In Chinese megacities the problems of air pollution are frequently obvious as hazy layers covering large areas combined with low visibility. To estimate the aerosol effect on regional and global ...climate, the knowledge of light‐absorbing and light‐scattering compounds as well as their mixing state is essential. A Volatility Tandem DMA (VTDMA) was used to measure nonvolatile fractions (at 300°C) of submicrometer aerosol particles. The remaining size distributions were divided into three fractions, corresponding to particles with a low‐volatile, medium‐volatile, and high‐volatile fraction. The particles with a low‐volatile fraction are equivalent with externally mixed nonvolatile (refractory) material; in the observed size range, this fraction is assumed to consist mainly of soot. Combined with number size distributions, the number and volume concentrations of externally and internally mixed nonvolatile particles were calculated. In a parallel study by Cheng et al. (2009) the results were used in a Mie model and compared with measured absorption coefficients showing a good agreement. During Campaigns of Air Quality Research in Beijing and Surrounding Region 2006 (CAREBeijing‐2006), large variations in the mixing state were found, especially between new particle formation and heavily polluted days. The fraction of externally mixed soot decreased from ∼37% during clean to 18% during heavily polluted periods, parallel to an increase in particle mass concentration mainly caused by the production of secondary aerosol material. In the nucleation mode, high particle number fractions with high‐volatile fractions were found (∼64% in contrast to ∼24% on a nonevent day); that is, refractory material is produced during nucleation and growth.
Polypropylene hollow fiber microporous membranes (PPHFMMs) were surface-modified by the photoinduced graft polymerization of acrylamide (AAm). Structural and morphological changes on the membrane ...surface were characterized by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR/ATR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Water contact angles of the membrane surfaces were also measured by the sessile drop method. Results of FT-IR/ATR indicated the successful graft polymerization of AAm onto the membrane surface. Water contact angle of the modified membrane decreased with the increase of the grafting degree. It showed 34.9° for the modified membrane with a grafting degree of 278.4
wt.%, nearly 94° lower than that of the nascent one. The antifouling characteristics of the PPHFMMs before and after surface modification were assessed by the filtration of activated sludge in a submerged membrane bioreactor for synthetic wastewater treatment. It demonstrated that after continuous operation for about 42
h, the flux recovery were 36.9, 63.7% and the relative flux ratio were 1.00, 1.32 for the nascent and modified PPHFMMs, respectively.
We present the first multiband photometry for the semidetached eclipsing binary AO Serpentis, observed on seven nights between 2009 April and July at the Weihai Observatory of Shandong University. By ...using the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code, the photometric solutions of AO Ser and a similar object V338 Her were (re)deduced. The spectral types and orbital periods are A2 and P = 0.8793 days for AO Ser, F1V and P = 1.3057 days for V338 Her. The results reveal that two binaries are low mass ratio systems, whose secondary components fill their Roche lobes. The fill-out factors of the primary components are f = 58.6% for AO Ser and f = 54.2% for V338 Her, respectively. From the O -- C curves of AO Ser and V338 Her, it is discovered that secular period changes with cyclic variations exist. The periods and semiamplitudes are 17.32(?0.01) yr and 0.0051(?0.0001) days for AO Ser, 29.07(?0.04) yr and 0.0116(?0.0015) days for V338 Her, respectively. This kind of cyclic oscillation may be attributed to either the light-time effect via an assumed third body or perhaps cyclic magnetic activity on the secondary component. For AO Ser, the long-term period decreases at a rate of dP/dt = --5.35(?0.03) X 10--7 days yr-1, which may be caused by mass and angular momentum loss from the system. Considering the period decreasing, the fill-out factor of the primary for AO Ser will increase and it will finally fill its Roche lobe. Meanwhile, the secular period increase rate for V338 Her is dP/dt = +1.44(?0.24) X 10--7 days yr-1, indicating that mass transfers from the less massive component to the more massive component. This will also cause the fill-out factor of the primary to increase. When the primaries fill their Roche lobes, AO Ser and V338 Her may evolve into contact stars, as predicted by the theory of thermal relaxation oscillations.
Abstract
Objectives
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is the most specific marker of prodromal alpha-synucleinopathies. We sought to delineate the baseline clinical ...characteristics of RBD and evaluate risk stratification models.
Methods
Clinical assessments were performed in 171 RBD, 296 control, and 119 untreated Parkinson’s (PD) participants. Putative risk measures were assessed as predictors of prodromal neurodegeneration, and Movement Disorders Society (MDS) criteria for prodromal PD were applied. Participants were screened for common leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2)/glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA) gene mutations.
Results
Compared to controls, participants with RBD had higher rates of solvent exposure, head injury, smoking, obesity, and antidepressant use. GBA mutations were more common in RBD, but no LRRK2 mutations were found. RBD participants performed significantly worse than controls on Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)-III, timed “get-up-and-go”, Flamingo test, Sniffin Sticks, and cognitive tests and had worse measures of constipation, quality of life (QOL), and orthostatic hypotension. For all these measures except UPDRS-III, RBD and PD participants were equally impaired. Depression, anxiety, and apathy were worse in RBD compared to PD participants. Stratification of people with RBD according to antidepressant use, obesity, and age altered the odds ratio (OR) of hyposmia compared to controls from 3.4 to 45.5. 74% (95% confidence interval CI 66%, 80%) of RBD participants met the MDS criteria for probable prodromal Parkinson’s compared to 0.3% (95% CI 0.009%, 2%) of controls.
Conclusions
RBD are impaired across a range of clinical measures consistent with prodromal PD and suggestive of a more severe nonmotor subtype. Clinical risk stratification has the potential to select higher risk patients for neuroprotective interventions.
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► We have synthesized Prussian white microcubes in large quantities by a facile hydrothermal method for the first time. ► It is the first report about air-stable PW. ► The shape of ...crystals strongly depended on the concentration of K
4Fe(CN)
6, the hydrothermal temperature and the reaction duration. ► A layer-by-layer growth mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of PW microcubes.
Air-stable Prussian white (PW) microcubes were fabricated by the slow dissociation of K
4Fe(CN)
6 under hydrothermal condition without the protection of inert atmosphere. Mössbauer spectra and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum were used to characterize the composition of PW. X-ray diffraction (XRD) identified the obtained PW was monoclinic, and the purity was high. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated the cubes were composed by solid cubes and hollow cubes. The shape of crystals strongly depended on the concentration of K
4Fe(CN)
6, the hydrothermal temperature as well as the reaction duration. The lower concentration and lower temperature resulted in perfect cubic crystals, while the higher concentration or the higher temperature resulted in irregular cubic crystals. After exposing in air for 2 months, no oxidation of PW occurred. To explain the formation of the PW microcubes, a layer-by-layer growth mechanism was put forward based on the low dissociation rate of K
4Fe(CN)
6. The partially solubility of PW in water caused the formation of hollow cubes.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a very common and easily diagnosed as a malignancy. However, studies have described the difference between TB and lung cancer. Single-organ TB and lung cancer are often easily ...distinguished clinically. Atypical systemic hematogenous disseminated TB (HDTB) is uncommon, including rare cases involving multiple organs such as cervical lymph nodes, pleura, liver, and lung TB simultaneously, which are more confusing and easily misdiagnosed in clinical practice.
A HIV-negative 56-year-old male was hospitalized for chest disease with main symptoms of chest tightness, chest pain, fatigue, anorexia, and weight loss. Heart rate 109 times/min, the computed tomography (CT) scans of the neck, chest, and abdomen revealed multiple nodules in the right pleura, right pleural encapsulated effusion, and limited, incomplete expansion of the middle and lower lobes of the right lung, enlarged lymph nodes in the right hilar and mediastinal and diaphragm groups, and multiple slightly low-density nodules in the liver, bone destruction in the 2nd thoracic vertebra, raising the possibility of multiple liver metastases of right lung cancer and malignant pleural fluid. The lymph nodes in the neck, mediastinum, abdomen, and pelvis were enlarged bilaterally. After comprehensive analysis, the patient was diagnosed with atypical systemic HDTB. After three months of conventional anti-TB treatment, the patient refused our hospital follow-up, and his symptoms improved significantly during the telephone follow-up.
Most previous TB misdiagnoses involved a single organ, and this case enriches the clinical experience of diagnosing atypical HDTB. We encourage clinicians to establish a dynamic diagnostic and therapeutic mindset, emphasizing the value of biopsy and pathology.
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