Aims: We previously associated acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with decreased plasma LL-37 levels. Therefore, this study investigated whether plasma LL-37 levels could predict ...ischemic cardiovascular events in patients after STEMI.Methods: We prospectively collected peripheral plasma samples and clinical and laboratory data from consecutive patients who presented with STEMI and underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention at Fuwai Hospital between April and November 2017. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measured plasma LL-37 levels, and we followed the patients for 3 years. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were a composite of all-cause mortality, reinfarction, unscheduled revascularization, or ischemic stroke.Results: The study included 302 patients divided into high (≥ median) and low LL-37 level (＜median) groups. The cumulative incidence of MACE (29.1% vs. 12.6%, p=0.0003), all-cause death (12.6% vs. 3.3%, p=0.003), reinfarction (7.1% vs. 2.0%, p=0.04), and unscheduled revascularization (13.0% vs. 5.4%, p=0.04) were higher in the low than those in the high LL-37 level group. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that higher LL-37 level independently predicted lower risks of MACE (hazard ratio HR 0.390; 95% confidence interval CI 0.227–0.669; p＜0.001), all-cause death (HR 0.324; 95%CI 0.119–0.879; p=0.027), and unscheduled revascularization (HR 0.391; 95%CI 0.171–0.907; p=0.027).Conclusions: High basal plasma level of human LL-37 may predict lower 3-year risks of ischemic cardiovascular events in patients after STEMI.
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•Four different extraction methods were evaluated.•Bligh-Dyer is best for simultaneous extraction of free n-alkanoic acids with intact polar lipids.•Bligh-Dyer + ultrasound-assisted ...extraction is suitable for n-alkanes extraction.•Accelerated solvent extraction is optimal for free n-alkanols extraction.•Odd-even effect and chain length impact different extraction methods.
n-Alkyl lipids including n-alkanes, n-alkanols, and n-alkanoic acids, are essential biomarkers in oceanic sediments and have been widely employed in both modern- and paleo-ecological and environmental studies. The selection of appropriate extraction methods for different research purposes, particularly for compounds with different polarities, remains a challenge. In this study, we compared the efficacy of Bligh-Dyer extraction (BDE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), as well as a combination of Bligh-Dyer extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction (BD + UAE) to extract n-alkanes, free n-alkanols, and free n-alkanoic acids from ocean sediments. Our findings indicate that BD + UAE is a suitable method for extracting n-alkanes, ASE is an optimal for extracting free n-alkanols, and BDE provides a suitable method for simultaneous extraction of free n-alkanoic acids with intact polar lipids (IPLs). Additionally, BDE exhibited a preference for compounds with an odd carbon number and short chains, whereas the UAE favored compounds with an even carbon number and long chains, particularly for n-alkanes. These results offer novel insights into the investigation of past paleoclimate and sediment chemistry and serve as a basis for future research on organic matter extraction from ocean sediments.
Biomass carbon material derived from dandelion was synthesized by pyrolysing with controlled pseudographtic domain dimension at different temperatures. These domains exhibit larger volume with ...expanded the average width (La), thickness (Lc) and the average number of graphite layers (n) when increasing the pyrolysing temperature. When tested as anodes in Na-ion battery, the electrochemical results show the biomass carbon displays a superior specific capacity of 361 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1. Further research finds increasing La, Lc and n leads to greatly higher plateau capacity below 0.1 V without changing sloping capacity above 0.1 V, indicating the amount of sodium ions de-intercalation between graphite layers is highly sensitive to the dimension of pseudographtic domain. Besides, overlarge dimension of pseudographtic domains are found to hinder the diffusion of Na+ between the graphite layers with obvious capacity loss. This work suggests controlling pseudographtic domain dimension could provide practical reference to pursue higher Na+ storage performance.
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•Heating temperature could effectively control pseudographtic domain dimension.•The biomass carbon displays a superior specific capacity for sodium-ion storage.•The dimension has influence on Na+ insertion/extraction of biomass carbon.
•Examined FUS bubble behavior in range of microvessel-sized channels.•Bubble emissions and behavior depend on channel size.•Radiation forces and clusters play an important role that varies with ...channel size.•Complex order subharmonics and ultraharmonics observed in smallest channels.•Nanobubble subpopulation has similar emissions to Definity at higher pressures.
Therapeutic focused ultrasound in combination with encapsulated microbubbles is being widely investigated for its ability to elicit bioeffects in the microvasculature, such as transient permeabilization for drug delivery or at higher pressures to achieve ‘antivascular’ effects. While it is well established that the behaviors of microbubbles are altered when they are situated within sufficiently small vessels, there is a paucity of data examining how the bubble population dynamics and emissions change as a function of channel (vessel) diameter over a size range relevant to therapeutic ultrasound, particularly at pressures relevant to antivascular ultrasound. Here we use acoustic emissions detection and high-speed microscopy (10 kframes/s) to examine the behavior of a polydisperse clinically employed agent (Definity®) in wall-less channels as their diameters are scaled from 1200 to 15 µm. Pressures are varied from 0.1 to 3 MPa using either a 5 ms pulse or a sequence of 0.1 ms pulses spaced at 1 ms, both of which have been previously employed in an in vivo context. With increasing pressure, the 1200 µm channel – on the order of small arteries and veins – exhibited inertial cavitation, 1/2 subharmonics and 3/2 ultraharmonics, consistent with numerous previous reports. The 200 and 100 µm channels – in the size range of larger microvessels less affected by therapeutic focused ultrasound - exhibited a distinctly different behavior, having muted development of 1/2 subharmonics and 3/2 ultraharmonics and reduced persistence. These were associated with radiation forces displacing bubbles to the distal wall and inducing clusters that then rapidly dissipated along with emissions. As the diameter transitioned to 50 and then 15 µm – a size regime that is most relevant to therapeutic focused ultrasound - there was a higher threshold for the onset of inertial cavitation as well as subharmonics and ultraharmonics, which importantly had more complex orders that are not normally reported. Clusters also occurred in these channels (e.g. at 3 MPa, the mean lateral and axial sizes were 23 and 72 µm in the 15 µm channel; 50 and 90 µm in the 50 µm channel), however in this case they occupied the entire lumens and displaced the wall boundaries. Damage to the 15 µm channel was observed for both pulse types, but at a lower pressure for the long pulse. Experiments conducted with a ‘nanobubble’ (<0.45 µm) subpopulation of Definity followed broadly similar features to ‘native’ Definity, albeit at a higher pressure threshold for inertial cavitation. These results provide new insights into the behavior of microbubbles in small vessels at higher pressures and have implications for therapeutic focused ultrasound cavitation monitoring and control.
Newborns as a vulnerable population are exposed to congenital and acquired infections during and after birth. There are several reports of the isolation and reporting of infectious agents (IAs) in ...early life of newborns with respiratory manifestations, and the present comprehensive study provides a snapshot of the current global situation of the prevalence of IAs in newborns with respiratory symptoms.
A systematic search was conducted in main databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, and Google scholar. The pooled prevalence of infectious agents (IAs) in newborns was estimated using comprehensive meta-analysis software based on random effects model.
Out of 44 inclusive studies (50 datasets) for IAs in newborns, the pooled prevalence was estimated to be 12.2% (95% CI: 6.40-22.0%) and the highest and lowest prevalence of IAs was related to the Brazil (78.2%, 95% CI: 31.0-96.6%), and UK (0.01%, 95% CI 0.01-0.01%) respectively.
The high prevalence of IAs in newborns emphasizes considers the necessary measures to prevent respiratory infections.
Temperature and gas composition control is essential for maintaining the fresh flavor and quality of perishable fruits. This study presented a design of consolidated cold and modified atmosphere ...package (MAP) system for fresh fruits by showing the potential benefits of a low-tech and low-cost approach to cold chain adoption. The effectiveness of insulated expanded polystyrene (EPS) box installed with phase change materials (PCM) and equipped with MAP on maintaining quality of fresh strawberries was reported. Real-time changes of gas composition, temperature and relative humidity inside packages, weight loss, total soluble solids, color, texture, respiration rate, electrical conductivity, and general appearance of strawberries were determined during the storage in successive harvests of Dec 2017 and Apr 2018. Loss of fruit weight and electrical conductivity were higher in the control strawberries comparing with packaged fruits. The consolidated package system had significant effect on maintaining firmness, color, total soluble solids, global appearance, respiration rate of strawberries for all attributes. Results of this study confirmed that this innovative approach to cold chain design had the potential use in express delivery of strawberry fruits when the ambient temperatures were not well controlled.
•Implementation of a cold package system for fruit supply chains.•Cold and modified atmosphere package with low-tech and low-cost.•A simple cold package for fruit supply under ambient temperatures.
Abstract
The AC equivalent (Shandong power grid) model of inverter side is established by electromagnetic transient simulation method, and the real data of Yindong transmission frame of HVDC is set ...in PSCAD model. Shandong power grid has set up different centralized faults. Asymmetric circuit accident are the most serious among them. Based on this analysis, we come to the conclusion that the fault of Shandong electric power AC system has a greater impact on Yindong DC transmission system, which provides important guidance for the reliable operation of Yindong HVDC transmission model in the future. We think it has better theoretical reference value.
Aims: Culprit-plaque morphology plaque rupture (PR) and plaque erosion (PE) and high-risk plaques (HRP) identified by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and residual SYNTAX score (rSS) have been ...reported to influence clinical outcomes. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic implication of culprit-plaque morphology and rSS for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods: Based on plaque morphology and rSS, 274 STEMI patients were divided into 4 groups: PE/low-rSS (n=61), PE/high-rSS (n=58), PR/low-rSS (n=55), and PR/high-rSS (n=100). According to HRP and rSS, patients were stratified to non-HRP/low-rSS (n=97), non-HRP/high-rSS (n=109), HRP/low-rSS (n=19), and HRP/high-rSS (n=49). MACE was defined as the composite of all-cause death, recurrence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and unplanned revascularization of any coronary artery.Results: During the follow-up of 2.2 years, 47 (17.2%) MACE were observed. Patients with PR/high-rSS and HRP/high-rSS presented lower survival probability on revascularization and MACE. In fully adjusted analyses, PR/high-rSS group presented higher MACE risk than PE/low-rSS (HR: 4.80, 95% CI: 1.43–16.11, P=0.025). Patients with non-HRP/high-rSS (HR: 2.90, 95% CI: 1.01–8.38, P=0.049) and HRP/high-rSS (HR: 8.67, 95% CI: 2.67–28.21, P＜0.001) presented higher risk of cardiac events than non-HRP/low-rSS. Adding rSS and HRP to the risk prediction model increased the C-statistic to 0.797 (95% CI: 0.737–0.857), with ΔC-statistic of 0.066 (P=0.002) and the NRI (46.0%, 95% CI: 20.5–56.8%, P＜0.001) and IDI (8.7%, 95% CI: 3.6–18.2%, P＜0.001).Conclusion: High-risk plaques in combination with rSS enhanced the predictive ability for MACE, indicating culprit-plaque features and residual atherosclerosis burden should be taken into account in risk stratification of STEMI patients.
In previous deep learning-based fault diagnosis methods for rotating machinery, the method of directly feeding one-dimensional data into convolutional neural networks can lead to the loss of ...important fault features. To address the problem, a novel rotating machinery fault diagnosis model based on a rainbow recursive plot (RRP) is proposed. Our main innovation and contributions are: First, a RRP is proposed to convert the one-dimensional vibration signal from the rotating machinery into a two-dimensional color image, facilitating the capturing of more significant fault information. Second, a new CNN based on LeNet-5 is devised, which extracts a feature that describes substantial fault information from the converted two-dimensional color image, thus performing fault diagnosis recognition accurately. The public rolling bearing datasets and the online fault diagnosis platform are adopted to verify proposed method performance. Experiments on public datasets show that the proposed method can improve the accurate rate of recognition to 97.86%. More importantly, online experiment on the self-made fault diagnosis platform demonstrates that our approach achieves the best comprehensive performance in terms of recognition speed and accuracy compared to mainstream algorithms.
Phenolic pollutants released from industrial activities seriously damage natural freshwater resources, and their elimination or reduction to safe levels is an urgent challenge. In this study, three ...catechol-based porous organic polymers, CCPOP, NTPOP, and MCPOP, were prepared using sustainable lignin biomass-derived monomers for the adsorption of phenolic contaminants in water. CCPOP, NTPOP, and MCPOP showed good adsorption performance for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) with theoretical maximum adsorption capacities of 808.06 mg/g, 1195.30 mg/g, and 1076.85 mg/g, respectively. In addition, MCPOP maintained a stable adsorption performance after eight consecutive cycles. These results indicate that MCPOP is a potential material for the effective treatment of phenol pollutants in wastewater.
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