Recovery Rate Research Articles

Enhancing older care services: a comprehensive internet + community home indicator system.

Constructing a demand-oriented Internet + community home care service indicator system, starting from the actual needs of the elderly, and quantifying the demand into specific service contents that can be provided, so as to realize the effective supply of services. It aims to provide a theoretical basis for the government to formulate relevant aging policies and provide a reference basis for promoting the innovation and development of the Internet + elderly care model. Based on existence needs, relationship needs and growth needs abbreviated as "Existence, Relatedness, Growth (ERG)" demand theory, through the discussion in the group meeting, form the expert consultation questionnaire of the demand-oriented Internet + community home care service indicator system, select experts in related fields to conduct two rounds of Delphi expert consultation, summarize the experts' opinions to determine the indicator system items, and use the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to construct the judgment matrix to derive the weighting coefficients of the indicators, and establish the ultimate demand-oriented Internet + community home care service indicator system. The effective recovery rates for the two rounds of expert consoulation questionnaires were 100%, with expert authority coefficients of 0.852 and 0.868, respectively. The Kendall coefficients for the second round of expert views varied from 0.226 to 0.431, with coefficients of variation for all indexes less than 0.25.The finalized demand-oriented Internet + community home care service indicator system includes 3 first-level indicators, 10s-level indicators, and 46 third-level indicators. The consistency ratios of indicator judgment matrices at all levels are less than 0.10, suggesting that the hierarchical analysis findings are consistent, implying that the weight coefficient distribution is appropriate. The demand-oriented Internet + community home care service Indicator System, which was created through expert consultation and AHP method, has reasonable content and is more dependable as an evaluation tool for reliably assessing demand for elderly servic.

An epidemic spread model with nonlinear recovery rates on meta-population networks

An epidemic spread model with nonlinear recovery rates on meta-population networks

Microwave healing properties and moisture sensitivity of asphalt mixture containing iron powder filler.

Through experimental tests, this paper investigated the effectiveness of microwave healing on asphalt mixtures containing iron powder (IP) filler to improve durability and enhance mechanical properties. The moisture sensitivity of the asphalt mixes with varying iron powder filler contents was measured using the modified Lottman test. For evaluating the asphalt mixture healing ability, two complementary methods were used: the fatigue-based method, derived from the ability of microwave healing of asphalt mixture samples damaged up to 50% level of indirect tensile fatigue (ITF), and the fracture-based method, obtained from the strength recovery rate of broken semi-circular samples by applying consecutive breaking-healing cycles. The results showed that the greater the quantity of iron powder filler in the asphalt sample, the greater the sample's indirect tensile strength and TSR ratio, indicating that IP had a positive effect on moisture sensitivity. The findings also indicated that utilizing iron powder as a filler positively strengthens the fatigue life, increases the toughness, and increases the microwave healing indices (both fatigue and failure approaches). Finally, according to the study results, substituting 70% iron powder as the filler is the most suitable option for improving the mechanical and self-healing characteristics of asphalt mixes.

Evaluation of the clinical effect of 4D digital strabismus and amblyopia visual function correction system combined with traditional comprehensive treatment methods on anisometropic amblyopia.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a 4D digital strabismus and amblyopia visual function correction system (4D-DSAAVFCS) in combination with conventional modalities compared with conventional modalities alone in children with anisometropic amblyopia. This nonrandomized controlled study collected data on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), simultaneous vision, fusion vision, near stereoscopic vision, the amplitude of P100 wave (graphic evoked visual potentials), and the latency of P100 wave from both eyes at the beginning of the treatment and one year later. The Mann‒Whitney U test was used to compare BCVA contrasts in different subgroups, and the independent samples t test was used to compare the amplitude and latency of P100 wave contrasts in different subgroups. The basic cure rate, simultaneous vision recovery rate, fusion vision recovery rate, and near stereoscopic vision recovery rate contrasts in different subgroups were compared via the chi-square test. This study included 393 children (217 boys and 176 girls) aged 3 to 12 years with anisometropic amblyopia who were treated at the Aier Eye Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2020 to December 2022. The children were divided into two groups, the 4D group (263 cases) and the traditional group (130 cases), on the basis of the treatment modality. The children in the traditional group received treatment through the conventional method of occlusion and regular training. Meanwhile, the children in the 4D group received treatment through the traditional method and the 4D-DSAAVFCS. The 4D group was divided into two age groups: 3 ~ 6 years (161 cases) and 6 ~ 12 years (102 cases). The basic cure rate of the 4D group was significantly better than that of the traditional group (χ2 = 4.318, P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the BCVA, the latency of P100 wave, or the amplitude of P100 wave between the 4D group and the traditional group before treatment (U=-0.117, t=-0.05, all P > 0.05 ). After one year of treatment, a statistically significant difference was observed between the 4D group and the conventional group in terms of BCVA, the latency of P100 wave, and the amplitude of P100 wave (U=-1.243, t=-0.853, t=-1.546, all P < 0.05). These results suggest that the therapeutic effect was greater in the 4D group than in the conventional group. The recovery rates of simultaneous vision, convergent fusion, divergent fusion, and near stereoscopic vision were significantly greater in the 4D group than in the conventional group (χ2 = 4.344, 4.726, 5.123, and 2.036, respectively; all P < 0.05). Additionally, the basic cure rate of children aged 3 ~ 6 years in the 4D group was significantly greater than that of children aged 6 ~ 12 years (χ2 = 2.365, P < 0.05). In this study, BCVA was significantly lower in the 3 ~ 6-year-old group than in the 6 ~ 12-year-old group (U = -1.267, P < 0.05). Similarly, the amplitude of P100 wave was also significantly greater in the 3 ~ 6-year-old group than in the 6 ~ 12-year-old group (t = -1877, P < 0.05). The latency of P100 wave was lower in the 3 ~ 6-year-old group than in the 6 ~ 12-year-old group (t=-0.998, P < 0.05). Additionally, the recovery rate of near stereoscopic vision was significantly greater in the 3 ~ 6-year-old group than in the 6 ~ 12-year-old group (χ2 = 4.534, P < 0.05). The combination of the traditional method with the 4D-DSAAVFCS was more effective than the traditional method alone in treating amblyopic children. This approach was particularly helpful in improving the visual acuity of the children and restoring their optic nerve conduction function, simultaneous vision, fusion vision, and near stereoscopic vision. The combination of the traditional method and the 4D-DSAAVFCS is more effective for younger children.

Adaptive tracking control method for shearer cutting trajectory based on the combined strategy

Adaptive tracking control method for shearer remains challenging caused by the contradiction between coal recovery rate and equipment safety under current technological limitations, has drawn more and more attention over the past decades due to its important role in reducing personnel, increasing safety, and improving efficiency for underground mining. Therefore, a novel adaptive tracking control method for shearer cutting trajectory based on the combined strategy is proposed, whose core is the switching method of the sub-strategies based on the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) and error band control (EBC) with switching threshold determined by the Multi-strategy Marine Predator Algorithm. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated by comparing with the existing methods reported. The experimental results reveal that the proposed method maintains a high recovery rate while improving coal mining efficiency.

Effects of preheat treatment and syringic acid binding on the physicochemical, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of black soybean protein isolate before and after in vitro digestion.

This study investigated the effects of preheat treatment (70-100 °C) and syringic acid (SA) grafting on the antioxidant, antibacterial, and physicochemical properties of black soybean protein isolate (BSPI) before and after in vitro digestion. The results revealed that both preheat treatment and SA grafting increased the digestibility and the absolute zeta potential value of BSPI. However, as the preheating temperature increased, the antioxidant ability of BSPI decreased, which was improved by SA grafting. During in vitro digestion, the absolute zeta potential and antioxidant activities of preheated BSPI and preheated BSPI-SA complex followed the order: intestine>gastric>before digestion. Compared with before digestion, preheated BSPI with its SA complex after in vitro digestion exhibited excellent antibacterial activities. Importantly, the preheated BSPI-SA complex enhanced the SA recovery rate during digestion and SA stability, with the highest recovery rate observed for the SA-grafted BSPI with preheat treatment at 100°C (BSPI100-SA). The principal component analysis sufficiently distinguished preheated BSPI and preheated BSPI-SA complexes. There were partitions between BSPI and BSPI-SA treated at different preheating temperatures. This study contributes to expanding the potential applications of BSPI with its SA complex in food products and offers guidance for designing SA delivery systems. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Preheated BSPI-SA complexes could serve as functional ingredients in food or health products. Besides, preheated BSPI has application potential as a carrier for SA delivery.

Urine epidermal growth factor as a biomarker for kidney function recovery and prognosis in glomerulonephritis with severe kidney function impairment.

Prognostication in glomerulonephritis with severe kidney function impairment is critical for evaluating the benefit-to-risk ratio of immunosuppression. We hypothesized that the urine biomarker epidermal growth factor (EGF) could have good discrimination powerto identify subjects who might ultimatelyrecover kidney function. We included 82 subjects with glomerulonephritis and severe kidney function impairment at admission (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≤ 30mL/min/1.73m2): 58 with lupus nephritis (LN) and 24 with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Thirty-five subjects requiredkidney replacement therapy (KRT) at presentation. Urine epidermal growth factor was measured and corrected by urine creatinine (uEGF/Cr) and the population was analyzed by uEGF/Cr tertiles. The primary outcome was time to recovery of eGFR ≥ 30mL/min/1.73m2 and time to recovery of kidney function with dialysis independence in those with initial KRT. Forty-four (54%) participants met the primary outcome of recovery of eGFR ≥ 30mL/min/1.73m2. The 6-month recovery rates were 93%, 57%, and 0% for participants in the highest, middle, and lowest uEGF/Cr tertile, respectively. Recovery of thekidney function was faster and ledto a higher post-therapy eGFR in the highest uEGF/Cr tertile. In the ROC analysis,uEGF/Cr was a predictor of recovery with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.92 (95% CI 0.87-0.98), and a cutoff of 2.60ng/mg had 100% sensitivity to detect patients who recovered kidney function. In the subgroup of participants with initial KRT,the cut-off of uEGF/Cr of 2.0ng/mg had 100% sensitivity to detect participants who recovered kidney function with dialysis independence by 6months. Urine EGF/Cr is a promising biomarker to aid in the prediction of recovery of kidney function in glomerulonephritis with severe kidney function impairment.

High-turbulence fine particle flotation cell optimization and verification.

Microfine mineral particles have a small size, light weight, and low inertia, making it difficult for them to deviate from streamlines and collide with bubbles. Conventional flotation operations consume a large amount of reagents and exhibit poor flotation indicators. This study employs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation and hydrodynamic testing to investigate the flow field within a high-turbulence microfine particle flotation machine equipped with a multilayer impeller-stator configuration, and validates the practical application performance of the microfine particle flotation machine through single-batch flotation experiments. Result shows that the impeller region of the traditional mechanical stirring flotation machine has a turbulent energy dissipation rate of 20m²/s³, whereas that for the microfine particle flotation machine averages over 120m²/s³. In the flotation verification, the cumulative recovery rate of the fine particle flotation machine is increased by 28% compared with that of the traditional KYF flotation machine. The flotation rate is also 1.3 times that of the KYF, demonstrating stronger selectivity for fine particle concentrates. It has certain guiding significance for the resource utilization of fine particle minerals.

Rates of Early Recovery Following Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty: Comparing Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition, Abductor Pollicis Longus Suspensionplasty, and Suture Button Suspensionplasty

Rates of Early Recovery Following Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty: Comparing Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition, Abductor Pollicis Longus Suspensionplasty, and Suture Button Suspensionplasty

Determinants of recovery time from severe acute malnutrition among cholera-exposed and unexposed children in Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundThere is a vicious interplay between severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and diarrheal diseases including cholera. The lack of sufficient evidence on the time to recovery and its determinants among children with cholera prompted this investigation. The study aimed to evaluate the time to recovery and determinants among children with severe acute malnutrition, comparing cholera-exposed and unexposed children.MethodsA prospective cohort study was carried out from September 10, 2022, to February 21, 2023, among 224 children below 15 years. The study was conducted at cholera treatment centers and nearby communities in the Bale and Guji Zones of Oromia Regional state in Ethiopia. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information and anthropometric measurements were conducted weekly. After checking all assumptions, a multivariable Cox Proportional Hazards model was used to identify independent determinants of time to recovery using an adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical significance was declared at p &amp;lt; 0.05.ResultsNearly 80% of participants recovered from SAM with a recovery rate of 40/1000 person-week observation and a median time to recovery of 21 days [Inter Quartile Range14-28]. The recovery time from SAM for cholera-exposed children was delayed by 54% [ARR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.30–0.69] compared to unexposed children. Similarly, the recovery time from SAM for food-insecured families was delayed by 39% [ARR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.38–0.96] compared to food-secured families. Moreover, children with more than three meal frequencies per day had 1.61 times [ARR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.04–2.50] higher probability of fast recovery from SAM, compared to children with less than three meals. Children from families with good attitudes toward nutrition had more than two times [ARR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.45–3.41] higher probability of faster recovery from SAM than families with poor attitudes.ConclusionThe study revealed that cholera exposure is one of the main determinants of prolonged recovery time for children with SAM. Food insecurity, meal frequency, and the attitude of parents toward children’s dietary habits were determinants for the recovery of children from SAM. The findings imply the need for designing interventions to enhance child feeding during cholera illness, focusing on key determinants.

B-154 Development and Evaluation of an Automated High-Throughput Magnetic Bead-Based pre-treatment Platform for Lipid-Soluble Vitamins in Clinical Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Background Mass spectrometry has become a critical tool in clinical diagnostics due to its unparalleled sensitivity, specificity, and ability for multiplex analysis, redefining standards in small molecule detection. However, its efficacy is limited by complex sample preparation requirements, such as purification and enrichment. Traditional pre-treatment methods often involve labor-intensive, error-prone procedures that can dilute samples, thereby necessitating enhanced sensitivity in mass spectrometry. Addressing these challenges, we developed an automated, high-throughput pre-treatment platform using magnetic bead technology to streamline the preparation of small molecules for analysis via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This study assesses the platform's effectiveness and reliability using lipid-soluble vitamins as a test case. Methods We developed a magnetic bead-based extraction process for lipid-soluble vitamins (Vitamins A, 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, E, and K1) from clinical serum samples, utilizing Zybio's EXM3000 for automation. Protein-bound vitamins were dissociated using methanol and isopropanol, followed by magnetic bead extraction. The extracted vitamins underwent LC-MS/MS analysis. Comparative analysis with traditional liquid-liquid extraction methods, using 20 clinical samples and commercially available kits, evaluated this novel approach's analytical efficacy. Results The method showed excellent linearity (r &amp;gt; 0.99) for the target compounds. The imprecision ranged from 1.5% to 9.3%, and the accuracy (recovery rate) was between 91.5% and 113.4%. The limit of quantification, repeated six times, had a deviation of -8.5% to 13% and a CV of 1.5%-6.4%, meeting industry standards and EP document requirements. Comparisons with commercial kits in 20 clinical samples showed deviations within ±15%, and the 95% confidence interval for expected bias met the testing requirements. The method also demonstrated high correlation with the commercial kits, as evidenced by regression equations for Vitamin A: y = 0.9732x - 1.7985, 25-hydroxyvitamin D2: y = 1.0163x - 0.0055, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3: y = 1.0597x - 0.7968, Vitamin E: y = 1.0569x - 0.2917, and Vitamin K1: y = 1.0055x - 0.0039. Conclusions This study showed excellent performance of a novel automated high-throughput magnetic bead sample preparation platform for small molecules in clinical mass spectrometry. This technology overcomes the complexities associated with sample pre-treatment in clinical mass spectrometry and holds broad clinical application prospects in mass spectrometric analysis.

B-216 Ethanol/isopropanol-free and enzyme-free universal nucleic acid extraction and purification system for fast molecular detection from swab samples

Abstract Background Efficient nucleic acid (NA) extraction has been made technology advancement in molecular science. However, there are several challenges yet to address. Firstly, ethanol or isopropanol are important components of the buffers for the most commercially available NA extraction kits. When put on cartridge for POC applications, they can react with plastic materials, undermining their mechanical/physiochemical properties. They can also be problematic due to their volatility, flammability and potential to leak. Secondly, turn-around time for most commercial kits is long and procedure is rather tedious. Thirdly, most of the extraction buffers can only be used to extract either DNA or RNA from either viruses or bacteria. A universal buffer system is lacking. Lastly, special components in some extraction buffers require -20°C or 4°C storage for desired performance, especially for those kits containing proteinase for cell lysis and nuclease denaturation and carrier NA for low quantity of template, causing inconvenience in shipping and storage. Delta developed buffers and associated protocol to address the challenges listed above. This study is to evaluate the performance of the Delta TNA buffer system in NA extraction and purification from various target pathogens in swab samples when compared to that of the leading commercial products. Methods The stock strains of staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa and H-coronavirus OC43 were diluted in Delta Molecular Transport Media containing swab sample matrix to the testing concentrations before performing NA extraction. Vircell SARS-CoV-2 RNA was spiked directly into PCR reactions to generate a standard curve with 10x serial dilutions for the recovery rate test using Delta TNA kit. 300ul of samples were used for the NA extraction and purification with 80 ul eluate generated. The manufacturers’ instructions were followed. The extracted RNA or DNA was amplified on BioRAD CFX96. Results The extraction efficiency on RNA from H-coronavirus OC43, DNA from pseudomonas aeruginosa and staphylococcus aureus in swab samples, was compared with Katsura Respi and MN Pathogen kits, Qiagen DNA and viral RNA kits respectively. Delta TNA kit outperformed in either earlier Cq value or higher detection rate for different concentrations of analytes in &amp;lt;10 min comparing to up to 95 min for the commercial kits tested. The RNA recovery rate of Delta TNA kit was comparable to that of the Qiagen Viral Kit with 37.54% vs 29.84% at 10 copies/rxn, 146.84% vs 140.76% at 100 cpies/rxn and 118.29% vs 111.76% at 1000 copies/rxn. Meanwhile, Delta Swab TNA buffer was compatible with large spectrum of magnetic beads possessing various coating groups and particle sizes. Conclusions We provided a stable, user- and environment-friendly total nucleic acid extraction and purification system which is ethanol/isopropanol-free and enzyme-free. There is no pre-treatment or drying steps in the protocol and no centrifugation required. Delta’s protocol has the least total number of steps and least amount of total time taken amongst the kits compared. It serves as a universal recipe for both DNA and RNA from pathogens in swab samples including viruses and bacteria in less than 10 min, with competitive performance in both PCR and LAMP.

Ex Vivo Venetoclax Sensitivity Predicts Clinical Response in Acute Myeloid Leukemia in the Prospective VenEx Trial

The BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax has shown promise for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, identifying patients likely to respond remains a challenge, especially for those with relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease. We evaluated the utility of ex vivo venetoclax sensitivity testing to predict treatment responses to venetoclax-azacitidine in a prospective, multicenter, phase 2 trial conducted by the Finnish AML Group (VenEx, NCT04267081). The trial recruited 104 participants with previously untreated (n=48), R/R (n=39) or previously treated secondary AML (sAML) (n=17). The primary endpoint was complete remission or complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery (CR/CRi) rate in ex vivo sensitive trial participants during the first three therapy cycles. The key secondary endpoints included the correlations between ex vivo drug sensitivity, responses, and survival. Venetoclax sensitivity was successfully assessed in 102/104 participants, with results available within a median of three days from sampling. In previously untreated AML, ex vivo sensitivity corresponded to an 85% (34/40) CR/CRi rate, with a median overall survival (OS) of 28.7 months, compared to 5.5 months for ex vivo resistant patients (p = 0.002). For R/R/sAML, ex vivo sensitivity resulted in a 62% CR/CRi rate (21/34) and median OS of 9.7 versus 3.3 months for ex vivo resistant patients (p < 0.001). In univariate and multivariate analysis, ex vivo venetoclax sensitivity was the strongest predictor for a favorable treatment response and survival. The VenEx trial demonstrates the feasibility of integrating ex vivo drug testing into clinical practice to identify AML patients, particularly in the R/R setting, who benefit from venetoclax.

Non-linear Dynamics and Control of COVID-19 in India Revisited : Evidence of Synergistic, Antagonistic and Threshold Effects

Abstract Various researchers have investigated the COVID-19 pandemic dynamics since 2020 focusing on various aspects of the epidemics. However, the non-linear dynamics of this epidemic is still not well understood. India having the largest population in the world with wide cultural, genomics, and immunity diversity is being considered a suitable case for present investigation to generate the crucial information of non-linear phenomena during the first two waves of the epidemics. An SIRD model is suggested, integrating varying transmission, recovery, and mortality rates over time to explore the nonlinear behavior of the epidemic in India. The time-dependent transmission, recovery, and mortality are calculated using the finite difference method with the aid of actual data released by the Indian government, for the periods before and during the lockdown phases. The novel results generated from the model show evidence of synergistic, antagonistic, and threshold effects and the role of various measures in controlling these epidemic trends.

Landfill Leachate and Coagulants Addition Effects on Membrane Bioreactor Mixed Liquor: Filterability, Fouling, and Pollutant Removal

Urban wastewater (UWW) and landfill leachate (LL) co-treatment using membrane bioreactors (MBRs) is a valuable method for managing LL in cities. Coagulants can enhance the filterability of mixed liquor (ML), but the assessment of fouling is still needed. This research aimed to investigate the effects of co-treating synthetic wastewater (SWW) and real LL on an MBR, as well as the impact of adding poly-aluminum chloride (PACl) and Tanfloc SG. Cell-ultrafiltration experiments were conducted with four different feeds: synthetic wastewater, co-treatment with LL (20% v/v), and co-treatment with the addition of 30 mg L−1 coagulants (either PACl or Tanfloc). Co-treatment aggravated flux loss and reduced the recovery rate; however, Tanfloc and PACl improved recovery after cleaning (by 11% and 9%, respectively). Co-treatment also increased cake and irrecoverable/irremovable inorganic resistances, though coagulants reduced the latter, despite a lower fit of the Hermia models during the first hour of filtration. Co-treatment reduced the removal efficiencies of almost all pollutants analyzed, with the most significant impacts observed on the organic fraction. Coagulants, particularly Tanfloc, enhanced overall performance by improving flux recovery and reducing irreversibility, thus benefiting membrane lifespan. In conclusion, Tanfloc addition yielded the best results in terms of filterability and pollutant removal.

Comparison between artificial restoration and natural recovery in vegetation regrowth following high-frequency fire disturbances in the Hengduan Mountains, Southwest China

The Hengduan Mountains in Southwest China are currently facing a recurring and escalating threat of forest fires, posing a significant challenge to vegetation restoration efforts given the ecological value of this region. However, the effects of artificial restoration compared to natural regeneration on vegetation recovery dynamics have been less explored. This study focused on two sites in the Hengduan Mountains, primarily composed of conifer forests. One site employed a mix of artificial restoration measures, including tree planting, aerial grass seeding, and fertilizer application. The other site, which is relatively drier and colder, relied on natural regeneration. Four fire events in these two sites were compared to examine the effects of artificial restoration on vegetation recovery using remotely sensed data from Landsat and MODIS. Fire severity was classified using the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) and validated with field samples. Vegetation greenness loss and recovery trajectory were quantified using the near-infrared reflectance of vegetation (NIRv). The effects of artificial restoration were further analyzed after employing unburnt controls to minimize the impact of climate fluctuations. Results showed that fire severity mapping achieved an overall accuracy of 82%. The average NIRv loss across the four fires was 30%, 49%, and 69% in areas of low, moderate, and high severity, respectively. In low severity areas, natural and artificial recovery rates were similar, at 21% and 26% respectively, three years post-fire. In moderate severity areas, artificial restoration achieved a 46% recovery rate compared to 31% for natural recovery. In high severity areas, artificial restoration resulted in a 63% recovery rate versus 45% for natural recovery. Although the differences in recovery patterns may also be attributed to inherent variations in the vegetation composition, physical environment, and their interactions, this study suggests that high severity areas benefit significantly from artificial intervention for rapid recovery. Future studies should include more controlled experiments at the plot scale to further elucidate the processes of vegetation response to different artificial restoration measures.

Analysis of difficult flotation mechanisms for coarse low-rank coal: Comparing fluidized-bed and mechanical flotation technologies

Efficient flotation of coarse low-rank coal is essential for enhancing energy utilization in the mineral processing industry. As the beneficiation equipment scales up, the precision of particle size classification before flotation decreases, leading to a higher coarse particle content in the feed, which poses significant challenges to traditional flotation processes. Recent advancements in fluidized bed flotation technology have demonstrated considerable advantages in the flotation of coarse-grained metallic minerals; however, its application to coarse low-rank coal remains relatively unexplored. This study investigates the potential of fluidized bed flotation technology for coarse low-rank coal, employing various analytical methods to elucidate difficult flotation mechanisms. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were utilized to comprehensively characterize the surface morphology and chemical composition of coal samples. The influence of increasing particle size on flotation performance was systematically assessed through measurements of induction time and critical detachment amplitude. Comparative flotation experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of traditional mechanical flotation against fluidized bed flotation technologies. Results indicate that the presence of cracks and oxygen-containing functional groups on the coal surface significantly enhances hydrophilicity, hindering flotation recovery rates. With increasing particle size, the induction time between particles and bubbles lengthens, while the critical detachment amplitude decreases, weakening the attachment and increasing detachment likelihood. Although high-efficiency collectors enhance coal particle hydrophobicity, they cannot fully mitigate the turbulence disrupting particle-bubble interactions in mechanical flotation. Conversely, fluidized bed flotation effectively minimizes turbulence interference, leading to an approximate 40 % increase in the recovery rate of coarse low-rank coal (0.25–1.00 mm) compared to traditional mechanical flotation. This study presents a novel technological approach for the efficient recovery of coarse low-rank coal, contributing to the clean utilization of low-rank coal resources.

Dual-mode immunochromatography based on Ti3C2Tx functionalized CdTe quantum dots for chloramphenicol detection in animal-derived foods

In this study, Ti3C2Tx was coupled with CdTe quantum dots via plyethylenimine (PEI) mediation to form composite nanomaterials with dual colorimetric and fluorescent properties, which had strong pH, high ion strength, and organic solvent resistance. Then, this novel Ti3C2Tx@CdTe was firstly applied to develop a dual-mode immunochromatographic assay (ICA) for chloramphenicol (CAP) detection in animal-derived foods. The limits of detection of the colorimetric and fluorescent modes for CAP in milk/chicken/fish were 0.01 and 0.005 μg/kg, the limits of quantification were 0.025 and 0.016 μg/kg, the recovery rates were between 85.7% and 129.0% and 84.0%-119.2%, with the corresponding variations ranged from 6.5% to 14.8% and 6.4%-14.9%, respectively. The sensitivity of fluorescence mode was up to 100-fold higher than that of the reported ICA for CAP detection. The results of the confirmatory experiment on 30 samples showed good consistency with that of our established method (R2>0.93). The above results indicated that Ti3C2Tx@CdTe had superior detection performance and can provide a dual-mode signal calibration, high stability and sensitivity selection for immunoassay detection platforms.

A Two-Step Approach to Recycling Hydroponics Waste Nutrient Solutions Using Fertiliser Drawn Forward Osmosis and Chemical Precipitation

Hydroponic waste nutrient solutions (HWNS) present significant environmental and economic challenges due to their high phosphorus content and potential for eutrophication. Addressing these issues requires innovative approaches that mitigate environmental impacts and recover valuable resources. This study introduces a novel two-step approach that combines Fertiliser Drawn Forward Osmosis (FDFO) and chemical precipitation to recycle HWNS effectively.In the first phase, FDFO was employed to concentrate HWNS using a commercial hydroponic fertiliser as the draw solution. This process resulted in a diluted fertiliser solution (potentially suitable for reuse in hydroponics irrigation) and a concentrated HWNS rich in phosphorus. The concentrated HWNS was then subjected to chemical precipitation in the second phase, where phosphorus was recovered as calcium phosphate by adding sodium hydroxide at an optimised pH of 9.5.Bench-scale experiments demonstrated a 93% water recovery rate using FDFO and an impressive 99.5% phosphorus removal efficiency through chemical precipitation. These results indicate that the combined FDFO and chemical precipitation processes effectively recover water and phosphorus from HWNS and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers and freshwater in hydroponic systems.The findings of this study demonstrate that the two-step approach not only enhances water and phosphorus recovery but also improves the efficiency of the chemical precipitation process by achieving higher recovery rates resulting in more sustainable hydroponic systems.

The effect of transvesical laparoscopic radical prostatectomy on sexual function and urinary continence

ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of transvesical laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (TVLRP) on sexual function and urinary continence.MethodThe data of 72 patients diagnosed with low-risk and localized prostate cancer, who underwent treatment at our hospital between January 2017 and June 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. All these patients underwent TVLRP under general anesthesia. Their serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), urinary continence and erectile function were statistically analyzed.ResultsThe operation went well with no intraoperative difficulties. The average surgical duration of 102 ± 22 min, coupled with the minimal intraoperative blood loss of 100 ± 32 mL, underscored the precision and efficacy of the surgical techniques employed. Following surgery, postoperative pathological assessments confirmed staging, revealing pT2a in 18 cases and pT2b in 54 cases, suggestive of localized tumors. Gleason scores ≤ 6 further indicated well-differentiated tumors, while consistently negative surgical margins affirmed the complete resection of tumors, reducing the likelihood of disease recurrence. Subsequent to the surgical intervention, the the average hospital stay was 13.94.1 days. A comprehensive 12-month follow-up revealed exceptionally high urinary continence rates, with 97.8% and 100% of patients achieving continence at 1 and 3 months postoperatively, respectively. Moreover, progressive improvement in erectile function recovery was observed, with recovery rates at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively reaching 82.2%, 88.4%, and 93.5%, respectively. There was no biochemical regression.ConclusionTreatment of low-risk and localized prostate cancer by TVLRP has a satisfactory urinary continence and recovery of erectile function after operation, less and complications and definite tumor-control effect.