Formation of marine oil snow by soot particles generated from burning of oils.

This study aims to investigate the interactions between marine oil snow (MOS) formation and soot particles derived from two distinct oils: condensate and heavy oil. Experimental findings demonstrate that the properties of oil droplets and soot particles play a key role in MOS formation. Peak MOS formation is observed within the initial days for condensate, while for heavy oil, peak formation occurs at a later stage. Furthermore, the addition of oils and soot particles influences the final concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in MOS. Remarkably, the ranking order of PAHs with different rings in various MOS samples remains consistent: 4- > 3- > 5- > 2- > 6-ring. Specific diagnostic ratios such as Phe/Ant, Ant/(Ant + Phe), BaA/(Chr + BaA), and LMW/HMW effectively differentiate petrogenic and pyrogenic sources of PAHs in MOS. And stable ratios like Flu/(Pyr + Flu), InP/(InP + BghiP), and BaF/BkF are identified for source analysis of soot MOS.

ISODISTROTLaMTeO6 (M = Ga3+ and Mn3+): the critical role of electronic configuration and cation ordering in crystal structures.

In this work, PbSb2O6-type oxides LaMTeO6 (M = Ga3+ and Mn3+) were synthesized and structurally characterized by Rietveld refinements against high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction data. The Ga3+/Te6+ partial ordering within the honeycomb-like two-dimensional [GaTeO6]3- anionic layer leads to the loss of the inversion center between Ga3+ and Te6+; however the inversion center on the 3̄-roto-inversion axis is preserved, thereby resulting in a 2-fold PbSb2O6-type superstructure by doubling the c-axis associated with a structural symmetry descending from the original P3̄1m to P3̄1c symmetry. In contrast, LaMnTeO6 (P21/c) adopts a monoclinically distorted 4-fold superstructure with lattice dimensions of a ≈ aH, b ≈ √3aH, c ≈ 2cH, where aH and cH represent the lattice parameters of trigonal PbSb2O6. The formation of this P21/c-superstructure is attributed to the combination of complete Mn3+/Te6+ ordering and the first-order Jahn-Teller distortion of Mn3+ with the electronic configuration of d4. Such a monoclinic distortion can effectively lift the Mn3+ spin moments arranged on the triangular sublattice, resulting in a sharp peak for antiferromagnetic transition, which is in stark contrast to subtle magnetic transitions for PbSb2O6-type tellurates AMn(VI)TeO6 (A = alkaline earth and Pb2+) and LnCrTeO6 (Ln = rare earth) with higher structural symmetry. Our findings highlight that the electronic configuration effects of M-cations play a critical role in controlling the structure symmetry of LaMTeO6, providing a strategy to fine-tune the crystal structures and physical properties.

Model test study of bridge pile horizontal bearing behavior under landslide deformation.

Pile is a common foundation on the slope, which poses a serious threat to the construction and operation if the slope deformation and causes landslide. In this study, a model device of pile foundation on landslide was independently developed by relative displacement loading between pile and soil to explore the influence of landslide deformation on pile and analysis the soil failure rule and the deformation characteristics of pile in different stages of landslide deformation, a few model tests were completed including the relative displacement between soil and pile from 1 to 17 cm, and the pile diameter and the modulus of slide bed were also considered. The results indicated that: the evolution process of landslide deformation with pile foundation on could be divided into four stages including soil compaction, cracks growth, yield stage, and failure stage; ratios of the maximum soil pressure and bending moment growth from the soil compaction stage to the cracks growth stage to the total growth in these four stages are both exceeding 60%; the soil pressure increases with the increase of pile diameter and sliding bed modulus. Therefore, it is best to effectively monitor and control the landslide in the initial soil compression stage that in soil compaction stage and methods such as increasing pile foundations or reinforcing the sliding bed can be used for protection.

Frequency and predictors for early-achieved lupus low disease activity state in systemic lupus erythematosus patients treated with telitacicept or belimumab: A real-life, single-center observational study.

Objective: To collect real-world data regarding the attainment of the early-achieved lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients receiving telitacicept or belimumab treatment, and identify factors predictive of target achievement. Methods: Eighty-seven SLE patients who received telitacicept (N=42) or belimumab (N=45) were retrospectively reviewed in this observational study. Clinical and laboratory data, disease activity assessment, and glucocorticoid dosage were collected for analysis. Achieving LLDAS at least once within 24 weeks post-treatment was considered as early-achieved LLDAS. Multivariate regression was used to assess baseline predictive variables for early-achieved LLDAS. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests were also performed to examine the robustness of the results across different sets of baseline characteristics. Prognostic stratification for early-achieved LLDAS was established based on the identified risk factors. Results: During the 24-week follow-up period, LLDAS was achieved by at least one time in 49.43% (43/87) of the patients, with sustained achievement through week 24 observed in 36 out of these 43 patients (83.27%). Multivariate analysis revealed that early achievement of LLDAS was particularly observed in patients with higher baseline lymphocyte counts [HR=1.79, 95% CI (1.19-2.67), P=0.005]and serum albumin levels [HR=1.06, 95% CI (1.003-1.12), P=0.039]. Conversely, hematological involvement [HR=0.48, 95% CI (0.24-0.93), P=0.031] predicted lower attainment of early-achieved LLDAS. The use of telitacicept was associated with a reduced risk of failing to attain early achievement of LLDAS [HR=2.55, 95% CI (1.36-4.79), P=0.004]. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests showed a stable relationship between the telitacicept use and LLDAS achievement. The results remained consistent across all subgroup analyses. Significant differences (P<0.001) were observed in the Kaplan-Meier estimates for LLDAS among risk groups based on the number of identified risk factors. Conclusion: The achievement of LLDAS is attainable in the management of SLE patients undergoing treatment with telitacicept or belimumab in real-life clinical practice. Baseline lymphocyte counts, serum albumin levels, hematological involvement and the use of telitacicept serve as robust predictors for early-achieved LLDAS, helping to identify patients who are likely to benefit on the treatment.

Grain Protein Content Phenotyping in Rice via Hyperspectral Imaging Technology and a Genome-Wide Association Study.

Efficient and accurate acquisition of the rice grain protein content (GPC) is important for selecting high-quality rice varieties, and remote sensing technology is an attractive potential method for this task. However, the majority of multispectral sensors are poor predictors of GPC due to their broad spectral bands. Hyperspectral technology provides a new analytical technology for bridging the gap between phenomics and genomics. However, the small size of typical datasets is a constraint for model construction for estimating GPC, limiting their accuracy and reducing their ability to generalize to a wide range of varieties. In this study, we used hyperspectral data of rice grains from 515 japonica varieties and deep convolution generative adversarial networks (DCGANs) to generate simulated data to improve the model accuracy. Features sensitive to GPC were extracted after applying a continuous wavelet transform (CWT), and the estimated GPC model was constructed by partial least squares regression (PLSR). Finally, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was applied to the measured and generated datasets to detect GPC loci. The results demonstrated that the simulated GPC values generated after 8,000 epochs were closest to the measured values. The wavelet feature (WF1743, 2), obtained from the data with the addition of 200 simulated samples, exhibited the highest GPC estimation accuracy (R 2 = 0.58 and RRMSE = 6.70%). The GWAS analysis showed that the estimated values based on the simulated data detected the same loci as the measured values, including the OsmtSSB1L gene related to grain storage protein. This study provides a new technique for the efficient genetic study of phenotypic traits in rice based on hyperspectral technology.

STAT5B Suppresses Ferroptosis by Promoting DCAF13 Transcription to Regulate p53/xCT Pathway to Promote Mantle Cell Lymphoma Progression.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the mechanism by which STAT5B inhibits ferroptosis in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) by promoting DCAF13 transcriptional regulation of p53/xCT pathway. Methods: The correlations between STAT5B, DCAF13 and ferroptosis in MCL were analyzed using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA, http://gepia.cancer-pku.cn/index.html). The expression levels and pairwise correlations of STAT5B, DCAF13, p53 and xCT in MCL patients were detected, respectively. STAT5B was silenced to confirm their criticality in MCL ferroptosis. the effects of blocking necrosis, apoptosis and ferroptosis on the anti-MCL effects of STAT5B were examined. Cells with STAT5B overexpression and/or DCAF13 silencing were constructed to confirm the involvement of DCAF13 in the STAT5B-regulated p53/xCT pathway. The regulation of p53 ubiquitination was confirmed by DCAF13 overexpression and MG132. The effects of silencing DCAF13 and MG132 on STAT5B overexpression on MCL was clarified by a tumor-bearing nude mouse model. Results: DCAF13 was overexpressed in MCL and positively correlated with STAT5B, negatively correlated with p53, and positively correlated with xCT. Inhibition of ferroptosis alleviated the inhibitory effects of siSTAT5B on MCL, while inhibition of necrosis and apoptosis had few effects. Silencing of DCAF13 led to the blocking of STAT5B regulation of p53/xCT and ferroptosis. The changes in DCAF13 and the addition of MG132 did not have statistically significant effects on p53 mRNA. Elevation of DCAF13 resulted in downregulation of p53 protein levels, and this inhibition was reversed by MG132. In animal models, the promotion of MCL and the inhibition of ferroptosis by STAT5B. Silencing of DCAF13 blocked STAT5B inhibition of p53 and induction of xCT, GPX4, and GSH. Conclusion: STAT5B suppresses ferroptosis by promoting DCAF13 transcription to regulate p53/xCT pathway to promote MCL progression.

[H3K27me3 Expression Level and Its Epigenetic Regulation Mechanisms in Th17 Cell Differentiation in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis]. / å¼ºç›´æ€§è„ŠæŸ±ç‚Žæ‚£è€ H3K27me3è¡¨è¾¾æ°´å¹³åŠå ¶è°ƒæŽ§Th17ç»†èƒžåˆ†åŒ–çš„è¡¨è§‚é—ä¼ æœºåˆ¶.

Objective: To investigate the roles of histone H3K27me3 methylation and its regulatory enzymes JMJD3 and EZH2 in the differentiation of Th17 cells in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), to unveil their potential involvement in the pathogenesis of AS, and to provide new strategies and targets for the clinical treatment of AS by analyzing the methylation state of H3K27me3 and its interactions with Th17-related factors. Methods: A total of 84 AS patients (42 active AS patiens and 42 patients in the stable phase of AS) were enrolled for the study, while 84 healthy volunteers were enrolled as the controls. Blood samples were collected. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated. ELISA assay was performed to examine Th17 cells and the relevant cytokines IL-21, IL-22, and IL-17. The mRNA expressions of RORc, JAK2, and STAT3 were analyzed by RT-PCR, the protein expressions of RORc, JAK2/STAT3 pathway protein, H3K27me3 and the relevant protease (EZH2 and JMJD3) were determined by Western blot. Correlation between H3K27me3, EZH2 and JMJD3 and the key signaling pathway molecules of Th cell differentiation was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The mRNA expressions of RORc, JAK2, and STAT3 were significantly higher in the active phase group than those in the stable phase group ( P<0.05). The relative grayscale values of H3K27me3 and EZH2 in the active phase group were lower than those of the stable phase group, which were lower than those of the control group, with the differences being statistically significant ( P<0.05). The relative grayscale values of JMJD3, RORc, JAK2, pJAK2, STAT3, and pSTAT3 proteins were significantly higher in the active phase group than those in the stable phase group, which were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The proportion of Th17 and the expression level of inflammatory factors in the active period group were higher than those in the other two groups (P<0.05). H3K27me3 was negatively correlated with RORc, JAK2, STAT3, and IL-17, JMJD3 was positvely correlated with JAK2, STAT3, and IL-17, and EZH2 was negatively correlated with JAK2, STAT3, and IL-17 (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The low expression of H3K27me3 in AS is influenced by the gene loci JMJD3 and EZH2, which can regulate the differentiation of Th17 cells and thus play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of AS.

Precision control and parameter optimization in screw extrusion 3D printing of polypropylene materials.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), a widely-utilized additive manufacturing (AM) technology, has found significant favor among automotive manufacturers. Polypropylene (PP) compound is extensively employed in the production of automotive parts due to its superior mechanical properties and formability. However, aiming at the problem of poor dimensional accuracy of pure PP parts, the quality of products can be enhanced by optimizing the combination of processing parameters. In this paper, the dimensional accuracy of 3D-printed components made from pure PP material is investigated. Key influencing factors such as infill percentage, infill pattern, layer thickness, and extrusion temperature are considered. To gain a deeper understanding, fluid simulation is conducted, and mathematical models are established to correlate processing parameters with dimensional accuracy. Furthermore, the Taguchi's experiments are designed and the experimental data are subjected to rigorous Signal-to-Noise ratio and ANOVA analyses. Within the experimental range, the lower extrusion temperature, infill percentage and layer thickness yield the best dimensional accuracy. Considering the influence factors of X, Y and Z directions, the optimal processing parameters for PP prints using screw extrusion 3D printers are determined as follows: an extrusion temperature of 210 °C, an infill percentage of 40 %, a layer thickness of 0.3 mm, and a concentric circle infill pattern. This study provides reference value for the subsequent improvement of the dimensional accuracy of the printed parts.

X-Paste improves wound healing in diabetes via NF-E2-related factor/HO-1 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), as severe complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), significantly compromise patient health and carry risks of amputation and mortality. AIM: To offer new insights into the occurrence and development of DFU, focusing on the therapeutic mechanisms of X-Paste (XP) of wound healing in diabetic mice. METHODS: Employing traditional Chinese medicine ointment preparation methods, XP combines various medicinal ingredients. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identified XP's main components. Using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic, we aimed to investigate whether XP participated in the process of diabetic wound healing. RNA-sequencing analyzed gene expression differences between XP-treated and control groups. Molecular docking clarified XP's treatment mechanisms for diabetic wound healing. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to investigate the effects of Andrographolide (Andro) on cell viability, reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis, proliferation, and metastasis in vitro following exposure to high glucose (HG), while NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) knockdown elucidated Andro's molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: XP notably enhanced wound healing in mice, expediting the healing process. RNA-sequencing revealed Nrf2 upregulation in DM tissues following XP treatment. HPLC identified 21 primary XP components, with Andro exhibiting strong Nrf2 binding. Andro mitigated HG-induced HUVECs proliferation, metastasis, angiogenic injury, and inflammation inhibition. Andro alleviates HG-induced HUVECs damage through Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation, with Nrf2 knockdown reducing Andro's proliferative and endothelial protective effects. CONCLUSION: XP significantly promotes wound healing in STZ-induced diabetic models. As XP's key component, Andro activates the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, enhancing cell proliferation, tubule formation, and inflammation reduction.

A novel framework for predicting glacial lake outburst debris flows in the Himalayas amidst climate change.

The retreat of Himalayan glaciers and the expansion of glacial lakes due to global warming have increased the occurrence of glacial lake outburst debris flow (GLODF), posing a serious threat to downstream communities. However, there are gaps in understanding the changes in GLODF occurrence driven by climate change, which challenges disaster management and cross-border cooperation in the Himalayas. To consider this issue, our study presents a novel framework integrating environmental evolution, a process-driven indicator system, and a hybrid machine learning model to predict Himalayan GLODF occurrence in the 21st century. Our findings indicate ongoing temperature (0.27-0.60 °C/10a) and precipitation (1.30-5.00 %/10a) increases under both SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios. Meanwhile, Himalayan glaciers are projected to lose between 70 % and 86 % of their mass by 2100 compared to 2020. Additionally, 2722 ± 207 new glacial lakes are expected to emerge by 2100. GLODF occurrence probability index is anticipated to rise to 1.27-1.30 times the current levels, with the Western Himalayas and Indus basin as high-incidence areas. Currently and in the future, the China-Nepal border remains a hotspot for cross-border GLODF. Our framework offers valuable long-term insights into Himalayan GLODF occurrence trends in response to climate change.

Revealing the mechanisms of blood-brain barrier in chronic neurodegenerative disease: an opportunity for therapeutic intervention.

The brain microenvironment is tightly regulated, and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a pivotal role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system. It effectively safeguards brain tissue from harmful substances in peripheral blood. However, both acute pathological factors and age-related biodegradation have the potential to compromise the integrity of the BBB and are associated with chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), as well as Epilepsy (EP). This association arises due to infiltration of peripheral foreign bodies including microorganisms, immune-inflammatory mediators, and plasma proteins into the central nervous system when the BBB is compromised. Nevertheless, these partial and generalized understandings do not prompt a shift from passive to active treatment approaches. Therefore, it is imperative to acquire a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying vascular disease alterations associated with the onset and progression of chronic neurodegenerative disorders, as well as the subsequent homeostatic changes triggered by BBB impairment. The present article aims to systematically summarize and review recent scientific work with a specific focus on elucidating the fundamental mechanisms underlying BBB damage in AD, PD, and EP as well as their consequential impact on disease progression. These findings not only offer guidance for optimizing the physiological function of the BBB, but also provide valuable insights for developing intervention strategies aimed at early restoration of BBB structural integrity, thereby laying a solid foundation for designing drug delivery strategies centered around the BBB.

HLA-mismatched allogeneic adoptive immune therapy in patients with severely immunosuppressed AIDS: a multicenter, open-label, controlled, phase 2a study.

Recurrent opportunistic infections (OIs) in patients with severely immunosuppressed AIDS remain an unresolved medical challenge despite advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART). To address this gap, we developed an HLA-mismatched allogeneic adoptive immune therapy (AAIT) specifically targeting this patient population. The safety and efficacy of this novel therapeutic approach were preliminarily confirmed in our phase 1 trial. Subsequently, a multicenter, open-label, controlled, phase 2a trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of AAIT in combination with ART compared with the conventional ART-only regimen. No difference in the incidence of adverse events (AEs) was observed between the two groups at the 96-week follow-up. AAIT treatment improved CD4+ T cell recovery at weeks 72 (P = 0.048) and 96 (P = 0.024) compared to the Control Group. Additionally, stratified analysis of patients in the AAIT Group showed that donor/recipient sex mismatch was significantly associated with the likelihood of patients achieving an immunological response (OR = 8.667; 95% CI, 2.010-37.377; P = 0.004). These findings suggest that AAIT serves as a promising adjunct therapy for improving the outcomes of patients with severely immunosuppressed AIDS. Further studies are needed to elucidate the immunological mechanisms underlying AAIT and identify the subpopulations that respond optimally to this therapeutic approach. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04098770).Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04098770.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02651376.

Effect of Calcination Atmosphere on the Performance of Cu/Al2O3 Catalyst for the Selective Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol.

The selective hydrogenation of the biomass platform molecule furfural (FAL) to produce furfuryl alcohol (FA) is of great significance to alleviate the energy crisis. Cu-based catalysts are the most commonly used catalysts, and their catalytic performance can be optimized by changing the preparation method. This paper emphasized the effect of calcination atmosphere on the performance of a Cu/Al2O3 catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of FAL. The precursor of the Cu/Al2O3 catalyst prepared by the ammonia evaporation method was treated with different calcination atmospheres (N2 and air). On the basis of the combined results from the characterizations using in situ XRD, TEM, N2O titration, H2-TPR and XPS, the Cu/Al2O3 catalyst calcined in the N2 atmosphere was more favorable for the dispersion and reduction of Cu species and the reduction process could produce more Cu+ and Cu0 species, which facilitated the selective hydrogenation of FAL to FA. The experimental results showed that the N2 calcination atmosphere improved the FAL conversion and FA selectivity, and the FAL conversion was further increased after reduction. Cu/Al2O3-N2-R exhibited the outstanding performance, with a high yield of 99.9% of FA after 2 h at 120 °C and an H2 pressure of 1 MPa. This work provides a simple, efficient and economic method to improve the C=O hydrogenation performance of Cu-based catalysts.

Ti3C2Tx Coated with TiO2 Nanosheets for the Simultaneous Detection of Ascorbic Acid, Dopamine and Uric Acid.

Two-dimensional MXenes have become an important material for electrochemical sensing of biomolecules due to their excellent electric properties, large surface area and hydrophilicity. However, the simultaneous detection of multiple biomolecules using MXene-based electrodes is still a challenge. Here, a simple solvothermal process was used to synthesis the Ti3C2Tx coated with TiO2 nanosheets (Ti3C2Tx@TiO2 NSs). The surface modification of TiO2 NSs on Ti3C2Tx can effectively reduce the self-accumulation of Ti3C2Tx and improve stability. Glassy carbon electrode was modified by Ti3C2Tx@TiO2 NSs (Ti3C2Tx@TiO2 NSs/GCE) and was able simultaneously to detect dopamine (DA), ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). Under concentrations ranging from 200 to 1000 µM, 40 to 300 µM and 50 to 400 µM, the limit of detection (LOD) is 2.91 µM, 0.19 µM and 0.25 µM for AA, DA and UA, respectively. Furthermore, Ti3C2Tx@TiO2 NSs/GCE demonstrated remarkable stability and reliable reproducibility for the detection of AA/DA/UA.

Boosting the degradation of antibiotics via peroxymonosulfate activation with a Cu-based metal-organic framework.

Highly efficient degradation of antibiotics is a huge challenge due to the extremely stable molecules and the potential for biological resistance. However, conventional degradation methods are limited to lower degradation rate, higher energy consumption and secondary pollution. Herein, we report a new Cu-based metal-organic framework (MOF), featuring classical planar trinuclear [Cu3(µ3-O)]4+ clusters within the pores. The presence of the rich open metal sites and the large pore ratio, as well as the high catalytic activity of Cu2+ ions, are conducive to boosting the degradation of various antibiotics (>95%) under the activation of peroxymonosulfate. Remarkably, this is the first MOF to achieve such exceptional catalytic performance under neutral and even alkaline conditions, which exceeds those of most reported materials. Mechanism investigation demonstrates that multiple active species were produced and promoted the degradation synergistically during the advanced oxidation processes.

Improving power ramp rate of a coal-fired power plant by a bypass steam accumulator.

The increasing penetration of high-volatility renewable energy sources in the power system presents higher demands for flexibility from coal-fired power plant (CFPP). To enhance the flexibility of CFPPs, researchers have conducted a significant amount of thermal-system-level research in recent years on increasing system peak shaving depth. However, the load ramp rate of CFPPs under deep peak shaving is rarely discussed, despite its significance to the overall flexibility performance of CFPPs. This paper proposes a steam accumulator storage system integrating to the turbine's bypass system. The steam accumulator charges directly with working fluid from the live steam or reheat systems and discharge to the turbine, responding quickly to power ramp commands. A steady state model and a dynamic model of the proposed system were built and validated, and the calculation shows that the proposed scheme provides a load change of +2.13 % Pe and -8.3%Pe during a round-trip with a power efficiency of 63.6 % at a unit load of 40 % THA. The unit's load increase rate under coordinated control was enhanced by 1.5 % Pe/min, reaching 3 % Pe/min, using the proposed steam accumulator without revising the original controls, and the load decrease rate reached at least 5 % Pe/min. The results indicate that the proposed system provides a straightforward, easy-to-implement, and efficient solution for enhancing the load ramp rate of CFPPs at low loads.

Unraveling the role of Mn(V)/Mn(III) in the enhanced permanganate oxidation under Vis-LED radiation.

A novel approach of visible light-emitting diode (Vis-LED) radiation was employed to activate permanganate (Mn(VII)) for efficient organic micropollutant (OMP) removal. The degradation rates of OMPs by Vis-LED/Mn(VII) were 2-5.29 times higher than those by Mn(VII) except for benzoic acid and atrazine. Increasing wavelengths (445-525 nm) suppressed the degradation of diclofenac (DCF) and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) owing to the decreased quantum yields of Mn(VII). Comparatively, light intensity and Mn(VII) dosage had a positive effect on the degradation of DCF and 4-CP. Experimental data revealed that Mn(V) dominated the DCF degradation whereas Mn(III) was the active oxidant in the 4-CP degradation. Mn(V) and Mn(III) formed from the photo-decomposition of Mn(VII), meanwhile, Mn(III) also formed from the Mn(V) photo-decomposition. The increase in solution pH inhibited DCF degradation but had a positive impact on 4-CP degradation, mainly due to the changing speciation of DCF and 4-CP. Inorganic anions (Cl- and HCO3-) had little impact on DCF and 4-CP degradation, while humic acid (HA) showed a positive impact because of the π-π interaction between HA and DCF/4-CP. The transformation products of DCF and 4-CP were identified and transformation pathways were proposed. Finally, the Vis-LED/Mn(VII) exhibited great degradation performance in various authentic waters. Overall, this study boosts the development of Mn(VII)-based oxidation processes.

Identifying significant structural factors associated with knee pain severity in patients with osteoarthritis using machine learning.

Our main objective was to use machine learning methods to identify significant structural factors associated with pain severity in knee osteoarthritis patients. Additionally, we assessed the potential of various classes of imaging data using machine learning techniques to gauge knee pain severity. The data of semi-quantitative assessments of knee radiographs, semi-quantitative assessments of knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and MRI images from 567 individuals in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) were utilized to train a series of machine learning models. Models were constructed using five machine learning methods: random forests (RF), support vector machines (SVM), logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT), and Bayesian (Bayes). Employing tenfold cross-validation, we selected the best-performing models based on the area under the curve (AUC). The study results indicate no significant difference in performance among models using different imaging data. Subsequently, we employed a convolutional neural network (CNN) to extract features from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and class activation mapping (CAM) was utilized to generate saliency maps, highlighting regions associated with knee pain severity. A radiologist reviewed the images, identifying specific lesions colocalized with the CAM. The review of 421 knees revealed that effusion/synovitis (30.9%) and cartilage loss (30.6%) were the most frequent abnormalities associated with pain severity. Our study suggests cartilage loss and synovitis/effusion lesions as significant structural factors affecting pain severity in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, our study highlights the potential of machine learning for assessing knee pain severity using radiographs.

Fabrication and characterization of oxidized starch-xanthan gum composite nanoparticles with efficient emulsifying properties.

This study involved the preparation of nanoparticles by combining oxidized starch (OS) with xanthan gum (XG), and emulsions were prepared from this nanoparticle. The physical and chemical characteristics, as well as the emulsification properties of oxidized starch-xanthan gum composite nanoparticles (OGNP), were analyzed. The findings revealed that the OGNP retained spherical shape after the addition of XG, although their diameter increased from approximately 50-150 to 200-400 nm. Zeta potential decreased with XG content. Moreover, emulsions prepared from OGNP exhibited outstanding thermal stability, also showing enhanced storage stability. In addition, emulsions had different rheological properties at different pH values. The apparent viscosity and shear stress of emulsions under alkaline conditions were lower than that of neutral conditions. NaCl increased the apparent viscosity of OGNP-stabilized emulsions while reducing their thermal stability. The nanoparticles prepared in this study have efficient emulsification properties and can extend the application of OS.