A Novel Nanosurfactant for EOR: Amphiphilic Carbon Quantum Dots (ACDs).

In the process of spontaneous imbibition to enhance oil recovery (EOR) in low permeability reservoirs, nanoparticles have shown great potential due to their excellent properties. In this study, four novel amphiphilic carbon quantum dots (ACDs) were synthesized by the pyrolysis of citric acid and four long-chain primary amines. The results of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the successful synthesis of ACDs with an average particle size of 3.

The pks1 gene encodes non-reducing polyketone synthetase involved in anthraquinones biosynthesis in M. purpureus YY-1.

Secondary metabolites in fungi exhibit various biological activities and serve as important sources of natural compounds for agricultural development and applications. The pks1 gene, which is implicated in anthraquinone biosynthesis, encodes a non-reducing polyketide synthase in Monascus purpureus YY-1. To elucidate the function of pks1, a knockout strain (Δpks1) was successfully generated.

Identification of potential biomarkers for atrial fibrillation and stable coronary artery disease based on WGCNA and machine algorithms.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) often have coronary artery disease (CAD), but the biological link between them remains unclear. This study aims to explore the common pathogenesis of AF and CAD and identify common biomarkers.

Methods: Gene expression profiles for AF and stable CAD were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Demonstration of quasi-real-time intrafractional motion in esophageal cancer radiotherapy provided by ExacTrac X-ray snap verification.

Objective: To investigate the following hypotheses: (1) ExacTrac X-ray Snap Verification (ET-SV) is an alternative to CBCT for positioning patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC), (2) ET-SV can detect displacement in EC patients during radiotherapy (RT) and (3) EC patients can be feasibly monitored in quasi-real-time with ET-SV during RT.

Methods: Anthropomorphic phantoms and 13 patients were included in this study. CBCT and ET-SV were both implemented before treatment delivery to detect displacement, and their correction results were compared.

Reproducibility for Hepatocellular Carcinoma CT Radiomic Features: Influence of Delineation Variability Based on 3D-CT, 4D-CT and Multiple-Parameter MR Images.

Purpose: Accurate lesion segmentation is a prerequisite for radiomic feature extraction. It helps to reduce the features variability so as to improve the reporting quality of radiomics study. In this research, we aimed to conduct a radiomic feature reproducibility test of inter-/intra-observer delineation variability in hepatocellular carcinoma using 3D-CT images, 4D-CT images and multiple-parameter MR images.

Feasibility evaluation of kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography dose calculation following scatter correction: investigations of phantom and representative tumor sites.

Background: To study the feasibility of kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography (KV-CBCT) dose calculation following scatter correction.

Methods: CIRS 062 and Catphan 504 phantoms were used in this study, and 40 randomly selected subjects representing a variety of cases (ten head cancer cases, ten chest cancer cases, ten abdominal cancer cases and ten pelvic cavity cancer cases) were enrolled. We developed in-house software called the cone-beam CT imaging toolkit (CITK) to improve the quality of CBCT images.

Adhesive Sulfide Solid Electrolyte Interface for Lithium Metal Batteries.

All solid-state Li metal batteries have drawn extensive attention because of the limited side reaction and consequent safety character. The applications of Li metal anodes are indispensable for realizing high energy density but still face many obstacles. One of the critical issues is the contact failure of the solid/solid interface.

Optical coherence tomography angiography of flat irregular pigment epithelial detachments in central serous chorioretinopathy.

Background: To identify and analyse the character and relationship between flat irregular pigment epithelial detachment feature (FIPED), choroidal thickness and choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) network seen on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) in Chinese patients.

Method: In the present study, 152 eyes of 144 Chinese patients, who were previously diagnosed with CSCR, were retrospectively studied. Patients' baseline characteristics, the course of CSCR, best-corrected visual acuity, the pattern of CNV on OCTA, FIPED and choroidal thickness detected by enhanced depth imaging-OCT (EDI-OCT) were analysed.

Reproducibility and non-redundancy of radiomic features extracted from arterial phase CT scans in hepatocellular carcinoma patients: impact of tumor segmentation variability.

Background: The reproducibility and non-redundancy of radiomic features are challenges in accelerating the clinical translation of radiomics. In this study, we focused on the robustness and non-redundancy of radiomic features extracted from computed tomography (CT) scans in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with respect to different tumor segmentation methods.

Methods: Arterial enhanced CT images were retrospectively randomly obtained from 106 patients.

Capability of leaf interdigitation with different inverse planning strategies in Monaco: an investigation of representative tumour sites.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to experimentally assess the dosimetric impact of leaf interdigitation using different inverse treatment strategies for representative tumour sites and to identify the situations in which leaf interdigitation can benefit these tumour sites.

Material And Methods: Sixty previously treated patients (15 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), 15 multiple brain metastasis (MBM), 15 cervical cancer and 15 prostate cancer) were re-planned for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), sliding window IMRT (dMLC) and step-and-shoot IMRT (ssIMRT) with and without leaf interdigitation. Various dosimetric variables, such as PTV coverage, OARs sparing, delivery efficiency and planning time, were evaluated for each plan.

[The analysis of mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and variants for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy in Chinese families carrying the m.14484T >C mutation].

The m.14484T>C mutation in mitochondrial ND6 gene (MT-ND6) is a primary mutation underlying the development of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) , but by itself not enough to cause visual loss. To explore the role of mitochondrial haplogroups on the expression of LHON for the people carrying the m.

Mitochondrial haplotypes may modulate the phenotypic manifestation of the LHON-associated ND1 G3460A mutation in Chinese families.

To investigate the pathophysiology of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a cohort of 1164 Han Chinese subjects with LHON were screened for ND1 G3460A mutation. A total of 295 subjects from 16 Han Chinese families carrying the G3460A mutation underwent a clinical and genetic evaluation and molecular analysis of mitochondrial (mt)DNA. The incidence of G3460A mutation was 1.

Frequency and spectrum of mitochondrial ND6 mutations in 1218 Han Chinese subjects with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy.

Purpose: To investigate the molecular pathogenesis of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) in Chinese families.

Methods: A cohort of 1218 Han Chinese subjects with LHON and 316 control subjects underwent the clinical and genetic evaluation and molecular analysis of mitochondrial (mt)DNA.

Results: The age at onset of optic neuropathy in these subjects ranged from 5 to 55 years, with the average of 18 years.