Dear Editor,Local recurrence and cervical lymph node metastases are major causes of mortality in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC).To date,none of the proposed strategies for predicting outcom...Dear Editor,Local recurrence and cervical lymph node metastases are major causes of mortality in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC).To date,none of the proposed strategies for predicting outcomes in this disease have proven fully effective,and a comprehensive physical examination remains the primary method for early detection and monitoring of HNSCC.展开更多
Addressing the environmental issues of traditional vanadium extraction methods from vanadium-bearing shale,a highly efficient and clean suspension oxidation roasting-curing-leaching process was proposed and semi-indus...Addressing the environmental issues of traditional vanadium extraction methods from vanadium-bearing shale,a highly efficient and clean suspension oxidation roasting-curing-leaching process was proposed and semi-industrial trials were conducted.Vanadium in raw ore mainly exists in sericite,roscoelite,and limonite,predominantly in the forms of V(Ⅲ)and V(Ⅳ).Under the conditions of a feed rate of 30 kg/h,an air flow rate of 28.0 m^(3)/h,an O_(2) flow rate of 4.0 m^(3)/h,and a temperature of 900℃ in both the suspension furnace and fluidized reactor,the vanadium-bearing mica underwent dehydroxylation and transformed into illite-montmorillonite.These changes disrupted the crystal structure of mica,facilitating vanadium extraction.Compared to direct acid leaching,curing-leaching demonstrates better performance in vanadium extraction.Under the conditions of curing temperature of 130℃,acid dosage of 40 wt.%,curing time of 6 h,and leaching time of 3 h,a V_(2)O_(5) leaching efficiency of 83.92% was achieved.展开更多
Sewage sludge in cities of Yangzi River Belt,China,generally exhibits a lower organic content and higher silt contentdue to leakage of drainage system,which caused low bioenergy recovery and carbon emission benefits i...Sewage sludge in cities of Yangzi River Belt,China,generally exhibits a lower organic content and higher silt contentdue to leakage of drainage system,which caused low bioenergy recovery and carbon emission benefits in conventional anaerobic digestion(CAD).Therefore,this paper is on a pilot scale,a bio-thermophilic pretreatment anaerobic digestion(BTPAD)for low organic sludge(volatile solids(VS)of 4%)was operated with a long-term continuous flow of 200 days.The VS degradation rate and CH_(4) yield of BTPAD increased by 19.93%and 53.33%,respectively,compared to those of CAD.The analysis of organic compositions in sludge revealed that BTPAD mainly improved the hydrolysis of proteins in sludge.Further analysis of microbial community proportions by high-throughput sequencing revealed that the short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment was enriched in Clostridiales,Coprothermobacter and Gelria,was capable of hydrolyzing acidified proteins,and provided more volatile fatty acid(VFA)for the subsequent reaction.Biome combined with fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)analysis showed that the number of bacteria with high methanogenic capacity in BTPAD was much higher than that in CAD during the medium temperature digestion stage,indicating that short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment could provide better methanogenic conditions for BTPAD.Furthermore,the greenhouse gas emission footprint analysis showed that short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment could reduce the carbon emission of sludge anaerobic digestion system by 19.18%.展开更多
Objective Lipid oxidation is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and may be contribute to the development of Ischemic stroke(IS).However,the lipid profiles associated with IS have been poorly studied.We co...Objective Lipid oxidation is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and may be contribute to the development of Ischemic stroke(IS).However,the lipid profiles associated with IS have been poorly studied.We conducted a pilot study to identify potential IS-related lipid molecules and pathways using lipidomic profiling.Methods Serum lipidomic profiling was performed using LC-MS in 20 patients with IS and 20 age-and sex-matched healthy controls.Univariate and multivariate analyses were simultaneously performed to identify the differential lipids.Multiple testing was controlled for using a false discovery rate(FDR)approach.Enrichment analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst software.Results Based on the 294 lipids assayed,principal component analysis(PCA)and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA)models were used to distinguish patients with IS from healthy controls.Fifty-six differential lipids were identified with an FDR-adjusted P less than 0.05 and variable influences in projection(VIP)greater than 1.0.These lipids were significantly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism(FDR-adjusted P=0.009,impact score=0.216).Conclusions Serum lipid profiles differed significantly between patients with IS and healthy controls.Thus,glycerophospholipid metabolism may be involved in the development of IS.These results provide initial evidence that lipid molecules and their related metabolites may serve as new biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for IS.展开更多
Objective Observational studies have found associations between inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and the risk of dementia,including Alzheimer’s dementia(AD)and vascular dementia(VD);however,these findings are inconsist...Objective Observational studies have found associations between inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and the risk of dementia,including Alzheimer’s dementia(AD)and vascular dementia(VD);however,these findings are inconsistent.It remains unclear whether these associations are causal.Methods We conducted a meta-analysis by systematically searching for observational studies on the association between IBD and dementia.Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis based on summary genome-wide association studies(GWASs)was performed.Genetic correlation and Bayesian colocalization analyses were used to provide robust genetic evidence.Results Ten observational studies involving 80,565,688 participants were included in this metaanalysis.IBD was significantly associated with dementia(risk ratio[RR]=1.36,95%CI=1.04-1.78;I2=84.8%)and VD(RR=2.60,95%CI=1.18-5.70;only one study),but not with AD(RR=2.00,95%CI=0.96-4.13;I^(2)=99.8%).MR analyses did not supported significant causal associations of IBD with dementia(dementia:odds ratio[OR]=1.01,95%CI=0.98-1.03;AD:OR=0.98,95%CI=0.95-1.01;VD:OR=1.02,95%CI=0.97-1.07).In addition,genetic correlation and co-localization analyses did not reveal any genetic associations between IBD and dementia.Conclusion Our study did not provide genetic evidence for a causal association between IBD and dementia risk.The increased risk of dementia observed in observational studies may be attributed to unobserved confounding factors or detection bias.展开更多
This paper proposes an interdisciplinary talent training model that combines foreign language education with area studies.The model aims to cultivate international ocean affairs professionals with cross-cultural commu...This paper proposes an interdisciplinary talent training model that combines foreign language education with area studies.The model aims to cultivate international ocean affairs professionals with cross-cultural communication skills,in-depth regional and country knowledge,and practical expertise in ocean affairs.Additionally,the paper presents specific training pathways and policy recommendations for implementing this model.展开更多
In modern society,the globalization of literary works is evident,with exceptional literary pieces from various countries spreading worldwide.Among these,children’s literature,due to the specificity of its target audi...In modern society,the globalization of literary works is evident,with exceptional literary pieces from various countries spreading worldwide.Among these,children’s literature,due to the specificity of its target audience,imposes distinct requirements on children’s books,compelling translators to approach the text from a child’s perspective.“The Little Prince”has renowned both within and outside of China,and a careful reading of this work can provide us with much inspiration.To this end,the present study adopts the perspective of Gideon Toury’s Descriptive Translation Studies to conduct an in-depth analysis of the different English and Chinese translations in conjunction with the original French novel.This approach aims to better guide literary research and explores translation methods for children’s literature through the analysis of translation norms and rules.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal endoscopy technology has significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy and the successful treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.However,a series of ethical issues have emerged,such as exp...BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal endoscopy technology has significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy and the successful treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.However,a series of ethical issues have emerged,such as expanding treatment indications,which affect the fair distribution of medical resources.There is limited research on ethical issues in the field of digestive endoscopy.AIM To investigate the level of ethical awareness among gastrointestinal endoscopy practitioners and analyze the ethical issues involved in gastrointestinal endoscopy technology.METHODS A questionnaire survey was performed to collect relevant data(gender,age,degree of education,professional title,personnel category,the level of understanding medical ethical principles,ethics training and its learning pathways)from gastrointestinal endoscopy practitioners at the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University and Dalian Friendship Hospital,including licensed physicians and nurses(including trainees and graduate students).RESULTS The majority of gastrointestinal endoscopy practitioners have received training on ethics,but there is still considerable room for improvement in their ethical awareness.Different learning pathways may affect the mastery of ethical principles, and understanding of ethical principles is more easily achieved through hospital ethics institutions.CONCLUSIONTo address the ethical issues in gastrointestinal endoscopy technology, it is necessary to enhance the humanisticeducation of gastrointestinal endoscopy practitioners, incorporate ethical standards into the technology assessmentprocess, and establish a patient-centered diagnostic and treatment model to improve the ethical awareness of practitionersand achieve a balance between technology and ethics.展开更多
Through the questionnaire survey and comparative studies on tourist satisfaction of tourism services among three world heritage sites,i.e.Huangshan Mountain,Lushan Mountain and Wuyi Mountain,this study pointed out the...Through the questionnaire survey and comparative studies on tourist satisfaction of tourism services among three world heritage sites,i.e.Huangshan Mountain,Lushan Mountain and Wuyi Mountain,this study pointed out the problems in tourism services of three scenic areas and then put forward relevant countermeasures for the management of scenic areas.展开更多
OBJECTIVE： Difficulty falling asleep （sleep latency） and staying asleep （sleep maintenance） are common problems for persons living with pain. Research demonstrates that sleep problems are, in turn, related to exa...OBJECTIVE： Difficulty falling asleep （sleep latency） and staying asleep （sleep maintenance） are common problems for persons living with pain. Research demonstrates that sleep problems are, in turn, related to exacerbation of chronic pain. There is a growing body of evidence for a range of pragmatic, non-pharmacological sleep interventions that can potentially be incorporated into pain management programs. This study looks at the outcome of teaching patients with musculoskeletal pain standardized pre-bedtime hand self-Shiatsu （HSS） to reduce sleep latency. METHODS： A case series design, with participants acting as their own controls, was selected to facilitate hypothesis generation for this novel, under-researched intervention. Sleep efficiency, latency and maintenance, sleep beliefs, pain intensity and basic participant demographics were collected at baseline with actigraphy and standardized self-report questionnaires. After one week of baseline data collection, the HSS intervention was taught to participants. Follow-up data were collected at 2 and 8 weeks post-intervention. RESULTS： Data collected at baseline and the two follow-up periods revealed no apparent changes in the objective actigraphy data. However a trend toward improved self-reported sleep latency （time to fall asleep） and sleep duration （time spent asleep） emerged. A number of participants reported they were more concerned with increasing their period of unbroken sleep as opposed to their total sleep time and it is possible that HSS may be useful to be applied during nighttime awakenings as well as before bed. None of the participants reported adverse effects of the intervention. CONCLUSION： These preliminary findings are promising and future studies exploring the mechanism of action and with stronger control of treatment fidelity are indicated.展开更多
The use of a biotrickling filter was investigated for a pilot field-scale elimination of NH3 gas and other odorous gases from a composting plant in Tongzhou District, Beijing. The inlet gas flow rate was 3500 m3/h and...The use of a biotrickling filter was investigated for a pilot field-scale elimination of NH3 gas and other odorous gases from a composting plant in Tongzhou District, Beijing. The inlet gas flow rate was 3500 m3/h and NH3 concentration fluctuated between 2.76–27.84 mg/m3, while the average outlet concentration was 1.06 mg/m3 with an average of 94.9% removal. Critical volumetric loading (removal efficiency=100%) was 11.22 g-N/(m3·h). The odor concentration removal was 86.7%. NH3 removal efficiency decreased as the free ammonia (FA) in the trickling liquid increased. The pressure drop was maintained at about 50 Pa/m and was never more than 55 Pa/m. During the experiment, there was neither backflushing required nor any indication of clogging. Overall, the biotrickling filter was highly efficient and cost-effective for the simultaneous biodegradation of NH3 and other odorous gases from composting, suggesting the possibility of treating odorous gases at the industrial level.展开更多
BACKGROUND： When performing clinical trials involving acupuncture, it can be difficult to choose a placebo control. OBJECTIVE： To validate the Park sham needle for use as a double-blind control intervention. DESIGN,...BACKGROUND： When performing clinical trials involving acupuncture, it can be difficult to choose a placebo control. OBJECTIVE： To validate the Park sham needle for use as a double-blind control intervention. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS： Two different methods were employed. First, a researcher blinded to needle type administered the Park sham or a real needle, chosen at random, on the arms of 16 healthy volunteers. The researcher and the volunteers independently recorded which needle type they thought had been applied at each acupuncture point. Second, 19 patients with shoulder impingement syndrome were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture applied with the real needle or the Park sham needle, once a week for 6 weeks alongside a course of physiotherapy. At the end of the 6 sessions the patients recorded which needle type they thought was being used. The results were analyzed with a Fisher＇s exact test. This study was carried out in the Outpatient Department of Physiotherapy in Chafing Cross Hospital, London, UK, on healthy volunteers and patients with shoulder impingement pain. The age range was 23 to 54 and 22 to 74 years respectively. RESULTS： Of the healthy volunteers, there was no difference （P=0.23） between the number of needles that were correctly （n=43） or incorrectly identified （n=53）. All patients thought that they had received the real needles. The researcher correctly identified all needles that were applied. CONCLUSION： The researcher delivering the acupuncture recognized the needle type. However, both healthy and patient volunteers were blind to the needle type. This demonstrates that the Park sham needle is an effective single-blind control. It should be noted that the number of patients recruited was small and the study was underpowered to detect an effect of treatment.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of acupressure on postpartum low back pain(LBP),salivary cortisol,physical limitations,and postpartum depression.METHODS:Participants were 70 postpartum women who were randomly assi...OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of acupressure on postpartum low back pain(LBP),salivary cortisol,physical limitations,and postpartum depression.METHODS:Participants were 70 postpartum women who were randomly assigned to either an intervention(n=35)or a control(n=35)group.The intervention group received 10 acupressure sessions(1 session per day,5 d per week).The control group received 10 sham acupressure sessions.Outcomes were assessed using a visual analogue scale(LBP intensity),salivary cortisol values(LBP biomarker),and Chinese versions of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire(daily activity limitations),Oswes-try Disability Index(physical activity limitations),and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale(postpartum depression).RESULTS:Participants in the intervention group had significantly lower levels of LBP intensity,daily activity limitations,physical activity limitations,and postpartum depression than those in the control group.There was no significant between-group difference in salivary cortisol.CONCLUSION:Acupressure may reduce postpartum LBP intensity and limitations in daily and physical activity,and alleviate postpartum depressive symptoms.Acupressure should be offered in postpartum care settings as an alternative treatment for postpartum women with LBP.展开更多
OBJECTIVE： This study investigated the acceptability and effectiveness of acupuncture for persistent musculoskeletat pain in the elderly and assessed the conditions for a future controlled trial. METHODS： A total of...OBJECTIVE： This study investigated the acceptability and effectiveness of acupuncture for persistent musculoskeletat pain in the elderly and assessed the conditions for a future controlled trial. METHODS： A total of 60 patients, hospitalized in a geriatric hospital were enrolled. The intervention consisted of eight acupuncture sessions. The main outcome was the patient＇s participation rate. Regarding pain, the evaluation was based on pre- and post-treatment variations. As a high proportion of the patients had cognitive impairment, the behavioral pain scale DOLOPLUS-2 was chosen although self evaluation was used wherever possible. RESULTS： The mean age of the patients was 83 years. The acceptance rate was very high （89.6%） and 90% of the patients completed the entire course of treatment. After five weeks, the mean DOLOPLUS score had decreased significantly （P〈0.01）. The patients reported improved sleep quality and a reduction in their anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, caregivers noticed a decrease in patient aggressiveness making care easier. CONCLUSION： Our results suggest that acupuncture is highly acceptable and could be very useful in the management of chronic pain when performed in very old frail people with chronic physical and mental disability. TRIAL REGISTRATION IDENTIFIER： NCT01043692 ClinicalTrials.gov.展开更多
OBJECTIVE： To examine the effects of a greens alkalizing dietary supplement on urinary pH levels in individuals with lower-than-average pH levels. METHODS： The present study investigated the effects of an alkalizing...OBJECTIVE： To examine the effects of a greens alkalizing dietary supplement on urinary pH levels in individuals with lower-than-average pH levels. METHODS： The present study investigated the effects of an alkalizing formula （Reserveage Wholeganic GreensTM） on four individuals who had average urinary pH levels below 6.0 for three consecutive days. Following the three-day, baseline period, participants received Reserveage Wholeganic GreensTM for four consecutive days and were instructed to continue to measure their urine pH levels. Paired samples t-tests were used to examine pH levels before and after a four-day treatment period with Reserveage Wholeganic GreensTM. RESULTS： Compared to baseline, mean urine pH levels in all volunteers were significantly higher following the supplementation with Reserveage Wholeganic GreensTM （5.89 ±0.20 vs 5.56 ± 0.23; P〈0.01）. Participants＇ pH levels were also significantly higher than baseline on days 5, 6, and 7 of the treatment period （P 〈 0.05）. Noteworthy, on day 7, participants＇ mean pH levels were significantly higher than at the beginning of the treatment period （6.03 ± 0.15 at day 7 vs 5.65 ± 0.24 at day 4; P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： The findings of this study suggest that supplementation with Reserveage Wholeganic GreensTM has an alkalizing effect on the body and can increase the urine pH levels in individuals with lower-than-average pH levels.展开更多
AIM:To assess the efficacy and advantages of 4-wk pegylated interferon a-2a(peg-IFN-a2a) monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C patients with strong predictors of sustained virologic response(SVR).METHODS:Patients(n = 33...AIM:To assess the efficacy and advantages of 4-wk pegylated interferon a-2a(peg-IFN-a2a) monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C patients with strong predictors of sustained virologic response(SVR).METHODS:Patients(n = 33) with genotype 2 and low viral load(< 100 KIU/mL),who became HCV RNA negative after 1 wk of IFN treatment,were randomly allocated to receive a 4-or 12-wk treatment course at a ratio of 2:1,respectively,with a subsequent 24-wk follow-up period.Peg-IFN-a2a was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 180 μg or 90 μg once weekly.SVR was defined as absence of serum HCV RNA at the end of the follow-up period.RESULTS:All patients completed the treatment schedule,and more than half were symptom-free during the treatment.In the 4-wk treatment group,20 of 22(91%) patients achieved SVR.Two patients relapsed,but achieved SVR following re-treatment with peg-IFN-a2a alone.In the 12-wk treatment group,11 of 11(100%) patients attained SVR.CONCLUSION:Our results show that a 4-wk course of peg-IFN-a2a monotherapy can achieve a high SVR rate in "IFN-sensitive" patients,without negatively affecting outcome.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Balance problems are common in people of all ages and can lead to falls, thus causing fractures with consequent disability. Qigong practice has long been part of daily life in Chinese culture, and has goo...BACKGROUND： Balance problems are common in people of all ages and can lead to falls, thus causing fractures with consequent disability. Qigong practice has long been part of daily life in Chinese culture, and has good effects on physical health maintenance. OBJECTIVE： The present work describes the change in balance in young, healthy women after practising Qigong for eight weeks. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS： The study took the form of a controlled, randomised longitudinal trial, and involved 30 women aged 18-25 years. The subjects had no prior experience of Qigong or Tai Chi and were unaware of the aims of the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to a Qigong intervention group or a control group. Those in the Qigong intervention group performed ＂exercises in 20 figures for health and long-life＂ （Wang Ziping） for 1 h twice per week, for 4 weeks. The control group undertook no exercise at all. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The main outcome measure was the stabilometry values. These were obtained in a unipodal support test, using a plantar pressure platform with optical sensors. RESULTS： The Qigong subjects showed a significant improvement in their stabilometry results （40.1% pre-intervention and 56.4% post-intervention） （P〈0.045）, while no improvement was seen in the control group （51.2% pre-intervention and 53.5% post-intervention）. At the beginning of the intervention, the stabilometry values recorded for the Qigong intervention group were worse than those recorded for the control group （40.15% and 51.21% respectively; P=0.121）. However, a comparison of the post-intervention values between these groups showed that these differences have disappeared （P=0.653）. CONCLUSION： Qigong can improve balance in healthy, young women.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To collect preliminary data on the effects of Saam acupuncture with regard to the immunity in cancer patients.METHODS: Ten cancer patients were analyzed for improvements in immunity. Acupuncture was applied...OBJECTIVE: To collect preliminary data on the effects of Saam acupuncture with regard to the immunity in cancer patients.METHODS: Ten cancer patients were analyzed for improvements in immunity. Acupuncture was applied at the 5 acupuncture points, Jingqu(LU 8), Zutonggu(BL 66), Yanggu(SI 5), Yangchi(TE 4), and Zhongwan(CV 12) for 2 weeks with 4 sessions. We assessed the effect of Korean Saam acupuncture on the immune system in cancer patients by measuring particular blood cell subsets, including CD3 +,CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, and CD56+ cells, as well as total white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, and fatigue score. The measurement was performed before and after acupuncture and at a 2-week follow-up.RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in the number of CD3+(P=0.023) and CD8+ cells(P<0.001) and T-cell subsets, as well as a decrease in the fatigue severity scale(FSS) score(P=0.001) after Saam acupuncture using the 5 acupoints.CONCLUSION: Acupuncture may improve the immune system by increasing the counts of a few immune cells and relieve fatigue in cancer patients by decreasing FSS scores. Although this was a non-controlled study, it constitutes preliminary research investigating the potential effects of Saam acupuncture in increasing the counts of several immune cells in cancer patients.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Despite a recent American Heart Association （AHA） consensus statement emphasizing the importance of resistant hypertension （RH）, its control is still a challenge for conventional medicine. The Chinese...BACKGROUND： Despite a recent American Heart Association （AHA） consensus statement emphasizing the importance of resistant hypertension （RH）, its control is still a challenge for conventional medicine. The Chinese herbal formula, Qutan Huayu Fang, has been used effectively to assist antihypertensive agents in blood pressure control, but its effect for RH patients is still unclear. This pilot study aims to explore the effects of taking the formula in addition to antihypertensive medication in the management of RH. METHODS/DESIGN： A prospective cohort study will be conducted in two first-class hospitals of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. Eligible RH patients will be classified as the experimental group （n = 100） and the control group （n = 100） based on the interventions they receive. Participants taking antihypertensive agents and the Chinese herbal formula will be in the experimental group and those taking antihypertensive agents alone will be in the control group. The whole study will last 24 weeks, including an 8-week observation and follow-up at 24 weeks. The primary outcomes, assessed against patient baseline conditions, will be the reduction of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure as well as changes in TCM symptoms and signs. These outcomes will be assessed at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. The reductions of blood pressure will also be assessed at week 24. Cardiac events and mortality rate will be secondary outcomes and will be assessed at weeks 8 and 24. Any adverse reactions will be recorded during the study. The causal inference method will be used to assess the effectiveness of the inclusion of TCM herbal medicine in the management of patients with RH. DISCUSSION： This study will determine whether the Chinese herbal formula is helpful for RH patients treated with antihypertensive agents and the findings will provide a basis for further confirmatory studies TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER： ClinicalTria/s.gov Identifier NCT01904695展开更多
文摘Dear Editor,Local recurrence and cervical lymph node metastases are major causes of mortality in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC).To date,none of the proposed strategies for predicting outcomes in this disease have proven fully effective,and a comprehensive physical examination remains the primary method for early detection and monitoring of HNSCC.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2020YFC1909704)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(Nos.N2301026,N2301017).
文摘Addressing the environmental issues of traditional vanadium extraction methods from vanadium-bearing shale,a highly efficient and clean suspension oxidation roasting-curing-leaching process was proposed and semi-industrial trials were conducted.Vanadium in raw ore mainly exists in sericite,roscoelite,and limonite,predominantly in the forms of V(Ⅲ)and V(Ⅳ).Under the conditions of a feed rate of 30 kg/h,an air flow rate of 28.0 m^(3)/h,an O_(2) flow rate of 4.0 m^(3)/h,and a temperature of 900℃ in both the suspension furnace and fluidized reactor,the vanadium-bearing mica underwent dehydroxylation and transformed into illite-montmorillonite.These changes disrupted the crystal structure of mica,facilitating vanadium extraction.Compared to direct acid leaching,curing-leaching demonstrates better performance in vanadium extraction.Under the conditions of curing temperature of 130℃,acid dosage of 40 wt.%,curing time of 6 h,and leaching time of 3 h,a V_(2)O_(5) leaching efficiency of 83.92% was achieved.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Project (Nos.2020YFC1908702 and 2021YFC3200700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.52192684 and 52192680).
文摘Sewage sludge in cities of Yangzi River Belt,China,generally exhibits a lower organic content and higher silt contentdue to leakage of drainage system,which caused low bioenergy recovery and carbon emission benefits in conventional anaerobic digestion(CAD).Therefore,this paper is on a pilot scale,a bio-thermophilic pretreatment anaerobic digestion(BTPAD)for low organic sludge(volatile solids(VS)of 4%)was operated with a long-term continuous flow of 200 days.The VS degradation rate and CH_(4) yield of BTPAD increased by 19.93%and 53.33%,respectively,compared to those of CAD.The analysis of organic compositions in sludge revealed that BTPAD mainly improved the hydrolysis of proteins in sludge.Further analysis of microbial community proportions by high-throughput sequencing revealed that the short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment was enriched in Clostridiales,Coprothermobacter and Gelria,was capable of hydrolyzing acidified proteins,and provided more volatile fatty acid(VFA)for the subsequent reaction.Biome combined with fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)analysis showed that the number of bacteria with high methanogenic capacity in BTPAD was much higher than that in CAD during the medium temperature digestion stage,indicating that short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment could provide better methanogenic conditions for BTPAD.Furthermore,the greenhouse gas emission footprint analysis showed that short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment could reduce the carbon emission of sludge anaerobic digestion system by 19.18%.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81903384and 82173596)Suzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau (No. SKY2023041 and SKY2023180)+3 种基金the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Science and Technology Program (Nos.2022YFSH0054 and 2023GLLH0387)the Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University(ND2023B06)the Shaanxi Provincial Natural Science Basic Research Program (2025JC-YBMS-1020)Undergraduate Extracurricular Academic Research Funding of Soochow University (KY2023442B)
文摘Objective Lipid oxidation is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and may be contribute to the development of Ischemic stroke(IS).However,the lipid profiles associated with IS have been poorly studied.We conducted a pilot study to identify potential IS-related lipid molecules and pathways using lipidomic profiling.Methods Serum lipidomic profiling was performed using LC-MS in 20 patients with IS and 20 age-and sex-matched healthy controls.Univariate and multivariate analyses were simultaneously performed to identify the differential lipids.Multiple testing was controlled for using a false discovery rate(FDR)approach.Enrichment analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst software.Results Based on the 294 lipids assayed,principal component analysis(PCA)and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA)models were used to distinguish patients with IS from healthy controls.Fifty-six differential lipids were identified with an FDR-adjusted P less than 0.05 and variable influences in projection(VIP)greater than 1.0.These lipids were significantly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism(FDR-adjusted P=0.009,impact score=0.216).Conclusions Serum lipid profiles differed significantly between patients with IS and healthy controls.Thus,glycerophospholipid metabolism may be involved in the development of IS.These results provide initial evidence that lipid molecules and their related metabolites may serve as new biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for IS.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2021M703366)Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(Grant No.KQTD20190929172835662).
文摘Objective Observational studies have found associations between inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and the risk of dementia,including Alzheimer’s dementia(AD)and vascular dementia(VD);however,these findings are inconsistent.It remains unclear whether these associations are causal.Methods We conducted a meta-analysis by systematically searching for observational studies on the association between IBD and dementia.Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis based on summary genome-wide association studies(GWASs)was performed.Genetic correlation and Bayesian colocalization analyses were used to provide robust genetic evidence.Results Ten observational studies involving 80,565,688 participants were included in this metaanalysis.IBD was significantly associated with dementia(risk ratio[RR]=1.36,95%CI=1.04-1.78;I2=84.8%)and VD(RR=2.60,95%CI=1.18-5.70;only one study),but not with AD(RR=2.00,95%CI=0.96-4.13;I^(2)=99.8%).MR analyses did not supported significant causal associations of IBD with dementia(dementia:odds ratio[OR]=1.01,95%CI=0.98-1.03;AD:OR=0.98,95%CI=0.95-1.01;VD:OR=1.02,95%CI=0.97-1.07).In addition,genetic correlation and co-localization analyses did not reveal any genetic associations between IBD and dementia.Conclusion Our study did not provide genetic evidence for a causal association between IBD and dementia risk.The increased risk of dementia observed in observational studies may be attributed to unobserved confounding factors or detection bias.
基金supported by“Dalian Maritime University Teaching Reform Research Fund 2022 Annual Project”(Fund No.XJG2022-96).
文摘This paper proposes an interdisciplinary talent training model that combines foreign language education with area studies.The model aims to cultivate international ocean affairs professionals with cross-cultural communication skills,in-depth regional and country knowledge,and practical expertise in ocean affairs.Additionally,the paper presents specific training pathways and policy recommendations for implementing this model.
文摘In modern society,the globalization of literary works is evident,with exceptional literary pieces from various countries spreading worldwide.Among these,children’s literature,due to the specificity of its target audience,imposes distinct requirements on children’s books,compelling translators to approach the text from a child’s perspective.“The Little Prince”has renowned both within and outside of China,and a careful reading of this work can provide us with much inspiration.To this end,the present study adopts the perspective of Gideon Toury’s Descriptive Translation Studies to conduct an in-depth analysis of the different English and Chinese translations in conjunction with the original French novel.This approach aims to better guide literary research and explores translation methods for children’s literature through the analysis of translation norms and rules.
文摘BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal endoscopy technology has significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy and the successful treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.However,a series of ethical issues have emerged,such as expanding treatment indications,which affect the fair distribution of medical resources.There is limited research on ethical issues in the field of digestive endoscopy.AIM To investigate the level of ethical awareness among gastrointestinal endoscopy practitioners and analyze the ethical issues involved in gastrointestinal endoscopy technology.METHODS A questionnaire survey was performed to collect relevant data(gender,age,degree of education,professional title,personnel category,the level of understanding medical ethical principles,ethics training and its learning pathways)from gastrointestinal endoscopy practitioners at the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University and Dalian Friendship Hospital,including licensed physicians and nurses(including trainees and graduate students).RESULTS The majority of gastrointestinal endoscopy practitioners have received training on ethics,but there is still considerable room for improvement in their ethical awareness.Different learning pathways may affect the mastery of ethical principles, and understanding of ethical principles is more easily achieved through hospital ethics institutions.CONCLUSIONTo address the ethical issues in gastrointestinal endoscopy technology, it is necessary to enhance the humanisticeducation of gastrointestinal endoscopy practitioners, incorporate ethical standards into the technology assessmentprocess, and establish a patient-centered diagnostic and treatment model to improve the ethical awareness of practitionersand achieve a balance between technology and ethics.
文摘Through the questionnaire survey and comparative studies on tourist satisfaction of tourism services among three world heritage sites,i.e.Huangshan Mountain,Lushan Mountain and Wuyi Mountain,this study pointed out the problems in tourism services of three scenic areas and then put forward relevant countermeasures for the management of scenic areas.
基金the support of the Canadian CAM Research Fund (CCRF)–Canadian Interdisciplinary Network for Complementary & Alternative Research (INCAM)
文摘OBJECTIVE： Difficulty falling asleep （sleep latency） and staying asleep （sleep maintenance） are common problems for persons living with pain. Research demonstrates that sleep problems are, in turn, related to exacerbation of chronic pain. There is a growing body of evidence for a range of pragmatic, non-pharmacological sleep interventions that can potentially be incorporated into pain management programs. This study looks at the outcome of teaching patients with musculoskeletal pain standardized pre-bedtime hand self-Shiatsu （HSS） to reduce sleep latency. METHODS： A case series design, with participants acting as their own controls, was selected to facilitate hypothesis generation for this novel, under-researched intervention. Sleep efficiency, latency and maintenance, sleep beliefs, pain intensity and basic participant demographics were collected at baseline with actigraphy and standardized self-report questionnaires. After one week of baseline data collection, the HSS intervention was taught to participants. Follow-up data were collected at 2 and 8 weeks post-intervention. RESULTS： Data collected at baseline and the two follow-up periods revealed no apparent changes in the objective actigraphy data. However a trend toward improved self-reported sleep latency （time to fall asleep） and sleep duration （time spent asleep） emerged. A number of participants reported they were more concerned with increasing their period of unbroken sleep as opposed to their total sleep time and it is possible that HSS may be useful to be applied during nighttime awakenings as well as before bed. None of the participants reported adverse effects of the intervention. CONCLUSION： These preliminary findings are promising and future studies exploring the mechanism of action and with stronger control of treatment fidelity are indicated.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science and Technology Pillar Program in the Eleventh Five-year Plan Period (No. 2006BAJ04A06)the Special Item of System Reformation of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, China
文摘The use of a biotrickling filter was investigated for a pilot field-scale elimination of NH3 gas and other odorous gases from a composting plant in Tongzhou District, Beijing. The inlet gas flow rate was 3500 m3/h and NH3 concentration fluctuated between 2.76–27.84 mg/m3, while the average outlet concentration was 1.06 mg/m3 with an average of 94.9% removal. Critical volumetric loading (removal efficiency=100%) was 11.22 g-N/(m3·h). The odor concentration removal was 86.7%. NH3 removal efficiency decreased as the free ammonia (FA) in the trickling liquid increased. The pressure drop was maintained at about 50 Pa/m and was never more than 55 Pa/m. During the experiment, there was neither backflushing required nor any indication of clogging. Overall, the biotrickling filter was highly efficient and cost-effective for the simultaneous biodegradation of NH3 and other odorous gases from composting, suggesting the possibility of treating odorous gases at the industrial level.
基金supported by the Imperial College London, Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and the Therapy Department at Imperial College NHS Trust
文摘BACKGROUND： When performing clinical trials involving acupuncture, it can be difficult to choose a placebo control. OBJECTIVE： To validate the Park sham needle for use as a double-blind control intervention. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS： Two different methods were employed. First, a researcher blinded to needle type administered the Park sham or a real needle, chosen at random, on the arms of 16 healthy volunteers. The researcher and the volunteers independently recorded which needle type they thought had been applied at each acupuncture point. Second, 19 patients with shoulder impingement syndrome were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture applied with the real needle or the Park sham needle, once a week for 6 weeks alongside a course of physiotherapy. At the end of the 6 sessions the patients recorded which needle type they thought was being used. The results were analyzed with a Fisher＇s exact test. This study was carried out in the Outpatient Department of Physiotherapy in Chafing Cross Hospital, London, UK, on healthy volunteers and patients with shoulder impingement pain. The age range was 23 to 54 and 22 to 74 years respectively. RESULTS： Of the healthy volunteers, there was no difference （P=0.23） between the number of needles that were correctly （n=43） or incorrectly identified （n=53）. All patients thought that they had received the real needles. The researcher correctly identified all needles that were applied. CONCLUSION： The researcher delivering the acupuncture recognized the needle type. However, both healthy and patient volunteers were blind to the needle type. This demonstrates that the Park sham needle is an effective single-blind control. It should be noted that the number of patients recruited was small and the study was underpowered to detect an effect of treatment.
基金Supported by the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital:the Effects of Acupressure on Postpartum Low Back Pain(No.CMRPG8G0941).
文摘OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of acupressure on postpartum low back pain(LBP),salivary cortisol,physical limitations,and postpartum depression.METHODS:Participants were 70 postpartum women who were randomly assigned to either an intervention(n=35)or a control(n=35)group.The intervention group received 10 acupressure sessions(1 session per day,5 d per week).The control group received 10 sham acupressure sessions.Outcomes were assessed using a visual analogue scale(LBP intensity),salivary cortisol values(LBP biomarker),and Chinese versions of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire(daily activity limitations),Oswes-try Disability Index(physical activity limitations),and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale(postpartum depression).RESULTS:Participants in the intervention group had significantly lower levels of LBP intensity,daily activity limitations,physical activity limitations,and postpartum depression than those in the control group.There was no significant between-group difference in salivary cortisol.CONCLUSION:Acupressure may reduce postpartum LBP intensity and limitations in daily and physical activity,and alleviate postpartum depressive symptoms.Acupressure should be offered in postpartum care settings as an alternative treatment for postpartum women with LBP.
基金the Foundation de France (NGO) for granting this study
文摘OBJECTIVE： This study investigated the acceptability and effectiveness of acupuncture for persistent musculoskeletat pain in the elderly and assessed the conditions for a future controlled trial. METHODS： A total of 60 patients, hospitalized in a geriatric hospital were enrolled. The intervention consisted of eight acupuncture sessions. The main outcome was the patient＇s participation rate. Regarding pain, the evaluation was based on pre- and post-treatment variations. As a high proportion of the patients had cognitive impairment, the behavioral pain scale DOLOPLUS-2 was chosen although self evaluation was used wherever possible. RESULTS： The mean age of the patients was 83 years. The acceptance rate was very high （89.6%） and 90% of the patients completed the entire course of treatment. After five weeks, the mean DOLOPLUS score had decreased significantly （P〈0.01）. The patients reported improved sleep quality and a reduction in their anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, caregivers noticed a decrease in patient aggressiveness making care easier. CONCLUSION： Our results suggest that acupuncture is highly acceptable and could be very useful in the management of chronic pain when performed in very old frail people with chronic physical and mental disability. TRIAL REGISTRATION IDENTIFIER： NCT01043692 ClinicalTrials.gov.
基金Support was provided by the University of Florida Claude D.Pepper Older Americans Independence Center(NIH/ NIA P30AG028740)the Clinical and Translational Science Institute(NIH/NCRR UL1TR000064)+1 种基金Stephen Anton is supported by a K23 AT004251-01A2,an Early Career Investigator Award from the American Heart Association (09CRP2390173)the Thomas H.March Foundation
文摘OBJECTIVE： To examine the effects of a greens alkalizing dietary supplement on urinary pH levels in individuals with lower-than-average pH levels. METHODS： The present study investigated the effects of an alkalizing formula （Reserveage Wholeganic GreensTM） on four individuals who had average urinary pH levels below 6.0 for three consecutive days. Following the three-day, baseline period, participants received Reserveage Wholeganic GreensTM for four consecutive days and were instructed to continue to measure their urine pH levels. Paired samples t-tests were used to examine pH levels before and after a four-day treatment period with Reserveage Wholeganic GreensTM. RESULTS： Compared to baseline, mean urine pH levels in all volunteers were significantly higher following the supplementation with Reserveage Wholeganic GreensTM （5.89 ±0.20 vs 5.56 ± 0.23; P〈0.01）. Participants＇ pH levels were also significantly higher than baseline on days 5, 6, and 7 of the treatment period （P 〈 0.05）. Noteworthy, on day 7, participants＇ mean pH levels were significantly higher than at the beginning of the treatment period （6.03 ± 0.15 at day 7 vs 5.65 ± 0.24 at day 4; P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： The findings of this study suggest that supplementation with Reserveage Wholeganic GreensTM has an alkalizing effect on the body and can increase the urine pH levels in individuals with lower-than-average pH levels.
基金Supported by Clinical Research Funds from Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology,Kashiwa Hospital,Jikei University School of Medicine
文摘AIM:To assess the efficacy and advantages of 4-wk pegylated interferon a-2a(peg-IFN-a2a) monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C patients with strong predictors of sustained virologic response(SVR).METHODS:Patients(n = 33) with genotype 2 and low viral load(< 100 KIU/mL),who became HCV RNA negative after 1 wk of IFN treatment,were randomly allocated to receive a 4-or 12-wk treatment course at a ratio of 2:1,respectively,with a subsequent 24-wk follow-up period.Peg-IFN-a2a was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 180 μg or 90 μg once weekly.SVR was defined as absence of serum HCV RNA at the end of the follow-up period.RESULTS:All patients completed the treatment schedule,and more than half were symptom-free during the treatment.In the 4-wk treatment group,20 of 22(91%) patients achieved SVR.Two patients relapsed,but achieved SVR following re-treatment with peg-IFN-a2a alone.In the 12-wk treatment group,11 of 11(100%) patients attained SVR.CONCLUSION:Our results show that a 4-wk course of peg-IFN-a2a monotherapy can achieve a high SVR rate in "IFN-sensitive" patients,without negatively affecting outcome.
文摘BACKGROUND： Balance problems are common in people of all ages and can lead to falls, thus causing fractures with consequent disability. Qigong practice has long been part of daily life in Chinese culture, and has good effects on physical health maintenance. OBJECTIVE： The present work describes the change in balance in young, healthy women after practising Qigong for eight weeks. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS： The study took the form of a controlled, randomised longitudinal trial, and involved 30 women aged 18-25 years. The subjects had no prior experience of Qigong or Tai Chi and were unaware of the aims of the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to a Qigong intervention group or a control group. Those in the Qigong intervention group performed ＂exercises in 20 figures for health and long-life＂ （Wang Ziping） for 1 h twice per week, for 4 weeks. The control group undertook no exercise at all. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The main outcome measure was the stabilometry values. These were obtained in a unipodal support test, using a plantar pressure platform with optical sensors. RESULTS： The Qigong subjects showed a significant improvement in their stabilometry results （40.1% pre-intervention and 56.4% post-intervention） （P〈0.045）, while no improvement was seen in the control group （51.2% pre-intervention and 53.5% post-intervention）. At the beginning of the intervention, the stabilometry values recorded for the Qigong intervention group were worse than those recorded for the control group （40.15% and 51.21% respectively; P=0.121）. However, a comparison of the post-intervention values between these groups showed that these differences have disappeared （P=0.653）. CONCLUSION： Qigong can improve balance in healthy, young women.
基金Supported by the Ministry of Health & Welfare,Republic of Korea(No.20-12-0-090-091-3000-3033-320)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To collect preliminary data on the effects of Saam acupuncture with regard to the immunity in cancer patients.METHODS: Ten cancer patients were analyzed for improvements in immunity. Acupuncture was applied at the 5 acupuncture points, Jingqu(LU 8), Zutonggu(BL 66), Yanggu(SI 5), Yangchi(TE 4), and Zhongwan(CV 12) for 2 weeks with 4 sessions. We assessed the effect of Korean Saam acupuncture on the immune system in cancer patients by measuring particular blood cell subsets, including CD3 +,CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, and CD56+ cells, as well as total white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, and fatigue score. The measurement was performed before and after acupuncture and at a 2-week follow-up.RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in the number of CD3+(P=0.023) and CD8+ cells(P<0.001) and T-cell subsets, as well as a decrease in the fatigue severity scale(FSS) score(P=0.001) after Saam acupuncture using the 5 acupoints.CONCLUSION: Acupuncture may improve the immune system by increasing the counts of a few immune cells and relieve fatigue in cancer patients by decreasing FSS scores. Although this was a non-controlled study, it constitutes preliminary research investigating the potential effects of Saam acupuncture in increasing the counts of several immune cells in cancer patients.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81202846)the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (No. Z0221)
文摘BACKGROUND： Despite a recent American Heart Association （AHA） consensus statement emphasizing the importance of resistant hypertension （RH）, its control is still a challenge for conventional medicine. The Chinese herbal formula, Qutan Huayu Fang, has been used effectively to assist antihypertensive agents in blood pressure control, but its effect for RH patients is still unclear. This pilot study aims to explore the effects of taking the formula in addition to antihypertensive medication in the management of RH. METHODS/DESIGN： A prospective cohort study will be conducted in two first-class hospitals of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. Eligible RH patients will be classified as the experimental group （n = 100） and the control group （n = 100） based on the interventions they receive. Participants taking antihypertensive agents and the Chinese herbal formula will be in the experimental group and those taking antihypertensive agents alone will be in the control group. The whole study will last 24 weeks, including an 8-week observation and follow-up at 24 weeks. The primary outcomes, assessed against patient baseline conditions, will be the reduction of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure as well as changes in TCM symptoms and signs. These outcomes will be assessed at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. The reductions of blood pressure will also be assessed at week 24. Cardiac events and mortality rate will be secondary outcomes and will be assessed at weeks 8 and 24. Any adverse reactions will be recorded during the study. The causal inference method will be used to assess the effectiveness of the inclusion of TCM herbal medicine in the management of patients with RH. DISCUSSION： This study will determine whether the Chinese herbal formula is helpful for RH patients treated with antihypertensive agents and the findings will provide a basis for further confirmatory studies TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER： ClinicalTria/s.gov Identifier NCT01904695
