Hydrogen is considered as the ideal candidate as an energy carrier for both mobile and stationary applications. However, the lack of efficient onboard hydrogen storage technology is becoming one of ...great obstacles impeding their industrial applications. Lithium borohydride (LiBH4) has been attracting a great deal of attention as a hydrogen storage material with high gravimetric hydrogen capacity. This manuscript about LiBH4 includes the synthesis, hydrolysis, structure, dynamics, intermediate compound, and the de/rehydrogenation properties improvement of LiBH4. LiBH4 can be synthesized by several methods, for example, direct synthesis from elements. In the hydrolysis of LiBH4 with the liberation of hydrogen gas, the byproduct will be different under different conditions. Structurally, LiBH4 has four different phases in experiment: Pnma, P63mc, Ama2 and Fm-3m. Dynamically, the high temperature (HT) phase of LiBH4 is a lithium fast-ion conductor. In the hydrogen desorption reaction of LiBH4, Li2B12H12 among the possible intermediate compounds is studied the most. Several methods have been proposed to improve the de/rehydrogenation properties of LiBH4. The first method is “destabilization” of the LiBH4. The second one is the use of catalyst. The third one is nanoscaffolding incorporation. The de/rehydrogenation properties of LiBH4 have been changed considerably through the great efforts of researchers in recent years.
In-silico manufacturing of asphalt concrete Garcia-Hernandez, A.; Wan, L.; Dopazo-Hilario, S.
Powder technology,
July 2021, 2021-07-00, 20210701, Letnik:
386
Journal Article
Recenzirano
In this paper we present an algorithm to produce realistic virtual asphalt concretes. The inputs are the geometry of aggregates, and the composition of the asphalt concrete. The outputs are the air ...voids content and, a 3-dimensional representation of the aggregate skeleton. The air voids that are predicted by the algorithm have been compared to those measured from asphalt made in the laboratory. The key parameters that influence the compaction of an asphalt concrete are the shape of the aggregates, number of aggregates and, volume of mastic, i.e. bitumen, filler, and aggregates smaller than 2 mm. An equation based on a Weibull function, with independent variables the number of aggregates and force required to compact the virtual aggregates, has been developed. This equation can predict the force that the algorithm needs to compact the virtual aggregates to a level equivalent to that reached by a laboratory compactor.
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•We present an algorithm to produce realistic virtual asphalt concretes.•The inputs are the geometry of aggregates, and the composition of the asphalt concrete.•The output is the air voids content and the geometry of the aggregate skeleton.•A statistically derived function determines the force that the algorithm applies.•Compaction depends of the number of stones and, the amount of bitumen and dust.
Abstract Previous data demonstrate that traumatic brain injury (TBI) activates autophagy, and increases microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) immunostaining mainly in neurons. However, ...the role of autophagy in traumatic brain damage remains elusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate the autophagic mechanisms participating in traumatic brain injury. The autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and bafliomycin A1 (BFA) were administered with a single i.c.v. injection before TBI. We first examined the protein levels of Beclin-1 and LC3 II, which have been found to promote autophagy previously. Immunoblotting analysis showed that 3-MA pretreatment reduced post-TBI Beclin-1 and LC3-II levels, and maintained p62/SQSTM1 (p62) levels. In addition, double immunolabeling showed that the increased punctate LC3-II dots colocalizing with Propidium Iodide (PI)-stained nuclei at 24 h after injury, were partially inhibited by 3-MA pretreatment. Furthermore, inhibition of autophagy could reduce TBI-induced cell injury assessed with i.p. injection of PI and lesion volume, and attenuate behavioral outcome evaluated by motor test and Morris water maze. The neuroprotective effects were associated with an inhibition on TBI-induced up-regulation of LC3, Beclin-1, cathepsin B, caspase-3 and the Beclin-1/Bcl-2 ratio. Taken together, these data imply that the autophagy pathway is involved in the pathophysiologic responses after TBI, and inhibition of this pathway may help attenuate traumatic damage and functional outcome deficits.
Gene function in cancer is often cell type-specific. The epithelial cell-specific transcription factor ELF3 is a documented tumor suppressor in many epithelial tumors yet displays oncogenic ...properties in others. Here, we show that ELF3 is an oncogene in the adenocarcinoma subtype of lung cancer (LUAD), providing genetic, functional, and clinical evidence of subtype specificity. We discover a region of focal amplification at chromosome 1q32.1 encompassing the ELF3 locus in LUAD which is absent in the squamous subtype. Gene dosage and promoter hypomethylation affect the locus in up to 80% of LUAD analyzed. ELF3 expression was required for tumor growth and a pan-cancer expression network analysis supports its subtype and tissue specificity. We further show that ELF3 displays strong prognostic value in LUAD but not LUSC. We conclude that, contrary to many other tumors of epithelial origin, ELF3 is an oncogene and putative therapeutic target in LUAD.
Summary
Double‐lumen intubation is more difficult than single‐lumen tracheal intubation. Videolaryngoscopes have many advantages in airway management. However, the advantages of videolaryngoscopy for ...intubation with a double‐lumen tube remain controversial compared with traditional Macintosh laryngoscopy. In this study, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and the Web of Science for randomised controlled trials comparing videolaryngoscopy with Macintosh laryngoscopy for double‐lumen tube intubation. We found that videolaryngoscopy provided a higher success rate at first attempt for double‐lumen tube intubation, with an odds ratio (95%CI) of 2.77 (1.92–4.00) (12 studies, 1215 patients, moderate‐quality evidence, p < 0.00001), as well as a lower incidence of oral, mucosal or dental injuries during double‐lumen tube intubation, odds ratio (95%CI) 0.36 (0.15–0.85) (11 studies, 1145 patients, low‐quality evidence, p = 0.02), and for postoperative sore throat, odds ratio (95%CI) 0.54 (0.36–0.81) (7 studies, 561 patients, moderate‐quality evidence, p = 0.003), compared with Macintosh laryngoscopy. There were no significant differences in intubation time, with a standardised mean difference (95%CI) of −0.10 (−0.62 to 0.42) (14 studies, 1310 patients, very low‐quality evidence, p = 0.71); and the incidence of postoperative voice change, odds ratio (95%CI) 0.53 (0.21–1.31) (7 studies, 535 patients, low‐quality evidence, p = 0.17). Videolaryngoscopy led to a higher incidence of malpositioned double‐lumen tube, with an odds ratio (95%CI) of 2.23 (1.10–4.52) (six studies, 487 patients, moderate‐quality evidence, p = 0.03).
We investigated the frequency and function of mutations and increased copy number of the PIK3CA gene in lung cancers. PIK3CA mutations are one of the most common gene changes present in human ...cancers. We analyzed the mutational status of exons 9 and 20 and gene copy number of PIK3CA using 86 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, 43 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines, 3 extrapulmonary small cell cancer (ExPuSC) cell lines, and 691 resected NSCLC tumors and studied the relationship between PIK3CA alterations and mutational status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway genes (EGFR, KRAS, HER2, and BRAF). We also determined PIK3CA expression and activity and correlated the findings with effects on cell growth. We identified mutations in 4.7% of NSCLC cell lines and 1.6% of tumors of all major histologic types. Mutations in cell lines of small cell origin were limited to two ExPuSC cell lines. PIK3CA copy number gains were more frequent in squamous cell carcinoma (33.1%) than in adenocarcinoma (6.2%) or SCLC lines (4.7%). Mutational status of PIK3CA was not mutually exclusive to EGFR or KRAS. PIK3CA alterations were associated with increased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity and phosphorylated Akt expression. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of PIK3CA inhibited colony formation of cell lines with PIK3CA mutations or gains but was not effective in PIK3CA wild-type cells. PIK3CA mutations or gains are present in a subset of lung cancers and are of functional importance.
A total of 180 non-duplicate carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were recovered from patients hospitalized between December 2010 and January 2012 at a Chinese hospital. Eight KPC-2, ...four NDM-1, one VIM-2, and five KPC-2 plus IMP-4 producers were identified and all were multidrug resistant due to the presence of other resistance determinants, including extended-spectrum β-lactamases (CTX-M-15, SHV-12), 16S rRNA methylases (armA, rmtB) and plasmid-mediated quinolone-resistance determinants (qnrA, B, S, aac(6′)-Ib-cr). Nine K. pneumoniae clones (Kpn-A1/ST395, Kpn-A3/ST11, Kpn-A2/ST134, Kpn-B/ST263, Kpn-C/ST37, Kpn-D/ST39, Kpn-E/ST1151, Kpn-F/ST890, Kpn-G/ST1153) were identified. bla
KPC-2 was located on transferable ~65 kb IncL/M (ST395, ST11, ST134, ST39) and ~100 kb IncA/C (ST37, ST1153, ST890) plasmids, respectively. On the other hand, bla
NDM-1 was associated with a ~70 kb IncA/C plasmid (ST263). However, non-typable plasmids of ~40 kb containing bla
VIM-2 were detected in the ST1151 clone. This work reports the first co-occurrence of four diverse types of carbapenemase of K. pneumoniae clones from a single hospital in China. IncA/C, IncL/M, and other successful plasmids may be important for the dissemination of carbapenemases, producing a complex epidemiological picture.
Recent evidence suggests that the observed clinical distinctions between lung tumors in smokers and never smokers (NS) extend beyond specific gene mutations, such as EGFR, EML4-ALK, and KRAS, some of ...which have been translated into targeted therapies. However, the molecular alterations identified thus far cannot explain all of the clinical and biological disparities observed in lung tumors of NS and smokers. To this end, we performed an unbiased genome-wide, comparative study to identify novel genomic aberrations that differ between smokers and NS. High resolution whole genome DNA copy number profiling of 69 lung adenocarcinomas from smokers (n = 39) and NS (n = 30) revealed both global and regional disparities in the tumor genomes of these two groups. We found that NS lung tumors had a greater proportion of their genomes altered than those of smokers. Moreover, copy number gains on chromosomes 5q, 7p, and 16p occurred more frequently in NS. We validated our findings in two independently generated public datasets. Our findings provide a novel line of evidence distinguishing genetic differences between smoker and NS lung tumors, namely, that the extent of segmental genomic alterations is greater in NS tumors. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that these lung tumors are globally and genetically different, which implies they are likely driven by distinct molecular mechanisms.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, is one of the dreaded complications of chronic liver disease. Recent experimental and clinical studies have revealed that the ...alteration of gut-liver axis plays a pivotal role in the onset of chronic liver diseases, including HCC. Altered gut microbiota and endotoxemia are increasingly recognized as critical components in promoting the progression of chronic liver diseases to HCC. Probiotics have been suggested as a novel, safe and cost-effective approach to prevent or treat HCC. Mechanisms by which probiotics exerts their anti-cancer effects include their ability to bind carcinogens, modulation of gut microbiota, improvement of intestinal barrier function, and immunomodulation. This review summarizes the literature findings of the changes in gut microbiota linked to HCC, and discusses the possible therapeutic implications of probiotics for HCC.
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