Search

In the implementation process of carbon capture and storage (CCS), the geomechanical problems arising from the cyclic injection of carbon dioxide into the formation cannot be ignored. To clarify the influence of cyclic loading on the geomechanics properties of reservoir rocks, cyclic loading tests were carried out on rocks in sandstone reservoirs with the RTR-2000 Rock Mechanics Test System, and the evolution of compressive strength, elastic modulus, and Poisson’s ratio parameters was analyzed, which revealed the law of the geomechanical deterioration and damage evolution of sandstone reservoirs under cyclic loading. The results show that under the same cyclic load, when the number of cycles is increased to a certain degree, the influence on the peak strength is small. As the number of cycles increases, the modulus of elasticity of rock appears to be increasing and then decreasing, whereas a rapid increase in Poisson’s ratio and a slow increase in Poisson’s ratio occur with the increase in the number of cycles. Under the same number of cycles, the peak strength of the core gradually decreased with the increase of the maximum cyclic stress. When the cyclic load was smaller than the yield stress of the core, the effect of cyclic loading on the strength of the core was small, and when the cyclic load was larger than the yield stress, the effect of cyclic loading on the strength increased significantly. With the increase of cyclic load, the modulus of elasticity showed a tendency to increase and then decrease, and Poisson’s ratio had a tendency of decreasing and the overall degree of change was small.

Toona sinensis is one of the traditional Chinese medicinal materials with rich physiological activities. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition differences of the essential oils from the tender leaves and shoots of T. sinensis, collected from four main producing areas in China, and to verify their anti-listeria and antioxidant properties. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was conducted on the essential oils obtained by hydro-distillation. The results indicated that compounds such as β-elemene (3.5∼8.1%), α-caryophyllene (3.7∼7.2%), and trans-caryophyllene (4.0∼9.7%) were the main common components of T. sinensis essential oils (TSEO) from four producing areas. The results of DPPH and ABTS showed that the essential oil from Dazhou, Sichuan, China had the best antioxidant effect. At a concentration of 1.25 mg/mL, the antioxidant activity of TSEO-DZ from Sichuan was comparable to 0.08 mg/mL of BHT and was only slightly lower than 0.06 mg/mL of VC. The broth dilution method showed that the essential oil from Tai 'an, Shandong, China, showed better antibacterial effect, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MLC) values of 1.25 μL/mL and 2.54 μL/mL, respectively. This study demonstrates that TSEO possesses promising application potential in antioxidant and anti-listeria activities, and it confirms that the growth environment of T. sinensis significantly influences the quality, content, and biological activity of the essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to analyze the efficacy of metformin on carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: A literature search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to December 2023 was conducted. Then, after studies selection and data extraction, the mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate metformin efficacy in CIMT and FMD for PCOS patients. Heterogeneity was investigated through subgroup and sensitivity analysis. The protocol of our study has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024497239). Results: A total of 12 studies with 248 patients were included. CIMT was lower in the endpoint group (after metformin) compared with the baseline group (before metformin) (MD = -0.11, 95% CI = -0.21 to -0.01, p = 0.04). FMD was higher in the endpoint group compared with the baseline group (MD = 3.25, 95% CI = 1.85 to 4.66, p < 0.01). No statistically significant difference was observed in nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD) between the two groups (MD = 0.65, p = 0.51). Subgroup analysis showed that a relatively lower MD of CIMT in PCOS patients from Europe in the endpoint group compared with the baseline group (MD = -0.09, 95% CI = -0.14 to -0.04, p < 0.001). However, the MD in CIMT was not significantly different between the endpoint group and baseline group in PCOS patients from Asia (p = 0.270). Conclusion: Metformin may have a beneficial effect on CIMT and FMD, but not on NMD, suggesting that metformin may help reduce cardiovascular events in PCOS patients. Notably, the clinical efficacy of metformin can be influenced by regional differences and study types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium carbide (TiC) exhibits excellent chemical stability and high electrical conductivity, making it suitable for composites with unique structures and exceptional absorption abilities. In this work, TiO2@TiC composites with varied morphology were synthesized by oxidizing TiC at 400°C, for various durations. With the increase of oxidation time, small white TiO2 particles grew in situ on the surface of TiC particles, ultimately leading to the formation of a continuous structure in which TiO2 covered the surface of the TiC particles. These results indicate that the impedance matching and electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption properties of TiO2@TiC composites can be modified by adjusting the oxidation time. The minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of the highly oxidized TiO2@TiC composite (TO-4 sample) reached −16.2 dB at a thickness of 2.9 mm. When the thickness was increased from 1.2 mm to 4.7 mm, the composites achieved the broadest effective absorption bandwidth of 13 GHz (from 5 to 18 GHz). These enhanced EMW absorption properties can be ascribed to the presence of defects, pores, heterointerfaces, TiO2, and TiC within the composites, which induce dipole polarization loss, interface polarization loss, and conduction loss. This practical solution provides a method for preparing TiO2@TiC materials with EMW-absorbing properties using oxidation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome walking, a molecular technique for obtaining unknown flanking genomic sequences from a known genomic sequence, has been broadly applied to determine transgenic sites, mine new genetic resources, and fill in chromosomal gaps. This technique has advanced genomics, genetics, and related disciplines. Here, an efficient and reliable genome walking technique, called primer extension refractory PCR (PER-PCR), is presented. PER-PCR uses a set of primary, secondary, and tertiary walking primers. The middle 15 nt of the primary walking primer overlaps with the 3′ parts of the secondary and tertiary primers. The 5′ parts of the three primers are heterologous to each other. The short overlap allows the walking primer to anneal to its predecessor only in a relaxed-stringency PCR cycle, resulting in a series of single-stranded DNAs; however, the heterologous 5′ part prevents the creation of a perfect binding site for the walking primer. In the next stringent cycle, the target single strand can be extended into a double-stranded DNA molecule by the sequence-specific primer and thus can be exponentially amplified by the remaining stringent cycles. The nontarget single strand fails to be enriched due to the lack of a perfect binding site for any primer. PER-PCR was validated by extension into unknown flanking regions of the hyg gene in rice and the gadR gene in Levilactobacillus brevis CD0817. In summary, in this study, a new practical PER-PCR method was constructed as a potential alternative to existing genome walking methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, ticks are considered to be one dangerous blood-sucking ectoparasite for poultries, livestocks and even some wild animals. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the insecticidal activity of the essential oil extracted from Myristica fragrans Houtt. with the popular name nutmeg (NEO) against the camel ticks, Hyalomma dromedarii. When the engorged female ticks were immersed in 10 mL of NEO solution of the concentration 800 mg/mL for 5 min, the essential oil could not only decrease the viability and mobility of them, but also decrease their blood digestion. Meanwhile, the acaricide efficacy of NEO against the engorged female ticks was demonstrated as well. When the eggs produced collected, weighed, deposited in the bottles covered by cotton gauze and subjected to the incubator for hatching, the essential oil was demonstrated to have the prominent inhibitory effect against the oviposition, hatchability and fertility of the engorged female ticks, when the engorged female ticks were immersed in 10 mL of NEO solution of the concentration 400 and 800 mg/mL for 5 min. In consequence, the employment of NEO as the potential insecticide against the ticks, H. dromedarii, is prospective in the future., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may contribute to the development of hematologic malignancies. In this study, the potential relationship between IBD and hematologic malignancies was investigated., Methods: We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for all cohort studies comparing the incidence of hematologic malignancies in non-IBD populations with that in IBD patients, and we extracted relevant data from January 2000 to June 2023 for meta-analysis., Results: Twenty cohort studies involving 756,377 participants were included in this study. The results showed that compared with the non-IBD cohort, the incidence of hematologic malignancies in the IBD cohort was higher (standardized incidence ratio [SIR]=3.05, p<0.001). According to the specific types of IBD, compared with the non-IBD patients, the incidences of hematologic malignancies in ulcerative colitis patients (SIR=2.29, p=0.05) and Crohn's disease patients (SIR=3.56, p=0.005) were all higher. In the subgroup analysis of hematologic malignancy types, compared with the control group, the incidences of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR=1.70, p=0.01), Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR=3.47, p=0.002), and leukemia (SIR=3.69, p<0.001) were all higher in the IBD cohort., Conclusions: The incidence of hematologic malignancies, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and leukemia is higher in patients with IBD (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) than in non-IBD patients.

Context: The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) or platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is an inflammation marker of acute ischemic stroke, but the predictive value of NLR and PLR before and after thrombolysis for short-term prognosis in acute ischemic stroke patients after thrombolysis remains largely obscure. This study attempts to clarify the predictive value of NLR and PLR before and after thrombolysis for short-term prognosis in acute ischemic stroke patients after thrombolysis., Design: A retrospective study was carried out in the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University involving 120 patients visiting the neurology department of our hospital from May 2019 to October 2022 and meeting the selection criteria. The participants were assigned to the good prognosis group and the poor prognosis group based on the modified Rankin scale score. Laboratory data collected include NLR and PLR at admission as well as NLR and PLR collected from venous blood within 24 h after thrombolysis., Results: Age, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, rheumatic heart disease, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores after thrombolysis depicted statistical significance between both groups (P < .05). Hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, and NIHSS scores before thrombolysis were independent risk elements for adverse prognosis (P < .05). NLR and PLR before and after thrombolysis in the poor prognosis group depicted an elevation relative to that in the good prognosis group (P < .05). The area under the curve of NLR or PLR predicting adverse prognosis after thrombolysis depicted an elevation relative to that before thrombolysis (P < .05)., Conclusion: The predictive value of NLR and PLR post-thrombolysis for short-term prognosis in acute ischemic stroke patients depicts an elevation relative to pre-thrombolysis; our study provides effective predictive indicators for short-term prognosis in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Background: Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) is used as a drainage technique in patients with choledocholithiasis after stone removal. However, ENBD can cause discomfort, displacement, and other complications. This study aims to evaluate the safety of not using ENBD following elective clearance of choledocholithiasis., Methods: Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library from their inception until August 2023. The main outcomes assessed were postoperative complications and postoperative outcomes. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on study design types and treatment procedures., Results: Six studies, including three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies, were analyzed. Among these, four studies utilized endoscopic techniques, and two employed surgical methods for choledocholithiasis clearance. The statistical analysis showed no significant difference in postoperative complications between the no-ENBD and ENBD groups, including pancreatitis (RR: 1.55, p = 0.36), cholangitis (RR: 1.81, p = 0.09), and overall complications (RR: 1.25, p = 0.38). Regarding postoperative outcomes, the subgroup analysis indicated that the bilirubin normalization time was longer in the no-ENBD group compared to the ENBD group in RCTs (WMD: 0.24, p = 0.07) and endoscopy studies (WMD: 0.23, p = 0.005), although the former did not reach statistical difference. There was also no significant difference in the length of postoperative hospital stay between the groups (WMD: -0.30, p = 0.60)., Conclusion: It appears safe to no- ENBD after elective clearance of choledocholithiasis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The essential oil extracted from the flower buds of Lonicerae japonicae (LJEO) was employed in the high-temperature (65℃) accelerated preservation of sunflower oil. In the present investigation, the addition of the essential oil at a concentration of 800 ppm significantly inhibited the decrease in the oxidative stability of sunflower oil. This positive effect was achieved by significantly hindering the reduction in acidity value (AV), peroxide value (PV), p-anisidine value (AnV), the total oxidation value (TOTOX) (p < 0.01), and the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), the absorbance at 232/268 nm (K232/K268) and total polar compounds (TPC) (p < 0.01). Besides, it also significantly enhances the sensory attributes of Maye, including taste, flavor, and appearance, improving its overall acceptability through the addition of certain potential fragrance molecules (p < 0.01). Furthermore, one of the primary chemical compounds in LJEO, eugenol, has demonstrated significant natural antioxidant properties in the traditional deep-frying procedure for the product, Maye. Consequently, together with eugenol, the essential oil LJEO could be employed as a possible effective antioxidant for the typical long-term preservation and even the traditional deep-frying procedures, and developed as effective antioxidant extracted from plants for the whole food industry.

Traditional optical information recognition (OIR), particle capture and manipulation require many optical devices or mechanical moving system components to achieve a specific function, which is difficult to achieve integration. This paper proposes a new method to realize these functions by using multi-focus metalens combining spectrum and polarization selection. The design incorporates three spectral bands, namely 500 nm, 580 nm, and 660 nm, within the visible light range. Additionally, it utilizes either left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized (LCP/RCP) light, resulting in six distinct focus focusing effects on a single focal plane. By analyzing the normalized light intensity (NLI) at the corresponding focus position, the OIR of any wavelength and polarization detection in the design can be realized, and the particle capture at different focusing positions can be realized. Our work can provide a new idea for the high integration of on-chip light recognition and operation and inspire the design of a highly integrated optical system with a smaller size and more substantial function.