Approaches to Improving Selectivity During Photoelectrochemical Transformation of Small Molecules

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) small-molecule oxidation can selectively transform substrates into high-value-added fine chemicals and increase the rate of cathode hydrogen evolution. Nevertheless, achieving high-selectivity PEC oxidation of small molecules to produce specific products is a very challenging task. In general, selectivity can be improved by changing the surface catalyticsites of the photoanode and modulating the interfacial environments of the reactions. Herein, recent advances in approaches to improving selective PEC oxidation of small molecules are introduced. We first briefly discuss the basic concept and fundamentals of small-molecule PEC oxidation. The reported approaches to improving the performance of selective PEC oxidation of small molecules are highlighted from two aspects: (1) changing the surface properties of photoanodes by selecting suitable materials or modifying the photoanodes and (2) mediating the oxidation reactions using redox mediators. The PEC oxidation mechanism of these studies is emphasized. We also discuss the challenges in this research direction and offer a perspective on the further development of selective PEC-based small-molecule transformation.

Call for papers for a special issue on improving patient safety

Patient safety is a serious global health issue.Nurses play a critical role in improving patient safety.This Special Focus Issue aims to report research and evidence-based practice about patient safety.This special issue welcomes original research papers,perspectives,conceptual papers,case reports,systematic reviews,and scoping review articles that address a range of topics including,but not limited to,the following areas:The four Cs of safety:Culture,Competency,Consequences&Continuous improvement.

Improving the Reading Skills of ALS Learners Through Project RICE(Reading Intervention and Comprehension Enhancement)

One of the major problems in the education sector is the reading skills of learners.Students enrolled in the Alternative Learning System(ALS)also experienced this scenario due to several circumstances.This study focused on the improvement of reading comprehension skills of ALS learners by means of project RICE(Reading Intervention and Comprehension Enhancement)as well as the issues and challenges.A quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study which was participated by 54 learners,composed of 27 learners under the experimental group and 27 under the control group.The result revealed that the learners in the experimental group changed from frustration level to instructional level after the implementation of project RICE while the learners in the control group changed from instructional level to inde-pendent level,thereby signifying a significant difference and the effectiveness of the project.Additionally,issues with time and resources were often encountered by the learners.

Improving Performance of Computer Algebra Systems

Computer Algebra Systems have been extensively used in higher education. The reasons are many e.g., visualize mathematical problems, correlate real-world problems on a conceptual level, are flexible, simple to use, accessible from anywhere, etc. However, there is still room for improvement. Computer algebra system (CAS) optimization is the set of best practices and techniques to keep the CAS running optimally. Best practices are related to how to carry out a mathematical task or configure your system. In this paper, we are going to examine these techniques. The documentation sheets of CASs are the source of data that we used to compare them and examine their characteristics. The research results reveal that there are many tips that we can follow to accelerate performance.

Combined imbibition system with black nanosheet and low-salinity water for improving oil recovery in tight sandstone reservoirs

Nanomaterials and low-salinity water(LSW)are two popular enhanced oil recovery(EOR)methods that have been widely studied in recent years.The former is used for in-depth conformance improvement and the latter for microscopic oil displacement(by altering the potential and contact angle).However,there are few literature on combining them to achieve synergistic effects,especially for tight sandstone res-ervoirs.Based on the reservoir conditions of the Jimusar Oilfield,this study investigated the oil recovery mechanism of the combined imbibition system,which was composed of black nanosheet(BN)and LSW.Its performances including decreasing interfacial tension,emulsification,and wettability alterations were evaluated.The imbibition differences between the single system of BN and LSW and the combined BN-LsW imbibition system were then compared.Results showed that the combined imbibition system had a better emulsification effect on the crude oil and could also alter the wettability of the core surface.Moreover,the combined system could increase both the imbibition rate and the ultimate oil recovery.The nuclear magnetic T2 spectrum also indicated that the addition of black nanosheets could divert more fluid into small pores and thus improve the microscopic sweep efficiency.

Improving Crude Oil Flow Using Graphene Flakes under an Applied Electric Field

Graphene flakes(GF)have been prepared and assessed as a material for improving flow in oil pipelines under the effect of an electric field.In particular,different amounts of GFs have been considered in order to determine the optimal flow conditions.The GFs were prepared from graphite foam,derived from the dehydration of sugar with a particle size of 500-600μm,which was dispersed in ethanol and exfoliated in a ball mill under a shear force.After 15 h of exfoliation,sonication,and subsequent high-speed centrifugation at 3000 rpm,irregular-shaped GFs of 50-140 nm were produced and characterized using scanning electron microscopy,X-ray diffractometry,atomic force microscopy,and Raman spectroscopy.The prepared graphene sheets have been found to display excellent morphology and good graphitic structure.Experiments on flow improvement were conducted using the central composite rotatable design method for three parameters:stimulation time(15,30,45,and 60 s),applied voltage(150,170,200,and 220 V),and concentration of the GFs(0,100,200,and 400 mg/L).The optimal conditions for improved crude oil flow were then determined using the STATISTICA and WinQSB software packages.The results have confirmed the effectiveness of the use of the prepared GFs as a flow improver for crude oil,where the flow improvement is essentially a result of a reduction in viscosity and suppression of friction in the crude oil system.

Improving QoS Using Mobility-Based Optimized Multipath Routing Protocol in MANET

Mobile Ad-hoc Networks(MANETs)connect numerous nodes to communicate data from the sender node to the target node.Due to the lack of an infrastructure network,mobile nodes communicate through wireless without an access point.MANET does not have a centralized controller and has a dynamic network topology,which increases link failure and energy consumption resulting in excessive path delay,loss of Quality of service(QoS),and reduced throughput during data communication.Congestion is a significant problem when the QoS of the link carrying the data is degraded.Routing is one of the vital challenges of MANET due to the very dynamic and distributed nature of MANET.This article introduces a Mobility-Based Optimized Multipath Routing Protocol(MBOMRP)and an Efficient Reliable Link-State Transmission(ERLST)algorithm to overcome these problems.The proposed Mobility-Based Optimized Multipath Routing Protocol(MBOMRP)is utilized for route discovery and maintenance to efficiently avoid traffic and sleeping nodes.ERLST algorithm is used for efficient data transmission to increase QoS measurement parameters like throughput,Packet Delivery Ratio(PDR),and minimize the latency performance.The proposed MBOMRP-ERLST algorithm improves data communication network lifetime,avoids link failures,and provides efficient results compared with previous algorithms.

4-Hydroxycinnamic acid attenuates neuronal cell death by inducing expression of plasma membrane redox enzymes and improving mitochondrial functions

Many approaches to neurodegenerative diseases that focus on amyloid-βclearance and gene therapy have not been successful.Some therapeutic applications focus on enhancing neuronal cell survival during the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases,including mitochondrial dysfunction.Plasma membrane(PM)redox enzymes are crucial in maintaining cellular physiology and redox homeostasis in response to mitochondrial dysfunction.Neurohormetic phytochemicals are known to induce the expression of detoxifying enzymes under stress conditions.In this study,mechanisms of neuroprotective effects of 4-hydroxycinnamic acid(HCA)were examined by analyzing cell survival,levels of abnormal proteins,and mitochondrial functions in two different neuronal cells.HCA protected two neuronal cells exhibited high expression of PM redox enzymes and the consequent increase in the NAD^(+)/NADH ratio.Cells cultured with HCA showed delayed apoptosis and decreased oxidative/nitrative damage accompanied by decreased ROS production in the mitochondria.HCA increased the mitochondrial complexes I and II activities and ATP production.Also,HCA increased mitochondrial fusion and decreased mitochondrial fission.Overall,HCA maintains redox homeostasis and energy metabolism under oxidative/metabolic stress conditions.These findings suggest that HCA could be a promising therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases.

Discussion on the Status Quo of Non-Destructive Testing Technology in Highway Engineering and Strategies of Improving the Quality of Testing

Highway test and detection technology play a very important role in controlling the quality of road and bridge engineering and improving the maintenance of roads and bridges.The study of highway bridge test detection technology is both theoretically and practically useful.Road and bridge test and detection is a complicated task.With the development of science and technology,highway and bridge engineering test and detection technology has also made great progress.The continuous improvement of test and detection technology has brought good social benefits to road and bridge construction.This article discusses the problems in test and detection technology of highway bridges and how to improve the quality of test and detection.

Improving school physical education to increase physical activity and promote healthy growth of Chinese school-aged children Time for action

Throughout its more than 5000-year history,China has a long tradition of encouraging active engagement in physical and sport activities.1,2This enduring tradition,however,has been facing some major headwinds as China continues to experience demographic and environmental changes related to aging,urbanization,and lifestyle shifts.3-5Mounting evidence indicates increasing levels of sedentary behaviors。

Improving definition of the term “synchronous liver metastases” from colorectal cancer

The liver is the most frequent site of metastasis in colorectal cancer with up to a quarter of patients having liver metastases at the time of initial diagnosis and a further third subsequently developing liver lesions.^([1])Patients who present with metastatic liver disease after treatment of the primary(termed metachronous disease)receive care focused on this new metastatic disease.^([2])In contrast,the management of patients who present with colorectal cancer and concurrent

Botulinum toxin type A plus rehabilitative training for improving the motor function of the upper limbs and activities of daily life in patients with stroke and brain injury

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) is mostly to be used to treat various diseases of motor disorders, whereas its effect on muscle spasm after stroke and brain injury needs further observation. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of BTX-A plus rehabilitative training on treating muscle spasm after stroke and brain injury. DESIGN: A randomized controlled observation. SETTINGS: Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology and Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty inpatients with brain injury and stroke were selected from the Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology and Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2001 to August 2006. They were all confirmed by CT and MRI, and had obvious increase of spastic muscle strength in upper limbs, their Ashworth grades were grade 2 or above. The patients were randomly divided into treatment group (n =30) and control group (n =30). METHODS: ① Patients in the treatment group undertook comprehensive rehabilitative trainings, and they were administrated with domestic BTX-A, which was provided by Lanzhou Institute of Biological Products, Ministry of Health (S10970037), and the muscles of flexion spasm were selected for upper limbs, 20-25 IU for each site. ② Patients in the treatment group were assessed before injection and at 1 and 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months after injection respectively, and those in the control group were assessed at corresponding time points. The recovery of muscle spasm was assessed by modified Ashworth scale (MAS, grade 0-Ⅳ; Grade 0 for without increase of muscle strength; Grade Ⅳ for rigidity at passive flexion and extension); The recovery of motor function of the upper limbs was evaluated with Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA, total score was 226 points, including 100 for exercise, 14 for balance, 24 for sense, 44 for joint motion, 44 for pain and 66 for upper limb); The ADL were evaluated with Barthel index, the total score was 100 points, 60 for mild dysfunction, 60-41 for moderate dysfunction, < 40 for severe dysfunction). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes of MAS grade, FMA scores and Barthel index before and after BTX-A injection. RESULTS: All the 60 patients with brain injury and stroke were involved in the analysis of results. ① FMA scores of upper limbs: The FMA score in the treatment group at 2 weeks after treatment was higher than that before treatment [(14.98±10.14), (13.10±9.28) points, P < 0.05], whereas there was no significant difference at corresponding time point in the control group. The FMA scores at 1 and 3 months in the treatment group [(23.36±10.69), (35.36±11.36) points] were higher than those in the control group [(20.55±10.22), (30.33±10.96) points, P < 0.01]. ② MAS grades of upper limbs: There were obviously fewer cases of grade Ⅲ in MAS at 2 weeks after treatment than before treatment in the treatment group (0, 9 cases, P < 0.05), whereas there was no obvious difference in the control group. There were obviously fewer cases of grade Ⅲ in MAS at 2 weeks and 1 month after treatment in the treatment group (0, 0 case) than the control group (5, 2 cases, P < 0.01). ③ Barthel index of upper limbs: The Barthel index at 2 weeks after treatment was higher than that before treatment in the treatment group [(30.36±22.25), (28.22±26.21) points, P < 0.05], whereas there was no significant difference in the control group. The Barthel indexes at 1 and 3 months after treatment in the treatment group were obviously higher than those in the control group [(20.55±10.22), (30.33±10.96) points, P < 0.01]. CONCLUSION: BTX-A has obvious efficacy on decreasing muscle tension after stroke and brain injury, and relieving muscle spasm; Meanwhile, the combination with rehabilitative training can effectively ameliorate the motor function of upper limbs and ADL of the patients.

Improving Market Circulation and Investment Environment

With the approach of the 21st century,the Asia-Pacific Region where Chinais situated is becoming a new growthpoint of the world economy.The developmentof China’s economy will surely bring vitalityto the further prosperity of Asia-Pacific Regionand the overall development of the worldeconomy.With the daily deepening of therestructuring of China’s circulation systemand the increasing attractive investmentenvironment for foreign businessmen,China,with its 1.2 billion people,has become a largeworld market,that is highly competitive.

Improving Market Circulation and Investment Environment

With the approach of the 21st century, the Asia-Pacific Region where China is situated is becoming a new growth point of the world economy. The development of China’s economy will surely bring vitality to the further prosperity of Asia-Pacific Region and the overall development of the world economy. With the daily deepening

Improving Plasma Confinement by Controlling Hard X-Ray

Since runaway electrons and magnetohydrodynamics activity can contribute to serious damage and energy losses in tokamaks,the effect of an external electric field on runaway electrons and hard x-ray spectra is investigated.Parameters such as the plasma current,the hard x-ray photons count and the mean energy of runaway electrons are measured.Positive and negative voltages of 300 V are applied at 10 ms after the plasma initiation(while the plasma is forming),at 15ms(while the plasma is stable) and at 20ms(while the plasma is fading away) to attain the most effective time of applying the external electric held.The number of hard x-ray photons has the most changes in the range of 0-200 keV when the external electric fields are applied.Also in the duration of 20-30 ms of plasma the greatest number of hard x-ray spectra is detected.When the external electric fields are applied,the mean energy of runaway electrons reduces significantly,especially at 15ms(while the plasma is stable).

FACTOR ANALYSIS ON IMPROVING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY (1)

The productivity of China’s nonferrous metals industry during 1980-1990 has been analysed. The important factors which constrain the productivity of the nonferrous metals industry have been studied, the methods of improving the productivity of the nonferrous metals industry have been discussed.

Special focus issue on improving patient safety

Patient safety is a serious global health issue.Nurses have a critical role in improving patient safety.This Special Focus Issue aims to report research and evidence based practice about patient safety.This special issue welcomes original research papers,perspectives,conceptual papers,case reports,systematic review,and scoping review articles that address a range of topics including,but are not limited to,the following areas.

Improving Accuracy of Estimating Two-Qubit States with Hedged Maximum Likelihood

As a widely used reconstruction algorithm in quantum state tomography,maximum likelihood estimation tends to assign a rank-deficient matrix,which decreases estimation accuracy for certain quantum states.Fortunately,hedged maximum likelihood estimation(HMLE)[Phys.Rev.Lett.105(2010)200504] was proposed to avoid this problem.Here we study more details about this proposal in the two-qubit case and further improve its performance.We ameliorate the HMLE method by updating the hedging function based on the purity of the estimated state.Both performances of HMLE and ameliorated HMLE are demonstrated by numerical simulation and experimental implementation on the Werner states of polarization-entangled photons.