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In this work, an efficient utilization method for red mud (RM) is provided through recycling RM as a mineral admixture for the preparation of foamed concrete (FC). Specifically, FC with different RM contents was prepared and investigated in terms of workability, mechanical properties, and hydration products. Results show that adding RM can significantly shorten the setting time, while it inevitably weakens the mechanical properties and fluidity of FC. However, the compressive strength of FC can still meet the strength predicted by the specification requirements when the RM replaces cement with 60% content (3d > 1.6 MPa). Most importantly, the heavy metals leaching from RM-based FC under the action of rain is still unclear, so a device for simulating stormwater runoff was designed to test the heavy metal leaching risk of RM-based FC. The findings indicate that the solidification of cement and the high basicity of the matrix can effectively reduce the leaching risk of heavy metals from RM in FC. Although the pore structure analysis demonstrates that the porosity and connected pores of FC will be deteriorated as RM concentration increases. The results are of great significance for the recycling of waste and the sustainable development of building materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of waste polyethylene (WPE) in modified asphalt is frequently employed to reduce environmental pollution and improve asphalt properties. However, research has shown that using WPE alone as a modifier does not effectively enhance the low-temperature flexibility of asphalt. This study aims to investigate the potential of utilizing WPE and waste cooking oil (WCO) as composite modifiers to enhance the properties of virgin asphalt under both high and low-temperature conditions. The contents of WPE and WCO were used, and the preparation process for the modified asphalt was optimized through an orthogonal experiment. The experimental results indicate that the optimal formulation for the WPE/WCO composite modified asphalt (WPE/WCO-A) is obtained with an additive dosage of 8% and 1% by mass of virgin asphalt for WPE and WCO, respectively, as well as the maintenance process at a temperature of 140 °C and a duration of 2 h. Dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) results reveal that WPE/WCO composite modifier can greatly improve the high-temperature deformation resistance of asphalt. Bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests confirm that WPE adversely affects the low-temperature flexibility of asphalt, while the addition of WCO can improve it. WPE/WCO-A has even better low-temperature properties than virgin asphalt (VA). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results suggest that the composite modification of asphalt by WPE/WCO modifiers is dominated by physical action. Furthermore, the fluorescence microscopy test results demonstrate that WCO can promote WPE swelling in asphalt. This study offers a novel approach to improve the comprehensive properties of asphalt through composite modification using WPE and WCO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes could impact many ocular tissues. However, the association of the serum aldehydes with diabetes-related eye diseases (DED) remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to examine the above relationship from the general US population of 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The multivariable logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to analyze the effect of serum aldehydes on the risk of DED. Pearson's correlation analysis, the restricted cubic spline (RCS) model, and the linear regression were performed to explore the association between the serum aldehydes and other parameters. The multivariable linear regression was conducted to further underlie the relationship between the serum aldehydes and the glycohemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in DED participants. Although no significant association was observed between the serum aldehydes and the risk of DED by the multivariable logistic regression and BKMR, the Pearson correlation revealed a positive association between the HbA1c level and the serum level of heptanaldehyde and isopentanaldehyde in DED participants. The RCS model confirmed the above linear correlation. After adjusting for the cofounding factor of smoking, the multivariable linear regression revealed a significant association between the serum level of heptanaldehyde and the HbA1c level in DED participants. Our results suggest that aldehyde exposure did not significantly increase the risk of DED, while heptanaldehyde was the risk factor for increased HbA1c in DED population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of Demodex folliculorum (DF) in the eyelashes of healthy young males. An epidemiological cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted. We conducted visual acuity, eye-related examination, eyelash microscopic examination and DF count of recruits in Fujian Province in 2019. The presence of DF was analyzed according to age, keratorefractive surgery, annual household income, educational level, long-term residence, sleep time, time of using electronic products, smoking and drinking habit. A total of 2253 healthy young males (aged 17–24 years) were studied for the presence of DF within eyelash follicles. The total prevalence of DF was 20.73% in our study. Subjects with history of keratorefractive surgery had a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of DF (P < 0.001). The prevalence of DF was higher in subjects with ocular symptoms than in those without symptoms (P < 0.05). Factors such as the educational level and so on we analyzed had no significant correlation with the prevalence of DF (all P > 0.05). According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the history of keratorefractive surgery was the risk factors of DF infection (P < 0.001), and the risk of infection was 1.437 times higher in the population with the history of keratorefractive surgery than in the population without. There was no correlation between ocular discomfort and DF infection (P > 0.05). The prevalence of DF in eyelash follicles in healthy young males was relatively high. The history of keratorefractive surgery was an important risk factor for the infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite materials have attracted attention due to their excellent optical and electrical properties; however, their unsatisfactory stability limits their application in biochemical detection. In this paper, CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots were successfully encapsulated in poly(styrene/acrylamide) microspheres, using a swelling–shrinking method. The manufactured perovskite microspheres (PDPS composites) not only maintained strong photoluminescence (PL) stability but also demonstrated great water solubility. Additionally, a real-time pH monitoring platform was constructed based on the prepared PDPS composites and dopamine, and the system showed a good linear relationship in a pH range of 4–12. Furthermore, urea could be hydrolyzed to produce hydroxyl groups, thereby increasing the pH of the solution. Therefore, this system was then extended for urea and urease detection. As a result, the detection limits of urea and urease were recorded as 1.67 μM and 2.1 mU/mL, respectively. This development provides an interesting demonstration of the expanding list of applications of perovskite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is still very poor, owing to the high incidence of metastasis. Long noncoding RNA TCF7 (lncTCF7) has been shown to play critical roles in human CRC development and progression, but the molecular mechanisms of lncTCF7 in CRC are still unknown. This study aimed to explore the functions and molecular mechanisms of lncTCF7 on the migration and invasion of CRC cells. Notably, lncTCF7 was highly expressed in CRC cell lines relative to normal colonic epithelial cells. LncTCF7 knockdown significantly inhibited migration and invasion of CRC cells. In addition, TCF7 was highly expressed in CRC cell lines relative to that in normal colonic epithelial cells and its expression was significantly decreased in CRC cells transfected with si-lncTCF7. RNA immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays showed that LncTCF7 recruits BAF170 to activate the TCF7 promoter and regulate TCF7 expression. TCF7 overexpression could promote migration and invasion in CRC cells transfected with si-lncTCF7, which reversed the effect of lncTCF7 on the migration and invasion of CRC cells. In conclusion, our data indicate that the downregulation of lncTCF7 significantly inhibits migration and invasion of CRC cells by inhibiting TCF7 expression, suggesting that lncTCF7 may be a potential target for CRC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous work has showed that several medical staff were experiencing clinically significant depressive and anxious symptoms during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and I Chen i and his colleagues outlined some essentially psychological interventions [[1]]. Mental health of the medical staff with or without COVID-19 contacting history was assessed by Zung's self-rating depression scale (SDS) and Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) from 11 to 16 March 2020. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: C-peptide, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, is a marker for insulin production and hyperinsulinemia. Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between circulating C-peptide level and colorectal neoplasia risk; however, the results were not always consistent. Herein, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis study to evaluate the association between circulating C-peptide level and the colorectal neoplasia risk. Methods: The PubMed database was searched for the eligibility studies updated to May 2013, which prospectively evaluated the association between circulating C-peptide level and colorectal neoplasia risk. The summary estimates and 95 % confidential intervals (95 % CIs) for those with the highest quantile C-peptide level in contrast to the lowest quantile were estimated with the random-effects model. Heterogeneity between the studies was assessed with the Q test and the I statistic. Potential publication bias was evaluated with the Egger's test. Results: We identified 9 nested case-control studies that have recruited a total of 3,109 cases and 4,285 controls met the criteria. From the meta-analysis, we found that subjects with high circulating C-peptide were associated with a 37 % increased colorectal neoplasia risk [pooled odds ratios (OR) 1.37, 95 % CI 1.09-1.72] under the random-effects model. In the stratification studies, we found the association was more prominent in the men (pooled OR 2.34, 95 % CI 1.36-4.04) compared to women (pooled OR 1.41, 95 % CI 0.89-2.25). Significant association between circulating C-peptide level and colon cancer risk was found (pooled OR 1.72, 95 % CI 1.26-2.36), but not for rectal cancer (pooled OR 1.14, 95 % CI 0.75-1.73). No significant publication bias was found for any meta-analysis study. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of the meta-analysis studies suggested that higher circulating C-peptide could be a predictive factor for higher colorectal neoplasia susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

kind of novel shape-stabilized phase change material (SSPCM) was prepared by using a melting intercalation technique. This kind of SSPCM was made of lauric acid (LA) as a phase change material and organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) as a support material. And the thermal properties and morphology of the SSPCM were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), scanning calorimeter (DSC), and differential thermal cravimetry (TG). The DSC result shows that the phase change temperature of the SSPCM is close to that of LA, and its latent heat is equivalent to that of the calculated value based on the mass ratio of LA measured by TG. The XRD, SEM and TEM results demonstrate that the LA intercalates into the silicate layers of the OMMT, thus forming a typically intercalted hybrid, which can restrict the molecular chain of the LA within the structure of OMMT at high temperature. And consequently SSPCM can keep its solid state during its solid-liquid phase change processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new kind of mortar made of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), gypsum, clinker and steel slag sand (<4.75 mm) was developed. The ratio of steel slag sand to GGBFS was 1:1 and the amount of gypsum was 4% by weight while the dosage of clinker ranged from 0% to 24%. The optimization formulation of such mortar was studied. The content of steel slag sand should be less than 50% according to the volume stability of blended mortar, and the dosage of clinker is about 10% based on the strength development. Besides strength, the hydration heat, pore structure and micro pattern of blended mortar were also determined. The experimental results show the application of steel slag sand may reduce the dosage of cement clinker and increase the content of industrial waste product such as GGBFS, and the clinker is also a better admixture for blended mortar using steel slag sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]