System optimization study of hybrid K-edge/XRF densitometer for uranium-plutonium solution measurement.

In this paper, a comprehensive hybrid K-edge/XRF densitometer (HKED) device model is constructed using MCNP simulation. After the modeling process, a systematic simulation study is conducted to analyze the physical parameters and material selection of KED and XRF. The simulation results reveal that the optimal parameters for the X-ray tube are an X-ray source voltage of 160 kV and a 1 mm Fe filter. The sample should be placed in a vial with an inner diameter of 1.4 cm and an outer diameter of 2 cm. For the KED technique, the determined main parameters are a 1.9 cm Fe filter rod and an inner diameter of 0.08 cm for the collimator. For the XRF technique, the determined main parameters are a 0.01 cm Gd filter and an inner diameter of 0.3 cm for the collimator, with a detector angle of 150°. After selecting appropriate parameters, the average calibration factor Δµ of the KED technique was found to be 3.301 cm2 g-1, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.36%. Additionally, the comparison between the simulated and calculated values of uranium concentration revealed a minimum measurement error of 0.4%. The minimum detection concentration of KED for uranium solutions is approximately 1 g/L. For plutonium solutions ranging from 0.5 to 20 g/L, linear fitting of the Ka1 net peak area and plutonium concentration showed a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.999. The detection limit of XRF for plutonium measurement was 2.33✕10-4 g/L. The linear fitting coefficients (R2) of uranium concentration versus K-edge transmission rate and plutonium concentration versus Ka1 net peak area for the hybrid technique in measuring uranium-plutonium mixed solutions are determined as 0.999 and 0.996, respectively, demonstrating the response relationship of the HKED device to uranium and plutonium under different concentrations.

Design and performance of an epithermal neutron detector based on PFN.

In this paper, an epithermal neutron detector suitable for the Prompt Fission Neutron (PFN) uranium logging method is designed by Monte Carlo simulation. According to the simulation results, the epithermal neutron detector composed of a 1 mm cadmium (Cd) layer, a 5 mm high-density polyethylene (HDPE) layer, and a 3He tube is sensitive to epithermal neutrons. Through the simulation test of Monte Carlo in formations with different uranium content, the results show that the uranium content in the formation has an obvious linear relationship with E/T, and the detection limit can meet the minimum standard for uranium ore detection. It meets the design expectation and provides a basis for the optimal design of an epithermal neutron detector.

Predictive role of early treatment dynamics of HBV RNA and HBcrAg for HBeAg seroconversion in children with chronic hepatitis B.

This study aimed to assess the predictive capacity of emerging serological markers, serum HBV RNA and HBcrAg, for HBeAg seroconversion in children with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Treatment-naïve HBeAg-positive CHB children who admitted to the Liver Disease Center of Hunan Children's Hospital between April 2021 and September 2022 and received treatment with the combined entecavir and interferon-alpha treatment were recruited. Serum HBV RNA and HBcrAg were measured at baseline and Weeks 12, 24, and 48 of treatment. Our study showed that serum HBV RNA (HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56-0.91, p = 0.006), HBcrAg (HR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43-0.84, p = 0.003), and HBsAg (HR = 0.49, 95%CI: 0.36-0.69, p < 0.001) at Week 12 were independent predictors of HBeAg seroconversion. ROC curve analysis presented that serum HBV RNA decline value (ΔHBV RNA) at Week 36 and HBcrAg decline value (ΔHBcrAg) at Week 12 (AUC = 0.871, p = 0.003 and AUC = 0.810, p = 0.003, respectively) could effectively predict HBeAg seroconversion. Furthermore, the optimal critical values were determined and the children with ΔHBV RNA > 3.759 log10 copies/mL at Week 36 or ΔHBcrAg >0.350 log10 U/mL at Week 12 more likely to achieve HBeAg seroconversion. The serum HBV RNA and HBcrAg provide new insights into the treatment of CHB in children. Early assessment of serum HBV RNA and HBcrAg during treatment can assist clinical decision-making and optimize individualized therapeutic approaches.

Characterisation of aroma compounds, sensory characteristics, and bioactive components of a new type of huangjiu fermented with Chinese wild rice (Zizania latifolia).

Chinese wild rice (CWR) is a nutritious and healthy whole grain, worth developing. To develop and use its value, a new type of huangjiu was brewed with CWR, and the flavour characteristics, sensory quality, functional and bioactive components were evaluated. CWR (67 flavour substances) and glutinous rice (GR)-CWR huangjiu (62 flavour substances) had a better flavour than GR huangjiu (54 flavour substances), and the overall style of GR-CWR huangjiu was more skewed towards GR. The fruity, honey, caramel-like, herb and smoky aroma attributes of CWR huangjiu were higher than those of GR huangjiu (P < 0.05), while only the alcoholic was weaker (P < 0.05) due to the lower alcohol content. The huangjiu brewed using CWR had a better taste than that brewed using only GR. Furthermore, CWR huangjiu had the highest content of total dietary fiber (732.0 ± 15.2 mg/100 g), followed by GR-CWR (307.0 ± 8.5 mg/100 g), and GR (127.0 ± 2.3 mg/100 g). CWR huangjiu also had the highest total phenolic compounds (3.32 ± 0.05 mg/100 g/%vol) and total saponins (2.46 ± 0.03 mg/100 g/%vol) contents, followed by GR-CWR and GR. This study provides guidance for exploring further possibilities for CWR in the future.

Chemokines in diabetic eye disease.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic eye disease is a common micro-vascular complication of diabetes and a leading cause of decreased vision and blindness in people of working age worldwide.Although previous studies have shown that chemokines system may be a player in pathogenesis of diabetic eye disease, it is unclear which chemokines play the most important role.To date, there is no meta-analysis which has investigated the role of chemokines in diabetic eye disease.We hope this study will contribute to a better understanding of both the signaling pathways of the chemokines in the pathophysiological process, and more reliable therapeutic targets for diabetic eye disease. METHODS: Embase, PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library systematically searched for relevant studies from inception to Sep 1, 2023. A random-effect model was used and standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to summarize the associated measure between chemokines concentrations and diabetic eye disease. Network meta-analysis to rank chemokines-effect values according to ranked probabilities. RESULTS: A total of 33 different chemokines involving 11,465 subjects (6559 cases and 4906 controls) were included in the meta-analysis. Results of the meta-analysis showed that concentrations of CC and CXC chemokines in the diabetic eye disease patients were significantly higher than those in the controls. Moreover, network meta-analysis showed that the effect of CCL8, CCL2, CXCL8 and CXCL10 were ranked highest in terms of probabilities. Concentrations of CCL8, CCL2, CXCL8 and CXCL10 may be associated with diabetic eye disease, especially in diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that CCL2 and CXCL8 may play key roles in pathogenesis of diabetic eye disease. Future research should explore putative mechanisms underlying these links, with the commitment to develop novel prophylactic and therapeutic for diabetic eye disease.

Based on Gadolinium Ethoxybenzyl DTPA-Enhanced MRI: Diagnostic Performance of the Category-Modified LR-5 Criteria in Patients At Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: We aimed to modify the LR-5 strategy to improve the diagnostic sensitivity for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients while maintaining specificity. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 412 patients with 445 liver observations who underwent preoperative gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA (GD-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI followed by surgical procedures or biopsies. All observations were classified according to LI-RADS v2018, and the classifications were adjusted by modifying major features (MF)(substituting threshold growth with a more HCC-specific ancillary features (AF): presence of blood products within the mass, arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) was interpreted with hypointensity on precontrast imaging- isointensity in arterial phase (AP) and extending washout to transitional phase (TP)(2 min)). The specificity, sensitivity, and positive predictive value (PPV) were assessed to compare LR-5 (definitely HCC) diagnostic efficacy between LI-RADS version 2018 and modified LI-RADS. Results: Apart from nonenhancing "capsule", the interreader agreement of MFs and HCC-specific AFs between the two readers reached substantial or excellent ranges (κ values ranging from 0.631 to 0.911). According to LI-5 v2018, the specificity, sensitivity and PPV of HCC were 90.74%, 82.35%, and 98.17%, respectively. Based on a more HCC-specific AF, signal intensity in AP and TP (2 min), the sensitivity of the three modified strategies were 86.19%, 93.09%, 96.67% (P < .05)), while maintaining high specificity and PPV rates at 88.89% and 98.25% (P > .05) Conclusion: Further investigation into the efficacy of threshold growth as a MF is warranted. By utilizing GD-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI, enhancing the sensitivity of the modified LR-5 category may be achieved without compromising specificity and PPV in diagnosing HCC among high-risk patients.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae oral immunization in mice using multi-antigen of the African swine fever virus elicits a robust immune response.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is one of the most complex viruses. ASFV is a serious threat to the global swine industry because no commercial vaccines against this virus are currently available except in Vietnam. Moreover, ASFV is highly stable in the environment and can survive in water, feed, and aerosols for a long time. ASFV is transmitted through the digestive and respiratory tract. Mucosal immunity is the first line of defense against ASFV. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), which has been certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and has a generally recognized as safe status in the food industry, was used for oral immunization in this study. ASFV antigens were effectively expressed in recombinant SC strains with high DNA copy numbers and stable growth though surface display technology and chromosome engineering (δ-integration). The recombinant SC strains containing eight ASFV antigens-KP177R, E183L, E199L, CP204L, E248R, EP402R, B602L, and B646L- induced strong humoral and mucosal immune responses in mice. There was no antigenic competition, and these antigens induced Th1 and Th2 cellular immune responses. Therefore, the oral immunization strategy using recombinant SC strains containing multiple ASFV antigens demonstrate potential for future testing in swine, including challenge studies to evaluate its efficacy as a vaccine against ASFV.

Coral-Inspired Terahertz-Infrared Bi-Stealth Electronic Skin.

The development of electronic skin with dual stealth functionality is crucial for enabling devices to operate effectively in dynamic electromagnetic environments, thereby facilitating intelligent electromagnetic protection for autonomous perception. However, achieving compatibility between terahertz (THz) and infrared (IR) stealth technologies remains largely unexplored due to their inherent contradictions. Herein, inspired by natural corals, a novel coral-like multi-scale composite foam (CMSF) was proposed that ingeniously reconciles these contradictions. The design capitalizes on the conductive network and heat insulation properties of the foam skeleton, the loss effects and low infrared emission of metal particles, and the infrared transparency of magneto-optical materials. This approach leads to the realization of a THz-IR bi-stealth electronic skin concept. The CMSF exhibits a maximum reflection loss of 84.8 dB in the terahertz band, while its infrared stealth capability ensures environmental adaptability under varying temperatures. Furthermore, the electronic skin exhibits exceptional sensitivity and reliability as a wearable device for perceiving environmental changes. This advanced material, combining multispectral stealth with sensing capabilities, holds immense potential for applications ranging from camouflage technology to smart wearables.

Classification of high-grade glioblastoma and single brain metastases using a new SCAT-inception model trained with MRI images.

Background and objectives: Glioblastoma (GBM) and brain metastasis (MET) are the two most common intracranial tumors. However, the different pathogenesis of the two tumors leads to completely different treatment options. In terms of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), GBM and MET are extremely similar, which makes differentiation by imaging extremely challenging. Therefore, this study explores an improved deep learning algorithm to assist in the differentiation of GBM and MET. Materials and methods: For this study, axial contrast-enhanced T1 weight (ceT1W) MRI images from 321 cases of high-grade gliomas and solitary brain metastasis were collected. Among these, 251 out of 270 cases were selected for the experimental dataset (127 glioblastomas and 124 metastases), 207 cases were chosen as the training dataset, and 44 cases as the testing dataset. We designed a new deep learning algorithm called SCAT-inception (Spatial Convolutional Attention inception) and used five-fold cross-validation to verify the results. Results: By employing the newly designed SCAT-inception model to predict glioblastomas and brain metastasis, the prediction accuracy reached 92.3%, and the sensitivity and specificity reached 93.5 and 91.1%, respectively. On the external testing dataset, our model achieved an accuracy of 91.5%, which surpasses other model performances such as VGG, UNet, and GoogLeNet. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the SCAT-inception architecture could extract more subtle features from ceT1W images, provide state-of-the-art performance in the differentiation of GBM and MET, and surpass most existing approaches.

Novel bioactive nanospheres show effective antibacterial effect against multiple endodontic pathogens.

Aim: The current study evaluated the antibacterial activity of a newly developed quaternary ammonium polymethacrylate (QAPM)-containing bioactive glasses (BGs) via a two-step method by our group, namely BGs-HAEMB, and explored its cytotoxicity and biocompatibility. Methods: The antibacterial effects of the BGs-HAEMB against planktonic bacteria, bacterial biofilm formation, and experimental root canal biofilms of persistent pathogens (Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus sanguis and Porphyromonas endodontalis) associated with endodontic infection were evaluated in vitro by agar diffusion tests, direct contact tests and live/dead staining. The cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of BGs-HAEMB were evaluated by CCK-8 assays in vitro and a skin implantation model in vivo. Results: Compared to three clinically used endodontic sealers (Endofill, AH Plus, and iRoot SP), BGs-HAEMB exhibited the relatively strongest antibacterial effect against E. faecalis, S. sanguis and P. endodontalis after sitting for 14 and 28 days (P < 0.01). SEM images and CLSM images also showed that for each tested bacteria, BGs-HAEMB killed the most microorganism among all the experimental groups, regardless of treatment for 7 days or 28 days (P < 0.05). Besides, the BGs-HAEMB-treated groups showed a relatively low cytotoxicity (RGRs ranging from 88.6% to 102.9%) after 1, 3, and 7 days of exposure. Meanwhile, after 28 days of implantation, the inflammatory grade in BGs-HAEMB treated group was assessed as Grade I, in which the average numbers of inflammatory cells (6.7 ± 2.1) were less than 25. Conclusions: BGs-HAEMB exerted a long-term and stable antibacterial effect. The remarkable biocompatibility of BGs-HAEMB in vitro and in vivo confirmed its possible clinical application as a potential alternative in the development of the next generation of endodontic sealers.

Application of PLSR in correlating sensory and chemical properties of middle flue-cured tobacco leaves with honey-sweet and burnt flavour.

Among the eight types of aroma and flavour characteristics of Chinese flue-cured tobacco (FCT), tobacco grown in Shandong is classified as having a honey-sweet and burnt aroma. To elucidate the key chemical components that determine the characteristics of the honey-sweet and burnt aroma styles of Shandong FCT, we qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated the smoke flavour quality and five categories of flavour-related chemical components (routine components, water-soluble sugars, free amino acids, Amadori compounds and key aroma-active compounds) in Shandong middle FCT leaves using sensory analysis and modern instrumental analysis techniques. The association between the chemical components and sensory quality was analysed. Our results showed that the total sugars, reducing sugars (fructose, glucose, and psicose), total sugar-nicotine ratio, proline-total amino acid ratio, sulphur-containing amino acid-total amino acid ratio and fructosyl-proline (Fru-Pro) were high in premium FCT leaves. The aroma-active compounds associated with the honey-sweet burnt flavour style of the Shandong Middle FCT included sweet-scented 2,3-pentanedione, 2,3-butanedione, butyrolactone, 2-furanmethanol, roasted-like 2-pentylfura, and green-like 1-penten-3-one. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis revealed that 29 aroma precursors were positively correlated with the sensory quality characteristics of Shandong FCT. The results of our study can provide guidance for the targeted improvement and precise regulation of the flavour-style characteristics of Shandong FCT.

ZntA maintains zinc and cadmium homeostasis and promotes oxidative stress resistance and virulence in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Although metals are essential for life, they are toxic to bacteria in excessive amounts. Therefore, the maintenance of metal homeostasis is critical for bacterial physiology and pathogenesis. Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a significant food-borne pathogen that mainly causes acute gastroenteritis in humans and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in shrimp. Herein, we report that ZntA functions as a zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) homeostasis mechanism and contributes to oxidative stress resistance and virulence in V. parahaemolyticus. zntA is remarkably induced by Zn, copper, cobalt, nickel (Ni), and Cd, while ZntA promotes V. parahaemolyticus growth under excess Zn/Ni and Cd conditions via maintaining Zn and Cd homeostasis, respectively. The growth of ΔzntA was inhibited under iron (Fe)-restricted conditions, and the inhibition was associated with Zn homeostasis disturbance. Ferrous iron supplementation improved the growth of ΔzntA under excess Zn, Ni or Cd conditions. The resistance of ΔzntA to H2O2-induced oxidative stress also decreased, and its virulence was attenuated in zebrafish models. Quantitative real-time PCR, mutagenesis, and ß-galactosidase activity assays revealed that ZntR positively regulates zntA expression by binding to its promoter. Collectively, the ZntR-regulated ZntA is crucial for Zn and Cd homeostasis and contributes to oxidative stress resistance and virulence in V. parahaemolyticus.

Experimental Investigation of the Dynamic Responses of Thin-Walled and Foam-Filled Steel Tubes Subjected to Repeated Impacts.

In this study, a horizontal impact setup was used to measure the dynamic responses of specimens fixed on a reaction wall and subjected to repeated impacts generated by a large-tonnage impactor. The contact force, deformation process, energy absorption, and other properties of two specimens (a thin-walled steel tube and foam-filled steel tube) were thoroughly investigated. The results demonstrated that the thin-walled tube's properties were consistent with the four-phase and six-phase deformation models and that the foam-filled tube's properties were consistent with the two-phase deformation model. In the early stages of the experiment, the foam-filled and thin-walled tubes were similar in terms of the contact force and energy absorption. However, when the polyurethane (PU) strain reached 0.8, the PU significantly increased the support of the tubes, reduced the contact force (by extending the contact time), and increased the energy absorption capacity by 33.6-43.5%. The crush curves of the specimens were in agreement for cases involving multiple impacts, as well as for one impact with the same impact of kinetic energy. The crush curves can be used to assess the actual performance of crashworthy devices. Furthermore, after repeated impacts, the foam-filled tube exhibited a pseudo-shakedown behavior.

Detection of microplastics via a confocal-microscope spatial-heterodyne Raman spectrometer with echelle gratings.

Microplastic pollution has become a global environmental problem that cannot be ignored. Raman spectroscopy has been widely used for microplastics detection because it can be performed in real-time and is non-destructive. Conventional detection techniques have had weak signals and low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Here, an efficient and reliable detection method is demonstrated. Specifically, a confocal microscope combined with an echelle-grating spatial-heterodyne Raman spectrometer (CM-ESHRS) was constructed. The confocal microscopy and the characteristics of the echelle grating enabled high optical throughput, high SNR, high spectral resolution, and a wide spectral detection band. After spectral calibration, the resolution approached 0.67 cm-1, moreover, the spectral detection range for a single order was 1372.16 cm-1. We detected and analyzed nineteen kinds of microplastics, such as polyamide, polypropylene, and polymethylmethacrylate, and the main vibrational spectral bands were categorized. Compared with commercial dispersive spectrometers, CM-ESHRS has a higher optical throughput. In addition, we examined microplastics with various particle sizes, microplastics mixed in flour, and microplastic particles of different materials under mixed conditions, all of which yielded complete spectral information. Overall, CM-ESHRS exhibits good potential applications for the detection of microplastics.

Identification of Treg-related prognostic molecular subtypes and individualized characteristics in clear cell renal cell carcinoma through single-cell transcriptomes and bulk RNA sequencing.

BACKGROUND: In clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the role of Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) as prognostic and immunotherapy response predictors is not fully explored. METHODS: Analyzing renal clear cell carcinoma datasets from TISCH, TCGA, and GEO, we focused on 8 prognostic Treg genes to study patient subtypes in ccRCC. We assessed Treg subtypes in relation to patient prognosis, tumor microenvironment, metabolism. Using Cox regression and principal component analysis, we devised Treg scores for individual patient characterization and explored the molecular role of C1QL1, a critical gene in the Treg model, through in vivo and in vitro studies. RESULTS: Eight Treg-associated prognostic genes were identified, classifying ccRCC patients into cluster A and B. Cluster A patients showed poorer prognosis with distinct clinical and molecular profiles, potentially benefiting more from immunotherapy. Low Treg scores correlated with worse outcomes and clinical progression. Low scores also suggested that patients might respond better to immunotherapy and targeted therapies. In ccRCC, C1QL1 knockdown reduced tumor proliferation and invasion via NF-kb-EMT pathways and decreased Treg cell infiltration, enhancing immune efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular subtype and Treg score in ccRCC, based on Treg cell marker genes, are crucial in personalizing ccRCC treatment and underscore C1QL1's potential as a tumor biomarker and target for immunotherapy.

Photodetectors integrating waveguides and semiconductor materials.

Photodetectors integrating substrates and semiconductor materials are increasingly attractive for applications in optical communication, optical sensing, optical computing, and military owing to the unique optoelectronic properties of semiconductor materials. However, it is still a challenge to realize high-performance photodetectors by only integrating substrates and semiconductor materials because of the limitation of incident light in contact with sensitive materials. In recent years, waveguides such as silicon (Si) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) have attracted extensive attention owing to their unique optical properties. Waveguides can be easily hetero-integrated with semiconductor materials, thus providing a promising approach for realizing high-performance photodetectors. Herein, we review recent advances in photodetectors integrating waveguides in two parts. The first involves the waveguide types and semiconductor materials commonly used to fabricate photodetectors, including Si, Si3N4, gallium nitride, organic waveguides, graphene, and MoTe2. The second involves the photodetectors of different wavelengths that integrate waveguides, ranging from ultraviolet to infrared. These hybrid photodetectors integrating waveguides and semiconductor materials provide an alternative way to realize multifunctional and high-performance photonic integrated chips and circuits.

High-performance MoS2phototransistors with Hf1-xAlxO back-gate dielectric layer grown by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition.

Molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) as an emerging optoelectronic material, shows great potential for phototransistors owing to its atomic thickness, adjustable band gap, and low cost. However, the phototransistors based on MoS2have been shown to have some issues such as large gate leakage current, and interfacial scattering, resulting in suboptimal optoelectronic performance. Thus, Al-doped hafnium oxide (Hf1-xAlx) is proposed to be a dielectric layer of the MoS2-based phototransistor to solve this problem because of the relatively higher crystallization temperature and dielectric constant. Here, a high-performance MoS2phototransistor with Hf1-xAlxO gate dielectric layer grown by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition has been fabricated and studied. The results show that the phototransistor exhibits a high responsivity of 2.2 × 104A W-1, a large detectivity of 1.7 × 1017Jones, a great photo-to-dark current ratio of 2.2 × 106%, and a high external quantum efficiency of 4.4 × 106%. The energy band alignment and operating mechanism were further used to clarify the reason for the enhanced MoS2phototransistor. The suggested MoS2phototransistors could provide promising strategies in further optoelectronic applications.

Patient Characteristics Associated with Concurrent Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection and Severe Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics associated with concurrent Klebsiella pneu-moniae (K. pneumoniae) infection in hospitalized patients with severe pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on hospitalized severe pulmonary tuberculosis patients between January 2019 and December 2020. Among the 487 patients with severe pulmonary tuberculosis, a positive sputum culture for K. pneumoniae was reported in 76 patients (15.6%, 61 males and 15 females). RESULTS: Among these patients, 27 (35.5%) and 49 (64.5%) patients were with and without K. pneumoniae infection, respectively. Compared to patients without K. pneumoniae infection, patients with K. pneumoniae infection had higher mortality (16.3% vs. 40.7%, p = 0.02), and lower inhibitory/cytotoxic CD8 count (24.2 ± 9.9 vs. 17.8 ± 8.0, p = 0.02), complement C4 (0.3 ± 0.1 vs. 0.2 ± 0.1, p = 0.01), and retinol-binding protein level (32.2 ± 22.2 vs. 22.4 ± 11.8, p = 0.02). Furthermore, the acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was associated with the K. pneumoniae infection in severe pulmonary tuberculosis patients. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that a significant number of severe pulmonary tuberculosis patients can have concurrent K. pneumoniae infection. Immunity, nutritional status, and disease severity are associated with the concurrent infection of K. pneumoniae in these patients.

Characteristics of tunable aluminum-doped Ga2O3thin films and photodetectors.

Aluminum-doped Ga2O3(AGO) thin films were prepared by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD). The growth mechanism, surface morphology, chemical composition, and optical properties of AGO films were systematically investigated. The bandgap of AGO films can be theoretically set between 4.65 and 6.8 eV. Based on typical AGO films, metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors (PDs) were created, and their photoelectric response was examined. The preliminary results show that PE-ALD grown AGO films have high quality and tunable bandgap, and AGO PDs possess superior characterizations to undoped films. The AGO realized using PE-ALD is expected to be an important route for the development of a new generation of gallium oxide-based photodetectors into the deep-ultraviolet.

Temporal and spatial variations in the sub-daily precipitation structure over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP).

Precipitation is a vital component of the global atmospheric and hydrological cycles and influencing the distribution of water resources. Even subtle changes in precipitation can significantly impact ecosystems, energy cycles, agricultural production, and food security. Therefore, understanding the changes in the precipitation structure under climate change is essential. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is a region sensitive to global climate change and profoundly impacts the atmospheric water cycle in Asia and even globally, rendering it a hot topic in climate change research in recent years. Few studies have examined on the sub-daily scale precipitation structure over the QTP. In this paper, the characteristics of sub-daily precipitation on the QTP were systematically investigated from multiple perspectives, including the concentration index, skewness (the third standardized moment of a distribution), and kurtosis (the fourth standardized moment of a distribution). The results indicated that the frequency of moderate-intensity nighttime precipitation on the QTP generally increased, and the analysis of both the concentration index and kurtosis (skewness) suggested that extreme precipitation was more frequent in the southwestern foothills of the QTP. Furthermore, potential high-risk areas for natural disasters were identified on the QTP, and found that the southeastern part of the plateau constituted a potential hotspot area for flood disasters. Given the complexity of climate change, a comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal characteristics of diurnal and nighttime precipitation changes on the QTP could help reveal the regularity of precipitation changes. This has significant implications for forecasting, warning, disaster preparedness, and mitigation efforts on the QTP.