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Abstract Previous studies highlighting the pivotal function of the S100A8 protein have shown that inflammation and vascular endothelial harm play a major role in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) development, as evidenced by earlier studies highlighting the pivotal function of the S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8). Therefore, we aimed to establish a connection between S100A8 and DVT and investigate the role of S100A8 in DVT development. Blood specimens were taken from 23 patients with DVT and 31 controls. The fluctuation and association for S100A8 and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the specimens was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also used the human recombinant protein S100A8 to activate human umbilical vein endothelial cells and created a rat model to explore the possible relationship between them. Studies have shown that the infiltration of S100A8 sustains local inflammation and thrombus formation, which may exacerbate DVT by amplifying NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β signals in the vascular endothelial cells.

IntroductionUnder the impacts of high intensity human activities, mangrove natural protected areas are pivotal strategies for biodiversity conservation and play a significant role in preserving bird diversity. Mangrove natural protected areas in Guangdong Province, China, lie along the migratory path of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, serving as breeding, feeding, and resting grounds for birds. Variations in bird responses to environmental factors are significant.MethodsTo comprehensively understand these variances, redundancy analysis was employed, focusing on bird diversity surveys conducted from March 2022 to February 2023 in natural protected areas of Guangdong to examine how driving factors such as mangrove habitat landscape, community structure, water quality, and soil sedimentation affected the diversity of avian species.ResultsThe findings were as follows: (1) A total of 193 bird species spanning 17 orders and 53 families were documented, including 74 songbirds, 60 wading birds, 27 swimming birds, 17 climbing birds, 10 raptors, and 5 terrestrial birds. (2) Regarding the impact of simple effects on all bird species, aquaculture pond area, mangrove extent, and mudflat area emerged as significant factors driving bird diversity, with explanatory rates of 31.0%, 28.9%, and 20.3%, respectively. Notably, the aquaculture pond area was the main driver of bird diversity, with an explanatory rate of 31.0%. (3) Mangrove extent has emerged as a pivotal factor shaping the songbird diversity, climbing birds, raptors, and terrestrial birds, whereas the aquaculture pond area was pivotal for wading birds, swimming birds, and others.DiscussionTo enhance mangrove bird diversity protection, management agencies overseeing natural mangrove protected areas should adopt science-based approaches when managing mangrove, mudflats, and aquaculture pond areas in mangrove forest protection and restoration plans. This would prevent extensive mangrove planting, which encroaches on non-mangrove habitats. Additionally, the scientific management of aquaculture ponds should accommodate diverse bird habitats through measures, such as water level adjustments.

Abstract Background Expanding the number of biomarkers is imperative for studying the etiology and improving venous thromboembolism prediction. In this study, we aimed to identify promising biomarkers or targeted therapies to improve the detection accuracy of early-stage deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or reduce complications. Methods Quantibody Human Cytokine Antibody Array 440 (QAH-CAA-440) was used to screen novel serum-based biomarkers for DVT/non-lower extremity DVT (NDVT). Differentially expressed proteins in DVT were analyzed using bioinformatics methods and validated using a customized array. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated using receiver operating characteristics, and machine learning was applied to establish a biomarker model for evaluating the identified targets. Twelve targets were selected for validation. Results Cytokine profiling was conducted using a QAH-CAA-440 (RayBiotech, USA) quantimeter array. Cross-tabulation analysis with Venn diagrams identified common differential factors, leading to the selection of 12 cytokines for validation based on their clinical significance. These 12 biomarkers were consistent with the results of previous array analysis: FGF-6 (AUC = 0.956), Galectin-3 (AUC = 0.942), EDA-A2 (AUC = 0.933), CHI3L1 (AUC = 0.911), IL-1 F9 (AUC = 0.898), Dkk-4 (AUC = 0.88), IG-H3 (AUC = 0.876), IGFBP (AUC = 0.858), Gas-1 (AUC = 0.858), Layilin (AUC = 0.849), ULBP-2 (AUC = 0.813)and FGF-9 (AUC = 0.773). These cytokines are expected to serve as biomarkers, targets, or therapeutic targets to differentiate DVT from NDVT. Conclusions EDA-A2, FGF-6, Dkk-4, IL-1 F9, Galentin-3, Layilin, Big-h3, CHI3L1, ULBP-2, Gas-1, IGFBP-5, and FGF-9 are promising targets for DVT diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract Herein, we aimed to identify blood biomarkers that compensate for the poor specificity of D-dimer in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). S100A8 was identified by conducting protein microarray analysis of blood samples from patients with and without DVT. We used ELISA to detect S100A8, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 expression levels in human blood and evaluated their correlations. Additionally, we employed human recombinant protein S100A8 to induce human umbilical vein endothelial cells and examined the role of the TLR4/MAPK/VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 signaling axes in the pathogenic mechanism of S100A8. Simultaneously, we constructed a rat model of thrombosis induced by inferior vena cava stenosis and detected levels of S100A8, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in the blood of DVT rats using ELISA. The associations of thrombus tissue, neutrophils, and CD68-positive cells with S100A8 and p38MAPK, TLR4, and VCAM-1 expression levels in vein walls were explored. The results revealed that blood S100A8 was significantly upregulated during the acute phase of DVT and activated p38MAPK expression by combining with TLR4 to enhance the expression and secretion of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, thereby affecting the occurrence and development of DVT. Therefore, S100A8 could be a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and screening of DVT.

IntroductionMultiple factors, including human disturbance and environmental change, have caused a significant global mangrove resource loss. Therefore, the Chinese government has restructured mangrove habitats and restored the ecosystem functionality through establishing naturally protected mangrove areas. Despite efforts spanning several years, over 90% of mangrove forests in China have been now integrated into the natural protected area system, with the health status and influencing factors of mangrove ecosystem remaining a pertinent subject for further exploration. Given the intricacies of mangrove ecosystems with complex nonlinear relationships among evaluation factors, it is imperative to adopt scientific methodologies to assess their health status.MethodsTo illustrate this, we conducted a mangrove ecosystem health assessment of natural protected areas of Guangdong Province, China. By employing a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and establishing an index system for mangrove ecosystem health assessment.ResultsThe results revealed the following findings. (1) Various factors exert differing degrees of influence on mangrove ecosystem health. Notably, the mangrove habitat pattern (weight 47.95%), bird diversity (weight 20.97%), mangrove community (weight 14.31%), water environment (weight 11.76%), and soil sedimentary environment (weight 5.01%) were identified. (2) Overall, the mangrove ecosystem within protected areas of Guangdong exhibited unhealthy signs. There were 4 healthy protected areas (20.00%), 4 areas classified as sub-healthy (20.00%), and 12 were deemed unhealthy (60.00%). (3) Key factors contributing to the compromised health of mangrove ecosystems included the homogenization of mangrove plants, decreased habitat diversity, and exogenous pollution.DiscussionBy planting local mangrove species, scientifically managing the ratio of mangrove cover area to mudflat area, and controlling pollution sources and treating pollutants, the structure of the mangrove ecosystem can be optimized, and the quality of mangrove forest can be improved. These findings can enhance mangrove ecosystem management practices, assist mangrove natural reserve managers in performing targeted mangrove ecological protection and restoration, promote effective management, and contribute to the realization of “harmonious symbiosis” between humanity and nature within mangrove ecosystems.

Abstract The coupling capacitance between the line and the transducer cannot be ignored when making non‐contact voltage measurements on low‐voltage three‐phase power lines. This leads to an increase in the number of unknown capacitances, and the number of correlatable response voltage equations is less than the number of unknown coupling capacitances. In this paper, a simplified decoupling method is proposed based on the characteristics of triangular three‐phase lines erected in distribution areas. Firstly, the equivalent circuit measured by the voltage sensing mechanism during three‐phase operation is established, and the three‐phase line response voltage equation is derived. Secondly, this paper proposes a three‐phase line response voltage decoupling algorithm after designing the decoupling matrix. Then, this paper uses the least squares method to solve the coefficients in the equations. Finally, the three‐phase voltage fluctuations of the actual low‐voltage stations are simulated by simulation. The measured sensor voltage values are substituted into the algorithm to invert and calculate the three‐phase line voltage. The three‐phase phase error is less than 2°. The amplitude error is less than 1.77%. The experiment verifies the stability and accuracy of the proposed decoupling method.

The escalating demand for free-form buildings presents a formidable technological hurdle in the realm of prefabrication manufacturing and assembly. This research draws inspiration from recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) and seeks to harness their transformative potential in tandem with Building Information Modeling (BIM) to advance the Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) method. The ultimate aim is to catapult the prefabrication industry into an era characterized by unparalleled design freedom and heightened efficiency. The research includes contributions from the following four areas: (1) A review of the literature on DfMA theories, specifically fabrication and construction. (2) The development of a BIM-based DfMA method framework, including the methodological basis, Design for Manufacturing (DfM), and Design for Assembly (DfA). (3) A pipeline for LLMs driven BIM-based DfMA method framework and a validation using the Decathlon Solar Team design-build practice at the University of Washington’s Lotus House. (4) An evaluation of 692 conversation scenarios to verify the feasibility of our proposal. We get a 91.1% user agreement on average based on GPT4. The research results could guide the workflow in building a lifecycle for DfMA practices in the future smart manufacturing era.

This study presents a novel Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) method using Smart Black Nanocards (SLNs) to mitigate the environmental impact of conventional thermal recovery, especially under global warming. Unlike prior studies focusing on wettability alteration via adsorption, this research innovatively models ‘oil film detachment’ in a reservoir simulator to achieve wettability alteration. Using the CMG-STARS (2020) simulator, this study highlights SLNs’ superior performance over traditional chemical EOR and spherical nanoparticles by reducing residual oil saturation and shifting wettability toward water-wet conditions. The structural disjoining pressure (SDP) of SLNs reaches 20.99 × 103 Pa, 16.5 times higher than spherical particles with an 18.5 nm diameter. Supported by the Percus–Yevick (PY) theory, the numerical model achieves high accuracy in production history matching, with oil recovery and water cut fitting within precision error ranges of 0.02 and 0.05, respectively. This research advances chemical EOR technologies and offers an environmentally sustainable, efficient recovery strategy for low-permeability and heavy oil reservoirs, serving as a promising alternative to thermal methods.

With the development and application of power electronic devices in distribution stations, the power grid has frequent broadband oscillations, with characteristics such as a wide frequency range and multiple modal components, etc. However, the existing signal estimation methods cannot provide accurate parameter information due to ignoring the dynamic changes and failing to reduce the interference. Therefore, this paper proposes a broadband signal analysis method considering fundamental wave dynamics and reducing interference to achieve high-precision identification of signal parameters and provide data for applications such as wide-frequency oscillation analysis and improving power quality issues. Firstly, the variational modal decomposition extracts the waveform information of various components and the corresponding frequencies. Secondly, correct the centre frequencies and make them filter frequencies. Finally, based on the least square method, parameter estimation of broadband signals is achieved. The performance of the algorithm is verified under the situations of frequency ramp change, frequency dynamic modulation, noise, etc. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can estimate the parameter information of broadband signal accurately and keep the total vector error less than 3%.

Lower-phase microemulsions with core-shell structure were prepared by microemulsion dilution method. The high temperature resistant systems were screened and the performance evaluation experiments were conducted to clarify the spontaneous imbibition mechanisms in ultra-low permeability and tight oil reservoirs, and to direct the field microfracture huff and puff test of oil well. The microemulsion system (O-ME) with cationic-nonionic surfactant as hydrophilic shell, No.3 white oil as oil phase core has the highest imbibition recovery; its spontaneous imbibition mechanisms include: the ultra-low interfacial tension and wettability reversal significantly reduce oil adhesion work to improve oil displacement efficiency, the nanoscale “core-shell structure” formed can easily enter micro-nano pores and throats to expand the swept volume, in addition, the remarkable effect of dispersing and solubilizing crude oil can improve the mobility of crude oil. Based on the experimental results, a microfracture huff and puff test of O-ME was carried out in Well YBD43-X506 of Shengli Oilfield. After being treated, the well had a significant increase of daily fluid production to 5 tons from 1.4 tons, and an increase of daily oil production to 2.7 tons from 1.0 ton before treatment.

The LD oilfield is one of the representative offshore oilfields. After weak gel flooding, the recovery rate is significantly improved. However, the oilfield is then in a medium- to high-water content stage, presenting a complex distribution of the remaining oil. The measures for further enhanced oil recovery (EOR) are uncertain. As a result, it is necessary to clarify the distribution pattern and development potential of the remaining oil during the high-water content period after weak gel flooding. In this study, an online nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) oil displacement experiment and microscopic oil displacement experiment were conducted, and the mechanisms of weak gel flooding and the distribution pattern of the remaining oil were clarified in the LD oilfield. Additionally, high-multiple water flooding and numerical simulation experiments were conducted to analyze the development potential after weak gel flooding. The results show that the effect of weak gel flooding was more significant in the core of 1500 mD, with an increase in oil recovery of 9% compared to 500 mD. At a permeability of 500 mD, the degree of crude oil mobilization in micropores and small pores caused by weak gel flooding was improved by 29.64% and 23.48%, respectively, compared with water flooding. At 1500 mD, the degree of crude oil mobilization in small pores caused by weak gel flooding was increased by 37.79% compared to water flooding. After weak gel flooding, the remaining oil was primarily distributed in medium and large pores. Microscopically, the remaining oil was dominated by cluster residual oil, accounting for 16.49%, followed by columnar, membranous, and blind-end residual oil. High multiple water flooding experiments demonstrated that weak gel flooding could significantly reduce development time. The ultimate oil recovery efficiency of 500 mD and 1500 mD reached 71.85% and 80.69%, respectively. Numerical simulation results show that the ultimate oil recovery efficiency increased from 62.04% to 71.3% after weak gel flooding. This indicated that the LD oilfield still had certain development potential after weak gel flooding. The subsequent direction for enhanced oil recovery focuses mainly on mobilizing oil in medium pores or clustered remaining oil. This will play a crucial role in further exploring methods for utilizing the remaining oil and increasing the recovery rate.

A well-to-well interplay of CO2 huff-n-puff is proposed as a novel gas injection strategy for displacing interwell-remaining oil in a well pair in an inclined oil reservoir. The well-to-well interplay mechanisms for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) are first studied in the laboratory using a three-dimensional (3D) physical model. Different CO2 injection schemes are designed according to different well locations, and the production performance including oil, water, and gas rates is used for the EOR evaluation. A sensitivity analysis of the well-to-well interplay is then studied using a numerical model, and geological, developmental and fluidic factors are considered in the simulations. The experimental results show that, when CO2 is injected into a lower well, a higher well always benefits with an oil increment. Under the effects of gravity segregation and edge-water driving, the injected CO2 at the lower position can move upward to a higher position, where a large proportion of crude oil remains between wells after natural edge-water flooding. Oil recovery from the well-to-well interplay is 2.30% higher than conventional CO2 huff-n-puff in the laboratory. Numerical results show that CO2 injection mass, stratigraphic dip, horizontal permeability, and interwell spacing are the factors that most influence the well-to-well interplay; an application criterion for the well-to-well interplay is then proposed based on the simulations. Pilot tests using the well-to-well interplay of CO2 huff-n-puff have been widely applied in C2-1 Block, Jidong Oilfield, China, since 2010. A total of 2.27 × 104 m3 crude oil was recovered to the end of 2018, and the oil/CO2 exchange ratio was as high as 3.92. The well-to-well interplay not only effectively extracted the interwell-remaining oil but also achieved higher CO2 utilization efficiency. The findings of this study can lead to a better understanding of the EOR mechanisms used in the well-to-well interplay during the CO2 huff-n-puff process in an inclined oil reservoir.

Rapid urbanization has intensified habitat fragmentation and shrinkage of waterbirds, threatening the sustainable development of waterbird diversity. Urban waterbird restoration can be achieved by considering suburban waterbirds as the source of restoration of urban waterbird diversity and by overcoming the separation between urban and suburban populations. Optimal design of ecological corridors is the most effective approach to facilitate movement of waterbirds. However, three challenges to applying ecological corridors to urban waterbird diversity restoration remain: (1)identifying focal species for the ecological corridor network; (2)identifying nodes in the ecological corridor; (3) assigning priority for design of the different areas in the corridor. The aim of this study was to develop methods to resolve these challenges using the design of a waterbird ecological corridor in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in Southern China as a case study. Under the proposed methods, it is hoped that waterbird recovery will occur in the city, characterized by a complex three-dimensional space, thereby promoting an increase in urban waterbird diversity.

Background: The role of rivaroxaban in patients with heart failure (HF) combined with left ventricular (LV) thrombus remains unknown in current guideline-directed anticoagulant therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact on clinical outcomes of rivaroxaban compared to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in patients with HF combined with LV thrombus.Methods: We retrospectively extracted clinical, echocardiographic and follow-up data of HF patients (all classifications) admitted at China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University from January 2017 to June 2021. A total of 198 patients with HF were identified with LV thrombus by echocardiography, 78 of them were managed with VKAs, 109 with rivaroxaban.Results: The median follow-up was 17.0 months (interquartile range: 6.0–24.0 months). High rates of major cardiovascular adverse events (MACEs) were observed in both the rivaroxaban and VKAs groups (49.5% vs. 57.7%). However, rivaroxaban versus VKAs observed a decrease in MACEs (adjusted HR:0.636; 95%CI:0.418–0.970; p = 0.035) and systemic embolism (4.6% vs. 12.8%; adjusted HR:0.318; 95%CI:0.108–0.933; p = 0.037; Gray’s test p = 0.041) but was not found to have a benefit with regard to LV thrombus resolution (59.6% vs. 70.6%; adjusted HR: 1.303; 95% CI:0.898–1.890; p = 0.163; Gray’s test p = 0.073). Additionally, there was no significant between-group difference in the rate of International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) bleeding events.Conclusion: Our data found that in populations with HF combined with LV thrombus, the overall prognosis in both the rivaroxaban and VKAs groups was catastrophic. Although rivaroxaban improved the prognosis to some extent, a considerable need remains for new treatments to improve their clinical course.

Objective: This study aims to explore the clinical significance of haptoglobin (HP) and protein disulfide-isomerase A3 (PDIA3) in human serum in the screening, diagnosis and staging of colorectal cancer (CRC), and to provide novel screening approaches featuring high specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy for early screening and diagnosis of clinical colorectal cancer.Methods: 88, 77, and 36 blood specimens were respectively harvested from colorectal cancer patients, colorectal polyp patients, and normal subjects (the health examination) who requested medical assistance from our hospital between Oct2019 and February 2022. The serum contents of HP and PDIA3 in each sample were determined through an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This step was taken to analyze the differences among different specimen groups in terms of the serum contents of HP and PDIA3, to analyze the relationships between the expression levels of HP and PDIA3 and the pathological characteristics of colorectal cancer, and to explore the critical role of HP and PDIA3 in the screening, diagnosis, and staging of colorectal cancer.Results: Serum contents of HP and PDIA3 were higher in colorectal cancer patients, with statistical differences (p < 0.05), than those in the colonic polyp patients and healthy subjects. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve demonstrated that the cut-offs of HP and PDIA3 serum contents indicating colorectal cancer were 149 ug/ml and 66 ng/ml respectively. The individually and jointly tested AUCs of HP (0.802) and PDIA3 (0.727) were higher than those of serum CEA and CA199, the sensitivity and specificity of HP were 64.8 and 91.2%, the sensitivity and specificity of PDIA3 were 65.9 and 71.7%. Moreover, the contents of HP and PDIA3 increased alongside disease progression, with differences (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Our research indicated that joint testing of HP and PDIA3 was of reference value for progressive stage and reliable biological indicators of colorectal cancer screening.

Determination of Cas9 cutting efficiency to the target sites is important for genome editing. However, this determination can only be made via an in vitro method, as the purification of Cas protein and synthesis of gRNA are necessary. Here, we developed an in vivo method, called transient CRISPR/Cas editing in plants (TCEP) to determine Cas9 cutting efficiency. The CRISPR/Cas vector for plant transformation mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens was constructed as normal. Using the transient transformation method we built, the Cas9 protein and gRNA were transiently expressed and formed a complex to cut its target sites, resulting in dynamic DNA breakage. The broken DNA was quantified using qPCR to measure the efficiencies of Cas9 cutting. We studied the Cas9 cutting efficiencies to different target sites in Betula platyphylla and Populus davidiana×P. bolleana plants using TCEP and an in vitro method. The results of TCEP were consistent with those of the in vitro method, suggesting that the TCEP method is reliable in determining cutting efficiency. Additionally, using the TCEP method, we showed that both heat and sonication treatment significantly improved CRISPR/Cas efficiency. Therefore, the TCEP method has broad application value and can not only be used to analyze the CRISPR/Cas efficiency but also to determine the factors involved in Cas9 cutting.

Interconnected power systems that link several countries and fully utilize their individual resources in a complementary manner are becoming increasingly important. As these systems enhance accommodation of renewable energy, they also represent a move toward low-carbon and low-emission power systems. In this paper, a low-carbon dispatch model is proposed to coordinate the generation output between several countries where the carbon emission constraint is a priority. An adjustable robust optimization approach is used to find the optimal solution under the worst-case scenario to address the uncertainties associated with renewable energy resources. A specific constraint is that the area control error for each country should be self-balanced. Furthermore, a reformation using participation factors is presented to simplify the proposed robust dispatch model. Simulation results for practical interconnected power systems in northeast Asian countries verify the effectiveness of the proposed model.

Security constrained unit commitment (SCUC), with renewable resources integrated into power grid, is one core function in the day‐ahead market. However, it confronts with critical challenges as the heavy complicated security constraints are considered. Usually, it is observed that lots of security constraints are redundant, which can be identified and eliminated, so as to reduce the computational complexity. In this study, the authors first lift the uncertain feasible region of SCUC into a high dimensional space. Furthermore, a fast identification method is proposed to relax the original feasible region, which thus can be solved by the classical greedy algorithm. In order to prevent the over‐relaxation and find more redundant constraints, an efficient feasible‐based bound tightening strategy is utilised to provide a tighter bound. Numerical results on large‐scale test systems verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

The three-generational household was a focal point of concern for school and community the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. The current study, using small area data and household variables, reported an approach to neighborhood-level COVID-19 mitigation for school reopening and communities returning to normalcy. The study started with an age-stratified Poisson regression to examine the association between the proportion of three-generational households and COVID-19 infection rates based on data from 74 census tracts in Lancaster County, Nebraska, U.S. from March 5, 2020 to August 22, 2020, followed by mapping the model-based risk score by census tract in the study area. We explored the feasibility of using COVID-19 infection rates and vaccination rates to inform decision-making on school opening from March 5, 2020 to February 3, 2021. The overall infection rate increased by 3% for every unit increased in the percentage of three-generational households after controlling for other covariates in the model. The census tracts were classified into low-, medium-, and high-priority neighborhoods for potential community-based interventions, such as targeted messages for household hygiene and isolation strategies.

The diverse habitat of the coastal areas of Guangdong, China, supports important waterbird populations, thereby contributing to the conservation of waterbirds in China and globally. The sensitivity of different waterbirds to environmental driving factors results in differences in habitat selection, which in combination affect waterbird abundance. This study investigated the effects of environmental and human disturbance factors on the abundance of waterbirds based on a survey of waterbirds in coastal areas of Guangdong Province, China. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was mainly used to study the relationships between the abundance of waterbirds and environmental and human factors. The results showed that the areas of mangrove and tidal flats were the main factors driving the abundance of shorebirds and open water waterbirds, whereas the areas of mangrove and water bodies were the main factors driving the abundance of wading birds and waterfowl, respectively. Road length and the areas of construction land were found to have negative effects on the abundance of waterbirds. A waterbird protection and management strategy was proposed based on the results.

Buildings are responsible for a considerable fraction of the energy wasted globally every year, and as a result, excess carbon emissions. While heat is lost directly in colder months and climates, resulting in increased heating loads, in hot climates cooling and ventilation is required. One avenue towards improving the energy efficiency of buildings is to integrate thermoelectric devices and materials within the fabric of the building to exploit the temperature gradient between the inside and outside to do useful work. Cement-based materials are ubiquitous in modern buildings and present an interesting opportunity to be functionalized. We present a systematic investigation of the electronic transport coefficients relevant to the thermoelectric materials of the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel analogue, tobermorite, using Density Functional Theory calculations with the Boltzmann transport method. The calculated values of the Seebeck coefficient are within the typical magnitude (200-600 μ V / K ) indicative of a good thermoelectric material. The tobermorite models are predicted to be intrinsically p -type thermoelectric material because of the presence of large concentration of the Si-O tetrahedra sites. The calculated electronic figure of merit, ZT , for the tobermorite models have their optimal values of 0.983 at (400 K and 10 ^17 cm ^−3 ) for tobermorite 9 Å, 0.985 at (400 K and 10 ^17 cm ^−3 ) for tobermorite 11 Å and 1.20 at (225 K and 10 ^19 cm ^−3 ) for tobermorite 14 Å, respectively.

Hydropower construction may alleviate regional power shortages, regulate river water volume, improve energy structure. However, extensive hydropower construction activities can reduce the river connectivity, which will further lead to biodiversity loss and ecological environment degradation. Most impact assessments of river connectivity have concentrated on large hydropower stations, while few on small ones. Through field investigation, this study identified 236 small hydropower stations on the upper reaches of the great rivers in the Tibetan Plateau, including the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. The authors established a river connectivity impact index (RCII) model to achieve quantitative analysis of the connectivity of each river segment. Four pressure indicators, the Degree of Fragmentation (DOF), the Degree of Flow Utilization (DFU), the Degree of Obstruction (DOO), and the Density of Road (DOR), were set up based on the station’s attribute data. The results indicate that the RCII can better express the impact degree of river connectivity with a high correlation coefficient R2 between the degree of water reduction and the RCII. More than 40.33% of the river reaches were with “heavy” RCII values, indicating that the construction of small hydropower stations had some impacts on river connectivity to some extent. Also, we found that DOF and DOR had greater impacts on river connectivity in the study area. The river connectivity impact had great spatial differences, with rivers in the eastern region being the most serious. Furthermore, the greater the damage of river connectivity, the greater the potential for loss of aquatic biodiversity. A framework was set up in our work to quantitatively evaluate the impact of small hydropower station construction on river connectivity, providing strong support for the further ecological river protection and strategic planning.

The key rock mechanical parameters are strength, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, etc., which are important in reservoir development. The accurate determination of reservoir’s mechanical properties is critical to reduce drilling risk and maximize well productivity. Precisely estimating rock mechanical properties is important in drilling and well completion design, as well as crucial for hydraulic fracturing. Rocks are heterogeneous and anisotropic materials. The mechanical properties vary not only with rock types but also with measurement methods, sample geometric dimensions (sample length to diameter ratio and size), and other factors. To investigate sample scale effects on rock mechanical behaviors, unconfined compression tests were conducted on 41 different geometric dimensions of Berea sandstones; unconfined compressive strength (UCS), Young’s modulus (E), Poisson’s ratio (υ), bulk modulus (K), and shear modulus (G) were obtained and compared. The results indicate that sample geometry can significantly affect rock mechanical properties: (1) UCS decreases with the increase of length to diameter ratio (LDR), and the UCS standardize factor is between 0.71 and 1.17, which means -30% to +20% variation of UCS with LDR changing from 1 to 6.7. The test results show UCS exhibits positive relationship with sample size. (2) Young’s modulus slightly increases with LDR increases, while Poisson’s ratio decreases with the increase of LDR. For the tested Berea sandstones, Poisson’s ratio standardizing factor is between 0.57 and 1.11. (3) Bulk modulus of Berea sandstone samples decreases with the increase of LDR, while shear modulus increases with LDR increases. Both bulk modulus and shear modulus increase with the increase of sample size. (4) The principal failure modes were analyzed. The failure modes of the tested Berea sandstones are axial splitting and shear failure. Stocky samples (LDR2) tend to show shear failure.

Rock mechanical properties are critical for drilling, wellbore stability, and well stimulation. There are usually two laboratory methods to determine rock mechanical properties: static compression tests and acoustic velocity measurements. Rocks are heterogeneous, so there are significant differences between static elastic constants and the corresponding dynamic ones. Usually, static test results are more representative than dynamic methods but the static tests are time consuming and costly. Dynamic methods are nondestructive and less expensive, which are practical in the laboratory and field. In this paper, we compare the static and dynamic elastic properties of Eagle Ford Shale by triaxial compressive tests and ultrasonic velocity tests. Correlations between static and dynamic elastic properties are developed. Conversion from dynamic mechanical properties to static mechanical properties is established for better estimating reservoir mechanical properties. To better understand the relationship of static and dynamic mechanical properties, 30 Eagle Ford Shale samples were tested. According to the test results, the dynamic properties are considerably different from the static counterparts. For all tested samples, static Young’s modulus is lower than dynamic Young’s modulus, ranging from 55% to 90%. The difference of the static and dynamic Young’s moduli decreases with the increasing of confining pressure. The reason may be because the microcracks closed in high confining pressure. Correlations between static and dynamic Young’s modulus are developed by regression analysis, which are crucial to understand the rock mechanical properties and forecast reservoir performance when direct measurement of static mechanical properties is not available or expensive. There are no strong correlations between static and dynamic Poisson’s ratios observed for the tested samples. Two potentially major reasons for the discrepancy of the static and dynamic properties of Eagle Ford Shale are discussed. Lithology and heterogeneity may be the inherent reasons, and external causes are probably the difference in strain amplitude and frequency.

Nebraska births between 1995 and 2005 were followed until 2018 to look for intergenerational associations of low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB). Results from generalized estimating equations revealed that mothers born LBW preterm were more likely to deliver LBW (adjusted OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.39–2.71) or preterm (adjusted OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.20–2.27) than mothers born with normal weight or at term. In addition, mothers who had an LBW sibling were 44% more likely to have an LBW infant (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.04–2.00). A consistent finding was also observed for mothers who had a PTB sibling (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.10–1.95). Mothers who were LBW at birth or had any LBW siblings, especially two or more siblings, were more likely to repeat this adverse birth outcome. The same association was also observed in mothers who were born preterm.

MicroRNAs (miR) are single-stranded RNA of 21-23 nucleotides in length that repress mRNA translation and induces mRNA degradation. miR acts as an endogenous factor of gene expression and plays a crucial part in cancer biology such as cell development, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Numerous research has indicated that dysregulation of miR associates with colorectal carcinogenesis. In this review article, we firstly introduce the background of miR and colorectal cancer, and the mechanisms of miR in colorectal cancer, such as the proliferation, apoptosis, and progression. Then, we summarize the theranostic value of miR in colorectal cancer. Eventually, we discuss the potential directions and perspectives of miR. This article serves as a guide for further studies and implicate miR as a potent theranostic target for colorectal cancer.

Background: According to the U.S. State Department’s Refugee Processing Center and the U.S. Census Bureau, in the fiscal year 2016, among all states in the United States, Nebraska resettled the highest number of refugees per capita. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the most common reasons for refugees utilizing hospital services in Nebraska between January 2011 and September 2015, and to examine whether refugee patients had increased risks for adverse health conditions compared to non-refugee patients. Methods: Statewide linkage was performed between Nebraska Medicaid Program’s immigration data, and 2011–2015 Nebraska hospital discharge data inpatient and outpatient files. The linkage produced 3017, 5460, and 775 cases for emergency department visits, outpatient clinic visits, and inpatient care for the refugee sample, respectively. Findings: Refugee patients were at increased risk for a number of diagnoses or medical conditions, including pregnancy complications, abdominal pain, upper respiratory infections, viral infections, mood disorders, disorders of teeth and jaw, deficiency and anemia, urinary system disorders, headache, nausea and vomiting, limb fractures, spondylosis, essential hypertension, and uncomplicated diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: The findings suggest a greater emphasis on preventive healthcare, especially in areas of maternal health and perinatal outcomes, psychological counseling, screening for infectious diseases, nutrition and healthy eating, and oral health. Additionally, culturally appropriate measures to address prevention, health screening, and treatments should be adopted by health providers who care for refugees.

One of the most important predictors of preterm births (PTBs) or low-birth-weight births (LBWBs) is whether a mother has had a history of these birth outcomes. This study examined how different characterizations of birth history (e.g., any previous incidence of PTBs or LBWBs, immediate previous birth that was preterm or of low birth weight, and number of previous PTBs or LBWBs) were associated with PTBs or LBWBs. Based on birth records (n = 98,776) reported to the vital statistics electronic registration system in Nebraska from 2005 to 2014, mothers with a history of PTBs or LBWBs were more likely to have recurrences of these outcomes than those who did not have any history of PTBs or LBWBs. The adjusted odds ratios for recurrent PTBs ranged from 2.82 (95% CI: 2.62, 3.04) to 5.54 (95% CI: 4.67, 6.57) depending on how previous incidence of PTBs or LBWBs were characterized. The corresponding adjusted odds ratio for LBWBs ranged from 1.58 (95% CI: 1.43, 1.74) to 6.75 (95% CI: 4.96, 9.17). Relative to other measures used to characterize birth history, the use of number of previous PTBs or LBWBs allows for identifying mothers most vulnerable to recurrences of these birth outcomes. To help identify mothers at risk for future PTBs or LBWBs, it is beneficial to develop state-wide surveillance of reoccurrences for adverse birth outcomes which is feasible by integrating all separated birth records for the same mother using vital statistics data. Keywords: Preterm birth, Low birthweight, Birth history, Recurrence, Vital statistics

Tahe Oilfield, located in northwest China, is an unconventional fracture–vuggy carbonate reservoir. The foam-assisted nitrogen gas flooding technology has been proven to be a potential EOR technology. However, the flow behaviors of foam-assisted nitrogen gas in fracture–vuggy structures are not clear due to the complex fracture–vuggy structures and their strong heterogeneity. In this work, a three-dimensional visualized fracture–vuggy model is designed and fabricated to investigate the fluids behaviors of foam-assisted N2 flooding and classify the residual oil types after foam-assisted N2 flooding. Experimental results reveal that foam slug can enlarge the sweep efficiency, suppress the formation of nitrogen gas channeling, and detach the oil film. Additionally, the evolution processes of the gas–oil and oil–water interfaces are investigated and analyzed. Moreover, the residual oil types after foam-assisted N2 flooding and nitrogen gas flooding, respectively, are classified and summarized. Compared to nitrogen gas flooding after water flooding, 12.36% more oil can be recovered through foam-assisted N2 flooding. This work further studies the fluid flow behaviors of foam-assisted N2 in the three-dimensional visualized fracture–vuggy carbonate model and also confirms the previous achievements.

The thermal masses of components influence the performance of many adsorption heat pump systems. However, typically when experimental adsorption systems are reported, data on thermal mass are missing or incomplete. This work provides original measurements of the thermal masses for experimental sorption heat exchanger hardware. Much of this hardware was previously reported in the literature, but without detailed thermal mass data. The data reported in this work are the first values reported in the literature to thoroughly account for all thermal masses, including heat transfer fluid. The impact of thermal mass on system performance is also discussed, with detailed calculation left for future work. The degree to which heat transfer fluid contributes to overall effective thermal mass is also discussed, with detailed calculation left for future work. This work provides a framework for future reporting of experimental thermal masses. The utilization of this framework will enrich the data available for model validation and provide a more thorough accounting of adsorption heat pumps.

The heat storage effect of the tube-embedded slab cooling system (TESCS) makes the intermittent operation feasible, a reasonable intermittent strategy can fully realize the energy saving effect. This paper purposes to optimize the intermittent control schemes for TESCS by simulation. The response of the thermal environment intermittently cooled by TESCS is firstly studied. Then, the intermittent control schemes of TESCS are studied. On the basis of the dual-objective optimization for thermal comfort and energy efficiency, the optimal scheme is established. The results show that the tube-embedded slab has significant heat storage and release characteristics under intermittent cooling condition. Its maximum cooling capacity appears about one hour after the stop of cooling. Reducing the cooling duration can reduce the system energy consumption, but increasing the cooling duration can reduce the system peak load. Twenty-four-hour cooling can reduce the peak load by about 70%, 67%, and 41%, respectively, compared with 6-h, 8-h, and 12-h cooling. The effect of the cooling duration on the thermal comfort and energy efficiency is much greater than the cooling time distribution. Frequent starts and stops of the pump can increase the cooling capacity obtained by the room to a certain extent. Daytime cooling provides higher comfort and energy efficiency while night cooling can reduce the chiller’s peak cooling requirement by about 25%.

Hemeroby is an integrated indicator used to measure the impact and degree of all human interventions on ecological components or ecosystems. The constant exploitation of resources is a strong interference of human beings to the natural environment. With the depletion of non-renewable resources, some cities with resource exploitation as their main industry—“resource-based cities”—are facing great development pressure. In order to quantify the impact of human disturbance on the natural environment and provide some scientific support for policy makers of the resource-based city, we used remote sensing images and landscape pattern metrics, introduced the synthetic hemeroby index model and analyzed the relationship between human disturbance and landscape pattern during 1990−2017. The results showed that: (1) The hemeroby in Daqing continued to rise during 1990−2017, and the main factor was the continuous expansion of the construction land and the reclamation of farmland. (2) In the areas with different hemeroby, there were significant differences in landscape pattern. In the areas with high-level hemeroby, the heterogeneity of landscape pattern was low, the aggregation among patches was high, and the shape of patches was regular, whereas the landscape pattern in the areas with medium-level hemeroby was just opposite. Although the heterogeneity of landscape pattern and the aggregation among patches were high in the areas with low-level hemeroby, the complexity of landscape was low and the shape of patches was regular. (3) In the temporal dimension, the increase of hemeroby contributed to the complexity of patch shape, the decrease of the aggregation among patches, and the fragmentation of landscape pattern. In the spatial dimension, the response in landscape pattern to human disturbance was relatively insensitive in the areas with low-level hemeroby, and this response was basically same in the high-level hemeroby and the whole study areas.