[en] In this work the authors describe a method with which one can conveniently derive the analytical expression of the radial integrals. the analytical expressions of n₁l₁F_L^n₂l₂ for L = 0, 1, 2, and a general form of the radial integrals for all L, n₁, l₁, n₂, l₂ expressed by multi-sum are given

[en] Highlights: • Photodegradation of isomers of Dechlorane Plus (DP) as a potential persistent organic pollutant were studied. • UV-C was found to be the main contributor to DP photodegradation. • DP degradation followed the pseudo first-order kinetics. • Sequential dechlorination was found as the degradation mechanism. -- Abstract: Photodegradation has been regarded as the main mechanism for the removal of many halogenated organic pollutants in the environment. The photodegradation of Dechlorane Plus (DP), an emerging contaminant taken worldwide concerns in recent years, was investigated under the irradiation of a xenon lamp. Rapid photodegradation was found under the irradiation of 200–750 nm light, while the degradation became much slower when the range of light wavelength changed to 280–750 nm. DP degradation followed the pseudo first-order kinetics. The quantum yields of 200–280 nm (UV-C) were about 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than 280–320 nm, and no yields can be detected in 320–750 nm range, in an agreement with the changing photodegradation rates with wavelength. The photodegradation products were identified as lower chlorinated DPs, implicating a mechanism of reductive dechlorination. No photoisomerization or solvent adducts were observed, and the difference of photodegradation rate between syn- and anti-DP isomers was negligible

[en] Background and purpose: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the effects of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) and thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) on thyrotropin stimulation prior to remnant ablation of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Material and methods: A comprehensive search was conducted for articles discussing rhTSH and THW prior to December 2012. After applying the inclusion criteria, all the available data were summarized to analyze the efficacy of rhTSH and THW for stimulating TSH. Results: Seven RCTs that involved a total of 1535 patients, were included in the analysis. The ablation rates of the rhTSH group and the THW group were not significantly different (RR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94–1.01, p = 0.1). Patients in the rhTSH group had a better quality of life (QoL) than those in the THW group on the day of ablation (RR = 3.92, 95% CI: 3.44–5.40, p < 0.00001). However, there was no difference in the QoL 3 months after ablation (RR = −0.9, 95% CI: −2.20–0.39, p = 0.17). Additionally, there were no significant differences in serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels measured just before radioiodine remnant ablation (preablation thyroglobulin levels) (RR = −0.14, 95% CI: −0.73–0.45, p = 0.65), or in days of hospital isolation (RR = −10.51, 95% CI: −32.79–11.73, p = 0.35) Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the administration of rhTSH had resulted in an ablation rate similar to that of THW for DTC patients, but rhTSH provided a better QoL at the time of ablation

[en] Mesoporous activated carbons (ACs) and microporous ACs are prepared through physical activation from one-pot hydrothermal product carbon dots (CDs) and hydro-chars, respectively. The CD-derived ACs exhibit a low surface area of similar to 200 g m-2 but a high percentage of mesopores, while the hydrochar-derived ACs (ACSs) are typically microporous with a much higher surface area. Using different activation agents, the N and O components are introduced or adjusted. With symmetric supercapacitor (SC) cells, the mesoporous ACs exhibit superior electrochemical performances than the corresponding ACSs in both aqueous and organic electrolytes, although the surface area is much lower. Higher N contents benefit the electrochemical properties in both aqueous and organic systems. In comparison, the O component is only favored for the aqueous system. The ACs derived from CDs by ammonia exhibit an optimum specific capacitance of 175 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 with 74% capacitance retention at 40 A g^-1 in an aqueous system and 153.84 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 with 60% capacitance retention at 40 A g^-1 in an organic system. By defining a specific capacitance per surface area, the synergetic effects of porous structures and surface functionality are analyzed, which may help predict the theoretical capacitance of the ACs and design highly effective electrode materials. Mesoporous carbons were prepared from carbon dots via physical activation. Mesoporous carbons exhibit higher Cg than high-surface-area microporous carbons, and the efficiency of the surface area for mesopores is much higher than for micropores. (authors)

[en] Contribution from dibaryon state to double charge exchange reaction cross section at the energy of 164 MeV is studied. The principal finding of this work is that the dibaryon state may be exclusively responsible for solving the long-standing puzzle of the minimum location of the theoretical angular distribution of 164 MeV double charge exchange reaction on target ¹⁸O

[en] Six possible successive two-delta excitation mechanisms for pion-induced non-analog double charge exchange transition on the targets ¹⁶O and ¹²C are suggested. In the framework of the model proposed here the angular distributions of 164 MeV for ¹²C and 120, 164 and 200 MeV for ¹⁶O have been evaluated and compared with the existing data. Our results are in good agreement with experimental data available, and strongly indicate that the non-analog transitions ¹⁶O(π⁺, π^-)¹⁶Ne_(g.s.) and ¹²C(π⁺, π^-)¹²O_(g.s.) proceed basically through the double delta isobar excitation on a nucleon, and the dominant process is the so-called successive Δ mechanism. (orig.)

[en] To evaluate the real reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO_2) emissions from coal-fired power plants in China, Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) remote sensing SO_2 columns were used to inversely model the SO_2 emission burdens surrounding 26 isolated power plants before and after the effective operation of their flue gas desulfurization (FGD) facilities. An improved two-dimensional Gaussian fitting method was developed to estimate SO_2 burdens under complex background conditions, by using the accurate local background columns and the customized fitting domains for each target source. The OMI-derived SO_2 burdens before effective FGD operation were correlated well with the bottom-up emission estimates (R = 0.92), showing the reliability of the OMI-derived SO_2 burdens as a linear indicator of the associated source strength. OMI observations indicated that the average lag time period between installation and effective operation of FGD facilities at these 26 power plants was around 2 years, and no FGD facilities have actually operated before the year 2008. The OMI estimated average SO_2 removal equivalence (56.0%) was substantially lower than the official report (74.6%) for these 26 power plants. Therefore, it has been concluded that the real reductions of SO_2 emissions in China associated with the FGD facilities at coal-fired power plants were considerably diminished in the context of the current weak supervision measures. (letter)

[en] We evaluate the recently increasing tropospheric NO₂ columns in Northern China measured by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) with an advanced power-plant NO_x emission inventory and the NASA INTEX-B emission inventory, using a global chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem). In areas with newly built power plants the modeled and OMI-retrieved summertime average tropospheric NO₂ columns increased by 55% and 47%, respectively, between 2005 and 2007. A monthly average increase of 1.79 Gg NO_x emissions is calculated to lead to an increase of 1.0 x 10¹⁵ molecules cm^-2 in the modeled NO₂ columns in the study areas. Good consistency (R² = 0.61, slope = 1.18, n = 14) between the increased modeled and OMI-retrieved summertime average NO₂ columns is found. These results suggest that NO_x emissions from large power plants in Northern China can be identified and quantified using OMI retrievals with confidence. The NASA INTEX-B emission inventory appears to underestimate the NO_x emissions from the industry and transportation sectors, making it more difficult to quantify power-plant emissions when they are co-located with large cities.

[en] Highlights: • Meningioma grading is an important factor affecting patients’ treatment and prognosis. • Hand-crafted features can’t fully characterize image heterogeneity. • We developed a deep learning diagnosis model based on routine MR imagings. • Performance of deep learning feature was superior to hand-crafted feature. - Abstract: ObjectivesTo noninvasively differentiate meningioma grades by deep learning radiomics (DLR) model based on routine post-contrast MRI.