•Water sorption isotherms of the three WPH powders fitted the GAB model well.•An increase in water content or degree of hydrolysis caused the decrease in Tg.•Particle collapse and bridging occurred ...at high relative humidity or temperature.•Color change might be caused by microstructure change other than Maillard reaction.•State diagram is developed to understand physicochemical stability of WPH powder.
Whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) is now considered as an important and special dairy protein ingredient for its nutritional and functional properties. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effect of environmental relative humidity (RH) and storage temperature on the physicochemical stability of three WPH powders with hydrolysis degrees (DH) of 5.2%, 8.8% and 14.9%, respectively. The water sorption isotherms of the three WPH powders fitted the Guggenheim–Andersson–DeBoer model well. An increase in water content leaded to a decrease in glass transition temperature (Tg), following a linear Tg vs log water content relationship. Moreover, an increase in DH caused the decrease in Tg at the same water content. Changes in microstructure and colour occurred significantly when the WPH powders were stored at high environmental RH or temperature, especially for those with high DH.
The current theory considers that the shape of the deformed flexspline tooth ring neutral line is an isometric line of the cam, which ignores the effect of fit clearance and neutral line's ...elongation. To reveal the mechanical properties and the tooth positioning on deformed flexspline tooth rings with fit clearance, taking elliptical cam wave generator as an example and considering the fit clearance caused by the clearance between the inner wall of flexsplines, the outer surface of wave generators, the clearance of flexible bearings and the elongation of neutral lines, a contact mechanical model of tooth rings is established. The wrap angle after deformation is introduced as an unknown parameter, and the internal forces in tooth rings in the wrap angle is determined according to the curvature of the neutral line of tooth rings represented by the elliptic equidistant line and the equilibrium equations of the forces. The size of non-contact area, and the internal forces and deformation of tooth ring is solved i
α-Chaconine is the most abundant glycoalkaloid in potato and toxic to the animal digestive system, but the mechanisms underlying the toxicity are unclear. In this study, mouse small intestinal ...epithelial cells were incubated with α-chaconine at 0, 0.4, and 0.8 μg/mL for 24, 48, and 72 h to examine apoptosis, mechanical barrier function, and antioxidant ability of the cells using a cell metabolic activity assay, flow cytometry, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and fluorescence quantitative PCR. The results showed that α-chaconine significantly decreased cell proliferation rate, increased apoptosis rate, decreased transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value, and increased alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, and there were interactions between α-chaconine concentration and incubation time. α-Chaconine significantly reduced the relative and mRNA expressions of genes coding tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, decreased total glutathione (T-GSH) content, reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) and the mRNA expressions of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, and γ-GCS genes. In conclusion, α-chaconine disrupts the cell cycle, destroys the mechanical barrier and permeability of mucosal epithelium, inhibits cell proliferation, and accelerates cell apoptosis.
Metal (cobalt)/nitrogen codoped carbon was first fabricated by pyrolysis of coordinated “noncarbonizable” polymer as bifunctional catalyst for ORR and HER, which showed better electrocatalytic ...performances than most bifunctional doped carbon catalysts in alkaline electrolyte.
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Cobalt and nitrogen codoped carbon materials (Co-N-C) were fabricated by pyrolysis of the mixture of poly(4-vinylpyridine) and cobalt chloride using SiO2 nanoparticles as hard template, which were the first transition metal/nitrogen-codoped carbon bifunctional electrocatalyst derived from noncarbonizable polymer for ORR and HER. The as-made Co-N-C possessed hierarchical pore structure and high specific surface area, achieving excellent electrocatalytic performances for ORR and HER. Its ORR catalytic performances were comparable to those of Pt/C catalyst and its HER catalytic performances were superior to those of most doped carbon catalysts in KOH electrolyte. Moreover, its bifunctional electrocatalytic performances for ORR and HER were better than those of most bifunctional doped carbon catalysts in alkaline electrolyte.
To compare the accuracy and safety of robotic laser position (RLP) versus freehand for antenna CT-guided microwave ablation (MWA) of single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (diameter < 3 cm).
This ...retrospective study was conducted between May 2020 and June 2021. A total of 40 patients with early HCC who underwent CT-guided MWA were divided into two groups: a freehand group (n = 20) and a RLP group (n = 20). Based on in-plane and out-of-plane data, the actual puncture point error (APPE), number of repositioning procedures, and operative duration were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Ablation-related complications were compared using the Chi-squared test.
The mean diameter of HCC patients who received MWA was 2.4 ± 0.5 cm. For in-plane APPE, APPE was comparable between the two groups (p = 0.299). However, for the out-of-plane position, the APPE in the freehand group was higher than that in the RLP group (p = 0.027). The number of repositioning procedures was 0 (range, 0-0) for RLP-guided procedures and 3 (range, 2-5) for freehand procedures, showing a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.001). The mean operative duration for freehand procedures was 39 min, compared with 26 min for RLP-guided procedures, showing a significant difference (p = 0.013). No deaths or major complications were directly related to MWA. Minor complications in the freehand group were comparable with those in the RLP group (p = 0.313).
RLP guidance significantly reduces the number of antenna repositioning procedures in MWA and improves puncture accuracy for target HCC out-of-plane. In addition, the operative duration of robotic guidance was shorter than that of freehand guidance.
Although tight oil reservoirs have abundant resources, their recovery efficiency is generally low. In recent years, CO2 injection huff-n-puff has become an effective method for improving oil recovery ...on the basis of depleted production of volume-fracturing horizontal wells in tight oil reservoirs. In order to study the effects of CO2 huff-n-puff (CO2-HnP) on production, a compositional numerical simulation study of CO2 huff-n-puff (CO2-HnP) was conducted in tight oil reservoirs with complex fractures. Embedded discrete fracture model technology was used in the simulations to characterize complex fractures. The process of CO2 huff-n-puff (CO2-HnP) was simulated, which consists of CO2 injection, CO2 soaking, and CO2 production. Taking into account the threshold pressure gradient and stress sensitivity in the model, we conducted a series of numerical simulations with different production condition parameters, such as bottom-hole pressure, CO2 injection rate, injection time, soaking time, and the number of cycles of CO2 huff-n-puff (CO2-HnP). Then, the effects of these sensitivity parameters on the cumulative oil production (COP) were studied. The results indicate that the threshold pressure gradient and rock stress sensitivity factors greatly affect the pressure field of tight reservoirs and the cumulative oil production (COP) of multistage-fracturing horizontal wells. The production parameters all have an impact on the COP. The injection rate and circulation number both have optimal values, and the injection time and soak time tend to have less significant effects on the growth of cumulative oil production over time. According to the numerical simulation, the optimal solution is 5 × 104 m3/day injection rate per cycle, 25 days of injection time, 35 days of soaking time, three cycles, and production for 5 years, which can obtain the optimal cumulative oil production.
Background
The use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to reflect clinical benefits of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy remains ...controversial. This study aimed to determine the association of pre-treatment and early dynamic changes of ctDNA with clinical outcomes in advanced NSCLC patients treated with ICIs.
Methods
Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane) were systematically searched to include relevant studies published in English up to November 2020. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and the secondary outcome was objective response rate (ORR) with RECIST criteria.
Results
A total of 1017 patients from 10 studies were identified. The baseline ctDNA levels (detected
versus
not detected) showed no significant association with clinical outcomes regarding OS (hazard ratio HR, 1.18; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.93-1.51), PFS (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.80-1.21), and ORR (odds ratio OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.54-1.46). Interestingly, when taken early longitudinal assessment of ctDNA into consideration, the early reduction of the concentration of ctDNA was associated with significant improvements of OS (HR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.10-0.35), PFS (HR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.22-0.41) and ORR (OR, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.03-0.18). Further subgroup analyses revealed that the reduction magnitude did not significantly impact the association between ctDNA and clinical outcomes, suggesting that both patients with decreased ctDNA or a ≥50% reduction of ctDNA was associated with improved OS, PFS and ORR.
Conclusion
Early reduction of ctDNA was associated with improved OS, PFS and ORR in advanced NSCLC patients treated with ICIs.
Systematic Review Registration
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO
, CRD42021226255.
A mesh flexible spoke non-pneumatic tire is designed to avoid tire burst and other hidden dangers in the traditional pneumatic tires, and improve driving safety. The purpose of this study is to ...explore the fatigue performance and fatigue life prediction method of the non-pneumatic tire and analyze the influence of structural parameters on the fatigue life of non-pneumatic tire. Based on the crack propagation method of energy release rate by J-integral, the fatigue life of the meshed flexible spoke non-pneumatic tire is predicted. Using numerical simulation method, the influence of key structural parameters, such as the curvature, unit angle and thickness of the lateral spoke and the tread thickness, on tire fatigue life is studied. The results show that the fatigue life prediction method proposed can be used to predict the fatigue life of flexible spoke non-pneumatic tire, and the fatigue life of non-pneumatic tire with flexible spoke can be improved by selecting appropriate structural parameters, which could provide some reference for the structural optimization design of the fatigue performance of the non-pneumatic tire.
The reaction between diperiodatoargentate(III) (DPA) and folic acid (FA) produced weak chemiluminescence (CL) in acid medium, which was greatly enhanced in the presence of copper nanoclusters ...(CuNCs). The CL intensity of CuNCs-DPA-FA system increased with the concentration of FA ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 μM. The proposed CL system was applied for the detection of FA in pharmaceutical formulation and human urine samples. Further, the CL signal of CuNCs-DPA-FA system was inhibited by nitrite, and the inhibited CL intensity was proportional to the nitrite concentration in the range of 1.0–80.0 μM. The method was successfully applied to determine nitrite in water, pickled vegetable and sausage samples. A possible CL mechanism was briefly discussed.
The weak CL from DPA-FA was enhanced by CuNCs, which was used for the detection of FA. The CL signal of CuNCs-DPA-FA system was further inhibited by nitrite, which made the nitrite concentration determined. The luminophor was the excited-state PCA, a oxidation product of FA. Display omitted
•The reaction between DPA and FA produces a weak CL in acid medium.•CuNCs can greatly enhance the CL intensity of DPA-FA system.•The enhanced CL method is used for the determination of FA.•Determination of nitrite via CuNCs-DPA-FA system based on inhibited CL method.•The luminophor was the excited-state PCA, a oxidation product of FA.
Abstract Background and purpose Continuous EGFR-TKI treatment beyond progression has shown promising benefit for some patients with acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs. The aim of this study was to ...investigate the association of secondary T790M mutation at the time of progression with the efficacy of EGFR-TKI treatment beyond progression. Methods From March 2011 to March 2013, patients with advanced NSCLC who developed acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI and where a re-biopsy was performed at Tongji University Cancer Institute were included into this study. Scorpion ARMS was used to detect EGFR mutation status. Results A total of 54 patients were enrolled in this study with a median progression-free survival time (PFS1) of 10.9 months according to RECIST criteria. In all, 53.7% (29/54) had T790M mutation after the failure of EGFR-TKIs; PFS1 was not statistically significantly different between patients with T790M mutation and without (13.0 vs. 10.5 months, p = 0.894). In all, 41 patients received TKI treatment beyond progression, including 22 with local progression to receive additional local therapy and 19 with gradual progression to receive additional chemotherapy. The median progression-free survival time (PFS2) of patients who received EGFR-TKI beyond progression treatment was 3.5 months (95% CI, 2.689–4.311). Patients with T790M mutation had significantly longer PFS2 (6.3 vs. 2.6 months, p = 0.002) and overall survival (39.8 vs. 23.2 months, p = 0.044) than those without. Conclusion Patients with secondary T790M mutation at the time of progression having gradual or local progression after acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI benefit more from EGFR-TKI treatment beyond progression compared to those without T790M mutation.
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