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Few studies have investigated differences in sequential transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and simultaneous RFA‐TACE for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using the Milan criteria. This study explored the differences in safety and prognosis between sequential TACE‐RFA and simultaneous RFA‐TACE. This retrospective real‐world study included 109 patients with HCC within the Milan criteria who underwent sequential TACE‐RFA (n= 75) or simultaneous RFA‐TACE (n= 34) at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital between January 2017 and 2021. Postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and long‐term prognosis were compared. The median follow‐up duration of these patients was 39.1 months. Overall survival (OS) and time to tumor recurrence (TTR) curves were plotted using the Kaplan−Meier method and were compared using the logarithmic rank test. Independent risk factors for OS and tumor recurrence (TR) were analyzed using the Cox risk regression model. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor diameter >3 cm (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.201, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.106–4.378, p= 0.025; HR: 2.236, 95% CI: 1.271–3.934, p= 0.005, respectively) and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) > 400 μg/L (HR: 2.362, 95% CI: 1.195–4.668, p= 0.013; HR: 1.798, 95% CI: 1.048–3.086, p= 0.033, respectively) were independent risk factors for OS and TTR, whereas the presence of multiple tumors (HR: 2.352, 95% CI: 1.127–4.907, p= 0.023) was an independent risk factor for TTR. Simultaneous RFA‐TACE did not have an effect on OS or TTR. After propensity score‐matched, comparable results were obtained and RFA‐TACE still had no effect on OS or TTR. No significant differences were observed in grade III/IV complications (2/75 [2.7%] vs. 1/34 [2.9%], p= 1.000) between the two groups. However, the RFA‐TACE group had fewer complications than the TACE‐RFA group (24/34 [70.6%] vs. 66/75 [88.0%], p= 0.026). The RFA‐TACE group had a shorter hospital stay and less total cost during hospitalization compared with the TACE‐RFA group (6.0 vs. 10.0 days, p< 0.001; 30,000 vs. 35,000 CNY, p< 0.001). For HCC within the Milan criteria, there was no significant difference in OS and TTR between RFA‐TACE and TACE‐RFA. However, RFA‐TACE could reduce all‐grade complications and shorten the length of hospital stay compared with TACE‐RFA. Therefore, simultaneous RFA‐TACE may be considered for patients with HCC and good liver function falling within the Milan criteria. This  article compared sequential transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)‐(radiofrequency ablation) RFA and simultaneous RFA‐TACE in overall survival (OS) and tumor recurrence (TR). Our results showed that simultaneous RFA‐TACE had similar OS, TR rate, fewer all‐grade complications, and shorter hospital stay compared with sequential TACE‐RFA. AFP, alpha‐fetoprotein; CI, confidence interval; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HR, hazard ratio; TTR, time to tumor recurrence. Significant findings of the study There was no significant difference in overall survival and time to tumor recurrence comparing simultaneous radiofrequency ablation transarterial chemoembolization (RFA‐TACE) with sequential TACE‐RFA. However, simultaneous RFA‐TACE could reduce all‐grade complications and shorten the length of hospital stay compared with sequential TACE‐RFA. What this study adds Simultaneous RFA‐TACE for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma satisfying the Milan criteria is safer than sequential TACE‐RFA and reduces the duration of hospitalization.

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With specific focus on local structural order, bonding networks, transport properties, and viscosity of the molten ash oxides, we report molecular dynamics simulations on the influence of alkalis (Na2O and K2O) on coke behavior within a blast furnace. Atomistic simulations were carried out on the Al2O3–SiO2–CaO–K2O–Na2O system at 2223 K for a range and relative proportions of Na2O and K2O. Alkalis were seen to have a strong effect on the oxygen bonding networks; the relative proportions of bridging and nonbridging oxygen showed a sharp increase, while significant reductions were observed for tricluster oxygens. Total diffusion coefficients and viscosity showed a highly nonlinear dependence on the relative proportions of two alkalis with large changes observed in the simultaneous presence of alkalis as compared to their individual presence. Our studies have shown that the combined influence of alkalis on the viscosity of molten ash, and associated coke degradation within a blast furnace, is likely to be much smaller than previously perceived and could even be negligible for some alkali concentrations.

Atomic-scale structural transformation of coke carbon in the thermal annealing process was investigated with four coke carbon samples using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, and ReaxFF molecular dynamics. Microcrystal graphite was confirmed to be the basic structural unit in coke carbon structure, and its average size increased from (Lc: 23–27 Å; La: 48–50 Å) to (Lc: 53–78 Å; La: 53–63 Å) with increasing annealing temperature. The coke carbon structural evolution in 1300–1500 °C is not Raman-sensitive because most coke carbon bonding types were found to be sp2with a stable content (>60%). ReaxFF simulation repeated the experimental results very well and indicates that it is relatively hard to form a well-structured order in the graphene plane (La) direction compared with that in the vertical direction (Lc). Five-membered carbon rings, especially when two five-membered rings are connected together, make the graphene layers curved to some extent, leading to the formation of defects as well as disorder in the graphene plane. The increase of carbon structural order decreases the carbon reactivity with CO2, but a clear correlation cannot be constructed in the present study since some other factors such as nanopores and residue ash may also influence coke reactivity.

The gasification reactivities of four pretreated carbonaceous materials from the Corex furnace, including one coal char, two metallurgical cokes, and one recycling dust, were investigated by a thermogravimetric analyzer, in which the recycling dust came mainly from two metallurgical cokes and accounted for a mass fraction of 71.3%. The physicochemical properties of the different samples were tested systematically. The results showed that the recycling dust had a gasification reactivity similar to the coal char, of which the value was higher than those of the two metallurgical cokes. The structure analysis ascertained that the main factor that affected the gasification reactivity was the carbonaceous structure. Moreover, to characterize the reactive behavior of the different samples, three nth-order typical gas–solid reaction models were employed in this study. It has been found that the random pore model was the best model. The activation energies of different chars were in the range of 181.1–202.3 kJ/mol.

In this study, the structure characteristics and combustibility of anthracite (LC), waste plastics (PVC), and their blends were investigated using laser particle size analyzer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Results show that basic structural features of carbon in PVC and LC are quite different; LC had different carbon rings that constituted carbon layers and some aliphatic chains in the gap of carbon layers, while PVC is composed mainly by long chains. PVC presents high reactivity mainly due to its more disordered crystalline structure. Through kinetic analysis, it is found that the combustion processes of PVC, coal, and their blends have a very consistent fit with the double parallel reactions random pore model (DPRM). The combustion of the blends is divided into two stages, and for each stage, the activation energy first decreases and then increases with the increase of the PVC. When the proportion of PVC is 80%, each stage of the activation energy achieves the smallest value (first stage 43.9 kJ/mol, second stage 31.4 kJ/mol).

Climate disruption and rapid urbanization present numerous challenges to infrastructure and communities in Chinese cities, from flooding and coastal erosion, to drought and pollution. This review article focuses on the utilization of Blue‐Green Infrastructure (BGI)—a suite of nature‐based strategies combining hydrological functions (blue) with vegetated landscaping (green)—to provide climate resilience and urban multifunctionality in China's large, high‐density cities. Chinese cities are utilizing BGI in new construction, in neighborhood retrofits, and in revival of ancient nature‐based infrastructure. The literature gives most attention to BGI in China's Sponge City Initiative that addresses the pluvial flooding crisis. Quantitative monitoring of BGI shows progress in stormwater‐related functions and to a lesser extent with rainwater utilization to address water scarcity. Other studies document multifunctional aspects of BGI, including cooling and energy‐saving functions of urban trees and green roofs, and green space expansion with parks that serve as retention basins. However, significant challenges and potential remain. China's urban infrastructure, including BGI, needs stronger design to be robust under extreme conditions as climate disruption intensifies. There is potential for BGI to more fully address habitat fragmentation, extreme heat, sea‐level rise and other climate and urbanization hazards. Further research and pilot projects are needed to characterize and quantify the benefits of multifunctional BGI. More integrated planning across city sectors, with greater incorporation of ecological and social functions, will help Chinese cities achieve multiple goals: providing carbon‐neutral and climate‐resilient infrastructure, improving air and water quality, regenerating ecosystems, and enhancing urban quality of life. This article is categorized under:Energy and Urban Design > Climate and EnvironmentEnergy and Climate > Systems and InfrastructureEnergy and Urban Design > Systems and Infrastructure Blue‐Green Infrastructure (BGI) is a suite of nature‐based strategies combining hydrological functions (blue) with vegetated landscaping (green). BGI works best in integrated networks, providing climate resilience and multiple urban services.

ObjectiveAcute cardiac allograft rejection continues to be the cause of graft loss and contributes to the morbidity and mortality after cardiac transplantation. Repetitive endomyocardial biopsies are necessary to monitor the eff ects of immunosuppressants after cardiac transplantation. In this study, we investigate whether speckle tracking imaging (STI) is a valuable method in assessing acute cardiac rejection.Methods and resultsHearts from Brown Norway rats or Lewis rats were transplanted into other Brown Norway rats. Isografts and groups of allografts, either untreated or treated with cyclosporine A (CsA) at a low dose (3 mg •kg-1• d-1) or a high dose (10 mg •kg-1• d-1), were compared 7 days after transplantation. Echocardiography-derived left ventricular post wall thickness was increased only in untreated allografts. The left ventricular ejection fraction was signifi cantly lower in the allografts compared with the isografts, but allografts treated without or with low-dose CsA showed similar results .The radial velocity and systolic radial strain rate showed a lower value in untreated allografts than other grafts, but there is no signifi cant diff erence between allografts treated with high- or low-dose CsA and isografts. The circumferential strain and circumferential strain rate were comparable among the 4 groups. However, the radial strain exhibited a clear gradient in these groups (2.8 ± 1.3 in untreated allografts, 5.2 ± 0.9 in allografts treated with lowdose CsA, 6.3 ± 1.8 in allografts treated with high-dose CsA, and 12.7 ± 7.9 in isografts, P< 0.001).ConclusionsSTI is able to off er a noninvasive method for detecting transplant allograft rejection.

High molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) from three hexaploid wheat species (AABBDD, 2n=6x=42, Triticum aestivumL., T. speltaL., and T. compactumL.) were separated and identified by acidic capillary electrophoresis (A-CE) with phosphate-glycine buffer (pH 2.5) in uncoated fused-silica capillaries (50 µm, i.d. × 25.5 cm) at 12.5 kV and 40°C. The rapid separations (<15 min) of HMW-GS with good repeatability (RSD < 2%) were obtained using a fast capillary rising protocol. All 17 HMW-GS analyzed could be well separated and their relative migration orders were ranked. In particular, the good quality subunit pair 5+10 could be differentiated from poor quality subunit pair 2+12. In addition, the other three allelic pairs of 13+16, 17+18, and 7+8 subunits that were considered to have positive effects on dough properties, as well as three pairs of novel subunits 13+22*, 13*+19*, and 6.1+22.1 detected from spelt and club wheat, can also be readily separated and identified. An additional protein subunit presented in Chinese bread wheat cultivar Jing 411 and club wheat TRI 4445/75, respectively, was detected by both A-CE and 2-D gel electrophoresis (A-PAGE × SDS-PAGE), for which further identification is needed.

The cold and warm intervals during the Plio‐Pleistocene provide an opportunity to assess the response of the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) to different levels of global warming. In this study, the northern edge of the ASM, a sensitive indicator of the advance and retreat of the ASM rain belt, was analyzed using climate outputs from PMIP3 and PlioMIP1, for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, ∼21,000 yr BP), the preindustrial, the mid‐Holocene (∼6,000 yr BP), and the mid‐Pliocene (∼3.3–3.0 Ma), among which the global temperature increased sequentially. The results show that the northern edge of the ASM migrated northwestward by ∼200 km, ∼50 km, and ∼50 km with global warming from the LGM to preindustrial, from the preindustrial to mid‐Holocene, and from the mid‐Holocene to mid‐Pliocene, respectively. These results are generally consistent with geological records. The simulations show that the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) intensified and expanded geographically, and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) migrated northward over the Indian Ocean and was shifted southward over the western Pacific. This led to a northwestward shift of the Asian monsoonal rain belt, and consequently to wetter conditions in India and northern China. During the mid‐Pliocene, pronounced warming substantially intensified the WPSH, leading to the suppression of moisture transport from the Indian Ocean to southern China and the Indo‐China Peninsula. Our results suggest that if the planet returns to a Pliocene warm world, precipitation will increase in northern China, while southern China and the Indo‐China Peninsula will experience more frequent droughts. Simulations show a warming‐induced northwestward shift of the Asian summer monsoon, which are consistent with geological recordsThe western Pacific subtropical high intensified and expanded in response to past global warmingThe intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) moved north (south) over the Indian (West Pacific) Ocean in a warmer world Simulations show a warming‐induced northwestward shift of the Asian summer monsoon, which are consistent with geological records The western Pacific subtropical high intensified and expanded in response to past global warming The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) moved north (south) over the Indian (West Pacific) Ocean in a warmer world