Exerimental method and preliminary studies of the passive containment water film evaporation mass transfer

For larger containments and higher operation parameters, characteristics of the outside cooling of the PCCS are very important for the analysis on the containment integrity. A preliminary analysis was made and a four-step experimental method was used to numerically analyze the falling water film evaporation for the advanced passive containment. Then, the water flow stability along the outside wall of the containment was studied. The results fit well with those correlations without airflow when the air velocity is less than 5.0 m/s. However, when the air velocity is larger than 5.0 m/s, the influence of the air velocity on the water film will appear and the mean water film thickness will be thicker. Based on the prototype operation parameters, experimental studies were carried and the results were compared with the Dittus-Boelter correlation within the operation ranges. A modification factor was proposed for the conservative application of this correlation for nuclear safety analysis.

Defect-Free Metal-Organic Framework Membrane for Precise Ion/Solvent Separation toward Highly Stable Magnesium Metal Anode

Metallic magnesium batteries are promising candidates beyond lithium-ion batteries; however, a passive interfacial layer because of the electro-reduction of solvents on Mg surfaces usually leads to ultrahigh overpotential for the reversible Mg chemistry. Inspired by the excellent separation effect of permselective metal-organic framework (MOF) at angstrom scale, a large-area and defect-free MOF membrane directly on Mg surfaces is here constructed. In this process, the electrochemical deprotonation of ligand can be facilitated to afford the self-correcting of intercrystalline voids until a seamless membrane formed, which can eliminate nonselective intercrystalline diffusion of electrolyte and realize selective Mg²⁺ transport but precisely separate the solvent molecules from the MOF channels. Compared with the continuous solvent reduction on bare Mg anode, the as-constructed MOF membrane is demonstrated to significantly stabilize the Mg electrode via suppressing the permeation of solvents, hence contributing to a low-overpotential plating/stripping in conventional electrolytes. The concept is demonstrated that membrane separation can serve as solid-electrolyte interphase, which would be widely applicable to other energy-storage systems.

Comorbid anxiety and depression, depression, and anxiety in comparison in multi-ethnic community of west China: prevalence, metabolic profile, and related factors

OBJECTIVES

To identify the prevalence, lifestyle factors, chronic disease status, and assessing the metabolic profile, comparing key differences in a cohort of subjects aged at least 50 years old among depression combined anxiety, depression and anxiety in a multi-ethnic population in west China.

METHODS

A large multi-ethnic sample of 6838 participants aged 50 years old (mean age 62.4 ± 8.3 years) from West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study was analyzed. We categorized all participants into four groups: (a) comorbid anxiety and depression symptomology (CAD), (b) anxiety only, (c) depression only, or (d) neither depression nor anxiety. Different variables like anthropometry measures, life styles, chronic disease and blood test were collected. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). GDS-15 scores ≥5 indicate depression. Anxiety status was assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) instrument and the scores ≥5 was considered as having anxiety. Different variables like anthropometry measures, life styles, cognitive function and chronic disease comorbidities were collected and serum parameters were tested. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity was done to compare between those with the mental outcomes and without.

RESULTS

The proportions of CAD, anxiety and depression were 9.0%, 12.8% and 10.6% respectively with ethnic diversity. The 'comorbid' group shown greater frequency of being female, having a lower educational level, higher prevalence of being single/divorced/widowed, drinking alcohol and smoking, more chronic disease profile and cognitive decline compared with individuals with only one disorder. And the metabolic profile showed differences in albumin, total protein, creatinine, uric acid, thyroid hormones in comparing CAD symptomology and the 'neither symptomology'.

CONCLUSIONS

Yi, Qiang and Uyghur ethnic groups have a higher prevalence of mental disease compared with Han in west China. And these mental disease had a distinct risk factor profile in age, sex, educational level, chronic disease and cognitive function. Vitamin D levels were lower among those with mental disease compared to those without.

The combination of sucrose dilaurate and sucrose laurate suppresses HMGB1: an enhancer of melanocyte dendricity and melanosome transfer to keratinocytes

BACKGROUND

Hyperpigmented spots are common issues in all ethnicities, involving multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as UVB exposure, hormone balance, inflammatory status and ageing.

OBJECTIVES

To determine (i) melanocyte dendricity in multiple facial spot types, (ii) impact of High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), and the combination of sucrose dilaurate and sucrose laurate (SDL) on melanogenesis and melanocyte dendricity, and (iii) SDL effect on facial spots in a human use test.

METHODS

Facial spot and adjacent non-spot skin biopsies were collected from Chinese women (age 20-70). Histological assessment of melanocyte dendricity was performed for 3 spot types (solar lentigo, melasma and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation) by immunofluorescent staining for c-kit/MITF. Keratinocyte, melanocyte and melanocyte-keratinocyte co-culture models were used to assess HMGB1 release by UVB radiation, the effects of HMGB1 and SDL on melanin production, melanocyte dendricity and melanosome transfer. The effect of an SDL-containing moisturizer on appearance of facial hyperpigmented spots was assessed against a vehicle control in an 8-week human use test.

RESULTS

Melanocytes in spot areas are more dendritic than melanocytes in adjacent non-spot skin across three investigated spot types. In cell culture models, a moderate UVB-radiation exposure caused release of HMGB1 from keratinocytes. HMGB1 did not alter melanin production in melanocytes, but enhanced melanocyte dendricity and melanosome transfer. SDL reduced HMGB1 release from keratinocytes, inhibited melanin production, reversibly suppressed melanocyte dendricity and reduced melanosome transfer. In the human use test, SDL-containing moisturizer reduced appearance of spots versus vehicle.

CONCLUSION

Increased melanocyte dendricity was observed in multiple types of facial spots. Addition of HMGB1 protein increased melanocyte dendricity and melanosome transfer in cell cultures, implicating potential involvement in spot formation. SDL suppressed melanin production, melanocyte dendricity and melanosome transfer in vitro and reduced appearance of spots in the use test, suggesting SDL is an effective solution to address hyperpigmented spot concerns.

Molecular characterization and spatial distribution of dicarboxylic acids and related compounds in fresh snow in China

Low molecular weight organic compounds are ubiquitous in the atmosphere. However, knowledge on their concentrations and molecular distribution in fresh snow remains limited. Here, twelve fresh snow samples collected at eight sites in China were investigated for dicarboxylic acids and related compounds (DCRCs) including oxocarboxylic acids and α-dicarbonyls. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in the snow samples ranged from 0.99 to 14.6 mg C L^-1. Concentrations of total dicarboxylic acids were from 225 to 1970 μg L^-1 (av. 650 μg L^-1), while oxoacids (28.3-173, av. 68.1 μg L^-1) and dicarbonyls (12.6-69.2, av. 31.3 μg L^-1) were less abundant, accounting for 4.6-8.5% (6.2%), 0.45-1.4% (0.73%), and 0.12-0.88% (0.46%) of DOC, respectively. Molecular patterns of dicarboxylic acids are characterized by a predominance of oxalic acid (C₂) (95.0-1030, av. 310 μg L^-1), followed by phthalic (Ph) (9.69-244, av. 69.9 μg L^-1) or succinic (C₄) (23.8-163, av. 63.7 μg L^-1) acid. Higher concentrations of Ph in snow from Beijing and Tianjin than other urban and rural regions suggest significant emissions from vehicular exhausts and other fossil fuel combustion sources in megacities. C₂ constituted 40-54% of total diacids, corresponding to 1.5-2.6% of snow DOC. The total measured DCRCs represent 5.5-10% of snow DOC, which suggests that there are large amounts of unknown organics requiring further investigations. The spatial distributions of diacids exhibited higher loadings in megacities than rural and island sites. Molecular distributions of diacids indicated that the photochemical modification was restrained under the weak solar radiation during the snow events, while anthropogenic primary sources had a more significant influence in megacities than rural areas and islands.

Review: What have we learned about the effects of heat stress on the pig industry?

Pig production faces seasonal fluctuations. The low farrowing rate of sows mated in summer, increased carcass fatness of progeny born to the sows mated in summer, and slower growth rate of finisher pigs in summer are three economically important impacts identified in the pig industry. The purpose of this review is to examine advances over the past decade in understanding the mechanisms underlying the three impacts associated with summer conditions, particularly heat stress (HS), and to provide possible amelioration strategies. For impact 1, summer mating results in low farrowing rates mainly caused by the high frequency of early pregnancy disruptions. The contributions of semen DNA damage, poor oocyte quality, local progesterone concentrations, and suboptimal embryonic oestrogen secretion are discussed, as these all may contribute to HS-mediated effects around conception. Despite this, it is still unclear what the underlying mechanisms might be and thus, there is currently a lack of commercially viable solutions. For impact 2, there have been recent advances in the understanding of gestational HS on both the sow and foetus, with gestational HS implicated in decreased foetal muscle fibre number, a greater proportion of lighter piglets, and increased carcass fatness at slaughter. So far, no effective strategies have been developed to mitigate the impacts associated with gestational HS on foetuses. For impact 3, the slowed growth rate of pigs during summer is one reason for the reduced carcass weights in summer. Studies have shown that the reduction in growth rates may be due to more than reductions in feed intake alone, and the impaired intestinal barrier function and inflammatory response may also play a role. In addition, it is consistently reported that HS attenuates fat mobilisation which can potentially exacerbate carcass fatness when carcass weight is increased. Novel feed additives have exhibited the potential to reduce the impacts of HS on intestinal barrier function in grower pigs. Collectively, based on these three impacts, the economic loss associated with HS can be estimated. A review of these impacts is warranted to better align the future research directions with the needs of the pig industry. Ultimately, a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and continuous investments in developing commercially viable strategies to combat HS will benefit the pig industry.

Long sleep duration is associated with cognitive frailty among older community-dwelling adults: results from West China Health and Aging Trend study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between sleep duration and cognitive frailty among older adults dwelling in western China.

METHODS

We used the baseline data from West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study. Sleep duration was classified as short sleep duration (< 6 h), normal sleep duration (6-8 h) and long sleep duration (≥ 9 h). Fried frailty criteria and Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire were used to measure cognitive frailty. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

A total of 4093 older adults (age = 67.8 ± 5.9 years, 1708 males and 2385 females) were included in the analysis. The prevalence of cognitive frailty was 11.8% among older adults in western China. Approximately 11.9% participants had short sleep duration (< 6 h); 22.2% had a long sleep duration (≥ 9 h). After adjusting for covariates, only long sleep duration was significantly associated with high risk of cognitive frailty (OR = 2.07, 95%CI = 1.60-2.68, P <  0.001) in western China older adults compared to normal sleep duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Long sleep duration was significantly related to cognitive frailty in older adults. Intervention for long sleep duration may be helpful to prevent cognitive frailty.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1800018895 .

Application of deep learning to auto-delineation of target volumes and organs at risk in radiotherapy

The technological advancement heralded the arrival of precision radiotherapy (RT), thereby increasing the therapeutic ratio and decreasing the side effects from treatment. Contour of target volumes (TV) and organs at risk (OARs) in RT is a complicated process. In recent years, automatic contouring of TV and OARs has rapidly developed due to the advances in deep learning (DL). This technology has the potential to save time and to reduce intra- or inter-observer variability. In this paper, the authors provide an overview of RT, introduce the concept of DL, summarize the data characteristics of the included literature, summarize the possible challenges for DL in the future, and discuss the possible research directions.

Vitamin D status and obesity markers in older adults: results from West China Health and Aging Trends study

Backgrounds

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in older adults seems to be common, but the prevalence estimates are lacking in West China. Previous studies suggested that low vitamin D status was associated with obesity. However, most of them evaluated obesity based on body mass index (BMI) and there are no studies at present exploring the association between vitamin D status and different obesity markers. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of low vitamin D status and evaluate the association between the vitamin D status and different obesity markers among older adults in West China.

Methods

Data was based on the baseline of West China Health and Aging Trends study (WCHAT). All of the participants were older than 60 years old in the present study. Vitamin D status was based on laboratory data, and obesity markers were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) using the InBody 770 analyzer. Multiple linear regression was performed to find the association between the vitamin D status and various obesity markers.

Results

The study included 2661 individuals (mean age: 67.7 ± 6.0 years; males: 41 %). The mean vitamin D level was 18.8 ± 6.3 ng/ml (range: 5 to 59 ng/ml); 5.2 % of participants had a sufficient level of vitamin D, 31.8 % had vitamin D insufficiency, and 63.0 % had vitamin D deficiency. Our results showed that vitamin D status was negatively associated with fat mass index (FMI), visceral fat area (VFA), and waist-hip ratio (WHR) in both sexes. Comparing to other obesity markers, WHR had the strongest correlation with vitamin D status in both sexes (β = -6.090, P = 0.046 in males; β = -11.253, P < 0.001 in females). No significant association was found between vitamin D status and BMI in males.

Conclusion

The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among older adults in West China was high. Among the older adults in west China, WHR showed stronger association with vitamin D status and was better for the prediction of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in both sexes, compared to BMI.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1800018895.