UiO-66/PIM-1 Mixed-Matrix Membrane for Hexane Isomer Separation.

The separation of high-octane dibranched alkanes from naphtha is critical in the refining of gasoline. To date, research on the membrane-based separation of alkane isomers has been limited, with a particular paucity of investigations into mixed-matrix membranes. Herein, the continuous and dense UiO-66/PIM-1 mixed-matrix membrane, which was prepared through precise control of the interfacial structure, was first applied to the differentiation of C6 alkane isomers. Due to the synergistic combination of UiO-66 with differential adsorption capabilities for alkanes and PIM-1 that possesses a cross-linkable structure, the resulting UiO-66/PIM-1-(20) membrane demonstrated remarkable separation performance and high stability. Pervaporation measurements showed that the mass fraction of 2,2-dimethylbutane in the feed side was increased from 50.0 to 75.8 wt % while an excellent flux of 1700 g m-2 h-1 was maintained over a continuous 40 h period. The UiO-66/PIM-1-(20) membrane, characterized by its facile replication and processing, shows potential for large-scale fabrication. This study offers a new approach to the membrane separation of alkane isomers.

High expression of protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B'' alpha predicts poor outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B'' alpha (PPP2R3A) gene has been reported in other tumors, but the influence of PPP2R3A gene expression on the occurrence, development, and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. AIM: To investigate whether the PPP2R3A gene could be used to predict tumor recurrence and survival of HCC patients after liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: Diseased liver tissues of HCC patients after LT were collected as well as their clinical data and follow-up information. The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of PPP2R3A protein in the tissues of 108 patients with primary liver cancer. The χ 2 test was used to analyze the relationship between PPP2R3A protein expression levels and the clinicopathological features of tumors. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze overall postoperative survival. The COX proportional hazard model was used to analyze adverse prognostic factors. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry showed that the PPP2R3A protein was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of HCC cells. Compared to corresponding peritumoral tissues, expression was higher in HCC tissues (P ≤ 0.001). Correlation analysis showed that high PPP2R3A expression was correlated with preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels (P = 0.003), tumor-node-metastasis-t stage (P ≤ 0.001), and envelope invasion (P = 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that overall survival (P ≤ 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (P = 0.025) of patients with high PPP2R3A expression (≥ 4 points) were poor compared to those with low expression (< 4 points). The overall survival rates or recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years with high PPP2R3A expression were 73%, 38%, and 23% or 31%, 23%, and 23%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that high PPP2R3A expression (hazard ratio = 2.900, 95% confidence interval: 1.411-5.960, P = 0.004) was an independent survival risk factor of HCC patients after LT, and it was also an independent predictor of postoperative tumor recurrence. This study also showed in patients with AFP ≥ 400 ng/mL, the overall survival (P ≤ 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (P = 0.023) of those with high PPP2R3A expression were significantly worse compared to those with low PPP2R3A expression. When PPP2R3A expression was low, the overall survival rate (P = 0.461) or recurrence-free survival rate (P = 0.072) after LT in patients with AFP < 400 ng/mL and ≥ 400 ng/mL was not significantly difference. The 1, 2, and 3 year survival rate of patients with low PPP2R3A expression and AFP < 400 ng/mL were 98%, 80%, and 69%, respectively, while patients who met Hangzhou criteria had a post-transplant 1, 2, and 3 years overall survival rate of 89%, 66%, and 55%, respectively. CONCLUSION: High expression of PPP2R3A might be a potential marker for predicting poor prognosis of HCC after LT. Combined with serum AFP levels, PPP2R3A might enhance the accuracy of predicting HCC outcome in patients after LT and supplement the efficacy of the Hangzhou criteria.

Sample width and thickness effects on upward flame spread over PMMA surface.

Upward flame spread has the same propagating direction with air flow and buoyancy, and features as the most hazardous fire case in all flame spread configurations. It has been a long time for fire researchers to find a simple and effective method to evaluate upward flame spread behaviors, especially for different materials and sample sizes. The aim of this work was motivated by the research of sample width and thickness effects on upward flame spread behavior, including flame spread rate during acceleration propagation for different sample thickness and width, theoretical global mass loss prediction based on Emmons's hypothesis, and dimensionless flame height scaling with dimensionless heat release rate for steady stage burning. Four kinds of sample thicknesses were selected, including 1.7, 3.5, 5, and 7mm. For each kind of thickness, six sample widths ranging from 40 to 90mm were prepared. To eliminate the side flame spreading effects, one set of contrast experiments with sample sides sealed was also performed, by which way flame could only spread along sample front surface and flame propagation was inhibited along both sides. Based on Emmons's hypothesis, a method for calculation of global mass loss rate was developed. Theoretical global mass loss rate over pyrolysis surface of upward flame spread configurations was calculated and could fit the experimental data well. Finally, a dimensionless heat-release rate for wall flames of different sample sizes was used to scale the dimensionless flame height with a power-law exponent 0.58. The results of this study have implications concerning designs for high-rise building fire safety problems and can help to get better understandings of upward flame spread mechanism from aspects of heat and mass transfer.

Performance of Fasting Plasma Glucose and Postprandial Urine Glucose in Screening for Diabetes in Chinese High-risk Population.

BACKGROUND: The conventional approaches to diabetes screening are potentially limited by poor compliance and laboratory demand. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and postprandial urine glucose (PUG) in screening for diabetes in Chinese high-risk population. METHODS: Nine hundred and nine subjects with high-risk factors of diabetes underwent oral glucose tolerance test after an overnight fast. FPG, hemoglobin A1c, 2-h plasma glucose (2 h-PG), and 2 h-PUG were evaluated. Diabetes and prediabetes were defined by the American Diabetes Association criteria. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 2 h-PUG, and the optimal cut-off determined to provide the largest Youden index. Spearman correlation was used for relationship analysis. RESULTS: Among 909 subjects, 33.4% (304/909) of subjects had prediabetes, and 17.2% (156/909) had diabetes. The 2 h-PUG was positively related to FPG and 2 h-PG (r = 0.428 and 0.551, respectively, both P < 0.001). For estimation of 2 h-PG ≥ 7.8 mmol/L and 2 h-PG ≥ 11.1 mmol/L using 2 h-PUG, the area under the ROC curve were 0.772 (95% confidence interval [CI ]: 0.738-0.806) and 0.885 (95% CI: 0.850-0.921), respectively. The corresponding optimal cut-offs for 2 h-PUG were 5.6 mmol/L and 7.5 mmol/L, respectively. Compared with FPG alone, FPG combined with 2 h-PUG had a higher sensitivity for detecting glucose abnormalities (84.1% vs. 73.7%, P < 0.001) and diabetes (82.7% vs. 48.1%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: FPG combined with 2 h-PUG substantially improves the sensitivity in detecting prediabetes and diabetes relative to FPG alone, and may represent an efficient layperson-oriented diabetes screening method.

[Value of serum advanced glycation end products-peptide in the screening of diabetes mellitus in a community-based population of high-risk diabetics].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of serum advanced glycation end products-peptide (AGE-P) in the screening of diabetes mellitus in a community-based population of high-risk diabetics. METHODS: A total number of 857 adult high-risk diabetics from a community-based population underwent 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Blood samples were drawn to measure the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (2 hPG) and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). And blood samples were also collected to determine the serum level of AGE-P with the technique of flow injection analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to assess the screening value of serum AGE-P in diabetes mellitus. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between serum AGE-P and FBG, 2 hPG, HbA1c, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and age. RESULTS: Among them, 218 adults were diagnosed with diabetes based on the 2010 American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. According to the ROC curve, the optimal cut-point of serum AGE-P for diagnosing diabetes was 10.22 mg/L (a peak height of 25.39 mm) with sensitivity of 84.1%, specificity of 88.3% and positive predictive value of 71%. The area under curve (AUC) of serum AGE-P, FBG, 2 hPG and HbA1c for diagnosing diabetes was 0.924, 0.905, 0.951 and 0.874 respectively. When comparing AUC between serum AGE-P and HbA1c, FBG and 2 hPG, statistical significance was only found in the comparisons between serum AGE-P and HbA1c (P<0.025). Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum AGE-P was highly positively correlated with HbA1c, significantly positively correlated with FBG and 2 hPG and slightly positively correlated with WHR and age (all P<0.05). But there was no correlation with BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Serum AGE-P may be used for the screening of diabetes in the community-based population of high-risk diabetics. And it is even superior to HbA1c.

Effects on the expression of GABAA receptor subunits by jujuboside A treatment in rat hippocampal neurons.

AIM OF STUDY: To determine the effect of jujuboside A (JuA) in modulating the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) receptor subunits gene expression of hippocampal neurons at different terms in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hippocampal neurons of rat were cultured in vitro, treated with JuA or diazepam (DZP). Then GABA(A) receptor mRNAs were evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: JuA at the low dose of 41 microM (about 0.05 g/l) induced significant increase of GABA(A) receptor alpha1, alpha5, beta2 subunit mRNAs in both 24 and 72h treatments. JuA at the high dose of 82 microM (about 0.1g/l) significantly increased GABA(A) receptor alpha1, alpha5 subunit mRNA levels and decreased beta2 subunit mRNA level at 24h treatment, and decreased GABA(A) receptor subunit alpha1, beta2 mRNAs expression at 72h treatment. DZP of 10 microM significantly increased expression of GABA(A) receptor subunit alpha1, alpha5 and decreased expression of beta2 at 24h treatment, and decreased alpha1, alpha5, beta2 subunits gene expression at 72h treatment. CONCLUSION: Differences in alterations in GABA(A) receptor subunit mRNAs expression following JuA and DZP treatments could help to explain the differences in the pharmacological action of the two drugs.