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It is still a challenging task to accurately and temperature-continuously express the thermodynamic properties and phase equilibrium behaviors of the salt-lake brine with multi-component, multi-temperature and high concentration. The essential subsystem of sulfate type brine, aqueous Li+-Na+-K+-SO42− and its subsystems across a temperature range from 250 K to 643 K are investigated with the improved comprehensive thermodynamic model. Liquid parameters ( Δ g IJ , Δ h IJ , and Δ C p , I J ) associated with the contributions of Gibbs energy, enthalpy, and heat capacity to the binary interaction parameters, i.e. the temperature coefficients of eNRTL parameters formulated with a Gibbs Helmholtz expression, are determined via multi-objective optimization method. The solid constants Δ f G k ° ( 298.15 ) and Δ f H k ° ( 298.15 ) of 11 solid species occurred in the quaternary system are rebuilt from multi-temperature solubilities. The modeling results show the accurate representation of (1) solution properties and binary phase diagram at temperature ranges from eutectic points to 643 K; (2) isothermal phase diagrams for Li2SO4-Na2SO4-H2O, Li2SO4-K2SO4-H2O and Na2SO4-K2SO4-H2O ternary systems. The predicted results of complete structure and polythermal phase diagram of ternary systems and the isothermal phase diagrams of quaternary system excellently match with the experimental data.

The solubility equilibrium of Li+, Na+//Cl–, CO32– −H2O quaternary systems at 323.15 K and 348.15 K was studied via the isothermal solubility equilibrium method, and the complete phase diagrams wer...

Background: Increasing studies have reported that 5′-nucleotidase cytosolic II (NT5C2) has a strong relationship with coronary heart disease (CHD) development. This study was designed to examine the relationship between NT5C2 polymorphisms and CHD in the Chinese Han population. Methods: We studied 501 CHD patients and 496 healthy controls from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University in Hainan Province, China. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in NT5C2 were selected and genotyped using Agena MassARRAY technology. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using logistic regression after adjusting for age and gender. Stratification analysis was performed by age and gender in all individuals; we especially investigated the effects of NT5C2 SNPs on hypertension and diabetes among CHD patients. Results: rs2148198 of NT5C2 was strongly associated with an increased risk of CHD (allele: p = 0.045; codominant: p = 0.007; additive: p = 0.016). Stratified analysis revealed that rs2148198 was associated with increased CHD risk in individuals aged ≤61 years and males. For CHD patients, rs2148198 significantly affected the risk of hypertension and diabetes (p < 0.05). Further, rs79237883 of NT5C2 was associated with decreased susceptibility to hypertension in multiple genetic models for individuals with CHD (allele: p = 0.007; codominant: p = 0.001; dominant: p = 0.001; additive: p = 0.008). Conclusion: This study reports the association of NT5C2 gene variants and CHD susceptibility in the Chinese Han population. Especially, NT5C2 rs2148198 was significantly associated with CHD risk in the subgroups of males, hypertension, and diabetes.

Over a hundred sizable lakes, some even larger than ~1 km2, are distributed across the lowlands between megadunes in the southeastern Badain Jaran Desert (BJD), northwest China. With rather limited precipitation and hardly any surface runoff, these lakes are fed mainly by groundwater. However, the source of the groundwater and the groundwater discharge rates to these lakes are poorly understood. Water level and temperature of four representative lakes in the southeastern BJD were monitored continuously between 2013 and 2017. Water surface evaporation and rainfall in this area were also measured. Combining these acquired data, groundwater discharge rates were estimated using water balance models. The results show that the four lakes have similar recharge and discharge patterns, but at different average net groundwater discharge rates ranging from 1.79 to 3.09 mm d−1. The lake level variation mainly depends on groundwater discharge and lake surface evaporation. We found that diurnal lake level variation may be controlled by earth tide and atmospheric pressure change, and is five times greater than the evaporation. The desert precipitation and deep confined groundwater with high temperature were found also recharging the desert lakes. An Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) method was used to identify the lake level trend. All lake levels increased over the last four years, except one decreased in 2015 and 2016. The lake levels’ increasing trend is synchronously similar with the precipitation in north China. This study analyzes annual and seasonal lake level variations, and also finds the diurnal water cycle between the groundwater and lake water for the first time.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), due to its high detecting sensitivity and rapid data acquisition ability, has been considered as a powerful technique for label-free ultrasensitive detection of chemical and biochemical analytes. As an important part, the uniform SERS substrate is the prerequisite for this technology being used in all the related areas. Therefore, seeking the fast, convenient and low-cost way to obtain the SERS substrate with high performance and reproducibility never stops in recent decades. In this work, the PC membrane with uniform nanopores obtained by ion irradiation and chemical etching (i.e., ion-track etched PC membrane) was first used to prepare the gold nanostar SERS substrate. The monolayer gold nanostars can be obtained through a one-step redox reaction on the surface of the PC membrane, which not only can act as the base of SERS substrate but also can work as the reaction adjuster. By optimizing the growth conditions, the SERS substrate with uniform monolayer gold nanostars can be fabricated without any complicated procedures and costly equipment fast (in 20 mins). Meanwhile, the prepared flexible gold nanostar SERS substrate exhibits excellent Raman performance, which can effectively detect the analyte R6G with the concentration as low as 1 × 10

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide. Inflammatory cytokines play an essential role in the pathogenesis of CHD. This study aimed to detect the potential association between interleukin (IL)-9, IL-2RA, and IL-2RB variants and CHD in a Han Chinese population.This case-control study included 499 CHD patients and 496 healthy controls. Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped to investigate the possible association between the polymorphisms and CHD risk. Interactions between SNPs and CHD risk were analyzed via multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR).We observed an association between IL‑9 rs55692658 (OR = 1.72, p = 0.003) and increased CHD risk. Age-stratified analysis indicated that regardless of the participants' age, IL‑9 rs55692658 and IL-2RB rs1573673 contributed significantly to CHD susceptibility (p 0.05, respectively). Results showed an association between IL‑9 rs55692658 and an increased risk for CHD (OR = 2.32, p = 0.003), while IL-2RA rs12722498 was correlated with decreased susceptibility to CHD (OR = 0.54, p = 0.033) in female patients. Furthermore, IL-2RA rs12569923 was related to diabetes risk in CHD patients (OR = 1.50, p = 0.028). The MDR analysis revealed a positive interaction between the SNPs.The present study demonstrated that IL‑9 rs55692658, IL-2RA rs12569923, IL-2RA rs12722498, and IL-2RB rs3218264 polymorphisms might be related to CHD. The results require validation in larger studies.HINTERGRUND: Bei der koronaren Herzkrankheit (KHK) handelt es sich um eine der führenden Ursachen von Behinderung und Tod weltweit. Inflammatorische Zytokine spielen eine essenzielle Rolle in der Pathogenese der KHK. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, den potenziellen Zusammenhang zwischen Varianten von Interleukin (IL)-9, IL-2RA sowie IL-2RB und KHK in einer Population von Han-Chinesen zu untersuchen.Diese Fall-Kontroll-Studie bezog 499-KHK-Patienten und 496 gesunde Kontrollen ein. Eine Genotypisierung erfolgte bei 7 ausgewählten Einzelnukleotidpolymorphismen (SNPs), um eine mögliche Assoziation zwischen den Polymorphismen und dem KHK-Risiko zu ermitteln. Wechselwirkungen zwischen SNPs und KHK-Risiko wurden mittels Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction (MDR) analysiert.Die Autoren stellten einen Zusammenhang zwischen IL-9-rs55692658 (Odds Ratio, OR = 1,72; p = 0,003) und einem erhöhten KHK-Risiko fest. Eine altersstratifizierte Analyse ergab, dass unabhängig vom Alter des Studienteilnehmers IL‑9-rs55692658 und IL-2RB-rs1573673 in signifikanter Weise zur Anfälligkeit für eine KHK beitrugen (p 0,05 jeweils). Die Ergebnisse zeigten eine Assoziation zwischen IL‑9-rs55692658 und einem erhöhten KHK-Risiko (OR = 2,32; p = 0,003), während IL-2RA-rs12722498 mit einer verminderten Anfälligkeit für eine KHK bei Patientinnen korreliert war (OR = 0,54; p = 0,033). Des Weiteren bestand eine Verknüpfung von IL-2RA-rs12569923 mit dem Diabetesrisiko bei KHK-Patienten (OR = 1,50; p = 0,028). Die MDR-Analyse ergab eine positive Wechselwirkung zwischen den SNPs.Die vorliegende Studie zeigte, dass die Polymorphismen IL‑9-rs55692658, IL-2RA-rs12569923, IL-2RA-rs12722498 und IL-2RB-rs3218264 mit KHK in Zusammenhang stehen könnten. Die Ergebnisse erfordern eine Validierung in größeren Studien.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide. In the pathogenesis of CHD, inflammatory cytokines take an essential part. This study was designed to detect the potential association between IL-9, IL-2RA and IL-2RB variants and CHD in Chinese Han population. Methods: This case-control study conducted 499 CHD patients and 496 healthy controls. Seven selected SNPs were genotyped to investigate the possible association between the polymorphisms and the CHD risk. The interaction of SNP-SNP in the CHD risk was analyzed by Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR). Results: We observed an association between IL-9 rs55692658 (OR = 1.72, p = 0.003) and the increased CHD risk. The stratification analysis by age indicated that no matter participants who were older or younger than 61 years, IL-9 rs55692658 and IL-2RB rs1573673 contributed to the CHD susceptibility significantly (p < 0.05, respectively). IL-9 rs55692658 showed an increasing-risk effect (OR = 2.32, p = 0.003), while IL-2RA rs12722498 was correlated with the decreased susceptibility of CHD (OR = 0.54, p = 0.033) in female. Furthermore, IL-2RA rs12569923 was related to the diabetes risk in the CHD patients (OR = 1.50, p = 0.028). MDR analysis revealed a positive interaction between the SNPs. Conclusion: The present study firstly demonstrated that IL-9 rs55692658，IL-2RA rs12569923, rs12722498 and IL-2RB rs3218264 polymorphisms might be related to CHD. The results required further validation by larger studies.

The unique landscape of numerous lakes distributed in between megadunes in the Badain Jaran Desert (BJD) has attracted much research attention. The lakes are considered to be recharged by groundwater because of the absence of surface runoff and the very limited precipitation in the region. However, the source of the groundwater and recharge mechanism for the lakes is controversial. Ancient flood sediments, indicated by the residual Yardang landforms, are distributed on the southwestern fringe of the BJD, close to the Beida and Heli Mountains which form the southwestern border of the desert. At the present day, flooding between the mountains and the BJD occurs during heavy rainfall events. Ancient river courses identified on an alluvial fan by remote sensing images interpretation revealed that the floodwater originated in the Beida and Heli Mountains. In this study we conducted optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of sequences of ancient flood sediments in the BJD. The results showed that in the southern border of the BJD, flood events occurred during marine isotope stage (MIS) 7, MIS 5, and in the middle Holocene. Since the gradient of groundwater flow beneath the alluvial fan is from the Beida Mountains to the BJD, and the ground-water table responds to the local rainfall, we conclude that at least part of the groundwater of the BJD is derived from ancient and modern mountain flood events and is supplied as belowground runoff beneath the alluvial fan. The rainfall triggers flooding in the southwestern mountains, which recharges the BJD groundwater and subsequently the BJD lakes.

The Badain Jaran Desert (BJD) in NW China is well known for its unique landscape of megadunes coexisting with permanent lakes. The megadunes are already the tallest sand dunes on earth, and some of them are up to 400 m high. However, it is unclear whether or not the height of the megadunes is continuing to increase under present climatic and environmental conditions. In order to determine the growth status of the megadunes, we collected 26 samples from the windward slopes of two megadunes for optically stimulated and infrared stimulated luminescence dating. The results show that the thickness of the modern eolian sand layers increases from the lower part of the windward slopes, with a thickness of less than 1 m, to more than 2 m in the middle, and to 9 m in the upper part. This indicates that the height of the megadunes is continuing to increase under modern conditions. The surface sediments from the base of the windward slope and the adjacent lake basin have relatively old ages of 6–7 ka, indicating that these areas are eroding. The recent eolian sands of the upper part of the megadunes likely originated from the base of the dunes or from the lake basin. The megadunes in the BJD are currently becoming increasingly high and steep due to the upward migration and accumulation of sand particles. Increased humidity and a weakened wind regime in northern China, related to ongoing climatic warming, are likely the main factors in maintaining the growth of the megadunes.