An Opportunity for Synergizing Desalination by Membrane Distillation Assisted Reverse-Electrodialysis for Water/Energy Recovery.

Industry, agriculture, and a growing population all have a major impact on the scarcity of clean-water. Desalinating or purifying contaminated water for human use is crucial. The combination of thermal membrane systems can outperform conventional desalination with the help of synergistic management of the water-energy nexus. High energy requirement for desalination is a key challenge for desalination cost and its commercial feasibility. The solution to these problems requires the intermarriage of multidisciplinary approaches such as electrochemistry, chemical, environmental, polymer, and materials science and engineering. The most feasible method for producing high-quality freshwater with a reduced carbon footprint is demanding incorporation of industrial low-grade heat with membrane distillation (MD). More precisely, by using a reverse electrodialysis (RED) setup that is integrated with MD, salinity gradient energy (SGE) may be extracted from highly salinized MD retentate. Integrating MD-RED can significantly increase energy productivity without raising costs. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the prospects, unresolved issues, and developments in this cutting-edge field. In addition, we summarize the distinct physicochemical characteristics of the membranes employed in MD and RED, together with the approaches for integrating them to facilitate effective water recovery and energy conversion from salt gradients and freshwater.

Novel visible-light activated photocatalytic ultrafiltration membrane for simultaneous separation and degradation of emerging contaminants.

Emerging contaminants (ECs) in secondary effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have received increasing attention due to their adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Herein, visible-light responsive photocatalyst TM (TiO2 @NH2-MIL-101(Fe)) and resultant photocatalytic ultrafiltration (PUF, PVDF/TM) membrane were prepared to remove 32 typical compounds of antibiotics, 296 compounds of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and their corresponding bacterial hosts. The construction of heterojunction photocatalyst promoted the electron transfer from NH2-MIL-101(Fe) to TiO2 and the formation of N-TiO2, enhancing visible-light (λ ≥ 420 nm) photocatalytic activity. With highly-hydrophilic surface and delicately-regulated pore structure, the initial water permeance of optimal PUF membrane significantly increased to 3912.2 L/m2/h at 1.0 bar. Meanwhile, membrane retention (via adsorption, electrostatic interaction, and steric hindrance) was improved due to the narrowed pore size, highly-negative surface charge and abundant functional groups. Additionally, hydroxyl radical (•OH) was the dominant active reactive oxygen species (ROS) for ECs degradation, and the narrowed pore structure could serve as microreactors to increase ROS concentration and reduce migration distance. Consequently, the removal efficiencies of antibiotics, bacteria and ARGs were 86.5 %, 91.4 % and 91.8 %, respectively. Overall, this novel visible-light-activated PUF membrane expands membrane application, and has great potential in ECs treatment.

Novel electrocatalytic capacitive deionization with catalytic electrodes for selective phosphonate degradation: Performance and mechanism.

Phosphonate is becoming a global interest and concern owing to its environment risk and potential value. Degradation of phosphonate into phosphate followed by the recovery is regarded as a promising strategy to control phosphonate pollution, relieve phosphorus crisis, and promote phosphorus cycle. Given these objectives, an anion-membrane-coated-electrode (A-MCE) doped with Fe-Co based carbon catalyst and cation-membrane-coated-electrode (C-MCE) doped with carbon-based catalyst were prepared as catalytic electrodes, and a novel electrocatalytic capacitive deionization (E-CDI) was developed. During charging process, phosphonate was enriched around A-MCE surface based on electrostatic attraction, ligand exchange, and hydrogen bond. Meanwhile, Fe2+ and Co2+ were self-oxidized into Fe3+ and Co3+, forming a complex with enriched phosphonate and enabling an intramolecular electron transfer process for phosphonate degradation. Additionally, benefiting from the stable dissolved oxygen and high oxygen reduction reaction activity of C-MCE, hydrogen peroxide accumulated in E-CDI (158 µM) and thus hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were generated by activation. E-CDI provided an ideal platform for the effective reaction between ·OH and phosphonate, avoiding the loss of ·OH and triggering selective degradation of most phosphonate. After charging for 70 min, approximately 89.9% of phosphonate was degraded into phosphate, and phosphate was subsequently adsorbed by A-MCE. Results also showed that phosphonate degradation was highly dependent on solution pH and voltage, and was insignificantly affected by electrolyte concentration. Compared to traditional advanced oxidation processes, E-CDI exhibited a higher degradation efficiency, lower cost, and less sensitive to co-existed ions in treating simulated wastewaters. Self-enhanced and selective degradation of phosphonate, and in-situ phosphate adsorption were simultaneously achieved for the first time by a E-CDI system, showing high promise in treating organic-containing saline wastewaters.

The m6A reader IGF2BP2 regulates glycolytic metabolism and mediates histone lactylation to enhance hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis.

Evidence for the involvement of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification in the etiology and progression of liver fibrosis has emerged and holds promise as a therapeutic target. Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is a newly identified m6A-binding protein that functions to enhance mRNA stability and translation. However, its role as an m6A-binding protein in liver fibrosis remains elusive. Here, we observed that IGF2BP2 is highly expressed in liver fibrosis and activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and inhibition of IGF2BP2 protects against HSCs activation and liver fibrogenesis. Mechanistically, as an m6A-binding protein, IGF2BP2 regulates the expression of Aldolase A (ALDOA), a key target in the glycolytic metabolic pathway, which in turn regulates HSCs activation. Furthermore, we observed that active glycolytic metabolism in activated HSCs generates large amounts of lactate as a substrate for histone lactylation. Importantly, histone lactylation transforms the activation phenotype of HSCs. In conclusion, our findings reveal the essential role of IGF2BP2 in liver fibrosis by regulating glycolytic metabolism and highlight the potential of targeting IGF2BP2 as a therapeutic for liver fibrosis.

A study of the purchase intention of insect protein food as alternative foods for fitness proteins.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influencing factors for fitness enthusiasts' willingness to purchase insect protein foods as fitness protein replacements. Using structural equation modeling, a model was developed to understand the factors influencing the purchase intention of insect alternative foods. We conducted an online survey of 968 fitness enthusiasts in China. In accordance with the data processing results, perceived value appears to be one of the most significant factors that contribute to consumers' purchase intention, attitude, and satisfaction with their purchase decisions. Furthermore, satisfaction has the potential to improve user attitudes and increase user purchase intentions. As a whole, this study extends research on insect protein alternatives as a potential alternative product for bodybuilding supplements. Moreover, make some recommendations to producers, designers, and promoters.

Patterned dense Janus membranes with simultaneously robust fouling, wetting and scaling resistance for membrane distillation.

Membrane fouling, wetting and scaling are three prominent challenges that severely hinder the practical applications of membrane distillation (MD). Herein, polyamide/polyvinylidene fluoride (PA/PVDF) Janus membrane comprising a hydrophobic PVDF substrate and a patterned dense PA layer by reverse interfacial polymerization (R-IP) was developed. Direct contact MD experiments demonstrated that PA/PVDF Janus membrane could exhibit simultaneously superior resistance towards surfactant-induced wetting, oil-induced fouling and gypsum-induced scaling without compromising flux. Importantly, the size-sieving effect, rather than the breakthrough pressure of the membrane, was revealed as the critical factor that probably endowed its resistance to wetting. Furthermore, a unique possible anti-scaling mechanism was unveiled. The superhydrophilic patterned dense PA layer with strong salt rejection capability not only prevented scale-precursor ions from intruding the substrate but also resulted in the high surface interfacial energy that inhibited the adhesion and growth of gypsum on the membrane surface, while its relatively low surface -COOH density benefited from R-IP process further ensured the membrane with a low scaling propensity. This study shall provide new insights and novel strategies in designing high-performance MD membranes and enable robust applications of MD facing the challenges of membrane fouling, wetting and scaling.

A study on how to improve users' perceived playfulness in and continuance intention with VR technology to paint in virtual natural landscapes.

COVID-19 has adversely affected public access to public green spaces. As a means of interacting with nature, parks and green spaces are an important aspect of residents' daily lives. In this study, the focus is on new digital solutions, such as the experience of painting in virtual natural settings through virtual reality technologies. This study examines factors that affect the user's perceived playfulness and continuance intention to paint in a virtual environment. A total of 732 valid samples were collected through a questionnaire survey, and a theoretical model was developed through structural equation model by analyzing attitude, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, continuance intention, and perceived playfulness. Results demonstrate that perceived novelty and perceived sustainability increase the positive attitude of users toward VR painting functions, whereas perceived interactivity and aesthetics have no impact on it within VR painting context. As users use VR painting, they are more concerned about time and money than equipment compatibility. This makes resource facilitating conditions a more influential factor for perceived behavior control than technology facilitating conditions.

Time-dependent hormetic effects of polypeptide antibiotics and two antibacterial agents contribute to time-dependent cross-phenomena of their binary mixtures.

Polypeptide antibiotics (PPAs), silver nanoparticles (plural) (AgNP) and quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) are considered to be the ideal antibiotic substitutes. Due to the great potential for the combined use of these antibacterial agents, it is necessary to evaluate their joint effects. In this study, the joint toxic actions for the binary mixtures of PPA + PPA, PPA + AgNP, and PPA + QSI were judged via the independent action (IA) model based on the individual and combined toxicity of test agents to the bioluminescence of Aliivibrio fischeri during 24 h. It was observed that the single agents (PPAs, AgNP, and QSI) and the binary mixtures (PPA + PPA, PPA + AgNP, and PPA + QSI) all triggered the time-dependent hormetic effects on the bioluminescence, where the maximum stimulatory rate, the median effective concentration, and the occurrence of hormesis varied with the increase of time. While bacitracin triggered the maximum stimulatory rate (266.98 % at 8 h) among the single agents, the mixture of capreomycin sulfate and 2-Pyrrolidinone induced the maximum stimulatory rate (262.21 % at 4 h) among the binary mixtures. The cross-phenomenon that the dose-response curve of mixture crossed the corresponding IA curve was observed in all treatments, which also varied with time, exhibiting that the joint toxic actions and corresponding intensities possessed dose- and time-dependent features. Furthermore, three kinds of binary mixtures resulted in three different variation tendencies for the time-dependent cross-phenomena. Mechanistic speculation indicated that test agents possessed the stimulatory modes of action (MOAs) at low-dose and inhibitory MOAs at high-dose to induce the hormetic effects, and the interplays between these MOAs varied with time to trigger the time-dependent cross-phenomenon. This study provides the reference data for the joint effects of PPAs and typical antibacterial agents, which will benefit the application of hormesis in the exploration of time-dependent cross-phenomenon and promote the future development of environmental risk assessment of pollutant mixtures.

Anti-Wetting Performance of an Electrospun PVDF/PVP Membrane Modified by Solvothermal Treatment in Membrane Distillation.

Membrane distillation (MD) is attractive for water reclamation due to the fact of its unique characteristics. However, membrane wetting becomes an obstacle to its further application. In this paper, a novel hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVDF/PVP) membrane was fabricated by electrospinning and solvothermal treatment. The electrospun membranes prepared by electrospinning showed a multilevel interconnected nanofibrous structure. Then, a solvothermal treatment introduced the micro/nanostructure to the membrane with high roughness (Ra = 598 nm), thereby the water contact angle of the membrane increased to 158.3 ± 2.2°. Owing to the superior hydrophobicity, the membrane presented high resistance to wetting in both NaCl and SDS solutions. Compared to the pristine PVDF membrane, which showed wetting with a flux decline (120 min for 0.05 mM surfactant solution treatment), the prepared membrane showed outstanding stability over 600 min, even in 0.2 mM surfactant solutions. These results confirm a simple method for anti-wetting hydrophobic membrane preparation, which presented universal significance to direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) for industrial application.

Adjusting the 3d Orbital Occupation of Ti in Ti3 C2 MXene via Nitrogen Doping to Boost Oxygen Electrode Reactions in Li-O2 Battery.

Rationally designing efficient catalysts is the key to promote the kinetics of oxygen electrode reactions in lithium-oxygen (Li-O2 ) battery. Herein, nitrogen-doped Ti3 C2 MXene prepared via hydrothermal method (N-Ti3 C2 (H)) is studied as the efficient Li-O2 battery catalyst. The nitrogen doping increases the disorder degree of N-Ti3 C2 (H) and provides abundant active sites, which is conducive to the uniform formation and decomposition of discharge product Li2 O2 . Besides, density functional theory calculations confirm that the introduction of nitrogen can effectively modulate the 3d orbital occupation of Ti in N-Ti3 C2 (H), promote the electron exchange between Ti 3d orbital and O 2p orbital, and accelerate oxygen electrode reactions. Specifically, the N-Ti3 C2 (H) based Li-O2 battery delivers large discharge capacity (11 679.8 mAh g-1 ) and extended stability (372 cycles). This work provides a valuable strategy for regulating 3d orbital occupancy of transition metal in MXene to improve the catalytic activity of oxygen electrode reactions in Li-O2 battery.

Ionic resource recovery for carbon neutral papermaking wastewater reclamation by a chemical self-sufficiency zero liquid discharge system.

Papermaking industry discharges large quantities of wastewater and waste gas, whose treatment is limited by extra chemicals requirements, insufficient resource recovery and high energy consumption. Herein, a chemical self-sufficiency zero liquid discharge (ZLD) system, which integrates nanofiltration, bipolar membrane electrodialysis and membrane contactor (NF-BMED-MC), is designed for the resource recovery from wastewater and waste gas. The key features of this system include: 1) recovery of NaCl from pretreated papermaking wastewater by NF, 2) HCl/NaOH generation and fresh water recovery by BMED, and 3) CO2 capture and NaOH/Na2CO3 generation by MC. This integrated system shows great synergy. By precipitating hardness ions in papermaking wastewater and NF concentrate with NaOH/Na2CO3, the inorganic scaling on NF membrane is mitigated. Moreover, the NF-BMED-MC system with high stability can simultaneously achieve efficient CO2 removal and sustainable recovery of fresh water and high-purity resources (NaCl, Na2SO4, NaOH and HCl) from wastewater and waste gas without introducing any extra chemicals. The environmental evaluation indicates the carbon-neutral papermaking wastewater reclamation can be achieved through the application of NF-BMED-MC system. This study establishes the promising of NF-BMED-MC as a sustainable alternative to current membrane methods for ZLD of papermaking industry discharges treatment.

Dual-layer Janus charged nanofiltration membranes constructed by sequential electrospray polymerization for efficient water softening.

The separation of hardness ions such as calcium and magnesium from hard water can improve water quality, which is important but technically challenging. Nanofiltration (NF) has attracted much attention because of its efficiency, environmental friendliness and low cost. However, common NF membranes with a singly (either positively or negatively) charged layer have insufficient water softening capacity. In this work, two types of dual-layer Janus charged polyamide NF membranes composed of oppositely charged inner and outer layers were developed for the first time by sequential electrospray polymerization strategy for efficient water softening. The effect of the microstructure of the dually charged barrier layer on the separation performance of divalent salt ions was explored. Detailed mechanistic studies revealed that the microstructure of the outer layer of the barrier layer played a crucial role in the ion separation of the Janus membrane due to its control of the reverse transport of ions. Janus charged polyamide NF membrane with a loose outer layer exhibited better water softening performance (93.6% of hardness removed) compared to the singly charged NF membranes due to the simultaneous dual electrostatic effect and no ion reverse transport confinement. This Janus charged NF membrane also possessed good antifouling performance, mainly due to its negatively charged outer layers. The mechanistic insights gained in this study reveal the huge potential of microstructural design toward high-performance Janus charged NF membranes, and provide important guidance on the future development of high-efficiency water softening NF membranes.

Heterogeneous matrix stiffness regulates the cancer stem-like cell phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Solid tumors are stiffer than their surrounding normal tissues; however, their interior stiffness is not uniform. Under certain conditions, cancer cells can acquire stem-like phenotypes. However, it remains unclear how the heterogeneous physical microenvironment affects stemness expression in cancer cells. Here, we aimed to evaluate matrix stiffness heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and to explore the regulation effect of the tumor microenvironment on stem-like phenotypic changes through mechanical transduction. METHODS: First, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to evaluate the elastic modulus of HCC tissues. We then used hydrogel with adjustable stiffness to investigate the effect of matrix stiffness on the stem-like phenotype expression of HCC cells. Moreover, cells cultured on hydrogel with different stiffness were subjected to morphology, real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence analyses to explore the mechanotransduction pathway. Finally, animal models were used to validate in vitro results. RESULTS: AFM results confirmed the heterogenous matrix stiffness in HCC tissue. Cancer cells adhered to hydrogel with varying stiffness (1.10 ± 0.34 kPa, 4.47 ± 1.19 kPa, and 10.61 kPa) exhibited different cellular and cytoskeleton morphology. Higher matrix stiffness promoted the stem-like phenotype expression and reduced sorafenib-induced apoptosis. In contrast, lower stiffness induced the expression of proliferation-related protein Ki67. Moreover, mechanical signals were transmitted into cells through the integrin-yes-associated protein (YAP) pathway. Higher matrix stiffness did not affect YAP expression, however, reduced the proportion of phosphorylated YAP, promoted YAP nuclear translocation, and regulated gene transcription. Finally, application of ATN-161 (integrin inhibitor) and verteporfin (YAP inhibitor) effectively blocked the stem-like phenotype expression regulated by matrix stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: Our experiments provide new insights into the interaction between matrix stiffness, cancer cell stemness, and heterogeneity, while also providing a novel HCC therapeutic strategy.

Huc-MSC-derived exosomes modified with the targeting peptide of aHSCs for liver fibrosis therapy.

BACKGROUND: Effective therapeutics to stop or reverse liver fibrosis have not emerged, because these potential agents cannot specifically target activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) or are frequently toxic to parenchymal cells. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (Huc-MSC)-derived exosomes show promise in nanomedicine for the treatment of liver fibrosis. However, systemic injection showed that unmodified exosomes were mainly taken up by the mononuclear phagocyte system. The discovery of ligands that selectively bind to a specific target plays a crucial role in clinically relevant diagnostics and therapeutics. Herein, we aimed to identify the targeting peptide of aHSCs by screening a phage-displayed peptide library, and modify Huc-MSC-derived exosomes with the targeting peptide. RESULTS: In this study, we screened a phage-displayed peptide library by biopanning for peptides preferentially bound to HSC-T6 cells. The identified peptide, HSTP1, also exhibited better targeting ability to aHSCs in pathological sections of fibrotic liver tissues. Then, HSTP1 was fused with exosomal enriched membrane protein (Lamp2b) and was displayed on the surface of exosomes through genetic engineering technology. The engineered exosomes (HSTP1-Exos) could be more efficiently internalized by HSC-T6 cells and outperformed both unmodified exosomes (Blank-Exos) and Lamp2b protein overexpressed exosomes (Lamp2b + Exos) in enhancing the ability of exosomes to promote HSC-T6 reversion to a quiescent phenotype. In vivo results showed HSTP1-Exos could specifically target to the aHSC region after intravenous administration, as demonstrated by coimmunofluorescence with the typical aHSCs marker α-SMA, and enhance the therapeutic effect on liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HSTP1 is a reliable targeting peptide that can specifically bind to aHSCs and that HSTP1-modified exosomes realize the precise treatment for aHSCs in complex liver tissue. We provide a novel strategy for clinical liver fibrosis therapy.

Recovery of Fluoride-Rich and Silica-Rich Wastewaters as Valuable Resources: A Resource Capture Ultrafiltration-Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis-Based Closed-Loop Process.

Traditional technologies such as precipitation and coagulation have been adopted for fluoride-rich and silica-rich wastewater treatment, respectively, but waste solid generation and low wastewater processing efficiency are still the looming concern. Efficient resource recovery technologies for different wastewater treatments are scarce for environment and industry sustainability. Herein, a resource capture ultrafiltration-bipolar membrane electrodialysis (RCUF-BMED) system was designed into a closed-loop process for simultaneous capture and recovery of fluoride and silica as sodium silicofluoride (Na2SiF6) from mixed fluoride-rich and silica-rich wastewaters, as well as achieving zero liquid discharge. This RCUF-BMED system comprised two key parts: (1) capture of fluoride and silica from two wastewaters using acid, and recovery of the Na2SiF6 using base by UF and (2) UF permeate conversion for acid/base and freshwater generation by BMED. With the optimized RCUF-BMED system, fluoride and silica can be selectively captured from wastewater with removal efficiencies higher than 99%. The Na2SiF6 recovery was around 72% with a high purity of 99.1%. The aging and cyclic experiments demonstrated the high stability and recyclability of the RCUF-BMED system. This RCUF-BMED system has successfully achieved the conversion of toxic fluoride and silica into valuable Na2SiF6 from mixed wastewaters, which shows great application potential in the industry-resource-environment nexus.

A study of college students' intention to use metaverse technology for basketball learning based on UTAUT2.

Recent advancements in virtual reality technology have attracted increasing attention from enterprises and scholars, and many new related products have been launched. Due to the current COVID-19 epidemic, the non-face-to-face teaching environment will seriously affect students' basketball learning. We therefore combined basketball learning with metaverse technology, discussed basketball teaching in a virtual reality environment, and examined the influencing factors of college students' intentions to use metaverse technology. In the light of UTAUT2, a new research model was proposed, and quantitative research was carried out. The results of a survey of 1074 valid samples revealed that habits and attitudes are crucial factors in the success of basketball learning using a metaverse. The findings also indicate that grade and gender are moderator variables.

How do intestinal probiotics restore the intestinal barrier?

The intestinal barrier is a structure that prevents harmful substances, such as bacteria and endotoxins, from penetrating the intestinal wall and entering human tissues, organs, and microcirculation. It can separate colonizing microbes from systemic tissues and prevent the invasion of pathogenic bacteria. Pathological conditions such as shock, trauma, stress, and inflammation damage the intestinal barrier to varying degrees, aggravating the primary disease. Intestinal probiotics are a type of active microorganisms beneficial to the health of the host and an essential element of human health. Reportedly, intestinal probiotics can affect the renewal of intestinal epithelial cells, and also make cell connections closer, increase the production of tight junction proteins and mucins, promote the development of the immune system, regulate the release of intestinal antimicrobial peptides, compete with pathogenic bacteria for nutrients and living space, and interact with the host and intestinal commensal flora to restore the intestinal barrier. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of how intestinal probiotics restore the intestinal barrier to provide new ideas for treating intestinal injury-related diseases.

Efficacy and safety of microwave ablation and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Surgical resection is often only possible in the early stages of HCC and among those with limited cirrhosis. Radiofrequency ablation and Microwave ablation are 2 main types of percutaneous thermal ablation for the treatment of HCC. The efficacy and safety between these 2 therapy methods are still under a debate. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of Radiofrequency ablation and Microwave ablation in treating HCC. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane databases and Web of Science were systematically searched. We included randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing the efficacy and safety of Radiofrequency ablation and Microwave ablation in HCC patients. Outcome measures on local tumor progression, complete ablation, disease-free survival, overall survival, or major complications were compared between the 2 groups. The random effect model was used when there was significant heterogeneity between studies, otherwise the fixed effect model was used. RESULTS: A total of 33 studies, involving a total of 4589 patients were identified, which included studies comprised 7 RCTs, 24 retrospective observational trials, and 2 prospective observational trial. Microwave ablation had a lower local tumor progression than Radiofrequency ablation in cohort studies (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.96, P = .02). Complete ablation rate of Microwave ablation was higher than that of Radiofrequency ablation in cohort studies (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.05-2.25, P = .03). There was no significant difference in overall survival and disease-free survival between the 2 groups. Meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the main complications between Microwave ablation and Radiofrequency ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Microwave ablation has higher complete ablation and lower local tumor progression than Radiofrequency ablation in the ablation treatment of HCC nodules. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the 2 therapy methods.

Gold Nanorods-Based Photothermal Therapy: Interactions Between Biostructure, Nanomaterial, and Near-Infrared Irradiation.

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) are ideal inorganic nanophotothermal agents with unique characteristics, including local surface plasmon resonance effects, easy scale preparation and functional modification, and good biocompatibility. This review summarizes several recent advances in AuNRs-based photothermal therapy (PTT) research. Functionalized AuNRs photothermal agents have optimized biocompatibility and targeting properties. The multifunctional AuNRs nanoplatform composite structure meets the requirements for synergistic effects of PTT, photoacoustic imaging, and other therapeutic methods. Photothermal therapy with AuNRs (AuNRs-PTT) is widely used to treat tumors and inflammatory diseases; its tumor-targeting, tumor metastasis inhibition, and photothermal tumor ablation abilities have remarkable curative effects. An in-depth study of AuNRs in living systems and the interactions between biological structure, nanomaterial, and near-infrared irradiation could lay the foundation for further clinical research and the broad application of AuNRs in PTT.

Analysis of Human Information Recognition Model in Sports Based on Radial Basis Fuzzy Neural Network.

In sports, because the movement of the human body is composed of the movements of the human limbs, and the complex and changeable movements of the human limbs lead to various and complicated movement modes of the entire human body, it is not easy to accurately track the human body movement. The recognition of human characteristic behavior belongs to a higher level computer vision topic, which is used to understand and describe the characteristic behavior of people, and there are also many research difficulties. Because the radial basis fuzzy neural network has the characteristics of parallel processing, nonlinearity, fault tolerance, self-adaptation, and self-learning, it has the advantage of high recognition efficiency when it is applied to the recognition of intersecting features and incomplete features. Therefore, this paper applies it to the analysis of the human body information recognition model in sports. The research results show that the human body information recognition model proposed in this paper has a high recognition accuracy and can detect the movement state of people in sports in real time and accurately.