A critical challenge in the commercialization of layer‐structured Ni‐rich materials is the fast capacity drop and voltage fading due to the interfacial instability and bulk structural degradation of ...the cathodes during battery operation. Herein, with the guidance of theoretical calculations of migration energy difference between La and Ti from the surface to the inside of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, for the first time, Ti‐doped and La4NiLiO8‐coated LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathodes are rationally designed and prepared, via a simple and convenient dual‐modification strategy of synchronous synthesis and in situ modification. Impressively, the dual modified materials show remarkably improved electrochemical performance and largely suppressed voltage fading, even under exertive operational conditions at elevated temperature and under extended cutoff voltage. Further studies reveal that the nanoscale structural degradation on material surfaces and the appearance of intergranular cracks associated with the inconsistent evolution of structural degradation at the particle level can be effectively suppressed by the synergetic effect of the conductive La4NiLiO8 coating layer and the strong TiO bond. The present work demonstrates that our strategy can simultaneously address the two issues with respect to interfacial instability and bulk structural degradation, and it represents a significant progress in the development of advanced cathode materials for high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries.
Ti‐doped and La4NiLiO8‐coated Ni‐rich layered oxide cathodes are synchronously and in situ synthesized with the guidance of theoretical calculations, which exhibit good surficial stability, fast interfacial kinetic behaviors, suppressed inconsistent structural degradation in combination with markedly improved electrochemical performance. This work opens a new avenue of designing simple modification approaches and advanced cathodes for high‐energy lithium‐ion batteries.
To compare radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with or without transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
A randomized controlled trial was ...conducted on 189 patients with HCC less than 7 cm at a single tertiary referral center between October 2006 and June 2009. Patients were randomly asssigned to receive TACE combined with RFA (TACE-RFA; n = 94) or RFA alone (n = 95). The primary end point was overall survival. The secondary end point was recurrence-free survival, and the tertiary end point was adverse effects.
At a follow-up of 7 to 62 months, 34 patients in the TACE-RFA group and 48 patients in the RFA group had died. Thirty-three patients and 52 patients had developed recurrence in the TACE-RFA group and RFA group, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 4-year overall survivals for the TACE-RFA group and the RFA group were 92.6%, 66.6%, and 61.8% and 85.3%, 59%, and 45.0%, respectively. The corresponding recurrence-free survivals were 79.4%, 60.6%, and 54.8% and 66.7%, 44.2%, and 38.9%, respectively. Patients in the TACE-RFA group had better overall survival and recurrence-free survival than patients in the RFA group (hazard ratio, 0.525; 95% CI, 0.335 to 0.822; P = .002; hazard ratio, 0.575; 95% CI, 0.374 to 0.897; P = .009, respectively). There were no treatment-related deaths. On logistic regression analyses, treatment allocation, tumor size, and tumor number were significant prognostic factors for overall survival, whereas treatment allocation and tumor number were significant prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival.
TACE-RFA was superior to RFA alone in improving survival for patients with HCC less than 7 cm.
Background and Aim
Considering the limitation of varying acid suppression of proton pump inhibitors, this study was aimed to assess the efficacy, safety, and dose–effect relationship of keverprazan, ...a novel potassium‐competitive acid blocker, in the treatment of duodenal ulcer (DU) compared with lansoprazole.
Methods
A randomized, double‐blind, double‐dummy, multicenter, low‐dose, high‐dose, and positive‐drug parallel‐controlled study was conducted to verify the non‐inferiority of keverprazan (20 or 30 mg) to lansoprazole of 30 mg once daily for 4 to 6 weeks and dose–effect relationship of keverprazan in the treatment of patients with active DU confirmed by endoscopy.
Results
Of the 180 subjects randomized, including 55 cases in the keverprazan_20 mg group, 61 cases in the keverprazan_30 mg group, and 64 cases in the lansoprazole_30 mg group, 168 subjects (93.33%) completed the study. The proportions of healed DU subjects in the keverprazan_20 mg, keverprazan_30 mg, and lansoprazole_30 mg groups were respectively 87.27%, 90.16%, and 79.69% at week 4 (P = 0.4595) and were respectively 96.36%, 98.36%, and 92.19% at week 6 (P = 0.2577). The incidence of adverse events in the keverprazan_20 mg group was lower than that in the lansoprazole_30 mg (P = 0.0285) and keverprazan_30 mg groups (P = 0.0398).
Conclusions
Keverprazan was effective and non‐inferior to lansoprazole in healing DU. Based on the comparable efficacy and safety data, keverprazan of 20 mg once daily is recommended for the follow‐up study of acid‐related disorders. (Trial registration number: ChiCTR2100043455.)
Germline RET mutations and variants are involved in development of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). The present study investigated a spectrum of RET variants, analyzed genotype-phenotype ...relationships, and evaluated their effect on the MEN2 phenotype in Han Chinese patients.
Targeted sequencing detected germline RET variants in 697 individuals, including 245 MEN2, 120 sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), and 15 pheochromocytoma (PHEO) patients and their 493 relatives. In silico analyses and classifications following ACMG-2015 were performed. Demographic, clinical variant types, and endocrine neoplasia molecular diagnosis records were also analyzed.
Nineteen different RET mutations (18 point and 1 del/ins mutations) in 214 patients with MEN2A (97.7%) or MEN2B (2.3%) were found, of which exon 11/10 mutations accounted for 79% (169/214). Nineteen compound mutations were found in 31 patients with MEN2A. Twenty-three variants (18 single and 5 double base substitution/compound variants) non-classification were also found. Of these, 17 (3 of pathogenic, 10 of uncertain significance, 2 of likely benign and 2 as benign) were found in 31 patients with MTC/PHEO. The remaining 6 variants (4 of uncertain significance and 2 of likely benign) found in 8 carriers had no evidence of MEN2. The entire cohort showed MEN2A-related PHEO, all occurring in exons 11/10, particularly at C634. Kaplan-Meier curves showed age-dependent penetration rates of MTC and PHEO, and occurrence rates of PHEO in patients with exon 11 mutations were all higher than those within exon 10; these bilateral PHEO were always associated with exon 11 mutations (all P < 0.05). While patient offspring had PHEO, parents with MEN2A had none, the frequency was approximately 10%. Interestingly, at least 6.8% of families were adoptive. Also, 3 non-hotspot RET variants (R114H, T278N, and D489N) appeared with high frequency. Conversely, polymorphism S836S was absent.
These data are largely consistent with current evidence-based recommendations in the clinical practice guidelines. Diversity of RET variants or carriers may involve a different natural disease course. Further large-scale targeted sequencing studies will serve as an accurate and cost-effective approach to investigating MEN2 genotype-phenotype correlations for discovery of rare or unknown variants of RET.
•Experimental results of the thermo-mechanical properties of zinc copper alloy are proposed.•The reduction factors of mechanical properties of zinc copper alloy are minimal at 250 °C.•The mechanical ...properties of zinc copper alloy under fire are compared with those of steel cables.•Modified Johnson-Cook constitutive model is established for the zinc copper alloy at elevated temperatures.•The modified constitutive model is incorporated into the numerical model to accurately simulate the zinc copper alloy.
Hot casting sockets have been commonly applied in the prestressed structures to anchor steel cables. However, the study on the fire behaviour of hot casting sockets is limited, particularly in relation to the thermo-mechanical properties of the filling medium. This paper experimentally investigates the mechanical properties of a zinc copper alloy (employed as the filling medium) at varying target temperatures. A comprehensive range of stress–strain curves are obtained by using a digital image correlation measurement system. The elastic modulus, proportional limit, effective yield strength and ultimate strength are presented and compared to those of steel cables. It is found that the strain hardening effect diminishes as the temperature increases. Reduction factors of elastic modulus, effective yield strength and ultimate strength of the zinc copper alloy are smaller than those of steel cables at elevated temperatures, indicating the vulnerability of the filling medium in fire scenarios. Mathematical formulas of reduction factors of mechanical properties are proposed. Furthermore, a novel constitutive model is proposed by modifying the Johnson-Cook model. Parameters involved in the stress–strain relationship are determined by the smooth round bar test results, whereas those in the failure criterion are determined by the notched round bar test results. Finally, the modified constitutive model is applied in a finite element model, and the numerical results have good agreement with the test results.
This study examined the protective effects and mechanism of
polysaccharides (LBP) in the context of intestinal barrier function and intestinal microbiota in mice with dextran sulfate sodium ...(DSS)-induced chronic ulcerative colitis (UC).
C57BL/6J male mice were assigned to a standard normal diet without DSS (control group), a normal diet with DSS (DSS group, 2% DSS given discontinuously for 3 weeks) or a normal diet supplemented with LBP (1% dry feed weight, LBP group, 2% DSS given discontinuously for 3 weeks) for a total of 8 weeks, at which point colonic tissues and caecal contents were collected.
LBP exerted a significant effect against colitis by increasing body weight, colon length, DAI and histopathological scores. LBP inhibited proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS and TNF-α) expression, improved anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) expression, promoted the expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin and ZO-1)
nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation and decreased Claudin-2 expression to maintain the intestinal mucosal barrier. In addition, the abundances of some probiotics (
,
,
, and
were decreased with DSS treatment but increased obviously with LBP treatment. And LBP reduced the abundance of conditional pathogens associated with UC (
and
). Furthermore, LBP improved the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and isobutyric acid.
LBP can alleviate DSS-induced UC by regulating inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins. Moreover, LBP promotes probiotics, suppresses conditional pathogens and increases SCFAs production, showing a strong prebiotic effect.
Expanded-shale lightweight concrete (ESLWC) has promising application in large-span bridges, high-rise buildings and offshore structures, owing to its advantages of conserving energy, structural ...efficiency and good durability. This paper experimentally investigates the dynamic behaviour of ESLWC by using Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) tests with a large bar diameter of 155 mm. The SHPB tests are conducted on eight ESLWC specimens with different static compressive strengths (50 and 60 MPa) and impact loads. The results show that the failure mode of ESLWC is represented by crushing into small fragments. As the static strength increases, the dynamic compressive strength of ESLWC increases, but the dynamic-to-static strength ratio (
DIF
) decreases. The type of lightweight aggregates has a great effect on
DIF
. A calculation method for predicting
DIF
of ESLWC under different strain rates is proposed. The stress–strain relationship of ESLWC under a strain rate less than 40 s
−1
can be divided into three stages: linear elastic, yield platform and brittle failure. The yield platform stage vanishes for higher strain rates. The energy absorption capacity of ESLWC under impact loading is greater than that of normal weight concrete, other types of LWC and fibre reinforced concrete. It increases as the concrete strength and strain rate increase. The microstructure of ESLWC is investigated using Scanning Electron Microscope, and it is found that the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and lightweight aggregates have a significant effect on the dynamic behaviour of ESLWC. The former has a dominant effect for strain rates ranging between 40 and 80 s
−1
as micro-cracks develop along ITZ and perimeter of lightweight aggregates. While the lightweight aggregates govern the dynamic behaviour for higher strain rates between 80 and 100 s
−1
, because of development penetration of cracks in the lightweight aggregates.
This paper presents numerical analyses of the thermo-mechanical behavior of restrained square concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns subjected to standard fire. It is found that the behavior is ...significantly influenced by the load ratio and axial restraint level. The collapse of restrained columns in fire conditions can be defined as the axial force in columns reaching 0 or the axial contraction deformation reaching a hundredth of column length. Three collapse modes are discovered, i.e., the expansion deformation collapse mode, contraction deformation collapse mode, and load-bearing capacity loss collapse mode. Under a low load ratio, three distinct modes of collapse are possible. Conversely, at a high load ratio, only the contraction deformation collapse mode and the load-bearing capacity loss collapse mode are observed. Through analytical and numerical approaches, a method for identifying the collapse mode based on geometric dimensions, axial restraint level, and load ratio has been established. This identification method can significantly contribute to optimizing fire protection strategies for CFST columns in structural designs.
•Dosage of 0.15% PP fibre can prevent 115–135 MPa UHSC from spalling.•No spalling on UHSC encased columns with 0.15% PP fibre under axial force.•Steel fibres can delay but cannot prevent UHSC from ...spalling.•Slight effects of low porosity and specimen size on the spalling of UHSC.
High strength construction materials are now attractive owing to their economic and architectural advantages. The higher the material strength, the smaller member size is required. Ultra-high strength concrete (UHSC) encased columns are being developed for the erection of high-rise buildings due to their higher load bearing capacity and smaller cross section size compared to normal strength concrete encased columns. When the UHSC is subject to elevated temperature, explosive fire-induced spalling is more often observed than in normal strength concrete. The consequence of spalling could cause serious life loss and damage to the close key infrastructure. Spalling is mostly due to the UHSC increased density, lower permeability and brittleness. Most of the previous studies show that polypropylene fibres have been found effective in preventing fire spalling. The aim of this experimental study is to discover the minimum polypropylene fibre dosage to control the fire spalling of steel fibre reinforced concrete of 115–135 MPa strength. The experimental study was carried out on 15 concrete specimens with different parameters and two fibre-reinforced concrete encased columns exposed to ISO 834 fire. The study indicates that a polypropylene fibre dosage of 1.365 kg/m3 can prevent the 115–135 MPa ultra-high strength concrete from explosive fire spalling. This polypropylene fibre dosage is lower than that proposed in Eurocode 2, which is 2 kg/m3. The proposed lower polypropylene fibre dosage can potentially bring sustainability (use less polypropylene fibres that are made of crude oil) and economy, as well as improve constructability by improving the workability of fresh concrete. It is also found steel fibres may relieve the fire spalling but not adequate to prevent spalling. Moreover, there is no significant effect of the size and inner temperature of the centre of the concrete specimen on spalling.
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