Enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO_2 nanoparticles using WS_2/g-C_3N_4 hybrid as co-catalyst

TiO2/WS2/g-C3N4composite photocatalysts were synthesized by a liquid-exfoliation-solvothermal method.In this process,the WS2/g-C3N4nano-sheets were prepared by liquid-exfoliation method from the bulk WS2and C3N4in the alcohol system,and then the TiO2nanoparticles(NPs)grew on the WS2/g-C3N4nano-sheets by in-situ synthesized technique.The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples was evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange(MO).The results showed that the as-prepared samples exhibited higher photocatalytic activities as compared to the pure TiO2,g-C3N4and TiO2/g-C3N4composite.The enhanced photocatalytic activities of TiO2/WS2/g-C3N4photocatalysts could be attributed to the synergistic effect of heterostructure between TiO2NPs and WS2/g-C3N4nano-sheets,which could efficiently improve the separation of photogenerated electron/hole pairs and utilization efficiency of photons.The quenching tests of radicals indicated that?O2?had crucial effect on degradation of MO,which demonstrated that?O2?was the main active radical in photocatalytic reaction process.

Synthesis and Luminescent Properties of Nano-scale Y2Si2O7：Re^3＋ （Re=Eu, Tb） Phosphors via Sol-Gel Method

By using metal nitrates as starting materials and citric acid as a complexing agent, Y2Si207：Re3＋ （Re=Eu, Tb） phosphors were prepared by a sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction was employed to characterize the resulting samples. The results of XRD indicate that the α-Y2Si2O7 nanocrystal with size of 27 nm is obtained at 1000 ℃ and the doping ion content does not influence the structure. The excitation spectra in the UV and VUV ranges and the emission spectra of Re^3＋ doped samples were measured. The excitation spectra in the VUV range is due to absorption of host, that in the UV range is ascribed to absorption transitions from 4f to 5d state of the Tb^3＋ and the charge transfer in the En^3＋-O^2- bond. The spectral energy distribution of the Tb^3＋ emission depends strongly on the Tb3＋ concentration. The dependence of photolumineseenee intensity on Re^3＋ concentration is also discussed in detail. The fluorescent decay curves at room temperature were measured and analyzed.

Acupuncture in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting:a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis

However,the best choice of acupuncture therapy for postoperative nausea and vomiting remains controversy.Methods:Several databases were searched from inception to April 2020.Randomized controlled trials met the criterion were included.Risk of bias was implemented with Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.Addis,R,OpenBUGS and STATA were used to conduct meta-analysis.The evidence was assessed by GRADE profiler 3.6.Results:Fifty studies involving 5980 patients were included.The risk of bias of most included studies were acceptable.The results of network meta-analyses indicated,compared with placebo,electroacupuncture was the best choice for postoperative nausea(odds ratio=0.09,95%confidence interval:0.02-0.51)and acupoint plaster for postoperative vomiting(odds ratio=0.07,95%confidence interval:0.01-0.42),acupoint catgut embedding+5HTRA for postoperative nausea and vomiting(odds ratio=0.05,95%confidence interval:0.01-0.15),and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation+5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonists for postoperative rescue antiemetics(odds ratio=0.14,95%confidence interval:0.08-0.46).Conclusion:It was suggested transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation+5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonists was the best choice.The results provided guidance for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

A two-mode squeezed light based on a double-pump phase-matching geometry

We theoretically investigate the frequency-nondegenerate and frequency degenerate squeezed lights with a four-wave mixing process(4WM)driven by two pump fields crossing at a small angle.Different from a 4WM process driven by a single pump field,the refractive index of the corresponding probe field,np,can be converted to a value that is greater than 1 or less than 1 by an angle adjustment.In the new region with np<1,the bandwidth of the gain is relatively large due to the slow change in the refractive index with the two-photon detuning.In this region with an exchange of the roles of the pump and probe beams,the frequency degenerate and spatial nondegenerate twin beams can be generated,which has potential application in quantum information and quantum metrology.

Central precocious puberty should be taken seriously in children with Leydig cell tumors of the testis after surgical treatment:a tertiary center experience

Central precocious puberty secondary to Leydig cell tumors is rare in children. We retrospectively analyzed the mid- to long-term follow-up data of patients with Leydig cell tumors. The clinical data of 12 consecutive patients who were treated at Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University (Beijing, China), between January 2016 and October 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical evaluations, including physical examination, hormone examination, serum tumor marker analysis, abdominal and scrotal ultrasound, chest X-ray, and bone age measurement, were conducted before surgery and at follow-up time points. Surgical approaches were selected according to the individual conditions. Patients with an abnormal hormonal status and suspected of having central precocious puberty were referred to endocrinologists to confirm the diagnosis. Subsequently, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog therapy was proposed. The mean patient age was 81.3 (range: 40–140) months at the time of the operation. Ten patients had peripheral precocious puberty at admission. All patients had elevated preoperative testosterone levels, whereas tumor marker levels were normal. Testis-sparing surgery was performed in eleven patients, and radical orchiectomy was performed in one patient. The follow-up duration (mean ± standard deviation) was 36.2 ± 25.3 months. Five patients had central precocious puberty, with a mean duration of 3.4 (range: 1–6) months postoperatively. Three patients were receiving gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog therapy, and good suppression of puberty was observed. No risk factors were found for secondary central precocious puberty. There was a high prevalence of central precocious puberty secondary to Leydig cell tumors in our study. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog therapy has satisfactory treatment effects. Larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up are needed in future studies.

Complications of proximal hypospadias repair with transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty: a 15-year experience with long-term follow-up

There is still debate regarding the optimal surgical approach for proximal hypospadias. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the long-term outcomes using transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty. A total of 320 patients were included, with a mean follow-up of 40.2 months (range: 1–156 months). Complications were encountered in 125 patients (39.1%), including fistulas in 53 (16.6%), urethral strictures in 31 (9.7%), and diverticula in 41 (12.8%). The mean timing of presentation with a complication was 15.8 months (median: 1.7, range: 1–145), of which 79.2% were early complications and 20.8% were late complications. In all, 20.8% of the patients with complications presented after ≥1 year, and 12.8% presented after ≥5 years. Univariate analysis revealed that age at the time of surgery, flap length, and location of the urethral meatus were not correlated with complications. A stricture was present in 31.7%(13/41) of those with diverticula (P < 0.001), while late urethral diverticula were accompanied by urethral strictures in 11.1%(1/9) of cases (P = 0.213). These results indicate that transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty still has a high incidence of complications, even when performed by highly experienced physicians. Most complications of hypospadias are diagnosed within 1 year postoperatively, while fistulas and urinary strictures generally occur within 2 months and diverticula tend to be present by 1 year.

Aggravated inflammation and increased expression of cysteinyl leuko-triene receptors in the brain after focal cerebral ischemia in AQP4-deficient mice

Objective Aquaporin-4 （AQP4）, the main water channel protein in the brain, plays a critical role in water homeostasis and brain edema. Here, we investigated its role in the inflammatory responses after focal cerebral ischemia. Methods In AQP4-knockout （KO） and wild-type mice, focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 30 rain of middle cerebral arterial occlusion （MCAO）. Ischemic neuronal injury and cellular inflammatory responses, as well as the expression and localization of cysteinyl leukotriene CysLT2 and CysLT~ receptors, were determined at 24 and 72 h after MCAO. Results AQP4-KO mice showed more neuronal loss, more severe microglial activation and neutrophil infiltration, but less astrocyte proliferation in the brain after MCAO than wild-type mice. In addition, the protein levels of both CysLT1 and CysLT2 receptors were up-regulated in the ischemic brain, and the up-regulation was more pronounced in AQP4-KO mice. The CysLT1 and CysLT2 receptors were primarily localized in neurons, microglia and neutrophils; those localized in microglia and neutrophils were enhanced in AQP4-KO mice. Conclusion AQP4 may play an inhibitory role in postischemic inflammation.

Interspecific interactions affect N and P uptake rather than N:P ratios of plant species:evidence from intercropping

Quantifying stoichiometry of crop N and P acquisition(i.e.removal from farmland)under different agronomic practices is essential for understanding nutrient budgets and optimizing N and P fertilizer application in agroecosystems.It is not clear how plant N and P uptake and N:P stoichiometry vary between monoculture and intercropping throughout an entire growing season under different N fertilization and mulching practices.Here,we addressed how plant interspecific competition for nutrients have affected the temporal dynamics of crop N and P uptake(and N:P ratios)in five cropping systems(wheat,maize and barley monocultures,and wheat/maize and barley/maize intercropping),under two N levels(0 and 225 kg N ha^(−1))and two maize mulching treatments(with and without).Wheat and barley had greater N and P competitive ability than maize,leading to an increase in N and P uptake of wheat and barley and a decrease in N and P uptake of maize during co-growth stages in intercropping.N:P ratios of three crop species decreased with plant growth.Crop-level N:P ratios were either not affected by intercropping or did not change consistently with N fertilization while film mulching decreased maize N:P ratios.Community-level N:P ratios of the two intercrops were different from those of the corresponding monoculture at maturity.Because(i)the proportion of N and P removal from intercropping differs from monocultures,and(ii)N and P uptake by crops is decoupled under N fertilization and mulching,these findings may have practical implications for the nutrient budget of intercropping systems.

Prognostic Factors of Wilms＇ Tumor Complicated with Nephroblastomatosis

Nephrogenic rests （NRs） are abnormally persistent clusters of embryonal cells, representing microscopic dysplasias of the developing kidney. NRs are found in approximately 1% of infant kidneys at autopsy. Nephroblastomatosis signifies the presence of multiple or diffuse NRs. Both NRs and nephroblastomatosis were known as precursor lesions of Wilms tumor,Nephroblastomatosis can be classified into four categories： Perilobar （PEN R only）; i ntralobar （I LNR only）; combined （PLNR and ILNR）; and universal. The diagnosis and treatment of Wilms＂ tumor have been improved constantly and achieved common sense. However, little information is available regarding Wilms＂ tumor associated with nephroblastomatosis for lower prevalence. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of Wilms＇ tumor associated with nephroblastomatosis.

Management of Wilms tumor with intravenous thrombus in children:a single center experience

Background Wilms tumor tends to grow into vena cava,even invade atrium,which increased operating difficulty and frequency of surgical complications.Methods Forty-two patients of Wilms tumor with intravenous thrombus were retrospective studied.The diagnosis and therapy were discussed according to the medical records and interrelated literatures.Results Forty-two children with thrombus were diagnosed by computed tomography and 41 cases by ultrasound simultaneously.36 children had received preoperative chemotherapy.Surgical resection was performed in all patients.Cardiopulmonary bypass was used for the removal of the intra-atrial thrombus in 5 patients.There were no surgical complications occurred.The patients received chemotherapy and radiotherapy according to clinical staging by National Wilms'Tumor Study(NWTS)-4 or NWTS-5.34 patients were successfully followed up,32 patients survive at present,including one who has been followed up more than 20 years since operation.Conclusion Standardized sequential treatment,including preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy,nephrectomy combining resection of thrombus,postoperative adjuvant therapy,is the mainstay of treatment of Wilms tumor with intravenous thrombus.

Evolution of Dislocation Loops in AL-6XN Stainless Steels Irradiated by Hydrogen Ions

AL-6XN stainless steels, one of the candidate structure materials for supercritical water-cooled reactor, were irradiated from 0.5 to 5 dpa using 100 keV H2＋ ions at 290 and 380 ℃. Microstructures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. Dislocation loops were the dominant radiation-induced defects. All the dislocation loops had 1/3 〈111〉 type Burgers vector. Number density and size of the loops have been measured. Nucleation and evolution of dislocation loops were also investigated. Voids were observed only in the condition of 5 dpa at 380 ℃. Different evolution mechanisms of the radiation-induced dislocation loops were discussed. Effects of hydrogen and elevated temperature on the microstructural evolution were also investigated. Besides, the formed voids have a further effect on the evolution of dislocation loops.

Genotype-phenotype correlations,surgical selections,and postoperative complications of 5α-reductase 2 deficiency in 69 children with hypospadias

5α-reductase 2 deficiency prevents testosterone from being converted to dihydrotestosterone,which causes abnormal urogenital sinus development.The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between genotype–phenotype,surgical selections,and postoperative complications of 5α-reductase 2-deficient patients with hypospadias.We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with 5α-reductase 2 deficiency after genetic testing in the Department of Endocrinology and underwent initial hypospadias surgery in the Department of Urology in Beijing Children’s Hospital,Capital Medical University(Beijing,China),from April 2007 to December 2021.A total of 69 patients were included in this study;the mean age at surgery was 34.1 months,and the average follow-up time was 54.1 months.Sixty children were treated with preoperative hormone stimulation(PHS)to promote penile growth.The average penis length and glans width were increased by 1.46 cm and 0.62 cm,respectively.The most frequent mutations were p.R227Q(39.1%,54/138),p.Q6^(*)(15.2%,21/138),p.G203S(12.3%,17/138),and p.R246Q(11.6%,16/138).In 64 patients who were followed up,43 had a one-stage operation and 21 had a staged operation,and there were significant differences in external masculinization score(EMS)(P=0.008)and the average number of operation required to cure(P<0.001)between one-stage and staged operations.PHS had a positive effect(P<0.001)on penile development.The p.R227Q mutation was associated with higher EMS and less severe hypospadias.One-stage surgery can be selected if conditions permit.The growth and development of children are acceptable in the long term,but penis growth remains unsatisfactory.Longterm complications of hypospadias should be considered during puberty.

Comparison of outcomes in three surgical techniques for proximal hypospadias:staged transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty versus single-stage repairs

To evaluate and compare the outcomes and complications of three different surgical techniques for treating primary proximal hypospadias with ventral curvature(VC)≥30°,we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent primary repair of proximal hypospadias with vC≥30°after degloving at Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University(Beijing,China)from January 2019 to January 2021.A total of 152 patients were divided into three groups:transverse preputial island flap(TPIF)combined with Duplay,modified Koyanagi,and staged TPIF,which were performed on 55,16,and 81 patients,respectively.A total of 39(25.7%)patients had complications.Complications rates were similar for the TPIF combined with the Duplay group(40.0%)and modified Koyanagi group(50.0%)but lower for the staged TPIF group(11.1%;P<0.01).The incidence of urethrocutaneous fistulas was significantly higher in TPIF combined with Duplay group(21.8%)compared to staged TPIF group(4.9%;P=0.01).In univariate analysis,the length of the urethral defect was the single factor that could predict complications;the cutoff was 4.55 cm.More patients in the long urethral defect group than in the short one had complications(34.1%vs 15.7%,P=O.O1).These results indicate that staged TPIF produced a better outcome,whereas more patients in the TPIF combined with Duplay group presented with two or more complications.