Water distillation is an effective method for detritiation and deuterium enrichment. This study focuses on the effect of the wettability of the packings surface on the separation performance of the H2O-HDO system. Hydrophilic coatings with different structures are prepared on the surface of copper packings by the method of alkaline erosion and oxidation, and it is found that the hydrophilic coatings with different structures showed different hydrophilic effects. The differences in mass transfer performance of packings with different contact angles are investigated. It is found that with the increase of hydrophilicity, the mass transfer performance of the packing is relatively improved. By combining empirical models of mass transfer and experimental data, a mathematical model for predicting the height of equal plate (HETP) is established to quantify the effect of wetting properties on the mass transfer process.

Introduction: Pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic heart valves (MPHV) are reportedly at high risk of mortality and morbidity. We aimed to compare outcomes at our specialist centre with national data, and whether anticoagulation regimes influenced outcome. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of all pregnant women with MPHV managed by our service between 2003-2021. Maternal and fetal outcomes and anticoagulation data were collected. Summary statistics and comparative analysis with results from the national UK-wide dataset were compiled. Results: A total of 50 pregnancies in 23 women were identified. Patients with complex valve replacements were common, with 34.8% of pregnancies involving management of dual MPHV. Maternal mortality was zero (95% CI: 0-7.1). Serious maternal and obstetric complications occurred in only 7 pregnancies (14.0%; 95% CI: 7.0-26.2%), including only two valve thromboses (4%). Live births followed 31 of the pregnancies (62%), compared with a national baseline of ~75%. Low molecular weight heparin was the most commonly used anticoagulant during pregnancy (84%), but no single anticoagulation regime was found to be universally optimal. Concomitant low-dose aspirin was given to those with dual or systemic mechanical atrioventricular valve replacement. Discussion: Our study is the largest single centre report on maternal outcome for women with MPHV. We share how comprehensive, multidisciplinary planning may significantly reduce mortality and morbidity for our patients. Anticoagulation management should be individualised according to patient risk profile. With appropriate peripartum care, risk for women with MPHV considering pregnancy may be lower than previously reported

Objective: To assess whether the non-placement or early removal of urinary catheter (Ucath) could improve the recovery of patients undergoing cesarean delivery (CD). Moreover, we assessed the impact of neuraxial morphine in this study population. Design: Prospective cohort Setting: Hospital Clínic of Barcelona. Sample Patients undergoing CD Methods: Prospective cohort over a 10-month period. Main outcomes measures: Surgical time (ST), time to first spontaneous micturition (FSM), need for intermittent catheterization (Icath), time to first solid oral intake (FOI), time to mobilization (Tmob) and time to hospital discharge (THD). Results. Among 290 patients, those without or who had Ucath removed early (first 6h) displayed significantly shorter times to: FSM, FOI, Tmob and THD. Urinary retention (21.9 % vs 8.9 %, p = 0.004) and intermitent catheterization (39.7 % vs 19.6 %, p < 0.001) were more frequent when Ucath was not placed. Using morphine did not significantly increase postoperative times. Urinary retention was significantly higher when morphine was used in spinal anesthesia (8.7 % vs 21.8 %, p = 0.049). No differences were found in terms of nausea, vomiting and pruritus. Morphine was associated with better pain control at 6 and 12 h at rest. Conclusions. Not using or removing Ucath early had a positive impact on the postoperative care of CD. Neuraxial morphine was appropriate and safe and should be considered a first-line analgesic in CD.

Objective Analyze the differences in the laboratory indexes and baseline clinical characteristics between the endometriosis(EMs) patients with or without combination of endometrial polyps(EPs), and establish an efficient combined prediction model to predict endometrial polyps in endometrial patients. Design Retrospective study Setting Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China, from August 1, 2020, to July 31, 2021 Population 1250 endometriosis patients Methods Logistic regression analysis was used to establish a combined diagnostic model. RESULTS Compared with endometriosis patients without EPs，endometriosis patients combined with EPs had significantly higher age, gravidity, parity, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), luteinizing hormone (LH ), estradiol (E2), platelet(PLT), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C ), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and had significantly lower hemoglobin (HGB) and white blood cells(WBCs) (P＜0.05). The combined prediction model for endometrial polyps in patients with endometriosis including BMI, DBP, gravidity, parity, LH，WBCs, HGB, TC, FPG has been established. The ROC curve showed that the combined diagnostic model reached area under the curve of 0.78(0.75-0.82, p＜0.001). CONCLUSION Compared with endometriosis patients without EPs，endometriosis patients combined with EPs had some metabolic changes. The combined diagnostic model of BMI，DBP，gravidity，parity，LH，WBCs, HGB, TC, FPG may provide a new approach for the early diagnosis and precise treatment of endometrial polyps in endometriosis patients.

Objective: To investigate reliable biomarkers for predicting histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). Design: In this retrospective study, PPROM mothers were treated with a course of dexamethasone. Blood tests for serum indictors were conducted continuously after first injection. Setting: One Shanghai hospital Population: PPROM mothers before 34 0/7 weeks of gestation Methods: Data were compared by General Linear Model analysis. The diagnostic accuracy in predicting HCA were evaluated with ROC curve. Main Outcome Measures: The response of infectious indictors to dexamethasone treatment; the diagnostic accuracy for CRP and PCT in predicting HCA. Results： We found 98 HCA women (62.42%) and 59 CON women (37.58%) in 157 PPROM mothers. WBC and neutrophil significantly increased 24 hours after the first injection in both groups, followed by a decrease at 72 hours post first injection (P<0.05). No significances were found between two groups in WBC, neutrophil and lymphocyte. Both CRP and PCT were significantly higher in the HCA group after first injection. PCT had both high specificity and sensitivity, especially at the baseline (cutoff, 0.031 ng/ml). Furthermore, the positive predictive values (PPV) of PCT were respectively 0.946 and 0.960 at 48 (cutoff, 0.049 ng/ml) and 72 (cutoff, 0.051 ng/ml) hours, which were better than the corresponding PPV of CRP. Conclusion: The response of WBC, neutrophil and lymphocyte to dexamethasone could be differentiated from uterine infection; PCT could be a reliable biomarker for early diagnosis of HCA. Funding: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (GWIV-26, 202040128); Pudong Commission of Health and Family Planning (PW2019D-13).

This review article considers the physiology, differential diagnosis and immediate management of vasovagal response, vascular injury and carbon dioxide embolism caused during creation of the laparoscopic pneumoperitonium. These pathologies account for over half of all laparoscopic complications and therefore, by taking a systematic approach to these possibly life-threatening events, laparoscopy can become even safer.

Objective To determine the prevalence of Polymerase Epsilon gene (POLE) mutation, P53 mutations, and mismatch repair deficiency(dMMR) in endometrial cancer, followed by clinicopathological correlation and survival analysis Design- retrospective cohort tested prospectively and analysed for survival functions based on the findings Setting- Single institution, tertiary care centre Sample- Blocks of 48 consecutive patients with primary endometrial carcinoma were subjected to the molecular profiling Methods- Molecular classification of endometrial cancer by POLE ultramutated ,dMMR using IHC (MLH1, MH2, MSH6), and Copy number high/low (p53on IHC) was done on the preserved paraffin blocks Main Outcome Measures- prevalence of POLE mutation, P53 mutations, and deficient MMR in endometrial cancer, followed by clinicopathological correlation and survival analysis Results Eleven (22.9%) patients were dMMR , 3 ( 6.3%) had POLE mutation, while 2 (4.1%) had both POLE and P53 mutations (regarded as multiple classifiers). Twelve (25.0%) patients were found to have P53 mutations, while the remaining 20 (41.7%) had no specific molecular profile (NSMP). Median follow up duration was 43.5 (2-62) months with 8 recurrences and 9 deaths. Tumors with POLE mutation had the most favourable prognosis followed by the NSMP and the MMR mutated group while the P53 and multiple classifier groups had the worst prognosis in terms of OS ( Log rank p : 0.006) and PFS ( Log rank p : 0.001). Conclusion Integrated approach of molecular profiling should be expanded to routine testing in endometrial cancers to streamline treatment options and utilize targeted therapy such as immunotherapy Funding Institutional internal funding

A document by Abiah Jacob. Click on the document to view its contents.

In this work, modelling studies on the binodal curve behavior of polymer-electrolyte ATPS and the partitioning of biomolecules in these aqueous electrolyte solutions are carried out. First, a comprehensive database targeting the studied systems is established. Then, a novel modeling strategy that combines a well-known machine learning algorithm, i.e., artificial neural network (ANN) and group contribution (GC) method is proposed. Based on this modeling strategy, an ANN-GC model (ANN-GC model1) is built to describe the binodal curve behavior of polymer-electrolyte ATPS, while another ANN-GC model (ANN-GC model2) is developed to predict the partition of biomolecules in these biphasic systems. Furthermore, the obtained results also indicate that the tie-line length of polymer-electrolyte ATPS calculated from ANN-GC model1 can be directly used in ANN-GC model2 for predicting the partition performance coefficient of biomolecules in these ATPS.

P-graph is a popularly used framework for process network synthesis (PNS) and network topological optimization. This R&D notes introduces a Python interface for P-graph to serve as a linkage to modern programming ecosystems. This allows for a wider application of the fast and efficient P-graph solver, to provide structural and topological enumeration in numerous fields. The proposed framework allows for more integrative usage in Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, process system engineering, chemical engineering and chemometrics. Large and repetitive topologies can also be automated using the new programming interface, saving time and effort in modelling. This short note serves as a demonstration of this open-sourced P-graph interface (code: https://github.com/tsyet12/Pgraph).

Herein, we propose a novel method to enhance the photoreactivity of an MOF catalyst by grafting isocyanate bonds (−N=C=O) and sulfhydryl-complexed copper (−SCu) onto ZIF-8 (NIF-SCu). The grafting process intercalated interlayer bands between the conduction and valence bands of ZIF-8, thereby providing a “ladder” for facile electron transition. The extreme improvement in the photoreactivity of NIF-SCu could be attributed to the enhancement in light responses in the range of 350–450 nm by −N=C=O groups and the widening of the visible light range of the MOF by −SCu groups. The formation of staggered energy levels in NIF-SCu could also narrow the band gap, lower the resistance, and facilitate the transfer of photogenerated carriers, thereby generating electrons with strong reduction potential in the −SCu conduction band. This study provides a new strategy for improving or even endowing the photoactivity of environmental functional materials with wide bandgaps.

Sandro Marcelo de Moraes Valente1,2,3*ABOMI – Academia Brasileira de Odontologia Militar / Brazilian Academy of Military Dentistry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.ATO- Academia Tiradentes de Odontologia / Tiradentes Academy of Dentistry, Sao Paulo, Brazil.Sandro Valente Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

George and colleagues report their experience with a non-transplant left ventricular assist device program (1). This manuscript spans a decade’s experience with LVADs and clearly demonstrates that LVAD therapy is possible in centers without a heart transplant program. 100 LVADs were placed during this period. The positive findings from this report include that as volume increased, the complications of right heart dysfunction and bleeding decreased. Noteworthy is that 85 of the 100 patients were implanted with a fully magnetically levitated ventricular assist device. Given the superior performance of a fully magnetically levitated device to a rotary pump (2) these findings are relevant for all contemporary centers with LVAD programs.The authors importantly sought the resources of a transplant center to ensure that patients who were offered LVAD in their non-transplant center were indeed not candidates for cardiac transplantation. In addition to this fundamental necessity, three features are necessary for a successful non-transplant LVAD program. Firstly, the institution must offer robust infrastructure and support. Secondly there must be a strong surgeon-leader dedicated to overseeing the program. Lastly, cardiologists who are dedicated to heart failure are essential to guide patients to this therapy.The extension of LVAD therapy to patients in non-transplant centers is essential for durable mechanical circulatory support to remain as a vital part of advanced therapies for heart failure. VADs will continue to play an important role in the management of end-stage heart failure for patients who are not eligible for cardiac transplantation. The 2020 Society of Thoracic Surgeons INTERMACs report now offers patients a 5-year survival of 45%(3). The survival of patients with LVADs continues to increase. The data in this current report offer a new perspective and increased access to LVAD therapy for patients with end stage heart failure.ReferencesGeorge TJ, Aldrich A, Smith III RL, et al. Development of a Non-Transplant Left Ventricular Assist Device Program. J Card SurgMehra MR, Uriel Y, Naka Y, et al. A Fully Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device – Final report. N Engl J Med 2019:380:1618-27.Molina EJ, Shah P, Kierman MS, et al. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Intermacs 202 Annual Report. Ann Thorac Surg 2021;111:778-92.

The aim of this study was to determine and optimize culture media for Chlorella vulgaris microalgae under mixotrophic conditions using waste molasses as a cheap carbon source containing both organic carbons and other nutrients. In the current study, at first the growth and lipid productivity of Chlorella vulgaris were assessed in different culture media and the best media was selected for mixotrophic growth conditions. Significant medium ingredients were screened through Plackett–Burman design. Then ingredients with positive effect were considered as a mixture component and their combinations were evaluated on lipid productivity using mixture design. According to results, Zarrouk medium was considered as the base medium with the highest biomass and lipid productivity of 72 and 7.1 mg/l.d , respectively. Based on the Plackett–Burman design, out of eleven factors, molasses, NaNO3 and K2HPO4 demonstrated key roles in biomass and lipid productivity in mixotrophic conditions. Consequently, the selected three factors were investigated by mixture design. The results showed that high concentration of molasses causes decrease in biomass and lipid productivity due to high turbidity and a blend consisting of approximately 9.5 g/l molasses, 5 g/l NaNO3 and 0.15 g/l K2HPO4 was found as the optimum mixture with obtained lipid productivity of 115 mg/l.d. In conclusion, waste molasses can be used as a promising feedstock for cost effective cultivation of C. vulgaris.

An interferon-inducible gene, 2’-5’-oligoadenylate synthetase-1 (OAS1), plays an essential role in uterine receptivity and conceptus development by controlling cell growth and differentiation in addition to its anti-viral activities. However, the specific part of OAS1 is not yet documented in the goat. Therefore, in the present study, the coding sequence (CDS) of the OAS1 gene was amplified, sequenced and characterized through various Bioinformatics tools. Its temporal expression profile was also examined in the endometrium of caprine (cp) for the first time. A fragment of the cpOAS1 gene, 890 bp in length, was amplified from complementary DNA (cDNA). Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences revealed 99.6 to 80.4 % and 99.3 to 72.3 % identities with that of ruminants and non-ruminants, respectively. A constructed phylogenetic tree revealed that sheep and goats belong to the same clade but differ from large ruminants. Besides the Physico-chemical characteristics, its localization, various posttranslational modifications, immunogenic sites, possible domains, various motifs, and interactions with other probable proteins were predicted. In addition to the secondary structure, the three-dimensional structure was predicted using homology modelling servers and a refined model, generated by the Swiss model was the best one as based on stereochemistry validated with different programs. Further, relative expression of cpOAS1 mRNA and protein was determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blot, respectively, in the endometrium of pregnant and cyclic does. Caprine OAS1 protein (42/46kDa) was detected in the endometrium of pregnant and cyclic does. Both cpOAS1 mRNA and protein were expressed maximally (P<0.05) in the endometrium during pregnancy as compared to cyclic does. It is concluded that the cpOAS1 sequence is conserved and integrative Bioinformatics analysis provides a sound foundation for further structural and functional characterization of cpOAS1 protein in the establishment of pregnancy in goats.

A document by Laura Vergani. Click on the document to view its contents.

Establishing dose response relationships in targeted patients is foundational in the development of therapeutic drugs including gene therapy products. Enlightened by interspecies normalization of plasma drug concentration-time curves using Dedrick plot, the author of this manuscript first demonstrated the feasibility of normalizing dose-response relationship of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated hemophilia gene therapy products in multiple species to a species-invariant scale. Preclinical dose-response relationships of eight AAV vectors were normalized using an exponent of 0.25 and applied to first-in-human (FIH) dose prediction. The performance of this dose-response normalization approach for FIH dose prediction was compared to that of direct body weight-based dose conversion and allometric scaling approaches. The study results suggested that in addition to hemophilia dogs and non-human primates, inclusion of larger animal models (e.g., swine and cattle) in preclinical dose-finding studies of AAV vectors might improve the performance of interspecies dose-response normalization approach. Furthermore, it was found that AAV capsid-specific T cell responses in hemophilia patients might cause underprediction of FIH dose while novel bioengineered capsids with a high transduction efficiency specifically in human hepatocytes might cause overprediction of FIH dose. These factors should be considered when dose-response is extrapolated from preclinical species to patients.

： The problem of grassland degradation resulting from livestock production at the expense of local grasses has become a serious environmental problem worldwide. To maintain livestock production and sustainable grassland development, a better grasp of the extent and intensity of grassland utilization needs to be realized. We developed a model to monitor the intensity of grazing in a typical grazing area (Selinco basin) of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Based on combining the number of livestock at the township scale with their matching livestock habitat area and location, the biomass consumed by livestock was then assigned to the productivity supply map (NPP) by a mathematical iterative algorithm from the perspective of different foraging habits of different livestock. The objective is to more accurately measure the overall grazing pressure on the pasture as well as to estimate livestock pasture utilization. The model has confirmed that there are obvious spatial differences in the intensity of grassland utilization in the Selinco basin, which is significantly lower except in the southwestern region. Overall grazing area derived from the statistics on the pixel is 150, thousands km 2. Among them, the area of moderate grazing area is 130, thousands km 2, accounting for 87% of the total grazing area, and the area of overgrazing area is 20, thousands km 2, accounting for 13% of the total grazing area. Our model can quantify human activities spatially and provide a reliable and accurate scientific basis for livestock production development and ecological environment management.

Bladder cancer treatment remains a challenge to every oncologist. We report the case of a 57-year-old man with BCG-refractory bladder cancer, who had a complete response to the intravesical Gemcitabine to shine the light on the role of Gemcitabine as a bladder sparing treatment in BCG-failure patients.

This case report describes a unique approach in the treatment of a patient with severe crowding by an orthopaedic widening of the dental arches using a skeletally anchored rapid palatal expander. This approach can serve as a robust alternative to extractions and can be effective in a variety of situations.

Group VII Ethylene Response Factors (ERF-VII) are plant-specific transcription factors (TFs) known for their role in the activation of hypoxia-responsive genes under low oxygen stress but also in plant endogenous hypoxic niches. However, their function in the microaerophilic nitrogen-fixing nodules of legumes has not yet been investigated. We investigated regulation and the function of the two Medicago truncatula ERF-VII TFs ( MtERF74 and MtERF75) in roots and nodules, MtERF74 and MtERF75 in response to hypoxia stress and during the nodulation process using an RNA interference strategy and targeted proteolysis of MtERF75. Knockdown of MtERF74 and MtERF75 partially blocked the induction of hypoxia-responsive genes in roots exposed to hypoxia stress. In addition, a significant reduction in nodulation capacity and nitrogen fixation activity was observed in mature nodules of double knockdown transgenic roots. Overall, the results indicate that MtERF74 and MtERF75 are involved in the induction of MtNR1 and Pgb1.1 expression for efficient Phytogb-NO respiration in the nodule.

The modulation of the leaf energy budget components to maintain optimal leaf temperature are fundamental aspects of plant functioning and survival. Better understanding these aspects becomes increasingly important under a drying and warming climate when cooling through evapotranspiration (ET) is suppressed. Combining novel measurements and theoretical estimates, we obtained unusually comprehensive twig-scale leaf energy budgets under extreme field conditions in droughted (suppressed ET) and non-droughted (enhanced ET) plots of a semi-arid pine forest. Under the same high mid-summer radiative load, leaf cooling shifted from relying on nearly equal contributions of sensible ( H) and latent ( LE) energy fluxes in non-droughted trees to relying almost exclusively on H in droughted ones, with no change in leaf temperature. Relying on our detailed leaf energy budget, we could demonstrate that this is due to a 2× reduction in leaf aerodynamic resistance. This capability for LE-to-H shift in leaves of mature Aleppo pine trees under droughted field conditions without increasing leaf temperature is likely a critical factor in the resilience and relatively high productivity of this important Mediterranean tree species under drying conditions.

Oriana Sanchez-Mahecha1* , Sophia Klink2* , Robin Heinen1 , Michael Rothballer2 , Sharon Zytynska1,31Technical University of Munich, Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz, 85354 Freising, Germany.2German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Network Biology, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.3 University of Liverpool, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Crown Street, L69 7ZB, Liverpool, United Kingdom.*These authors contributed equally to this workAuthor for correspondence:Sharon ZytynskaEmail: Sharon.Zytynska@liverpool.ac.uk

Background and Purpose: Verapamil, a drug widely used in certain cardiac pathologies, exert its therapeutic effect mainly through the blockade of cardiac L-type calcium channels. However, we also know that both voltage-dependent and certain potassium channels are blocked by verapamil. Because sympathetic neurons of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) are known to express a good variety of potassium currents, and to finely tune cardiac activity, we speculated that the effect of verapamil on these SCG potassium channels could explain part of the therapeutic action of this drug. To address this question, we decided to study, the effects of verapamil on three different potassium currents observed in SCG neurons: delayed rectifier, A-type and TREK (a subfamily of K2P channels) currents. We also investigated the effect of verapamil on the electrical behavior of sympathetic SCG neurons. Experimental Approach: We employed the Patch-Clamp technique to mouse SCG neurons in culture. Key Results: We found that verapamil depolarizes of the resting membrane potential of SCG neurons. Moreover, we demonstrated that this drug also inhibits A-type potassium currents. Finally, and most importantly, we revealed that the current driven through TREK channels is also inhibited in the presence of verapamil. Conclusion and Implications: We have shown that verapamil causes a clear alteration of excitability in sympathetic cells. This fact undoubtedly leads to an alteration of the sympathetic-parasympathetic balance which may affect cardiac function. Therefore, we propose that these possible peripheral alterations in the autonomic system should be taken into consideration in the prescription of this drug.