Large-for-size syndrome prophylaxis in infant liver recipients with low body mass

Transplantation of the left lateral section(LLS)of the liver is now an established practice for treating advanced diffuse and unresectable focal liver diseases in children,with variants of the LLS primarily used in infants.However,the surgical challenge of matching the size of an adult donor's graft to the volume of a child's abdomen remains significant.This review explores historical developments,various approaches to measuring the required functional liver mass,and techniques to prevent complications associated with large-for-size grafts in infants.

Loose-stratification model in separation process for vanadium pre-concentration from stone coal

A technology of one-stage roughing and one-stage scavenging vanadium pre-concentration with shaking table was investigated for improving vanadium grade and decreasing acid consumption minerals content based on the quantitative evaluation of minerals by scanning electronic microscopy （QEMSCAN）. In order to visually illustrate how the vanadium-bearing minerals were separated from system, a loose-stratification model was established with Bagnold shear loose theory and Kelly stratification hypothesis. Through the model, it was inferred that fine fraction and coarse fraction of vanadium-bearing muscovite particles easily became the concentrate in roughing and scavenging stages, respectively. The type of the dominant effect on the loose-stratification was confirmed. In the roughing stage, gravity sedimentation played a leading role in the loose-stratification process. However, in the scavenging stage, shearing dispersion pressure caused by asymmetric motion of table deck took an important part in the loose-stratification process. Finally, the correction of the loose-stratification model was validated by the practical experiment.

Innovative pre-concentration technology for recovering ultrafine ilmenite using superconducting high gradient magnetic separator

To achieve the utilization of the abandoned ultrafine ilmenite(-20 μm) produced in the titanium magnetite processing plant in Panzhihua,the superconducting high-gradient magnetic separation(SMS) technology was proposed in this study.After optimizing the conditions of magnetic intensity,feeding and pulsation,an SMS concentrate with TiO_(2) grade of 16.03% and TiO_(2) recovery of 66.39% was obtained through one roughing-one cleaning pre-concentration flowsheet.The specific magnetic force and magnetic force were calculated and analysed to illustrate the pre-concentration mechanism,and the results revealed that the combination of high magnetic field and strong pulsating resulted in the effective preconcentration of the ultrafine ilmenite in the SMS process.In addition,the magnetic force analysis indicated that the high magnetic intensity and high magnetic gradient are the key factors of the SMS technology.Furthermore,the EDS-Mapping detection certified that the ultrafine ilmenite was concentrated from the gangue minerals using SMS technology.

Enhanced biological nutrient removal in modified carbon source division anaerobic anoxic oxic process with return activated sludge pre-concentration

A pilot-scale modified carbon source division anaerobic anoxic oxic(AAO) process with pre-concentration of returned activated sludge(RAS) was proposed in this study for the enhanced biological nutrient removal(BNR) of municipal wastewater with limited carbon source. The influent carbon source was fed in step while a novel RAS pre-concentration tank was adopted to improve BNR efficiency, and the effects of an influent carbon source distribution ratio and a RAS pre-concentration ratio were investigated. The results show that the removal efficiency of TN is mainly influenced by the carbon source distribution ratio while the TP removal relies on the RAS pre-concentration ratio. The optimum carbon source distribution ratio and RAS pre-concentration ratio are 60% and 50%, respectively, with an inner recycling ratio of 100% under the optimum steady operation of pilot test, reaching an average effluent TN concentration of 9.8 mg·L-1with a removal efficiency of 63% and an average TP removal efficiency of 94%. The mechanism of nutrient removal is discussed and the kinetics is analyzed. The results reveal that the optimal carbon source distribution ratio provides sufficient denitrifying carbon source to each anoxic phase, reducing nitrate accumulation while the RAS pre-concentration ratio improves the condition of anaerobic zone to ensure the phosphorus release due to less nitrate in the returned sludge. Therefore, nitrifying bacteria, denitrifying bacteria and phosphorus accumulation organisms play an important role under the optimum condition, enhancing the performance of nutrient removal in this test.

Effect of Return Sludge Pre-concentration on Biological Phosphorus Removal in a Novel Oxidation Ditch

A pilot-scale,pre-anoxic-anaerobic oxidation ditch was used in this study to treat municipal wastewater with limited carbon source.A novel return activated sludge(RAS) pre-concentration tank was adopted for improv-ing the phosphorus removal efficiency and the effects of RAS pre-concentration ratio were studied.Under the opti-mal operational condition,the suspended total phosphorus(STP) and the total phosphorus(TP) removal efficiencies were around 58.9% and 63.9% respectively and the effluent-P was lower than 0.8 mg·L-1.The reason is that with the optimal RAS pre-concentration ratio,nitrate is completely removed with endogenous carbon source and the secondary phosphorus release is strictly restrained in the pre-anoxic tank.Therefore,the anaerobic phosphorus release and the carbon source uptake by phosphorus accumulation organisms(PAOs) in the sludge,which are ex-tremely important to the phosphorus removal process,can be fully satisfied.Furthermore,the oxidation-reduction potential is proved to be suitable for controlling the RAS pre-concentration ratio due to influent fluctuation and varied conditions.The novel modified system is also beneficial for PAO accumulation.

Population size estimates based on GPS telemetry

DEAR EDITOR,Accurate estimation of population size is a crucial issue in wildlife population ecology and conservation.While Global Positioning System(GPS)collars are well recognized as an effective method for monitoring wildlife behavior,their application in direct wildlife population size estimation remains underutilized.In this study,GPS telemetry was employed to survey a rhesus macaque(Macaca mulatta)population on Neilingding Island in Guangdong,China.From May 2021 to April 2022,32 macaques across nine groups were fitted with GPS collars,producing a dataset of 109739 location fixes.Analyzing data from all tracked individuals revealed the annual home ranges of the nine groups.

240 nm AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet micro-LEDs:size effect versus edge effect

240 nm AlGaN-based micro-LEDs with different sizes are designed and fabricated.Then,the external quantum efficiency(EQE)and light extraction efficiency(LEE)are systematically investigated by comparing size and edge effects.Here,it is revealed that the peak optical output power increases by 81.83%with the size shrinking from 50.0 to 25.0μm.Thereinto,the LEE increases by 26.21%and the LEE enhancement mainly comes from the sidewall light extraction.Most notably,transversemagnetic(TM)mode light intensifies faster as the size shrinks due to the tilted mesa side-wall and Al reflector design.However,when it turns to 12.5μm sized micro-LEDs,the output power is lower than 25.0μm sized ones.The underlying mechanism is that even though protected by SiO2 passivation,the edge effect which leads to current leakage and Shockley-Read-Hall(SRH)recombination deteriorates rapidly with the size further shrinking.Moreover,the ratio of the p-contact area to mesa area is much lower,which deteriorates the p-type current spreading at the mesa edge.These findings show a role of thumb for the design of high efficiency micro-LEDs with wavelength below 250 nm,which will pave the way for wide applications of deep ultraviolet(DUV)micro-LEDs.

Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Absorption and Thermal Infrared Stealth in PVTMS@MWCNT Nano‑Aerogel via Abundant Nano‑Sized Cavities and Attenuation Interfaces

Pre-polymerized vinyl trimethoxy silane(PVTMS)@MWCNT nano-aerogel system was constructed via radical polymerization,sol-gel transition and supercritical CO_(2)drying.The fabricated organic-inorganic hybrid PVTMS@MWCNT aerogel structure shows nano-pore size(30-40 nm),high specific surface area(559 m^(2)g^(−1)),high void fraction(91.7%)and enhanced mechanical property:(1)the nano-pore size is beneficial for efficiently blocking thermal conduction and thermal convection via Knudsen effect(beneficial for infrared(IR)stealth);(2)the heterogeneous interface was beneficial for IR reflection(beneficial for IR stealth)and MWCNT polarization loss(beneficial for electromagnetic wave(EMW)attenuation);(3)the high void fraction was beneficial for enhancing thermal insulation(beneficial for IR stealth)and EMW impedance match(beneficial for EMW attenuation).Guided by the above theoretical design strategy,PVTMS@MWCNT nano-aerogel shows superior EMW absorption property(cover all Ku-band)and thermal IR stealth property(ΔT reached 60.7℃).Followed by a facial combination of the above nano-aerogel with graphene film of high electrical conductivity,an extremely high electromagnetic interference shielding material(66.5 dB,2.06 mm thickness)with superior absorption performance of an average absorption-to-reflection(A/R)coefficient ratio of 25.4 and a low reflection bandwidth of 4.1 GHz(A/R ratio more than 10)was experimentally obtained in this work.

A data-driven model of drop size prediction based on artificial neural networks using small-scale data sets

An artificial neural network(ANN)method is introduced to predict drop size in two kinds of pulsed columns with small-scale data sets.After training,the deviation between calculate and experimental results are 3.8%and 9.3%,respectively.Through ANN model,the influence of interfacial tension and pulsation intensity on the droplet diameter has been developed.Droplet size gradually increases with the increase of interfacial tension,and decreases with the increase of pulse intensity.It can be seen that the accuracy of ANN model in predicting droplet size outside the training set range is reach the same level as the accuracy of correlation obtained based on experiments within this range.For two kinds of columns,the drop size prediction deviations of ANN model are 9.6%and 18.5%and the deviations in correlations are 11%and 15%.

Effects of spot size on the operation mode of Ga As photoconductive semiconductor switch employing extrinsic photoconductivity

To guide the illuminating design to improve the on-state performances of gallium arsenide(GaAs)photoconductive semiconductor switch(PCSS),the effect of spot size on the operation mode of GaAsPCSS based on a semi-insulating wafer with a thickness of 1 mm,triggered by a 1064-nm extrinsic laser beam with the rectangular spot,has been investigated experimentally.It is found that the variation of the spot size in length and width can act on the different parts of the output waveform integrating the characteristics of the linear and nonlinear modes,and then significantly boosts the PCSS toward different operation modes.On this basis,a two-channel model containing the active and passive parts is introduced to interpret the relevant influencing mechanisms.Results indicate that the increased spot length can peak the amplitude of static domains in the active part to enhance the development of the nonlinear switching,while the extended spot width can change the distribution of photogenerated carriers on both parts to facilitate the linear switching and weaken the nonlinear switching,which have been proved by comparing the domain evolutions under different spot sizes.

THE USE OF CHELATING RESIN FOR THE PRE-CONCENTRATION OF TRACE RARE EARTH ELEMENTS IN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES AND THEIR DETERMINATION

Macroporous amino-carboxvlic chelating resin of acrylic acid series may concentrate trace rare earth in the presence of 0.1 mol/l α-hydroxy-isobutyric acid at pH 4.5.With 0.10 mol/l HCl as eluant rare earth may be eluted quantitatively and separated from Ca,Mg,Fe and Cu.This method is used to determine trace amount of rare earth in human hair,stone (in kidney and bladder),peanut,grape,strawberry,cucumber,pig liver and other biological samples.

Extended wet sieving method for determination of complete particle size distribution of general soils

The traditional standard wet sieving method uses steel sieves with aperture?0.063 mm and can only determine the particle size distribution(PSD)of gravel and sand in general soil.This paper extends the traditional method and presents an extended wet sieving method.The extended method uses both the steel sieves and the nylon filter cloth sieves.The apertures of the cloth sieves are smaller than 0.063 mm and equal 0.048 mm,0.038 mm,0.014 mm,0.012 mm,0.0063 mm,0.004 mm,0.003 mm,0.002 mm,and 0.001 mm,respectively.The extended method uses five steps to separate the general soil into many material sub-groups of gravel,sand,silt and clay with known particle size ranges.The complete PSD of the general soil is then calculated from the dry masses of the individual material sub-groups.The extended method is demonstrated with a general soil of completely decomposed granite(CDG)in Hong Kong,China.The silt and clay materials with different particle size ranges are further examined,checked and verified using stereomicroscopic observation,physical and chemical property tests.The results further confirm the correctness of the extended wet sieving method.

Determination method of mesh size for numerical simulation of blast load in near-ground detonation

In order to improve the overall resilience of the urban infrastructures, it is required to conduct blast resistant design for important building structures in the city. For complex terrain in the city, it is recommended to determine the blast load on the structures via numerical simulation. Since the mesh size of the numerical model highly depends on the explosion scenario, there is no generally applicable approach for the mesh size selection. An efficient method to determine the mesh size of the numerical model of near-ground detonation based on explosion scenarios is proposed in this study. The effect of mesh size on the propagation of blast wave under different explosive weights was studied, and the correlations between the mesh size effect and the charge weight or the scaled distance was described. Based on the principle of the finite element method and Hopkinson-Cranz scaling law, a mesh size measurement unit related to the explosive weight was proposed as the criterion for determining the mesh size in the numerical simulation. Finally, the applicability of the method proposed in this paper was verified by comparing the results from numerical simulation and the explosion tests and was verified in AUTODYN.

New complex physiological findings evolve hypothesized mechanisms of Dravet syndrome

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies(DEEs)are neurological disorders generally involving medically intractable seizures and a diverse array of comorbid neuropsychiatric delays and deficits that may severely affect cognition,mood,sleep,social behavior,movement control,learning,and/or memory.Dravet syndrome(DS),also known as Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy.

Long-Cycle Lithium Batteries with LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2) Cathodes above 4.5 V Enabled by Uniform Coating of Nanosized Garnet Electrolytes

The pursuit of high-energy cathode materials has been focused on raising the charging cutoff voltage of nickel (Ni)-rich layered oxide cathode such as LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O2 (NCM811). However, the NCM811 suffers from rapid capacity fading upon cycling at cutoff voltage higher than 4.5 V, owing to their structural degradation and labile surface reactivity. Surface-coating with solid electrolytes has been recognized as an effective method to mitigate the performance failure of NCM811 at high voltage. Herein, the nano-sized Li_(6.4)La_(3)Ta_(0.6)Zr_(1.4)O_(12) (LLZTO) is uniformly coated on the surface of single-crystal NCM811 particles, accompanied with the long-range Ta^(5+) diffusion into the transition metal layer of NCM811 lattice. It is revealed that the LLZTO coating can not only inhibit the surface reactions of NCM811 with liquid electrolytes but also play an important role in suppressing the bulk microcracking within the NCM811 particles. The incorporation of Ta^(5+) ion expands the lattice spacing and thereby improves the homogeneity of the Li^(+) diffusion in the single-crystal NCM811, which alleviates the mechanical strain and intragranular cracks caused by nonuniform phases-transformation at high charging voltage. The synergy of surface protection and structural stabilization realized by LLZTO coating enables the NCM811-based lithium batteries to achieve a remarkable electrochemical performance. Typically, LLZTO coated NCM811 delivers a high reversible specific capacity of 202.1 mAh⋅g^(−1) with an excellent capacity retention as high as 70% over 1000 cycles upon charging to 4.5 V at 1 C.

Utilizing sediment grain size characteristics to assess the effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in reducing aeolian erosion in Minqin desert area,China

The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand barriers against aeolian erosion,particularly from the perspective of surface sediment grain size,are limited and thus insufficient to ascertain the protective impact of these barriers on regional aeolian activities.This study focused on the surface sediments(topsoil of 0–3 cm depth)of clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area to explain their erosion resistance from the perspective of surface sediment grain size.In March 2023,six clay–sand barrier sampling plots with clay–sand barriers of different deployment durations(1,5,10,20,40,and 60 a)were selected as experimental plots,and one control sampling plot was set in an adjacent mobile sandy area without sand barriers.Surface sediment samples were collected from the topsoil of each sampling plot in the study area in April 2023 and sediment grain size characteristics were analyzed.Results indicated a predominance of fine and medium sands in the surface sediments of the study area.The deployment of clay–sand barriers cultivated a fine quality in grain size composition of the regional surface sediments,increasing the average contents of very fine sand,silt,and clay by 30.82%,417.38%,and 381.52%,respectively.This trend became markedly pronounced a decade after the deployment of clay–sand barriers.The effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in erosion resistance was manifested through reduced wind velocity,the interception of sand flow,and the promotion of fine surface sediment particles.Coarser particles such as medium,coarse,and very coarse sands predominantly accumulated on the external side of the barriers,while finer particles such as fine and very fine sands concentrated in the upwind(northwest)region of the barriers.By contrast,the contents of finest particles such as silt and clay were higher in the downwind(southeast)region of the sampling plots.For the study area,the deployment of clay–sand barriers remains one of the most cost-effective engineering solutions for aeolian erosion control,with sediment grain size parameters serving as quantitative indicators for the assessment of these barriers in combating desertification.The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of windbreak and sand fixation systems and the optimization of artificial sand control projects in arid desert areas.

Genetic analysis and fine mapping of a grain size QTL in the smallgrain sterile rice line Zhuo201S

The development and application of the small-grain rice sterile line Zhuo201S(Z201S)has demonstrated its potential for mechanized hybrid rice seed production,leading to significant cost reductions.However,the molecular mechanism responsible for the small-grain size characteristic of Z201S remains unclear.In this study,we conducted a genetic analysis using near-isogenic lines constructed from Z210S,a small-grain rice sterile line,and R2115,a normal-grain variety.The results revealed that the small-grain trait in Z201S is governed by a single partially dominant gene which also enhances grain number.Through mapping,we localized the causal gene to the short arm of chromosome 2,within a 113 kb physical region delimited by the molecular markers S2-4-1 and LB63.Transgenic analysis and gene expression assays indicated LOC_Os02g14760 as the most likely candidate gene,suggesting that the small-grain size trait of Z201S is controlled by a novel locus that has not been previously identified.

Tumor size discrepancy between endoscopic and pathological evaluations in colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND Tumor size impacts the technical difficulty and histological curability of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD);however,the preoperative evaluation of tumor size is often different from histological assessment.Analyzing influential factors on failure to obtain an accurate tumor size evaluation could help prepare optimal conditions for safer and more reliable ESD.METHODS This was a retrospective study conducted at a single institution.A total of 377 lesions removed by colorectal ESD at our hospital between April 2018 and March 2022 were collected.We first assessed the difference in size with an absolute per-centage of the scaling discrepancy.Subsequently,we compared the clinicopatho-logical characteristics of the correct scaling group(>-33%and<33%)with that of the incorrect scaling group(<-33%or>33%),which was further subdivided into the underscaling group(-33%or less of the discrepancy)and overscaling group(33%or more of the discrepancy),respectively.As secondary outcome measures,parameters on size estimation were compared between the underscaling and correct scaling groups,as well as between the overscaling and correct scaling groups.Finally,multivariate analysis was performed in terms of the following relevant parameters on size estimation:Pathological size,location,and possible influential factors(P<0.1)in the univariate analysis.RESULTS The mean of absolute percentage in the scaling discordance was 21%,and 91 lesions were considered to be incorrectly estimated in size.The incorrect scaling was significantly remarkable in larger lesions(40 mm vs 28 mm;P<0.001)and less experience(P<0.001),and these two factors were influential on the underscaling(75 lesions;P<0.001).Conversely,compared with the correct scaling group,16 lesions in the overscaling group were significantly small(20 mm vs 28 mm;P<0.001),and the small lesion size was influential on the overscaling(P=0.002).CONCLUSION Lesions indicated for colorectal ESD tended to be underestimated in large tumors,but overestimated in small ones.This discrepancy appears worth understanding for optimal procedural preparation.

Kinetics insights into size effects of carbon nanotubes'growth and their supported platinum catalysts for 4,6-dinitroresorcinol hydrogenation

Size effects are a well-documented phenomenon in heterogeneous catalysis,typically attributed to alterations in geometric and electronic properties.In this study,we investigate the influence of catalyst size in the preparation of carbon nanotube(CNT)and the hydrogenation of 4,6-dinitroresorcinol(DNR)using Fe_(2)O_(3)and Pt catalysts,respectively.Various Fe_(2)O_(3)/Al_(2)O_(3)catalysts were synthesized for CNT growth through catalytic chemical vapor deposition.Our findings reveal a significant influence of Fe_(2)O_(3)nanoparticle size on the structure and yield of CNT.Specifically,CNT produced with Fe_(2)O_(3)/Al_(2)O_(3)containing 28%(mass)Fe loading exhibits abundant surface defects,an increased area for metal-particle immobilization,and a high carbon yield.This makes it a promising candidate for DNR hydrogenation.Utilizing this catalyst support,we further investigate the size effects of Pt nanoparticles on DNR hydrogenation.Larger Pt catalysts demonstrate a preference for 4,6-diaminoresorcinol generation at(100)sites,whereas smaller Pt catalysts are more susceptible to electronic properties.The kinetics insights obtained from this study have the potential to pave the way for the development of more efficient catalysts for both CNT synthesis and DNR hydrogenation.

High-Volume Mineral Admixtures Cement: The Effects of Particle Size Distribution

The effects of high-volume slag-fly ash cement with different particle sizes on hydration degree,microstructure and mechanical properties were systematically studied,by means of laser particle size(DLS),X-ray diffraction (XRD),comprehensive thermal analysis (TG-DTA),scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and mechanical properties tests.The results show that suitable particle size distribution of cementitious material has significantly promoting effects on hydration reaction rate and mechanical properties.Compared with slag without further grinding,the slag after ball milling for 4 h has an obvious improvement in reactivity,which also provides a faster hydration rate and higher compressive strength for the cementitious material.When the slag milled for 1 and 4 h is mixed at a mass ratio of 2:1 (i e,slag with D_(50) of 7.4μm and average size of 9.9μm,and slag with D_(50) value of 2.6μm and average size of 5.3μm),and a certain amount of fly ash is added in,the most obvious improvement of compressive strength of cement is achieved.