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The sugar production process, inherently water-intensive, is characterized by pronounced condensate formation during the evaporation and boiling phases. Given the environmental and resource implications, there is a scholarly emphasis on the potable reuse of such condensate by reverse osmosis (RO) in sugar mills. However, membrane fouling presents a significant challenge to the consistent operation of the RO process. This research examines the influence of operating parameters, namely transmembrane pressure and crossflow velocity, on the performance and fouling tendencies of an RO membrane during the purification of sugar mill condensate. The boundary flux theory was employed to model the permeate flux throughout this process. A boundary flux (5.92 L h−1m−2) and its corresponding operating pressure (10 bar) were determined. Moreover, a comparative analysis of the fouling mechanisms and the composition of the foulant layer under both sub-boundary and super-boundary conditions was undertaken. Under sub-boundary conditions, the fouling mechanism was identified as cake-intermediate blocking, while the super-boundary condition exhibited intermediate blocking. Under both conditions, organic fouling emerged as the primary fouling type. The TOC of surface contaminants ranged from 1.07 to 1.86 g/m2. Within this, proteins (484.0 to 850.3 mg m−2) and polysaccharides (201.5 to 379.2 mg m−2) were the dominant components. However, when operating conditions surpassed the boundary, there was a noticeable rise in inorganic fouling such as Ca (from 44.95 to 149.43 mg m−2) and Fe (from 4.40 to 112.09 mg m−2), which is likely due to the co-deposition of organic materials with inorganic ions. This research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how operating conditions influence fouling mechanisms and provides foundational insights for addressing fouling challenges in sugar mill condensate purification. [Display omitted] • Analyzed the effects of operating parameters on purification and fouling. • A 5.92 L m−2 h−1 boundary flux value is suggested for effective RO fouling control. • Fouling under sub- and super-boundary conditions was comparatively studied. • Inorganic ions bridged with organic matter promoted the transition from sub-boundary to super-boundary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Gender-specific differences were found in serum uric acid (SUA) levels and the risk of isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (IDDVT). This study aimed to explore the association among gender, SUA, and IDDVT in stroke patients.Methods and Results: Finally, 3404 patients were recruited and divided into two groups: IDDVT (n = 1233) and Non-IDDVT (n = 2171) groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to match the patients. Binary logistic regression was adopted to explore the association between SUA and IDDVT, with the SUA divided into quartiles. After PSM, 975 patients were included in each group. Non-IDDVT group had a larger proportion of male than IDDVT group (64.9% vs. 52.7%, p < 0.001). Moreover, males showed higher SUA levels than females (316.7 ± 102.1 vs. 261.8 ± 94.0 μmol/L, t = 12.1, p < 0.001). The highest quartile of SUA (≥346 μmol/L) showed a lower risk of IDDVT (OR = 0.629, p = 0.001), while the lowest quartile (≤225 μmol/L) showed a higher risk of IDDVT (OR = 1.361, p = 0.022).Conclusion: In patients with stroke, SUA played a protective role in IDDVT. Females had a higher risk of IDDVT, which may be owing to the lower SUA levels than males. In clinical practice, more attention should be paid to the risk of IDDVT in females, especially those with lower SUA levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, using external mechanical energy to solve environmental pollution problems has gradually become a promising strategy, such as piezoelectric catalysis and piezoelectric photocatalysis. In this paper, a series of HKUST-1/g-C 3 N 4 composite materials were successfully synthesized by the combination of g-C 3 N 4 with S-vacancy and porous HKUST-1 semiconductor. Under visible light irradiation and ultrasonic action, the catalytic activity of HKUST-1/g-C 3 N 4 on RhB degradation was investigated. When the mass ratio of HKUST-1 to g-C 3 N 4 is 1:0.3 during the process of piezoelectric photocatalysis, the as-prepared HKUST-1/g-C 3 N 4 composite had the best RhB degradation performance up to 94.42%, which is about 2.83 times that of visible light and 3.56 times that of ultrasonic waves. According to the result of the trapping experiment, the process of piezo-photocatalytic reaction could produce the number of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the hydroxyl radical (•OH) was crucial in the breakdown of pollutants. [Display omitted] • HKUST-1/g-C 3 N 4 with the piezo-photocatalytic property was synthesized. • The catalytic mechanism under ultrasound and UV–visible light was revealed. • Superior piezo-photocatalytic activity has been obtained by HKUST-1/g-C 3 N 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor hydrophilia and strong cytotoxicity of α -mangostin, a major component of xanthones from pericarps of mangosteen (Garcinia Mangostana L.), restrict its application in functional food. To overcome its shortage, a series of alginate/xanthan gum or alginate/κ-carrageenan hydrogels loaded with α -mangostin were fabricated and their anti-inflammatory effects were investigated under gastrointestinal tract (GIT). With the increased concentration of polysaccharides, the release of α -mangostin was slower due to denser microstructure and hardness. The digestive profile suggested that the release of α -mangostin in 0.3% alginate/0.15% xanthan gum (0.15%X- α M), 0.3% alginate/0.2% xanthan gum (0.25%X- α M) and 0.3% alginate/0.3% κ-carrageenan (0.3%C- α M) hydrogels were faster than the others. The cytotoxicity of α -mangostin loaded in hydrogels was dramatically reduced. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of the three intestinal digestive fluids was still maintained at 71.9% ± 1.2%, 83.1% ± 2.0%, and 70.6% ± 3.3% in LPS-induced Raw246.7 cells. In addition, the three intestinal digestive fluids (50 μM of α -mangostin) showed good inhibition of inflammatory cytokines (TNF- α , IL-6, and IL-1 β) and the expression of iNos and Cox-2 respectively. Given these data, xanthan gum/κ-carrageenan-alginate composite hydrogels can be a good colonic target delivery system for bioactive compounds, which can be applied in functional foods to improve human health and wellness. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-stage (S-N treatment) and two-stage anaerobic digestion with (T-R treatment) and without digestate recirculation (T-N treatment) for methane production using food waste (FW) were comparatively evaluated to examine the effects of digestate recirculation on anaerobic digestion (AD). Digestate recirculation positively affected the methane yield and organic loading rate (OLR). Metabolite correlation analysis revealed that a systematic hydrolysis degree of greater than 75% is crucial to achieve the complete recoverable yield of methane from FW. Digestate recirculation also markedly increased the system alkalinity, maintaining an optimum pH for methanogens. However, the ammonium accumulated by T-R treatment would destroy the metabolic balance between the hydrolytic bacteria and methanogens, especially at a critical OLR. Therefore, the appropriate control of two-stage AD systems with digestate recirculation is limited not only to OLR regulation but also to the prevention of ammonium accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing awareness of health and sustainable dietary pattern, plant-based proteins have shown a growing interest as substitutes for animal proteins. Meanwhile, the non-covalent interaction of protein with natural phenolic compounds can be used to develop functional ingredients. In this work, Alcalase hydrolysates of soy protein isolate (HSPI) were used to fabricate complexes with tannic acid (TA), and their physicochemical properties were investigated and compared with soy protein isolate (SPI) and sodium caseinate (SC) to get insights into the advantage of polyphenol modification. The complex solution showed reduced particle size, higher turbidity, and higher surface charge with increasing TA concentration. The interaction mainly occurred through hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction, leading to the unfolding of protein molecular structure. The complexes displayed lower interfacial adsorption activity and reduced interfacial viscoelastic modulus upon increasing TA concentration possibly because of the interference of TA on the diffusion and molecule interaction of protein hydrolysates to form elastic films. Nonetheless, the complex-based emulsion showed enhanced emulsifying stability with small droplet size, superior oxidation stability, high physical stability against heat and freeze-thaw treatment due to the higher surface charge and formation of particle-stabilized interfacial membrane. These findings provide insights for developing plant-based protein with excellent emulsifying properties, which show great potential for application as SC substitute in dairy-free emulsified products. [Display omitted] • The complex of HSPI with TA showed smaller size upon increasing TA concentration. • HSPI/TA complexes were formed mainly through hydrogen bound and hydrophobic interaction. • The emulsifying properties of HSPI-TA is comparable to those of sodium caseinate. • The complexes showed reduced interfacial elasticity and lower interfacial activity. • The unfolded structure and high surface charge account for high emulsion stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Milled black rice particles with particle size of 773 nm were obtained after milling. • Bound phenolics were well retained in the milled black rice particles. • Milled black rice particles possessed good emulsifying ability. • The resulting Pickering emulsions exhibited enhanced antioxidation activity. This work attempted to obtain miscellaneous black rice particles through directly modifying black rice using media mill, and develop milled black rice particles stabilized Pickering emulsions with intrinsic antioxidation functionalities. Particle size of milled black rice particles was reduced sharply from over twenty micrometers to 773 nm after only 90 min of milling. Slight degradation of some sensitive bioactive compounds (such as cyanidin-3-glucoside) occurred during milling process. While the bound phenolics (e.g. protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid) were well retained. Milled black rice particles exhibited good free radical scavenging activity. These milled black rice particles exhibited ability to form Pickering emulsions with good storage and heating stability. Besides, these Pickering emulsions possessed enhanced lipid antioxidation. This study offers a facile strategy to develop food-grade Pickering emulsions with intrinsic antioxidant properties by directly modify black rice as complex particulate emulsifiers through media milling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silica-based ceramic core is an essential part of the investment casting of hollow turbine blades due to their excellent thermal stability and easy demoulding. In this study, the green bodies of silica-based ceramic cores with nano-ZrO 2 were fabricated by stereolithography (SLA). Firstly, the effects of the burying process and debinding heating rates on the performance and microstructure of silica-based cores were investigated. The results revealed that the burying powders provide support and a stable thermal field for the SLA ceramic cores during debinding and sintering. Ceramic cores with smaller shrinkage and higher apparent porosity were produced during the burying process at a heating rate of 0.5 °C/min. In addition, the influence of nano-ZrO 2 content on the mechanical properties of silica-based ceramics was investigated. Nano-ZrO 2 particles can improve bulk density and mechanical properties by promoting sintering. Additionally, it can reduce the cracks on the surface of ceramic samples. The optimal content of nano-ZrO 2 should be between 1.5 and 2 wt%, producing silica-based cores with low shrinkage rate (2.91–3.19%), high apparent porosity (27.11–27.97%) and high flexural strength at room temperature (24.51–24.65 MPa) and high temperature (27.81–29.69 MPa). This work provides promising ways to fabricate high-quality ceramic cores for turbine blade application. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the shifting process of the six-speed dry dual clutch transmission (DCT), the clutch actuator motors will frequently start, stop and stall, which can increase the probability that the clutch actuator motor will fail during the shifting process as the working hours increase. If no corresponding fault-tolerant control is adopted, it will lead to shifting failure, awful riding comfort, and even affect driving safety. In order to solve this problem, the corresponding fault-tolerant control strategies are developed when one of the clutch actuator motors malfunctions in the power-on downshift process. In these strategies, the disengagement rule of the fault clutch and the engagement rule of the no-fault clutch are designed according to corresponding control theories, and a coordinated control strategy between engine and clutches is developed to reduce the jerk of the vehicle, which can ensure that the jerk is within 10 m/s3 in the entire downshift process. After that, the vehicle can still run safely by using the no-fault clutch and half of the gears of DCT. Finally, the hardware-in-loop test is carried out to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed strategies, and the results show that the performance of the fault-tolerant control is satisfactory. • The dynamics model of power-on downshift process of six-speed dry DCT is built. • A Fault-tolerant control is designed when the clutch actuator motor malfunctions. • A time-optimal coordinated control method between engine and clutch is developed. • The proposed fault-tolerant control strategy is validated in the test bench. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient extraction method of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAPs) by neutral protease was developed and optimized by response surface methodology. AAPs were graded by stepwise ethanol precipitation, the fraction with high recovery rate and strong radical scavenging rate were obtained, then its antioxidant and lipid lowering effect were studied using Caenorhabditis elegans as model organism. The extract yield and ABTS+ scavenging rates of AAPs could reach 14.90% and 86.0% at 50 °C, 75 mL/g of liquid-to-material ratio and pH 9.0. AAP3 obtained by 15% ethanol was a heteropolysaccharide comprised of mannose, glucose, glucuronic acid, xylose, galactose and glucosamine. AAP3 could significantly prolong the lifespan of C. elegans and enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalases (CAT) at 0.25 mg/mL (p < 0.05). The qRT-PCR results showed that AAP3 could up regulate mRNA expression levels of daf-16 and skn-1 (>1.6 fold) at 0.25 mg/mL. Besides, AAP3 could significantly reduce the level of body fat and triglyceride in C. elegans (p < 0.05). These studies demonstrated that A. auricula polysaccharides prepared by neutral protease had a prominent protective effect to the damage induced by the intracellular free radical generating agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerobic pre-treatment (AP) was applied to enhance methane yield from food waste through anaerobic digestion. Different AP durations (i.e. 2, 5 and 8 days) prior to anaerobic digestion were tested. The results indicated that AP of food waste led to no significant differences (p > 0.05) in methane yield potential (ca. 418 mL/g-VS). However, a suitable AP duration (5 days) increased methane yield rates (ca. 18 mL/d/g-VS; 22.0% higher than the control) by anticipating methane generation and shortening the methanogenic phase via volatile fatty acid reduction and pH increase. Although AP induced chemical oxygen demand loss to some extent (i.e. by 2.6%–9.9%) in the AP stage via aerobic degradation, the methane yield potential could be recovered by enhancing organic matter hydrolysis. Therefore, maximisation of hydrolysis should be used as a basis for determining a suitable AP duration for various types of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current distribution structure of the thermal conductivity (TC) enhancements in UO 2 matrix can be divided into three categories: dispersed structure, continuous structure and oriented structure. This paper develops a new semi-continuous structure to improve the TC of UO 2. Ti 3 SiC 2 is selected as the enhancement in this paper due to its excellent irradiation resistance and high TC at elevated temperature. The semi-continuous structure of Ti 3 SiC 2 is formed through a simple centrifugal spheroidization of UO 2 and a followed powder mixing process. Both the theoretical prediction and experimental results indicate the semi-continuous structure has a close TC enhancing efficiency to the continuous structure. Meanwhile, the semi-continuous structure has the advantages of simplifying the fabrication process and can be applied to more kinds of enhancements compared to the continuous structure. The TC of Ti 3 SiC 2 /UO 2 is remarkably improved at elevated temperature compared with pure UO 2 , which is beneficial to the fuel safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthine oxidase (XOD) is the members of the molybdenum hydroxylase flavoprotein family and it plays a vital role in the body’s purine catabolism. In this study, we cloned the XOD 37 kDa subunit protein by using RT-PCR and pMD-18-T clone vector based on the total RNA extracted from chicken liver. The cloning XOD subunit protein gene was ligated into the pET-32a to construct the recombinant plasmid pET-XOD. After the pET-XOD expression vector was transformed into host cells Rosetta (DE3), the recombinant XOD subunit proteins (54.8 kDa) were successfully induced by isopropy1 β- d -thiogalactoside (IPTG). Rabbit antiserums were produced by using the purification of the recombinant XOD subunit protein as antigen. The titer of the antiserum was more than 1:102,400 determined by using ELISA. The result of Western blot demonstrated that the antiserum could specifically recognize the chicken liver XOD. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that the XOD mainly presented in the cytoplasm of chicken hepatocytes and proximal tubular epithelial cells. Our results indicated that the XOD subunit protein polyclonal antibody prepared by this method could be used for the further researches of the biological function of the XOD in the chicken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Factors governing the TC of GFs/UO 2 are systematically studied. • A maximum TC increment of 340% is obtained by adding 15 vol.% GFs. • An optimized sintering temperature is obtained through the TC results. Graphite flakes (GFs) were introduced into UO 2 via spark plasma sintering to improve its thermal conductivity (TC). The effect of GFs on the sintering behavior and TC of GFs/UO 2 was systematically investigated. GFs/UO 2 composites exhibited a highly oriented structure; thus, the radial TC was significantly higher than the axial TC. GFs/UO 2 was crack-free below a sintering temperature of 1673 K. At higher temperatures, some cracks were formed owing to the reaction at the interface. Accordingly, the radial TC of GFs/UO 2 reached its peak value at 1673 K. The radial TC presented a nearly linear relationship with the GF fraction. The radial TC of GFs/UO 2 composites was averagely improved by 340% from 298 to 1273 K with 15 vol.% GFs addition. The radial TC continuously increased with the diameter of the GFs. In contrast, the volume fraction and diameter of the GFs had a relatively inconspicuous effect on the axial TC. This was attributed to the thermal resistance of the interface and deflection of GFs from the radial direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel UO 2 /SiC nanocomposite pellet was constructed via in-situ hydrothermal synthesis and SPS. Such method could avoid the problem of traditional mechanical mixing that could obtained the molecular level mixing during a chemical process. Using such method, SiC was dispersed uniformly in the UO 2 matrix. Its thermal conductivity is significantly higher than those of UO 2 pellet fabricated using hydro-thermally prepared powder and traditional UO 2 pellets at both working temperature (400 °C) and near-accident temperature (1000 °C). The thermal conductivity of UO 2 /SiC nanocomposite pellet increased 23.7 % over traditional UO 2 and 48.9 % over UO 2 pellet fabricated using hydro-thermally prepared powder at 400 °C. It also increased 33.6 % over traditional UO 2 and 74.8 % over UO 2 pellet fabricated using hydro-thermally prepared powder at 1000 °C. These advantages are expected to maintain high thermal conductivity of fuels, enhance heat transferring efficiency of reactors, and minimize risks of pellet failure in the entire fuel life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new compounds (1 and 2), along with fifteen known compounds (3 – 17) were isolated from Sophora alopecuroides L. All compounds were screened by in vitro insulin resistance cell model. Among them, compounds 1 , 2 , 7 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , and 17 were proven to improve the insulin resistance of C2C12 myotubes and significantly increase glucose consumption levels. These compounds were then combined with PTP1B for molecular docking and enzyme activity test. It's exciting that compounds 1 , 2 , 13 , 14 , 16 , and 17 can improve insulin resistance and inhibit PTP1B activity, and are expected to become new PTP1B inhibitors. Seventeen flavonoids (1 – 17) were isolated from Sophora alopecuroides L.. Compounds 1 and 2 were new compounds, and compounds 5 , 8 , 11 , 12, and 17 were isolated from S. alopecuroides for the first time. The sources of compounds 1 and 2 were determined from the seeds of S. alopecuroides by UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS, and compounds 1 , 2 , 7 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , and 17 were proven to improve the insulin resistance of C2C12 myotubes and significantly increase glucose consumption levels. Among them, compounds 1 , 2 , 13 , 14 , 16 , and 17 could bind to protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), thereby significantly inhibiting the enzyme activity of PTP1B. Compound 2 had the strongest inhibitory effect, with an inhibition rate of 95.22% at 0.1 μg mL−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel kind of composite constructed by uranium dioxide and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was developed via a one-step hydrothermal reduction method, named as UO 2 @G. The introduction of graphene oxide (GO) to the reaction system brought significant changes: in the control experiment without GO, the reductant of ethylenediamine itself could only reduce uranyl ions to mainly U 3 O 8 , and the final solid products appear in the form of flakes; by introducing GO to the system, the final products are pure UO 2 in homogenous nanospheres. By employing UO 2 @G as an additive in the UO 2 fuel pellet (the final volume ratio of graphene materials was controlled to be around 10%), the thermal conductivity is increased by 35.4%, which is significantly higher than that of the pellet prepared by simply mixing UO 2 powders and commercial graphene nanosheets. The simulation results show that the core temperature of the pellet containing the UO 2 @G composite additives is much lower than that of the one without UO 2 @G composite additives, showing the potential as novel kind of accident tolerant fuel. A novel composite constructed by UO 2 nanospheres and RGO sheets is prepared from uranyl and GO dispersion via a hydrothermal reaction. The two components distribute in each other homogenously. When using as additive in UO 2 ATF, the composite shows more obviously enhancing effect on the thermal conductivity by help RGO sheets distribute in the UO 2 ceramic matrix. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by the need for sustainable construction solutions, there is renewed interest in earth-based materials. Biopolymer stabilizers can enhance the rheological and structural properties of these materials to facilitate their use in 3D printing. This research examined the influence of sodium alginate on the stability, particle interaction, rheology, and 3D printability of kaolinite, a commonly found clay in soils deemed suitable for construction. Findings revealed that sodium alginate could boost electrostatic interactions to enhance the stability of kaolinite suspensions. This rise in repulsive potential energy could reduce storage modulus and yield stress by orders of magnitude. However, as the alginate content increased beyond its critical overlapping concentration (0.12 %–0.6 %), a reverse trend was observed, which was attributed to the formation of a three-dimensional polymer network. Furthermore, alginate addition shifted the "printability window" of kaolinite mixtures to higher solid contents, which has positive implications on the strength and shrinkage of the printable mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ti 3 SiC 2 with a continuous network structure was introduced to UO 2 to improve the thermal conductivity of UO 2. A dense microstructure with a clean Ti 3 SiC 2 -UO 2 interface was obtained using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. Ti 3 SiC 2 exhibited high thermal conductivity at elevated temperature, and a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) close to UO 2. Therefore, the thermal conductivity of Ti 3 SiC 2 /UO 2 was greatly improved compared to that of UO 2 , particularly at high temperature. The enhancing effect of Ti 3 SiC 2 even exceeded those of SiC and BeO above the working temperature of fuel pellets. This improvement in thermal conductivity is of great importance for enhancing the fuel safety under accident conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion has been practically applied in agricultural and industrial waste treatment and recognized as an economical-effective way for food waste disposal. This paper presented an overview on the researches about anaerobic digestion of food waste. Technologies (e.g., pretreatment, co-digestion, inhibition and mitigation, anaerobic digestion systems, etc.) were introduced and evaluated on the basis of bibliometric analysis. Results indicated that ethanol and aerobic prefermentation were novel approaches to enhance substrates hydrolysis and methane yield. With the promotion of resource recovery, more attention should be paid to biorefinery technologies which can produce more useful products toward zero emissions. Furthermore, a technological route for food waste conversion based on anaerobic digestion was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the relationship between microbiome and cancer has made significant progress in the past few decades. It is now known that the gut microbiome has multiple effects on tumour biology. However, the relationship between intratumoral bacteria and cancers remains unclear. Growing evidence suggests that intratumoral bacteria are important components of the microenvironment in several types of cancers. Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated that intratumoral bacteria may directly influence tumorigenesis, progression and responses to treatment. Limited studies have been conducted on intratumoral bacteria, and using intratumoral bacteria to treat tumours remains a challenge. Bacteria have been studied as anticancer therapeutics since the 19th century when William B. Coley successfully treated patients with inoperable sarcomas using Streptococcus pyogenes. With the development of synthetic biological approaches, several bacterial species have been genetically engineered to increase their applicability for cancer treatment. Genetically engineered bacteria for cancer therapy have unique properties compared to other treatment methods. They can specifically accumulate within tumours and inhibit cancer growth. In addition, genetically engineered bacteria may be used as a vector to deliver antitumour agents or combined with radiation and chemotherapy to synergise the effectiveness of cancer treatment. However, various problems in treating tumours with genetically engineered bacteria need to be addressed. In this review, we focus on the role of intratumoral bacteria on tumour initiation, progression and responses to chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Moreover, we summarised the recent progress in the treatment of tumours with genetically engineered bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Graphite flakes were used to improve the radial thermal conductivity of UO 2. • Graphite flakes/UO 2 presented highly-oriented structure and well-bonded interface. • The radial thermal conductivity of graphite flakes/UO 2 was greatly improved by ~200%. In order to increase the radial thermal conductivity (TC) of UO 2 pellets, highly-oriented graphite flakes (GFs) were first introduced to UO 2 pellets by spark plasma sintering. The radial TC of GFs/UO 2 agreed well with Hatta-Taya model, which was closely related to the well-bonded interface and highly-oriented structure. Compared with UO 2 , the radial TC of GFs/UO 2 was greatly improved by about 200 % within a wide temperature range, higher than all the other reported value until now. Such enhancement in TC would significantly improve the safety of UO 2 fuel pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Combing theoretical analyses and experimental investigations, the fabrication process of UO 2 -BeO was optimized. • Through this method, BeO density was effectively improved and UO 2 /BeO interfacial thermal resistance was decreased. • The thermal conductivity of UO 2 -BeO fabricated by this optimized method was improved by 89%. In this paper, the fabrication process of UO 2 -BeO composite pellets was optimized for improving the thermal conductivity based on multi-parameter theoretical analyses and experimental investigations. It was found that the density of BeO and UO 2 /BeO interfacial thermal resistance (ITR) are crucial parameters that affect the thermal conductivity of UO 2 -BeO. To effectively increase BeO density and decrease UO 2 /BeO ITR, the fabrication method of pressureless sintering with a spheroidizing process was proposed. Through this method, UO 2 -BeO composite with high thermal conductivity was obtained. 89.2% and 71.4% enhancements of the thermal conductivity over UO 2 were achieved at room temperature and 673 K, respectively. This enhancement is higher than all the reported results in the previous literatures that fabricated UO 2 -BeO using normal sintering temperatures (<2023 K). The results of finite element modelling showed that the centerline temperatures of our fabricated pellets in the reactor decreased remarkably compared with UO 2 fuel, which would significantly improve the safety of the reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]