Search

ObjectiveArgatroban is a highly promising drug for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), but there is currently insufficient strong evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of using Argatroban in the treatment of AIS. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Argatroban in the treatment of AIS.MethodsArticles on PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library databases were searched from these websites’ inceptions to 2th February 2023. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies on Argatroban therapy for acute ischemic stroke were included. Meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model.ResultsFourteen studies involving 10,315 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed a significant reduction in the rate of early neurological deterioration (END) in the Argatroban group compared with the control group (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.31–0.73, I2 = 15.17%). The rates of adverse events were no significant difference between the two groups (ICH: OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.68–1.51, I2 = 0.00%; major extracranial bleeding: OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01–1.48, I2 = 0.00%; mortality: OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.84–1.59, I2 = 0.00%). However, the rates of mRS score of 0–1 (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 0.71–2.67, I2 = 77.56%) and mRS score of 0–2 (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.98–1.42, I2 = 0.00%) during the 90 days did not significantly improved in the Argatroban group. Subgroup analyses showed that the rate of END (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.26–0.65, I2 = 2.77%) and mRS score of 0–2 (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.06–1.81, I2 = 0.00%) had significantly improved when the intervention group adopted Argatroban plus Antiplatelet.ConclusionArgatroban can improve neurological deterioration, with a low incidence of adverse events such as bleeding and death, and general analysis showed no improvement in mRS. However, subgroup analysis suggests that compared to mono-antiplatelet therapy, combination therapy of Argatroban combined with antiplatelet therapy significantly reduced the incidence of END and improved mRS scores. After using Argatroban, there was no increase in the risk and mortality of intracranial hemorrhage and other bleeding sites.

Using proprietary data on nonperforming loan (NPL) transactions in China, we document that banks conceal NPLs in disposal transactions that are supposed to resolve NPLs. In these transactions, banks provide financing and retain the credit risks and debt collection obligations. Transaction prices contradict underlying credit risks: Despite being delinquent for 4.5 years, the median NPL package is sold at face value with zero haircut. The majority of NPL packages are resold at a premium to banks' non–government-owned borrowers, further supporting the concealment view. Banks under stricter regulation conceal NPLs more and engage in more illicit concealment. NPL-concealing banks increase zombie lending, suggesting that an ineffective resolution exacerbates credit misallocation. Recognizing the hidden NPLs implies the total NPLs in China is two to three times the reported amount. This paper was accepted by Victoria Ivashina, finance. Funding: B. Charoenwong acknowledges financial support from the Singapore Ministry of Education [AcRF Tier 1 Research Grant A-8000760-00-00]. T. Ruan acknowledges financial support from the National University of Singapore (NUS) [Start-Up Grant A-0003870-00-00]. B. Charoenwong and T. Ruan acknowledge financial support from the NUS Business School Financial Database [Grant N-311-000-251-001]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.02163. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Various factors controlling the accumulation of natural gas hydrates (NGHs) form various enrichment and accumulation modes through organic combination. This study mainly analyzes the geological and geophysical characteristics of the NGHs occurrence in the uplifts and their slope zones within the deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan (QDN) Basin (also referred to as the study area). Furthermore, it investigates the dominant governing factors and models of NGHs migration and accumulation in the study area. The results are as follows. (1) The uplifts and their slope zones in the study area lie in the dominant pressure-relief direction of fluids in central hydrocarbon-rich sags in the area, which provide sufficient gas sources for the NGHs accumulation and enrichment through pathways such as gas chimneys and faults. (2) The top and flanks of gas chimneys below the bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) show high-amplitude seismic reflections and pronounced transverse charging of free gas, indicating the occurrence of a large amount of gas accumulation at the heights of the uplifts. (3) Chimneys, faults, and high-porosity and high-permeability strata, which connect the gas hydrate temperature-pressure stability zones (GHSZs) with thermogenic gas and biogenic gas, form the main hydrate migration system. (4) The reservoir system in the study area comprises sedimentary interlayers consisting of mass transport deposits (MTDs) and turbidites. In addition, the reservoir system has developed fissure- and pore-filling types of hydrates in the pathways. The above well-matched controlling factors of hydrate accumulation enable the uplifts and their slope zones in the study area to become the favorable targets of NGHs exploration.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.

Star navigation technology can effectively improve the autonomous navigation ability of near space high-speed vehicle. The star navigation of high-speed vehicle is disturbed by the high-temperature gas emission in the flow-field. In order to realize effective star observation, it is necessary to study the radiation characteristics of high-temperature gas in tail flow-field, and install the star sensor at the position where the high-temperature gas emission is weak, that is, select the stargazing window. In this paper, the high-temperature and high-speed flow field and its optical radiation characteristics are calculated by numerical simulation method. Based on the characteristics of the flow field in the tail of high-speed vehicle, the radiation characteristics of high-temperature gas in the visible light band are analyzed, the distribution law of the radiance in the tail flow field of vehicle is revealed, and the optimal stargazing direction is selected, which provides a strong support for the stargazing scheme design of high-speed vehicle. The results show that the most suitable stargazing window is not the leeward area, but near the horizontal position of the vehicle.

The Landau-Zener formula is a semiclassical model describing nonadiabatic transitions, but its range of validity in approaching the adiabatic regime had not been verified. The authors investigate electron transfer reactions in a series of mixed-valence complexes spanning the nonadiabatic throughout the adiabatic limit, and show that the model is valid in a broader range of conditions than previously expected.

The nervous system of the silkworm is vital for the development of organisms. It achieves and maintains normal life activities by regulating the function of the organs and all kinds of physiological processes in the silkworm. BmApontic (BmApt), as an important bZIP transcription factor, is required for the formation of pigmentation in the silkworm. However, the function of BmApt in the development of the nervous system of the silkworm remains unclear. Here, we showed that amino acid sequence of BmApt was evolutionarily conserved in its Myb/SANT motif and basic DNA binding domain. BmApt was expressed in the nervous system at the embryonic stage. Knockdown of Bmapt by RNA interference resulted in abnormal development of axons. Moreover, the expression of BmnetrinA, BmnetrinB and Bmfrazzled was decreased in the Bmapt knockdown embryos. These results demonstrate that BmApt controls neurodevelopment by activating the expression of Bmnetrin and Bmfrazzled.

To broaden the application of magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) in thermal insulation materials, lightly burned magnesia powder and magnesium chloride hexahydrate were used as the main raw materials of cement and a chemical foaming method was used to prepare a magnesium oxychloride cement foam concrete (MOCFC) with fast hardness and early strength. By changing the molar ratio (M) of the MOCFC and adding different dosages of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), fly ash (FA), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) and other admixtures, while measuring and observing the compressive strength and flexural strength at 3, 7, and 28 days, the thermal conductivity, dry apparent density, volume water absorption, softening coefficient, and other parameters, combined with its hydration phase composition and microscopic appearance, the effect of the molar ratio and the admixtures on the properties of MOCFC were studied. The results show that with an increase in the molar ratio and the dosage of H₂O₂, FA and KDP, the internal pore structure of the slurry changes significantly, which affects its mechanical properties, water resistance, and thermal insulation performance.

ABSTRACT: Bottom simulating reflector (BSR) has been recognized as one of the indicators of gas hydrates. However, BSR and hydrate are not one-to-one correspondence. In the Xisha area of South China Sea (SCS), carbonate rocks wildly develop, which continuously distribute parallel to the seafloor with high amplitude on seismic sections, exhibiting reflections similar to BSRs in the Shenhu area nearby. This phenomenon causes some interference to hydrates identification. In this paper, the authors discussed the typical geophysical differences between carbonate rocks and hydrates, indicating that the main difference exists in relationship between porosity and velocity, causing different amplitude versus offset (AVO) characters. Then the authors proposed a new model assuming that the carbonates form the matrix and the hydrate fill the pore as a part of the matrix. The key modeling parameters have been optimized constrained by P-velocities and S-velocities simultaneously, and the model works well both for carbonate rock and gas hydrate bearing sediments. For quantitative identification, the authors calculated the velocities when carbonates and hydrates form the matrix together in different proportions. Then they proposed a carbonate and hydrate identification template (CHIT), in which the possible hydrate saturation (PHS) and possible carbonate content (PCC) can be both scaled out for a group of sample composed by P-velocity and S-velocity. If PHS is far larger than PCC, it is more likely to be a hydrate sample because carbonates and hydrates do not coexist normally. The real data application shows that the template can effectively distinguish between hydrates and carbonate rocks, consequently reducing the risk of hydrate exploration.