Prognostic significance of dynamic changes in liver stiffness measurement in patients with chronic hepatitis B and compensated advanced chronic liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) are promising for monitoring disease progression or regression. We assessed the prognostic significance of dynamic changes in LSM over time on liver-related events (LREs) and death in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD). METHODS: This retrospective study included 1272 patients with CHB and cACLD who underwent at least two measurements, including LSM and fibrosis score based on four factors (FIB-4). ΔLSM was defined as [(follow-up LSM - baseline LSM)/baseline LSM × 100]. We recorded LREs and all-cause mortality during a median follow-up time of 46 months. Hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for outcomes were calculated using Cox regression. RESULTS: Baseline FIB-4, baseline LSM, ΔFIB-4, ΔLSM, and ΔLSM/year were independently and simultaneously associated with LREs (adjusted HR, 1.04, 95% CI, 1.00-1.07; 1.02, 95% CI, 1.01-1.03; 1.06, 95% CI, 1.03-1.09; 1.96, 95% CI, 1.63-2.35, 1.02, 95% CI, 1.01-1.04, respectively). The baseline LSM combined with the ΔLSM achieved the highest Harrell's C (0.751), integrated AUC (0.776), and time-dependent AUC (0.737) for LREs. Using baseline LSM and ΔLSM, we proposed a risk stratification method to improve clinical applications. The risk proposed stratification based on LSM performed well in terms of prognosis: low risk (n = 390; reference), intermediate risk (n = 446; HR = 3.38), high risk (n = 272; HR = 5.64), and extremely high risk (n = 164; HR = 11.11). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline and repeated noninvasive tests measurement allow risk stratification of patients with CHB and cACLD. Combining baseline and dynamic changes in the LSM improves prognostic prediction.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of surgical resection and ablation for the treatment of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment strategy for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial, specifically in regard to surgical resection (SR) and ablation. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of SR and ablation on recurrence and prognosis in early-stage HCC patients, to optimize treatment strategies and improve long-term survival. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 801 patients diagnosed with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0/A HCC and treated with SR or ablation between January 2015 and December 2019. The effectiveness and complications of both treatments were analyzed, and patients were followed up to measure recurrence and survival. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to increase comparability between the two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze recurrence and survival, and a Cox risk proportional hazard model was used to identify risk factors that affect recurrence and surviva. RESULTS: Before PSM, the overall survival (OS) rates were similar in both groups, with recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates better in the SR group than in the ablation group. After PSM, there was no significant difference in OS between the two groups. However, the RFS rates were significantly better in the SR group than in the ablation group. The ablation group exhibited superior outcomes compared to the SR group, with shorter treatment times, reduced bleeding, shorter hospital stays, and lower hospital costs. Concerning the location of the HCC within the liver, comparable efficacy was observed between SR and ablation for disease located in the noncentral region or left lobe. However, for HCCs located in the central region or right lobe of the liver, SR was more effective than ablation. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed no significant difference in OS between SR and ablation for early-stage HCC, with SR providing better RFS and ablation demonstrating better safety profiles and lower hospital costs. These findings offer valuable insights for clinicians in determining optimal treatment strategies for early-stage HCC patients, particularly in terms of balancing efficacy, safety, and cost considerations.

Efficient purification and high-quality regeneration of graphite from spent lithium-ion batteries by surfactant-assisted methanesulfonic acid.

With the vigorous development of the new energy industry, the use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is growing exponentially, and the recycling of spent LIBs has gradually become a research hotspot. Currently, recycling both cathode and anode materials of LIBs is important to environmental protection and resource recycling. This research reportsa method ofefficient purification and high-quality regeneration of graphite from spent LIBs by surfactant-assisted methanesulfonic acid (MSA). Under the optimal conditions (0.006 mol/L sodium dodecyl sulfonate, 0.25 mol/L MSA, 10 vol% hydrogen peroxide, liquid-solid ratio of 30:1 mL/g, 60 °C, 1.5 h), the purity of the regenerated graphite was 99.7 %, and the recovery efficiency was 98.0 %. The regenerated graphite showed the characteristics of small interplanar spacing, high degree of graphitization, a small number of surface defects, and excellent pore structure, which was closer to commercial graphite. Furthermore, the regenerated graphite electrode exhibited superior rate performance and cycling stability with a high specific capacity of 397.03 mAh/g after 50 cycles at 0.1C and a charge-discharge efficiency of 99.33 %. The recovery of anode graphite beneficial for resource utilization, environmental protection, and cost control throughout the entire production chain.

Effect of electric fields on tungsten distribution in Na2WO4-WO3 molten salt.

Tungsten coatings have unique properties such as high melting points and hardness and are widely used in the nuclear fusion and aviation fields. In experiments, compared to pure Na2WO4 molten salt, electrolysis with Na2WO4-WO3 molten salt results in a lower deposition voltage. Herein, an investigation combining experimental and computational approaches was conducted, involving molecular dynamics simulations with deep learning, high-temperature in situ Raman spectroscopy and activation strain model analysis. The results indicated that the molten salt system's behaviour, influenced by migration and polarization effects, led to increased formation of Na2W2O7 in the Na2WO4-WO3 molten salt, which has a lower decomposition voltage and subsequently accelerated the cathodic deposition of tungsten. We analyzed the mechanism of the effect of the electric field on the Na2W2O7 structure based on the bond strength and electron density. This research provides crucial theoretical support for the effect of electric field on tungsten in molten salt and demonstrates the feasibility of using machine learning-based DPMD methods in simulating tungsten-containing molten salt systems.

Closed-loop recovery of molybdenum and value-added reuse of tungsten from alloy waste in additive manufacturing.

As metal additive manufacturing (MAM) technology is booming in the aerospace sector, alternatives to the traditional production methods of metals such as mining, processing, and refining with severe emissions are urgently needed. This study proposed a closed-loop route for efficient recovery of molybdenum (Mo) and value-added reuse of tungsten (W) from Cr-Co-Ni-Mo-W alloy waste in MAM. The results showed that the leaching efficiency of Mo and W reached 99.3% and 99.9%, respectively, using the dual chemical-physical means of mixed-alkali roasting and leaching by microwave heating, while the discharge of waste liquor containing Cr6+ was reduced. Leaching kinetic studies revealed that the metal leaching process was controlled by chemical reaction mechanism. Moreover, the 10%N1923 (primary amine)-5%TRPO (tri-alkyl phosphine oxide)-kerosene extraction system exhibited a synergistic extraction effect on Mo and W. After purification, Mo was recovered as Mo powder for MAM. Simultaneously, the recovered product of W, MnWO4, was applied as a photocatalytic material with excellent degradation of methylene blue dye. Ultimately, the proposed method obtained recovery efficiencies of 98.4% and 99.3% for Mo and W, respectively, achieving efficient and environmentally-friendly reuse of these key metals.

Andrias Davidianus Mucus-Based Bioadhesive with Enhanced Adhesion and Wound Healing Properties.

The skin secretion of Andrias davidianus (SSAD) is a novel biological adhesive raw material under development. This material exhibits robust adhesion while maintaining the flexibility of the wound. It also has the potential for large-scale production, making it promising for practical application explore. Hence, in-depth research on methods to fine-tune SSAD properties is of great importance to promote its practical applications. Herein, we aim to enhance the adhesive and healing properties of SSAD by incorporating functional components. To achieve this goal, we selected 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine and vaccarin as the functional components and mixed them with SSAD, resulting in a new bioadhesive, namely, a formulation termed "enhanced SSAD" (ESSAD). We found that the ESSAD exhibited superior adhesive properties, and its adhesive strength was improved compared with the SSAD. Moreover, ESSAD demonstrated a remarkable ability to promote wound healing. This study presents an SSAD-based bioadhesive formulation with enhanced properties, affirming the feasibility of developing SSAD-based adhesive materials with excellent performance and providing new evidence for the application of SSAD. This study also aims to show that SSAD can be mixed with other substances, and addition of effective components to SSAD can be studied to further adjust or improve its performance.

Preparation and Performance of Regenerated Al2O3-Coated Cathode Material LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 from Spent Power Lithium-Ion Batteries.

In this study, LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2@x%Al2O3-coated cathode materials were regeneratively compounded by the solid-phase sintering method, and their structural characterization and electrochemical performance were systematically analyzed. The regenerated ternary cathode material precursor synthesized by the co-precipitation method was roasted with lithium carbonate at a molar ratio of 1:1.1, and then completely mixed with different contents of aluminum hydroxide. The combined materials were then sintered at 800 °C for 15 h to obtain the regenerated coated cathode material, LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2@x%Al2O3. The thermogravimetry analysis, phase composition, morphological characteristics, and other tests show that when the added content of aluminum hydroxide is 3%, the regenerated cathode material, LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2@1.5%Al2O3, exhibits the highest-order layered structure with Al2O3 coating. This material can better inhibit the production of Ni2+, and improve material structure and electrochemical properties. The first charge-discharge efficiency of the battery assembled with this regenerated cathode material is 97.4%, a 50-cycle capacity retention is 93.4%, and a 100-cycle capacity retention is 87.6%. The first charge-discharge efficiency is far better than that of the uncoated regenerated battery.

Long-distance laser Doppler water flow velocimetry method based on adaptive Gaussian weighted integration.

Velocity measurement has a high application value in hydrological monitoring and flood disaster warning. The long-distance laser Doppler water flow velocimetry technology has the advantage of strong anti-interference ability and high spatial resolution, and it can realize the high-precision measurement of water flow velocity. Because water flow has low reflectance characteristics, how to extract Doppler frequency from weak non-stationary coherent signals is a crucial problem to be solved to realize long-distance water flow velocity measurement. However, the classical method requires the time domain signal to have high stationarity and is not suitable for processing the coherent signal in the water flow velocity measurement. Aiming at this problem, we proposed a water flow velocimetry method based on adaptive Gaussian weighted integral (AGWI). First, the spectral characteristics of the coherent signal are analyzed in detail, and a statistical model of weak non-stationary signals is established. A second-order Kaiser self-multiplication window (KSMW) is designed to suppress spectral leakage for the asynchronously sampled data. Then, an adaptive homogenization power spectral subtraction (AHPSS) is designed to reduce system noise. Finally, the Doppler spectrum reconstruction and Doppler frequency estimation are performed using the AGWI method to obtain the Doppler frequency, which is further processed to get the water flow velocity. The experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper can achieve accurate and stable measurement of river surface velocity under long-distance conditions.

GRPAFusion: A Gradient Residual and Pyramid Attention-Based Multiscale Network for Multimodal Image Fusion.

Multimodal image fusion aims to retain valid information from different modalities, remove redundant information to highlight critical targets, and maintain rich texture details in the fused image. However, current image fusion networks only use simple convolutional layers to extract features, ignoring global dependencies and channel contexts. This paper proposes GRPAFusion, a multimodal image fusion framework based on gradient residual and pyramid attention. The framework uses multiscale gradient residual blocks to extract multiscale structural features and multigranularity detail features from the source image. The depth features from different modalities were adaptively corrected for inter-channel responses using a pyramid split attention module to generate high-quality fused images. Experimental results on public datasets indicated that GRPAFusion outperforms the current fusion methods in subjective and objective evaluations.

Composition and function of viruses in sauce-flavor baijiu fermentation.

Viruses are highly abundant in nature, associated with quality and safety of traditional fermented foods. However, the overall viral diversity and function are still poorly understood in food microbiome. Traditional baijiu fermentation is an ideal model system to examine the diversity and function of viruses owing to easy access, stable operation, and domesticated microbial community. Equipped with cutting-edge viral metagenomics, we investigated the viral community in the fermented grain and fermentation environment, as well as their contribution to baijiu fermentation. Viral communities in the fermented grains and fermentation environment are highly similar. The dominant viruses were bacteriophages, mainly including the order Caudovirales and the family Inoviridae. Furtherly, association network analysis showed that viruses and bacteria were significantly negatively correlated (P < 0.01). Viral diversity could significantly influence bacterial and fungal succession (P < 0.05). Moreover, we proved that starter phages could significantly inhibit the growth of Bacillus licheniformis in the logarithmic growth stage (P < 0.05) under culture condition. Based on the functional annotations, viruses and bacteria both showed high distribution of genes related to amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, abundant auxiliary carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) genes were also identified in viruses, indicating that viruses were involved in the decomposition of complex polysaccharides during fermentation. Our results revealed that viruses could crucially affect microbial community and metabolism during traditional fermentation.

Valence and coordination form transition of tungsten ions in molten alkali chlorides.

This study examined the possibility of deep significance for the reduction of low-valence tungsten to inhibit disproportionation reactions in various molten alkali chlorides. Electrolysis and electrochemical tests of tungsten carbide were carried out in molten LiCl, LiCl-KCl, NaCl-KCl, NaCl-CsCl, and KCl-CsCl. One finding was that the reduction valence of tungsten ions decreased as the radius of the solvent alkali ion increased. This phenomenon may be viewed from the dissolution of tungsten carbide and the existence and deposition of tungsten ions. The mechanism of tungsten ion reduction and the stable configuration of tungsten ion groups were confirmed via a detailed study of the computational calculation. The increase in the radius of the solvent alkali ion was conducive to the dissolution of tungsten from tungsten carbide in the form of low valence state. Other results also indicated that W(II) ion groups first deposited on the cathode. They had the advantages of smaller coordination numbers and faster diffusion combined. Morphological and composition analysis results of the products are also presented.

Novel Styrene-Based Polyamine Sorbent for Efficient Selective Separation of Molybdenum.

Tungsten (W) and molybdenum (Mo) are important strategic resources but the two coexist in both primary ore and waste. Before a single metal product is obtained, it is often necessary to separate the two. In this work, we reported two new polyamine resins (D301@PA and D301@TA), which can be obtained by an assembled amine (primary amine or tertiary amine) and traditional D301 resin by the dipping method. Then, the sorption experiments with the amine resins were carried out, and the selectivity and sorption capacity of the two new polyamine resins for MoS4 2- have been significantly improved. Among them, D301@TA showed the highest sorption capacity of 414 mg·g-1 and a separation factor of 108. Finally, the sorption mechanism can be inferred through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS); the Cl- ions in the amine resin and the MoS4 2- ions were subjected to ion exchange. This work provides a green and efficient approach for separating tungsten and molybdenum.

Long-distance laser Doppler water flow velocimetry method based on adaptive Gaussian weighted integration: publisher's note.

This publisher's note serves to correct an error in Appl. Opt.62, A1 (2023)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.473632.

Multiple DSB Resection Activities Redundantly Promote Alternative End Joining-Mediated Class Switch Recombination.

Alternative end joining (A-EJ) catalyzes substantial level of antibody class switch recombination (CSR) in B cells deficient for classical non-homologous end joining, featuring increased switch (S) region DSB resection and junctional microhomology (MH). While resection has been suggested to initiate A-EJ in model DSB repair systems using engineered endonucleases, the contribution of resection factors to A-EJ-mediated CSR remains unclear. In this study, we systematically dissected the requirement for individual DSB resection factors in A-EJ-mediated class switching with a cell-based assay system and high-throughput sequencing. We show that while CtIP and Mre11 both are mildly required for CSR in WT cells, they play more critical roles in mediating A-EJ CSR, which depend on the exonuclease activity of Mre11. While DNA2 and the helicase/HRDC domain of BLM are required for A-EJ by mediating long S region DSB resection, in contrast, Exo1's resection-related function does not play any obvious roles for class switching in either c-NHEJ or A-EJ cells, or mediated in an AID-independent manner by joining of Cas9 breaks. Furthermore, ATM and its kinase activity functions at least in part independent of CtIP/Mre11 to mediate A-EJ switching in Lig4-deficient cells. In stark contrast to Lig4 deficiency, 53BP1-deficient cells do not depend on ATM/Mre11/CtIP for residual joining. We discuss the roles for each resection factor in A-EJ-mediated CSR and suggest that the extent of requirements for resection is context dependent.

Suppression of Continuous Wave Interference in Loran-C Signal Based on Sparse Optimization Using Tunable Q-Factor Wavelet Transform and Discrete Cosine Transform.

Loran-C is the most essential backup and supplementary system for the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). Continuous wave interference (CWI) is one of the main interferences in the Loran-C system, which will cause errors in the measurement of the time of arrival, thereby affecting positioning performance. The traditional adaptive notch filter method needs to know the frequency of CWI when removing it, and the number is limited. This paper presents a method based on sparseness to suppress the CWI in the Loran-C signal. According to the different morphological characteristics of the Loran-C signal and the CWI, we construct dictionaries suitable for the two components, respectively. We use the tunable Q-factor wavelet transform and the discrete cosine transform to make the two components obtain a good sparse representation in their respective dictionaries. Then, the two components are separated using the morphological component analysis theory. We illustrate this method using both synthetic data and actual data. A huge advantage of the proposed method is that there is no need to know the frequencies of the CWI for it can better cope with frequency changes of the CWI in the actual environments. Compared with the adaptive notch filter method, the results of the proposed method show that our approach is more effective and convenient.

Numerical simulation and analysis of effects of individual differences on the field distribution in the human brain with electromagnetic pulses.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening induced by electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) may be a drug delivery strategy of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. However, the mechanism of EMP-induced BBB opening is still ambiguous. Previous studies have shown the relation between the external field and the extent of BBB permeation (referred to as the effect), while the connection between the internal field and the effect remains unknown. Here, the influence of individual differences on the field distribution in the human brain with EMPs is investigated, the dielectric parameters of the specific anthropomorphic mannequin (SAM) and structural parameters of the spherical brain are adjusted, and the field distribution in the brain illuminated by EMPs at the frequency range of 0-0.5 GHz is simulated based on the Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Studio Suite. The results show that the average electric field in the brain is about 1/100-1/5 of the incident field within the studied frequency range, individual differences have little effect on the field distribution in the human brain; and thus, it is reliable to establish the connection between the internal field and the effect, which is of great theoretical significance for further study of the mechanism of an EMP on the brain.

MicroRNA-29a inhibits cell proliferation and arrests cell cycle by modulating p16 methylation in cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is the second most common gynecological malignancy. Accumulating evidence has suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the occurrence and development of cervical cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the function and underlying molecular mechanism of microRNA (miRNA/miR)-29a in cervical cancer. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and methylation-specific PCR were used to examine the expression of miR-29a and methylated status of p16 promoter, respectively. Cell Counting Kit-8 analysis and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate cell viability and cycle, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the interaction between miR-29a and its targets. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the protein levels of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT)3A and DNMT3B. The results demonstrated that miR-29a expression was downregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cells, and negatively correlated with p16 promoter hypermethylation. Furthermore, cell experiments confirmed that miR-29a suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in HeLa and C-33A cells. Mechanically, miR-29a restored normal methylation pattern of the p16 gene by sponging DNMT3A and DNMT3B. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated the epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressor p16 by miR-29a as a unique mechanism, thus providing a rationale for the development of miRNA-based strategies in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Highly efficient sorption of molybdenum from tungstate solution with modified D301 resin.

The separation of molybdenum (Mo) from tungstate solution is a bottleneck problem in tungsten (W) metallurgy, and it hinders the development of high-purity tungsten materials. In this research, a modified D301 resin was used to adsorb and separate molybdenum from tungstate solution. The maximum sorption capacity (Q e) of modified D301 for MoS4 2- was found to be 428 mg g-1 and the separation coefficient (ß) was 108.9 when the contact time was 4 h and the reaction temperature was 25 °C and the pH value of the tungstate solution was 7.2. The sorption process conforms to Langmuir isotherm models and the quasi-second-order kinetic model. The sorption mechanism was also discussed, which was a single layered spontaneous sorption process. Theoretical calculations infer bonding behavior between the N atom on the resin and the S atom on the MoS4 2- molecule. The sorption energy is -7.67 eV, which indicated that the sorption process is stable chemical sorption. The desorption experiment showed that more than 90% molybdenum could be desorbed from the loaded resin when the concentration of sodium hydroxide solution was 5 w%. Finally, after three-stage sorption-desorption, almost all molybdenum in the solution was adsorbed, achieving better separation of tungsten and molybdenum.

Preparation of Small-Particle and High-Density Cobalt Carbonate Using a Continuous Carbonate Precipitation Method and Evaluation of Its Growth Mechanism.

Spherical CoCO3 powder with a small particle size and high density was successfully prepared using a continuous carbonate liquid precipitation method with a raw material of cobalt chloride solution, a precipitant of NH4HCO3, and without a template. The effects of the concentration of ammonium carbonate, process pH, and feeding rate on the tap density and apparent density of cobalt carbonate were investigated. It was found that the apparent and tap density values of 4.4 µm of cobalt carbonate were 1.27 g/cm3 and 1.86 g/cm3, respectively, when the initial concentration of NH4HCO3 solution was 60 g/L, the pH was 7.15-7.20, and the feeding rate of cobalt chloride was 2 L/h. The anisotropic growth process of the crystal lattice plane of CoCO3 under the aforementioned optimal conditions were studied. The results demonstrated that the crystal grew fastest along the (110) facet orientation, which was the dominant growth surface, determining the final morphology of the primary particles. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) results demonstrated that the primary particle morphology of the cobalt carbonate was a nanosheet. The unit cell of cobalt carbonate, of a hexagonal structure in the horizontal direction, grew horizontally along the (110) facet orientation, while 20-35 unit cells of the carbon carbonate were stacked along the c-axis in the thickness direction. Finally, the sheet-shaped particles were agglomerated into dense spherical secondary particles, as presented through the crystal re-crystallization model.

Regeneration and characterization of LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 cathode material from spent power lithium-ion batteries.

The use and scrap of lithium ion batteries, especially power lithium ion batteries in China, are increasing every year. Regeneration of spent battery materials is not only important for environmental protection and resource saving, but also for the production of high value-added materials. In this research, spent power lithium-ion battery cathode material LiNi1-xCoxO2 was acid-leached and a polymetallic leaching solution containing Li, Ni, Co, Al and Cu was obtained. Cu was extracted from the leachate by using CP-150 (2-hydroxy-5-nonyl salicylaldehyde oxime). The optimal conditions were found to be organic: aqueous phase ratio (O/A) = 2:1, extraction agent concentration of 30%, and pH = 3. The precursor was prepared by coprecipitation of the leachate after Cu removal. Then, cathode material of lithium nickel cobalt aluminate LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 was synthesized under the optimal conditions of n (precursor): n (lithium carbonate) = 1:1.1, calcination temperature of 800 °C for 15 h. The regenerated LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 product prepared under the optimized conditions was in a pure phase with a layered structure and a smooth surface morphology. The first charge specific capacity was 248.7 mAh/g, and the discharge specific capacity was 162 mAh/g. The interfacial impedance was 119 Ω. The 50th-cycle discharge specific capacity was 149.1 mAh/g, and the capacity retention rate was high as 92%. Therefore, the regenerated cathode material exhibited good performance.