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Highly b‐oriented MFI zeolite (abbreviated as BOMZ) membranes are attractive due to less grain boundary defects and straight channels normal to the substrate, enhancing selectivity and flux in membrane separation. Herein, we demonstrate a novel, effective and easily‐amplified printing‐transfer oriented‐seed‐layer technique to manufacture uniform BOMZ seed monolayer on porous supports. Furthermore, a facile and effective approach for the synthesis of highly BOMZ membranes by introducing poly(hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride as a twin crystal inhibitor during seeded growth is demonstrated. Well‐intergrown BOMZ membranes (∼650 nm thick) obtained on porous Al2O3 supports show a flux of 2.8 kg m−2 h−1 with a separation factor as high as 71 for pervaporation in the 60 °C feed of EtOH/H2O (5 wt%), which is much higher than those of random membranes. The developed seed assembly technique on porous supports underlines great potential for facile preparation of oriented seed layers on porous supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational construction of nanocomposites with special hollow structure is still a considerable challenge in developing high-performance electromagnetic wave absorption materials. In this work, a novel donuts-like CoO hollow nanostructure intertwined with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was designed and fabricated by a facile and simple strategy to acquire the excellent EM wave performances for the first time. Benefitting from the special nanostructures of donuts-like CoO intertwined with MWCNTs, which cause rich interfacial polarization, multiple scattering centers, reduced specific gravity, three dimensional conductive networks, and proper impedance matching, the CoO/MWCNTs nanocomposites with proper carbon content display superior microwaves absorption performance. With a filler loading of 25 wt%, CoO/MWCNTs nanocomposites with 7 wt% MWCNTs has a strong absorption of −72.57 dB at a 2.0 mm thickness, and its effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) reaches 4.18 GHz. Even with an ultrathin thickness of 1.5 mm, it possesses strong absorption of −42.1 dB with an EAB of 3.3 GHz. Additionally, the EAB of 14.5 GHz with respect to 1.5–5.0 mm thickness range can be obtained. In light of the above advantages, the CoO/MWCNTs nanocomposites can be an effective absorber with lightweight, ultrathin thickness, broad bandwidth, antioxidation, and strong absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Micellar carrier is prepared from a bioactive solanesol derivative; • Maleic acid amide linkage endows the system with pH-sensitivity; • Minimized side effects and combination therapy were achieved by this carrier. Carrier materials always account for the majority particularly in nanosized formulations, which are administrated along with the active ingredient part might result in metabolism related toxicity. The usage of bioactive excipients could not only reduce the sided effect but also provide additional therapeutic effects. In the present study, a triterpene based micellar drug delivery system was developed using a bioactive solanesol derivative. Solanesylamine was prepared firstly followed by conjugating with poly (ethylene glycol) using maleic acid amide linkage. The amphiphilic drug carrier PEGylated (2-propyl-3-methylmaleic acid)-block-solanesol amine (mPEG-CDM-NH-SOL) could be formed into micelles and loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) inside. The micelles were about 112 nm in size and the drug loading content was about 5.97 wt%. An acid triggered drug release behavior was obviously observed for the DOX loaded pH-sensitive micelle mPEG-CDM-NH-SOL-DOX. While not for DOX-loaded micelles without pH-sensitivity (mPEG-NHS-NH-SOL). CCK8 assay showed that the micelles of PEGylated solanesylamines exhibited certain inhibitory effect on tumor cells at high concentration and the pH sensitive ones seemed more toxic. In vivo studies showed that the pH sensitive mPEG-CDM-NH-SOL-DOX had a superior anti-tumor effect, indicating its great potential in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core–shell chlorhexidine/amorphous calcium phosphate (CHX/ACP) nanoparticles were synthesized and used to modify the dental resin composite, aiming to improve its remineralized and antibacterial properties. The core–shell CHX/ACP nanoparticles were synthesized by vesicle-templating technology and characterized, and their sustained release and antibacterial properties were also evaluated. Subsequently, the synthesized nanoparticles were incorporated into the dental resin composite at 1 wt.%, 5 wt.% or 10 wt.% to obtain different experimental groups. The physical properties, including curing depth, double bond conversion rate, water absorption and solubility, the sustained-release effects, and mechanical properties of the modified resin composite were evaluated. The remineralization ability was also measured by SEM. The antibacterial experiment of the modified resin composite with fresh preparation or aging in water for 28 days was carried out by a plate count method. The physical and chemical characterizations showed that the synthesized nanoparticles presented a core–shell structure, and their diameter was about 98.5 nm. The shell was composed of ACP with the core full of CHX. These nanoparticles had a release effect on calcium, phosphate ions, and CHX. The nanoparticles could effectively inhibit the growth of S. mutan at a lower concentration (≥50 μg/mL). The curing depth, the double bond conversion, the water absorption, the solubility, the flexural strength, the flexural modulus, and the compressive strength of the modified resin composite were 3.86–4.88 mm, 62.32–73.61%, 1.47–2.84%, 0.21−0.48%, 45.83–109.46 MPa, 2.57–4.91 GPa, and 66.43–160.38 MPa, respectively. The modified resin composite containing 5 wt.% and above CHX/ACP nanoparticles could effectively inhibit the growth of S. mutans regardless of aging in water, with immediate and aging antibacterial rate of more than 92%. In addition, the modified resin composite had a certain remineralization property in the SBF solution verified by SEM. The core–shell CHX/ACP nanoparticles were successfully prepared and used to modify the resin composite. The modified dental resin composite with 5 wt.% CHX/ACP nanoparticles had excellent mechanical, antibacterial, and remineralization properties. It is expected to be an ideal restorative filling material for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may predispose patients to thrombotic disease in the venous and arterial circulations. Methods: Based on the current debate on antiplatelet therapy in COVID-19 patients, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of antiplatelet treatments. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science on February 1, 2023, and only included Randomized clinical trials. The study followed PRISMA guidelines and used Random-effects models to estimate the pooled percentage and its 95% CI. Results: Five unique eligible studies were included, covering 17,950 patients with COVID-19. The result showed no statistically significant difference in the relative risk of all-cause death in antiplatelet therapy versus non-antiplatelet therapy (RR 0.94, 95% CI, 0.83–1.05, P = 0.26, I2 = 32%). Compared to no antiplatelet therapy, patients who received antiplatelet therapy had a significantly increased relative risk of major bleeding (RR 1.81, 95%CI 1.09–3.00, P = 0.02, I2 = 16%). The sequential analysis suggests that more RCTs are needed to draw more accurate conclusions. This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that the use of antiplatelet agents exhibited no significant benefit on all-cause death, and the upper bound of the confidence interval on all-cause death (RR 95% CI, 0.83–1.05) suggested that it was unlikely to be a substantiated harm risk associated with this treatment. However, evidence from all RCTs suggested a high risk of major bleeding in antiplatelet agent treatments. Conclusion: According to the results of our sequential analysis, there is not enough evidence available to support or negate the use of antiplatelet agents in COVID-19 cases. The results of ongoing and future well-designed, large, randomized clinical trials are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weakening the mass transfer resistance inside the selective layer of membrane can effectively increase the membrane separation performance. In this study, we introduce macropores into the conventional LTA zeolite membrane layer, resulting in an unprecedented hierarchical membrane structure. Specifically, the hierarchical LTA zeolite membranes composed of a macroporous zeolite layer and a thin dense top layer (600 nm), are fabricated on rough α -Al 2 O 3 tubular supports by vapor phase transformation method using mesoporous silica spheres (MSPs) as the porogen in the precursor layer. The H 2 (N 2) permeance of the hierarchical LTA zeolite membrane is near 10 times that of the conventional LTA zeolite membrane, indicating that the hierarchical pore structure can effectively weaken the mass transfer resistance inside the selective layer of membrane. And it has good pervaporation performance for 90 wt% ethanol aqueous solution at 348 K, i.e. , the flux can reach 4.54 kg m−2 h−1 with a separation factor of >10,000, which is much higher than that of the conventional LTA zeolite membrane. The preparation of LTA zeolite membranes with hierarchical pore structure using MSPs as a porogen is expected to open up a new way for the construction of zeolite membranes. • Mesoporous silica microspheres as the porogen and silica source. • Hierarchical membrane structure can effectively decrease the permeation resistance. • Solid waste was greatly reduced by vapor phase transformation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that xenon-delayed postconditioning for up to 2 h after reperfusion provides protection against spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. This study was designed to determine the roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)–Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in this neuroprotection. The rats were randomly assigned to the following nine groups (n = 16 ∗ 9): 1) I/R + N 2 group, 2) I/R + Xe group, 3) I/R + PD98059 + N 2 group (ERK blocking agent), 4) I/R + wortmannin + N 2 group (PI3K-Akt blocking agent), 5) I/R + PD98059 + Xe group, 6) I/R + wortmannin + Xe group, 7) I/R + DMSO + Xe group (dimethyl sulfoxide, vehicle control), 8) I/R + DMSO + N 2 group, and 9) sham group (no spinal cord ischemia and no xenon). Spinal cord ischemia was induced for 25 min in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Neurological function was assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) open-field locomotor scale at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after reperfusion. Histological examination of the lumbar spinal cord was performed using Nissl staining and TUNEL staining at 4 (n = 8) and 48 (n = 8) h after reperfusion. Western blotting was performed to evaluate p-Akt and p-ERK expression in the spinal cord at 4 (n = 8) and 48 (n = 8) h after reperfusion. Compared with the sham group, all rats in the I/R groups had lower BBB scores, fewer normal motor neurons, more apoptotic neurons and lower p-Akt and p-ERK levels at each time point (P < 0.05). Compared with the I/R group, rats in the I/R + Xe group had higher neurological scores, more normal motor neurons, fewer apoptotic neurons and significantly higher levels of p-Akt and p-ERK at each time point (P < 0.05). Compared with the I/R + Xe group, the I/R + PD98059 + Xe and I/R + wortmannin + Xe groups showed worse neurological outcomes and less p-Akt and p-ERK at each time point (P < 0.05). These results suggest that xenon-delayed postconditioning improves neurological outcomes to spinal cord I/R injury in rats through the activation of the AKT and ERK signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain high flux and polarization adjustable synchrotron radiation with low on-axis power density, a type of pure permanent magnetic undulator called merged APPLE-Knot has been proposed. The original configuration of the merged APPLE-Knot undulator neglects the existence of knot vacancies and sets all magnets to the same size, the polarization of fundamental photons decreases dramatically as the gap increases in vertical polarization mode. To deal with this problem, a new configuration that increases the size of the merged magnets and shifts two Knot arrays respectively before merging the magnets has been proposed. However, there is a notable net kick for electrons due to the asymmetry of magnetization orientation distribution of two magnet arrays in circular polarization mode. It cannot be corrected by end magnets only, extra current strips are needed. Here, the configuration of merged APPLE-Knot with symmetrical magnetization orientation distribution proved to be a good choice as well to obtain a good performance of synchrotron radiation without extra current strips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vital pulp preservation in the treatment of deep caries is challenging due to bacterial infection. The objectives of this study were to synthesize a novel, light-cured composite material containing bioactive calcium-silicate (Portland cement, PC) and the antimicrobial quaternary ammonium salt monomer 2-methacryloxylethyl dodecyl methyl ammonium bromide (MAE-DB) and to evaluate its effects on Streptococcus mutans growth in vitro. Methods: The experimental material was prepared from a 2∶1 ratio of PC mixed with a resin of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, bisphenol glycerolate dimethacrylate, and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (4∶3∶1) containing 5 wt% MAE-DB. Cured resin containing 5% MAE-DB without PC served as the positive control material, and resin without MAE-DB or PC served as the negative control material. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium hydroxide (Dycal) served as commercial controls. S. mutans biofilm formation on material surfaces and growth in the culture medium were tested according to colony-forming units (CFUs) and metabolic activity after 24 h incubation over freshly prepared samples or samples aged in water for 6 months. Biofilm formation was also assessed by Live/Dead staining and scanning electron microscopy. Results: S. mutans biofilm formation on the experimental material was significantly inhibited, with CFU counts, metabolic activity, viability staining, and morphology similar to those of biofilms on the positive control material. None of the materials affected bacterial growth in solution. Contact-inhibition of biofilm formation was retained by the aged experimental material. Significant biofilm formation was observed on MTA and Dycal. Conclusion: The synthesized material containing HEMA-BisGMA-TEGDMA resin with MAE-DB as the antimicrobial agent and PC to support mineralized tissue formation inhibited S. mutans biofilm formation even after aging in water for 6 months, but had no inhibitory effect on bacteria in solution. Therefore, this material shows promise as a pulp capping material for vital pulp preservation in the treatment of deep caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Removable dentures are subject to plaque and/or staining problems. Denture hygiene habits and risk factors differ among countries and regions. The aims of this study were to assess hygiene habits and denture plaque and staining risk factors in Chinese removable denture wearers aged >40 years in Xi’an through multiple logistic regression analysis (MLRA). Methods: Questionnaires were administered to 222 patients whose removable dentures were examined clinically to assess wear status and levels of plaque and staining. Univariate analyses were performed to identify potential risk factors for denture plaque/staining. MLRA was performed to identify significant risk factors. Results: Brushing (77.93%) was the most prevalent cleaning method in the present study. Only 16.4% of patients regularly used commercial cleansers. Most (81.08%) patients removed their dentures overnight. MLRA indicated that potential risk factors for denture plaque were the duration of denture use (reference, ≤0.5 years; 2.1–5 years: OR = 4.155, P = 0.001; >5 years: OR = 7.238, P<0.001) and cleaning method (reference, chemical cleanser; running water: OR = 7.081, P = 0.010; brushing: OR = 3.567, P = 0.005). Potential risk factors for denture staining were female gender (OR = 0.377, P = 0.013), smoking (OR = 5.471, P = 0.031), tea consumption (OR = 3.957, P = 0.002), denture scratching (OR = 4.557, P = 0.036), duration of denture use (reference, ≤0.5 years; 2.1–5 years: OR = 7.899, P = 0.001; >5 years: OR = 27.226, P<0.001), and cleaning method (reference, chemical cleanser; running water: OR = 29.184, P<0.001; brushing: OR = 4.236, P = 0.007). Conclusion: Denture hygiene habits need further improvement. An understanding of the risk factors for denture plaque and staining may provide the basis for preventive efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolite membranes are broadly applied in separation, catalysis, and sensor, yet challenges remain in the preparation process. The design of support is an important component to simplify the synthesis protocol and improve the repeatability. Herein, we present a facile and universal strategy to fabricate high-performance zeolite membranes via engineering the skeleton of hollow fiber supports, on which a variety of high-performance zeolite membranes (e.g., MFI, LTA and FAU) can be obtained just by in-situ crystallization without any modification. The "reactive" support is fabricated by implanting zeolite crystals (e.g., NaA) in the precursor of porous ceramic alumina support. Being dissolved under alkaline condition of the synthesis solution, the zeolite calcination transformant (e.g., NaA-Cal) produced in the support during sintering process can effectively form nucleation sites on the support surface, and continuously provide active species to ensure the continuity of the membrane. This study contributes new insights into the importance of supports for high-performance zeolite membranes. Meanwhile, the synthetic methodology is expected to expand the preparation method of zeolite membranes and promote the large-scale application of zeolite membranes. [Display omitted] • Implanting zeolite crystals into the ceramic slurry for preparation of versatile supports. • A variety of high-performance zeolite membranes can be obtained on the support. • No modification or repeated synthesis is needed using the versatile support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Users of HEPS require polarization adjustable and high-flux synchrotron radiation with energy of 100–2000 eV. To achieve 100 eV photon energy at HEPS, a 6 GeV storage ring, the problem of on-axis heat load becomes a significant challenge for users. A new type of four-row merged APPLE–Knot undulator recently proposed seems to be the most effective solution to reduce on-axis power density. However, as an undulator with such complex magnetization orientation distribution of magnetic blocks, its field integrals correction and the effect of field errors on the radiation performance are different from that of conventional EPU. Whether it can realize its field integrals correction and perform as well as in theory with field errors has become a concern. Here, a set of field integrals correction schemes is reported and field errors analysis has been done. A general method for evaluating the effect of magnetization orientation deviation of the magnetic block on radiation performance is proposed. It can be used for any insertion device containing permanent magnetic magnets if necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop and validate a nomogram for the preoperative diagnosis of T2 and T3 stage rectal cancer using MRI radiomics features of mesorectal fat. Methods: The data of 288 patients with T2 and T3 stage rectal cancer were retrospectively collected. Radiomics features were extracted from the lesion region of interest (ROI) in the MRI high-resolution T2WI, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences. After using ICC inter-group consistency analysis and Pearson correlation analysis to reduce dimensions, LASSO regression analysis was performed to select features and calculate Rad-score for each sequence. Then, Combined_Radscore and nomogram were constructed based on the LASSO-selected features and clinical data for each sequence. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the performance of the Rad-score model and nomogram. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to evaluate the clinical usability of the radiomics nomogram, which were combined with calibration curves to evaluate the prediction accuracy. Results: The nomogram based on MRI-report T status and Combined_Radscore achieved AUCs of 0.921 and 0.889 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Conclusion: The nomogram can be stated that the radiomics nomogram based on multi-sequence MRI imaging of the mesorectal fat has excellent diagnosing performance for preoperative differentiation of T2 and T3 stage rectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrothermal synthesis for the fabrication of zeolite coatings is the most effective route and has been extensively studied, in which a large amount of water is indispensable to ensure efficient transport of nutrition. The disposal of waste solvent and chemicals remains a big challenge in practice and an alternative route is highly desired. Herein, we present an unprecedented solid-conversion secondary growth route for the fabrication of corrosion-resistant MFI-type zeolite coatings by mixing, grinding, and heating the mixture of silica source (Na 2 SiO 3 ·9H 2 O and SiO 2), template (TPABr) and acidity regulator (NH 4 Cl) without addition of water. The ZSM-5 zeolite seeded aluminum alloy 1060 plates were prepared by spray-coating method where water glass as a binder between seed and substrate was used to increase the adhesion of seeds to the substrate. The continuity of the coatings was investigated by manipulating the molar composition of synthesis mixture and the optimized molar composition is 1.0Na 2 SiO 3 ·9H 2 O: 1.19SiO 2 : 0.58TPABr: 1.82NH 4 Cl. The corrosion protection performance of MFI-type zeolite coatings on aluminum alloy plates was evaluated by a direct current polarization technique. The excellent corrosion-resistant was demonstrated in severely corrosive medium including in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 aqueous solution and 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution, which is comparable to the performance of zeolite coatings synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis. The features are also briefly discussed, which make this route highly attractive from a good perspective. Image 1 ● The synthesis of MFI-type zeolite coatings by solid-conversion secondary growth route. ● Spray-coating was introduced to produce a continuous seed layer. ● Significant effect of the composition of synthesis mixture in solid-conversion method. ● MFI-type zeolite coatings are corrosion-resistant in severely corrosive medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tibetan area is a region consisting of different nationalities and cultures, it has special settlement forms. Dege is a historic and cultural center of Kangba area, local architecture has profound cultural background, it is an important representative of traditional Tibetan buildings in Sichuan. This paper explored the forms of Tibetan forms and architectural spaces, summarized architectural features of Tibetan folk dwellings in Sichuan, and studied formation and evolution of traditional settlements in Gengqing Town in an all-around way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal is an important part of national energy structure, and the proportion of non-metallic elements will greatly affect its combustion efficiency. In order to achieve rapid and simultaneous quantitative detection of C, H, N in coal, a hybrid model combining laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) with machine learning algorithm is proposed. The detailed operations are as follows: A Nd: YAG laser with wavelength of 1064 nm is selected as excitation source, 14 kinds of national standard coal samples are ablated in air environment. Then selecting spectral data around the wavelength of elements to be measured and normalizing it as input variable of three algorithms. Finally, linear regression, support vector regression and random forest model are used for calibration and prediction. The results indicate that random forest model is more accurate in predicting non-metallic elements in coal than other two models, and the correlation coefficient (R2) value of C, H, N were 0.9844, 0.9625 and 0.9829, the root mean square error (RMSE) were 0.2669, 0.2508 and 0.0335 respectively. Hence, LIBS technique based on different machine learning models can be used to accurately and effectively determine the content of non-metallic elements in coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of thin metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes by seeded secondary growth method is still a challenge. In this study, relatively thin ZIF-8 membranes with high gas separation performance on alumina hollow fibers are prepared in autoclaves with thick-walled Teflon-liners by the seeded secondary growth method under the modulation of sodium formate. The ZIF-8 membrane thickness can be greatly decreased and the cracks in the membrane layer can be avoided by using thick-walled Teflon-liner (e.g., 7.5 mm) during secondary growth mainly due to the slow heating and cooling of the synthesis solution, which can control the nucleation rate and growth rate of crystals, leading to an appropriate membrane formation rate. A certain amount of sodium formate can introduce ZnO particles in the seed layer to improve the formation of dense ZIF-8 membrane layer and control the growth rate of membrane layer. The suitable amount of sodium formate and thick-walled Teflon-liner are crucial in ensuring the well-intergrowth of relatively thin ZIF-8 membranes. Owing to reduced grain boundary defects, the prepared ZIF-8 membranes show an ideal H 2 /N 2 separation selectivity of 30.9 ± 1.8, which is at least twice the highest value reported in the literature under similar separation conditions. Image 1 • Thin and dense ZIF-8 membranes obtained in a thick-walled Teflon-liner. • Thin and dense ZIF-8 membranes obtained by slow-heating up. • Appropriate sodium formate content, thickness of liner and seeds are important. • The highest H 2 /N 2 separation selectivity for ZIF-8 membranes reported so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the characteristics of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy(LIBS), the optimal size of cavity(D = 5 mm, H = 4 mm) was obtained using the aluminum cylindrical cavities with different diameters (from 2 mm to 6 mm)and heights(from 1 mm to 6 mm) in LIBS and the optimal size of Au-NPs(D = 20 nm) was obtained by depositing Au-NPs (10 nm, 20 nm, 30 nm in particle diameter) on the shot of pure copper sample surface that was cleaned by laser. The enhancement factor is about 22.5, 5.4, 34.3 under the confinement of the optimal cavity, the action of the optimal Au-NPs and the combination of the optimal cavity and optimal Au-NPs, respectively. The plasma temperatures, and SNR, were calculated and researched under different conditions. Experiments have shown that cavity confinement can increase the electron temperature of the plasma, while under the Au-NPs action, the electron temperature hardly changes. Compared with zero confinement, Au-NPs action and cavity confinement can all improve the SNR of the plasma spectrum, but the SNR is the best with the combination of the optimal cavity and optimal Au-NPs. The enhancement principle was analyzed by shock wave theory and properties of Au-NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal of this study was to analyze perioperative risk factors to predict one- year mortality after operation for acute type A aortic dissection (AAD).Methods: A total of 121 consecutive patients undergoing Stanford type A AAD surgery in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were enrolled. Preoperative clinical and laboratory data from patients were collected.Results: Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that significant factors associated with increased one-year mortality were elder age (year) (hazard ratio (HR) 1.0985; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0334-1.1677), intraoperative blood transfusion ≥2000 mL (HR 8.8081; 95% CI 2.3319-33.2709), a higher level of serum creatinine (μmol/L) at postoperative one day (HR 1.0122; 95% CI 1.0035-1.0190) and oxygenation index (OI) < 200 (mmHg) at the end of surgery (HR 5.7575; 95% CI 1.1695-28.3458).Conclusion: In this study, perioperative risk factors to predict one-year prognosis are age, intraoperative blood transfusion ≥2000 mL, postoperative OI < 200 mmHg and level of postoperative serum creatinine. The results aid in the comprehension of surgical outcomes and assist in the optimization of treatment strategies for those with perioperative risk factors to decrease one-year mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-absorption effect due to optical thickness characteristics greatly affects the measured spectral intensity, which in turn affects the accuracy of CF-LIBS quantitative analysis. In this paper, the emission spectra of laser induced 303 stainless steel plasma are obtained, a new self-absorption correction method that takes into account plasma temperature and electron density is proposed. In order to eliminate the influence of the self-absorption effect, the spectral line intensity is first corrected using an internal reference line that neglects the self-absorption effect, and then the line broadening is determined by calculating the electron density, and spectral line intensity is corrected for the second time. The results show that after calibration, the accuracy of Mn, Cr, Ni and Fe by CF-LIBS is improved 15.4 %, 14.2 %, 2.9 % and 0.7 % respectively, which are much superior to those without self-absorption correction. This method can improve the accuracy of CF-LIBS and facilitate the quantitative analysis of alloy samples. It can be applied to fields such as metallurgy and material composition determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complexity of, and low accuracy in, iron ore classification, a method of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) combined with machine learning is proposed. In the research, we collected LIBS spectra of 10 iron ore samples. At the beginning, principal component analysis algorithm was employed to reduce the dimensionality of spectral data, then we applied k-nearest neighbor model, neural network model, and support vector machine model to the classification. The results showed that the accuracy of three models were 82.96%, 93.33%, and 94.07% respectively. The results also demonstrated that LIBS with machine learning model exhibits an excellent classification performance. Therefore, LIBS technique combined with machine learning can achieve a rapid, precise classification of iron ores, and can provide a completely new method for iron ores' selection in the metallurgical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the development of oil rim reservoir with gas cap and weak edge water, the management of oil-gas and oil-water interface movement is extremely critical. In this paper, a new method for evaluation of fluid interface movement has been put forward, from which the law of fluid interface movement can be recognized clearly and production strategy can be designed reasonably. The new method is based on the material balance principle and the conditions of water influx, fluid expansion and oil & gas production. By analyzing the volume of gas intrusion and water influx, the rate of movement of oil-water and oil-gas interface can be obtained. Then we studied the regular of fluid interface movement and pressure variation, and gave a single reasonable production strategy and a stage reasonable production strategy. Finally, the applicability analysis was carried out. The method can be used to predict the movement speed, movement distance of fluid interface and water influx at different times and different production strategies. Meanwhile, it can be applied to analyze the influence degree of each factor, which affects the moving of fluid interface. The results indicate that: i) The rate of the oil-water interface increases with the increase of the oil production rate and injection-production ratio. The rate of the oil-gas interface increases with the increase of the injection-production ratio, while the gas production rate has less influence on it. ii) For single reasonable production strategy, when time and injection-production ratio is constant, with the increase in oil production rate, the reasonable gas production rate also increases as cubic function correspondingly; When the oil production rate is constant, with the increase in injection production ratio, the corresponding reasonable gas production rate decreases. iii) The earlier the reasonable production strategy is implemented, the slower the formation pressure drops, and the more favorable for development. • A new a new method for evaluation of fluid interface movement. • Dichotomy and MATLAB are used to solve this engineering problem. • A reasonable production strategy has been settled based on this method. • The pressure and the migration rate of interface can be analyzed exactly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollution of the surrounding soil can be caused by the development of heavy metal mining areas, which can do a significant harm to the ecological environment and human health. The classification of soil in different mining areas is of great significance for soil management and environmental pollution control. Due to the complex physical property and composition of soil, it is easily affected by matrix effects, which can directly affect the collection and processing of spectral data. It is thus challenging to accurately classify soil. In this article, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) combined with a convolutional neural network with a two-dimensional (2D-CNN) algorithm, which was based on principal component analysis (PCA), was used to accurately identify and classify standard soil samples from ten different mining areas. The sample data were first standardized and dimensionlessly pre-processed by PCA to remove redundant information and to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the data. Then, the structure of 2D-CNN was designed, and the features of the input data were deeply extracted twice by convolution and pooling operations, so that more feature information could be extracted from the data, which was conducive to improving the classification accuracy of the model. The experiment results show that the classification accuracy of the 2D-CNN test set could reach 99.60% and the loss could be minimized at 0.012. In order to verify the superior performance of the 2D-CNN-based PCA classification model, the 2D-CNN algorithm was compared with other models, including back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN), support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), and random forest (RF). The results show that 2D-CNN has great potential in the field of soil recognition and classification, and provides a new and reliable data processing method for LIBS to classify materials with similar chemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal aim of this investigation is to identify pivotal biomarkers linked to the prognosis of osteosarcoma (OS) through the application of artificial intelligence (AI), with an ultimate goal to enhance prognostic prediction. Expression profiles from 88 OS cases and 396 normal samples were procured from accessible public databases. Prognostic models were established using univariate COX regression analysis and an array of AI methodologies including the XGB method, RF method, GLM method, SVM method, and LASSO regression analysis. Multivariate COX regression analysis was also employed. Immune cell variations in OS were examined using the CIBERSORT software, and a differential analysis was conducted. Routine blood data from 20,679 normal samples and 437 OS cases were analyzed to validate lymphocyte disparity. Histological assessments of the study's postulates were performed through immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. AI facilitated the identification of differentially expressed genes, which were utilized to construct a prognostic model. This model discerned that the survival rate in the high-risk category was significantly inferior compared to the low-risk cohort (p < 0.05). SERPINE2 was found to be positively associated with memory B cells, while CPT1B correlated positively with CD8 T cells. Immunohistochemical assessments indicated that SERPINE2 was more prominently expressed in OS tissues relative to adjacent non-tumorous tissues. Conversely, CPT1B expression was elevated in the adjacent non-tumorous tissues compared to OS tissues. Lymphocyte counts from routine blood evaluations exhibited marked differences between normal and OS groups (p < 0.001). The study highlights SERPINE2 and CPT1B as crucial biomarkers for OS prognosis and suggests that dysregulation of lymphocytes plays a significant role in OS pathogenesis. Both SERPINE2 and CPT1B have potential utility as prognostic biomarkers for OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal is one of our most important energy sources. Because of differences in coal-forming year and coal seam quality, the elemental compositions of coal vary among different mining areas, directly affecting coal combustion efficiency and pollution emission. To improve the accuracy of coal classification, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) combined with a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm model based on principal component analysis (PCA) is proposed to identify and classify coal from 10 different regions. The samples were first penetrated using LIBS, and spectral data were collected. The spectral data were then normalized to improve their signal-to-noise ratio. Finally, the PCA-SVM model is established, the model parameters are evaluated using the grid search method, and the spectral feature classification performance is determined via cross-validation. The results show that the classification accuracy of the PCA-SVM model can reach 98.52%. To verify the performance of this classification model, it was compared with those of five other common classification models and proved that PCA-SVM has great potential for coal quality identification and classification, thus providing a new data analysis and processing solution for coal quality identification and classification in industrial applications. [Display omitted] • Efficient coal quality identification and classification method is proposed. • Method is based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy combined with SVM and PCA. • Method is experimentally verified using coals from different mining areas. • Results of proposed method are in good agreement with assays from independent lab. • Performance of proposed method is verified against those of other ML-based methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The one-step method of prepared of paraffin/silica aerogel Micro-encapsulated composite Phase Change Materials (MPCMs) have been made. • Improving the compressive strength of heat storage cement (HSC) samples by adding modified the MPCMs, curing the slurry at 40 ℃ and adding the MWCNTs. • Improving the thermal conductivity of the HSC paste by adding MWCNTs. • Investigating the mechanisms of MPCMs on cement-based materials. In this study, microencapsulated paraffin/silica aerogel composite phase-change materials (MPCMs) were developed and incorporated into cement to impart heat storage/release capabilities. First, the hydrophilically modified MPCMs were subjected to a leakage test. Using a simple stirring method, the composite with an aerogel: paraffin mass ratio of 22:78 was demonstrated to have the best adsorption capacity. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that the paraffin was stable and physically encapsulated by the aerogel. The differential scanning calorimetry results showed that the encapsulated MPCMs had a fusion latent enthalpy of 94.45 J/g and phase-change temperature range of 20.8–34.4 ℃. The enthalpy was reduced by only 3.87% after 1000 freezing–thawing cycles. In the second part of the experiment, heat-storage cement (HSC) specimens were prepared to investigate the effect of MPCMs modified with silane coupling agents. The proportion of MPCMs and curing temperature were varied, and the effects of these variations on the compressive strengths of HSC stones were investigated. The compressive strength of the HSC samples was improved by adding multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to paraffin to form paraffin/aerogel composite MWCNT micro-encapsulated phase-change materials (CMPCMs). The results show that adding 1.53 wt% MWCNTs increases the thermal conductivity by 50.6% and refines the pore size and strength of the HSC stone. Furthermore, the 7-day strength of the HSC stone increased to 8.6 MPa by adding MWCNTs to 30 wt% modified CMPCM, meeting the requirement standard. Cement hydration calorimetry, performed using a TAM AIR isothermal calorimeter, revealed that MPCMs prolong the induction period of cement hydration, reduce the rate during the acceleration period of cement hydration, and absorb the heat of hydration. Moreover, the thermal regulation behaviour of 10 mm thick HSC plates was tested. The highest temperature difference was determined to be 2.36 ℃ and 1.92 ℃ during the heating and cooling processes, respectively, compared with that of plain cement plate, at the same time. Therefore, HSC panels have potential applications in building thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the impact of cuproptosis-related genes in the study of osteosarcoma is largely unknown. Genome-wide data of osteosarcoma and controls were downloaded from 3 different databases, and specific diagnostic models associated with cuproptosis in osteosarcoma were constructed by support vector machines with artificial intelligence, random forest trees and LASSO regression. Differential analysis of immune cell infiltration was examined using routine blood data from 25,665 cases. Differential expression was examined using immunohistochemistry and PCR. PDHA1 and CDKN2A were obtained as specific cuproptosis-related biomarkers for osteosarcoma after artificial intelligence analysis. PDHA1, CDKN2A and neutrophils were differentially expressed in OS and control groups. PDHA1 and CDKN2A are significantly dysregulated in OS and are able to serve as biomarkers of OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constitutive activation of STAT3 has been found in a wide variety of cancers and demonstrated as a very attractive therapeutic target. Disrupting both acetylation and phosphorylation of STAT3 protein was hypothesized to greatly deactivate STAT3, therefore, treating cancers. To demonstrate the hypothesis, two series of novel resveratrol-caffeic acid hybrids were designed aiming to regulate both acetylation and phosphorylation of STAT3 protein, which is also the first report of the synthetic inhibitors simultaneously regulating two biological reactions of STAT3 to our knowledge. Most of these compounds were demonstrated with preferential antitumor activity with low IC 50 values against two cancer cell lines. Particularly, compound 7d was found as an excellent STAT3 inhibitor with over 50-fold better potency than resveratrol and caffeic acid. Meanwhile, the novel derivatives significantly inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of tumor cells. Molecular docking further disclosed the binding modes of STAT3 with the inhibitors. In addition, compound 7d orally and significantly suppressed breast cancer 4T1 xenograft tumor growth in vivo , indicating its great potential as an efficacious drug candidate for human cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructural manipulation has been proven to remarkably affect the performance of zeolite membranes/films in separation and catalysis. Accordingly, intensive research and significant progress have been achieved in the last decades on the microstructural manipulation of zeolite films/membranes. From the literature, various factors including supports, seed layer, growth methods, synthesis solution, crystallization condition, and post-treatment can result in the different microstructures of zeolite films/membranes including morphology, orientation, thickness, and composition of the dense layer. This review attempts to summarize the obtained progress in microstructural manipulation of MFI-type zeolite films/membranes and their relationship with the separation performance. Some key topics are detailed and discussed, including (1) controllable synthesis of orientated zeolite films/membranes; (2) rational design and synthesis of zeolite films/membranes with ultrathin separation layer; (3) construction of asymmetric zeolite membranes; (4) architectural design of zeolite films/membranes at the microscopic level (heteroatoms substituted zeolite films/membranes); (5) the challenges and strategies in scaling-up of zeolite film/membrane production. Concluding remarks and perspectives are also suggested in the end. [Display omitted] • The relationship between separation performance and microstructure is summarized. • Various microstructural engineering of zeolite membranes are described in detail. • The novel strategies for architectural design of zeolite membranes are highlighted. • The advancements and challenges of scale-up fabrication are discussed. • The prospective of zeolite membrane industrial application is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore how the timing of the initial dressing change influences bacterial growth when alginate dressings were used after peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line insertion in tumor patients. Methods: In total, 186 tumor patients who had an alginate dressing after PICC insertion were randomly divided into a control group, observation group one (OG1), and observation group two (OG2). The control group had their first dressing change 48 h after PICC insertion, while OG1 was after 72 h and OG2 was after 96 h after. Samples were taken at the dressing change from the insertion site and surrounding skin. The results of the bacterial culture were compared to investigate how the timing of the first dressing change affected catheter infection. Results: Of the 186 patients, 29 had a positive bacterial culture. Of these, 10 were in the control group, 9 were in OG1, and 10 were in OG2. IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0 was adopted to analyze the correlation between the timing of the first dressing change and insertion site infection. No statistical significance between the timing of the first dressing change and insertion site infections was found (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The condition of each tumor patient should be comprehensively evaluated after PICC placement to determine when the first dressing change should occur, but it can likely be extended to 96 h after insertion to promote wound healing, reduce clinical workload, and lower patient economic burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the influence of professional identity on work engagement among nurses working in nursing homes in China. Background: China is faced with an increasingly ageing population. There is a shortage of adequately trained nursing personnel and a high turnover rate among nurses. Work engagement is a key factor in improving nurses' performance and improving professional identity is critical to increase work productivity and satisfaction. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional survey of 272 nurses working in nursing homes. And the data were analysed by descriptive analyses, univariate analysis and Multiple regression analyses. Results: The overall average work engagement score was 3.99 ± 1.04. Professional identity was the only factor that significantly influenced the 'vigour' and 'absorption' of nurses. Age, ethnicity and professional identity were significant predictors of 'dedication'. Conclusions: A positive professional identity can lead to a better work engagement among nurses working in nursing homes in China. Implications for Nursing Management: To enhance the work engagement of nurses working in nursing homes, nursing leaders should create a respectful and equal work environment, create a favourable image of the industry and the profession and strengthen training to improve the professional identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to synthesize boron nitride nanosheets modified with zinc oxide nanoparticles (BNNSs/ZnO) and incorporate them as a novel inorganic filler to get an antibacterial dental resin composite. The BNNSs/ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized via the hydrothermal method and characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The BNNSs/ZnO or BNNSs were added into the experimental dental composite with different proportions, respectively. The mechanical and physical properties of the modified dental composite were evaluated. Their antibacterial activities were also assessed by quantitative analysis using Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). The BNNSs/ZnO nanocomposites were successfully synthesized, and the growth of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on boron nitride nanosheets was confirmed. The flexural strength (FS), flexural modulus (FM) and the compressive strength (CS) of all modified resin composites showed no change compared to the control group. The curing depth, degree of conversion, water absorption and solubility of the modified composites were still within the clinical requirement. The antibacterial rates of the modified composites were significantly increased compared to the control group, which can reach 98 % when 0.5 % BNNSs/ZnO was added. The modified dental resin composite with novel BNNSs or BNNSs/ZnO fillers shows significantly high antibacterial activity with suitable physicochemical and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive efforts have been made to develop models of hRSV infection or disease using various animals. However, the limitations such as semi-permissiveness and short duration of infection have impeded their applications in both the pathogenesis of hRSV and therapeutics development. Here, we present a mouse model based on a Rag2 gene knockout using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Rag2−/− mice sustained high viral loads upon intranasal inoculation with hRSV. The average peak titer rapidly reached 1 × 109.8 copies/g and 1c106 TCID50 in nasal cavity, as well as 1 × 108 copies/g and 1 × 105 TCID50 in the lungs up to 5 weeks. Mild interstitial pneumonia, severe bronchopneumonia, elevated cytokines and NK cells were seen in Rag2−/− mice. A humanized monoclonal antibody showed strong antiviral activity in this animal model, implying that Rag2−/− mice that support long-term stable infection are a useful tool for studying the transmission and pathogenesis of human RSV, as well as evaluating therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, the effects of heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs) on liver health are not consistently documented, despite their prevalent environmental presence. Our research assessed the association between HMMs and liver function biomarkers in a comprehensive sample of Chinese adults. We analyzed data from 9445 participants in the China National Human Biomonitoring survey. Blood and urine were evaluated for HMM concentrations, and liver health was gauged using serum albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) metrics. Various statistical methods were employed to understand the relationship between 11 HMMs and liver function, adjusting for multiple factors. We also explored interactions with alcohol intake, gender, and age. Among HMMs, selenium in blood [weighted geometric mean (GM) = 95.56 μg/L] and molybdenum in urine (GM = 46.44 μg/L) showed the highest concentrations, while lead in blood (GM = 21.92 μg/L) and arsenic in urine (GM = 19.80 μg/L) had the highest levels among risk HMMs. Manganese and thallium consistently indicated potential risk factor to liver in both sample types, while selenium displayed potential liver protection. Blood HMM mixtures were negatively associated with ALB (β = −0.614, 95% CI: −0.809, −0.418) and positively with AST (β = 0.701, 95% CI: 0.290, 1.111). No significant associations were found in urine HMM mixtures. Manganese, tin, nickel, and selenium were notable in blood mixture associations, with selenium and cobalt being significant in urine. The relationship of certain HMMs varied based on alcohol consumption. This research highlights the complex relationship between HMM exposure and liver health in Chinese adults, particularly emphasizing metals like manganese, thallium, and selenium. The results suggest a need for public health attention to low dose HMM exposure and underscore the potential benefits of selenium for liver health. Further studies are essential to establish causality. • Manganese and thallium exposure negatively correlate with ALB and positively with liver enzymes; selenium shows opposite trends, with drinking amplifying its association. • Heavy metals/metalloids can impact liver function even at low exposure, often non-linearly. • Mixed heavy metals/metalloids exposure in whole blood is tied to liver function markers. • This study uniquely utilizes the qgcomp method, considering both harmful and potentially beneficial metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional topical medications for recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU) are limited due to the washing effects of saliva and activities of masticatory muscles decreasing the local effective drug concentration. To overcome this drawback, a dissolvable and layered hyaluronate (HA) microneedle (MN) patch loading recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (rbFGF) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) was prepared and used for the treatment of RAU. The MN patch was prepared via a two-step casting method and subsequently characterized using fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and stereomicroscopy. Moreover, its mechanical properties, penetrating ability, dissolution behavior, antibacterial performance, cytotoxicity as well as ulcer healing efficacy on the rat model were determined. The results revealed that the prepared MNs possessed uniformly arranged conical needles with the drug centrally distributed in the tips. The rbFGF/CPC-loaded HA MN patch presented favorable mechanical, dissolving, and antibacterial properties and biocompatibility, increasing the growth and proliferation of fibroblasts. More importantly, this MN patch showed a higher healing effect in promoting the healing of chemical-induced RAU within five days than the control group and the conventional treatment group. The novel MN patch will have potential application prospects in the treatment of oral ulcer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefited from their broad-spectrum antimicrobial property, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used in various daily life and medical products. Consequently, the bio-safety of AgNPs, especially long-term in vivo biological effects is of more and more importance. However, there are no correlated publications about AgNP carcinogenicity at present. Thus, in this study, we have investigated the potential carcinogenicity of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated AgNPs with an intermediate size (diameter ~ 42.5 nm). The C57-ras transgenic mouse model (CB6F1 Tg mice) harboring human c-Ha-ras gene was used to shorten the duration of in vivo experiments from 2 years to 22 weeks. CB6F1 Tg mice were intravenously injected by different single doses of AgNPs (0.4, 4, and 20 mg/kg body weight) during the 22-week carcinogenicity study. There were no obvious AgNP-related neoplastic lesions by microscope examination and no increase in the incidence of non-neoplastic lesions in the AgNP-treated mice in our study. Overall, these results indicate that AgNPs (≤ 20 mg/kg) do not cause carcinogenesis in CB6F1 Tg mice via a single-dose intravenous injection. This provides useful toxicological information and is of great importance to more applications of AgNPs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is an efficient technology that has been used to develop oil sand resources, and it has been successfully and maturely applied in Canada. However, oilfield production has demonstrated that reservoir heterogeneity has a serious impact on SAGD development, among which the most drastic impact is caused by multiple barrier layers in the reservoir. These barrier layers can severely impede the development of a steam chamber and the drainage of oil. Hence, it is important to investigate their influence mechanism. In this study, oil samples from the Long Lake oil field were used in laboratory experiments to study the development of the steam chamber and the residual oil distribution under the effect of multiple barrier layers. Then, a theoretical numerical simulation model was established to describe the fluid flow more precisely. In addition, the production characteristics of SAGD under the influence of different numbers of barrier layers were analyzed by comparing the development of the steam chamber. Finally, the impacts of multiple barrier layers with different modes of combinations were studied for their effects on SAGD production. The results indicated that for impermeable barrier layers of the same length, the steam primarily developed upward after flowing around the first barrier layer. After the steam chamber reached the top of the reservoir, the steam began to enter into the interbedded zone. Based on an unchanged first barrier layer, the number of barrier layers had little influence on the overall shape of the steam chamber and SAGD production, which confirmed that the first barrier layer played a dominant role in the influence of multiple barrier layers. In addition, characteristic points (P 1 , P 2 , P 3), which corresponded to changes in the stage of steam chamber development, were established and used to evaluate the effect of the barrier layers. Different combinations of barrier layers were realized by changing the relative properties of the first barrier layer. The results showed that the longer the length of the first barrier layer, the closer it was to the steam injection well and the lower the permeability; hence, the more obvious its hysteresis effect on the SAGD process. • A physical model is used to study the effect of multiple barrier layers on SAGD. • A theoretical numerical model is established to describe the fluid flow more precisely. • The first barrier layer plays a dominant role in the influence of multiple barrier layers. • Several characteristic points (P 1 , P 2 , P 3) on the productivity curve are established. • The impact of multiple barrier layers with different combinations is analyzed in detailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) at different energy intensities on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) under healthy and inflammatory microenvironments. Human BMSCs and BMSCs from inflammatory conditions (i-BMSCs, BMSCs treated with tumor necrosis factor α; TNF-α) were subject to LLLT (Nd:YAG;1064 nm) at different intensities. We designed one control group (without irradiation) and four testing groups (irradiation at 2, 4, 8, and 16 J/cm2) for both BMSCs and i-BMSCs. Cell proliferation was measured using colony-forming unit fibroblast assay and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Osteogenic capacity of cells was determined by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, ALP activity assay, Alizarin Red S staining and the mRNA transcript levels of genes runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), ALP, and osteocalcin. Moreover, the effects of LLLT on secretion of TNF-α in BMSCs and i-BMSCs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results demonstrated LLLT could significantly promote BMSC proliferation and osteogenesis at densities of 2 and 4 J/cm2. LLLT at density of 8 J/cm2 could promote the proliferation and osteogenesis of i-BMSCs. However, LLLT at 16 J/cm2 significantly suppressed the proliferation and osteogenesis of BMSCs both in healthy and in inflammatory microenvironment. Moreover, we also found that the expression of TNF-α was obviously inhibited by LLLT at 4, 8, and 16 J/cm2, in an inflammatory microenvironment. Considering these findings, LLLT could improve current in vitro methods of differentiating BMSCs under healthy and inflammatory microenvironments prior to transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel inflow performance relationship (IPR) model and a five-component simulation model are presented for the evaluation of the foamy oil development effect in horizontal wells. First, considering the production characteristics of foamy oil including single-phase flow, foamy oil phase flow, and two-phase flow, a novel IPR model is proposed for predicting the primary production of foamy oil. Then, the five-component model is proposed to simulate the development of foamy oil. Finally, sensitivity analysis and evaluation of the development effect are conducted. The results show that (1) the novel IPR model is in good agreement with the field data, which can be used for predicting the primary production of foamy oil. (2) The five-component model is better than the four component model for simulating the foamy oil. (3) Permeability and reservoir thickness play a key role in the recovery rate of foamy oil. (4) The recovery rate of single-phase flow, foamy oil stage, and two-phase flow stage is 1.69%, 4.59%, and 4.12%, respectively. This paper provides the engineers a novel insight into the production of foamy oil in horizontal wells and also provides an optimization method of productivity evaluation for the oil field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Gentamicin (40 mg/kg) exposure induced minimal or mild kidney injury in beagle dogs for consecutive 12-days. • Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine had the inferior sensitivity and poor predictive value at the early stage of kidney injury. • Urinary albumin and trefoil factor-3 demonstrated superior sensitivity and specificity for monitoring kidney injury (both AUCs = 1.000). • Levels of urinary albumin and trefoil factor-3 were highly related to the degree of kidney injury (both Pearson's r = 0.887, P < 0.05). Abstract Drug-induced acute kidney injury is a serious problem in drug development and clinical treatment. Thus, highly efficient and non-invasive urinary biomarkers are required to control and prevent drug-induced acute kidney injury. Expanding on a previous study, we evaluated 9 novel urinary biomarkers in beagles, which were treated with gentamycin at a dose of 40 mg/kg for 12 consecutive days. N -acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase was detected with high sensitivity and specificity at the early stage of renal injury (Area under the ROC cure (AUC) = 0.929, 95%CI: 0.722–0.995, P < 0.05 vs. serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen). More importantly, the results indicated that albumin and trefoil factor-3 were significantly increased 6 days after gentamycin injection (compared with the control group, both P < 0.05). Receiver operator characteristics analysis showed that the diagnostic value of these two biomarkers were both high (both AUCs=1.000; both 95% CI: 0.832–1.000; albumin or trefoil factor-3 vs. serum creatinine or blood urea nitrogen, both P < 0.05). Moreover, albumin and trefoil factor-3 levels were highly correlated to the degree of kidney injury (both Pearson's r > 0.8, P < 0.05). Our data indicate that albumin and trefoil factor-3 may have value in the early diagnosis of kidney injury in non-rodent species and may thus inspire the preclinical use of urinary biomarkers in drug-induced acute kidney injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become an increasingly important technique for gene expression profiling because it can provide insights into complex biological and pathological processes and be used to predict disease or treatment outcomes. Although normalized data are necessary for an accurate estimation of mRNA expression levels, several pieces of evidence suggest that the expression of so-called housekeeping genes is not stable. This study aimed to validate reference genes for the normalization of real-time PCR in an N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced T-cell lymphoma mouse model.Methods: T-cell lymphomas were generated in p53-deficient mice by treatment with 37.5 mg/kg MNU. Thymus and spleen were identified as the primary target organs with the highest incidences of lymphomas. We analyzed the RNA expression levels of eight potential endogenous reference genes (Gapdh, Rn18s, Actb, Hprt, B2M, Rplp0, Gusb, Ctbp1). The expression stabilities of these reference genes were tested at different time points after MNU treatment using geNorm and NormFinder algorithms.Results: A total of 65% of MNU-treated mice developed T-cell lymphomas, with the spleen and thymus as the major target organs. All candidate reference genes were amplified efficiently by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Gene stability evaluation after MNU treatment and during lymphomagenesis revealed that Ctbp1 and Rplp0 were the most stably expressed genes in the thymus and spleen, respectively. RT-PCR of thymus RNA using two additional sets of primer confirmed that Ctbp1 was the most stable of all the candidate reference genes.Conclusions: We provided suitable endogenous controls for gene expression studies in the T-cell lymphoma model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Legacy and emerging (6:2Cl-PFESA) PFASs were positive associated with abnormal lipid metabolism. • Lipid levels tended to be stable when PFOS and PFOA > 20 ng/mL, as well as 6:2Cl-PFESA level > 10 ng/mL. • China's unique legacy PFAS substitutes (6:2Cl-PFESA) contributed less to lipid profiles than legacy PFAS. • PFAS was more likely to have adverse effects on lipid profiles in diabetes patients. The associations of legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with lipid metabolism are controversial, and there is little information about the impact of emerging PFAS (6:2 Cl-PFESA) on lipid metabolism in China. We aimed to explore the associations of legacy and emerging PFAS with lipid profiles and dyslipidemia in Chinese adults. We included 10,855 Chinese participants aged 18 years and above in the China National Human Biomonitoring. The associations of 8 PFAS with 5 lipid profiles and 4 dyslipidemia were investigated using weighted multiple linear regression or weighted logistic regression, and the dose–response associations were investigated using restricted cubic spline model. Among the 8 PFAS, the concentration of PFOS was the highest, with a geometric mean of 5.15 ng/mL, followed by PFOA and 6:2 Cl-PFESA, which were 4.26 and 1.63 ng/mL, respectively. Legacy (PFOA, PFOS, PFUnDA) or emerging (6:2 Cl-PFESA) PFAS were associated with lipid profiles (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, non HDL-C) and dyslipidemia (high LDL-C, high TC, low HDL-C), and their effects on TC were most obvious. TC concentration increased by 0.595 mmol/L in the highest quartile (Q4) of PFOS when compared with the lowest quartile (Q1), (95 % CI:0.396, 0.794). Restricted cubic spline models showed that PFAS are nonlinearly associated with TC, non HDL-C, LDL-C and HDL-C, and that the lipid concentrations tend to be stable when PFOS and PFOA were > 20 ng/mL well as when the 6:2 Cl-PFESA level was > 10 ng/mL. The positive associations between PFAS mixtures and lipid profiles were also significant. Single and mixed exposure to PFAS were positively associated with lipid profiles, and China's unique legacy PFAS substitutes (6:2 Cl-PFESA) contributed less to lipid profiles than legacy PFAS. In the future, cohort studies will be needed to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STAT3 is an attractive therapeutic target for cancer therapy. However, due to low potency or poor druggability, none of its inhibitors are clinically available. Herein, a series of aminobenzo[ b ]thiophene 1, 1-dioxides with good drug-likeness properties were designed, synthesized and evaluated as STAT3 inhibitors. Most of them exhibited higher antitumor activity than the small-molecule STAT3 inhibitor, Stattic. Compound 15 was the most potent and had an IC 50 range in 0.33–0.75 μM in various cancer cell lines. The overexpressed and IL-6 induced phosphorylation levels of STAT3 were both inhibited by 15 without influencing the phosphorylation levels of the upstream kinases Src and Jak2. 15 also suppressed the expressions of STAT3 downstream gene, Bcl-2. 15 effectively increased the ROS levels of cancer cells, induced cancer cell apoptosis and abolished the colony formation ability of cancer cells without affecting bypass kinase p-Erk. Furthermore, 15 in vivo induced significant antitumor responses, and exhibited less toxicity than Doxorubicin. Together, this study described a class of new STAT3 inhibitors as antitumor agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was performed to evaluate the food safety of TT51-1, a new type of genetically modified rice that expresses the Cry1Ab/Ac protein (Bt toxin) and is highly resistant to most lepidopteran pests. Sixteen male and 16 female cynomolgus monkeys were randomly divided into four groups: conventional rice (non-genetically modified rice, non-GM rice), positive control, 17.5% genetically modified rice (GM rice) and 70% GM rice. Monkeys in the non-GM rice, positive control, and GM rice groups were fed on diets containing 70% non-GM rice, 17.5% GM rice or 70% GM rice, respectively, for 182 days, whereas animals in the positive group were intravenously injected with cyclophosphamide every other day for a total of four injections before the last treatment. Six months of treatment did not yield abnormal observations. Specifically, the following parameters did not significantly differ between the non-GM rice group and GM rice groups: body weight, food consumption, electrocardiogram, hematology, immuno-phenotyping of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, mitogen-induced peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation, splenocyte proliferation, KLH-T cell-dependent antibody response, organ weights and ratios, and histological appearance (p>0.05). Animals from the GM rice group differed from animals in the non-GM rice group (p<0.05) in several parameters: specifically, their body temperatures and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were higher, whereas their levels of serum K+, Cl- and cytokines (IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5) were lower. Because dose- or time-dependent changes were not observed in this study and animals appeared histologically normal, the aforementioned differences were not considered to be adverse or related to the treatment with GM rice. In conclusion, a 6-month feeding study of TT51-1 did not show adverse immunotoxicological effects on cynomolgus monkeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene shows excellent performance as the thinnest protective coating, such as super-high electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, anticorrosion, and antifriction. However, graphene cannot provide sustainable protection as the surface coating due to its nanoscale thickness. Here, we explored a novel approach to repairing the damaged area of graphene film by laser induced regrowth of graphene. Graphene film was firstly in-situ grown on the nickel surface, along with a large number of carbon sources implanted into the nickel bulk. Once the surface graphene was damaged, the carbon source in the bulk would be re-precipitated by the laser inducing to form new graphene film on surface and repair the damaged area. The regrowth process depended strongly on the way of thermal input and the laser parameters. The results showed that only under the appropriate laser parameters, the graphene can be successfully regrown on the damaged area. The mechanism of regrowth and self-repairing was discussed by experiment results and theoretic analysis. This in-situ self-repaired graphene/carbon-rich metal composite shows a great potential in the field of metal protection against corrosion, friction, arc-ablating, etc. [Display omitted] • After damaging, graphene can be regrown to repair the damaged area locally by laser induction. • Secondary growth of graphene was motivated by thermal input and structure stability. • The carbon atoms migrated from substrate body to surface through Schottky defects. • By varying the parameters of laser process, the high-quality new piece of graphene can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiated at different powers on the micromorphology and the bonding property of non-carious sclerotic dentin to resin composites. Methods: Two hundred bovine incisors characterized by non-carious sclerotic dentin were selected, and the seventy-two teeth of which for surface morphological analysis were divided into nine groups according to various treatments (A: the control group, B: only treated with the adhesive Adper Easy One, C: diamond bur polishing followed by Adper Easy One, D-I: Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiating at 1W, 2W, 3W, 4W, 5W, 6W output power, respectively, followed by Adper Easy One). The surface roughness values were measured by the non-contact three-dimensional morphology scanner, then the surface micromorphologies of surfaces in all groups were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM); meanwhile, Image Pro-Plus 6.0 software was used to measure the relative percentage of open tubules on SEM images. The rest, one hundred twenty-eight teeth for bond strength test, were divided into eight groups according to the different treatments (A: only treated with the adhesive Adper Easy One, B: diamond bur polishing followed by the above adhesive, C-H: Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiating at 1 W, 2 W, 3 W, 4 W, 5 W, 6 W output power, respectively, followed by the above adhesive), and each group was subsequently divided into two subgroups according to whether aging is performed (immediately tested and after thermocycling). Micro-shear bond strength test was used to evaluate the bond strength. Results: The 4W laser group showed the highest roughness value (30.84±1.93μm), which was statistically higher than the control group and the diamond bur groups (p<0.05). The mean percentages ((27.8±1.8)%, (28.0±2.2)%, (30.0±1.9)%) of open tubules area in the 4W, 5W, 6W group were higher than other groups (p<0.05). The 4W laser group showed the highest micro-shear bond strength not only in immediately tested (17.60±2.55 PMa) but after thermocycling (14.35±2.08MPa). Conclusion: The Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 4W power can effectively improve the bonding property between non-carious sclerotic dentin and resin composites by increasing the roughness and mean percentage area of open tubules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methacryloxylethyl cetyl ammonium chloride (DMAE-CB) is a polymerizable antibacterial monomer and has been proved as an effective strategy to achieve bioactive bonding with reliable bacterial inhibitory effects. However, the toxicity of DMAE-CB may hamper its wide application in clinical situations. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the toxicity of DMAE-CB and explore the possible protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis showed that chemical binding of NAC and DMAE-CB occurred in a time dependent manner. Pre-incubation of fourty-eight hours is required for adequate reaction between DMAE-CB and NAC. DMAE-CB reduced human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) viability in a dose-dependent manner. The toxic effects of DMAE-CB were accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and reduced glutathione (GSH) content. NAC alleviated DMAE-CB-induced oxidative stress. Annexin V/ Propidium Iodide (PI) staining and Hoechst 33342 staining indicated that DMAE-CB induced apoptosis. Collapsed mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and activation of caspase-3 were also observed after DMAE-CB treatment. NAC rescued hDPCs from DMAE-CB-induced apoptosis, accompanied by lower level of MMP loss and caspase-3 activity. This study assists to elucidate the mechanism underlying the cytotoxic effects of DMAE-CB and provides theoretical supports for the searching of effective strategies to reduce toxicity of quaternary ammonium dental monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is difficult to control the heterogeneous nucleation and growth of crystals on porous supports, the preparation of thin ZIF-8 membranes is still extremely challenging. Herein, a two-dimensional transformation strategy is demonstrated for constructing a ZIF-8/GO 'sandwich' composite membrane with a thickness of ∼0.9 μm, which was prepared from Zn-EG-AC (EG: ethylene glycol, AC: CH 3 COO-groups, abbreviated as ZnEG) on alumina hollow fiber support for the first time by precursor conversion method in 2-methylimidazole methanol solution. The effects of the amount of precursor, reaction time and membrane thickness on the membrane structure and H 2 /CO 2 separation performance are explored. The sieving effect of ZIF-8 and the adsorption effect of 2-methylimidazole rings on CO 2 , as well as the strong interaction between GO and CO 2 hinder the permeation of CO 2 into the membrane, thus exhibiting a good H 2 /CO 2 ideal separation selectivity of 30.8 with the H 2 permeance of 1.36 × 10−7 mol·Pa−1·m−2·s−1 under the optimized preparation conditions. The separation factor of the equimolar H 2 /CO 2 binary-mixture gases stabilizes to ∼25 after 30 h. This precursor conversion strategy is expected to be extended to other MOF/graphene oxide (GO) composite membrane systems. Thin ZIF-8/GO sandwich composite membranes can be obtained on alumina hollow fiber supports by a precursor conversion strategy. [Display omitted] • Thin ZIF-8/GO sandwich composite membranes on alumina hollow fibers. • Zinc glycol/GO precursors to ZIF-8/GO membranes by precursor conversion. • The thickness of the high quality ZIF-8/GO membrane is only 0.9 μm. • ZIF-8/GO membranes have considerable H 2 /CO 2 separation selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL) micelles have been widely used as drug delivery vehicles for cancer therapies. Because of the lack of functional groups, the use of PEG-b-PCL in drug delivery system is greatly limited and structural modifications is needed. In this work, chemical modification at the terminus of PEG-b-PCL was performed via the "grafting from" polymerization method. A poly(dopamine methyl acrylamide) segment was introduced containing multiple catechol groups, which could attach bortezomib (BTZ) to the chain of the polymer through the formation of a pH-sensitive borate bond. This method greatly enhanced the loading capacity of BTZ into the micelles. Additionally, the controlled release of BTZ in response to the acidic environment of a tumor was realized. High loading capacity, stimuli-responsiveness, biodegradability, and compatibility were integrated in the PEG-b-PCL-based system. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that superior tumor inhibition without obvious side effects can be achieved by the BTZ-loaded PEG-b-PCL-b-PDMA micelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]