Copper recovery from printed circuit boards leaching solution with bioelectricity generation using microbial fuel cell.

Recovery of valuable metals via leaching printed circuit boards (PCBs) has gained moment recently. This work studied the Microbial fuel cell (MFC) performances for recovery of Cu from a Cu2+ solution by examining key operating parameters. A dual-chamber MFC with 6 cm × 6 cm × 7 cm dimensions was constructed. Both anode and cathode electrodes were made of a carbon cloth sheet. The anodic and cathodic chambers were separated by a Nafion membrane. The highest Cu recovery efficiency was 99.7% after 240 h batch mode operation, yielding 102 mW/m2 MFC power density output using 1 g/L Cu2+ solution as the catholyte (initial pH 3) and an anolyte containing 1 g/L sodium acetate inoculated with a sludge from a wastewater treatment plant's anaerobic pond, with 2 cm distance between the electrodes made of polyacrylonitrile polymer. The highest open circuit voltage, current density (based on cross-section cathode area) and power density with an external load of 1 kΩ was 555 mV, 347 mA/m2 and 193 mW/m2, respectively. Additionally, recovery of Cu in the leachate of PCBs using sulfuric acid leaching after 48 h was performed and the highest Cu recovery was 50% in 48 h.

Measurement of Two-Particle Correlations of Hadrons in e

The measurement of two-particle angular correlation functions in high-multiplicity e^{+}e^{-} collisions at sqrt[s]=10.52 GeV is reported. In this study, the 89.5 fb^{-1} of hadronic e^{+}e^{-} annihilation data collected by the Belle detector at KEKB are used. Two-particle angular correlation functions are measured in the full relative azimuthal angle (Δϕ) and three units of pseudorapidity (Δη), defined by either the electron beam axis or the event-shape thrust axis, and are studied as a function of charged-particle multiplicity. The measurement in the thrust axis analysis, with mostly outgoing quark pairs determining the reference axis, is sensitive to the region of additional soft gluon emissions. No significant anisotropic collective behavior is observed with either coordinate analyses. Near-side jet correlations appear to be absent in the thrust axis analysis. The measurements are compared to predictions from various event generators and are expected to provide new constraints to the phenomenological models in the low-energy regime.

[Association between serum sex hormone-binding globulin and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis].

Objective: To investigate the association between serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 371 middle-aged and young obese patients who were hospitalized and underwent liver puncture in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2016 to April 2021 were included. The population was divided into control group (n=43) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) group (n=328) based on the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. Subjects in NAFLD group were further divided into non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) (n=60), uncertain-NASH (n=172), and NASH (n=96). Serum SHBG was tested in patients with NAFLD who were divided into three subgroups according to tertiles. The liver pathological characteristics in different SHBG level subgroups were compared. The risk factors of NASH were analyzed by logistic regression. The prediction model of NASH noninvasive diagnosis was established by forward stepwise regression, and the diagnostic value of non-invasive model for NASH was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The median age in patients were (32±10) years old with a body mass index of (39.16±6.58) kg/m², including 236 females (63.6%). Serum SHBG level [M (Q1, Q3)] in NAFLD group was significantly lower than that in control group [16.90 (11.43, 23.00) vs. (23.45 (15.40, 31.22) mmol/L, P<0.05], and progressively diminished in NAFL, uncertain-NASH and NASH subgroups [(22.24±10.47), (20.57±19.58), (15.80±8.74) mmol; P for trend<0.05]. Compared with the high-leveled SHBG subgroup, the steatosis score (2.09±0.80 vs. 1.51±0.72, P<0.01) and lobular inflammation score (1.10±0.68 vs. 0.85±0.68, P<0.05) were significantly higher in the low-leveled SHBG group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that lower serum SHBG level was an independent risk factor for NASH (OR=2.527, 95%CI: 1.296 to 4.928, P<0.05). The area under ROC curve of SHBG combined with aspartate aminotransferase in predicting NASH in NAFLD patients was 0.752 (95%CI: 0.696 to 0.809). Conclusion: Low serum SHBG level is associated with NASH.

Patterns of repeated diagnostic testing for COVID-19 in relation to patient characteristics and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Whilst the COVID-19 diagnostic test has a high false-negative rate, not everyone initially negative is re-tested. Michigan Medicine, a primary regional centre, provided an ideal setting for studying testing patterns during the first wave of the pandemic. OBJECTIVES: To identify the characteristics of patients who underwent repeated testing for COVID-19 and determine if repeated testing was associated with downstream outcomes amongst positive cases. METHODS: Characteristics, test results, and health outcomes for patients presenting for a COVID-19 diagnostic test were collected. We examined whether patient characteristics differed with repeated testing and estimated a false-negative rate for the test. We then studied repeated testing patterns in patients with severe COVID-19-related outcomes. RESULTS: Patient age, sex, body mass index, neighbourhood poverty levels, pre-existing type 2 diabetes, circulatory, kidney, and liver diseases, and cough, fever/chills, and pain symptoms 14 days prior to a first test were associated with repeated testing. Amongst patients with a positive result, age (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: (1.05, 1.34)) and pre-existing kidney diseases (OR: 2.26; 95% CI: (1.41, 3.68)) remained significant. Hospitalization (OR: 7.88; 95% CI: (5.15, 12.26)) and ICU-level care (OR: 6.93; 95% CI: (4.44, 10.92)) were associated with repeated testing. The estimated false-negative rate was 23.8% (95% CI: (19.5%, 28.5%)). CONCLUSIONS: Whilst most patients were tested once and received a negative result, a meaningful subset underwent multiple rounds of testing. These results shed light on testing patterns and have important implications for understanding the variation of repeated testing results within and between patients.

Pattern-recognition receptors in duck (Anas platyrhynchos): identification, expression and function analysis of toll-like receptor 3.

1. Innate immunity provides the first line of defence against pathogenic organisms through a myriad of germline encoded receptors called pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs). Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3, as an important member of PRRs, is indispensable for host defence against viral infection by recognising virus-derived RNAs. However, little is known about the structure and function of TLR3 in ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), a natural host for the avian influenza virus.2. This study cloned the full-length cDNA of duck TLR3 using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The cDNA sequence of duck TLR3 was 4046 bp in length and encoded 895 amino acids. Multiple sequence alignment showed that duck TLR3 shared high similarity with that from other vertebrates.3. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis suggested that TLR3 mRNA was constitutively expressed in all tissues tested, having higher levels in the kidney, liver, breast muscle, ovary and heart. After stimulation with viral- or bacterial-mimics, including LPS, poly(I:C), pam3CSK4, FLS-1, FLA-ST and R848, the TLR3 transcript was significantly upregulated. Meanwhile, overexpression of duck TLR3 significantly promoted the transcription of IFN-ß, IRF7, TRIF, Mx, STAT1 and STAT2 mRNA after stimulation with poly(I:C).4. These results suggested that TLR3 play an important role in resistance against viral and bacterial infections in ducks.

D-Tyrosine enhancement of microbiocide mitigation of carbon steel corrosion by a sulfate reducing bacterium biofilm.

Microbiocides are used to control problematic microorganisms. High doses of microbiocides cause environmental and operational problems. Therefore, using microbiocide enhancers to make microbiocides more efficacious is highly desirable. 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA) is a popular biodegradable microbiocide. D-Amino acids have been used in lab tests to enhance microbiocides to treat microbial biofilms. In this investigation, D-tyrosine was used to enhance DBNPA against Desulfovibrio vulgaris biofilm on C1018 carbon steel. After 7 days of incubation, the mass loss of coupons without treatment chemicals in the ATCC 1249 culture medium was found to be 3.1 ± 0.1 mg/cm2. With 150 ppm (w/w) DBNPA in the culture medium, the mass loss was reduced to 1.9 ± 0.1 mg/cm2 accompanied by a 1-log reduction in the sessile cell count. The 150 ppm DBNPA + 1 ppm D-tyrosine combination attained an extra 3-log reduction in sessile cell count and an additional 30% reduction in mass loss compared with 150 ppm DBNPA only treatment. The combination also led to a smaller maximum pit depth. Linear polarization resistance (LPR), electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS), and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) tests corroborated the enhancement effects.

[Programmed death ligand 1 expression and CD8+T lymphocyte infiltration in salivary gland lymphoepithelial carcinoma].

Objective: To study the expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in tumor cells and CD8+T lymphocytes in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and to analyze the correlation of PD-L1 expression with infiltration of CD8+T lymphocytes and clinicopathologic features in salivary gland lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC). Methods: Forty-two cases of primary salivary LECs and 21 cases of secondary salivary LECs were enrolled at the Department of Oral Pathology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University between 2015 and 2017. The expression of Epstein-Barr (EB) virus, PD-L1 and CD8 was examined using chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. The data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 software package. Results: EB virus was detected in 61 cases (61/63, 96.8%), including 42 (42/42, 100%) primary LECs and 19 (19/21, 90.5%) secondary LECs. The PD-L1 positive rate (score ≥1) was 97.6% (41/42), and its high-expression rate (score ≥20) was 78.6% (33/42) in primary LECs. The PD-L1 positive rate (score ≥1) was 71.4% (15/21), and its high-expression rate (≥20) was 38.1% (8/21) in secondary LECs. However, the PD-L1 positive rate (score ≥1, P=0.004) and high-expression rate (score ≥20, P=0.001) in primary LECs were higher than those in secondary LECs. There was no difference in the infiltration degree of CD8+T lymphocytes between primary and secondary LECs. There was a significant correlation between the expression of PD-L1 and CD8 in primary LECs (P=0.001) and in secondary LECs (P=0.048), respectively. Conclusions: There is PD-L1 expression in primary and secondary salivary LECs, while the expression rate is higher in primary LECs than secondary LECs. The combination of PD-L1 expression and CD8+T lymphocytes' presence suggest that most LEC patients might be responsive to immunotherapy, and primary LECs might be more significantly responsive than secondary LECs.

A NOVEL INTRAGENIC DELETION RELATED TO THE ARGININE VASOPRESSIN V2 RECEPTOR CAUSES NEPHROGENIC DIABETES INSIPIDUS.

BACKGROUND: Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a disease characterized by a defective response to the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) of the renal collecting duct leading to a decline in the ability of the pro-urine concentration. CASE PRESENTATION: A 23-year-old man presented with an over 20-year history of polyuria concomitant with hydronephrosis. The diagnosis of NDI was established by gene analysis as well as a water-deprivation and vasopressin test. All exons of arginine vasopressin V2 receptor (AVPR2) gene were amplified and sequenced. A novel hemizygous intragenic inframe deletion, cDNA 255th bp to 263th bp in exon 2 of AVPR2, was identified. These relevant translations from the 85th amino acid Asp to 88th amino acid Val were missed and replaced by amino acid Glu. After treating the patient with hydrochlorothiazide, his symptoms improved significantly. CONCLUSION: The genetic analysis revealed a novel X-linked intragenic inframe deletion, AVPR2 gene cDNA 255th bp to 263th bp, causing NDI.

[Safety of del Nido cardioplegia in coronary artery bypass grafting combined with heart valve replacement in adults].

Objective: To investigate the safety and myocardial protective effect of del Nido cardioplegia in coronary artery bypass grafting combined with heart valve replacement in adults. Methods: From April 2018 to April 2019, 84 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting combined with heart valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University and Shanghai Chest Hospital were selected, and divided into del Nido cardioplegia (n=44) group and Thomas cardioplegia (n=40) group using a random number table. The concentration of troponin was measured before anesthesia induction and 2, 12 and 24 hours after the termination of CPB, respectively. Results: The preoperative characteristics of each group were similar, including age, underlying diseases, and body surface area (all P>0.05). The frequency of intraoperative cardioplegia infusion in the del Nido group was significantly lower than that in the Thomas group (P=0.03). Compared with the del Nido group, troponin concentration in the Thomas group increased significantly at 12 hours [(4.59±0.76) µg/L vs (2.20±0.53) µg/L, t=-16.653, P<0.001] and 24 hours [(6.70±0.97) µg/L vs (1.96±0.58) µg/L, t=-26.975, P<0.001] after CPB. No statistically significant differences were found in the postoperative recovery of cardiac autonomic rhythm (P=0.887), cardiac defibrillation (P=0.880), positive inotropic drugs (P=0.163) and left ventricular ejection fraction (P=0.338) between the two groups. Conclusions: It is safe to use del Nido cardioplegia in coronary artery bypass grafting combined with heart valve replacement in adults, which can reduce the frequency of cardioplegia infusion and simplify the surgical procedure. The trend of troponin concentration suggests that del Nido cardioplegia has a better myocardial protective effect.

[Application research on carotid arterial shunting during simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy].

Objective: The optimal operative strategy in patients with asymptomatic severe carotid artery stenosis undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is unknown. We sought to investigate the safety of carotid arterial shunting during simultaneous CABG and carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods: The clinical data of patients undergoing synchronous combined CEA and CABG in the First Hospital of China Medical University between March 2017 and July 2019 was retrospectively studied. Patients with asymptomatic severe carotid artery stenosis ≥70% according to NASCET (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial) were required CABG surgery. During conventional CEA, carotid arterial shunting was used in all cases. Results: Ten patients were recruited. The average clamping time of carotid artery was 5 minutes. The average follow-up time was 10 months. We did not observe stroke, cerebral hyper perfusion syndrome, death and carotid restenosis. Conclusions: Carotid arterial shunting during synchronous combined CEA and CABG was helpful for obtaining good curative effect.

Transcriptome profiling to identify key mediators of granulosa cell proliferation upon FSH stimulation in the goose (Anser cygnoides).

1. The low reproductive performance of geese has seriously hampered the development of the industry. Reproductive performance, particularly the egg laying rate mainly depends on the development of the follicle. Previous studies have shown that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plays an important role in the process of follicular development, but the exact underlying mechanism remains unclear. 2. This study showed that FSH stimulated granulosa cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of FSH treatment on granulosa cell proliferation was greatest at a dose of 100 mIU/ml FSH for 24 h. 3. Secondly, the effect of different concentrations of FSH on goose granulosa cell proliferation was investigated, and de novo transcriptome assembly and gene expression analysis performed using short-read sequencing technology (Illumina). High-throughput sequencing results yielded 62.61 M reads and 7.8 G base pairs from granulosa cells treated with 100 mIU/ml FSH. These reads were assembled into 65,757 unigenes (mean length: 705 bp) with an N50 of 903 bp. A total of 110 upregulated and 510 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by RNA-seq. 4. Functional analysis by gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway annotation indicated that hormone biosynthesis (GO:0042446), positive regulation of hormone secretion (GO:0046887), steroid biosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation and carbon metabolism pathways were involved in FSH-mediated proliferation of goose granulosa cells. 5. After screening, a group of key responsive genes including superoxide dismutase 1, fatty acyl-CoA reductase 1, transforming growth factor-beta receptor-associated protein 1 and follistatin were tested by real-time reverse transcription PCR to confirm differential expression in granulosa cells stimulated by FSH. 6. FSH-stimulated goose granulosa cells and DEG profiling data provided comprehensive gene expression information at the transcriptional level that could promote better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying follicle development in response to FSH stimulation.

Patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure have increased concentrations of extracellular histones aggravating cellular damage and systemic inflammation.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is the most common type of liver failure and associated with grave consequences. Systemic inflammation has been linked to its pathogenesis and outcome, but the identifiable triggers are absent. Recently, extracellular histones, especially H4, have been recognized as important mediators of cell damage in various inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to investigate whether extracellular histones have clinical implications in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related ACLF. One hundred and twelve patients with HBV-related ACLF, 90 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 88 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis and 40 healthy volunteers were entered into this study. Plasma histone H4 levels, cytokine profile and clinical data were obtained. Besides, patient's sera were incubated overnight with human L02 hepatocytes or monocytic U937 cells in the presence or absence of antihistone H4 antibody, and cellular damage and cytokine production were evaluated. We found that plasma histone H4 levels were greatly increased in patients with ACLF as compared with chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and healthy control subjects and were significantly associated with disease severity, systemic inflammation and outcome. Notably, ACLF patients' sera incubation decreased cultured L02 cell integrity and induced profound cytokine production in the supernatant of U937 cells. Antihistone H4 antibody treatment abrogated these adverse effects, thus confirming a cause-effect relationship between extracellular histones and organ injury/dysfunction. The data support the hypothesis that the increased extracellular histone levels in ACLF patients may aggravate disease severity by inducing cellular injury and systemic inflammation. Histone-targeted therapies may have potentially interventional value in clinical practice.

Advances in the treatment of problematic industrial biofilms.

In nature, microorganisms tend to form biofilms that consist of extracellular polymeric substances with embedded sessile cells. Biofilms, especially mixed-culture synergistic biofilm consortia, are notoriously difficult to treat. They employ various defense mechanisms against attacks from antimicrobial agents. Problematic industrial biofilms cause biofouling as well as biocorrosion, also known as microbiologically influenced corrosion. Biocides are often used to treat biofilms together with scrubbing or pigging. Unfortunately, chemical treatments suppress vulnerable microbial species while allowing resistant species to take over. Repeated treatment cycles are typically needed in biofilm mitigation. This leads to biocide dosage escalation, causing environmental problems, higher costs and sometimes operational problems such as scale formation. New treatment methods are being developed such as enhanced biocide treatment and bacteriophage treatment. Special materials such as antibacterial stainless steels are also being created to combat biofilms. This review discussed some of the advances made in the fight against problematic industrial biofilms.

[Comparison of perioperative serum thrombomodulin levels in patients underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting with and without cardiogenic shock].

Objective: To observe the perioperative changes of serum thrombomodulin in patients with and without cardiogenic shock undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Methods: A total of 66 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery between June and December 2015 in our hospital were included in this study.The patients were divided into non-cardiogenic shock group (n=51) and shock group (n=15) according to the absence or presence of cardiogenic shock.The clinical data of the two groups were analyzed.Arterial blood samples were collected immediately after anesthesia, and at 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery.The levels of serum thrombomodulin were tested with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: (1)The prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher (64.7%(33/51) vs. 20.0%(3/15), P<0.01), while prevalence of myocardial infarction was significantly lower (41.2%(21/51)vs. 100%(15/15), P<0.01) in non-cardiogenic shock group than in cardiogenic shock group.(2)The peak plasma creatinine level, troponin I level and creatine kinase MB level were significantly lower in the non-cardiogenic shock group than in the cardiogenic shock group ((88.5±36.7) µmol/L vs. (122.6±71.1) µmol/L, 1.3(0.2, 2.7) µg/L vs. 16.4(5.8, 23.4) µg/L and (18.8±4.7) µg/L vs.(49.3±15.9) µg/L, respectively, all P<0.05). (3)Mechanical ventilation time was significantly longer (11.5 (9.0, 18.0) hours vs. 20.0 (8.5, 82.5) hours, P=0.02), and frequency of intra-aortic balloon pump use (0 vs. 100%, P<0.01) was significantly higher in the cardiogenic shock group than in the non-cardiogenic shock group.(4) Prevalence of atrial fibrillation (5.9%(3/51) vs. 80.0%(12/15)) and myocardial infarction (19.6%(10/51)vs. 93.3%(14/15)) that occurred during and after surgery was significantly lower in the non-cardiogenic shock group than in the shock group(all P<0.01). (5)The serum thrombomodulin concentration was similar among various time point in the non-cardiogenic shock group: 3.30(2.68, 7.44), 4.09(2.95, 7.18), 4.35(2.68, 8.22), 3.50(2.95, 8.00), 3.41(2.60, 5.97), 3.30(2.65, 5.42)and 3.94(2.82, 5.60) µg/L, taken immediately after anesthesia, and at 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery respectively, and was 2.44(1.97, 2.67), 2.21(1.93, 2.83), 2.64(2.29, 2.67), 2.84(2.26, 2.94), 3.35(2.43, 4.05), 2.76(2.73, 2.97) and 3.81(2.96, 5.96)µg/L respectively, in the cardiac shock group (all P>0.05). The serum thrombomodulin levels at 4 and 8 hours after surgery were higher in the non-cardiogenic shock group than cardiogenic shock group(all P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with the non-cardiogenic shock group, the peak serum thrombomodulin level appears later and recovers slower in cardiogenic shock patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Holographic three-dimensional telepresence using large-area photorefractive polymer.

Holography is a technique that is used to display objects or scenes in three dimensions. Such three-dimensional (3D) images, or holograms, can be seen with the unassisted eye and are very similar to how humans see the actual environment surrounding them. The concept of 3D telepresence, a real-time dynamic hologram depicting a scene occurring in a different location, has attracted considerable public interest since it was depicted in the original Star Wars film in 1977. However, the lack of sufficient computational power to produce realistic computer-generated holograms and the absence of large-area and dynamically updatable holographic recording media have prevented realization of the concept. Here we use a holographic stereographic technique and a photorefractive polymer material as the recording medium to demonstrate a holographic display that can refresh images every two seconds. A 50 Hz nanosecond pulsed laser is used to write the holographic pixels. Multicoloured holographic 3D images are produced by using angular multiplexing, and the full parallax display employs spatial multiplexing. 3D telepresence is demonstrated by taking multiple images from one location and transmitting the information via Ethernet to another location where the hologram is printed with the quasi-real-time dynamic 3D display. Further improvements could bring applications in telemedicine, prototyping, advertising, updatable 3D maps and entertainment.

Altered neural activation pattern during teeth clenching in temporomandibular disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to explore the neural activations during teeth clenching in TMDs patients pre- and post-treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty TMDs patients and 20 controls underwent clinical evaluations and functional magnetic resonance imaging with a teeth clenching task. Eleven patients received repeat evaluation and imaging after wearing a stabilization splint for 3 months. RESULTS: During teeth clench, the TMDs patients showed decreased positive activity in the left precentral gyrus, right and left inferior temporal gyrus, and left cerebellum and increased negative activations in the right medial prefrontal cortex (P < 0.05 after AlphaSim correction). The 11 TMDs patients after treatment showed a return to normal neural activity in these areas. No brain areas in TMDs patients showed differences in activation after treatment compared with the controls, except for an increase in activation in the right cerebellum in the 11 TMDs patients (P < 0.05 after AlphaSim correction). CONCLUSION: Decreased activations in cerebral areas associated with motor and cognitive functions in TMDs patients during teeth clenching were observed. Normalized activations of these areas happened in patients after routine treatment. These findings may facilitate the understanding of TMDs pathogenesis and the therapeutic mechanisms of the stabilization splint.

Glyceryl trinitrate and caprylic acid for the mitigation of the Desulfovibrio vulgaris biofilm on C1018 carbon steel.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), also known as biocorrosion, is caused by corrosive biofilms. MIC is a growing problem, especially in the oil and gas industry. Among various corrosive microbes, sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) are often the leading culprit. Biofilm mitigation is the key to MIC mitigation. Biocide applications against biofilms promote resistance over time. Thus, it is imperative to develop new biodegradable and cost-effective biocides for large-scale field applications. Using the corrosive Desulfovibrio vulgaris (an SRB) biofilm as a model biofilm, this work demonstrated that a cocktail of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) and caprylic acid (CA) was very effective for biofilm prevention and mitigation of established biofilms on C1018 carbon steel coupons. The most probable number sessile cell count data and confocal laser scanning microscope biofilm images proved that the biocide cocktail of 25 ppm (w/w) GTN + 0.1% (w/w) CA successfully prevented the D. vulgaris biofilm establishment on C1018 carbon steel coupons while 100 ppm GTN + 0.1% CA effectively mitigated pre-established D. vulgaris biofilms on C1018 carbon steel coupons. In both cases, the cocktails were able to reduce the sessile cell count from 10(6) cells/cm(2) to an undetectable level.

An updatable holographic three-dimensional display.

Holographic three-dimensional (3D) displays provide realistic images without the need for special eyewear, making them valuable tools for applications that require situational awareness, such as medical, industrial and military imaging. Currently commercially available holographic 3D displays use photopolymers that lack image-updating capability, resulting in restricted use and high cost. Photorefractive polymers are dynamic holographic recording materials that allow updating of images and have a wide range of applications, including optical correlation, imaging through scattering media and optical communication. To be suitable for 3D displays, photorefractive polymers need to have nearly 100% diffraction efficiency, fast writing time, hours of image persistence, rapid erasure, and large area-a combination of properties that has not been shown before. Here, we report an updatable holographic 3D display based on photorefractive polymers with such properties, capable of recording and displaying new images every few minutes. This is the largest photorefractive 3D display to date (4 x 4 inches in size); it can be recorded within a few minutes, viewed for several hours without the need for refreshing, and can be completely erased and updated with new images when desired.

Clinical three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy research using repeated computed tomography scans for field reduction in older non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

This study investigated the curative and toxic effects of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), using repeated CT scans for field reduction in older non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. 3D-CRT was administered to 36 older patients with NSCLC, and irradiation fields included the primary lesion and metastatic lymph nodes. After CT localization scanning, images were fed into a treatment planning system to delineate the gross tumor volume (GTV)1 and prepare Plan 1. After the DT50 (dose of the tumor is 50 Gy) increased from 50 Gy in 25 fractions to 54 Gy in 27 fractions, secondary CT localization scanning was performed to delineate GTV2 and prepare Plan 2; radiotherapy was administered continuously. When the DT increased to 60-65 Gy, tertiary CT scanning was performed to prepare another plan. The field was reduced to boost irradiation to the residual target volume until the total DT increased to 68-74 Gy. Compared with GTV1, the median absolute volume regression and median relative regression amounts for GTV2 were 68.85 cm(3) and 31.17%, respectively (Z = -2.673, P = 0.021). There were 8 cases of complete remission (22.2%), 20 of partial remission (55.6%), 7 of stable disease (19.4%), and 1 of progressive disease (2.8%). The total effectiveness rate was 77.8% and the 1- and 2-year survival rates were 63.9 and 27.8%, respectively. Radiation esophagitis and radiation pneumonia, the main toxic side effects, were tolerable. 3D-CRT, using repeated CT scans for field reduction in older NSCLC patients, could increase the local control and survival rates and relieve the toxic radiotherapy side effects.