The scale effect on shear strength of rock joints is well-documented.However,whether scale effects are negative,positive,or even exist or not is still controversial.Joint roughness significantly influences the shear s...The scale effect on shear strength of rock joints is well-documented.However,whether scale effects are negative,positive,or even exist or not is still controversial.Joint roughness significantly influences the shear strength of rock joints.Compared to the shear tests,using the joint roughness coefficient(JRC)and its roughness parameters offers a more convenient method for describing the scale effect on shear strength.However,it is crucial to understand that the scale effect mechanisms of JRC are distinct from those of shear strength.Therefore,this paper aims to clarify these distinct mechanisms.By digitally extracting roughness parameters from granite samples,it is found that the scale effect of roughness parameters mainly comes from the sampling methods and the geometric characteristics of parameters.Furthermore,a full data sampling method considering heterogeneity is proposed to obtain more representative roughness parameters.To reveal the scale effect mechanisms of shear strength,Gaussian filtering is firstly used to separate the waviness and unevenness components of roughness,facilitating a deeper understanding of the geometric characteristics of roughness.It is suggested that the wavelength of the waviness component can reflect the scale effect on shear strength.Secondly,numerical simulations of ideal artificial joint models are conducted to validate that the wavelength of the waviness component serves as the dividing point between positive and negative scale effects.The mechanical mechanisms of positive and negative scale effects are also interpreted.Finally,these mechanisms successfully elucidate the occurrence patterns of the scale effect on natural joint profiles.展开更多
The joint roughness coefficient(JRC) is one of the key parameters for evaluating the shear strength of rock joints.Because of the scale effect in the JRC,reliable JRC values are of great importance for most rock engin...The joint roughness coefficient(JRC) is one of the key parameters for evaluating the shear strength of rock joints.Because of the scale effect in the JRC,reliable JRC values are of great importance for most rock engineering projects.During the collection process of JRC samples,the redundancy or insufficiency of representative rock joint surface topography(RJST) information in serial length JRC samples is the essential reason that affects the reliability of the scale effect results.Therefore,this paper proposes an adaptive sampling method,in which we use the entropy consistency measure Q(a) to evaluate the consistency of the joint morphology information contained in adjacent JRC samples.Then the sampling interval is automatically adjusted according to the threshold Q(at) of the entropy consistency measure to ensure that the degree of change of RJST information between JRC samples is the same,and ultimately makes the representative RJST information in the collected JRC samples more balanced.The application results of actual cases show that the proposed method can obtain the scale effect in the JRC efficiently and reliably.展开更多
This study presents a closed-form solution for central stress,a semi-analytical model,and a modified anisotropic semi-analytical model to efficiently calculate the forcefrequency coefficients(FFCs)of square quartz cry...This study presents a closed-form solution for central stress,a semi-analytical model,and a modified anisotropic semi-analytical model to efficiently calculate the forcefrequency coefficients(FFCs)of square quartz crystal resonators(QCRs)with different side lengths and azimuth angles under eccentrically concentrated and distributed loads.The semi-analytical model is validated by comparisons between the experimental results and the nonlinear finite element method(FEM)simulation results.Based on the semi-analytical model for the FFC and nonlinear FEM simulations,the FFC variations of square QCRs under external loads and the related mechanisms are investigated.Among the initial stresses caused by external loads,the central stress parallel to the xcrystallographic axis is the primary factor influencing the FFC of quartz.Our findings can provide practical tools for calculating the FFC,and help the design and development of square quartz force sensors.展开更多
This study investigates the impact of different water coupling coefficients on the blasting effect of red sandstone.The analysis is based on the theories of detonation wave and elastic wave,focusing on the variation i...This study investigates the impact of different water coupling coefficients on the blasting effect of red sandstone.The analysis is based on the theories of detonation wave and elastic wave,focusing on the variation in wall pressure of the blasting holes.Using DDNP explosive as the explosive load,blasting tests were conducted on red sandstone specimens with four different water coupling coefficients:1.20,1.33,1.50,and 2.00.The study examines the morphologies of the rock specimens after blasting under these different water coupling coefficients.Additionally,the fractal dimensions of the surface cracks resulting from the blasting were calculated to provide a quantitative evaluation of the extent of rock damage.CT scanning and 3D reconstruction were performed on the post-blasting specimens to visually depict the extent of damage and fractures within the rock.Additionally,the volume fractal dimension and damage degree of the post-blasting specimens are calculated.The findings are then combined with numerical simulation to facilitate auxiliary analysis.The results demonstrate that an increase in the water coupling coefficient leads to a reduction in the peak pressure on the hole wall and the crushing zone,enabling more of the explosion energy to be utilized for crack propagation following the explosion.The specimens exhibited distinct failure patterns,resulting in corresponding changes in fractal dimensions.The simulated pore wall pressure–time curve validated the derived theoretical results,whereas the stress cloud map and explosion energy-time curve demonstrated the buffering effect of the water medium.As the water coupling coefficient increases,the buffering effect of the water medium becomes increasingly prominent.展开更多
Adaptive fractional polynomial modeling of general correlated outcomes is formulated to address nonlinearity in means, variances/dispersions, and correlations. Means and variances/dispersions are modeled using general...Adaptive fractional polynomial modeling of general correlated outcomes is formulated to address nonlinearity in means, variances/dispersions, and correlations. Means and variances/dispersions are modeled using generalized linear models in fixed effects/coefficients. Correlations are modeled using random effects/coefficients. Nonlinearity is addressed using power transforms of primary (untransformed) predictors. Parameter estimation is based on extended linear mixed modeling generalizing both generalized estimating equations and linear mixed modeling. Models are evaluated using likelihood cross-validation (LCV) scores and are generated adaptively using a heuristic search controlled by LCV scores. Cases covered include linear, Poisson, logistic, exponential, and discrete regression of correlated continuous, count/rate, dichotomous, positive continuous, and discrete numeric outcomes treated as normally, Poisson, Bernoulli, exponentially, and discrete numerically distributed, respectively. Example analyses are also generated for these five cases to compare adaptive random effects/coefficients modeling of correlated outcomes to previously developed adaptive modeling based on directly specified covariance structures. Adaptive random effects/coefficients modeling substantially outperforms direct covariance modeling in the linear, exponential, and discrete regression example analyses. It generates equivalent results in the logistic regression example analyses and it is substantially outperformed in the Poisson regression case. Random effects/coefficients modeling of correlated outcomes can provide substantial improvements in model selection compared to directly specified covariance modeling. However, directly specified covariance modeling can generate competitive or substantially better results in some cases while usually requiring less computation time.展开更多
In this article, we investigated the influence of size and initial water content on the effective diffusion coefficient of sweet potatoes samples cut into cubic and cylindrical shapes. The sizes of the cubic samples a...In this article, we investigated the influence of size and initial water content on the effective diffusion coefficient of sweet potatoes samples cut into cubic and cylindrical shapes. The sizes of the cubic samples are 0.5, 1, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5 and 3 cm edge with a respective initial water content of 2.7, 3.76, 3.48, 2.68, 3.28, 2.17 and 2.29 kg/kgms. For cylindrical samples, the radius is set at 0.5 cm and sample heights are 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4 cm with respective water contents of 2.2, 3.19, 2.85, 2.1, 2.17, 2.39 and 2.03 kg/kgms. The effective diffusion coefficients of cubic samples are of the order of 10−10 and 10−9 m2∙s−1 grew with sample edge. As for the cylindrical samples, the effective diffusion coefficients were of the order of 10−9 m2∙s−1 and there was no linear correlation between cylinder height and their effective diffusion coefficient. As for the examination of the initial water content on the effective diffusion coefficient, it turned out that the initial water content had no influence on the effective diffusion coefficient of the sweet potato samples.展开更多
At present, the use of furnaces in the northern rural areas of China is very common, due to the insufficient burning of fuel (coal, wood, etc.), carbon monoxide (CO) and other toxic gases are produced, CO colorless an...At present, the use of furnaces in the northern rural areas of China is very common, due to the insufficient burning of fuel (coal, wood, etc.), carbon monoxide (CO) and other toxic gases are produced, CO colorless and odorless, difficult to find in time, and bring huge safety risks to the life and health of residents. Based on the above problems, we developed a gas monitoring and removal device which could reduce the effect of extinction coefficient. The device was composed of ash settling area, gas disturbance area, spectral absorption identification area and gas removal area. After the air entered the device, the large-size particles were first settled to purify the solid particles in the gas, the gas was disturbed through the multi-layer separator to achieve the turbulent production of the gas, and then the gas was identified through the optical element of the direct absorption spectrum technology. When the toxic gas component reached the threshold, the spray device would automatically start for chemical removal to achieve the role of purifying the gas. At the same time, the device’s alarm could be alerted by buzzer and flash to remind users to evacuate in time. By improving the optical device, the effect of extinction coefficient on measurement was reduced and the monitoring accuracy was improved.展开更多
The flexoelectric effect refers to the electromechanical coupling between electric polarization and mechanical strain gradient.It universally exists in a variety of materials in any space group,such as liquid crystals...The flexoelectric effect refers to the electromechanical coupling between electric polarization and mechanical strain gradient.It universally exists in a variety of materials in any space group,such as liquid crystals,dielectrics,biological materials,and semiconductors.Because of its unique size effect,nanoscale flexoelectricity has shown novel phenomena and promising applications in electronics,optronics,mechatronics,and photovoltaics.In this review,we provide a succinct report on the discovery and development of the flexoelectric effect,focusing on flexoelectric materials and related applications.Finally,we discuss recent flexoelectric research progress and still‐unsolved problems.展开更多
The morphological distribution of absorbent in composites is equally important with absorbents for the overall electromagnetic properties,but it is often ignored.Herein,a comprehensive consideration including electrom...The morphological distribution of absorbent in composites is equally important with absorbents for the overall electromagnetic properties,but it is often ignored.Herein,a comprehensive consideration including electromagnetic component regulation,layered arrangement structure,and gradient concentration distribution was used to optimize impedance matching and enhance electromagnetic loss.On the microscale,the incorporation of magnetic Ni nanoparticles into MXene nanosheets(Ni@MXene)endows suitable intrinsic permittivity and permeability.On the macroscale,the layered arrangement of Ni@MXene increases the effective interaction area with electromagnetic waves,inducing multiple reflection/scattering effects.On this basis,according to the analysis of absorption,reflection,and transmission(A-R-T)power coefficients of layered composites,the gradient concentration distribution was constructed to realize the impedance matching at low-concentration surface layer,electromagnetic loss at middle concentration interlayer and microwave reflection at high-concentration bottom layer.Consequently,the layered gradient composite(LG5-10-15)achieves complete absorption coverage of X-band at thickness of 2.00-2.20 mm with RL_(min) of-68.67 dB at 9.85 GHz in 2.05 mm,which is 199.0%,12.6%,and 50.6%higher than non-layered,layered and layered descending gradient composites,respectively.Therefore,this work confirms the importance of layered gradient structure in improving absorption performance and broadens the design of high-performance microwave absorption materials.展开更多
This study identified castor oil and phosphate ester as effective retarders through setting time,tensile,and flexural tests,and determined their optimal dosages.The mechanism by which phosphate ester affects the setti...This study identified castor oil and phosphate ester as effective retarders through setting time,tensile,and flexural tests,and determined their optimal dosages.The mechanism by which phosphate ester affects the setting time of polyurethane was further investigated using molecular dynamics simulations.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was also employed to systematically study the physical and chemical interactions between phosphate esters and polyurethane materials.The results demonstrate that a 1%concentration of phosphate ester provides the most effective retarding effect with minimal impact on the strength of polyurethane.When phosphate ester is added to the B component of the two-component polyurethane system,its interaction energy with component A decreases,as do the diffusion coefficient and aggregation degree of component B on the surface of component A.This reduction in interaction slows the setting time.Additionally,the addition of phosphate ester to polyurethane leads to the disappearance or weakening of functional groups,indicating competitive interactions within the phosphate ester components that inhibit the reaction rate.展开更多
The strength of the sliding zone soil determines the stability of reservoir landslides.Fluctuations in water levels cause a change in the seepage field,which serves as both the external hydrogeological environment and...The strength of the sliding zone soil determines the stability of reservoir landslides.Fluctuations in water levels cause a change in the seepage field,which serves as both the external hydrogeological environment and the internal component of a landslide.Therefore,considering the strength changes of the sliding zone with seepage effects,they correspond with the actual hydrogeological circumstances.To investigate the shear behavior of sliding zone soil under various seepage pressures,24 samples were conducted by a self-developed apparatus to observe the shear strength and measure the permeability coefficients at different deformation stages.After seepage-shear tests,the composition of clay minerals and microscopic structure on the shear surface were analyzed through X-ray and scanning electron microscope(SEM)to understand the coupling effects of seepage on strength.The results revealed that the sliding zone soil exhibited strain-hardening without seepage pressure.However,the introduction of seepage caused a significant reduction in shear strength,resulting in strain-softening characterized by a three-stage process.Long-term seepage action softened clay particles and transported broken particles into effective seepage channels,causing continuous damage to the interior structure and reducing the permeability coefficient.Increased seepage pressure decreased the peak strength by disrupting occlusal and frictional forces between sliding zone soil particles,which carried away more clay particles,contributing to an overhead structure in the soil that raised the permeability coefficient and decreased residual strength.The internal friction angle was less sensitive to variations in seepage pressure than cohesion.展开更多
Agricultural intensification has led to an increase in monoculture and the use of chemical pesticides,resulting in a decline in biodiversity and a reduction in ecosystem services,particularly biological pest managemen...Agricultural intensification has led to an increase in monoculture and the use of chemical pesticides,resulting in a decline in biodiversity and a reduction in ecosystem services,particularly biological pest management.However,studies have shown that agroforestry can not only improve land productivity and biodiversity but also regulate some ecosystem services.This study reviews the impacts of physical and biological factors on herbivorous pests,parasites,and predatory natural enemies in fruit-crop agroforestry systems.Fruit-crop agroforestry systems provide high spatial heterogeneity by altering crop layouts,regulating the microclimate and soil quality,and offering food resources and shelter for natural enemies,thus promoting biological pest control.This enhances biological control and makes the agrocomplex system an effective tool for sustainable agriculture.Our research shows that volatile plant substances attract or repel pests and natural enemies based on the characteristics of the insects themselves.When scientifically designed,fruit-crop agroforestry systems provide high spatial heterogeneity and favorable microclimatic conditions,which enhance biological pest control and make the agroforestry system an effective tool for sustainable agriculture.Our research shows that fruit-crop agroforestry systems can provide richer food resources and habitat,enhancing biological pest control and improving pest management.展开更多
Liver cancer is the fourth cause of cancer-related deaths and the primary cause of death in patients with compensated cirrhosis.In recent years,the role of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of liver cancer...Liver cancer is the fourth cause of cancer-related deaths and the primary cause of death in patients with compensated cirrhosis.In recent years,the role of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of liver cancer has attracted more and more attention and recognition.Luteolin(LUT)and glycyrrhetinic(GA)are natural compounds extracted from Chinese herbal medicine.LUT exhibits various biological activity including anti-inflammatory,antibacterial,antiviral,anti-tumor,and neuroprotective effects.GA significantly inhibits the growth and metastasis of cancer cells.However,the low water solubility of both compounds hinders their clinical applications.In this study,rod-shaped nanoparticles(NPs)self-assembled from LUT and GA were designed to enhance drug solubility and tumor-targeting capability.We verified that the assembly mechanism of the NPs was π-π stacking.These NPs significantly inhibited the proliferation of liver cancer cells while had no significant effect on normal liver cells.In a mouse model of liver cancer,these NPs demonstrated superior tumor-targeting ability due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect,and the affinity of GA for liver cancer cells,resulting in better therapeutic efficacy with lower systemic toxicity.Results of network pharmacology analysis showed that LUT and GA respectively targeted estrogen receptor 1(ESR1)protein and cyclin-dependent kinase 1(CDK1)protein to corporately induce tumor cell cycle arrest,which induced the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation.In conclusion,this study provides a novel reference for the treatment of liver cancer.展开更多
Fertilization or atmospheric deposition of nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)to terrestrial ecosystems can alter soil N(P)availability and the nature of nutrient limitation for plant growth.Changing the allocation of leaf P...Fertilization or atmospheric deposition of nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)to terrestrial ecosystems can alter soil N(P)availability and the nature of nutrient limitation for plant growth.Changing the allocation of leaf P fractions is potentially an adaptive strategy for plants to cope with soil N(P)availability and nutrient-limiting conditions.However,the impact of the interactions between imbalanced anthropogenic N and P inputs on the concentrations and allocation proportions of leaf P fractions in forest woody plants remains elusive.We conducted a metaanalysis of data about the concentrations and allocation proportions of leaf P fractions,specifically associated with individual and combined additions of N and P in evergreen forests,the dominant vegetation type in southern China where the primary productivity is usually considered limited by P.This assessment allowed us to quantitatively evaluate the effects of N and P additions alone and interactively on leaf P allocation and use strategies.Nitrogen addition(exacerbating P limitation)reduced the concentrations of leaf total P and different leaf P fractions.Nitrogen addition reduced the allocation to leaf metabolic P but increased the allocation to other fractions,while P addition showed opposite trends.The simultaneous additions of N and P showed an antagonistic(mutual suppression)effect on the concentrations of leaf P fractions,but an additive(summary)effect on the allocation proportions of leaf P fractions.These results highlight the importance of strategies of leaf P fraction allocation in forest plants under changes in environmental nutrient availability.Importantly,our study identified critical interactions associated with combined N and P inputs that affect leaf P fractions,thus aiding in predicting plant acclimation strategies in the context of intensifying and imbalanced anthropogenic nutrient inputs.展开更多
Hydrogen partitioning between liquid iron alloys and silicate melts governs its distribution and cycling in Earth’s deep interior.Existing models based on simplified Fe-H systems predict strong hydrogen sequestration...Hydrogen partitioning between liquid iron alloys and silicate melts governs its distribution and cycling in Earth’s deep interior.Existing models based on simplified Fe-H systems predict strong hydrogen sequestration into the core.However,these models do not account for the modulating effects of major light elements such as oxygen and silicon in the core during Earth’s primordial differentiation.In this study,we use first-principles molecular dynamics simulations,augmented by machine learning techniques,to quantify hydrogen chemical potentials in quaternary Fe-O-Si-H systems under early core-mantle boundary conditions(135 GPa,5000 K).Our results demonstrate that the presence of 5.2 wt%oxygen and 4.8 wt%silicon reduces the siderophile affinity of hydrogen by 35%,decreasing its alloy-silicate partition coefficient from 18.2(in the case of Fe-H)to 11.8(in the case of Fe-O-Si-H).These findings suggest that previous estimates of the core hydrogen content derived from binary system models require downward revision.Our study underscores the critical role of multicomponent interactions in core formation models and provides first-principles-derived constraints to reconcile Earth’s present-day hydrogen reservoirs with its accretionary history.展开更多
BACKGROUND At present,the conventional methods for diagnosing cerebral edema in clinical practice are computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),which can evaluate the location and degree of peripheral...BACKGROUND At present,the conventional methods for diagnosing cerebral edema in clinical practice are computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),which can evaluate the location and degree of peripheral cerebral edema,but cannot realize quantification.When patients have symptoms of diffuse cerebral edema or high cranial pressure,CT or MRI often suggests that cerebral edema is lagging and cannot be dynamically monitored in real time.Intracranial pressure monitoring is the gold standard,but it is an invasive operation with high cost and complications.For clinical purposes,the ideal cerebral edema monitoring should be non-invasive,real-time,bedside,and continuous dynamic monitoring.The dis-turbance coefficient(DC)was used in this study to dynamically monitor the occu-rrence,development,and evolution of cerebral edema in patients with cerebral hemorrhage in real time,and review head CT or MRI to evaluate the development of the disease and guide further treatment,so as to improve the prognosis of patients with cerebral hemorrhage.AIM To offer a promising new approach for non-invasive adjuvant therapy in cerebral edema treatment.METHODS A total of 160 patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery,Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University from September 2018 to September 2019 were recruited.The patients were randomly divided into a control group(n=80)and an experimental group(n=80).Patients in the control group received conventional empirical treatment,while those in the experimental group were treated with mannitol dehydration under the guidance of DC.Subsequently,we compared the two groups with regards to the total dosage of mannitol,the total course of treatment,the incidence of complications,and prognosis.RESULTS The mean daily consumption of mannitol,the total course of treatment,and the mean hospitalization days were 362.7±117.7 mL,14.8±5.2 days,and 29.4±7.9 in the control group and 283.1±93.6 mL,11.8±4.2 days,and 23.9±8.3 in the experimental group(P<0.05).In the control group,there were 20 patients with pulmonary infection(25%),30 with electrolyte disturbance(37.5%),20 with renal impairment(25%),and 16 with stress ulcer(20%).In the experimental group,pulmonary infection occurred in 18 patients(22.5%),electrolyte disturbance in 6(7.5%),renal impairment in 2(2.5%),and stress ulcers in 15(18.8%)(P<0.05).According to the Glasgow coma scale score 6 months after discharge,the prognosis of the control group was good in 20 patients(25%),fair in 26(32.5%),and poor in 34(42.5%);the prognosis of the experimental group was good in 32(40%),fair in 36(45%),and poor in 12(15%)(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Using DC for non-invasive dynamic monitoring of cerebral edema demonstrates considerable clinical potential.It reduces mannitol dosage,treatment duration,complication rates,and hospital stays,ultimately lowering hospital-ization costs.Additionally,it improves overall patient prognosis,offering a promising new approach for non-invasive adjuvant therapy in cerebral edema treatment.展开更多
In the practice of healthcare,patient-reported outcomes(PROs)and PRO measures(PROMs)are used as an attempt to observe the changes in complex clinical situations.They guide us in making decisions based on the evidence ...In the practice of healthcare,patient-reported outcomes(PROs)and PRO measures(PROMs)are used as an attempt to observe the changes in complex clinical situations.They guide us in making decisions based on the evidence regarding patient care by recording the change in outcomes for a particular treatment to a given condition and finally to understand whether a patient will benefit from a particular treatment and to quantify the treatment effect.For any PROM to be usable in health care,we need it to be reliable,encapsulating the points of interest with the potential to detect any real change.Using structured outcome measures routinely in clinical practice helps the physician to understand the functional limitation of a patient that would otherwise not be clear in an office interview,and this allows the physician and patient to have a meaningful conver-sation as well as a customized plan for each patient.Having mentioned the rationale and the benefits of PROMs,understanding the quantification process is crucial before embarking on management decisions.A better interpretation of change needs to identify the treatment effect based on clinical relevance for a given condition.There are a multiple set of measurement indices to serve this effect and most of them are used interchangeably without clear demarcation on their differences.This article details the various quantification metrics used to evaluate the treatment effect using PROMs,their limitations and the scope of usage and implementation in clinical practice.展开更多
Structural regulation of Pd-based electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination(EHDC)catalyst for constructing high-efficient cathode materials with low noble metal content and high atom utilization is crucial but still challe...Structural regulation of Pd-based electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination(EHDC)catalyst for constructing high-efficient cathode materials with low noble metal content and high atom utilization is crucial but still challenging.Herein,a support electron inductive effect of Pd-Mn/Ni foam catalyst was proposed via in-situ Mn doping to optimize the electronic structure of the Ni foam(NF),which can inductive regulation of Pd for improving the EHDC performance.The mass activity and current efficiency of Pd-Mn/NF catalyst are 2.91 and 1.34 times superior to that of Pd/NF with 2,4-dichlorophenol as model compound,respectively.The Mn-doped interlayer optimized the electronic structure of Pd by bringing the d-state closer to the Fermi level than Pd on the NF surface,which optimizied the binding of EHDC intermediates.Additionally,the Mn-doped interlayer acted as a promoter for generating H∗and accelerating the EHDC reaction.This work presents a simple and effective regulation strategy for constructing high-efficient cathode catalyst for the EHDC of chlorinated organic compounds.展开更多
BACKGROUND Various stone factors can affect the net results of shock wave lithotripsy(SWL).Recently a new factor called variation coefficient of stone density(VCSD)is being considered to have an impact on stone free r...BACKGROUND Various stone factors can affect the net results of shock wave lithotripsy(SWL).Recently a new factor called variation coefficient of stone density(VCSD)is being considered to have an impact on stone free rates.AIM To assess the role of VCSD in determining success of SWL in urinary calculi.METHODS Charts review was utilized for collection of data variables.The patients were subjected to SWL,using an electromagnetic lithotripter.Mean stone density(MSD),stone heterogeneity index(SHI),and VCSD were calculated by generating regions of interest on computed tomography(CT)images.Role of these factors were determined by applying the relevant statistical tests for continuous and categorical variables and a P value of<0.05 was gauged to be statistically significant.RESULTS There were a total of 407 patients included in the analysis.The mean age of the subjects in this study was 38.89±14.61 years.In total,165 out of the 407 patients could not achieve stone free status.The successful group had a significantly lower stone volume as compared to the unsuccessful group(P<0.0001).Skin to stone distance was not dissimilar among the two groups(P=0.47).MSD was significantly lower in the successful group(P<0.0001).SHI and VCSD were both significantly higher in the successful group(P<0.0001).CONCLUSION VCSD,a useful CT based parameter,can be utilized to gauge stone fragility and hence the prediction of SWL outcomes.展开更多
Low-electrode capacitive deionization(FCDI)is an emerging desalination technology with great potential for removal and/or recycling ions from a range of waters.However,it still suffers from inefficient charge transfer...Low-electrode capacitive deionization(FCDI)is an emerging desalination technology with great potential for removal and/or recycling ions from a range of waters.However,it still suffers from inefficient charge transfer and ion transport kinetics due to weak turbulence and low electric intensity in flow electrodes,both restricted by the current collectors.Herein,a new tip-array current collector(designated as T-CC)was developed to replace the conventional planar current collectors,which intensifies both the charge transfer and ion transport significantly.The effects of tip arrays on flow and electric fields were studied by both computational simulations and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,which revealed the reduction of ion transport barrier,charge transport barrier and internal resistance.With the voltage increased from 1.0 to 1.5 and 2.0 V,the T-CC-based FCDI system(T-FCDI)exhibited average salt removal rates(ASRR)of 0.18,0.50,and 0.89μmol cm^(-2) min^(-1),respectively,which are 1.82,2.65,and 2.48 folds higher than that of the conventional serpentine current collectors,and 1.48,1.67,and 1.49 folds higher than that of the planar current collectors.Meanwhile,with the solid content in flow electrodes increased from 1 to 5 wt%,the ASRR for T-FCDI increased from 0.29 to 0.50μmol cm^(-2) min^(-1),which are 1.70 and 1.67 folds higher than that of the planar current collectors.Additionally,a salt removal efficiency of 99.89%was achieved with T-FCDI and the charge efficiency remained above 95%after 24 h of operation,thus showing its superior long-term stability.展开更多
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation Projects(Grant Nos.41772287 and 42277132)the Key R&D Project of Zhejiang Province(Grant No.2021C03159).
文摘The scale effect on shear strength of rock joints is well-documented.However,whether scale effects are negative,positive,or even exist or not is still controversial.Joint roughness significantly influences the shear strength of rock joints.Compared to the shear tests,using the joint roughness coefficient(JRC)and its roughness parameters offers a more convenient method for describing the scale effect on shear strength.However,it is crucial to understand that the scale effect mechanisms of JRC are distinct from those of shear strength.Therefore,this paper aims to clarify these distinct mechanisms.By digitally extracting roughness parameters from granite samples,it is found that the scale effect of roughness parameters mainly comes from the sampling methods and the geometric characteristics of parameters.Furthermore,a full data sampling method considering heterogeneity is proposed to obtain more representative roughness parameters.To reveal the scale effect mechanisms of shear strength,Gaussian filtering is firstly used to separate the waviness and unevenness components of roughness,facilitating a deeper understanding of the geometric characteristics of roughness.It is suggested that the wavelength of the waviness component can reflect the scale effect on shear strength.Secondly,numerical simulations of ideal artificial joint models are conducted to validate that the wavelength of the waviness component serves as the dividing point between positive and negative scale effects.The mechanical mechanisms of positive and negative scale effects are also interpreted.Finally,these mechanisms successfully elucidate the occurrence patterns of the scale effect on natural joint profiles.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42207175)。
文摘The joint roughness coefficient(JRC) is one of the key parameters for evaluating the shear strength of rock joints.Because of the scale effect in the JRC,reliable JRC values are of great importance for most rock engineering projects.During the collection process of JRC samples,the redundancy or insufficiency of representative rock joint surface topography(RJST) information in serial length JRC samples is the essential reason that affects the reliability of the scale effect results.Therefore,this paper proposes an adaptive sampling method,in which we use the entropy consistency measure Q(a) to evaluate the consistency of the joint morphology information contained in adjacent JRC samples.Then the sampling interval is automatically adjusted according to the threshold Q(at) of the entropy consistency measure to ensure that the degree of change of RJST information between JRC samples is the same,and ultimately makes the representative RJST information in the collected JRC samples more balanced.The application results of actual cases show that the proposed method can obtain the scale effect in the JRC efficiently and reliably.
基金supported by the Ningbo Youth Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talents of China(No.2023QL020)the Ningbo Science and Technology Major of China(No.2022Z015)the K.C.Wong Magana Fund through Ningbo University。
文摘This study presents a closed-form solution for central stress,a semi-analytical model,and a modified anisotropic semi-analytical model to efficiently calculate the forcefrequency coefficients(FFCs)of square quartz crystal resonators(QCRs)with different side lengths and azimuth angles under eccentrically concentrated and distributed loads.The semi-analytical model is validated by comparisons between the experimental results and the nonlinear finite element method(FEM)simulation results.Based on the semi-analytical model for the FFC and nonlinear FEM simulations,the FFC variations of square QCRs under external loads and the related mechanisms are investigated.Among the initial stresses caused by external loads,the central stress parallel to the xcrystallographic axis is the primary factor influencing the FFC of quartz.Our findings can provide practical tools for calculating the FFC,and help the design and development of square quartz force sensors.
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2902103)National Natural Science Foundation of China(51934001)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2023JCCXLJ02).
文摘This study investigates the impact of different water coupling coefficients on the blasting effect of red sandstone.The analysis is based on the theories of detonation wave and elastic wave,focusing on the variation in wall pressure of the blasting holes.Using DDNP explosive as the explosive load,blasting tests were conducted on red sandstone specimens with four different water coupling coefficients:1.20,1.33,1.50,and 2.00.The study examines the morphologies of the rock specimens after blasting under these different water coupling coefficients.Additionally,the fractal dimensions of the surface cracks resulting from the blasting were calculated to provide a quantitative evaluation of the extent of rock damage.CT scanning and 3D reconstruction were performed on the post-blasting specimens to visually depict the extent of damage and fractures within the rock.Additionally,the volume fractal dimension and damage degree of the post-blasting specimens are calculated.The findings are then combined with numerical simulation to facilitate auxiliary analysis.The results demonstrate that an increase in the water coupling coefficient leads to a reduction in the peak pressure on the hole wall and the crushing zone,enabling more of the explosion energy to be utilized for crack propagation following the explosion.The specimens exhibited distinct failure patterns,resulting in corresponding changes in fractal dimensions.The simulated pore wall pressure–time curve validated the derived theoretical results,whereas the stress cloud map and explosion energy-time curve demonstrated the buffering effect of the water medium.As the water coupling coefficient increases,the buffering effect of the water medium becomes increasingly prominent.
文摘Adaptive fractional polynomial modeling of general correlated outcomes is formulated to address nonlinearity in means, variances/dispersions, and correlations. Means and variances/dispersions are modeled using generalized linear models in fixed effects/coefficients. Correlations are modeled using random effects/coefficients. Nonlinearity is addressed using power transforms of primary (untransformed) predictors. Parameter estimation is based on extended linear mixed modeling generalizing both generalized estimating equations and linear mixed modeling. Models are evaluated using likelihood cross-validation (LCV) scores and are generated adaptively using a heuristic search controlled by LCV scores. Cases covered include linear, Poisson, logistic, exponential, and discrete regression of correlated continuous, count/rate, dichotomous, positive continuous, and discrete numeric outcomes treated as normally, Poisson, Bernoulli, exponentially, and discrete numerically distributed, respectively. Example analyses are also generated for these five cases to compare adaptive random effects/coefficients modeling of correlated outcomes to previously developed adaptive modeling based on directly specified covariance structures. Adaptive random effects/coefficients modeling substantially outperforms direct covariance modeling in the linear, exponential, and discrete regression example analyses. It generates equivalent results in the logistic regression example analyses and it is substantially outperformed in the Poisson regression case. Random effects/coefficients modeling of correlated outcomes can provide substantial improvements in model selection compared to directly specified covariance modeling. However, directly specified covariance modeling can generate competitive or substantially better results in some cases while usually requiring less computation time.
文摘In this article, we investigated the influence of size and initial water content on the effective diffusion coefficient of sweet potatoes samples cut into cubic and cylindrical shapes. The sizes of the cubic samples are 0.5, 1, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5 and 3 cm edge with a respective initial water content of 2.7, 3.76, 3.48, 2.68, 3.28, 2.17 and 2.29 kg/kgms. For cylindrical samples, the radius is set at 0.5 cm and sample heights are 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4 cm with respective water contents of 2.2, 3.19, 2.85, 2.1, 2.17, 2.39 and 2.03 kg/kgms. The effective diffusion coefficients of cubic samples are of the order of 10−10 and 10−9 m2∙s−1 grew with sample edge. As for the cylindrical samples, the effective diffusion coefficients were of the order of 10−9 m2∙s−1 and there was no linear correlation between cylinder height and their effective diffusion coefficient. As for the examination of the initial water content on the effective diffusion coefficient, it turned out that the initial water content had no influence on the effective diffusion coefficient of the sweet potato samples.
文摘At present, the use of furnaces in the northern rural areas of China is very common, due to the insufficient burning of fuel (coal, wood, etc.), carbon monoxide (CO) and other toxic gases are produced, CO colorless and odorless, difficult to find in time, and bring huge safety risks to the life and health of residents. Based on the above problems, we developed a gas monitoring and removal device which could reduce the effect of extinction coefficient. The device was composed of ash settling area, gas disturbance area, spectral absorption identification area and gas removal area. After the air entered the device, the large-size particles were first settled to purify the solid particles in the gas, the gas was disturbed through the multi-layer separator to achieve the turbulent production of the gas, and then the gas was identified through the optical element of the direct absorption spectrum technology. When the toxic gas component reached the threshold, the spray device would automatically start for chemical removal to achieve the role of purifying the gas. At the same time, the device’s alarm could be alerted by buzzer and flash to remind users to evacuate in time. By improving the optical device, the effect of extinction coefficient on measurement was reduced and the monitoring accuracy was improved.
基金support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52192611,51872031,61904013,and 62405157)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Nos.2023M741890 and GZC20231215)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
文摘The flexoelectric effect refers to the electromechanical coupling between electric polarization and mechanical strain gradient.It universally exists in a variety of materials in any space group,such as liquid crystals,dielectrics,biological materials,and semiconductors.Because of its unique size effect,nanoscale flexoelectricity has shown novel phenomena and promising applications in electronics,optronics,mechatronics,and photovoltaics.In this review,we provide a succinct report on the discovery and development of the flexoelectric effect,focusing on flexoelectric materials and related applications.Finally,we discuss recent flexoelectric research progress and still‐unsolved problems.
基金support for this work by Key Research and Development Project of Henan Province(Grant.No.241111232300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant.No.52273085 and 52303113)the Open Fund of Yaoshan Laboratory(Grant.No.2024003).
文摘The morphological distribution of absorbent in composites is equally important with absorbents for the overall electromagnetic properties,but it is often ignored.Herein,a comprehensive consideration including electromagnetic component regulation,layered arrangement structure,and gradient concentration distribution was used to optimize impedance matching and enhance electromagnetic loss.On the microscale,the incorporation of magnetic Ni nanoparticles into MXene nanosheets(Ni@MXene)endows suitable intrinsic permittivity and permeability.On the macroscale,the layered arrangement of Ni@MXene increases the effective interaction area with electromagnetic waves,inducing multiple reflection/scattering effects.On this basis,according to the analysis of absorption,reflection,and transmission(A-R-T)power coefficients of layered composites,the gradient concentration distribution was constructed to realize the impedance matching at low-concentration surface layer,electromagnetic loss at middle concentration interlayer and microwave reflection at high-concentration bottom layer.Consequently,the layered gradient composite(LG5-10-15)achieves complete absorption coverage of X-band at thickness of 2.00-2.20 mm with RL_(min) of-68.67 dB at 9.85 GHz in 2.05 mm,which is 199.0%,12.6%,and 50.6%higher than non-layered,layered and layered descending gradient composites,respectively.Therefore,this work confirms the importance of layered gradient structure in improving absorption performance and broadens the design of high-performance microwave absorption materials.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52370128)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2572022AW54)。
文摘This study identified castor oil and phosphate ester as effective retarders through setting time,tensile,and flexural tests,and determined their optimal dosages.The mechanism by which phosphate ester affects the setting time of polyurethane was further investigated using molecular dynamics simulations.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was also employed to systematically study the physical and chemical interactions between phosphate esters and polyurethane materials.The results demonstrate that a 1%concentration of phosphate ester provides the most effective retarding effect with minimal impact on the strength of polyurethane.When phosphate ester is added to the B component of the two-component polyurethane system,its interaction energy with component A decreases,as do the diffusion coefficient and aggregation degree of component B on the surface of component A.This reduction in interaction slows the setting time.Additionally,the addition of phosphate ester to polyurethane leads to the disappearance or weakening of functional groups,indicating competitive interactions within the phosphate ester components that inhibit the reaction rate.
基金supported by the Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.42090055)the National Major Scientific Instruments and Equipment Development Projects of China (Grant No.41827808)the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No.42207216).
文摘The strength of the sliding zone soil determines the stability of reservoir landslides.Fluctuations in water levels cause a change in the seepage field,which serves as both the external hydrogeological environment and the internal component of a landslide.Therefore,considering the strength changes of the sliding zone with seepage effects,they correspond with the actual hydrogeological circumstances.To investigate the shear behavior of sliding zone soil under various seepage pressures,24 samples were conducted by a self-developed apparatus to observe the shear strength and measure the permeability coefficients at different deformation stages.After seepage-shear tests,the composition of clay minerals and microscopic structure on the shear surface were analyzed through X-ray and scanning electron microscope(SEM)to understand the coupling effects of seepage on strength.The results revealed that the sliding zone soil exhibited strain-hardening without seepage pressure.However,the introduction of seepage caused a significant reduction in shear strength,resulting in strain-softening characterized by a three-stage process.Long-term seepage action softened clay particles and transported broken particles into effective seepage channels,causing continuous damage to the interior structure and reducing the permeability coefficient.Increased seepage pressure decreased the peak strength by disrupting occlusal and frictional forces between sliding zone soil particles,which carried away more clay particles,contributing to an overhead structure in the soil that raised the permeability coefficient and decreased residual strength.The internal friction angle was less sensitive to variations in seepage pressure than cohesion.
文摘Agricultural intensification has led to an increase in monoculture and the use of chemical pesticides,resulting in a decline in biodiversity and a reduction in ecosystem services,particularly biological pest management.However,studies have shown that agroforestry can not only improve land productivity and biodiversity but also regulate some ecosystem services.This study reviews the impacts of physical and biological factors on herbivorous pests,parasites,and predatory natural enemies in fruit-crop agroforestry systems.Fruit-crop agroforestry systems provide high spatial heterogeneity by altering crop layouts,regulating the microclimate and soil quality,and offering food resources and shelter for natural enemies,thus promoting biological pest control.This enhances biological control and makes the agrocomplex system an effective tool for sustainable agriculture.Our research shows that volatile plant substances attract or repel pests and natural enemies based on the characteristics of the insects themselves.When scientifically designed,fruit-crop agroforestry systems provide high spatial heterogeneity and favorable microclimatic conditions,which enhance biological pest control and make the agroforestry system an effective tool for sustainable agriculture.Our research shows that fruit-crop agroforestry systems can provide richer food resources and habitat,enhancing biological pest control and improving pest management.
基金the financial support from Henan Province Natural Science Foundation(No.252300420583)Henan Provincial Science and Technology Research Project(Nos.242102310455,242102310473,242102310517)the Key Project of Science and Technology Research funded by the Henan Provincial Department of Education(No.24A350002)。
文摘Liver cancer is the fourth cause of cancer-related deaths and the primary cause of death in patients with compensated cirrhosis.In recent years,the role of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of liver cancer has attracted more and more attention and recognition.Luteolin(LUT)and glycyrrhetinic(GA)are natural compounds extracted from Chinese herbal medicine.LUT exhibits various biological activity including anti-inflammatory,antibacterial,antiviral,anti-tumor,and neuroprotective effects.GA significantly inhibits the growth and metastasis of cancer cells.However,the low water solubility of both compounds hinders their clinical applications.In this study,rod-shaped nanoparticles(NPs)self-assembled from LUT and GA were designed to enhance drug solubility and tumor-targeting capability.We verified that the assembly mechanism of the NPs was π-π stacking.These NPs significantly inhibited the proliferation of liver cancer cells while had no significant effect on normal liver cells.In a mouse model of liver cancer,these NPs demonstrated superior tumor-targeting ability due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect,and the affinity of GA for liver cancer cells,resulting in better therapeutic efficacy with lower systemic toxicity.Results of network pharmacology analysis showed that LUT and GA respectively targeted estrogen receptor 1(ESR1)protein and cyclin-dependent kinase 1(CDK1)protein to corporately induce tumor cell cycle arrest,which induced the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation.In conclusion,this study provides a novel reference for the treatment of liver cancer.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41473068)supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2022M722667)。
文摘Fertilization or atmospheric deposition of nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)to terrestrial ecosystems can alter soil N(P)availability and the nature of nutrient limitation for plant growth.Changing the allocation of leaf P fractions is potentially an adaptive strategy for plants to cope with soil N(P)availability and nutrient-limiting conditions.However,the impact of the interactions between imbalanced anthropogenic N and P inputs on the concentrations and allocation proportions of leaf P fractions in forest woody plants remains elusive.We conducted a metaanalysis of data about the concentrations and allocation proportions of leaf P fractions,specifically associated with individual and combined additions of N and P in evergreen forests,the dominant vegetation type in southern China where the primary productivity is usually considered limited by P.This assessment allowed us to quantitatively evaluate the effects of N and P additions alone and interactively on leaf P allocation and use strategies.Nitrogen addition(exacerbating P limitation)reduced the concentrations of leaf total P and different leaf P fractions.Nitrogen addition reduced the allocation to leaf metabolic P but increased the allocation to other fractions,while P addition showed opposite trends.The simultaneous additions of N and P showed an antagonistic(mutual suppression)effect on the concentrations of leaf P fractions,but an additive(summary)effect on the allocation proportions of leaf P fractions.These results highlight the importance of strategies of leaf P fraction allocation in forest plants under changes in environmental nutrient availability.Importantly,our study identified critical interactions associated with combined N and P inputs that affect leaf P fractions,thus aiding in predicting plant acclimation strategies in the context of intensifying and imbalanced anthropogenic nutrient inputs.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFF0503203)National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)projects(Grant Nos.42441826 and 42173041)+1 种基金the Key Research Program of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.IGGCAS-202204)the computational facilities of the Computer Simulation Laboratory at IGGCAS and the Beijing Super Cloud Computing Center(BSCC).
文摘Hydrogen partitioning between liquid iron alloys and silicate melts governs its distribution and cycling in Earth’s deep interior.Existing models based on simplified Fe-H systems predict strong hydrogen sequestration into the core.However,these models do not account for the modulating effects of major light elements such as oxygen and silicon in the core during Earth’s primordial differentiation.In this study,we use first-principles molecular dynamics simulations,augmented by machine learning techniques,to quantify hydrogen chemical potentials in quaternary Fe-O-Si-H systems under early core-mantle boundary conditions(135 GPa,5000 K).Our results demonstrate that the presence of 5.2 wt%oxygen and 4.8 wt%silicon reduces the siderophile affinity of hydrogen by 35%,decreasing its alloy-silicate partition coefficient from 18.2(in the case of Fe-H)to 11.8(in the case of Fe-O-Si-H).These findings suggest that previous estimates of the core hydrogen content derived from binary system models require downward revision.Our study underscores the critical role of multicomponent interactions in core formation models and provides first-principles-derived constraints to reconcile Earth’s present-day hydrogen reservoirs with its accretionary history.
基金Supported by the Shaanxi Provincial Key Research and Development Plan Project,No.2020ZDLSF01-02.
文摘BACKGROUND At present,the conventional methods for diagnosing cerebral edema in clinical practice are computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),which can evaluate the location and degree of peripheral cerebral edema,but cannot realize quantification.When patients have symptoms of diffuse cerebral edema or high cranial pressure,CT or MRI often suggests that cerebral edema is lagging and cannot be dynamically monitored in real time.Intracranial pressure monitoring is the gold standard,but it is an invasive operation with high cost and complications.For clinical purposes,the ideal cerebral edema monitoring should be non-invasive,real-time,bedside,and continuous dynamic monitoring.The dis-turbance coefficient(DC)was used in this study to dynamically monitor the occu-rrence,development,and evolution of cerebral edema in patients with cerebral hemorrhage in real time,and review head CT or MRI to evaluate the development of the disease and guide further treatment,so as to improve the prognosis of patients with cerebral hemorrhage.AIM To offer a promising new approach for non-invasive adjuvant therapy in cerebral edema treatment.METHODS A total of 160 patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery,Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University from September 2018 to September 2019 were recruited.The patients were randomly divided into a control group(n=80)and an experimental group(n=80).Patients in the control group received conventional empirical treatment,while those in the experimental group were treated with mannitol dehydration under the guidance of DC.Subsequently,we compared the two groups with regards to the total dosage of mannitol,the total course of treatment,the incidence of complications,and prognosis.RESULTS The mean daily consumption of mannitol,the total course of treatment,and the mean hospitalization days were 362.7±117.7 mL,14.8±5.2 days,and 29.4±7.9 in the control group and 283.1±93.6 mL,11.8±4.2 days,and 23.9±8.3 in the experimental group(P<0.05).In the control group,there were 20 patients with pulmonary infection(25%),30 with electrolyte disturbance(37.5%),20 with renal impairment(25%),and 16 with stress ulcer(20%).In the experimental group,pulmonary infection occurred in 18 patients(22.5%),electrolyte disturbance in 6(7.5%),renal impairment in 2(2.5%),and stress ulcers in 15(18.8%)(P<0.05).According to the Glasgow coma scale score 6 months after discharge,the prognosis of the control group was good in 20 patients(25%),fair in 26(32.5%),and poor in 34(42.5%);the prognosis of the experimental group was good in 32(40%),fair in 36(45%),and poor in 12(15%)(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Using DC for non-invasive dynamic monitoring of cerebral edema demonstrates considerable clinical potential.It reduces mannitol dosage,treatment duration,complication rates,and hospital stays,ultimately lowering hospital-ization costs.Additionally,it improves overall patient prognosis,offering a promising new approach for non-invasive adjuvant therapy in cerebral edema treatment.
文摘In the practice of healthcare,patient-reported outcomes(PROs)and PRO measures(PROMs)are used as an attempt to observe the changes in complex clinical situations.They guide us in making decisions based on the evidence regarding patient care by recording the change in outcomes for a particular treatment to a given condition and finally to understand whether a patient will benefit from a particular treatment and to quantify the treatment effect.For any PROM to be usable in health care,we need it to be reliable,encapsulating the points of interest with the potential to detect any real change.Using structured outcome measures routinely in clinical practice helps the physician to understand the functional limitation of a patient that would otherwise not be clear in an office interview,and this allows the physician and patient to have a meaningful conver-sation as well as a customized plan for each patient.Having mentioned the rationale and the benefits of PROMs,understanding the quantification process is crucial before embarking on management decisions.A better interpretation of change needs to identify the treatment effect based on clinical relevance for a given condition.There are a multiple set of measurement indices to serve this effect and most of them are used interchangeably without clear demarcation on their differences.This article details the various quantification metrics used to evaluate the treatment effect using PROMs,their limitations and the scope of usage and implementation in clinical practice.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22178388 and 22108306)Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province(No.tsqn201909065)Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau(No.cstc2019jscx-gksb X0032).
文摘Structural regulation of Pd-based electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination(EHDC)catalyst for constructing high-efficient cathode materials with low noble metal content and high atom utilization is crucial but still challenging.Herein,a support electron inductive effect of Pd-Mn/Ni foam catalyst was proposed via in-situ Mn doping to optimize the electronic structure of the Ni foam(NF),which can inductive regulation of Pd for improving the EHDC performance.The mass activity and current efficiency of Pd-Mn/NF catalyst are 2.91 and 1.34 times superior to that of Pd/NF with 2,4-dichlorophenol as model compound,respectively.The Mn-doped interlayer optimized the electronic structure of Pd by bringing the d-state closer to the Fermi level than Pd on the NF surface,which optimizied the binding of EHDC intermediates.Additionally,the Mn-doped interlayer acted as a promoter for generating H∗and accelerating the EHDC reaction.This work presents a simple and effective regulation strategy for constructing high-efficient cathode catalyst for the EHDC of chlorinated organic compounds.
文摘BACKGROUND Various stone factors can affect the net results of shock wave lithotripsy(SWL).Recently a new factor called variation coefficient of stone density(VCSD)is being considered to have an impact on stone free rates.AIM To assess the role of VCSD in determining success of SWL in urinary calculi.METHODS Charts review was utilized for collection of data variables.The patients were subjected to SWL,using an electromagnetic lithotripter.Mean stone density(MSD),stone heterogeneity index(SHI),and VCSD were calculated by generating regions of interest on computed tomography(CT)images.Role of these factors were determined by applying the relevant statistical tests for continuous and categorical variables and a P value of<0.05 was gauged to be statistically significant.RESULTS There were a total of 407 patients included in the analysis.The mean age of the subjects in this study was 38.89±14.61 years.In total,165 out of the 407 patients could not achieve stone free status.The successful group had a significantly lower stone volume as compared to the unsuccessful group(P<0.0001).Skin to stone distance was not dissimilar among the two groups(P=0.47).MSD was significantly lower in the successful group(P<0.0001).SHI and VCSD were both significantly higher in the successful group(P<0.0001).CONCLUSION VCSD,a useful CT based parameter,can be utilized to gauge stone fragility and hence the prediction of SWL outcomes.
基金supported by the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(JCYJ20230808105111022,JCYJ20220818095806013)Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong(2023A1515012267)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22178223)the Royal Society/NSFC cost share program(IEC\NSFC\223372).
文摘Low-electrode capacitive deionization(FCDI)is an emerging desalination technology with great potential for removal and/or recycling ions from a range of waters.However,it still suffers from inefficient charge transfer and ion transport kinetics due to weak turbulence and low electric intensity in flow electrodes,both restricted by the current collectors.Herein,a new tip-array current collector(designated as T-CC)was developed to replace the conventional planar current collectors,which intensifies both the charge transfer and ion transport significantly.The effects of tip arrays on flow and electric fields were studied by both computational simulations and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,which revealed the reduction of ion transport barrier,charge transport barrier and internal resistance.With the voltage increased from 1.0 to 1.5 and 2.0 V,the T-CC-based FCDI system(T-FCDI)exhibited average salt removal rates(ASRR)of 0.18,0.50,and 0.89μmol cm^(-2) min^(-1),respectively,which are 1.82,2.65,and 2.48 folds higher than that of the conventional serpentine current collectors,and 1.48,1.67,and 1.49 folds higher than that of the planar current collectors.Meanwhile,with the solid content in flow electrodes increased from 1 to 5 wt%,the ASRR for T-FCDI increased from 0.29 to 0.50μmol cm^(-2) min^(-1),which are 1.70 and 1.67 folds higher than that of the planar current collectors.Additionally,a salt removal efficiency of 99.89%was achieved with T-FCDI and the charge efficiency remained above 95%after 24 h of operation,thus showing its superior long-term stability.
