Effect of rapid-mixing conditions on the evolution of micro-flocs to final aggregates during two-stage alum addition.

In a coagulation-flocculation process, optimal separation of the resultant aggregates plays a decisive role on coagulation performance and provides a lower burden for subsequent treatment units. This separation highly depends on the stability of the micro-flocs formed during the initial, rapid stage of coagulation. In this work, a two-stage addition of aluminium sulphate (alum, Al(SO)) was employed by adding 0.

Elaboration of a multimodal MRI-based radiomics signature for the preoperative prediction of the histological subtype in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Non-invasive discrimination between lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) subtypes of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) could be very beneficial to the patients unfit for the invasive diagnostic procedures. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of utilizing the multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics and clinical features in classifying NSCLC. This retrospective study involved 148 eligible patients with postoperative pathologically confirmed NSCLC.

A Method for Multi-day Tracking of Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle Contractile Patterns in Organotypic Culture.

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility is a key component of digestive health, and it is a complex both rhythmic and arrhythmic process governed by many physiological factors. The ability to accurately track the movements of the GI tissues in vitro over multiple days would provide valuable insights into GI tract physiology. A correlational analysis tracking algorithm was developed and applied to intestinal smooth muscle tissues that were maintained in organotypic culture.

A Pipeline for the Registration of Calcium Transient Data to Structural Networks of the Interstitial Cells of Cajal.

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) generate electrical pacemaker activity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract known as slow waves, which regulate GI motility. ICC express both the Kit receptor tyrosine kinase protein and a Ca-activated Cl-channel, encoded by the anoctamin1 (Ano1) protein, which is an essential contributor to the Ca cycling of ICC and slow wave pacemaking. Recent dye-loading imaging studies have demonstrated Ca transients in ICC in isolated tissue preparations.

Source localization for gastric electrical activity using simulated magnetogastrographic data.

In this study, the use of magnetic dipole (MDP) approximation to localize the underlying source of magnetogastrographic (MGG) data was investigated. An anatomically realistic torso and a stomach model were used to simulate slow wave (SW) activities and magnetic fields (MFs). SW activity in the stomach was simulated using a grid-based finite element method.

PRSS contributes to cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer.

Cetuximab improves the survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The main limitation is primary and secondary resistance, the underlying mechanism of which requires extensive investigation. We proved that PRSS expression levels are significantly negatively associated with the sensitivity of cancer cells to cetuximab.

Multifactorial Deep Learning Reveals Pan-Cancer Genomic Tumor Clusters with Distinct Immunogenomic Landscape and Response to Immunotherapy.

Purpose: Tumor genomic features have been of particular interest because of their potential impact on the tumor immune microenvironment and response to immunotherapy. Due to the substantial heterogeneity, an integrative approach incorporating diverse molecular features is needed to characterize immunologic features underlying primary resistance to immunotherapy and for the establishment of novel predictive biomarkers.

Experimental Design: We developed a pan-cancer deep machine learning model integrating tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, and somatic copy-number alterations to classify tumors of different types into different genomic clusters, and assessed the immune microenvironment in each genomic cluster and the association of each genomic cluster with response to immunotherapy.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) is a candidate diagnostic biomarker for early non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) is an important regulatory protein of the cell cycle and plays an important role in tumor progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CDK6 in T1 stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to explore the association of CDK6 with the clinicopathological features of the disease.

Methods: CDK6 expression was analyzed by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in tumor tissue samples and the distal normal tissue samples from 56 T1 stage NSCLC patients.

[Occurrence of Tramadol and Fentanyl Use in Domestic Wastewater in Beijing].

Tramadol (TRA) and fentanyl (FEN) are used as common painkillers in clinical practice, but they have been increasingly abused in recent years due to their addictive nature. Two substances and their metabolites enter wastewater through urine and are collected and treated by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) before being discharged into the aquatic environment. In this study, wastewater analysis was performed to examine the patterns of TRA and FEN use in the urban area of Beijing for the first time.

Risk Factors of Colorectal Stricture Associated with Developing High-Grade Dysplasia or Cancer in Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter Long-term Follow-up Study.

Background/aims: The risk factors of colorectal stricture associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) carcinogenesis in the long-term disease duration remain unclear.

Methods: This study included all UC patients registered from a prospectively maintained database between June 1986 to July 2018. The demographic data, clinical features, and outcomes in patients with dysplasia and stricture were assessed using univariable analysis and multivariate logistic regression models.

HOXB2 is a Putative Tumour Promotor in Human Bladder Cancer.

Background/aim: The present study aimed to investigate the role of Homebox B2 (HOXB2) in bladder cancer (BC).

Materials And Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset was used to analyse HOXB2 expression in BC. The influence of HOXB2 on the cellular functions of BC cells was determined in both HOXB2 knockdown and HOXB2 overexpressed BC cell lines using in vitro assays.

Ag@TiO Nanoprisms with Highly Efficient Near-Infrared Photothermal Conversion for Melanoma Therapy.

Melanoma is a primary reason of death from skin cancer and associated with high lethality. Photothermal therapy (PTT) has been developed into a powerful cancer treatment technique in recent years. Here, we created a low-cost and high-performance PTT agent, Ag@TiO NPs, which possesses a high photothermal conversion efficiency of ≈65 % and strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption about 808 nm.

Development of a static test apparatus for evaluating the performance of three PM separators commonly used in China.

PM separator directly affects the accuracy of PM sampling. The specification testing and evaluation for PM separator is particularly important, especially under China's wide variation of terrain and climate. In this study, first a static test apparatus based on polydisperse aerosol was established and calibrated to evaluate the performance of the PM separators.

microRNA overexpression in slow transit constipation leads to reduced Na1.5 current and altered smooth muscle contractility.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in slow transit constipation (STC).

Design: All human tissue samples were from the of the colon. Expression of 372 miRNAs was examined in a discovery cohort of four patients with STC versus three age/sex-matched controls by a quantitative PCR array.

Hepatocellular HO-1 mediated iNOS-induced hepatoprotection against liver ischemia reperfusion injury.

Hepatocyte-derived inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was proved to impart protection against liver ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury in our prior analysis. However, the mechanism for this hepatoprotection remains incompletely understood. Bone marrow chimeric mice were generated using expression of iNOS in a hepatocyte-selective manner against an iNOS-knockout background.

Differential expression of histamine receptors in the bladder wall tissues of patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis - significance in the responsiveness to antihistamine treatment and disease symptoms.

Background: Activation of mast cells plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). Histamine, a mast cell-derived mediators, induced inflammation and hypersensitivity of the bladder. The present study investigated the expressions of histamine receptors in the bladder wall tissues of patients with BPS/IC, and its association with the effectiveness of antihistamine therapy and disease symptoms.

Monitoring consumption of methadone and heroin in major Chinese cities by wastewater-based epidemiology.

Background: Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) services have been used in China for treatment of heroin dependence. But no study has been conducted to assess the appropriateness of MMT distribution and the potential abuse of methadone in China. This study aims to do that through a nationwide estimation of methadone consumption in China via wastewater-based epidemiology and subsequently compare it with MMT data and level of heroin abuse.

Ratiometric optical thermometer based on the use of manganese(II)-doped CsCuI thermochromic and fluorescent halides.

The inconsistent thermal quenching performance of manganese(II)-doped CsCuI microparticles is exploited in a highly sensitive noninvasive optical thermometer. The ratio of the emissions of Cu(II) and Mn(II) ions in the microparticles is highly temperature dependent in the range from 298 to 498 K. The best absolute and relative sensitivities are 0.

Matrine pre-treatment suppresses AGEs- induced HCSMCs fibrotic responses by regulating Poldip2/mTOR pathway.

The fibrotic response of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) takes responsibilities in atherosclerosis. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) induce and promote the fibrotic responses of VSMCs. Matrine shows potent anti-fibrotic and cardio-protective effects.

Effect of cinnamon essential oil on gut microbiota in the mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis.

Increasing evidence has confirmed that the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) contribute to protection against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model was established to investigate the correlation between the protective effects of CEO and the regulation of intestinal microflora. The symptoms of IBD were assessed by measuring the hemoglobin content, myeloperoxidase activity, histopathological observation, cytokines, and toll-like receptor (TLR4) expression.

Hierarchical Nanoporous VO Nanosheets Anchored with Alloy Nanoparticles for Efficient Electrocatalysis.

Exploring low-cost bifunctional electrocatalysts for efficient water splitting still faces arduous challenges. Herein, a general and straightforward method is developed to prepare 3D hierarchical nanoporous VO nanosheets anchored with different alloy nanoparticles by adopting metal-ion-doped zinc-vanadium (oxy)hydroxides as precursors. To demonstrate this concept, we produced nanoporous VO nanosheets dotted with NiFe alloy nanoparticles through high-temperature reduction and free corrosion.

Three thiacalix[4]arene-based Cu(i) coordination polymers: catalytic activities for azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions and luminescence properties.

Three new coordination polymers, [Cu(CN)(L)(OCH)]·CHOH·3HO (1), [Cu(Br)(L)] (2) and [Cu(I)(L)]·1.5HO (3), have been solvothermally prepared by reacting L (5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetra[(3-pyridylmethyl)oxy]-2,8,14,20-tetrathiacalix[4]arene) with Cu(i) halide. 1 and 2 exhibit layers.

Effect of Gypsum on Hydration and Hardening Properties of Alite Modified Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement.

Calcium sulphoaluminate cement (CSA) has the characteristics of quick hardening, high early strength and high impermeability, however its strength growth persistence in the middle and late stages (after the age of 3 days) is poor. In order to improve this disadvantage, the pilot production of alite (CS) modified CSA (AMCSA) clinker was carried out by liquid phase manipulation and barium ion doping technology. The effects of different dosages of gypsum on the hydration and hardening properties of AMCSA, such as setting time, hydration rate, compressive strength and hydration products, were studied.