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A cluster randomized controlled trial of endoscopy-based screening for esophageal cancer (EC) and gastric cancer (GC) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of this strategy in a non-high-incidence rural area of China. The trial design and baseline findings are presented here.A total of 33 eligible villages in Luoshan County in Henan Province were assigned randomly to the intervention or control group in a 1:1 ratio by a computer-generated randomization list. Local residents aged 40 to 69 years were enrolled from the villages. Participants in the intervention group were risk-stratified with a questionnaire, and high-risk individuals were subsequently screened by endoscopy. The primary outcomes were EC and GC mortality. The secondary outcomes comprised the detection rate, stage distribution, and the treatment rate. In this study, baseline characteristics were assessed by a questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore factors associated with endoscopy compliance.Trial recruitment was completed in 2017, and ultimately, there were 12,475 and 11,442 participants allocated to the intervention (17 clusters) and the control group (16 clusters), respectively. We included 23,653 participants in the analysis, with 12,402 in the intervention group and 11,251 in the control group. A total of 6,286 (50.7%) participants in the intervention group were estimated as high-risk individuals, and 2,719 (43.3%) underwent endoscopy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that some factors including age, gender, education, personality and mental health, and upper gastrointestinal diseases or symptoms might affect endoscopy compliance. The detection rates for positive cases of EC and GC were 0.22% and 0.55%, respectively. The rates for esophageal and gastric precancerous lesions were 0.70% and 2.35%, respectively. The early detection rates for EC and GC were 50.0% and 33.3%, respectively. Additionally, the overall treatment rate for positive cases was 90.0%.The diagnostic yield of endoscopy-based screening for EC and GC was relatively low in a non-high-incidence rural area. The study may offer clues for the improvement of endoscopy compliance and the optimization of screening strategies for upper gastrointestinal cancer in non-high-incidence areas.Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-EOR-16008577.

It is great of significance to figure the time-trend of esophageal cancer (EC) and its current status for effective prevention and control, especially in EC high risk areas. As one of world-renowned high-risk areas, the epidemiology of EC in Henan has not been recently updated. Therefore, we aimed to depict the status quo of EC and analyze its time-trend in Henan.The EC data were extracted from the Henan Provincial Cancer registry database derived from the population based cancer registry system, which covered 30.51% of the whole population in Henan and were qualified according to national and international guidelines. The incidence and mortality of EC were estimated by area (rural/urban), gender, and age groups. The age-standardized rates (ASRs) were calculated according to the Segi's population. Joinpoint regression was used to calculate annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) to evaluate the time-trend of EC.As estimated, there were 29,913 new EC cases in Henan, 2018. The crude incidence and the age-standardized incidence rate by world standard population (ASIRW) was 27.43/10The EC incidence and mortality in Henan has exhibited a significant declining trend in past years. Nonetheless, the disease burden remains high, especially in males and rural areas. Therefore, the ongoing prevention and control strategies of EC should be maintained alongside the establishment of more effective strategies.

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) put forward a global target to eliminate HCV by 2030. A better understanding of HCV knowledge, testing behaviours, and associated factors in general population is essential to meet the target. OBJECTIVE To assess HCV knowledge, self-reported HCV testing behaviours among Chinese general population. Additionally, we explored the characteristics of patients who had less knowledge, and who were less likely to be tested. METHODS The cross-sectional online survey of Chinese general population aged 15 years or older was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022. A brief 8-item HCV knowledge scale was used to evaluate HCV knowledge among those who had ever heard of HCV. Those scoring 0 points and who had never heard of HCV were categorized as having “Poor” knowledge, those scoring 1~4 points were categorized as having “Fair” knowledge, whereas those scoring above 4 points were categorized as having “Good” knowledge. Ordinal logistic regression analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were used to assess the associated factors with HCV knowledge level and the uptake of HCV testing, respectively. RESULTS A total of 812 valid questionnaires were included. Of these, 47.4% (385/812) had ever heard of HCV with a median HCV knowledge score of 6 (Q1, Q3: 2, 7). The proportions of participants who had “Poor”, “Fair” and “Good” knowledge were 59.1% (480/812), 11.2% (91/812) and 29.7% (241/812), respectively. A total of 31.8% (258/812) reported that they had ever tested HCV. The majority were tested for HCV because of blood donation (65.9%, 170/258). The most common reasons why participants did not test HCV were unaware of HCV (67.0%, 371/554). Participants who were less educated, who were located in West China and who currently drink alcohol had a low level of HCV knowledge. Participants with blood donation history and family history of HBV/HCV infection had a high level of HCV knowledge. Female, participants who were less educated, who were located in West China, who currently drink alcohol, and who had poor HCV knowledge had a low proportion of self-reported HCV testing. Participants who had a family history of HBV/HCV infection had a high proportion of self-reported HCV testing. CONCLUSIONS The general population has low HCV knowledge and testing rate in China. There is an urgent need to design and distribute education information to enhance HCV knowledge and testing rate. Scaling up screening is recommended in order to facilitate HCV testing and treatment. In addition, persons less educated, belonging to less-developed areas, who currently drink alcohol, and women are the subgroups that should be given priority to health education and testing behaviour intervention.

In general, the ultimate parameter selection method of the failure approach index theory among the three-dimensional problems in geotechnical engineering is unclear in theory, and the symbol convention of the failure approach index in engineering calculation is contrary to the stipulation of the numerical simulation software. Hence, the values of the ultimate plastic shear strain are difficult to determine. To solve this problem, the criterion of positive tension and negative compression and the sequence of the principal stress σ1 ≤ σ2 ≤ σ3 are defined in this paper, and the expression of Mohr–Coulomb yield approach index id deduced. Under the condition of the principal strain sequence ε1 ≤ ε2 ≤ ε3, the formula of the ultimate shear strain is derived using the method of the ultimate strain analysis so as to obtain the simple expression and calculation method of the ultimate plastic shear strain, which has provided the calculation parameters for the three-dimensional ultimate plastic shear strain in the Mohr–Coulomb strain softening model and improved the failure approach index theory. In the light of the aforementioned theory, the ultimate strains of cubic concrete specimens are analyzed, and the obtained ultimate strain values are found consistent with previous research findings, which verifies the correctness and reliability of the ultimate strain analysis method. In addition, it is applied to the quantitative elastic–plastic failure analysis of the section coal pillar in Hengjin coal industry for determining its reasonable retainment width. Consequently, the research results can be embraced as the theoretical basis for the stability analysis of geotechnical materials and exhibits engineering application potential.

Studying the physical properties of materials under high pressure and temperature through experiments is difficult. Theoretical simulations can compensate for this deficiency. Currently, large-scale simulations using machine learning force fields are gaining popularity. As an important nuclear energy material, the evolution of the physical properties of uranium under extreme conditions is still unclear. Herein, we trained an accurate machine learning force field on alpha-U and predicted the lattice dynamics and elastic properties at high pressures and temperatures. The force field agrees well with the ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) and experimental results, and it exhibits higher accuracy than classical potentials. Based on the high-temperature lattice dynamics study, we first present the temperature-pressure range in which the Kohn anomalous behavior of the ${\Sigma}$4 optical mode exists. Phonon spectral function analysis showed that the phonon anharmonicity of alpha-U is very weak. We predict that the single-crystal elastic constants C44, C55, C66, polycrystalline modulus (E,G), and polycrystalline sound velocity ($C_L$,$C_S$) have strong heating-induced softening. All the elastic moduli exhibited compression-induced hardening behavior. The Poisson's ratio shows that it is difficult to compress alpha-U at high pressures and temperatures. Moreover, we observed that the material becomes substantially more anisotropic at high pressures and temperatures. The accurate predictions of alpha-U demonstrate the reliability of the method. This versatile method facilitates the study of other complex metallic materials., Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures, with Supplementary Material

The choice of energy input rate in treatment of aqueous media with gas-phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD) requires quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) reactions dependent on oxidation kinetics. The role of surfactant and non-surfactant OH-radical scavengers in PCD was studied in respect of oxidation of phenol, oxalic and humic acid. Phenol reacts fast, whereas oxalate is known to selectively react with OH-radicals. Humic acid oxidation is slow. Rapid energy intake is advised for oxidation induced exclusively by radical reactions, such as humics, whereas abatement of admixtures reacting with both surface-borne and long-living oxidants benefits from reduced pulse repetition frequency.

Synergy among members of complex microbial communities in the transformation of elements is a key ecological regulation strategy in nature. Making full use of this phenomenon and achieving functional combinations of different microorganisms may have a significant effect on developing new wastewater treatment processes. In this study, nitrogen-containing pollutants were applied in a static batch experiment. The dosage of FeS, the ratio of NO

For wastewaters containing high strength sulfide and nitrogen (e.g. coking wastewater), sulfide might be precipitated and recovered using ferrous salt. This study systematically investigated the feasibility of recovered and precipitated FeS (comparing to commercial FeS minerals) to support autotrophic denitrification for advance nitrogen removal from bio-treated coking wastewater in fluidized bed reactors. The reactor with precipitated FeS could achieve simultaneous removal of NO3−-N and inert COD with high efficiencies of around 96.3% and 30.5%, at NO3−-N and COD loading rates of 4.18 mg·L−1·h−1 and 8.06 mg·L−1·h−1, respectively. Whereas, the performance of commercial FeS reduced gradually and irreversibly after two days, which became completely ineffective after 40 days. Thiobacillus and Rhodanobacter dominated the biomass, which played a key role in the FeS-based denitrification process. This material inter-recycling concept benefits an advance and more sustainable treatment of wastewaters with high strength sulfide and nitrogen.

The structural, elastic and electronic properties of BaZnO2 under pressure are investigated by the plane wave pseudopotential density functional theory (DFT). The calculated lattice parameters and unit cell volume of BaZnO2 at the ground state are in good agreement with the available experimental data and other theoretical data. The pressure dependences of elastic constants Cij, bulk modulus B, shear modulus G, B/G, Poisson’ s ratio σ, Debye temperature Θ and aggregate acoustic velocities VP and VS are systematically investigated. It is shown that BaZnO2 maintains ductile properties under the applied pressures. Analysis for the calculated elastic constants has been made to reveal the mechanical stability and mechanical anisotropy of BaZnO2. At the ground state, the calculated compressional and shear wave velocities are 8.26 km/s and 1.81 km/s, respectively, and the Debye temperature Θ is 240.8 K. The pressure dependences of the density of states and the bonding property of BaZnO2 are also investigated.

The impact of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on two-phase mesophilic (35°C) anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and sewage sludge was studied under mixing ratio of 1:1 on the TS basis. Laboratory-scale, two-phase anaerobic digestion systems were employed with each system consisting of an acidogenic reactor and a methanogenic reactor linked in series. For the acidogenic phase, an increase of volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration was observed as HRT increased from 1d to 5d and the HRT of 5d was recommended for significantly higher VFA production and less propionate percentage, which could provide stable and favourable substrates for the methane reactor. Under acidogenic HRT of 5d, 20d was proved to be the optimum HRT for methanogenic phase with the methane content, methane production rate, methane yield and two-phase VS removal rate reached 71%, 0.7L/(L·d), 0.69L/gVSremoved and 64.7%, respectively. Results verified that the constraints of conventional anaerobic digestion for food waste or sewage sludge separately could be overcome by synergistic effect of co-digestion strategy and two-phase treatment.

A developed stereo particle image velocimetry (stereo-PIV) system was proposed to measure three-dimensional (3D) soil deformation around a laterally loaded pile in sand. The stereo-PIV technique extended 2D measurement to 3D based on a binocular vision model, where two cameras with a well geometrical setting were utilized to image the same object simultaneously. This system utilized two open software packages and some simple programs in MATLAB, which can easily be adjusted to meet user needs at a low cost. The failure planes form an angle with the horizontal line, which are measured at 27°–29°, approximately three-fourths of the frictional angle of soil. The edge of the strain wedge formed in front of the pile is an arc, which is slightly different from the straight line reported in the literature. The active and passive influence zones are about twice and six times of the diameter of the pile, respectively. The test demonstrates the good performance and feasibility of this stereo-PIV system for more advanced geotechnical testing.

The structural, optical, dynamical, and thermodynamic properties of BaZn $$\hbox {O}_{2}$$ under pressure are studied based on the density functional theory. The calculated structural parameters are consistent with the available experimental data. In the ground state, the electronic band structure and density of states indicate that BaZn $$\hbox {O}_{2}$$ is an insulator with a direct gap of 2.2 eV. The Mulliken charges are also analyzed to characterize the bonding property. After the structural relaxation, the optical properties are studied. It is found that the dielectric function of E $$\Vert x\hbox { and }E\Vert y$$ are isotropic, whereas the $$E\Vert x$$ and $$E\Vert z$$ are anisotropic. The effect of pressure on the energy-loss function in the ultraviolet region becomes more obvious as the pressure increases. Furthermore, the dynamical properties under different pressures are investigated using the finite displacement method. We find that the $$P3_{1}21$$ phase of $$\hbox {BaZn}\hbox {O}_{2}$$ is dynamically stable under the pressure ranging from 0 GPa to 30 GPa. The phonon dispersion curves, phonon density of states, vibrational modes and atoms that contribute to these vibrations at $${{\varvec{\Gamma }}}$$ point under different pressures are also reported in this work. Finally, by employing the quasi-harmonic approximation, the thermodynamic properties such as the temperature dependence of the thermal expansion coefficient, specific heat, entropy and Gibbs free energy under different pressures are investigated. It is found that the influences of the temperature on the heat capacity are much more significant than that of the pressure on it.

The damage and fragmentation of rock induced by impact loading is one of typical nonlinear problems in underground engineering. Rock specimen such as rock plate was found to become invalid under impact loading. This paper presents brittle fragmentation for dynamic damage of rock plate based on the edge-on impact (EOI) test with varying impact velocities (10 m s -1 to 40 m s -1) and impact angles. High-speed camera was used to study the relation among crack initiation and propagation, impact velocity and impact angle. The patterns of fracture of the crack under impact are observed and the influence of impact angle on the growth of the crack is analyzed. The results demonstrate that only when the impact velocity is less than a critical value does a damaged zone, whose size increases with the impact velocity, appear on the edge of the sample. When the velocity exceeds the critical value, some radial cracks occur around the damaged zone and extend outward from the boundaries of damaged zone. The radial crack length and damaged zone increase with impact velocity and are influenced by the impact angle. However, at a certain velocity, the damage zone decreases and the crack length increase. It shows that there was an obvious incubation period of crack forming. According to test results, the study found that the impact velocity of this jump is about 25 m s -1 –3 m s -1 and scope of the impact resistance optimized angle is about 15 ° –30 ° .

The fragmentation of ore pass under loading belongs to one of the typical disaster in underground mine. This paper is concerned with the description and explanation of this phenomenon and presents brittle fragmentation for impact damage of rock block based on impact test, high-speed camera was used to study the relation between fragmentation and damage and the effect of the kinetic energy of projectile on them, the experimental results demonstrate that the damaged zone, invasion depth increase with the increase of the kinetic energy of projectile, but are influenced by the impact angle; the results show that prior to the impact kinetic energy reaches the critical value, the energy dissipation is mainly for damaged zone, when the impact kinetic energy increases to the critical value.

By a circular increment step load and unload method, a set of rheological experiments were performed to study the creep properties of amphibolite and the deformation data of instantaneous elasticity, instantaneous plasticity, viscoplasticity and viscoelasticity could be obtained. The results showed that: the creep threshold of amphibolite(σs1) was 25.46MPa; whenσs1s2, the proportion of plastic deformation in the total deformation was very small and the value of creep deformation always tended to a stable value; whenσ>σs2, the rock samples failed rapidly and had no obvious creep. According to the creep and failure properties of amphibolite, the generalized Kelvin creep model was acted in series with the Mohr-Coulomb criterion and a modified generalized Kelvin creep model was built and the corresponding visco-elasto-plastic constitutive relationships were deduced. The modified model could simulate visco-elasto-plastic deviatoric behavior and elasto-plastic volumetric behavior. The model parameters of amphibolite were fitted according to the data of rheological test. The testing curves were coincident well with the theoretic curves by comparison which showed the creep properties and the plastic flow of hard rock could be well simulated by the generalized Kelvin creep model.

The dynamic impact loading has the destructive effect to the surrounding rock mass. Rock specimen such as rock plate was found to become invalid under dynamic impact loading. This paper presents brittle damage evolution law for dynamic impact damage of brittle rock based on low velocity (10m/s~40m/s) impact test, when a source of impact loading is applied to a rock plate specimen, damage cracks are developed from the source to the boundaries. This paper is concerned with the description and explanation of this phenomenon. The test results show that the cracks propagation length and break area are not arbitrary, but are influenced by the angle of dynamic impact loading. According to the test results, the study found that the scope of impact resistance optimization angle is about 30°~45°, and the cuspidal point of impact velocity is about 30m/s~35m/s; The crack length and the break area increase with the increase of the impact loading; When the break area decreases abruptly, the crack length increases suddenly, which shows that there was an obvious incubation period of crack forming, at first some pits appearing on the verge of the rock plate and the propagation rate of crack length and break area decreasing with the impact velocity increasing.

This study constructed a real option valuation model that the risk could be adjustable based on the characteristics of renewable energy projects and the idea of the Capital Asset Pricing Model and used this model to valuate the renewable energy projects considering selling green electricity certificate revenue. And then, it verified the effectiveness and rationality of this model through the investment projects of the wind power.

To investigate the practical application value of the mild-stimulation method used in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment for IVF patients with normal ovarian function.The patients (ages from 26 to 38 years) with normal ovarian function, who were treated with IVF-ET in Affiliated Reproductive Center of China Medical University from January 2004 to July 2012 were selected as our samples. We compared the clinical results of treatment between the mild-stimulation (104 cycles in experimental group) and the conventional stimulation (198 cycles in control group).The number of retrieved oocytes (3.1±1.6 vs. 10.2±5.7, P0.05) and clinical pregnancy rate [34% (33/97) vs. 49.7% (93/187), P0.05] of the mild-stimulation group (104 cycles) were lower than those of the control group (198 cycles), however, the duration of stimulation (4.7±2.1 vs. 9.16±1.87) and total doses of 75 U gonadotropins used (5.7±3.7 vs. 30.9±10.3) were also lower in the mild-stimulation group than in the control group obviously (P0.05).For the normal ovarian function patients, the mild-stimulation method has clear clinical effects, but not as good as the conventional-stimulation one.

A biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was developed for rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157 : H7. BIACORE 3000 SPR instrument and a dextran-modified sensor chip (CM5) were used. After activation with EDC/NHS, anti-E. coli O157 : H7 antibody was immobilized on the gold surface of the SPR sensor, and then following ethanolamine was injected, and the chip was ready for E. coli O157 : H7. Regeneration was achieved using NaOH in order to detect several samples. The limit of detection was found to be 3 x 10(5) CFU x mL(-1) for E. coli O157 : H7, and the change of RU was linearly correlated with the concentration of E. coli O157 : H7 cells (R2 = 0.99). The detection time ranged from 5 to 7 min, and the result of regeneration was effective which allowed the chip to be reused for more than 50 samples. This method is convenient, and stable, and shows potentials for applications in food areas.

In this paper, the deficiency on present mechanism of water inrush from floor is analyzed and it is found that water inrush from fault not only relative with static loads, but also with dynamic loads, especially faults in deep are easily acted by low dynamic loads. Based on fracture mechanics, the fault activation model is built and the stress intensity factor is calculated in view of the deficiency on present mechanism of water inrush from floor. The influence on fault depth, fault length, fault span, fault thickness, underground water pressure is considered in the model for faults in deep. Whether the fault is active is judged by strain energy density factor. The strain energy density factor is relative with fault parameters. It is reverse with fault thickness, positively increases with fault depth and stope span. It also positively increases with dynamic loads and acting time.

To study the anticancer activity of the extract from Citrus reticulata in vivo.Anticancer activities were tested with tumor model in vivo (Sarcoma-180 cells, Heps cells, EAC cells implanted in mice).The extract from Citrus reticulata showed marked anticancer activities on Sarcoma-180 cells and Heps cells implanted in mice, had no marked anticancer activities on EAC cells implanted in mice and induced apoptosis of Sarcoma-180 cell.The extract from Citrus reticulata will have promising prospects as an anticancer Chinese medicine, but further studies will be needed.

A stretchable organic digital information storage device has been developed, which potentially advances the development of future smart and digital stretchable electronic systems. The stretchable organic memory with a buckled structure was configured by a mechanically flexible and elastic graphene bottom electrode and polymer compound. The current–voltage curve of the wrinkled memory device demonstrated electrical bistability with typical write-once-read-many times memory features and a high ON/OFF current ratio (∼105). Even under repetitive stretching, the stretchable organic memory exhibited excellent electrical switching functions and memory effects. We believe the first proof-of-concept presentation of the stretchable organic nonvolatile memory may accelerate the development of information storage device in various stretchable electronic applications, such as stretchable display, wearable computer and artificial skin. Stretchable and foldable electronic devices are very attractive, not only for their practicality but also for their potential in as-yet-undeveloped applications, such as artificial electronic skin. Now, Yang-Fang Chen from the National Taiwan University and co-workers have constructed a stretchable organic memory device. Although a variety of flexible organic electronic devices have already been built, which include transistors or solar cells, building stretchable memory devices has remained a challenge. This is because they typically contain a brittle metal electrode, and their fabrication also involves processes — such as spin coating — that are incompatible with flexible substrates. The researchers circumvented these issues by buckling both a graphene, rather than metallic, electrode and the active memory layers over a pre-stretched poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomer. When the pre-strain was released, the materials adopted a wrinkled structure that endowed them with flexibility. The resulting device showed good electrical switching behavior and memory effects after several stretch/release cycles. A stretchable wrinkled organic memory has been successfully demonstrated. The stretchable organic memory with a graphene bottom electrode possesses rippled structures. The stretchable organic memory exhibits excellent electrical switching behaviors and memory effects even under repetitive stretching. It is believed that this stretchable organic memory may be beneficial for digital information storage in future stretchable electronic systems.