Simulation of Tert-Butyl Alcohol Forming Process by Slurry Catalytic Distillation with Custom Kinetic Program

Producing tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) by slurry catalytic distillation is a green new technology. In order to provide reference data for this production process, this paper applied advanced simulation software Aspen to simulate and optimize the slurry catalytic distillation process of producing TBA. And the kinetics equation of isobutylene hydration which is catalyzed by cation exchange resin in continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) is used to display the reaction process. Appropriate theoretical plate number of rectifying section, reaction section and stripping section, reflux ratio and liquid hold-up are obtained by the analog computation. Under this process condition, the conversion rate of isobutylene is 82.53%;the mole fraction of TBA in the bottom discharging is 82.5%.

Lamellar quasi-solid electrolyte with nanoconfined deep eutectic solvent for high-performance lithium battery

Electrolytes with high-efficiency lithium-ion transfer and reliable safety are of great importance for lithium battery.Although having superior ionic conductivity(10^(−3)–10^(−2) S·cm^(−1)),traditional liquid-state electrolytes always suffer from low lithium-ion transference number(tLi+<0.4)and thus undesirable battery performances.Herein,the deep eutectic solvent(DES)is vacuum-filtered into the~1 nm interlayer channel of vermiculite(Vr)lamellar framework to fabricate a quasi-solid electrolyte(Vr-DES QSE).We demonstrate that the nanoconfinement effect of interlayer channel could facilitate the opening of solvation shell around lithiumion.Meanwhile,the interaction from channel wall could inhibit the movement of anion.These enable high-efficiency lithium-ion transfer:2.61×10^(−4)S·cm^(−1)at 25℃.Importantly,the tLi+value reaches 0.63,which is 4.5 times of that of bulk DES,and much higher than most present liquid/quasi-solid electrolytes.In addition,Vr-DES QSE shows significantly improved interfacial stability with Li anode as compared with DES.The assembled Li symmetric cell can operate stably for 1000 h at 0.1 mA·cm^(−2).The lithium iron phosphate(LFP)|Vr-DES QSE|Li cell exhibits high capacity of 142.1 mAh·g^(−1)after 200 cycles at 25℃ and 0.5 C,with a capacity retention of 94.5%.The strategy of open solvation shell through nanoconfinement effect of lamellar framework may shed light on the development of advanced electrolytes.

Long noncoding nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1_2 is a promising biomarker for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Importance:Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)is a diffuse connective tissue disease with complex clinical manifestations and prolonged course.The early diagnosis and condition monitoring of SLE are crucial to disease prognosis.Objective:To assess the diagnostic value of long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1(NEAT1)in childhood-onset SLE(cSLE).Methods:Fifty-seven children diagnosed with SLE,40 children diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis(JIA),and 40 healthy children were included.Peripheral blood samples from each patient were collected.A quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the expression of lncNEAT1_1 and lncNEAT1_2 in peripheral blood.Associations among parameters were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test or independent sample t-test.Results:The expression of both lncNEAT1_1 and lncNEAT1_2 in patients with cSLE were significantly higher than that of healthy control and patients with JIA.Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.633(95%confidence interval[CI],0.524-0.742;P=0.024)for lncNEAT1_1.The AUC of lncNEAT1_2 was 0.812(95%CI,0.727-0.897;P<0.0001)to discriminate individuals with cSLE from health control and children with JIA with a sensitivity of 0.622 and a specificity of 0.925.Moreover,lncNEAT1_2 expression was higher in patients with cSLE presenting with fever,lupus nephritis,elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate,active disease activity,and decreased C3 level,compared with those without these conditions.However,no similar correlation was observed for lncNEAT1_1.Interpretation:The expression of lncNEAT1_2 was significantly elevated in children with SLE,especially those with fever,renal involvement,and low C3 levels.These findings suggest that lncNEAT1_2 may represent a potential biomarker for cSLE.

CircEPSTI1 in peripheral blood as a novel potential biomarker for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Background:Circular RNA (circRNA) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many diseases and can be used as a biomarker for diagnosis or disease monitoring. However, reports on circRNA in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate circEPSTI1 expression in cSLE and evaluate its potential as a biomarker for diagnosing cSLE.Methods:This study included 70 children diagnosed with cSLE, 20 diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), 20 diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), and 50 healthy children at the Rheumatology Department of Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine circEPSTI1 expression in the children. Correlations between circEPSTI1 and clinical features were assessed using Spearman's correlation test. Additionally, we calculated the receiver operating characteristic curve to assess the diagnostic efficacy.Results:We found that circEPSTI1 expression was higher in children with cSLE (4.62 ± 3.55) than that in healthy children (1.00 ± 0.45), those with JDM (1.06 ± 0.76), and those with JIA (0.96 ± 0.48). The area of the curve of circEPSTI1 was 0.892 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.832-0.952, p < 0.001) to discriminate children with SLE from healthy children, with a specificity of 0.814 and a sensitivity of 0.922. Children with lupus nephritis showed a higher circEPSTI1 expression than healthy children, those with JDM, and those with JIA. In addition, circEPSTI1 expression in children with SLE showed significant correlations with the SLE Disease Activity Index ( p < 0.0001) and C3 concentrations ( p = 0.001). Conclusion:Our study suggests that circEPSTI1 is a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of cSLE.

Blau syndrome with incidental multiple enchondromatosis

To the Editor,Blau syndrome(BS)is a rare autosomal dominant disorder that occurs early in childhood.It is caused by mutations in nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2(NOD2),also known as caspase activation and recruitment domain 15(CARD15).NOD2 mutations result in the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B and induction inflammation.1 Some patients develop the disease in a familial manner,but sporadic cases can occur.The main clinical manifestations of BS are the triad of rash,arthritis,and iridocyclitis,while multiple aortitis,deafness,heart disease,liver,spleen,and central nervous system are also involved.2 The disease was first described by Dr.Blau in 1985.

美德英科学基金应急项目管理机制比较及其启示

“应急项目”是各国科学基金在应急事件驱动下启动设立的专项项目,用以推动科研人员通过研究提供科学分析与政策建议,具有重要的实际意义。本文通过对美国、德国与英国科学资助机构的应急项目运行机制与管理流程进行梳理和比较,揭示了这些国家在应对全球或国内重大紧急情况时能够迅速动员科研资源、有效分配资金,并促进高质量研究成果的关键机制。在此基础上,结合我国科学基金应急项目管理的现状和不足,对应急项目的管理机制提出了优化建议,即开通自下而上的自主选题通道,放宽申请条件,加速遴选流程,构建精细化的资助体系,完善应急项目评价机制,平衡研究效率与创新成果。

Treatment of STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy

To the Editor:Gain-of-function mutations in TMEM173,which encodes the protein stimulator of interferon(IFN)genes(STING),can reportedly cause an autoinflammatory syndrome termed STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy(SAVI).1-3 SAVI is characterized by cutaneous necrotic lesions,growth failure,systemic inflammation,and interstitial lung disease.1,4 Therapeutic management is challenging and difficult:steroids are only partially effective,and patients respond poorly to immunosuppressants.

Strong ozone production at a rural site in the North China Plain: Mixed effects of urban plumes and biogenic emissions

Regional ozone （O3） pollution has drawn increasing attention in China over the recent decade, but the contributions from urban pollution and biogenic emissions have not been clearly elucidated. To better understand the formation of the regional O3 problem in the North China Plain （NCP）, intensive field measurements of O3 and related parameters were conducted at a rural site downwind of Ji＇nan, the capital city of Shandong province, in the summer of 2013. Markedly severe 03 pollution was recorded, with the 03 mixing ratios exceeding the Chinese national ambient air quality standard on 28 days （a frequency of 78%） and with a maximum hourly value of 198 ppbv. Extensive regional transport of well-processed urban plumes to the site was identified. An observation-constrained chemical box model was deployed to evaluate in situ photochemical O3 production on two episodes. The results show that the in situ formation accounted for approximately 46% of the observed O3 accumulation, while the remainder （54%） was contributed by regional transport of the O3-laden urban plumes. The in situ ozone production was in a mixed controlled regime that reducing either NOx or VOCs would lead to a reduction of ozone formation. Biogenic VOCs played an important role in the local ozone formation. This study demonstrates the significant mixed effects of both anthropogenic pollution from urban zones and biogenic emission in rural areas on the regional 03 pollution in the NCP region, and may have general applicability in facilitating the understanding of the formation of secondary pollution over China.

Gene mutations and clinical phenotypes in 15 Chinese children with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome(CAPS)

The aim of our study is to explore the features of clinical manifestations and genetic mutations in Chinese CAPS patients. Fifteen confirmed patients with CAPS were enrolled. The onset time ranges from 2 days after birth to 6 years and 1 month. Recurrent urticaria rash(93.3%) with fever(100%) were two dominant characteristics of these patients that were presented as either acute or chronic process. Systemic involvements were found in all patients except for one with only rash and fever. The top three symptoms were fever(100%), rash(93.3%) and myalgia(76%). Other clinical manifestations include arthritis(11 cases), lung involvement(seven cases), optical dysfunction(seven cases), nerve deafness(six cases), nervous system involvement(five cases), hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and lymphadenectasis(five cases). Also, four patients had heart involvement and one patient suffered kidney involvement. The laboratory inflammation index such as leukocyte counts, platelet counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein(CRP), serum amyloid A(SAA) and fibrinogen(FIB) increased significantly at initial stage, but decreased after therapy. As for gene mutation detection, Twelve out of 15 patients were confirmed with mutation in NLRP3, including 11 mutant site: c1789 A>G, c.1703 T>A, c.913 G>A, c.1710 G>C, c.1057 G >T, c.2335 C>T, c.932 T>C,c.296 G>C, c.663 C>T, t.1702 T>A, 299 G>A. Mutation sites c.1703 T>A, c.2335 C>T, c.296 G>C, c.663 C>T, and 299 G>A were newly identified. The association between gene mutation and clinical manifestation shows that D305 N was highly associated with severe organs involvements, and therefore, the time of therapy and regimen were critical for the prognosis of disease. As the largest cohort study of Chinese CAPS patients, we confirmed that all patients presented typical clinical manifestations, identified five new mutation sites on NLRP3 and analyzed the correlation between the genotypes and phenotypes. We also raise concerns for one case with serious conditions that only had two nonsense mutations(c.663 C>T and t.1702 T>A) detected.

Gene mutations and clinical phenotypes in Chinese children with Blau syndrome

The mutations of CARD15 gene and clinical features of Chinese patients with Blau syndrome were analyzed. We identified10 missense mutations, out of which five were new: R334 L, E383 D, R471 C, C495 R and D512 F. The rest of them, R334 W,R334Q, G481 D, M513 T and R587 C, have been reported previously. Among all the mutations, R334 W, R334 Q and C495 R had the highest frequency. Blau syndrome was found at early age after birth. It began with lepidic rash and symmetric polyarthritis and was phenotypically characterized by typical rash, arthritis, iridocyclitis and arteritis. Cardiac involvement was also found in Blau syndrome. In addition to nerve deafness, renal involvement, osteochondroma and central nervous system involvement were also found in our patients. Therefore, Chinese children with Blau syndrome have unique gene mutations and complicated clinical phenotypes. Pathologic examination and CARD15 mutation testing should be considered for diagnosis as early as possible for suspected patients.