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Background: Ovarian cancer, the most common malignancy in the female reproductive system, and patients tend to be at middle and advanced clinical stages when diagnosed. Therefore, early detection and early diagnosis have important clinical significance for the treatment of ovarian cancer patients. CXCL13, a chemokine with the ligands CXCR3 and CXCR5, is involved in the tumor metastasis process. Purpose: This study aimed to predict mRNA expression of CXCL13 in ovarian cancer tissues noninvasively. Methods: Medical imaging data and transcriptomic sequencing data of the 343 ovarian cancer patients were downloaded from the TCIA and TCGA databases, respectively. Seventy‐six radiomics features were extracted from the CT data. Seven features were selected for model construction by using logistic regression. Accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were used to evaluate the radiomics model. Results: High CXCL13 expression was found to be a significant protective factor for OS [HR (95% CI) = 0.755 (0.622–0.916), p = 0.004]. There was a significant positive correlation between CXCL13 and the degree of eosinophil infiltration. A calibration curve and the Hosmer‒Lemeshow goodness‐of‐fit test showed that the prediction probability of the radiomics prediction model for high expression of CXCL13 was consistent with the true value. The AUC value of the nomogram model's ability to predict OS (12 months) was 0.758. The calibration plot and DCA both showed high clinical applicability for the nomogram model. Conclusion: CXCL13 is a candidate predictive biomarker for OC and correlates with the degree of plasma cell and eosinophil infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This study aimed to determine the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in the aqueous humor of patients with macular edema (ME) caused by branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), as well as to investigate the relationship between the cytokines as mentioned earlier and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ME, and the degree of ME from the molecular level. Methods. In a prospective observational study, fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were used to classify 58 patients with non-ischemic BRVO-ME into three groups according to the degree of ME: 14-mild, 17-moderate, and 27-severe. The specific concentration of IL-6, VEGF, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in the aqueous humor was detected using the BD CSCanto™ II Flow Cytometer (US). Spearman or Pearson correlation analysis was used to test the correlation between the levels of BCVA and severity of ME and the expression levels of IL-6, VEGF, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in the aqueous humor. Results. According to the obtained data, BCVA did not correlate with the severity of ME, and these four cytokines expression levels in patients' aqueous humor (P > 0.05). Moreover, BCVA did not correlate with mild, moderate, or severe ME as well (P > 0.05). However, the levels of these four cytokines were correlated with the severity of the ME. These underlined cytokines were linked to the mild, moderate, and severe degrees of ME. VEGF was also significantly correlated (r > 0.8, P < 0.0001) with the severity of ME. Conclusions. This study suggests that the severity of ME in BRVO-ME patients is significantly correlated with the expression levels of IL-6, VEGF, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in the aqueous humor. Lowering the level of disease-associated cytokines may potentially reduce the degree of ME. Therefore, an in-depth study of the levels and the relationship may provide some evidence for the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of BRVO-ME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decarburisation annealing processes of Nb-bearing grain-oriented silicon steel under different conditions were conducted. The effect of nitriding and decarburisation annealing time on the carbon content, precipitates, microstructure and texture of Nb-bearing grain-oriented silicon steel were investigated by the various analysis methods. The results show that the carbon content in the steel decreases as decarburisation time increasing, and decreases below 0.003% eventually. Larger number density and smaller size of precipitates were obtained in the sample treated by nitriding before decarburisation annealing process, leading to fine and uniform microstructure, which is beneficial to obtain excellent magnetic properties for Nb-bearing grain-oriented silicon steel. The main texture types of the experimental samples were γ-fibres with a peak at {111}<112 >. The nitriding before decarburisation annealing process makes little effect on texture evolution during decarburisation annealing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinel LiMn 2 O 4 is regarded as a promising positive material candidate for contemporary lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, its development is hindered by the poor Li+ diffusion during high charge/discharge rates and unstable cyclic performance associated with Mn dissolution under elevated temperature. Herein, a facile hydrothermal method with solid-state calcination is introduced to design one-dimensional (1D) La-doped LiMn 2 O 4 nanorods and ultimately enhance their cathode utilization in high-temperature and long-cycling conditions. Surprisingly, LiLa 0.03 Mn 1.97 O 4 nanorods exhibit excellent high-temperature cyclic performance for over 1000 cycles, and deliver a promising discharge capacity of 87.2 mAh g−1 at 20C rate. Furthermore, theoretical calculations confirm that compared with the pristine sample, a lower bandgap and dispersed distribution of electrons are also strong evidence of the improved electrochemical performance of LiMn 2 O 4 after La doping. This research offers a new strategy to achieve high-performance LiMn 2 O 4 -based positive materials for the development of advanced LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of acid-soluble aluminum (Als) content on precipitation behavior of precipitates, microstructures, and textures of annealed hot-rolled grain-oriented silicon steels are investigated. The results show that a large amount of fine AlN and a little amount of MnS-AlN composite can be obtained after hot band annealing. More fine precipitates are formed in specimen containing higher content of Als. Als content plays a negligible effect on the Goss texture formation during hot band annealing and similarly weak Goss texture component can be found in subsurface of annealed hot-rolled bands with different Als content. It is also found that MnS and AlN can have a combined inhibiting impact on the grain growth. AlN plays a more critical role on the inhibition of grain growth during hot band annealing. The more uniform and finer grains in subsurface of annealed hot-rolled band are due to the effective inhibiting effect of finely and uniformly dispersed precipitates in steel with higher Als content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the experiments for the phosphorus equilibrium partition between CaO-SiO2-Fe tO-P2O5 slags with Na2O or K2O addition and solid pure iron foil were performed at 1573, 1623, and 1673 K, respectively. The experimental results showed that both Na2O and K2O addition can enhance the dephosphorization ability of CaO-SiO2-Fe tO-P2O5 based slags and they have similar dephosphorization ability under the same temperature and main slag composition. The phosphorous partition ratio between slag and carbon-saturated hot metal increased with the increase of basicity with a peak value in the range of R around 1.3-1.5. The phosphorous partition ratio decreased with the increasing of ( w(CaO) + w(Na2O))/ w(Fe tO) value in slags. The dephosphorization ability of CaO-SiO2-Fe tO-P2O5 based slags was relatively higher when the ( w(CaO) + w(Na2O))/ w(Fe tO) values fell in the range of 0.5-0.8. The phosphorous partition ratio decreased with the temperature increase. The linear relationships between the logarithm phosphorous partition ratio and the reciprocal of temperature were obtained for CaO-SiO2-Fe tO-P2O5 based slags with Na2O. The information provides by present study would be useful for optimization of dephosphorization in hot metal pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of target phosphorus (P) content on the precipitates, microstructure, texture, magnetic properties, and mechanical properties of low-carbon (C) and low-silicon (Si) non-oriented electrical steel (NOES) was investigated and the influence mechanism was clarified. The results indicate that the precipitates in the steels are mainly aluminum (Al)-manganese (Mn)-Si-bearing complex nitrides ((Al,Si,Mn)xNy) and P-bearing complex nitrides ((Al,Si,Mn)xNy-P). Increasing target phosphorus content in the steels decreases (Al,Si,Mn)xNy, and increases (Al,Si,Mn)xNy-P. The number density of the precipitates is the lowest, and the average size of the precipitates and grain size of the finished steel is the largest in the samples with target P content at the 0.14% level (0.14%P-targeted). The average grain size and microstructure homogeneity of the steels are influenced by the addition of phosphorus. The content of the {111}<112> component decreases, and the favorable texture increases after phosphorus is added to the steel. The magnetic induction of the steel is improved. Grain refinement and microstructure inhomogeneity lead to an iron loss increase after target phosphorus content increases in the steel. The best magnetic induction B50 is 1.765 T in the 0.14%P-targeted samples. The tensile strength and yield strength are improved owing to solid solution strengthening and the grain refinement effect of phosphorus added to the steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Nb content on precipitation, microstructure, texture and magnetic properties of primary recrystallized grain-oriented silicon steel were investigated by various methods. The results show that the precipitates in primary recrystallized sheets are mainly MnS, Nb(C,N), composite precipitates of MnS and AlN, and composite precipitates of Nb(C,N) and AlN. Adding niobium could refine the primary recrystallized microstructure. The steel with 0.009 wt% Nb possesses the finest and the most dispersed precipitates, which contributes to the finest primary recrystallized microstructure due to the strong pinning force. Adding niobium is beneficial to obtain large volume fraction favorable texture for grain-oriented silicon steel, and the effect of Nb addition is not obvious when the content is higher than 0.009 wt%. After final annealing, the steel with 0.009 wt% Nb shows the best magnetic properties, B800 = 1.872 T, P1.7/50 = 1.25 W/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prepared a new lightweight Al2O3‐C refractory material with a higher strength by using microporous corundum aggregates instead of dense tabular corundum aggregates, which was reinforced by in situ formed SiC whiskers, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and mullite rods. A comparative study of the microstructure, mechanical properties, and fracture behavior was carried out for dense and lightweight Al2O3‐C refractories coked at 1200°C and 1400°C, respectively. By using the microporous corundum aggregates, a better aggregate/matrix interface bonding and an optimized distribution of SiC whiskers were obtained. The SiC whiskers formed inside the microporous corundum aggregates and simultaneously in the matrix by a vapor‐solid reaction mechanism, resulting in an enhancement at the microporous aggregate/matrix interface. Furthermore, the in situ formed MWCNTs and well‐developed mullite rods at 1200°C in the matrix also contributed to the better interface structure. Thus, due to the improved microporous aggregate/matrix interface, the crack propagation along the aggregate/matrix interface was suppressed, resulting in an increased crack propagation within the aggregates. Consequently, the synergy between microporous corundum aggregates and combined one‐dimensional ceramic phases caused a lower bulk density but a markedly higher strength, a higher fracture energy, and a higher toughness of lightweight Al2O3‐C refractories compared to the dense ones. Overall, our study allows to overcome the traditional concept that a higher strength of refractories is reached by a higher density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, niobium was added into grain-oriented silicon steels, four Nb-bearing hot-rolled bands with Nb content range from 0–0.025 wt% were prepared and a detailed study of the micro characterization (microstructure, texture and precipitates) of hot-rolled bands was carried out by various analysis methods, such as EBSD and TEM. The results indicate that the precipitates in Nb-free steel are MnS and AlN; however, in the Nb-bearing steel they are MnS, AlN and Nb(C, N). The precipitates are finer and more dispersed in Nb-bearing steel, and a stronger pining force was obtained, which contributes to the finer microstructure and less recrystallization fractions of the hot-rolled bands. A larger volume fraction and stronger intensity of Goss texture is presented in steel with 0.025 wt% Nb due to the effective inhibiting effect. However, it has little effect on the changes of microstructure and texture when the Nb content is more than 0.009 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transient three-dimensional (3D) coupled mathematical model has been established to study the desulfurization behavior in electroslag remelting (ESR) process. The solutions of the mass, momentum, energy, and species conservation equations were simultaneously calculated by the finite volume method. The Joule heating and Lorentz force were fully coupled through solving the Maxwell’s equations with the assistance of the magnetic potential vector. The movement of the metal droplet was described by the volume of fluid (VOF) approach. In order to include the influences of the slag composition and the electric current on the desulfurization, a thermodynamic and kinetics module was introduced. An experiment was conducted to validate the model. The completely comparison between the measured and simulated data indicates that the model can predicate the desulfurization with acceptable accuracy. The sulfur in the metal would be mainly transferred into the slag in the formation of the droplet. After the droplet enters into the metal pool, the sulfur would fast expand to the rest of the slag pool and move to the outer side of the mold along with the metal, and finally flows downward. The maximum calculated removal ratio during the whole process can reach up to 71%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Trace Nb refines primary recrystallization significantly. Growth of primary grain slowed down with the increase of Nb content. • The evolutions of typical textures under different Nb contents during primary recrystallization were studied. • More grains with deviated Goss {1 1 0}〈0 0 1〉 and {1 1 0}〈1 1 2〉 texture in primary recrystallization would form secondary recrystallization, which resulting in the deterioration of magnetic properties. The influence of Nb content on the primary recrystallization microstructure, crystallographic texture and magnetic properties of grain-oriented silicon steel manufactured by low-temperature slab reheating were studied. The results show that the effect of grain refining was enhanced with the increase of Nb content. With the increase of Nb content, the total contents of texture {1 1 1}〈1 1 2〉 and {1 1 4}〈4 8 1〉 in primary recrystallization which are beneficial to the secondary recrystallization increased, but the contents of deviated Goss component and adverse textures with abnormal growth ability in primary recrystallization also increased, which led to the deterioration of magnetic properties. By adding 0.005% Nb, the average size of the primary grain reduced to 23 μm, the content of {1 1 0}〈1 1 2〉 increased slightly and the least deviated Goss nuclei were obtained, therefore the final product had the sharpest {1 1 0}〈0 0 1〉 texture of secondary recrystallization and the best magnetic properties with B 800 = 1.873 T , P 1.7/50 = 1.21 W/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnO 2 is regarded as a promising negative material candidate for contemporary lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the nanostructured SnO 2 electrodes suffer from rapid capacity fades during lithiation and delithiation at a high-current density due to active materials aggregating and cracking. Herein, we designed and fabricated a novel multilayered hollow TiO 2 @SnO 2 @C sphere electrode though a facile three-step sol-gel coating process and hydrothermal strategy. The SnO 2 nanoparticles are well confined between an outermost high-conductivity carbon layer and innermost stable hollow TiO 2 nanospheres that form the pillar structure of the entire composite. Attributed to the internal spherical titanium dioxide as a support layer, the structural integrity of the composite and the possible anti-inward rupture can be effectively improved. As a result, the as-prepared TiO 2 @SnO 2 @C electrode exhibits a remarkable reversible capacity of 484 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 after 300 cycles and delivers outstanding capacity of 263 mAh g−1 at 3 A g−1. Moreover, this unique SnO 2 hollow sphere structure with TiO 2 as the innermost stable pillar will have implications for the design of high-power-density negative materials for future lithium-ion batteries. • A unique multilayered hollow TiO 2 @SnO 2 @C nanosphere has been fabricated. • The volume expansion of SnO 2 was effectively restrained by innermost TiO 2 and outermost carbon layer. • TiO 2 @SnO 2 @C delivers significant improved electrochemical performance at a high current density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]