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Background. The results of previous studies on the association between polymorphisms of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 and prostate cancer (PCa) susceptibility are inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to conduct a meta-analysis in order to better estimate this association. Methods. A systematic search was carried out on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases for relevant articles published up to 15 August 2018. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were obtained using fixed-effect or random-effect models. Results. A significant association was found between the CYP1A1 rs1048943 polymorphism and PCa in the overall population (B [the minor allele] vs. A [the major allele]: OR = 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04–1.39, P=0.014; AB vs. AA: OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.02–1.51, P=0.029; BB + AB vs. AA: OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.04–1.50, P=0.018) and Asian population (B vs. A: OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.11–1.56, P=0.001; BB vs. AA: OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.20–2.72, P=0.005; AB vs. AA: OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.03–1.64, P=0.029; BB + AB vs. AA: OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.11–1.73, P=0.004; BB vs. AA + AB: OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.08–2.01, P=0.019), but not in the Caucasian population. Moreover, we found that the rs4646903 polymorphism was associated with a significant increase in the risk of PCa in the Asian population (AB vs. AA: OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.13–1.80, P=0.003) and Caucasian population (BB vs. AA: OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.29–3.49, P=0.003). Conclusion. This meta-analysis revealed a clear association between rs1048943 and rs4646903 polymorphisms of the CYP1A1 gene but not between CYP1B1 rs10012, rs162549, rs1800440, and rs2551188 polymorphisms and the risk of PCa.

In this communication, a novel liquid sintering aid consisting of Ho-Al-O elements was analyzed, using the complementary techniques of electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This liquid forming additive was demonstrated to be HoAlO 3 , showing an exact stoichiometric ratio; it had good wettability with the adjacent SiC grains.

For selecting gamma ray detector to determining element content using prompt gamma neutron activation analysis technique, the response of BGO and LaBr3 scintillator detectors was compared with Monte Carlo simulation method. The simulation models under different formation composed of various elements were established by MCNP, and then gamma ray spectrum was processed by least squares method. It is concluded that the element calculation accuracy will be different when scintillator was changed. With higher energy resolution, LaBr3 scintillator can be used to improve the accuracy of the element content calculation result, and is more suitable for plentiful element formation.

Two distinct evolutionary processes of secondary γ′ precipitates in a Ni-based single crystal superalloy were revealed by means of Cs-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and corresponding X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses. Upon creep testing at elevated temperatures, it was determined that large quantities of secondary γ′ precipitates were formed. The precipitates were found to select two distinctive forms and routes: one randomly dispersed in the γ matrix (2nd γ′ γ ), and the other formed at nodes of dislocation networks (2nd γ′ d ) in regular arrays. These two types of secondary γ′ precipitates exhibited different evolutionary morphologies and mechanisms. The 2nd γ′ γ precipitates progressively evolved in shape from spherical to cuboidal and then to butterfly-like shapes, and the mean size also increased gradually from 11 nm to 34 nm. The 2nd γ′ d precipitates exhibited stable cuboidal morphology and a mean size of ∼30 nm. These differences are attributable to the different element transport conditions for the two types of precipitates, i.e., an uphill diffusion for the 2nd γ′ γ precipitates and a dislocation network pipe transportation for the 2nd γ′ d precipitates. The 2nd γ′ γ precipitates show severe segregation of γ′-rich elements of Ni and Al and deficiency of γ′-poor elements of Cr compared with the 2nd γ′ d precipitates.

The dependence of Portevin–Le Châtelier (PLC) effect on the γ′ precipitates of the Nimonic 263 alloy in different microstructural conditions has been studied by analyzing the parameters of the tensile curves and the deformation mechanisms. It is shown that the γ′ precipitates with different sizes, edge-to-edge interprecipitate distance, and areal number density are obtained by altering the aging time. It is demonstrated that when the mean size of the γ′ precipitates is less than 28 nm (aging less than 25 hours), the deformation mechanisms are dominated by APB-coupled a/2〈101〉 dislocations shearing the small γ′ precipitates and the slip bands continuously cutting the γ and γ′ phases. When the γ′ size is between 28 and 45 nm (aging time between 25 and 50 hours), the deformation mechanism is controlled by the APB-coupled a/2〈101〉 dislocations shearing the small γ′ precipitates, the a/6〈112〉 Shockley partial dislocation continuously shearing the γ and γ′ phases combined with matrix dislocations by-passing the γ′ precipitates; If the γ′ size over 45 nm (aging time more than 50 hours), Orowan by-passing becomes the main deformation mechanism. Moreover, with increasing the aging time, the critical plastic strain for the onset of the PLC effect increases and reaches a maximum after aging for 50 hours, and then gradually decreases. At last, the dependence of critical plastic strain on the deformation mechanisms is well explained by the elementary incremental strain (γ). The precipitation process of the γ′ phase can directly influence the PLC effect by changing the interactions among solutes atoms, mobile dislocations, and forest dislocations.

Objective Early assessment of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer allows therapy to be individualized. The optimal assessment method has not been established. We investigated the accuracy of automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) to predict pathological outcomes after NAC. Methods A total of 290 breast cancer patients were eligible for this study. Tumor response after 2 cycles of chemotherapy was assessed using the product change of two largest perpendicular diameters (PC) or the longest diameter change (LDC). PC and LDC were analyzed on the axial and the coronal planes respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate overall performance of the prediction methods. Youden's indexes were calculated to select the optimal cut-off value for each method. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were calculated accordingly. Results ypT0/is was achieved in 42 patients (14.5%) while ypT0 was achieved in 30 patients (10.3%) after NAC. All four prediction methods (PC on axial planes, LDC on axial planes, PC on coronal planes and LDC on coronal planes) displayed high AUCs (all>0.82), with the highest of 0.89 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.83-0.95] when mid-treatment ABUS was used to predict final pathological complete remission (pCR). High sensitivities (85.7%-88.1%) were observed across all four prediction methods while high specificities (81.5%-85.1%) were observed in two methods used PC. The optimal cut-off values defined by our data replicate the WHO and the RECIST criteria. Lower AUCs were observed when mid-treatment ABUS was used to predict poor pathological outcomes. Conclusions ABUS is a useful tool in early evaluation of pCR after NAC while less reliable when predicting poor pathological outcomes.

In their comment (Scripta Mater. (2016)), Cormier et al. raised questions on the findings reported in our earlier publication (Acta Mater. (2016) of the formation of 2nd γ′d and 2nd γ′γ precipitates in a Ni-based single crystal superalloy during creep testing at elevated temperatures, and suggested that the 2nd γ′d particles were mere observations of surface protuberances of the primary γ′ rafts and that the 2nd γ′γ precipitates were possibly formed during cooling after the creep test. To clarify these, we conducted new experiments, and present the new evidence and our responses to the points raised in this short communication.

This study concentrates on several factors which govern the nanoscale plasticity of in situ compressed dislocation-free Ni3Al nanocubes: cube size, aspect ratio and the presence of grooves. The yield strength of dislocation-free Ni3Al nanocubes exhibits an apparent size dependence. The size dependence is strong when cubes are smaller than 300 nm. Compared with the strength of bulk Ni3Al single crystals, the strength of nanocubes is two orders of magnitude higher, which clearly demonstrates that there is a size effect. Nanocube plasticity strongly depends on the alignment and the shape of the cubes. Deformed aligned nanocubes either display only a few localized deformation events (slip lines) or were homogenously compressed into flats due to multiple slip dislocation-mediated plasticity. For an aligned cube, crack initiation at the intersection of a slip line with a groove in the cube surface was observed. In case of a double cube, crack initiation occurs at surface irregularities, while subsequent crack propagation occurs along one or more slip planes.

This work reports the investigation on creep behavior under high temperature and low stress condition for single crystal superalloy DD5 and the subsequent establishment of a deformation mechanism based creep rate model. The γ/γ′ microstructure evolution and the precipitate-dislocation interaction mode were investigated systematically during creep test at 1100 ° C and 120 MPa, for a better understanding of underlying creep deformation characteristics. The γ/γ′ microstructure becomes rafted and topological inverted eventually as creep deformation continues. The formation of dense interfacial dislocation network that impedes dislocations from cutting into γ′ precipitates is assumed to be one of the main strengthening mechanisms during creep. The climbing over rafted γ′ precipitates is seen as a recovery/softening process which annihilates dislocations, receding the strengthening effect of interfacial dislocation network. The cutting through rafted γ′ precipitates is proposed to account for the acceleration of creep, a strong dependence of creep properties on rafting (the effect of widening horizontal γ channel on the degraded back stress of cutting through rafted γ′ precipitates) then arises. The established model involving these characteristics was found to predict the creep behavior (below 1% creep strain) under different temperatures and stresses for single crystal superalloy DD5 accurately. Several microstructure characteristics and physical properties emerge from the model, which is promising for alloy design and compositional optimization.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the involvement of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the tumorigenesis of bladder cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlations between the specific lncRNAs and the clinical outcomes in bladder cancer patients.We systematically searched the PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library databases for studies published up to October 15, 2018, and retrieved the suitable articles. Pooled odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were obtained by using fixed-effect or random-effect model.Up-regulation of lncRNAs predicted unfavorable overall survival (OS) (HR: 2.01, 95%CI: 1.66-2.44, P 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR: 2.05, 95%CI: 1.43-2.94, P 0.001) in BC patients, and the high expression of lncRNAs was significantly associated with distant metastasis (DM) (OR: 8.16, 95%CI: 4.45-14.99, P 0.001).Abnormal expression of relevant lncRNAs are potential novel markers for predicting the clinical outcomes of BC.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanical properties of the novel compound calcium phosphate cement (CPC) biological material as well as the biological activity and osteogenesis effects of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) seeding on scaffold and compare their bone regeneration efficacy in cranial defects in rats. METHODS: Ac- cording to the different scaffold materials, the experiment was divided into 4 groups: pure CPC scaffold group (group A), CPC∶10%wt chitosan as 2∶1 ratio mixed scaffold group (group B), CPC∶10%wt chitosan∶whisker as 2∶1∶1 ratio mixed scaffold group (group C), and CPC∶10%wt chitosan∶whisker as 2∶1∶2 ratio mixed scaffold group (group D). Mechanical properties (bending strength, work-of-fracture, hardness, and modulus of elasticity) of each scaffold were detected. The scaffolds were cultured with fifth generation iPS-mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and the absorbance (A) values of each group were detected at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) method; the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, Live/Dead fluorescence staining and quantitative detection, ALP, Runx2, collagen typeⅠ, osteocalcin (OC), and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) gene expressions by RT-PCR were detected at 1, 7, and 14 days; and the alizarin red staining were detected at 1, 7, 14, and 21 days. Twenty-four 3-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats were used to establish the 8 mm-long skull bone defect model, and were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=6); 4 kinds of scaffold materials were implanted respectively. After 8 weeks, HE staining was used to observe the repair of bone defects and to detect the percentage of new bone volume and the density of neovascularization. RESULTS: The bending strength, work-of-fracture, hardness, and modulus of elasticity in groups B, C, and D were significantly higher than those in group A, and in groups C, D than in group B, and in group D than in group C (P0.05). Live/Dead fluorescence staining showed that the proportion of living cells in groups B, C, and D at 7 and 14 days was significantly higher than that in group A (P0.05). RT-PCR showed that the relative expressions of genes in groups B, C, and D at 7 and 14 days were significantly higher than those in group A, and in groups C, D than in group B (P0.05). Alizarin red staining showed that the red calcium deposition on the surface of scaffolds gradually deepened and thickened with the prolongation of culture time; theA values in groups B, C, and D at 14 and 21 days were significantly higher than those in group A (P0.05).In vivo repair experiments in animals showed that the new bone in each group was mainly filled with the space of scaffold material. Osteoblasts and neovascularization were surrounded by new bone tissue in the matrix, and osteoblasts were arranged on the new bone boundary. The new bone in groups B, C, and D increased significantly when compared with group A, and the new bone in groups C and D was significantly higher than that in group B. The percentage of new bone volume and the density of neovascularization in groups B, C, and D were significantly higher than those in group A, and in groups C and D than in group B (P0.05). CONCLUSION: The mechanical properties of the new reinforced composite scaffold made from composite chitosan, whisker, and CPC are obviously better than that of pure CPC scaffold material, which can meet the mechanical properties of cortical bone and cancellous bone. iPS-MSCs is attaching and proliferating on the new reinforced composite scaffold material, and the repair effect of bone tissue is good. It can meet the biological and osteogenic activity requirements of the implant materials in the bone defect repair.

With Rytov approximation theory, we derive the analytic expression of detection probability of Airy vortex beam carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) through an anisotropic weak oceanic turbulence. We investigate the influences of turbulence parameters and beam parameters on the propagation properties of Airy-OAM beam. The numerical simulation results show that the anisotropic oceanic turbulence with a lower dissipation rate of temperature variance, smaller ratio of temperature and salinity contributions to the refractive index spectrum, higher dissipation rate of kinetic energy per unit mass of fluid, bigger inner scale factor, larger anisotropic coefficient causes the larger detection probability of Airy-OAM beam. Moreover, the Airy-OAM beam with a smaller topological charge, larger main ring radius and longer wavelength, has strong resistance to oceanic turbulent interference. Additionally, the detection probability decreases with the increase of receiving aperture size. In comparison with Laguerre-Gaussian-OAM beam, Airy-OAM beam has more anti-interference to turbulence when its topological charge is larger than 5 due to its non-diffraction and self-healing characteristics. The results are useful for underwater optical communication link using Airy-OAM beam., 16 pages, 7 figures

Odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were analysed via a thermal desorption gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer and olfactory detection port (TD-GC-MS/ODP) to characterize odour emissions from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Three trained ODP assessors, screened according to the European dynamic olfactometry standard (EN: 13725), were used for the olfactory analysis. Their sensitivity to n-butanol varied within the acceptable limits. VOC samples from the WWTP were collected onto Tenax TA sorbent tubes in triplicate and each assessor analysed one tube in the same sample desorbing and analysing conditions. Intensities of odours detected from ODP were scaled from 1 to 4. The ODP assessors used their own odour descriptors based on their own experience as well as referenced descriptors on published compost and wastewater odour wheels. The ODP assessors detected a total of 32 different odorous VOCs; however, the intensities assigned by each assessor to particular VOCs varied. Moreover, some odorous VOCs were not detected by all assessors. For example, geosmin was detected by only two assessors. The use of a TD-GC-MS/ODP system for the analysis of odorous VOCs is valuable when analysed by different assessors, allowing a range of responses to specific odorants in a populations to be investigated.

Formation porosity can be determined using the boron capture gamma ray counting ratio with a near to far detector in a pulsed neutron-gamma element logging tool. The thermal neutron distribution, boron capture gamma spectroscopy and porosity response for formations with different water salinity and wellbore diameter characteristics were simulated using the Monte Carlo method. We found that a boron lining improves the signal-to-noise ratio and that the boron capture gamma ray counting ratio has a higher sensitivity for determining porosity than total capture gamma.

A 2-year monitoring study was conducted at a sewer pumping station to investigate volatile sulfur compound (VSC) and volatile organic compound (VOC) emission dynamics over a range of timescales to gain an understanding of how they impact the design and execution of sewer odorant monitoring. It is demonstrated that the sewer system was highly dynamic and influenced by a range of processes at different time scales. Based upon odor activity values, hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan had strong potential to be odorous, while dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide were potentially odorous at source concentrations. In general, VOCs were not likely to be odorous at source concentrations, although some episodic elevations in aromatic hydrocarbon and terpene concentrations to potentially odorous levels were observed and as a result VSCs are the primary targets for sewer odor abatement. A strong diurnal emission cycle was observed, with dynamic ranges (ratio of peak to average concentration) between 2.34 and 4.55 for specific VSCs and 1.82 to 10.6 for specific VOCs. Interday variability over a 1-week period was relatively low for many VSCs, with coefficients of variance generally ranging from 11 to 30%, while VOC emissions had greater variability, with coefficients of variance ranging from 29 to 220%.

International audience; To certificate an olfactometric jury, laboratories usually follow up the panelist screening methodology described in the European Standard EN 13725/2003. The procedure takes a lot of time, labour and money. In laboratory routine of LCQAr - Laboratory of Air Quality Control, of Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, it was found that the efficiency of jury approvals used to be as low as around 30%. In order to improve the efficiency, a quick preselection test was proposed and tried for late certification recommended by EN 13725. The methodology to create the preselection test was based on the conceptions of the standards EN 13725 (CEN, 2003), ASTM 679 (2011) and ASTM 544 (2010). In the trial test, 31 volunteers participated and then screened according to the EN13725 standard. It was verified that the efficiency increased to 46% from about 30% after the introduction of the preselection test. The experiments were conducted at LCQAr, with the contribution of Water Research Centre of University of New South Wales, Australia

The odour emission characteristics of 22 recreational rivers in Nanjing were investigated and analysed. Eight odorous compounds (ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon disulphide (CS2), nitrobenzene (C6H5NO2), aniline (C6H5NH2), dimethylamine (C2H7N), and formaldehyde (HCHO)) were measured in odour emission samples collected using a custom-made emission flux hood chamber. The results showed that all odorants were detected in all monitoring rivers. NH3 was the main odorant, with emission rates ranging from 4.86 to 15.13 μg/min m2. The total odour emission rate of the Nan River, at 1 427.07 OU/s, was the highest of the all investigated rivers. H2S, NH3 and nitrobenzene were three key odour emission contributors according to their contributions to the total odour emission. A correlation analysis of the pollutants showed there was a significant positive correlation between the emission rate of NH3 and the concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH4 +-N) and total nitrogen (TN). The H2S and SO2 emission rates had a significant positive correlation with sulphides (S2−) and available sulphur (AS) in the water and sediment. The content of TN, NH4 +-N, S2− and AS in the water and sediment affected the concentration of H2S, SO2 and NH3 in the emission gases. NH4 +-N, S2− and AS are suggested as the key odour control indexes for reducing odours emitted from these recreational rivers. The study provides useful information for effective pollution control, especially for odour emission control for the recreational rivers of the city. It also provides a demonstrate example to show how to monitor and assess a contaminated river when odour emission and its control need to be focused on.

Shanlan rice wine is made by a unique method by removing the saccharified liquid from wine mash constantly since it appeared during saccharification and fermentation. The objective of this study is to find the advantages of this technique of wine making by analyzing data of shanlan wine fermentation. Since the liquid was removed, the mash (rice) bed was fluffier than immersed in the saccharified liquid, under ambient condition constantly and it is favorable for starch degradation. This technique made shanlan rice wine tasted sweet and slightly acidic, lower content of alcohol and higher alcohol than in other non-distilled rice wines.

A compact shielding tank for portable

This paper first expounds the background, purpose and significance of the research on Shaxian snack catering system. Moreover?the daily business process and data flow of Shaxian snacks are analyzed in various aspects to improve the design thought. Combined with functional analysis, background code and pages can be made easily. Finally, the system is tested and the system logic is found. The actual data are used for data statistics, and the last step is modifying and improving. Then the interface of the catering system was made and the design of the catering system was implemented and developed. Finally, the completed restaurant system was tested, the system was tested for deficiencies, and the missing places were modified.

Principal component analysis is a powerful and popular technique for capturing redundancy in muscle activity and kinematic patterns. A primary limitation of the correlations or covariances between signals on which this analysis is based is that they do not account for dynamic relations between signals, yet such relations-such as that between neural drive and muscle tension-are widespread in the sensorimotor system. Low correlations may thus be obtained and signals may appear independent despite a dynamic linear relation between them. To address this limitation, linear systems analysis can be used to calculate the matrix of overall coherences between signals, which measures the strength of the relation between signals taking dynamic relations into account. Using ankle, knee, and hip sagittal-plane angles from 6 healthy subjects during ~50% of total variance in the data set, while with overall coherence matrices the first component accounted for95% of total variance. The results demonstrate that the dimensionality of the coordinative structure can be overestimated using conventional correlation, whereas a more parsimonious structure is identified with overall coherence.

To keep the lithium ion battery and ultra-capacitor hybrid energy work in high-efficiency, a fuzzy logic energy management strategy is designed to meet the running requirement of electric vehicles. An ultra-capacitor is first connected to a bidirectional dc-dc converter, which will be charged or discharged depending on the state of charge. And the battery is connected to the dc bus through a bidirectional dc-dc converter as the main power. With the load fluctuation, the power is reasonably allocated by the fuzzy energy management controller. The performance of the whole system is simulated by Simulink. The results show that the proposed fuzzy energy management strategy is suitable to the actual requirements of load fluctuation.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is one of the highest oil-yield crops in the world. A Δ12-desaturases associated with the primary steps of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) biosynthesis were successfully cloned from oil palm and their functions identified. The open reading frames (ORFs) of egFAD2 (GenBank accession: KT023602) consisted of 1176bp and code for 391 amino acids. Their deduced polypeptides showed 75-93% identity to microsomal Δ12-desaturases from other higher plants, and each contained the three histidine clusters typical of the catalytic domains of such enzymes. RT-PCR experiment indicated that the egFAD2 gene exhibited the highest accumulation in the mesocarp of fruits at 120-140 DAP (i.e. the fourth period of fruit development) and, despite having different expression levels, the other four stages were at significantly lower levels compared with the fourth stage. Plasmid pYES2-egFAD2 was transformed into Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain INVSc1 using lithium acetate method for expression under the induction of galactose. Yeast cells transformed with plasmid constructs containing egFAD12 produced an appreciable amount of linoleic acids (18:2(Δ9,)(12)), not normally present in wild-type yeast cells, indicating that the genes encoded functional Δ12-desaturase enzymes.

Odourous emissions from sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can significantly impact a local population. Sampling techniques such as wind tunnels and flux hood chambers are traditionally used to collect area source samples for subsequent quantification of odour emission rates using dilution olfactometry, however these methods are unsuitable for assessing liquid samples from point sources due to the large liquid volumes required. To overcome this limitation, a gas phase sample preparation method was developed for assessing the total Odour Emission Ability (OEA) from a liquid sample. The method was validated using two volatile organic sulphur compounds (VOSCs), dimethyl-trisulphide (DMTS) and bismethylthiomethane (BMTM) that are frequently detected from sewers and WWTPs and are relatively stable compared with common VOSCs like mercaptan or methyl mercaptan. The recovery rates of DMTS and BMTM were quantified by injecting a known volume of a standard liquid sample into Tedlar bags using a static injection and a dynamic injection methodology. It was confirmed that both dynamic and static injection methods at ambient condition achieved high recovery rates with no need to consider increasing evaporation by elevating the temperature. This method can also be used to assess odour removal effectiveness of liquids by comparing the OEA before and after the treatment tests. Two application examples were presented.

Odour emissions from aluminium processing can cause an impact on local communities surrounding such facilities. Of particular concern is fugitive odours emitted from the handling and use of refinery condensate streams, particularly the digestion condensate. This study evaluated the application of using catalytic ozonation to treat alumina refinery condensate in order to remove the potential emission of odourous compounds from the industrial wastewater. The technical challenges in treating the alumina refinery condensate are the high pH and temperatures of the wastewater effluent (over 80 °C and pH above 10) due the industrial process. The odour removal efficiencies for different catalysts (FeCl3, MnO, and MnSO4) under experimental conditions in terms of controlled pH, temperature and ozone dosage were determined before and after ozone treatment using dynamic olfactometry. The result demonstrated that the addition of both FeCl3 and MnO catalysts improved odour removal efficiencies during the ozonation of alumina condensates at similar pH and temperature conditions. FeCl3 and MnO had similar enhancement for odour removal, however MnO was determined to be more appropriate than MnSO4 for odour removal due to the colouration of the treated condensate.

The topological close packing phases in nickel-base single crystal superalloy aged at 1100 °C for 1000 h was investigated by the spherical aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope. There are R phases precipitated in the matrix, with the hexagonal lattice parameter as a = b = 11.154 A, c = 17.782 A. There are lamellar contrasts at the tip of the R phase, which were recognized to be {1-10-1} 〈01-1-1〉 type growth twins. The HRTEM results confirm that the formation of growth twins in R phase can release misfit stress to coordinate the distorted relationship between the R phase and the matrix.

Odorous emissions from sewers and wastewater treatment plants are a complex mixture of volatile chemicals that can cause annoyance to local populations, resulting in complaints to wastewater operators. Due to the variability in hedonic tone and chemical character of odorous emissions, no analytical technique can be applied universally for the assessment of odour abatement performance. Recent developments in analytical methodologies, specifically gas chromatography, odour assessment approaches (odour wheels, the odour profile method and dynamic olfactometry), and more recently combined gas chromatography-sensory analysis, have contributed to improvements in our ability to assesses odorous emissions in terms of odorant concentration and composition. This review collates existing knowledge with the aim of providing new insight into the effectiveness of sensorial and characterisation approaches to improve our understanding of the fate of odorous emissions during odour abatement. While research in non-specific sensor array (e-nose) technology has resulted in progress in the field of continuous odour monitoring, more successful long term case-studies are still needed to overcome the early overoptimistic performance expectations. Knowledge gaps still remain with regards to the decomposition of thermally unstable volatile compounds (especially sulfur compounds), the inability to predict synergistic, antagonistic, or additive interactions among odorants in combined chemical/sensorial analysis techniques, and the long term stability of chemical sensors due to sensor drift, aging, temperature/relative humidity effects, and temporal variations. Future odour abatement monitoring will require the identification of key odorants to facilitate improved process selection, design and management.

The dual gamma spectrum saturation logging based on a pulsed neutron source is a new technology that can record inelastic scattering and capture gamma ray spectra at the same time, along with gamma ray time spectrum at the far and near gamma ray detector by means of a special pulse and measurement timing design. It is found that counting statistics of inelastic scattering and capture gamma ray is superior to foreign instruments by using the large-diameter instrument and BGO crystal detector. The gamma ray time spectrum after repeated pulse neutron emission still meets the exponential decay law, and the channel count of gamma time spectrum is cumulated, so its counting statistics is better than conventional neutron lifetime logging. In addition, the macroscopic absorption cross section obtained by this pulse and measure timing is nearly the same as the single pulse. It is found that the oil saturation can be determined with the cross-plot technology of C/O and formation macroscopic absorption cross section under the condition of unknown formation porosity.

Ti(2)AlC and Ti(3)AlC(2) are the most light-weight and oxidation resistant layered ternary carbides belonging to the MAX phases. This review highlights recent achievements on the processing, microstructure, physical, mechanical and chemical properties of these two machinable and electrically conductive carbides. Ti(2)AlC and Ti(3)AlC(2) display superior properties such as fracture toughness, electrical and thermal conductivities, and oxidation resistance over their binary counterpart. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the processing-microstructure-property correlations of these two carbides. Potential fields of applications for Ti(2)AlC and Ti(3)AlC(2) are surveyed. In addition, we point out methods for further improving their properties in some specific applications through appropriate structural design and modification.

Fas ligand (FasL) may play an important role in maintaining the immune privilege of intervertebral disc (IVD). Besides, it is closely related to the apoptosis of degenerative disc cells. Nowadays, lots of reports have described about the paradoxical effects of FasL, although the effect of FasL on IVD cells is still under debate. In this study, we tried to investigate the effects of FasL on Fas expression and on the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in Sprague-Dawley rats. The results showed that the expression of Fas in NP cells was significantly increased by the recombinant FasL. Meanwhile, the apoptosis of NP cells increased markedly in a FasL dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, RNA interference results indicated that the increase of Fas expression and the NP cell apoptosis described previously were inhibited by Fas siRNA, suggesting that RNA interference might be one of novel strategies to prevent IVD cells from apoptosis.

Summary A density logging instrument with three gamma detectors has been developed to improve the vertical resolution. The numerical simulation models of the instrument were built with MCNP code to further increase its performance. K.A. Eyl(1994) and C. Stoller(1997) have proposed a high resolution density logging device using a three detector. In this paper, we built the numerical simulation model of logging instrument based on the logging results in the experimental material, and then, calculated the zero source spacing of the instrument. On basis of these results, it was optimized that the short spacing of the density logging instrument. The vertical resolution was studied with numerical simulation and experiment in calibration well. The comparison results between old logging device and the optimized one show that the improvements are effective.

Gaussian beam migration is an effective depth imaging method, which overcomes the limitation of Kirchhoff migration in imaging multiple arrivals and has no steep-dip limits of one-way wave equation migration. However, its imaging accuracy depends on the geometry of Gaussian beam that is determined by the initial parameter of dynamic ray tracing. As the result, its applications in exploration areas with strong variations in topography and near-surface velocity are limited. To solve this problem, we have developed a Fresnel beam method for shot-domain prestack depth migration (PSDM) in this abstract. The proposed method improves the travel-time and amplitude extrapolation accuracy by limiting the main energy of seismic beams within the first Fresnel zone, which is critical for imaging quality in areas with strong lateral velocity variations. Moreover, using the quadratic traveltime correction and an amplitude correction at the irregular topography, it improves the accuracy of plane-wave decomposition, which contributes to the final imaging results. Trials of two typical models demonstrated the validity and robustness of our method.

Summary This article introduces a development of pulsed neutron uranium logging instrument. By analyzing the temporal distribution of epithermal neutrons generated from the thermal fission of 235 U, we propose a new method with a uranium-bearing index to calculate the uranium content in the formation. An instrument employing a D-T neutron generator and two epithermal neutron detectors has been developed. The logging response is studied using Monte Carlo simulation and experiments in calibration wells. The simulation and experimental results show that the uraniumbearing index is linearly correlated with the uranium content, and the porosity and thermal neutron lifetime of the formation can be acquired simultaneously.

To retrospectively investigate the incidence of severe neutropenia and elevation of transaminase during neoadjuvant chemotherapy using epirubicin, cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil in breast cancer patients.From January 2011 to December 2012, 303 consecutive breast cancer patients with complete treatment data treated in our department were included in this analysis. All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with equal dose of EPI (100 mg/m(2)) administered every 3 weeks for 4 cycles before surgery.200 patients (66.0%) experienced at least one episode of grade 3/4 neutropenia/leukopenia, among them 176 patients experienced their first episode after the first cycle. Febrile neutropenia (FN) occurred in 13 patients for 14 episodes. Elevation of transaminase occurred in a total of 46 patients (15.2%), among them, grade 2 or higher elevation occurred in 15 patients (5.0%). Three blood test plans were adopted to monitor the patients during chemotherapy: (1) Routine blood count repeated every week; (2) Routine blood count before and on day 10 of each chemotherapy episode; (3) Routine blood count before and on day 7, 10 and 14 of each chemotherapy episode. The number of patients whose chemotherapy was delayed due to 3/4 neutropenia/leucopenia in each blood test plan was 3 (5.0%), 7 (3.9%) and 2 (3.2%), respectively. The number of patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) in each blood test plan was 2 (3.3%), 8 (4.4%) and 3 (4.8%), respectively. No statistically significant difference in treatment delay or the incidence of FN was observed among different blood test plans. No statistically significant difference in the incidence of grade 3/4 neutropenia/leukopenia or grade 2 or higher transaminase elevation was observed among different 5-Fu regimens.During neoadjuvant chemotherapy using FE100 C, Fci E100 C or E100 C for breast cancer patients without routine prophylactic G-CSF, the incidence of grade 3/4 neutropenia/leukopenia is 66.0%. With the patient management plan we adopted, 4.3% of patients developed febrile neutropenia. Prophylactic medication may not be necessary for patients without evident liver dysfunction.

This article introduces a development of pulsed neutron uranium logging instrument. By analyzing the temporal distribution of epithermal neutrons generated from the thermal fission of (235)U, we propose a new method with a uranium-bearing index to calculate the uranium content in the formation. An instrument employing a D-T neutron generator and two epithermal neutron detectors has been developed. The logging response is studied using Monte Carlo simulation and experiments in calibration wells. The simulation and experimental results show that the uranium-bearing index is linearly correlated with the uranium content, and the porosity and thermal neutron lifetime of the formation can be acquired simultaneously.

The gas-liquid absorption method, using an impinger as an extracting device, is the most common method for quantifying most gaseous pollutants. The performance of conventional impingers was studied, and several modified impingers were tested. It was found that the sampling efficiency varied from impinger to impinger, which resulted from back-pressure differences between impingers. The back-pressure of ten tested impingers ranged between 160 mm to 520 mm water gage when a 50 mL absorbing solution was used, which caused the ammonia concentration coefficients of variations to be up to 15%. It was also verified that an open bubble distribution tube could be used to eliminate back-pressure variations between impingers. Nearly identical back-pressure (44 ± 4 mm water gage) could be obtained. This modification can improve measurement repeatability significantly and reduce the coefficient of variation of measurements to 1.2%. With this modification to the impingers, greater accuracy, repeatability and comparison of results can be achieved in the measurement of gaseous pollutants in air.

The microstructure of polycrystalline Ti3AlC2 fabricated by the solid-liquid reaction synthesis and simultaneous in-situ hot pressing process was investigated by SEM and TEM. It is revealed that the Ti3AlC2 grains are plate-like with a high density of stacking faults and dislocations predominantly lying within (0001) planes. The mechanical, electrical properties and oxidation behavior of fully dense Ti3AlC2 fabricated by this newly developed method were also investigated. Ti3AlC2 was relatively soft with Vickers hardness ranging from 2.5 to 4.7 GPa. The flexural strength and the fracture toughness were 340 MPa and 7.2 MPa-m(1/2), respectively. Ti3AlC2. had high compressive strength at both room and high temperatures, and its failure below 1000 degreesC was shear fracture, while above 1050 degreesC the deformation was ductile. Ti3AlC2 had good resistance to thermal shock. The electrical conduction of Ti3AlC2 was metallic with room-temperature electrical conductivity of 3.48 x 10(6)Omega(-1)m(-1). The isothermal oxidation of Ti3AlC2 at 1000-1400 degreesC in air revealed that it had excellent oxidation resistance and obeyed a cubic law, and adhesive continuous Al2O3 layer formed on Ti3AlC2. (C) 2002 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Summary Gaussian beam migration combines the ray theory with wave theory, which not only retains the advantage of Kirchhoff migration, such as flexibility, efficiency and nature adaptability for rugged topography, but also has high imaging accuracy like wave equation migration. A method of the amplitude-preserved Gaussian beam migration based on wave field approximation in effective vicinity under rugged topography condition is developed in this article. By considering the elevation, dip angle of rugged topography, we derived the forward and inverse wave extrapolation formula in terms of Gaussian beam, and then applied them to deconvolution imaging condition to obtain the formula of amplitude-preserved Gaussian beam migration in shot domain. Comparing to conventional local static correction method, our method not only applies more correction of travel time caused by rugged topography to improve the imaging quality in terms of kinematics, but also gives full consideration to the influence on the amplitude caused by rugged topography to improve the imaging quality in terms of dynamics. The trial of numerical models proved the above conclusion.

Odour abatement units are typically designed and maintained on H2S concentrations, but operational failures are reported in terms of overall odour removal, suggesting a wide range of malodorous compounds emitted from sewers that may not be efficiently removed by existing odour abatement processes. Towards providing greater insight into this issue, several activated carbon filters and biofilters treating odorous emissions from sewer systems in Sydney (Australia) were monitored by collecting and analysing gas samples before and after treatment. The monitoring studies were conducted by both olfactometric measurements and gas-chromatography-based chemical analysis. Single H2S assessment often failed to indicate the odour abatement performance for treatment systems in the abatement units studied, particularly when the incoming H2S concentrations were in the sub-ppm range (i.e. below H2S odour threshold). Chemical analysis indicated that some non-H2S odorous compounds were not removed efficiently during odour treatment. Additionally, when odour eliminations were correlated with the removal of individual compounds (Pearson's correlations) it was observed that the correlation (with a coefficient of 0.79) was best when the overall removal of all the measured odorous compounds that exceeded their odour threshold values was used for the analysis. These findings may help to further advance the design and operation of odour abatement processes to address the treatment of sewer odour emissions.

Since the foundation of China, with the development of the sports teaching career, sports teachers has grown up especially after the Beijing Olympics, our nation pays more and more attention to physical education. After the implementation of new educational reform, sports teaching resources and teachers face the reform and development. In order to cultivate more outstanding and young teachers, this paper studies the development and change of PE teacher faculty since the foundation of our country. The study finds that the relationship between supply and demand of the teacher resources meets the dynamic CGE balance. The first part of this paper describes the dynamic CGE model of the development process of sports faculty. It establishes the solving algorithm of CGE model combined with MCHUGE dynamic model. The second part researches and surveys 100 well-known schools since the foundation of China. It counts the results of the investigation combined with solving algorithm of the first part. This paper gets the age structure, the title structure, the educational structure and sex ratio and other development characteristics which provide a reliable theoretical basis for the development of the faculty.