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[Display omitted] • N-MC@CNT/Ti counter electrode was first time employed in Zn-Cu-In-S-Se QDSCs. • QDSCs based on N-MC@CNT/Ti counter electrode achieve a record PCE of 16.68 %. • N-MC@CNT composites combine the excellent properties of both materials. • N-MC@CNT/Ti CE effectively improves charge transport and interfacial dynamics. The fabrication of a counter electrode possessing elevated catalytic efficiency and steadfast stability is a crucial prerequisite for the high-performance quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). Mesoporous carbon (MC) has been adopted as the desired CE material in the past years, but the disadvantage of its poor conductivity has limited further development of the performance of QDSCs. In this study, we present a straightforward approach for producing highly effective counter electrodes through the integration of nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (N-MC) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), forming a composite material that is deposited onto a titanium mesh substrate. The counter electrode (CE) based on composite materials shows excellent electrocatalytic performance, synergistically benefiting from large specific areas of N-MC and high conductivity of CNTs. Electrochemical measurements reveal that the optimal CEs exhibit excellent catalytic reduction activity as well as high electron mobility. Consequently, the corresponding QDSCs show a record power conversion efficiency of 16.68 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We predict the presence of gapped electronic structures in an artificial superlattice of graphene embedded in (111)-oriented BiFeO3 layers based on first-principles calculations. Due to the electron transfer and the proximity effect at the BiFeO3/graphene interface, we find that magnetic moments of Fe atoms near a graphene layer were slightly less than that of bulk Fe atoms. Regarding the ferromagnetic moment orientation of Fe atoms in perovskite BiFeO3, we reveal that the in-plane magnetization gives the ground state. The bandgap depends on the magnetization direction and the separation between the graphene layer and the perovskite BiFeO3 slab, which might be adjusted by applying external uniaxial stress in an experiment. Our results provide a route for designing hybrid 2D materials with emerging properties that are not available in single materials alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Compressive behavior of DSTCs with a brace is comprehensively explored. • DSTM T-joints exhibite a ductile behavior provided that the joint region is appropriately strengthened. • The compressive behavior of the chord with a brace-to-chord diameter ratio of 0.5 is hardly affected by the brace. • The existing model can well predict the axial load-strain curves, nonetheless further validation is needed. Hybrid fiber reinforced polymer (FRP)-concrete-steel double-skin tubular members (DSTMs) are a promising form of structural members with superior mechanical performance and durability, which have great potential for application in ocean structures. Such hybrid DSTMs consist of three components: an inner steel tube, an outer FRP tube, and concrete filled between the two tubes. Despite a significant number of studies demonstrating the excellent performance of hybrid DSTMs, no studies have been concerned with the joints of these members. The lack of a reliable design method for DSTM joints is certainly a huge obstacle to their wide application in practice. Against the above background, a research project has been proposed to understand the static behavior of circular DSTM T-joints through a combined experimental, modeling, and theoretical study. This paper presents the results of an experimental program on the axial compressive behavior of the chord in DSTM T-joints. The effects of various important factors, such as FRP tube thickness, steel tube thickness, brace-to-chord diameter ratio, void ratio, and concrete strength, on the performance of the DSTM T-joints were examined in detail. The test results demonstrated that the DSTM T-joints exhibited a ductile behavior provided that the joint region was appropriately strengthened and the presence of a brace did not significantly affect the compressive behavior of the chord in the joints with a brace-to-chord diameter ratio of 0.5. Finally, a simple method was proposed to predict the axial load-axial strain behavior of the DSTM T-joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper was intended to address the deficiencies of quality and safety appraisement methods for mobile power pack (MPP) sold on e-commerce platforms. Based on the comprehensive index method, the quality index evaluation model of MPP under e-commerce platform was constructed by combining principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The index system firstly analyzed the factors related to the quality and safety of MPP and determined the original index. Then, the original index was optimized by combining PCA and clustering analysis, and the index system of the index evaluation model was determined. Finally, the weights of various indexes were determined by AHP, to complete the quality index evaluation model for MPP sold under the e-commerce platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper was intended to address the deficiencies of quality and safety appraisement methods for mobile power pack (MPP) sold on e-commerce platforms. Based on the comprehensive index method, the quality index evaluation model of MPP under e-commerce platform was constructed by combining principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The index system firstly analyzed the factors related to the quality and safety of MPP and determined the original index. Then, the original index was optimized by combining PCA and clustering analysis, and the index system of the index evaluation model was determined. Finally, the weights of various indexes were determined by AHP, to complete the quality index evaluation model for MPP sold under the e-commerce platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Flexible ureteroscopy is a mainstay of upper urinary tract stone treatment. Holmium laser lithotripsy is a particularly common and notable technique for the dusting and fragmenting of renal stones. During ureteroscopy, optical fibers are subject to sharp bends in pursuit of stones, particularly those at the lower pole. Following from principles of fiber optics, subjecting these fibers to sharp bending angle has the potential to reduce the efficiency of power transmission at the fiber tip. Due to the potential implications this hypothesis could have on endourological practice and research, we aimed to explore the potential impact of fiber bending on end-fiber power output. Materials and Methods: Using a highly sensitive oscilloscope and a urological holmium laser, we assessed the end-fiber power output under a variety of bending conditions. To ensure maximal confidence in our results, the maximal bending conditions explored substantially exceeded any condition, which could occur during ureteroscopic surgery. Results: We found evidence that bending radius alone has a clinically insignificant impact on the light power transmission in the fiber. At certain bending conditions, we observed a clinically unimportant but statistically significant reduction in power transmission. This was verified using two commonly used delivery fiber types exposed to 8-second bursts for each bending condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel ultra‐wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF) with a very compact size and improved out‐of‐band performance is proposed in this letter. The main circuit structure is a composite right‐/left‐handed transmission line unit cell, which has UWB bandpass characteristic as well as compact size. Moreover, two anticoupled line structures added at both ends of the unit cell can produce a new resonant mode and three transmission zeros, so the passband response and upper stopband performance can be improved. The proposed filter is implemented and measured, which shows its 3 dB passband ranges from 3.3 to 10.9 GHz with a fractional bandwidth of 110.9%. Its insertion loss is about 0.6 dB at the centre frequency, while the return loss is better than 13 dB. In addition, the measured results also show the proposed filter has a wide stopband from 11.4 to 30 GHz, whose rejection level is greater than 18 dB. The size of the filter is only 7.4 × 6.4 mm, equal to 0.22 × 0.20 λg. Both the simulated and measured results are in good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel compact ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF). It consists of two composite right/left-handed transmission line (CRLH-TL) unit cells and an anti-coupled line structure. The CRLH-TL unit exhibits good passband performance with a compact size. By cascading the anti-coupled line structure, a wide upper stopband is obtained. The measured fractional bandwidth and insertion loss are 113.9% and 0.52 dB, respectively. Moreover, a broad stopband from 14 to 30 GHz with a high rejection level of 20 dB is obtained. The whole size is 14.4 mm × 10.2 mm. The simulated and measured results agree well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, a novel miniaturized and low insertion loss 60GHz on‐chip bandpass filter (BPF) is presented, which is fabricated by a standard 0.13 μm CMOS process. This BPF is mainly composed of a three‐line coupled structure. The selectivity of the filter is improved by introducing two transmission zeros on both sides of the desired passband because of the source‐load coupled structures. In addition, the gap between the three coupled lines can affect the coupling strength to determine the fractional bandwidth (FBW) of the filter. The miniaturization of the filter is also achieved by folding the coup led line of a quarter wavelength. The overall size of the fabricated BPF chip is 267 μm × 376 μm. The measured results show that the insertion loss and fractional bandwidth of the filter at the center frequency of 60 GHz are −2.03 dB and 47%, respectively. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) is easily precipitated n high-calcium and high-alkaline cement pastes. In this paper, the dispersion effects of different water-reducing, such as different polycarboxylates (PC1, PC2, PC3), sulfamic acid (A1), and aliphaic (B1), on GO were studied, and the effect different water-reducing on compressive strength, flexural strength and Hudity of GO compounded cement mortar was investigated. The results showed that the mechanical strength of the cement mortar specimens with GO add-on was the largest when the GO content was 0.03%. The compressive strength and lexural strength of the cement mortar sample with GO add-on were increased by 45.26% and 50.66% compared with the blank samples. 28 d compressive strength and flexural strength also increased by 27.24% and 9.3% compared with the blank samples. In terms of fluidity, compared with the blank specimens, except for PC1, several other water reducing agents could make the flow of GO--mixed mortar almost unchanged. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results of the hardened cement showed that the add-on of PC2 could effectively promote the growth of Aft crystals of the really cement hydration product, and greatly improved the really flexural and compressive strength of the cement mortar. The results of fared spectroscopy (FT--R) and Raman spectroscopy(Raman) showed that the water-reducing PC2 could make GO more disperse n the simulated cement slurry, and the epoxy group in GO could participate in the cement hydration reaction, making a strong interface force between GO and cement hydration products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time and accurate estimation of surgical hemoglobin (Hb) loss is essential for fluid resuscitation management and evaluation of surgical techniques. In this study, we aimed to explore a novel surgical Hb loss estimation method using deep learning-based medical sponges image analysis. Whole blood samples of pre-measured Hb concentration were collected, and normal saline was added to simulate varying levels of Hb concentration. These blood samples were distributed across blank medical sponges to generate blood-soaked sponges. Eight hundred fifty-one blood-soaked sponges representing a wide range of blood dilutions were randomly divided 7:3 into a training group (n = 595) and a testing group (n = 256). A deep learning model based on the YOLOv5 network was used as the target region extraction and detection, and the three models (Feature extraction technology, ResNet-50, and SE-ResNet50) were trained to predict surgical Hb loss. Mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), coefficient (R2) value, and the Bland–Altman analysis were calculated to evaluate the predictive performance in the testing group. The deep learning model based on SE-ResNet50 could predict surgical Hb loss with the best performance (R2 = 0.99, MAE = 11.09 mg, MAPE = 8.6%) compared with other predictive models, and Bland–Altman analysis also showed a bias of 1.343 mg with narrow limits of agreement (− 29.81 to 32.5 mg) between predictive and actual Hb loss. The interactive interface was also designed to display the real-time prediction of surgical Hb loss more intuitively. Thus, it is feasible for real-time estimation of surgical Hb loss using deep learning-based medical sponges image analysis, which was helpful for clinical decisions and technical evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) jacketing/wrapping has become an attractive strengthening technique for concrete columns. Wrapping an existing concrete column with continuous FRP jackets with the fiber in the jacket being oriented in the hoop direction is referred to as FRP full wrapping strengthening technique. In practice, however, strengthening concrete columns with vertically discontinuous FRP strips is also favored and this technique is referred to as FRP partial wrapping strengthening technique. Existing research has demonstrated that FRP partial wrapping strengthening technique is a promising and economical alternative to the FRP full wrapping strengthening technique. Although extensive experimental investigations have hitherto been conducted on partially FRP-confined concrete columns, the confinement mechanics of confined concrete in partially FRP-confined circular columns remains unclear. In this paper, an experimental program consisting of fifteen column specimens was conducted and the test results were presented. A reliable three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) approach for modeling of partially FRP-confined circular columns was established. In the proposed FE approach, an accurate plastic-damage model for concrete under multiaxial compression is employed. The accuracy of the proposed FE approach was verified by comparisons between the numerical results and the test results. Numerical results from the verified FE approach were then presented to gain an improved understanding of the behavior of confined concrete in partially FRP-confined concrete columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time and accurate estimation of surgical hemoglobin (Hb) loss is essential for fluid resuscitation management and evaluation of surgical techniques. In this study, we aimed to explore a novel surgical Hb loss estimation method using deep learning-based medical sponges image analysis. Whole blood samples of pre-measured Hb concentration were collected, and normal saline was added to simulate varying levels of Hb concentration. These blood samples were distributed across blank medical sponges to generate blood-soaked sponges. Eight hundred fifty-one blood-soaked sponges representing a wide range of blood dilutions were randomly divided 7:3 into a training group (n = 595) and a testing group (n = 256). A deep learning model based on the YOLOv5 network was used as the target region extraction and detection, and the three models (Feature extraction technology, ResNet-50, and SE-ResNet50) were trained to predict surgical Hb loss. Mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), coefficient (R2) value, and the Bland–Altman analysis were calculated to evaluate the predictive performance in the testing group. The deep learning model based on SE-ResNet50 could predict surgical Hb loss with the best performance (R2 = 0.99, MAE = 11.09 mg, MAPE = 8.6%) compared with other predictive models, and Bland–Altman analysis also showed a bias of 1.343 mg with narrow limits of agreement (− 29.81 to 32.5 mg) between predictive and actual Hb loss. The interactive interface was also designed to display the real-time prediction of surgical Hb loss more intuitively. Thus, it is feasible for real-time estimation of surgical Hb loss using deep learning-based medical sponges image analysis, which was helpful for clinical decisions and technical evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ti0.5Al0.5N and Cr0.3Al0.7N coatings were produced by cathodic arc evaporation (CAE) on silicon nitride cutting inserts. The microstructure and phase composition of the coatings were investigated by SEM and XRD, respectively. The hardness of the coatings was evaluated by applying micro-hardness tester. Turning tests were carried out on both uncoated and coated inserts in gray cast iron turning under dry environment. Wear behavior and cutting performance of the uncoated and coated inserts were investigated. The results showed that Ti0.5Al0.5N coating had higher hardness than Cr0.3Al0.7N coating owing to its smaller grain size. Cutting performance of the silicon nitride inserts was improved with the covering of Ti0.5Al0.5N and Cr0.3Al0.7N coatings with at least 2 times of the cutting life. No spalling was occurred after the cutting tests for both Ti0.5Al0.5N and Cr0.3Al0.7N coated inserts. Ti0.5Al0.5N coating performed better cutting performance and tool life than Cr0.3Al0.7N coating. The dominant wear mechanism of Ti0.5Al0.5N and Cr0.3Al0.7N coated inserts was abrasion with grooves on the worn faces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present work, Ti–Al–N/Al–Cr–O coating was deposited on silicon nitride cutting inserts by PVD technique. The micro-structure, chemical composition, hardness and coating/substrate adhesion were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), micro-indentation and scratch tests, respectively. The cutting performance of the Ti–Al–N/Al–Cr–O coated silicon nitride cutting inserts were investigated in turning HT250 gray cast iron and AISI 4340 steel under dry environment. The uncoated inserts were applied for turning tests as comparison. The results revealed that higher hardness was obtained by covering Ti–Al–N/Al–Cr–O coating on silicon nitride cutting inserts with acceptable coating/substrate adhesion. The cutting performance of the Ti–Al–N/Al–Cr–O coated silicon nitride inserts was higher than that of the uncoated inserts for both gray cast iron and steel turning. The wear of the coated inserts was a combination of abrasion and adhesion under given cutting conditions, both in cast iron turning and steel turning. It can be concluded that the obtained Ti–Al–N/Al–Cr–O coated silicon nitride inserts perform better than uncoated inserts in cast iron and steel turning and are capable of reducing machining costs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, a novel form of tubular columns that is made of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) internally reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) grid (herein referred to as FRP grid-UHPCtubular column) was developed. The axial compression test results of FRP grid-UHPC tubular columns with and without in-filled concrete are presented and discussed. Effects of the number of the FRP grid-reinforcing cages, the presence of in-filled concrete, and the presence of external FRP confinement were investigated. The test results confirmed that the FRP-UHPC tubular columns have a satisfactory compressive strength, and the strength and ductility of FRP-confined concrete-filled FRP grid-UHPC tube columns are enhanced due to the confinement from the FRP wrap. The proposed FRP grid-reinforced UHPC composite tubes are attractive in structural applications as pipelines or permanent formworks for columns, as well as external jackets (can be prefabricated in the form of two halves of tubes) for strengthening deteriorated reinforced concrete columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used knee MR imaging features to quantify the severity of knee injury in patients and analyzed the predictive value of knee MR imaging features in their risk of knee replacement. A total of 120 patients with knee arthritis were included from a public knee arthritis database FNIH OAI. First, univariate logistic regression was used to screen clinical features to obtain the clinical risk factors. Then the minimum redundancy maximum correlation (mRMR) method was used to reduce the image features, and the LASSO method was used to further screen the retained image features to construct a Rad model. Next, the multivariate logistic regression method was used to combine the Rad model and the screened clinical risk factors to construct a combined model and its corresponding nomogram. Finally, ROC curve and its related metrics, Hosmer–Lemeshow test and Delong test were used to evaluate and compare the accuracy and consistency of the model performance. Age and body mass index (BMI) were found as significant clinical risk factors for knee replacement. After using mRMR and LASSO methods, 147 image features were reduced to 30 and 7 features, respectively, then these 7 features were linearly combined to construct the Rad model. Age, BMI, and the Rad model were combined to establish the combined model and its corresponding nomogram. The resulted two models showed high accuracy (AUC ∼ 0. 8) and consistency (H-L test: p > 0. 0 5) on both the training set and test set. Finally, the comparison results showed that the prediction performance of the combined model was better than that of the Rad model, but their difference was not significant (Delong test: p > 0. 0 5). This paper studied the predictive performance of MR imaging features on the risk of knee replacement and built a model that can be used to predict the potential risk of knee replacement in patients with knee arthritis. The resulting models showed good predictive accuracy and consistency. The drawn nomogram could be used as a useful tool to personalize the prognosis of patients with knee arthritis and guide clinical decisions on knee replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC) has attracted considerable attention for its potential to conserve natural resources and mitigate carbon emissions. Nevertheless, the widespread adoption of RAC in the construction industry faces challenges associated with its inherent performance deficiencies, including the formation of pores and microcracks in the recycled aggregate (RA) generated during the crushing process, as well as the presence of dual interfacial transition zones (ITZ) within the internal structure of RAC. The incorporation of fibres as reinforcement offers a promising solution to improve the performance of RAC. The paper begins with a comprehensive examination of various fibre properties and recycled aggregates. Then, summarizing the impact of fibres on RAC's performance. Special emphasis is placed on analyzing the influence of mixed fibres on the mechanical properties of RAC. The introduction of a blend of low-strength and high-strength fibres demonstrates the potential for further improving the mechanical properties of RAC beyond the benefits offered by individual fibres. This blending strategy also enhances the multiscale crack resistance of RAC, attributed to the collaborative effects of various fibres at different load stages. The reinforcing mechanism at the micro-scale of RAC is also discussed. Finally, the paper outlines perspectives for future research. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive review of hybrid fibre reinforced recycled aggregate concrete. • The effects of a single type of fibre on mechanical properties and microstructure. • Combining high-strength and low-strength fibres shows positive effects. • Blended fibres induce a dense C-S-H gel phase, enhancing cracking resistance. • The economic and environmental impacts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine Reading Comprehension (MRC) research concerns how to endow machines with the ability to understand given passages and answer questions, which is a challenging problem in the field of natural language processing. To solve the Chinese MRC task efficiently, this paper proposes an Improved Extraction-based Reading Comprehension method with Answer Re-ranking (IERC-AR), consisting of a candidate answer extraction module and a re-ranking module. The candidate answer extraction module uses an improved pre-training language model, RoBERTa-WWM, to generate precise word representations, which can solve the problem of polysemy and is good for capturing Chinese word-level features. The re-ranking module re-evaluates candidate answers based on a self-attention mechanism, which can improve the accuracy of predicting answers. Traditional machine-reading methods generally integrate different modules into a pipeline system, which leads to re-encoding problems and inconsistent data distribution between the training and testing phases; therefore, this paper proposes an end-to-end model architecture for IERC-AR to reasonably integrate the candidate answer extraction and re-ranking modules. The experimental results on the Les MMRC dataset show that IERC-AR outperforms state-of-the-art MRC approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive energy dissipation devices are a widely accepted solution used to improve the response of the structures under seismic conditions. While several types of passive energy dissipation elements have been proposed for replaceable elements, buckling restrained braces (BRB) was one of the most effective replaceable elements which has been used to retrofit frame structures in the past few years. A traditional BRB consists of a steel brace core with a cruciform cross section that is surrounded by a stiff steel tube (restraining unit) and unbonded materials to ensure the brace to move freely. The region between the tube and brace is filled with concrete-like materials. In recent years, a significant amount of research has been carried out on new types of BRBs which are more efficient and inexpensive. This paper presents an overview of recent advances in the development of BRB materials and buckling mechanism, with an emphasis on the material development for the restraining unit. The application of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) as restraining unit in BRB is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a novel Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) algorithm which can navigate non-holonomic robots with continuous control in an unknown dynamic environment with moving obstacles. We call the approach MK-A3C (Memory and Knowledge-based Asynchronous Advantage Actor-Critic) for short. As its first component, MK-A3C builds a GRU-based memory neural network to enhance the robot's capability for temporal reasoning. Robots without it tend to suffer from a lack of rationality in face of incomplete and noisy estimations for complex environments. Additionally, robots with certain memory ability endowed by MK-A3C can avoid local minima traps by estimating the environmental model. Secondly, MK-A3C combines the domain knowledge-based reward function and the transfer learning-based training task architecture, which can solve the non-convergence policies problems caused by sparse reward. These improvements of MK-A3C can efficiently navigate robots in unknown dynamic environments, and satisfy kinetic constraints while handling moving objects. Simulation experiments show that compared with existing methods, MK-A3C can realize successful robotic navigation in unknown and challenging environments by outputting continuous acceleration commands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically demonstrate that the electronic second-order topological insulator with robust corner states, having a buckled honeycomb lattice, can be realized in bismuthene by inducing in-plane magnetization. Based on the sp 3 Slaterâ€"Koster tight-binding model with parameters extracted from first-principles results, we show that spin-helical edge states along zigzag boundaries are gapped out by the in-plane magnetization whereas four robust in-gap electronic corner states at the intersection between two zigzag boundaries arise. By regulating the orientation of in-plane magnetization, we show different position distribution of four corner states with different energies. Nevertheless, it respects some spatial symmetries and thus can protect the higher-order topological phase. Combined with the Kaneâ€"Mele model, we discuss the influence of the magnetization orientation on the position distribution of corner states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muography is a promising and rapidly developing physical prospecting technique based on the attenuation of muon flux. The feasibility and potential of applying muography to mining were presented in a small number of previous case studies. In this work, we aimed to address three challenges that limit the applicability and efficiency of muography in mineral exploration: (1) application to low-density-contrast ore body exploration, (2) analysis of altitudinal impacts on measurements and (3) precise and efficient reconstruction. We conducted the first case of applying muography to the exploration for low-density-contrast ore bodies. Six muon imaging systems were placed underground to collect surviving muons for roughly half a year. We analysed the altitudinal impact on the data measurements and proposed a simplified method to eliminate it. We also developed the seed algorithm, a novel 3-D reconstruction algorithm, that can reconstruct anomalies located far away from the detectors and avoid their elongation along the observed directions. Benefitting from the seed algorithm, a low-density-contrast ore body and a limonitic siliceous slate structure were reconstructed, demonstrating the sensitivity of this technique in density distinction; discoveries of several mined-out areas are important for accident avoidance; and reconstruction of the stope and scarps served as strong circumstantial evidence of the reliability of the result. The success of this experiment shows the great value of muography in the economic, research and safety aspects of mineral exploration and inspection. Moreover, the overcoming of challenges is helpful for the development of muography, making it an effective and competitive technique in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetic adsorbent based on a C-nanofiber (Fe3O4@C–NFs) nanocomposite was synthesized using a simple one-pot co-precipitation method. The characterized results showed that the obtained C–nanofiber–coated magnetic nanoparticles had many attractive features such as a large specific surface area and a highly interwoven and branched mesoporous structure, as well as distinguished magnetism. The nanocomposite was then used as an adsorbent in the magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) of four typical tetracyclines (oxytetracycline, tetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline) in aquatic products. The TCs in the extract were determined using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Experimental variables of MSPE, including the sorbent amount, pH condition, adsorption and desorption time, and desorption solvent, were investigated and optimized systematically. The method validation indicated that the developed method showed good linearity (R2 > 0.995) in the range of 1.0–200 ng/mL. The average recoveries at the spiked levels ranged from 90.7% to 102.7% with intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 6) ranging from 3.72% to 8.17% and 4.20% to 9.69%, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the four kinds of TCs were 0.7 μg/kg and 2.0 μg/kg, respectively. Finally, MSPE based on C-nanofiber-coated magnetic nanoparticles was successfully applied to TC analysis in real aquatic products (grass carp, large yellow croaker, snakehead, mandarin fish, Penaeus vannamei, swimming crab, etc.). Compared with traditional extraction methods, the proposed method for TC analysis in aquatic products is more sensitive, effective, recyclable, and environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photochemical decarboxylative cross-coupling reaction of aryl acetic acids with 1,4-dicyanobenzene (1,4-DCB) was developed. Under UV light irradiation, the inexpensive aryl acetic acids coupled with 1,4-DCB, isocyanates and alkene derivatives through decarboxylation which led to the corresponding diarylmethanes, amides and alkene derivatives were obtained in moderate to good yields under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the authors’ prior works, the microstructure, turning cutting performance and wear mechanisms of PVD-CrAlN and TiAlN coated silicon nitride cutting inserts on turning of gray iron were studied. In the present work, based on the authors’ former study, the effects of the cutting speed on tool life, wear mechanism and surface quality of the workpieces were studied through high speed face milling tests. The uncoated, CrAlN and TiAlN coated cutting inserts were conducted by high speed face milling of gray iron at various cutting speeds of 600 m/min~1500 m/min. The results displayed that during high speed face milling, the tool life of the PVD coated Si 3 N 4 cutting inserts decreased as the cutting speed increased. When the cutting speed reached a certain value, the tool life increased with the cutting speed increasing. During high speed face milling, no spallation failure happened to both CrAlN and TiAlN coatings, and the coatings could protect the insert substrates effectively under various cutting speeds, improving the tool life of the uncoated cutting inserts by 138–150% and 32–65%, respectively. The wear mechanisms of all three kinds of the cutting inserts by face milling of gray iron under various cutting speed were the same. The only difference was that as the cutting speed increased, the adhesive wear of the inserts increased significantly. During high speed face milling of gray iron with three kinds of inserts, the alteration relationship of machining quality with the cutting speed was similar to the tool life with the cutting speed relationship. Furthermore, when high speed face milling of gray iron was conducted, CrAlN coated Si 3 N 4 cutting inserts displayed the best machining quality, followed by TiAlN coated and the uncoated inserts, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, CrAlN and TiAlN coatings were produced on silicon nitride cutting inserts via physical vapor deposition. The microstructure and hardness of the coatings, as well as the adhesive strength between the coating and the substrate were studied using a scanning electronic microscope, a micro hardness tester and a scratch tester, respectively. Continuous turning tests of the obtained CrAlN and TiAlN-coated silicon nitride cutting inserts were performed on gray cast iron to evaluate the cutting performances and the machining quality. The results show that the surface hardness of the Si 3 N 4 cutting inserts could be improved by 87% and 50%, respectively, when applying the CrAlN and TiAlN coatings, thereby enhancing the abrasion resistance of the cutting inserts. At different tested cutting speeds, abrasive wear under compressional deformation and adhesive wear were identified as the main failure mechanisms for the two cutting inserts during continuous turning of gray cast iron. The machining quality of the gray cast iron workpieces machined using the uncoated, the CrAlN- or the TiAlN-coated inserts increased with the increment of the cutting speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brugada syndrome (Brs) and long QT syndrome (LQTs) are the most observed "inherited primary arrhythmia syndromes" and "channelopathies", which lead to sudden cardiac death.Methods: Detailed clinical information of Brs and LQTs patients was collected. Genomic DNA samples of peripheral blood were conducted for whole-exome sequencing on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. Then, we performed bioinformatics analysis for 200 genes susceptible to arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies. Protein interaction and transcriptomic co-expression were analyzed using the online website and GTEx database.Results: All sixteen cases of Brs and six cases of LQTs were enrolled in the current study. Four Brs carried known pathogenic or likely pathogenic of single-point mutations, including SCN5A p.R661W, SCN5A p.R965C, and KCNH2 p.R692Q. One Brs carried the heterozygous compound mutations of DSG2 p.F531C and SCN5A p.A1374S. Two Brs carried the novel heterozygous truncated mutations (MAF < 0.001) of NEBL (p.R882X) and NPPA (p.R107X), respectively. Except for the indirect interaction between NEBL and SCN5A, NPPA directly interacts with SCN5A. These gene expressions had a specific and significant positive correlation in myocardial tissue, with high degrees of co-expression and synergy. Two Brs carried MYH7 p.E1902Q and MYH6 p.R1820Q, which were predicted as "damaging/possibly damaging" and "damaging/damaging" by Polyphen and SIFT algorithm. Two LQTs elicited the pathogenic single splicing mutation of KCNQ1 (c.922-1G > C). Three LQTs carried a single pathogenic mutation of SCN5A p.R1880H, KCNH2 p.D161N, and KCNQ1 p.R243S, respectively. One patient of LQTs carried a frameshift mutation of KCNH2 p. A188Gfs*143.Conclusions: The truncated mutations of NEBL (p.R882X) and NPPA (p.R107X) may induce Brugada syndrome by abnormally affecting cardiac sodium channel. SCN5A (p.R661W, p.R965C and p.A1374S) and KCNH2 (p.R692Q) may cause Brugada syndrome, while SCN5A (p.R1880H), KCNQ1 (c.922-1G > C and p.R243S) and KCNH2 (p.D161N and p.A188Gfs*143) may lead to long QT syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To the problem of large subjectivity in existing index screening methods, this paper uses principal component analysis and the rough set method to select faulty factors in a traction fault elevator, eliminate the unrelated and unimportant indices, and then set up 4 main indices: rated parameter, running environment, manufacturing maintenance condition, and man-machine factor; and 10 two-grade fingers, including rated load, use unit, and manufacturing unit, which constitute a traction failure elevator factor index system, provide a new train of thought and method for the research and analysis of traction fault elevators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many challenges persist with traditional self-sensing cementitious composites, such as selecting conductive fillers, determining optimal aspect ratios, controlling dosage, achieving filler dispersion, designing practical electrodes, and overcoming fabrication difficulties. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel self-sensing technique for cementitious composites by incorporating a 2-dimensional (2-D) carbon-fibre textile network to address these challenges. Additionally, instead of using the entire composite volume as the sensor, an alternative approach is explored, which involves utilising the interlaminar interface by incorporating the 2-D carbon-fibre textile network. This approach provides an integrated self-sensing system, including electrical leads and conductive pathways, which can be tailored based on the design requirements. The paper introduces fundamental concepts and measurement circuit design, followed by a comprehensive study covering measurement techniques, electromechanical properties, and microstructural analysis. Furthermore, it discusses the impact of ambient conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity, on the measurements. Experimental results demonstrate a remarkable maximum fractional change in contact resistivity, reaching up to 70%. The reversibility during cyclic compression is excellent, with a maximum negative gauge factor of − 2500. These findings represent a significant step toward achieving a practical and simplified method for manufacturing self-sensing cementitious composites and open avenues for self-sensing, sustainable textile-reinforced concrete structures (TRC). [Display omitted] • A novel self-sensing system for cementitious composites has been introduced. • The system can be considered as an integrated solution, encompassing the essential components required for self-sensing. • A simplified equivalent circuit model and an equation to calculate the overall contact resistivity have been proposed. • A remarkable maximum fractional change in the overall contact resistivity, reaching up to 70%, has been achieved. • The reversibility during cyclic compression has been excellent, with a maximum negative gauge factor of − 2500. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel alcohol sensor was proposed in the present work, which was based on the pulsed electrodeposition of PtRuNi ternary alloy nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)–ionic liquid (IL, i.e. 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexaflurophosphate, OMIMPF6) gel film. The composition, morphology and catalytic activity of the obtained nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and voltammetry, respectively. The PtRuNi–MWNT–IL coated glassy carbon electrode was proved to be suitable for detecting alcohol. The analytical characteristics of the resulting sensor, in terms of poison tolerance, response time, linear range, detection limit, sensitivity, reproducibility and long-term stability were explored and satisfying results were obtained. For comparison, the electrodes with PtRuCo, PtRu and Pt nanoparticles were also prepared and studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To analyze and compare the imaging workflow, radiation dose, and image quality for COVID-19 patients examined using either the conventional manual positioning (MP) method or an AI-based automatic positioning (AP) method. Materials and methods: One hundred twenty-seven adult COVID-19 patients underwent chest CT scans on a CT scanner using the same scan protocol except with the manual positioning (MP group) for the initial scan and an AI-based automatic positioning method (AP group) for the follow-up scan. Radiation dose, patient positioning time, and off-center distance of the two groups were recorded and compared. Image noise and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were assessed by three experienced radiologists and were compared between the two groups. Results: The AP operation was successful for all patients in the AP group and reduced the total positioning time by 28% compared with the MP group. Compared with the MP group, the AP group had significantly less patient off-center distance (AP 1.56 cm ± 0.83 vs. MP 4.05 cm ± 2.40, p < 0.001) and higher proportion of positioning accuracy (AP 99% vs. MP 92%), resulting in 16% radiation dose reduction (AP 6.1 mSv ± 1.3 vs. MP 7.3 mSv ± 1.2, p < 0.001) and 9% image noise reduction in erector spinae and lower noise and higher SNR for lesions in the pulmonary peripheral areas. Conclusion: The AI-based automatic positioning and centering in CT imaging is a promising new technique for reducing radiation dose and optimizing imaging workflow and image quality in imaging the chest. Key Points: • The AI-based automatic positioning (AP) operation was successful for all patients in our study. • AP method reduced the total positioning time by 28% compared with the manual positioning (MP). • AP method had less patient off-center distance and higher proportion of positioning accuracy than MP method, resulting in 16% radiation dose reduction and 9% image noise reduction in erector spinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstruction of neuronal populations from ultra-scale optical microscopy (OM) images is essential to investigate neuronal circuits and brain mechanisms. The noises, low contrast, huge memory requirement, and high computational cost pose significant challenges in the neuronal population reconstruction. Recently, many studies have been conducted to extract neuron signals using deep neural networks (DNNs). However, training such DNNs usually relies on a huge amount of voxel-wise annotations in OM images, which are expensive in terms of both finance and labor. In this paper, we propose a novel framework for dense neuronal population reconstruction from ultra-scale images. To solve the problem of high cost in obtaining manual annotations for training DNNs, we propose a progressive learning scheme for neuronal population reconstruction (PLNPR) which does not require any manual annotations. Our PLNPR scheme consists of a traditional neuron tracing module and a deep segmentation network that mutually complement and progressively promote each other. To reconstruct dense neuronal populations from a terabyte-sized ultra-scale image, we introduce an automatic framework which adaptively traces neurons block by block and fuses fragmented neurites in overlapped regions continuously and smoothly. We build a dataset “VISoR-40” which consists of 40 large-scale OM image blocks from cortical regions of a mouse. Extensive experimental results on our VISoR-40 dataset and the public BigNeuron dataset demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of our method on neuronal population reconstruction and single neuron reconstruction. Furthermore, we successfully apply our method to reconstruct dense neuronal populations from an ultra-scale mouse brain slice. The proposed adaptive block propagation and fusion strategies greatly improve the completeness of neurites in dense neuronal population reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Additional studies comparing laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) versus open gastrectomy (OG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) have been published, and it is necessary to update the systematic review of this subject. Objective: We conducted the meta-analysis to find some proof for the use of LG in AGC and evaluate whether LG is an alternative treatment for AGC. Method: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and high-quality retrospective studies (NRCT) compared LG and OG for AGC, which were published in English between January 2010 and May 2019, were search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Knowledge by three authors independently and thoroughly. Some primary endpoints were compared between the two groups, including intraoperative time, intraoperative blood loss, harvested lymph nodes, first flatus, first oral intake, first out of bed, post-operative hospital stay, postoperative morbidity and mortality, rate of disease recurrence, and 5-year over survival (5-y OS). Besides, considering for this 10-year dramatical surgical material development between 2010 and 2019, we furtherly make the same analysis based on recent studies published between 2016 and 2019. Result: Thirty-six studies were enrolled in this systematic review and meta-analysis, including 5714 cases in LAG and 6094 cases in OG. LG showed longer intraoperative time, less intraoperative blood loss, and quicker recovery after operations. The number of harvested lymph nodes, hospital mortality, and tumor recurrence were similar. Postoperative morbidity and 5-y OS favored LG. Furthermore, the systemic analysis of recent studies published between 2016 and 2019 revealed similar result. Conclusion: A positive trend was indicated towards LG. LG can be performed as an alternative to OG for AGC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: The SGC7901, SGC7901-ZPP, and SGC7901-Oct4 cell (IC50) of SGC7901, SGC7901-ZPP, and SGC7901-Oct4- SGC7901-ZPP, the migration ability of SGC7901-Oct4-Sox Figure 9 The growth curve of SGC7901, SGC7901 -ZPP, and SGC7901 -Oct4 -Sox2. Weight for SGC7901, SGC7901-ZPP, and SGC7901-Oct4-.

Cosmic ray muons are secondary particles produced by the interaction of interstellar protons with the atmosphere. Muons have the characteristics of different angle scattering for different materials and deep penetration in matters, which are helpful in the identification of high-Z substances and the internal density imaging of large targets. In geoscientific research, attenuated transmission imaging of large targets usually employs planar plastic scintillator detectors to record muons tracks. However, due to their large volume, the detector cannot be employed in scenarios where a spacious room is unavailable, such as inside a small borehole. This work proposes a novel calorimeter-type borehole muon detector with a compact structure, fewer electronic channels, decent positional and angular resolutions, and high efficiency. The detector can record the angle of the incident muon. On this basis, imaging of the target object can be realized. This work introduces the principle and concept design of the borehole muon detector, the detector's Monte Carlo simulation study, and the scintillator unit's experimental research. The experimental study of the scintillator unit shows that the position resolution of the position-sensitive detector can reach up to 5.1 mm. The Monte Carlo simulation analysis of the borehole muon detector illustrates that its azimuth angular resolution is ∼ 0.103 rad, and the zenith angular resolution is ∼ 0.016 rad. The weighted average efficiency of the detector is 64.8%. Simulation results show that the proposed detector is capable of identifying objects with different densities, such as the cavity and the iron sphere, given reasonable measurement duration. This work provides a technical base for the next step of detector design optimization and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Impacts of sleeve thickness and number of hole on SPBLs are experimentally evaluated; • Uneven load distribution effect among multi-hole SPBLs is evaluated by push-out tests; • Analytical model to determine load-bearing capacity of multi-hole SPBLs is derived; • Applicability of proposed prediction equations for multi-hole PBLs is assessed. Flexible-sleeve perfobond strip connectors (SPBL), consisting of perfobond strip connectors (PBLs) and flexible plastic sleeves surrounding transverse rebars, are considered to be an effective and ductile solution in combining steel and concrete members together in composite structures. In order to evaluate structural performance of this type of shear connectors, push-out tests were performed on sixteen SPBL specimens with varying sleeve thicknesses and number of holes. Failure modes, load-slip curves, load-uplift displacement relationships, and strain history obtained from SPBLs tests are presented and discussed. The influences of design parameters on shear performance of SPBLs are analyzed. Experimental results indicated that the plastic sleeves surrounding transverse steel rebars effectively optimized the connector's stiffness and ductility. As compare to conventional PBL connectors without plastic sleeves, the ductility coefficients of SPBL with a 2.0 mm- and 10.0- mm thick sleeve are increased by 77.2% and 26.1%, respectively, while the corresponding initial stiffness decreased by 27.6% and 46.9%, respectively. Results also indicated that the utilization of plastic sleeves effectively diminished the uneven effects among the multi-hole PBLs. Also, and as compared to triple-hole PBL connectors without flexible sleeves, providing a 2.0 mm- and 10.0 mm- thickness sleeves to transverse rebars decreased the uneven load coefficient by 26.3% and 89.7%, respectively. A comparison between experimental and analytical results using PBLs published formulas indicated that such existing formulas failed to address shear capacity of the multi-hole SPBLs. Accordingly, an analytical model that considers the uneven loadings and sleeve thickness effects that is capable of predicting the load-carrying capacity of multi-hole SPBLs was developed, and calibrated using experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: conventional vascular risk factors (VRFs) are associated with cognitive impairment independent of stroke and detectable cerebral lesions. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) to examine the hypotheses that abnormal levels of brain metabolites may mediate the relationship between VRFs and cognitive impairment.Methods: a group of 54 stroke-free subjects with various VRFs underwent comprehensive cognitive assessments and 1H MRS scan of the left hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. We indirectly measured the concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline, inositol, creatine (Cr) and total concentrations of glutamate plus glutamine (Glx). VRFs were quantified by Framingham stroke risk profile (FSRP) score. Subjects were divided into low- (<10%), medium- (10–20%) and high-risk (>20%) groups according to their FSRP scores. Pearson and partial correlation analysis were used to investigate the correlation between FSRP scores and cognitive performance along with the brain metabolism.Results: compared with subjects in low-risk group, high-risk group subjects had significantly poor performances on the tasks of working memory, delayed recall and executive function. In high-risk group, hippocampal Glx/Cr ratios and prefrontal NAA/Cr ratios were significantly lower than those in low-risk group. Lower prefrontal NAA/Cr ratios were associated with executive dysfunction, and lower hippocampal Glx/Cr ratios were associated with impaired delayed recall.Conclusion: abnormal concentrations of brain metabolites and decreased glutamate plus glutamine concentration may play an important role in the pathophysiology of VRF-associated cognitive impairment. Brain metabolites detected by 1H MRS may serve as important markers for monitoring VRFs burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: conventional vascular risk factors (VRFs) are associated with cognitive impairment independent of stroke and detectable cerebral lesions. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) to examine the hypotheses that abnormal levels of brain metabolites may mediate the relationship between VRFs and cognitive impairment.Methods: a group of 54 stroke-free subjects with various VRFs underwent comprehensive cognitive assessments and 1H MRS scan of the left hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. We indirectly measured the concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline, inositol, creatine (Cr) and total concentrations of glutamate plus glutamine (Glx). VRFs were quantified by Framingham stroke risk profile (FSRP) score. Subjects were divided into low- (<10%), medium- (10–20%) and high-risk (>20%) groups according to their FSRP scores. Pearson and partial correlation analysis were used to investigate the correlation between FSRP scores and cognitive performance along with the brain metabolism.Results: compared with subjects in low-risk group, high-risk group subjects had significantly poor performances on the tasks of working memory, delayed recall and executive function. In high-risk group, hippocampal Glx/Cr ratios and prefrontal NAA/Cr ratios were significantly lower than those in low-risk group. Lower prefrontal NAA/Cr ratios were associated with executive dysfunction, and lower hippocampal Glx/Cr ratios were associated with impaired delayed recall.Conclusion: abnormal concentrations of brain metabolites and decreased glutamate plus glutamine concentration may play an important role in the pathophysiology of VRF-associated cognitive impairment. Brain metabolites detected by 1H MRS may serve as important markers for monitoring VRFs burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-concrete-steel double-skin tubular columns (DSTCs) have received extensive attention in the research community over the past decade. Generally, a DSTC consists of an inner steel tube and an outer FRP tube, with the space between them filled with natural aggregate concrete (NAC). This paper studied a new form of hybrid FRP-recycled aggregate concrete (RAC)-steel tubular column (FRSTC) in which the outer FRP tube was made of environmental-friendly basalt fibers and the concrete was made of recycled coarse aggregates (RCAs). Quasi-static tests of five full-scale basalt FRSTCs were conducted to gain an improved understanding of the behavior of FRSTCs, and to enable further application potentiality of FRSTCs in earthquake-prone areas. Three key column parameters, including RCA replacement percentages, axial load ratios, and steel reinforcement ratios were carefully designed to clarify their influence on the performance of FRSTCs under combined axial compression and cyclic lateral loading. The test results, including the hysteretic loops, skeleton curves, curvature and strain distributions, ductility characterization, energy dissipation capacity, stiffness and strength degradation, and cumulative damage, are presented and discussed. The experimental results show that the RCA replacement percentage has little impact on the seismic performance of FRSTCs, while the effect of the axial load ratio is significant. The bearing capacity and energy dissipation of FRSTCs can be superior to those of DSTCs with NAC. Image 1 • First quasi-static tests on FRP-recycled aggregate concrete (RAC)-steel columns (FRSCs). • The RAC does not deteriorate the seismic performance of the FRSCs. • Effects of axial load ratios and steel ratios on performance of FRSCs were analyzed. • Deformation performance and energy dissipation capacity of FRSCs were quantified. • Cumulative damage of FRSCs was assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcement learning (RL)-based traffic signal control has been proven to have great potential in alleviating traffic congestion. The state definition, which is a key element in RL-based traffic signal control, plays a vital role. However, the data used for state definition in the literature are either coarse or difficult to measure directly using the prevailing detection systems for signal control. This paper proposes a deep reinforcement learning-based traffic signal control method which uses high-resolution event-based data, aiming to achieve cost-effective and efficient adaptive traffic signal control. High-resolution event-based data, which records the time when each vehicle-detector actuation/de-actuation event occurs, is informative and can be collected directly from vehicle-actuated detectors (e.g., inductive loops) with current technologies. Given the event-based data, deep learning techniques are employed to automatically extract useful features for traffic signal control. The proposed method is benchmarked with two commonly used traffic signal control strategies, i.e., the fixed-time control strategy and the actuated control strategy, and experimental results reveal that the proposed method significantly outperforms the commonly used control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB-1) plays crucial roles in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition during tumor carcinogenesis. Published studies have examined the potential value of ZEB-1 as a biomarker for the prognosis of cancer. Nevertheless, the prognostic significance of ZEB-1 in human solid tumor remains inconclusive. Therefore, we performed the present meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of ZEB-1 in patients with solid tumors.Methods: The 13 included studies (1616 patients) were exact electronic searched from Web of Science, PubMed and EBSCO until September 2018. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for overall survival (OS) were analyzed through random or fixed effects models. Univariate and multivariate analyses were independently performed. Subgroup analyses, heterogeneity and publication bias were investigated to further enhance reliability.Results: This research indicated that elevated expression of ZEB-1 significantly predicted worse OS in patients with solid tumors. In the univariate analysis, the pooled HR for OS was 1.66 (95% CI: 1.45-1.90; P < 0.01). Meanwhile, in multivariate analysis, the pooled HR for OS was 2.28 (95% CI: 1.58-3.30; P < 0.01). Begg's funnel plot and Begg's test did not show evidence of significant publication bias, both in univariate analysis and multivariate analysis.Conclusions: High expression of ZEB-1 was associated with poorer OS, suggesting that ZEB-1 may be a potential biomarker for the prediction of prognosis, and a novel therapeutic target in human solid tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a marine biotoxin that has high scientific value. However, the lack of efficient TTX extraction and preparation methods has led to a scarcity of TTX samples for clinical application. In this study, TTX from the liver of Takifugu pseudommus was ultrasound-assisted extracted with acidified organic solvents. The extraction process was analyzed and optimized by single factor method and response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal extraction conditions predicted by a response surface model were as follows: liquid:material ratio, 2.8:1; extraction temperature, 60 °C; extraction time, 23.3 min. Under these conditions, the extraction of TTX had a yield of 89.65%, and the results were further verified by experimental extraction, and analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). It was found that the extracts of T. pseudommus liver contained TTX and its four analogues at certain proportions (TTX: 10.4%; 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX: 83.3%; 5,11-dideoxyTTX:2.4%; 4,9-anhydro TTX:2.6%; 5-deoxyTTX:1.3%). This study demonstrates a stable and efficient extraction process of TTX from pufferfish liver, which can be helpful for further research and analysis, as well as the utilization of TTX from pufferfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To retrospectively review the clinicopathologic features and computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of lumbosacral intraspinal paragangliomas (PGLs). Methods Thirteen patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed lumbosacral intraspinal PGLs were enrolled. Their clinicopathologic data and imaging findings were retrospectively reviewed. Results Ten male and 3 female patients with a median age of 43 years (range, 36–74 years) were included. CT or MRI showed a well-defined ( n = 13), oval ( n = 10), or striated ( n = 3) mass with heterogeneous ( n = 6) or homogeneous density/signal intensity ( n = 7). The lesions appeared isointense ( n = 13) and mildly hyperintense ( n = 13) on T1-weighted and T2-weighted MRI, respectively. On enhanced CT/MRI, markedly heterogeneous ( n = 6) and homogeneous ( n = 7) enhancement patterns were observed. The tadpole sign was observed in 9 cases. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher before than after surgery ( P SBP = 0.002 and P DBP = 0.001). Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were reduced to normal after surgery. No recurrence or metastatic disease was found during the follow-up period. Conclusions Lumbosacral intraspinal PGLs should be considered when a mass appears as well defined or oval, and when a striated solitary homogeneous or heterogeneous mass is characterized by a tadpolelike appearance with a marked enhancement pattern. The fluctuation of blood pressure before and after surgery is an interesting clinical feature of lumbosacral intraspinal PGLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]