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Emergency authorities are concerned with how to effectively deliver patients to different hospitals for treatment while not overwhelming any single hospital during emergencies. This study proposes an optimization model for the real-time dispatching and treating schedule to evaluate the seismic resilience of the interdependent transportation-healthcare system. The functionality of the road network, the service of hospitals, and emergency management are comprehensively considered in the model. A series of case studies were used to test the applicability of the method and quantify the resilience under three seismic intensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the possibility of using Tween 80 to disturb the microstructures of 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM]BF4) and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM]PF6) was investigated under high pressures. The imidazolioum CH absorptions of pure ionic liquids (ILs) are significantly blue‐shifted under high pressures. However, mild changes in imidazolioum CH stretching frequencies were observed for IL/Tween 80 mixtures. Tween 80 may hinder cations of ILs to form network structures with anions under high pressures via pressure‐enhanced cation‐Tween 80 interactions. Based on the experimental results, Tween 80‐[BMIM]PF6 interactions are more effective in disturbing the local structure of imidazolium CH than Tween 80‐[BMIM]BF4 interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining sufficient uniformity and stability of a ceramic slurry throughout the printing cycle is key to ensuring the performance of ceramic parts in ceramic-slurry stereolithography. In this study, a stable three-dimensional network structure was introduced into a slurry to achieve slurry uniformity and stability based on rheology theory. The effects of the particle size, solid loading, dispersant content, and gelling agent content on the stability of the three-dimensional network structure in the slurry were analyzed. Relatively stable three-dimensional network structures were constructed to achieve 4-week stability of micron- and submicron-size particle slurries by adjusting the contents of the dispersant and gelling agent. Stabilization ideas for different particle size ranges are provided. In addition, an empirical stability model was obtained based on the experimental results. When the predicted empirical stability factor of A was less than 0.035, the slurry exhibited good stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between hepatitis B and concomitant diseases, such as fatty liver, T2DM, MetS, and Hp infection, remains unclear. Aim: The present study was to illustrate the association and explore the co-contribution on abnormal transaminase and progression of liver stiffness. Methods: A total of 95,998 participants underwent HBsAg screening in West China Hospital from 2014 to 2017. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds ratios. Results: The prevalence of HBsAg-positive rate was 8.30% of our included study population. HBsAg positive was associated with negative risk of fatty liver (odds ratio [OR] 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65–0.78, p < 0.001) and MetS (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.67–0.84, p < 0.001), and with positive risk of Hp infection (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.17, p = 0.012) and T2DM (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.01–1.40, p = 0.043). Besides, HBsAg-positive patients with T2DM had higher risk of elevated ALT (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.69–2.83, p < 0.001 vs OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.51–1.68, p < 0.001), AST (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.98–3.65, p < 0.001 vs OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.76–2.02, p < 0.001) than HBV alone. In addition to HBV, T2DM also can increase the risk of liver fibrosis (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.35–7.71, p = 0.008) and cirrhosis (OR 4.31, 95% CI 1.41–13.20, p = 0.010). Conclusion: Hepatitis B patients have a lower risk of fatty liver and MetS, and a higher risk of T2DM and Hp infection. Besides, T2DM might be possibly associated with abnormal liver transaminase and fibrosis progression in HBsAg-positive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Early identification and prompt treatment are critical to optimize patient management and improve long-term prognosis. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) are recently emerging non-coding RNAs, and are highly stable and easily detected in the circulation, representing a promising non-invasive approach for predicting NAFLD. A literature search of the Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was performed and 36 eligible studies were retrieved, including 18 on NAFLD, 13 on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and 11 on fibrosis and/or cirrhosis. Dynamic changes in lncRNA expression were associated with the occurrence and progression of NAFLD, among which lncRNA NEAT1, MEG3, and MALAT1 exhibited great potential as biomarkers for NAFLD. Moreover, mitochondria-located circRNA SCAR can drive metaflammation and its inhibition might be a promising therapeutic target for NASH. In this systematic review, we highlight the great potential of lncRNA/circRNA for early diagnosis and progression assessment of NAFLD. To further verify their clinical value, large-cohort studies incorporating lncRNA and circRNA expression both in liver tissue and blood should be conducted. Additionally, detailed studies on the functional mechanisms of NEAT1, MEG3, and MALAT1 will be essential for elucidating their roles in diagnosing and treating NAFLD, NASH, and fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy farming is the most important economic activity in animal husbandry. Mastitis is the most common disease in dairy cattle and has a significant impact on milk quality and yield. The natural extract allicin, which is the main active ingredient of the sulfur-containing organic compounds in garlic, has anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties; however, the specific mechanism underlying its effect on mastitis in dairy cows needs to be determined. Therefore, in this study, whether allicin can reduce lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in the mammary epithelium of dairy cows was investigated. A cellular model of mammary inflammation was established by pretreating bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) with 10 µg/mL LPS, and the cultures were then treated with varying concentrations of allicin (0, 1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 µM) added to the culture medium. MAC-T cells were examined using RT–qPCR and Western blotting to determine the effect of allicin. Subsequently, the level of phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) was measured to further explore the mechanism underlying the effect of allicin on bovine mammary epithelial cell inflammation. Treatment with 2.5 µM allicin considerably decreased the LPS-induced increase in the levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inhibited activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in cow mammary epithelial cells. Further research revealed that allicin also inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitors of nuclear factor kappa-B-α (IκB-α) and NF-κB p65. In mice, LPS-induced mastitis was also ameliorated by allicin. Therefore, we hypothesize that allicin alleviated LPS-induced inflammation in the mammary epithelial cells of cows probably by affecting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Allicin will likely become an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of mastitis in cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectopic fat deposition in the liver, known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affects up to 30% of the worldwide population. miRNA-122, the most abundant liver-specific miRNA, protects hepatic steatosis and inhibits cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis in NAFLD. Previously, we have shown that compared with its expression in healthy controls, miRNA-122 decreased in the liver tissue but gradually increased in the serum of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, suggesting that miRNA-122 could have been transported to the serum. Here, we aimed to confirm and unravel the mechanism of transportation of miRNA-122 to extra-hepatocytes. Our findings showed a decrease in the intra-hepatocyte miRNA-122 and an increase in the extra-hepatocyte (medium level) miRNA-122, suggesting the miRNA-122 "escaped" from the intra-hepatocyte due to an increased extra-hepatocyte excretion. Using bioinformatics tools, we showed that miRNA-122 binds to circPI4KB, which was further validated by an RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter assay. The levels of circPI4KB in intra- and extra-hepatocytes corresponded to that of miRNA-122, and the overexpression of circPI4KB increased the miRNA-122 in extra-hepatocytes, consequently accomplishing a decreased protective role of miRNA-122 in inhibiting the lipid deposition. The present study provides a new explanation for the pathogenesis of the hepatic lipid deposition in NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variegated cardinalfish Fowleria variegata produces grunt and hoot calls during agonistic and courtship interactions. Both sounds are tonal and occur as single and multiunit calls. Grunts are of short duration with variable frequency spectra. Hoots are longer, have a higher fundamental frequency, and a more developed harmonic structure. Agonistic grunt calls and short hoot calls (1–2 hoots) are produced during chases and when striking an individual or a mirror. Grunts are produced primarily in male-female and mirror-image encounters, and short hoot calls are produced primarily in male-male interactions. During the reproductive period, long hoot calls (three and four hoots) are the main sound type in a mix-sexed tank and at Dongsha Atoll. These are likely produced by males because isolated females are silent, and isolated males emit long hoot calls. Courtship interactions are mostly silent, and males are silent after capturing eggs for oral brooding. Tank sounds peak at dusk to early evening with a smaller peak at noon, although there are dusk and dawn peaks at Dongsha Atoll. Tank sounds exhibit a semilunar rhythm with peaks at the new and full moon. Other cardinalfish species from the atoll produce grunts but not hoot calls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confinement effects for the magnetoresponsive ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate(III), [C2mim]FeCl4, are explored from thermal, spectroscopic, and magnetic points of view. Placing the ionic liquid inside SBA-15 mesoporous silica produces a significant impact on the material's response to temperature, pressure, and magnetic fields. Isobaric thermal experiments show melting point reductions that depend on the pore diameter of the mesopores. The confinement-induced reductions in phase transition temperature follow the Gibbs–Thomson equation if a 1.60 nm non-freezable interfacial layer is postulated to exist along the pore wall. Isothermal pressure-dependent infrared spectroscopy reveals a similar modification to phase transition pressures, with the confined ionic liquid requiring higher pressures to trigger phase transformation than the unconfined system. Confinement also impedes ion transport as activation energies are elevated when the ionic liquid is placed inside the mesopores. Finally, the antiferromagnetic ordering that characterizes unconfined [C2mim]FeCl4 is suppressed when the ionic liquid is confined in 5.39-nm pores. Thus, confinement provides another avenue for manipulating the magnetic properties of this compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium (K) promoter and its loading contents were shown to have remarkable effects on the Fe–O–Si interaction of precipitated Fe/Cu/K/SiO2 catalysts for low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). With the increase in K content from 2.3% (100 g Fe based) up to 7% in the calcined precursors, Fe–O–Si interaction was weakened, as reflected by ATR/FTIR, H2-TPR and XPS investigations. XRD results confirmed that the diffraction peak intensity from (510) facet of χ-Fe5C2 phase strengthened with increasing K loading, which indicates the crystallite size of χ-Fe5C2 increased with the increase in K contents either during the syngas reduction/carburization procedure or after FTS reaction. H2-TPH results indicated that more reactive surface carbon (alpha-carbon) was obtained over the higher K samples pre-carburized by syngas. Raman spectra illustrated that a greater proportion of graphitic carbon was accumulated over the surface of spent samples with higher K loading. At the same time, ATR-FTIR, XRD and Mössbauer spectra (MES) characterization results showed that a relatively higher level of bulk phase Fayalite (Fe2SiO4) species was observed discernibly in the lowest K loading sample (2.3 K%) in this work. The catalytic evaluation results showed that the CO conversion, CO2 selectivity and O/P (C2–C4) ratio increased progressively with the increasing K loading, whereas a monotonic decline in both CO conversion and O/P (C2–C4) ratio was observed on the highest K loading sample during c.a. 280 h of TOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-eddy simulations and nanoparticle-based planar laser scattering experiments are conducted to investigate various physical aspects of transverse sonic jets injected into a Ma-3.0 supersonic crossflow through a circular pipe. Configurations with one jet and two opposite jets are compared. For the single jet, a separation shock is generated by the recirculation zone on the opposite wall, and this intersects with the jet shear layer to push several jet plumes into the near-wall region. For the two jets, the bow shocks interact with each other, forming an oblique shock train. All of the shocks promote vortex breakage in jet wakes. A counter-rotating vortex pair is generated in the jet near-field region, enhancing the local mixing. A near-wall region in the jet lee between the counter-rotating vortex pair branches exhibits a low fuel mass fraction. The jet fluid in the downstream near-wall region is entrained by the crossflow upstream of the jet. The interaction between the bow shocks and shear layers of the two jets induces recirculation zones in the lee of the jet, which enhance the fuel mixing. This explains the phenomenon whereby the total pressure recovery coefficient and mixing efficiency of two jets are higher than those of the single jet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), hepatic steatosis is the first step of diagnosis, and it is a risk predictor that independently predicts insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk, and mortality. Urine biomarkers have the advantage of being less complex, with a lower dynamic range and fewer technical challenges, in comparison to blood biomarkers. Methods: Hepatic steatosis was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which measured the proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF). Mild hepatic steatosis was defined as MRI-PDFF 5–10% and severe hepatic steatosis was defined as MRI-PDFF > 10%. Results: MAFLD patients with any kidney diseases were excluded. There were 53 proteins identified by mass spectrometry with significantly different expressions among the healthy control, mild steatosis, and severe steatosis patients. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of these significantly changed urinary molecular features correlated with the liver, resulting in the dysregulation of carbohydrate derivative/catabolic/glycosaminoglycan/metabolic processes, insulin-like growth factor receptor levels, inflammatory responses, the PI3K–Akt signaling pathway, and cholesterol metabolism. Urine alpha-1-acid glycoprotein 1 (ORM1) and ceruloplasmin showed the most significant correlation with the clinical parameters of MAFLD status, including liver fat content, fibrosis, ALT, triglycerides, glucose, HOMA-IR, and C-reactive protein. According to ELISA and western blot (30 urine samples, normalized to urine creatinine), ceruloplasmin (ROC 0.78, p = 0.034) and ORM1 (ROC 0.87, p = 0.005) showed moderate diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing mild steatosis from healthy controls. Ceruloplasmin (ROC 0.79, p = 0.028) and ORM1 (ROC 0.81, p = 0.019) also showed moderate diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing severe steatosis from mild steatosis. Conclusions: Ceruloplasmin and ORM1 are potential biomarkers in distinguishing mild and severe steatosis in MAFLD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the characteristics of a turbulent boundary layer in a curved circular pipe under an inflow of Ma = 3.0. The pipe consisted of a straight part and a curved part with a turning angle of 36° and a radius of curvature, γ = R/Rc, of γ = 0.0825. The nanoparticle-based planar laser scattering technique was applied to visualize the structure of the instantaneous flow field, and a large eddy simulation was conducted to uncover the physical aspects of development of the turbulent boundary layer. The distributions of density and vorticity, baroclinic pressure caused by the density and pressure gradients, and other physical quantities were analyzed. The asymmetry of the turbulent boundary layer in the curved part of the pipe, as influenced by curvature, secondary flow, and oblique shock, was obtained as the boundary layer on the inner wall gradually thickened while that on the outer wall gradually thinned. The secondary flow took the mainstream outer bend of the curved pipe and drew the low-energy fluid in the boundary layer to its inner bend, which led to the gradual thickening of the turbulent boundary layer from the outer to the inner bend along the circumferential direction. A low-speed region was formed in the downstream region of the inner part. The intersection between the oblique shock wave and the shear layer led to a high baroclinic pressure that promoted the generation of the vortex and forced the boundary layer to turn and inhibit the separation in the inner part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The short-term 0-1-2-month hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination schedule was previously implemented in the adult population; however, its long-term immune effect remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate (1) the 2-month and 2-year immune effects of HBV vaccination and (2) the compliance rate between the 0-1-2-month and 0-1-6-month vaccination schedules in adults.Method: A total of 1281 subjects tested for hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg(-) and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs)(-) were recruited. Participants from two distant counties were inoculated with the hepatitis B yeast vaccine at 10 µg per dose, with vaccination schedules of 0, 1, and 2 months (n = 606) and 0, 1, and 6 months (n = 675); sequential follow-up was performed at 2 months and 2 years after the 3rd injection.Results: There were no significant differences in the anti-HBs seroconversion rates between the those in the 0-1-2-month and 0-1-6-month vaccination schedule groups at 2 months (91.96% vs. 89.42%, p = 0.229) and 2 years (81.06% vs. 77.14%, p = 0.217). The quantitative anti-HBs level in those in the 0-1-2-month vaccination schedule group was not different from that in those in the 0-1-6-month vaccination schedule group at 2 months (anti-HBs1) (342.12 ± 378.42 mIU/ml vs. 392.38 ± 391.96 mIU/ml, p = 0.062), but it was higher at 2 years (anti-HBs2) (198.37 ± 286.44 mIU/ml vs. 155.65 ± 271.73 mIU/ml, p = 0.048). According to the subgroup analysis, the 0-1-2-month vaccination schedule induced better maintenance (p = 0.041) and longer reinforcement (p = 0.019) than the 0-1-6 vaccination schedule. The 0-1-2-month vaccination schedule group also had a higher 3rd injection completion rate (89.49% vs. 84.49%, p = 0.010).Conclusion: The 0-1-2-month vaccination schedule was associated with a similar short-term immune effect and might induce better long-term immune memory and a higher completion rate in the adult population. Trial registration None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to obtain a parallel recovery strategy for the interdependent transportation-healthcare system (ITHS) after the earthquake, this study proposes a framework for the resilience assessment and enhancement of ITHS integrating functionality loss (FL), total recovery time (TRT) and resilience (R). A novel metric from the spatial accessibility measurement can effectively quantify the interdependence during the restoration process considering the travel delay and medical service reduction. The Simulated Annealing algorithm is utilized to efficiently search for an optimal parallel restoration strategy under limited resources. Various uncertainties associated with seismic damages, functional loss and restoration time of each component in the ITHS are considered and explicitly modelled. An application case in a real city is used to demonstrate the identification of the resilience-based optimal recovery strategy when the components in the ITHS exhibit disturbances. The optimal restoration strategy considering interdependence during recovery can enhance the resilience of the ITHS compared to ignoring recovery coupling. This method can support decision-makers with post-disaster reconstruction and hence significantly enhance the resilience of the ITHS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clonorchiasis is attributed to the ingestion of raw freshwater fish harboring Clonorchis sinensis. Morbidity control is targeted through the administration of antihelminthics. This study modelled the cost yield indicated by effectiveness and utility of different treatment strategies against clonorchiasis. Methods: About 1000 participants were enrolled from each of 14 counties selected from four provincial-level administrative divisions namely Guangxi, Guangdong, Heilongjiang and Jilin in 2017. Fecal examination was adopted to detect C. sinensis infection, while behavior of ingesting raw freshwater fish was enquired. Counties were grouped into four categories based on prevalence, namely low prevalence group (< 1%), moderate prevalence group (1–9.9%), high prevalence group (10–19.9%) and very high prevalence group (≥ 20%), while population were divided into three subgroups, namely children aged below 14 years old, adult female and adult male both aged over 14 years old. The average of cost effectiveness indicated by the cost to treat single infected cases with C. sinensis and of cost utility indicated by the cost to avoid per disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) caused by C. sinensis infection was calculated. Comparisons were performed between three treatment schedules, namely individual treatment, massive and selective chemotherapy, in which different endemic levels and populations were considered. Results: In selective chemotherapy strategy, the cost to treat single infected case in very high prevalence group was USD 10.6 in adult male, USD 11.6 in adult female, and USD 13.2 in children. The cost increased followed the decrease of endemic level. In massive chemotherapy strategy, the cost per infected case in very high prevalence group was USD 14.0 in adult male, USD 17.1 in adult female, USD 45.8 in children, which were also increased when the endemic level decreased. In individual treatment strategy, the cost was USD 12.2 in adult male, USD 15.0 in adult female and USD 41.5 in children in very high prevalence group; USD 19.2 in adult male, USD 34.0 in adult female, and USD 90.1 in children in high prevalence group; USD 30.4 in adult male, USD 50.5 in adult female and over USD 100 in children in moderate prevalence group; and over USD 400 in any population in low prevalence group. As to cost utility, the differences by treatment strategies, populations and endemic levels were similar to those in cost effectiveness. Conclusions: Both cost effectiveness and cost utility indicators are highly impacted by the prevalence and population, as well as the treatment schedules. Adults especially men in the areas with a prevalence over 10% should be prioritized, in which selective chemotherapy was best and massive chemotherapy was also cost effective. In moderate endemic areas, the yield is not ideal, but selective chemotherapy for adult male may also be adopted. In low endemic areas, all strategies were high costly and new strategies need to be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among chronic liver diseases, fatty liver has the highest incidence worldwide. Coexistence of fatty liver and other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, is common in clinical practice. The present study was conducted to analyze the prevalence and association of coexisting diseases in patients with fatty liver and to investigate how coexisting diseases contribute to abnormal transaminase and lipid profiles.We enrolled participants who were diagnosed with fatty liver via ultrasound in the physical examination center of West China Hospital. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds ratios (ORs).We found that 23.6% of patients who underwent physical examinations were diagnosed with fatty liver. These patients had higher risks of metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and hypertension and a lower risk of HBV infection. The risks of Hp infection and hyperthyroidism did not statistically differ.When fatty liver coexisted with T2DM, MetS and thyroid dysfunction, it conferred a higher risk of elevated transaminase. Fatty liver was positively correlated with triglycerides, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and negatively correlated with HBV; thus, HBV had a neutralizing effect on lipid metabolism when coexisting with fatty liver. In conclusion, patients with fatty liver that coexists with T2DM, MetS and thyroid dysfunction are more prone to elevated transaminase levels. Patients with both fatty liver and HBV may experience a neutralizing effect on their lipid metabolism. Thus, lipid alterations should be monitored in these patients during antiviral treatment for HBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: There is debate among the hepatology community regarding the simple non‐invasive scoring systems and histological scores (even it was developed for histological classification) in predicting clinical outcomes in patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to determine whether the presence of simple non‐invasive scoring systems and histological scores could predict all‐cause mortality, liver‐related mortality, and liver disease decompensation (liver failure, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, or decompensated liver disease). Methods: The pooled hazard ratio of prognostic factors and incidence rate per 1000 person‐years in patients with NAFLD was calculated and further adjusted by two different models of handling the duplicated data. Results: A total of 19 longitudinal studies were included. Most simple non‐invasive scoring systems (Fibrosis‐4 Score, BARD, and aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index) and histological scores (NAFLD activity score, Brunt, and "steatosis, activity, and fibrosis") failed in predicting mortality, and only the NAFLD fibrosis score > 0.676 showed prognostic ability to all‐cause mortality (four studies, 7564 patients, 118 352 person‐years followed up, pooled hazard ratio 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–1.96). The incidence rate per 1000 person‐years of all‐cause mortality, liver‐related mortality, cardiovascular‐related mortality, and liver disease decompensation resulted in a pooled incidence rate per 1000 person‐years of 22.65 (14 studies, 95% CI 9.62–53.31), 3.19 (7 studies, 95% CI 1.14–8.93), 6.02 (6 studies, 95% CI 4.69–7.74), and 11.46 (4 studies, 95% CI 5.33–24.63), respectively. Conclusion: Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score showed promising prognostic value to all‐cause mortality. Most present simple non‐invasive scoring systems and histological scores failed to predict clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-strain-rate dynamic response of a hydroxyl-terminated polyether (HTPE) propellant during impact loading is essential for assessing the structural reliability and impact safety of HTPE propellant. In this study, a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus has been developed to research the stress–strain behavior of the HTPE propellant over strain rates ranging from 470 to 5910 s−1 at room temperature, and the validity of the SHPB test is analyzed in detail. Meanwhile, the evolution of deformation to failure of the HTPE propellant was recorded by a high-speed digital camera synchronized with the SHPB test, which revealed the correlation between mechanical response and failure mode. Scanning electron microscopy was applied to investigate the microscopic failure mechanism of the post-test HTPE propellant, which indicated two characteristic failure modes: cracking propagates along the (1) debonding surface and (2) transgranular damage path. Finally, based on the stress–strain plots derived from the SHPB tests, the ultimate stress, strain energy density, and adiabatic temperature-rise effect of the HTPE propellant were seen to show strong strain rate dependence by following an empirical power law function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fat content of milk determines the quality of milk, and triglycerides are the major components of milk fat. Milk fat synthesis is regulated by many factors. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been shown to inhibit milk fat synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells, but research on the underlying mechanisms has been limited. MicroRNA (miRNA) are involved in many physiological processes, but there have been few studies on their regulation in milk fat synthesis. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether LPS upregulates miR-27a-3p, which targets PPARG , thereby inhibiting the synthesis of triglycerides in a dairy cow mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T). After LPS stimulation of MAC-T cells, PPARG gene expression and milk fat synthesis were inhibited. TargetScan software was used to predict miRNA targeting PPARG , and miR-27a-3p was selected as a candidate. A dual luciferase reporter assay further confirmed the targeting connection between miR-27a-3p and the PPARG gene. To investigate the functions of miR-27a-3p, miR-27a-3p mimic and inhibitors were transfected into MAC-T cells. The mRNA and protein levels of PPAR-γ were negatively correlated with the expression of miR-27a-3p. Lipid droplet accumulation and triglyceride synthesis were also negatively correlated with miR-27a-3p expression. Inhibition of miR-27a-3p partially reversed the LPS-induced decreases in PPARG expression and milk fat synthesis. In summary, our results reveal that LPS can inhibit MAC-T cell milk fat synthesis by upregulating miR-27a-3p, which targets the PPARG gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clonorchiasis is caused by ingestion of raw freshwater fish containing infective larvae of Clonorchis sinensis. China harbours the largest number of people with C. sinensis infection. During the past three decades, the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, affiliated to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NIPD) conducted many studies to facilitate the control on clonorchiasis. Three national surveys have shown the updated epidemiology of clonorchiasis in China. Recently, a national surveillance system has also been established, which will enable the production of high-resolution map. The evaluation of the disease burden has enhanced the awareness on clonorchiasis. Diverse diagnosis techniques including rapid screening by questionnaire, serological tests, faecal examination and a molecular method have been developed or evaluated. The NIPD also participated in the early evaluation of praziquantel against clonorchiasis, which enhanced its application in China. Also, the NIPD has verified the efficacy of tribendimidine against clonorchiasis. A new sustainable strategy is also being explored. However, more research is expected to further facilitate control of clonorchiasis in China, as well as international cooperation in fighting human liver fluke infections in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs) have been widely transmitted in China and the control of STHs was initiated by NIPD-CTDR since its foundation. Three national surveys on STHs have been carried out in China, and the infection rate has dropped from 53.58% in the first national survey (1988-92) to 4.49% in the third national survey (2014-16) due to strong interventions including mass drug administration, health education and environment improvement. National surveillance of STHs started in 2006 and has been implemented successively until now, which allows to understand the endemic status and trends of STHs prevalence in China. Surveillance has been expanded to 30 provinces of China since 2016. Integrated pilot programmes have been implemented between 2006 and 2009, in which an integrated strategy, with health education and control of infection sources as key components, was adopted. Since 2019, new control pilots have been started, which will be continued for five successive years to further explore appropriate control strategies in the current "new era". With the decline of infection rate of STHs, China is approaching the elimination stage for STHs. In order to achieve this final target, poverty alleviation programmes should be integrated with precise control measures, according to real situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a highly enantioselective intermolecular C−H bond silylation catalyzed by a phosphoramidite‐ligated iridium catalyst. Under reagent‐controlled protocols, propargylsilanes resulting from C(sp3)−H functionalization, as well the regioisomeric and synthetically versatile allenylsilanes, could be obtained with excellent levels of enantioselectivity and good to excellent control of propargyl/allenyl selectivity. In the case of unsymmetrical dialkyl acetylenes, good to excellent selectivity for functionalization at the less‐hindered site was also observed. A variety of electrophilic silyl sources (R3SiOTf and R3SiNTf2), either commercial or in situ‐generated, were used as the silylation reagents, and a broad range of simple and functionalized alkynes, including aryl alkyl acetylenes, dialkyl acetylenes, 1,3‐enynes, and drug derivatives were successfully employed as substrates. Detailed mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations suggest that an η3‐propargyl/allenyl Ir intermediate is generated upon π‐complexation‐assisted deprotonation and undergoes outer‐sphere attack by the electrophilic silylating reagent to give propargylic silanes, with the latter step identified as the enantiodetermining step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a highly enantioselective intermolecular C−H bond silylation catalyzed by a phosphoramidite‐ligated iridium catalyst. Under reagent‐controlled protocols, propargylsilanes resulting from C(sp3)−H functionalization, as well the regioisomeric and synthetically versatile allenylsilanes, could be obtained with excellent levels of enantioselectivity and good to excellent control of propargyl/allenyl selectivity. In the case of unsymmetrical dialkyl acetylenes, good to excellent selectivity for functionalization at the less‐hindered site was also observed. A variety of electrophilic silyl sources (R3SiOTf and R3SiNTf2), either commercial or in situ‐generated, were used as the silylation reagents, and a broad range of simple and functionalized alkynes, including aryl alkyl acetylenes, dialkyl acetylenes, 1,3‐enynes, and drug derivatives were successfully employed as substrates. Detailed mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations suggest that an η3‐propargyl/allenyl Ir intermediate is generated upon π‐complexation‐assisted deprotonation and undergoes outer‐sphere attack by the electrophilic silylating reagent to give propargylic silanes, with the latter step identified as the enantiodetermining step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Caseins and fatty acids of milk are synthesized and secreted by the epithelial cells of the mammary gland. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, has been shown to promote mammary development. This study was conducted to determine the effect of ATRA on casein synthesis and fatty acid composition in MAC-T cells. Methods: MAC-T cells were allowed to differentiate for 4 d, treated with ATRA (0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 µM), and incubated for 3 d. We analyzed the fatty acid composition, the mRNA expression of casein and fatty acid synthesis-related genes, and the phosphorylation of casein synthesis-related proteins of MAC-T cells by gas chromatography, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting, respectively. Results: In MAC-T cells, ATRA increased the mRNA levels of αS1-casein and β-casein, janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and E74-like factor 5 of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 β (STAT5-β) pathway, ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, inhibited the mRNA expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E of the mTOR pathway, and promoted the phosphorylation of STAT5-β and S6K1 proteins. Additionally, ATRA increased the de novo synthesis of fatty acids, reduced the content of long-chain fatty acids, the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (SFA), the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to SFA, and the ratio of ω-6 to ω-3 PUFA. The mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase, lipoprotein lipase, stearoyl- CoA desaturase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) were enhanced by ATRA. Conclusion: ATRA promotes the synthesis of casein by regulating JAK2/STAT5 pathway and downstream mTOR signaling pathway, and it improves the fatty acid composition of MAC-T cells by regulating SREBP1-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a single-polarization and ultrawideband tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA) with a compact, single-layer feeding network, and a superstrate layer for wide-angle scanning. The feeding network based on a microstrip-to-slotline structure can significantly reduce the size and complexity of the array. The superstrate layer consists of two frequency selective surfaces (FSSs), which can efficiently increase the scanning angle. The single-polarization TCDA has a bandwidth of 5.13:1 (0.75–3.85 GHz) with the simulated active VSWR < 3 in an infinite array. The scanning angle of the TCDA reaches up to ±60° in all planes and ±70° in the E-plane and D-plane. The profile of the fabricated TCDA with $16\times16$ elements is only $0.12\lambda $ at the largest working wavelength. The measured results of a subset of the array are consistent with the simulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study numerically investigated the influence of flow structures on the mixing characteristics of a sonic transverse gaseous ethylene jet in a supersonic crossflow with a Mach number of 2.95. RANS (Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes) simulations were employed to reveal the transport mechanism of jet fluid. The influencing factors, the jet-to-crossflow momentum flux ratio (J) and the nondimensional thickness of the turbulent boundary layer in the mixing characteristics of the sonic transverse gaseous jet are investigated. In the near-wall field, there is a V-shaped region in the front of the separation bubble that contains more jet gas under a lower momentum flux ratio (J) condition, which is caused by the collision of different inflow streamlines. As the turbulent boundary layer grows, there is more space for the jet gas to expand so that the penetration of the jet is much higher. • The significant jet fluid entrainment can be attributed to the major CVP structures. • The fluid in the near-wall region of the far-field is entrained by the inflow. • There is a V-shaped region with higher fuel mass fraction located in the front of the recirculation zone. • Thicker turbulent boundary layer can promote fuel/oxidizer mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One self-designed testing system was utilized to investigate the creep behavior of the T92 steel in steam environment. The creep tests were conducted at 650 °C with a certain stress range from 100 MPa to 160 MPa in the steam environment and air respectively. The specimens tested in steam environment shows typical multi-layered oxide scale consists of an outer scale of magnetite and an inner scale of Cr-rich spinel. Compared to the specimens in air, the steam specimens possessed larger minimum creep rate and reduced plasticity. The stress dependence of minimum creep rates exhibited a power law with similar exponents of 12.0 and 12.6 in steam environment and air respectively, indicating similar operating mechanism of creep. However, the activation energy in steam environment was smaller than that in air. Microstructural observation demonstrated that the degradation of tempered martensite lath structure and coarsening of the precipitations were mainly responsible for creep damage both in steam environment and air. The results concentrating on the possible interaction between the oxidation scale growth process and creep were discussed on the basis of oxidation process, a potential effect of hydrogen on creep and potential hydrogen embrittlement. [Display omitted] • One self-designed testing system was utilized to investigate the creep behavior of the T92 steel in steam environment. • Creep stress accelerated the scale growth process and pronounced Cr enrichment stringers formed in a parallel fashion within the inner oxide scale. • The presence of water vapour accelerated the minimum creep rate and reduced the creep plasticity of T92 steel in steam at 650 °C compared to that in air. The specimen tested in steam and air showed similar stress exponents. However, the activation energy value in the steam environment was quite smaller than that obtained in the air. • The hydrogen introduced by the formation of oxidation scale in steam environment presumably promoted the diffusion of Fe atoms and then accelerated the creep rates in present research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrophobic hydration of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)/D[sub 2]O was explored using a combination of the high-pressure method and ab initio calculations. The frequencies of the C-H stretching vibration of DMSO increase as the mole fraction of D[sub 2]O increases, while no appreciable changes in spectral shapes are observed upon dilution. Interestingly, the infrared spectra of DMSO/D[sub 2]O observed under high-pressure exhibits dramatic changes, while the new spectral features locating at ∼2942 and ∼3033 cm[sup -1] appear. The spectral changes were attributed to the combined effect of C-H-O hydrogen bonding between C-H in DMSO and oxygen atom in D[sub 2]O, a phase change, pressure increase, etc. Ab initio calculation results, forecasting the frequency shift of the C-H stretching vibration as C-H-O is interacting via hydrogen bonding, are discussed. The reorganization of the hydrogen-bond network or geometry may be responsible for spectral changes as the pressure was elevated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides the evidence for hydrophobic hydration of CH[sub 3]COOD as its aqueous solution was compressed by high pressure. On going from neat CH[sub 3]COOD to diluted CH[sub 3]COOD/D[sub 2]O mixtures, the C-H vibration absorption bands do not reveal the solvent shift in frequency upon dilution, while the C-H absorption bands are altered into one prominent band at ∼2955 cm[sup -1] as the pressure was applied above 0.3 GPa. The possible explanation is the enhancement of C-H-O interactions between C-H and D[sub 2]O under the condition of high pressure. Ab initio calculations predict that the CH[sub 3] stretching frequencies and intensities of acetic acid are hardly affected by the presence of water, if the methyl group does not participate in the complex formation. Nevertheless, the strongest absorption peak at ∼2928 cm[sup -1] is predicted in several low-energy (acetic acid)-(water)[sub χ]complexes with the participation of C-H-O hydrogen bond. The reorganization of hydrogen-bond network or geometry is suggested to be responsible for the formation of C-H-O hydrogen bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-H—O interactions of a self-assembled triple helix based on the 1-acetamido-3(2-pyrazinyl)-imidazolium cation has been probed by high pressure. The infrared spectroscopic profiles and ab initio calculations allow us to make a vibrational assignment of this compound. The C-H bonds forming C-H—O interactions shorten as the pressure was elevated, while free C-H vibration modes show low sensitivity to high pressure. The pressure-dependent results can be attributed to the strengthening of C-H—O electrostatic-dispersion interactions upon increasing pressure. The appearance of the free-NH infrared absorption indicates that the conventional NH—O hydrogen bond does not dominate the inter-strand packing in the compound. It is proposed that the charge-enhanced C-H—O interactions, forming a helical hydrogen-bonding network, disturb the formation of inter-strand N-H—O hydrogen-bonding in order to form a maximum number of hydrogen bonds. Applying high-pressure seems not to change the C=O bond length in contrast to the trend of blue-shift in frequency of C-H vibrations. London dispersion energy is suggested to be required for understanding the pressure-dependent results, although more additional terms, such as the effect in the presence of charge, are needed for the correct explanation. This work demonstrates that high-pressure studies may have the potential to provide insight into the C-H—O structural properties of biological related systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infrared spectroscopic profiles of HCOOD/D[sub 2]O mixtures were measured as a function of pressure and concentration. The C–H bond of HCOOD shortens as the pressure is elevated, while the increase in C–H bond length upon diluting HCOOD with D[sub 2]O was observed. Based on the experimental results, the shift in frequency of C–H stretching band is concluded to relate to the mechanism of the hydration of the C–H group and the water structure in the vicinity of the C–H group. The pressure-dependent results can be attributed to the strengthening of C–H---O electrostatic/dispersion interaction upon increasing pressure. The observations are in accord with ab initio calculation forecasting a blueshift of the C–H stretching mode via C–H---O interaction in HCOOD-water/(HCOOD)[sub 2]-(D[sub 2]O) complexes relative to the noninteracting monomer/dimer. Hydrogen-bonding nonadditivity and the size of water clusters are suggested to be responsible to cause the redshift in C–H stretching mode upon dilution HCOOD with D[sub 2]O. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C–H–O interaction of acetone and deuterium oxide has been probed by high pressure. High-pressure study provides the first experimental evidence for the enhancement of hydrophobic hydration of acetone as its aqueous solution was compressed to high-pressure ices. Based on the results, we conclude that the C–H–O interaction may be a distinct possibility to understand the origin of the spectral feature located at ∼2950 cm-1, being sensitive to concentration and pressure dependence. Ab initio calculation results, forecasting the frequency red shift of the C–H stretching vibration as C–H–O is interacted via hydrogen bonding, are discussed. This study demonstrates that high pressure can be used as a valuable means of triggering and investigating C–H–O hydrogen-bonding interaction. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We determine the impact of lagged Baltic Dry Index (BDI) on financial markets. • We develop a novice tri-variate VAR-BEKK-GARCH-X model to measure Baltic Dry Index over ten years. • We develop an adjusted DJGS index to include dry bulk shipping companies. • BDI affects the equity, currency, and commodities markets when crises occur in the U.S. and China. • BDI is a short-term (three to five years) rather than long-term (ten years) indicator. This study examines the spillover effect of the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) on the commodities futures, currency, and stock markets by using a tri-variate VAR-BEKK-GARCH-X model on a dataset from October 1, 2007 to October 31, 2018. Results reveal that the BDI spillover effect is time-varying. The spillover effect of the BDI was insignificant during the whole sample period but significant during the 2008/2009 global financial tsunami, and its influence increased during the 2014–2016 economic slowdown in China. The BDI serves as a short-term rather than long-term indicator for the commodities, currency, and equity markets, especially during financial crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic ionic liquids are a group of magneto-responsive compounds that typically possess high ionic conductivities and low vapor pressures. In spite of the general interest in these materials, a number of questions concerning the fundamental interactions among the ions remain unanswered. We used vibrational spectroscopy to gain insight into the nature of these interactions. Intramolecular vibrational modes of the ions are quite sensitive to their local potential energy environments, which are ultimately defined by cation–anion coordination schemes present among the ions. Ambient pressure Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy indicates comparable interaction motifs for 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate(III), [emim]FeCl4, and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrabromoferrate(III), [emim]FeBr4, magnetic ionic liquids. However, the vibrational modes of [emim]FeCl4 generally occur at slightly higher frequencies than those of [emim]FeBr4. These differences reflect different interaction strengths between the [emim]+ cations and Fe Cl 4 - or Fe Br 4 - anions. This conclusion is supported by gas-phase ab initio calculations of single [emim]FeCl4 and [emim]FeBr4 ion pairs that show longer C–H···Br–Fe interaction lengths compared to C–H···Cl–Fe. Although the IR spectra of [emim]FeCl4 and [emim]FeBr4 are comparable at ambient pressure, a different series of spectroscopic changes transpire when pressure is applied to these compounds. This suggests [emim]+ cations experience different types of interaction with the anions under high-pressure conditions. The pressure-dependent FT-IR spectra highlights the critical role ligands attached to the tetrahalogenoferrate(III) anions play in modulating cation–anion interactions in magnetic ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract During earthquake events, a mainshock may trigger a number of following aftershocks in a short time, which can cause additional damage to structures. This paper investigates the influence of aftershocks with different durations on the additional accumulative damage of containment structures considering the post-mainshock damage states. For this purpose, 15 as-recorded mainshock-aftershock records with a broad range of aftershock durations, which are scaled and adjusted to match the target spectrum using wavelet transformation, are considered in this study. The three-dimensional structural model which can capture the strength and stiffness degradation during seismic sequences is established. A normalized 'damage ratio' measuring tensile and compressive damage is proposed to quantify the accumulative damage from seismic sequences. The results indicate that aftershocks with longer durations can cause more severe accumulative damage and have a significant effect on the damage pattern. Therefore, to evaluate the safety margin of containment structures accurately, the aftershock and its characteristics of duration should be taken into account when selecting ground motion records for seismic safety assessment of a Nuclear Power Plant. Highlights • The concrete damage plasticity model is used to capture accumulative damage. • Aftershock records are scaled and adjusted to match target spectra using wavelet. • The normalized 'damage ratio' are proposed to quantify the accumulative damage. • The post-mainshock damage states of containment buildings are considered. • Aftershock durations amplify the accumulative damage and affect the damage pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • miRNA-34a, miRNA-122 and miRNA-192 helped to distinguish NAFLD and NASH severity. • The correlation of miRNA expression between serum and liver tissue was inconsistent. • miRNA-122 showed moderate accuracy to distinguish NAFLD from healthy controls. • miRNA-34a showed moderate accuracy to distinguish NASH from NAFL. Background & Aims microRNAs (miRNAs) are deregulated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and have been proposed as useful markers for the diagnosis and stratification of disease severity. We conducted a meta-analysis to identify the potential usefulness of miRNA biomarkers in the diagnosis and stratification of NAFLD severity. Methods After a systematic review, circulating miRNA expression consistency and mean fold-changes were analysed using a vote-counting strategy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio and area under the curve (AUC) for the diagnosis of NAFLD or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were pooled using a bivariate meta-analysis. Deeks' funnel plot was used to assess the publication bias. Results Thirty-seven studies of miRNA expression profiles and six studies of diagnostic accuracy were ultimately included in the quantitative analysis. miRNA-122 and miRNA-192 showed consistent upregulation. miRNA-122 was upregulated in every scenario used to distinguish NAFLD severity. The miRNA expression correlation between the serum and liver tissue was inconsistent across studies. miRNA-122 distinguished NAFLD from healthy controls with an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI 0.75–0.89), and miRNA-34a distinguished non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) with an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI 0.67–0.88). Conclusion miRNA-34a, miRNA-122 and miRNA-192 were identified as potential diagnostic markers to segregate NAFL from NASH. Both miRNA-122, in distinguishing NAFLD from healthy controls, and miRNA-34a, in distinguishing NASH from NAFL, showed moderate diagnostic accuracy. miRNA-122 was upregulated in every scenario of NAFL, NASH and fibrosis. Lay summary microRNAs are deregulated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The microRNAs, miRNA-34a, miRNA-122 and miRNA-192, were identified as potential biomarkers of non-alcoholic fatty liver and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, at different stages of disease severity. The correlation between miRNA expression in the serum and in liver tissue was inconsistent, or even inverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background & Aims: Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) and its immune complex (SCCA‐IgM) have been proposed for use in the screening of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted a meta‐analysis to evaluate the diagnostic performance of SCCA and SCCA‐IgM and of both combined with alpha‐foetoprotein. Methods: After a systematic review of the relevant studies, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and area under curve (AUC) for the diagnosis of HCC were pooled using bivariate meta‐analysis. Hierarchic summary receiver operating characteristic curves were used to summarize the overall test performance. Bivariate boxplots were used to confirm whether the threshold effect existed. A Fagan nomogram was used to assess the clinical utility. Heterogeneity was explored by sensitivity analysis, univariable meta‐regression and subgroup analysis. Results: Eleven studies that had HCC diagnosis as their purpose were ultimately included in the quantitative analysis. The summary estimates were as follows: SCCA (AUC: 0.80 [95% CI: 0.76‐0.83]) and SCCA‐IgM (AUC: 0.77 [95% CI: 0.74‐0.83]) demonstrated similar diagnostic performance, while a combination of AFP and SCCA‐IgM had an AUC of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87‐0.92) and a DOR of 22.87 (95% CI: 8.38‐62.40). Meta‐regression showed that patient selection, cut‐off values, reference standards and tumour biopsy as the diagnostic method significantly influenced the heterogeneity of the included studies. Conclusions: Both SCCA and SCCA‐IgM showed a moderate diagnostic accuracy for HCC screening; the combination of SCCA‐IgM and AFP is the best diagnostic option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some species of Kalanchoe , including those of sections Kalanchoe and Bryophyllum do not flower naturally. This barrier to flowering might hinder hybridization and breeding. The role of gibberellin acid (GA 3 ) in promoting flowering was investigated, and the effects of GA 3 treatment on flowering under different temperatures were determined. The findings indicated that flowering was promoted in 100% of the K. sexangularis , K. nyikae , K. marnieriana , K. longiflora , and K. × richaudii plants treated with different GA 3 gradients. The percentage of flowering in K. marnieriana and K. nyikae increased with increasing concentrations of applied GA 3 . The number of days taken to flower in K. nyikae and K. sexangularis decreased with increasing concentrations of applied GA 3 . In K . × richaudii treated with 100 mg L −1 GA 3 flowers appeared the earliest. The number of flowers of K. sexangularis and K. × richaudii increased, while that of K. nyikae decreased, with increasing GA 3 concentrations. GA 3 -treated K. nyikae , K. poincarei , and K. sexangularis plants showed higher percentages of flowering at 25/20 °C (day/night) than at higher temperatures. The findings from this study confirmed that GA 3 , applied in a broad range of concentrations, promotes floral induction in the studied species, affecting mainly the number of days taken to flower and the number of flowers produced. However, the GA 3 -treated plants had reduced flowering at higher temperatures. These findings can be applied in the regulation of flowering and breeding of Kalanchoe in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiative lifetimes and total cross sections for deactivation of K(7 2S ) and K(5 2D ) by collisions with H2 have been studied. In the sample vapor, the K atoms were prepared in either the 7 2S or the 5 2D state by two-photon absorption using a dye laser. The decay signal of the time-resolved fluorescence from the 7 2S–4 2P1/2 or 5 2D–4 2P3/2 transition was then monitored. Based on the Stern–Volmer equation, the radiative lifetimes are (157±5) ns for the 7 2S state and (569±12) ns for the 5 2D state. The total cross sections for deactivation of excited K atoms by means of collisions with H2 are (150±2) A2 for the 7 2S state and (39±4) A2 for the 5 2D state. The radiative lifetimes in the absence of H2 collisions agree with those previously reported. The cross sections for quenching by H2 have been measured for the first time and are interpreted in terms of the harpoon mechanism. The cross section for the transition 7 2S–5 2D has been measured; this transition has been proved to be the predominant channel for the depopulation of the 7 2S state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using a pump-and-probe technique, we have observed for the first time the product KH formed by reaction of K*(7S) with H2 in a single collision under bulk conditions. In contrast, no detectable laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) signal of KH was detected as the K*(7S) was replaced by the K*(5D), a state having 88 cm-1 less energy. These experiments demonstrate for the first time the possibility for an alkali atom to undergo with the H2 molecule a state-selective reaction. This reaction can be satisfactorily understood in terms of the harpoon mechanism. Measurements of the temperature dependence of the rate constant confirm the proposed mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, hull form optimization performs design space searches through an optimization algorithm to find the optimal solution and discusses the optimal result only while ignoring a large amount of optimized data. In the optimized data, there are implicit relationships between variables and between the variables and objective function, which can contribute to a better understanding of optimization problems. For the above problems, this paper studies the optimized data in hull form optimization and proposes a set of design knowledge extraction methods suitable for multi-objective ship optimization; in addition, we study the optimization of ship form lines under various working conditions using a 7500-ton inland twin-skeg bulk carrier as the research object. On this basis, the design knowledge is extracted via sensitivity analysis and self-organizing mapping neural network in data mining, and the effectiveness of the rule extraction technology is verified through a comparative analysis of the results. The concluded rules play a significant role in guiding hull form optimization. • Multi-objective Ship Optimization of 7500-ton inland twin-skeg bulk carrier. • The article proposes an efficient method of design knowledge extraction for ship multi-objective optimization. • The design knowledge is extracted sensitivity analysis and self-organizing mapping neural network in data minings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) play an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the mechanisms that link LCSCs to HCC metastasis remain largely unknown. This study aims to reveal the contributions of NRCAM to LCSC function and HCC metastasis, and further explore its mechanism in detail. Methods: 117 HCC and 29 non-HCC patients with focal liver lesions were collected and analyzed to assess the association between NRCAM and HCC metastasis. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to explore the biological characteristics of cells with high NRCAM expression in metastatic HCC. The role and mechanism of NRCAM in LCSC dissemination and metastasis was explored in vitro and in vivo using MYC-driven LCSC organoids from murine liver cells. Results: Serum NRCAM is associated with HCC metastasis and poor prognosis. A scRNA-seq analysis identified that NRCAM was highly expressed in LCSCs with MYC activation in metastatic HCC. Moreover, NRCAM facilitated LCSC migration and invasion, which was confirmed in MYC-driven LCSC organoids. The in vivo tumor allografts demonstrated that NRCAM mediated intra-hepatic/lung HCC metastasis by enhancing the ability of LCSCs to escape from tumors into the bloodstream. Nrcam expression inhibition in LCSCs blocked HCC metastasis. Mechanistically, NRCAM activated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis-related matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) through the MACF1 mediated β-catenin signaling pathway in LCSCs. Conclusions: LCSCs typified by high NRCAM expression have a strong ability to invade and migrate, which is an important factor leading to HCC metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study experimentally and numerically investigated the flow physics of a sonic transverse gaseous jet under a Ma = 2.95 supersonic crossflow. NPLS (Nanoparticle-based Planar Laser Scattering) and oil flow techniques were combined to achieve experimental visualization, while RANS (Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes) model was used to carry out the numerical simulation. Under the supersonic crossflow with jet-to-crossflow momentum flux ratio (J) of 7.7, the typical structures, including a bow shock, a barrel shock, horseshoe vortex, and separation zones, were clearly observed by the NPLS techniques. V-shape separation bubbles and V-shape collision shocks were identified based on the oil-flow results. Detailed flow fields around the V-shape separation bubble were then revealed by numerical calculations. It is shown that the collision shock induced V-shape separation bubbles can further affect the Mach disk, the reflected shock and the barrel shock. The reflected shock deflects the collision shock toward the two flanks. The collision shock intersects with the barrel shock, influencing the shape of the Mach disk. In addition, the interaction between the reflected shock and the wall leads to the velocity slip in the near-wall region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continued growth and development of ionic liquids requires a thorough understanding of how cation and anion molecular structure defines the liquid structure of the materials as well as the various properties that make them technologically useful. Infrared spectroscopy is frequently used to assess molecular-level interactions among the cations and anions of ionic liquids because the intramolecular vibrational modes of the ions are sensitive to the local potential energy environments in which they reside. Thus, different interaction modes among the ions may lead to different spectroscopic signatures in the vibrational spectra. Charge organization present in ionic liquids, such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([C 4 mim]CF 3 SO 3 ), is frequently modeled in terms of a quasicrystalline structure. Highly structured quasilattices enable the dynamic coupling of vibrationally-induced dipole moments to produce optical dispersion and transverse optical-longitudinal optical (TO-LO) splitting of vibrational modes of the ionic liquid. According to dipolar coupling theory, the degree of TO-LO splitting is predicted to have a linear dependence on the number density of the ionic liquid. Both temperature and pressure will affect the number density of the ionic liquid and, therefore, the amount of TO-LO splitting for this mode. Therefore, we test these relationships through temperature- and pressure-dependent FT-IR spectroscopic studies of [C 4 mim]CF 3 SO 3 , focusing on the totally symmetric S O stretching mode for the anion, ν s (SO 3 ). Increased temperature decreases the amount of TO-LO splitting for ν s (SO 3 ), whereas elevated pressure is found to increase the amount of band splitting. In both cases, the experimental observations follow the general predictions of dipolar coupling theory, thereby supporting the quasilattice model for this ionic liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescent metal-organic framework (MOF), [Ag(btx) 0.5 (DCTP) 0.5 ] n ( 1 ) (H 2 DCTP = 2,5-dichloroterephthalic acid and btx = 1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene) has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffractions and thermogravimetry. The framework of 1 can be classified as a binodal (4,4)-connected PtS topological network. The fluorescence explorations demonstrated that 1 shows selective and sensitive detection towards Cr 2 O 7 2− with high quenching efficiency of 1.92 × 10 4 M −1 . The rapid and efficient response of 1 to Cr 2 O 7 2− ion suggests that this material could be used as a luminescent sensor for Cr 2 O 7 2− ion. Meanwhile the photocatalytic properties of 1 for the degradation of RhB have also been investigated under UV radiation. The possible photocatalytic mechanisms were also speculated. Hence, 1 can become multi-functional material in sensitive detection and effective removal of some environment pollutants in industrial waste water solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-structures of [Zn(L)(atpt)] n ( 1 ) (L = 1,2-bis(2-methylbenzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene and H 2 atpt = 2-aminoterephthalic acid) were obtained by hydrothermal and sonochemical approaches, characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), IR, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and elemental analysis. CP 1 features a 2D (4,4) network with the point symbol {4 4 .6 2 }, the 3D supramolecular architecture in CP 1 is controlled through π ⋯ π stacking interactions. The influence of various concentrations of initial reagents, power of ultrasound irradiation, and ultrasound time on the morphology and size of nano-structured CP 1 were studied in detail. In addition, the luminescence and photocatalytic properties of the nanoparticles of CP 1 for the degradation of methyl blue (MB) have also been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Masonry infill walls should have sufficient out-of-plane stability to ensure the safety of people and the performance of safety-relevant components. The behaviour of masonry infill walls under out-of-plane loading, which is caused by earthquakes due to the mass and inertia of the wall, is crucial to the overall safety of buildings. A simplified micro non-linear three-dimensional finite-element method for simulating the behaviour of masonry infills under out-of-plane loading is presented in this paper. Appropriate experimental data from the literature are utilised to examine the capability of the model. A parametric study is presented using the connection conditions of the wall and frame, the slenderness ratio, the compressive strength of the masonry and the aspect ratio as parameters. It is shown that the model can simulate the various crack patterns observed in experimental studies reported in the literature. Based on the results of the parametric study, a simplified formula is developed to compute the out-of-plane load resistance of a masonry infill wall. A comparison of the results from the simplified formula and experimental data indicates that the formula can be employed to predict the out-of-plane strength of masonry infill walls in reinforced concrete frames with acceptable accuracy, except for those with extremely small slenderness ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A silver(I) coordination polymer (CP), {[Ag(DCTP) 0.5 (bpy)(H 2 O)]·0.5H 2 O} n ( 1 ) based on 2,5-dichloroterephthalic acid (H 2 DCTP) and 4,4′-bipyridine (bpy) were synthesized under hydrothermal condition. CP 1 features a 1D infinite undulating ladder-like chain, which is further extended into a 3D supramolecular network through classic O–H⋯O hydrogen bond interactions. CP 1 exhibits highly selective and sensitive luminescent detection for Cr 2 O 7 2− in aqueous solution with quenching efficiency up to 2.00 × 10 4  M −1 and a low detection limit of 2.06 µM. Further, Hirshfeld surface analyses and the photocatalytic properties of CP 1 have also been investigated in detail. Remarkably, CP 1 presented a rare example of Ag(I)-based CP as luminescent probe and photocatalytic materials simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comprehensively understand kinetic characteristics of microalgae growth and lipid synthesis in different phases, a phase-feeding strategy was proposed to simultaneously regulate light, carbon and nutrients in adaption, growth and stationary phases of microalgae cultivation. Physiological-phased kinetic characteristics of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris growth and lipid synthesis under synergistic effects of light, carbon and nutrients were investigated, and supply-demand relationships of electrons and energy between light and dark reactions of photosynthesis process were discussed. Finally, the optimized cultivation strategy for microalgae in various phases were obtained, under which the lipid productivity was significantly improved from 130.11 mg/L/d to 163.42 mg/L/d. The study provided some important guidance for the large-scale production of biofuels from microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]