Improving the Unconfined Compressive Strength of Red Clay by Combining Biopolymers with Fibers

To explore an environmentally friendly improvement measure for red clay,the function and mechanism of xanthan gum biopolymer and polypropylene fibers on the strength properties of red clay were investigated by unconfined compressive strength and scanning electron microscopy tests.The test results demonstrated that the contents and curing ages of xanthan gum had significant influences on the unconfined compressive strength of red clay.Compared with untreated soil,1.5%xanthan gum content was the optimal ratio in which the strength increment was between 41.52 kPa and 64.73 kPa.On the other hand,the strength of xanthan gum-treated red clay increased,whereas the ductility decreased with the increase in curing ages,indicating that the xanthan gum-treated red clay started to gradually consolidate after 3 days of curing and stiffness significantly improved between 7 and 28 days of curing.The results also showed that the synergistic consolidation effects of the xanthan gum–polypropylene fibers could not only effectively enhance the strength of red clay but also reduce the brittle failure phenomenon.The strengths of soil treated with 2.0%xanthan gum-polypropylene fibers were 1.9–2.41 and 1.12–1.47 times than that of red clay and 1.5%xanthan gum-treated clay,respectively.The results of study provide the related methods and experiences for the field of ecological soil treatment.

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for COVID-19 and influenza H1N1 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome:A comparative cohort study in China

Background Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(VV-ECMO)has been demonstrated to be effective in treating patients with virus-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).However,whether the management of ECMO is different in treating H1N1 influenza and coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)-associated ARDS patients remains unknown.Methods This is a retrospective cohort study.We included 12 VV-ECMO-supported COVID-19 patients admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University,Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital,and Wuhan Union Hospital West Campus between January 23 and March 31,2020.We retrospectively included VV-ECMO-supported patients with COVID-19 and H1N1 influenza-associated ARDS.Clinical characteristics,respiratory mechanics including plateau pressure,driving pressure,mechanical power,ventilatory ratio(VR)and lung compliance,and outcomes were compared.Results Data from 25 patients with COVID-19(n=12)and H1N1(n=13)associated ARDS who had received ECMO support were analyzed.COVID-19 patients were older than H1N1 influenza patients(P=0.004).The partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide(PaCO_(2))and VR before ECMO initiation were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in H1N1 influenza patients(P<0.001 and P=0.004,respectively).COVID-19 patients showed increased plateau and driving pressure compared with H1N1 subjects(P=0.013 and P=0.018,respectively).Patients with COVID-19 remained longer on ECMO support than did H1N1 influenza patients(P=0.015).COVID-19 patients who required ECMO support also had fewer intensive care unit and ventilator-free days than H1N1.Conclusions Compared with H1N1 influenza patients,COVID-19 patients were older and presented with increased PaCO_(2) and VR values before ECMO initiation.The differences between ARDS patients with COVID-19 and influenza on VV-ECMO detailed herein could be helpful for obtaining a better understanding of COVID-19 and for better clinical management.

Multi-platform omics analysis reveals molecular signature for COVID-19 pathogenesis,prognosis and drug target discovery

Disease progression prediction and therapeutic drug target discovery for Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)are particularly important,as there is still no effective strategy for severe COVID-19 patient treatment.Herein,we performed multi-platform omics analysis of serial plasma and urine samples collected from patients during the course of COVID-19.Integrative analyses of these omics data revealed several potential therapeutic targets,such as ANXA1 and CLEC3B.Molecular changes in plasma indicated dysregulation of macrophage and suppression of T cell functions in severe patients compared to those in non-severe patients.Further,we chose 25 important molecular signatures as potential biomarkers for the prediction of disease severity.The prediction power was validated using corresponding urine samples and plasma samples from new COVID-19 patient cohort,with AUC reached to 0.904 and 0.988,respectively.In conclusion,our omics data proposed not only potential therapeutic targets,but also biomarkers for understanding the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19.

A periodic DFT study on adsorption of small molecules(CH4,CO,H2O,H2S,NH3)on the WO3(001) surface-supported Au

Gas molecules(such as CH4,CO,H2O,H2S,NH_3)adsorption on the pure and Au-doped WO3(001)surface have been studied by Density functional theory calculations with generalized gradient approximation.Based on the the calculation of adsorption energy,we found the most stable adsorption site for gas molecules by comparing the adsorption energies of different gas molecules on the WO3(001)surface.We have also compared the adsorption energy of five different gas molecules on the WO3(001)surface,our calculation results show that when the five kinds of gases are adsorbed on the pure WO3(001)surface,the order of the surface adsorption energy is CO>H2S>CH4>H2O>NH3.And the results show that NH3 is the most easily adsorbed gas among the other four gases adsorbed on the surface of pure WO3(001)surface.We also calculated the five different gases on the Au-doped WO3(001)surface.The order of adsorption energy was found to be different from the previous calculation:CO>CH4>H2S>H2O>NH3.These results provide a new route for the potential applications of Au-doped WO3 in gas molecules adsorption.

Strong Influence of Temperature and Vacuum on the Photoluminescence of In0.3Ga0.7As Buried and Surface Quantum Dots

The strong influences of temperature and vacuum on the optical properties of In0.3Ga0.7As surface quantum dots （SQDs） are systematically investigated by photoluminescence （PL） measurements. For comparison, optical properties of buried quantum dots （BQDs） are also measured. The line-width, peak wavelength, and lifetime of SQDs are significantly different from the BQDs with the temperature and vacuum varied. The differences in PL response when temperature varies are attributed to carrier transfer from the SQDs to the surface trap states. The obvious distinctions in PL response when vacuum varies are attributed to the SQDs intrinsic surface trap states inhibited by the water molecules. This research provides necessary information for device application of SQDs as surface-sensitivity sensors.

Identification of differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in neutrophils during sepsis-induced immunosuppression via bioinformatics analysis

To the Editor:Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.Sepsis deeply perturbs immune homeostasis,and impairs innate and adaptive immunity by directly altering the lifespan,production,and function of the effector cells responsibie for homeostasis.

Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019

This consensus focuses on severe and critical coronavi-rus disease 2019(COVID-19)mainly based on the consideration that mortality of severe and critical cases is higher than mild and mo derate cases of COVID-19.Severe patients usually developed dyspnea and/or hypoxemia in a short period of time,and in some cases progressively developed respiratory failure,septic shock,coagulation disorders,and multi-organ dysfunction.

Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)

Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2),is highly contagious[1]and has developed into a global pan-demic.Up to July 1,2022,COVID-19 has affected>200 coun-tries and regions across the globe and caused 545,226,550 con-firmed cases and 6334,728 deaths,[2]seriously compromising human life,public properties.