Development and validation of a multi-parameter nomogram for venous thromboembolism in gastric cancer patients: a retrospective analysis.

Objective: Gastric cancer (GC), one of the highest venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence rates in cancer, contributes to considerable morbidity, mortality, and, prominently, extra cost. However, up to now, there is not a high-quality VTE model to steadily predict the risk for VTE in China. Consequently, setting up a prediction model to predict the VTE risk is imperative. Methods: Data from 3,092 patients from December 15, 2017, to December 31, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess risk factors for GC, and a nomogram was constructed based on screened risk factors. A receiver operating curve (ROC) and calibration plot was created to evaluate the accuracy of the nomogram. Results: The risk factors of suffering from VTE were older age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI [1.00-1.04]), Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 70 (OR = 0.45, 95% CI [0.25-0.83]), Blood transfusion (OR = 2.37, 95% CI [1.47-3.84]), advanced clinical stage (OR = 3.98, 95% CI [1.59-9.99]), central venous catheterization (CVC) (OR = 4.27, 95% CI [2.03-8.99]), operation (OR = 2.72, 95% CI [1.55-4.77]), fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) >5 µg/mL (OR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.13-3.25]), and D-dimer > 0.5 mg/L (OR = 2.50, 95% CI [1.19-5.28]). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.82 in the training set and 0.85 in the validation set. Conclusion: Our prediction model can accurately predict the risk of the appearance of VTE in gastric cancer patients and can be used as a robust and efficient tool for evaluating the possibility of VTE.

ENDOANGEL improves detection of missed colorectal adenomas in second colonoscopy: A retrospective study.

The ENDOANGEL (EN) computer-assisted detection technique has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing the detection rate of colorectal adenomas during colonoscopies. However, its efficacy in identifying missed adenomas during subsequent colonoscopies remains unclear. Thus, we herein aimed to compare the adenoma miss rate (AMR) between EN-assisted and standard colonoscopies. Data from patients who underwent a second colonoscopy (EN-assisted or standard) within 6 months between September 2022 and May 2023 were analyzed. The EN-assisted group exhibited a significantly higher AMR (24.3% vs 11.9%, P = .005) than the standard group. After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariable analysis revealed that the EN-assisted group had a better ability to detect missed adenomas than the standard group (odds ratio = 2.89; 95% confidence interval = 1.14-7.80, P = .029). These findings suggest that EN-assisted colonoscopy represents a valuable advancement in improving AMR compared with standard colonoscopy. The integration of EN-assisted colonoscopy into routine clinical practice may offer significant benefits to patients requiring hospital resection of lesions following adenoma detection during their first colonoscopy.

Temporal variation of microbial nutrient limitation in citrus plantations: Insights from soil enzyme stoichiometry.

Soil enzyme carbon (C): nitrogen (N): phosphorous (P) stoichiometry and their vector model has been widely used to elucidate the balance between microbial nutrient requirements and soil nutrient availability. However, limited knowledge is available on the dynamics of soil enzyme stoichiometry and microbial nutrient limitation following afforestation, especially in the economic forest. In this study, the effects of citrus plantation on C: N: P stoichiometry were assessed through a comparative study between cropland and citrus plantations with varying durations of afforestation (i.e., 3, 15, 25, and 35 years). It was found that the C, N, and P contents in the soil (SOC, STN, and STP), microbial biomass (MBC, MBN, and MBP), as well as the activities of C-, N-, and P-acquiring enzymes (BG, NAG, and AP), were 1.02-2.51 times higher than those in cropland. Additionally, C, N, and P contents in soil and microbial biomass increased consistently with increasing afforestation time. While the activities of C-, N-, and P-acquiring enzymes increased from 3 years to 25 years and then significantly decreased. In addition to NAG: AP, the stoichiometry of C, N, and P in soil (SOC: STN, SOC: STP, and STN: STP) and microbial biomass (MBC: MBN, MBC: MBP, and MBN: MBP), along with BG: NAG, exhibited a decline of 7.69-27.38% compared to cropland. Moreover, the majority of the C: N: P stoichiometry in soil, microbial biomass, and enzymes consistently decreased with increasing afforestation time, except for SOC: STN and NAG: AP, which exhibited an opposite trend. Furthermore, a significant decrease in microbial carbon limitation and an increase in microbial nitrogen limitation were observed with increasing afforestation time. Collectively, the dynamic of microbial nutrient limitation was primarily influenced by the interaction between soil nutrients and edaphic factors. The findings suggest that with the increasing duration of citrus plantation, it is crucial to focus on nitrogen (N) fertilization while maintaining a delicate balance between fertilization strategies and soil acidity levels.

Zinc Oxide Nanoclusters Encapsulated in MFI Zeolite as a Highly Stable Adsorbent for the Ultradeep Removal of Hydrogen Sulfide.

Often, trace impurities in a feed stream will cause failures in industrial applications. The efficient removal of such a trace impurity from industrial steams, however, is a daunting challenge due to the extremely small driving force for mass transfer. The issue lies in an activity-stability dilemma, that is, an ultrafine adsorbent that offers a high exposure of active sites is favorable for capturing species of a low concentration, but free-standing adsorptive species are susceptible to rapidly aggregating in working conditions, thus losing their intrinsic high activity. Confining ultrafine adsorbents in a porous matrix is a feasible solution to address this activity-stability dilemma. We herein demonstrate a proof of concept by encapsulating ZnO nanoclusters into a pure-silica MFI zeolite (ZnO@silicalite-1) for the ultradeep removal of H2S, a critical need in the purification of hydrogen for fuel cells. The Zn species and their interaction with silicalite-1 were thoroughly investigated by a collection of characterization techniques such as HADDF-STEM, UV-visible spectroscopy, DRIFTS, and 1H MAS NMR. The results show that the zeolite offers rich silanol defects, which enable the guest nanoclusters to be highly dispersed and anchored in the silicious matrix. The nanoclusters are present in two forms, Zn(OH)+ and ZnO, depending on the varying degrees of interaction with the silanol defects. The ultrafine nanoclusters exhibit an excellent desulfurization performance in terms of the adsorption rate and utilization. Furthermore, the ZnO@silicalite-1 adsorbents are remarkably stable against sintering at high temperatures, thus maintaining a high activity in multiple adsorption-regeneration cycles. The results demonstrate that the encapsulation of active metal oxide species into zeolite is a promising strategy to develop fast responsive and highly stable adsorbents for the ultradeep removal of trace impurities.

Continuous and controllable synthesis of MnO2 adsorbents for H2S removal at low temperature.

H2S is an extremely noxious impurity generated from nature and chemical industrial processes. High performing H2S adsorbents are required for chemical industry and environmental engineering. Herein, α-, γ-, and δ-MnO2 adsorbents with high sulfur capacity were synthesized through a continuous-flow approach with a microreactor system, achieving much higher efficiency than hydrothermal methods. The relationship between crystal structure and synthesis conditions such as residence time, reaction temperature, concentration of K+ in solution and reactant ratio is discussed. According to the H2S breakthrough tests at 150 °C, continuously prepared α-, γ-, and δ-MnO2 exhibited sulfur capacities of 669.5, 193.8 and 607.6 mg S/g sorbent, respectively, which was at a high level among the reported adsorbents. Such enhanced performance is related to the large surface area and mesopore volume, high reducibility, and a large number of oxygen species with high reactivity and mobility. Manganese sulfide and elemental sulfur were formed after desulfurization, which indicated the reaction consisted of two steps: redox and sulfidation of the sorbents. This study provides an innovative design strategy for the construction of nanomaterials with high H2S adsorption performances.

Estimation of spatial distribution of soil moisture on steep hillslopes by state-space approach (SSA).

Soil moisture is a critical variable that quantifies precipitation, floods, droughts, irrigation, and other factors with regard to decision-making and risk evaluation. An accurate prediction of soil moisture dynamics is important for soil and environmental management. However, the complex topographic condition and land use in hilly and mountainous areas make it a challenge to monitor and predict soil moisture dynamics in these areas. In this study, the determinants of soil moisture variability were determined by structural equation modeling, and then an attempt was made to estimate the spatial distribution of soil moisture content on steep hillslope using the state-space method. Herein, soil moisture at different depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm) was monitored by portable time-domain reflectometer (TDR) along this hillslope (100 m × 180 m). It showed that the spatial variability of soil moisture decreased with increasing soil wetness, primarily in the topsoil (0-10 cm). Soil moisture was correlated with elevation (r = 0.28, 0.50, and 0.28), capillary porosity (r = 0.06, 0.37, and 0.28), soil texture (r for Clay: 0.20, 0.24, and 0.16; r for Sand: -0.25, -0.18, and -0.28), organic carbon (r = -0.31, -0.08, and 0.10) and land use (r = -0.01, 0.28, and 0.24) under different conditions (dry, moderate, and wet). Among these determinants, elevation made direct contributions to soil moisture variation, especially under moderate conditions, while land use made its impacts by altering soil texture. It is encouraging that the state-space approach yielded precise and cost-effective predictions of soil moisture dynamics along this steep hillslope since it gives the minimum root-mean-square error (RMSE) and Akaike information criterion (AIC). Moreover, soil organic carbon (AIC = -4.497, RMSE = 0.104, R2 = 0.899), rock fragment contents (AIC = -4.366, RMSE = 0.111, R2 = 0.878), and elevation (AIC = -3.693, RMSE = 0.156, R2 = 0.629) effectively anticipated the spatial distribution of soil moisture under dry, moderate, and wet conditions, respectively. This study confirms the efficacy of the state-space approach as a valuable tool for soil moisture prediction in areas characterized by complex and spatially heterogeneous conditions.

Advances in computational methods for identifying cancer driver genes.

Cancer driver genes (CDGs) are crucial in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. This study employed computational methods for identifying CDGs, categorizing them into four groups. The major frameworks for each of these four categories were summarized. Additionally, we systematically gathered data from public databases and biological networks, and we elaborated on computational methods for identifying CDGs using the aforementioned databases. Further, we summarized the algorithms, mainly involving statistics and machine learning, used for identifying CDGs. Notably, the performances of nine typical identification methods for eight types of cancer were compared to analyze the applicability areas of these methods. Finally, we discussed the challenges and prospects associated with methods for identifying CDGs. The present study revealed that the network-based algorithms and machine learning-based methods demonstrated superior performance.

Efficacy and safety of different thermal ablative therapies for desmoid-type fibromatosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) is a locally aggressive tumor characterized by peripheral infiltration of neoplastic cells and remote metastasis disability. This systematic review examined the efficacy and safety of thermal ablative therapy for DF tumors. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase from January 1, 2000, to November 12, 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was used to guide literature selection. The inclusion criteria were the following: (I) the patients were diagnosed with aggressive fibromatosis pathologically, (II) the patients were treated by thermal ablations, and (III) a focus on treatment efficacy and safety. Meanwhile, the exclusion criteria were the following: (I) cohorts of patients with hypertrophic scar, Gardner fibroma, or nodular fasciitis; (II) conference abstracts, reviews, case reports, letters to editors, comments, or editorials; (III) number of patients <5; (IV) in vitro or animal experiments; and (V) non-English language articles. The inverse variance method with a random effects model was used to obtain the pooled data. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify treatment factors. Egger test was conducted to assess the risk of publication bias. Results: After literature selection, 694 DF tumors were identified in 23 studies. In terms of modality, 13 studies used cryoablation, 9 studies used high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and 1 study used microwave ablation (MWA). The pooled symptom relief rate was 90% [95% confidence interval (CI): 80-97%], with that for HIFU being 100% (95% CI: 85-100%), that for cryoablation being 87% (95% CI: 74-97%), and that MWA being 89% (95% CI). The pooled major complication rate was 3% (95% CI: 1-7%), and that for each modality was as follows: HIFU =2% (95% CI: 0-6%), cryoablation =4% (95% CI: 1-8%), MWA =11%, ultrasound =6% (95% CI: 1-13%), computed tomography (CT) =2% (95% CI: 0-7%), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) =3% (95% CI: 0-14%). The pooled nonperfused volume rate (NPVR) was 76% (95% CI: 71-81%), and that for each modality was as follows: HIFU =77% (95% CI: 71-85%), cryoablation =74% (95% CI: 69-79%), ultrasound =75% (95% CI: 67-83%), CT =76% (95% CI: 67-87%), and MRI =78% (95% CI: 70-87%). The pooled local control rate was 88% (95% CI: 79-94%) and that for each modality was as follows: HIFU =99% (95% CI: 96-100%), cryoablation =80% (95% CI: 68-90%), and MWA =78%. The differences in major complication rate (P=0.77) and NPVR between imaging-guided modalities (P=0.40) were not significant, nor were the differences in symptom relief rate (P=0.32) and major complication rate (P=0.61) between ablative techniques; however, the differences in local control rate (P=0.01) were significant between ablative techniques. Conclusions: Imaging-guided thermal ablative therapies contribute to symptom relief with a duration of more than 6 months and a low major complication rate of DF tumors.

Pd/MIL-100(Fe) as hydrogen activator for FeIII/FeII cycle: Fenton removal of sulfamethazine.

Masses of iron sludge generated from engineering practice of classic Fenton reaction constraints its further promotion. Accelerating the FeIII/FeII cycle may be conducive to reducing the initial ferrous slat dosage and the final iron sludge. Based on the reduction of Pd/MIL-100(Fe)-activated hydrogen, an improved Fenton system named MHACF-MIL-100(Fe) was developed at ambient temperature and pressure. 97.8% of sulfamethazine, the target pollutant in this work, could be degraded in 5 min under the conditions of 20 mM H2O2, 25 µM ferrous chloride, initial pH 3.0, 2 g·L-1 composite catalyst Pd/MIL-100(Fe) and hydrogen gas 60 mL·min-1. Combining density functional theory (DFT) calculation and intermediate detection, the degradation of this antibiotic was inferred to start from the cleavage of N-S bond. The catalytic of Pd/MIL-100(Fe), demonstrated by the removal efficiency of SMT and the catalyst morphology, remained intact after six reaction cycles. The present study provides an insight into the promotion of Fenton reaction.

Accelerated iron valence cycling in Fenton system using activated hydrogen enhanced by MIL-100(Fe) modified by nano-Pd0 Particle.

In this paper, a novel Fenton reaction system which was called MHACF-MIL-100(Fe) was constructed. In this system, based on active hydrogen-accelerated FeIII reduction, the hydroxyl radical was continuously produced with a trace amount of total iron. The MIL-100(Fe) modified with the nano-Pd0 particle could be used to activate the H2. Under normal temperature and pressure, the target organic pollutants, such as sulfamethazine and 4-chloro phenol, could be degraded fast. In the condition of initial aqueous solution pH 3, 2 g L-1 dosage of MIL-100(Fe) catalyst loaded with nano-Pd0, Pd/MIL-100(Fe), 20 mM 30 wt% hydrogen peroxide, 25 µM ferrous chloride and 60 mL H2 min-1, 97.8% of sulfamethazine and 100% 4-chloro phenol could be degraded within only 5 min, respectively. Although the surface of the catalyst exhibited more obvious defects and roughness after 5 consecutive destructive experiment cycles, its basic structure could be maintained. The removal efficiency could be maintained at least more than 79% (sulfamethazine) and 94% (4-chloro phenol). That may be mainly attributed to the degradation of hydroxyl radical.

PKCι Is a Promising Prognosis Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Pancreatic Cancer.

BACKGROUND: As the highest prevalent pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) ranks the 7th lethal malignancy worldwide. The late diagnosis, chemotherapeutic resistance, and high associated mortality make PDAC a dilemma facing the oncologists. Protein kinase C (PKC) enzymes have been shown to be important in different cancer progression. METHODS: To understand the pattern of PKC enzymes in PDAC, we examined all PKC family member genes expression in PDAC and matched normal tissues. The critical role of PKCι was further investigated in different PDAC cells using cellular and molecular technology. RESULTS: We found that PRKCI (PKCι) was the most significantly overexpressed PKCs in pancreatic cancer. However, little is known about its role and regulation of oncogenic signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer. In this study, we confirmed the overexpression of PKCι in PDAC, and this high expression was associated with poor prognosis of patients. We proved that knockdown of PKCι by small interfering RNA or shRNA significantly inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth and migration or invasion. Conversely, PKCι overexpression promoted pancreatic cancer cell growth and migration. Moreover, bioinformatical and technical studies informed the participation of PKCι in regression of apoptosis in PDAC cells, which may be related to the regulation of both PI3K/AKT and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, our results are adding more insight into the importance of PKCι in pancreatic cancer. PKCι induces pancreatic cancer progression through activation of PI3K/AKT and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways, which may provide a promising therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.

Efficient recovery and enrichment of rare earth elements by a continuous flow micro-extraction system.

The excessive exploitation of rare earth elements (REEs) has caused major losses of non-renewable resources and damage to the ecosystem. The processes of mining and smelting produce massive amounts of wastewater with low concentrations of REEs. Consequently, the enrichment and recovery of low-concentration REEs from wastewater has significant economic and environmental value. For this purpose, operation under large phase ratios (the flow rate ratio between the aqueous phase and extractant) is more desirable and economically viable. However, the traditional REE extraction process suffers from the uneven dispersion of the extractant and the difficulty of phase separation, which leads to long extraction times and large consumption of extractants. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop a green and efficient technique to extract low concentrations of REEs from wastewater. In this work, a droplet-based microfluidic technique was used to continuously extract and recover low-concentration REEs at large phase ratios. Snowman-shaped magnetic Janus nanoparticles were added to the continuous phase as emulsifiers to facilitate uniform extractant dispersion and rapid phase separation. Several key factors affecting the extraction efficiency, including pH, residence time, and the amount of added Janus nanoparticles, were systematically investigated. Compared to batch extraction, droplet-based microfluidic extraction with the addition of Janus nanoparticles showed the advantages of a large specific surface area and fast phase separation during extraction. Meanwhile, the Janus nanoparticles exhibited good emulsification performance after three extraction cycles. In summary, the Janus nanoparticle-stabilized droplet generated by microfluidic methods provides a feasible path for the efficient enrichment and recovery of low-concentration REEs.

The Regulation Effect of α7nAChRs and M1AChRs on Inflammation and Immunity in Sepsis.

The inflammatory storm in the early stage and immunosuppression in the late stage are responsible for the high mortality rates and multiple organ dysfunction in sepsis. In recent years, studies have found that the body's cholinergic system can spontaneously and dynamically regulate inflammation and immunity in sepsis according to the needs of the body. Firstly, the vagus nerve senses and regulates local or systemic inflammation by means of the Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway (CAP) and activation of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChRs); thus, α7nAChRs play important roles for the central nervous system (CNS) to modulate peripheral inflammation; secondly, the activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors 1 (M1AChRs) in the forebrain can affect the neurons of the Medullary Visceral Zone (MVZ), the core of CAP, to regulate systemic inflammation and immunity. Based on the critical role of these two cholinergic receptor systems in sepsis, it is necessary to collect and analyze the related findings in recent years to provide ideas for further research studies and clinical applications. By consulting the related literature, we draw some conclusions: MVZ is the primary center for the nervous system to regulate inflammation and immunity. It coordinates not only the sympathetic system and vagus system but also the autonomic nervous system and neuroendocrine system to regulate inflammation and immunity; α7nAChRs are widely expressed in immune cells, neurons, and muscle cells; the activation of α7nAChRs can suppress local and systemic inflammation; the expression of α7nAChRs represents the acute or chronic inflammatory state to a certain extent; M1AChRs are mainly expressed in the advanced centers of the brain and regulate systemic inflammation; neuroinflammation of the MVZ, hypothalamus, and forebrain induced by sepsis not only leads to their dysfunctions but also underlies the regulatory dysfunction on systemic inflammation and immunity. Correcting the neuroinflammation of these regulatory centers and adjusting the function of α7nAChRs and M1AChRs may be two key strategies for the treatment of sepsis in the future.

Microfluidic synthesis of quantum dots and their applications in bio-sensing and bio-imaging.

Bio-sensing and bio-imaging of organisms or molecules can provide key information for the study of physiological processes or the diagnosis of diseases. Quantum dots (QDs) stand out to be promising optical detectors because of their excellent optical properties such as high brightness, stability, and multiplexing ability. Diverse approaches have been developed to generate QDs, while microfluidic technology is one promising path for their industrial production. In fact, microfluidic devices provide a controllable, rapid and effective route to produce high-quality QDs, while serving as an effective in situ platform to understand the synthetic mechanism or optimize reaction parameters for QD production. In this review, the recent research progress in microfluidic synthesis and bio-detection applications of QDs is discussed. The definitions of different QDs are first introduced, and the advances in microfluidic-based fabrication of quantum dots are summarized with a focus on perovskite QDs and carbon QDs. In addition, QD-based bio-sensing and bio-imaging technologies for organisms of different scales are described in detail. Finally, perspectives for future development of microfluidic synthesis and applications of QDs are presented.

Continuous synthesis of carbon dots with full spectrum fluorescence and the mechanism of their multiple color emission.

Carbon dots with different emission fluorescence have a great number of potential applications for various areas from in vitro imaging and biotherapy, due to the good biosafety of red fluorescent CDs, to efficient ion detection and photocatalysis, due to the excellent photoluminescence properties of blue fluorescent carbon dots. Traditional methods for the synthesis of full-spectrum carbon dots require 24 h of synthesis and complex column chromatography. In this paper, a facile and efficient microfluidic method to continuously synthesize small and uniform carbon dots with full-spectrum emission fluorescence is developed for the first time. The synthesis process could be reduced to 20 minutes. Through XPS analysis and DFT calculations, it is quantitatively revealed that the number of primary amino groups determines the energy gap of the carbon dots and thus determines the fluorescence emission wavelength of the carbon dots. Applications for precise Fe3+ detection and in vitro bio-imaging were successfully implemented, showing great potential application value of the carbon dots.

Reaction study of α-phase NaYF4:Yb,Er generation via a tubular microreactor: discovery of an efficient synthesis strategy.

α-Phase NaREF4 is the necessary intermediate to obtain ß-phase NaREF4, which is good at upconversion luminescence. We herein report microreaction research on the generation of α-NaYF4:Yb,Er nanoparticles. Owing to the fast heating and cooling ability of a quartz microreactor, α-NaYF4:Yb,Er was successfully generated within a reaction time of <10 min. The results showed that it was difficult to complete the α-NaYF4:Yb,Er generation reaction in such a short reaction time by using the traditional synthetic route with a precursor solution containing NaF. However, as we changed the precursor to a solution containing amorphous NaREF4, the yield of α-NaYF4:Yb,Er increased to 95%. By focusing on applying the new precursor solution, we investigated the influence of the reaction temperature on the morphology of α-NaYF4:Yb,Er and exhibited the effects of size and crystallinity of α-NaYF4:Yb,Er on the generation of ß-NaYF4:Yb,Er. Finally, an improved microreaction system with an in-line mixing of NH4REF4 and NaOA solutions was developed, whose products were successfully converted to uniform ß-NaYF4:Yb,Er nanocrystals through the Ostwald-ripening process. The new reaction path and the reaction device further opened a door for the highly efficient synthesis of upconversion luminescent nanoparticles.

Fluid flow signals processing based on fractional Fourier transform in a stirred tank reactor.

The analysis of fluid flow signals and the characterization of fluid flow behavior are of great importance for two-phase flow studies. In this work, the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT), which was based on the optimum order calculated by stepping search method, was proposed to extract the characteristics of fluid flow signals. Meanwhile, the largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE), which is an indication of the chaotic degree of mixing process, was adopted to quantify fluid flow behavior. The maximum amplitude (MA) and LLE value were taken together to inquire into the relationship between the characteristics of fluid flow signals and the characterization of fluid flow behavior. In addition, differences between the two adjacent values (AD) and the maximum differences (MD) are employed to further analyze the differences in behavioral characterization with MA and LLE. The results show that the MA value performs the same increasing trend as the LLE value when the gas flow rate and agitation speed increase. AD and MD values of the MA are one to two orders of magnitude greater than those of the LLE. The eigenvalues (MA) solved by the FRFT method is facilitates capturing small changes owing to changes in external conditions. These findings can provide new ideas for the extraction and characterization of fluid flow behavior.

Functionalized Magnetic Silica Nanoparticles for Highly Efficient Adsorption of Sm3+ from a Dilute Aqueous Solution.

Separation of Sm3+ from a dilute solution via conventional solvent extraction is often plagued by emulsion and third phase formation. These problems can be overcome with functionalized magnetic nanoparticles that can capture the target species and be separated from the raffinae phase rapidly and efficiently on application of a magnetic field. Magentic silica nanoparticles (Fe2O3/SiO2) were synthesized by a modified Stöber method and functionalized with carboxylate (Fe2O3/SiO2/RCOONa) and phosphonate (Fe2O3/SiO2/R1R2PO3Na) groups to achieve high adsorption capacity and fast adsorption kinetics. The adsorbents were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, BET measurements, magnetization property evaluation, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Equilibrium adsorption of Sm3+ on Fe2O3/SiO2/RCOONa particles was attained within 10 min and within 20 min on Fe2O3/SiO2/R1R2PO3Na nanoparticles. The kinetic data were correlated well with a pseudo-second-order model. Adsorption capacities of Fe2O3/SiO2/RCOONa and Fe2O3/SiO2/R1R2PO3Na were 228 and 180 mg/g, respectively. The recovery of the adsorbed Sm3+ using 2 mol/L HCl as desorption agent was evaluated. The adsorption mechanism is discussed based on FTIR analysis, carboxylate group/Sm3+ molar ratio, phosphonate group/Sm3+ molar ratio, and pH. The adsorbents show significant potential for Sm3+ recovery in industrial applications.

Clinical research for delayed hemorrhage after endoscopic sphincterotomy.

To analyze the effect of delayed hemorrhage after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) and compare the efficacy in improving complication between medicine treatment alone and medicine combined with endoscopic treatment. 1741 patients with EST admitted in Yijishan hospital of Wannan medical college from September 2009 to May 2014 were enrolled in this study. 32 cases suffered from delayed hemorrhage. The patients with delayed hemorrhage were evaluated through incision length of duodenal papilla, clinical manifestation, stool occult blood test and the difference of hemoglobin concentration between pre and post operation. 32 patients were divided into mild bleeding group, mild serious group and serious group through the speed and amount of bleeding. All cases in mild group accepted medicine treatment. Mild serious group were divided into medicine therapy group and medicine combined with endoscopic therapy group randomly. Serious group accepted vascular intervention therapy even traditional operation. The different treatments for delayed hemorrhage were judged by efficiency. The dates were analyzed by t-test or chi-square test. Nobody endured delayed hemorrhage who accepted small incision. Delayed hemorrhage was found in 7 patients out of 627 cases who accepted medium-large incision, 25 patients of 920 cases who accepted large incision. The patients who accepted lager EST were more dangerous than small EST (χ(2)=4.718, P=0.030) concerning delayed hemorrhage. 32 cases in 1741 patients suffered from delayed hemorrhage. 14 patients only have passed black stool after EST. Among 14 cases, 13 patients stop bleeding after medical therapy, and 1 case received endoscopic hemostasis. 15 cases with hematemesis or melena after EST, 7 patients who received combination therapy stop bleeding. 3 patients from 8 cases stop bleeding after single chemical treatment, 5 cases had to receive endoscopic hemostasis after ineffectual medical therapy. There are significant difference for concerning effect between combination therapy group and medical therapy group (P=0.026). 3 patients repeatedly vomited blood and develop to peripheral circulatory failure. Those patients all received vascular intervention therapy, 2 patients stop bleeding, 1 patient failed in vascular intervention therapy and given up emergency rescue and died. Large EST has more risks than small EST in concerning delayed hemorrhage. Delayed bleeding after EST should be treated by different levels. Adapted therapy should be recommend for patients with different levels bleeding.

Risk factors for proton pump inhibitor refractoriness in Chinese patients with non-erosive reflux disease.

AIM: To analyze risk factors for refractoriness to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). METHODS: A total of 256 NERD patients treated with the PPI esomeprazole were enrolled. They were classified into symptom-free and residual symptoms groups according to Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia (QolRad) scale. All subjects completed questionnaires on psychological status (self-rating anxiety scale; self-rating depression scale) and quality of life scale (Short Form 36). Multivariate analysis was used to determine the predictive factors for PPI responses. RESULTS: According to QolRad, 97 patients were confirmed to have residual reflux symptoms, and the remaining 159 patients were considered symptom free. There were no significant differences between the two groups in lifestyle factors (smoking and alcohol consumption), age, Helicobacter pylori infection, and hiatal hernia. There were significant differences between the two groups in relation to sex, psychological distress including anxiety and depression, body mass index (BMI), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis found that BMI < 23, comorbid IBS, anxiety, and depression were major risk factors for PPI resistance. Symptomatic patients had a lower quality of life compared with symptom-free patients. CONCLUSION: Some NERD patients are refractory to PPIs and have lower quality of life. Residual symptoms are associated with psychological distress, intestinal disorders, and low BMI.