The Current Situation and Optimized path of Higher Education Development in the China and the Republic of Sudan under the Belt and Road Initiative

Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013, receiving abundantly enthusiastic as well as positive responses within the international community, especially the Arab countries along the Belt and Road, and including the Republic of Sudan in north-eastern Africa. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Sudan 58 years ago, the two countries have achieved a series of achievements in the field of higher education. The mutual visits and exchanges between them are also gradually increasing. With the development of the times and the continuous deepening of bilateral relations, the cooperation and exchanges of higher education between the two countries are facing some new difficulties. The purpose of this article is to analyze these dilemmas and propose the optimized path for the development of Sino-Sudan higher education cooperation under the “Belt and Road” initiative

Studies on metal catalysts and carbon materials for fuel cell applications

Experimental techniques -- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis of Pt nanoparticles on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, using symmetric component line shapes -- The surface analytical characterization of carbon fibers functionalized by H2SO4/HNO3 treatment -- The structure and morphology of Co nanoparticles deposited onto highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

Long-term prognostic analysis of children and adolescents with differentiated thyroid carcinoma based on therapeutic response to initial radioiodine therapy

BackgroundThe clinical features and prognosis of children and adolescents with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (caDTC) are different from that of adults. Postoperative radioiodine therapy (RIT) was recommended for some intermediate and high risk caDTC patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term prognosis of pediatric caDTC patients with different responses to initial RIT and to explore the related influencing factors.MethodsAll subjects were assigned to no clinical evidence of disease (NED) group, biochemical persistent disease (BPD) group, or structural/functional persistent disease (S/FPD) group based on the therapeutic response to initial RIT. Then, disease status was evaluated in all three groups at the last follow-up using ATA guidelines. Meanwhile, disease-free survival (DFS) for NED group and the progression-free survival (PFS) for the BPD and S/FPD groups were also assessed.Results117 subjects were divided into NED group (n=29), BPD group (n=48) and S/FPD group (n=34) after initial RIT. At the last follow-up, excellent response (ER), indeterminate response (IDR), biochemically incomplete response (BIR) and structurally incomplete response (SIR) rates were 93.10%, 6.90%, 0% and 0% in NED group; 29.17%, 25.00%, 43.75% and 2.08% in BPD group; and 11.77%, 2.94%, 0%, and 85.29% in S/FPD group. The 5-year DFS rate in NED group was 95.5%. The 5-year PFS rates in BPD and S/FPD groups were 79.2% and 48.6%, respectively. For children with structural or functional lesions, longer PFS were found in male children with 131I-avid lesions, and post-operative stimulated serum thyroglobulin (sti-Tg) < 149.80 ng/ml.ConclusionThe response to initial RIT could be helpful for defining subsequent treatment and follow-up strategies for caDTC patients. Post-operative sti-Tg and 131I-avidity of lesions are correlated with PFS

Nataf transformation based univariate decomposable polynomial RSM for engineering reliability analysis

For engineering problems, the correlation exists among the common random variables. For those with highly correlated variables accompanying the high nonlinearity, large error would be induced if ignoring the influence of their correlation matrix. Considering correlated variables, an executing mode of polynomial response surface method based on Nataf transformation and univariate decomposition is introduced in this paper, called as N-UDPRSM. The correlated variables can be converted into the independent standard normal space and all of the univariate component polynomials can be determined separately. Besides, high order terms can be adopted into N-UDPRSM to balance the accuracy and efficiency for high nonlinear engineering problems. The corresponding practical implementation for engineering reliability analysis is designed in detail. A typical engineering structure is studied. The results indicate that it performs well in balancing accuracy and efficiency, and it also preserve some superiority contrast with other state-of-art methods

Well-defined nanostructures for electrochemical energy conversion and storage

Electrochemical energy conversion and storage play crucial roles in meeting the increasing demand for renewable, portable, and affordable power supplies for society. The rapid development of nanostructured materials provides an alternative route by virtue of their unique and promising effects emerging at nanoscale. In addition to finding advanced materials, structure design and engineering of electrodes improves the electrochemical performance and the resultant commercial competitivity. Regarding the structural engineering, controlling the geometrical parameters (i.e., size, shape, hetero-architecture, and spatial arrangement) of nanostructures and thus forming well-defined nanostructure (WDN) electrodes have been the central aspects of investigations and practical applications. This review discusses the fundamental aspects and concept of WDNs for energy conversion and storage, with a strong emphasis on illuminating the relationship between the structural characteristics and the resultant electrochemical superiorities. Key strategies for actualizing well-defined features in nanostructures are summarized. Electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis (for energy conversion) as well as metal-ion batteries and supercapacitors (for energy storage) are selected to illustrate the superiorities of WDNs in electrochemical reactions and charge carrier transportation. Finally, conclusions and perspectives regarding future research, development, and applications of WDNs are discussed