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Reperfusion ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a common arrhythmia after cardiac surgery. Predictors of reperfusion VF and its relationships with the adverse prognosis are still unclear. This study aimed to identify a risk score model to predict reperfusion VF and its effect on in-hospital outcomes. The authors enrolled 1,024 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and a total of 823 patients were included in the study. A novel risk score model was developed following logistic regression analysis of the predictors of reperfusion VF. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to validate this model, and the effect of VF on prognosis was later identified in multivariate or Kaplan–Meier analyses. Risk factors for reperfusion VF occurrence included weight >55 kg, preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, prior stroke, hypertension, aortic valve replacement, HTK solution, and the use of ≥3 grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting. A novel risk score model was developed using the abovementioned variables, and points were assigned to each risk factor according to its odds ratio. A high score (>6) predicted greater than 65% of patients with VF occurrence. Reperfusion VF increased the risk of in-hospital cardiovascular death (p = 0.03) and renal replacement therapy postoperatively (p = 0.022). More attention should be given to reperfusion VF due to an adverse postoperative prognosis, and the developed risk score model may predict this risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) can be used to improve the microstructure and mechanical performance of cementitious materials, however its disadvantage of being prone to agglomeration limits its application. Embedding nanoparticles in layered GO as a skeleton to form a three-dimensional structure can effectively reduce the aggregation of layered GO. In this paper, the electrostatic self-assembly of In(OH) 3 and GO was realized by inducing In3+ to anchored nucleation and in-situ spheroidization on the surface of GO. The morphology, specific surface area and dispersion of In(OH) 3 -modified GO (IG) can be adjusted by controlling the hydrothermal duration. The degree of the cement hydration, the compressive and flexural strength of cement pastes containing IG (IGC) were improved. The cement hydration acceleration period, cross-sectional porosity, cumulative pore volume and water absorption of IGC samples were reduced at the same time. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mitigating fluctuations of output active power of WF. • Compensating output reactive power of WF. • Participating in system primary frequency regulation. • Providing damping control (POD) of inter-area oscillations. This paper presents a concept of multi-purpose Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) which is integrated into a large wind farm (WF). The BESS aims to suppress the fluctuation of the output of active power and reactive power of the wind farm WF, participate in frequency regulation and damp low-frequency oscillations. Firstly, the concept and structure of the multi-purpose of BESS is presented. After that, the digital twin technology is applied to configure the capacity of the BESS. The performance of the multi-purpose BESS is demonstrated in the two-area system model constructed using DIgSILENT PowerFactory. The simulation results show that the multi-purpose BESS significantly improves the stability of the system in terms of suppressing the fluctuation of the out of WF, frequency regulation and damping low-frequency oscillations, which is the essential step to the practical implementation of the multi-purpose BESS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the gadolinium (Gd), iron (Fe), and nitrogen (N) doped TiO 2 nanomaterials have been synthesized by a sol–gel method with slight modification. While the effect of Gd on the crystalline morphology, specific surface area, chemical composition, and bandgap of the doped samples have been investigated by SEM, TEM, BET, XRD, UV– vis , and XPS. The bonds of Ti–O–Gd, N–Ti–O, and O–N–Ti induced by Gd and N substitution inside the TiO 2 crystal lattice structure have been investigated by XPS. The UV– vis spectra showed that the absorption edges of all doped samples are significantly red-shifted, further extending towards the visible spectrum, owing to the impurity band formation of the above valence band (VB) by doping of N. With the increase in the Gd doping amount, the photocatalytic efficiency of GFNTO (tri-doped samples) followed the sequence: G 2.0 FNTO > G 2.5 FNTO > G 3.0 FNTO > G 1.5 FNTO > G 3.5 FNTO > G 1.0 FNTO. The first-order reaction constant of G 2.0 FNTO for photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) is ten times higher than that of un-doped TiO 2. The significant improvement in the performance of the co-doped sample is due to the finer particle size, larger specific surface area, narrowed bandgap, more defect sites, and oxygen vacancies induced by the substitution of Ti4+ by N, Fe3+, and Gd3+. The recycling experiment showed that the photocatalytic efficiency of G 2.0 FNTO can still reach 95% after its five cycles, further exhibiting the excellent stability and re-usability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of experiments have been performed to investigate thermal stratification induced by steam-air mixture vertical injection, in the range of steam mass flux 3–30 kg/m2s, air mass fraction 0–5% and submergence depth 100–300 mm. Experimental results show that: thermal stratification occurs at the region where none of chugging-induced synthetic jets, steam-driven negative buoyancy jets and plume is strong enough. For pure steam experiments, thermal stratification occurs when the steam mass flux above 15 kg/m2s. The pool is mixed well firstly, then thermally stratified, and then re-mixed in sequence, as the water temperature increases. A little air can make thermal stratification and re-mixing occur ahead of time and more air can completely remove thermal stratification. Gas bypass induced by shallow submergence depth makes thermal stratification occur earlier and more severe. The submergence depth has little effect on thermal stratification in chugging regime. • Shallow submergence depth is 1.25 D -3.75 D. • Gas bypass is observed when submergence depth is 1.25 D. • A little air can make thermal stratification occur ahead of time and more severer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Dynamic pressure signals and jet images are recorded and processed. • The effect of air mass fraction and water temperature on pressure oscillation interfacial fluctuation height are analysed. • The validity of previous correlation for steam dominant frequency is evaluated. • A modified function for dominant frequency of mixture gas jets is developed. Abstract Present paper aims to experimentally investigate pressure oscillation induced by steam-air mixture gas sonic jets in subcooled water. Dynamic pressure signals and jet images are recorded and analyzed. Experimental results show that: the pressure oscillation dominant frequency decreases with the rise of water temperature, inlet pressure and air mass fraction. Air mass fraction has a complex effect on pressure oscillation intensity. When water temperature is less than 55 °C, as the air mass fraction increases, the pressure oscillation intensity increases first, and then decreases slightly, and then increases quickly. When water temperature is more than 55 °C, as the air mass fraction increases, the pressure oscillation intensity decreases first, and then increases quickly. The interfacial fluctuation height and pressure oscillation intensity dependency to the air mass fraction is the same near the nozzle exit. In addition, the validity of previous analysis model for steam sonic jet pressure oscillation dominant frequency is evaluated. A modified function considering the effect of air mass fraction is developed. The predicted results of steam-air mixture gas sonic jet pressure oscillation dominant frequency agree well with the experimental results. More than 98% of the data points are inside the error band of ±20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ganoderic acids, a group of oxygenated lanostane-type triterpenoids, are the major bioactive compounds produced by the well-known medicinal macro fungus Ganoderma lucidum. More than 150 ganoderic acids have been identified, and the genome of G. lucidum has been sequenced recently. However, the biosynthetic pathways of ganoderic acids have not yet been elucidated. Here, we report the functional characterization of a cytochrome P450 gene CYP512U6 from G. lucidum, which is involved in the ganoderic acid biosynthesis. CYP512U6 hydroxylates the ganoderic acids DM and TR at the C-23 position to produce hainanic acid A and ganoderic acid Jc, respectively. In addition, CYP512U6 can also hydroxylate a modified ganoderic acid DM in which the C-3 ketone has been reduced to hydroxyl by the sterol reductase ERG27 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 reductase from G. lucidum was also isolated and characterized. These results will help elucidate the biosynthetic pathways of ganoderic acids. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A cytochrome P450, CYP512U6, hydroxylating C-23-H of ganoderic acid DM and TR was characterized. • The sterol reductase ERG27 from yeast can reduce the C-3 ketone of ganoderic acid DM to hydroxyl. • GLCPR , a cytochrome P450 reductase gene from Ganoderma lucidum , was isolated and characterized. • An undescribed metabolite is identified as a C-23 hydroxyl derivative of 7-oxo-gaonoderic acid Z. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel low-foam viscous cationic collector DTDAB was synthesized. • DTDAB exhibited superior collector ability and selectivity than DTAB. • Insertion of hydroxyl could reduce interface tension and foam coalescence of collector. • Better selectivity was achieved by regulating the size of the polar group. Traditional cationic collectors generally exist some disadvantages, such as high foam viscosity and difficulty in defoaming, which worsening the flotation separation effect. Herein, a novel cationic collector-dodecyl trihydroxyethyl ammonium bromide (DTDAB) with low-foam viscous was synthesized to optimize the reverse flotation system of hematite ore, which was achieved by introducing three hydroxyethyl groups into the nitrogen atoms of dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB). The analysis of foam collapse performance indicated that the introduction of hydroxyl groups into hydrophilic head groups of DTAB reduced the interface surface tension and bubble coalescence, which were consistent with the design expectations. Meanwhile, flotation behaviors were systematically studied, and the results showed that the concentrates with 63.89 % total iron (TFe) grade and 89.27 % total iron recovery was obtained at pH 6.81, when the concentration of DTDAB and starch was 20 mg/L and 5 mg/L, respectively. Besides, the possible flotation mechanism was further studied by means of contact angle, Atomic force microscope (AFM), Fourier transforming infrared spectra (FT-IR), X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The results comfirmed that the adsorption between DTDAB and quartz was caused by electrostatic force and hydrogen bonding affinity. In conclusion, it can be confirmed that the novel cationic collector DTDAB with low-foam viscous has the potential for the hematite reverse flotation desilication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure oscillation is an important characteristic of direct contact condensation of steam in subcooled water. Many experimental works have been performed on pure steam submerged jet condensation. However, the effect of non-condensable gas content on the characteristics of the pressure oscillation is not yet fully understood. So, present paper aims to investigate the effect of air mass fraction on the characteristics of the pressure oscillation. Experimental results show that: for pure steam jets, the pressure oscillation dominant frequency decreases with the rise of water temperature and nozzle diameter. While it increases with the rise of steam mass velocity, which is consistent with the most of previous research results. The pressure oscillation intensity increases with the rise of water temperature, steam mass velocity and nozzle diameter. For air-steam mixture gas jets, the effect of water temperature and steam mass velocity on pressure oscillation characteristics is the same as pure steam jets. The pressure oscillation dominant frequency rapidly decreases with the rise of air mass fraction. However, air mass fraction has a complex effect on pressure oscillation intensity. As the air mass fraction increases, the pressure oscillation intensity rapidly increases at first, then slowly decreases and then slowly increases. In addition, new correlations for pressure oscillation dominant frequency and intensity are developed. The predicted results agree well with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas submerged jet penetration length is a key parameter for many industrial applications. Many experimental and theoretical works have been performed on pure steam and non-condensable gas submerged jets. However, the steam-air mixture gas submerged jets are not yet fully understood. So, a series of visualization experiments are performed to investigate the effect of air mass fraction, jetting direction, water temperature and inlet pressure on mixture gas submerged jet penetration length. Two flow regimes are distinguished based on the evolution of the interface between water and mixture gas, which are referred to as stable regime and oscillation regime. A flow regime map is developed based on inlet pressure and air mass fraction. A momentum balance model for predicting jet penetration length is proposed. Results show that the mixture gas jet penetration length increases with the increasing inlet pressure and decreases with the increasing air mass fraction. The water temperature has little effect on the jet penetration length. A new correlation for dimensionless vertical jet penetration length is developed based on the form of model analysis. The discrepancy between predicted results and present experimental data is within ±5%. A new correlation for dimensionless horizontal jet penetration length is developed based on experimental results. The discrepancy between predicted dimensionless horizontal jet penetration length and experimental value is within ±18%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined effects of shear stress ratio, density, and fines content on stress redistribution during shearing and their implications for internal instability were investigated in this study using the discrete element method. The widely used stress reduction factor was modified in this study by introducing the Voronoi cell to account for the volume change during shearing. The response of stress in finer fraction and its relative contribution to the overall stress of the specimen as evaluated by the established stress reduction factor showed inconsistent trends. The relationship between the mean stress in finer fraction and the shear stress ratio of the entire specimen was found to be dependent on FC and density during pre-peak stress condition. At post-peak, the relationship was only governed by the soil load-bearing skeleton. The stress redistribution of dense transitional soils exhibited the most pronounced changes. The mean stress in finer fraction reached the peak and steady values quicker than the shear stress ratio. This could be attributed to the decrease in critical hydraulic gradient under a high shear stress ratio, as evidenced from previous experimental works. These nonsynchronous performances could be explained by the shift of contact force and volume change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal cyanide complex ions of gold extraction wastewater consume extra cyanide and compete with gold for adsorption on activated carbon during wastewater recycling. Therefore, the removal of metal cyanide complex ions from gold extraction wastewater is of great significance. In this study, polypropylene (PP) fibers were used to prepare strong acylated alkaline ion-exchange fibers (SAA-IEFs) using a polymer graft monomer method that achieved excellent adsorption of metal cyanide complex ions from gold extraction wastewater. The properties of the SAA-IEFs were characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Adsorption experiments were conducted to study the adsorption performance and to verify the adsorption mechanism. The results show that the highest adsorption efficiencies of the SAA-IEFs for zinc and copper cyanide complex ions were 85.5% and 91.2%, respectively, and these performances were obtained when the SAA-IEF concentration was 50 g/L and pH was 10. The adsorption efficiency of the cyanide complexes in practical wastewater reached 92% at a concentration of 30 g/L. The desorption and regeneration results indicate that the adsorption capacity of the SAA-IEFs remained high after nine cycles. Moreover, an adsorption mechanism is proposed, and the adsorption process is best modeled using the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. These results indicate that chemisorption plays a dominant role in the adsorption process. Overall, SAA-IEFs are a promising, efficient, and cost-effective adsorbent for metal cyanide complex ion adsorption from gold extraction wastewater. • Strong acylated alkaline ion exchange fiber was used to remove zinc/copper cyanide complex ion from cyanide gold extraction wastewater. • Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model can better describe the adsorption process. • The adsorption efficiency of total cyanide complexes in practical wastewater (pH = 10.5) can reach to 92%. • The ion exchange fiber can be effectively regenerated and reused with insignificant fiber damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2) to high value-added multi-carbon compounds at the cathode is an emerging application of microbial electrosynthesis system (MES). In this study, a composite cathode consisting of hollow fiber membrane (HFM) and the carbon felt is designed to enhance the CO 2 mass transfer of the cathode. The result shows that the main products are acetate and butyrate without other substances. The electrochemical performance of the electrode is significantly improved after biofilm becomes matures. The composite cathode significantly reduces the "threshold" for the synthesis of butyrate. Moreover, CO 2 is dissolved and protons are consumed by synthesizing volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to maintain a stable pH inside the composite electrode. The synthesis mechanism of butyrate is that CO 2 is converted sequentially into acetate and butyrate. The microenvironment of the composite electrode enriches Firmicute. This composite electrode provides a novel strategy for regulating the microenvironment. [Display omitted] • MES reactor with gas diffusion membrane dissolved CO 2 only synthesized acetate and butyrate. • The composite biocathode lowered the threshold for synthesizing butyrate. • Dissolved CO 2 in cooperation with synthesized VFAs controlled pH inside the electrode. • The composite electrode system could naturally enrich Firmicute (relative abundance: 89.60%). • The synthesis mechanism of butyrate was that CO 2 was first converted to acetate and then to butyrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Litchi thaumatin-like protein (LcTLP) after digested induced inflammation in cell. • LcTLP with 100 mg/kg could lead to the occurrence of liver inflammation. • LcTLP could activate the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in liver. • LcTLP decreased the abundance and diversity in gut microbiota. • Building a correlation between LcTLP-induced inflammatory and gut microbiota. The pro-inflammation activity of litchi thaumatin-like protein (LcTLP) was speculated to be the cause of the adverse reaction after excessive consumption of litchi. This study evaluated the pro-inflammation activity of LcTLP in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that LcTLP digested in vitro exhibited the pro-inflammation activity in RAW264.7 cells, as evidenced by an increase in pro-inflammation cytokines tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). After LcTLP supplementation in mice, pathological examination revealed the edematous cytoplasm and inflammatory cell accumulation in liver tissue. The levels of TNF- α , IL-1 β , IL-6 and interleukin-10 in liver also increased by 60.43%, 74.86%, 120.18% and 129.91% in high-dose group, respectively, due to the upregulation of p-p65 and p-p38 levels and further activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Additionally, LcTLP altered the composition of gut microbiota, such as the reduction of Bacteroidota, norank_f__Muribaculaceae and norank_f__Lachnospiraceae abundances which were negatively correlated with inflammation cytokines levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preconditioning protects neurons against traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in rats. This study sought to test whether Nrf2, a transcription factor, mediated LPS-induced preconditioning. Main methods The TSCI model was established using a standardized NYU impactor on adult female rats. Rats were pretreated with LPS (0.2 mg/kg, IP; 72 h before injury). Nrf2 was silenced by injecting a lentivirus encoding RNAi against Nrf2 into injured spinal cords. Neurologic function was assessed by Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scores 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 7 d and 14 d after TSCI. Neuronal apoptosis was measured by a TUNEL staining. Ultrastructure was observed using transmission electron microscope (TEM). The protein expression of HO-1, NQO1 and GCLC was examined using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Key findings The injection of a lentivirus effectively transfected GFP into injured spinal cords. The expression of Nrf2 was significantly decreased in spinal cords receiving a lentivirus encoding RNAi against Nrf2. BBB scores showed that TSCI markedly impaired nervous function, which was markedly preserved by LPS pretreatment. Nrf2 knockdown significantly suppressed LPS pretreatment–induced protection of nervous function. TEM images and TUNEL staining showed an increase in apoptotic cells when Nrf2 was silenced. Moreover, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting analysis exhibited that LPS pretreatment significantly upregulated the expression of anti–oxidative proteins including HO-1, NQO1 and GCLC, which was suppressed when Nrf2 expression was silenced in injured spinal cords. Significance LPS preconditioning effectively alleviates TSCI–induced impairment and preserves nervous function in a Nrf2–dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piles are usually used as mooring or berthing dolphins in harbor to resist lateral loads mainly induced from ships’ impact, and as foundations for bridges and offshore structures (e.g. offshore wind turbines) to resist lateral and axial loads. During the design, the response of these piles to lateral loading should be analyzed, and in some circumstances, the lateral response governs the piles’ design. P-y curve method is the most popular approach and also is recommended by the offshore design standards/guidelines, such as American Petroleum Institute and Det Norske Veritas. However, the reliability of current P-y models is questionable when these models are employed to design a pile with dimensions beyond their originated field tests. In this study, firstly, field lateral loading tests on a rigid pile and a number of finite element analyses are comparably investigated. Then, a detailed evaluation of current P-y models is performed and discussed. Finally, a refined design guideline is presented for laterally loaded piles with a wider range of dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Maillard reaction of LcTLP and fructose was simulated during litchi drying. • The structure of Maillard reaction products was analyzed by using SAXS. • Molecular weight, Rg and secondary structure of conjugates were changed. • Maillard reaction process of LcTLP and fructose could be divided two stages. • Maillard reaction reduced the pro-inflammation activity of LcTLP. The structural characteristics and inflammatory activity of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) from fructose (Fru) and litchi thaumatin-like protein (LcTLP) with a pro-inflammatory activity were investigated. The structural changes of LcTLP-Fru MRPs were divided into two stages during the Maillard reaction. In 0–6 h, the unfolding and degradation of the LcTLP were dominant, resulting in a looser structure; the increase of β -sheets was 13.02%; the decrease of α -helices was 9.21%; and both the molecular weight and gyration radius R g decreased. After 6 h, the enhanced glycosylation caused the molecular weight to increase, while R g remained low, implying that the molecular structure became more compact. In addition, LcTLP-Fru MRPs reduced the inflammation response by significantly reducing the gene and protein expressions of tumor necrosis factor- α , interleukin-1 β , and interleukin-6 compared with the LcTLP group in RAW264.7 macrophages. The findings provided a theoretical foundation for addressing the inflammatory response caused by litchi products consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We propose a novel distribution-aware and policy-aware unified curiosity-driven learning framework to unify state novelty and state-action novelty. DAW enables the agent to explore states diversely, and PAWencourage the agent to explore the states that the policy is uncertain about which action to take. The proposed approach improves the exploration ability of RL with complete intrinsic reward; • We propose to improve the robustness of policy learning by smoothing the intrinsic reward with a batch of transitions close to the current transition; we propose to employ an attention module to extract task-relevant features for a more precise estimation of intrinsic reward; • Extensive experiments on Atari games demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. In reinforcement learning (RL), the intrinsic reward estimation is necessary for policy learning when the extrinsic reward is sparse or absent. To this end, Unified Curiosity-driven Learning with Smoothed intrinsic reward Estimation (UCLSE) is proposed to address the sparse extrinsic reward problem from the perspective of completeness of intrinsic reward estimation. We further propose state distribution-aware weighting method and policy-aware weighting method to dynamically unify two mainstream intrinsic reward estimation methods. In this way, the agent can explore the environment more effectively and efficiently. Under this framework, we propose to employ an attention module to extract task-relevant features for a more precise estimation of intrinsic reward. Moreover, we propose to improve the robustness of policy learning by smoothing the intrinsic reward with a batch of transitions close to the current transition. Extensive experimental results on Atari games demonstrate that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches in terms of both score and training efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quartz glass powder is a type of silicon-rich industrial waste. Accumulation of this waste has led to resource wastage and environmental pollution. In this paper, quartz glass powder is used as raw material for preparing xonotlite through hydrothermal synthesis. The effects of Ca/Si (C/S) molar ratio, liquid/solid ratio, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the conversion of quartz are studied. The phase and structural changes of glass powder are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on this, the conversion mechanism of quartz in glass powder is explained. The dissolution rate of quartz in an alkaline solution is a critical factor that restricts hydrothermal reactions. The conversion rate of quartz can be effectively increased by raising reaction temperature and extending reaction time. When the reaction temperature is 240 °C and the reaction time reaches 14 h, the conversion of quartz can reach 94.5 wt%. This study reveals the conversion mechanism of quartz in hydrothermal reactions and provides a theoretical basis for the efficient utilization of glass powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis, a metabolic bone disorder, markedly elevates fracture risks, with vertebral compression fractures being predominant. Antiosteoporotic treatments for patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) lessen both the occurrence of subsequent fractures and associated pain. Thus, diagnosing osteoporosis in OVCF patients is vital. The aim of this study was to develop a predictive radiographic model using T1 sequence MRI images to accurately determine whether patients with lumbar spine compression fractures also have osteoporosis. Retrospective cohort study. Patients over 45 years of age diagnosed with a fresh lumbar compression fracture. Diagnostic accuracy of the model (area under the ROC curve). The study retrospectively collected clinical and imaging data (MRI and DEXA) from hospitalized lumbar compression fracture patients (L1–L4) aged 45 years or older between January 2021 and June 2023. Using the pyradiomics package in Python, features from the lumbar compression fracture vertebral region of interest (ROI) were extracted. Downscaling of the extracted features was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) algorithm. Subsequently, six machine learning models (Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machine [SVM], Decision Tree, Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting [XGBoost], and Light Gradient Boosting Machine [LightGBM]) were employed to train and validate these features in predicting osteoporosis comorbidity in OVCF patients. A total of 128 participants, 79 in the osteoporotic group and 49 in the nonosteoporotic group, met the study's inclusion and exclusion criteria. From the T1 sequence MRI images, 1906 imaging features were extracted in both groups. Utilizing the Mann-Whitney U test, 365 radiologic features were selected out of the initial 1,906. Ultimately, the lasso algorithm identified 14 significant radiological features. These features, incorporated into six conventional machine learning algorithms, demonstrated successful prediction of osteoporosis in the validation set. The NaiveBayes model yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.84, sensitivity of 0.87, specificity of 0.70, and accuracy of 0.81. A NaiveBayes machine learning algorithm can predict osteoporosis in OVCF patients using t1-sequence MRI images of lumbar compression fractures. This approach aims to obviate the necessity for further osteoporosis assessments, diminish patient exposure to radiation, and bolster the clinical care of patients with OVCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bubble resonance with 35 Hz is observed, which could intensify pressure oscillation intensity. • Air is present in dispersive small bubbles or a toroid after condensation. • The onset of chugging is given by correlations. • A new frequency correlation modified with probability is developed. An experimental study is conducted on the condensation behavior, onset of chugging, fluid oscillation, and pressure oscillation when a steam–air mixture is injected vertically into subcooled water at a low mass flux. Air is present in the form of dispersive small bubbles after condensation at a low water temperature and in the shape of a toroid at a high water temperature. Bubble resonance is first observed experimentally; a large bubble is almost stationary below the pipe outlet and air is sustainably released by small bubbles from the upper surface. The upper air mass fraction of chugging is obtained and compared with a transient conduction–diffusion model and momentum balance model. The dependence of different parameters on the amplitude, frequency, and probability of fluid oscillation is analyzed. A new frequency correlation modified with probability is developed and shows good agreement with the experimental data. During bubble resonance, the wave shape of pressure oscillation is harmonic with the frequency at about 35 Hz, and the intensity is larger than that under pure steam conditions. When bubble resonance does not occur, the presence of air can reduce the pressure oscillation intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four typical interfacial shapes are observed. • The spreading rate of interfacial radius is in the range of 0.12–0.27. • The interfacial fluctuation height is proportional to the axial position with spreading coefficient 0.03 ± 0.008. • The maximum velocity and acceleration of interface fluctuation are estimated to be around 6 m/s and 20,000 m/s2, respectively. Interfacial characteristics of steam-air mixture sonic jets are recorded and processed using image processing technique. Interfacial shape, radius, fluctuation height, fluctuation velocity and fluctuation acceleration are analyzed. Four typical interfacial shapes including expansion-contraction, double expansion-contraction, expansion-contraction-divergence and expansion-divergence are observed and a three-dimensional interfacial shape map is developed. Gas dynamic effect is notable in the axial region of the near field. The interfacial radius increases linearly with the axial distance in the far field. The spreading rate increases with the rise of air mass fraction and its value is in the range of 0.12–0.27. The interfacial fluctuation height is proportional to the axial distance both in the near field and far field. The spreading coefficient is in the range of 0.03 ± 0.008. In general, both interfacial fluctuation velocity and acceleration increase with the axial distance. The growth rate decreases rapidly in the near field and then increases slightly again in the far field. The maximum velocity and acceleration of interface fluctuation are estimated to be around 6 m/s and 20,000 m/s2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The deposition model and the thermal resistance model of the deposits are verified. • The deposit growth and changes over a 500-day period in the fuel rod bundle channel are obtained. • The thermal resistance of the deposit increases rapidly once its thickness exceeds 30 μm. • The influence of different parameters on deposit growth and parameter changes is investigated. Corrosion of pressurized water reactors (PWR) in nuclear power plants can lead to serious safety hazards. This study aims to analyze the deposition of corrosion products using FLUENT software. Deposition models and thermal resistance models were developed, and the effects of deposits on the reactor's thermal–hydraulic characteristics were evaluated. Additionally, the impact of various parameters on deposition and thermal–hydraulic characteristics was examined. Results show that deposits accumulate extensively in the inlet section of the fuel cladding, while appearing as spot deposits in the outlet section. For deposit thicknesses below 30 μm, the surface temperature of the cladding gradually increases. However, when the thickness exceeds 30 μm, the surface temperature rapidly rises. Furthermore, the study reveals that the deposition amount decreases with increasing inlet flow velocity, exhibits an upward trend with higher inlet temperature, and increases with a higher wall heat flux density. This research provides important insights for understanding core deposition and thermal–hydraulic characteristics in nuclear reactor systems. It offers valuable guidance for enhancing safety and operational efficiency in nuclear power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) is an ideal two-dimensional material for enhancing the flexural strength and toughness of cement-based materials due to its exceptionally large theoretical specific surface area and Young's modulus. However, the smooth surface of GO results in weak bonding with the cement matrix. Additionally, GO has a tendency to agglomerate in cement paste, resulting in significant decreases in its specific surface area and its beneficial effect in cement-based materials. In this paper, GO modified by nano In(OH) 3 (IGOs) was successfully prepared for improving its specific surface area, dispersion and bonding with the cement matrix. These improvements were achieved by utilizing urea and sodium citrate as nanoparticle stabilizers to adjust the pH of solution. Furthermore, the optimal compositions of IGO material as described above and its effects were identified through investigating the impact of IGOs on the cement paste. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore anchor piles are extensively used as moor-floating structures in harsh environments that experience oblique tensile loads and the mechanical response is complex. This study investigated the effect of oblique tensile loads on the response of anchor piles in calcareous sand through a series of model tests and the standard penetration tests (SPT) to obtained bearing capacity equations. Eight model piles were installed into the calcareous sand bed with relative densities (D r) of 53%, 75% and were loaded with different load inclination angles (α). The test results showed that the load-displacement curves were nonlinear and that dense sand could effectively control deformation and improve the bearing capacity. The critical load inclination, corresponding to the maximum load capacity for a given pile under tension loading, was around 30° and was larger than that for the terrestrial sand (5°∼10°), which may have been caused by particle breakage. The bending stress of the anchor pile was 2∼8 times the axial stress. In dense sand (D r = 75%), the bending moment reaches its maximum around the critical angle (30°), indicating a the strong interaction between the pile and calcareous sand. The ultimate tensile load of anchor piles is a function of load inclination angle and ultimate capacity of uplift and horizontal piles. • The critical value of the load inclination angle for anchor piles in calcareous sand is around 30°. • The depth of maximum bending moment developed along the shaft of anchor piles is about 2.5d∼4d below the pile top. • Oblique tensile loads result in unignorable bending stress in anchor piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is widely acknowledged as a pivotal energy carrier in the global transition towards sustainable energy. One promising approach to hydrogen production is method copper-chlorine cycle powered by nuclear energy. This article presents an innovative integrated system for small lead-cooled fast reactors that are coupled with a copper-chlorine cycle. To assess the performance of the entire system with regards to energy, exergy, and economics, comprehensive modeling, simulation, and analysis are conducted using the simulation tool Simulink. Furthermore, a comprehensive examination of key operating parameters was conducted to explore their impact on the system. The obtained results demonstrate the energy efficiency of system is 21.3 % and the exergy efficiency of system is 40.9 %. The overall system based on the small LFR can produce high-pressure compressed hydrogen gas at a rate of 2.34 g/s and generate 53.9 kW of electricity. According to the study, the levelized cost of energy production is determined to be $0.04252/kW·h. The specific energy cost is primarily influenced by equipment investment, including the costs associated with operating and maintaining the system. Notably, the small lead-cooled fast reactor and the copper-chlorine cycle plant represent the major capital investments within the system. This study provides valuable insights and serves as a significant reference for the future engineering applications of lead-cooled fast reactors coupled with copper-chlorine cycle hydrogen systems. • Assess the performance of the Systems and subsystems in terms of energy, exergy. • Investigate the influence of key parameters on efficiency and hydrogen production rate. • Employ the levelized cost of energy production for the system's techno-economic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the three-dimensional boundary element method, a practical analysis method for piled raft in clay is presented and validated against the results from the existing numerical simulations and field measurements. A parametric study is performed to investigate the variation of the normalized settlement of the piled raft, including the effects of soil condition, pile dimensions and soil-pile adhesion. Then, a design chart considering the variation of normalized settlement with soil rigidity under different factors of safety is recommended to facilitate the practical engineering design, which is verified against the field and laboratory measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]