Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC), as a strategy to dissipate heat through an atmospheric transparency window (ATW) to outer space without any extra energy consumption, has been recently ...considered as a novel approach for global net-zero emissions. However, limited to expensive manufacturing, poor thermal/chemical stability, or insufficient weather-resistance, the development of a PDRC building material for long-term outdoor usages still remains a challenge. Here, a scalable superhydrophobic silica metafibers (sh-SMF) was fabricated via an electrospinning process combined with the fluorosilane-modification on fiber surface. The optically engineered sh-SMF could attain an extremely high average reflectivity (∼97 %) with near-zero absorption in the solar spectral region, due to the multiple backscattering at the fiber/air interfaces. In addition, the sh-SMF possessed a high average emissivity (∼90 %) in ATW, originated from the strong phonon resonances of the abundant Si-O bonds. Thus, the optimal sh-SMF realized a sub-ambient cooling performance of 6 °C (4 °C in nighttime) and the maximum cooling power of 112 W/m2 (87 W/m2 in nighttime) under a solar irradiance of ∼790 W/m2. Besides, the temperature decline for the sh-SMF-covered building and vehicle models could also achieve 12.7 °C and 17 °C under sunlight, respectively. Noteworthily, the ceramic sh-SMF could withstand high temperatures over 1200 °C, which might effectively prolong the time for resident to evacuate from buildings in fireground situation. Moreover, the superhydrophobic surface (contact angle=155°) of sh-SMF demonstrated attractive self-cleaning and anti-mildew properties. Furthermore, the excellent weather resistance against acid rain and ultraviolet exposure endowed the sh-SMF with long-term cooling performance. Finally, the sh-SMF with above mentioned properties opens a path for future energy-efficient and sustainable architectural applications.
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•Superhydrophobic silica metafibers (sh-SMFs), fabricated through electrospinning, serving as a scalable, flexible, and flame- and weather-resistant ceramic PDRC emitter.•The optimal sh-SMFs operated with a near-zero value of Psun (<3 W/m2), and a high value of Pcooling (112 W/m2) during the daytime, resulting from high solar reflectivity (97 %) and thermal emissivity (90 %).•Maximum temperature decreases of sh-SMF–covered building and vehicle models of 12.7 and 17 °C, respectively, under sunlight.•The sh-SMFs could withstand high temperatures (>1200 °C), making them especially suitable as a building material that could effectively prolong the time available for residents to evacuate buildings in the event of fire.•The sh-SMFs display excellent self-cleaning, anti-mildew, and anti-acid abilities, combined with great UV-resistance, resulting in great weather-resistance for long-term outdoor applications.
ObjectivesHigh respiratory hazards among search and rescue workers (SRWs) emerged after the World Trade Center attacks on 11 September 2001. There have been limited studies on respiratory symptoms ...among earthquake SRWs. We investigated the respiratory symptoms and the use of respiratory protective equipment among the SRWs who responded to the 2016 Taiwan earthquake.MethodsOn 6 February 2016, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan and caused 513 injuries and 117 deaths. During the 9-day field operation, 519 firefighters affiliated with the Tainan City Government Fire Bureau participated in the search and rescue response. A standardised, self-completed questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, dust exposures, personal protective measures and health outcomes 3 weeks after the earthquake. Descriptive and multivariate analyses adjusting for demographics and exposure variables were performed for new or worsened outcomes.ResultsOf the 519 SRWs, 414 (80%) responded to the questionnaire. Of these SRWs, 153 (37%) reported new or worsened respiratory symptoms, with cough (23%) as the leading symptom, followed by rhinorrhoea or nasal congestion (22%) and chest tightness (6%). More than 90% of the symptoms persisted to the third week after the earthquake. The prevalence of new or worsened respiratory symptoms was significantly higher among SRWs with a higher level of exposure to dust. Prior training in response to respiratory pollutants was only 5%.ConclusionsThere were significant respiratory hazards among earthquake SRWs. The persistent symptoms and low coverage of training warrant further regular examination and occupational health programmes.
Asthma causes a substantial morbidity and mortality burden in children and the pathogenesis of childhood asthma is not completely understood. Macrophages are heterogeneous with divergent M1/M2 ...polarization phenotypes in response to various stimulations during the inflammatory process. We aimed to investigate the pattern of macrophage polarization and its association with severity and exacerbation in asthmatic children.
Normal and asthmatic children aged 4-18 years were enrolled for 12 months. Children with asthma were further subgrouped according to their severity and the requirement for hospitalization during exacerbations. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. Peripheral blood samples were collected to analyze macrophage polarization, including M1, M2, and subsets, by flow cytometry.
Fifty-one asthmatic cases and 27 normal controls were included in this study. The level of PM-2K
CD14
but not PM-2K
CD14
was decreased in asthmatic children. The levels of M2a (CCR7
CXCR1
), M2b (CCR7
CD86
), and M2c (CCR7
CCR2
) subsets, but not M1 (CCR7
CD86
), were increased in asthmatic children. The levels of M1 were decreased, but the levels of M2c were increased, in children with moderate asthma compared to those with mild asthma. The levels of PM-2K
CD14
cells and M1 subsets were decreased, but the M2c subset cells were increased in asthmatic children requiring hospitalization during exacerbations.
Macrophage polarization may be involved in the pathogenesis of childhood asthma and is a potential biomarker of childhood asthma disease severity.
The rupture of atherosclerotic plaque provokes the majority of acute cerebrovascular events. Studies have demonstrated that various matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may promote atherosclerotic plaque ...progression and rupture. However, results have been incongruous and the mechanisms of this remain obscured. Therefore, in the current study, carotid plaques were characterized by assessing the levels of MMPs and calcification factors, and evaluating their association with plaque vulnerability. Human carotid plaques were obtained from carotid endarterectomies, and classified into stable and vulnerable groups by ultrasonography and histological analyses. The mRNA and protein levels of MMPs, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bone sialoprotein 2 (BSP) and osteopontin were investigated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize MMP-2 and MMP-14 in stable and vulnerable plaques. The activation of various associated signaling pathways was also investigated using western blotting. The mRNA levels of MMP-2, -7, -9 and -14 were elevated in vulnerable plaques, among which expression of MMP-2 and -14 were the highest. Consistent with the mRNA levels, the protein levels of MMP-2 and -14 were also elevated. Immunohistochemistry also demonstrated positive staining of MMP-2 and MMP-14 in vulnerable plaques. Factors that indicate neovascularization and calcification, including VEGF and BSP, were concurrently elevated in vulnerable plaques. In addition, the protein levels of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase C (PKC) were upregulated in vulnerable plaques. The current study provides novel insights into the MMP profiles of vulnerability plaques, and may assist in the development of novel methods for the diagnosis of plaque vulnerability and the prevention of plaque rupture.
Background Surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms is often compromised by incomplete exclusion of the aneurysm or stenosis of parent vessels. Intraoperative microvascular Doppler （IMD） is an ...attractive, noninvasive, and inexpensive tool. The present study aimed to evaluate the usefulness and reliability of IMD for guiding clip placement in aneurysm surgery. Methods A total of 92 patients with 101 intracranial aneurysms were included in the study. IMD with a 1.5-mm diameter, 20-MHz microprobe was used before and after clip application to confirm aneurysm obliteration and patency of parent vessels and branching arteries. IMD findings were verified postoperatively with digital subtraction angiography （DSA） or dual energy computed tomography angiography （DE-CTA）. Ninety consecutive patients, harboring 108 aneurysms, who underwent surgery without IMD was considered as the control group. Results The microprobe detected all vessels of the Circle of Willis and their major branches. Clips were repositioned in 24 （23.8%） aneurysms on the basis of the IMD findings consistent with incomplete exclusion and/or stenosis. IMD identified persistent weak blood flow through the aneurismal sac of 11 of the 101 （10.9%） aneurysms requiring clip adjustment. Stenosis or occlusion of the parent or branching arteries as indicated by IMD necessitated immediate clip adjustment in 19 aneurysms （18.8%）. The mean duration of the IMD procedure was 4.8 minutes. The frequency of clip adjustment （mean： 1.8 times per case） was associated with the size and location of the aneurysm. There were no complications related to the use of IMD, and postoperative angiograms confirmed complete aneurysm exclusion and parent vessel patency. About 8.3% （9/108） aneurysms were unexpectedly incompletely occluded, and 10.2% （11/108） aneurysms and parent vessel stenosis without IMD were detected by postoperative DSA or DE-CTA. IMD could reduce the rate of residual aneurysm and unanticipated vessel stenosis which demonstrated statistically significant advantages compared with aneurysm surgery without IMD. Conclusion IMD is a safe, easily performed, reliable, and valuable tool that is suitable for routine use in intracranial surgery, especially in complicated, large, and giant aneurysms with wide neck or without neck.
Chronic inflammation induced by proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines is postulated to be involved in insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Acarbose, the ...α-glucosidase inhibitor, is an oral antidiabetic drug for T2DM. Acarbose suppresses inflammatory cytokine production in patients with T2DM, though the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and the exact mechanisms of acarbose in human monocytic THP-1 cells.
THP-1 cells were pretreated with acarbose and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The levels of Th1-related chemokines, including interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), Th2-related chemokine macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), and proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intracellular signaling pathways were explored by Western blot analysis and using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay.
Acarbose suppressed the levels of IP-10, MCP-1, MDC, and TNF-α and downregulated phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and nuclear factor-kappa B-p65 (NF-κB-p65) in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells. Acarbose suppressed LPS-induced acetylation of histones H3 (H3) and H4 in the IP-10 and MCP-1 promoter regions. These findings revealed the suppressive effects of acarbose on IP-10, MCP-1, MDC, and TNF-α production in THP-1 cells via, at least partially, the p38, JNK, ERK, and NF-κB-p65 pathways, as well as through epigenetic regulation via histone H3 and H4 acetylation.
Our study points to the therapeutic anti-inflammatory potential of acarbose.
AIM: To investigate the clinical effect of scleral buckling surgery combined with 23G vitrectomy in treatment of intraocular foreign body with retinal detachment.METHODS: Totally 72 cases of patients ...with intraocular foreign bodies and retinal detachment admitted from January 2014 to January 2018 were selected and divided into the control group(36 cases)and the observation group(36 cases)by random number table method. The patients in the control group were treated with 23G vitrectomy surgery while patients in the observation group were treated with scleral buckling surgery on the basis of the treatment in the control group. The changes of intraocular pressure(IOP)and visual acuity, successful reset, recurrence and complications were observed before operation and 3mo after silicone oil was removed.RESULTS: There was no difference in IOP and BCVA between the two groups before operation(P>0.05). Three months after silicone oil was removed, IOP and BCVA in two groups were significantly improved compared with those before operation(P<0.05). There was no difference between the two groups(P>0.05). The success rates of one-time anatomical reduction in the observation group and the control group were respectively 97% and 81%(P<0.05). The recurrence rates of the observation group and the control group were respectively 6% and 25%(P<0.05). The incidence of complications was 22% in the observation group and 31% in the control group(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: The treatment of scleral buckling combined with 23G vitrectomy in the treatment of intraocular foreign body with retinal detachment can significantly improve the IOP and visual acuity of patients, improve the success rate of reduction, reduce recurrence, and have high safety.
Background Bacterial vaginosis （BV） is one of the most common infectious diseases among sexually active women and is associated with the increased acquisition of a variety of sexually transmitted ...diseases.This study aimed to compare the efficacy of a non-antibiotic sucrose gel against an antibiotic metronidazole gel for the treatment of BV.Methods A randomized, double-blinded, multi-center, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase Ⅲ clinical trial was conducted at eight hospitals in China.A total of 560 subjects with clinically diagnosed BV were randomly assigned into three groups for vaginally receiving sucrose, metronidazole, and placebo gels, respectively, twice daily for five consecutive days.The efficacy of therapeutic cure, defined as an achievement of both microbiologic cure （a Nugent score of 3 or less） and clinical cure （a resolution of the clinical findings from the baseline visit）, was evaluated at the 1st and 2nd test-of-cure （TOC） visits at 7-10 and 21-35 days after the start of treatment, respectively.Results Therapeutic cure rates for sucrose, metronidazole, and placebo gel groups were 83.13%, 71.30% and 0.92%,at the 1st TOC, and 61.04%, 66.67% and 7.34%, at the 2nd TOC, respectively.While there was no significant difference between the sucrose and metronidazole gel groups at the 2nd TOC （P=0.305）, and sucrose gel was more effective than metronidazole gel at the 1st TOC （P=0.009）.Conclusion These findings suggest that sucrose gel restores normal vaginal flora more rapidly than metronidazole gel and can be used as a novel treatment for BV.
EIF4EBP1 acts as a crucial effector in mTOR signaling pathway. Studies have suggested that EIF4EBP1 plays a critical role in carcinogenesis. However, the clinical significance and biological role of ...EIF4EBP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of EIF4EBP1 in HCC.
Total 128 cases of HCCs were included in this study. EIF4EBP1 expression in HCC tissues was detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Then the relationships between EIF4EBP1 expression and clinical features as well as survival were analyzed.
The expression level of EIF4EBP1 mRNA is significantly higher in 60% (24/40) of fresh HCC tissues than that in the matched adjacent nontumor liver (NCL) tissues (P = 0.044). Similarly, EIF4EBP1 protein is notably upregulated in 8 HCC tissues (randomly selected from the 40 HCCs) measured by Western blot and is significantly increased in another 88 paraffin-embedded HCCs (53%, 47/88) by immunohistochemistry compared with the matched NCLs (P < 0.001). EIF4EBP1 protein expression in HCC tissues is significantly correlated with serum AFP (P = 0.003) and marginally significantly associated with pathological grade (P = 0.085), tumor number (P = 0.084), tumor embolus (P = 0.084) and capsulation (P = 0.073). Patients with higher EIF4EBP1 protein expression have a much worse 5-year overall survival (40.3% vs 73.6%) and 5-year disease-free survival (33.0% vs 49.0%) than those with low expression. Furthermore, Cox regression analysis shows that EIF4EBP1 protein is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (HR, 2.285; 95% CI, 1.154-4.527; P = 0.018) and disease-free survival (HR, 1.901; 95% CI, 1.067-3.386; P = 0.029) in HCC patients.
Our results demonstrate for the first time that EIF4EBP1 mRNA and protein are markedly up-regulated in HCC tissues, and the protein overexpression is significantly associated with poor survival and progression, which provide a potential new prognostic marker and therapeutic target for HCC patients.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
•A large-scale (5m×5m×7.5m) bioreactor experiment was conducted on unprocessed high food waste content (HFWC) MSW.•A large quantity of self-released leachate was collected within two months after ...waste filling.•A rapid build-up of high leachate level was observed after waste filling.•A linear increase of compression strain with an increase of leachate draining rate was found.
A large-scale bioreactor experiment lasting for 2years was presented in this paper to investigate the biochemical, hydrological and mechanical behaviors of high food waste content (HFWC) MSW. The experimental cell was 5m in length, 5m in width and 7.5m in depth, filled with unprocessed HFWC-MSWs of 91.3 tons. In the experiment, a surcharge loading of 33.4kPa was applied on waste surface, mature leachate refilling and warm leachate recirculation were performed to improve the degradation process. In this paper, the measurements of leachate quantity, leachate level, leachate biochemistry, gas composition, waste temperature, earth pressure and waste settlement were presented, and the following observations were made: (1) 26.8m3 leachate collected from the 91.3 tons HFWC-MSW within the first two months, being 96% of the total amount collected in one year. (2) The leachate level was 88% of the waste thickness after waste filling in a close system, and reached to over 100% after a surcharge loading of 33.4kPa. (3) The self-weight effective stress of waste was observed to be close to zero under the condition of high leachate mound. Leachate drawdown led to a gain of self-weight effective stress. (4) A rapid development of waste settlement took place within the first two months, with compression strains of 0.38–0.47, being over 95% of the strain recorded in one year. The compression strain tended to increase linearly with an increase of leachate draining rate during that two months.
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