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Source rocks of the Dongying Formation are widely distributed in the Bozhong Sag. It is of great significance to clarify the characteristics and paleoenvironment of the source rocks to promote conventional and unconventional oil and gas exploration in the Bozhong Sag. In this study, organic and inorganic geochemical experiments were carried out on the source rock samples collected from the Dongying Formation in the Bozhong Sag, with aims to analyze the quality and paleoenvironment and compare it with the Shahejie Formation. The results show that: ①the characteristics of source rocks in different layers of the Dongying Formation are significantly different from those in Es1-2.The abundance of organic matter in the lower and third members of the Dongying Formation (Ed2L and Ed3) is high and has reached the mature-high maturity stage. The organic matter of the Dongying Formation is mainly type Ⅱ. ②According to the Pr/nC17-Ph/nC18 charts, the source of organic matter in the Dongying Formation is mixed type, which is obviously different from the low algae of Es1-2.③The paleoenvironment during the formation of source rocks was analyzed by combining the contents or ratios of 16 elements, such as Sr/Cu, Mn/Fe, Pr/Ph and the gammacerane index. Different from the strong reduction-salinized lacustrine basin in the arid climate of Es1-2, the Dongying Formation was formed in a warm and humid climate, accompanied by strong terrigenous input, and controlled in a weakly oxidized freshwater environment. Longitudinally, the paleoclimate changes little from Ed3 to Ed1, and the water salinity is basically the same, but the water depth becomes shallower and the water oxidation conditions show a trend of increasing gradually.④Using Co and La contents to quantitatively restore the paleo-water depth during the deposition of the Dongying Formation, and suggests that Ed3 (50.4 m)>Ed2 (35.7 m)≈Es1-2(33.2 m)≈Ed1(31.7 m). The calculated results are consistent with the previous qualitative results of paleo-water depth.

With the rapid development of unconventional oil and gas resources, the demand for corresponding evaluation methods is increasing. At present, the evaluation methods for unconventional oil and gas resources are divided into analogy, statistical and genetic method. While constantly innovating evaluation methods, how to improve conventional methods and apply them to unconventional resource evaluation is also a focus and difficulty in current research. Taking a well as an unit and the EUR of the well as the unit's oil or gas reserves, a Pareto distribution model was established, and a program was compiled according to the principle of random sampling and skew sampling to analyze the sensitivity of number N, shape parameter and exploration coefficient E to the model. This method was applied to the shale oil resource evaluation in the X230 well block in Heshui area of Ordos Basin. Results show that the number of discoveries affects the size and dispersion of the parameters for oilfield distribution. The distribution model tends to be stable when the number is more than 300. Exploration coefficient has little influence on the sensitivity of distribution model, which is the limitation of taking EUR as evaluation unit. According to the variation of number N with shape parameter β, the number corresponding to cut-off point can be determined, that is, the sum of EUR of all wells is the recoverable resource of the area, which is 6.72×106 t. The result is consistent with the evaluation of oil and gas resource abundance. This method can provide guidance for unconventional oil and gas resources evaluation.

Biofilms enable bacterial cells to adhere and thrive on surfaces, with associated changes in growth and gene expression aiding their survival in challenging environments. While previous research has explored E. coli biofilm formation, there has been limited exploration of its application in industrial production. Prior studies have shown that immobilized fermentation can enhance L-threonine production. This study aims to augment biofilm formation and subsequently increase L-threonine production in E. coli by regulating the quorum sensing system, focusing on key AI-2-related genes, including luxS, lsrB, lsrK, and lsrR. In +pluxS and +plsrB strains, AI-2 levels were significantly altered, resulting in enhanced biofilm formation, increased curli expression, shorter free-cell fermentation periods, and improved production efficiency through immobilized continuous fermentation. In a single batch of free-cell fermentation with E. coli W1688, L-threonine production was 10.16 g/L. However, +pluxS and +plsrB strains achieved L-threonine yields of 15.27 g/L and 13.38 g/L, respectively, after seven fermentation batches. Additionally, the fermentation period was reduced from 36 h to 28 h and 30 h, respectively.

This study is aimed to delineate the subsurface structural elements using geophysical techniques in the Haraza area of Pakistan. We investigated the Oghi and Battal thrust faults, sedimentary and metasedimentary wedge, and the absolute crustal thickness based on terrestrial gravity data. Unlike seismic survey relying on wave propagation, magnetic survey is based on both attraction and repulsion, and electrical and electromagnetics on induction. The attractive gravity field produces relatively simpler patterns of anomalies, like a series of highs and lows over regions with undulating basements and buried structures. A qualitative interpretation of gravity data reveals a good deal of information. During the collision of Indian and Eurasian Plates, compressional structures were developed in the Lesser Himalayas or northwest of the Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis. The study mainly focuses on the western limb of the Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis. The regional and local Bouguer anomalies were incorporated to delineate the regional structural units. The gravity model is computed through geophysical technique along with profile A-A' from Mansehra to the Battal area that demarcates the blind Oghi Thrust and emergent Battal Thrust. Tanol Formation of Precambrian age demarcates the Oghi Thrust near Kotli Pine while the Battal Thrust is demarcated within the Mansehra Granite of Cambrian to Ordovician age near Battal. Along with the Battal Thrust, fault gouge and breccias have been observed during the field studies. The total thickness of the sedimentary/metasedimentary wedge in the Mansehra and Battal areas was estimated to be 13.6 km and 14.2 km. In comparison, the total thickness of crust in the Mansehra and Battal areas was 51.6 km and 52.2 km, respectively.

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli biofilm may form naturally on biotic and abiotic surfaces; this represents a promising approach for efficient biochemical production in industrial fermentation. Recently, industrial exploitation of the advantages of optogenetics, such as simple operation, high spatiotemporal control, and programmability, for regulation of biofilm formation has garnered considerable attention. In this study, we used the blue light signaling-induced optogenetic system Magnet in an E. coli biofilm-based immobilized fermentation system to produce l-threonine in sufficient quantity. Blue light signaling significantly affected the phenotype of E. coli W1688. A series of biofilm-related experiments confirmed the inhibitory effect of blue light signaling on E. coli W1688 biofilm. Subsequently, a strain lacking a blue light-sensing protein (YcgF) was constructed via genetic engineering, which substantially reduced the inhibitory effect of blue light signaling on biofilm. A high-efficiency biofilm-forming system, Magnet, was constructed, which enhanced bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation. Furthermore, l-threonine production was increased from 10.12 to 16.57 g/L during immobilized fermentation, and the fermentation period was shortened by 6 h. IMPORTANCE We confirmed the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of blue light signaling on E. coli biofilm formation and constructed a strain lacking a blue light-sensing protein; this mitigated the aforementioned effects of blue light signaling and ensured normal fermentation performance. Furthermore, this study elucidated that the blue light signaling-induced optogenetic system Magnet effectively regulates E. coli biofilm formation and contributes to l-threonine production. This study not only enriches the mechanism of blue light signaling to regulate E. coli biofilm formation but also provides a theoretical basis and feasibility reference for the application of optogenetics technology in biofilm-based immobilized fermentation systems.

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered type of cell death triggered by intracellular phospholipid peroxidation that is morphologically, biologically and genetically distinct from other types of cell death. Ferroptosis is classified as regulated necrosis and is more immunogenic than apoptosis. To date, compelling evidence indicates that ferroptosis plays an important role in inflammation, and several antioxidants functioning as ferroptosis inhibitors have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects in experimental models of certain diseases. Our review provides an overview of the link between ferroptosis and inflammation; a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis and inflammation may hasten the development of promising therapeutic strategies involving ferroptosis inhibitors to address inflammation.

Working stress is an important indicator reflecting the health status of structures. Passive-monitoring technology using the piezoelectric effect can effectively monitor the dynamic stress of structures. However, under static loads, the charge generated by the piezoelectric devices can only be preserved when the external circuit impedance is infinitely large, which means passive-monitoring techniques are unable to monitor static and quasi-static stress caused by slow-changing actions. In current studies, experimental observations have shown that the impedance characteristics of piezoelectric devices are affected by external static loads, yet the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately explained. This is because the impedance characteristics of piezoelectric devices are actually dynamic characteristics under alternating voltage. Most existing impedance analysis models are based on linear elastic dynamics. Within this framework, the impact of static stress on dynamic characteristics, including impedance characteristics, cannot be addressed. Accounting for static stress in impedance modeling is a challenging problem. In this study, the static stress applied on an embedded piezoelectric plate is abstracted as the initial stress of the piezoelectric plate. Based on nonlinear elastic dynamic governing equations, using the displacement method, an impedance analysis model of an embedded piezoelectric plate considering initial stress is established and verified through a fundamental experiment and a finite element analysis. Based on this, the explicit analytical relation between initial stress and impedance characterizations is provided, the mechanism of the effect of initial stress on the impedance characterizations is revealed, and procedures to identify static stress using impedance characterizations is proposed. Moreover, the sensitivities of the impedance characterizations in response to the initial stress are thoroughly discussed. This study mainly provides a theoretical basis for monitoring static stress using the electromechanical impedance of an embedded piezoelectric plate. And the results of the present study can help with the performance prediction and design optimization of piezoelectric-based static stress sensors.

In the current electromechanical model of cantilevered piezoelectric energy harvesters, the assumption of uniform electric field strength within the piezoelectric layer is commonly made. This uniform electric field assumption seems reasonable since the piezoelectric layer looks like a parallel-plate capacitor. However, for a piezoelectric bender, the strain distribution along the thickness direction is not uniform, which means the internal electric field generated by the spontaneous polarization cannot be uniform. In the present study, a non-uniform electric field in the piezoelectric layer is resolved using electrostatic equilibrium equations. Based on these, the traditional distributed parameter electromechanical model is corrected and simplified to a practical single mode one. Compared with a traditional model adopting a uniform electric field, the bending stiffness term involved in the electromechanical governing equations is explicitly corrected. Through comparisons of predicted power output with two-dimensional finite element analysis, the results show that the present model can better predict the power output performance compared with the traditional model. It is found that the relative corrections to traditional model have nothing to do with the absolute dimensions of the harvesters, but only relate to three dimensionless parameters, i.e., the ratio of the elastic layer’s to the piezoelectric layer’s thickness; the ratio of the elastic modulus of the elastic layer to the piezoelectric layer; and the piezoelectric materials’ electromechanical coupling coefficient squared, k312. It is also found that the upper-limit relative corrections are only related to k312, i.e., the higher k312 is, the larger the upper-limit relative corrections will be. For a PZT-5 unimorph harvester, the relative corrections of bending stiffness and corresponding resonant frequency are up to 17.8% and 8.5%, respectively. An inverse problem to identify the material parameters based on experimentally obtained power output performance is also investigated. The results show that the accuracy of material parameters identification is improved when considering a non-uniform electric field.

Based on the discrepancy–maladaptive hypothesis and general strain theory, in this study, we examined two key aspects: first, the mediating role of self-control in the relationship between parent–adolescent discrepancies in positive parenting and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems, and second, variations in problem behavior among subgroups with different parent–adolescent dyads reporting patterns. The participants were 349 intact Chinese families, with parents as the primary caregivers and teenagers aged 15–18 years who are attending secondary vocational schools. The results revealed that adolescents generally perceived lower levels of caring and behavioral control than parents. Compared to behavioral control, discrepancies in perceived levels of caring had more significant predicting levels of internalizing and externalizing problems, and the relationship between discrepancies of caring and internalizing and externalizing problems was mediated by self-control. Latent profile analysis revealed three parent–adolescent responding patterns (subgroups); compared to the other subgroups, only the subgroup characterized by adolescents perceiving lower caring and behavioral control than parents exhibited higher levels of internalizing and externalizing problems. The findings of this study provide insights on how parent–adolescent discrepancies may lead to adolescent problem behaviors and highlight the importance of self-control as a mediating mechanism.

Studies have shown that book reading intervention may scaffold children's language development. However, whether book reading interventions are equally effective for children's cognitive development in a Chinese rural school setting remains to be explored. We conducted a four-month book reading intervention to address these issues in rural Chinese areas. A total of three hundred twenty-one children aged between 2.56 and 6.47 years (M = 4.66 ages, SD = 0.80) were assigned to three groups as follows: (a) control group without donated picture books; (b) active reading control group with donated picture books; and (c) intervention group with a 4-month instructed picture book reading intervention. The findings indicate that the available books could produce significant positive changes in the development of receptive language (F(1,191) = 14.46, p < 0.01) and inhibitory control (F(1,190) = 7.64, p = 0.01) of rural children. However, a 4-month intervention was noneffective at boosting participants' performance on these tasks (F(1,203) = 0.07~2.73, p > 0.10). The results discussed the possible explanations, implications for behavioral intervention researchers, and suggestions for social service organizations or public institutions.

Objective: To compare the positive rate and average time for slide reading of fluorescent staining versus KOH wet-mount microscopy in the diagnosis of different types of tinea pedis. Methods: Specimens were collected from 118 cases of blister scaly type tinea pedis, 104 cases of cornification excess type tinea pedis and 78 cases of soak erosion type tinea pedis. These specimens were subjected to fluorescent staining and KOH wet mount separately, followed by KOH wet-mount microscopy. The positive rate and average time for slide reading were compared between the two methods. Results: The background of fluorescent staining method was relatively clean, and the fungi was clearly identifiable, while the background of KOH wet-mount method was messy and it was difficult to identify fungi. In three different types of tinea pedis, the positive rates were 91.53%, 75.96% and 98.72%, respectively using fluorescent staining method, while the positive rates were 80.51%, 47.12% and 97.44%, respectively when KOH wet mount was used. The positive rates for blister scaly type tinea pedis and cornification excess type tinea pedis were significantly different between the two methods(χ2=5.33, 20.45 respectively, both P

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Before dapoxetine was approved for the treatment of lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE) in China, daily dosing with off-label sertraline was common. Aim: To investigate the efficacy of dapoxetine in the treatment of patients with LPE as an alternative to sertraline therapy. Methods: This prospective study included LPE patients who previously attempted treatment with sertraline and who agree to receive dapoxetine therapy in our hospital from January 2020 to March 2021. Patients who received any PE therapy in the two months prior to the dapoxetine therapy were excluded. All patients received dapoxetine 30 mg (taken 1–3 hours before sexual intercourse) for 12 weeks, and they were not taking sertraline during the trial. Main Outcome Measure: Data on their intravaginal ejaculatory latency time and premature ejaculation profile were recorded before and after the dapoxetine treatment. Clinical Global Impression of Change scores and data on Treatment-Emergent adverse events were collected after treatment. Results: A total of 144 patients with LPE completed this study; including 64 patients who reported that previous sertraline treatment was satisfactory (group A) and 80 patients for whom previous sertraline therapy was unsatisfactory in treating PE (group B). Both groups experienced significantly increased intravaginal ejaculatory latency time. Dapoxetine therapy was reported satisfactory by 67.5% of patients with LPE in whom sertraline therapy unsatisfactory according to their Clinical Global Impression of Change score, which was not different from those who reported this result in group A (62.5%). Similar outcomes were also reported for premature ejaculation profile and treatment-emergent adverse events. Conclusion: : Although both dapoxetine and sertraline are selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, dapoxetine therapy is satisfactory in 67.5% of patients with LPE in whom sertraline treatment unsatisfactory, and the effect of dapoxetine was independent of the effect of sertraline.Liu G, Yin Y, Zhang L. et al., Efficacy of Dapoxetine in the Treatment of Patients With Lifelong Premature Ejaculation as an Alternative to Sertraline Therapy. Sex Med 2021;10:100473.

Objective This study was performed to analyze the correlation between perioperative hidden blood loss (HBL) and the general condition of patients undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent TLIF from July 2017 to July 2019 in our hospital. Sex, age, body mass index, underlying diseases, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, coagulation function, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin level and hematocrit, surgery time, fusion level, intraoperative blood loss, and drainage volume were recorded. Postoperative complications were also recorded. The amount of HBL was calculated, and its correlation with related variables was analyzed. Results The mean surgery time was 153.32 ± 54.86 minutes. The total perioperative blood loss was 789.22 ± 499.68 mL, including HBL of 315.69 ± 199.87 mL. Pearson correlation analysis showed statistically significant differences in HBL according to the body mass index, hypertension, fibrinogen, surgery time, and fusion level. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the surgery time and fusion level were independent risk factors for HBL. Conclusions A certain amount of HBL occurs in TLIF surgery and cannot be ignored in daily clinical work. The operation time and surgery level are independent risk factors for HBL.

To solve the problem of low efficiency and poor effect of the current tone mapping methods for the high dynamic range images, the authors propose a hierarchical tone mapping algorithm based on colour appearance model. The discrete Gaussian kernel is used to speed up the bilateral filter. The operation of tone compression in RGB colour space is adopted to correct the colour casts. The extreme values of the pixels are also adjusted in the detail layer. Moreover, after the tone mapping, the colour saturation is enhanced in the image regions of rich details and sharp edges. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm with less computational cost reduces the halo effect significantly, and achieves the natural colour and the rich details. It outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art methods in terms of visual quality and objective indicators.