Thermal analysis of FeCoCu pre-alloyed powders used for diamond tools

By simulating the pressureless sintering process, the thermal effects of FeCoCu pre-alloyed powders have been investigated. According to the notions of the Kissinger method, the activation energies in the expansion-shrinkage conversion stage are analyzed. Results show that with Fe content increasing, the specimens’ specific heat capacity values present the increasing trend. The 25 %Fe–15 %Co–60 %Cu specimens have negative enthalpy value at 10 and 20°C/min heating rate but positive values at 30 °С/min. For the specimens with lower Cu content, the enthalpies are always positive. It is established that both the specific heat capacity and enthalpy are larger when at higher heating rates. The activation energy of the 65 %Fe–15 %Co–20 %Cu specimens is 10 times higher than that of the 25 %Fe–15 %Co–60 %Cu specimens and the 45 %Fe–15 %Co–40 %Cu specimens.При моделюванні процесу спікання без тиску досліджено термічні ефекти в попередньо легованих порошках FeCoCu. З використанням методу Кіссінджера проаналізовано енергію активації на стадії розширення–усадка. Результати показують, що при збільшенні вмісту Fe значення питомої теплоємності демонструють тенденцію до зростання. Зразки 25 %Fe–15 %Co–60 %Cu мають негативні значення ентальпії при швидкості нагріву 10 ° і 20 °С/хв, але позитивні при 30 °С/хв. Для зразків з меншим вмістом Cu ентальпія завжди позитивна. Встановлено, що питома теплоємність і ентальпія більші при більш високіх швидкостях нагрівання. Енергія активації зразків 65 %Fe–15 %Co–20 %Cu у 10 разів вища, ніж зразків 25 %Fe–15 %Co–60 %Cu і 45 %Fe–15 %Co–40 %Cu.При моделировании процесса спекания без приложения давления исследованы термические эффекты в предварительно легированных порошках FeCoCu. С использованием метода Киссинджера проанализирована энергия активации на стадии расширение–усадка. Результаты показывают, что с увеличением содержания железа значения удельной теплоемкости образцов демонстрируют тенденцию к повышению. Образцы 25 %Fe–15 %Co–60 %Cu имеют отрицательные значения энтальпии при скорости нагрева 10 и 20 °С/мин, но положительные при 30 °С/мин. Для образцов с меньшим содержанием Cu энтальпия всегда положительна. Установлено, что удельная теплоемкость и энтальпия больше при более высоких скоростях нагрева. Энергия активации образцов 65 %Fe–15 %Co–20 %Cu в 10 раз выше, чем образцов 25 %Fe–15 %Co–60 %Cu и 45 %Fe–15 %Co–40 %Cu

Liver function indicators and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study

Observational studies have shown an association between liver dysfunction and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the causality relationship between them is unclear. We aimed to determine whether there is a bidirectional causal relationship between liver function indicators (alanine aminotransferase, ALT; aspartate aminotransferase, AST; alkaline phosphatase, ALP; γ-glutamyltransferase, GGT) and HCC. Our two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study acquired single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with liver function indicators (ALT, n = 134,182; AST, n = 134,154; GGT, n = 118,309; ALP, n = 105,030) and with HCC (n = 197,611) from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of East Asian ancestry in Japan (BioBank Japan, BBJ). Univariable MR analyses were performed to identify whether the genetic evidence of exposure was significantly associated with outcome. Multivariable MR analysis was conducted to estimate the independent effects of exposures on outcome. Univariable MR analysis indicated that the level of ALT, AST, and GGT was the risk factor for HCC incidence. Meanwhile, multivariable MR analysis revealed that AST was an independent risk factor for HCC. The hazard ratio (HR) of the probability of HCC was 3.045 [95% confidence interval (95%CI), 1.697–5.463, p = 0.003] for AST. The results of reverse MR analyses showed that gene-predictive HCC incidence could increase the levels of AST (HR = 1.031, 95%CI: 1.009–1.054, p = 2.52 × 10−4) and ALT (HR = 1.040, 95%CI: 1.019–1.063, p = 0.005). Meanwhile, HCC may be negatively correlated with ALP levels (HR = 0.971, 95%CI: 0.947–0.995, p = 0.018). This study provides evidence to support that genetically predicted higher levels of AST are related to increased risk of HCC, with no strong evidence of a causal effect of genetically predicted ALP, ALP, and GGT on HCC. In addition, genetic predisposition to HCC could influence blood concentration of ALT, AST, and ALP. Thus, this may create a vicious cycle

Efficacy and safety of the compound Chinese medicine SaiLuoTong in vascular dementia: A randomized clinical trial

Introduction: No licensed medications are available to treat vascular dementia (VaD). Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to experimental groups (SaiLuoTong [SLT] 360 or 240 mg for groups A and B for 52 weeks, respectively) or placebo group (SLT 360 mg and 240 mg for group C only from weeks 27 to 52, respectively). Results: Three hundred twenty-five patients were included in final analysis. At week 26, the difference in VaD Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale scores was 2.67 (95% confidence interval, 1.54 to 3.81) for groups A versus C, and 2.48 (1.34 to 3.62) for groups B versus C (both Discussion: This study suggests that SLT is effective for treatment of VaD, and this compound Chinese medicine may represent a better choice to treat VaD

CYP2C19 genotype and platelet aggregation test-guided dual antiplatelet therapy after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundDual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is recommended in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB). Clopidogrel is less effective among patients with loss-of-function (LoF) of CYP2C19 alleles, while ticagrelor has direct effects on P2Y12 receptor. Whether a CYP2C19 genotype plus platelet aggregation test (PAgT)-guided DAPT after CABG could improve clinical outcomes remain uncertain.Materials and methodsFrom August 2019 to December 2020, 1,134 consecutive patients who underwent OPCAB received DAPT for 1 year after surgery in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. According to the actual treatment they received in real-world, 382 (33.7%) of them received a traditional DAPT: aspirin 100 mg qd + clopidogrel 75 mg qd, no matter the CYP2C19 genotype and response in platelet aggregation test (PAgT). The other 752 (66.3%) patients received an individual DAPT based on CYP2C19 genotype and PAgT: aspirin 100 mg qd + clopidogrel 75 mg qd if CYP2C19 was extensive metabolizer, or moderate metabolizer but normal response in PAgT; aspirin 100 mg qd + ticagrelor 90 mg bid if CYP2C19 was poor metabolizer, or moderate metabolizer but no or low response in PAgT. One-year follow-up was achieved for all patients. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke. The safety outcome was thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) criteria major bleeding.ResultsCompared with the traditional DAPT group, the risk of MACE in the individual DAPT group was significantly lower (5.5 vs. 9.2%, HR 0.583; 95% CI, 0.371–0.915; P = 0.019), mainly due to the decreased risk of MI (1.7 vs. 4.2%, HR 0.407; 95% CI, 0.196–0.846; P = 0.016). The risk of TIMI major bleeding events was similar between the two groups (5.3 vs. 6.0%, RR 0.883; 95% CI, 0.537–1.453; P = 0.626).ConclusionFor patients who underwent OPCAB, individual DAPT (CYP2C19 genotype plus PAgT-guided strategy) was associated with a lower risk of MACE and a similar risk of major bleeding

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Combustibility of Boron-Containing Fire Retardant Treated Bamboo Filaments

Abstract:As an indoor decorative material, bamboo filaments should be treated with flame retardants for safe use. The effects of different treatment conditions on boron loading of flame retardants (boric acid/borax 1:1) in bamboo filaments were investigated by single factor experimental design. Furthermore, effects of boron-containing flame retardants on combustibility of bamboo filaments were evaluated by cone analysis. The results showed that boron loading in treated bamboo filaments increased distinctly as treatment duration, temperature, or solution concentration increased. Compared with untreated and ultraviolet (UV)-treated bamboo filaments, heat release decreased obviously in treated bamboo filaments with greater boron loading, heat rates were only 50% and 30% of untreated bamboo filaments and UV bamboo filaments, and the total amount of heat release was decreased by 39.7% and 56.5%, respectively. During the combustion process, boron-containing flame retardants had excellent smoke suppression efficacy and total smoke release was decreased by 86.1% and 91.1%, respectively. As a result, boron-containing flame retardants promote carbon residue production of treated bamboo filaments and decrease themass loss during fire.

Laboratory experimental study on red mud geopolymer used as road subgrade materials

Red mud is a strong alkaline waste discharged from the process of alumina extraction, which is harmful to the environment and its utilization rate is always low. One of the effective ways to utilize red mud is used as road subgrade material. In this paper, the industrial wastes including red mud, fly ash, slag, and desulfurized gypsum are used as basic raw materials to prepare subgrade filling materials. A series of laboratory tests, such as compaction test, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test (soaked and non-soaked conditions) and permeability test, are carried out. The physical and mechanical properties, such as maximum dry density, optimum moisture content, CBR value, expansion, permeability coefficient and soaked strength loss rate, of the mixtures with different proportions, were studied. The results can provide reference for the selection of the best proportion scheme and promote the utilization of red mud in subgrade engineering