•The catalytic reforming of benzene over Ni/TiO2-SiO2 catalyst was explored.•Benzene conversion and H2 yields were promoted after the modification with SiO2.•SiO2 improved the thermal stability and ...hindered the sintering of the catalyst.•SiO2 promoted the dispersion of active Ni sites and the reduction of NiO.•The lower acidity of the Ni/TiO2-SiO2 catalyst suppressed the carbon deposition.
Gasification is an important option for converting biomass into bio-syngas, but it also produces biomass gasification tar, which lowers the gasification efficiency and threatens the safety of the gasifiers. In this work, the TiO2-SiO2 composite-supported Ni-based catalyst was prepared for tar catalytic steam reforming, and its performance was systematically studied, with benzene being the model compound of tar. The results revealed that adding SiO2 to TiO2 improved the conversion of benzene and increased the yield of H2 in the syngas, which respectively reached 61.48% and 49.89 mmol/gbenzene over the 10Ni/1TiO2-0.30SiO2 catalyst, with promising thermal stability and anti-carbon deposition capacity. Furthermore, the presence of SiO2 increased the catalyst’s specific surface area and lowered the sizes of Ni crystals, thereby promoting the dispersion of active Ni sites. Meanwhile, the modification of SiO2 enhanced the catalyst’s redox ability and decreased its acidity, which suppressed the sintering of the catalyst and restricted the accumulation of carbon deposition, while the physical morphology and chemical graphitization degree of the deposits were slightly influenced. Therefore, the catalytic activity and anti-carbon deposition performance of the TiO2-SiO2 composite-supported catalyst were improved during tar catalytic steam reforming.
•A SYBR Green I-based duplex qPCR assay was developed to detect PCV2 and PCV4 simultaneously.•Three PCV2 genotypes (PCV2a, PCV2b and PCV2d) existed in Henan province of China, and 6 PCV4 strains in ...this study belonged to PCV4a.•Eleven putative recombination events were found in newly emerging isolates of PCV2 in Henan province of China.•The functional regions of PCV4 strains were predicted by comparison with other circoviruses.
Porcine circovirus 4 (PCV4) was identified as a novel porcine circovirus in China in 2019. To investigate the prevalence and genetic characteristics of PCV2 and PCV4, 133 clinical samples (103 tissue samples and 30 serum samples) were collected from 30 different pig farms in Henan province of China, and a SYBR Green I-based duplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was established to detect PCV2 and PCV4 genomes simultaneously. The complete genome sequences of 20 PCV2 and 6 PCV4 strains from 19 and 6 clinical samples respectively were sequenced and analyzed. The results showed the detection limits of this assay were 80.2 copies/μL for PCV2 and 58.6 copies/μL for PCV4. The detection results of clinical samples revealed the PCV2 positive rate was 63.16% (84/133), the PCV4 positive rate was 33.33% (45/133), and the PCV2 and PCV4 co-infection positive rate was 21.05% (28/133). Among 20 PCV2 strains, 6 belonged to PCV2a, 6 belonged to PCV2b and 8 belonged to PCV2d. Co-infection with JZ1 (PCV2b) and JZ2 (PCV2d) strains was identified in one sample (JZ-1). Eleven putative recombination events were found through the recombination analysis, suggesting that the new PCV2 variant strains had circulated in Henan province, which contributes to our understanding of evolutionary characteristics of PCV2 in China. The possible genotypes of PCV4 strains were determined based on genomic sequences of 6 PCV4 strains in this study and 29 PCV4 reference strains available at GenBank. According to three different phylogenetic trees (ORF1, ORF2 and complete genome), all 35 PCV4 strains were clustered into two major genotypes (PCV4a and PCV4b), and 6 PCV4 strains in this study belonged to PCV4a. Additionally, the functional regions of PCV4 strains were predicted by comparison with other circoviruses, which are conducive to the further study of the biological functions of PCV4 genome.
IntroductionConventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a widely used treatment for couples with severe male infertility. However, there are controversies regarding the selection and the ...damage to gametes during the ICSI procedure. Although preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) can give genetic information about embryos for transfer and improve fertility rate, and it is widely used in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion or advanced age, PGT-A is not only more expensive but also has unclear effectiveness with respect to the improvement of fertility rate among couples with severe male infertility. High-quality, well-powered randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing ICSI+PGT-A and ICSI are lacking.Methods and analysisThis is a protocol for a multicenter, open-label RCT in four reproductive medical centers qualified for PGT technique in China. We will study couples with severe male infertility scheduled for their fertility treatment. After the blastocyst culture, eligible participants are randomised to the ICSI+PGT-A group or the conventional ICSI group in a 1:1 ratio. Other assisted reproductive procedures are similar and parallel between the two groups. The primary outcome will be live birth rate and cumulative live-birth rate . Secondary outcomes will be embryo implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, spontaneous abortion rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, preterm birth rate, fetal chromosomal abnormality rate, birth defect rate and treatment complications. To demonstrate or refute a difference between the two groups, we plan to include 188 participants in each group; taking consideration of 20% of dropout, the total target sample size is 450.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained from International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical Science Research Ethics Committee (GKLW2016-16). Informed consent will be obtained from each participant. The findings will be disseminated to the public through conference presentations and publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02941965.
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is the major pathogen that causes diarrhea and high mortality in newborn piglets, with devastating impact on the pig industry. To further understand the ...molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of PEDV field strains, in this study the complete genomes of four PEDV variants (HN2021, CH-HNYY-2018, CH-SXWS-2018, and CH-HNKF-2016) obtained from immunized pig farms in central China between 2016 to 2021 were characterized and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis of the genome and S gene showed that the four strains identified in the present study had evolved into the subgroup G2a, but were distant from the vaccine strain CV777. Additionally, it was noteworthy that a new PEDV strain (named HN2021) belonging to the G2a PEDV subgroup was successfully isolated in vitro and it was further confirmed by RT-PCR that this isolate had a large natural deletion at 207-373 nt of the ORF3 gene, which has never been reported before. Particularly, in terms of pathogenicity evaluation, colostrum deprivation piglets challenged with PEDV HN2021 showed severe diarrhea and high mortality, confirming that PEDV HN2021 was a virulent strain. Hence, PEDV strain HN2021 of subgroup G2a presents a promising vaccine candidate for the control of recurring porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in China. This study lays the foundation for better understanding of the genetic evolution and molecular pathogenesis of PEDV.
Background
The pathophysiological changes in the remote myocardium after acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains less understood.
Purpose
To assess the inflammation in the remote myocardium post‐MI ...and its association with left ventricular (LV) remodeling using T2 mapping.
Study type
Prospective.
Animal Model and Subjects
Twelve pigs at 3‐day post‐MI, 6 pigs at 3‐month post‐MI, 6 healthy pigs; 54 patients at 3‐day and 3‐month post‐MI, 31 healthy volunteers;
Field Strength/Sequence
A 3 T MRI/ steady‐state free‐precession sequence for T2 mapping (animals: 0, 30, and 55 msec; human: 0, 25, and 55 msec), phase‐sensitive inversion recovery gradient echo for late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), balanced steady free‐precession sequence for cine.
Assessment
Infarcted myocardium was defined on LGE, remote T2 was measured on T2 maps. LV remodeling was evaluated as LV end‐diastolic volume change index between two scans using cine. CD68 staining was conducted to detect monocyte/macrophage.
Statistical Tests
Student‐t test and one‐way ANOVA were used to compare remote T2 with normal controls. The association of remote T2 with LV remodeling was assessed using linear regression. P values of <0.05 were used to denote statistical significance.
Results
Compared with healthy pigs, remote T2 significantly increased from 3 days to 3 months post‐MI (31.43 ± 0.67 vs. 33.53 ± 1.15 vs. 36.43 ± 1.07 msec). CD68 staining demonstrated the inflammation in remote myocardium post‐MI but not in healthy pigs. Significant remote myocardial alterations in T2 were also observed in human group (40.51 ± 1.79 vs. 41.94 ± 1.14 vs. 42.52 ± 1.71 msec). In patients, the 3‐month remote T2 (β = 0.432) and remote T2 variation between two scans (β = 0.554) were both independently associated with LV remodeling.
Conclusion
T2 mapping could characterize the abnormalities in the remote myocardium post‐MI, which was potentially caused by the inflammatory response. Moreover, variations in remote T2 were associated with LV remodeling.
Evidence Level
1
Technical Efficacy
Stage 3
Acetylene hydrogenation is a well-accepted solution to reduce by-products in the ethylene production process, while one of the key technical difficulties lies in developing a catalyst that can ...provide highly dispersed active sites. In this work, a highly crystalline layered covalent organic framework (COF) material (TbBpy) with excellent thermal stability was synthesized and firstly applied as support for ultrasmall Pd nanoparticles to catalyze acetylene hydrogenation. 100% of C
2
H
2
conversion and 88.2% of C
2
H
4
selectivity can be obtained at 120 °C with the space velocity of 70 000 h
−1
. The reaction mechanism was elucidated by applying a series of characterization techniques and theoretical calculation. The results indicate that the coordination between Pd and N atom in the bipyridine functional groups of COFs successfully increased the dispersibility and stability of Pd particles, and the introduction of COFs not only improved the adsorption of acetylene and H
2
onto catalyst surface, but enhanced the electron transfer process, which can be responsible for the high selectivity and activity of catalyst. This work, for the first time, reported the excellent performance of Pd@TbBpy as a catalyst for acetylene hydrogenation and will facilitate the development and application of COFs materials in the area of petrochemicals.
Acetylene hydrogenation is a well-accepted solution to reduce by-products in the ethylene production process, while one of the key technical difficulties lies in developing a catalyst that can provide highly dispersed active sites.
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Emerging epidemiological evidence has linked per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure could be linked to the disturbance of gestational glucolipid metabolism, but the ...toxicological mechanism is unclear, especially when the exposure is at a low level. This study examined the glucolipid metabolic changes in pregnant rats treated with relatively low dose perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) through oral gavage during pregnancy gestational day (GD): 1–18. We explored the molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic perturbation. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and biochemical tests were performed to assess the glucose homeostasis and serum lipid profiles in pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats randomly assigned to starch, 0.03 and 0.3 mg/kg·bw·d groups. Transcriptome sequencing combined with non-targeted metabolomic assays were further performed to identify differentially altered genes and metabolites in the liver of maternal rats, and to determine their correlation with the maternal metabolic phenotypes. Results of transcriptome showed that differentially expressed genes at 0.03 and 0.3 mg/kg·bw·d PFOS exposure were related to several metabolic pathways, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) signaling, ovarian steroid synthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, insulin resistance, cholesterol metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid synthesis, bile acid secretion. The untargeted metabolomics identified 164 and 158 differential metabolites in 0.03 and 0.3 mg/kg·bw·d exposure groups, respectively under negative ion mode of Electrospray Ionization (ESI-), which could be enriched in metabolic pathways such as α-linolenic acid metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, glycerolipid metabolism, glucagon signaling pathway, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. Co-enrichment analysis indicated that PFOS exposure may disturb the metabolism pathways of glycerolipid, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, linoleic acid, steroid biosynthesis, glycine, serine and threonine. The key involved genes included down-regulated Ppp1r3c and Abcd2, and up-regulated Ogdhland Ppp1r3g, and the key metabolites such as increased glycerol 3-phosphate and lactosylceramide were further identified. Both of them were significantly associated with maternal fasting blood glucose (FBG) level. Our findings may provide mechanistic clues for clarifying metabolic toxicity of PFOS in human, especially for susceptible population such as pregnant women.
Strategic human resource management and strategic leadership are both important factors affecting organizational effectiveness. However, few studies have organically integrated their influences on ...organizational outcomes. Drawing on social information process theory, this study proposed a variety of relationships between high performance work system (HPWS) and CEO relationship-focused leadership behaviours on organizational outcomes including firm performance, organizational-level affective commitment and employee overall turnover rate (e.g. strengthening effect, weakening effect, and substitution effect). Based on a matched data from vice presidents, human resource managers and employees in 182 Chinese firms, this study found the above three relationships between HPWS and CEO relationship-focused leadership behaviours on organizational outcomes. Specifically, when HPWS and CEO relationship-focused leadership behaviours were both high, firm performance and organizational-level affective commitment were higher, and employee overall turnover rate was lower; the effects of HPWS on organizational outcomes would not be significant when CEO relationship-focused leadership behaviours was low; when HPWS was low but CEO relationship-focused leadership behaviours was high, employee overall turnover rate was highest. This study contributed to the understanding of the relationship between 'system' and 'renqing' in the context of Chinese enterprises, integrated the research on strategic leadership and strategic human resource management, and had important inferences for management practice.
With the rapid advancement of modern society, autonomous systems have been broadly applied in people's daily lives. Under the guidance of this trend, autonomous vehicles have gradually become ...popular. However, due to some adverse factors (such as insufficient computing force and limited communication bandwidth) in edge computing scenarios and the lack of autonomous decision-making ability, the safety of autonomous vehicles is not enough. It is a good solution to use a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithm, which combines deep learning (DL) and reinforcement learning (RL), to provide a fast convergence speed and an appropriate decision-making ability. In this article, based on soft-actor-critic (SAC) and SAC-discrete (SAC-D), we propose a double bootstrapped SAC-D (DBSAC-D) algorithm. By introducing bootstrap, the ability to explore in action space is enhanced, the value of each action is accurately judged, the convergence process is accelerated and the consumption of the computing force is reduced. In addition, we also propose a novel sampling strategy, which balances the novelty and importance of the sampled data, and improves the training value of the sampled data to the network model. The experimental results show that our proposed algorithm achieves good performances in several traffic scenes and has a fast convergence speed.
Two kinds of double comb-like quaternary ammonium salt polymers P(DPA-EPI) and P(DBA-EPI) with lower polarity were designed and synthesized using epichlorohydrin (EPI), di-
n
-propylamine (DPA) and ...di-
n
-butylamine (DBA) as raw materials. The transparent antistatic epoxy resin coatings were obtained using the two polymers as antistatic agents, respectively. Because P(DPA-EPI) and P(DBA-EPI) with good hygroscopic performance are easily dissolved in epoxy resin paints and are nearly linearly arranged in the epoxy resin paints, the obtained transparent antistatic epoxy resin coatings achieve good antistatic properties. The values of
ρ
s
of the coatings reach 5.13 × 10
8
Ω sq
−1
and 2.69 × 10
8
Ω sq
−1
, respectively, with a lower addition amount of polymers of only 1.0 wt%. The two antistatic epoxy resin coatings also have good durability. Compared to the epoxy resin coating, with the introduction of P(DPA-EPI) and P(DBA-EPI), the thermal stability and adhesion of the antistatic epoxy resin coatings do not change obviously, but the Rockwell hardness values slightly reduce.
The antistatic epoxy resin coatings using double comb-like quaternary ammonium salt polymers as antistatic agents reach good antistatic property with lower addition amount because polymers can dissolve and nearly linearly arrange in the coatings.
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