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Abstract: Adsorption of ammonia (NH3) onto activated carbons prepared from palm shells impregnated with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) was investigated. The effects of activation temperature and acid concentration on pore surface area development were studied. The relatively large micropore surface areas of the palm-shell activated carbons prepared by H2SO4 activation suggest their potential applications in gas adsorption. Adsorption experiments at a fixed temperature showed that the amounts of NH3 adsorbed onto the chemically activated carbons, unlike those prepared by CO2 thermal activation, were not solely dependent on the specific pore surface areas of the adsorbents. Further adsorption tests for a wide range of temperatures suggested combined physisorption and chemisorption of NH3. Desorption tests at the same temperature as adsorption and at an elevated temperature were carried out to confirm the occurrence of chemisorption due to the interaction between NH3 and some oxygen functional groups via hydrogen bonding. The surface functional groups on the adsorbent surface were detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The amounts of NH3 adsorbed by chemisorption were correlated with the contents of elemental oxygen present in the adsorbents. Mechanisms for chemical activation and adsorption processes are proposed based on the observed phenomena. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Adsorption of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) onto activated carbons derived from oil palm shell, an abundant solid waste from palm oil processing mills, by thermal or chemical activation method was investigated in this paper. Dynamic adsorption in a fixed bed configuration showed that the palm-shell activated carbons prepared by chemical activation (KOH or H2SO4 impregnation) performed better than the palm-shell activated carbon by thermal activation and a coconut-shell-based commercial activated carbon. Static equilibrium adsorption studies confirmed this experimental result. An intra-particle Knudsen diffusion model based on a Freundlich isotherm was developed for predicting the amount of H2S adsorbed. Desorption tests at the same temperature as adsorption (298K) and at an elevated temperature (473K) were carried out to confirm the occurrence of chemisorption and oxidation of H2S on the activated carbon. Surface chemistries of the palm-shell activated carbons were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Boehm titration. It was found that uptaking H2S onto the palm-shell activated carbons was due to different mechanisms, e.g. physisorption, chemisorption and/or H2S oxidation, depending on the activation agent and activation method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) represent the predominant histological types of primary liver cancer, comprising over 99% of cases. Given their differing biological behaviors, prognoses, and treatment strategies, accurately differentiating between HCC and ICC is crucial for effective clinical management. Radiomics, an emerging image processing technology, can automatically extract various quantitative image features that may elude the human eye. Reports on the application of ultrasound (US)-based radiomics methods in distinguishing HCC from ICC are limited., Aim: To develop and validate an ultrasomics model to accurately differentiate between HCC and ICC., Methods: In our retrospective study, we included a total of 280 patients who were diagnosed with ICC ( n = 140) and HCC ( n = 140) between 1999 and 2019. These patients were divided into training ( n = 224) and testing ( n = 56) groups for analysis. US images and relevant clinical characteristics were collected. We utilized the XGBoost method to extract and select radiomics features and further employed a random forest algorithm to establish ultrasomics models. We compared the diagnostic performances of these ultrasomics models with that of radiologists., Results: Four distinct ultrasomics models were constructed, with the number of selected features varying between models: 13 features for the US model; 15 for the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) model; 13 for the combined US + CEUS model; and 21 for the US + CEUS + clinical data model. The US + CEUS + clinical data model yielded the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) among all models, achieving an AUC of 0.973 in the validation cohort and 0.971 in the test cohort. This performance exceeded even the most experienced radiologist (AUC = 0.964). The AUC for the US + CEUS model (training cohort AUC = 0.964, test cohort AUC = 0.955) was significantly higher than that of the US model alone (training cohort AUC = 0.822, test cohort AUC = 0.816). This finding underscored the significant benefit of incorporating CEUS information in accurately distinguishing ICC from HCC., Conclusion: We developed a radiomics diagnostic model based on CEUS images capable of quickly distinguishing HCC from ICC, which outperformed experienced radiologists., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: We have no financial relationships to disclose., (©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the sexual behavior and sexual function of the male partners of breast cancer patients and their potential relationship with socio-demographic and clinical variables., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we conducted an investigation among 196 male partners (aged 23－59 years) of breast cancer patients between May 2020 and October 2020. We completed the Male Sexual Function Questionnaire (BSFI) by online and telephone interview with the subjects and collected relevant socio-demographic and clinical variables., Results: The average age of the interviewees was (46.13 ± 7.75) years old, and the mean duration of the patients' breast cancer was (1.58 ± 0.48) years at the time of the investigation. The incidence rate of sexual dysfunction in the male partners of the patients was dramatically higher after the onset of breast cancer than before it (49.76% vs 9.68%, P < 0.01). Low libido was found to be the main type of sexual dysfunction (38.3%) among the male subjects, with an even high incidence rate among those whose wives received mastectomy (OR = 5.533, P = 0.017, 95% CI: 1.366－22.412) and radiotherapy (OR = 3.439, P < 0.044, 95% CI: 1.058－11.171) and significantly correlated with age (OR = 1.134, P = 0.001, 95% CI: 1.053－1.222)., Conclusions: Breast cancer and its treatment methods may affect the sexual function of the male partners of the patients. It is necessary for doctors to pay attention to the factors affecting the sexual function of the patients and their partners so as to take appropriate intervention measures.

Two types of full-scale reactors(SBR, 116.6 m 3 , activated sludge process; SBBR, 64.8 m 3 , activated sludge and biofilm process) were inoculated with activated sludge from a swine wastewater treatment plant. The effect of NO 2 - -N concentration on ANAMMOX was investigated in the reactors during the start-up of the combined partial nitritation and ANAMMOX(CPNA) process by controlling the dissolved oxygen(DO), aeration mode, and NaNO 2 dosing. The results showed that the SBBR was more suitable for rapid start-up of partial nitritation under the same operation conditions. Despite NO 2 - -N inhibition(100-129 mg·L -1 , 7 days), the ANAMMOX process was successfully started by the SBR on day 39, and the total nitrogen removal rate and efficiency(TNRR and TNRE) were 0.069 kg·(m 3 ·d) -1 and 23.3%, respectively. However, 17 days of NO 2 - -N inhibition(129-286 mg·L -1 ) had an unrecoverable effect on ANAMMOX activity in the SBBR. By adding NaNO 2 , the SBR successfully started the CPNA process on day 77. The TNRR, TNRE, and activity of ANAMMOX from day 51 to 77 increased rapidly from 0.070 to 0.336 kg·(m 3 ·d) -1 , 16.0% to 52.2%, and 0.012 to 0.307 kg·(kg·d) -1 , respectively. The gene copy concentration of AOB and ANAMMOX bacteria in the SBR increased from the original 8.06×10 6 and 4.42×10 4 copies·mL -1 to 1.02×10 9 and 1.77×10 7 copies·mL -1 , respectively, which indicated that the rapid enrichment of AOB and ANAMMOX bacteria in the SBR was achieved mainly by controlling DO, aeration mode, and NaNO 2 dosing. Reasonable nitrite regulation is the key for the start of the CPNA process.

Recent studies have shown that induced expression of endogenous antioxidative enzymes thr-ough activation of the antioxidant response element/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway may be a neuroprotective strategy. In this study, rat cerebral cortical neurons cultured in vitro were pretreated with 10 μM curcumin or post-treated with 5 μM curcumin, respectively before or after being subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation for 24 hours. Both pretreatment and post-treatment resulted in a significant decrease of cell injury as indicated by propidium iodide/Hoechst 33258 staining, a prominent increase of Nrf2 protein expression as indicated by western blot analysis, and a remarkable increase of protein expression and enzyme activity in whole cell lysates of thioredoxin before ischemia, after ischemia, and after reoxygenation. In addition, post-treatment with curcumin inhibited early DNA/RNA oxidation as indicated by immunocytochemistry and increased nuclear Nrf2 protein by inducing nuclear accumulation of Nrf2. These findings suggest that curcumin activates the expression of thioredoxin, an antioxidant protein in the Nrf2 pathway, and protects neurons from death caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation in an in vitro model of ischemia/reperfusion. We speculate that pharmacologic stimulation of antioxidant gene expression may be a promising approach to neuroprotection after cerebral ischemia.

Objective: To investigate the incidence and severity of pulmonary function impairment in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)., Methods: In this prospective study, fifty-six patients with bilateral CRSwNP who were scheduled for functional endoscopic sinus surgery during a period from March to June 2010 in the Department of Otolaryngology of Qilu Hospital, were recruited in this study. Routine medical and rhinological examinations such as nasal endoscopy, sinus CT scan, and skin prick tests (SPT) for common inhalant and food allergens, and cytological examination of the paraffin-embedded NP tissues were performed together with a full assessment of the pulmonary functions., Results: Based on the pulmonary function tests, the rate of patients showing bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), asthma, and abnormal pulmonery functions were 37.5%, 44.6%, and 53.6%. In patients who did not have a history of lower airway symptoms, the rate of abnormal pulmonary functions was 50.0%, the rate of BHR was 43.2%. There was an increased rate of BHR, asthma and abnormal pulmonary functions in patients with a higher polyp grading score or Lund Mackay CT scan score (polyp grading score: χ(2) were 8.077, 3.989 and 7.445, P < 0.01 or < 0.05. CT scan score: χ(2) were 3.863, 5.380 and 4.309; 4.293, 4.293 and 4.572; 10.572, 13.504 and 13.295, P < 0.01 or < 0.05). The rate of BHR and asthma in patients with positive SPT were higher (P < 0.05). In patients with eosinophils hyperplasia in nasal polyps, the rate of BHR, asthma and abnormal pulmonary functions were higher (χ(2) were 4.065, 5.217 and 3.376, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)., Conclusions: There is a high risk of developing lower airway diseases in patients with CRSwNP.

Objective: To investigate the effects of sIL-5Rα and sIL-13Rα2 on VCAM-1 and IFN-γ in allergic rhinitis rats., Methods: A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: the normal group (group A), the allergic rhinitis model group (group B), the sIL-5Rα treatment group (group C), the sIL-13Rα2 treatment group (group D), the combination of sIL-5Rα and sIL-13Rα2 treatment group (group E or the combined treatment group). Rats in the latter 4 groups were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and Al(OH)(3), and challenged with OVA to establish allergic rhinitis models, while rats in the normal group were treated with saline. Rats in the sIL-5Rα treatment group, the sIL-13Rα2 treatment group and the combined treatment group were absorbed on day 31 to day 38 once daily once nasal cavity with sIL-5Rα(100 µg), sIL-13Rα2 (100 µg) and the combination of sIL-5Rα (100 µg) and sIL-13Rα2 (100 µg) 30 min before challenged, while rats in the allergic rhinitis model group received PBS(50 µl). Then the levels of VCAM-1 and IFN-γ in serum and nasal lavage fluid (NLF) were measured by ELISA., Results: Compared with the normal group, the levels of VCAM-1 in the allergic rhinitis model group were higher, while IFN-γ were lower (all P < 0.01). Compared with the allergic rhinitis model group, the sIL-5Rα treatment group, the sIL-13Rα2 treatment group and the combined treatment group could effectively reduced serum and NLF VCAM-1 level [group E: (283.5 ± 5.7) µg/L, (101.8 ± 4.8) µg/L; group C: (311.5 ± 12.6) µg/L, (133.9 ± 5.8) µg/L; group D: (304.7 ± 6.6) µg/L, (128.5 ± 7.7) µg/L], and increased IFN-γ level [group E: (874.7 ± 9.6) pg/ml, (349.2 ± 12.1) pg/ml; group C: (600.2 ± 16.1) pg/ml, (195.5 ± 16.1) pg/ml; group D: (577.9 ± 9.6) pg/ml, (196.7 ± 9.9) pg/ml ]; compared with single treatment, the combined treatment group also had significant differences(P < 0.01)., Conclusions: Combined treatment with sIL-5Rα and sIL-13Rα2 to treat the allergic rhinitis rats can significantly reduce VCAM-1 levels in serum and NLF, and increase IFN-γ levels, thus, to achieve the purpose of mitigation and treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of laryngeal function preservation in surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma with restrained vocal cord motility., Methods: Twenty-six cases of hypopharyngeal carcinoma treated with conservative hypopharyngectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Partial resection of pyriform sinus and partial laryngectomy were performed. Suturing the remaining hypopharyngeal mucosa was used to cove the wound of hypopharynx in 5 cases, epiglottis complex flap in 21 cases. All patients received postoperative radiotherapy., Results: The overall 3- and 5-year survival rates were 61.4% and 50.8% respectively. 76.9% (20/26) patients have laryngeal functions (voice, respiration and deglutition) completely restored and 23.1% (6/26) partially restored (voice and deglutition)., Conclusions: To improve the quality of life of the cases, the preservative surgery is feasible for the selected hypopharyngeal carcinoma cases with restrained vocal cord motility.

Objective: To investigate the effects of intranasal interferon gamma (IFN-γ) on nasal mucosa remodeling and expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Smad2, Smad3, Smad7 in allergic rhinitis (AR) rat model., Methods: Ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide were used to construct the AR model. Thirty AR rats were randomly divided into positive control group (group B, n = 10), IFN-γ treatment group (group C, n = 10) and negative control group (normal rats, n = 10). After the AR models were built, 50 µl PBS, 1 µg IFN-γ was dropped into the nasal cavity of each rat in group B and group C, from the fouth week to tenth week, twice a week. The nasal mucosa was collected on day 71 in order to observe the pathologic changes, and the expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β1 mRNA, Smad2 mRNA, Smad3 mRNA and Smad7 mRNA by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction., Results: Decreases of TGF-β1, Smad2 and Smad3 mRNA were seen in nasal tissue of group C (0.59 ± 0.04, 0.39 ± 0.08, 0.46 ± 0.15) as compared with group B (0.82 ± 0.12, 0.70 ± 0.18, 0.95 ± 0.26), the differences were significant (q value were 3.15, 4.47, 3.03, all P < 0.05). The levels of Smad7 mRNA expression increased significantly (q = 2.98, P < 0.05) in group C (0.31 ± 0.05) as compared with group B (0.25 ± 0.06). Immunohistochemistry showed significant decrease of TGF-β1 expression in the nasal tissue of group C much lesser than that in group B., Conclusions: Intranasal IFN-γ could decrease the expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β1 mRNA, Smad2 mRNA, Smad3 mRNA, increase the expression of Smad7 mRNA in AR rats model and inhibit the nasal mucosa remodeling.

Objective: To study the voice function rehabilitation by mucosa tube performed in operation of late laryngocarcinoma and to improve the survival quality of patients with late laryngocarcinoma., Methods: Forty-six patients were treated between Oct. 1991 and May 2006, including 41 males and 5 females. The average age of the patients was 54. Seventeen cases were glottic carcinomas (T3N0M0 12, T3N1M0 5), 27 cases were supraglottic carcinomas (T3N1M0 16, T4N1M0 5, T3N0M0 6), 2 cases were pyriform sinus cancer (T4N1M0 2). For those patients with late laryngocarcinoma, who had lost the chance of partial laryngectomy, mucosa tube shaping during the operation could realize voice functional rehabilitation. Only the survive arytenoids of healthy side was preserved, in order to rehabilitate voice, a mucosa tube was sutured using healthy survive arytenoids and a mucosa strip was connected to the trachea and the mucosa of hypopharynx. Survival analysis was performed by using Kaplan-Meier method., Results: Forty-one out of 46 patients obtained almost normal voice and swallow function. The 5-years survival was 76%., Conclusions: The operation of voice function rehabilitation by mucosa tube performed can get good voice and swallow function to patients with late laryngo carcinoma.

The grasshopper communities in the paddy field, dry land, natural forest, and plantation forest of lac plantation-farmland ecosystem in Lvchun County, Yunnan were investigated by sweep netting. A total of 1426 grasshoppers belonging to 33 species, 22 genena, and 5 families were captured. In the paddy field, dry land, natural forest, and plantation forest of the ecosystem, the species richness S were 16.333, 13.000, 11.000, and 12.000, Margalef index was 2.873, 2.266, 2.335, and 2. 137, Shannon-Wiener index was 2.034, 1.976, 1.982, and 1.488, Simpson index was 0.196, 0.189, 0.174, and 0.323, and Pielou index was 0.728, 0.787, 0.829, 0.599, respectively. This ecosystem had a lower diversity of grasshopper communities, and different land use habitats in the ecosystem had different species component and diversity. In paddy field, grasshopper had a higher diversity than in dry land, but its evenness and stability were moderate; in natural forest, the diversity was high and the stability was strong; while in plantation forest, the diversity was low and the stability was weak. There existed species exchange in different land use habitats in the ecosystem.

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanism of intranasal interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in the treatment of allergic rhinitis., Methods: Ovalbumin (OVA) absorbed to aluminum hydroxide was used to construct the allergic rhinitis model (group C), and the normal control group (group A), the allergic rhinitis model group (group B) and beclomethasone dipropionate group (group D) consisted of 8 rats for each. PBS 50 microl was absorbed to group B, IFN-gamma 1 microg was absorbed to group C and beclomethasone dipropionate 3.5 microg was absorbed to group D on day 31 to day 38 once daily once nasal cavity. The nasal lavage fluid was collected on day 39, and the cellular constituents, levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IgE were determined, together with the pathologic changes and expression of GATA-3 were observed., Results: Decrease of eosinophils [(0.005 +/- 0.003) x 10(4)/ml, x +/- s] was seen in nasal lavage fluid of group C as comparing with group B [(0.225 +/- 0.060) x 10(4)/ml, (P < 0.01)], and the levels of IL-4 (7.8 +/- 3.5) pg/ml and IL-5 (12.5 +/- 4.3) pg/ml decreased significantly in comparing with group B (P < 0.01). The serum levels of total IgE (38.5 +/- 9.6) microg/ml and ovalbumin-specific IgE (19.8 +/- 5.4) IU/ml decreased significantly in comparing with those of group B (P < 0.01). In group B, mucosal congestion and edema thickening with inflammatory cells infiltration mainly of eosinophils; in group C, the above mentioned changes were much more ameliorated. Immunohistochemistry showed significant increase of GATA-3 expression in the nasal tissue of group B but much lesser than that in group C., Conclusions: IFN-gamma can inhibit the composition of IL-4 and IL-5, and inhibit the airway inflammation with eosinophilic infiltration and the serum levels of total IgE and ovalbumin specific IgE, probably through the mechanism of restraining the Th2 reaction by blockade of GATA-3 expression in the nasal tissue.