列及类似纳米体系的有力手段。     

From organ-on-a-chip towards body-on-a-chip

Organ-on-a-chip technology aims to reproduce the key physiological features of human organs and tissues, even complex actions of multi-organ interaction. While organ-on-a-chips at single-organ level has made notable achievement during the last decade, multi-organ-on-a-chips, which manifests unique advantages, has started gathering attention only recently. In this viewpoint, we discuss the current status of organ-on-a-chip technology, with a specific emphasis on multi-organ-on-a-chip. Key technological advances contributing to the maturation of the field, and challenges that need to be addressed before wider adoption in relevant fields are discussed. We will share our perspectives on how the multi-organ-on-a-chip can improve the drug development process.     

Self-information-based weighted CUSUM charts for monitoring Poisson count data with varying sample sizes

In many applications, the Poisson count data with varying sample sizes are monitored using statistical process control charts. Among these applications, the weighted CUSUM charts are developed to deal with the effect of the varying sample sizes. However, some of them use limited information of the sample size or the count data while assigning the weights. To gain more information of the process, the self-information weight functions are developed based on both the sample size and the observed count data. Then, the weighted CUSUM charts are proposed with the self-information-based weight. Simulation studies show the self-information-based weighted CUSUM charts perform better than the benchmark methods in detecting small shifts. Moreover, the performance of proposed method with estimated parameters is investigated via simulation. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the application of the proposed weighted CUSUM charts.     

Cell type specificity of lung cancer associated with air pollution

The aim of this study is to explore whether lung cancer associated with air pollution has cell type specificity. The air quality data (SO(2), CO, O(3), NOx) from the Taiwan EPA's air quality monitoring stations were collected between 1995 and 1998. Patients with lung cancer were identified through the National Cancer Registration Program operated by the Taiwanese government. Two major pathological types (adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)) were considered. The Pearson correlation coefficients between the air quality index and age-standardized incidence rate per 100,000 person years (ASR) of AC and SCC were calculated for both genders for three township categories characterized by different levels of air pollution. The traffic-related NOx and CO showed significant correlations with female lung cancer incidence rate, with Pearson's correlation 0.33 (P=0.03) and 0.40 (P=0.01) respectively. However, the correlation between air pollution and lung cancer was not significant for males. Significant correlation coefficients were also found between the ratio of AC/SCC and the mean concentrations of NOx (r=0.41, P=0.04) and CO (r=0.47, P=0.02) in females. Our results show that the worse the air pollution was in the area, the higher the AC rate, regardless of gender. On the other hand, SCC incidence rates did not increase with increasing air pollution. Our results show that a correlation exists between air pollution and lung adenocarcinoma incidence.     

The relationship between particulate air pollution and emergency hospital visits for hypertension in Beijing, China

Background

A number of epidemiological studies have examined the adverse effect of air pollution on mortality and morbidity. Also, several studies have investigated the associations between air pollution and specific-cause diseases including arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. However, little is known about the relationship between air pollution and the onset of hypertension.

Objective

To explore the risk effect of particulate matter air pollution on the emergency hospital visits (EHVs) for hypertension in Beijing, China.

Methods

We gathered data on daily EHVs for hypertension, fine particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM_2.5), particulate matter less than 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide in Beijing, China during 2007. A time-stratified case-crossover design with distributed lag model was used to evaluate associations between ambient air pollutants and hypertension. Daily mean temperature and relative humidity were controlled in all models.

Results

There were 1,491 EHVs for hypertension during the study period. In single pollutant models, an increase in 10 μg/m³ in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ was associated with EHVs for hypertension with odds ratios (overall effect of five days) of 1.084 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.028, 1.139) and 1.060% (95% CI: 1.020, 1.101), respectively.

Conclusion

Elevated levels of ambient particulate matters are associated with an increase in EHVs for hypertension in Beijing, China.     

福州市区道路桥头跳车病害与治理技术探讨

本文叙述了福州市道路桥头跳车现状与病害，分析了病害的产生原因，提出设计见解。     

Application of real-time quantitative PCR for the detection of selected bacterial pathogens during municipal wastewater treatment

Bacteria were detected at five stages of municipal wastewater treatment using TaqMan(R) real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Thirteen probe and primer sets were tested for diverse pathogens that may be present in wastewater, including Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Helicobacter pylori, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp., and Staphylococcus aureus. The sensitivity of the assay was 100 fg of genomic DNA (=22 gene copies), based on a standard curve generated using A. hydrophila purified DNA. Samples from five stages of wastewater treatment were collected, including raw wastewater, primary effluents, mixed liquor, waste activated sludge and final effluents. In duplicate samples, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, C. perfringens and E. faecalis were detected throughout the wastewater process, and their numbers decreased by 3.52-3.98, 4.23-4.33, 3.15-3.39, and 3.24 orders of magnitude respectively, between the raw wastewater and final effluent stage. This qPCR method was effective for the detection of pathogens in wastewater and confirmed that the risk of exposure to pathogens in the wastewater discharge was well within the Environment Canada guidelines.     

Sub-micrometer particulate air pollution and cardiovascular mortality in Beijing, China

Background

While the link between particulate matter and cardiovascular mortality is well established, it is not fully investigated and understood which properties of the aerosol might be responsible for the health effects, especially in polluted mega-city areas.

Objectives

Our goal was to explore the association between daily cardiovascular mortality and different particle metrics in the sub-micrometer range in Beijing, China.

Methods

We obtained daily counts of cause-specific cardiovascular deaths in the Beijing urban area for the period March 2004 to August 2005. Concurrently, continuous measurements of particle number size distributions were performed. Particle number concentrations (NC) between 0.003 μm and 0.8 μm were converted to particle mass and surface area concentrations assuming spherical particles. Semi-parametric Poisson regression models adjusting for trend, seasonality, day of the week, and meteorology were used to estimate immediate, delayed and cumulative particle effects. Additionally, effect modification by air mass origin was investigated.

Results

We observed associations between daily cardiovascular mortality and particle NC for a 2-days delay. Moreover, nearly all particle metrics showed 2-days delayed associations with ischemic heart disease mortality. The strongest association was found for particle NC in the size range 0.03-0.1 μm (7.1% increase in daily mortality with a 95%-confidence interval of 2.9%-11.5%, per an increase of 6250 particles/cm³). Results for surface and mass concentrations with a lag of two days indicated effect modification by air mass origin, whereas effects of particle NC were not modified.

Conclusions

Results show an elevated risk of cardiovascular mortality in Beijing from short-term exposure to particulate air pollution in the sub-micrometer range. Results also indicate that locally produced smaller particles and regionally transported particles may exhibit different effects in Beijing.