Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the main mediator of the Renin-Angiotensin-System acting on AT<sub>1</sub> and other AT receptors. It is regarded as a pleiotropic agent that induces many actions, including func...Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the main mediator of the Renin-Angiotensin-System acting on AT<sub>1</sub> and other AT receptors. It is regarded as a pleiotropic agent that induces many actions, including functioning as a growth factor, and as a contractile hormone, among others. The aim of this work was to examine the impact of Ang II on the expression and function of α<sub>1</sub>-adrenergic receptors (α<sub>1</sub>-ARs) in cultured rat aorta, and aorta-derived smooth muscle cells. Isolated Wistar rat aorta was incubated for 24 h in DMEM at 37˚C, then subjected to isometric tension and to the action of added norepinephrine, in concentration-response curves. Ang II was added (1 × 10<sup>−5</sup> M), and in some experiments, 5-Methylurapidil (α<sub>1A</sub>-AR antagonist), AH11110A (α<sub>1B</sub>-AR antagonist), or BMY-7378 (α<sub>1D</sub>-AR antagonist), were used to identify the α<sub>1</sub>-AR involved in the response. Desensitization of the contractile response to norepinephrine was observed due to incubation time, and by the Ang II action. α<sub>1D</sub>-AR was protected from desensitization by BMY-7378;while RS-100329 and prazosin partially mitigated desensitization. In another set of experiments, isolated aorta-derived smooth muscle cells were exposed to Ang II and α<sub>1</sub>-ARs proteins were evaluated. α<sub>1D</sub>-AR increased at 30 and 60 min post Ang II exposure, the α<sub>1A</sub>-AR diminished from 1 to 4 h, while α<sub>1B</sub>-AR remained unchanged over 24 h of Ang II exposure. Ang II induced an increase of α<sub>1D</sub>-AR at short times, and BMY-7378 protected α<sub>1D</sub>-AR from desensitization.展开更多
This study was aimed to investigate the effects of hydrothermal aging, propene and SO<sub>2</sub> poisoning on the ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR) performance of both...This study was aimed to investigate the effects of hydrothermal aging, propene and SO<sub>2</sub> poisoning on the ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR) performance of both Cu-SAPO-34 and Cu-ZSM-5. The catalytic activities of fresh, aged and poisoned samples were tested in ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR) of NO<sub>x</sub> conditions. The XRD, TG and N<sub>2</sub>-desorption results showed that the structures of the Cu-SAPO-34 and Cu-ZSM-5 remained intact after 750˚C hydrothermally aged, SO<sub>2</sub> and propene poisoned. After hydrothermal aging at 750˚C for 12 h, the NO reduction performance of Cu-ZSM-5 was significantly reduced at lower temperatures, while that of Cu-SAPO-34 was less affected. Moreover, Cu-SAPO-34 catalyst showed high NO conversion with SO<sub>2</sub> or propene compared to Cu-ZSM-5. However, Cu-ZSM-5 showed a larger drop in catalytic activity with SO<sub>2</sub> or propene compared to Cu-SAPO-34 catalyst. The H<sub>2</sub>-TPR results showed that Cu<sup>2 </sup> ions could be reduced to Cu<sup> </sup> and Cu<sup>0</sup> for Cu-ZSM-5, while no significant transformation of copper species was observed for Cu-SAPO-34. Meanwhile, the UV-vis DRS results showed that CuO species were formed in Cu-ZSM-5, while little changes were observed for the Cu-SAPO-34. Cu-SAPO-34 showed high sulfur and hydrocarbon poison resistance compared to Cu-ZSM-5. In summary, Cu-SAPO-34 with small-pore zeolite showed higher hydrothermal stability and better hydrocarbon and sulfur poison resistant than Cu-ZSM-5 with medium-pore.展开更多
In this paper, we modify the Bregman APG<sub>s</sub> (BAPG<sub>s</sub>) method proposed in (Wang, L, et al.) for solving the support vector machine problem with truncated loss (HTPSVM) given in...In this paper, we modify the Bregman APG<sub>s</sub> (BAPG<sub>s</sub>) method proposed in (Wang, L, et al.) for solving the support vector machine problem with truncated loss (HTPSVM) given in (Zhu, W, et al.), we also add an adaptive parameter selection technique based on (Ren, K, et al.). In each iteration, we use the linear approximation method to get the explicit solution of the subproblem and set a function to apply the Bregman distance. Finally, numerical experiments are performed to verify the efficiency of BAPG<sub>s</sub>.展开更多
Background: Sub arachnoid block (SAB) performed by traditional landmark palpation technique can be inaccurate. This problem is exacerbated by altered patient anatomy due to obesity and age-related changes. A pre-proce...Background: Sub arachnoid block (SAB) performed by traditional landmark palpation technique can be inaccurate. This problem is exacerbated by altered patient anatomy due to obesity and age-related changes. A pre-procedural ultrasound scan of the lumbar spine has been shown to be of benefit in guiding lumbar epidural insertion in obstetric patients. Information on the use of real-time ultrasound (RUS) guided SAB, to date, been limited. This study compared RUS guided SAB to traditional landmark guided technique in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for different surgical procedures. Methods: This was a prospective, single center, comparative observational study conducted in the department of anesthesiology at our center. 560 patients who underwent spinal anesthesia either by landmark based technique or real-time ultrasound-guided methods. The primary outcome was the first attempt success rate of dural puncture when employing the two methods. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two study groups. The first attempt success rate of dural puncture in landmark guided group was 64.3% compared to 72.6% in the ultrasound guided group. This difference was not statistically significant. The procedure performance time was significantly shorter with landmark palpation compared to use of real-time ultrasound guided method. Conclusion: Use of RUS-guided technique does not significantly improve the first attempt success rate of SAB dural puncture during spinal anesthesia compared to the traditional landmark-guided technique.展开更多
The lethal dose LD<sub>50</sub> represents the most important experimental value for acute toxicity. The simple logarithmic calculation of -log<sub>10</sub> LD<sub>50</sub> = value ...The lethal dose LD<sub>50</sub> represents the most important experimental value for acute toxicity. The simple logarithmic calculation of -log<sub>10</sub> LD<sub>50</sub> = value leads to the possible poison power pLD. As with the pH or pK value, respectively, for acid or the scale of earthquake intensities the logarithm helps making large differences of orders of magnitude easier to understand since they are more comparable. The higher the pLD value, the higher is the power of poison. An increase of the pLD value by 1 stands for a tenfold increase in toxicity. The lethal acute dose for water, one of the most important and at the same time non-toxic substances of all, is about one tenth of the body weight. This leads to a possible pLD value for water of 1, an ideal starting value for a logarithmic poison scale.展开更多
Global efforts for environmental cleanliness through the control of gaseous emissions from vehicles are gaining momentum and attracting increasing attention. Calibration plays a crucial role in these efforts by ensuri...Global efforts for environmental cleanliness through the control of gaseous emissions from vehicles are gaining momentum and attracting increasing attention. Calibration plays a crucial role in these efforts by ensuring the quantitative assessment of emissions for informed decisions on environmental treatments. This paper describes a method for the calibration of CO/CO<sub>2</sub> monitors used for periodic inspections of vehicles in cites. The calibration was performed in the selected ranges: 900 - 12,000 µmol/mol for CO and 2000 - 20,000 µmol/mol for CO<sub>2</sub>. The traceability of the measurement results to the SI units was ensured by using certified reference materials from CO/N<sub>2</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> primary gas mixtures. The method performance was evaluated by assessing its linearity, accuracy, precision, bias, and uncertainty of the calibration results. The calibration data exhibited a strong linear trend with R² values close to 1, indicating an excellent fit between the measured values and the calibration lines. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (%RSD), ranged from 0.48 to 4.56% for CO and from 0.97 to 3.53% for CO<sub>2</sub>, staying well below the 5% threshold for reporting results at a 95% confidence level. Accuracy measured as percent recovery, was consistently high (≥ 99.1%) for CO and ranged from 84.90% to 101.54% across the calibration range for CO<sub>2</sub>. In addition, the method exhibited minimal bias for both CO and CO<sub>2</sub> calibrations and thus provided a reliable and accurate approach for calibrating CO/CO<sub>2</sub> monitors used in vehicle inspections. Thus, it ensures the effectiveness of exhaust emission control for better environment.展开更多
This research investigates the comparative efficacy of generating zero divisor graphs (ZDGs) of the ring of integers ℤ<sub>n</sub> modulo n using MAPLE algorithm. Zero divisor graphs, pivotal in the study ...This research investigates the comparative efficacy of generating zero divisor graphs (ZDGs) of the ring of integers ℤ<sub>n</sub> modulo n using MAPLE algorithm. Zero divisor graphs, pivotal in the study of ring theory, depict relationships between elements of a ring that multiply to zero. The paper explores the development and implementation of algorithms in MAPLE for constructing these ZDGs. The comparative study aims to discern the strengths, limitations, and computational efficiency of different MAPLE algorithms for creating zero divisor graphs offering insights for mathematicians, researchers, and computational enthusiasts involved in ring theory and mathematical computations.展开更多
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of flavonoids from the stem and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSFs) against Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>-induced oligodendrocytes (OL) damage. ...Aim: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of flavonoids from the stem and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSFs) against Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>-induced oligodendrocytes (OL) damage. Methods: Immunofluorescence was used for the detection of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), a characteristic protein of rat oligodendrocytes (OLN-93 cells). To evaluate the potential protective effects of SSFs on OLN-93 cells injured by Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>, an injury model was established by subjecting OLN-93 cells to Aβ<sub>1-42</sub> exposed. Cell morphology was examined using an inverted microscope, while cell viability was assessed using the colorimetric method of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Additionally, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured using the pyruvic acid reduction assay. The Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) injection was used as a positive control. Results: A total of >95% of the MAG immunofluorescence-positive cells were identified as oligodendrocytes. Gradually increasing concentrations of SSFs impaired the cells, and the maximum nondetrimental dose for OLN-93 cells was 75 mg/L. This study assessed the effects of SSFs on OLN-93 cells damaged by Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>. The results indicated that SSFs significantly improved OLN-93 cell morphological abnormal changes, increased the OLN-93 cell survival rate, and reduced LDH release. Conclusion: SSFs can alleviate Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>-induced damage of OL.展开更多
In this article, we deal with weak solutions to non-degenerate sub-elliptic equations in the Heisenberg group, and study the regularities of solutions. We establish horizontal Calderón-Zygmund type estimate in Be...In this article, we deal with weak solutions to non-degenerate sub-elliptic equations in the Heisenberg group, and study the regularities of solutions. We establish horizontal Calderón-Zygmund type estimate in Besov spaces with more general assumptions on coefficients for both homogeneous equations and non-homogeneous equations. This study of regularity estimates expands the Calderón-Zygmund theory in the Heisenberg group.展开更多
Introduction: Hepatitis B is an infectious disease that remains a real public health problem in Africa. Students represent a group at risk for this disease. The objective of this study was to estimate the hepatitis B ...Introduction: Hepatitis B is an infectious disease that remains a real public health problem in Africa. Students represent a group at risk for this disease. The objective of this study was to estimate the hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate among students in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A systematic search of databases (PubMed, AJOL) and a manual search of Google Scholar was conducted to retrieve all published studies reporting hepatitis B vaccination coverage among students in sub-Saharan Africa. The pooled coverage rate was estimated with a 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: A total of 35 studies were included and included 20,520 students. The mean age was 22.1 ± 5.1 years with a predominance of female sex (sex ratio F/M = 1.05). The vaccination coverage rate was 28.8% [95% CI: 22.9% - 34.7%]. Disaggregation allowed to estimate coverage rates of 29.8% [95% CI: 22.9% - 36.7%], 23.4% [95% CI: 9.4% - 37.4%] and 17.0% [95% CI: 14.4% - 19.5%] respectively in West Africa, East Africa and Central Africa. Conclusion: Less than a third of students in sub-Saharan Africa are protected against hepatitis B. However, the majority of this target group is at risk of infection. It would be relevant to screen and, if necessary, vaccinate all new students.展开更多
Research background: Breast cancer remains a major public health problem, with a high number of new cases and deaths each year. However, despite advances in research to improve this disease, there is a high rate of la...Research background: Breast cancer remains a major public health problem, with a high number of new cases and deaths each year. However, despite advances in research to improve this disease, there is a high rate of late detection, leading to diagnosis at an advanced stage and a reduced chance of survival. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with late detection of breast cancer in women in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2014 to 2020.Setting: This systematic review focuses on sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We searched for articles in four databases (PubMed, Embase, Global-Health and CINAHL) between 2014 and 2020 and performed a narrative synthesis to organize and group the different factors associated with late breast cancer detection. Result: After reviewing 583 publications, 6 studies were selected, highlighting factors such as lack of awareness, knowledge gaps, difficulties in accessing health services and financial constraints associated with late breast cancer screening. The participants, who ranged in number from 20 to 1776, were mainly aged between 18 and 25, with a mean age of 25 years and 6 months. Conclusion: The analysis enabled us to identify various factors associated with late breast cancer screening. Collaboration between health professionals, community organizations and policy-makers is essential to foster an environment conducive to the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.展开更多
We report the performances of a chalcopyrite Cu(In, Ga)Se<sub>2 </sub>CIGS-based thin-film solar cell with a newly employed high conductive n-Si layer. The data analysis was performed with the help of the ...We report the performances of a chalcopyrite Cu(In, Ga)Se<sub>2 </sub>CIGS-based thin-film solar cell with a newly employed high conductive n-Si layer. The data analysis was performed with the help of the 1D-Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (1D-SCAPS) software program. The new device structure is based on the CIGS layer as the absorber layer, n-Si as the high conductive layer, i-In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, and i-ZnO as the buffer and window layers, respectively. The optimum CIGS bandgap was determined first and used to simulate and analyze the cell performance throughout the experiment. This analysis revealed that the absorber layer’s optimum bandgap value has to be 1.4 eV to achieve maximum efficiency of 22.57%. Subsequently, output solar cell parameters were analyzed as a function of CIGS layer thickness, defect density, and the operating temperature with an optimized n-Si layer. The newly modeled device has a p-CIGS/n-Si/In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Al-ZnO structure. The main objective was to improve the overall cell performance while optimizing the thickness of absorber layers, defect density, bandgap, and operating temperature with the newly employed optimized n-Si layer. The increase of absorber layer thickness from 0.2 - 2 µm showed an upward trend in the cell’s performance, while the increase of defect density and operating temperature showed a downward trend in solar cell performance. This study illustrates that the proposed cell structure shows higher cell performances and can be fabricated on the lab-scale and industrial levels.展开更多
Silane coupling agent KH560 was used to modify the surface of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> in ethanol-aqueous solution with different proportions. The particle size of nano-α-Al<sub&...Silane coupling agent KH560 was used to modify the surface of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> in ethanol-aqueous solution with different proportions. The particle size of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> was determined by nano-particle size analyzer, and the effects of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> content, ethanol-aqueous solution ratio and KH560 dosage on the dispersion and particle size of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> were investigated. The material structure before and after modification was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Aqueous polyurethane resin and inorganic components are combined with modified nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> dispersion to form chromium-free passivation solution. The solution is coated on the galvanized sheet, the adhesion and surface hardness are tested, the bonding strength of the coating and the surface hardness of the substrate are discussed. The corrosion resistance and surface morphology of the matrix were investigated by electrochemical test, neutral salt spray test and scanning electron microscope test. The chromium-free passivation film formed after the modification of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> increases the surface hardness of galvanized sheet by about 85%. The corrosion resistance of the film is better than that of a single polyurethane film. The results show that the surface hardness and corrosion resistance of polyurethane resin composite passivation film are significantly improved by the introduction of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>.展开更多
Corn rod-like WO<sub>3</sub> nanomaterials were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The morphology, structure and optical absorption properties of the prepared samples were characteri...Corn rod-like WO<sub>3</sub> nanomaterials were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The morphology, structure and optical absorption properties of the prepared samples were characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR and UV-Vis-DRS. The WO<sub>3</sub> materials were corn rod-like morphology with about 800 nm for length and 150 nm for diameter, especially there were plenty of corn particles (about 20 nm) on the surface of corn rods. The X-ray diffraction peaks of the products corresponded with WO<sub>3</sub> standard card, and the characteristic peak of W-O bond was found in the infrared spectrum. The absorption band edge of the products was about 480 nm, indicating their potential visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity. In situ FTIR technology research showed that the prepared WO<sub>3</sub> nanomaterials had visible photocatalytic activity to gas-phase toluene. After a photocatalytic reaction for 8 hours toluene was effectively degraded, and carboxylic acid and aldehyde could be regarded as the intermediate products, and CO<sub>2</sub> was produced as the final product during the reaction process.展开更多
The simulation by the Monte Carlo method executed by the software PyPENELOPE proved effective to specify the particle propagation characteristics by calculating the absorption fractions, backscattering and transmissio...The simulation by the Monte Carlo method executed by the software PyPENELOPE proved effective to specify the particle propagation characteristics by calculating the absorption fractions, backscattering and transmission of electrons and secondary photons under the incidence of 0.5 to 20 KeV range of primary electrons. More than 99.9% of the primary electrons were transmitted in the 125 nm thick MgO/TiO<sub>2</sub> material at 20 KeV. This occurred because several interactions took place in the transmitted primary irradiation such as characteristic, fluorescence, and bremsstrahlung produced when of the occupation of the KL3, KL2, KM3, and KM2 shell and sub-shell of titanium and magnesium which are the elements with a high atomic number in the material. The transmission particle characteristic of this material is therefore an indicator capable of improving the electrical performance and properties of the sensor.展开更多
This paper presents a study on CO<sub>2</sub> atmospheric transformation which was reacted directly with lithium hydroxide solution and metallic lithium. This solution was obtained through the reaction bet...This paper presents a study on CO<sub>2</sub> atmospheric transformation which was reacted directly with lithium hydroxide solution and metallic lithium. This solution was obtained through the reaction between metallic lithium and deionized water where hydrogen is produced and by exposing the metal at ambient conditions. In the transformation process, atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> gas reacts directly with LiOH solution, in both cases, the CO<sub>2</sub> transformation kinetics was different. For this purpose, reactions between CO<sub>2</sub> and LiOH solution were carried out under controlled temperature and the second process only with metallic lithium, which was exposed at room temperature, however, in these two processes lithium carbonate oxide was formed and identified. According to the results, the efficiency in CO<sub>2</sub> transformation is a function of temperature value which was variable until completely obtaining the by-product, its XRD characterization indicated the formation only of Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> in both procedures. Under laboratory conditions lithium compounds selectively reacted with CO<sub>2</sub>. In the same way, there is an alternative procedure to obtain LiOH and Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> for different applications in various areas.展开更多
This study focused on the development and characterization of TiO<sub>2</sub>-PES composite fibers with varying TiO<sub>2</sub> loading amounts using a phase inversion process. The resulting co...This study focused on the development and characterization of TiO<sub>2</sub>-PES composite fibers with varying TiO<sub>2</sub> loading amounts using a phase inversion process. The resulting composite fibers exhibited a sponge-like structure with embedded TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles within a polymer matrix. Their photocatalytic performance for ammonia removal from aqueous solutions under UV-A light exposure was thoroughly investigated. The findings revealed that PeTi8 composite fibers displayed superior adsorption capacity compared to other samples. Moreover, the study explored the impact of pH, light intensity, and catalyst dosage on the photocatalytic degradation of ammonia. Adsorption equilibrium isotherms closely followed the Langmuir model, with the results indicating a correlation between qm values of 2.49 mg/g and the porous structure of the adsorbents. The research underscored the efficacy of TiO<sub>2</sub> composite fibers in the photocatalytic removal of aqueous under UV-A light. Notably, increasing the distance between the photocatalyst and the light source resulted in de-creased hydroxyl radical concentration, influencing photocatalytic efficiency. These findings contribute to our understanding of TiO<sub>2</sub> composite fibers as promising photocatalysts for ammonia removal in water treatment applications.展开更多
This study examines the impact of different CO<sub>2</sub> injection methods on coalbed methane recovery. Specifically, this study investigated the effectiveness of continuously injecting CO<sub>2<...This study examines the impact of different CO<sub>2</sub> injection methods on coalbed methane recovery. Specifically, this study investigated the effectiveness of continuously injecting CO<sub>2</sub> versus injecting CO<sub>2</sub> that had been soaked for two weeks. The objective was to ascertain which approach was more successful in enhancing CO<sub>2</sub> Enhanced coalbed Methane (CO<sub>2</sub>-ECBM). The experiment involved injecting 3 MPa of CH<sub>4</sub> into dry coal samples, allowing it to adsorb until reaching equilibrium, and then injecting 5 MPa of CO<sub>2</sub> to recover adsorbed CH<sub>4</sub>. The continuous method recovered CH<sub>4</sub> without detectable effluent concentration for 5 hours, but desorption efficiency was only 26% due to fast flow. On the other hand, the desorption efficiency of the cyclic method was only 12%, indicating trapped CH<sub>4</sub>. A comparison of desorption efficiency per unit of time shows the continuous method is more effective than the cyclic method. The results of this study demonstrate the continuous method is more effective for the desorption of CH<sub>4</sub>, and its efficiency can be improved by briefly soaking CO<sub>2</sub> on coal and then reinjecting it to maximize CH<sub>4</sub> recovery. It is advisable to limit the soaking time to prevent excessive swelling of the coal matrix, which can hinder seam flow and harm long-term gas production.展开更多
文摘Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the main mediator of the Renin-Angiotensin-System acting on AT<sub>1</sub> and other AT receptors. It is regarded as a pleiotropic agent that induces many actions, including functioning as a growth factor, and as a contractile hormone, among others. The aim of this work was to examine the impact of Ang II on the expression and function of α<sub>1</sub>-adrenergic receptors (α<sub>1</sub>-ARs) in cultured rat aorta, and aorta-derived smooth muscle cells. Isolated Wistar rat aorta was incubated for 24 h in DMEM at 37˚C, then subjected to isometric tension and to the action of added norepinephrine, in concentration-response curves. Ang II was added (1 × 10<sup>−5</sup> M), and in some experiments, 5-Methylurapidil (α<sub>1A</sub>-AR antagonist), AH11110A (α<sub>1B</sub>-AR antagonist), or BMY-7378 (α<sub>1D</sub>-AR antagonist), were used to identify the α<sub>1</sub>-AR involved in the response. Desensitization of the contractile response to norepinephrine was observed due to incubation time, and by the Ang II action. α<sub>1D</sub>-AR was protected from desensitization by BMY-7378;while RS-100329 and prazosin partially mitigated desensitization. In another set of experiments, isolated aorta-derived smooth muscle cells were exposed to Ang II and α<sub>1</sub>-ARs proteins were evaluated. α<sub>1D</sub>-AR increased at 30 and 60 min post Ang II exposure, the α<sub>1A</sub>-AR diminished from 1 to 4 h, while α<sub>1B</sub>-AR remained unchanged over 24 h of Ang II exposure. Ang II induced an increase of α<sub>1D</sub>-AR at short times, and BMY-7378 protected α<sub>1D</sub>-AR from desensitization.
文摘This study was aimed to investigate the effects of hydrothermal aging, propene and SO<sub>2</sub> poisoning on the ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR) performance of both Cu-SAPO-34 and Cu-ZSM-5. The catalytic activities of fresh, aged and poisoned samples were tested in ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR) of NO<sub>x</sub> conditions. The XRD, TG and N<sub>2</sub>-desorption results showed that the structures of the Cu-SAPO-34 and Cu-ZSM-5 remained intact after 750˚C hydrothermally aged, SO<sub>2</sub> and propene poisoned. After hydrothermal aging at 750˚C for 12 h, the NO reduction performance of Cu-ZSM-5 was significantly reduced at lower temperatures, while that of Cu-SAPO-34 was less affected. Moreover, Cu-SAPO-34 catalyst showed high NO conversion with SO<sub>2</sub> or propene compared to Cu-ZSM-5. However, Cu-ZSM-5 showed a larger drop in catalytic activity with SO<sub>2</sub> or propene compared to Cu-SAPO-34 catalyst. The H<sub>2</sub>-TPR results showed that Cu<sup>2 </sup> ions could be reduced to Cu<sup> </sup> and Cu<sup>0</sup> for Cu-ZSM-5, while no significant transformation of copper species was observed for Cu-SAPO-34. Meanwhile, the UV-vis DRS results showed that CuO species were formed in Cu-ZSM-5, while little changes were observed for the Cu-SAPO-34. Cu-SAPO-34 showed high sulfur and hydrocarbon poison resistance compared to Cu-ZSM-5. In summary, Cu-SAPO-34 with small-pore zeolite showed higher hydrothermal stability and better hydrocarbon and sulfur poison resistant than Cu-ZSM-5 with medium-pore.
文摘In this paper, we modify the Bregman APG<sub>s</sub> (BAPG<sub>s</sub>) method proposed in (Wang, L, et al.) for solving the support vector machine problem with truncated loss (HTPSVM) given in (Zhu, W, et al.), we also add an adaptive parameter selection technique based on (Ren, K, et al.). In each iteration, we use the linear approximation method to get the explicit solution of the subproblem and set a function to apply the Bregman distance. Finally, numerical experiments are performed to verify the efficiency of BAPG<sub>s</sub>.
文摘Background: Sub arachnoid block (SAB) performed by traditional landmark palpation technique can be inaccurate. This problem is exacerbated by altered patient anatomy due to obesity and age-related changes. A pre-procedural ultrasound scan of the lumbar spine has been shown to be of benefit in guiding lumbar epidural insertion in obstetric patients. Information on the use of real-time ultrasound (RUS) guided SAB, to date, been limited. This study compared RUS guided SAB to traditional landmark guided technique in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for different surgical procedures. Methods: This was a prospective, single center, comparative observational study conducted in the department of anesthesiology at our center. 560 patients who underwent spinal anesthesia either by landmark based technique or real-time ultrasound-guided methods. The primary outcome was the first attempt success rate of dural puncture when employing the two methods. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two study groups. The first attempt success rate of dural puncture in landmark guided group was 64.3% compared to 72.6% in the ultrasound guided group. This difference was not statistically significant. The procedure performance time was significantly shorter with landmark palpation compared to use of real-time ultrasound guided method. Conclusion: Use of RUS-guided technique does not significantly improve the first attempt success rate of SAB dural puncture during spinal anesthesia compared to the traditional landmark-guided technique.
文摘The lethal dose LD<sub>50</sub> represents the most important experimental value for acute toxicity. The simple logarithmic calculation of -log<sub>10</sub> LD<sub>50</sub> = value leads to the possible poison power pLD. As with the pH or pK value, respectively, for acid or the scale of earthquake intensities the logarithm helps making large differences of orders of magnitude easier to understand since they are more comparable. The higher the pLD value, the higher is the power of poison. An increase of the pLD value by 1 stands for a tenfold increase in toxicity. The lethal acute dose for water, one of the most important and at the same time non-toxic substances of all, is about one tenth of the body weight. This leads to a possible pLD value for water of 1, an ideal starting value for a logarithmic poison scale.
文摘Global efforts for environmental cleanliness through the control of gaseous emissions from vehicles are gaining momentum and attracting increasing attention. Calibration plays a crucial role in these efforts by ensuring the quantitative assessment of emissions for informed decisions on environmental treatments. This paper describes a method for the calibration of CO/CO<sub>2</sub> monitors used for periodic inspections of vehicles in cites. The calibration was performed in the selected ranges: 900 - 12,000 µmol/mol for CO and 2000 - 20,000 µmol/mol for CO<sub>2</sub>. The traceability of the measurement results to the SI units was ensured by using certified reference materials from CO/N<sub>2</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> primary gas mixtures. The method performance was evaluated by assessing its linearity, accuracy, precision, bias, and uncertainty of the calibration results. The calibration data exhibited a strong linear trend with R² values close to 1, indicating an excellent fit between the measured values and the calibration lines. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (%RSD), ranged from 0.48 to 4.56% for CO and from 0.97 to 3.53% for CO<sub>2</sub>, staying well below the 5% threshold for reporting results at a 95% confidence level. Accuracy measured as percent recovery, was consistently high (≥ 99.1%) for CO and ranged from 84.90% to 101.54% across the calibration range for CO<sub>2</sub>. In addition, the method exhibited minimal bias for both CO and CO<sub>2</sub> calibrations and thus provided a reliable and accurate approach for calibrating CO/CO<sub>2</sub> monitors used in vehicle inspections. Thus, it ensures the effectiveness of exhaust emission control for better environment.
文摘This research investigates the comparative efficacy of generating zero divisor graphs (ZDGs) of the ring of integers ℤ<sub>n</sub> modulo n using MAPLE algorithm. Zero divisor graphs, pivotal in the study of ring theory, depict relationships between elements of a ring that multiply to zero. The paper explores the development and implementation of algorithms in MAPLE for constructing these ZDGs. The comparative study aims to discern the strengths, limitations, and computational efficiency of different MAPLE algorithms for creating zero divisor graphs offering insights for mathematicians, researchers, and computational enthusiasts involved in ring theory and mathematical computations.
文摘Aim: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of flavonoids from the stem and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSFs) against Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>-induced oligodendrocytes (OL) damage. Methods: Immunofluorescence was used for the detection of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), a characteristic protein of rat oligodendrocytes (OLN-93 cells). To evaluate the potential protective effects of SSFs on OLN-93 cells injured by Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>, an injury model was established by subjecting OLN-93 cells to Aβ<sub>1-42</sub> exposed. Cell morphology was examined using an inverted microscope, while cell viability was assessed using the colorimetric method of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Additionally, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured using the pyruvic acid reduction assay. The Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) injection was used as a positive control. Results: A total of >95% of the MAG immunofluorescence-positive cells were identified as oligodendrocytes. Gradually increasing concentrations of SSFs impaired the cells, and the maximum nondetrimental dose for OLN-93 cells was 75 mg/L. This study assessed the effects of SSFs on OLN-93 cells damaged by Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>. The results indicated that SSFs significantly improved OLN-93 cell morphological abnormal changes, increased the OLN-93 cell survival rate, and reduced LDH release. Conclusion: SSFs can alleviate Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>-induced damage of OL.
文摘In this article, we deal with weak solutions to non-degenerate sub-elliptic equations in the Heisenberg group, and study the regularities of solutions. We establish horizontal Calderón-Zygmund type estimate in Besov spaces with more general assumptions on coefficients for both homogeneous equations and non-homogeneous equations. This study of regularity estimates expands the Calderón-Zygmund theory in the Heisenberg group.
文摘Introduction: Hepatitis B is an infectious disease that remains a real public health problem in Africa. Students represent a group at risk for this disease. The objective of this study was to estimate the hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate among students in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A systematic search of databases (PubMed, AJOL) and a manual search of Google Scholar was conducted to retrieve all published studies reporting hepatitis B vaccination coverage among students in sub-Saharan Africa. The pooled coverage rate was estimated with a 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: A total of 35 studies were included and included 20,520 students. The mean age was 22.1 ± 5.1 years with a predominance of female sex (sex ratio F/M = 1.05). The vaccination coverage rate was 28.8% [95% CI: 22.9% - 34.7%]. Disaggregation allowed to estimate coverage rates of 29.8% [95% CI: 22.9% - 36.7%], 23.4% [95% CI: 9.4% - 37.4%] and 17.0% [95% CI: 14.4% - 19.5%] respectively in West Africa, East Africa and Central Africa. Conclusion: Less than a third of students in sub-Saharan Africa are protected against hepatitis B. However, the majority of this target group is at risk of infection. It would be relevant to screen and, if necessary, vaccinate all new students.
文摘Research background: Breast cancer remains a major public health problem, with a high number of new cases and deaths each year. However, despite advances in research to improve this disease, there is a high rate of late detection, leading to diagnosis at an advanced stage and a reduced chance of survival. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with late detection of breast cancer in women in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2014 to 2020.Setting: This systematic review focuses on sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We searched for articles in four databases (PubMed, Embase, Global-Health and CINAHL) between 2014 and 2020 and performed a narrative synthesis to organize and group the different factors associated with late breast cancer detection. Result: After reviewing 583 publications, 6 studies were selected, highlighting factors such as lack of awareness, knowledge gaps, difficulties in accessing health services and financial constraints associated with late breast cancer screening. The participants, who ranged in number from 20 to 1776, were mainly aged between 18 and 25, with a mean age of 25 years and 6 months. Conclusion: The analysis enabled us to identify various factors associated with late breast cancer screening. Collaboration between health professionals, community organizations and policy-makers is essential to foster an environment conducive to the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.
文摘We report the performances of a chalcopyrite Cu(In, Ga)Se<sub>2 </sub>CIGS-based thin-film solar cell with a newly employed high conductive n-Si layer. The data analysis was performed with the help of the 1D-Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (1D-SCAPS) software program. The new device structure is based on the CIGS layer as the absorber layer, n-Si as the high conductive layer, i-In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, and i-ZnO as the buffer and window layers, respectively. The optimum CIGS bandgap was determined first and used to simulate and analyze the cell performance throughout the experiment. This analysis revealed that the absorber layer’s optimum bandgap value has to be 1.4 eV to achieve maximum efficiency of 22.57%. Subsequently, output solar cell parameters were analyzed as a function of CIGS layer thickness, defect density, and the operating temperature with an optimized n-Si layer. The newly modeled device has a p-CIGS/n-Si/In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Al-ZnO structure. The main objective was to improve the overall cell performance while optimizing the thickness of absorber layers, defect density, bandgap, and operating temperature with the newly employed optimized n-Si layer. The increase of absorber layer thickness from 0.2 - 2 µm showed an upward trend in the cell’s performance, while the increase of defect density and operating temperature showed a downward trend in solar cell performance. This study illustrates that the proposed cell structure shows higher cell performances and can be fabricated on the lab-scale and industrial levels.
文摘Silane coupling agent KH560 was used to modify the surface of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> in ethanol-aqueous solution with different proportions. The particle size of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> was determined by nano-particle size analyzer, and the effects of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> content, ethanol-aqueous solution ratio and KH560 dosage on the dispersion and particle size of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> were investigated. The material structure before and after modification was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Aqueous polyurethane resin and inorganic components are combined with modified nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> dispersion to form chromium-free passivation solution. The solution is coated on the galvanized sheet, the adhesion and surface hardness are tested, the bonding strength of the coating and the surface hardness of the substrate are discussed. The corrosion resistance and surface morphology of the matrix were investigated by electrochemical test, neutral salt spray test and scanning electron microscope test. The chromium-free passivation film formed after the modification of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> increases the surface hardness of galvanized sheet by about 85%. The corrosion resistance of the film is better than that of a single polyurethane film. The results show that the surface hardness and corrosion resistance of polyurethane resin composite passivation film are significantly improved by the introduction of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>.
文摘Corn rod-like WO<sub>3</sub> nanomaterials were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The morphology, structure and optical absorption properties of the prepared samples were characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR and UV-Vis-DRS. The WO<sub>3</sub> materials were corn rod-like morphology with about 800 nm for length and 150 nm for diameter, especially there were plenty of corn particles (about 20 nm) on the surface of corn rods. The X-ray diffraction peaks of the products corresponded with WO<sub>3</sub> standard card, and the characteristic peak of W-O bond was found in the infrared spectrum. The absorption band edge of the products was about 480 nm, indicating their potential visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity. In situ FTIR technology research showed that the prepared WO<sub>3</sub> nanomaterials had visible photocatalytic activity to gas-phase toluene. After a photocatalytic reaction for 8 hours toluene was effectively degraded, and carboxylic acid and aldehyde could be regarded as the intermediate products, and CO<sub>2</sub> was produced as the final product during the reaction process.
文摘The simulation by the Monte Carlo method executed by the software PyPENELOPE proved effective to specify the particle propagation characteristics by calculating the absorption fractions, backscattering and transmission of electrons and secondary photons under the incidence of 0.5 to 20 KeV range of primary electrons. More than 99.9% of the primary electrons were transmitted in the 125 nm thick MgO/TiO<sub>2</sub> material at 20 KeV. This occurred because several interactions took place in the transmitted primary irradiation such as characteristic, fluorescence, and bremsstrahlung produced when of the occupation of the KL3, KL2, KM3, and KM2 shell and sub-shell of titanium and magnesium which are the elements with a high atomic number in the material. The transmission particle characteristic of this material is therefore an indicator capable of improving the electrical performance and properties of the sensor.
文摘This paper presents a study on CO<sub>2</sub> atmospheric transformation which was reacted directly with lithium hydroxide solution and metallic lithium. This solution was obtained through the reaction between metallic lithium and deionized water where hydrogen is produced and by exposing the metal at ambient conditions. In the transformation process, atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> gas reacts directly with LiOH solution, in both cases, the CO<sub>2</sub> transformation kinetics was different. For this purpose, reactions between CO<sub>2</sub> and LiOH solution were carried out under controlled temperature and the second process only with metallic lithium, which was exposed at room temperature, however, in these two processes lithium carbonate oxide was formed and identified. According to the results, the efficiency in CO<sub>2</sub> transformation is a function of temperature value which was variable until completely obtaining the by-product, its XRD characterization indicated the formation only of Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> in both procedures. Under laboratory conditions lithium compounds selectively reacted with CO<sub>2</sub>. In the same way, there is an alternative procedure to obtain LiOH and Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> for different applications in various areas.
文摘This study focused on the development and characterization of TiO<sub>2</sub>-PES composite fibers with varying TiO<sub>2</sub> loading amounts using a phase inversion process. The resulting composite fibers exhibited a sponge-like structure with embedded TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles within a polymer matrix. Their photocatalytic performance for ammonia removal from aqueous solutions under UV-A light exposure was thoroughly investigated. The findings revealed that PeTi8 composite fibers displayed superior adsorption capacity compared to other samples. Moreover, the study explored the impact of pH, light intensity, and catalyst dosage on the photocatalytic degradation of ammonia. Adsorption equilibrium isotherms closely followed the Langmuir model, with the results indicating a correlation between qm values of 2.49 mg/g and the porous structure of the adsorbents. The research underscored the efficacy of TiO<sub>2</sub> composite fibers in the photocatalytic removal of aqueous under UV-A light. Notably, increasing the distance between the photocatalyst and the light source resulted in de-creased hydroxyl radical concentration, influencing photocatalytic efficiency. These findings contribute to our understanding of TiO<sub>2</sub> composite fibers as promising photocatalysts for ammonia removal in water treatment applications.
文摘This study examines the impact of different CO<sub>2</sub> injection methods on coalbed methane recovery. Specifically, this study investigated the effectiveness of continuously injecting CO<sub>2</sub> versus injecting CO<sub>2</sub> that had been soaked for two weeks. The objective was to ascertain which approach was more successful in enhancing CO<sub>2</sub> Enhanced coalbed Methane (CO<sub>2</sub>-ECBM). The experiment involved injecting 3 MPa of CH<sub>4</sub> into dry coal samples, allowing it to adsorb until reaching equilibrium, and then injecting 5 MPa of CO<sub>2</sub> to recover adsorbed CH<sub>4</sub>. The continuous method recovered CH<sub>4</sub> without detectable effluent concentration for 5 hours, but desorption efficiency was only 26% due to fast flow. On the other hand, the desorption efficiency of the cyclic method was only 12%, indicating trapped CH<sub>4</sub>. A comparison of desorption efficiency per unit of time shows the continuous method is more effective than the cyclic method. The results of this study demonstrate the continuous method is more effective for the desorption of CH<sub>4</sub>, and its efficiency can be improved by briefly soaking CO<sub>2</sub> on coal and then reinjecting it to maximize CH<sub>4</sub> recovery. It is advisable to limit the soaking time to prevent excessive swelling of the coal matrix, which can hinder seam flow and harm long-term gas production.
