Simulation of a Multistaggered Baffle Scrubber to Enhance the Efficiency of Simultaneous Desulfurization and Denitrification.

In this study, we conduct simulation research on simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification in a multistaggered baffle spray scrubber. By employing two-phase flow simulations within the Euler-Lagrange framework and calculating the gas-liquid mass transfer rate with user-defined functions, we comprehensively analyzed the effects of various operational parameters. Initially, we validated our simulation model by comparing the simulation results with experimental data. Under conditions of a 0.2 mm droplet diameter, a liquid-to-gas ratio (L/G) of 12 L/m3, and a gas flow rate of 5 CMM using a full cone nozzle, the simulation indicated a desulfurization efficiency of 99.90 versus 99.84% obtained experimentally and a denitrification efficiency of 92.01 versus 90.67% obtained experimentally. This comparison confirmed the reliability of the simulation model. Our findings indicate that a droplet size of 2 mm is optimal, enhancing the desulfurization efficiency from 99.90 to 99.98% and the denitrification efficiency from 92.01 to 99.76%. However, when the droplet size exceeds 2 mm, efficiencies marginally decrease. Increasing the liquid-to-gas ratio to 16 L/m3 further improves desulfurization and denitrification efficiencies to 99.98 and 99.80%, respectively. In contrast, higher inlet flue gas flow rates reduce these efficiencies, with a decline observed from 100% to as low as 93.90% for denitrification with 2 mm droplets. Additionally, the use of a swirl cone nozzle, compared to full or hollow cone nozzles, better disperses droplets, enhancing the gas-liquid contact and achieving efficiencies of 99.99% for desulfurization and 99.81% for denitrification with 2 mm droplets. These insights are valuable for optimizing operational conditions in industrial-scale spray scrubbers, significantly contributing to mitigating the environmental impacts of industrial emissions.

Prognostic Model for High-Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung Incorporating Genomic Profiling and Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase-1 Expression.

PURPOSE: High-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (HGNEC) of the lung is an aggressive cancer with a complex biology. We aimed to explore the prognostic value of genetic aberrations and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) expression in HGNEC and to establish a novel prognostic model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 191 patients with histologically confirmed HGNEC of the lung. Tumor tissues were analyzed using PARP1 immunohistochemistry (IHC; N = 191) and comprehensive cancer panel sequencing (n = 102). Clinical and genetic data were used to develop an integrated Cox hazards model. RESULTS: Strong PARP1 IHC expression (intensity 3) was observed in 153 of 191 (80.1%) patients, and the mean PARP1 H-score was 285 (range, 5-300). To develop an integrated Cox hazard model, our data set included information from 357 gene mutations and 19 clinical profiles. When the targeted mutation profiles were combined with clinical profiles, 12 genes (ATRX, CCND2, EXT2, FGFR2, FOXO1, IL21R, MAF, TGM7, TNFAIP3, TP53, TSHR, and DDR2) were identified as prognostic factors for survival. The integrated Cox hazard model, which combines mutation profiles with a baseline model, outperformed the baseline model (incremental area under the curve 0.84 v 0.78; P = 8.79e-12). The integrated model stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups with significantly different disease-free and overall survival (integrated model: hazard ratio, 7.14 [95% CI, 4.07 to 12.54]; P < .01; baseline model: 4.38 [2.56 to 7.51]; P < .01). CONCLUSION: We introduced a new prognostic model for HGNEC that combines genetic and clinical data. The integrated Cox hazard model outperformed the baseline model in predicting the survival of patients with HGNEC.

Chemotherapy response score no longer predicts survival outcomes in high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients with BRCA mutation and/or maintenance therapy.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to revalidate the chemotherapy response score (CRS) system as a prognostic factor for ovarian cancer patients with breast cancer gene (BRCA) mutations or those receiving frontline poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors or bevacizumab as maintenance therapy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed using medical records of patients with high-grade serous carcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery between January 2007 and December 2021 at 5 tertiary medical institutions in South Korea. At each hospital, pathologists independently assessed each slide of omental tissues obtained from surgery using the CRS system. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) values were obtained using Kaplan-Meier analysis to evaluate the effect of BRCA mutation, maintenance therapy, and CRS on survival time. RESULTS: Of 466 patients, BRCA mutations were detected in 156 (33.5%) and 131 (28.1%) were treated with maintenance therapy; 98 (21.0%) and 42 (9.0%) were treated with PARP inhibitors or bevacizumab, respectively. Patients with CRS3 had significantly longer PFS than those with CRS1 or 2 (24.7 vs. 16.8 months, p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in PFS improvement between CRS3 patients and those with CRS1 or 2 with BRCA mutation (22.0 vs. 19.3 months, p=0.193). Moreover, no significant PFS prolongation was observed in CRS3 patients compared to CRS1 or 2 patients treated with PARP inhibitors or bevacizumab (24.3 vs. 22.4 months, p=0.851; 27.5 vs. 15.7 months, p=0.347, respectively). CONCLUSION: CRS may not be a prognostic factor in patients with BRCA mutations and those receiving frontline maintenance therapy.

Visual Outcome and Fluid Changes Between Eyes With Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Receiving Biosimilar CKD-701 or Reference Ranibizumab Therapy: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual outcome and fluid features of a proposed biosimilar, CKD-701, versus the reference ranibizumab in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of a phase 3 randomized clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of CKD-701 and ranibizumab. A total of 73 PCV eyes were assigned randomly to either CKD-701 (36 eyes) or ranibizumab (37 eyes). The mean changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), pigment epithelial detachment (PED) volume, and fluid features were compared. RESULTS: After three loading injections, the mean change in BCVA (letters) was +7.50 in the CKD-701 group and +6.32 in the ranibizumab group (p = .447). The changes in CRT and PED volume of the CKD-701 group (-107.25 ± 102.66 µm and -0.22 ± 0.46 mm3) were similar to those of the ranibizumab group (-96.78 ± 105.00 µm and -0.23 ± 0.54 mm3) (p = .668 and p = .943, respectively). Proportions of eyes with subretinal, intraretinal and sub-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) fluids after three loading injections were not different between CKD-701 group (33.3%, 13.9% and 42.9%) and ranibizumab group (51.4%, 16.2% and 40.0%) (p = .071, p = 1.000 and p = .808). The visual and anatomical changes were similar between two groups at month 6 and 12 (all, p > .05). CONCLUSION: Biosimilar CKD-701 monotherapy resulted in comparable visual and anatomical changes to those achieved with reference ranibizumab in PCV eyes.

Limitations of the Cough Sound-Based COVID-19 Diagnosis Artificial Intelligence Model and its Future Direction: Longitudinal Observation Study.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 has necessitated the rapid and accurate detection of COVID-19 to manage patients effectively and implement public health measures. Artificial intelligence (AI) models analyzing cough sounds have emerged as promising tools for large-scale screening and early identification of potential cases. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of using cough sounds as a diagnostic tool for COVID-19, considering the unique acoustic features that differentiate positive and negative cases. We investigated whether an AI model trained on cough sound recordings from specific periods, especially the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, were applicable to the ongoing situation with persistent variants. METHODS: We used cough sound recordings from 3 data sets (Cambridge, Coswara, and Virufy) representing different stages of the pandemic and variants. Our AI model was trained using the Cambridge data set with subsequent evaluation against all data sets. The performance was analyzed based on the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) across different data measurement periods and COVID-19 variants. RESULTS: The AI model demonstrated a high AUC when tested with the Cambridge data set, indicative of its initial effectiveness. However, the performance varied significantly with other data sets, particularly in detecting later variants such as Delta and Omicron, with a marked decline in AUC observed for the latter. These results highlight the challenges in maintaining the efficacy of AI models against the backdrop of an evolving virus. CONCLUSIONS: While AI models analyzing cough sounds offer a promising noninvasive and rapid screening method for COVID-19, their effectiveness is challenged by the emergence of new virus variants. Ongoing research and adaptations in AI methodologies are crucial to address these limitations. The adaptability of AI models to evolve with the virus underscores their potential as a foundational technology for not only the current pandemic but also future outbreaks, contributing to a more agile and resilient global health infrastructure.

Imaging and clinical features of pulsatile polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the imaging and clinical features of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with the pulsation. METHODS: The PCV eyes were classified into pulsatile and non-pulsatile PCV groups according to the pulsation on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Imaging features including the dye filling time of the polyp and clinical features were compared. RESULTS: A total of 75 eyes were classified into the pulsatile PCV (30 eyes) or the non-pulsatile PCV (45 eyes) groups. The initial and complete filling time of the polyp of the pulsatile PCV group (2.59 ± 0.93 and 8.33 ± 3.42 seconds) were shorter than those of the non-pulsatile PCV group (4.11 ± 1.87 and 10.63 ± 3.81 seconds, p < 0.001 and p = 0.010, respectively). Pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height of the pulsatile PCV group (414.90 ± 377.15 µm) was greater than that of the non-pulsatile PCV group (247.81 ± 164.07 µm, p = 0.030). Pulsatile PCV group showed a higher prevalence of subretinal hemorrhage (43.33%) after intravitreal injection than non-pulsatile PCV group (13.95%, p = 0.005) during 12 months. The mean number of injections during 12 months of the pulsatile PCV group (5.48 ± 1.46) was greater than that of the non-pulsatile PCV group (4.09 ± 1.21, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Eyes with pulsatile PCV showed shorter filling time of the polyp, greater PED height, higher prevalence of subretinal hemorrhage, and more intravitreal injection numbers during 12 months. These might suggest that PCV has distinct imaging and clinical features according to the polyp pulsation.

Therapeutic strategy using novel RET/YES1 dual-target inhibitor in lung cancer.

Lung cancer represents a significant global health concern and stands as the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The identification of specific genomic alterations such as EGFR and KRAS in lung cancer has paved the way for the development of targeted therapies. While targeted therapies for lung cancer exhibiting EGFR, MET and ALK mutations have been well-established, the options for RET mutations remain limited. Importantly, RET mutations have been found to be mutually exclusive from other genomic mutations and to be related with high incidences of brain metastasis. Given these facts, it is imperative to explore the development of RET-targeting therapies and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying metastasis in RET-expressing lung cancer cells. In this study, we investigated PLM-101, a novel dual-target inhibitor of RET/YES1, which exhibits notable anti-cancer activities against CCDC6-RET-positive cancer cells and anti-metastatic effects against YES1-positive cancer cells. Our findings shed light on the significance of the YES1-Cortactin-actin remodeling pathway in the metastasis of lung cancer cells, establishing YES1 as a promising target for suppression of metastasis. This paper unveils a novel inhibitor that effectively targets both RET and YES1, thereby demonstrating its potential to impede the growth and metastasis of RET rearrangement lung cancer.

Intrapartum transperineal ultrasound: angle of progression to evaluate and predict the mode of delivery and labor progression.

Intrapartum ultrasonography serves as a valuable tool for the objective evaluation of labor progression and effectively identifies underlying factors, such as asynclitism, in cases of abnormal labor progression. Among the various ultrasound measurement techniques, the angle of progression (AOP) demonstrates favorable reproducibility and accuracy in assessing fetal head descent. In the context of abnormal labor, interventions differ across different stages of labor, emphasizing the importance of investigating the utility of AOP according to labor stages in this review article. Pre-labor assessment of AOP can be beneficial in terms of counseling for the timing of induction of labor, while a wider AOP value during the prolonged first stage of labor has demonstrated a positive correlation with successful vaginal delivery and shorter time to delivery. In the second stage of labor, the AOP has exhibited efficacy in predicting the mode of delivery and complicated operative deliveries. Furthermore, it has assisted in predicting the duration of labor, thereby highlighting its potential as a decision-making model for labor progression. However, further research is needed to investigate aspects, such as the determination of cutoff values, of AOP, considering the multifaceted characteristics of labor progression, which are influenced by complex interactions among maternal, fetal, and other contributing factors.

Borohydride and halide dual-substituted lithium argyrodites.

Solid electrolyte is a crucial component of all-solid-state batteries, with sulphide solid electrolytes such as lithium argyrodite being closest to commercialization due to their high ionic conductivity and formability. In this study, borohydride/halide dual-substituted argyrodite-type electrolytes, Li7-α-ßPS6-α-ß(BH4)αXß (X = Cl, Br, I; α + ß ≤ 1.8), have been synthesized using a two-step ball-milling method without post-annealing. Among the various compositions, Li5.35PS4.35(BH4)1.15Cl0.5 exhibits the highest ionic conductivity of 16.4 mS cm-1 at 25 °C when cold-pressed, which further improves to 26.1 mS cm-1 after low temperature sintering. The enhanced conductivity can be attributed to the increased number of Li vacancies resulting from increased BH4 and halide occupancy and site disorder. Li symmetric cells with Li5.35PS4.35(BH4)1.15Cl0.5 demonstrate stable Li plating and stripping cycling for over 2,000 hours at 1 mA cm-2, along with a high critical current density of 2.1 mA cm-2. An all-solid-state battery prepared using Li5.35PS4.35(BH4)1.15Cl0.5 as the electrolyte and pure Li as the anode exhibits an initial coulombic efficiency of 86.4%. Although these electrolytes have limited thermal stability, it shows a wide compositional range while maintaining high ionic conductivity.

Global burden of vaccine-associated anaphylaxis and their related vaccines, 1967-2023: A comprehensive analysis of the international pharmacovigilance database.

BACKGROUND: Vaccine-associated anaphylaxis is a rare but life-threatening reaction that occurs within minutes to hours of exposure to allergens. As studies utilizing large-scale data to investigate this topic are limited, further research is needed to assess its burden, long-term trends, and associated risk factors so as to gain a comprehensive understanding of vaccine-associated anaphylaxis globally. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the global burden of vaccine-associated anaphylaxis and related vaccines. METHOD: This study utilized the World Health Organization International Pharmacovigilance Database, in which reports of vaccine-associated anaphylaxis between 1967 and 2023 were obtained (total reports = 131,255,418). We estimated the global reporting counts, reported odds ratio (ROR), and information component (IC) to identify the relationship between 19 vaccines and associated anaphylaxis in 156 countries and territories. RESULTS: We identified 31,676 reports of vaccine-associated anaphylaxis among 363,290 reports of all-cause anaphylaxis. The cumulative number of reports on vaccine-associated anaphylaxis has gradually increased over time, with a dramatic increase after 2020, owing to reports of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-associated anaphylaxis. The typhoid vaccines were associated with the most anaphylactic reports (ROR: 4.35; IC0.25 : 1.86), followed by encephalitis (3.27; 1.45), hepatitis B (2.69; 1.30), cholera (2.65; 0.54), hepatitis A (2.44; 1.12), influenza (2.36; 1.16), inactivated whole-virus COVID-19 (2.21; 1.02), and COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (1.89; 0.79). In terms of age- and sex-specific risks, vaccine-associated anaphylaxis reports develop more frequently in females and at young ages. The Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine anaphylaxis reports were associated with the highest fatality rate (15.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Although multiple vaccines are associated with various spectra and risks of anaphylaxis, clinicians should recognize the possibility of anaphylaxis occurring with all vaccines, particularly the COVID-19 mRNA and inactivated whole-virus COVID-19 vaccines, and consider the risk factors associated with vaccine anaphylaxis reports. Further studies are warranted to identify better ways of preventing vaccine-associated anaphylaxis.

Flow Void Analysis Using Different Thresholding Methods on a Choriocapillaris Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Image Complemented with a Structural En Face Image.

PURPOSE: To investigate the flow characteristics using different thresholding methods on a choriocapillaris optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) image complemented with a structural En Face image. METHODS: The 42 choriocapillaris OCTA images from healthy subjects were obtained with swept-source OCTA device and the 3 × 3-mm area OCTA images were processed with ImageJ. Using a raw choriocapillaris OCTA image and structural En Face image, we adjusted the different structural signal intensity. Then, the raw images and adjusted images were binarized with a global threshold and an auto local threshold using the Phansalkar method at 1- or 2-intercapillary distance. Then, the mean area, number, and size of the flow void, were compared among the images using different thresholding methods. RESULTS: Mean flow void area, number, and size were different according to the different binarization method both in raw and adjusted images (all p < 0.001). The mean flow void area analyzed with global threshold method were well correlated with those with auto local threshold method both in raw and adjusted images (all intraclass correlations, >0.929). CONCLUSIONS: Flow void features varied according to the different binarization methods but showed good correlation. The flow void characteristics according to the different binarization methods should be considered for the analysis of the choriocapillaris OCTA images complemented with a structural En Face image.

Invasive FoxM1 phosphorylated by PLK1 induces the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages to promote immune escape and metastasis, amplified by IFITM1.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the mechanism behind immune cell plasticity in cancer metastasis is crucial for identifying key regulators. Previously we found that mitotic factors regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition, but how these factors convert to metastatic players in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is not fully understood. METHODS: The clinical importance of mitotic factors was analyzed by heatmap analysis, a KM plot, and immunohistochemistry in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. Immunoprecipitation, LC-MS/MS, kinase assay, and site-directed mutagenesis were performed for the interaction and phosphorylation. A tail-vein injection mouse model, Transwell-based 3D culture, microarray analysis, coculture with monocytes, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to elucidate the function of phosphorylated FoxM1 in metastasis of TME. RESULTS: The phosphorylated FoxM1 at Ser25 by PLK1 acquires the reprogramming ability to stimulate the invasive traits in cancer and influence immune cell plasticity. This invasive form of p-FoxM1 upregulates the expression of IL1A/1B, VEGFA, and IL6 by direct activation, recruiting monocytes and promoting the polarization of M2d-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Upregulation of PD-L1 in LUAD having phosphomimetic FoxM1 facilitates immune evasion. In invasive LUAD with phosphomimetic FoxM1, IFITM1 is the most highly expressed through the activation of the STING-TBK1-IRF3 signaling, which enhances FoxM1-mediated signaling. Clinically, higher expression of FOXM1, PLK1, and IFITM1 is inversely correlated with the survival rate of advanced LUAD patients, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of LUAD. CONCLUSION: FoxM1-based therapy would be a potential therapeutic strategy for LUAD to reduce TAM polarization, immune escape, and metastasis, since FoxM1 functions as a genetic reprogramming factor reinforcing LUAD malignancy in the TME.

Survival Outcomes in Premenopausal Patients With Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.

Importance: The disparate prognostic implications between invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) have been demonstrated. However, information on premenopausal patients remains insufficient. Objective: To examine long-term survival outcomes of ILC and IDC in premenopausal patients using national databases. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER), Korean Breast Cancer Registry (KBCR), and Asan Medical Center Research (AMCR) databases to identify premenopausal patients with stage I to III ILC or IDC between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2015. The median follow-up time was 90 (IQR, 40-151) months in the SEER database, 94 (IQR, 65-131) months in the KBCR database, and 120 (IQR, 86-164) months in the AMCR database. Data were analyzed from January 1 to May 31, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), which was analyzed according to histological type, and the annual hazard rate was evaluated. Survival rates were analyzed using a log-rank test and a Cox proportional hazards regression model with time-varying coefficients. Multivariable analysis was performed by adjusting for tumor characteristics and treatment factors. Results: A total of 225 938 women diagnosed with IDC or ILC and younger than 50 years were identified. Mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 42.7 (5.3) years in the SEER database, 41.8 (5.5) years in the KBCR database, and 41.8 (5.5) years in the AMCR database. In terms of race (available for the SEER database only), 12.4% of patients were Black, 76.1% were White, 11.0% were of other race (including American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander), and 0.5% were of unknown race). Patients with ILC had better BCSS in the first 10 years after diagnosis than those with IDC (hazard ratios [HRs], 0.73 [95% CI, 0.68-0.78] in the SEER database, 1.20 [95% CI, 0.91-1.58] in the KBCR database, and 0.50 [95% CI, 0.29-0.86] in the AMCR database), although BCSS was worse after year 10 (HRs, 1.80 [95% CI, 1.59-2.02] in the SEER database, 2.79 [95% CI, 1.32-5.88] in the KBCR database, and 2.23 [95% CI, 1.04-4.79] in the AMCR database). Similar trends were observed for hormone receptor-positive tumors (HRs, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.37-1.75] in the SEER database, 2.27 [95% CI, 1.01-5.10] in the KBCR database, and 2.12 [95% CI, 0.98-4.60] in the AMCR database). Considering the annual hazard model of BCSS, IDC events tended to decline steadily after peaking 5 years before diagnosis. However, the annual peak event of BCSS was observed 5 years after diagnosis for ILC, which subsequently remained constant. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that premenopausal women with ILC have worse BCSS estimates than those with IDC, which can be attributed to a higher late recurrence rate of ILC than that of IDC. Histological subtypes should be considered when determining the type and duration of endocrine therapy in premenopausal women.

Sex differences in lower urinary tract symptoms of Korean workers: Prevalence, mental health, and associated factors.

Objectives: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in workers can aggravate mental health, lower quality of life, and decrease work productivity. We aimed to examine the prevalence of LUTS, sex-related differences in LUTS, mental health of workers with LUTS, and factors associated with LUTS in Korean workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 192 workers from D city and the Gyeongbuk province of South Korea. LUTS were measured using self-reported questionnaires, and mental health was assessed for anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Differences in characteristics between workers with and without LUTS were analyzed using the chi-square test or independent t-test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with LUTS. Results: Urinary urgency (UU) was significantly more prevalent in men than in women; however, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) was more prevalent in women than in men. The average anxiety and perceived stress scores were significantly higher in men with UU than in men without UU. Men with hypertension or nocturia were more likely to have UU than those without hypertension or nocturia. The anxiety scores significantly increased the odds of UU in men. Advanced age significantly increased the odds of SUI in women. Blue-collar female workers were more likely to develop SUI than their white-collar counterparts. Conclusions: Our study highlighted the prevalence and burden of LUTS among workers. Occupational health providers need to regularly assess workers' bladder storage problems and provide manageable interventions for UU in men and SUI in women.

Solution-processable polytriazoles from spirocyclic monomers for membrane-based hydrocarbon separations.

The thermal distillation of crude oil mixtures is an energy-intensive process, accounting for nearly 1% of global energy consumption. Membrane-based separations are an appealing alternative or tandem process to distillation due to intrinsic energy efficiency advantages. We developed a family of spirocyclic polytriazoles from structurally diverse monomers for membrane applications. The resulting polymers were prepared by a convenient step-growth method using copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition, providing very fast reaction rates, high molecular weights and solubilities in common organic solvents and non-interconnected microporosity. Fractionation of whole Arabian light crude oil and atmospheric tower bottom feeds using these materials enriched the low-boiling-point components and removed trace heteroatom and metal impurities (comparable performance with the lighter feed as the commercial polyimide, Matrimid), demonstrating opportunities to reduce the energy cost of crude oil distillation with tandem membrane processes. Membrane-based molecular separation under these demanding conditions is made possible by high thermal stability and a moderate level of dynamic chain mobility, leading to transient interconnections between micropores, as revealed by the calculations of static and swollen pore structures.

Data-driven predictions of complex organic mixture permeation in polymer membranes.

Membrane-based organic solvent separations are rapidly emerging as a promising class of technologies for enhancing the energy efficiency of existing separation and purification systems. Polymeric membranes have shown promise in the fractionation or splitting of complex mixtures of organic molecules such as crude oil. Determining the separation performance of a polymer membrane when challenged with a complex mixture has thus far occurred in an ad hoc manner, and methods to predict the performance based on mixture composition and polymer chemistry are unavailable. Here, we combine physics-informed machine learning algorithms (ML) and mass transport simulations to create an integrated predictive model for the separation of complex mixtures containing up to 400 components via any arbitrary linear polymer membrane. We experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness of the model by predicting the separation of two crude oils within 6-7% of the measurements. Integration of ML predictors of diffusion and sorption properties of molecules with transport simulators enables for the rapid screening of polymer membranes prior to physical experimentation for the separation of complex liquid mixtures.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of postpartum breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Postpartum breast cancer (PPBC) is a not well-established subset of breast cancer, and only few studies address its poorer prognosis. However, previous studies show that PPBC is associated with worse outcome with higher rates of metastasis than in young women's breast cancer (YWBC). We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of PPBC based on the diagnosis period of PPBC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 208,780 patients with breast cancer from the Korean Breast Cancer Society registry (KBCSR) database between January 2000 and December 2014. We included premenopausal women aged 20-50 years who underwent breast cancer surgery. The patients were classified by 5-year intervals according to the diagnosis period of breast cancer, from the first birth to the breast cancer diagnosis. RESULTS: Compared with patients in the other groups, patients diagnosed within postpartum 5 years (PPBC < 5 years) group were younger, had a more advanced stage, had lower estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression, and had a higher human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive rate. Further, PPBC < 5 years group had a worse survival rate than the nulliparous and other groups (5-year cumulative survival: PPBC < 5 years group, 89%; nulliparous group, 97.3%; 5 ≤ PPBC < 10 years group, 93%). In the multivariate analysis, the PPBC < 5 years group was associated with a worse survival rate (hazard ratio 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.148-2.094, p 0.004) after adjustment for age at diagnosis, breast cancer stage, ER and HER2 status, Ki-67 level, and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that patients diagnosed with breast cancer within the first 5 years after delivery had aggressive characteristics and a poor survival rate. It is important to elucidate the pathophysiology of PPBC and establish novel therapeutic strategies to improve the survival rate.