High strain-rate rolling (HSRR) was successfully used to produce Mg–6.0 Zn–0.5 Zr sheets at 250–400°C. All the sheets have ultrafine-grained structures and exhibit excellent strength and ductility. ...Extensive deformation twinning, production of high-density dislocations in twins, subsequent continuous dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and discontinuous DRX contribute to the feasibility of HSRR and to the ultrafine-grained structures. The excellent mechanical properties are ascribed to the ultrafine grains, low dislocation density and weakened basal texture in the final structure.
Opisthorchis viverrini
and
Clonorchis sinensis
are important trematodes infecting humans and animals, belonging to the family Opisthorchiidae. In the present study, we sequenced the nearly complete ...mitochondrial (mt) DNA (mtDNA) sequences of
O. viverrini
from Laos, obtained the complete mtDNA sequences of
C. sinensis
from China and Korea, and revealed their gene annotations and genome organizations. The mtDNA sequences of
O. viverrini
,
C. sinensis
(China isolate),
C. sinensis
(Korea isolate) were 13,510, 13,879, and 13,877 bp in size, respectively. Each of the three mt genomes comprises 36 genes, consisting of 12 genes coding for proteins, two genes for rRNA, and 20 genes (
O. viverrini
) or 22 genes (
C. sinensis
) for tRNA. The gene content and arrangement are identical to that of
Fasciola hepatica
, and
Paragonimus westermani
, but distinct from
Schistosoma
spp. All genes are transcribed in the same direction and have a nucleotide composition high in T. The contents of A + T of the mt genomes were 59.39% for
O. viverrini
, 60.03% for
C. sinensis
(China isolate), and 59.99% for
C. sinensis
(Korea isolate). Phylogenetic analyses using concatenated amino acid sequences of the 12 protein-coding genes, with three different computational algorithms maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analysis, all revealed distinct groups with high statistical support, indicating that
O. viverrini
and
C. sinensis
represent sister taxa. These data provide additional novel mtDNA markers for studying the molecular epidemiology and population genetics of the two liver flukes and should have implications for the molecular diagnosis, prevention, and control of opisthorchiasis and clonorchiasis in humans and animals.
X-ray emissions in protostars play an important role in the chemistry of protostellar disks and in constraining the physics of jet formation. We have experimentally investigated the mechanism of ...X-ray emission in protostellar jets and modeled their interaction with the surrounding medium. The simulated supersonic jet is generated by intense laser beams irradiating a K-shaped target and then impacts an obstacle. We have successfully observed X-ray emission from the obstacle surface, and we find that it comes from the outflow material and not completely from the ambient medium heated by shock.
Anesthesia with opioids negatively affects patients' quality of recovery. Opioid-free anesthesia attempts to avoid these effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of opioid-free anesthesia on ...the quality of recovery, using lidocaine on patients undergoing hysteroscopy.
A parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted in Yichang Central Peoples' Hospital, Hubei Province, China, from January to April, 2022. We included 90 female patients (age: 18-65 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Class I-II) scheduled for elective hysteroscopy, 45 of whom received lidocaine (Group L), and 45 received sufentanil (Group S). Patients were randomly allocated to receive either lidocaine or sufentanil perioperatively. The primary outcome was the quality of postoperative recovery, which was assessed using the QoR-40 questionnaire (a patient-reported outcome questionnaire measuring the quality of recovery after surgery).
The two groups were similar in age, American Society of Anesthesiology physical status, height, weight, body mass index, and surgical duration. The QoR scores were significantly higher in Group L than Group S. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, as well as the time to extubation were significantly lower in Group L than Group S.
Opioid-free anesthesia with lidocaine achieves a better quality of recovery, faster recovery, and a shorter time to extubation than general anesthesia with sufentanil.
The trial was registered on January 15, 2022 in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=149386 ), registration number ChiCTR2200055623.(15/01/2022).
Co-modality in city logistics: Sounds good, but how? Zhu, Shengda; Bell, Michael G.H.; Schulz, Veronica ...
Transportation research. Part A, Policy and practice,
February 2023, 2023-02-00, Letnik:
168
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Co-modality is widely applied in medium- and long-haul transport by providing an integrated transport solution for both passenger and freight. This paper aims to investigate how the concept can ...support the short-haul market in city logistics. Though a few trials have been carried out by using the tram to serve cargo delivery, most of them were suspended or failed due to its substantial investment in dedicated vehicles and even track and inadequate service demand. Therefore, we reviewed the literature and global co-modality schemes. Combined with inputs from stakeholders in Sydney, Australia, we listed the key components of a feasible co-modality solution and conducted a series of numerical tests. We found that co-modality, considering its short dwell time for cargo handling in city transport stations, could be ideal to facilitate consignments with low volume but a very high requirement on time reliability—such as same-day delivery. By providing unaccompanied coverage in the middle mile, co-modality has the potential to save operational costs and bring environmental benefits. We presented the delivery process, business model canvas and technical capability of a prototype co-modal journey, and presented the opportunities, challenges, and potential benefits for future investigation.
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•PTFE membrane is modified with ZIF-8 MOF for adsorption of micropollutants.•Membrane characterization before and after particles incorporation is done.•Adsorption properties are ...measured using progesterone as a model pollutant.•The modification increased adsorption by ∼40% and almost doubled permeability.•A model is presented that described adsorption characteristics adequately.
A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) double layer microfiltration membrane has been modified with zeolite imidazolate metal organic frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) and tested for micropollutants removal from water. The physical properties of the modified membrane and its removal characteristics are tested using progesterone as a model pollutant. Compared to the unmodified membrane, incorporation of ZIF-8 onto the polymer matrix resulted in close to 40% increase in the membrane adsorption capacity and almost doubling its water permeability which could result in significant reduction in processing specific energy consumption. The membrane maintained near 95% of its original removal efficiency after three regeneration cycles using polyethylene glycol-400. Modeling of the adsorption results agreed satisfactorily with the experimental measurements. The synergy provided by using ZIF-8 particles and the significant regeneration volume reduction ratio demonstrates the effectiveness of the approach for increasing the overall micropollutants removal capacity and allows for its further consideration for development of viable continuous membrane adsorption techniques for decontamination of water resources.
•This study investigates the effects of shipping line-port integration on the port call choices.•There is significant spatial dependence in the port call patterns.•Carriers prefer to call at ...affiliated ports, ports with adequate infrastructure.•Carriers avoid calling at ports with significantly overlapping roles.•Vertical integration could help secure port throughput but nevertheless harm competition.
In the container shipping sector, many shipping lines are investing in ports and terminals. Although the literature generally agrees that shipping lines can benefit financially from such vertical investments, there are conflicting views on the impacts on different stakeholders, with limited empirical evidence nor solid data analysis. In addition to being an important managerial decision for shipping lines and their affiliated ports, this may become a policy issue because public infrastructure is expected to provide equal and fair access to all consumers. This study aims to enhance the understanding of the implications of shipping line-port integration by investigating its effects on the port call choices of shipping lines at the route level. Using data from East Asia, our correlation matrix of port-calls reveals significant spatial dependence in the port call patterns of shipping lines, and complex relationships between ports in a region, which can be substitutable, complementary or no significant relationship. Our spatial probit model estimation further suggests that carriers, whether based in East Asia or elsewhere, prefer to call at affiliated ports that they own either directly or indirectly via their alliance partners. Carriers tend to avoid calling at some ports with significantly overlapping roles on the same route but are likely to call at multiple ports that are less than 1200 km apart. Our findings also indicate that shipping lines prefer ports with adequate infrastructure and that the number of ports called on one route is constrained by the total transport time. We recommend that port authorities and local governments evaluate vertical integration on a case-by-case basis, because vertical integration could help secure some port throughput but nevertheless limit competition. Further studies on the shipping line-port integration’s impacts on port handling efficiency and service quality would help policy formation on vertical integration in the maritime sector.
Although the rate of development of drug resistance remains very high, 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) is still the most common chemotherapeutic drug used for the treatment of colon cancer. A better ...understanding of the mechanism of why cancers develop resistance to 5-Fu could improve its therapeutic effect. Sometimes, antioxidants are used simultaneously with 5-Fu treatment. However, a recent clinical trial showed no advantage or even a harmful effect of combining antioxidants with 5-Fu compared with administration of 5-Fu alone. The mechanism explaining this phenomenon is still poorly understood. In this study, we show that 5-Fu can induce reactive oxygen species-dependent Src activation in colon cancer cells. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts that are deficient in Src showed a clear resistance to 5-Fu, and knocking down Src protein expression in colon cancer cells also decreased 5-Fu-induced apoptosis. We found that Src could interact with and phosphorylate caspase-7 at multiple tyrosine sites. Functionally, the tyrosine phosphorylation of caspase-7 increases its activity, thereby enhancing cellular apoptosis. When using 5-Fu and antioxidants together, Src activation was blocked, resulting in decreased 5-Fu-induced apoptosis. Our results provide a novel explanation as to why 5-Fu is not effective in combination with some antioxidants in colon cancer patients, which is important for clinical chemotherapy.
A novel Fibre–Metal Laminates (FMLs) based on carbon fibre reinforced PMR polyimide were prepared using a hot press process in this paper. Pre-treatment on the titanium surface were conducted prior ...to laminating. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were used to observe the morphologies of the titanium and the cross-sections of the FMLs. SEM results showed that micro-roughness structures were formed on the titanium surface after anodization. This structure enhanced the interlaminar bond strength between titanium and polyimide. Flexural and Interlaminar shear (ILSS) tests showed that the FMLs possess excellent flexural and interlaminar properties at both room temperature and elevated temperature. Thermostability tests proved that the FMLs based on carbon fibre reinforced PMR polyimide offered excellent thermal properties. It is shown that no delamination appears between titanium layer and the fibre-reinforced polyimide layer after 1000 times thermal shock.
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