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A shielded geomagnetic field, also called the hypomagnetic field (HMF), interferes with the metabolic processes of various cells and animals exhibiting diverse effects in different models, however, its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the effect on the energy metabolism of SH-SY5Y cells in HMF and found that HMF-induced cell proliferation depends on glucose supply. HMF promoted SH-SY5Y cell proliferation by increasing glucose consumption rate via up-regulating anaerobic glycolysis in the cells. Increased activity of LDH, a key member of glycolysis, was possibly a direct response to HMF-induced cell proliferation. Thus, we unveiled a novel subcellular mechanism underlying the HMF-induced cellular response: the up-regulation of anaerobic glycolysis and repression of oxidative stress shifted cellular metabolism more towards the Warburg effect commonly observed in cancer metabolism. We suggest that cellular metabolic profiles of various cell types may determine HMF-induced cellular effects, and a magnetic field can be applied as a non-invasive regulator of cell metabolism.

The phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the U–Nb system were investigated through experiments and thermodynamic modeling. In the experiments, a series of samples with different content of Nb were prepared by arc melting. The Nb content covers the entire composition range of the U–Nb binary system. After solidification, the samples were annealed and then analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter and neutron diffraction. The equilibrium phases, including γ1 (U-rich bcc), αU, and γ2 (U-depleted bcc), were determined in detail from the experimental characterization. The occurrence of the invariant reaction γ1→ αU + γ2 was confirmed, and the reaction temperature and composition were accurately identified. Moreover, the experimental findings clarify the dispute between the Dwight and Terekhov theories regarding the phase region (i.e., whether the phase region is αU + γ1 or βU + γ2). Furthermore, the U–Nb phase diagram was reassessed by incorporating the present experimental data and previously published reliable experimental data from the literature. A set of self-consistent thermodynamic parameters were developed using CALPHAD (Calculation of phase diagrams), and the calculations reasonably agree with the experimental observations.

Inverse heat conduction problems appear in a variety of applications in industry and academia. Due to their mathematical challenges, they have been studied extensively over the last decades. Nevertheless, the solution of three dimensional transient inverse heat conduction problems are still computationally expensive. Commonly used solution approaches include the regularization-based approaches such as Tikhonov regularization or iterative regularization that result in formulating and solving optimization problems. A radically different solution approach is presented in this paper to provide efficient solutions of three dimensional transient inverse heat conduction problems on thin-plates that are used very often in industrial applications. Instead of solving optimization problems subject to constraints given in terms of three dimensional partial differential equations, the suggested approach transforms the inverse problem into an easy-to-solve direct problem that only needs the reconstruction of a Dirichlet boundary condition. This yields an approximated solution. Furthermore, a new time-space adaptive mesh refinement strategy is proposed to further reduce computational effort at an acceptable level of estimation precision. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed sequential approach as well as the time-space adaptive mesh refinement strategy are validated by four representative case studies arising from practice. Estimation results with experimental data are also presented. The current work is considered as an important step forward towards the efficient solution of transient three dimensional inverse heat conduction problems, which is particularly useful for developing heat-flux soft sensors in practical problems arising from different fields such as pool boiling, falling films and steelmaking.

The UC1-xNx solid solution modified layers that improve corrosion resistance and surface hardness of uranium were prepared by pulsed laser irradiating the surface uranium in the mixed atmospheres where the partial pressure ratios of CH4 to N2 are 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1, respectively. The SEM images show that the distribution of micro-cracks in the modified layers decreases significantly with the increase of partial pressure of CH4 in the mixed atmospheres. The phase structure and chemical composition of the modified layers were investigated by XRD and AES. XRD results show that the composition of the carbonitride modified layers is mainly UC1-xNx solid solution, only with a small amount of free uranium and uranium dioxide. AES results reveal that the C and N contents in the UC1-xNx solid solution can be adjusted by the respective partial pressure of CH4 and N2. The U 4f, N 1s and C 1s core-level also confirmed that the UC1-xNx solid solution is the main component in the laser modified layers. Electrochemical polarization tests were conducted in 0.02 mol/L NaCl solution and the results indicated that the carbonitride modified layer prepared in an atmosphere where the ratio of CH4 to N2 at 1:2 have excellent corrosion resistance, its self-corrosive potential and self-corrosive current are −2.28 × 10−1 V and 5.56 × 10−8 A/cm2, respectively, while the values of the uranium are −5.67 × 10−1 V and 8.08 × 10−7 A/cm2, respectively. Nano-indentation measurement results show that the average hardness at different depths of these modified layers is between 7 GPa and 9 GPa, while the average value of the uranium is 4.1 GPa.

An N-doped MnO/rGO composite (N-MnO/rGO) was successfully fabricated by a one-step hydrothermal method in which histidine and potassium permanganate (KMnO4) reacted in water containing graphene oxide, and the product was then calcinated in a nitrogen (N2) atmosphere. The N-MnO/rGO presents an excellent lithium-storage capability. It shows a high reversible specific capacity of 1020 mA h g−1 at a current density of 200 mA g−1 after 150 cycles and 760 mA h g−1 at a current density of 500 mA g−1 after 200 cycles. Meanwhile, the N-MnO/rGO sample presents a stable rate capability from 100 to 2000 mA g−1. Even at 2000 mA g−1, the electrode delivers 335 mA h g−1, which is higher than the capability for the pure MnO particles and rGO sheets. The outstanding electrochemical performances of the N-MnO/rGO electrodes may be attributed to the combined effect of the rGO with N-doping that can effectively buffer the large volume expansion of the MnO particles and can enhance the transport rates of lithium ions and electrons during lithium cycling.

NiO-ZnO/RGO composite was obtained by the annealing of an Ni (OH) 2 -Zn (OH) 2 /RGO precursor, which has been fabricated by in situ ultrasonic agitation. Moreover, the NiO-ZnO nanoflakes are evenly distributed on the RGO sheets based on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterization results. When the NiO-ZnO/RGO composite was used as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the electrodes exhibited a high reversible capacity of 1017 mA h/g at a current density of 100 mA/g after 200 cycles and a specific capacity of 458 mA h/g at 500 mA/g even after 400 cycles. The electrode even reached a capacity of 185 mA h/g at a current density of 2000 mA/g. The excellent electrochemical properties of the NiO-ZnO/RGO composite might be attributable to the NiO-ZnO nanoflakes offering rich electrochemical reaction sites and shortening the diffusion length for lithium ion (Li + ), as well as the RGO sheets improving the transfer rates of Li + and electron during the charge-discharge process.

To determine the contributions of elastic strain energy to chemical driving force of uranium hydride growth, an elastic fields model was set up by a spherical hydride particle growing at sub-surface of parent metal, which was used to interpret strain energy influence on the evolution of microstructure and kinetics characteristics of the hydride precipitates. The results showed that strain energy during hydride expansile growth in the matrix is considerably different for the three U materials. When hydride grows, the order of the strain energy value is U-5.7%Nb > U > U-2.5%Nb(mass fraction), which indicated that the U-2.5%Nb alloy is the most susceptible to hydrogen corrosion, followed by U, while U-5.7%Nb is the most resistant to hydrogen corrosion basing on reaction activation theory. Agreement of calculated strain energy with experimental results of hydride growth kinetics showed that the model in this work is correct, in which the large strain energy from volume change during hydride growth plays an important role in determination of growth kinetics. In addition to strain energy calculation, the stress distribution associated with hydride precipitate was used to interpret the interaction between hydride pattern and stress. The study provides quantificational evidences to understand the association of strain energy and stress with hydride of metals, which will lead to novel process opportunities.

Boiling heat transfer is widely used in industry and in daily life and it can be enhanced by micro/nano surface modification. Herein, we study the pool boiling characteristics of the micro nano bi-porous copper surface with optimal cavity size from other researchers and present an efficient way to further enhance its boiling heat transfer performance by wettability modification of enlarging the particle size to lower the surface energy. In this work, two micro nano bi-porous copper surface samples were prepared and compared with conventional surfaces. One is the original micro nano bi-porous copper surface (Sample#O) prepared using the hydrogen bubble template deposition method to form abundant pores in optimal cavity size, and the other one is the modified micro nano bi-porous copper surface (Sample#M) that is modified by applying a low current density on Sample#O for a few minutes. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images show that Sample#M keeps the pore size but enlarges the nano dendrite on the top of pore wall to micro balls. The conducted pool boiling experiments indicate that both micro nano bi-porous copper surfaces have superior heat transfer coefficients than the plain copper surface, and the high-speed camera shows that the micro nano bi-porous copper surfaces have shorter bubble growth periods than those surfaces with pure nano structure or pure micro structure. At a heat flux of 90 W cm−2, the heat transfer coefficient of Sample#O is 13 W cm−2 K−1, which is 2.8 times over that of the plain surface. Compared to Sample#O, Sample#M can further enhance the pool boiling heat transfer. At the same heat flux of about 90 W cm−2, the heat transfer coefficient of Sample#M is 23 W cm−2 K−1, which is 1.7 times over that of Sample#O and 4.8 times over that of the plain surface. The heat transfer coefficient of Sample#M can be as high as 30 W cm−2 K−1 when it reaches the CHF. High-speed camera images show that highest bubble growth period for Sample#M is just less than 20 ms, which is shorter than that of Sample#O having a value in between 20 ms and 40 ms. It confirms that Sample#M after wettability modification has a lower interface energy which can accelerate the bubbles departure, and has an even more superior heat transfer performance than Sample#O.

The U–Ti binary system was investigated via experimental measurements and thermodynamic modeling. In order to clarify the disputed phase equilibria of the U–Ti system, 11 alloys with different contents of Ti were prepared by arc melting. The investigated Ti content covers the U-rich portion within the composition range from 1 at.% Ti to 33.3 at.% Ti. All samples were annealed at the temperatures of 640, 720 and 730 °C, and then analyzed by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimeter. The phase equilibria associated with γ(U,Ti), αU, βU, and δ-U2Ti were experimentally determined in detail. The reaction temperature and composition of the invariant reaction γ(U,Ti) → βU + δ-U2Ti were precisely determined, and the invariant reaction temperature of the reaction βU→ αU + δ-U2Ti was updated. The solid solubility of Ti in αU at low temperatures was also revised by experiments. The temperature and the enthalpy of transition δ-U2Ti to γ(U,Ti) were newly measured by the differential scanning calorimeter. Finally, a set of self-consistent thermodynamic parameters were obtained by taking into account the present experimental findings and reliable literature data using CALPHAD (Calculation of phase diagrams) technique, and all calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental ones.

Micro pin fin arrays have been widely used in electronic cooling, micro reactors, catalyst support, and wettability modification and so on, and a facile way to produce better micro pin fin arrays is demanded. Herein, a simple electrochemical method has been developed to fabricate copper vertical micro dendrite fin arrays (Cu-VMDFA) with controllable shapes, number density and height. High copper sulphate concentration is one key point to make the dendrite stand vertically. Besides, the applied current should rise at an appropriate rate to ensure the copper dendrite can grow vertically on its own. The Cu-VMDFA can significantly enhance the heat transfer coefficient by approximately twice compared to the plain copper surface. The Cu-VMDFA may be widely used in boiling heat transfer areas such as nuclear power plants, electronic cooling, heat exchangers, and so on.

The structural, mechanical, dynamical and electronic properties of ternary MAX phase Mo2GeC under high pressure has been investigated by first-principles calculations within the generalized gradient approximation of density functional theory. The structural parameters in the pressure range of 0–50 GPa are presented and it is found that Mo2GeC is much more compressible along the a direction than along the c direction. Moreover, mechanical properties including elastic constants, elastic moduli, Possion’s ratio, Vickers hardness, and Deybe’s temperature are given. We find that C 33 increases rapidly as pressure is increased, which implies a strong resistance to the compression strain along the c direction. This mechanical anisotropy is also illustrated by the directional bulk modulus. Furthermore, Mo2GeC is dynamically stable from 0 to 50 GPa by the phonon calculation. Finally our electronic structure calculation shows that Mo2GeC is predicted to be metallic and the metallicity of Mo2GeC increases with increasing pressure. The charge density distributions show the existence of the covalent Mo C bonds and with increasing pressure, the covalent Mo Ge bonds and the covalent Mo-Mo bonds. Bader’s charge analysis shows that the Mo charges increase while the Ge and C charges decrease as pressure is increased.

Janus effect has been studied for emerging materials like Janus membranes, Janus nanoparticles, etc., and the applications including fog collection, oil/water separation, CO 2 removal and stabilization of multiphasic mixtures. However, the Janus effect on oil/water separation is still unclear. Herein, Janus Cu mesh decorated with Ni-NiO/Ni(OH) 2 core-shell nanoparticles is synthesized via selective electrodeposition, in which we keep one side of Cu mesh (Janus A) to be superhydrophilic, while manipulate the wettability of another side (Janus B) from hydrophobic to superhydrophilic. Experimental results indicate that Cu mesh with both-side superhydrophilic shows the superior oil/water separation performance (separation efficiency >99.5%), which is mainly due to its higher water capture percentage as well as larger oil intrusion pressure. Further, we demonstrate the orientation of Janus membranes for oil/water separation, and summarize that the wettability of the upper surface plays a more important role than the lower surface to achieve remarkable performance. Our work provides a clear insight of Janus effect on oil/water separation, it is significative to design high-performance membranes for oil/water separation and many other applications.

Small bubbles are desirable to be frequently generated and detach from the heated surface in pool boiling. Bubble nucleation and bubble departure can be influenced by the size of micro-nano structure. In this work, four honeycomb micro-nano porous copper surfaces with successively increasing pore sizes are prepared by controlling the electrodeposition current densities. Both experiments on saturated pool boiling of water and numerical simulations are conducted. The heat transfer performance of prepared surfaces is improved significantly and then decreased slightly when the pore size ranges from 48 μm to 128 μm, with maximum critical heat flux and heat transfer coefficient reaching 187.3 W/cm2 and 23.7 W/cm2/K, respectively. Numerical simulations considering three-dimensional (3D) complex geometries of the four samples reconstructed by a computed tomography scanning technique are conducted. Numerical results show that the percentage of heat flowing out of the three-phase contact lines by phase change at high heat-flux supply can increase to 90%, which is consistent with previous literature results. Subject to a parametric 3D transient heat-conduction forward model developed in this work, a multi-layer end-to-end convolutional neural network is for the first time constructed and trained to solve the corresponding ill-posed inverse problems of 3D transient heat conduction efficiently. It provides a promising alternative way to develop a highly efficient temperature-to-heat-flux soft sensor technique for both boiling applications and many other similar engineering problems.

In this work, we investigate the droplet bouncing on the hierarchical branched nanotube (BNT) arrays surface above and below 0 °C. By anodization, we fabricate large-area arrays of BNT with the BNT spacing controlled from adjacent to sparse. We evaluate the influence of the BNT spacing on the droplet bouncing. The adjacently distributed BNT (A-BNT) outperforms the sparsely distributed BNT (S-BNT). We find that the A-BNT can repel up to 3.1 m/s droplet at 20 °C and 2.3 m/s droplet at −18 °C, while the maximum bouncing velocity on the S-BNT is below 2.3 m/s at 20 °C and below 0.9 m/s at −10 °C. For the bouncing on the supercooled A-BNT surface, the droplet bouncing contact time increases as the substrate temperature decreases for the same droplet velocity, while the bouncing contact time decreases as the droplet velocity increases for the same substrate temperature. We discuss the influence of the nanosized air cushion entrapped amid the branched-arms of the BNT on the three-phase contact line on the BNT walls and bouncing performance under supercooled conditions.

Boiling heat transfer (BHT) is widely used in industry and in our daily lives, and it can be enhanced by micro/nano structures. Previously, porous honeycomb copper surfaces have been proven to significantly enhance BHT performance, but how a radial pore diameter gradient affects BHT is still unknown. In this paper, two porous honeycomb copper surfaces with uniform pore diameters of 60 and 120 μm, respectively (named Sample#U1 and Sample#U2), were prepared using the electrochemical deposition method. On this basis, a porous honeycomb surface with a radial diameter gradient was prepared by infusing liquid onto the reaction surface during the deposition process. The range of pore diameters from the center to the edge was 60–120 μm (named Sample#G1). Pool boiling experiment results showed that the sample with the radial diameter gradient had superior heat transfer performance. Sample#G1, with the smallest pores at the center and largest pores at the edge, had a maximum nucleate BHT coefficient hMNB of 16.1 W•cm–2 K–1, which was about 1.4 times that of Sample#U2, 1.5 times that of Sample#U1, and 3.5 times that of a pure copper surface. It was assumed that surfaces with a radial diameter gradient had a superior rewetting ability, and this was confirmed in a capillary wicking experiment. The K/Reff of the sample with the radial diameter gradient was larger than those of the samples with uniform diameter, which indicated that a radial diameter gradient surface could quickly accelerate the replenishment of water in pool boiling. A porous structure provides pores and cavities, which was benefit for activate bubble nucleation under a low superheat. Sampe#G1 had the lowest ΔTONB. The bubble dynamics also proved that the sample with the radial diameter gradient had a faster bubble growth speed than those with a uniform diameter, resulting in faster heat removal.

Boiling hysteresis is a side effect that usually occurs with overshot temperature before steady boiling, often noted as a start-up problem. This phenomenon tends to emerge when porous surfaces are used to enhance boiling heat transfer performance. It is important to reduce or eliminate hysteresis before various micro−/nanoporous surfaces can be deemed acceptable in the thermal management industry. In this study, a two-layer composite surface (TLCS) with a copper forest structure at the bottom and micro-nano biporous structure at the top showed good enhancement at a heat transfer coefficient of 340% and critical heat flux of 67% compared to a plain copper surface with water as the working fluid at atmosphere. However, boiling hysteresis occurred on TLCS; the highest wall superheat temperature difference between steady boiling and the start-up process was approximately 13.5 K at 140 W cm−2. When TLCS was modified with Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the temperature difference at the same heat flux was less than 0.5 K, demonstrating that the boiling hysteresis phenomenon was successfully eliminated.

Polymorphisms in interferon (IFN)L3 (encodes IFNλ3 or interleukin 28B) are associated with outcomes of treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, there is controversy regarding how polymorphisms in IFNL3 affect the risk for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.In a retrospective study, we analyzed data from 1118 patients with HCV infection (589 men; median age, 60 y; 49.9% infected with genotype 1; 51.3% with advanced fibrosis) treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin from March 2000 through October 2009 at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (71.64% achieved sustained virologic response [SVR]). Baseline samples were collected before therapy. Starting 24 weeks after treatment, clinical and biochemical features were assessed every 3 to 6 months and patients underwent ultrasound examinations. Lesions detected were examined by computed tomography, angiography, or fine-needle aspiration biopsy analyses. Patients were followed up from the initiation of HCV therapy until a diagnosis of HCC (based on published guidelines), death, or March 31, 2013 (median, 60 mo). DNA samples from each patient were analyzed for rs12979860 in IFNL3. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine the risk for development of HCC.The percentages of patients with the IFNL3 rs12979860 CC, CT, and TT genotypes were 86.4%, 13.2%, and 0.3%, respectively. A total of 108 patients (9.66%) developed HCC. The IFNL3 rs12979860 CT and TT genotypes correlated with high baseline levels of α-fetoprotein (AFP; ≥20 ng/mL), advanced stage of fibrosis, diabetes, or lack of an SVR (all P.05). Based on multivariate Cox regression analysis, age 60 years and older, low platelet count (15 × 10(9) cells/L), AFP level of 20 ng/mL or greater, advanced stage fibrosis, diabetes, lack of an SVR, and the IFNL3 rs12979860 CT and TT genotypes were significant risk factors for HCC (P.05). Age 60 years and older, low numbers of platelets or high AFP level, and advanced fibrosis were risk factors for HCC among patients with a SVR. The IFNL3 rs12979860 genotype did not have a significant effect on risk for HCC among patients with SVRs, although some of these patients (with the CT or TT genotype) did develop HCC. Among patients without SVRs, only fibrosis stage and the IFNL3 rs12979860 CT and TT genotypes (hazard ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-3.07; P = .030) were independent risk factors for HCC.Based on a retrospective study of patients treated for HCV infection, the IFNL3 rs12979860 CT and TT polymorphisms are associated with a risk for HCC, especially in patients without a SVR.

Both suspended graphene and graphene on Si-terminated (0 0 0 1) SiC system with the lattice parameter of 4.92 A (strained) or 5.33 A (unstrained) were simulated using first-principles method to investigate the substrate effect on thermal transport properties of graphene on SiC. The thermal conductance of graphene on substrate is figured out to have a dramatical reduction, with a maximum value of 42% which can only be found on the buffer graphene layer, compared to that of suspended graphene at room temperature. The results will help to accelerate application of graphene in the situation where substrate effect cannot be ignored.

Graphene-epoxy thermal conductive adhesive was obtained using few-layer graphene sheets as additives which were fabricated by a re-expansion and exfoliation method. The experimental results show that graphene sheets can effectively enhance the thermal conductivity of epoxy matrix, with 4.01 W m −1 K −1 for the maximum filling loading of weight 10.10%, which is enhanced by more than 22 times of the pure epoxy resin, about 2.2 times higher than that of the same resin with the maximum weight 16.81% filled with graphite nanoflakes, and approximately 2.4 times higher than that of the same resin with the maximum weight 44.3% filled with the natural graphite powder.

Background & Aims: We compared the mortality and treatment response between lamivudine (LAM) and entecavir (ETV) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with severe acute exacerbation and hepatic decompensation. Methods: From 2003 to 2010 (the LAM group) and 2008 to 2010 (the ETV group), 215 and 107 consecutive CHB naive patients with severe acute exacerbation and hepatic decompensation treated with LAM and ETV respectively, were recruited. Results: At baseline, the LAM group had higher AST levels and end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores, and lower albumin levels than the ETV group. Univariate analysis showed that the LAM group had a higher rate of overall (p = 0.02) and liver-related mortality (p = 0.052) at week 24 than the ETV group, including in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure. Multivariate analysis showed that MELD scores, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy were independent factors for overall and liver-related mortality at week 24. ETV or LAM treatment was not an independent factor for mortality in all patients or patients with acute-onchronic liver failure. The best cut-off value of MELD scores were 24 for 24-week liver-related mortality. The ETV group achieved better virological response (HBV DNA

Heat dissipation is an important issue for electronic devices. In the present work, we prepared eight kinds of thermal adhesives by filling the epoxy resin with natural graphite, copper, aluminum, zinc oxide, boron nitride, aluminum oxide, diamond and silver powders, and measured the thermal conductivity of all samples. The results show the eight fillers can efficiently improve the thermal conductivity of the epoxy resin. Meanwhile, we found the layer-shape filler is more favorable than the ball-shape filler and the sharp-corner-shape filler to enhance the thermal conductivity of epoxy resin, and the low price layer-shape natural graphite-epoxy adhesive had the highest thermal conductivity up to 1.68 W m −1 K −1 at weight 44.3% of the eight thermal adhesives. All the fillers and the cross sections of thermal adhesives morphologies images were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and the thermal conductivities of all the samples were measured by Hot Disk TPS-2500 thermal constants analyzer.

Graphene-based composite materials have attracted much attention as anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, TiO2 nanorods anchored on reduced graphene oxide (R-TiO2/rGO) composite were fabricated by hydrothermal method after annealing treatment and then explored as anode material for LIBs. The resultant R-TiO2/rGO samples possess TiO2 nanorods (with a section width of ~5 nm) on the surface of RGO sheets and a specific surface area of 149.5 m2 g−1. Notably, the electrodes deliver high reversible capacities of 267 mA h g−1 at 1 C after 100 cycles and 151 mA h g−1 at 10 C after 500 cycles (1 C = 168 mA g−1, voltage window: 0.01–3 V), respectively. Furthermore, the electrodes exhibit a remarkable rate capability of 55 mA h g−1 at 30 C, and a high coulombic efficiency (~99.5%). Moreover, the sample displays 96 mA h g−1 at 10 C after 1000 cycles ranged from 1 to 3 V. Such a favorable performance can be ascribed to the RGO sheets that facilitate the transport of Li+ and electrons during the lithium cycling process while, the pseudo-capacitance contribution may also be partially responsible for the excellent energy storage performance. This suggests the R-TiO2/rGO composite as a promising anode material for long-term LIBs.

Transition metal oxide/reduced graphene oxide (TMO/RGO) composites have been explored for development as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs); TMOs have high theoretical capacities, and the oxidation degrees of RGO sheets can directly affect the lithium storage performance of TMO/RGO composites. In this work, several NiO/reduced graphene oxide composites (NiO/RGO) are prepared based on oxidation degrees of graphite oxide sheets (GOs) through an ultrasonic agitation method. These composites are then explored as anodes for LIBs. Results show that the reversible capacity of NiO/RGO composites increases gradually to 1046 mA h/g and then declines to 956 mA h/g after 50 cycles at 100 mA/g. The variation rule of lithium storage properties of NiO/RGO samples can be attributed to the surface functional groups of RGO sheets, which can affect interfacial interaction between NiO and RGO sheets due to the different oxidation degrees of GO. Different RGO sheets also show distinct abilities to hinder NiO pulverisation and promote lithium-ion/electron diffusion during repeated charge and discharge processes.

Any plants grown during long-term space missions will inevitably experience an extremely low magnetic field (i.e. a hypogeomagnetic field, HGMF). It is possible that the innate adaptation of plants to the earth’s magnetic field (i.e. the geomagnetic field, GMF) would be disrupted. Effects of the HGMF on plant physiological and metabolic processes are unclear. In this study we established a hypogeomagnetic incubation system on the ground and investigated the effects of the HGMF on the gravitropism and germination of soybean seeds. The gravitropism angle, germination percentage, germination speed, water absorbance ratio, seed weight, radicle length, radicle weight, and radicle weight ratio of soybean seeds grown in the local field and the HGMF were compared. In general, the gravitropism angle in the HGMF was smaller than that in the local field when seeds were positioned before emergence in such a way that the direction of the radicle was opposite to that of gravity. The germination percentage, germination speed, and radicle weight ratio increased in the HGMF compared to the control. Our results indicate that the germination and gravitropism of soybean seeds are affected by elimination of the geomagnetic field.

Background & Aims The aim of this study was to determine the evolution of full-length hepatitis B virus (HBV) sequences in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with sequential lamivudine (LAM) and adefovir (ADV) resistance. Methods The full-length genomes of HBV were sequenced from 11 CHB patients before LAM treatment and at the emergence of LAM- and ADV-resistant HBV. Results Besides the known LAM-resistant polymerase gene mutations, 10 of 11 patients who had LAM-resistant HBV variants had additional amino acid changes in the reverse transcriptase (RT) domain, and ADV therapy reversed these additional changes to pre-LAM therapy status. Furthermore, new amino acid changes in the RT domain, distinct from the known ADV-resistant HBV variants, were selected at the emergence of ADV resistance in six of 11 patients. Seven patients had amino acid changes within the known T-cell or B-cell epitopes of HBV surface and core antigens at the emergence of LAM and/or ADV resistance. The frequency of pre-S deletions between nucleotide 3037–56 was higher at the emergence of ADV resistance compared with that at the emergence of LAM resistance (7/11 vs. 1/11; p= 0.024). Combined LAM–ADV resistance was detected in one of 11 patients. This patient had resistant mutations to both drugs on the same viral genome by molecular cloning (5/24 polymerase gene clones). Conclusions In addition to the known LAM- and ADV-resistant mutations accompanying the emergence of LAM and ADV resistance, the changes of nucleotide or amino acid sequences occurred commonly in the HBV surface antigen or RT domain and were scattered along the full-length HBV genomes.

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) shows a significant association with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is important in the diagnosis of HCC, but elevated AFP levels have also been observed in CHC without HCC. We evaluated the clinical correlation between elevated AFP levels and CHC. Methods: From April 1999 to November 2004, 654 CHC patients with no evidence of HCC from imaging studies were collected by chart review. Results: The prevalence of elevated AFP levels (≥ 15 ng/mL) was 23.9%. Univariate analysis revealed that age, histological activity index (HAI) fibrosis score of 3/4, HAI inflammation score ≥ 7, aspartate amino-transferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, AST/ALT ratio, and total bilirubin level were associated with elevated AFP levels. Multivariate analysis revealed that age (≥ 55 vs. < 55 years), HAI inflammation score (≥ 7 vs.. < 7), ALT (> 150 vs.. ≤ 150 U/L), and platelet count (≤ 150 × 109 vs. > 150 × 109 cells/L) were associated with elevated AFP levels. Multivariate analysis also revealed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b, platelet count ≤ 150 × 109 cells/L, AST > 80 U/L and AFP ≥ 6 ng/mL were associated with advanced fibrosis. Using a cut-off AFP level of ≥ 6.0 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing fibrosis score 3/4 was 74.3% and 68.4%, respectively. Using a cut-off AFP level of ≥ 15.0 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing fibrosis score 3/4 was 35.7% and 91.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Elevated AFP levels were observed in 23.9% of patients with CHC. Elevated AFP levels correlated positively with age, HAI inflammation score, ALT elevation, and thrombocytopenia. In addition, HCV genotype 1b, thrombocytopenia, AST elevation, and AFP level ≥ 6 ng/mL were associated with advanced fibrosis.

Background/Aims In renal transplant recipients (RTRs), chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may lead to poor outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the role of the HBV genotype, core promoter and precore mutations in advanced liver disease in RTRs. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 51 RTRs positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). HBV genotype determination and direct sequencing of core promoter and precore regions were performed using the baseline and end-of-follow-up sera post-renal transplantation. Results Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and HBV DNA levels were elevated after transplantation (66%). HBV genotypes B and C were found in 45 (88%) and 6 (12%) patients, respectively. There was no significant association of cirrhosis development with ALT, and hepatitis B-e antigen (HBeAg) levels, type of immunosuppressant, HBV genotype, T1762/A1764 and A1896 mutations, and duration of follow-up, except endpoint HBV DNA levels (⩾10 5 copies/ml). High T1762/A1764 mutation rates were associated with high HBV DNA levels ( P =0.036) at the endpoint. Conclusions HBV DNA replication was enhanced in RTRs with T1762/A1764 mutation. Increased serum HBV DNA levels were associated with cirrhosis development. T1762/A1764 mutation and cirrhosis development did not show significant correlation because of small sample size and/or interventional anti-viral therapies during follow-up.

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging offers prognostic stratification and treatment allocation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted this retrospective study to assess the efficacy of different treatment options for patients with initial HCC diagnosis. Survival rate and median survival times associated with different treatment options in each stage of BCLC classification were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. A total of 3892 patients were enrolled. Overall survival rates were 46.2% at 1 year and 16.6% at 5 years. The median survival times decreased from 57.7 months in very early stage to 1.6 months in terminal stage. Surgical resection offered the best survival benefit for patients in very early, early and even intermediate stages. Transarterial embolisation and conformal radiotherapy offered survival benefits for selected patients in advanced and terminal stages. In conclusion, following the treatment schedules allocated by BCLC staging had survival benefits for HCC patients.

Diagnosis of acute hepatitis C (AHC) relies on documented positive-seroconversion of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) that is infrequently encountered. To clarify the epidemiology and clinical course of AHC, we tried to find more AHC patients from a computerized laboratory database by using a supplemental criterion of rising anti-HCV titer.All the computerized laboratory databases of anti-HCV and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were reviewed. Candidates for AHC were identified by either anti-HCV positive seroconversion, rise of anti-HCV titer (signal to cut-off ratio (S/CO) ratio40 toor = 40), or spontaneous HCV RNA clearance. AHC cases and their matched chronic hepatitis C controls were interviewed by a case-control study concerning risk factors.AHC was identified in 123 patients (68 men and 55 women; median age: 48.4+/-13.9 years), who had higher rates of recent surgery (p=0.037) and frequent injection therapy (p=0.036) compared to controls. Self-limited AHC was observed in 18 (19.1%, 95% confidence interval: 12.3-25.9%) of 94 AHC patients who had been followed for 6 months, with a higher bilirubin level (or = 2 vs.2, p=0.007) compared to those evolved to chronic infection.Screening of a laboratory database for anti-HCV and ALT might uncover more AHC candidates to disclose the epidemiology and clinical course of AHC.

Objective In Taiwan, the carrier rate of hepatitis B surface antigen is 15% to 20%, one of the highest in the world. Among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative accounts for approximately 40% to 50% of these patients. A recent study found that peginterferon alfa-2a (40 KD) is more effective than lamivudine in treating HBeAg-negative CHB, but its cost-effectiveness has not been evaluated. Our objective is to evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness of 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa-2a compared to 48 weeks of lamivudine, from the perspective of the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance. Methods A Markov model was used to simulate the natural history of HBeAg-negative CHB in a cohort of 40-year-old patients. Efficacy, disease progression, economic, and quality-of-life data were derived from published literature and a survey of clinical experts in Taiwan. Life expectancy, quality-adjusted life expectancy, lifetime costs in New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) (1 USD=31.96 NTD), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated. Results The gain in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa-2a compared to 48 weeks of lamivudine was 0.45 at an additional cost of 157,000 NTD (4900 USD), resulting in an ICER of 347,000 NTD (10,900 USD) per QALY gained. The 95% central range for the ICER from a probabilistic sensitivity analysis was 228,000–566,000 NTD (7100–17,700 USD). Conclusions In HBeAg-negative CHB, 48 weeks of treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a compared to 48 weeks of lamivudine appears to offer life expectancy and quality-of-life improvements at an acceptable cost-effectiveness ratio.

Background & Aims: This longitudinal study investigated the interactions and roles of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes, pre-S deletions, and core promoter and precore mutations on the progression of liver disease in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients. Methods: A total of 141 HBeAg-negative patients without liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma at study entry were recruited for this study, including 45 inactive HBV carriers and 96 patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. The HBV genotypes and the sequences of pre-S, core promoter, and precore regions were determined. Results: Compared with patients without developing liver cirrhosis, patients with the development of liver cirrhosis had higher rates of genotype C; pre-S deletions; C or G1753, T1762/A1764, T1766, and/or A1768 mutants; and G1799 variant. Cox regression analysis showed that older age, higher total bilirubin and HBV DNA levels, pre-S deletions, and T1766 and/or A1768 mutants were significantly associated with the development of liver cirrhosis. HBV with a complex mutation pattern (pre-S deletion, T1762/A1764, and T1766 and/or A1768 mutants) rather than a single mutation was associated with the development of liver cirrhosis, and the patterns of mutation combinations differed between HBV genotype B and C. Moreover, pre-S deletion was a significant risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusions: This study indicated that pre-S deletion and combined mutations of HBV are useful molecular markers for predicting the clinical outcomes of HBeAg-negative patients.

We present the case of a 22-year-old male with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, who developed nephrotic syndrome and had complete remission after lamivudine monotherapy. Renal biopsy showed membranous glomerulopathy, and the serum titer of HBV DNA increased to 1,130,000 copies/mL. As symptomatic therapy with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors did not improve the nephrotic syndrome, lamivudine 100 mg per day was started. His alanine aminotransferase level normalized 2 months after treatment, then hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion developed and serum HBV DNA became undetectable. His proteinuria improved subsequently and his leg edema disappeared completely 6 months after treatment. Neither hepatitis nor nephrotic syndrome had relapsed by month 13 when he came for follow-up. This suggests that lamivudine monotherapy may induce and maintain complete remission of membranous glomerulopathy associated with hepatitis B.

In Taiwan, decrease of both infection and carrier rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been documented especially in metropolitan areas after universal HBV vaccination. This study investigated HBV infection status in a rural township 15 years after the program began. Three cross-sectional studies were conducted in 1999, 2000 and 2003, to recruit all the students of the only junior middle school, born from July 1984 to June 1991, in a township in central Taiwan. Serum samples were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc. Subjects identified to be neither positive for HBsAg nor anti-HBs were given a booster dose of HBV vaccine. Subjects lacking an anamnestic anti-HBs response were given a complete 3-dose vaccination. A total of 1454 (98.5%) students responded. The prevalence rate of HBsAg decreased 57% [from 12.5% in 1984 to 5.4% in 1991, P < 0.005 (chi2-test for linear trends)], and anti-HBc positive rate dropped 68% (from 31.9 to 10.2%, P < 0.001). An anamnestic anti-HBs response developed after a vaccine booster among 433 (72%) anti-HBs negative and 12 (66.7%) anti-HBc alone subjects. And 93 (94.9%) anti-HBs negative and 1 (16.7%) anti-HBc alone subject developed a primary anti-HBs response after catch-up vaccination. Viremia was detected for two anti-HBc alone subjects without anamnestic or primary response. The vaccination program has decreased the number of those infected and carrier rates in either urban or rural areas in Taiwan. However, the prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBc in rural area were much higher than urban area.

The aim of this study was to compare the serial sequence changes of precore and core promoter regions in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with and without HBeAg clearance in lamivudine treatment.Precore and core promoter genes of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) were sequenced from five serial serum samples of 74 HBeAg-positive CHB patients received lamivudine for 9-12 months (34 complete responders and 40 non-responders).Before lamivudine therapy, stepwise logistic regression analysis disclosed that ALT levelor =300 U/L, A1896 mutant, and log HBV DNA levels were the major determinants for complete response. In addition, Cox regression showed that age35 years and G1752 mutant were independent factors for sustained response. Compared with complete responders, a higher frequency of mutation in nucleotides 1773, 1802, 1803, 1845, 1850, and 1858 was found in the non-responders during therapy. Lamivudine therapy resulted in a further increase in T1762/1764 mutants and a further decrease in A1896 mutant during treatment and after HBeAg clearance in complete responders.T1762/A1764 mutation (not A1896) played an important role in lamivudine-induced HBeAg clearance. Moreover, T1773, C1802, G1803, T1846, A1850, and C1858 mutations might have significant correlation with HBeAg nonseroconversion.

Purpose Sporadic cases of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) have been reported in bone marrow and solid organ transplant patients receiving cyclosporine (CsA). We reported our experience with TTP using plasma exchange (PE) therapy in patients with liver transplantation (OLT). Methods Between March, 1993, and May, 2007, 400 patients underwent OLT, including 146 pediatric living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Four pediatric patients developed TTP after OLT: three were males and one female of mean age at the time of transplantation of 7.8 ± 3.6 years. The four recipients had the following indications for OLT: two glycogen storage disease, one biliary atresia, and one fulminant hepatic failure. Four patients initially received triple drug immunosuppression consisting of CsA, azathioprine, and steroids. Results Four (1%) patients developed TTP after OLT. All four patients were pediatric in the age group. The mean age at the time of TTP diagnosis was 8.0 ± 3.2 years, with a mean postoperative interval to TTP of 78.8 ± 114.2 days. The mean baseline platelet count was 7.0 ± 7.1 × 10,000. The eventual platelet count was 21.1 ± 20.8 × 10,000 after PE. These patients received PE 6.0 ± 4.2. The mean baseline serum creatinine was 0.8 ± 0.8 mg/dL. The mean peak serum creatinine was 2.3 ± 2.3 mg/dL. The mean serum CsA level was 717.5 ± 106.0 ng/mL before TTP diagnosis. Four patients were diagnosed by blood peripheral smears. The causes of TTP were CsA-associated in three patients and venoocclusive disease (VOD) in one patient. Three patients improved their platelet counts after PE therapy. Two patient changed from CsA to FK 506, one underwent reduced CsA dosage, and one stopped CsA. Three patients died of recurrent VOD, infection, and intrapulmonary hemorrhage. Only one patient survived. Conclusions The incidence of TTP in our series was lower. It only developed in pediatric patients. The causes of TTP were associated with CsA and/or VOD. The mortality was high after the TTP diagnosis. We concluded that TTP was a potentially fatal condition, but an early diagnosis with prompt institution of therapy with invasive PE therapy may reduce its mortal consequences.