Background: chronic hepatitis c infection is common among people with history of substance use. Liver fibrosis assessment is a barrier to linkage to care, particularly among those with history of substance users. The ...
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Background: chronic hepatitis c infection is common among people with history of substance use. Liver fibrosis assessment is a barrier to linkage to care, particularly among those with history of substance users. The use of non-invasive scores can be helpful in predicting liver cirrhosis in the era of HcV elimination, especially in countries where transient elastography(TE) is not available. We compared the commonly used non-invasive scores with a novel non-invasive score in predicting liver cirrhosis in this population. Methods: HcV patients with history of substance use between 2011 and 2016 were analyzed. All patients had TE for liver fibrosis assessment. clinical performance of established non-invasive scores for fibrosis assessment and novel score were compared. Youden's index was used to determine optimal cut-off of the novel score. Results: A total of 579 patients were included. In multivariate logistic regression, cirrhosis on TE was associated with age( P = 0.002), aspartate aminotransferase(AST)( P = 0.004), and platelet count( P < 0.001), but not alanine aminotransferase(ALT)( P = 0.896). These form the components of modified AST-toplatelet ratio index(APRI) score. Modified APRI was superior to APRI in predicting cirrhosis(AUROc, 0.796 vs. 0.770, P = 0.007), but not fibrosis-4 score(FIB-4)( P = 1.00). Modified APRI at cut-off of 4 has sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value(NPV) of 94.4%, 26.9% and 92.6%, respectively, and at 19, has sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value(PPV) of 33.3%, 96.2% and 77.1%, respectively. FIB-4 has a NPV and PPV of 88.6%, 41.8% and 78.5%, 77.6%, at cut-off of 1.45 and 3.25, respectively. Using the cut-off of 4 and 14 for modified APRI, 32.5% of patients can be correctly classified and misses out only 5.6% of cirrhosis patients. conclusions: Modified APRI score is superior in predicting cirrhosis in HcV population, with 32.5% of the population being correctly classified using cut-off of 4 and 14.
Aerobiccomposting is an efficient and environmentally friendly method of converting organic waste into nontoxic fertilizers or soil quality enhancers. The quality of the resultant compost depends greatly upon the com...
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Aerobiccomposting is an efficient and environmentally friendly method of converting organic waste into nontoxic fertilizers or soil quality enhancers. The quality of the resultant compost depends greatly upon the composition of the substrate used. The initial carbon-to-nitrogen (c/N) ratio of the substrate is an important factor affecting the composting process. This study elucidated how initial c/N ratios affect the biodegradation of lignocellulose, due to changes in microbial community structure. Four different c/N ratios (20:1, 25:1, 30:1, and 35:1) were examined during a 35-day composting process. The degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin was highest (35.7%, 30.6%, and 19.1% respectively) at a 30:1 c/N ratio;after 30 days, the 25:1 c/N ratio ranked second in terms of lignocellulosic degradation rate. The 30:1 c/N ratio further promoted the growth of functional microorganisms responsible for lignocellulose degradation (Luteimonas, Sphingobium, Trichoderma, chaetomium, and Rosellinia), while the growth of dominant pathogenic microbes (Erwinia and Ulocladium) decreased significantly. These results confirm that the initial c/N ratio of the substrate has a significant effect on the microbial community and degradation of organic matter, during walnut branch composting. This process could therefore offer an alternative means of efficient recycling and recovery of waste branches.
Since cell signal transduction plays an important role in disclosing the nature of human diseases, the pathogenesis of viruses may result from the disturbance of intracellular signal cascades caused by viral proteins....
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Since cell signal transduction plays an important role in disclosing the nature of human diseases, the pathogenesis of viruses may result from the disturbance of intracellular signal cascades caused by viral proteins. Hepatitis c virus (HcV) is a main causative agent of severe human liver disorders worldwide. So far, the mechanisms of HcV pathogenicity remain unclear. Envelope protein 2 (E2) of HcV is thought to be responsible for initiating virus attachment to host cells, which is a prerequisite of HcV infection. We assume that some early events of HcV pathogenic effects may result from the interaction of HcV E2 protein with its cellular receptor (human cD81), which could regulate cell proliferation and differentiation. To test this hypothesis, the effects of HcV E2 protein on MAPK/ERK pathway in Molt-4 and U937 cells with or without human cD81 expression were investigated. The results showed that HcV E2 protein could specifically activate the MAPK/ERK pathway, and such activation was inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against cD81 or HcV E2, serum antibodies from HcV infected patients, and upstream MEK1 inhibitor PD98059. Moreover, HcV E2-driven MAPK/ERK or downstream transcription factor Elk-1 activation was completely blocked in the presence of PD98059. These findings strongly suggest that the regulation of transmembrane signaling by HcV E2 protein via its receptor(s) on host cells might contribute to the development of HcV-related diseases.
A set of experiments was carried out in the system NaAlSi3O8-FeO-NiO-coO-Sic-NaH(2)PO(4)at 1550 degrees c, 4 GPa, and oxygen fugacity (fO(2)) 0.5-2.9 log. units below the iron-wustite (IW) buffer to estimate how c-O-H...
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A set of experiments was carried out in the system NaAlSi3O8-FeO-NiO-coO-Sic-NaH(2)PO(4)at 1550 degrees c, 4 GPa, and oxygen fugacity (fO(2)) 0.5-2.9 log. units below the iron-wustite (IW) buffer to estimate how c-O-H components can affect Ni, co, and P partition between silicate melt and a liquid metallic phase at redox conditions under which the metallic phase is segregated into melting products of the early reduced mantles of the Earth and other planetary bodies. It has been established that the Ni, co, and P partition coefficientsD(\M)(met/sil)between silicate melts saturated with carbon and containing dissolved c-O-H volatiles (mainly in the form of OH groups, H(2)and cH4) at relatively oxidized conditions (fO(2)> IW - 1.5) correspond toD(\M)(met/sil)values expected of metal-silicate melt equilibrium in volatile-free systems at analogousP,T,f(O2), andnbo/tparameters. Under more reduced conditions (fO(2)<= IW - 2), the presence of c-O-H volatiles leads to a decrease inD(\M)(met/sil)for Ni and P compared to that in "dry" melts. This difference increases with decreasingfO(2)and reaches similar to 0.5 and more than one order of magnitude for Ni and P, respectively, atfO(2)= IW - 2.9. The effect of volatiles onD(co)(met/sil)is much weaker, and hence, a decrease infO(2)leads to thatD(Ni)(met/sil)andD(co)(met/sil)converge. The Raman spectra of the experimental glasses and their SIMS analyses for hydrogen show that water content (OH + H2O) in the melts decreases with decreasingfO(2), whereas the contents of cH(4)and complexes with c-H bonds significantly increases. The likely reasons for the decrease inD(\M)(met/sil)under strongly reduced conditions may be changes in the structure of the silicate melts and the origin of complex compounds of siderophile elements with volatiles in these melts.
Highly diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of in situ generated c,N-diaryl nitrilimines to (1R)-thiocamphor leads to chiral spiro-1,3,4-thiadiazolocamphane derivatives in good yields. The structures and stere...
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Highly diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of in situ generated c,N-diaryl nitrilimines to (1R)-thiocamphor leads to chiral spiro-1,3,4-thiadiazolocamphane derivatives in good yields. The structures and stereochemistries of the new cycloadducts were fully established by spectroscopic methods including X-ray diffraction data. The diastereoselectivity observed in this reaction was explained by means of a brief theoretical study.
Metallic foam was introduced as an interlayer to improve the performance of the brazed c/ccomposite-titanium alloy joint, and the interfacial microstructure and residual stress of the brazed joint were investigated. ...
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Metallic foam was introduced as an interlayer to improve the performance of the brazed c/ccomposite-titanium alloy joint, and the interfacial microstructure and residual stress of the brazed joint were investigated. compared with the brazed joint without foam, introducing foam interlayer could achieve the uniform bonding interface, and Ag-based solid solution (Ag(s,s)) became more dispersed and smaller in the center of the brazing seam. The thickness of reaction layer close to c/ccomposite side was less than 1 mu m. Some cu-based solid solution (cu(s,s)) was detected, indicating that cu foam still existed after brazing. The residual stress and its distribution calculated by finite element method (FEM), and the residual stress of the brazed joint decreased from 293 MPa to 228 MPa. The introduction of the foam interlayer could obtain homogeneous microstructure, change stress distribution, and improve mechanical properties of the brazed joints.
Excessive discharge of toxic dyes is detrimental to ecological system and human health. Therefore, an effective photocatalyst must be designed and developed to degrade dyes from wastewater. Herein, a novel one-dimensi...
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Excessive discharge of toxic dyes is detrimental to ecological system and human health. Therefore, an effective photocatalyst must be designed and developed to degrade dyes from wastewater. Herein, a novel one-dimensional (1D) flower-like recoverable ZnFe2O4/c/MnO2/BiOI magneticcomposite photocatalyst was synthesized via electrospinning technique combined with hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic activities of composite photocatalyst were evaluated by degrading methyl orange (MO) and Rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated light irradiation. The efficiency of ZnFe2O4/c/MnO2/BiOI photocatalyst in visible light for 150 min reached 91% (MO) and 120 min reached 94% (RhB). Moreover, the degradation rate of MO still remained 78% after five cycles. The design of 1D magnetic flower-like composite provided a new strategy for preparing photocatalysts possessing excellent photocatalytic efficiency and cyclic stability.
Based on the oxidation kinetics of c/Siccomposites at 900o-1200oc in stress-oxidation environment, a non-uniform model of oxidation has been suggested in this paper. combined with fiber notch model, curtin's stre...
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Based on the oxidation kinetics of c/Siccomposites at 900o-1200oc in stress-oxidation environment, a non-uniform model of oxidation has been suggested in this paper. combined with fiber notch model, curtin's strength model and BHE model, the non-uniform model is able to predict the failure time and residual strength of c/Siccomposites accurately. Besides, the initial defects of the model (matrix coating crack and open porosity), the effects of coating were taken into account, and the fiber strength and broken ratio were analyzed. Furthermore, the effects of oxidation time, stress, temperature, Si ccoating thickness and volume fraction of fiber on the failure time and residual strength were discussed, and the predicted results showed a good consistency with the experimental data.
Selective hydrogenation of benzophenone to benzhydrol is industrially relevant. In the current work, selective hydrogenation of 3,4-dimethoxybenzophenone (3,4-DMBP) to 3,4-dimethoxybenzhydrol (3,4-DMBH) was investigat...
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Selective hydrogenation of benzophenone to benzhydrol is industrially relevant. In the current work, selective hydrogenation of 3,4-dimethoxybenzophenone (3,4-DMBP) to 3,4-dimethoxybenzhydrol (3,4-DMBH) was investigated over 5% w/w Pd/c and 5% w/w Pt/c as catalysts in a slurry reactor. The effects of hydrogen partial pressure (0.2-1MPa), catalyst loading (2.0x10(-4) to 8.0x10(-4)g/cm(3)), initial concentration of 3,4-dimethoxybenzophenone (5.0x10(-6) to 1.5x10(-4)mol/cm(3)) and temperature (40-70 degrees c) on rate of reaction and selectivity were studied. Effect of solvent such as methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol and tetrahydrofuran (THF) was also investigated. 5% w/w Pd/c was the better catalyst with THF as the best solvent, which gave 100 % conversion and 80 % selectivity in 1h for 0.5MPa hydrogen pressure at 60 degrees c. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson model was fitted. The intrinsic kinetics and mechanism of hydrogenation were established.
We have investigated the photoluminescence (PL), scintillation and thermally-stimulated luminescence (TSL) dosimeter properties of MgO ceramic doped with c ions (0.001, 0.01 and 0.1%). The samples were synthesized by ...
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We have investigated the photoluminescence (PL), scintillation and thermally-stimulated luminescence (TSL) dosimeter properties of MgO ceramic doped with c ions (0.001, 0.01 and 0.1%). The samples were synthesized by a Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique. The PL emission peaks appeared around 400 and 750 nm in all the samples. The PL decay time constants at 400 nm were 10 and 100 ns which were on the typical order of F+ center in the undoped MgO. The scintillation emission peaks were detected at 330, 400 and 750 nm under X-ray irradiation. The TSL glow curves showed the 250 degrees c peak in 0.1% c doped sample. The TSL response was confirmed to be linear to the irradiation dose over the dose range from 0.1 to 1000 mGy. As a result, the sensitivity of MgO was improved by c-doping. (c) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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