16 research outputs found
Clinical characteristics of liver injury in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant- and Omicron subvariant-infected patients
Introduction and Objectives: Liver injury in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant- and Omicron subvariant-infected patients is unknown at present, and the aim of this study is to summarize liver injury in these patients. Patients and Methods: In this study, 460 SARS-CoV-2-infected patients were enrolled. Five severe or critical patients were excluded, and 34 patients were also excluded because liver injury was not considered to be related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Liver injury was compared between Omicron and non-Omicron variants- and between Omicron subvariant-infected patients; additionally, the clinical data related to liver injury were also analyzed. Results: Among the 421 patients enrolled for analysis, liver injury was detected in 76 (18.1%) patients, including 46 Omicron and 30 non-Omicron variant-infected patients. The ratios did not differ between Omicron and non-Omicron variant-, Omicron BA.1, BA.2 and BA.5 subvariant-infected patients (P>0.05). The majority of abnormal parameters of liver function tests were mildly elevated (1-3 × ULN), the most frequently elevated parameter of liver function test was γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT, 9.5%, 40/421), and patients with cholangiocyte or biliary duct injury markers were higher than with hepatocellular injury markers. Multivariate analysis showed that age (>40 years old, OR=1.898, 95% CI=1.058–3.402, P=0.032), sex (male gender, OR=2.031, 95% CI=1.211–3.408, P=0.007), serum amyloid A (SAA) level (>10 mg/ml, OR=3.595, 95% CI=1.840–7.026, P<0.001) and vaccination status (No, OR=2.131, 95% CI=1.089–4.173, P=0.027) were independent factors related to liver injury. Conclusions: Liver injury does not differ between Omicron and non-Omicron variants or between Omicron subvariant-infected patients. The elevations of cholangiocyte or biliary duct injury biomarkers are dominant in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients
Characterization of sand convective motions at a vertical wall subjected to long-term cyclic loading
By conducting a two-dimensional experimental study, this paper aims to enhance the understanding of the mechanism of sand convective motions in the vicinity of a wall subjected to long-term cyclic lateral loadings. The experimental tests were conducted in a rectangular sandbox with a transparent front-wall, through which the process of sand particle motions could be recorded by using a high-resolution digital camera. The images were processed with a high time-resolved PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) system. Based on the experimental data, this work (1) presents the sand flow field in the convective zones; (2) provides means to describe the convection mechanism; (3) proposes the relationships between the loading conditions and dimensions of the region with intense sand movement; and (4) elaborates the similarity of the sand flow velocity structure within the sand convective zones.Published versionThis work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 52122109 and 51920105013, and 52071127)
Microstructure and Electrical Properties of Fluorene Polyester Based Nanocomposite Dielectrics
As a new type of dielectric material, the low dielectric constant and corona resistance life of fluorene polyester (FPE) restricts the range of its applications. In order to simultaneously achieve a high dielectric constant and the long corona aging lifetime of FPE, SiO2 nanoparticles were chosen as additive to prepare FPE-based composite films. The microstructure of the composite film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The dielectric performances of the composites, including the dielectric constant, breakdown strength and corona resistance lifetime, were investigated. The results show that the introduced SiO2 does not destroy the structure of the FPE molecular chain and that it increases the thickness of the filler-matrix interface. The dielectric constant of SiO2/FPE composites increased from 3.54 to 7.30 at 1 Hz. Importantly, the corona resistance lifetime increased by about 12 times compared with the pure FPE matrix. In brief, this work shows what possibilities there might be when considering the potential applications of high-strength insulating materials
Influence of the acceptor-fillers on the dielectric properties of polyimide composites
High-performance polymer dielectrics are critical for high-tech fields such as electrical insulation and aerospace. Nevertheless, it is still challenging to achieve simultaneous improvements in both dielectric constant and breakdown strength in polymer dielectrics. In this work, Al3+ substitution Si4+ in SiO2 by high-temperature sintering to create hole traps to obtain the acceptor-doped fillers Si1-0.75xAlxO2 (SA (x mol%)), and polyimide (PI) dielectric containing SA fillers with different contents were synthesized using in-situ polymerization. The hole traps in the fillers modulate the electrical behavior of the polymer dielectric, thereby significantly increasing the dielectric constant and breakdown strength by modulating the polarization behavior and capture carriers. Among them, the dielectric constant of the 1.25Â vol% SA (1.5Â mol%)/PI composite was increased to 3.60Â at 1Â Hz, and the breakdown strength Eb reached 581.5Â kV/mm. This work provides a new synthesis strategy for simultaneously achieving high insulation and high polarization of polymer dielectric
Construction of a High-Density Recombination Bin-Based Genetic Map Facilitates High-Resolution Mapping of a Major QTL Underlying Anthocyanin Pigmentation in Eggplant
High-density genetic maps can significantly improve the resolution of QTL mapping. We constructed a high-density recombination bin-based genetic map of eggplant based on 200 F2 plants from an interspecific cross (Solanum melongena × S. incanum) using the whole genome resequencing strategy. The map was 2022.8 cM long, covering near 99% of the eggplant genome. The map contained 3776 bins, with 3644 (96.5%) being effective (position non-redundant) ones, giving a nominal average distance of 0.54 cM and an effective average distance of 0.56 cM between adjacent bins, respectively. Using this map and 172 F2:3 lines, a major QTL with pleiotropic effects on two anthocyanin pigmentation-related traits, leaf vein color (LVC) and fruit pericarp color (FPC), was steadily detected in a bin interval of 2.28 cM (or 1.68 Mb) on chromosome E10 in two cropping seasons, explaining ~65% and 55% of the phenotypic variation in LVC and FPC, respectively. Genome-wide association analysis in this population validated the QTL and demonstrated the correctness of mapping two bins of chromosome E02 onto E10. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that a WDR protein gene inside the bin interval with reliable effective variation between the two parents could be a possible candidate gene of the QTL
Metal- and Pyrolysis-Free Ionic Covalent Organic Framework Nanosheet for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are crucial to enable practical water splitting for future clean energy production. The preparation of such electrocatalysts remains a great challenge because they are difficult to obtain a high energy input due to the limitations of kinetically sluggish anodic half-cell reaction. Herein, we develop a novel metal- and pyrolysis-free ionic covalent organic framework (COF) nanosheet (termed JUC-627-NS) and explore its application as an efficient OER electrocatalyst for the first time. Remarkably, the samples combined with JUC-627-NS and graphene can obtain an ultralow overpotential (275 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2), which is one of the best among metal- and pyrolysis-free electrocatalysts reported so far. Combining theoretical calculations and in-situ infrared spectroscopy, it is proved that the imidazolium salt moiety is the active center of the electrocatalyst, and the strong cation-Ï€ interaction in the complex greatly promotes the reactivity. These results therefore provide a new strategy for designing ionic COF nanosheets as efficient metal-free OER electrocatalysts for energy conversion and storage devices
Enhancing the Performance of Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes Using Room-Temperature-Processed Ga-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles as the Electron Transport Layer
Colloidal
ZnO nanoparticle (NP) films are recognized as efficient
electron transport layers (ETLs) for quantum dot light-emitting diodes
(QD-LEDs) with good stability and high efficiency. However, because
of the inherently high work function of such films, spontaneous charge
transfer occurs at the QD/ZnO interface in such a QD-LED, thus leading
to reduced performance. Here, to improve the QD-LED performance, we
prepared Ga-doped ZnO NPs with low work functions and tailored band
structures via a room-temperature (RT) solution process without the
use of bulky organic ligands. We found that the charge transfer at
the interface between the CdSe/ZnS QDs and the doped ZnO NPs was significantly
weakened because of the incorporated Ga dopants. Remarkably, the as-assembled
QD-LEDs, with Ga-doped ZnO NPs as the ETLs, exhibited superior luminances
of up to 44 000 cd/m<sup>2</sup> and efficiencies of up to
15 cd/A, placing them among the most efficient red-light QD-LEDs ever
reported. This discovery provides a new strategy for fabricating high-performance
QD-LEDs by using RT-processed Ga-doped ZnO NPs as the ETLs, which
could be generalized to improve the efficiency of other optoelectronic
devices
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of AIDS-Related Burkitt Lymphoma in China: A Retrospective Single-Center Study
Objectives: Studies on the prognosis and risk stratification of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) – related Burkitt lymphoma (AR-BL) are rare. We aim to construct a novel model to improve the risk assessment of these patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 34 patients over the past 10 years and the factors associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in univariate and multivariate Cox models. Then, the novel model consisting of screened factors was compared with the existing models. Results: With a 37-month median follow-up, the overall 2-year PFS and OS rates were 40.50% and 36.18%, respectively. The OS of patients who received chemotherapy was better compared with those without chemotherapy ( P =  .0012). Treatment with an etoposide, prednisone, oncovin, cyclophosphamide, and hydroxydaunorubicin-based regimen was associated with longer OS and PFS compared with a cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone-based regimen (OS, P =  .0002; PFS, P =  .0158). Chemotherapy (hazard ratio [ HR ] = 0.075; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.009-0.614) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) 2 to 4 ( HR =  4.738; 95% CI, 1.178-19.061) were independent prognostic factors of OS in multivariate analysis and we established a novel prognostic risk stratification model named GZ8H model with chemotherapy and ECOG PS. Conclusion: GZ8H showed better stratification ability than the international prognostic index (IPI) or Burkitt lymphoma IPI (BL-IPI). Furthermore, the C-index of the nomogram used to predict OS was 0.884 in the entire cohort and the calibration curve showed excellent agreement between the predicted and actual results of OS. No human immunodeficiency virus-related factors were found to be associated with OS and PFS of AR-BL patients in our study. Overall, the clinical characteristics and outcomes in AR-BL were shown and prognostic factors for OS and PFS were identified in this study