Integrated assessment of environmental and economic impact of municipal solid waste incineration for power generation: A case study in China.

Municipal solid waste incineration for power generation is significant for reducing and reusing solid waste. The study conducted an integrated assessment of environment and economy on municipal solid waste incineration in China, from a "cradle to grave" perspective using 1 tonne of municipal solid waste incineration as the functional unit. The environmental impacts of each month are also calculated to analyze the dynamic change throughout one year. The results indicate that the environmental impacts are mainly concentrated in marine ecotoxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, human carcinogenic toxicity, and human non-carcinogenic toxicity. Flue gas purification, waste incineration and transportation are the key processes, which account for 65.61 %, 18.50 %, and 11.93 % of the overall environmental impact, respectively. Urea, activated carbon, chelating agent (EDTA) and diesel fuel for transportation are key factors. The life cycle cost (LCC) is 132.26 RMB/t of waste, of which the initial capital causes the largest economic cost. When considering power generated from municipal solid waste incineration to replace electricity supply from the power grid, it achieves significant environmental benefits and the normalized environmental impact value changes from 0.85 to -12.19. The findings provide references for municipal solid waste treatment to mitigate the environmental impact and reduce the economic burden across the entire life cycle.

Coordination engineering for iron-based hexacyanoferrate as a high-stability cathode for sodium-ion batteries.

Iron-based hexacyanoferrate (Fe-HCF) are promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their unique open-channel structure that facilitates fast ion transport and framework stability. However, practical implementation of SIBs has been hindered by low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), poor rate performance, and short lifespan. Herein, we report a coordination engineering to synthesize sodium-rich Fe-HCF as cathodes for SIBs through a uniquely designed 10-kg-scale chemical reactor. Our study systematically investigated the relationship between coordination surroundings and the electrochemical behavior. Building on this understanding, the cathode delivered a reversible capacity of 99.3 mAh g-1 at 5 C (1 C = 100 mA g-1), exceptional rate capability (51 mAh g-1 even at 100 C), long lifespan (over 15,000 times at 50 C), and a high ICE of 92.7%. A full cell comprising the Fe-HCF cathode and hard carbon (HC) anode exhibited an impressive cyclic stability with a high-capacity retention rate of 98.3% over 1,000 cycles. Meanwhile, this material can be readily scaled to the practical levels of yield. The findings underscore the potential of Fe-HCF as cathodes for SIBs and highlight the significance of controlling nucleation and morphology through coordination engineering for a sustainable energy storage system.

Efficacy and safety of combined stent retriever and contact aspiration vs. stent retriever alone on revascularization in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Whether the efficacy of combined stent retriever and contact aspiration (S + A) is superior to stent retriever (S) alone for revascularisation in patients with large vessel occlusive stroke remains uncertain. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the safety and efficacy of combined stent retriever and contact aspiration for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke with large vessel occlusion by comparing it with stent retriever alone. Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library databases for randomised controlled trials and observational studies (case-control and cohort studies) published before 1 October 2023 comparing the efficacy of combined stent retriever and contact aspiration versus tent retriever alone in patients with large vessel occlusive stroke. The end point of the primary efficacy observed in this meta-analysis study was the rate of first pass nearly complete or complete recanalisation (mTICI 2c-3). Secondary effectiveness nodes were: rate of first pass successful recanalisation (mTICI 2b-3), rate of near-complete or complete recanalisation of the postoperative vessel, rate of successful recanalisation of the postoperative vessel, and MRS 0-2 within 90 days. Safety endpoints were interoperative embolism, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, and mortality within 90 days. Results: A total of 16 studies were included in the literature for this meta-analysis, with a total of 7,320 patients (S + C group: 3,406, S group: 3,914). A comprehensive analysis of the included literature showed that combined stent retriever and contact aspiration had a higher rate of near-complete or complete recanalisation of the postoperative vessel [OR = 1.53, 95% CI (1.24, 1.88), p < 0.0001] and rate of successful recanalisation of the postoperative vessel compared to stent retriever alone [OR = 1.83, 95% CI (1.55, 2.17), p < 0.00001]; there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of the rate of first pass nearly complete or complete recanalisation [OR = 1.00, 95% CI (0.83, 1.19), p = 0.96], rate of first pass successful recanalisation [OR = 1.02, 95% CI (0.85, 1.24), p = 0.81], interoperative embolism [OR = 0.93, 95% CI (0.72, 1.20), p = 0.56], symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage [OR = 1.14, 95% CI (0.87, 1.48), p = 0.33], MRS 0-2 within 90 days [OR = 0.89, 95% CI (0.76, 1.04), p = 0.14] and mortality within 90 days [OR = 1.11, 95% CI (0.94, 1.31), p = 0.22]. Conclusion: Combined stent retriever and contact aspiration has a higher rate of postprocedural revascularisation (mTICI 2c-3/mTICI 2b-3) compared with stent retriever alone in patients with large vessel occlusion stroke. In addition, it was not superior to stenting alone in terms of the rate of first pass recanalisation (mTICI 2c-3/mTICI 2b-3), interoperative embolisation, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, good functional prognosis within 90 days and mortality within 90 days.

Rational Design of Nitride Phosphor-In-Glass with Robust Stability and Photoluminescence Performance.

Phosphor-in-glass represents a promising avenue for merging the luminous efficiency of high-quality phosphor and the thermal stability of a glass matrix. Undoubtedly, the glass matrix system and its preparation are pivotal factors in achieving high stability and preserving the original performance of embedded phosphor particles. In contrast to the well-established commercial Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ oxide phosphor, red nitride phosphor, which plays a critical role in high-quality lighting, exhibits greater structural instability during the high-temperature synthesis of inorganic glasses. A telluride glass with a refractive index (RI = 2.15@615 nm) akin to that of nitride phosphor (∼2.19) has been devised, demonstrating high efficiency in photon utilization. The lower glass-transition temperature plays a crucial role in safeguarding phosphor particles against erosion resulting from exposure to high-temperature melts. Phosphor-in-glass retains 93% of the quantum efficiency observed for pure phosphor. The assembled white light-emitting diodes module has precise color tuning capabilities, achieving an optimal color rendering index of 93.7, a luminous efficacy of 80.4 lm/W, and a correlated color temperature of 5850 K. These outcomes hold potential for advancing the realm of inorganic package and high-quality white light illumination.

Ti─O─C Bonding at 2D Heterointerfaces of 3D Composites for Fast Sodium Ion Storage at High Mass Loading Level.

3D composite electrodes have shown extraordinary promise as high mass loading electrode materials for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). However, they usually show poor rate performance due to the sluggish Na+ kinetics at the heterointerfaces of the composites. Here, a 3D MXene-reduced holey graphene oxide (MXene-RHGO) composite electrode with Ti─O─C bonding at 2D heterointerfaces of MXene and RHGO is developed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the built-in electric fields (BIEFs) are enhanced by the formation of bridged interfacial Ti─O─C bonding, that lead to not only faster diffusion of Na+ at the heterointerfaces but also faster adsorption and migration of Na+ on the MXene surfaces. As a result, the 3D composite electrodes show impressive properties for fast Na+ storage. Under high current density of 10 mA cm-2, the 3D MXene-RHGO composite electrodes with high mass loading of 10 mg cm-2 achieve a strikingly high and stable areal capacity of 3 mAh cm-2, which is same as commercial LIBs and greatly exceeds that of most reported SIBs electrode materials. The work shows that rationally designed bonding at the heterointerfaces represents an effective strategy for promoting high mass loading 3D composites electrode materials forward toward practical SIBs applications.

Rational ligand design for enhanced carrier mobility in self-powered SWIR photodiodes based on colloidal InSb quantum dots.

Solution-processed colloidal III-V semiconductor quantum dot photodiodes (QPDs) have potential applications in short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) imaging due to their tunable spectral response range, possible multiple-exciton generation, operation at 0-V bias voltage and low-cost fabrication and are also expected to replace lead- and mercury-based counterparts that are hampered by reliance on restricted elements (RoHS). However, the use of III-V CQDs as photoactive layers in SWIR optoelectronic applications is still a challenge because of underdeveloped ligand engineering for improving the in-plane conductivity of the QD assembled films. Here, we report on ligand engineering of InSb CQDs to enhance the optical response performance of self-powered SWIR QPDs. Specifically, by replacing the conventional ligand (i.e., oleylamine) with sulfide, the interparticle distance between the CQDs was shortened from 5.0 ± 0.5 nm to 1.5 ± 0.5 nm, leading to improved carrier mobility for high photoresponse speed to SWIR light. Furthermore, the use of sulfide ligands resulted in a low dark current density (∼nA cm-2) with an improved EQE of 18.5%, suggesting their potential use in toxic-based infrared image sensors.

Mapping knowledge of the stem cell in traumatic brain injury: a bibliometric and visualized analysis.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a brain function injury caused by external mechanical injury. Primary and secondary injuries cause neurological deficits that mature brain tissue cannot repair itself. Stem cells can self-renewal and differentiate, the research of stem cells in the pathogenesis and treatment of TBI has made significant progress in recent years. However, numerous articles must be summarized to analyze hot spots and predict trends. This study aims to provide a panorama of knowledge and research hotspots through bibliometrics. Method: We searched in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database to identify articles pertaining to TBI and stem cells published between 2000 and 2022. Visualization knowledge maps, including co-authorship, co-citation, and co-occurrence analysis were generated by VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix." Results: We retrieved a total of 459 articles from 45 countries. The United States and China contributed the majority of publications. The number of publications related to TBI and stem cells is increasing yearly. Tianjin Medical University was the most prolific institution, and Professor Charles S. Cox, Jr. from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston was the most influential author. The Journal of Neurotrauma has published the most research articles on TBI and stem cells. Based on the burst references, "immunomodulation," "TBI," and "cellular therapy" have been regarded as research hotspots in the field. The keywords co-occurrence analysis revealed that "exosomes," "neuroinflammation," and "microglia" were essential research directions in the future. Conclusion: Research on TBI and stem cells has shown a rapid growth trend in recent years. Existing studies mainly focus on the activation mechanism of endogenous neural stem cells and how to make exogenous stem cell therapy more effective. The combination with bioengineering technology is the trend in this field. Topics related to exosomes and immune regulation may be the future focus of TBI and stem cell research.

Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Spinal Cord Stimulation and Traditional Debridement Care in the Treatment of Ischemic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of SCS in the treatment of ischemic diabetic foot ulcers. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the SCS group comprised 102 patients with ischemic diabetic foot who were treated with SCS for foot ulcers and nonhealing wounds due to severe lower limb ischemia. The traditional debridement care (TDC) group comprised 104 patients with ischemic diabetic foot who received only TDC. Strict screening criteria were applied. The assignment of patients to either group depended solely on their willingness to be treated with SCS. Secondary end points were transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen (PtcO 2 ), ankle-brachial index (ABI), and color Doppler of the lower limb arteries in the feet at 6 months and 12 months after treatment. The primary end point was the amputation. RESULTS: The dorsal foot PtcO 2 and ABI of the patients in the SCS group were significantly improved at 6 months and 12 months postoperation ( P < .05). The therapeutic efficacy was significantly better than that of the TDC group over the same period of time ( P < .05). The degree of vasodilation of the lower limb arteries (ie, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis arteries) on color Doppler was higher in the SCS group than in the TDC group ( P < .05). The odds ratios for total amputation at 6 and 12 months postoperatively in the SCS group were 0.45 (95% CI, 0.19-1.08) and 0.17 (95% CI, 0.08-0.37), respectively, compared with the TDC group. CONCLUSION: SCS improved symptoms of lower limb ischemia in ischemic diabetic feet and reduced the rate of toe amputation by increasing PtcO 2 , ABI, and arterial vasodilation in the lower limbs.

Quercetin as a promising intervention for rat osteoarthritis by decreasing M1-polarized macrophages via blocking the TRPV1-mediated P2X7/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by an imbalance between M1 and M2 polarized synovial macrophages. Quercetin has shown protective effects against OA by altering M1/M2-polarized macrophages, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, rat chondrocytes were treated with 10 ng/mL of IL-1ß. To create M1-polarized macrophages in vitro, rat bone marrow-derived macrophages (rBMDMs) were treated with 100 ng/mL LPS. To mimic OA conditions observed in vivo, a co-culture system of chondrocytes and macrophages was established. ATP release assays, immunofluorescence assays, Fluo-4 AM staining, Transwell assays, ELISA assays, and flow cytometry were performed. Male adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to create an OA model. Histological analyses, including H&E, and safranin O-fast green staining were performed. Our data showed a quercetin-mediated suppression of calcium ion influx and ATP release, with concurrent downregulation of TRPV1 and P2X7 in the chondrocytes treated with IL-1ß. Activation of TRPV1 abolished the quercetin-mediated effects on calcium ion influx and ATP release in chondrocytes treated with IL-1ß. In the co-culture system, overexpression of P2X7 in macrophages attenuated the quercetin-mediated effects on M1 polarization, migration, and inflammation. Either P2X7 or NLRP3 knockdown attenuated IL-1ß-induced M1/M2 polarization, migration, and inflammation. Moreover, overexpression of TRPV1 reduced the quercetin-mediated suppressive effects on OA by promoting M1/M2-polarized macrophages in vivo. Collectively, our data showed that quercetin-induced suppression of TRPV1 leads to a delay in OA progression by shifting the macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 subtypes via modulation of the P2X7/NLRP3 pathway.

Transmembrane serine protease 6, a novel target for inhibition of neuronal tumor growth.

Transmembrane serine protease 6 (Tmprss6) has been correlated with the occurrence and progression of tumors, but any specific molecular mechanism linking the enzyme to oncogenesis has remained elusive thus far. In the present study, we found that Tmprss6 markedly inhibited mouse neuroblastoma N2a (neuro-2a) cell proliferation and tumor growth in nude mice. Tmprss6 inhibits Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation by cleaving the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) co-receptor, hemojuvelin (HJV). Ordinarily, phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 binds to Smad4 for nuclear translocation, which stimulates the expression of hepcidin, ultimately decreasing the export of iron through ferroportin 1 (FPN1). The decrease in cellular iron levels in neuro-2a cells with elevated Tmprss6 expression limited the availability of the metal forribo nucleotide reductase activity, thereby arresting the cell cycle prior to S phase. Interestingly, Smad4 promoted nuclear translocation of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) to activate the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway by binding to ATF3, inducing apoptosis of neuro-2a cells and inhibiting tumor growth. Disruption of ATF3 expression significantly decreased apoptosis in Tmprss6 overexpressed neuro-2a cells. Our study describes a mechanism whereby Tmprss6 regulates the cell cycle and apoptosis. Thus, we propose Tmprss6 as a candidate target for inhibiting neuronal tumor growth.

Enhanced osteogenicity of the demineralized bone-dermal matrix composite by the optimal partial demineralization for sustained release of bioactive molecules.

Allogenic demineralized bone matrix (DBM), processed to expose bioactive proteins imbedded by calcium salts, is widely used for bone repair and regeneration as an alternative to the autologous bone graft. However, demineralized bone matrices from tissue banks vary significantly in residual calcium content and osteogenicity for clinical bone regeneration. The present study produced DBM with various residual calcium contents by partial demineralization using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium (EDTA) and hydrochloric acid. Compositional analysis reveals that, as the percent weight loss of bone materials increases from 0% to 74.9% during demineralization, the residual calcium content of DBM decreases from 24.8% to 0.2% and collagen content increases from 29.7% to 92.6%. Calorimetrical analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis demonstrated that demineralization to the residual calcium content of <4% enables the complete exposure and/or release of bone collagen fibers and other bioactive molecules. In order to evaluate the relationship between the extent of demineralization and the osteogenicity of DBM, DBM particles were fabricated with the aid of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) microfibers to form flexible foam-like DBM/ADM composites. Proteomic analysis identified various type collagens and bone formation-related bioactive molecules in both ADM and DBM. Using the rat bilateral Φ = 5 mm calvarium defect repair model, the study had shown that the DBM/ADM composite with ~20% DBM residual calcium (e.g., ~40% calcium being removed) maximized the osteogenicity for bone defect repair after 4 and 8 weeks. DBM with ~40% calcium removal had the maximal osteogenicity presumably through the sustained release of bioactive molecules during the process of bone regeneration.

Exploring gene-patient association to identify personalized cancer driver genes by linear neighborhood propagation.

BACKGROUND: Driver genes play a vital role in the development of cancer. Identifying driver genes is critical for diagnosing and understanding cancer. However, challenges remain in identifying personalized driver genes due to tumor heterogeneity of cancer. Although many computational methods have been developed to solve this problem, few efforts have been undertaken to explore gene-patient associations to identify personalized driver genes. RESULTS: Here we propose a method called LPDriver to identify personalized cancer driver genes by employing linear neighborhood propagation model on individual genetic data. LPDriver builds personalized gene network based on the genetic data of individual patients, extracts the gene-patient associations from the bipartite graph of the personalized gene network and utilizes a linear neighborhood propagation model to mine gene-patient associations to detect personalized driver genes. The experimental results demonstrate that as compared to the existing methods, our method shows competitive performance and can predict cancer driver genes in a more accurate way. Furthermore, these results also show that besides revealing novel driver genes that have been reported to be related with cancer, LPDriver is also able to identify personalized cancer driver genes for individual patients by their network characteristics even if the mutation data of genes are hidden. CONCLUSIONS: LPDriver can provide an effective approach to predict personalized cancer driver genes, which could promote the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The source code and data are freely available at https://github.com/hyr0771/LPDriver .