bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adropin: a hepatokine modulator of vascular function and cardiac fuel metabolism
Authors: Mushala Bellina A. S. , Scott Iain
Published: November 2020

Adropin is a nutritionally regulated peptide hormone, secreted primarily by the liver, which modulates metabolic homeostasis in a number of tissues. Growing evidence suggests that adropin is an important regulatory component in a number of cardiovascular pathologies, and may be central to the control of cardiac fuel metabolism and vascular function. In this mini-review, we examine the known facets of adropin biology, discuss open questions in the field, and speculate on the therapeutic potential of targeting adropin-related signaling pathways in cardiovascular diseases.
Xinmailong Injection for Improvement of Cardiac Function in Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Sun Yuan-long , Li Yi-ping , Qiang Ting-ting , Ruan Xiao-fen , Wang Xiao-long
Published: November 2020

Background. Insect drugs have great potential for treating cardiovascular diseases. Xinmailong (XML) injection, a bioactive composite extracted from Periplaneta americana (a species of cockroach), was wildly used in treating heart failure in China. This meta‐analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of XML injection for the improvement of cardiac function in HF. Materials and Methods. Online literature search for relevant studies was performed using databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), six‐minute walk test (6MWT), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were selected as target outcomes. The analysis was performed using Stata 12.0, and sources of heterogeneity were explored by subgroup analysis and metaregression. Results. 32 studies were included in this meta‐analysis after meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The results demonstrated that additional use of XML improved LVEF (WMD = 5.82, 95% CI: 5.52–7.13, P < 0.00001) and 6MWT (WMD = 51.48, 95% CI: 35.83–67.13, P < 0.00001) and reduced BNP (WMD = −172.84, 95% CI: −205.79 to −139.89, P < 0.00001). The results of subgroup analyses and metaregression suggested that XML injection has more cardiac function improvement for middle‐aged HF patients than youth, and greater LVEF and 6MWT improvement were associated with higher average age. Conclusions. XML plus conventional treatment demonstrated a significant effect in reducing cardiac dysfunction in HF patients, and age is a potential factor of higher efficacy. Given the heterogeneity and bias of the included RCTs, large, prospective, rigorous trials are still needed.
On the Solution of Quadratic Nonlinear Integral Equation with Different Singular Kernels
Authors: Basseem M. , Alalyani Ahmad
Published: November 2020

All the previous authors discussed the quadratic equation only with continuous kernels by different methods. In this paper, we introduce a mixed nonlinear quadratic integral equation (MQNLIE) with singular kernel in a logarithmic form and Carleman type. An existence and uniqueness of MQNLIE are discussed. A quadrature method is applied to obtain a system of nonlinear integral equation (NLIE), and then the Toeplitz matrix method (TMM) and Nystrom method are used to have a nonlinear algebraic system (NLAS). The Newton–Raphson method is applied to solve the obtained NLAS. Some numerical examples are considered, and its estimated errors are computed, in each method, by using Maple 18 software.
Toward Measuring Target Perception: First-Order and Second-Order Deep Network Pipeline for Classification of Fixation-Related Potentials
Authors: Zeng Hong , Shen Junjie , Zheng Wenming , Song Aiguo , Liu Jia
Published: November 2020

The topdown determined visual object perception refers to the ability of a person to identify a prespecified visual target. This paper studies the technical foundation for measuring the target-perceptual ability in a guided visual search task, using the EEG-based brain imaging technique. Specifically, it focuses on the feature representation learning problem for single-trial classification of fixation-related potentials (FRPs). The existing methods either capture only first-order statistics while ignoring second-order statistics in data, or directly extract second-order statistics with covariance matrices estimated with raw FRPs that suffer from low signal-to-noise ratio. In this paper, we propose a new representation learning pipeline involving a low-level convolution subnetwork followed by a high-level Riemannian manifold subnetwork, with a novel midlevel pooling layer bridging them. In this way, the discriminative power of the first-order features can be increased by the convolution subnetwork, while the second-order information in the convolutional features could further be deeply learned with the subsequent Riemannian subnetwork. In particular, the temporal ordering of FRPs is well preserved for the components in our pipeline, which is considered to be a valuable source of discriminant information. The experimental results show that proposed approach leads to improved classification performance and robustness to lack of data over the state-of-the-art ones, thus making it appealing for practical applications in measuring the target-perceptual ability of cognitively impaired patients with the FRP technique.
Simulation of Enterprise Human Resource Scheduling Algorithm Optimization in the Context of Smart City
Authors: Zhang Liqun , Yang Weibo
Published: November 2020

In this paper, a new human resource scheduling algorithm is proposed based on the optimization simulation of the human resource scheduling algorithm to find the most suitable human resource allocation scheme for different regions. A simulation system for human resource allocation is proposed, which integrates the scheduling algorithm of this paper and conducts simulation experiments using the historical data of enterprise problems in each region collected in a smart city. The simulation experiment proves that the dispatching algorithm in this paper is more reasonable than the current dispatching algorithm, and the relationship between enterprise problems and the number of employees is also found, and finally, the simulation system in this paper is proved to be stable through large-scale simulation experiment.
Joint V2V-Assisted Clustering, Caching, and Multicast Beamforming in Vehicular Edge Networks
Authors: Wang Kan , Wang Ruijie , Li Junhuai , Li Meng
Published: November 2020

As an emerging type of Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Vehicles (IoV) denotes the vehicle network capable of supporting diverse types of intelligent services and has attracted great attention in the 5G era. In this study, we consider the multimedia content caching with multicast beamforming in IoV-based vehicular edge networks. First, we formulate a joint vehicle-to-vehicle- (V2V-) assisted clustering, caching, and multicasting optimization problem, to minimize the weighted sum of flow cost and power cost, subject to the quality-of-service (QoS) constraints for each multicast group. Then, with the two-timescale setup, the intractable and stochastic original problem is decoupled at separate timescales. More precisely, at the large timescale, we leverage the sample average approximation (SAA) technique to solve the joint V2V-assisted clustering and caching problem and then demonstrate the equivalence of optimal solutions between the original problem and its relaxed linear programming (LP) counterpart; and at the small timescale, we leverage the successive convex approximation (SCA) method to solve the nonconvex multicast beamforming problem, whereby a series of convex subproblems can be acquired, with the convergence also assured. Finally, simulations are conducted with different system parameters to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, revealing that the network performance can benefit from not only the power saving from wireless multicast beamforming in vehicular networks but also the content caching among vehicles.
Effect of Diatomite and Basalt Fibers on Pavement Performance and Vibration Attenuation of Waste Tires Rubber-Modified Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Wu Chunli , Li Liding , Cheng Yongchun , Gu Zhengwei , Lv Zehua , Wang Renbing , Guan Baigeng
Published: November 2020

As an eco-friendly pavement material, waste tires rubber-modified asphalt mixtures (WRMs) have been applied in pavement engineering widely. To further improve the performance and adaptability of WRM, diatomite and basalt fibers are, respectively, added to WRM. Subsequently, the Marshall tests, the rutting tests, the low-temperature splitting tests, the freeze-thaw splitting tests, and the vibration attenuation tests are conducted to study the effect of diatomite and basalt fibers on pavement properties of WRM. Furthermore, the correlation degree between the content of diatomite, basalt fibers, asphalt, and the pavement properties of WRM is analysed by the grey correlation grade analysis (GCGA). The results show that the addition of diatomite and basalt fibers can significantly improve the pavement and vibration attenuation properties of WRM. The improvement of high-temperature permanent deformation resistance, low-temperature cracking resistance, and water damage resistance of WRM is mainly attributed to diatomite, basalt fibers, and asphalt-aggregate ratio, respectively. The improvement of the vibration attenuation of WRM by diatomite and basalt fibers is mainly attributed to the increase of waste tires rubber-modified asphalt (WRA) content caused by adding diatomite and basalt fibers.
Isolation and Molecular Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Providencia spp. from Raw Cow’s Milk in Baghdad, Iraq
Authors: Ayyal Al‐Gburi Nagham Mohammed
Published: November 2020

A total of sixty raw milk samples were collected from (street vendors and shops) from Baghdad city, Iraq. The samples were inoculated into peptone water and, then, subcultured onto MacConkey agar and Blood agar. Identification of isolates was confirmed by microscopic examination, cultural characteristic, biochemical tests, Vitek (VITEK®2 system), and Biolog GN substrate reactions followed by 16S rRNA and specific genes sequencing. Of 60 raw cow’s milk samples, Providencia spp. were identified only in 4 samples (6.67%) and P. rettgeri was the most common, 2/4 (50%), followed by P. stuartii and P. vermicola, 1/4 (25%). Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted against ten antibiotics by the disc diffusion method. All Providencia isolates showed multidrug resistance (MDR), and the absolute resistant was 100% to tetracycline, erythromycin, and doxycycline and 50% against ampicillin\sulbactam and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. They were highly susceptible (100%) to trimethoprim, imipenem, and chloramphenicol. These findings indicate that milk might be contaminated with Providencia spp. leading to transmission to humans causing poisoning, diarrhea, and other infections. This is the first study of isolated Providencia spp. from raw cow’s milk.
Gradation and Rheological Characteristics of Glacial Debris Flow along the Kangding–Linzhi Section of Sichuan–Tibet Railway
Authors: Liu Shuliang , Zhang Jichun , Cheng Xie , Wang Wubin , Jiang Hongtao
Published: November 2020

To date, most research on the characteristics of glacial debris flow along the Sichuan–Tibet railway has focused on numerical simulations and remote sensing, resulting in a lack of direct experimental data from debris flow samples. Therefore, in the present study, a field investigation was conducted along the Sichuan–Tibet railway, and 55 samples of glacial debris flow deposits were systematically analyzed to determine their grading and rheological properties. This is the first systematic experimental study on glacial debris flow deposits. The results showed that the proportion of coarse particles was high and the proportion of fine particles was low in the glacial debris flow along the Sichuan–Tibet railway. The average gravel and sand contents were 37.8% and 58%, respectively, and the average contents of silt and clay were 3.7% and 0.47%, respectively. The average fractal dimension was 2.1507, which is much greater than that of viscous debris flow. Under the same gravity and shear rate, the stress of typical glacial debris flow was significantly less than that of viscous debris flow, whereas the variability of the stress was more significant. These findings will contribute to revealing the movement rules and disaster risk of glacier debris flow along the Sichuan–Tibet railway and have considerable theoretical and practical significance for ensuring safety during both its construction and later operation.
6,8-Diprenylorobol Induces Apoptosis in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Activation of FOXO3 and Inhibition of CYP2J2
Authors: Lee Chang Min , Lee Jongsung , Jang Su-Nyeong , Shon Jong Cheol , Wu Zhexue , Park Kyungmoon , Liu Kwang-Hyeon , Park See-Hyoung
Published: November 2020

6,8-Diprenylorobol is a phytochemical derived from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. 6,8-Diprenylorobol exhibits several biological activities, but the effects of 6,8-diprenylorobol on cancers have been hardly investigated. This study is aimed at elucidating the anticancer effect and working mechanism of 6,8-diprenylorobol in HepG2 and Huh-7, two kinds of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. WST-1, cell counting, and colony formation assays and morphological change analysis showed that 6,8-diprenylorobol treatment decreased the cell viability and proliferation rate. Cell cycle analysis indicated that 6,8-diprenylorobol treatment increased the population of the G1/0 stage. Annexin V/PI double staining and TUNEL analysis showed that 6,8-diprenylorobol treatment increased the apoptotic cell population and DNA fragmentation. Western blot analysis showed that 6,8-diprenylorobol treatment increased the expression of cleaved PARP1, cleaved caspase-3, FOXO3, Bax, Bim, p21, and p27 but decreased the expression of Bcl2 and BclXL. Interestingly, 6,8-diprenylorobol inhibited CYP2J2-mediated astemizole O-demethylation and ebastine hydroxylase activities with

K

i

values of 9.46 and 2.61 μM, respectively. CYP2J2 siRNA transfection enhanced the anticancer effect of 6,8-diprenylorobol in HepG2 and Huh-7 cells through the downregulation of CYP2J2 protein expression and upregulation of FOXO3. Taken together, this study proposes that 6,8-diprenylorobol treatment may be a useful therapeutic option against HCC by targeting CYP2J2 and FOXO3.
Multiepitope Subunit Vaccine Design against COVID-19 Based on the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2: An In Silico Analysis
Authors: Dar Hamza Arshad , Waheed Yasir , Najmi Muzammil Hasan , Ismail Saba , Hetta Helal F. , Ali Amjad , Muhammad Khalid
Published: November 2020

The global health crisis caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of COVID-19, has resulted in a negative impact on human health and on social and economic activities worldwide. Researchers around the globe need to design and develop successful therapeutics as well as vaccines against the novel COVID-19 disease. In the present study, we conducted comprehensive computer-assisted analysis on the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 in order to design a safe and potent multiepitope vaccine. In silico epitope prioritization shortlisted six HLA I epitopes and six B-cell-derived HLA II epitopes. These high-ranked epitopes were all connected to each other via flexible GPGPG linkers, and at the N-terminus side, the sequence of Cholera Toxin β subunit was attached via an EAAAK linker. Structural modeling of the vaccine was performed, and molecular docking analysis strongly suggested a positive association of a multiepitope vaccine with Toll-like Receptor 3. The structural investigations of the vaccine-TLR3 complex revealed the formation of fifteen interchain hydrogen bonds, thus validating its integrity and stability. Moreover, it was found that this interaction was thermodynamically feasible. In conclusion, our data supports the proposition that a multiepitope vaccine will provide protective immunity against COVID-19. However, further in vivo and in vitro experiments are needed to validate the immunogenicity and safety of the candidate vaccine.
Metrological Analysis of Online Consumption Evaluation Influence Commodity Marketing Decision Based on Data Mining
Authors: Xu Yun-Hua , Huang Lin-Fang , Guo Rong-Rong , Zhang Xu-Yang , Zhu Jia-Ming
Published: November 2020

The data of reviews and ratings in the online market can provide guidance for company’s production and business activities. In this paper, firstly, we build a BP neural network model to help identify “useful consumer reviews.” Then, we use the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to identify the most successful and failing goods. Next, we achieve the time series prediction of product reputation by making use of ARIMA model. Finally, we use word segmentation and K-means clustering algorithm to determine whether stars and comments have radiation effects.
High-dose per Fraction Radiotherapy Induces Both Antitumor Immunity and Immunosuppressive Responses in Prostate Tumors
Authors: Lin Lin , Kane Nathanael , Kobayashi Naoko , Kono Evelyn A. , Yamashiro Joyce M. , Nickols Nicholas G. , Reiter Robert E.
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

The use of high-dose per fraction radiotherapy delivered as stereotactic body radiotherapy is a standard of care for prostate cancer. It is hypothesized that high-dose radiotherapy may enhance or suppress tumor-reactive immunity. The objective of this study was to assess both antitumor and immunosuppressive effects induced by high-dose radiotherapy in prostate cancer coclinical models, and ultimately, to test whether a combination of radiotherapy with targeted immunotherapy can enhance antitumor immunity.

Experimental Design:

We studied the effects of high-dose per fraction radiotherapy with and without anti-Gr-1 using syngeneic murine allograft prostate cancer models. The dynamic change of immune populations, including tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), T regulatory cells (Treg), and myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSC), was evaluated using flow cytometry and IHC.

Results:

Coclinical prostate cancer models demonstrated that high-dose per fraction radiotherapy induced a rapid increase of tumor-infiltrating MDSCs and a subsequent rise of CD8 TILs and circulating CD8 T effector memory cells. These radiation-induced CD8 TILs were more functionally potent than those from nonirradiated controls. While systemic depletion of MDSCs by anti-Gr-1 effectively prevented MDSC tumor infiltration, it did not enhance radiotherapy-induced antitumor immunity due to a compensatory expansion of Treg-mediated immune suppression.

Conclusions:

In allograft prostate cancer models, high-dose radiotherapy induced an early rise of MDSCs, followed by a transient increase of functionally active CD8 TILs. However, systemic depletion of MDSC did not augment the antitumor efficacy of high-dose radiotherapy due to a compensatory Treg response, indicating blocking both MDSCs and Tregs might be necessary to enhance radiotherapy-induced antitumor immunity.
Clinicogenomic Analysis of FGFR2-Rearranged Cholangiocarcinoma Identifies Correlates of Response and Mechanisms of Resistance to Pemigatinib
Authors: Silverman Ian M. , Hollebecque Antoine , Friboulet Luc , Owens Sherry , Newton Robert C. , Zhen Huiling , Féliz Luis , Zecchetto Camilla , Melisi Davide , Burn Timothy C.
Published: November 2020

Pemigatinib, a selective FGFR1–3 inhibitor, has demonstrated antitumor activity in FIGHT-202, a phase II study in patients with cholangiocarcinoma harboring FGFR2 fusions/rearrangements, and has gained regulatory approval in the United States. Eligibility for FIGHT-202 was assessed using genomic profiling; here, these data were utilized to characterize the genomic landscape of cholangiocarcinoma and to uncover unique molecular features of patients harboring FGFR2 rearrangements. The results highlight the high percentage of patients with cholangiocarcinoma harboring potentially actionable genomic alterations and the diversity in gene partners that rearrange with FGFR2. Clinicogenomic analysis of pemigatinib-treated patients identified mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance. Genomic subsets of patients with other potentially actionable FGF/FGFR alterations were also identified. Our study provides a framework for molecularly guided clinical trials and underscores the importance of genomic profiling to enable a deeper understanding of the molecular basis for response and nonresponse to targeted therapy.

Significance:

We utilized genomic profiling data from FIGHT-202 to gain insights into the genomic landscape of cholangiocarcinoma, to understand the molecular diversity of patients with FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements, and to interrogate the clinicogenomics of patients treated with pemigatinib. Our study highlights the utility of genomic profiling in clinical trials.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 211
Short‐Term Variability of the QT Interval Can be Used for the Prediction of Imminent Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Primary Prophylactic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Authors: Smoczyńska Agnieszka , Loen Vera , Sprenkeler David J. , Tuinenburg Anton E. , Ritsema van Eck Henk J. , Malik Marek , Schmidt Georg , Meine Mathias , Vos Marc A.
Published: November 2020

Background

Short‐term variability of the QT interval (STV
QT
) has been proposed as a novel electrophysiological marker for the prediction of imminent ventricular arrhythmias in animal models. Our aim is to study whether STV
QT
can predict imminent ventricular arrhythmias in patients.

Methods and Results

In 2331 patients with primary prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillators, 24‐hour ECG Holter recordings were obtained as part of the EU‐CERT‐ICD (European Comparative Effectiveness Research to Assess the Use of Primary Prophylactic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators) study. ECG Holter recordings showing ventricular arrhythmias of >4 consecutive complexes were selected for the arrhythmic groups (n=170), whereas a control group was randomly selected from the remaining Holter recordings (n=37). STV
QT
was determined from 31 beats with fiducial segment averaging and calculated as

, where

D
n

represents the QT interval. STV
QT
was determined before the ventricular arrhythmia or 8:00 
am
in the control group and between 1:30 and 4:30 
am
as baseline. STV
QT
at baseline was 0.84±0.47 ms and increased to 1.18±0.74 ms (
P
<0.05) before the ventricular arrhythmia, whereas the STV
QT
in the control group remained unchanged. The arrhythmic patients were divided into three groups based on the severity of the arrhythmia: (1) nonsustained ventricular arrhythmia (n=32), (2) nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (n=134), (3) sustained ventricular tachycardia (n=4). STV
QT
increased before nonsustained ventricular arrhythmia, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, and sustained ventricular tachycardia from 0.80±0.43 ms to 1.18±0.78 ms (
P
<0.05), from 0.90±0.49 ms to 1.14±0.70 ms (
P
<0.05), and from 1.05±0.22 ms to 2.33±1.25 ms (
P
<0.05). This rise in STV
QT
was significantly higher in sustained ventricular tachycardia compared with nonsustained ventricular arrhythmia (+1.28±1.05 ms versus +0.24±0.57 ms [
P
<0.05]) and compared with nonsustained ventricular arrhythmia (+0.34±0.87 ms [
P
<0.05]).

Conclusions

STV
QT
increases before imminent ventricular arrhythmias in patients, and the extent of the increase is associated with the severity of the ventricular arrhythmia.
Inter/Intra‐Atrial Dissociation in Patients With Maze Procedure and Its Clinical Implications: Pseudo‐Block and Pseudo‐Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: Do Ungjeong , Nam Gi‐Byoung , Kim Minsoo , Cho Min Soo , Kim Jun , Choi Kee‐Joon , Kim You‐Ho
Published: November 2020

Background

Severe conduction delay and inter/intra‐atrial dissociation may occur in patients who undergo an extensive catheter ablation or a maze procedure for atrial tachyarrhythmia. We report a series of patients with inter/intra‐atrial dissociation that mimicked complete atrioventricular block or ventricular tachycardia.

Methods and Results

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 7 patients who were referred for the evaluation of atrioventricular block (patients 1–6) or ventricular tachycardia (patient 7) that occurred after biatrial maze procedure and valvular surgery. During the electrophysiologic study, slow atrial or junctional escape rhythm dissociated from isolated atrial activity mimicked complete atrioventricular blocks. Intra‐atrial dissociation of the right atrium or left atrium was observed. Atrioventricular nodal conduction from the nondissociated atrium to the ventricle was preserved in all patients, while the conduction from the dissociated atrium was blocked. In patient 7, the pacing of the ventricle by tracking of atrial tachycardia from the nondissociated left atrium/coronary sinus mimicked ventricular tachycardia during pacemaker interrogation. A total of 5 patients received new permanent pacemaker implantations during the index hospitalization for the surgery (n=2) or as a deferred procedure (n=3) according to the treatment for sick sinus syndrome.

Conclusions

Pseudo‐atrioventricular block or pseudo‐ventricular tachycardia may occur because of inter/intra‐atrial dissociation after a maze procedure. The selection of patients for permanent pacemaker implantation should be determined based on the patient’s symptoms and the status of the escape pacemaker and not on the apparent atrioventricular block. Proper diagnosis is important to avoid unnecessary implantation of a pacemaker or a defibrillator.
Nanoscale Pore Structure Characteristics of Deep Coalbed Methane Reservoirs and Its Influence on CH4 Adsorption in the Linxing Area, Eastern Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Gao Xiang-Dong , Wang Yan-Bin , Wu Xiang , Li Yong , Ni Xiao-Ming , Zhao Shi-Hu
Published: November 2020

The high gas content of deep coal seams is a driving force for the exploration and development of deep coalbed methane (CBM). The nanoscale pores, which are the main spaces for adsorption and storage of CBM, are closely related to the burial depth. Based on integrated approaches of
vitrinite reflectance (Ro), maceral composition, scanning electron microscope (SEM), proximate analysis, fluid inclusion test, low-temperature N2 adsorption–desorption, and CH4 isothermal adsorption, the nanoscale pore structure of coals recovered
at depths from 650 to 2078 m was determined, and its influence on the CH4 adsorption capacity was discussed. The results show that the coal rank has a good linear relationship with the current burial depth of the coal seams; that is, the influences of the burial depth on the coals
can be reflected by the influences of the coal rank on the coals. With the increase in the coal rank, the moisture and volatile content decrease, and the fixed carbon content increases. The variation in the pore volume and specific surface area with the increase in the coal rank can be divided
into two stages: the rapid decline stage (when 0.75%<Ro < 1.0%), dominated by the compaction and gelatinization, and the slow decline stage (when 1.0%<Ro < 1.35%), characterized by the low stress sensitivity and the mass production of secondary
pores. The percentage of micropores increases throughout the process. When 10 nm is taken as the boundary, the nanoscale pores show different fractal features. When Ro < 1.0%, the fractal dimension (FD) of the micropores is close to 3. When Ro > 1.0%,
the FD of the micropores is close to 2. This indicates that with the increase in the degree of coalification, the surface of the micropores is simpler. The above results show that the gas adsorption capacity of coal first slightly decreases (when 0.75% < Ro < 1.0%)
and then increases (when 1.0% < Ro < 1.35%), and the coincident results are shown in the Langmuir volume (VL) test results.
Performance of Nano Zero-Valent Iron Derived from the Decomposition of Siderite in the Removal of Phosphate
Authors: Zhao Yueling , Liu Haibo , Chen Tianhu , Chen Dong , Chen Chen , Qing Chengsong
Published: November 2020

Natural siderite was selected as a raw material for preparing nano zero-valent iron (nZVI). The efficiency of the as-synthesized nZVI for PO3−4–P removal was investigated, and the effects of the annealing temperature, pH, initial PO3−4–P
concentration, adsorption temperature and oxygen were investigated. The results indicated that after annealing at 550 °C, nZVI exhibited an average crystal size of 56.3 nm and a surface area of 14.1 m2/g. A decrease in pH and an increase in oxygen availability enhanced the removal
efficiency. The adsorption process, which was spontaneous and exothermic according to the thermodynamic analysis, agreed well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Based on the Langmuir equilibrium isotherms, the capacity of nZVI to adsorb phosphorus was determined to be 33.18 mg/L.
The optimized conditions for the experimental conditions were defined by an orthogonal experiment as follows: initial P concentration 2 mg/L, initial pH 4, iron dose 2 g/L, adsorption time 60 min. The experimental results suggested that the as-prepared nZVI was a promising adsorbent for the
removal of phosphate.
Synergistic Effects of Micronano Structures on Porosity and the Permeability of Shale Under Varying Effective Stresses and Temperatures: A Case Study of Fresh Outcrops from Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation Shale in the Southern Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Yue Xiaojing , Li Ying , Bi Erping , Chen Honghan
Published: November 2020

To study the changes in porosity–permeability and the characteristics of the pore structure of shale under stress and high temperature, the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale in the southern Sichuan Basin, China, was investigated under conditions of continuous pressurization
and heating. In addition, the pore compression coefficients and permeability stress sensitivity coefficients were analyzed and quantified. The mineral composition of these black shales was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Our results
reveal that the porosity and permeability of the shales exponentially decreases with increasing stress, reflecting that microfracture development during increasing stress causes the pores in these shale samples to enlarge. However, the pore compressibility and stress sensitivity coefficient
vary for each sample, and the quantitative results indicate an overall decrease with increasing stress, suggesting that the shale deformation is nonlinear during stress release. Based on the mineral composition analyses and SEM measurements, we conclude that the nonuniform changes during stress
release are related to the complexity of the shale mineral compositions and the different intercrystalline/ interlaminar pores of the different minerals, which are affected in different ways by pressure. The NMR measurements reveal that the mesopores are most developed in the shale samples,
the pore volumes of the micro- and macropores are small, and the nanoscale pores are mainly from 1–60 nm in diameter. The different types of pore sizes decrease with increasing stress, indicating that the porosities measured experimentally reflect the synergistic effects of the different
pore sizes on porosity. As the temperature increases, the permeability of the shale decreases significantly, which is primarily caused by the thermal expansion effect. The high clay mineral content of the shales also causes their permeabilities to be sensitive to temperature.
Dynamic Evolution of Nanoscale Pores of Different Rank Coals Under Solvent Extraction
Authors: Zhang Xiaodong , Zhang Shuo , Li Xianzhong , Heng Shuai
Published: November 2020

During the coalification process, coalbed methane (CBM) is formed and mainly adsorbed in the pores of coal. Pore structure evolution is critical to CBM adsorption/desorption and extraction. This paper puts forward two parameters, namely the variety degree x and variety gene σ,
for characterizing pore structure through mercury injection tests. Then, under extraction with different solvents, the dynamic evolution characteristics of nanoscale pores are addressed and quantified by taking four different rank coals (lignite, medium-volatile bituminous coal, low-rank anthracite
and mediumrank anthracite) from different coal mines of China as the study object. The results indicate that the content of meso- and macropores after solvent extraction is much larger, but that there is no obvious law with the content of transition pores and micropores in the size range of
50–7.2 nm, according to the basic data sets of specific surface area (SSA) and pore volume (PV) of all coal samples. This phenomenon can be explained by the pore increase and expansion effects in nanoscale pores during solvent extraction. Generally, with the increasing of the solvent
extraction degree, the difference in variety degree x with respect to the total PV and total SSA of different coals shows a significant decreasing trend, which expresses a homogeneous development in the change in pore structure. In regard to different solvents, benzene mainly causes
pore expansion in meso- and macropores, and CS2 has a great effect on micropores. Whereas acetone plays an important role in mesopores and transition pores with pore expansion, THF has various effects on different size pores. Further study with higher variety gene σ values
shows that the total PV mainly depends on the change in the absolute content of meso- and macropores. While the change in the absolute content of transition pores and micropores (less than 50 nm) has a great influence on the total SSA. As the extraction degree increases, the influence of the
transition pores and micropores on the total PV is increased, and then, the content of meso- and macropores also plays an important role on the total SSA. However, this effect is highly different for raw coals of different ranks.
Influence of a Reduction Process on the Phase Component and Magnetic Properties of NdFeB Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhao Dong , Pei Wenli , Wang Xiaoyang , Zheng Jian , Liu Chunhong , Wang Jianjun
Published: November 2020

NdFeB magnetic nanoparticles with a main phase of Nd2Fe14B have successfully been synthesized. The preparation includes the following processes. First, the NdFeB intermediate was synthesized by a wet-chemical method. The NdFeB intermediate was annealed at 800 °C,
which resulted in the formation of an NdFeB oxide. Then, the NdFeB oxide was reduced into NdFeB nanoparticles by a second-step reduction annealing with a CaH2 reductant. The second-step reduction annealing temperature was a key factor in preparing the NdFeB nanoparticles. A lower
reduction temperature of 900 °C could not completely reduce the NdFeB oxide into Nd2Fe14B. There were some residual unreduced nonmagnetic phases in the prepared materials, which resulted in obvious decreases of coercivity. A sufficiently high second-stage reduction
temperature resulted in an increased reduction, and more of the Nd2Fe14B phase could be obtained. In this work, nanoparticles with a uniform morphology and an increased Nd2Fe14B phase could be obtained at an optimum reduction temperature of 940 °C,
achieving a high coercivity of 5.4 kOe.
Micro-Pore Reservoir Spaces and Gas-Bearing Characteristics of the Shale Reservoirs of the Coal Measure Strata in the Qinshui Basin
Authors: Ma Ruying , Wang Meng , Xie Weidong , Wang Haichao
Published: November 2020

To study the exploration potential of the Carboniferous-Permian transitional shale reservoirs in the Qinshui Basin, the Y5 well was selected as the research object, and experiments including organic geochemical tests, microscopic observations, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction
analysis, high-pressure mercury intrusion, methane isothermal adsorption, and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption were carried out to analyse the physical properties of the shale reservoirs of interest. The results show that (1) The organic matter type of the samples is type III, the total
organic carbon contents range from 0.27% to 20.52% (avg. 3.15%), the RO values are between 2.45% and 3.36% (avg. 2.86%), and the Tmax values range from 311.00 °C to 575.20 °C (avg. 493.31 °C). These results indicate that the organic matter in
the study area is abundant and has experienced a high degree of thermal evolution. (2) The brittleness index is low (avg. 43.81%), and the shale pores in the study area are well developed. The pores contain organic matter-hosted pores, intraparticle pores, interparticle pores, and micro-cracks.
(3) The methane isotherm adsorption average contents of the two samples are 0.2968 m3/t and 1.0824 m3/t, and the average contents of the on-site desorbed gas content and measured total gas content are 0.55889 m3/t and 0.8624 m3/t, respectively. (4)
The kaolinite and illite contents have a significant negative effect on the specific surface area of the macro-pores and the specific pore volume of the meso-pores. The illite content is conducive to the development of the pore diameter and specific surface area of the meso-pores, and the
quartz content has a positive correlation with the specific pore volume of the macro-pores. (5) The measured total gas content has a significant positive correlation with the total organic carbon and a weak positive correlation with the contents of quartz and illite, and the desorbed gas content
shows the same correlations. This study demonstrates the physical properties, microscopic pore characteristics, and gas-bearing characteristics of shale reservoirs and their influencing factors in detail.
Synthesis and Characterization of Montmorillonite Supported Zero-Valent Bimetallic Fe/Ni Nanoparticles for the Removal of Triclosan
Authors: Ju Liting , Wu Pingxiao , Ju Yiwen , Zhu Hongjian , Yu Kun , Yang ShanShan , Chen Meiqing
Published: November 2020

As an important industrial material, triclosan is widely used in manufacturing, and similar to many materials of its kind, triclosan causes significant environmental pollution, especially water pollution. In the organic pollutant degradation field, iron nanoparticles are among the most
popular catalysts and have been successfully applied in various kinds of environmental modification, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. As we will show in this study, combined with nickel, the montmorillonite-supported Fe–Ni bimetallic nano-systems gained better organic
contaminant degradation ability and stability than iron nanoparticles. By means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer– Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the characteristics of the
montmorillonite-supported Fe–Ni nanocomposites were studied in detail. BET analysis shows that montmorillonite restrains the aggregation of Fe–Ni to reduce the size of its particles. By adding montmorillonite, Fe–Ni materials are transformed into uniform mesoporous structures,
which are beneficial for adsorption and catalysis. The layers of montmorillonite and zero-valent metal constitute a “house-of-cards” structure. Based on FTIR spectral analysis, the stretching vibration of montmorillonite hydroxyl groups is present only in the spectra of supported
nanoparticles and not in the spectra of unsupported nanoparticles. The degradation ability of different catalysts is tested by a series of experiments and measured by checking the remaining triclosan in polluted water. The test results confirmed that Mont/Fe–Ni nanoparticles exhibit
the best removal efficiency, which is approximately 80% after 90 min.
Investigation on the Structure and Fractal Characteristics of Nanopores in High-Rank Coal: Implications for the Methane Adsorption Capacity
Authors: Yang Yanhui , Yu Kun , Ju Yiwen , Hu Qiuping , Yu Bowen , Qiao Peng , Chen Longwei , Zhang Pengbao , Liu Feng , Song Yang , Ju Liting , Li Wuyang
Published: November 2020

The structure and fractal characteristics of nanopores of high-rank coal were investigated using an approach that integrates N2 adsorption and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results indicated that the high-rank coal of the Shanxi Formation has a
complex pore-fracture network composed of organic matter pores, mineral-related pores, and microfractures. The pore type of high-rank coal tends to be complicated, and the main pore types are inkbottle pores and open pores, which are more conducive to methane enrichment. The Ro,max
has a negative relationship with the total pore volume. In addition, the ash and inertinite contents show a positive correlation with the average pore size (APS), while the fixed carbon content exhibits a negative relationship with the APS. The pore structure of high-rank coal is controlled
not only by the degree of metamorphism but also by coal composition, which leads to the variation in pore structure becoming more complicated. With the increase in coal metamorphism, high-rank coal with high amounts of fixed carbon content generally possesses a higher irregularity in pore
structure. No obvious relationship was observed between D2 and the coal components, which indicates that the pore structure, ash content, moisture content and other factors controlled by the metamorphism of coal have different effects on D2 that lead to
this inapparent relationship. A negative relationship exists between adsorption volume and D1, which indicates that the high irregularity of the pore structure is not conducive to methane absorption and that no obvious correlation exists between the adsorption volume and
D2. In the high-rank coal, the high D1 value represents the complexity and heterogeneity of the pore structure and represents a low adsorption affinity for methane molecules; in addition, D2 has no effect on the methane adsorption capacity.
Fractal Characteristics and Its Controlling Factors of Nanopore of Coal from Shanxi Province, North China
Authors: Xu Zhi , Li Ming , Xu Yu , Sun Luwei
Published: November 2020

Much attention has been recently paid to the Carboniferous-Permian coal-bearing strata in Shanxi Province, now the largest producing coalbed methane field in China. In this study, a comprehensive approach of mercury injection, low-temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption, and permeability
experiments was adopted to investigate the structure and fractal characteristics of nanopores in the Carboniferous-Permian coal (with 0.77%˜3.04% Ro,ran). Based on the fractal model, two fractal dimensions D1 and D2 corresponding
to diffusion pore (<65 nm) and seepage pore (pore size ≥65 nm), respectively, were calculated, and the relationships between the fractal dimensions with the pore structure parameters and permeability are discussed here. The results indicate that the studied coal samples have good fractal
characteristics and that the calculated linear correlation coefficients are higher than 0.80. The fractal dimension D1 of the diffusion pores ranges from 2.3777 to 2.4624, with an average of 2.4173, while the fractal dimension D2 of the seepage pores is
between 2.5844 and 2.6256, with an average of 2.5990. The fractal dimensions D1 of the diffusion pores increases with an increase in the BET specific surface area, vitrinite content, and Ro,ran while it decreases with an increase in the permeability, and
has a weak correlation with the total pore volume. The correlation coefficients R2 for the fractal dimension D2 of the seepage pores, pore parameters, permeability, and maceral composition ranges from 0.0357 to 0.2551. These results indicate that uncertain
relationships exist among these parameters.
Nanopore Structure Distribution of the Upper Paleozoic Tight Sandstones and Its Controls on Gas Production Performance in the Shenfu Area, Northeastern Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Wu Peng , Wu Jianguang , Xu Weikai , Deng Jimei , Ju Yiwen
Published: November 2020

Based on X-ray diffraction, thin section and scanning electron microscopy observation, helium porosity and permeability tests and high-pressure mercury intrusion experiments, the pore and throat distributions of tight sandstone reservoirs were revealed on a nm–μm scale, and
their control on gas productivity in the Shenfu area, northeastern Ordos Basin, China was discussed. The results show that lithic sandstones are the main rock types. As the burial depth increases, the quartz content increases, while the feldspar content decreases. There is approximately 5–25%
of interstitial material varying between the different layers, and this interstitial material is mainly composed of mud, kaolinite and Fe-calcite. These tight sandstone reservoirs generally have porosities <10% and permeabilities <1 mD. Except for the Shiqianfeng Formation, the dissolution
pores in other Upper Paleozoic strata all account for more than 80% of pores. The main pore types are mainly intragranular dissolution pores, intergranular dissolution pores and cement dissolution pores. Generally, the pore radius is approximately 500 nm, while the pore throats are much smaller
are variable in size. Wells with high amounts of sandstones but low gas production rate are generally characterized by dominant intercrystalline pores, few macropores, and low effective porosity. The lithology and reservoir characteristics, which are controlled by primary deposition and secondary
diagenesis, are speculated to be main factors controlling the gas contents.
Distribution Characteristics of Nanopores and Discriminant Characteristics of Sedimentary Environment of the Longmaxi Formation in the Southern Sichuan Basin
Authors: Tang Xin , Guo Yuanchen , Zhou Tingqiang , Guo Sen
Published: November 2020

Shale contains a large number of nanopores. The nanopores control the reservoir structure. The formation of nanopores in shale is closely related to the sedimentary environment. The palaeosedimentary structural background determines the provenance and sedimentary diagenesis of mud shale
during shale deposition, refines the palaeo-shale and palaeo-sedimentary-tectonic environments of the Longmaxi Formation in the southern Sichuan Basin by elemental geochemical means, and determines the palaeo-deposition of the Longmaxi Formation. The tectonic setting and a numerical simulation
method are used to explore the sedimentary tectonic evolution characteristics of the Longmaxi Formation. The results show that the parent rock of the Longmaxi Formation is relatively enriched with light rare earth elements, and the distribution of heavy rare earth elements is relatively stable.
The vertical direction shows a trend of increasing from the bottom of the formation to the top of the formation, showing a mixed genesis; the tectonic setting is a passive continental margin, and the active continental margin is the main margin.
The Culture of White Space: On The Racialized Production of Meaning
Authors: Brunsma David L. , Chapman Nathaniel G. , Kim Joong Won , Lellock J. Slade , Underhill Megan , Withers Erik T. , Wyse Jennifer Padilla
Published: November 2020

This article focuses on processes of meaning making in White spaces as the glue that holds their social structures together. Understanding White spaces and how they operate necessitates theoretical development from a cultural perspective. The authors’ research empirically engages with a wide range of White spaces—neighborhoods, subcultural scenes, craft breweries, online digital platforms, and academia, to name a few—and do so from a theoretical space where the two areas of sociology meet: race and culture. We engage with three key questions to theorize the culture of White space: (a) How do these White spaces work? (b) How are these White spaces challenged? (c) How do these White spaces change and/or reproduce themselves? From these engagements, this article develops a general approach to understanding White spaces through understanding their racialized processes of meaning making.