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As climate change urgency intensifies, understanding its impact on destinations and the development of adaptation strategies becomes critical for sustainable tourism. This article, through a meta-analysis of 290 climate change elasticity estimates in tourism from 34 studies, examines the influence of climate factors and tourists' adaptive behaviours on tourism demand. It also projects the situations countries will face by 2050 under ongoing climate change scenarios. Findings suggest that low- and middle-income economies and Small Island Developing States, despite their minimal carbon contributions, will face significant tourism losses. In contrast, high-income countries might see increased travel demand and lead to more emissions. This will aggravate climatic conditions and inflict greater losses on less-developed communities. This finding exemplifies a vicious cycle of climate injustice, highlighting the disparities in climate-related social costs globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We construct the 3D Shear wave velocity and azimuthal anisotropy images in the southern Chuandian block using phase velocity dispersion of Rayleigh wave in the period of 5–45 s. The images show two extensive low-velocity zones with a depth range of 20–40 km. The west range of the low-velocity extends from the Lijiang-Xiaojinhe fault to the Red River fault, while its east range follows along the Xiaojiang fault. Two ranges of low velocities are merged at the southern inner belt of the Emeishan Large Igneous Provinces (ELIP). The observed fast directions of azimuthal anisotropy are consistent with the extension of low-velocity ranges at the lower crust. The findings reveal the presence of two potential weak channels in the lower crust, characterized by low-velocity zones, which align with the hypothesis of lower crustal flow. Meanwhile, the crust around the inner belt of ELIP exhibits a high-velocity body characterized by a northeast-trending and counter-clockwise azimuthal anisotropy. Combined with geological data, we attribute the high S-velocity to a mafic–ultramafic magma reservoir of the ELIP, which blocks the continuity of crustal flow within the southern Chuandian block, thus dividing the lower crustal flow into two branches. Additionally, we also find the fast directions of azimuthal anisotropy above 20 km align well with the strike-slip fault orientations. The above research results indicate that the crustal deformation in the southern Chuandian block is likely attributed to the joint action of the two deformation mechanisms. One involves a lower crustal flow model, while the other entails rigid extrusion controlled by the deep-seated, large-scale strike-slip faults in the upper crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA damage is a key factor affecting gametogenesis and embryo development. The integrity and stability of DNA are fundamental to a woman's successful conception, embryonic development, pregnancy and the production of healthy offspring. Aging, reactive oxygen species, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy often induce oocyte DNA damage, diminished ovarian reserve, and infertility in women. With the increase of infertility population, there is an increasing need to study the relationship between infertility related diseases and DNA damage and repair. Researchers have tried various methods to reduce DNA damage in oocytes and enhance their DNA repair capabilities in an attempt to protect oocytes. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the DNA damage response mechanisms in infertility diseases such as PCOS, endometriosis, diminished ovarian reserve and hydrosalpinx, which has important implications for fertility preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of organic amine-intercalated α-ZrP were prepared. The crystal phase, structures and properties of these intercalated compounds were analyzed and characterized using several analysis methods. The interlayer distance of organic amine-intercalated α-ZrP has increased regularly along with the increase of chain elongation of organic amine. The composites were applied to adsorb phenol from wastewater. The adsorption equilibrium, kinetics, and dynamic adsorption of phenol onto intercalated α-ZrP were studied. Adsorption isotherms of phenol were determined at different temperatures, and they were well fitted to the Freundlich equation (R2 > 0.99), and the corresponding maximum adsorption capacity of phenol was 0.832 mmol/g. Batch kinetic experiments revealed that the adsorption process followed a quasi-second-order kinetic model. The dynamic adsorption revealed that the adsorption capacity for phenol increased with the increase in temperature. The adsorption process was rapid and equilibrium was reached within 30 min. When the adsorption dosage is 0.1 g/15 mL, the adsorption yield for 10 mmol/L phenol solution can reach 61.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric composites with boron nitride nanosheets (BNNs), which are thermally conductive yet electrically insulating, have been pursued for a variety of technological applications, especially those for thermal management in electronic devices and systems. Highlighted in this review are recent advances in the effort to improve in-plane thermal transport performance in polymer/BNNs composites and also the growing research activities aimed at composites of enhanced cross-plane or isotropic thermal conductivity, for which various filler alignment strategies during composite fabrication have been explored. Also highlighted and discussed are some significant challenges and major opportunities for further advances in the development of thermally conductive composite materials and their mechanistic understandings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic back pain affected 619 million people globally in 2020 which accounts for a heavy disease burden causing tremendous productivity losses. Current therapies including ibuprofen, duloxetine, and opioids might cause side effects and even severe drug use disorders. Therefore, a non‐pharmacologic therapy with better or equivalent efficacy and fewer side effects is needed. Methods: We did a multi‐center, single‐blinded, randomized, positive drug controlled, clinical trial. Patients with chronic back pain in moderate severity were randomized into receiving hot stone massage or flurbiprofen plaster group. Both interventions were 2 weeks with a follow‐up of 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the score of the Global Pain Scale (GPS) from baseline to week 2. Secondary outcomes included Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ), Pain Self‐Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Short Form‐36 (SF36) from baseline to week 2 and week 6. Exploratory outcome assessment included the muscle thickness measured by ultrasound. Any adverse event was monitored throughout the study period. Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled in this trial. At 2 weeks GPS decreased significantly in the hot stone massage group compared to the flurbiprofen group (difference between groups = ‐8.1 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] ‐15.8 to ‐0.3, p = 0.047). Moreover, hot stone massage also showed more improvement at 2 weeks compared to flurbiprofen, including NRS (‐0.5 points, 95% CI ‐1.0 to ‐0.1, p = 0.029), PSEQ (5.4 points, 95% CI 0.5 to 10.2, p = 0.030), and mental component of Short Form‐36 (SF‐36) (1.7 points, 95% CI 0.4 to 2.9, p = 0.010), but not in CPAQ (p = 0.131), HADS (p = 0.303 for depression, p = 0.399 for anxiety), or SF‐36 (p = 0.129 for physical component, p = 0.246 for social component, p = 0.076 for fatigue component). A total of two participants in the hot stone massage group reported mild pain on skin surface when receiving the procedure at the first intervention session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is increasingly used in diagnosing clinical pathogens, but its effectiveness in cirrhosis patients with suspected ascites infection remains uncertain. Methods: The diagnostic performance of ddPCR was assessed in 305 ascites samples, utilizing culture and clinical composite standards. The quantitative value and potential clinical impact of ddPCR were further analyzed in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Results: With culture standards, ddPCR demonstrated a sensitivity of 86.5% and specificity of 83.2% for bacterial or fungal detection. After adjustment of clinical composite criteria, specificity increased to 96.4%. Better diagnostic performance for all types of targeted pathogens, particularly fungi, was observed with ddPCR compared to culture, and more polymicrobial infections were detected (30.4% versus 5.7%, p < 0.001). Pathogen loads detected by ddPCR correlated with white blood cell count in ascites and blood, as well as polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) count in ascites, reflecting infection status rapidly. A positive clinical impact of 55.8% (43/77) was observed for ddPCR, which was more significant among patients with PMN count ≤ 250/mm3 in terms of medication adjustment and new diagnosis. ddPCR results for fungal detection were confirmed by clinical symptoms and other microbiological tests, which could guide antifungal therapy and reduce the risk of short-term mortality. Conclusions: ddPCR, with appropriate panel design, has advantages in pathogen detection and clinical management of ascites infection, especially for patients with fungal and polymicrobial infections. Patients with atypical spontaneous bacterial peritonitis benefited more from ddPCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a study on the trajectory-dependent threshold effects of proton stopping power in LiF nanosheets using time-dependent density functional theory non-adiabatically coupled to the molecular dynamics. This study covered protons with initial velocities in the range of 0.1–1.0 a.u., offering a vast amount of detailed information on the electronic structure during the stopping process with superior spatial and temporal resolution. Our results show that the impact parameters of incident protons play a crucial role in determining the threshold behavior of proton stopping power in LiF nanosheets. Most importantly, we found that close collisions do not exhibit a discernible threshold. In addition, the research results also revealed the time dependence of the number of electrons occupying the atomic orbitals of F and Li as protons pass through the nanosheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study defines financially distressed enterprises based on stock delisting risk warnings and uses the annual data of A-share listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2008 to 2021 to examine the impact and mechanism of financial distress on the capital expenditures of non-distressed enterprises in the same city. The results indicate that if financially distressed enterprises exist within a city, the capital expenditure of non-distressed enterprises within the same city will subsequently decrease. The conclusions hold after multiple robustness and endogeneity tests. Mechanism tests show that financially distressed enterprises reduce the operating performance and cash flow of non-distressed enterprises in the same city through business performance contagion, thereby reducing their intrinsic motivation for capital expenditure. However, financial distress enhances creditors' credit risk perceptions of non-distressed enterprises in the same city through signal transmission effects, prompting creditors to tighten credit contracts or directly intervene in corporate capital expenditure decisions, thus suppressing corporate capital expenditure. Heterogeneity tests indicate that the smaller the asset size of non-distressed enterprises, the larger the scale of financially distressed enterprises relative to non-distressed enterprises in the same city, or the more severe the agency problem of non-distressed enterprises or degree of financial distress, the more significant the negative externality of financial distress on the capital expenditures of local enterprises. The economic consequences test shows that the reduction effect of financial distress on the capital expenditure of non-distressed enterprises in the same city ultimately improves their capital expenditure efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pole-skipping refers to the special phenomenon that the pole and the zero of a retarded two-point Green’s function coincide at certain points in momentum space. We study the pole-skipping phenomenon in holographic Green’s functions of boundary operators that are dual to massive p-form fields and the dRGT massive gravitational fields in the AdS black hole background. Pole-skipping points for these systems are computed using the near horizon method. The relation between the pole-skipping points of massive fields and their massless counterparts is revealed. In particular, as the field mass m is varied from zero to non-zero, the pole-skipping phenomenon undergoes an abrupt change with doubled pole-skipping points found in the massive case. This arises from the breaking of gauge invariance due to the mass term and the consequent appearance of more degrees of freedom. We recover the gauge invariance using the Stueckelberg formalism by introducing auxiliary dynamical fields. The extra pole-skipping points are identified to be associated with the Stueckelberg fields. We also observe that, as the mass varies, some pole-skipping points of the wave number q may move from a non-physical region with complex q to a physical region with real q. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate a new proposal connecting the geometry at various radial scales in asymptotic AdS spacetime with entanglement structure at corresponding real-space length scales of the boundary theory. With this proposal, the bulk IR geometry encodes the long-scale entanglement structure of the dual quantum system. We consider two distinct types of IR geometries, namely the spherical case and the hyperbolic case, which are intimately related to the physics of differential entropy and brane-world holography separately. We explore the corresponding change in the dual long-scale entanglement structures, utilizing the tools of the Ryu-Takayanagi formula, conditional mutual information, and partial entanglement entropy. The results indicate that modifying the IR geometry leads to a redistribution of entanglement at scales longer than a critical length determined by the location of the IR region, with the two modified IR geometries corresponding to two opposite ways of redistribution. Furthermore, we establish the maximum amount of entanglement that can be modified, which is proportional to the area of the IR region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of perovskite optoelectronics, developing hole-transporting materials (HTMs) on the spiro[fluorene-9,9′-xanthene] (SFX) platform is one of the current research focuses. The SFX inherits the merits of spirobifluorene in terms of the configuration and property, but it is more easily derivatized and regulated by virtue of its binary structure. In this work, we design and synthesize four isomeric SFX-based HTMs, namely m-SFX-mF, p-SFX-mF, m-SFX-oF, and p-SFX-oF, through varying the positions of fluorination on the peripheral aniline units and their substitutions on the SFX core, and the optoelectronic performance of the resulting HTMs is evaluated in both perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) by the vacuum thermal evaporating hole-transporting layers (HTLs). The HTM p-SFX-oF exhibits an improved power conversion efficiency of 15.21% in an inverted PSC using CH3NH3PbI3 as an absorber, benefiting from the deep HOMO level and good HTL/perovskite interface contact. Meanwhile, the HTM m-SFX-mF provides a maximum external quantum efficiency of 3.15% in CsPb(Br/Cl)3-based PeLEDs, which is attributed to its perched HOMO level and shrunken band-gap for facilitating charge carrier injection and then exciton combination. Through elucidating the synergistic position effect of fluorination on aniline units and their substitutions on the SFX core, this work lays the foundation for developing low-cost and efficient HTMs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic infrared radiation regulation has been widely explored for smart windows because of its vital importance for comfortable and energy-efficient buildings. However, it remains a great challenge to synchronously achieve high visible transmittance and pronounced infrared tunability. Here, we propose a dynamic infrared tunable metamaterial composed of indium tin oxide (ITO) gratings, an air insulator, and an ITO reflector. The ITO grating-based infrared radiation regulator exhibits a high emissivity tunability of 0.73 at 8–13 μm while maintaining a high visible transmittance of 0.65 and 0.72 before and after actuation, respectively. By adjusting the geometric parameters, the tunable bandwidth can be further extended to 3–30 μm and the ultra-broadband tunability reaches 0.62. The excellent infrared tunable performance arises from the insulator thickness-dependent effect of Fabry–Pérot and propagating surface plasmon resonance coupling and decoupling, which lead to perfect and low absorption, respectively. This work provides potential for the advancement of smart window technology and makes a significant contribution to sustainable buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Programmable metasurfaces have brought significant advance to electromagnetic (EM) and related fields, making it easier and more efficient to manipulate the EM waves and realize higher tuning flexibility and range. However, how to achieve independent control of each unit of the programmable metasurface in a low‐overhead and wireless manner remains a challenge. Here, a laser‐programmable microwave metasurface is proposed and constructed, in which each unit can be controlled remotely by laser intensity in real time. The key is to design an ultra‐compact photoelectric passive boost circuit and integrate it into the meta‐unit. In this case, the light sensing‐to‐power‐to‐control‐to‐microwave manipulation process can be fully realized on the highly integrated meta‐unit, and thus the metasurface can be completely programmed at the unit level by laser coding patterns, without any wire connections and external power suppliers. As experimental demonstration, a phase‐coding laser‐programmable microwave metasurface is presented using a laser array. To show the capabilities of the metasurface, 2D beam scanning and vortex beam generation are demonstrated using 1‐bit phase modulations under the laser illuminations. This approach offers an effective route for the space lasers to manipulate microwaves accurately, which is helpful in developing advanced functional devices, passive platforms, and photoelectric hybrid systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the hierarchical uniform and inverse gamma model, we calculate the Bayes posterior estimator of the parameter of the uniform distribution under Stein's loss function which penalizes gross overestimation and gross underestimation equally and the corresponding Posterior Expected Stein's Loss (PESL). We also obtain the Bayes posterior estimator of the parameter under the squared error loss function and the corresponding PESL. Moreover, we obtain empirical Bayes estimators of the parameter of the uniform distribution by two methods. Note that the estimators of the hyperparameters of the model by the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method are summarized in a theorem, whose proof involves the upper incomplete gamma function and a special case of the Meijer G-function. In numerical simulations, we address from four perspectives. First, we exemplify the two inequalities of the Bayes posterior estimators and the PESLs. Second, we illustrate that the moment estimators and the Maximum Likelihood Estimators (MLEs) are consistent estimators of the hyperparameters. Third, we calculate the goodness-of-fit of the model for the simulated data. Fourth, we plot the marginal densities of the model for various hyperparameters. Finally, we utilize the current prices of the 300 component stocks of Shenzhen 300 Index to illustrate our theoretical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated velocity and anisotropic structure of the crust beneath the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau to better understand its deformation and evolution mechanism. We performed H‐κ and Pms anisotropy analyses to obtain crustal thickness, Vp/Vs ratio, fast polarization direction, and splitting time from 711 stations, and further conducted quality control using slowness, harmonic and statistical analyses. The Songpan‐Ganzi Block has a large splitting time and a fast polarization direction roughly parallel to the GPS motion and SKS fast direction. It also shows an overall high but complex distribution of Vp/Vs ratio, and large variations in crustal thickness, indicating that crustal deformation is likely caused by crustal shortening and lower crustal flow. The northern Sichuan‐Yunnan Rhombic Block (SYRB) is featured by a thick crust and high Vp/Vs ratio, suggesting that the crust is likely inflated by partial melting lower crustal rocks. The subblock also exhibits a strong azimuthal anisotropy with a splitting time greater than 0.6 s. The fast polarization direction aligns with the nearly N‐S extended direction and rotates clockwise in front of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP). The observed anisotropy agrees with aligned amphibole minerals under a simple shear condition, supporting a southward lower crust flow being diverted by the ELIP. Anisotropy measurements on the southern SYRB are less robust and widely scattered, suggesting a deformation mechanism different from the northern SYRB. In addition, the southeastern margin of the Sichuan Basin shows a systematic pattern of crustal anisotropy consistent with a pure shear deformation mechanism. Plain Language Summary: We studied the crustal structure and deformation beneath the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. By analyzing teleseismic data from 727 stations, we measured crust thickness, Vp/Vs ratio, and azimuthal anisotropy using receiver functions. Our findings show a complex crustal behavior pattern in the eastern Tibet margin. In the Songpan‐Ganzi Block, crustal shortening and lower crust flow seem to be causing deformation. The northern Sichuan‐Yunnan Rhombic Block, with its thick crust and high Vp/Vs ratio, appears to be influenced by partial melting of lower crust rocks. And a southward lower crust flow being diverted by the Emeishan Large Igneous Province. The eastern and southern part of this block shows a different pattern, indicating a unique deformation mechanism. Additionally, the southeastern margin of the Sichuan Basin appears to undergo a distinct type of crustal deformation. Key Points: A new crustal model with much more reliable and denser Pms anisotropic measurements is built in the eastern Tibetan MarginSongpan‐Ganzi Block is likely deformed by crustal shortening and lower crustal flowChannel flow may exist in the west low velocity zone (LVZ) while absent at the east LVZ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we present a unified chemical synthesis of three subgroups of cephalotaxus diterpenoids. Key to the success lies in adopting a synthetic strategy that is inspired by biosynthesis but is opposite in nature. By employing selective one‐carbon introduction and ring expansion operations, we have successfully converted cephalotane‐type C18 dinorditerpenoids (using cephanolide B as a starting material) into troponoid‐type C19 norditerpenoids and intact cephalotane‐type C20 diterpenoids. This synthetic approach has enabled us to synthesize cephinoid H, 13‐oxo‐cephinoid H, 7‐oxo‐cephinoid H, fortalpinoid C, 7‐epi‐fortalpinoid C, cephanolide E, and 13‐epi‐cephanolide E. Furthermore, through the development of an intermolecular asymmetric Michael reaction between β‐oxo esters and β‐substituted enones, we have achieved the enantioselective synthesis of advanced intermediates within our synthetic sequence, thus formally realizing the asymmetric total synthesis of the cephalotaxus diterpenoids family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we present a unified chemical synthesis of three subgroups of cephalotaxus diterpenoids. Key to the success lies in adopting a synthetic strategy that is inspired by biosynthesis but is opposite in nature. By employing selective one‐carbon introduction and ring expansion operations, we have successfully converted cephalotane‐type C18 dinorditerpenoids (using cephanolide B as a starting material) into troponoid‐type C19 norditerpenoids and intact cephalotane‐type C20 diterpenoids. This synthetic approach has enabled us to synthesize cephinoid H, 13‐oxo‐cephinoid H, 7‐oxo‐cephinoid H, fortalpinoid C, 7‐epi‐fortalpinoid C, cephanolide E, and 13‐epi‐cephanolide E. Furthermore, through the development of an intermolecular asymmetric Michael reaction between β‐oxo esters and β‐substituted enones, we have achieved the enantioselective synthesis of advanced intermediates within our synthetic sequence, thus formally realizing the asymmetric total synthesis of the cephalotaxus diterpenoids family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear energy sink (NES) is a device used for structural vibration reduction, which can not only achieve targeted energy transfer, but also has many advantages such as wide working frequency band, high reliability and strong robustness. In a fractional-order differential system, the historical memory of fractional-order differential operators enables us to more accurately simulate and study physical phenomena in actual systems. With this in mind, the vibration suppression performance of the fractional-order damping system coupled with NES is considered. However, random vibrations are everywhere and systems are susceptible to random excitations. Therefore, this paper conducts a numerical and analytical investigation into the dynamic response mechanism of a fractional-order damping system excited by random excitation, which coupled with a NES. Firstly, The Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equation and stationary probability density function expression are derived by using stochastic averaging method. Secondly, The effectiveness of this approach is confirmed by the concurrence between the analytical solutions and the numerical solutions obtained through Monte Carlo simulation. Subsequently, the effects of system parameters and noise intensity on the stationary response of the system are discussed, as well as stochastic P-bifurcation caused by system parameters. Ultimately, the time histories of displacement and the energy transformation of the primary structure with changes in system parameters under the condition of coupled with NES and without NES are analyzed to verify that NES can achieve the desired goal of vibration reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The visitor economy is responsible for a substantial percentage of the global carbon footprint. The mechanisms used to decarbonize it are insufficient, and the industry is relying on carbon trading with substandard credits that allow businesses to outsource the responsibility to decarbonize. We aim to transform carbon markets, help finance climate investments, and support decarbonization strategies. We identify and define the problem, outline the components and their interactions, and develop a conceptual model to transform carbon markets. The new, blockchain-based Carbon Tokenomics Model rolls out a decentralized database to store, trade, and manage carbon credits, with the goal of enabling sustainable climate finance investment. We outline the criteria needed for an industry-wide carbon calculator. We explain the process needed to increase rigor in climate investments in the visitor economy and introduce a delegated Proof of Commitment consensus mechanism. Our inclusive and transparent model illustrates how to reduce transaction costs and how to build consumer and industry trust, generating much-needed investments for decarbonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a holographic model that exhibits a coexistence state of the Weyl semimetal and the topological nodal line state, providing us with a valuable tool to investigate the system’s behavior in the strong coupling regime. Nine types of bulk solutions exhibiting different IR behaviors have been identified, corresponding to nine different types of boundary states. These nine states include four distinct phases, namely the Weyl-nodal phase, the gap-nodal phase, the Weyl gap phase and the gap-gap phase, four phase boundaries, which are the Weyl-Dirac phase, the gap-Dirac phase, the Dirac-gap phase and the Dirac-nodal phase, and finally a double critical point. A phase diagram is plotted that exhibits qualitative similarity to the one obtained in the weak coupling limit. The anomalous Hall conductivity, which serves as an order parameter, and the free energy are calculated, with the latter showing the continuity of the topological phase transitions within the system. Our study highlights the similarities and differences in such a topological system between the weak and strong coupling regimes, paving the way for further experimental observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the thermal stabilities and polymerization activities of α-diimine nickel catalysts, two asymmetric nickel complexes, Cat1 and Cat2, bearing large steric hindrance fluorine-containing diphenylmethyl substituents were designed, synthesized and used for ethylene polymerization. These two homogeneous catalysts exhibited good thermal stability, especially Cat2, which exhibited an activity of 2.04 × 106 gPE/molNi h at 80 °C. To control the polymer particle morphology and avoid the fouled reactor, these α-diimine catalysts were covalently bonded to modified silica supports, and two supported α-diimine catalysts, S-Cat1 and S-Cat2, were prepared for ethylene polymerization. The particle morphology of the polyethylene was substantially improved. Additionally, the melting point of the polyethylene was increased to approximately 110–120 °C. The molecular weight of the polymer prepared with the supported catalyst was nearly twice that of the polymer catalyzed by the corresponding homogeneous catalyst, and the molecular weight of the polyethylene prepared by S-Cat2 reached 1790 kg/mol. The substituents on the ligands affected the properties of the α-diimine nickel catalysts and the microstructure of the resulting polyethylene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate assessment of runoff abundance and depletion encounter characteristics in the basin under runoff non-consistency conditions in multiple temporal dimensions (year-round, flood season and non-flood season) and multiple spatial dimensions (different hydrological stations) is of great significance to the regional flood and drought resistance, and the integrated development and utilization of water resources. We propose a method to analyze the runoff abundance and depletion encounters in a watershed considering the runoff non-consistency. Taking the mainstem of Weihe River as an example, we analyze the runoff evolution of the mainstem of Weihe River at Linjiacun, Xianyang and Huaxian stations from 1960 to 2020 through the sliding average method and Mann-Kendall method, and construct the Copula joint distribution function among different stations from the watershed scale in different time periods, and the abundance and depletion encounter characteristics of the Weihe River mainstem under runoff non-consistency conditions are analyzed. The results show that: (1) The runoff of the main stream of the Weihe River has obvious characteristics of wet and dry evolution, and there was a sudden change around 1978, and the runoff sequence after the sudden change showed a significant downward trend. (2) The synchronism of the run-off in the main stream of the Weihe River decreases with the increase of the distance between the stations. The synchronism of the run-off in the main stream of the Weihe River is the highest at Linjia Village - Xianyang Station, and the synchronism of the run-off in the main stream of the Weihe River is the lowest at Linjia Village - Huaxian Station; Among the different wet and dry encounter combinations, the most likely occurrence of two sites is the flat-flat combination, and the least likely occurrence is the wet and dry combination. (3) After the runoff variation, the synchronization of wet and dry encounters between different stations has changed significantly. The synchronization of wet and dry encounters between Linjiacun Station and Xianyang Station has decreased significantly, and the synchronization of wet and dry encounters between Xianyang Station and Huaxian Station has increased significantly. Before the variation, the synchronization between the stations in the non-flood season is the strongest, and the synchronization between the stations in the whole year is the weakest. After the variation, the synchronization between the stations in the non-flood season is the weakest, and the synchronization between the stations in the flood season is the strongest. The research results can provide a reference for the characterization of runoff abundance and depletion encounters in the main stream of the Weihe River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The pathogenesis of memory impairment, a common complication of chronic neuropathic pain (CNP), has not been fully elucidated. Schwann cell (SC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) contribute to remote organ injury. Here, we showed that SC-EVs may mediate pathological communication between SCs and hippocampal neurons in the context of CNP. Methods: We used an adeno-associated virus harboring the SC-specific promoter Mpz and expressing the CD63-GFP gene to track SC-EVs transport. microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of EVs and gain-of-function and loss-of-function regulatory experiments revealed that miR-142-5p was the main cargo of SC-EVs. Next, luciferase reporter gene and phenotyping experiments confirmed the direct targets of miR-142-5p. Results: The contents and granule sizes of plasma EVs were significantly greater in rats with chronic sciatic nerve constriction injury (CCI)than in sham rats. Administration of the EV biogenesis inhibitor GW4869 ameliorated memory impairment in CCI rats and reversed CCI-associated dendritic spine damage. Notably, during CCI stress, SC-EVs could be transferred into the brain through the circulation and accumulate in the hippocampal CA1-CA3 regions. miR-142-5p was the main cargo wrapped in SC-EVs and mediated the development of CCI-associated memory impairment. Furthermore, α-actinin-4 (ACTN4), ELAV-like protein 4 (ELAVL4) and ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9 X-linked (USP9X) were demonstrated to be important downstream target genes for miR-142-5p-mediated regulation of dendritic spine damage in hippocampal neurons from CCI rats. Conclusion: Together, these findings suggest that SCs-EVs and/or their cargo miR-142-5p may be potential therapeutic targets for memory impairment associated with CNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single extremely halophilic strain was isolated from salt brine produced when a fresh water lake flooded a large salt mine located beneath the lake. The water that entered this mine contained less than 0.34 M NaCl, but over time, this sealed brine became saturated by Cenozoic age salt (121–125 million-year BCE). The isolated strain requires at least 1.7 M NaCl for survival and grows optimally in 3.1 M NaCl. Therefore, it could not have survived or been present in the waters that flooded this salt mine. The strain grows at a pH range from 6.5 to 9.0 and has a wide tolerance to temperatures from 25 ℃ to at least 60 ℃. The comparison of 16S rRNA and rpoB′ genes revealed that strain 1–13-28T is related to Halorubrum tebenquichense DSM 14210T showing 98.6% and 98.1% similarities, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA, rpoB′ genes and 122 concatenated archaeal genes show that the strain 1–13-28T consistently forms a cluster with Halorubrum tebenquichense of the genus Halorubrum. Strain 1–13-28T contained sulfated mannosyl glucosyl diether, and the polar lipid profile was identical to those of most Halorubrum species. Based on the overall combination of physiological, phylogenetic, polar lipids and phylogenomic characteristics, strain 1–13-28T (= ATCC 700083T = CGMCC 1.62627T) represents a newly identified species within the genus Halorubrum for which the name Halorubrum hochsteinianum is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delivery e-bicyclists are vulnerable traffic participants, and delivery e-scooter crashes annually cause great losses. There are limited empirical analyses performed to characterize the endogenous and exogenous influences of potential factors on delivery e-scooter crash severities. This study focused on identifying the heterogeneous impacts of contributing factors. Based on 3064 police-reported delivery e-scooter crashes, different potential factors selected from seven perspectives were examined. Combining the latent class clustering analysis and the partial proportional odds model, an unsupervised learning approach was developed to modeling the heterogeneities as well as the corresponding marginal effects. According to the AIC, BIC, and entropy-based approach, the most appropriate number of clusters was identified as three. The model results revealed that the top six factors significantly influencing the injury severities were running red light, reverse riding, speeding, bike lane, changing lane, and e-bicyclist age. Their maximum absolute values of the marginal effects were more than 29%. The sub-models owned a better goodness of fit in characterizing heterogeneities and avoiding the model bias. It was easy to find the remarkable heterogeneities within each factor and across different clusters. The findings could provide insightful guidance and effective recommendations for alleviating the crash losses and promoting rider safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of active immunisation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on the reproductive function in male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, 24 42-day-old rats were randomly assigned to treatment with GnRH6-MAP, GnRH-OVA, a surgical castration group, and a blank control group. Each rat in the treatment groups was intramuscularly injected at 6, 8, and 10 weeks of age. The serum concentrations of testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), and anti-GnRH antibodies were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The results showed that active immunisation with recombinant GnRH6-MBP and GnRH-OVA significantly increased the serum levels of anti-GnRH antibodies and reduced the serum concentrations of testosterone compared to the black control. Eight weeks after immunisation, the rats' testes were surgically removed for morphological evaluation, showing atrophy of the convoluted vasculature, relative emptying of the lumen, and insignificant differentiation of spermatogonial cells, which were increased in weight and volume compared with the blank control group. These findings indicated that active immunisation with GnRH can lead to testicular atrophy and reduce gonadal hormone concentrations, suggesting that GnRH is a highly effective immunogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glycerol, as a by-product, mainly derives from the conversion of many crops to biodiesel, ethanol, and fatty ester. Its bioconversion to 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) is an environmentally friendly method. Continuous fermentation has many striking merits over fed-batch and batch fermentation, such as high product concentration with easy feeding operation, long-term high productivity without frequent seed culture, and energy-intensive sterilization. However, it is usually difficult to harvest high product concentrations. Results: In this study, a three-stage continuous fermentation was firstly designed to produce 1,3-PDO from crude glycerol by Clostridium butyricum, in which the first stage fermentation was responsible for providing the excellent cells in a robust growth state, the second stage focused on promoting 1,3-PDO production, and the third stage aimed to further boost the 1,3-PDO concentration and reduce the residual glycerol concentration as much as possible. Through the three-stage continuous fermentation, 80.05 g/L 1,3-PDO as the maximum concentration was produced while maintaining residual glycerol of 5.87 g/L, achieving a yield of 0.48 g/g and a productivity of 3.67 g/(L·h). Based on the 14 sets of experimental data from the first stage, a kinetic model was developed to describe the intricate relationships among the concentrations of 1,3-PDO, substrate, biomass, and butyrate. Subsequently, this kinetic model was used to optimize and predict the highest 1,3-PDO productivity of 11.26 g/(L·h) in the first stage fermentation, while the glycerol feeding concentration and dilution rate were determined to be 92 g/L and 0.341 h−1, separately. Additionally, to achieve a target 1,3-PDO production of 80 g/L without the third stage fermentation, the predicted minimum volume ratio of the second fermenter to the first one was 11.9. The kinetics-based two-stage continuous fermentation was experimentally verified well with the predicted results. Conclusion: A novel three-stage continuous fermentation and a kinetic model were reported. Then a simpler two-stage continuous fermentation was developed based on the optimization of the kinetic model. This kinetics-based development of two-stage continuous fermentation could achieve high-level production of 1,3-PDO. Meanwhile, it provides a reference for other bio-chemicals production by applying kinetics to optimize multi-stage continuous fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) industrialization has been developing for many years. Commercial materials such as 8 mol% Y2O3-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95 (GDC), La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF), La0.6Sr0.4CoO3−δ (LSC), etc., have been used for many years, but the problem of mismatched thermal expansion coefficients of various materials between cells has not been fundamentally solved, which affects the lifetime of SOECs and restricts their industry development. Currently, various solutions have been reported, such as element doping, manufacturing defects, and introducing negative thermal expansion coefficient materials. To promote the development of the SOEC industry, a direct treatment method for commercial materials—quenching and doping—is reported to achieve the controllable preparation of the thermal expansion coefficient of commercial materials. The quenching process only involves the micro-treatment of raw materials and does not have any negative impact on preparation processes such as powder slurry and sintering. It is a simple, low-cost, and universal research strategy to achieve the controllable preparation of the thermal expansion coefficient of the commercial material La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) through a quenching process by doping elements and increasing oxygen vacancies in the material. Commercial LSCF materials are heated to 800 °C in a muffle furnace, quickly removed, and cooled and quenched in 3.4 mol/L of prepared Y(NO3)3. The thermal expansion coefficient of the treated material can be reduced to 13.6 × 10−6 K−1, and the blank sample is 14.1 × 10−6 K−1. In the future, it may be possible to use the quenching process to select appropriate doping elements in order to achieve similar thermal expansion coefficients in SOECs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon–semiconductor hybrid quantum dots are classical carbon dots with core carbon nanoparticles doped with a selected nanoscale semiconductor. Specifically, on those with the nanoscale TiO2 doping, denoted as CTiO2-Dots, their synthesis and thorough characterization were reported previously. In this work, the CTiO2-Dots were evaluated for their visible light-activated antibacterial function, with the results showing the effective killing of not only Gram-positive but also the generally more resistant Gram-negative bacteria. The hybrid dots are clearly more potent antibacterial agents than their neat carbon dot counterparts. Mechanistically, the higher antibacterial performance of the CTiO2-Dots is attributed to their superior photoexcited state properties, which are reflected by the observed much brighter fluorescence emissions. Also considered and discussed is the possibility of additional contributions to the antibacterial activities due to the photosensitization of the nanoscale TiO2 by its doped core carbon nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid energy harvesting systems are broadly applied in various fields due to the advantage of improving energy harvesting efficiency. In actual environment, there are many complex phenomena exhibiting jump, flights, rare transition features, and intermittent features, which can be described by systems subjected to non-Gaussian Lévy process. Sometimes, it is difficult to build mathematical models of complex hybrid energy harvesting systems precisely, especially for those driven by non-Gaussian Lévy noise. With the development of simulation capabilities and observing techniques recently, massive noise measurement data or simulating data can be feasibly obtained and there are many existing techniques devoted to discovering governing laws from abundant data. In this paper, we aim to extract the system equations from observed data influenced by non-Gaussian Lévy noise via using a data-driven method. The expressions of drift term, diffusion term and Lévy term can be approximated with the help of Fokker-Planck equation and non-local Kramers-Moyal formulae, and the coefficients of the expressions are learned by utilizing a sparse regression approach in the least square sense. Three examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. Results show that the approach can well be applied to not only hybrid energy harvesting systems under Gaussian Brownian process but also the systems subjected to non-Gaussian Lévy process. Additionally, the relations between the demarcation parameter and an indicator denoted as Ratio for different time steps are analyzed, and results demonstrate that the indicator can be regarded as the criterion of selecting the appropriate demarcation parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cephalopod skin is capable of fast color changing enabled by tunable skin transparency as well as structure color. Under this inspiration, herein, a flexible surface with unique hierarchical structure that integrates both transparency change in chemical color (optical scattering) and structure coloration (optical interfering) is developed by harnessing wrinkling instability, thanks to the interfacial Au catalysis in soft lithography. As a result, a hierarchical structure in terms of wrinkled film overlaid by nano‐dome array is obtained in the flexile surface. Experiments find that subject to biaxial strains from 0% to 60%, the hierarchical surface first experiences a transition from nontransparent to transparent owing to the flattening of the wrinkles and then exhibits iridescence structure color shifting from blue to red. The switchable and dynamical tunable mechanochromic characteristics are demonstrated in a smart window, offering potentials for developing flexible devices with optical multiple functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell immobilization plays an important role in biocatalysis for high-value products. It is necessary to maintain the viability of immobilized cells for bioconversion using viable cells as biocatalysts. In this study, a novel polyester nonwoven chemostat was designed for cell immobilization to investigate biofilm formation and the dynamic balance between adsorption and desorption of cells on polyester nonwoven. The polyester nonwoven was suitable for cell immobilization, and the cell numbers on the polyester nonwoven can reach 6.5 ± 0.38 log CFU/mL. After adding the polyester nonwoven to the chemostat, the fluctuation phenomenon of free bacterial cells occurred. The reason for this phenomenon was the balance between adsorption and desorption of bacterial cells on the polyester nonwoven. Bacterial cells could adhere to the surface of polyester nonwoven via secreting extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to form biofilms. As the maturation of biofilms, some dead cells inside the biofilms can cause the detachment of biofilms. This process of continuous adsorption and desorption of cells can ensure that the polyester nonwoven chemostat has lasting biological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetic composite of CoFe2O4 and carbon nanotube (CNT) was prepared using the solvothermal approach and then employed for the activation of peroxydisulfate (PDS) to degrade reactive black 5 (RB5) and other organic pollutants. Characterization results of the composite catalyst revealed the successful loading of spherical CoFe2O4 particles on CNTs, possessing abundant porosity as well as magnetic separation capability. Under the degradation conditions of 0.2 g/L CoFe2O4-CNT dosage and 4 mM PDS dosage, the removal efficiencies of 10 mg/L RB5 and other pollutants were in the range of 94.5 to ~ 100%. The effects of pH, co-existing ions/humic acid, and water matrices as well as the reusability of the catalyst were also investigated in detail. Furthermore, the degradation mechanism and pathway were proposed based on quenching experiments, LC–MS analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the toxicity of the degradation products was evaluated in the quantitative structure–activity relationship approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts an in-depth analysis of seismic anisotropy around the Longmenshan Faults. Utilizing a dataset of about 7710 earthquake catalogs from July 2007 to March 2023, we applied S wave splitting and receiver function methods to examine Pms and XKS waveforms collected from 12 fixed broadband stations across Gansu and Sichuan provinces. Our analysis revealed significant variations in seismic anisotropy between the crust and lithosphere, marked by distinct fast wave directions and delay times. These characteristics point to the possibility for layered anisotropy within the region. A two-layer anisotropy inversion analysis at key stations further delineated the differential anisotropic behaviors between the crust and the upper mantle, underscoring the impact of local geological structures and mantle dynamics. Crucially, our study posits the existence of layered anisotropy around the Longmenshan Fault Zone, a finding that significantly advances our comprehension of the region's seismic anisotropy and adds a vital dimension to our understanding of its subsurface structural intricacies and tectonic evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread application of the direct-current resistivity method, searching for accurate and fast-forward algorithms has become the focus of research for geophysicists and engineers. Three-dimensional forward modeling can be the best way to identify geo-electrical anomalies but are hampered by computational limitations because of the large amount of data. A practical compromise, or even alternative, is represented by 2.5D modeling characterized using a 3D source in a 2D medium. Thus, we develop a 2.5D direct-current resistivity forward modeling algorithm. The algorithm incorporates the finite-difference approximation and fictitious point technique that can improve the efficiency and accuracy of numerical simulation. Firstly, from the boundary value problem of the electric potential generated by the point source, the discrete expressions of the governing equation are derived from the finite-difference approach. The numerical solutions of the discrete electric potential are calculated after the approximate treatment of the boundary conditions with a finite-difference method based on a fictitious point scheme. Secondly, through the simulation of a homogeneous half-space model and a one-dimensional model, and compared with the analytical results, the correctness and stability of the finite-difference forward algorithm are verified. Lastly, through the numerical simulation for a two-dimensional model, 2.5D direct-current sounding responses are summarized, which can provide a qualitative interpretation of field data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horizontal fractures in the strata will close in the compaction effect of overlying strata, while the vertical cracks are widely developed, which can be equivalent to HTI (transverse isotropy with a horizontal axis of symmetry) medium. When an S-wave propagates into HTI media, the shear wave will divide into two types of waves: a fast S-wave and slow S-wave. When the strata of HTI are thin and overlapping, called the thin interbeds model, the wave field exhibits complex primary reflections, converted waves, and multiples. We introduce a new second-order approximation of the total reflection coefficient, with the incidence angle lower than the critical angle in thin-interbed HTI media using a recursive algorithm. We verify the effectiveness of the second-order approximation by analyzing the energy of multiples. Comparing the second-order approximate solution that degenerates the HTI medium into isotropic and Kennett's exact solution, we find that our solution has an accuracy of over 99.9% in any azimuth, with the incidence angle lower than the critical angle under P-wave incidence. However, our solution of the SP wave field is suitable for incidence azimuth angles between 0–75° and 120–180°, with the lowest accuracy occurring at an incidence angle of 25° and a relative error of 6.4%. The approximate solution in the SS wave field has the same applicable range as the SP wave, with the maximum error of 6.3% occurring at the incident angle of 1°. This new second-order approximate formula for the total reflection coefficient of thin interbeds composed of HTI helps us to understand the reflection characteristics of complex thin interbeds. It also lays a theoretical foundation for the development of AVO (Amplitude Versus Offset) analysis and inversion techniques for lithological and stratigraphic oil and gas reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To construct machine learning models based on radiomics features combing conventional transrectal ultrasound (B-mode) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to improve prostate cancer (PCa) detection in peripheral zone (PZ). Methods: A prospective study of 166 men (72 benign, 94 malignant lesions) with targeted biopsy-confirmed pathology who underwent B-mode and CEUS examinations was performed. Risk factors, including age, serum total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA), f/t PSA, prostate volume and prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD), were collected. Time-intensity curves were obtained using SonoLiver software for all lesions in regions of interest. Four parameters were collected as risk factors: the maximum intensity (IMAX), rise time (RT), time to peak (TTP), and mean transit time (MTT). Radiomics features were extracted from the target lesions from B-mode and CEUS imaging. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to construct the model. Results: A total of 3306 features were extracted from seven categories. Finally, 32 features were screened out from radiomics models. Five models were developed to predict PCa: the B-mode radiomics model (B model), CEUS radiomics model (CEUS model), B-CEUS combined radiomics model (B-CEUS model), risk factors model, and risk factors-radiomics combined model (combined model). Age, PSAD, tPSA, and RT were significant independent predictors in discriminating benign and malignant PZ lesions (P < 0.05). The risk factors model combing these four predictors showed better discrimination in the validation cohort (area under the curve [AUC], 0.84) than the radiomics images (AUC, 0.79 on B model; AUC, 0.78 on CEUS model; AUC, 0.83 on B-CEUS model), and the combined model (AUC: 0.89) achieved the greatest predictive efficacy. Conclusion: The prediction model including B-mode and CEUS radiomics signatures and risk factors represents a promising diagnostic tool for PCa detection in PZ, which may contribute to clinical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginseng by-products mainly include ginseng residue, and unused ginseng stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots, etc. They are rich in ginsenoside, ginseng polysaccharide, and other active substances, and have a variety of biological functions such as improving immunity, anti-fatigue, bacteriostasis, and anti-virus. At present, ginseng by-products are primarily treated as waste, which not only maximize their effects but also resulting in a waste of resources. Ginseng by-products have good application prospects in animal production. Ginseng residue, as well as ginseng stems and leaves, can be used as dietary components or additives, and the ginsenoside found in ginseng stems and leaves can also serve as an adjuvant for animal vaccines. Therefore, the paper reviews the biological functions and application in animal production of ginseng by-products, to provide a reference for improving the comprehensive utilization rate of ginseng by-products and improving animal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was to investigate the effects of different NFC/NDF ratios on the ruminal fermentation characteristics and serum biochemical indexes of mutton sheep under a corn straw diet. A total of 15 healthy, 50 kg mutton sheep fitted with permanent rumen fistula were seclected, the mutton sheep in the group I, group H, and group M were fed a total mixed diet feeding with NFC/NDF ratios of 0.65, 1.02, and 1.57, respectively. The pre-test period was 15 days, and the formal test period was seven days. The results showed that with the increase of NFC/NDF ratio, the rumen pH value decreased. However, the content of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) in rumen liquid first increased and then decreased. With the increase of feeding time, bacterial protein (MCP) content first decreased and then increased. With the increase of NFC/NDF ratio, the total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) increased after 6 h. The concentration of serum total protein (TP) in the group I was significantly higher than that in other groups (P<0.05), while the concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and albumin (ALB) were significantly lower than that in other groups (P<0.05). The concentration of serum triglyceride (TG) in the group H was significantly higher than that in the group I (P<0.05), and the concentration of free fatty acid (NEFA) was significantly higher than that in other groups (P<0.05). The concentrations of serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and leptin (LEP) in the group M were significantly higher than those in other groups (P<0.05), the concentration of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was significantly higher than that in the group H (P<0.05), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significantly lower than that in other groups (P<0.05). The results showed that when NFC/NDF ratio was 1.02 in the corn straw diet mode, the rumen environment and the antioxidant level of mutton sheep could be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a hybrid Chebyshev pseudo-spectral finite-difference time-domain (CPS-FDTD) algorithm is proposed for simulating 2D acoustic wave propagation in heterogeneous media, which is different from the other traditional numerical schemes such as finite element and finite difference. This proposed hybrid method integrates the efficiency of the FDTD approach in the time domain and the high accuracy of the CPS technique in the spatial domain. We present the calculation formulas of this novel approach and conduct simulation experiments to test it. The biconjugate gradient is solved by combining the large symmetric sparse systems stabilized algorithm with an incomplete LU factorization. Three numerical experiments are further presented to illustrate the accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility of the hybrid CPS-FDTD algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the relationship between the yield of 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PDO) and the flux change of the Clostridium butyricum metabolic pathway, an optimized calculation method based on dynamic flux balance analysis was used by combining genome‐scale flux balance analysis with a kinetic model. A more comprehensive and extensive metabolic pathway was obtained by optimization calculations. The primary extended branches include: the dihydroxyacetone node, which enters the pentose phosphate pathway; the α‐oxoglutarate node, which has synthetic metabolic pathways for glutamic acid and amino acids; and the serine and homocysteine nodes, which produce cystathionine before homocysteine enters the methionine cycle pathway. According to the expanded metabolic network, the flux distribution of key nodes in the metabolic pathway and the relationship between the flux distribution ratio of nodes and the yield of 1,3‐PDO were analyzed. At the dihydroxyacetone node, the flux of dihydroxyacetone converted to dihydroxyacetone phosphate was positively correlated with the yield of 1,3‐PDO. As an important intermediate product, the flux change in the metabolic pathway of α‐oxoglutarate reacting with amino acids to produce glutamic acid is positively correlated with the yield. When pyruvate was used as the central node to convert into lactic acid and α‐oxoglutarate, the proportion of branch flux was negatively correlated with the yield of 1,3‐PDO. These studies provide a theoretical basis for the optimization and further study of the metabolic pathway of C. butyricum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial esophageal fistula (AEF) is a lethal complication that can occur post atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Esophageal injury (EI) is likely to be the initial lesion leading to AEF. Endoscopic examination is the gold standard for a diagnosis of EI but extensive endoscopic screening is invasive and costly. This study was conducted to determine whether fecal calprotectin (Fcal), a marker of inflammation throughout the intestinal tract, may be associated with the existence of esophageal injury. Methods: This diagnostic study was conducted in a cohort of 166 patients with symptomatic AF undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation from May 2020 to June 2021. Fcal tests were performed 1–7 days after ablation. All patients underwent endoscopic ultrasonography 1 or 2 days after ablation. Results: The levels of Fcal were significantly different between the EI and non‐EI groups (404.9 µg/g (IQR 129.6–723.6) vs. 40.4 µg/g (IQR 15.0–246.2), p <.001). Analysis of ROC curves revealed that a Fcal level of 125 µg/g might be the optimal cut‐off value for a diagnosis of EI, giving a 78.8% sensitivity and a 65.4% specificity. The negative predictive value of Fcal was 100% for ulcerated EI. Conclusions: The level of Fcal is associated with EI post AF catheter ablation. 125 µg/g might be the optimal cut‐off value for a diagnosis of EI. Negative Fcal could predict the absence of ulcerated EI, which could be considered a precursor to AEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the hierarchical normal and inverse gamma model, we calculate the Bayes posterior estimator of the variance parameter of the normal distribution under Stein's loss function which penalizes gross overestimation and gross underestimation equally and the corresponding Posterior Expected Stein's Loss (PESL). We also obtain the Bayes posterior estimator of the variance parameter under the squared error loss function and the corresponding PESL. Moreover, we obtain the empirical Bayes estimators of the variance parameter of the normal distribution with a conjugate inverse gamma prior by two methods. In numerical simulations, we have illustrated five aspects: The two inequalities of the Bayes posterior estimators and the PESLs; the moment estimators and the Maximum Likelihood Estimators (MLEs) are consistent estimators of the hyperparameters; the goodness-of-fit of the model to the simulated data; the numerical comparisons of the Bayes posterior estimators and the PESLs of the oracle, moment, and MLE methods; and the plots of the marginal densities for various hyperparameters. The numerical results indicate that the MLEs are better than the moment estimators when estimating the hyperparameters. Finally, we utilize the %bodyfat data of 250 men of various ages to illustrate our theoretical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]