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Abstract Cytokines have attracted sustained attention due to their multi-functional cellular response in immunotherapy. However, their application was limited to their short half-time, narrow therapeutic window, and undesired side effects. To address this issue, we developed a portable smart blue-light controlled (PSLC) device based on optogenetic technology. By combining this PSLC device with blue-light controlled gene modules, we successfully achieved the targeted regulation of cytokine expression within the tumor microenvironment. To alter the tumor microenvironment of solid tumors, pro-inflammatory cytokines were selected as blue-light controlled molecules. The results show that blue-light effectively regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines both in vitro and in vivo. This strategy leads to enhanced and activated tumor-infiltrating immune cells, which facilitated to overcome the immunosuppressive microenvironment, resulting in significant tumor shrinkage in tumor-bearing mice. Hence, our study offers a unique strategy for cytokine therapy and a convenient device for animal studies in optogenetic immunotherapy.

The Lower Cretaceous Bashijiqike Formation, which is an important gas exploration target in the Kuqa Depression, Tarim Basin, China, is an excellent case illustrating the diagenesis and reservoir property variations of tight sandstone with burial depths ranging from 3500 m to 8000 m. Thus, integrated approaches incorporating thin-section petrographic characterization, mineral morphology and identification, X-ray diffraction analysis, reservoir property tests, and fluid inclusion analysis were applied to investigate the diagenesis and reservoir property variations of Bashijiqike sandstone with different burial depths. The main findings of this study were as follows. (1) Diagenesis of the Bashijiqike sandstone with a burial depth of less than 5000 m was mainly characterized by kaolinite, colloidal quartz, euhedral quartz, and the dissolution of feldspar, whereas diagenesis of the sandstone with a burial depth of more than 5000 m was primarily distinguished by albite, dolomite, calcite, illite, and chlorite. (2) The porosity and permeability rapidly decreased as the burial depth increased within the range of less than 5000 m, while they slowly decreased as the burial depth increased within the range of more than 5000 m, indicating that the reservoir properties have a nonlinear correlation with the burial depths ranging from 3500 m to 8000 m. (3) During the late stage of the Himalayan movement, the enhanced compaction of Bashijiqike sandstone with the increased burial depth resulted in a decrease in the number of intergranular pores, whereas the dissolution of feldspar and quartz led to the formation of secondary pores. Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that the Himalayan movement after the Neogene resulted in burial depth variations with regard to the studied sandstone, which represents the key controlling factor for both its diagenesis and its reservoir properties.

In the past ten years, the coal mining operation in the northern part of the Ordos Basin has been frequently threatened by the groundwater of the Zhiluo Formation, and even some water inrush accidents have occurred. In the area, the mines with the groundwater of the Zhiluo Formation as water source are distributed continuously, and are closely related to the paleochannel sand bodies of the Zhiluo Formation. In order to explain the mine water inflow model in the distribution area of the paleochannel sand bodies of the Zhiluo Formation in the southern area of Shenfu, on the basis of the study of the spatial distribution of paleochannel sand bodies in the Zhiluo Formation and their control effect on groundwater occurrence, the relationship between the paleochannel sand bodies and the mine water inflow in the Zhiluo Formation was analyzed from the scale of the study area, the scale of the well field and the scale of the working face, and the mine water inflow model under the paleochannel sand bodies of the Zhiluo Formation was proposed. The results show that the paleochannel scouring zone of the Zhiluo Formation in the southern area of Shenfu is developed along the line of Hongyannao-Erlintu-Jinjie, and the fifth member of the Yan’an Formation in the erosion zone is almost completely eroded, and the fourth member of the Yan’an Formation is also scoured in some areas. According to the analysis of the sand dispersion system and the development characteristics of the aquifer rock group, the paleochannel sand bodies filled and deposited in the scouring zone are divided into three grades. The water-richness of the paleochannel sand bodies of the Zhiluo Formation is mainly controlled by the scale, physical characteristics and weathering of the sand body, and the water-richness of the first-order sand body (main channel) is stronger than that of the second-class sand body (branch channel) and the third-order sand body (delta bay and tributary bay), and its water richness will be further enhanced when the sand body is weathered. Based on the analysis of the relationship between sand body classification, weathered sand body thickness and mine water inflow at different scales, three water inflow modes of production mines under paleochannel sand bodies in the eastern part of the study area were proposed. The strong water inrush mode is mainly located in the distribution area of the first-class sand body, and the thickness of the weathered sand body is generally ≥ 30 m. Medium water inrush mode is mainly located at the edge of the primary sand body or secondary sand body area, the thickness of the weathered sand body is generally 10−30 m. The weak water inrush mode is mainly located in the tertiary sand body area, and the thickness of the weathered sand body is generally < 10 m.

Selecting appropriate pavement maintenance strategies can enhance resource efficiency, reduce environmental pollution, prolong road lifespan, and improve societal sustainability. Currently, most models, which selecting pavement maintenance options, exhibit high subjectivity and low reliability. This study employs an innovative probabilistic linguistic multi-attribute decision-making model basing on the quantum cognitive theory. Therefore, the model focuses on expert decision-making groups for pavement maintenance strategies. It considers the trust networks within the decision-making process, as well as the sequential and interference effects arising from experts' belief biases and behavioral interactions. By doing so, it facilitates a more scientific selection of optimal strategies among multiple maintenance options. The proposed method has been validated through practical case studies of road segments, and its scientific validity and effectiveness have been further corroborated through sensitivity analysis.

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-based immunotherapy (hereafter referred to as “combination immunotherapy”) compared with that of sorafenib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsDatabases such as PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from the date of their establishment to September 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of combination immunotherapy versus sorafenib for the treatment of advanced HCC. Two reviewers independently evaluated the quality of the included studies, extracted the data, and cross-checked the information. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 5 RCTs were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed the following: (1) Effectiveness. Compared to sorafenib, combination immunotherapy significantly improved overall survival (OS, HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.58 ~ 0.82, p

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious health burden worldwide with high mortality. LncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) has been illustrated to serve as a biomarker for COPD progression. Nonetheless, its specific functions and mechanisms in COPD are unclarified. Methods Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) was utilized to stimulate 16HBE cells, and cigarette smoke combining with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was employed to induce COPD in rats. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were utilized for measuring protein and RNA levels. Flow cytometry was implemented for detecting cell apoptosis. Concentrations of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IFN-γ were examined using ELISA. Luciferase reporter assay was utilized for verifying the interaction between molecules. Hematoxylin–eosin staining was performed for histological analysis of rat lung tissues. Results PVT1 was highly expressed in CSE-stimulated 16HBE cells and the lungs of COPD rats. PVT1 depletion restored the viability, restrained apoptosis and hindered inflammatory cytokine production in 16HBE cells under CSE treatment and alleviated pathological damages in COPD rats. PVT1 bound to miR-30b-5p and miR-30b-5p targeted BCL2 like 11 (BCL2L11). Overexpressing BCL2L11 offset the above effects mediated by PVT1 in CSE-triggered 16HBE cells. Conclusion PVT1 enhances apoptosis and inflammation of 16HBE cells under CSE stimulation by modulating miR-30b-5p/BCL2L11 axis.

Abstract Aim To evaluate the status quo of knowledge, attitude and behaviour of neonatal nurses on medical adhesive related skin injury (MARSI). Design A survey. Methods We conducted a survey on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of neonatal nurses from September 1–30, 2022. The characteristics, knowledge, attitude and behaviour of neonatal nurses were evaluated and analysed. Results A total of 116 neonatal nurses were included. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that had accepted MARSI training, education level, year of work experience are the influencing factors of nurses' MARSI knowledge score (all p

In the era of rapid product iteration, companies need simple and effective methods to guide the entire process of product innovation design and enhance their product innovation capabilities. Most research focused on improving one or several steps in the product design process. Although some scholars have proposed methods that guided the entire process, they combined more than three different theories, which increased the difficulty of theoretical learning and the complexity of practical implementation. This paper proposed a product innovation design process composed of three theoretical methods: Kano, Axiomatic Design (AD), and Theory of the Solution of Inventive Problems (TRIZ). This new process guided the entire product design process with fewer theoretical methods, reducing the difficulty of learning and implementation. The paper demonstrated the effectiveness of this method through the design practice of a portable two-wheeled self-balancing vehicle. Additionally, the discussion section explored the method's potential from the design management perspective.

Since 2019, major breakthroughs have been made in the prospecting of the Lower Cretaceous sandstone-type uranium deposits in the northern Ordos Basin. The Lower Cretaceous sandstone layer is expected to become another important sandstone-type uranium prospecting target after the Middle Jurassic. Establishing the metallogenic model of the Lower Cretaceous provides a better guide for prospecting work. Based on previous regional geological, drilling cores, and analytical data, the authors systematically summarized the basic geological characteristics of uranium mineralization in the Lower Cretaceous in this area and preliminarily established the uranium metallogenic model of the Lower Cretaceous.The results suggest the six Lower Cretaceous rock types can be divided into three geochemical types. Uranium mineralization mainly occurs in the brown-gray sandstone, which is the transition zone from brown-red sandstone to green sandstone. The green sandstone is formed by oxidation first and then reduction.The metallogenic type is dominated by interlayer oxidation, supplemented by phreatic oxidation in the Late Cretaceous. The Lower Cretaceous "secondary oxidation" uranium metallogenic model can be divided into three stages: first oxidation mineralization stage, large-scale reduction mineralization stage, and second oxidation mineralization stage.These research results can provide a new idea for uranium exploration in new strata of Ordos Basin.

Summary: A single episode of pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus can trigger the development of spontaneous recurrent seizures in a rodent model for epilepsy. The initial seizure-induced events in neuronal nuclei that lead to long-term changes in gene expression and cellular responses likely contribute toward epileptogenesis. Using a transgenic mouse model to specifically isolate excitatory neuronal nuclei, we profiled the seizure-induced nuclear proteome via tandem mass tag mass spectrometry and observed robust enrichment of nuclear proteins associated with the SUMOylation pathway. In parallel with nuclear proteome, we characterized nuclear gene expression by RNA sequencing which provided insights into seizure-driven transcriptional regulation and dynamics. Strikingly, we saw widespread downregulation of zinc-finger transcription factors, specifically proteins that harbor Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) domains. Our results provide a detailed snapshot of nuclear events induced by seizure activity and demonstrate a robust method for cell-type-specific nuclear profiling that can be applied to other cell types and models.

Specific medications to combat cerebellar ataxias, a group of debilitating movement disorders characterized by difficulty with walking, balance and coordination, are still lacking. Notably, cerebellar microglial activation appears to be a common feature in different types of ataxic patients and rodent models. However, direct evidence that cerebellar microglial activation in vivo is sufficient to induce ataxia is still lacking. Here, by employing chemogenetic approaches to manipulate cerebellar microglia selectively and directly, we found that specific chemogenetic activation of microglia in the cerebellar vermis directly leads to ataxia symptoms in wild-type mice and aggravated ataxic motor deficits in 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) mice, a classic mouse model of cerebellar ataxia. Mechanistically, cerebellar microglial proinflammatory activation induced by either chemogenetic M3D(Gq) stimulation or 3-AP modeling hyperexcites Purkinje cells (PCs), which consequently triggers ataxia. Blockade of microglia-derived TNF-α, one of the most important proinflammatory cytokines, attenuates the hyperactivity of PCs driven by microglia. Moreover, chemogenetic inhibition of cerebellar microglial activation or suppression of cerebellar microglial activation by PLX3397 and minocycline reduces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, to effectively restore the overactivation of PCs and alleviate motor deficits in 3-AP mice. These results suggest that cerebellar microglial activation may aggravate the neuroinflammatory response and subsequently induce dysfunction of PCs, which in turn triggers ataxic motor deficits. Our findings thus reveal a causal relationship between proinflammatory activation of cerebellar microglia and ataxic motor symptoms, which may offer novel evidence for therapeutic intervention for cerebellar ataxias by targeting microglia and microglia-derived inflammatory mediators.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides from fermented foods exhibit great potential to alleviate type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, the DPP-IV inhibition activity of peptide extract from Chouguiyu was obviously enhanced after 4–8 d fermentation. A total of 125 DPP-IV inhibitory peptides in Chouguiyu were identified by peptidomics and were obtained from 46 precursor proteins, mainly including nebulin, titin, muscle-type creatine kinase, hemoglobin, and actin. After molecular docking with DPP-IV, four novel DPP-IV inhibitory peptides possessing the lowest docking energy were selected, including EPAEAVGDWR (D37), IPHESVDVIK (D22), PDLSKHNNHM (D35), and PFGNTHNNFK (D1). The DPP-IV inhibition activity of D37, D22, D35, and D1 were further verified after synthesis with the IC50 of 0.10 mM, 2.69 mM, 3.88 mM, and 8.51 mM, respectively, in accordance with their docking energies. Energy interaction showed that the structures of EP-, IPH-, -NHM, and PF- in these peptides were easy to connect with DPP-IV enzyme through hydrogen bond, salt bridge, and alkyl. The surface force including the H-bond interaction, hydrophobicity, aromatic interaction, and SAS, played a major role in the interaction between DPP-IV enzyme and peptides. The peptides that possess high hydrophobicity and can form strong hydrogen bond and salt bridge are potential DPP-IV inhibitory peptides using for T2DM remission.

The enhancing effects of microbe cement on municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash have been modeled by molecular dynamics and investigated experimentally. Molecular dynamics is utilized to explore the adsorption mechanism of heavy metal (Pb ions) in cementitious materials in four aspects: intensity distribution, mean square displacement (MSD), radial distribution function (RDF) and time correlation functions (TCF), revealing that the stable formation of chemical adsorption with C-S-H is the main reason. So the leaching of heavy metals can be reduced with cement hydration such as microbe cement with MSWI fly ash. Furthermore, the strengthening effects of microbe cement are inspected experimentally with a compression test, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic absorption spectrometer with a content range from 0 to 60%. The results of compressive strength, microstructure inspection and heavy metals’ leaching concentration show that the optimum content of microbe cement for solidifying and enhancing MSWI fly ash is 30% above range.

In recent years, microbial repair materials have received widespread attention for their advantages such as stable products and good compatibility with cementitious materials. However, the current construction process of microbial repair materials is mainly by immersion, which limits the more widespread application. Therefore, this study proposed a coating construction process with sodium alginate as the carrier. The effects of sodium alginate concentration and dosing on the fundamental properties of microbial repair materials (CaCO3 content, mechanical properties, water absorption ratio, and heating shrinkage rate) and their effects on mortar repair effects (macroscopic morphology and surface water absorption ratio) were investigated. The repair effects were further verified by combining thermogravimetric analysis of repair products and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that 1) the microbial repair material had better basic properties when sodium alginate solution with a mass concentration of 1.5% was used, and its solution-to-bacterial solution volume ratios were 8:2, 7:3, and 6:4; 2) using the coating technique, the microorganisms were fixed in the cracks on the mortar surface by using sodium alginate as the carrier. Only twice of repair could generate a mixture of calcium alginate and calcium carbonate crystals in the cracks by close adhesion. The surface water absorption of the repaired specimens was 67% lower than before the repair, which is a significant effect of the repair.

Objective. To explore the application value of N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in evaluation of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods. 50 CHF patients admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine of our hospital from January 2021 to December 2021 were selected as the observation group. Another 50 non-CHF patients of our hospital were selected as the control group. Clinical data were collected from subjects who met the inclusion criteria, including general information, personal disease history, and laboratory test indicators. Patients with CHF were followed up for 6 months. Patients with CHF were divided into two groups, MACE group and non-MACE group. Results. The levels of WBC, NEU, NLR, and NT-proBNP in observation group were higher than those in control group, but the level of LYM was the opposite (P

Abstract Background Spontaneous formation of urinoma is a rare condition, especially for pregnant women. We report a patient in the third trimester of pregnancy with a spontaneous renal rupture who then develops a urinoma from urine leaking into the perinephric space. Case presentation A 23-year-old primagravida was diagnosed with a spontaneous renal rupture and acute left loin pain accompanied by hematuria when she was 35 weeks pregnant. A sub-capsular perinephric cyst then developed to a size of 319 × 175 × 253 mm, and because of discomfort to the patient, we performed Cesarean section. After a healthy male newborn was delivered, fluid was suctioned from a large perirenal cyst that had an estimated size of 300 × 200 × 300 mm. A percutaneous nephrostomy tube was left in the cyst until CT showed no remaining fluid. In the six-month follow-up, the patient showed no perirenal extravasation according to an ultrasound scan, and the urine analysis and renal function tests were normal. Conclusion Close follow-up should be recommended for the patient who has renal rupture after conservative therapy, especially for pregnant woman. CT or MRI should be considered in addition to utilizing ultrasound in the management of pregnant women who present with urinomas. Percutaneous nephrostomy is suggested as an appropriate treatment for large urinomas.

In order to evaluate the relationship between of endogenous enzymes and physiochemical indicators during the processing of dry-salted Decapterus maruadsi produced by the traditional method. The evolution of the endogenous enzymes (cathepsin B, cathepsin L, cathepsin H, acid lipase, neutral lipase, and phospholipase) and physical and chemical parameters (moisture content, salt content and pH) of dry-salted Decapterus maruadsi during processing were investigated. Principal component analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient analysis were used to explore the main factors influencing the endogenous enzyme activity and the interactions between endogenous enzymes. The following results were observed during the processing of dry-salted Decapterus maruadsi: the salt content could stimulate cathepsin (L and B) activity and inhibit lipase activity; a lower moisture content could inhibit lipase activity, while the inhibitory effect on cathepsin was inconspicuous; pH had a minor influence on the endogenous enzyme activities; cathepsin B and L could partially inhibit lipase activity.

Results demonstrated that in meat quail, three genotypes (AA, BB and AB) were detected at locus A and B in MyoG gene. Locus A is significantly correlated with weight and body length of meat quail (P

The immune system is a complex network of specialized cells and organs that recognises and reacts against foreign pathogens while remaining unresponsive to host tissues. This ability to self-tolerate is known as immunological tolerance. Autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system fails to differentiate between self and non-self antigens and releases autoantibodies to attack our own cells. Anti-idiotypic (anti-ID) antibodies are important in maintaining a balanced idiotypic regulatory network by neutralising and inhibiting the secretion of autoantibodies. Recently, anti-ID antibodies have been advanced as an alternative form of immunotherapy as they can specifically target autoantibodies, cause less toxicity and side effects, and could provide long-lasting immunity. This review article discusses the immunomodulatory potential of anti-ID antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

The polymorphism of estrogen receptor (ESR) gene was detected by PCR-RFLP in China yellow, Korean and Beijing white quails and the association between ESR gene polymorphism and carcass traits of egg quails was analyzed. The results showed that there were three genotypes including CC, CT and TT detected in exon 1 and exon 8 of ESR gene in egg quails. The frequencies of CC genotype in exon 1 of ESR gene were the highest in China yellow, Beijing white and Korean quail (0.515, 0.614, 0.723). The highest frequencies of TT genotype in exon 8 of ESR gene were detected in Beijing white and Korean quails (0.618 and 0.540), while the highest frequency of CT genotype was detected in China yellow quail (0.476). As demonstrated in this study, there were significant correlations between exon 1 of ESR gene and body weight, carcass weight, breast muscle weight, heart weight and percentage of leg muscles in egg quails (P

Objective. Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1), an inhibitor of necroptosis, has been reported to protect against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MI/R) injury. However, the contribution of the potential antinecroptotic effect of Nec-1 on its infarct limitation and cardiac function improvement effects after MI/R has not been investigated. Methods. The present study investigated the effect of Nec-1 on myocardial infarct size, necroptosis, and cardiac functional recovery in rats subjected to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MI/R 30 min/12, 24, 48, and 72 h). Results. The study showed that Nec-1 might reduce myocardial cell death and maintain myoarchitectonic integrity, consequently inhibiting the reactive fibrosis process in rats in myocardial ischemia/late reperfusion. Moreover, the administration of Nec-1 (0.6 mg/kg) at the onset of reperfusion significantly reduced the release of creatine kinase and downregulation of autophagy within 24 h after reperfusion, and there was a significantly positive correlation between them. Conclusion. These results suggest that antinecroptosis treatment may improve the clinical outcomes of patients with ischemic heart disease.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a term describing the highly selective barrier formed by the endothelial cells (ECs) of the central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis by restricting movement across the BBB. An intact BBB is critical for normal brain functions as it maintains brain homeostasis, modulates immune cell transport, and provides protection against pathogens and other foreign substances. However, it also prevents drugs from entering the CNS to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Stem cells, on the other hand, have been reported to bypass the BBB and successfully home to their target in the brain and initiate repair, making them a promising approach in cellular therapy, especially those related to neurodegenerative disease. This review article discusses the mechanism behind the successful homing of stem cells to the brain, their potential role as a drug delivery vehicle, and their applications in neurodegenerative diseases.

This study examined the effects of urea and molasses on fermentation dynamics and structural carbohydrate degradation of Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach), which was ensiled in laboratory silos for 3, 7, 14, and 30 days at the ambient temperature. The treatments were additions (fresh weight basis) of: no molasses or urea (control), no molasses and 0.4% urea (U), 4% molasses and 0% urea (M), 4% molasses and 0.4% urea (MU). The results showed that the control group produced an unstable fermentation. U silage always had smallest amount of lactic acid and highest levels of pH, acetic acid, butyric acid and ammonia nitrogen. Compared with control, both M and MU increased water soluble carbohydrate contents which promoted lactic acid fermentation domination, but MU did not restrain clostridial fermentation. After 30 days of ensiling, compared with the control, both M and MU lowered structural carbohydrate contents, and U lowered crude protein content but MU increased this parameter. It was concluded that the combination of 4% molasses with 0.4% urea could improve the fermentation and nutritive qualities of Napiergrass but was not sufficient to inhibit clostridial fermentation.

Ethyl gallate is a phenolic compound richly contained in Longan. In traditional Chinese medicine, Longan is widely known as a fruit with “hot” properties, with a tendency to promote inflammatory and certain other responses. The mechanism for its proinflammatory as well as health beneficial effects is poorly understood. Based on our earlier observation that certain natural phenolic compounds can serve as reducing cosubstrates for cyclooxygenases (COXs), we sought to test a hypothesis that ethyl gallate may activate the catalytic activity of the COX enzymes. Results from studies using cultured cells and animals show that ethyl gallate can activate the production of prostaglandin E2, a representative prostaglandin tested in this study. Computational analysis indicates that ethyl gallate can activate the peroxidase active sites of COX-1 and COX-2 by serving as a reducing cosubstrate. The effect of ethyl gallate is abrogated by galangin, which is known to bind to the same peroxidase active sites of COX-1 and COX-2 as a competitive inhibitor. The findings of this study offer support for a novel hypothesis that the proinflammatory as well as health beneficial effects of Longan may be partly attributable to the activation of COX-1 and COX-2 by ethyl gallate.

β-carotene is a lipophilic micronutrient that is considered beneficial to human health. However, there are some limitations in utilizing β-carotene in functional foods or dietary supplements currently because of its poor water dispersibility and chemical stability. A new type of β-carotene bilayer emulsion delivery system was prepared by a layer-by-layer electrostatic deposition technique, for which were chosen bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the inner emulsifier and Arabic gum (GA) as the outer emulsifier. The physicochemical properties of bilayer emulsions were mainly characterized by droplet size distribution, zeta potential, rheological behavior, Creaming Index (CI), and encapsulation ratio of β-carotene. Besides this, the effects of processing conditions (pH, thermal treatment, UV radiation, strong oxidant) and storage time on the chemical stability of bilayer emulsions were also evaluated. The bilayer emulsion had a small droplet size (221.27 ± 5.17 nm) and distribution (PDI = 0.23 ± 0.02), strong zeta potential (−30.37 ± 0.71 mV), good rheological behavior (with the highest viscosity that could reduce the possibility of flocculation) and physical stability (CI = 0), high β-carotene encapsulation ratio (94.35 ± 0.71%), and low interfacial tension (40.81 ± 0.86 mN/m). It also obtained better chemical stability under different environmental stresses when compared with monolayer emulsions studied, because it had a dense and thick bilayer structure.

The efficient and simple separation of oil-water mixtures has been a global challenge due to the growing problem of oily wastewater. To address this issue, various materials with special wetting properties and functionality have been developed in the past decades for oil-water separation. In this study, a super-hydrophobic cellulose acetate (CA) functional coating was prepared by electrostatic spraying of CA and chemical vapor deposition of methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS) on a stainless steel mesh (SSM). Water contact angle in air (WCA) of the resulting coating is 154[degrees] or more, and oil under water contact angle (UWOCA) is 0[degrees]. Simultaneously, the separation flux of the resulting coating for oil-water mixtures is as high as 23977.77 L*[m.sup-2]*[h.sup.-1], with separation efficiencies exceeding 99%. Due to its excellent water repellency, the CA functional coating can effectively separate oil and water, and can be easily dried for continuous use. Furthermore, the CA functional coating exhibits good stability in salt solutions and acidic environments, making it an ideal material for addressing oily wastewater challenges. Highlights * The coating obtained by electrostatic spraying and CVD was superhydrophobic. * The separation flux and separation efficiencies of coatings is 23977.77 L*[m.sup-2]*[h.sup.-1] and 99%. * Coatings remain stable under polar environment conditions (pH = 2-12 and NaCl = 1-3 mol/L). KEYWORDS cellulose acetate, chemical vapor deposition, electrostatic spraying, oil-water separation, superhydrophobic, 1 | INTRODUCTION The rapid rise of the petrochemical industry in recent decades has contributed to the industrial revolution and the progress of human society, (1) but it has also [...]

Study objectiveTo determine the effect of dexmedetomidine on acute kidney injury (AKI) following endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD).DesignRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study.SettingUniversity Hospital.Patients102 TBAD patients undergoing EVAR procedures were enrolled. Patients with dissection involving aortic arch or renal artery were excluded.InterventionsPatients were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to a dexmedetomidine group (intravenous dexmedetomidine 0.4 μg/kg/h immediately after anesthesia induction and 0.1 μg/kg/h after extubation, which was maintained until 24 h) or a normal saline control group.MeasurementsThe primary outcome was the incidence of AKI within the first two days after surgery, based on the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. The secondary outcomes included serum cystatin C and estimated glomerular filtration rate on postoperative days 1, 2, and 7, and in-hospital need for renal replacement therapy (RRT). Long-term outcomes included RRT and all-cause mortality.Main resultsNinety-eight patients completed the study (dexmedetomidine, n = 48; control, n = 50). AKIN stage 1 AKI occurred in 3/48 (6.3%) patients receiving dexmedetomidine, compared with 11/50 (22%) patients receiving normal saline (odds ratio = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.89, P = 0.041). This difference remained significant after adjusting for baseline covariates (adjusted odds ratio = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.84; P = 0.028). Dexmedetomidine led to a lower serum cystatin C on postoperative day 1 (median [IQR] mg/L: 1.31 [1.02-1.72] vs. 1.58 [1.28-1.96]). There were no between-group differences in other secondary or long-term outcomes. During the follow-up (median = 28.4 months), 1 patient in the dexmedetomidine group and 3 patients in the control group required RRT.ConclusionsDexmedetomidine reduced the incidence of AKI in TBAD patients after EVAR procedures. The long-term benefits of dexmedetomidine in this patient population warrant further investigation.Trial registrationChiCTR-IPR-15006372.