•ED was used to separate magnesium and lithium in brine with high Mg2+/Li+ ratio.•The ED system could reduce the Mg2+/Li+ ratio and concentrate lithium in the brine.•The highest ESEC was 0.27kWh/mol ...when the applied voltage was 6V.•The Mg2+/Li+ ratio of artificial brine could be decreased from 60 to 7 within 2h.
An electrodialysis (ED) system equipped with monovalent selective permeability ion exchange membrane was used to investigate the separation of magnesium and lithium in salt lake brines. Some objective functions including separation coefficient of magnesium and lithium (FMgLi), recovery ratio of lithium (RLi) and current efficiency (η), were applied to explore the effect of the applied voltage, the linear flow velocities, the Mg2+/Li+ ratio and pH on the process of extracting lithium. The results showed that the increase of applied voltage could improve the separation coefficient and the recovery ratio of lithium, but energy consumption would also rise; with the increase of feed linear velocity, the separation coefficient had a rising trend, but too large linear velocity would lead to increasing energy consumption and reducing current efficiency. When the Mg2+/Li+ ratio was in the range of 5–92, ED technology showed higher separation efficiency. Linear flow velocities of concentrating and desalting compartments (1.9–7.6cm/s) showed positive correlation with the migration of the ions. According to the comprehensive analysis of the experimental results, the optimal operation conditions of the ED device are as follows: the applied voltage (5V), concentration of electrolyte solution (5wt% Na2SO4) and the linear velocities of desalting/concentrating/electrolyte (6.2, 6.2 and 3.8cm/s). When the brine with Mg2+/Li+ ratio of 60 was treated by the ED for 2h under this condition, the separation coefficient was 12.48. And the recovery ratio of Li+, current efficiency and the Mg2+/Li+ ratio of concentrate was 72.46wt%, 8.68wt% and 7, respectively. The concentrate, which could be considered as a bittern with lower Mg2+/Li+ ratio (<8), will be easy to be treated in the subsequent process.
Background
The potential impact of learning curve on long-term health-related quality of life (QoL) after esophagectomy for cancer has not been investigated. The aim of this article is to investigate ...the relationship between learning curve for McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) and health-related quality of life (QoL) in long-term, disease free survivors up to 10 years after esophageal cancer resection.
Methods
Esophageal cancer patients who underwent McKeown MIE between 2009 and 2019 were identified in which 280 who were free of disease at the time of survey and completed health-related QoL and symptom questionnaires, including EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-OES18, and Digestive Symptom Questionnaire. Patients were assessed in 3 cohorts according to the learning phases of expertise reported by our previous study: initial phase; plateau phase, and; experienced phase.
Results
Median time from operation to survey was 5.8 years (interquartile range 4.6–8.2). The QLQ-C30 mean scores of functional scales, and symptom scales of respiratory and digestive systems including dyspnea (
P
= 0.006), shortness of breath (
P
= 0.003), and dysphagia (
P
= 0.031) were significantly better in experienced phase group. Furthermore, in the subgroup analyses for patients without postoperative major complications, patients in the initial learning phase remained suffering from more symptoms of dyspnea (
P
= 0.040) and shortness of breath (
P
= 0.001).
Conclusion
Esophageal cancer patients undergoing McKeown MIE in initial learning phase tend to suffer from a deterioration in long-term health-related QoL and higher symptomatic burden as compared to experienced learning phase, which did not improved over time and warranted more attention.
Most reported fluorescent probes have limitations in practical applications in living systems due to the strong autofluorescence background,construction of probes with near-infrared（NIR） fluorescence ...emission is an accessible approach for addressing this challenge.We here designed a NIR fluorescent probe for monitoring the endogenous production of H2S in living cells.The designed probe showed significant NIR fluorescence turn-on response to H2S with high selectivity,enabling the sensitive detection H2S.Importantly,the probe could be applied in monitoring the endogenous production of H2S in raw 264.7 macrophages.This study showed that fluvastatin can promote the activity of cystathionineγ-lyase（CSE） for generation H2S.
Regulation of phase structure has been recognized as one of the most effective ways to fabricate self-healing polymers with high mechanical strength. The mechanical properties of the resultant ...polymers are certainly affected by the size of separated phase domain. However, the study on this aspect is absence, because it can hardly exclude the influence of variation in monomer proportion required for tuning the separated phase size. Here, we report the first study on tuning the phase size through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization without changing the proportion of monomers. As expected, the size of separated phase has been successfully mediated from 15 nm to 9 nm by tuning the molecular weight of the chain transfer agent. It is found that the mechanical strength and the self-healing efficiency of the resultant polymers increase simultaneously with the decrease of phase size. The study on the formation kinetics of hydrogen bonds reveals that the decrease of phase size can facilitate the re-bonding rate of hydrogen bonds, even if the migration of polymer chains is restricted.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the major cause of cancer death worldwide. Increasing evidence shows that long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely involved in the development and progression ...of NSCLC. lncRNA PVT1 in several cancers has been studied, its role in lung cancer remains unknown. Our studies were designed to investigate the expression, biological role and clinical significance of PVT1 in lung cancer.
lncRNA PVT1 expression in 82 NSCLC tissues and 3 lung cancer cell lines was measured by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Its association with overall survival of patients was analyzed by statistical analysis. RNA interference (RNAi) approaches were used to investigate the biological functions of PVT1. The effect of PVT1 on proliferation was evaluated by MTT, cell migration and invasion ability was evaluated by cell migration and invasion assays.
lncRNA PVT1 expression was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and lung cancer cells when compared with corresponding adjacent normal tissues and normal bronchial epithelial cells. Increased PVT1 expression was significantly correlated with histological grade and lymph node metastasis. In addition, NSCLC patients with PVT1 higher expression have shown significantly poorer overall survival than those with lower PVT1 expression. And PVT1 expression was an independent prognostic marker of overall survival in a multivariate analysis. In vitro assays our results indicated that knockdown of PVT1 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
Our data indicated that lncRNA PVT1 is significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and may represent a new biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC intervention.
Background
To compare the perioperative outcomes from McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) when performed in three-dimensional versus two-dimensional visualization system, and investigate ...the learning curve of a single surgeon who implemented three-dimensional McKeown MIE.
Methods
A total of 335 consecutive cases (three-dimensional or two-dimensional) were identified. Perioperative clinical parameters were compared and cumulative sum learning curve was plotted. Propensity score matching was used to reduce selection bias from confounding factors.
Results
Patients in three-dimensional group were associated with more chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (23.9% vs 3.0%,
p
< 0.01). After propensity score matching (108 matched patients in each groups), this finding was no longer statistically significant. Comparing to two-dimensional group, significant improvement in total retrieved lymph nodes (28 vs 33,
p
= 0.003) was observed in three-dimensional group. In addition, more lymph nodes around the right recurrent laryngeal nerve were harvested in three-dimensional group than that in two-dimensional group (
p
= 0.045). However, there were no significantly differences were found between the two groups in terms of other intraoperative parameters (e.g., operative time) and postoperative relevant outcomes (e.g., lung infection). Furthermore, the change point in the cumulative sum learning curves for intraoperative blood loss and thoracic procedure time was 33 procedures, respectively.
Conclusion
Three-dimensional visualization system appears to be superior in performing lymphadenectomy during McKeown MIE to that of a two-dimensional technique. For surgeons proficient in performing two-dimensional McKeown MIE, the learning curve for a three-dimensional procedure appears to begin near proficiency after more than 33 cases.
The Matuyama‐Gauss (M‐G) magnetic polarity reversal is regarded as a fundamental time marker in the stratigraphic division of the Quaternary‐Neogene. However, previous paleomagnetic studies have ...shown that the M‐G is mainly recorded in the Chinese loess unit L33—a glacial stage (corresponding to marine isotope stage 104, i.e., MIS 104)—which is asynchronous with the timing recorded in marine sediments. Here, we solve this long‐standing debate by exploiting a method to extract reproducible records of paleomagnetic field intensity from Xifeng and Lantian loess profiles with meteoric 10Be. The results showed that for both loess profiles, the 10Be‐derived M‐G boundary is located in paleosol S32 ca. 2,589 ± 3 ka, which corresponds to MIS 103. This is synchronous with that seen in marine sediments, though it is, on average, ∼19 ka younger than the boundary inferred from paleomagnetic measurements from the two profiles, which demonstrates that magnetic overprinting has occurred.
Plain Language Summary
The Matuyama‐Gauss (M‐G) geomagnetic polarity boundary that occurred at ∼2.6 Ma is usually considered as the key time marker for the division of Quaternary‐Neogene strata because it is globally synchronous. However, previous paleomagnetic studies have indicated that the M‐G boundary is asynchronous between the Chinese loess and marine sediments. This will undoubtedly lead to uncertainties in loess chronology frameworks based on the timing of paleomagnetic polarity reversals and their paleoclimate correlations with global records. To our knowledge, this study is the first to use 10Be‐a proxy for global average paleomagnetic field intensity to trace the M‐G boundary from two loess profiles. We found that the exact positions of the M‐G boundary in both profiles were recorded in S32, which corresponds to MIS 103, indicating that they are synchronous with marine sediment records.
Key Points
The loess 10Be‐derived M‐G boundary is located in paleosol S32 (corresponding to MIS 103), consistent with marine sediment records
The age of the 10Be‐derived M‐G boundary is ∼19 ka younger than the age of paleomagnetic measurements in the same loess sediments
The primary magnetic remanence obtained during the M‐G polarity reversal was overprinted by later superimposed magnetic signals
Summary
Aims
To study the role of curcumin on glioma cells via the SHH/GLI1 pathway in vitro and vivo.
Methods
The effects of curcumin on proliferation, migration, apoptosis, SHH/GLI1 signaling, and ...GLI1 target genes expression were evaluated in multiple glioma cell lines in vitro. A U87‐implanted nude mice model was used to study the role of curcumin on tumor volume and the suppression efficacy of GLI1.
Results
Curcumin showed cytotoxic effects on glioma cell lines in vitro. Both mRNA and protein levels of SHH/GLI1 signaling (Shh, Smo, GLI1) were downregulated in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. Several GLI1‐dependent target genes (CyclinD1, Bcl‐2, Foxm1) were also downregulated. Curcumin treatment prevented GLI1 translocating into the cell nucleus and reduced the concentration of its reporter. Curcumin suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and induced apoptosis which was mediated partly through the mitochondrial pathway after an increase in the ratio of Bax to Bcl2. Intraperitoneal injection of curcumin in vivo reduced tumor volume, GLI1 expression, the number of positively stained cells, and prolonged the survival period compared with the control group.
Conclusion
This study shows that curcumin holds a great promise for SHH/GLI1 targeted therapy against gliomas.
•Effect of entropy on the PNS PSR J0348+0432 is studied with RMF theory under neutrino trapping. As the entropy increases from 1.0 to 2.0, the PNS radius increases by approximately 8%–9%. Entropy ...exerts the most significant influence on the center relative particle densities ρΣ−,c/ρ and ρΞ0, c/ρ.
Effect of entropy on the properties of the proto neutron star (PNS) PSR J0348+0432 is studied in the framework of relativistic mean field theory under neutrino trapping. As the entropy per baryon increases from S = 1.0 to S = 2.0, the radius of the PNS PSR J0348+0432 increases from R = 13.41–12.46 km to R = 14.46–13.56 km, which implies an increase of approximately 8%–9%. However, the effect of entropy on the center relative particle density of neutrons and Λs is small. As the entropy per baryon increases from S= 1.0 to S= 2.0, the center relative particle density of Σ−, Σ0 and Σ+ increase by approximately 3000–2 times, 100–20 times and 4–1 times, respectively. The relative particle density of Ξ− and Ξ0 also increase with the increase of that in entropy. The center relative particle density of Ξ0 increases by approximately 13–2 times as the entropy per baryon increases from S= 1.0 to S= 2.0. Therefore, entropy exerts a significant impact on the center relative particle density of Σ− and Ξ0.
The moment of inertia of the massive neutron star PSR J0348+0432 is studied in the framework of the relativistic mean field theory by choosing suitable hyperon coupling constants. By this method, we ...find that the suggested radius of the massive neutron star PSR J0348+0432 is in the range R = 12.957–12.246 km by the observation M = 1.97–2.05 M⊙. We also find that the suggested moment of inertia I of the massive neutron star PSR J0348+0432 is in the range I = 1.9073 × 1045–1.5940 × 1045 g cm2 by the observation M= 1.97–2.05 M⊙. Massive pulsars hint that the interaction inside them should be very “strong”. Though hyperons considered will reduce the maximum mass, but in principle we may have models predicting maximum masses higher than 2 M⊙ by choosing suitable parameters, in a degree of freedom of hadron. Our calculations have proved the above and perfectly agree with the results of Aaron et al. (2008) and Ptri (2011).
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