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Partially premixed combustion with low octane fuel aims to reduce NOx and soot emission simultaneously without fuel consumption penalty. Cylinder pressure based combustion phase control is an essential technology for partially premixed combustion. A novel closed-loop combustion phase control strategy for multiple combustion modes is proposed in the current study. The combustion modes are classifie

Molten-salt-based nanofluids and ionic-liquid-based nanofluids are developed for thermal storage and heat transfer at relatively high temperatures, in the past few years. Preparation and stabilization techniques are briefly introduced firstly, and then, thermal properties, e.g., specific heat, thermal conductivity and viscosity, are summarized and discussed in detail. The properties are not only a

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs; acetic, propionic and butyric acid) are formed during bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates in the colon. The interest in SCFA production is related to an increasing body of knowledge of the physiological effects of these acids. SCFAs are important anions in the colonic lumen and serve locally as nutrients for the mucosa cells, stimulating mucosal proliferation an

Semiconductor nanowires have properties that make them potentially useful for applications in future electronic, photovoltaic, and optoelectronic devices. A powerful nanowire fabrication technique is the use of a nanoparticle as a preferential nucleation site, from which a nanowire grows. There has been significant progress in nanowire growth assisted by Au nanoparticles over the past 20 years. Ho

Among nanoscale structures of different shapes and dimensions nanowires are one of the most promising because of its truly unique properties different from their bulk counterparts. The energy quantization, perfect defect-free structure, and the possibility to grow them within the miscibility gap in combination with the benefits of bottom-up design and the possibility of integration on silicon subs

Language and different sexual health discourses constitute barriers to the uptake of information on sexual and reproductive health and rights among migrants. Challenges remain with regards to the design and implementation of culturally appropriate programmes and interventions. This study explored the role of civic communicators in increasing access to sexual health information among migrants reset

Background: Adolescents with HIV are faced with challenges when taking care of their medication, which affects their treatment adherence. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences and needs of adolescents living with HIV regarding their antiretroviral therapy adherence and retention in care in southern Ethiopia.Methods: An inductive qualitative study design was applied to explore adol

Objective: The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) 2012 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) classification criteria and the revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1997 criteria are list based, counting each SLE manifestation equally. We derived a classification rule based on giving variable weights to the SLICC criteria and compared its performance to the revised ACR

Background Previous studies have demonstrated substantial associations between substance use disorders (SUD) and suicidal behavior. The current study empirically assesses the extent to which shared genetic and/or environmental factors contribute to associations between alcohol use disorders (AUD) or drug use disorders (DUD) and suicidal behavior, including attempts and death. Methods The authors u

The genetic basis of bird migration has been the focus of several studies. Two willow warbler subspecies (Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus and Phylloscopus trochilus acredula) follow different migratory routes to wintering grounds in Africa. Their breeding populations overlap in contact areas or “migratory divides” located in central Scandinavia and in eastern Poland. Earlier analyses demonstrated

Growth approaches that limit the interface area between layers to nanoscale regions are emerging as a promising pathway to limit the interface defect formation due to mismatching lattice parameters or thermal expansion coefficient. Interfacial defect mitigation is of great interest in photovoltaics as it opens up more material combinations for use in devices. Herein, an overview of the vapor-liqui

Background: There is a lack of studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in immigrants. Objective: The objective is to study the association between country of birth and incident ALS in first-generation immigrants versus Swedish-born individuals, and in second-generation immigrants versus native Swedes. Methods: Study populations included all adults aged 18 years and older in Sweden, in the f

Background: The extent of thyroid disruptive effects of phthalates during pregnancy remains unclear. Aim: To investigate the association of maternal urinary phthalates with markers of the thyroid system during early pregnancy. Methods: Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free and total thyroxine (FT4 and TT4) and free and t

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that prenatal chemical exposure triggers epigenetic modifications that could influence health outcomes later in life. In this study, we investigated whether DNA methylation (DNAm) levels at the glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2B (GRIN2B) gene underlies the association between prenatal exposure to an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), bis

Background: Experimental evidence demonstrates that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), and the recently introduced alternatives bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) alter normal neurodevelopment. More research is needed to evaluate the associations between exposure to individual BPA alternatives and neurodevelopmental outcomes in humans. Objective: The present study aimed at examining the individua

Parallel 1D semiconductor channels connected by a superconducting strip constitute the core platform in several recent quantum device proposals that rely, for example, on Andreev processes or topological effects. In order to realize these proposals, the actual material systems must have high crystalline purity, and the coupling between the different elements should be controllable in terms of thei

Intrinsic self-healing materials have received significant attention due to the characteristic recovery after damage properties through reversible dynamic covalent and non-covalent interactions. Furthermore, functional recovery with reliable mechanical properties are highly keen as protective coatings, specifically for devices and sensors vulnerable to abrasion in severe environments. Here, we pre

Background: Lipid metabolism plays an important role in viral infections. We aimed to assess the causal effect of lipid-lowering drugs (HMGCR inhibitiors, PCSK9 inhibitiors and NPC1L1 inhibitior) on COVID-19 outcomes using 2-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study.Methods: We used two kinds of genetic instruments to proxy the exposure of lipid-lowering drugs, including eQTLs of drugs target gene

Bone mineral density (BMD) is an established measure used to diagnose patients with osteoporosis. In clinical trials, change in BMD has been shown to provide a reliable estimate of fracture risk reduction, and achieved BMD T-score has been shown to reflect the near-term risk of fracture. We aimed to test the association between BMD T-score and fracture risk in patients treated for osteoporosis in