pH is an important factor affecting the performance of polymer fluid. The rheological properties of hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG) base fluid and the structural strength, rheological properties, ...viscoelastic properties and thixotropy properties of HPG gel depend largely on the pH values. For the base fluid, an apparent viscosity-increasing effect was observed over the pH range from 7 to 11, and the apparent viscosity gradually decreased at pH 11.5-14, exhibiting electrostatic repulsion behavior and steric effects. For the HPG gel, at pH 7–12.5, the gel possessed higher apparent viscosity, higher elastic modulus (G'), lower tanδ (the ratio of the viscous modulus to the elastic modulus) and an “8”-shaped hysteresis loop, indicating stronger gel structure strength and the elastic dominant property. At pH 13-13.5, the gel samples exhibited the transition from a pseudoplastic fluid to a Newtonian fluid, and their viscosity, elastic modulus decreased but tanδ increased with the increase in pH values, exhibiting gradually weakened elastic properties. When the pH was 14, the gel mainly exhibited viscous characteristics.
Vastly improving the charge storage capability of supercapacitors without sacrificing their high power density and cycle performance would bring bright application prospect. Herein, we report a ...nitrogen and sulfur co-doped hierarchical porous carbon (NSHPC) with very superior capacitance performance fabricated by KOH activation of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped ordered mesoporous carbon (NSOMC). A high electrochemical double-layer (EDL) capacitance of 351 F g−1 was observed for the reported NSHPC electrodes, and the capacitance remains at 288 F g−1 even under a large current density of 20 A g−1. Besides the high specific capacitance and outstanding rate capability, symmetrical supercapacitor cell based on the NSHPC electrodes also exhibits an excellent cycling performance with 95.61% capacitance retention after 5000 times charge/discharge cycles. The large surface area caused by KOH activation (2056 m2 g−1) and high utilized surface area owing to the ideal micro/mesopores ratio (2.88), large micropores diameter (1.38 nm) and short opened micropores structure as well as the enhanced surface wettability induced by N and S heteroatoms doping and improved conductivity induced by KOH activation was found to be responsible for the very superior capacitance performance.
•An N and S co-doped hierarchical porous carbon was successfully fabricated.•The fabricated NSHPC material exhibited high SBET with short opened micropores.•High capacitance, excellent rate capability and cycle stability was observed.•Large and highly utilized surface area response for superior performance.
Epidemiology of urolithiasis in Asia Liu, Yu; Chen, Yuntian; Liao, Banghua ...
Asian Journal of Urology,
10/2018, Letnik:
5, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
In Asia, about 1%–19.1% of the population suffer from urolithiasis. However, due to variations in socio-economic status and geographic locations, the prevalence and incidence have changed in ...different countries or regions over the years. The research for risk factors of urinary tract stones is of predominant importance. In this review, we find the prevalence of urolithiasis is 5%–19.1% in West Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, as well as some developed countries (South Korea and Japan), whereas, it is only 1%–8% in most part of East Asia and North Asia. The recurrence rate ranges from 21% to 53% after 3–5 years. Calcium oxalate (75%–90%) is the most frequent component of calculi, followed by uric acid (5%−20%), calcium phosphate (6%−13%), struvite (2%−15%), apatite (1%) and cystine (0.5%−1%). The incidence of urolithiasis reaches its peak in population aged over 30 years. Males are more likely to suffer from urinary calculi. Because of different dietary habits or genetic background, differences of prevalence among races or nationalities also exist. Genetic mutation of specific locus may contribute to the formation of different kinds of calculi. Dietary habits (westernized dietary habits and less fluid intake), as well as climatic factors (hot temperature and many hours of exposure to sunshine) play a crucial role in the development of stones. Other diseases, especially metabolic syndrome, may also contribute to urinary tract stones.
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► A novel approach on recycle of waste phosphogypsum was exploited. ► Phosphogypsum was utilized to prepare hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with high purity. ► nHAp derived from PG ...exhibits excellent adsoprtion capacity for fluoride. ► Fluoride adsorbs onto nHAp mainly by electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond.
In the present study, waste phosphogypsum (PG) was utilized firstly to prepare hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAp) via microwave irradiation technology. The nHAp derived from PG exhibited a hexagonal structure with the particle size about 20nm×60nm and high purity. Meanwhile, the adsorption behaviour of fluoride onto the nHAp derived from PG was investigated to evaluate the potential application of this material for the treatment of the wastewater polluted with fluoride. The results indicate that the nHAp derived from PG can be used as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of fluoride from aqueous solution. The maximum adsorption capacities calculated from Langmuir–Freundlich model were 19.742, 26.108, 36.914 and 40.818mgF−/g nHAp for 298, 308, 318 and 328K, respectively. The pseudo-second order kinetic model was found to provide the best correlation of the used experimental data compared to the pseudo-first order and the adsorption isotherm could be well defined by Langmuir–Freundlich equation. The adsorption mechanism investigation shows that electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond are the main driving force for fluoride uptake onto nHAp derived from waste PG.
Objectives
To explore the risk factors for mesh erosion after female pelvic floor reconstructive surgery based on published literature.
Materials and Methods
A systematic literature search of the ...PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Chinese Science and Technology Periodical (VIP) databases was performed to identify studies related to the risk factors for mesh erosion after female pelvic floor reconstruction published before December 2014. Summary unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of associations between the factors and mesh erosion.
Results
In all, 25 studies containing 7 084 patients were included in our systematic review and meta‐analysis. Statistically significant differences in mesh erosion after female pelvic floor reconstruction were found in older vs younger patients (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.98), more parities vs less parities (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.07–1.51), the presence of premenopausal/oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.03–1.79), diabetes mellitus (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.35–2.57), smoking (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.80–3.08), concomitant pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16–0.84), concomitant hysterectomy (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.03–2.07), preservation of the uterus at surgery (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.08–0.63), and surgery performed by senior vs junior surgeons (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.30–0.58).
Conclusion
Our study indicates that younger age, more parities, premenopausal/ERT, diabetes mellitus, smoking, concomitant hysterectomy, and surgery performed by a junior surgeon were significant risk factors for mesh erosion after female pelvic floor reconstructive surgery. Moreover, concomitant POP surgery and preservation of the uterus may be the potential protective factors for mesh erosion.
For the emerging potassium-ion energy storage technology, the major challenge is seeking suitable electrode materials with a robust structure and fast kinetics for the reversible insertion/desertion ...of potassium ions. Here, a pseudocapacitive core-shell heterostructure of titanium oxide/carbon confined into N, P, and S co-doped carbon (TiO
2
/C@NPSC) is obtained by pyrolyzing a metal-organic framework (MOF) precursor of MIL-125 (Ti) modified by poly(cyclotriphosphazene-
co
-4,4′-sulfonyldiphenol) polymer. The distinctive structure of TiO
2
/C@NPSC can effectively buffer the volume variation of TiO
2
nano-grains during the charge/discharge process, increase the electron/charge transfer, provide abundant active sites, and boost the pseudocapacitive-dominated K
+
-storage. Consequently, the TiO
2
/C@NPSC anode displays superior cyclability and fast kinetics behavior. Upon integrating it with a high capacitance activated carbon cathode derived from another MOF precursor, the as-built potassium-ion hybrid capacitor achieves a high-energy density of 114 W h kg
−1
and a power output of 21 kW kg
−1
. Moreover, in a wide working potential window of 0-4.2 V, the device also maintains over 91.6% of its initial capacity after 10 000 cycles, showing a superior cycle stability. Our results are conducive to understanding the importance of anode-engineering for designing advanced PIHCs.
A high performance potassium-ion hybrid capacitor is constructed by coupling a MOF-derived pseudocapacitive TiO
2
/C@NPSC heterostructure anode with a MOF-derived activated carbon cathode.
Due to the crucial role of amino acids in life sciences and pharmaceutics, identification of optical amino acid molecules is of great significance. In this study, the two materials (CNT and PANI) ...were combined together to obtain the magnification of electrochemical signal by substrate material (CNT/PANI). Then a self‐assembled multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polyaniline/sodium alginate (CNT/PANI/SA) nanocomposite with chiral sites and conductive material was synthesized as the electrochemical sensing interface. Next, a novel electrochemical sensing interface was fabricated via modifying the as‐prepared chiral material on a polished glassy carbon electrode (CNT/PANI/SA/GCE) for precisely, efficiently, and rapidly differentiation of tryptophan (Trp) enantiomers. It was observed that CNT/PANI/SA/GCE showed desirable stereoselective recognition effect in the variety of signal strength to peak current (Ip) to the different optical activity of Trp enantiomers. In the case of optimal conditions, the peak current ratio in the solution of l‐Trp and d‐Trp (ID/IL) was observed to be 2.1 at CNT/PANI/SA/GCE by differential pulse voltammogram (DPV). UV–visible spectroscopy further showed that CNT/PANI/SA had a greater binding energy to l‐Trp. Also different factors affecting the enantioselectivity of CNT/PANI/SA/GCE, such as the incubation time, pH, and dropcoating volume of CNT/PANI/SA were optimized. Moreover, the proposed CNT/PANI/SA/GCE showed excellent specific stereoselectivity and anti‐interference ability. Besides, the proposed chiral sensing platform can be effectively applied in real samples to detect Trp enantiomers sensitively. This work inspires us a new path for the preparation of substrate material with excellent electrical conductivity, as well as extend its application potential in chiral recognition.
We have reported an overview of chiral materials based on self‐assembly. Two materials were combined together to obtain the magnification of electrochemical signal by substrate material (CNT/PANI). Then a self‐assembled CNT/PANI/SA chiral nanocomposite was synthesized as the electrochemical sensing interface and used for rapidly differentiation of Trp enantiomers.
Cellular mechanotransduction, a critical regulator of numerous biological processes, is the conversion from mechanical signals to biochemical signals regarding cell activities and metabolism. Typical ...mechanical cues in organisms include hydrostatic pressure, fluid shear stress, tensile force, extracellular matrix stiffness or tissue elasticity, and extracellular fluid viscosity. Mechanotransduction has been expected to trigger multiple biological processes, such as embryonic development, tissue repair and regeneration. However, prolonged excessive mechanical stimulation can result in pathological processes, such as multi-organ fibrosis, tumorigenesis, and cancer immunotherapy resistance. Although the associations between mechanical cues and normal tissue homeostasis or diseases have been identified, the regulatory mechanisms among different mechanical cues are not yet comprehensively illustrated, and no effective therapies are currently available targeting mechanical cue-related signaling. This review systematically summarizes the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of typical mechanical cues in normal conditions and diseases with the updated evidence. The key effectors responding to mechanical stimulations are listed, such as Piezo channels, integrins, Yes-associated protein (YAP) /transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). We also reviewed the key signaling pathways, therapeutic targets and cutting-edge clinical applications of diseases related to mechanical cues.
Although the indications of minimally invasive treatments for pediatric urolithiasis are similar to those in adults, it is still crucial to make the right treatment decision due to the special ...considerations of children. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in the management of pediatric upper urinary tract stones.
EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched from their first available date to March 2018. The studies that meet the inclusive criteria were included. The efficacy and safety of the treatments were assessed by means of meta-analysis of the stone free rate (SFR), complication rate, effectiveness quotient (EQ) and secondary outcome indicators.
A total of 13 comparative studies were identified for data analysis. PCNL presented a significantly higher SFR compared with SWL. Similarly, the single-session SFR of RIRS was significantly higher than SWL. However, no significant difference was found between RIRS and SWL in the overall SFR. There was no significant difference between PCNL and RIRS in the SFR. Furthermore, no significant differences in complication rates were found among the three therapies. Compared with the other two treatments, PCNL had a longer operative time, fluoroscopy time and hospital stay. SWL had a shorter hospital stay, higher retreatment rate and auxiliary rate in comparison with the other two treatments. The present data also showed that PCNL presented a higher EQ than the other two treatments, and RIRS had a lower efficiency than SWL and PCNL. In the subgroup analysis of pediatric patients with stone ≤20 mm, the comparative results were similar to those described above, except for the higher complication rate of PCNL than SWL.
Although SWL as an outpatient procedure provides shorter hospital stay and reduces operative time, it has a lower SFR and higher retreatment rate than the other two treatments. PCNL exhibits a higher SFR and EQ than SWL; nevertheless, it has a longer operative time and fluoroscopy time than the other two procedures. RIRS offers a similar SFR as PCNL but a lower efficiency than PCNL.
Background: Several observational studies and clinical trials have shown that the gut microbiota is associated with urological cancers. However, the causal relationship between gut microbiota and ...urological cancers remains to be elucidated due to many confounding factors. Methods: In this study, we used two thresholds to identify gut microbiota GWAS from the MiBioGen consortium and obtained data for five urological cancers from the UK biobank and Finngen consortium, respectively. We then performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis with Wald ratio or inverse variance weighted as the main method. We also performed comprehensive sensitivity analyses to verify the robustness of the results. In addition, we performed a reverse MR analysis to examine the direction of causality. Results: Our study found that family Rikenellaceae, genus Allisonella, genus Lachnospiraceae UCG001, genus Oscillibacter, genus Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group, genus Eubacterium ruminantium group, genus Ruminococcaceae UCG013, and genus Senegalimassilia were related to bladder cancer; genus Ruminococcus torques group, genus Oscillibacter, genus Barnesiella, genus Butyricicoccus, and genus Ruminococcaceae UCG005 were related to prostate cancer; class Alphaproteobacteria, class Bacilli, family Family XI, genus Coprococcus2, genus Intestinimonas, genus Lachnoclostridium, genus Lactococcus, genus Ruminococcus torques group, and genus Eubacterium brachy group were related to renal cell cancer; family Clostridiaceae 1, family Christensenellaceae, genus Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group, genus Clostridium sensu stricto 1, and genus Eubacterium eligens group were related to renal pelvis cancer; family Peptostreptococcaceae, genus Romboutsia, and genus Subdoligranulum were related to testicular cancer. Comprehensive sensitivity analyses proved that our results were reliable. Conclusions: Our study confirms the role of specific gut microbial taxa on urological cancers, explores the mechanism of gut microbiota on urological cancers from a macroscopic level, provides potential targets for the screening and treatment of urological cancers, and is dedicated to providing new ideas for clinical research.
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