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Enhancing heavy oil recovery is crucial to ensuring stable crude oil production. The development of stimulus-responsive Janus Pickering emulsifiers tailored for a reservoir environment has garnered significant attention in the field of reservoir production, emerging as a promising alternative to traditional surfactants. In this study, silica-based Janus nanosheets with temperature-responsive properties (OH-SiO2–PSBMA JNs) are synthesized using sol–gel process and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method. Experimental observations reveal that OH-SiO2–PSBMA JNs (0.1 wt %) can effectively reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) between heavy oil and water to 23.24 mN/m. Additionally, these nanosheets exhibited excellent emulsifying ability, forming stable emulsions with an average particle size of only 35 μm at a mass fraction of 1 wt % and demonstrating good salt tolerance (Salinity value: 1.51 × 104mg/L). Furthermore, OH-SiO2–PSBMA JNs exhibited a temperature response that is well-suited for the reservoir environment, effectively stabilizing heavy oil emulsion at a high temperature (65 °C) and facilitating oil–water separation at a lower temperature (25 °C). These excellent properties of nanosheets contributed to obtaining an additional 13.2% recovery rate at low concentration (0.03 wt %). These results indicated that OH-SiO2–PSBMA JNs had the potential for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) application.

Enhancing the recovery efficiency of heavy oil reservoirs remains one of the foremost challenges confronting the petroleum industry. Nanoparticles have garnered considerable attention as potential oil displacement agents, drawing numerous researchers to the field. In this study, temperature-responsive SiO2Janus nanoparticles (JNs) were successfully prepared through the Pickering emulsion template method and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) reactions. Experiments on the interfacial tension (IFT) of oil-water systems indicate that JNs exhibit good dynamic interfacial activity. Furthermore, the JNs exhibit remarkable emulsification capabilities for heavy oil, facilitating the formation of stable emulsions. Notably, the modified nanoparticles exhibit a degree of salt resistance, even up to a mineralization of 1.55 × 104 mg/L. Additionally, their temperature-responsive properties enable their utilization for high-temperature emulsification and low-temperature demulsification, making them well-suited for oilfield field operations. To visualize and simulate the underground oil displacement process, a microscopic displacement visualization experimental apparatus was employed. Notably, the addition of just 0.03 wt% of Janus nanoparticles resulted in a significant enhancement of the recovery rate by 16.49%. The research findings suggest that the JNs developed in this study exhibit promising application prospects and commercial value in terms of enhancing oil recovery efficiency.

BACKGROUND: T1 substaging is a predictive factor for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and two types of T1 substaging systems (T1a/b/c and T1m/e) are currently in use. However, the predictive ability of both systems is poor, and there is debate over which system is better.OBJECTIVE: To confirm whether combination of two T1 substaging systems can improve the predictive ability of T1 substaging for tumor outcomes.METHODS: Patients with primary pT1 high-grade bladder cancer from three centers were included. All tumors were assessed with T1a/b/c and T1m/e substaging. A new variable named COMB was developed in which patients were stratified into T1a/b&T1m, T1a/b&T1e, T1c&T1m or T1c&T1e subgroups. A time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to test whether the accuracy of prediction could be improved with COMB.RESULTS: A total of 239 patients with primary pT1HG were analyzed. No tumor was T1c&T1m, and therefore, only three types of combinations were evaluated: T1a/b&T1m (62 patients), T1a/b&T1e (124 patients) and T1c&T1e (53 patients). Regardless of all patients or those treated with Re-TURBt and adequate BCG, patients with T1a/b&T1m have the best prognosis, and those with T1c&T1e have the poorest prognosis. The time-dependent ROC showed that, for both recurrence and progression, COMB had a higher AUC than T1a/b/c and T1m/e, regardless of population.CONCLUSIONS: Compared with either system alone, the combination of two T1 substaging systems improves the predictive ability of T1 substaging for tumor outcomes.

T1 substaging is a predictive factor for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and two types of T1 substaging systems (T1a/b/c and T1m/e) are currently in use. However, the predictive ability of both systems is poor, and there is debate over which system is better. To confirm whether combination of two T1 substaging systems can improve the predictive ability of T1 substaging for tumor outcomes. Patients with primary pT1 high-grade bladder cancer from three centers were included. All tumors were assessed with T1a/b/c and T1m/e substaging. A new variable named COMB was developed in which patients were stratified into T1a/b&T1m, T1a/b&T1e, T1c&T1m or T1c&T1e subgroups. A time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to test whether the accuracy of prediction could be improved with COMB. A total of 239 patients with primary pT1HG were analyzed. No tumor was T1c&T1m, and therefore, only three types of combinations were evaluated: T1a/b&T1m (62 patients), T1a/b&T1e (124 patients) and T1c&T1e (53 patients). Regardless of all patients or those treated with Re-TURBt and adequate BCG, patients with T1a/b&T1m have the best prognosis, and those with T1c&T1e have the poorest prognosis. The time-dependent ROC showed that, for both recurrence and progression, COMB had a higher AUC than T1a/b/c and T1m/e, regardless of population. Compared with either system alone, the combination of two T1 substaging systems improves the predictive ability of T1 substaging for tumor outcomes.

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) with hemolysis, splenomegaly, and jaundice as the main clinical symptoms varied in different population and SPTB mutated rate is common except for ANK1 in the Chinese population, whereas only a few studies have been reported. Here, 11 Chinese pediatric patients with newly SPTB mutations detected by targeted next generation sequencing technology were included and analyzed in our study. The characteristics of mutation separation were verified among family members by bidirectional Sanger sequencing. The detected 11 mutations were novel, all of which were heterozygotes, including five de novo mutations, five maternal mutations, and one paternal mutation. Meanwhile, the 11 different novel mutation sites distributed on and near the seven exons included four pathogenic sites and seven likely pathogenic sites. The detection of 11 novel mutation sites gene expanded the mutant spectrum of the SPTB gene, and provided corresponding clinical data, which laid a foundation for the subsequent studies on HS in Chinese population, especially in pediatric patients.

Treatment refusal and death as a result of toxicity account for most treatment failures among children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in resource-constrained settings. We recently reported the results of treating children with AML with a combination of low-dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone or omacetaxine mepesuccinate with concurrent granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (low-dose chemotherapy [LDC]) for remission induction followed by standard postremission strategies. We have now expanded the initial cohort and have provided long-term follow-up. Eighty-three patients with AML were treated with the LDC regimen. During the study period, another 100 children with AML received a standard-dose chemotherapy (SDC) regimen. Complete remission was attained in 88.8% and 86.4% of patients after induction in the LDC and SDC groups, respectively (P= .436). Twenty-two patients in the LDC group received SDC for the second induction course. Significantly more high-risk AML patients were treated with the SDC regimen (P= .035). There were no significant differences between the LDC and SDC groups in 5-year event-free survival (61.4% ± 8.7% vs 65.2% ± 7.4%, respectively; P= .462), overall survival (72.7% ± 6.9% vs 72.5% ± 6.2%, respectively; P= .933), and incidence of relapse (20.5% ± 4.5% vs 17.6% ± 3.9%, respectively; P= .484). Clearance of mutations based on the average variant allele frequency at complete remission in the LDC and SDC groups was 1.9% vs 0.6% (P< .001) after induction I and 0.17% vs 0.078% (P= .052) after induction II. In conclusion, our study corroborated the high remission rate reported for children with AML who received at least 1 course of LDC. The results, although preliminary, also suggest that long-term survival of these children is comparable to that of children who receive SDC regimens.

Treatment refusal and death as a result of toxicity account for most treatment failures among children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in resource-constrained settings. We recently reported the results of treating children with AML with a combination of low-dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone or omacetaxine mepesuccinate with concurrent granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (low-dose chemotherapy [LDC]) for remission induction followed by standard postremission strategies. We have now expanded the initial cohort and have provided long-term follow-up. Eighty-three patients with AML were treated with the LDC regimen. During the study period, another 100 children with AML received a standard-dose chemotherapy (SDC) regimen. Complete remission was attained in 88.8% and 86.4% of patients after induction in the LDC and SDC groups, respectively (P = .436). Twenty-two patients in the LDC group received SDC for the second induction course. Significantly more high-risk AML patients were treated with the SDC regimen (P = .035). There were no significant differences between the LDC and SDC groups in 5-year event-free survival (61.4% ± 8.7% vs 65.2% ± 7.4%, respectively; P = .462), overall survival (72.7% ± 6.9% vs 72.5% ± 6.2%, respectively; P = .933), and incidence of relapse (20.5% ± 4.5% vs 17.6% ± 3.9%, respectively; P = .484). Clearance of mutations based on the average variant allele frequency at complete remission in the LDC and SDC groups was 1.9% vs 0.6% (P < .001) after induction I and 0.17% vs 0.078% (P = .052) after induction II. In conclusion, our study corroborated the high remission rate reported for children with AML who received at least 1 course of LDC. The results, although preliminary, also suggest that long-term survival of these children is comparable to that of children who receive SDC regimens.

Methods of experimental research and quantum chemical calculation were combined to study the effect of kaolin on ash melting characteristics of Zhundong high alkali coal and the mineral evolution law during ash melting processes. Furthermore, the behavior mechanism of kaolin capturing alkali metal was also studied from the perspective of mineral microstructure features. The results show that the melting temperature of Zhundong high alkali coal ash have rapid rise first and then gradually decreased with the amounts of kaolin increasing. When the adding proportion of kaolin is greater than 10%, the improving efficiency on the ash melting temperature become weakened. Once kaolin was added in Zhundong high alkali coal, anorthite, anhydrite, albite, and muscovite would be generated among the temperature range from 1000 to 1200 °C, Na+or K+that easy to volatile and form eutectics have been captured by the Si–Al system, some mullite generated among the temperature range from 1200 to 1300 °C. Investigating the capture mechanism, it indicates that O (26) and O (22) have electrophilic reaction with Na+and K+easily, which would promote the rupture of aluminum–oxygen bonds. The O2–of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal oxide would easily have nucleophilic reaction with Si (6) and Si (8) and prompt the rupture of bridging oxygen bonds (Si–O–Si). Kaolinite would be transformed into high melting point minerals that contain Na+or K+which have trend to form eutectics or evaporate into the flue gas easily, and the degree of fouling and slagging on the heating surface can be reduced based on the two easiest reaction paths.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare disease in children, and its clinical severity varies. To better understand disease manifestation and treatment outcome, we analyzed 68 children diagnosed as AIHA for clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and treatment outcomes. Data show that primary AIHA accounted for 39.7% of all patients, whereas secondary AIHA accounted for 60.3%. Among them, Evans syndrome (ES) accounted for 20 cases (29.4%). Average hemoglobin was lower in the 1-year or below age group than in the above 1-year age group, combined-antibody group than single-antibody group, and IgM-contained group than non–IgM-contained group (P<0.05 for all). The duration of therapy in the ES group was longer than that in the AIHA-only group (P<0.05). During the follow-up period, 29 cases (29/45, 64.4%) remained in continuous remission. In total, 35.6% of patients relapsed after first complete remission and 56.3% of them still showed good response to glucocorticoid after relapse. There was no difference in the duration of therapy or relapse rate between the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)-treatment group and the non–IVIG-treatment group. In conclusion, the severity of anemia correlates with age and serologic types of direct antiglobulin test. Glucocorticoid is efficacious for AIHA regardless of whether it is a first attack or relapse in this cohort of young patients. ES needs longer treatment duration. IVIG does not improve the outcome of AIHA.

As the thin film silicon solar cell technology reaches a pivotal point to keep competing in the photovoltaic industry where crystalline silicon and other technologies currently dominate, it has become an urgent task to revolutionize some of its state‐of‐the‐art key processes which have reached their cost barriers for decades. We have devised a more cost‐effective method for mass production of transparent front electrodes for thin film silicon solar modules. It involves sputtering deposition and a novel surface‐texturization process. The new method produces microscopic U‐shaped surface textures of aluminum‐doped zinc oxide (AZO) and other transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) which lead to higher open circuit voltages, higher fill factors, and comparable short circuit current densities for microcrystalline and micromorph silicon solar cells. We experimentally demonstrate that solar cells using these TCO front electrodes reach comparable efficiency levels to those using any other commercialized TCO electrodes such as fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) and boron‐doped zinc oxide (BZO). An analysis shows that the manufacturing costs of the new method can be significantly lower than those of the commercial counterparts. The possibilities brought about by this method may pave a new path for future developments of thin film silicon solar cells.

To assess the concordance of tumour grade in specimens obtained from diagnostic cystoscopic biopsy and transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) and explore the risk factors of upgrading.

In this paper, the combustion stability and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions test were made in two coal-fired chain grate boilers with hot water supplies of 29MW and 46MW. The investigations aim to clarify the key characteristics of NOx emission, e.g.instability of NOx emission, temperature and gaseous components profiles and the unsteady variation of NOx emission with power level changing. Main conclusions include: 1) In the process of stable combustion, NOx emissions still have+-5% fluctuations, it is not stable. 2) The furnace temperature distribution show double temperature peaks. One peak (~1500degC) is located on the burning solid-fuel surface on the chain grate, and the other (~1050degC) is ~5.6m above the arch. 3) With increasing the thermal power, NOx emission shows a dramatic increase, higher around 1.25 times, as due to the rapid adjustment of coal feeding in grate furnace. Those above show the NOx control difficulty and the proper injector location of SNCR (selective non-catalytic reaction), which is key data collected for further NOx reduction retrofits.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile, cytogenetic and molecular aberrations and the survival rate of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a province reference pediatric hospital and explore their clinical features and prognosis.