Machine learning-based comparison of factors influencing estimated glomerular filtration rate in Chinese women with or without nonalcoholic fatty liver

BACKGROUND The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver(NAFLD)has increased recently.Subjects with NAFLD are known to have higher chance for renal function impairment.Many past studies used traditional multiple linear regression(MLR)to identify risk factors for decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR).However,medical research is increasingly relying on emerging machine learning(Mach-L)methods.The present study enrolled healthy women to identify factors affecting eGFR in subjects with and without NAFLD(NAFLD+,NAFLD-)and to rank their importance.AIM To uses three different Mach-L methods to identify key impact factors for eGFR in healthy women with and without NAFLD.METHODS A total of 65535 healthy female study participants were enrolled from the Taiwan MJ cohort,accounting for 32 independent variables including demographic,biochemistry and lifestyle parameters(independent variables),while eGFR was used as the dependent variable.Aside from MLR,three Mach-L methods were applied,including stochastic gradient boosting,eXtreme gradient boosting and elastic net.Errors of estimation were used to define method accuracy,where smaller degree of error indicated better model performance.RESULTS Income,albumin,eGFR,High density lipoprotein-Cholesterol,phosphorus,forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1),and sleep time were all lower in the NAFLD+group,while other factors were all significantly higher except for smoking area.Mach-L had lower estimation errors,thus outperforming MLR.In Model 1,age,uric acid(UA),FEV1,plasma calcium level(Ca),plasma albumin level(Alb)and T-bilirubin were the most important factors in the NAFLD+group,as opposed to age,UA,FEV1,Alb,lactic dehydrogenase(LDH)and Ca for the NAFLD-group.Given the importance percentage was much higher than the 2nd important factor,we built Model 2 by removing age.CONCLUSION The eGFR were lower in the NAFLD+group compared to the NAFLD-group,with age being was the most important impact factor in both groups of healthy Chinese women,followed by LDH,UA,FEV1 and Alb.However,for the NAFLD-group,TSH and SBP were the 5th and 6th most important factors,as opposed to Ca and BF in the NAFLD+group.

Filtration performance and modeling of granular bed for dust removal from coal pyrolytic vapors

Dust removal from pyrolytic vapors at high temperatures is an obstacle to the industrialization of the coal pyrolysis process.In this work,a granular bed with expanded perlites as filtration media was designed and integrated into a 10 t·d^(–1)coal pyrolysis facility.The testing results showed that around 97.56%dust collection efficiency was achieved.As a result,dust content in tar was significantly lowered.The pressure drop of the granular bed maintained in the range of 356 Pa to 489 Pa.The dust size in the effluent after filtration exhibited a bimodal distribution,which was attributed to the heterogeneity of the dust components.The effects of filtration bed on pyrolytic product yields were also discussed.A modified filtration model based on the macroscopic phenomenological theory was proposed to describe the performance of the granular bed.The computation results were well agreed with the experimental data.

Deep bed filtration model for cake filtration and erosion

Many phenomena in nature and technology are associated with the filtration of suspensions and colloids in porous media. Two main types of particle deposition,namely, cake filtration at the inlet and deep bed filtration throughout the entire porous medium, are studied by different models. A unified approach for the transport and deposition of particles based on the deep bed filtration model is proposed. A variable suspension flow rate, proportional to the number of free pores at the inlet of the porous medium, is considered. To model cake filtration, this flow rate is introduced into the mass balance equation of deep bed filtration. For the cake filtration without deposit erosion,the suspension flow rate decreases to zero, and the suspension does not penetrate deep into the porous medium. In the case of the cake filtration with erosion, the suspension flow rate is nonzero, and the deposit is distributed throughout the entire porous medium. An exact solution is obtained for a constant filtration function. The method of characteristics is used to construct the asymptotics of the concentration front of suspended and retained particles for a filtration function in a general form. Explicit formulae are obtained for a linear filtration function. The properties of these solutions are studied in detail.

A high Li-ion diffusion kinetics in multidimensional and compact-structured electrodes via vacuum filtration casting

Manufacturing process,diffusion co-efficient and areal capacity are the three main criteria for regulating thick electrodes for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).However,simultaneously regulating these criteria for LIBs is desirable but remains a significant challenge.In this work,niobium pentoxide(Nb_(2)O_(5))anode and lithium iron phosphate(LiFePO_(4))cathode materials were chosen as the model materials and demonstrate that these three parameters can be simultaneously modulated by incorporation of micro-carbon fibers(MCF)and carbon nanotubes(CNT)with both Nb_(2)O_(5) and LFP via vacuum filtration approach.Both as-prepared MNC-20 anode and MLC-20 cathode achieves high reversible areal capacity of≈5.4 m A h cm^(-2)@0.1 C and outstanding Li-ion diffusion coefficients of≈10~(-8)cm~2 s~(-1)in the half-cell configuration.The assembled MNC-20‖MLC-20 full cell LIB delivers maximum energy and power densities of244.04 W h kg^(-1)and 108.86 W kg^(-1),respectively.The excellent electrochemical properties of the asprepared thick electrodes can be attributed to the highly conductive,mechanical compactness and multidimensional mutual effects of the MCF,CNT and active materials that facilitates rapid Li-ion diffusion kinetics.Furthermore,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),symmetric cells analysis,and insitu Raman techniques clearly validates the enhanced Li-ion diffusion kinetics in the present architecture.

Ablation behaviour and mechanical performance of ZrB_(2)-ZrC-SiC modified carbon/carbon composites prepared by vacuum infiltration combined with reactive melt infiltration

The development of advanced aircraft relies on high performance thermal-structural materials,and carbon/carbon com-posites(C/C)composited with ultrahigh-temperature ceramics are ideal candidates.However,the traditional routes of compositing are either inefficient and expensive or lead to a non-uniform distribution of ceramics in the matrix.Compared with the traditional C/C-ZrC-SiC composites prepared by the reactive melt infiltration of ZrSi_(2),C/C-ZrB_(2)-ZrC-SiC composites prepared by the vacuum infiltration of ZrB_(2) combined with reactive melt infiltration have the higher content and more uniform distribution of the introduced ceramic phases.The mass and linear ablation rates of the C/C-ZrB_(2)-ZrC-SiC composites were respectively 68.9%and 29.7%lower than those of C/C-ZrC-SiC composites prepared by reactive melt infiltration.The ablation performance was improved because the volatilization of B_(2)O_(3),removes some of the heat,and the more uniformly distributed ZrO_(2),that helps produce a ZrO2-SiO2 continu-ous protective layer,hinders oxygen infiltration and decreases ablation.

Changes in filtration and capacitance properties of highly porous reservoir in underground gas storage:CT-based and geomechanical modeling

The paper presents the results of comprehensive studies of filtration and capacitance properties of highly porous reservoir rocks of the aquifer of an underground gas storage facility.The geomechanical part of the research included studying the dependence of rock permeability on the stress-strain state in the vicinity of the wells,and physical modeling of the implementation of the method of increasing the permeability of the wellbore zone-the method of directional unloading of the reservoir.The digital part of the research included computed tomography(CT)-based computer analysis of the internal structure,pore space characteristics,and filtration properties before and after the tests.According to the results of physical modeling of deformation and filtration processes,it is found that the permeability of rocks before fracture depends on the stress-strain state insignificantly,and this influence is reversible.However,when downhole pressure reaches 7-8 MPa,macrocracks in the rock begin to grow,accompanied by irreversible permeability increase.Porosity,geodesic tortuosity and permeability values were obtained based on digital studies and numerical modeling.A weak degree of transversal anisotropy of the filtration properties of rocks was detected.Based on the analysis of pore size distribution,pressure field and flow velocities,high homogeneity and connectivity of the rock pore space is shown.The absence of pronounced changes in pore space characteristics and pore permeability after non-uniform triaxial loading rocks was shown.On the basis of geometrical analysis of pore space,the reasons for weak permeability anisotropy were identified.The filtration-capacitance properties obtained from the digital analysis showed very good agreement with the results of field and laboratory measurements.The physical modeling has confirmed the efficiency of application of the directional unloading method for the reservoir under study.The necessary parameters of its application were calculated:bottomhole geometry,stage of operation,stresses and pressure drawdown value.

Detection of decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate in patients with type 2 diabetes by cystatin C-based equations

BACKGROUND Aging population is a significant issue in Viet Nam and across the globe.Elderly individuals are at higher risk of chronic kidney disease(CKD),especially those with diabetes.Several studies found that the estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)determined using creatinine-based equations was not as accurate as that determined using cystatin C-based equations.Cystatin C-based equations may be beneficial in elderly patients with an age-associated decline in kidney function.Early determination of eGFR decline and associated factors would aid in appropriate interventions to improve kidney function in elderly patients with diabetes.AIM To determine the utility of cystatin C-based equations in early detection of eGFR decline and to explore factors associated with eGFR decline in elderly patients with diabetes.METHODS This cross-sectional study included 93 participants aged≥60 years evaluated in Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital between October 2022 and July 2023,including 47 and 46 participants with and without diabetes respectively,according to the American Diabetes Association criteria for diabetes.The kappa coefficient,Student’s t,Mann-Whitney,χ2,Pearson’s correlation,multivariate logistic regression,and multiple linear regression analyses were employed.RESULTS The eGFRs were lower with the cystatin C-based equations than with the creatinine-based equations.Good agreement was found between the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease(MDRD)and CKD Epidemiology Collaboration(CKD-EPI)2021 creatinine-cystatin C equations(kappa=0.66).In the diabetes group,30%of the participants had low eGFR.Both plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin were associated with an increased risk of eGFR decline(P<0.05)and negatively correlated with eGFR(P=0.001).By multivariate logistic regression,total cholesterol,and exercise were independently associated with low eGFR.By multiple linear regression,higher plasma glucose levels were correlated with lower eGFR(P=0.026,r=-0.366).CONCLUSION Cystatin C-based equations were superior in the early detection of a decline in eGFR,and the MDRD equation may be considered as an alternative to the CKD-EPI 2021 creatinine-cystatin C equation.Exercise,plasma glucose,and total cholesterol were independently associated with eGFR in patients with diabetes.

Advances in particulate matter filtration:Materials,performance,and application

Air-borne pollutants in particulate matter(PM)form,produced either physically during industrial processes or certain biological routes,have posed a great threat to human health.Particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic,effective filtration of the virus is an urgent matter worldwide.In this review,we first introduce some fundamentals about PM,including its source and classification,filtration mechanisms,and evaluation parameters.Advanced filtration materials and their functions are then summarized,among which polymers and MOFs are discussed in detail together with their antibacterial performance.The discussion on the application is divided into end-of-pipe treatment and source control.Finally,we conclude this review with our prospective view on future research in this area.

Trend of glaucoma internal filtration surgeries in a tertiary hospital in China

AIM:To evaluate the trend of glaucoma internal filtration surgeries for inpatients between 2015 and 2021 at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University.METHODS:A review of the medical records of inpatients who had been diagnosed with glaucoma and received antiglaucoma surgery between January 1,2015 and December 31,2021 was conducted.The glaucoma diagnosis in this study included primary open angle glaucoma,primary angleclosure glaucoma,secondary glaucoma,and paediatric glaucoma.The types of surgeries were categorised as internal filtration,external filtration,and cyclodestruction surgery based on the pathway of aqueous humor outflow.The trend of these glaucoma surgeries in the sample of patients with different types of glaucoma was then analysed.RESULTS:The number of patients hospitalised for glaucoma surgery increased yearly,from 752 in 2015 to 1373 in 2021,at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University.Regarding the patients diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma,internal filtration surgery increased from 27.40%of the sample to 54.40%of the sample,while external filtration surgery decreased from 71.50%to 44.20%between 2015 and 2021.For paediatric glaucoma,internal filtration surgery increased from 37.50%in 2015 to 88.20%in 2021.Whilst different types of surgeries were performed on the sample of patients with secondary glaucoma,the proportion of internal filtration surgery also showed an increase from 18.20%in 2015 to 40.90%in 2021.Meanwhile,internal filtration surgery in the patient sample with primary angle-closure glaucoma already accounted for over 70.00%in 2015,and showed a small increase by 2021.CONCLUSION:As surgical technology and surgical experience continue to elevate and improve,the range of glaucoma surgeries are correspondingly evolving.This study find that internal filtration surgeries accounted for an increasing proportion of treatments in the surgical management of glaucoma between 2015 and 2021.

Fabrication of High-Efficiency Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanofiber Membranes for Air Filtration Based on Principle of Stable Electrospinning

A mass flow matching model(MFMM)was established for studying the stable status of solution electrospinning.The study of the solution droplet status at the needle tip focused on various combinations of applied voltages and injection rates to figure out their influence on steadily fabricating polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)nanofibers prepared from PVA spinning solutions with two different mass fractions(10%and 16%).The results revealed that during the stable electrospinning,the influence resulted from the change of the injection rate approximately canceled out the impact brought by adjusting the applied voltage,leading to almost the same morphology as that of the PVA nanofibers.And the mass fraction of PVA in the spinning solution dominated the structure and the diameter distribution of the electrospun nanofibers.Under stable electrospinning conditions,the composite membrane was produced by depositing PVA nanofibers on the polyethylene terephthalate(PET)nonwoven substrate for an air filtration test.Furthermore,the prepared composite membrane exhibited a high air filtration efficiency(99.97%)and a low pressure drop(120 Pa)for 300-500 nm neutralized polystyrene latex(PSL)aerosol particles,demonstrating its potential as an alternative for a variety of commercial applications in air filtration.

Tannic acid/Fe^(3+)interlayer for preparation of high-permeability polyetherimide organic solvent nanofiltration membranes for organic solvent separation

Organic solvent nanofiltration(OSN)membranes have a great application prospect in organic solvent separation,but the development of OSN membranes is mainly restricted by trade-off between permeability and rejection rate.In this work,a TA/Fe^(3+)polymer was introduced into polyetherimide(PEI)ultrafiltration membranes crosslinked with hexamethylene diamine as the intermediate layer,and OSN membranes with high separation performance and solvent permeability were obtained through interfacial polymerization and solvent activation.The interlayer with high surface hydrophilicity and a fixed pore structure controlled the adsorption/diffusion of the amine monomer during interfacial polymerization,forming a smooth(average surface roughness<5.5 nm),ultra-thin(separation layer thickness reduced from 150 to 16 nm)and dense surface structure polyamide(PA)layer.The PA-Fe^(3+)_3-HDA/PEI membrane retained more than 94%of methyl blue(BS)in 0.1 g·L^(-1)BS ethanol solution at 0.6 MPa,and the ethanol permeation reached 28.56 L^(-1)·m^(-2)·h^(-1).The average flux recovery ratio(FRR)of PA-Fe^(3+)_(3)-HDA/PEI membrane was found to be 84%,which has better fouling resistance than PA-HDA/PEI membrane,and it was found to have better stability performance through different solvent immersion experiments and continuous operation in 0.1 g·L^(-1)BS ethanol solution.Compared with thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes,the PA-Fe^(3+)_(3)-HDA/PEI membrane can be manufactured from an economical and environment-friendly method and overcomes the trade-off between permeability and rejection rate,showing great application potential in organic solvent separation systems.

Glomerular Filtration Rate of Children with Sickle Cell Disease Compared to Non-Sickle Cell Patients in Donka Pediatric Emergencies and SOS Drepano-Guinea Center

Introduction: Our study focused on the evaluation of renal function in children with sickle cell disease compared to children without sickle cell disease at the pediatric emergency unit of the Donka National Hospital and SOS Drepano-Guinea center. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study lasting 3 months (October 1 to December 31, 2020). Were included, all sickle cell and non-sickle cell children aged 0 to 15 received on an outpatient basis and had undergone an exploration of renal function (serum creatinine and urine dipstick). Results: We performed the urine dipstick and serum creatinine in 75 children, 45 of whom were sickle cell and 30 were not sickle cell. 27 of our patients or 36% had a reduction in GFR, among them 9 or 20% were sickle cell and 18 or 60% were not sickle cell. The most affected age group was 5 to 9 years in sickle cell (66.7%) and non-sickle cell (38.9%). In sickle cell patients, 9 cases (100%) had mild renal failure (IRL). Non-sickle cell patients, had 14 cases or 77.8% of IRL and 4 cases (22.2%) of moderate IR. Sickle cell disease and antibiotics which had the respective p-value (0.01);(0.02), were statistically significant with the onset of renal failure. Conclusion: Several factors including sickle cell anemia and antibiotics are believed to be involved in lowering GFR. It would be essential to detect early the children received in consultation.

Progress in Preparation Technology of Porous Ceramics for High Temperature Dust Filtration

With the rapid industrialization and urbanization,the demand for air quality management is more and more urgent.High temperature dust filtration is one important environmental management technology.Porous ceramics are used as filter materials in the field of high-temperature dust filtration because of their unique advantages such as high filtration efficiency,as well as high temperature stability,particle loss resistance,corrosion resistance and durability.This paper mainly introduced several common preparation techniques of porous ceramics,including the traditional organic foam impregnation method,foaming method,in-situ combustion method,pore-forming method and other new methods such as the template method,gel injection molding method,freeze-drying method,multi-component co-precipitation method and hydrogel method.The principle,advantages and disadvantages of these preparation technologies and their research status were described.The application of these technologies in the field of high temperature dust filtration was briefly reviewed.Finally,the application prospect of the porous ceramics in the field of high temperature dust filtration was prospected.

Filtration assisted pretreatment for rapid enrichment and accurate detection of Salmonella in vegetables

Rapid detection of target foodborne pathogens plays more and more significant roles in food safety,which requires the efficiency,sensitivity,and accuracy.In this research,we proposed a new st rategy of isothermal-molecular-amplification integrated with lateral-flow-strip for rapid detection of Salmonella without traditional enrichment-culture.Th e designed syringe-assisted-filtration can contribute to simultaneous collection and concentration of target bacterium from vegetable samples in just 3 min,resolving the drawbacks of traditional random sampling protocols.After simple and convenient ultrasonication,samples can be directly amplified at 39℃ in 25 min and the amplicons are qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed with the designed lateral-flow-strip in 5 min.Finally,satisfied results have been achieved within 40 min,which greatly improve the efficiency while the accuracy is also guaranteed.Furthermore,all detection steps can be completed under instrument-free conditions.This method will hold great promise for target pathogen detection in the resource-limited district,or for emergency on-site identification.

融合Dead-ends和离线监督Actor-Critic的动态治疗策略生成模型

强化学习对数学模型依赖性低,利用经验便于架构和优化模型,非常适合用于动态治疗策略学习。但现有研究仍存在以下问题:1)学习策略最优性的同时未考虑风险,导致学到的策略存在一定的风险;2)忽略了分布偏移问题,导致学到的策略与医生策略完全不同;3)忽略患者的历史观测数据和治疗史,从而不能很好地得到患者状态,进而导致不能学到最优策略。基于此,提出了融合Dead-ends和离线监督Actor-Critic的动态治疗策略生成模型DOSAC-DTR。首先,考虑学到的策略所推荐的治疗行动的风险性,在Actor-Critic框架中融入Dead-ends概念;其次,为缓解分布偏移问题,在Actor-Critic框架中融入医生监督,在最大化预期回报的同时,最小化所学策略与医生策略之间的差距;最后,为了得到包含患者关键历史信息的状态表示,使用基于LSTM的编码器解码器模型对患者的历史观测数据和治疗史进行建模。实验结果表明,DOSAC-DTR相比基线方法有更好的性能,可以得到更低的估计死亡率以及更高的Jaccard系数。

Six Amino Acids among Natural Moisturizing Factors Responsible for Skin Hydration: Improvement and Anti-Aging of Skin by Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate-PiteraTM Containing Skin Moisturizer

Background: Natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) are filaggrin-derived components in the cornified layer that are critical for maintaining healthy skin moisturization and barrier function. However, studies have reported conflicting findings on the relationship between NMF levels and aging, while few studies have investigated this relationship clinically. To fill this research gap, we determined the levels of major NMF components such as free amino acids, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, and urocanic acids, and individually verified their relationships with skin hydration, barrier function, age, and skin aging. Purpose: The objective of this study was to clinically investigate the relationship between NMF components levels and skin aging in facial skin. The main NMF components were obtained from facial skin and quantified. We then selected NMF components showing strong relationships to skin hydration, and analyzed the relationships of the levels of these selected NMF components with signs of skin aging, namely, texture, pores, wrinkles, and dullness (L-value). We also examined the efficacy of treatment with a skin care formula (SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, called SK-II FTE hereafter) including Galactomyces ferment filtrate (GFF, PiteraTM) on the selected NMF component levels associated with skin hydration and barrier function, and the signs of skin aging of texture, pores, wrinkles, and dullness (L-value). Method: We conducted two clinical trials in this research. In Study 1, we measured 23 NMF components using tape-stripped cornified layer to quantify them via an HPLC method in 196 Asian females aged 20 to 59 (mean S.D., 38.6 9.4). Facial visual aging parameters [texture, pores, wrinkles, and dullness (L-value)], as well as elasticity (R7), skin hydration, and TEWL, were quantified using facial skin imaging and skin physical property measurement devices. Study 2 was performed to evaluate whether the facial application of SK-II FTE affects the NMF levels and skin aging parameters in 63 Asian female volunteers aged 20 to 55 (38.4 9.03). During the course of Study 2, 0.6 mL of SK-II FTE was applied to the face twice daily in the morning and afternoon. Skin measurements were performed at the start of the day (baseline) and at week 8. Results: In Study 1, we examined the stratum corneum levels of 23 NMF components comparing to the skin hydration status in 196 female subjects. The subjects were divided into two groups using the median of each measured NMF component. Skin hydration values were compared between the two groups defined for each NMF component. The results showed that subjects with higher levels of six amino acids, alanine, arginine, asparagine, glutamine, glycine, and histidine, exhibited significantly higher skin hydration than those with lower amino acid levels. No significant differences in skin hydration values were found for the other 17 NMF components. We then analyzed whether the sum of these six amino acid NMF components (called 6-AA-NMFs, hereafter) is affected by aging. The 6-AA-NMF level peaked in the subjects aged 25-29, and then gradually and significantly decreased with age. Interestingly, the 6-AA-NMF level was significantly correlated with the skin hydration value, but not with TEWL. In addition, the 6-AA-NMF level demonstrated significant correlations with the signs of skin aging of texture, pores, wrinkles, and dullness (L-value). Then, in Study 2, we examined whether the daily application of SK-II FTE affects the 6-AA-NMF level and visual aging parameters in 63 females. SK-II FTE demonstrated significant increases of the levels of 6-AA-NMFs and each of its components associated with hydration and barrier function, and improvements of skin texture, pores, wrinkles, and dullness (L-value) during the 8 weeks of treatment of facial skin. Conclusion: These clinical studies with large numbers of subjects across a wide age range revealed that six amino acids as NMF components were highly correlated with facial skin hydration in the stratum corneum. The levels of these six NMF components were also found to decrease at ages after the 30 s and were significantly correlated with major signs of skin aging. Notably, these six NMF components (6-AA-NMFs) were increased by SK-II FTE treatment associated with improvements of skin hydration and signs of skin aging, namely, texture, pores, wrinkles, and dullness (L-value). These studies were limited by the lack of investigation of why some NMF components were not associated with skin hydration. More clinical trials examining various NMF components and their relationship with aging are anticipated.

Quantification of In Vivo Epidermal Keratinocyte Architecture Associated with the Signs of Skin Aging and the Skin Benefit Evaluation by Application of Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate (Pitera)-Containing Skin Care Product

Background: Aged skin exhibits visual alterations such as wrinkles, rough texture, pore dilation, and dull skin tone, as well as physiological aging, namely, decreased hydration and increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Recent advances in coherence tomography have also revealed that skin aging affects in vivo epidermal keratinocyte architecture. However, the interconnectivity between spatial architectural aging and visual/physiological aging parameters remains largely unknown. Purpose: To elucidate whether the tomographic keratinocyte architectural aging is correlated with visual and physiological skin aging parameters and to quantitatively evaluate the improvements of the architectural, visual, and physiological aging parameters by the daily treatment of the skin care formula containing Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate (GFF, 8X PiteraTM). Method: We measured the in vivo keratinocyte cellular architecture with two-photon stereoscopic tomography obtaining by-layer epidermal section images in 78 Asian females of various ages. Visual aging parameters were analyzed using a portable image capture system. Hydration and TEWL were also assessed. The anti-aging effects of GFF-containing skin moisturizer (SK-II LXP CreamTM) were also examined in two studies after twice-daily application for 2 (N = 35) and 4 (N = 32) weeks. Results: As for the keratinocyte cellular architecture, skin aging was significantly associated with decreased cell density and increased cell uniformity. These architectural aging parameters were significantly correlated with visual and physiological aging parameters, namely, rough texture, wrinkles, pore dilation, dull skin tone, dehydration, and increased TEWL. The strong interconnectivity allowed us to develop formulae to estimate the keratinocyte architecture from visual aging parameters. Moreover, twice-daily application of SK-II significantly improved the keratinocyte architecture associated with multiple skin aging visual and physiological parameters. Conclusion: Skin aging is a process involving mutual interconnections among epidermal keratinocyte cellular architecture, visual, and physiological parameters. The GFF-containing moisturizer SK-II effectively improves spatial architecture of keratinocytes in epidermis and these evaluated skin aging parameters in a new trajectory over the course of treatment. .

Gel Filtration Chromatography Combined with Bradford Method for Determination of Total Residual Protein in Ferment Antibiotics

Aim A novel method has been developed for evaluation of the levels of total residual protein in antibiotics produced by fermentation using gel filtration chromatography (GFC) combined with Bradford assay based on determination of residual protein in lincomycin hydrochloride. Methods The chromatographic conditions were SuperdexTM peptide column, 0.01 mol*L-1 phosphate buffer solution as mobile phase, and flow rate of 1 mL·min-1. Five hundred microliters of lincomycin hydrochloride solution (3 g of lincomycin hydrochloride dissolved in 10 mL of mobile phase) was injected into the chromatograph and the eluted solution was collected between 6 min and 14.5 min (protein eluted from column within this period), and the residual content of total protein in the eluted solution was assayed using Bradford assay method. Results The average recovery was more than 90% for bovine serum albumin, the calibration equation for the range of 0-12 μg·mL-1 of protein was y=-0.002 4x2+0.064 2x+0.002 9, r2=0.999 9, RSD=0.1%-0.9%, and the LOD and LOQ were 3 and 10 ng·mL-1 of protein, respectively. Conclusion The novel method for determining the residual protein in ferment antibio-tics is simple, rapid, and precise.

Responses of Filtration Rate of Freshwater Mussel Anodonta woodiana to Ambient Ammonia Concentration

By using one static water system,the filtration rates of one kind of freshwater mussel Anodonta woodiana with different body weight(accounted by dry weight of soft tissue)were studied under semi-field conditions.During the experiments,the water temperature and the suspended particulate matters concentration were kept relative invariable and there were four ambient ammonia concentration levels.The ambient water ammonia concentration was obtained by the excretion of the freshwater mussel and the accession of ...

The effect of coupling coagulation and flocculation with membrane filtration in water treatment:A review

Water supply and sanitation demands are foreseen to face enormous challenges over the coming decades to meet the fast growing needs in a global perspective. Significant growth in the industry is predicted and membrane separation technologies have been identified as one of the possible solutions to meet future demands. Application and implementation of membrane technology is expected both in production of potable water as well as in treatment of wastewater. In potable water production membranes are substituting conventional separation technologies due to the superior performance, potential for less chemical use and sludge production, as well as the potential to fulfill hygienic barrier requirements. Membrane bio-reactor （MBR） technology is probably the membrane process which has had most success and has the best prospects for the future in wastewater treatment. Trends and developments indicate that this technology is becoming accepted and is rapidly becoming the best available technology for many wastewater treatment applications. A major drawback of MBR systems is membrane fouling. Studies have shown that fouling mitigation in MBR systems can potentially be done by coupling coagulation and flocculation to the process.