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Most geophysical and geochemical data are commonly acknowledged to exhibit fractal and multifractal properties, but the fractal characteristics of polarizability have received limited attention from the literature. The present study demonstrates that the polarizability data of the graphite deposits have fractal characteristics and introduces the fractal method for its quantitative analysis to indicate and predict the properties of graphite deposits. The results show that the concentration-area (C-A) method is superior to classical interpolation in anomaly extraction but inferior to the spectrum-area (S-A) method in the coverage region. Because the type of graphite ore is sedimentary-metamorphic in this area, the graphite ore-bodies can be regarded as a special stratum, which is different from most metal deposits, and the anomaly of graphite ore are shown in the background mode of the S-A method. The high values of the background mode effectively indicate the potential areas where the graphite-bearing strata occur, while observing a decrease in the power-law exponent (β) of the background mode as the width of ore-bodies increases. The validity of this conclusion was confirmed based on the vertical profiles of the predicted area, and the uncharted ore vein was thereby identified. Furthermore, it was found that the anomaly mode can serve as a grade indicator of graphite ore rather than delineating the fault. By integrating the background and anomaly modes of the S-A method, we can quantitatively predict and effectively identify high-grade targets from sedimentary deposits containing minerals in future exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wavelet transformation has been widely used in geophysical and geochemical exploration, and the fractal feature of wavelet coefficients has recently stood out from many wavelet threshold methods. We introduced the wavelet–fractal method to analyze the polarizability and resistivity of graphite deposits. Due to the unique nature of graphite-bearing gneiss, characterized by high polarizability and low resistivity, we concluded that the polarizability background mode is better suited to depict the morphology of the graphite-bearing formation, with the resistivity background mode serving as complementary information for verification. Symlets5 is regarded as the optimal mother wavelet to indicate the characteristics of graphite ore by means of comparison and analysis. The polarizability anomalies showed two different linear forms: the direction of the measuring line and the strike of the ore bodies. According to the data of drill holes on the profile, we inferred that the high values of the anomaly mode can be used to delineate the target area where the graphite is enriched. Combining the application of both modes, we used the wavelet–fractal method for the quantitative prediction and effective selection of a potential area with a high grade. The approach used in this current study can be extended to the prospecting of other graphite deposits or sedimentary–metamorphic deposits containing conductive minerals, where geochemical and geophysical data are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically explore the inclination of the lower central incisor and symphysis in alveolar bone in severe skeletal class III patients. Materials and methods: A total of 198 severe skeletal class III patients (ANB ≤ -4°) who underwent combined orthodontic and orthognathic treatment were divided into three groups based on the mandibular plane angle (MP-SN). Pretreatment lateral cephalograms were analysed and compared among the three groups. We also assessed cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 11 samples to investigate the reliability of the cephalometric analysis. Results: ANOVA showed no statistically significant differences in the angle between the long axis of the mandibular symphysis and the long axis of the lower central incisor (MIA) among the low-angle, normal-angle and high-angle groups (P > 0.05), while significant differences were found in the angle between the axis of the lower incisor and the mandibular plane (IMPA) among the three groups (P < 0.001). The mean IMPA decreased with increasing MP-SN in the 198 patients. The mean MIA in the low-angle and normal-angle groups was 3.70° and 3.52°, respectively, while the value (2.33°) was smaller in the high-angle group. Paired-samples t test showed no statistically significant differences between the cephalometric and CBCT measurements of the MP-SN, the angle between the mandibular plane and the Frankfort plane (FH-MP) and the MIA (P > 0.05). Conclusions: In severe skeletal class III patients, the long axis of the lower central incisor was highly consistent with the long axis of the mandibular symphysis, which was more obvious in the high-angle subjects. The MIA reflects the physiological inclination of the lower central incisor better than the IMPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically explore the inclination of the lower central incisor and symphysis in alveolar bone in severe skeletal class III patients. Materials and methods: A total of 198 severe skeletal class III patients (ANB ≤ -4°) who underwent combined orthodontic and orthognathic treatment were divided into three groups based on the mandibular plane angle (MP-SN). Pretreatment lateral cephalograms were analysed and compared among the three groups. We also assessed cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 11 samples to investigate the reliability of the cephalometric analysis. Results: ANOVA showed no statistically significant differences in the angle between the long axis of the mandibular symphysis and the long axis of the lower central incisor (MIA) among the low-angle, normal-angle and high-angle groups (P > 0.05), while significant differences were found in the angle between the axis of the lower incisor and the mandibular plane (IMPA) among the three groups (P < 0.001). The mean IMPA decreased with increasing MP-SN in the 198 patients. The mean MIA in the low-angle and normal-angle groups was 3.70° and 3.52°, respectively, while the value (2.33°) was smaller in the high-angle group. Paired-samples t test showed no statistically significant differences between the cephalometric and CBCT measurements of the MP-SN, the angle between the mandibular plane and the Frankfort plane (FH-MP) and the MIA (P > 0.05). Conclusions: In severe skeletal class III patients, the long axis of the lower central incisor was highly consistent with the long axis of the mandibular symphysis, which was more obvious in the high-angle subjects. The MIA reflects the physiological inclination of the lower central incisor better than the IMPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To respond to travel demand in the MaaS system, improve transport efficiency, and optimize the framework of MaaS, we propose a travel demand response model based on a spatiotemporal preference clustering algorithm that considers the impact of travel preferences and features of the MaaS system to improve travel demand response and achieve full coverage of travel demands. Specifically, in the MaaS system, the time preference hierarchical clustering algorithm is optimized with travel preference as the perception factor and preference priority order as the iteration index. Then, we cluster the departure and arrival times of reservation demand points and iteratively analyze the discrete points to obtain the set of reservation demand points with convergent time dimensions under similar preferences. Then, the spatial preference DBSCAN clustering algorithm is improved with travel preference and preference priority order as the iteration indices, and spatial clustering of the time-dense points are updated by the silhouette coefficient to obtain reservation demand points with similar spatiotemporal preference and respond to the demands. Meanwhile, traffic resources are coordinated by the MaaS system and the flexible means of transport are deployed to spatiotemporal discrete points to achieve full coverage of travel demand. Simulation shows that when the neighborhood range is 0.5 km and the least number of reservation demand sites is 3, our spatiotemporal model achieves a response rate of reservation demand points at 95%, and a demand coverage rate of 100%, which is 15% and 6.7% higher than the hierarchical clustering model and the DBSCAN clustering model, respectively. The demand response rate is also improved compared to the spatiotemporal clustering model in the customized bus model. The model and algorithm have some applicability and can be applied to areas with fixed, semifixed and flexible route transport, thereby considerably improving the travel demand response efficiency and transport service quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor around the world. Studying the unique constitution of CRC patients is conducive to the application of personalized medical treatment for CRC. The most common types of constitution in CRC are cold and heat constitution. A previous study has suggested that the malignant progression in cold and heat constitution CRC are different; however, the mechanism remains unclear. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is likely to vary with each individual constitution, which may affect the tumor growth in different constitutions. The extracellular matrix (ECM), the most important component of TME, plays a critical role in disease progression and outcome in patients with CRC. Moreover, collagen, the major component of the ECM, determines the main functional characteristics of ECM and tissue fibrosis caused by collagen deposition, which is one of the signs of CRC malignant progression. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms leading to different colorectal carcinogenesis paradigms between the cold constitution and heat constitution within the context of ECM collagen deposition. We established the CRC rat models and enrolled 30 CRC patients with cold and heat constitution. The collagen-related parameters were detected by using Sirius red staining combined with polarized light microscope, and expressions of collagen (COL I and COL III) and lysyl oxidase (LOX and LOXL2) were determined using immunohistochemistry, while the mRNA levels of COL1A1, COL3A1, LOX, and LOXL2 were measured by qRT-PCR. We found that a higher degree of collagen deposition in the cold-constitution group. The results suggest cold and heat constitution may affect the colorectal carcinogenesis paradigm by influencing the early collagen deposition in colon tissue. The study may provide an effective idea for clinicians to improve the prognosis of CRC patients with different constitutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy perovskite thin films, as the prototypical representative of the high-entropy oxides with novel electrical and magnetic features, have recently attracted great attention. Here, we reported the electronic structure and charge transport properties of sol-gel-derived high-entropy Ba(Zr 0.2 Sn 0.2 Ti 0.2 Hf 0.2 Nb 0.2)O 3 thin films annealed at various temperatures. By means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and absorption spectrum, it is found that the conduction-band-minimum shifts downward and the valence-band-maximum shifts upward with the increase of annealing temperature, leading to the narrowed band gap. Electrical resistance measurements confirmed a semiconductor-like behavior for all the thin films. Two charge transport mechanisms, i.e. , the thermally-activated transport mechanism at high temperatures and the activation-less transport mechanism at low temperatures, are identified by a self-consistent analysis method. These findings provide a critical insight into the electronic band structure and charge transport behavior of Ba(Zr 0.2 Sn 0.2 Ti 0.2 Hf 0.2 Nb 0.2)O 3 , validating it as a compelling high-entropy oxide material for future electronic/energy-related technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It remains controversial whether patients with Stage II colon cancer would benefit from chemotherapy after radical surgery. This study aims to assess the real effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with stage II colon cancer undergoing radical surgery and to construct survival prediction models to predict the survival benefits of chemotherapy.Methods: Data for stage II colon cancer patients with radical surgery were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed according to receive or not receive chemotherapy. Competitive risk regression models were used to assess colon cancer cause-specific death (CSD) and non-colon cancer cause-specific death (NCSD). Survival prediction nomograms were constructed to predict overall survival (OS) and colon cancer cause-specific survival (CSS). The predictive abilities of the constructed models were evaluated by the concordance indexes (C-indexes) and calibration curves.Results: A total of 25,110 patients were identified, 21.7% received chemotherapy, and 78.3% were without chemotherapy. A total of 10,916 patients were extracted after propensity score matching. The estimated 3-year overall survival rates of chemotherapy were 0.7% higher than non- chemotherapy. The estimated 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates of non-chemotherapy were 1.3 and 2.1% higher than chemotherapy, respectively. Survival prediction models showed good discrimination (the C-indexes between 0.582 and 0.757) and excellent calibration.Conclusions: Chemotherapy improves the short-term (43 months) survival benefit of stage II colon cancer patients who received radical surgery. Survival prediction models can be used to predict OS and CSS of patients receiving chemotherapy as well as OS and CSS of patients not receiving chemotherapy and to make individualized treatment recommendations for stage II colon cancer patients who received radical surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-bubble irrigation, as a new irrigation technology, can deliver fertilizer-mixed oxygen-enriched water to the root zone of crops, representing a new means for increasing crop yield and carbon sequestration and emission reduction. To systematically analyze the effects of nano-bubble irrigation on crop yield, soil aeration, and soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as evaluating its contribution to the net greenhouse warming potential (NGWP) in greenhouse agriculture, this study was conducted in greenhouse facilities in Zhengzhou, China and focused on tomato plants. A 2-factor, 2-level, completely randomized trial of nitrogen application (low N1: 120 kg/hm2 and normal N2: 180 kg/hm2), conventional irrigation, and nano-bubble irrigation (C: 5 ppm and A: 15 ppm) was conducted. Compared with conventional irrigation, crop yield increased by 18.94% and 16.36% (p < 0.05), CO2 emission by 10.72% and 5.71% (p < 0.05), N2O emission by 29.76% and 35.74% (p < 0.05), and CH4 uptake by 300.67% and 327.67% (p < 0.05) under nano-bubble irrigation. The nano-bubble irrigation increased the crop yield, thus significantly improving the NGWP sink for greenhouse gases. The low-nitrogen and regular-nitrogen treatments increased NGWP by 22.69% and 14.52%, respectively (p < 0.05). This suggests that nano-bubble irrigation can significantly improve soil aeration, increase tomato yield and biomass, and significantly improve crop carbon sequestration. In the future, nano-bubble irrigation can be used along with soil amendments to achieve a more efficient increase in yield and enhance the ability of farmland to sequester carbon and reduce emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a waste product of phosphorus production, phosphorus electrostatic precipitator (ESP) dust contains approximately 14% potassium and is a potential resource for potassium recovery. In this study, we aimed to extract potassium from phosphorus ESP dust using a novel approach based on ionic liquid. To achieve this goal, we constructed the leaching-extraction-electrodeposition process based ionic liquid, which allowed for the efficient extraction of potassium. We determined the occurrence of potassium in ESP dust and found that under optimal conditions with electro-field enhancement, the recovery rate of potassium was 95.37%, the leaching process was found to fit the mixed control model well. We obtained a maximum extraction amount of 452.256 mg/L in the extraction section. Importantly, both the leaching and extraction processes exhibited high selectivity for potassium, indicating their potential for targeted potassium recovery from ESP dust. To verify the feasibility of the electrodeposition of potassium, we conducted additional experiments and found that our method was capable of recovering potassium via electrodeposition, further highlighting the potential of this approach. Overall, our study demonstrates a novel and environmentally friendly method for potassium recovery from phosphorus ESP dust, with high efficiency and selectivity, and contributes to the growing body of research on sustainable resource utilization. • New process for leaching-extraction-electrodeposition of potassium by ionic liquids. • An electric field to enhance leaching and selective while reducing leaching time. • The feasibility of electrodeposition of potassium in ionic liquids was verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification (HNAD) bacteria, identified as Bacillus thuringiensis strain WXN-23, was isolated from husk feed filtrate of a pig farm. It was the first report of Bacillus thuringiensis with the capability for HNAD and could adapt to the condition of low Carbon/Nitrogen (C/N) ratio. Nitrogen could be efficiently removed by the strain WXN-23 in simulated wastewater, be it in single or mixed form nitrogen sources. The nitrogen balance revealed that 63.5% of the initial nitrogen (5.32 mg) was lost in the form of N 2. The conditions for maximum total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency (95.996%) were shaking speed of 126.89 r/min, a carbon C/N ratio of 5.91, the temperature of 32.81 °C, and a pH value of 8.17. The nitrification-denitrification metabolic pathway (NH 4 +–N→NH 2 OH→NO 2 −-N→NO 3 −-N→NO 2 −-N→NO→N 2 O→N 2) under aerobic conditions was determined on the basic of characteristic of N removal, N balance analysis, enzyme assay and functional genes amplification results. Strain WXN-23 was effective at wastewater treatment, with TN, NH 4 +-N, NO 3 −-N and NO 2 −-N removal efficiencies of 82.12%, 86.74%, 90.74% and 100%, respectively. • Found a heterotrophic nitrifying and aerobic denitrification Bacillus thuringiensis strain. • Bacillus thuringiensis strain WXN-23 can adapt to the condition of low C/N ratio. • Strain WXN-23 can efficiently remove nitrogen from water under aerobic conditions. • Hardly any greenhouse gas was generated by strain WXN-23 during nitrogen removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to use different dose verification methods Treatment Planning System (TPS), thimble ionization chamber and two-dimensional matrix ionization chamber (MatriXX) to explore the compensating effects of several materials on high-energy electron beam irradiation. In this study, we positioned plexiglass panels, wet medical gauze, colloidal compensatory material and Vaseline compensator, all of the same thickness, flat on the surface of a MatriXX. The above four materials were placed on the surface of a thimble ionization chamber and irradiated with a linear accelerator. Under the same irradiation parameters, the compensation dose of of the tested materials was worked out by a dosimeter, which was connected at the thimble ionization chamber. Under vertical irradiation from the linear accelerator, the accelerator used the same irradiation conditions for the four materials, which were flat on the surface of the MatriXX, then determined the distribution of compensation doses by the soft system matching with the MatriXX. The results showed that the compensation dose of moist medical gauze was lower than the other three materials, the compensation dose of Plexiglass plate, colloidal compensatory material and vaseline compensation were approximate. The dose compensation effect of the vaseline compensation material made by our research group was close to the plexiglass plate and colloidal compensatory material used in radiotherapy in real life. Its physical and chemical properties are stable, easy to manufacture and store, and economical and practical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the process and mechanism of synergistically assisted hydrogen production from tailings and coal slurry. We have identified the optimal tailings as lead-zinc tailings through experimentation with different tailings mixed with pulverized coal. Furthermore, we have analyzed the electrochemical properties of Fe2+ and Fe3+ at different concentration gradients in a hydrochloric acid environment and our results have confirmed that the presence of Fe3+ in the simplified environment does not affect the electrochemical processes. to determine the respective roles and effects of the extract and residue of the lead-zinc tailings slurry with equal amounts of coal dust added to them, which has confirmed that it is the lead-zinc tailings extract that has the primary influence. In addition, the electrocatalysis of Fe3+ in the presence of both lead-zinc tailings and coal results in a small increase in current density, and the improvement in current density due to direct and indirect oxidation of coal particles is also extremely limited. Based on our analysis, we have concluded that the increase in current density brought about by the synergistic hydrogen production from lead-zinc tailings-supported coal is mainly due to the different oxidation processes of Fe2+. [Display omitted] • For the first time, tailings was used for assisted coal electrolysis to produce H 2. • Adding lead-zinc tailings improved the efficiency of coal electrolysis by 133.3%. • The reason for the significant increase in efficiency is the acceleration of the reaction by Fe2+ as an electron donor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondrocytes are the sole cellular constituents of normal cartilage. The degeneration and apoptosis of these cells are considered the main cause of osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies have suggested that the enhancement of autophagy in chondrocytes can delay the progression of osteoarthritis by affecting intracellular metabolic activity, i.e., by regulating the metabolism of nutrients, which can delay cell aging and death. In this review, we explored the relationship between autophagy and chondrocyte metabolism and provided new ideas for the prevention and treatment of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arctic strain of Chlorella sp. (Chlorella-Arc) exists in the coldest and driest arctic ecosystems, and it is a new resource of active polysaccharides. The extraction of crude polysaccharide from Chlorella-Arc was optimized using the response surface methodology. A crude polysaccharide yield of approximately 9.62 ± 0.11% dry weight was obtained under these optimized conditions. Three fractions (P-I, P-II, and P-III) were present after purification by 2-diethylaminoethanol Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephadex G-100 chromatography. The P-IIa fraction demonstrated significant antioxidant activities. Moreover, P-IIa was an α- and β-type heteropolysaccharide with a pyran group and contained variable amounts of rhamnose, arabinose, glucose, and galactose based on fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and ¹H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. Production of high amounts of polysaccharide may allow further exploration of the microalgae Chlorella-Arc as a natural antioxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) with its rapidly increasing incidence has become an emerging challenge for public health. Therapeutic agents are required to be specifically delivered to colon epithelial cells and macrophages with controlled release in the cytoplasm for wound healing, inflammation alleviation, and microbiota rebalance. As a promising biomaterial for accomplishing this, Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin (ApSF) was selected and engineered to form nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with the anti-inflammatory drug, resveratrol (Res). The intrinsic features of these fabricated Res-ApNPs included targeting of colonic epithelial cells and macrophages, lysosomal escape capacity, and responsiveness to pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and glutathione, which were pertinent to their functional units such as arginine-glycine-aspartate tripeptides, α -helixes, β -sheets, and disulfide bonds, enabling on-demand release of Res molecules in the cytoplasm of target cells. The Res-ApNP treatment restored damaged colonic epithelial barriers, polarized macrophages to type M2, alleviated inflammatory reactions, and reduced the level of intracellular ROS. Oral treatment with chitosan-alginate hydrogels embedded with Res-ApNPs substantially relieved UC symptoms, as evidenced by decreased colonic inflammation, increased synthesis of tight-junction proteins, and rebalanced intestinal microbiota. Our findings suggest that these high-performance ApSF-based NPs can be developed as effective drug carriers for oral UC treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]