Search Results (304)

The aim of this study was to improve the efficiency of in situ uranium leaching by developing a specialized methodology for selecting rational parameters for the chemical treatment of production wells. This approach was designed to enhance the filtration properties of ores and extend the uninterrupted operation period of wells, considering the clay content of the productive horizon, the geological characteristics of the ore-bearing layer, and the composition of precipitation-forming materials. The mineralogical characteristics of ore and precipitate samples formed during the in situ leaching of uranium under various mining and geological conditions at a uranium deposit in the Syrdarya depression were identified using an X-ray diffraction analysis. It was established that ores of the Santonian stage are relatively homogeneous and consist mainly of quartz. During well operation, the precipitates formed are predominantly gypsum, which has little impact on the filtration properties of the ore. Ores of the Maastrichtian stage are less homogeneous and mainly composed of quartz and smectite, with minor amounts of potassium feldspar and kaolinite. The leaching of these ores results in the formation of gypsum with quartz impurities, which gradually reduces the filtration properties of the ore. Ores of the Campanian stage are heterogeneous, consisting mainly of quartz with varying proportions of clay minerals and gypsum. The leaching of these ores generates a variety of precipitates that significantly reduce the filtration properties of the productive horizon. Effective compositions and concentrations of decolmatant (clog removal) solutions were selected under laboratory conditions using a specially developed methodology and a TESCAN MIRA scanning electron microscope. Based on a scanning electron microscope analysis of the samples, the effectiveness of a decolmatizing solution based on hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids (taking into account the concentration of the acids in the solution) was established for the destruction of precipitate formation during the in situ leaching of uranium. Geological blocks were ranked by their clay content to select rational parameters of decolmatant solutions for the efficient enhancement of ore filtration properties and the prevention of precipitation formation. Pilot-scale testing of the selected decolmatant parameters under various mining and geological conditions allowed the optimal chemical treatment parameters to be determined based on the clay content and the composition of precipitates in the productive horizon. An analysis of pilot well trials using the new approach showed an increase in the uninterrupted operational period of wells by 30%–40% under average mineral acid concentrations and by 25%–45% under maximum concentrations with surfactant additives in complex geological settings. As a result, an effective methodology for ranking geological blocks based on their ore clay content and precipitate composition was developed to determine the rational parameters of decolmatant solutions, enabling a maximized filtration performance and an extended well service life. This makes it possible to reduce the operating costs of extraction, control the geotechnological parameters of uranium well mining, and improve the efficiency of the in situ leaching of uranium under complex mining and geological conditions. Additionally, the approach increases the environmental and operational safety during uranium ore leaching intensification. Full article

Background: Preparing patients for surgery considers assessing the patient’s somatic health, for example by the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scale or the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI), known as the Lee index. This process usually ignores mental functioning (personality and anxiety), which is known to influence health. The purpose of this study is to analyze the existence of a relationship between personality traits (the Big Five model and trait-anxiety) and anesthesia scales (ASA scale, Lee index) used for the preoperative evaluation of patients. Methods: The study group comprised 102 patients (59 women, 43 men) scheduled for hip replacement surgery. Patients completed two psychological questionnaires: the NEO-FFI (NEO Five Factors Inventory) and the X-2 STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) sheet. Next, the presence and possible strength of the relationship between personality traits and demographic and medical variables were analyzed using Spearman’s rho rank correlation coefficient. Results: Patients with a high severity of trait anxiety are classified higher on the ASA scale (rs = 0.359; p < 0.001). Neuroticism, defined according to the Big Five model, significantly correlates with scales of preoperative patient assessment: the ASA classification (rs = 0.264; p < 0.001) and the Lee index (rs = 0.202; p = 0.044). A hierarchical regression model was created to test the possibility of predicting ASA scores based on personality. It explained more than 34% of the variance and was a good fit to the data (p < 0.05). The controlled variables of age and gender accounted for more than 23% of the variance. Personality indicators (trait anxiety, neuroticism) additionally accounted for slightly more than 11% of the variance. Trait anxiety (Beta = 0.293) proved to be a better predictor than neuroticism (Beta = 0.054). Conclusions: These results indicate that inclusion of personality screening in the preoperative patient evaluation might help to introduce a more individualized approach to patients, which could result in better surgical outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major cause of infectious diarrhea in the inpatient and community setting. Real-world data outside the strict environment of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to improve the quality of evidence. The aim of this study was to compare different clinical outcomes of CDI patients treated with fidaxomicin with those treated with vancomycin using a representative patient population in the United States of America (USA). Methods: Comprehensive real-world data were analyzed for this retrospective observational study, provided by the TriNetX database, an international research network with electronic health records from multiple USA healthcare providers. This includes in- and outpatients treated with fidaxomicin (FDX) or vancomycin (VAN) for CDI between 01/2013 and 12/2023. The following cohorts were compared: (i) patients treated with fidaxomicin within 10 days following CDI diagnosis (FDX group) vs. (ii) patients treated with vancomycin within 10 days following CDI diagnosis (VAN group). Outcomes analysis between the two cohorts was performed after propensity score matching and included event risk and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses for the following concomitant diseases/events occurring during an observational period of 12 months following CDI diagnosis: death, sepsis, candidiasis, infections caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, psychological disease, central line-associated blood stream infection, surgical site infection, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Results: Following propensity score matching, 2170 patients were included in the FDX group and VAN groups, respectively. The event risk analysis demonstrated improved outcomes of patients treated with FDX compared to VAN in 6 out of the 10 events that were analyzed. The highest risk ratio (RR) and odds ratio (OR) were found for sepsis (RR: 3.409; OR: 3.635), candidiasis (RR: 2.347; OR: 2.431), and death (RR: 1.710; OR: 1.811). The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed an overall survival rate until the end of the 12-month observational period of 87.06% in the FDX group and 78.49% in the VAN group (log-rank p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our comparative event risk analysis demonstrated improved outcomes for patients treated with FDX compared to VAN in most of the observed events and underlines the results of previously conducted RCTs, highlighting the beneficial role of FDX compared to VAN. Further big data analyses from other industrialized countries are needed for comparison with our observations. Full article

Let X be a complex projective variety embedded in a complex projective space. The dimensions of the secant varieties of X have an expected value, and it is important to know if they are equal or at least near to this expected value. Blomenhofer and Casarotti proved important results on the embeddings of G-varieties, G being an algebraic group, embedded in the projectivations of an irreducible G-representation, proving that no proper secant variety is a cone. In this paper, we give other conditions which assure that no proper secant varieties of X are a cone, e.g., that X is G-homogeneous. We consider the Segre product of two varieties with the product action and the case of toric varieties. We present conceptual tests for it, and discuss the information we obtained from certain linear projections of X. For the Segre–Veronese embeddings of ${\mathbb{P}}^n\times {\mathbb{P}}^n$ with respect to forms of bidegree $(1,d)$, our results are related to the simultaneous rank of degree d forms in $n+1$ variables. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cardiac aging involves the progressive structural and functional decline of the myocardium. Endurance training is a well-recognized non-pharmacological intervention that counteracts this decline, yet the molecular mechanisms driving exercise-induced cardiac rejuvenation remain inadequately elucidated. This study aimed to identify key effector genes and regulatory pathways by integrating human cardiac aging transcriptomic data with multi-omic exercise response datasets. Methods: A systems biology framework was developed to integrate age-downregulated genes (n = 243) from the GTEx human heart dataset and endurance-exercise-responsive genes (n = 634) from the MoTrPAC mouse dataset. Thirty-seven overlapping genes were identified and subjected to Enrichr for pathway enrichment, KEA3 for kinase analysis, and ChEA3 for transcription factor prediction. Candidate effector genes were ranked using ToppGene and ToppNet, with integrated prioritization via the FLAMES linear scoring algorithm. Results: Pathway enrichment revealed complementary patterns: aging-associated genes were enriched in mitochondrial dysfunction and sarcomere disassembly, while exercise-responsive genes were linked to protein synthesis and lipid metabolism. TTN, PDK family kinases, and EGFR emerged as major upstream regulators. NKX2-5, MYOG, and YBX3 were identified as shared transcription factors. SMPX ranked highest in integrated scoring, showing both functional relevance and network centrality, implying a pivotal role in mechano-metabolic coupling and cardiac stress adaptation. Conclusions: By integrating cardiac aging and exercise-responsive transcriptomes, 37 effector genes were identified as molecular bridges between aging decline and exercise-induced rejuvenation. Aging involved mitochondrial and sarcomeric deterioration, while exercise promoted metabolic and structural remodeling. SMPX ranked highest for its roles in mechano-metabolic coupling and redox balance, with X-inactivation escape suggesting sex-specific relevance. Other top genes (e.g., KLHL31, MYPN, RYR2) form a regulatory network supporting exercise-mediated cardiac protection, offering targets for future validation and therapy. Full article

In causal inference research, accurate estimation of individualized treatment effects (ITEs) is at the core of effective intervention. This paper proposes a dual-structure ITE-estimation model based on Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART), which constructs independent BART sub-models for the treatment and control groups, estimates ITEs using the potential outcome framework and enhances posterior stability and estimation reliability through Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. Based on psychological stress questionnaire data from graduate students, the study first integrates BART with the Shapley value method to identify employment pressure as a key driving factor and reveals substantial heterogeneity in ITEs across subgroups. Furthermore, the study constructs an ITE model using a dual-structured BART framework (BART-ITE), where employment pressure is defined as the treatment variable. Experimental results show that the model performs well in terms of credible interval width and ranking ability, demonstrating superior heterogeneity detection and individual-level sorting. External validation using both the Bootstrap method and matching-based pseudo-ITE estimation confirms the robustness of the proposed model. Compared with mainstream meta-learning methods such as S-Learner, X-Learner and Bayesian Causal Forest, the dual-structure BART-ITE model achieves a favorable balance between root mean square error and bias. In summary, it offers clear advantages in capturing ITE heterogeneity and enhancing estimation reliability and individualized decision-making. Full article

The article suggests a simple one-step sol–gel method for synthesizing nanostructured zinc oxide films co-doped with copper and aluminum. It shows the possibility of forming hierarchical ZnO:Al:Cu nanostructures combining branches of different sizes and ranks and quasi-spherical fractal aggregates. It demonstrates the use of the synthesized samples as highly efficient photocatalysts providing the decomposition of toxic dyes (methyl orange) under the action of both ultraviolet radiation and visible light. It establishes the contribution of the average crystallite size, the proportion of zinc atoms in the crystalline phase, their nanostructure, as well as X-ray amorphous phases of copper and aluminum to the efficiency of the photocatalysis process. Full article

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe X-linked neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the DMD gene, leading to progressive muscle degeneration, loss of ambulation, and multi-systemic complications. Beyond its impact on mobility, DMD is associated with significant endocrine and metabolic dysfunctions that develop over time. Objective: To provide a comprehensive analysis of growth disturbances, endocrine dysfunctions, and metabolic complications in DMD including bone metabolism, considering the underlying mechanisms, clinical implications, and management strategies for daily clinical guidance. Methods: In this narrative review, an evaluation of the literature was conducted by searching the Medline database via the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science interfaces. Results: Growth retardation is a hallmark feature of DMD, with patients exhibiting significantly shorter stature compared to their healthy peers. This is exacerbated by long-term glucocorticoid therapy, which disrupts the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis and delays puberty. Obesity prevalence follows a biphasic trend, with increased risk in early disease stages due to reduced mobility and corticosteroid use, followed by a decline in body mass index (BMI) in later stages due to muscle wasting. Metabolic complications, including insulin resistance, altered lipid metabolism, and hepatic steatosis, further characterize disease burden. Osteoporosis and increased fracture risk, primarily due to reduced mechanical loading and glucocorticoid-induced bone resorption, are major concerns, needing early screening and intervention. The RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling pathway has emerged as a critical factor in bone deterioration, providing potential therapeutic targets for improving skeletal health. Conclusions: Growth and endocrine disorders in DMD are complex and multifactorial, requiring proactive monitoring and early intervention. Addressing these issues requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating endocrine, nutritional, and bone health management. Further research is essential to refine treatment strategies that mitigate growth and metabolic disturbances while preserving overall patient well-being. Full article

The eastern Junggar Basin in Xinjiang, China is a key coal-bearing region dominated by the Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Formation. Despite its significance as a major coal resource base, detailed paleoenvironmental reconstructions of its coal seams remain limited. This study investigates the B₁, B₂, B₃, and B₅ coal seams of the Xishanyao Formation using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to assess geochemical indicators of the depositional environment during coal formation. The results show that the coal samples are characterized by high inertinite content and low vitrinite reflectance, indicative of low-rank coal. Slight enrichment of strontium (Sr) was observed in the B₁, B₂, and B₅ seams, while cobalt (Co) showed minor enrichment in B₃. Redox-sensitive elemental ratios (Ni/Co, V/Cr, and Mo) suggest that the peat-forming environment ranged from oxidizing to dysoxic conditions, with relatively high oxygen availability and strong hydrodynamic activity. A vertical trend of increasing paleosalinity and a shift from warm–humid to dry–hot paleoclimatic conditions was identified from the lower (B₁) to upper (B₅) coal seams. Additionally, the estimated atmospheric oxygen concentration during the Middle Jurassic was approximately 28.4%, well above the threshold for wildfire combustion. These findings provide new insights into the paleoenvironmental evolution of the Xishanyao Formation and offer a valuable geochemical framework for coal exploration and the assessment of coal-associated mineral resources in the eastern Junggar Basin. Full article

The high concentration of arsenic in coal does great harm to the environment. It is important to research the occurrence mode of As in coal to promote the removal of As in coal and understand the migration and transformation of As in coal. In this work, eleven samples from the Hanshuiquan coal mine, in the Santanghu Coalfield, were tested by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS). The results show that maximum arsenic content in the coal seam was 108.37 μg/g, which was 13 times more than that of the world coal, and 28 times more than that of the Chinese coal. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments, ojuelaite and scorodite were found in the samples. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) were used to determine the occurrence location of the arsenic elements. In combination with geochemistry and mineralogy theory, the occurrence modes of the arsenic were studied in detail. The occurrence modes of arsenic in coal from the study area are dominated by sulfide-bound arsenic. At the same time, it was found that arsenic in the study area might occur in the form of arsenate containing zinc and organic bound arsenic. Previous studies and this work have shown that (1) arsenic in coal is predominantly in the form of pyrite, and (2) arsenic in coal is associated with organic matter in low-rank coal and to a lesser extent in high-rank coal. Understanding the occurrence modes of arsenic in coal is of great significance because it has significant impacts on coal mining, preparation, combustion, and utilization, and has adverse effects on the environment and human health. Full article

The Dulong deposit in Wenshan, southeastern Yunnan Province, is rich in zinc, tin, and copper resources, accompanied by rare metals such as indium and silver. It is a particularly important indium production base, with reserves of approximately 7000 tons, ranking first globally. Enrichment and recovery of indium-bearing minerals are mainly achieved through mineral processing technology. However, the recovery rate of indium in the Dulong concentrator remains relatively low, and there is an insufficient understanding of its occurrence state and distribution characteristics, resulting in marked indium resource wastage. Here, we conducted a systematic process mineralogy study on indium-bearing polymetallic ore in the Dulong concentrator. The average grade of indium in the ore is 43.87 g/t, mainly occurring in marmatite (63.63%), supplemented by that in silicate minerals (23.31%), chalcopyrite (7.84%), and pyrrhotite (4.22%). The indium has a relatively dispersed distribution, which is inconducive to enrichment and recovery. The substitution mechanism of indium in marmatite was investigated using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This revealed a positive correlation between indium and copper, allowing us to revise the substitution relationship to: ${\mathrm{Zn}}_x\mathrm{S}+{\mathrm{Cu}}^{+}+{\mathrm{In}}^{3+}\to {\mathrm{Zn}}_{\mathrm{x}-2}\mathrm{CuInS}+2{\mathrm{Zn}}^{2+}$ or ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{\mathrm{x}-1}\mathrm{FeS}+{\mathrm{Cu}}^{+}+{\mathrm{In}}^{3+}\to {\mathrm{Zn}}_{\mathrm{x}-2}\mathrm{CuInS}+{\mathrm{Zn}}^{2+}+{\mathrm{Fe}}^{2+}$. Electron probe microanalysis revealed the presence of roquesite (CuInS₂), an independent indium mineral not previously reported from this deposit. Our detailed investigation of the Dulong concentrator mineral processing technology showed that the recovery rate of indium from marmatite is currently poor, at only 48.01%. To improve the comprehensive utilization rate of indium resources, it will be necessary to further increase the recovery rate from marmatite and explore the flotation recovery of indium from chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite. Full article

This article investigates atomic decompositions in geometric lattices isomorphic to the partition lattice $\mathrm{\Pi }\left(X\right)$ of finite set X, a fundamental structure in lattice theory and combinatorics. We explore the role of atomicity in these lattices, building on concepts introduced by D.D. Anderson, D.F. Anderson, and M. Zafrullah within the context of factorization theory in commutative algebra. As part of the study, we first examine the main characteristics of the function $\mathfrak{N}:\mathrm{\Pi }\left(X\right)\to \mathbb{N}$, which assigns to each partition $\pi$ the number of minimal atomic decompositions of $\pi$. We then consider a distinguished subset of atoms, $\mathcal{R}$, referred to as the set of red atoms, and derive a recursive formula for $\mathit{\pi }(X,j,s,\mathcal{R})$, which enumerates the rank-j partitions expressible as the join of exactly s red atoms. Full article

Pyrolysis is an important methodology for achieving efficient and clean utilization of coal. Lump coal pyrolysis demonstrates distinct advantages over pulverized coal processing, particularly in enhanced gas yield and superior coke quality. As a critical parameter in lump coal pyrolysis, particle size significantly influences heat transfer and mass transfer during pyrolysis, yet its governing mechanisms remain insufficiently explored. This research systematically investigates pyrolysis characteristics of the low-rank coal from Ordos, Inner Mongolia, across graded particle sizes (2–5 mm, 5–10 mm, 10–20 mm, and 20–30 mm) through pyrolysis experiments. Real-time central temperature monitoring of coal bed coupled with advanced characterization techniques—including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gas chromatography (GC), and GC–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)—reveals particle-size-dependent pyrolysis mechanisms. Key findings demonstrate that the larger particles enhance bed-scale convective heat transfer, accelerating temperature propagation from reactor walls to the coal center. However, excessive sizes cause significant intra-particle thermal gradients, impeding core pyrolysis. The 10–20 mm group emerges as optimal—balancing these effects to achieve uniform thermal attainment, evidenced by 20.99 vol% peak hydrogen yield and maximum char graphitization. Tar yield first demonstrates a tendency to rise and then decline, peaking at 14.66 wt.% for 5–10 mm particles. This behavior reflects competing mechanisms: enlarging particle size can improve bed permeability (reducing tar residence time and secondary reactions), but it can also inhibit volatile release and intensify thermal cracking of tar in oversized coal blocks. The BET analysis result reveals elevated specific surface area and pore volume with increasing particle size, except for the 10–20 mm group, showing abrupt porosity reduction—attributed to pore collapse caused by intense polycondensation reactions. Contrasting previous studies predominantly focused on less than 2 mm pulverized coal, this research selects large-size (from 2 mm to 30 mm) lump coal to clarify the effect of particle size on coal pyrolysis, providing critical guidance for industrial-scale lump coal pyrolysis optimization. Full article

Background/Objectives: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized advanced melanoma treatment, yet many patients fail to achieve sustained clinical benefit. Several biomarkers, including tumor microenvironment (TME) signature, PD-1/PD-L1 expression, and IFN-γ signaling, have been proposed. However, robust predictive markers remain elusive. This study aimed to identify molecular markers of response by analyzing tumor and peripheral immune signatures. Methods: This study analyzed 21 advanced melanoma patients treated with ICIs. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumors underwent RNA-sequencing targeting 1392 immuno-oncology probes. Genes significantly associated with progression-free survival (PFS) by log-rank test underwent hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). Differential expression and xCell analyses were then performed on the resulting clusters. Cox multivariate analysis was applied to identify independent PFS predictors. Pre-treatment peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by mass cytometry, followed by FlowSOM and UMAP clustering. Results: Fifty-five genes significantly associated with PFS identified two molecular clusters via HCA. Cluster A demonstrated prolonged PFS (59.4 vs. 2.4 months, p = 0.0004), while Cluster B was characterized by downregulated IFN-γ signaling, antigen presentation pathways, and reduced immune score. Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed molecular cluster as an independent PFS predictor (p < 0.001). Mass cytometry revealed higher frequencies of circulating PD-1+ CD4+ effector memory (EM) T subpopulations among responders. Conclusions: This study highlights the potential role of molecular and immune profiling in predicting ICI response in advanced melanoma. The identification of distinct molecular clusters underscores significant TME heterogeneity, with immune-cold tumor clusters associated with poorer outcomes. Furthermore, circulating PD-1+ T subpopulations emerged as potential markers of ICI response, suggesting their value in improving patient stratification. Full article

Semicrystalline polystyrene spheroidal nanoparticles (50–100 nm) were obtained via microemulsion polymerization. They were evaluated as coal collectors in a low-rank carbonaceous mineral containing 2% organic carbon. The recovery of coal using nanoparticles as collectors was 88.2%, in contrast to 53.2%, 46.4%, and 44.8% achieved using an amine-type compound, kerosene, and diesel, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zeta potential measurements confirmed the polystyrene–mineral surface chemical interaction. A Box–Behnken experimental design for flotation optimization was applied, and the results showed that the coal recovery increased up to 99.5% when the dosage of the collector was increased. A contact angle study and density functional theory calculations, together with XPS results, allowed us to postulate an interaction mechanism in which polystyrene nanoparticles adsorb onto the coal surface through hydrophobic interactions, rendering the oxidized surface hydrophobic and the coal buoyant by adhering to the gas bubbles. Full article