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Using waste electric porcelain to produce refractory bricks is a viable technology. However, these bricks currently have lower mechanical strength compared to those made from mineral raw materials. This study optimized the proportions and sintering process to develop high-strength refractory bricks from waste electric porcelain. The impact of physical phase, crystallinity, sintering temperature, and fly ash content on the bricks properties was examined. The research found that low crystallinity in waste electric porcelain leads to disorganized growth of mullite nano whiskers at high temperatures, reducing mechanical strength due to insufficient support structures and stress concentration zones. The addition of fly ash promotes the formation of uniformly dispersed mullite columns through non-uniform nucleation, significantly improving mechanical properties by creating a collective tetrahedral structure. Bricks with 20 wt% fly ash sintered at 1440 °C achieved a flexural strength of 77.3 MPa, a compressive strength of 156 MPa, and an apparent porosity of 10.89 %. High-temperature simulations indicate that these bricks exhibit good compressive strength and deformation resistance, with no adhesion observed. These high strength refractory bricks have promising potential for use in various high-temperature applications, including kiln linings, high-temperature flue, high-temperature support components and other industrial processes where durability and thermal stability are critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gynecological diseases ranked second among new cases of noncommunicable diseases in women of reproductive age in 1990 and 2019 globally. The aim of this study was to estimate the disease burden of gynecological diseases and describe their trends in women of all ages from 1990 to 2019. Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD 2019), authors examined the incidence, disability-adjusted life years, and deaths from gynecological diseases by age in 204 countries and territories worldwide from 1990 to 2019. Analyses were conducted in 2022. Globally, the age-standardized incidence rate and age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rate (ASDR) of gynecological diseases decreased by –0.176% and –0.245%, respectively from 1990 to 2019. Low socioeconomic development index countries had the highest age-standardized incidence rate and ASDR in 2019. The age-specific incidence rate of gynecological diseases in women aged 15–29 years increased from 1990 to 2019, and the 20–24-year age group increased the greatest by 0.21%. Polycystic ovary syndrome and other types of benign disorders contributed to the major increase. Although the disease burden of gynecological diseases decreased slightly between 1990 and 2019 globally, it remained highest in low socioeconomic development index countries. The disease burden in 20–24-year age group exhibited the fastest growth, with polycystic ovary syndrome and other types of benign disorders playing a significant role. Urgent and effective measures should be taken to target different age groups, types of gynecological disease, and regions with high disease burdens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale and Objective: Deformable registration algorithms (DRA) has been used to detect left ventricular myocardial changes, however, its clinical utility in right ventricular (RV) function has not been evaluated. In this study, we aim to evaluate and compare quantitative RV strain assessment by cardiac magnetic resonance in pulmonary hypertension (PH) using feature tracking (FT) and DRA.Materials and Methods: Thirty patients were confirmed to have PH using right heart catheterization, and 16 healthy controls were evaluated with cardiac magnetic resonance. Global and segmental RV strain was measured by DRA and FT methods. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), coefficient of variation, and Bland-Altman analysis were used to assess and compare the interobserver and intraobserver variability of the DRA and FT methods.Results: DRA was more sensitive than FT in the detection of RV circumferential and septal dysfunction. The global longitudinal strain (GLS) obtained by the two methods was reduced in mild-moderate PH patients (mean pulmonary artery pressure≤45 mm Hg), and the GLS and global circumferential strain (GCS) were reduced in severe PH patients (mean pulmonary artery pressure >45 mm Hg). DRA and FT methods demonstrate similar observer agreement in global strain using ICC (ICC greater than 0.90), but RV strain derived from DRA had lower variability using COV ([8%-14%] for DRA versus [11%-39%] for FT).For segmental longitudinal strain, DRA showed higher ICC and lower COV compared with that of the FT method. Correlations between RVEF and RV global strain parameters were strong (p < 0.01):GLS-DRA, r = -0.696; GLS-FT, r = -0.832; GCS-DRA, r = -0.745; and GCS-FT, r = -0.817. GLS-DRA was weakly correlated with mPAP (r = 0.385, p < 0.05).In multiple linear regression analysis, RVEF and mPAP were independent predictors of GLS-DRA (R2 = 0.57, p < 0.01).Conclusions: The DRA method is more sensitive and robust for RV myocardial strain measurements than FT method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) are currently used in more and more places where safety and reliability are necessary. To protect LIBs from short-circuiting, extend their life, and improve their safety, we propose a novel SiO 2 -nanoparticle-coated cathode. The coating can prevent short-circuiting of the lithium-ion battery when the separator fails. The SiO 2 nanoparticles form a coating with high porosity, good electrolyte compatibility, and increased interfacial stability of the cathode material. In this way, the coating reduces the internal resistance of the cell to a certain extent, thus improving cycle performance and Coulombic efficiency. The thermal safety performance of the assembled pouch batteries is investigated. The results show that the pouch cell assembled with a protective layer of cathode prolongs the occurrence time of thermal runaway, reduces the amount of heat released by thermal runaway, and improves batteries safety. • This coating can effectively prevent lithium metal batteries short-circuiting. • The coating increases the interfacial stability of the cathode with an electrolyte. • The coating improves the fire safety of the lithium batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid polymer electrolytes have attracted significant attention due to their outstanding properties. Determining how to further improve the energy density, ionic conductivity and safety of batteries is key to industrialization. Here, we prepared an ultra-thin, highly safe PEO/LiTFSI/3% NH 4 PF 6 @PA6 polymer solid electrolyte. Compared with conventional electrolytes, this polymer electrolyte can be up to 7 µm thick, leading to lower cell impedance and higher energy density. The Li//PEO/LiTFSI/3% NH 4 PF 6 @PA6//Li cell can cycle for more than 2000 h at 60 °C. Besides, PEO-based electrolytes with only 3 wt% addition of NH 4 PF 6 exhibits high fire safety. The pouch cell assembled using this electrolyte does not short-circuit under bending and cutting and does not burn even in a thermal runaway test. [Display omitted] • Low addition of high efficiency flame retardants (3 wt% NH 4 PF 6) can make the polymer electrolyte noncombustible. • Mechanism of PA6 nanofibers film improving the electrochemistry performance of the ultra-thin polymer electrolyte is analyzed. • The simulation and experiments are shown the inhibition effect of high mechanical strength polymer electrolyte on lithium dendrite. • A new instrument is designed to monitor the heat, temperature, gas composition changes of battery during testing. • The flame-retardant mechanism of the polymer electrolyte is analyzed by the combination of various instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Developing an intelligent recommendation system is a good way to overcome the problem of overloaded products information provided by the e-commerce enterprises. As there are a great number of products on the Internet, it is impossible to recommend all kinds of products in one system. We believe that the personalized recommendation system should be built up according to the special features of a certain sort of product, and forming professional recommendation systems for different products. In this paper, based on the consumer’s current needs obtained from the system-user interactions, we propose a fuzzy-based system for consumer electronics to retrieve optimal products. Experimental results show the system is feasible and effective. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived extracellular volume (ECV) and tissue tracking strain analyses are proposed as non-invasive methods for quantifying myocardial fibrosis and deformation. This study sought (1) to histologically validate myocardial ECV against the collagen volume fraction (CVF) measured from tissue samples of patients undergoing heart transplantation and (2) to detect the correlations between myocardial systolic strain and the myocardial ECV and histological CVF in patients undergoing heart transplantation. Methods: A total of 12 dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and 10 ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) patients underwent T1 mapping with the Modified Look Locker Inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence, T2 mapping and ECV. Myocardial systolic strain, including left ventricular global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS) and radial strain (GRS), were quantified using CMR cine images with tissue tracking analysis software. Tissue samples were collected from each of 16 segments of the explanted hearts and were stained with picrosirius red for histological CVF quantification. Results: A strong relationship was observed between the global myocardial ECV and histological CVF in the DCM and ICM patients based on a per-patient analysis (r = 0.904 and r = 0.901, respectively, p < 0.001). In the linear mixed-effects regression analysis, ECV correlated well with the histological CVF in the DCM and ICM patients on a per-segment basis (β = 0.838 and β = 0.915, respectively, p < 0.001). In the multivariate linear regression analysis, histological CVF was the strongest independent determinant of ECV in the patients awaiting heart transplantation (standardised β = 0.860, p < 0.001). However, the T2 time, GLS, GCS and GRS showed no significant associations with ECV and CVF in the patients awaiting heart transplantation. Conclusions: ECV derived from CMR correlated well with histological CVF, indicating its potential as a non-invasive tool for the quantification of myocardial fibrosis. Additionally, impaired myocardial systolic strains were not associated with the ECV and CVF in the patients awaiting heart transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Compared with SARS-CoV-2 infected general population, patients with HIV co-infection mostly have milder clinical presentation. • A single test of viral RNA test and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 might be insufficient to exclude COVID-19 infection in patients with HIV. • The milder extent of inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection might be associated with a previous history of ART in HIV-infected patients. We aimed to explore the effect of antiretroviral treatment (ART) history on clinical characteristics of patients with co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV. We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients with laboratory-confirmed co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV in a designated hospital. Patients were divided into medicine group (n = 12) and non-medicine group (n = 8) according to previous ART history before SARS-CoV-2 infection. The median age was 46.5 years and 15 (75%) were female. Ten patients had initial negative RT-PCR on admission, 5 of which had normal CT appearance and 4 were asymptomatic. Lymphocytes were low in 9 patients (45%), CD4 cell count and CD4/CD8 were low in all patients. The predominant CT features in 19 patients were multiple (42%) ground-glass opacities (58%) and consolidations (32%). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in the medicine group was significantly lower than that in the non-medicine group [median (interquartile range, IQR):14.0 (10.0–34.0) vs. 51.0 (35.8–62.0), P = 0.005]. Nineteen patients (95%) were discharged with a median hospital stay of 30 days (IQR, 26–30). Most patients with SARS-CoV-2 and HIV co-infection exhibited mild to moderate symptoms. The milder extent of inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection might be associated with a previous history of ART in HIV-infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Subchondral bone loss in mandibular condyles was reported to be induced by experimentally created unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) which altered the occlusal load distribution and hereafter the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) remodelling process. However, the initial cellular responses are poorly understood. In the present study, changes in osteoblast and osteoclast activities in TMJ subchondral bone were investigated using the rats treated with UAC. Design Forty rats were randomly divided into UAC and control groups, and sampled at 2 weeks after the operation. Subchondral bone loss was evaluated by micro-CT. Osteoclast and osteoblast activities were analyzed by real-time PCR. The osteoblast differentiation of the locally isolated BMSCs from TMJ subchondral bone was assessed by Alizarin red staining. The migration of BMSCs was detected by transwell assays. Results Compared with the age-matched controls, TMJ subchondral bone loss was observed in the UAC-treated rats (p<0.05). The osteoblast activity evaluated by real-time PCR and osteoblast number revealed by immunohistochemical staining were reduced in the TMJ subchondral bone of UAC rats (p<0.05), and the capability of proliferation, migration and osteoblast differentiation were all decreased in the locally isolated BMSCs from the UAC group (p<0.05). Conclusions The present data demonstrated an involvement of reduced BMSCs activity in the initiation of the mandibular subchondral bone loss at the early stage of installation of the aberrant prostheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A cluster of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were successively reported in Wuhan, China. We aimed to describe the CT findings across different timepoints throughout the disease course.Methods: Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (confirmed by next-generation sequencing or RT-PCR) who were admitted to one of two hospitals in Wuhan and who underwent serial chest CT scans were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were grouped on the basis of the interval between symptom onset and the first CT scan: group 1 (subclinical patients; scans done before symptom onset), group 2 (scans done ≤1 week after symptom onset), group 3 (>1 week to 2 weeks), and group 4 (>2 weeks to 3 weeks). Imaging features and their distribution were analysed and compared across the four groups.Findings: 81 patients admitted to hospital between Dec 20, 2019, and Jan 23, 2020, were retrospectively enrolled. The cohort included 42 (52%) men and 39 (48%) women, and the mean age was 49·5 years (SD 11·0). The mean number of involved lung segments was 10·5 (SD 6·4) overall, 2·8 (3·3) in group 1, 11·1 (5·4) in group 2, 13·0 (5·7) in group 3, and 12·1 (5·9) in group 4. The predominant pattern of abnormality observed was bilateral (64 [79%] patients), peripheral (44 [54%]), ill-defined (66 [81%]), and ground-glass opacification (53 [65%]), mainly involving the right lower lobes (225 [27%] of 849 affected segments). In group 1 (n=15), the predominant pattern was unilateral (nine [60%]) and multifocal (eight [53%]) ground-glass opacities (14 [93%]). Lesions quickly evolved to bilateral (19 [90%]), diffuse (11 [52%]) ground-glass opacity predominance (17 [81%]) in group 2 (n=21). Thereafter, the prevalence of ground-glass opacities continued to decrease (17 [57%] of 30 patients in group 3, and five [33%] of 15 in group 4), and consolidation and mixed patterns became more frequent (12 [40%] in group 3, eight [53%] in group 4).Interpretation: COVID-19 pneumonia manifests with chest CT imaging abnormalities, even in asymptomatic patients, with rapid evolution from focal unilateral to diffuse bilateral ground-glass opacities that progressed to or co-existed with consolidations within 1-3 weeks. Combining assessment of imaging features with clinical and laboratory findings could facilitate early diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.Funding: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine chest CT changes 6 months and 12 months after the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with diabetes or hyperglycemia and the risk factors for these residual lung abnormalities.Methods: In total, 141 COVID-19 patients were assigned to group 1 (diabetes), group 2 (secondary hyperglycemia) or group 3 (controls). Initial and six- and twelve-month follow-up computed tomography (CT) scans were performed 16 days, 175 days and 351 days after symptom onset, respectively. CT findings and clinical and peak laboratory parameters were collected and compared. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent predictors for the presence of residual lung abnormalities at the 6-month follow-up exam. Seven variables (age; the presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome; the duration of hospitalization; the peak levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein; and the initial total CT score) were chosen in the final multivariable models.Results: At the six-month follow-up, abnormalities were still observed on chest CT in 77/141 (54.6%) patients. Reticular patterns (40/141, 28.4%) and ground-glass opacities (GGOs) (29/141, 20.6%) were the most common CT abnormalities on the follow-up CT scans. Patients in Groups 1 and 2 had significantly higher incidences of residual lung abnormalities than those in Group 3 (65.4% and 58.3%, respectively vs. 36.6%; p < 0.05). Twelve months after disease onset, the chest CT changes persisted in 13/25 (52.0%) patients. A duration of hospitalization > 20 days (OR: 5.630, 95% CI: 1.394-22.744, p = 0.015), an LDH level ≥ 317 U/L (OR: 7.020, 95% CI: 1.032-47.743, p = 0.046) and a total CT score > 15 (OR: 9.919, 95% CI: 1.378-71.415, p = 0.023) were independent predictors of residual pulmonary abnormalities in patients with diabetes or secondary hyperglycemia.Conclusions: A considerable proportion of surviving COVID-19 patients with diabetes or secondary hyperglycemia had residual pulmonary abnormalities six months after disease onset, and we found evidence of persistent chest CT changes at the one-year follow-up. Residual lung abnormalities were associated with longer hospital stays, higher peak LDH levels and higher initial total CT scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017, a coal banning area of approximately 10,000 square kilometers was established in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region of China for the first time. This study compared the change of elemental concentrations during the autumn and winter of 2016 and 2017, and analyzed the environmental and health benefits of the coal banning policy. Result showed that compared to 2016, the reduction rate of atmospheric particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter no larger than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5) in 2017 was as high as 63.5% (p < 0.01), and that of the total elements in PM 2.5 was up to 43% (p < 0.01). Coal consumption, transportation, industry, soil dust, and fuel consumption were the main sources of these elements in BTH. Coal consumption and industry accounted for 5.8–26.2% and 6.5–31.3%, respectively, of the total elements. After the coal banning area was established, the elements from coal consumption were reduced by 13.5–60.3% (the background station was reduced by 19.6%, p < 0.05), and those from industrial sources were reduced by 11–80.1%. The results of the health risk assessment showed that the carcinogenic risk of the coal consumption and industrial sources had been reduced by 30.7–48.3% in 2017. The policy of the coal banning is very effective in controlling the air pollution in urban agglomeration in developing countries and has resulted in great health and environmental benefits. Image 1 • Coal Banning Area is the most efficient pollution control measure in BTH in 2017. • The measure cut down the bulk coal consumption by 10.2% in the 10,000 km2 region. • The measure has resulted in the high benefits of environment and health in BTH. • PM 2.5 and total elements declined drastically by 63.5% and 43% in 2017. • The carcinogenic risk index of hazardous elements decreased by 36.3% in BTH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]