Currently, the effects of different tillage modes on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, carbon footprint (CF), energy budget and net ecosystem economic efficiency (NEEE) in rice fields remain unclear. ...In the present study, three tillage modes were tested, including rice conventional cultivation with intensive till (CT), conventional flat cultivation with no-till (FNT) and ridge cultivation with no-till (RNT) in Dafasi town, Wuxue city, Hubei province, China. This study for the first time evaluates the effects of RNT on agricultural GHG emissions, grain yield, CF, energy budget and NEEE. Compared with CT and FNT, RNT reduced the soil CH4 emissions by 29.5% and 9.9%, respectively. CT resulted in 15.8% and 23.1% lower total GHG emissions than FNT and RNT, respectively, due to lower soil CH4 emissions. Moreover, RNT significant decreased the CF by 35.7% and 18.2% relative to CT and FNT, respectively. The net energy, energy efficiency and energy productivity under RNT were 41.2%, 25.0% and 26.7% higher than those under CT, respectively, while the specific energy under RNT was 24.7% lower than that under CT. The NEEE under RNT was 1.66 and 1.20 folds of that under CT and FNT, respectively. In conclusion, this study recommends that RNT is an environmentally safe tillage mode for reducing GHG emissions and CF, and improving energy use efficiency and NEEE for rice production in China and similar agro-eco-regions elsewhere in the world.
Background To avoid the inconvenience of triangulation among various rigid operating instruments in mediastinoscopy-assisted esophagectomy, we invented a new technique: used a flexible endoscope to ...mobilize thoracic esophagus and dissected mediastinal lymph nodes through the left cervical incision. This technology has not been reported so far. In this study, we introduce our long-term experience and demonstrate this new technique. Methods Twenty-nine patients with early esophageal cancer underwent mediastinoscopy-assisted esophagectomy in our hospital from June 2018 to September 2020. Among them, 12 patients used flexible mediastinoscopy, and 17 patients used conventional rigid mediastinoscopy and instruments to observe their therapeutic effect. Results There were no significant differences between the two groups in gender, average age, body mass index, incidence of adverse reactions, bleeding volume, and postoperative hospital stay. The operation time of flexible mediastinoscopy group was significantly shorter than that of rigid mediastinoscopy group (192.9 + or - 13.0 vs 246.8 + or - 6.9 min, p < 0.01). The number of lymph nodes removed by flexible endoscopy was significantly more than that of rigid endoscopy (8.5 + or - 0.6 vs 6.0 + or - 0.3, P < 0.01). Postoperative follow-up was completed for all patients, and the average follow-up time was 11.6 + or - 7.2 months. During the follow-up period, no recurrence or death was observed. Conclusions Mediastinoscopy-assisted esophagectomy is an effective way to treat early esophageal cancer. The application of flexible mediastinoscopy provides more convenience and better stability. It can facilitate the operation of the surgeon and lymph node dissection, which proved to be a feasible technology. Keywords: Flexible mediastinoscopy, Mediastinoscopy-assisted esophagectomy, MAE, Flexible endoscopy, Early esophageal cancer
Among middle‐aged and older people, balanced and nutritious diets are the foundation for maintaining bone health and preventing osteoporosis. This study is aimed at investigating the link between ...dietary folic acid intake and the risk of osteoporosis among middle‐aged and older people. A total of 20,686 people from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2010 are screened and included, and 5312 people aged ≥45 years with integral data are ultimately enrolled in evaluation. Demographics and dietary intake‐related data are gathered and analyzed, and the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of each tertile category of dietary folic acid intake and each unit increase in folic acid are assessed via multivariate logistic regression models. On this basis, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is used to identify the optimal cutoff value of dietary folic acid intake for indicating the risk of osteoporosis. Of 5312 people with a mean age of 62.4 ± 11.0 years old, a total of 513 people with osteoporosis are screened, and the dietary folic acid intake amount of the osteoporosis group is significantly lower than that of the non‐osteoporosis group (p < .001). The lowest tertile category is then used to act as a reference category, and a higher dietary folic acid intake amount is observed to be positively related to lower odds for risk of osteoporosis. This trend is also not changed in adjustments for combinations of different covariates (p all < .05). Based on this, a dietary folic acid intake of 475.5 μg/day is identified as an optimal cutoff value for revealing osteoporosis. Collectively, this nationwide population‐based study reveals that a higher daily dietary folic acid intake has potential protective effects on osteoporosis in middle‐aged and older people.
This study is aimed at investigating the link between dietary folic acid intake and the risk of osteoporosis among middle‐aged and older people, and a total of 20,686 people from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2010 were screened and included. The results indicate that a higher daily dietary folic acid intake has potential protective effects on osteoporosis in middle‐aged and older people.
Display omitted
•Porous g-C3N4 is facilely prepared from melamine using NH4Cl as dynamic gas templates.•g-C3N4 are used to evenly anchor the ultrafine Ru NPs for ammonia borane hydrolysis.•The porous ...catalysts possess high catalytic activity and satisfactory recyclability.
Hierarchical porous g-C3N4 nanosheets are prepared from melamine using NH4Cl as dynamic gas templates to anchor the ultrafine Ru nanoparticles (NPs) with a facile adsorption-in situ reduction strategy. The results reveal that 1: 3 is the optimal mass ratio for melamine to NH4Cl and the Ru NPs are evenly dispersed in the porous network of g-C3N4 in the corresponding catalysts. Remarkably, the porous catalysts exhibit superior catalytic activity and satisfactory recyclability for ammonia borane (NH3-BH3, AB) hydrolysis. The corresponding turnover frequency is as high as 122.2 × 103 mLH2·gRu-1·min-1 and the apparent activation energy (35.6 kJ mol−1) is competitive. AB hydrolysis is of 1.17-order and near zero-order with respect to the Ru and AB concentrations, respectively. The results demonstrate that the Ru/g-C3N4 catalysts are promising in developing an alternative clean and environmentally friendly energy carrier from the hydrogen storage materials.
Multifunctional lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), which feature efficiently convert low-energy photons into high-energy photons, have attracted considerable attention in the domain ...of materials science and biomedical applications. Due to their unique photophysical properties, including light-emitting stability, excellent upconversion luminescence efficiency, low autofluorescence, and high detection sensitivity, and high penetration depth in samples, UCNPs have been widely applied in biomedical applications, such as biosensing, imaging and theranostics. In this review, we briefly introduced the major components of UCNPs and the luminescence mechanism. Then, we compared several common design synthesis strategies and presented their advantages and disadvantages. Several examples of the functionalization of UCNPs were given. Next, we detailed their biological applications in bioimaging and disease treatment, particularly drug delivery and photodynamic therapy, including antibacterial photodynamic therapy. Finally, the future practical applications in materials science and biomedical fields, as well as the remaining challenges to UCNPs application, were described. This review provides useful practical information and insights for the research on and application of UCNPs in the field of cancer.
By adopting in situ nano-mechanical testing in transmission electron microscope, we reveal that nanoscale helium bubbles can simultaneously enhance strength and ductility in small-volume ...single-crystal Al-4Cu pillars, which breaks the paradox of trade-off between strength and ductility. Nanoscale helium bubbles serve as internal dislocation sources and shearable obstacles, which promote dislocation nucleation and storage, and give rise to higher flow stress, controllable plasticity and larger uniform deformation in Al-4Cu pillars. Nanoscale helium bubbles are rather stable under plastic straining. Bubble coarsening and coalescence are only observed at final localized deformation regime.
Display omitted
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, debilitating joint disease characterized by progressive destruction of articular cartilage. For a long time, OA has been considered as a degenerative disease, while ...recent observations indicate the mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of OA are multifaceted. Aging is a key factor in its development. Current treatments are palliative and no disease modifying anti-osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) are available. In addition to articular cartilage degradation, cellular senescence, synovial inflammation, and epigenetic alterations may all have a role in its formation. Accumulating data demonstrate a clear relationship between the senescence of articular chondrocytes and OA formation and progression. Inhibition of cell senescence may help identify new agents with the properties of DMOADs. Several anti-cellular senescence strategies have been proposed and these include sirtuin-activating compounds (STACs), senolytics, and senomorphics drugs. These agents may selectively remove senescent cells or ameliorate their harmful effects. The results from preclinical experiments and clinical trials are inspiring. However, more studies are warranted to confirm their efficacy, safety profiles and adverse effects of these agents.
As a minimally invasive heat source, radiofrequency (RF) ablation still encounters potential damages to the surrounding normal tissues because of heat diffusion, high power, and long time. With a ...comprehensive understanding of the current state of the art on RF ablation, a magnetic composite using porous hollow iron oxide nanoparticles (HIONs) as carriers to load dl-menthol (DLM) has been engineered. This composite involves two protocols for enhancing RF ablation, that is, HION-mediated magnetothermal conversion in RF field and RF solidoid vaporation (RSV)-augmented inertial cavitation, respectively. A combined effect based on two protocols is found to improve energy transformation, and further, along with hydrophobic DLM-impeded heat diffusion, improve the energy utilization efficiency and significantly facilitate ex vivo and in vivo RF ablation. More significantly, in vitro and in vivo RSV processes and RSV-augmented inertial cavitation for RF ablation can be monitored by T 1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) via an RF-sensitive longitudinal relaxation tuning strategy because the RSV process can deplete DLM and make HION carriers permeable to water molecules, consequently improving the longitudinal relaxation rate of HIONs and enhancing T 1-weighted MRI. Therefore, this RF-sensitive magnetic composite holds a great potential in lowering the power and time of RF ablation and improving its therapeutic safety.
Patients with prior illness are more vulnerable to heat stroke-induced injury, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Recent studies suggested that NLRP3 inflammasome played an important role in ...the pathophysiology of heat stroke.
In this study, we used a classic animal heat stroke model. Prior infection was mimicked by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipoteichoic acid (LTA) injection before heat stroke (LPS/LTA 1 mg/kg). Mice survival analysis curve and core temperature (T
) elevation curve were produced. NLRP3 inflammasome activation was measured by using real-time PCR and Western blot. Mice hypothalamus was dissected and neuroinflammation level was measured. To further demonstrate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome, Nlrp3 knockout mice were used. In addition, IL-1β neutralizing antibody was injected to test potential therapeutic effect on heat stroke.
Prior infection simulated by LPS/LTA injection resulted in latent inflammation status presented by high levels of cytokines in peripheral serum. However, LPS/LTA failed to cause any change in animal survival rate or body temperature. In the absence of LPS/LTA, heat treatment induced heat stroke and animal death without significant systemic or neuroinflammation. Despite a decreased level of IL-1β in hypothalamus, Nlrp3 knockout mice demonstrated no survival advantage under mere heat exposure. In animals with prior infection, their heat tolerance was severely impaired and NLRP3 inflammasome induced neuroinflammation was detected. The use of Nlrp3 knockout mice enhanced heat tolerance and alleviated heat stroke-induced death by reducing mice hypothalamus IL-1β production with prior infection condition. Furthermore, IL-1β neutralizing antibody injection significantly extended endotoxemic mice survival under heat stroke.
Based on the above results, NLRP3/IL-1β induced neuroinflammation might be an important mechanistic factor in heat stroke pathology, especially with prior infection. IL-1β may serve as a biomarker for heat stroke severity and potential therapeutic method.
Thermal interface material (TIM) is crucial for electronic devices to dissipate heat, but the high interface thermal resistance between polymer matrix and filler is a major problem affecting its ...thermal conductivity (TC). In this study, we prebuilt excellent thermally conductive pathway of isotropic spherical boron nitride (sBN) using a facile method, that is, pressing fillers, to decrease the interface thermal resistance before filling matrix silicon rubber (SR), and prepared a TIM with high isotropic TC. At 50 wt% filler content, the through‐plane and in‐plane TCs of sBN/SR composite reached 9.36 and 7.82 W/(m·K), respectively, which are higher than the highest value of previous research on bulk BN/SR composites (not including film), 4.13 and 6.56 W/(m·K), respectively. Meanwhile, the thermal decomposition temperature of TIM is 47.2°C higher than that of pure SR. In addition, the TIM has a low hardness (shore A hardness <70) and can be bent and folded, so can be used to substitute traditional thermally conductive silicone pad.
PDF
