Hydrodechlorination of trifluoro-trichloroethane to chlorotrifluoroethylene:Revealing the deactivation mechanism and regeneration strategy of Pd-Cu/AC catalyst

Chlorotrifluoroethylene(CTFE)is a vital fluorinated olefinic monomer produced through the catalytic hydrodechlorination of trichlorotrifluoroethane(CFC-113),an eco-friendly process.However,hydrodechlorination catalysts for olefin production often suffer from poor stability.The Pd/AC catalyst and Pd-Cu/AC catalyst prepared by co-impregnation method exhibited poor stability,Pd-Cu/AC catalyst with CFC-113 conversion dropping to around 37%after 50 h of hydrodechlorination reaction.Brunauer-Emmett-Teller,transmission electron microscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and X-ray diffraction of fresh and deactivated Pd/AC catalysts indicate that the deactivation of Pd/AC catalysts is due to high-temperature agglomeration of Pd.Comparative analysis of fresh and deactivated Pd-Cu/AC catalysts using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller,transmission electron microscopy,and thermogravimetric analysis techniques revealed decreased dispersion of active sites,reduced surface area,catalyst aggregation deactivation,and a significant decrease in Cu content.Furthermore,the results of NH3-TPD revealed that the acid sites of the catalyst increased significantly.X-ray diffraction spectra indicated the formation of new species,basic copper chloride(Cu_(2)(OH)_(3)Cl),during the reaction.As the reaction progressed,these new species agglomerated,leading to a gradual loss of catalyst activity.Moreover,the deactivated catalyst was successfully reactivated using a simple alkaline washing method.

Surplus energy utilization of spent lithium-ion batteries for high-profit organolithiums

It is challenging to efficiently and economically recycle many lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)because of the low valuation of commodity metals and materials,such as LiFePO_(4).There are millions of tons of spent LIBs where the barrier to recycling is economical,and to make recycling more feasible,it is required that the value of the processed recycled material exceeds the value of raw commodity materials.The presented research illustrates improved profitability and economics for recycling spent LIBs by utilizing the surplus energy in lithiated graphite to drive the preparation of organolithiums to add value to the recycled lithium materials.This study methodology demonstrates that the surplus energy of lithiated graphite obtained from spent LIBs can be utilized to prepare high-value organolithiums,thereby significantly improving the economic profitability of LIB recycling.Organolithiums(R-O-Li and R-Li)were prepared using alkyl alcohol(R-OH)and alkyl bromide(R-Br)as substrates,where R includes varying hindered alkyl hydrocarbons.The organolithiums extracted from per kilogram of recycled LIBs can increase the economic value between$29.5 and$226.5 kg^(−1) cell.The value of the organolithiums is at least 5.4 times the total theoretical value of spent materials,improving the profitability of recycling LIBs over traditional pyrometallurgical($0.86 kg^(−1) cell),hydrometallurgical($1.00 kg^(−1) cell),and physical direct recycling methods($5.40 kg^(−1) cell).

Salvage of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation following prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation and failure of catheter-directed thrombectomy for massive pulmonary embolism in a young patient

Dear editor,Acute massive pulmonary embolism(PE) is a common life-threatening disease with high mortality of up to 30%–50%.[1,2]Potential heterogeneous reasons for PE remain controversial, and its treatment strategies mainly include antithrombotics, fibrinolytics, and embolectomy.

Fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio predicts overall survival of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio(FAR)has been found to be of prognostic significance for several types of malignant tumors.However,less is known about the association between FAR and survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients.AIM To explore the association between FAR and prognosis and survival in patients with HCC.METHODS A total of 366 histologically confirmed HCC patients diagnosed between 2013 and 2018 in a provincial cancer hospital in southwestern China were retrospectively selected.Relevant data were extracted from the hospital information system.The optimal cutoff for baseline serum FAR measured upon disease diagnosis was established using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the crude and adjusted associations between FAR and the overall survival(OS)of the HCC patients while controlling for various covariates.The restricted cubic spline(RCS)was applied to estimate the dose-response trend in the FAR-OS association.RESULTS The optimal cutoff value for baseline FAR determined by the ROC was 0.081.Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model revealed that a lower baseline serum FAR level was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.43(95%confidence interval:1.87–3.15)in the OS of HCC patients,with identifiable dose-response trend in the RCS.Subgroup analysis showed that this FAR-OS association was more prominent in HCC patients with a lower baseline serum aspartate aminotransferase or carbohydrate antigen 125 level.CONCLUSION Serum FAR is a prominent prognostic indicator for HCC.Intervention measures aimed at reducing FAR might result in survival benefit for HCC patients.

The dissolution of total suspended solids and treatment strategy of tailwater in a Litopenaeus vannamei recirculating aquaculture system

In recirculating aquaculture systems(RASs),the effective treatment of aquaculture tailwater is essential to maintain the health of the RAS.This study investigated the optimal time and method for tailwater treatment during three periods of the aquaculture of the Litopenaeus vannamei:nursery(0–26 d),middle(27–57 d),and later(57–104 d).The variation of several water parameters during the dissolution of total suspended solid(TSS)in tailwater,applied with the effects of ozone on the microorganism and water quality parameters were investigated.Results showed that the TSS concentrations in tailwater decreased with time,although not significantly(P>0.05),whereas total ammonia nitrogen(TAN),nitrite(NO-2-N),and nitrate(NO_(3)^(-)-N)increased significantly(P<0.05).Therefore,TSS should be removed from the tailwater as early as possible,being most optimal within 4 h.Ozone removed 38.24%–48.95%of TSS,17.78%–90.14%of TAN,and 87.50%–98.90%of NO-2-N after 4 h of treatment.However,it resulted in the significant accumulation of NO_(3)^(-)-N.Moreover,the total number of Vibrio and bacterial counts in aquaculture tailwater was reduced completely by ozone within 4 h.Thus,these results provided technical details and data support for the effective treatment of tailwater from shrimp RAS.

Soft,body conformable electronics for thermoregulation enabled by kirigami

The application of thermoelectric devices(TEDs)for personalized thermoregulation is attractive for saving energy while balancing the quality of life.TEDs that directly attach to human skin remarkably minimized the energy wasted for cooling the entire environment.However,facing the extreme dynamic geometry change and strain of human skin,conventional TEDs cannot align with the contour of our bodies for the best thermoregulation effect.Hence,we designed a kirigami-based wearable TED with excellent water vapor permeability,flexibility,and conformability.Numerical analysis and experimental results reveal that our product can withstand various types of large mechanical deformation without circuit rupture.The stated outcome and proposed facile approach not only reinforce the development of wearable TEDs but also offer an innovative opportunity for different electronics that require high conformability.

What benefit can be obtained from magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis with artificial intelligence in prostate cancer compared with clinical assessments?

The present study aimed to explore the potential of artificial intelligence(AI)methodology based on magnetic resonance(MR)images to aid in the management of prostate cancer(PCa).To this end,we reviewed and summarized the studies comparing the diagnostic and predictive performance for PCa between AI and common clinical assessment methods based on MR images and/or clinical characteristics,thereby investigating whether AI methods are generally superior to common clinical assessment methods for the diagnosis and prediction fields of PCa.First,we found that,in the included studies of the present study,AI methods were generally equal to or better than the clinical assessment methods for the risk assessment of PCa,such as risk stratification of prostate lesions and the prediction of therapeutic outcomes or PCa progression.In particular,for the diagnosis of clinically significant PCa,the AI methods achieved a higher summary receiver operator characteristic curve(SROC-AUC)than that of the clinical assessment methods(0.87 vs.0.82).For the prediction of adverse pathology,the AI methods also achieved a higher SROC-AUC than that of the clinical assessment methods(0.86 vs.0.75).Second,as revealed by the radiomics quality score(RQS),the studies included in the present study presented a relatively high total average RQS of 15.2(11.0–20.0).Further,the scores of the individual RQS elements implied that the AI models in these studies were constructed with relatively perfect and standard radiomics processes,but the exact generalizability and clinical practicality of the AI models should be further validated using higher levels of evidence,such as prospective studies and open-testing datasets.

Nickel-based superalloy architectures with surface mechanical attrition treatment: Compressive properties and collapse behaviour

Surface modifications can introduce natural gradients or structural hierarchy into human-made microlattices,making them simultaneously strong and tough.Herein,we describe our investigations of the mechanical properties and the underlying mechanisms of additively manufactured nickel–chromium superalloy(IN625)microlattices after surface mechanical attrition treatment(SMAT).Our results demonstrated that SMAT increased the yielding strength of these microlattices by more than 64.71%and also triggered a transition in their mechanical behaviour.Two primary failure modes were distinguished:weak global deformation,and layer-by-layer collapse,with the latter enhanced by SMAT.The significantly improved mechanical performance was attributable to the ultrafine and hard graded-nanograin layer induced by SMAT,which effectively leveraged the material and structural effects.These results were further validated by finite element analysis.This work provides insight into collapse behaviour and should facilitate the design of ultralight yet buckling-resistant cellular materials.

Facile electrochemical surface-alloying and etching of Au wires to enable high-performance substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering

Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy(SERS)is a nondestructive technique for rapid detection of analytes even at the single-molecule level.However,highly sensitive and reliable SERS substrates are mostly fabricated with complex nanofabrication techniques,greatly restricting their practical applications.A convenient electrochemical method for transforming the surface of commercial gold wires/foils into silver-alloyed nanostructures is demonstrated in this report.Au substrates are treated with repetitive anodic and cathodic bias in an electrolyte of thiourea,in a one-pot one-step manner.X-rays absorption fine structure(XAFS)spectroscopy confirms that the AuAg alloy is induced at the surface.The unique AuAg alloyed surface nanostructures are particularly advantageous when served as SERS substrates,enabling a remarkably sensitive detection of Rhodamine B(a detection limit of 10^(-14)M,and uniform strong response throughout the substrates at 10^(-12)M).

A hierarchical salt-rejection strategy for sustainable and high-efficiency solar-driven desalination

Solar steam generation(SSG)is widely regarded as one of the most sustainable technologies for seawater desalination.However,salt fouling severely compromises the evaporation performance and lifetime of evaporators,limiting their practical applications.Herein,we propose a hierarchical salt-rejection(HSR)strategy to prevent salt precipitation during long-term evaporation while maintaining a rapid evaporation rate,even in high-salinity brine.The salt diffusion process is segmented into three steps—insulation,branching diffusion,and arterial transport—that significantly enhance the salt-resistance properties of the evaporator.Moreover,the HSR strategy overcomes the tradeoff between salt resistance and evaporation rate.Consequently,a high evaporation rate of 2.84 kg m^(-2) h^(-1),stable evaporation for 7 days cyclic tests in 20 wt%NaCl solution,and continuous operation for 170 h in natural seawater under 1 sun illumination were achieved.Compared with control evaporators,the HSR evaporator exhibited a>54%enhancement in total water evaporation mass during 24 h continuous evaporation in 20 wt%salt water.Furthermore,a water collection device equipped with the HSR evaporator realized a high water purification rate(1.1 kg m^(-2) h^(-1)),highlighting its potential for agricultural applications.

Flower-like tin oxide membranes with robust three-dimensional channels for efficient removal of iron ions from hydrogen peroxide

Membrane technology has become the mainstream process for the production of electronic grade hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2)).But due to the oxidation degradation of the organic membranes(e.g.polyamide)by the strong oxidative radicals(e.g.OH)generated via the activation of H_(2)O_(2)by iron ions(Fe^(3+)),the short effective lifetime of membranes remains a challenge.Inorganic nano tin oxide(SnO_(2))has great potential for the removal of Fe^(3+)in strongly oxidative H_(2)O_(2)because of its ability to stabilize H2O_(2)and preferentially adsorb Fe^(3+).Herein,we have designed for the first time a flower-like robust SnO_(2)membrane on the ceramic support by in situ template-free one-step hydrothermal method.The three-dimensional loose pore structure in the membrane built by interlacing SnO_(2)nanosheets endows the SnO_(2)membrane with a high specific surface area and abundant adsorption sites(AOH).Based on the coordination complexation and electrostatic attraction between the SnO_(2)surface and Fe^(3+),the membrane shows a high Fe3+removal efficiency(83%)and permeability(24 L·m^(-2)·h^(-1)·MPa^(-1))in H_(2)O_(2).This study provides an innovative and simple approach to designing robust SnO_(2)membranes for highly efficient removal of Fe^(3+)in harsh environments,such as strong oxidation conditions.

Protective eff ect and mechanism of nanoantimicrobial peptide ND-C14 against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection

BACKGROUND:Streptococcus pneumoniae(S.pneumoniae)is a common pathogen that causes bacterial pneumonia.However,with increasing bacterial resistance,there is an urgent need to develop new drugs to treat S.pneumoniae infections.Nanodefensin with a 14-carbon saturated fatty acid(ND-C14)is a novel nanoantimicrobial peptide designed by modifying myristic acid at the C-terminus of humanα-defensin 5(HD5)via an amide bond.However,it is unclear whether ND-C14 is effective against lung infections caused by S.pneumoniae.METHODS:In vitro,three groups were established,including the control group,and the HD5 and ND-C14 treatment groups.A virtual colony-count assay was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of HD5 and ND-C14 against S.pneumoniae.The morphological changes of S.pneumoniae treated with HD5 or ND-C14 were observed by scanning electron microscopy.In vivo,mice were divided into sham,vehicle,and ND-C14 treatment groups.Mice in the sham group were treated with 25μL of phosphate-buffered saline(PBS).Mice in the vehicle and ND-C14 treatment groups were treated with intratracheal instillation of 25μL of bacterial suspension with 2×108 CFU/mL(total bacterial count:5×10^(6) CFU),and then the mice were given 25μL PBS or intratracheally injected with 25μL of ND-C14(including 20μg or 50μg),respectively.Survival rates were evaluated in the vehicle and ND-C14 treatment groups.Bacterial burden in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were counted.The lung histology of the mice was assessed.A propidium iodide uptake assay was used to clarify the destructive eff ect of ND-C14 against S.pneumoniae.RESULTS:Compared with HD5,ND-C14 had a better bactericidal eff ect against S.pneumoniae because of its stronger ability to destroy the membrane structure of S.pneumoniae in vitro.In vivo,ND-C14 significantly delayed the death time and improved the survival rate of mice infected with S.pneumoniae.ND-C14 reduced bacterial burden and lung tissue injury.Moreover,ND-C14 had a membrane permeation eff ect on S.pneumoniae,and its destructive ability increased with increasing ND-C14 concentration.CONCLUSION:The ND-C14 may improve bactericidal eff ects on S.pneumoniae both in vitro and in vivo.

Shared diagnostic genes and potential mechanisms between COVID-19 and sepsis revealed by bioinformatics analysis

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,triggered by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),has ravaged the globe,resulting in a staggering loss of life and wreaking havoc on the worldwide economy.[1,2]Sepsis is a cascade of abnormal responses provoked by infection,leading to a critical deterioration in organ function that poses a life-threatening risk.[3]However,it is unclear from published reports whether COVID-19 and sepsis are commonly aff ected by molecular factors.Therefore,we performed a bioinformatics analysis to uncover shared diagnostic genes and potential mechanisms between COVID-19 and sepsis.

国外畜禽遗传资源保护及对我国的启示

世界畜禽遗传资源丰富多彩,种质特性各异,尤其地方品种对当地环境具有极强适应性,是珍贵的资源和宝库,需要全世界共同参与保护。本文详细介绍了国外畜禽资源保护情况的现状,包括畜禽资源保护有关政策措施、经费支持、遗传材料保存、研究项目和产生的效益等,并对我国畜禽遗传资源保护工作提出了建议。畜禽遗传资源保护情况反映了世界范围内人们对生物多样性的日益重视,特别是不同国家对动物遗传材料的保护和实施保护计划获得的预期效益,更反映了生物多样性的概念已经为公众和政府所接受。畜禽资源保护是我国种业振兴的首要行动,本文对加强我国畜禽遗传资源保护具有启示意义。

Percutaneous intraductal radiofrequency ablation for treatment of biliary stent occlusion: A preliminary result

AIM To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel application of percutaneous intraductal radiofrequency (RF) for the treatment of biliary stent obstruction. METHODS We specifically report a retrospective study presenting the results of percutaneous intraductal RF in patients with biliary stent occlusion. A total of 43 cases involving biliary stent obstruction were treated by placing an EndoHPB catheter and percutaneous intraductal RF was performed to clean stents. The stent patency was evaluated by cholangiography and follow-up by contrast enhanced computed tomography or ultrasound after the removal of the drainage catheter. RESULTS Following the procedures, of the 43 patients, 40 survived and 3 died with a median survival of 80.5 (range: 30-243) d. One patient was lost to followup. One patient had the stent patent at the time of last follow-up. Two patients with stent blockage at 35 d and 44 d after procedure underwent percutaneous transhepatic drain insertion only. The levels of bilirubin before and after the procedure were 128 +/- 65 mu mol/L and 63 +/- 29 mu mol/L, respectively. There were no related complications (haemorrhage, bile duct perforation, bile leak or pancreatitis) and all patients' stent patency was confirmed by cholangiography after the procedure, with a median patency time of 107 (range: 12-180) d. CONCLUSION This preliminary clinical study demonstrated that percutaneous intraductal RF is safe and effective for the treatment of biliary stent obstruction, increasing the duration of stent patency, although randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this approach.

Effects of closing and reopening live poultry markets on the epidemic of human infection with avian influenza A virus

Live poultry markets（LPMs） are crucial places for human infection of influenza A（H7N9 virus）.In Yangtze River Delta,LPMs were closed after the outbreak of human infection with avian influenza A（H7N9） virus,and then reopened when no case was found.Our purpose was to quantify the effect of LPMs＇ operations in this region on the transmission of influenza A（H7N9） virus.We obtained information about dates of symptom onset and locations for all human influenza A（H7N9） cases reported from Shanghai,Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces by May 31,2014,and acquired dates of closures and reopening of LPMs from official media.A two-phase Bayesian model was fitted by Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods to process the spatial and temporal influence of human cases.A total of 235 cases of influenza A（H7N9） were confirmed in Shanghai,Jiangsu and Zhejiang by May 31,2014.Using these data,our analysis showed that,after LPM closures,the influenza A（H7N9） outbreak disappeared within two weeks in Shanghai,one week in Jiangsu,and one week in Zhejiang,respectively.Local authorities reopened LPMs when there was no outbreak of influenza A（H7N9）,which did not lead to reemergence of human influenza A（H7N9）.LPM closures were effective in controlling the H7N9 outbreak.Reopening of LPM in summer did not increase the risk of human infection with H7N9.Our findings showed that LPMs should be closed immediately in areas where the H7N9 virus is confirmed in LPM.When there is no outbreak of H7N9 virus,LPMs can be reopened to satisfy the Chinese traditional culture of buying live poultry.In the long term,local authorities should take a cautious attitude in permanent LPM closure.

Large-scale control of enhancement and quenching of photoluminescence for ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots and Ag nanoparticles in aqueous solution

We investigated the optical properties of hybrid exciton–plasmon coupling ensembles composed of ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots and Ag nanoparticles in aqueous solution. We modulated their average interval by changing the ratio of quantum dots and Ag nanoparticles. The transition from dramatic PL enhancement to PL quenching state was experimentally observed, according to the continuous decrease of the PL lifetime. The PL enhancement rate exceeded 10, with the Purcell factor of 3.5. Meanwhile, the proportion of fast decay increased from 0.3 to 0.6, corresponding to the proportion of slow decay decreased from 0.7 to 0.4. Our experiment is important for the hybrid exciton–plasmon coupling system to be practicable in optoelectronic application.

Additive manufacturing of Ni-based superalloys: Residual stress, mechanisms of crack formation and strategies for crack inhibition

The additive manufacturing(AM)of Ni-based superalloys has attracted extensive interest from both academia and industry due to its unique capabilities to fabricate complex and high-performance components for use in high-end industrial systems.However,the intense temperature gradient induced by the rapid heating and cooling processes of AM can generate high levels of residual stress and metastable chemical and structural states,inevitably leading to severe metallurgical defects in Ni-based superalloys.Cracks are the greatest threat to these materials’integrity as they can rapidly propagate and thereby cause sudden and non-predictable failure.Consequently,there is a need for a deeper understanding of residual stress and cracking mechanisms in additively manufactured Ni-based superalloys and ways to potentially prevent cracking,as this knowledge will enable the wider application of these unique materials.To this end,this paper comprehensively reviews the residual stress and the various mechanisms of crack formation in Ni-based superalloys during AM.In addition,several common methods for inhibiting crack formation are presented to assist the research community to develop methods for the fabrication of crack-free additively manufactured components.

3D/4D printed bio-piezoelectric smart scaffolds for next-generation bone tissue engineering

Piezoelectricity in native bones has been well recognized as the key factor in bone regeneration.Thus,bio-piezoelectric materials have gained substantial attention in repairing damaged bone by mimicking the tissue’s electrical microenvironment(EM).However,traditional manufacturing strategies still encounter limitations in creating personalized bio-piezoelectric scaffolds,hindering their clinical applications.Three-dimensional(3D)/four-dimensional(4D)printing technology based on the principle of layer-by-layer forming and stacking of discrete materials has demonstrated outstanding advantages in fabricating bio-piezoelectric scaffolds in a more complex-shaped structure.Notably,4D printing functionality-shifting bio-piezoelectric scaffolds can provide a time-dependent programmable tissue EM in response to external stimuli for bone regeneration.In this review,we first summarize the physicochemical properties of commonly used bio-piezoelectric materials(including polymers,ceramics,and their composites)and representative biological findings for bone regeneration.Then,we discuss the latest research advances in the 3D printing of bio-piezoelectric scaffolds in terms of feedstock selection,printing process,induction strategies,and potential applications.Besides,some related challenges such as feedstock scalability,printing resolution,stress-to-polarization conversion efficiency,and non-invasive induction ability after implantation have been put forward.Finally,we highlight the potential of shape/property/functionality-shifting smart 4D bio-piezoelectric scaffolds in bone tissue engineering(BTE).Taken together,this review emphasizes the appealing utility of 3D/4D printed biological piezoelectric scaffolds as next-generation BTE implants.

Temperature-induced hydrophobicity transition of MXene membrane for directly preparing W/O emulsions

Although hydrophilic membranes are desired for reducing resistance to water permeation, hydrophilic surfaces are not used in the water-in-oil(W/O) membrane emulsification process because water spreads on the hydrophilic surface without forming droplets. Here, we report that a hydrophilic ceramic membrane can form a hydrophobic interface in diesel at a higher temperature;interestingly, the experiments show that the contact angle increases when the temperature rises. The hydrophilic membrane surface evolves into a hydrophobic interface, particularly near the boiling point of water, resulting in a water contact angle of 147.5° ± 1.2°. This work established a method for preparing W/O monodispersed emulsions by direct emulsification of hydrophilic ceramic membranes at a temperature close to the boiling point of water.Additionally, it made high flux of membrane emulsification of monodispersed W/O emulsions possible,which satisfied the industrial requirements of fluidized catalytic cracking in the petrochemical industry.