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Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the sixth most common cancer in the world and is usually caused by viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV), alcoholic, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD). Viral hepatitis accounts for 80% of HCC cases worldwide. In addition, With the increasing incidence of metabolic diseases, NAFLD is now the most common liver disease and a major risk factor for HCC in most developed countries. This review mainly described the specificity and similarity between the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis(HBV and HCV)-induced HCC and NAFLD-induced HCC. In general, viral hepatitis promotes HCC development mainly through specific encoded viral proteins. HBV can also exert its tumor-promoting mechanism by integrating into the host chromosome, while HCV cannot. Viral hepatitisrelated HCC and NASH-related HCC differ in terms of genetic factors, and epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA effects). In addition, both of them can lead to HCC progression through abnormal lipid metabolism, persistent inflammatory response, immune and intestinal microbiome dysregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid utilization of solar and geothermal energy is an attractive option to solve the global energy crisis as well as environmental issues. A solar-assisted ground source absorption heat pump (SGSAHP) system is proposed to provide a solution to energy shortage, especially in remote regions without reliable electricity supply. The SGSAHP system requires little electricity input and is able to maximize the use of renewable energy and minimize the peak demand to the power system. The system exploits solar and geothermal energy, which can improve the coefficient of performance (COP) of the system and make it operate with little electricity input. SGSAHP can run under both heating mode and cooling mode. In this paper, a SGSAHP mathematical model is developed and simulation study is conducted including parameter analysis, economic analysis, and system optimization. The results show that there exists an optimal value of the generator temperature to reach the maximum COP, while higher condenser temperature and evaporator temperature have negative and positive influence on system performance, respectively. The optimized thermodynamic and economic performance is obtained. The exergy analysis shows that the major exergy losses are contributed by solar collector and heat exchanger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onset plasticity of metallic nano-lines or nano-beams is of considerable scientific and technological interest in micro-/nano- mechanics and interconnects of patterned lines in electronic devices, where capability of resistance to deformation is important. In this study, a multiscale quasicontinuum (QC) method was used to explore such an issue in a nano-scale copper (Cu) line protruding from a relatively large single crystal Cu substrate during compression. The results show that the yield stress of a rectangular beam on the substrate can be greatly reduced compared with that of a flat surface of the same area. For the rectangular line, the aspect ratio (width/height) affects dislocation morphology at the onset plasticity without much change of yield stress. However, for the trapezoidal line, the yield stress decreases with the base angle (α), especially when the α is over 54.7°. As the sidewall orientation changes from 〈100〉 at α = 0°, then to 〈111〉 at α = 54.7° and finally to 〈110〉 at α = 90°, a higher surface energy could enable easier dislocation formation and lower yield stress. Meanwhile, it is found that the interaction between the line and the support substrate also shows a great effect on yield stress. Moreover, although it is possible to open two extra dislocation slip planes inside from the two bottom corners of the Cu line with the α over 54.7°, dislocation nucleation derived from them is only observed at α = 90°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]