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Background: Cardiac surgery is associated with a substantial risk of major adverse events. Although carbon dioxide (CO2)-derived variables such as venous-to-arterial CO2 difference (ΔPCO2), and PCO2 gap to arterial–venous O2 content difference ratio (ΔPCO2/C(a−cv)O2) have been successfully used to predict the prognosis of non-cardiac surgery, their prognostic value after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) remains controversial. This hospital-based study explored the relationship between ΔPCO2, ΔPCO2/C(a−cv)O2 and organ dysfunction after CPB.Methods: We prospectively enrolled 114 intensive care unit patients after elective cardiac surgery with CPB. Patients were divided into the organ dysfunction group (OI) and non-organ dysfunction group (n-OI) depending on whether organ dysfunction occurred or not at 48 h after CPB. ΔPCO2 was defined as the difference between central venous and arterial CO2 partial pressure.Results: The OI group has 37 (32.5%) patients, 27 of which (23.7%) had one organ dysfunction and 10 (8.8%) had two or more organ dysfunctions. No statistical significance was found (P = 0.84) for ΔPCO2 in the n-OI group at intensive care unit (ICU) admission (9.0, 7.0–11.0 mmHg), and at 4 (9.0, 7.0–11.0 mmHg), 8 (9.0, 7.0–11.0 mmHg), and 12 h post admission (9.0, 7.0–11.0 mmHg). In the OI group, ΔPCO2 also showed the same trend [ICU admission (9.0, 8.0–12.8 mmHg) and 4 (10.0, 7.0–11.0 mmHg), 8 (10.0, 8.5–12.5 mmHg), and 12 h post admission (9.0, 7.3–11.0 mmHg), P = 0.37]. No statistical difference was found for ΔPCO2/C(a−cv)O2 in the n-OI group (P = 0.46) and OI group (P = 0.39). No difference was detected in ΔPCO2, ΔPCO2/C(a−cv)O2 between groups during the first 12 h after admission (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis of the patients with two or more failing organs compared to the n-OI group showed that the predictive performance of lactate and Base excess (BE) improved, but not of ΔPCO2 and ΔPCO2/C(a−cv)O2. Regression analysis showed that the BE at 8 h after admission (odds ratio = 1.37, 95%CI: 1.08–1.74, P = 0.009) was a risk factor for organ dysfunction 48 h after CBP.Conclusion : ΔPCO2 and ΔPCO2/C(a−cv)O2 cannot be used as reliable indicators to predict the occurrence of organ dysfunction at 48 h after CBP due to the pathophysiological process that occurs after CBP.

The persistent issues of dendrite growth and side reactions have been major obstacles hampering practical applications of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZBs). Herein, a porous phenolic resin (PPR) artificial protective layer integrated hydrophobic framework with regular channels is constructed on Zn foil (PPR@Zn) to stabilize the Zn anode. Experimental and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the PPR@Zn layer is endowed with the following functions: (i) Zn2+ dedicated channels of PPR provide uniform diffusion pathways for Zn2+. The high ion conductivity (7.7 mS cm−1) and Zn2+ transference number (0.86) prevent localized over-deposition of Zn and improve the reaction kinetics. (ii) The affinity of PPR with Zn2+ decreases the desolvation barrier of [Zn(6H2O)]2+ and promotes rapid and uniform Zn deposition. (iii) The repulsion of H2O molecules and SO42− anions inhibits the corrosion and side reaction. (iv) Uniform space electric fields on the anode surface mitigate the "tip effect". These synergistic effects lead to dendrite-free Zn deposition. As a result, symmetrical cells assembled with PPR@Zn demonstrate an ultra-long cycle life of 4200 h. For practical applications, pairing with an MnO2 cathode, the full cells also achieved excellent cycling stability and rate performance. This work presents a promising strategy for designing corrosion-resistant, high-stability, and reversible metal anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease which can affect multiple organs, resulting in significant mortality and morbidity. Lupus enteritis is one of the rare complications of SLE, defined as vasculitis of the intestinal tract, with supportive biopsy findings and/or image. However, lupus enteritis is seldom confirmed on histology or image and the changes of intestinal mucosa are nonspecific. Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract which affects any part of the gastrointestinal tract. The diagnosis of CD is confirmed by clinical evaluation and a combination of endoscopic, histology, radiology, and/or biochemical investigations. Case presentation Here we report a rare case of a 71-years-old Chinese male has been diagnosed with lupus enteritis which similar to CD in the aspects of endoscopic, histology, and radiology. So far, there are no relevant cases reported. Conclusions The endoscopic appearance of lupus enteritis is nonspecific, on the basis of our case, the features of lupus enteritis can be described as spacious, clean and no moss ulcers which discontinuous involved all gastrointestinal tract.

Objective: To determine and compare the diagnostic efficiency of various biomarkers [C-reactive protein, neutrophil percentage, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLCR), lactate, procalcitonin, blood culture] in the identification of septic patients in emergency department (ED), and to assess the predictive value of combination of markers. Methods: This was a prospective, single centre study conducted in the ED of an urban, tertiary care hospital. We included patients who were admitted to the ED with symptoms of a possible infection. Blood cultures and serum measurement of the biomarkers were collected from 131 patients. Patients were determined to be septic or non-septic, based on the systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria and the diagnosis was made at the ED. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and area under curves (AUC) were calculated. Results: A total of 126 patients, 61 with sepsis and 65 without sepsis were eventually included in the study. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio displayed the highest accuracy in diagnosing sepsis (AUC 0.735, 95% CI=0648-0.822, P

To simulate sheet metal forming processes precisely, an in-house dynamic explicit code was developed to apply a new solid-shell element to sheet metal forming analyses, with a corotational coordinate system utilized to simplify the nonlinearity and to integrate the element with anisotropic constitutive laws. The enhancing parameter of the solid-shell element, implemented to circumvent the volumetric and thickness locking phenomena, was condensed into an explicit form. To avoid the rank deficiency, a modified physical stabilization involving the B-bar method and reconstruction of transverse shear components was adopted. For computational efficiency of the solid-shell element in numerical applications, an adaptive mesh subdivision scheme was developed, with element geometry and contact condition taken as subdivision criteria. To accurately capture the anisotropic behavior of sheet metals, material models with three different anisotropic yield functions were incorporated. Several numerical examples were carried out to validate the accuracy of the proposed element and the efficiency of the adaptive mesh subdivision.

Virtual reality (VR) is quickly becoming the medium of choice for various architecture, engineering, and construction applications, such as design visualization, construction planning, and safety training. In particular, this technology offers an immersive experience to enhance the way architects review their design with team members. Traditionally, VR has used a desktop PC or workstation setup inside a room, yielding the risk of two users bump into each other while using multiuser VR (MUVR) applications. MUVR offers shared experiences that disrupt the conventional single-user VR setup, where multiple users can communicate and interact in the same virtual space, providing more realistic scenarios for architects in the design stage. However, this shared virtual environment introduces challenges regarding limited human locomotion and interactions, due to physical constraints of normal room spaces. This study thus presented a system framework that integrates MUVR applications into omnidirectional treadmills. The treadmills allow users an immersive walking experience in the simulated environment, without space constraints or hurt potentialities. A prototype was set up and tested in several scenarios by practitioners and students. The validated MUVR treadmill system aims to promote high-level immersion in architectural design review and collaboration.

The SEM, XRD, laser particle size analyzer, Zeta, and TOC organic carbon absorber were used, the particle morphology, particle gradation and mineral composition of tunnel slag powder under construction were tested, and its Zeta potential and superplasticizer adsorption performance were researched. The results show that the slag powder particles are irregularly shaped, angular, and the particle size is different. Under the same sand making process, the specific surface area of basalt powder is the largest, and the quartz rock powder is the smallest. The absolute value of Zeta potential of quartz rock powder is the largest, and the basalt powder is the smallest. The adsorption rate of granite powder to superplasticizer is the largest, and the quartz rock powder is the smallest. The long side chain adsorption group superplasticizer has the largest adsorption rate in the tunnel slag powder, and the phosphate adsorption superplasticizer has the smallest adsorption rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of death in patients with cancers in America. Monensin has represented anti-cancer effect on various human cancer cells. We seek to investigate the effect of monensin on proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and explore whether IGF1R signaling pathway is involved in anti-cancer mechanism of monensin. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed by crystal violet staining and cell wounding assay respectively. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. Cell cycle progression was detected with the use of flow cytometry. Cancer-associated pathways were assessed with the use of pathway-specific reporters. Gene expression was detected by touchdown-quantitative real-time PCR. Inhibition of IGF1R was tested by immunofluorescence staining. Inhibition of IGF1R signaling was accomplished by adenovirus-mediated expression of IGF1. We found that monensin not only effectively inhibited cell proliferation, cell migration as well as cell cycle progression, but also induced apoptosis and G1 arrest in human colorectal cancer cells. Monensin was shown to target multiple cancer-related signaling pathways such as Elk1, AP1, as well as Myc/max, and suppressed IGF1R expression via increasing IGF1 in colorectal cancer cells. Monensin could suppressed IGF1R expression via increasing IGF1 in colorectal cancer cells. It has the potential to be repurposed as an anti-colorectal cancer agent, but further studies are still required to investigate the detailed mechanisms of monensin underlying its anti-cancer motion. Monensin inhibits the cell proliferation and the migration, induces apoptosis and inhibits cell cycle progression in human colorectal cancer cells. Monensin may exert anti-cancer activity by targeting multiple signaling pathways, including the IGF1R signaling pathway. Monensin has the potential to be repurposed as an anti-colorectal cancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aspergillus niger is generally considered safe and is widely used across a broad range of industries from food to pharmaceuticals. The metabolites of some Aspergillus species are effective in killing nematodes. The active ingredients that play a role are citric acid and oxalic acid. Results: The effective nematocidal metabolite in the fermentation broth of the A. niger Ym16 is a calcium oxalate coordination compound (C2H2O4•2(C2HO4)•C2O4•4(H2O)•2(Ca)). The mortality of fermentation broth and compound solution to second‐stage juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne incognita were 94% (8 h) and 95% (2 h), respectively. The hatching inhibition rates of fermentation broth and compound solution to eggs of M. incognita were 86% (24 h) and 87% (12 h), respectively. Furthermore, the Ym16 strain promoted plant growth. Conclusion: Strain Ym16 and its metabolites should be the first choice for nematode control because it is an effective agent against soil nematodes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]