Transient Collapse Research Articles

The Effect of Antecedent Topography on Complex Crater Formation

AbstractImpact craters that form on every planetary body provide a record of planetary surface evolution. On heavily cratered surfaces, new craters that form often overlap antecedent craters, but it is unknown how the presence of antecedent craters alters impact crater formation. We use overlapping complex crater pairs on the lunar surface to constrain this process and find that crater rims are systematically lower where they intersect antecedent crater basins. The rim morphology of the new crater depends on the depth of the antecedent crater and the degree of overlap between the craters. Our observations suggest that new craters do not always obliterate underlying topography and that transient rim collapse is altered by antecedent topography. This study represents the first formalization of the influence of antecedent topography on rim morphology and provides process insight into a common impact scenario relevant to the geology of potential Artemis landing sites.

Clinical and radiographic characterization of external root resorption.

The following bibliographic review was carried out with the purpose of recognizing the clinical and radiographic characteristics that must be considered in the diagnosis of external root resorption, including treatments. A bibliographic search was carried out in PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases under the term "external root resorption", from 2010 to 2022 in Spanish and English. Experimental studies and bibliographic reviews were selected, and finally 17 articles were included. The results obtained indicated that each type of resorption presents specific clinical characteristics that differentiate them, these are: for external inflammatory resorption a negative pulp vitality; for replacement external resorption the absence of mobility and metallic percussion; for cervical external resorption a pink coloration of the crown; superficial external resorption does not present any type of clinical symptoms and transient apical collapse presents a transient change in color. External root resorptions require accurate and early diagnosis. A clinical examination should be performed with emphasis on the following: probing, coloration, mobility, and vitality tests.

Periodontitis associated with risk of obstructive sleep apnea in Peruvian adult patients: A cross-sectional study.

Patients at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are characterized by intermittent transient hypoxias and upper respiratory tract collapse, with reactive oxygen production and oxidative imbalance which causes an inflammatory cascade. This can generate negative effects on the periodontium, causing severe tooth attachment loss. This study aimed to determine the association between periodontitis and the risk of OSA in adults who attend outpatient otolaryngology consultations. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out with 118 patients seen in the otolaryngology service of the Hospital Victor Lazarte Echegaray-ESSALUD in Trujillo (Peru), between September and October 2023. The presence and severity of periodontitis were determined using the Page and Eke criteria, and the presence and severity of OSA risk were determined using the STOP-BANG questionnaire. The results were analyzed using Chi-square, Spearman correlation and logistic regression tests, considering a significance level of p<0.05. An association was found between periodontitis and risk of OSA (p=0.000), obtaining a positive relationship with rs=0.527. In addition, there was an association between periodontitis and DM2 (p=0.028) and bronchial asthma (0.017). No association was found between periodontitis and sex (0.503) or age (0.741). There is an association between periodontitis and the risk of OSA in Peruvian adult patients who attended outpatient otolaryngology consultations. This association was also found according to age, sex, smoking, DM2 and asthma. In addition, an association was found between periodontitis and DM2 and asthma, but not with sex and age.

A physics-based sphericity, drag coefficient and Nusselt number model of a partially-melted ice crystal

Partially melted crystals can lead to ice accretion on heated surfaces including the inside of turbofan engines. To model the ice accretion due to partially melted crystals, the trajectory of the crystals must be modeled based on their drag, which is correlated with the shape of the crystals. The melting rate of an ice crystal is subject to the heat transfer coefficient, which is influenced by the geometry of an ice crystal. The geometries of partially melted crystals are related to their percentage melting. To study the correlation between the geometry and the percentage melting of a crystal, a levitating test rig is used to study the melting process of a single crystal under natural convection. The percentage melting is measured using luminescent Rhodamine B. A transient collapse in the shape of a single ice crystal is observed in the experiment during the melting process. The shape variation is predicted by a physics model based on the surface energy at the interface between air, ice and water. The model shows that the critical percentage melting forcing the crystal to become spherical is independent of the initial shape of the crystal. The average critical percentage melting that collapses the crystal to a spherical shape was experimentally measured to be 68.6%. A physics based model predicts such critical percentage melting to be 62.2%, verifying the proposed model. A two-stage drag coefficient model is also developed to capture the transient crystal shape at the predicted critical percentage of melting.

Pores collapse hysteresis damage evaluation in depletion-dependent oil reservoirs using an asymptotic-integro-differential perturbation method

This work proposes a new asymptotic-perturbative solution for transient pores collapse hysteresis modeling in depletion-dependent oil reservoirs with compaction effects during alternating loading/unloading cycles. The nonlinear hydraulic diffusivity equation (NHDE) is perturbed through a first-order expansion technique using the depletion-dependent permeability, k(p) as a perturbation parameter, ϵ. A new hysteretic deviation factor is presented for flow (drawdown) and well-shut (buildup) periods. This factor represents the permeability deviation during the drawdown and its partial restoration in the buildup period. The model calibration is performed by a porous media numerical oil flow simulator named IMEX®, and the results presented high accuracy for the drawdown and buildup of hysteretic and non-hysteretic cases (when the pores collapse did not occur yet). The practical uses of the model developed in this work are related to identifying flow regimes and hysteresis responses in pressure-sensitive reservoirs, estimating buildup pressure, and oil flow rates specification to prevent severe hysteretic behavior and history matching during reservoir surveillance. Two case studies related to different reservoir layers are researched, and for both cases, the results from the log–log plots analysis have shown that the infinite-acting-radial oil flow (1/2 value of the slope of the pseudo-pressure derivative) was identified. In addition, the log–log analysis also shows that the shut-in pressure has an influence on permeability loss. The main advantages of the solution derived in this work are the simple implementation, practical graphical analysis of the pores collapse hysteresis effect, the possibility of simulating different boundary conditions and well-reservoir settings, and the requirements of only a few pressure and permeability field data to input in the deviation factor. The solution proposed can be applied to choose the production time to shut the well and monitor the adequate oil flow rate during the production curve.

Crustal Block and Muted Ring Development During the Formation of Mercury's Caloris Megabasin

AbstractIn contrast to multiring basins, megabasins lack clear ring structures and display crustal profiles characterized by a thin layer of crust at their center that gradually increases in thickness to the surrounding region. The 1,550‐km‐diameter Caloris basin on Mercury is often speculated to be a multiring basin; however, its crustal structure is indicative of a megabasin, perhaps explaining the lack of discernible rings. Here, we model the formation of Caloris basin using iSALE‐2D under a range of preimpact thermal conditions to determine whether the processes responsible for its megabasin crustal structure could lead to the formation of basin rings. We find that thermal gradients between 22 and 30 K/km—hotter than previously inferred—facilitate the reproduction of Caloris basin's crustal structure through crustal flowback, though such preimpact thermal structures preclude its formation as a multiring basin. Instead, repeated thrusting and necking events during transient crater collapse induce instances of fault reactivation, which diminish initial fault offsets and produce a series of discrete crustal blocks. Models assuming cooler thermal gradients lead to overly thin or non‐existent crust at the basin center, in contrast to observations. Even if crustal deficits were made up via a differentiating melt pool, the crust elsewhere would be overly thick, supporting the idea that the crustal structure of megabasins is primarily associated with transient crater collapse. We conclude that the transition to a megabasin morphology on terrestrial planetary surfaces, like the multiring transition, is dependent upon the size of the basin compared to the lithospheric thickness.

Swab Pressing vs Stromal Hydration to Prevent Incision Leakage and Transient Collapse of Anterior Chamber in Phacoemulsification

During phacoemulsification, incision leakage and the subsequent anterior chamber collapse often occur after the withdrawal of the handpiece, which cannot be prevented by current sealing techniques. A new technique called swab pressing is proposed here to apply pressure with a cotton swab to seal the incision immediately, but efficacy remains unknown. To determine if swab pressing is noninferior to stromal hydration, the current practice, in sealing incisions in phacoemulsification for age-related cataract. This noninferiority randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted between February 2022 and September 2022 at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangzhou, China. Patients aged 60 to 90 years with age-related cataract were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive swab pressing or stromal hydration. All surgeries were performed by a single experienced surgeon who was unmasked to the assignment. The proportion of closed clear corneal incisions evaluated using intraoperative optical coherence tomography. A total of 126 eyes of 126 participants were randomized into the swab pressing group (63 [50%]) and stromal hydration group (63 [50%]). The mean (SD) age of participants was 69.2 (6.14) years and 70.1 (7.67) years in the pressing and stromal hydration groups, respectively. A total of 39 participants (61.9%) in the pressing group and 35 (55.6%) in the modified group were female. The proportion of closed incisions was 96.8% (61 of 63) in the swab pressing group and 93.7% (59 of 63) in the stromal hydration group. Noninferiority was met, as the lower 95% CI of -5.83 percentage points was greater than the prescribed noninferiority margin of -6.60 percentage points (difference, 3.17 percentage points; 95% CI, -5.83 to 12.18 percentage points). The rate of anterior chamber collapse (pressing: 0 of 63 vs stromal hydration: 35 of 63 [55.6%]; P < .001) was lower in the swab pressing group. There were no differences between the 2 groups in the proportion of closed incisions and central anterior chamber depth at postoperative hour 1 and day 1. In this study, swab pressing was noninferior to stromal hydration in sealing clear corneal incisions in phacoemulsification for age-related cataract. While this trial involved only 1 surgeon who was not masked to the interventions, the results suggest that swab pressing is feasible and further investigations would be warranted to determine if it prevents the intraoperative transient collapse of anterior chamber or affects visual acuity outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05242653.

The formation and evolution of Pluto's Sputnik basin prior to nitrogen ice fill

We simulate Sputnik Planitia (SP), Pluto's largest impact basin, from formation through cooling and relaxation prior to loading of the basin with N2 ice. To assess potential conditions for Pluto's interior that permit the formation of an SP-like basin in terms of depth and diameter, we consider impacts into targets that possess a subsurface ocean with variable ice shell thicknesses and thermal structures. We use a shock physics code to model excavation and transient crater collapse. Then, using the final temperature and density structure from the shock physics code as initial conditions, we simulate the subsequent cooling and viscoelastic relaxation of basin topography using a finite element model (FEM). We show that a thin ice shell (on the order of 100 km) overlying a thick ocean (on the order of 228 km) produces an SP-like basin in terms of diameter and pre-N2 depth. A basin formed in a much thicker ice shell (200 km) overlying a thin ocean (128 km) can reproduce SP if the ice shell is relatively warm and possesses a strong rheology. Our results suggest that SP was not a mascon basin prior to subsequent loading by N2 ice, but rather close to isostatically compensated. We find that SP could have developed into a mascon basin following N2 loading if the ice shell is thin, conductive and possesses a lithosphere capable of supporting the N2 load.

Efficient lattice Boltzmann simulation of free-surface granular flows with μ(I)-rheology

This paper presents a lattice Boltzmann framework for accurate and efficient simulation of free-surface granular flows. The granular assembly is treated as a viscoplastic fluid, whose apparent viscosity varies locally with the shear rate and pressure according to a regularized μ(I)-rheology. A single-phase free-surface model is employed to track the evolution of the particle-air interface. The lattice Boltzmann implementation is first validated by simulating a steady-state granular flow on a rough inclined plane and a good agreement with the analytical solution is achieved. The validated model is then applied to simulate a transient granular column collapse problem. Compared to a companion discrete element simulation, the lattice Boltzmann model with the μ(I)-rheology is able to capture the overall dynamic behaviors of granular column collapse. However, a different behavior is observed when a similar Bingham viscoplastic model with a fixed yield stress is applied, highlighting the pressure dependent nature of granular flows. The proposed lattice Boltzmann formulation is highly efficient compared to the conventional computational fluid dynamics, and has the potential to conduct three-dimensional continuum simulation of large-scale geophysical flows with microscopic granular physics.

The effect of weak Mohr–Coulomb layers on the onset of caldera collapse - A limit analysis modelling approach

Calderas are subcircular volcanic depressions that can occur due to drainage of a subsurface magma reservoir. Numerous models simulating the initiation and growth of caldera collapse consider homogeneous overburden of the magma reservoir. This study describes plastic models implementing limit analysis to investigate the effects of weak layers (low cohesion and low friction) on caldera formation and structure. Our models show that the presence of weak layers within the crust favours the onset of caldera collapse, as it reduces the critical magma underpressure within the magma chamber to initiate roof failure. This effect is more pronounced with greater cumulated thickness of weak layers. In homogeneous models, the onset of caldera collapse is accommodated by a simple, localized outward dipping reverse damage band (caldera fault), whereas in layered models caldera collapse is accommodated by more complex damage structures. Weak layers confine damage underneath the layers, limiting the growth of the caldera fault toward the surface. Calculated stress trajectories are rotated across weak layers, showing that weak layers act as stress barriers. The effect of weak layers is stronger when the layer is closer to the magma reservoir, where layer-parallel damage form underneath the layer, interpreted as a potential detachment level. Multiple layers trigger more distribution of the damage and several layer-parallel damage bands. The subsurface distribution of damage due to weak layers may lead to more distributed surface subsidence, enhancing sagging before a caldera fault reaches the surface. Finally, internal detachments due to weak layers are likely important for observed episodic transient subsurface collapse episodes before collapse occurs at surface. All in all, our models that implement plastic deformation predict significant stress perturbations as a result of varying Mohr–Coulomb properties only. Our study thus shows that widely used static elastic models are not sufficient for physically relevant stress analyses of geological systems. In addition, our study shows that plastic (or elasto-plastic) models are necessary to predict the location and extent of inelastic damage accommodating volcano deformation and failure.

Transient On- and Off-Pathway Protein Folding Intermediate States Characterized with NMR Relaxation Dispersion.

The earliest events in the folding of a protein are in general poorly understood. We used NMR R2 relaxation dispersion experiments to study transient local collapse events in the unfolded-state (U) conformational ensemble of apomyoglobin (apoMb). Local residual secondary structure (seen in regions corresponding to the A, D, E, and H helices of the folded protein) is largely unchanged over the pH range of 2.3-2.75, yet a significant pH-dependent increase in the conformational exchange contribution to the R2 relaxation rate (Rex) indicates that transient intramolecular contacts occur on a microsecond to millisecond time scale at pH 2.75. A comparison of 15N and 13CO relaxation dispersion data at pH 2.75 for residues in the A, B, G, and H regions, which participate in the earliest folding intermediates, indicates that chain collapse and secondary structure formation are rapid and concomitant. Increasingly stabilizing conditions (lower temperature, higher pH) result in the observation of a relaxation dispersion in the C, CD, and E regions of the protein, which are known to fold at later stages. Mutation of Trp14 in the A-helix region to Ala eliminates conformational exchange throughout the protein, and the mutation of hydrophobic residues in other regions results in the selective inhibition of conformational exchange in the B, G, or H regions. The R2 dispersion data for WT apoMb at pH 2.75 and 10 °C are best fit to a four-state model ABGH ⇆ AGH ⇆ U ⇆ ABCD that includes on-pathway (AGH and ABGH) and off-pathway (ABCD) transiently folded states, both of which are required to explain the behavior of the mutant proteins. The off-pathway intermediate is destabilized at higher temperatures. Our analysis provides insights into the earliest stages of apoMb folding where the collapsing polypeptide chain samples both productive and nonproductive states with stabilized secondary structure.

Deep Eutectic Solvent-Enabled Plasmonic Nanocellulose Aerogel: On-Demand Three-Dimensional (3D) SERS Hotspot Based on Collapsing Mechanism.

Exceptional surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) can be achieved by on-demand mechanisms mediated by the formation of three-dimensional (3D) network supporting hotspots. Herein, a deep eutectic solvent (DES) is used to fabricate plasmonic aerogels as sustainable SERS substrates consisting of different gold nanoparticle (AuNP) heterostructures synthesized in the presence of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). This analytical approach is based on the AuNPs 3D arrangement within the CNC matrix, where the transient inter-CNCs interactions collapse after loading with the analyte aqueous solution, forming hotspots on demand. Theoretical calculations support the on-demand SERS mechanism, which consists of the hotspot formation by bringing the AuNPs closer upon activation with the liquid sample loading. To evaluate the plasmonic aerogel performance as a sensing platform, the organophosphorus pesticides edifenphos and parathion were tested in rice and tea extracts. Also, the detection of Methylene Blue in fish muscle extract resulted in a detection limit of 9.8 nM. The results demonstrate that the 3D plasmonic aerogel exhibits significantly higher SERS enhancement and sensitivity when compared to conventional 2D SERS substrates. The use of a green designer solvent, biobased ingredients, and the introduction of on-demand SERS-based sensing pave the way for further developments in the analysis of liquid samples within a sustainable framework.

SRAM Write Assist Circuit Using Cell Supply Voltage Self-Collapse With Bitline Charge Sharing for Near-Threshold Operation

This brief presents SRAM write assist circuit using cell supply voltage self-collapse with bitline charge sharing (SC-BCS) that can lower the minimum operating voltage to the near-threshold voltage (Vth) region while consuming a minimal write energy. The proposed SC-BCS improves the write-ability by utilizing the cell supply voltage (CVDD) self-collapse and the feedback operation through the detection of write failure. Because the amount of CVDD collapse is regulated automatically depending on the write-ability of the selected cell, the write energy of the proposed SC-BCS is effectively reduced. The proposed SC-BCS can achieve a 5σ write-ability yield with a smaller delay overhead than gate-modulated self-collapse and self-collapse write assists in the near-Vth region. In addition, the proposed SC-BCS consumes the lowest write energy with minimal delay overhead or without any delay overhead compared with the strong-bias transient CVDD collapse and pulsed-pMOS transient CVDD collapse. The measurement result of the test chip fabricated using 65-nm CMOS technology indicates that the proposed SC-BCS can operate without any failure up to 0.36 V consuming write power 12.6 μW/MHz.

Effect of ultrasound pre-treatment on carbonaceous copper-bearing shale flotation

Although numerous studies have been implemented on identifying the impact of acoustic waves on mineral beneficiation, its fundamental aspects remain unclear in the literature. The present work, for the first time, systematically investigates the role of ultrasound pre-treatment (UPT) in the carbonaceous copper-bearing shale flotation. To this end, conditioning was carried out at different powers of applied ultrasound. Non-treated and UPT shale flotation tests were performed in the presence of frother (MIBC) and collector (KEX). To analyse particle surface charge variation and collector adsorption properties after application of UPT, zeta potential and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy measurements were implemented, respectively. The generation of sub-micron bubbles due to the acoustic cavitation was characterised by laser-based particle size measurements. Shale hydrophobicity was determined using the sessile drop and captive bubble techniques.The micro-flotation results showed that the mass recovery increased by 40% at 20 W of applied ultrasonic power. The positive effect of UPT on the copper-bearing shale flotation was related to: i) generation of ultrafine bubbles due to the acoustic cavitation phenomenon and ii) the cleaning effect through transient bubble collapse. However, rigorous ultra-sonication diminished the recoverability of the sample owing to the less intensified number of ultrafine bubbles on the particle surfaces and formation of free H and OH radicals, which led to the oxidation of particle surfaces. These statements were correlated well with the observations of the zeta potential, particle size analysis and quantified ultrafine bubbles. Finally, we briefly highlighted fundamental knowledge gaps in flotation and ultrasound-related issues for future work.

Physical Forces and Transient Nuclear Envelope Rupture during Metastasis: The Key for Success?

Simple SummaryMetastasis is the process that allows the seeding of tumor cells in a new organ. The migration and invasion of cancer cells involves the pulling, pushing, and squeezing of cells through narrow spaces and pores. Tumor cells need to cross several physical barriers, such as layers of basement membranes as well as the endothelium wall during the way in and out of the blood stream, to reach the new organ. The aim of this review is to highlight the role of physical compression in the success of metastasis. We will especially focus on nuclear squeezing and nuclear envelope rupture and explain how they can actively participate in the creation of genomic heterogeneity as well as supporting metastasis growth.During metastasis, invading tumor cells and circulating tumor cells (CTC) face multiple mechanical challenges during migration through narrow pores and cell squeezing. However, little is known on the importance and consequences of mechanical stress for tumor progression and success in invading a new organ. Recently, several studies have shown that cell constriction can lead to nuclear envelope rupture (NER) during interphase. This loss of proper nuclear compartmentalization has a profound effect on the genome, being a key driver for the genome evolution needed for tumor progression. More than just being a source of genomic alterations, the transient nuclear envelope collapse can also support metastatic growth by several mechanisms involving the innate immune response cGAS/STING pathway. In this review we will describe the importance of the underestimated role of cellular squeezing in the progression of tumorigenesis. We will describe the complexity and difficulty for tumor cells to reach the metastatic site, detail the genomic aberration diversity due to NER, and highlight the importance of the activation of the innate immune pathway on cell survival. Cellular adaptation and nuclear deformation can be the key to the metastasis success in many unsuspected aspects.

Orientations of planar cataclasite zones in the Chicxulub peak ring as a ground truth for peak ring formation models

Hypervelocity impact cratering is an important geologic process but the rarity of large terrestrial impact craters on Earth and the limited technical options to study cratering processes in the laboratory hinders our understanding of large-scale impact processes. Drill core recovered from the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)/International Continental scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Expedition 364 provides an opportunity to examine target rock deformation and thus, to assess cratering models in this regard. Using oriented computer tomography (CT) scans and line scan images of the core, we present the orientations of mm-to-cm-scale planar cataclasite and ultracataclasite zones in the deformed granitoid target rock of the peak ring. In the upper 470 m of the target rock, the cataclasite zones dip towards the crater center, whereas the dip directions for the ultracataclasite zones are approximately tangential to the peak ring. These two orientations are consistent with deformation expected from hydrocode-modeled principal stress directions for the outward movement of rocks as the transient crater develops, and the inward movement of rocks associated with collapse of the transient crater. Near the base of the core is a 96 m-thick interval of highly-deformed target rock with impact melt rock and rock fragments not observed elsewhere in the core; this interval has previously been interpreted as an imbricate thrust zone within the peak ring. The cataclasite zones below this thrust zone have different orientations than those in the 470 m-thick block above. This observation implies a differential rotation from the overlying block during the final stages of peak-ring formation. Our results support an acoustic fluidization process, wherein blocks that vibrate or slide relative to each other allow the target rock to flow during transient crater collapse, and that the size of coherent rock blocks increases over the course of crater modification as the target rock regains its cohesive strength and acoustic fluidization decreases.

High doses of butyrate induce a reversible body temperature drop through transient proton leak in mitochondria of brain neurons

AimsSodium butyrate (SB) is a major product of gut microbiota with signaling activity in the human body. It has become a dietary supplement in the treatment of intestinal disorders. However, the toxic effect of overdosed SB and treatment strategy remain unknown. The two issues are addressed in current study. Materials and methodsSB (0.3–2.5 g/kg) was administrated through a single peritoneal injection in mice. The core body temperature and mitochondrial function in the brown adipose tissue and brain were monitored. Pharmacodynamics, targeted metabolomics, electron microscope, oxygen consumption rate and gene knockdown were employed to dissect the mechanism for the toxic effect. Key findingsThe temperature was reduced by SB (1.2–2.5 g/kg) in a dose-dependent manner in mice for 2–4 h. In the brain, the effect was associated with SB elevation and neurotransmitter reduction. Metabolites changes were seen in the glycolysis, TCA cycle and pentose phosphate pathways. Adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) was activated by butyrate for proton transportation leading to a transient potential collapse through proton leak. The SB activity was attenuated by ANT inhibition from gene knockdown or pharmacological blocker. ROS was elevated by SB for the increased ANT activity in proton leak in Neuro-2a. SignificanceExcessive SB generated an immediate and reversible toxic effect for inhibition of body temperature through transient mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain. The mechanism was quick activation of ANT proteins for potential collapse in mitochondria. ROS may be a factor in the ANT activation by SB.

Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach for the Surgical Treatment of Pituitary Apoplexy and Clinical Outcomes

Purpose: This study investigated the clinical manifestations, surgical method, and treatment outcomes of patients with pituitary apoplexy and evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach in the treatment of pituitary adenomas. Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, were analyzed the data of patients with symptomatic pituitary apoplexy who received surgical treatment by endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach from January 2017 to June 2020 at the Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College. Patients were followed up through outpatient visits and telephone interviews. Results: Data for 24 patients including 13 males and 11 females with an average age of 46.46 years were analyzed. Headache (83.33%) and visual disturbances (75.00%) were the most common preoperative manifestations. In the 24 patients, 21 (87.50%) tumors were completely removed and 3 (12.50%) were partly removed. Intractable headache improved in all patients over a mean follow-up time of 25.16 months, and postoperative improvement in visual acuity was achieved in 17 of 18 patients (94.44%) with vision defects. Four patients (16.67%) experienced transient urinary collapse after the operation. No intracranial infection, carotid artery injury, or death occurred. Conclusion: The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach is a safe and effective method for the treatment of pituitary apoplexy.

Evaluation of the sono-assisted photolysis method for the mineralization of toxic pollutants

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are highly toxic and potential health hazards, are discharged in wastewater and cannot be mineralized by conventional biological and physicochemical methods of wastewater treatment. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as electrochemical, sonochemical, photolysis, Fenton, and Fenton like processes seem to be good and promising wastewater treatment technology alternatives. However, flaws limit their use in industrial applications. Recently, combined AOPs have gained attention among researchers to overcome these flaws of single AOPs. In this review, we studied the combined sonolysis and photolysis techniques for the degradation of the POPs. The efficiency of sono-photolysis has been examined by considering the single strategies, i.e., sonolysis and photolysis process, and the effect of various parameters of sono-photoreactor on the kinetics of degradation. Combined irradiation of ultrasound and ultraviolet light has been reported to give the synergistic effect under different mechanisms. The physical feature of ultrasound provides the intense mixing of the pollutant, which supports UV light to deeply penetrate the medium and accelerate the hydroxylation/oxidation reaction where toxic pollutants generated due to photolysis were degraded. H2O2 generated during the transient collapse of microbubble experienced a photocleavage to produce additional •OH radicals, which increases the degradation of the pollutants. A significant synergistic effect has been reported during combined treatment due to the increase in •OH radicals generation and photolysis of H2O2 either added externally or formed by the US, which also avoids the secondary pollution. Critical analysis of the geometry of various types (batch and continuous) of the sono-photo reactor used during treatment have also been evaluated. The kinetics of the degradation process has been reviewed in detail. This review article demonstrates a thorough and critical analysis (1998–2020) of sono-photolysis techniques, which improve the understanding of combined treatment and provides an outline direction for future research.

Evaluation of antitumor immunity by a combination treatment of high-dose irradiation, anti-PDL1, and anti-angiogenic therapy in murine lung tumors.

C57BL/6 mice implanted in the flank with murine Lewis lung carcinoma cells were randomized into control, anti-angiogenic, anti-PD-L1, radiotherapy (RT), RT + anti-angiogenic, RT + anti-PD-L1, and RT + anti-PD-L1 + anti-angiogenic therapy groups. Immune response and immunophenotyping were determined by flow cytometry. Vasculature analysis after RT and anti-angiogenic therapy was assessed by quantified power Doppler sonography. Antitumor response, survival, and rechallenged tumor growth were evaluated. RT increased PD-L1 expression on CD8+ T, CD4+ T, dendritic, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and tumor cells and increased PD-1 expression on CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Anti-angiogenic therapy insignificantly decreased the RT-induced PD-1 expression on CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, implying a weak reversal of the immune-suppressive environment. Transient vessel collapse was observed within days after RT, and blood flow recovered at 1week after RT. RT + anti-PD-L1 suppressed the tumor growth, improved survival, and prolonged immune memory capable of protecting against tumor recurrence, evidenced by local accumulation of CD8+ T cells and reduction in MDSCs in microenvironment. Similar and more prominent effects were observed when anti-VEGF was added to RT + anti-PDL1 therapies, implying an additive, rather than synergistic, antitumor immunity. Phenotypic analyses revealed that anti-cancer treatments increased the proportion of effector memory T cells in TILs and splenocytes, and RT, alone or in combination with other treatments, further increased the proportion of central memory T cells in splenocytes. These results provide evidence on operating the immunosuppressive tumor environment and offer insights into the design of the new combination treatment.