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Genomic events associated with poor outcome in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are poorly understood. We performed whole-exome sequencing, copy-number variation, and/or RNA sequencing for 65 patients to discover mutations at diagnosis and blast crisis (BC). Forty-six patientswith chronic-phase disease with the extremes of outcomewere studied at diagnosis. Cancer gene variants were detected in 15 (56%) of 27 patients with subsequent BC or poor outcome and in 3 (16%) of 19 optimal responders (P 5 .007). Frequently mutated genes at diagnosis were ASXL1, IKZF1, and RUNX1. The methyltransferase SETD1B was a novel recurrently mutated gene. A novel class of variant associated with the Philadelphia (Ph) translocation was detected at diagnosis in 11 (24%) of 46 patients comprising fusions and/or rearrangement of genes on the translocated chromosomes, with evidence of fragmentation, inversion, and imperfect sequence reassembly. These were more frequent at diagnosis in patients with poor outcome: 9 (33%) of 27 vs 2 (11%) of 19 optimal responders (P 5 .07). Thirty-nine patients were tested at BC, and all had cancer gene variants, including ABL1 kinase domain mutations in 58%. However, ABL1 mutations cooccurred with other mutated cancer genes in 89% of cases, and these predated ABL1 mutations in 62% of evaluable patients. Gene fusions not associated with the Ph translocation occurred in 42% of patients at BC and commonly involved fusion partners that were known cancer genes (78%). Genomic analysis revealed numerous relevant variants at diagnosis in patients with poor outcome and all patients at BC. Future refined biomarker testing of specific variants will likely provide prognostic information to facilitate a risk-adapted therapeutic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to the great earth abundance and excellent energy density of sodium, sodium-ion batteries are promising alternative energy storage devices for large-scale applications. Developing cheap, safe, and high-capacity sodium-ion battery anode materials is one of the critical challenges in this field. Here, we show that β-FeOOH is a very promising low-cost anode material, with a high reversible capacity (>500 mAh gâ€"1 during initial cycles). The fundamental characteristics associated with the discharge/charge processes, in terms of the redox reactions, formation/deformation of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layers, and structural and morphological changes, are comprehensively investigated. In addition, a comparison study shows that the smaller-sized FeOOH has more serious kinetic restrictions, and thus lower capacities, while it shows better cyclability than the bigger one. Origins of the large overpotential are discussed, and it is suggested that the overpotential should be mainly due to the features of the surface-concentration-dependent potential and the slow diffusion of Na+; in addition, the presence of the SEI layers may also contribute to the overpotential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in collagen fibrillogenesis during development has been studied in the well-characterized chicken metatarsal tendon. Collagen fibrils are initially assembled as intermediates, and the mature fibrils assemble by linear and lateral growth from these intermediates. We hypothesize that this involves the turnover of fibril-associated molecules mediated by the expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). We demonstrate changes in the ratio of full-length to truncated MMP-2 during tendon development, consistent with enzyme activation. The level of full-length proMMP-2 remains relatively unchanged, although the truncated form of MMP-2 is highest prior to and during fibril growth. Membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MT3-MMP, MMP-16) is fibroblast-associated and involved in the regulation of MMP-2 and in direct matrix turnover. The ratio of full-length proMT3-MMP/truncated (active) MT3-MMP has a pattern similar to that of full-length proMMP-2/truncated (active) MMP-2 during tendon development. Regulation of proMMP-2 activation involves complex formation with active MT3-MMP and TIMP-2. The constantly low TIMP-2 expression seen in tendon development is consistent with this role. Isolation of collagen fibrils from pre-fibril growth tendons (14 day) in the presence of activated MMP-2 is associated with premature fibril growth observed as increased fibril diameters compared with controls. These data implicate MMP-2/MT3-MMP in the initiation and progression of fibril growth, matrix assembly, and tendon development. This may involve the turnover of fibril-associated molecules involved in regulating linear and lateral growth, such as small leucine-rich proteoglycans and fibril-associated collagens. Activation of proMMP-2 dependent on MT3-MMP would allow the focal control of turnover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  This paper presents some novel theoretical results as well as practical algorithms and computational procedures on fuzzy relation equations (FRE). These results refine and improve what has already been reported in a significant manner. In the previous paper, the authors have already proved that the problem of solving the system of fuzzy relation equations is an NP-hard problem. Therefore, it is practically impossible to determine all minimal solutions for a large system if P ≠ NP. In this paper, an existence theorem is proven: there exists a special branch-point-solution that is greater than all minimal solutions and less than the maximum solution. Such branch-point-solution can be calculated based on the solution-base-matrix. Furthermore, a procedure for determining all branch-point-solutions is designed. We also provide efficient algorithms which is capable of determining as well as searching for certain types of minimal solutions. We have thus obtained: (1) a fast algorithm to determine whether a solution is a minimal solution, (2) the algorithm to search for the minimal solutions that has at least a minimum value at a component in the solution vector, and (3) the procedure of determining if a system of fuzzy relation equations has the unique minimal solution. Other properties are also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Combined post-edge XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structural) and 29Si magic angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS SSNMR) observations show that Ti was dispersed in the frameworks of nano SiO2 (synthesized with the sol–gel method). In addition, the nano TiO2–SiO2 photocatalyst have features such as A 1 (4969eV), A 2 (4970.5eV) and A 3 (4972eV) that can be attributed to 1s-to-3d transitions for four- (TiO4), five- ((Ti=O)O4), and six- (TiO6) coordinated Ti species, respectively. The A 2 ((Ti=O)O4) in TiO2–SiO2 may be the main active species, for instance, in the photocatalytic decomposition of trace 2-chlorophenol in H2O. This work exemplifies the utilization of XANES to reveal the active species in nano photocatalysts in detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Speciation of copper in ZSM-48 and MCM-41 was studied by in situ extended X-ray absorption fine structural (EXAFS) and X-ray absorption near edge structural (XANES) spectroscopies to reveal the abrupt changes in yields of N2O, NO2 and CO2 from the catalytic reduction of NO with CO at 673 K. Component fitted XANES spectra showed that oxygen was inserted into the metallic copper (Cu(0)) in ZSM-48 and MCM-41 during NO reduction. In the confined channels of ZSM-48, about 91% of total copper was Cu(I) that involved in the catalytic reduction of NO with CO at 673 K. By in situ EXAFS, we found that during the NO reduction process, the oxygen-inserted copper possessed Cu&z.sbnd;O, Cu&z.sbnd;Cu, and Cu&z.sbnd;(O)&z.sbnd;Cu bond distances of 1.88, 2.61 and 2.95 A˚, respectively, suggesting the possible existence of a linear type cluster with an averaged structure of Cu2O in ZSM-48. Furthermore, in the channels of ZSM-48, due to the restricted diffusion, NO reduction as well as CO oxidation might primarily occur at the head or end of the clusters. Note that NO could penetrate into ZSM-48 containing the clusters. On the contrary, in the parallel experiment, mainly CuO was observed in the mesopores (∼32 A˚) of MCM-41. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Taiwan universities laboratory hazardous wastes have been treated by incineration at the temperature range of 1173–1273K. By X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, mainly CuO and CuSO4 are found in the incineration bottom and fly ashes. The incineration fly ash can be stabilized thermally at 1773K in the plasma melting reaction chamber (integrated with the incinerator), and converted to slag. The concentration of leachable copper in the slag is reduced significantly mainly due to the fact that copper is encapsulated in the SiO2 matrix. In addition, the refined extended X-ray adsorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra of copper also indicate formation of the Cu–O–Si species in the slag as the bond distances of 1.95Å for Cu–O and 2.67Å for O–Si are observed. This work exemplifies utilization of the synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy to facilitate the thermal stabilization treatments of the fly ash hazardous waste using the plasma melting method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To better understand diffusion of copper in the micro- and mesopores, speciation of copper in a bi-porous molecular sieve (BPMS) possessing inter-connecting 3-D micropores (0.50–0.55nm) and 2-D mesopores (4.1nm) has been studied by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. It is found that about 77% (16% of CuO nanoparticles and 61% of CuO clusters) and 23% (CuOads) of copper can be diffused into the meso- and micropores, respectively, in the BPMS. At least two diffusion steps in the BPMS may be involved: (i) free diffusion of copper in the mesopores and (ii) diffusion-controlled copper migrating into the micropores of the BPMS. The XANES data also indicate that diffusion rate of copper in the BPMS (4.68×10−5 g/s) is greater than that in the ZSM-5 (1.11×10−6 g/s) or MCM-41 (1.17×10−5 g/s). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fly ashes collected from waste heat boilers in the incineration process may possess representative chemical structure of toxic metals during incineration and their changes in the quench process at 1125–553K and 503–493K, respectively. Note that copper may play an important role in catalytic formation of dioxins during incineration. Speciation of copper in the fly ashes has, therefore, been studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the present work. About 24% of nano copper in the fly ash was observed by least-squares-fitted XANES (X-ray absorption near edge structural) spectroscopy. Sintering of the fly ash at 1423K for 30min led to a reduction of the nano CuO content to 8%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • N-GQDs/Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 suppress charge recombination and electron accumulation. • N-GQDs/Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 enhances in-situ H 2 O 2 generation and H 2 O 2 activation. • Electrons accumulation around N-GQDs accelerate the redox cycles of Fe(II)/Fe(III). • N-GQDs/Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 achieves simultaneous toxic Cr(VI) reduction and BPA oxidation in wastewater. • N-GQDs/Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 enables energy self-sufficient and simplified wastewater treatment methods. Synergistic coexistence of toxic chromium and organic contaminants in wastewater has made treatments highly complicated. As solar-driven wastewater treatments become increasingly environmentally and economically attractive, a photocatalyst (denoted as N-GQDs/Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9) is developed for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and simultaneous oxidation of organic contaminants in wastewater. Incorporating N-GQDs (as electron reservoir) into Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 modulates the band structure (from 2.40 to 2.24 eV), facilitating charge transfer and electron accumulation at N-GQDs. Due to the photo-Fenton synergistic reaction between N-GQDs/Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 photocatalysis process, N-GQDs/ Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 demonstrates excellent H 2 O 2 generation (1.64 μM min−1) and H 2 O 2 activation (0.0063 min−1) performance, leading to generation of more highly reactive species (i.e., OH radicals), achieving BPA removal of 99.9 % under visible-light irradiation for 100 min. Interestingly, the photo-Fenton synergistic reaction enhances the reduction of Cr(VI) (99.8 %), while the Fe(II) active sites on the N-GQDs/Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 can also promote the synchronized Cr(VI) reduction. Also, the accumulated electron around N-GQDs enhances redox cycles of Fe(II)/Fe(III) reactions to realize the sustainable photo-Fenton catalytic reaction. This new N-GQDs/Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 photocatalyst demonstrates the feasibility of concurrent reduction of toxic Cr(VI)-to-Cr(III) and oxidation of organic contaminants in wastewater with a simple process via nearly unlimited solar energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxic arsenics in an AsH3 scrubber sludge were thermally stabilized in the temperature range of 973-1,373 K. To better understand how the high-temperature treatments can stabilize arsenics in the sludge, their synchrotron X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra of arsenics were determined. It is found that the reduced arsenic leachability may be associated with the formation of As2O5 (51-59%) and embedded As(V) within the Ca3(PO4)2 matrix (41-49%) in the stabilized sludge. In addition, the As-O bond distances in the stabilized As2O5 are much less than that of normal As2O/5 by 0.05-0.07 Å. The shorter As-O bond distances accompanied with the higher bonding energy also have a contribution to the thermal stabilization of arsenics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance H2 yields from the photocatalytic splitting of seawater, better photocatalysts such as nanostructured TiO2 promoted with NiO (2.5%) and CuO (2.5%) have been studied in the present work. The accumulated H2 yielded from the photocatalytic splitting of seawater containing oxalic acid (50mM) as the sacrificial reagents on CuO/nano-TiO2 is 8.53 µmol/gcat after the 5 h radiation. On the NiO/nano-TiO2 photocatalyst, the H2 yield is relatively low (i.e., 1.46 µmol/gcat). Note that the hole scavenging with chlorides in seawater may be associated with the less H2 yielded from the seawater photocatalysis (on CuO/nano-TiO2) if compared with that from water (42.4 µmol/gcat). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Because global natural metal resources are depleting, this study aim to examine the chemical feasibility of recovering chromium as Cr(VI) from a Cr(OH)3-containing plating sludge through a co-heating procedure of the plating sludge with a incinerator fly ash that is rich in calcium hydroxide. The critical step in the process of recovering Cr from plating sludge would be to convert the water-insoluble Cr(OH)3 into water-soluble Cr(VI). Results from Cr K-edge X-ray absorption near edge spectrum (XANES) suggest that majority of the Cr is in the form of CaCrO4 after the co-heating procedure of plating sludge and the incinerator fly ash at different temperatures. Heating the mixture of the plating sludge and the incinerator fly ash results in an oxidation of Cr(OH)3 that is basically water insoluble to Cr(VI) which is water soluble, consequently more Cr(VI) can be extracted with water and recovered from the heated mixture than from the non-heated plating sludge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nano size (<100nm) pollutants have been controlled negligibly in traditional air pollution control devices. Phosphor particulates escaped from filtration systems (bag houses or electrostatic precipitators) of used TVs, monitors or FEDs disassembling processes are frequently found in nano or submicron sizes. Experimentally, in a very short contact time (<2min), more than 90% of the nano phosphor particulates could be abstracted into room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) (e.g., [C4min][PF6]). The least-square fitted X-ray absorption near edge structural (XANES) spectra show that nano ZnS (88%) and ZnO (12%) could be suspended in the RTIL for at least 10 days. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: X-ray absorption spectroscopy is used to investigate the speciation of sorbed copper in heated fly ash. CuO and Cu(OH)2 are determined to be the principal copper species in the Cu-sorbing fly ash heated at 500°C for 2h. Heating the Cu-sorbing fly ash to 900°C or 1100°C can result in the formation of CuSO4, representing 41% and 32% of the total copper, respectively. Ash sintering and/or co-melting at 900 and 1100°C occur, thereby triggering chemical reaction between CuO/Cu(OH)2 and sulfur compounds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on early repolarization pattern (ERP) which is the variant of the normal electrocardiographic pattern. It refers to the definition of early repolarization (ER) which is a nonspecific ST-segment elevation in algorithms used in commercial electrocardiogram (ECG) machines. It notes the increased prevalence of ERP in patient with spontaneous ventricular fibrillation (VF) or cardiac arrest.

Highlights: [•] The nanostructured CuO–NiO possesses a high efficiency for successive cyclic CLC. [•] Oxygen transfer between the CuO–NiO and a syngas are very effective for CLC. [•] The highly dispersed CuO–NiO has a short contact time (<4min) for CLC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Al2O3 has been incorporated in the nanosize ZnO (Al/ZnO) thin film to enhance its sensitivity [image omitted] to C2H5OH vapour. It is found that the Al/ZnO thin film has a high sensitivity (>20), which is much greater than the plain ZnO by at least 50%. The speciation of zinc in the Al/ZnO thin films during detection of C2H5OH (200 ppm) has also been studied by in situ X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The least-square fitted XANES spectra indicate that the main zinc species in the thin film are bulky ZnO (>100 nm) (5%) and nanosize ZnO (95%). At the temperature of 300 K, during sensing of C2H5OH, a small amount of Zn(OH)2 (7%) is formed in the thin film. The chemical interaction between C2H5OH and ZnO has also been found by in situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The bond distance of Zn-O is decreased to 1.93 Å during sensing of C2H5OH, which may be caused by the electron donating to ZnO during adsorption of C2H5OH (C2H5HO → Zn-O). In the absence of C2H5OH, the Zn-O bond distance is restored to 1.92 Å. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mainly anatase and Fe3O4 in the magnetic photocatalysts (TiO2 on Fe3O4@C core–shell nanoparticles (TiO2/Fe3O4@C)) are observed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. The Ti K-edge least-square fitted XANES spectra of the TiO2/Fe3O4@C photocatalyst indicate that the main titanium species are nanosize TiO2 (9nm) (77%) and bulky TiO2 (23%). Speciation of titanium in the TiO2/Fe3O4@C during photocatalytic degradation of 100ppm of trichloroethylene (TCE) has also been studied by in situ X-ray absorption near-edge structural (XANES) spectroscopy. TiO2 is not perturbed during the course of photocatalysis. However, it is worth to note that during photocatalytic degradation of TCE, about 33% of FeO and 67% of Fe3O4 are observed in the photocatalyst. It seems that the carbon layer on the TiO2/Fe3O4@C photocatalysts can reduce the possibility for photoexcited electron–hole recombination as usually found on the relatively narrow bandgap of ferric oxide during photocatalysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study stabilizes and bloats Cr(VI)-sorbed bentonite by heating at high temperature. Cr leaching decreases with increasing temperatures. Heating the sample at 1100°C results in a non-detectable Cr concentration in the leachate, equivalent to a Cr leaching percent less than 0.001% (i.e., Cr TCLP concentration <0.018mg of Cr L−1 of leachate). Morphology observed with a scanning electron microscopy indicates the occurrence of sintering of the sample heated at 1100°C. The heated samples also show the occurrence of a vesicant process at 1100°C. X-ray absorption spectroscopy results indicate that heating at 500°C for 4h can convert approximately 87% Cr(VI) into Cr(III) that is negligibly toxic; Cr2O3 was detected to be the most abundant Cr species. After heating at higher temperatures, namely 900–1100°C, almost all doped Cr(VI) is reduced to Cr(III) as inferred from the height of the pre-edge peak of XANES spectra and/or from XANES simulation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

New organic dyes comprising carbazole, iminodibenzyl, or phenothiazine moieties, respectively, as the electron donors, and cyanoacetic acid or acrylic acid moieties as the electron acceptors/anchoring groups were synthesized and characterized. The influence of heteroatoms on carbazole, iminodibenzyl and phenothiazine donors, and cyano-substitution on the acid acceptor is evidenced by spectral, electrochemical, photovoltaic experiments, and density functional theory calculations. The phenothiazine dyes show solar-energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) of 3.46-5.53%, whereas carbazole and iminodibenzyl dyes show η of 2.43% and 3.49%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Speciation of arsenic extracted with room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) ([bmim][BF4] (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) and [bmim][PF6] (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate)) from an As-humic acid (As-HA) complex contaminated soil (As-HA/soil) in a blackfoot disease endemic area has been studied by X-ray absorption (near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS)) spectroscopy. About 45% of arsenic in the As-HA/soil can be extracted with [bmim][BF4] while the relatively less hydrophilic [bmim][PF6] extracts 25% of arsenic. The extracted arsenic in the [bmim][BF4] and [bmim][PF6] from the As-HA/soil possesses mainly As(III) species, suggesting that at least two reaction paths may be involved in the extraction process: (1) splitting of As-HA and (2) reduction of As(V) to As(III). The refined EXAFS spectra also indicate that the As(III) extracted in the RTILs possesses the AsO2 − structure, which has the As–O bond distances of 1.77–1.79Å and coordination numbers of 4.0–4.2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study which examines thin films of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) which were fabricated through electron-beam evaporation. The study utilized X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to analyze the films' chemical compositions. The study indicated that the films' refractive index and extinction coefficient could be adjusted through flourine concentrations on the films.

Abstract: To enhance efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), a very small amount of Cu@C nanoparticles (prepared by carbonization of Cu2+–starch complexes at 573K) is dispersed in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) (i.e., [bmim][BF4] and [bmim][PF6]), which is used as an electrolyte of the DSSC. By XRD and TEM, it is found that the Cu@C nanoparticles having Cu diameters of 7 and 18nm are coated with a carbon shell (3–5nm in thickness). Experimentally, the electrical conductivity of the RTILs dispersed with 0.1% of the Cu@C nanoparticles is increased by 8–15% in comparison with the plain RTIL. The X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra of copper show that about 7% of Cu in the Cu@C nanoparticles dispersed RTILs are oxidized to CuO or Cu2O. The simulated solar efficiency of the DSSC utilizing the Cu@C nanoparticles dispersed RTIL electrolyte can be increased as high as 60%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is employed to investigate the molecular environment around nickel that, in the form of nickel sulfate solution, has been added to precipitate nanoparticles in chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) waste water. After phase separation, for the liquid-phase sample, both the white line intensity in the normalized Ni K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum and the amplitude of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectrum are enhanced due to the presence of solvation of water molecules, as compared to the solid-phase sample. Meanwhile, with the presence of water molecules, the coordination number increases; yet the Debye–Waller factor slightly decreases. The lack of chemical reduction of Ni2+ in the CMP solution is suggested as the main reason why the charge neutralization precipitation method through the use of Ni2+ is less effective than the system using Cu2+ to precipitate nanoparticles as previously reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]