Search

The lithology distribution of fine-grained sedimentary rocks in regional space plays a crucial role in guiding the exploration of oil shale layers. Identifying lithology by conventional logging information is efficient and cost-effective. However, the strong inhomogeneity of fine-grained sedimentary rocks leads to a complex nonlinear relationship between lithology and logging data, making conventional linear methods no longer applicable. This study proposes a hybrid model for logging lithology identification of fine-grained sedimentary rocks from the first member of Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin, NE China. This model is based on the hybrid kernel extreme learning machine (HKELM), and the firefly perturbation strategy is introduced into the sparrow search algorithm (FSSA) for optimization. The lithologic distribution is determined using cores, thin sections, and total organic carbon (TOC), while a total of four logging curves, the acoustic (AC), density (DEN), resistivity (RT), and natural gamma (GR) curves, were collected. FSSA-HKELM was compared with five algorithms, ELM, KELM, HKELM, PSO-HKELM, and SSA-HKELM, for lithology prediction effectiveness. The proposed hybrid method outperformed the other algorithms, achieving an accuracy of 81.78%, precision of 81.65%, recall of 87.78%, and a weighted F1 score of 82.16%. FSSA-HKELM is a very effective lithological identification method, which provides a basis for the lithological prediction of oil shale-bearing formations.

To improve the wear resistance of the inner wall of hydraulic support columns, Fe-based coatings X1, X2 and X3 were prepared on the inner wall of a hydraulic support column using laser cladding technology with three different Ni-content Fe-based alloy powders. The microstructure, mechanical properties and tribological performance of these coatings were analyzed using metallographic microscope, 3D confocal surface topography instrument, universal testing machine and high-speed reciprocating friction and wear testing machine. Results showed that three coatings were homogeneous and compact, and had good metallurgical bonding with the substrate. The cladding layers were mainly composed of α-Fe with a BCC structure and a(Fe-Cr) solid solution, with the formation of a(Fe-Cr-Ni) phase in the X2 and X3 cladding layers. Among the three coatings, the tensile strengthes of X1, X2 and X3 were 563, 597 and 470 MPa, respectively, with X2 having the highest tensile strength. The wear rates of the three coatings were all lower than that of the substrate, with the wear rate of the substrate being approximately eight times that of the X2 coating. The wear mechanism of the substrate was primarily dominated by adhesive wear and abrasive wear, while the wear mechanism of the coatings was mainly abrasive wear.

Advanced constructions in the automotive, military, and aircraft sectors often employ textile materials. This is due to its advantageous mechanical characteristics, appealing supporting components, affordable manufacture, and simple handling. For architectural layout, textile composite analysis becomes crucial. It is costly and time-consuming to experimentally determine the rigidity and durability of textile materials. Due to the impossibility of disintegration, experimental testing can only provide the characteristics of a single textile layer. The disadvantage of a textile layer made up of various fibre orientations is that it is likely to display anisotropic physical performance. Based on the physical reaction of glass and epoxy resin materials, also the design of the textile materials, a multi-parameter (MP) analysis is used to identify the substance behaviour of textile materials via virtual testing. An estimate for just one layer or a whole textile prototype may be created using these simulated trials. Pressure-dependent and nonlinear responses of materials in the multi-parameter analysis are material models created especially for this purpose and are used to simulate. The simulations are contrasted with the outcomes of experimental tests, which reveal the properties of the textile materials. The findings stated that the proposed model has provided rigidity-dislocation of 0.30 in the simulation results.

Abstract Background To explore the relationship between changes in salivary cytokine levels and the occurrence of white spot lesions in adolescents receiving clear aligner orthodontic treatment and investigate the predictive value of various factors for lesion occurrence. Methods We retrospectively analyzed sixthy eight adolescent in the permanent dentition period, who received clear aligner orthodontics in our hospital were randomly divided into two groups according to the occurrence or aggravation of white spot lesions after treatment. The general condition of the oral cavity was analyzed, saliva was collected, and inflammation-related cytokines with varying transcription levels between groups were screened by transcriptome analysis. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines in the saliva of the patients in the two groups were measured, and the risk factors for white spot lesions were screened by correlation analysis and binary logistic regression analysis. The value of the independent and combined application of risk factors for predicting the occurrence of white spot lesions in adolescent patients after invisible orthodontic treatment was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results Transcriptome and GO and KEGG pathway analyses showed that there were differences in the transcription levels of inflammatory cytokines such as CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL8, CCL3, CCL4, IL-1β and IL-2 between groups. The levels of CXCL8, CCL3, CCL4, IL-1β and IL-2 in the saliva of patients with white spot lesions were significantly higher in patients after invisible orthodontic treatment (P

Abstract Sepsis is a life-threatening multiple-organ injury caused by disordered host immune response to microbial infection. However, the correlation between gut microbiota dysbiosis and immune indicators remains unexplored. To address this gap in knowledge, we carried out 16 S rDNA sequencing, analyzed clinical fecal samples from children with sepsis (n = 30) and control children (n = 25), and obtained immune indicators, including T cell subtypes (CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, and CD4/CD8), NK cells, cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ), and immunoglobulin indices (IgA, IgE, IgM and IgG). In addition, we analyzed the correlation between gut microbiota dysbiosis and immune indicators, and evaluated the clinical discriminatory power of discovered bacterial biomarkers. We found that children with sepsis exhibited gut bacterial dysbiosis and low alpha diversity. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient suggested that Rhodococcus erythropolis had a significantly positive correlation with IFN-γ and CD3 + T cells. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus mitis were significantly correlated with NK cells. Bacteroides uniformis was significantly positively correlated with IgM and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and Eubacterium eligens was significantly positively correlated with IL-4 and CD3+CD8+ T cells. The biomarkers discovered in this study had strong discriminatory power. These changes in the gut microbiome may be closely related to immunologic dysfunction and to the development or exacerbation of sepsis. However, a large sample size is required for verification.

Background The psychological toll on parents of a child receiving a cancer diagnosis is known to be high, but there is a knowledge gap regarding suicidal behavior among these parents. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of suicide attempt and death by suicide in relation to having a child with cancer. Methods and findings We performed a binational population-based and sibling-controlled cohort study, including all parents with a child diagnosed with cancer in Denmark (1978 to 2016) or Sweden (1973 to 2014), 10 matched unexposed parents per exposed parent (population comparison), and unaffected full siblings of the exposed parents (sibling comparison). Suicide attempt was identified through the Patient Register and the Psychiatric Central Register in Denmark and the Patient Register in Sweden, whereas death by suicide was identified through the Danish Causes of Death Register and the Swedish Causes of Death Register. In population comparison, we used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of suicide attempt and death by suicide associated with cancer diagnosis of a child, adjusting for sex, age, country of residence, calendar year, marital status, highest attained educational level, household income, history of cancer, history of psychiatric disorder, and family history of psychiatric disorder. The sibling comparison was performed to assess the role of familial confounding in the studied associations. The population comparison consisted of 106,005 exposed parents and 1,060,050 matched unexposed parents, with a median age of 56 at cohort entry and 46.9% male. During the median follow-up of 7.3 and 7.2 years, we observed 613 (incidence rate [IR], 58.8 per 100,000 person-years) and 5,888 (IR, 57.1 per 100,000 person-years) cases of first-onset suicide attempt among the exposed and unexposed parents, respectively. There was an increased risk of parental suicide attempt during the first years after a child's cancer diagnosis (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, [1.03, 1.28]; p = 0.01), particularly when the child was 18 or younger at diagnosis (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, [1.08, 1.46]; p = 0.004), when the child was diagnosed with a highly aggressive cancer (HR, 1.60; 95% CI, [1.05, 2.43]; p = 0.03), or when the child died due to cancer (HR, 1.63; 95% CI, [1.29, 2.06]; p < 0.001). The increased risk did not, however, maintain thereafter (HR, 0.86; 95% CI: [0.75, 0.98]; p = 0.03), and there was no altered risk of parental death by suicide any time after the child's cancer diagnosis. Sibling comparison corroborated these findings. The main limitation of the study is the potential residual confounding by factors not shared between full siblings. Conclusions In this study, we observed an increased risk of parental suicide attempt during the first years after a child's cancer diagnosis, especially when the child was diagnosed during childhood, or with an aggressive or fatal form of cancer. There was, however, no altered risk of parental death by suicide at any time after a child's cancer diagnosis. Our findings suggest extended clinical awareness of suicide attempt among parents of children with cancer, especially during the first few years after cancer diagnosis., Author(s): Qianwei Liu 1,2,*, Krisztina D. László 3,4, Dang Wei 2, Fen Yang 3, Katja Fall 2,5, Unnur Valdimarsdóttir 2,6,7, Maria Feychting 2, Jiong Li 8, Fang Fang 2 Introduction [...]

There is growing concern about the potential ecological risks posed by pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment. However, our understanding of the toxic effects of antiepileptic pharmaceuticals, such as carbamazepine (CBZ), on aquatic animal larvae is still limited. In this study, the tadpoles of the black-spotted pond frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of CBZ (0.3 and 3.0 μg/L) for 30 days, and their growth, intestinal microbial composition, and metabolites were investigated to assess the potential toxic effects of CBZ in non-targeted aquatic organisms. Some tadpoles died during exposure, but there was no significant among-group difference in the survival and growth rates. CBZ exposure significantly altered the composition of tadpole intestinal microbiota. Relative abundances of some bacterial genera (e.g., Blautia, Prevotella, Bacillus, Microbacterium, etc.) decreased, while others (e.g., Paucibacter, etc.) increased in CBZ-exposed tadpoles. Interestingly, CBZ-induced alterations in some bacteria might not necessarily lead to adverse outcomes for animals. Meanwhile, small molecular intestinal metabolites related to energy metabolism, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were also altered after exposure. Taken together, environmentally relevant levels of CBZ might alter the metabolic and immune performances of amphibian larvae by modifying the abundance of some specific bacteria and the level of metabolites in their intestines, thereby potentially causing a long-term effect on their fitness.

The antidiabetic pharmaceutical metformin (MET) is largely unmetabolized by the human body. Its residues are readily detectable in various aquatic environments and may have adverse impacts on the growth and survival of aquatic species. To date, its toxicological effects have scarcely been explored in non-fish species. Here, we exposed the tadpoles of black-spotted pond frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) to different concentrations (0, 1, 10 and 100 μg/L) of MET for 30 days and measured the body size, intestinal microbiota and metabolites to evaluate potential effects of MET exposure in amphibian larvae. MET exposure did not affect the growth and intestinal microbial diversity of tadpoles. However, intestinal microbial composition changed significantly, with some pathogenic bacteria (e.g., bacterial genera Salmonella, Comamonas, Stenotrophomonas, Trichococcus) increasing and some beneficial bacteria (e.g., Blautia, Prevotella) decreasing in MET-exposed tadpoles. The levels of some intestinal metabolites associated with growth and immune performance also changed significantly following MET exposure. Overall, our results indicated that exposure to MET, even at environmentally relevant concentrations, would cause intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and metabolite alteration, thereby influencing the health status of non-target aquatic organisms, such as amphibians.

Although carbon isotope reversal and its reasons in shale gas reservoirs have been widely recognized, the application of the reversal is yet to be investigated. A study on high-maturity shale from Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations in the Sichuan Basin not only reveals the relationship between the degree of isotopes inversion and the production capacity (e.g., estimated ultimate recovery (EUR)) of the gas well but also indicates the preservation conditions of shale gas reservoirs. (1) Although there are differences in gas isotopes in different shale gas reservoirs, the isotope fractionation of shale gas is small during the production stage of gas wells, even when the wellbore pressure drops to zero. The main cause of the difference in carbon isotopes and their inversion degree can be the uplift time during the Yanshan period and the formation pressure relief degree of shale gas reservoirs in distinct structural positions. Thus, carbon isotope inversion is a good indicator of shale gas preservation condition and EUR of shale gas wells. (2) The degree of carbon isotope inversion correlates strongly with shale gas content and EUR. The calculation formula of shale-gas recoverable reserves was established using Δδ13C (δC1-δC2) and EUR. (3) The gas loss rate and total loss amount can be estimated using the dynamic reserves and isotopic difference values of gas wells in various shale gas fields, which also reflects the current methane loss, thereby demonstrating great potential for evaluating global methane loss in shales.

Variations in solar insolation caused by changes in the Earth’s orbit—specifically its eccentricity, obliquity, and precession—can leave discernible marks on the geologic record. Astrochronology leverages these markers to establish a direct connection between chronological measurements and different facets of climate change as recorded in marine sediments. This approach offers a unique window into the Earth’s climate system and the construction of high-resolution, continuous time scales. Our study involves comprehensive bulk carbonate analyses of 390 discrete samples from core SCS1, which was retrieved from the deep-sea floor of the northern South China Sea. By utilizing carbonate stratigraphic data, we have developed a carbonate stratigraphic age model. This was achieved by aligning the carbonate sequence from core SCS1 with the established carbonate standard stratigraphic time scale of the South China Sea. Subsequently, we construct an astronomically tuned time scale based on this age model. Our findings indicate that sediment records in this core have been predominantly influenced by a 20,000-year cycle (precession cycle) throughout the Late Pleistocene. We have developed an astronomical time scale extending back approximately 110,000 years from the present, with a resolution of 280 years, by tuning the carbonate record to the precession curve. Time-domain spectral analysis of the tuned carbonate time series, alongside the consistent comparability of the early Holocene low-carbonate event (11–8 kyr), underscores the reliability of our astronomical time scale. Our age model exposes intricate variations in carbonate deposition, epitomizing a typical “Pacific-type” carbonate cycle. Previous research has illustrated that precession forcing predominantly influences productivity changes in the South China Sea. The pronounced precession-related cycle observed in our record suggests that changes in productivity significantly impact carbonate content in the area under study. Furthermore, the clear precession period identified in the carbonate record of core SCS1 reflects the response of low-latitude processes to orbital parameters, implying that carbonate deposition and preservation in core SCS1 are chiefly influenced by the interplay between the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and the monsoon system within the precession band. Our astronomical time scale is poised to enhance paleoceanographic, paleoclimatic, and correlation studies further. Additionally, the independent evidence we provide for using proxy records for astronomical age calibration of marine sediments lends additional support to similar methods of astronomical tuning.

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is the most promising target for drug use disorder treatment. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of NAc is effective for drug use disorder treatment. However, the mechanisms by which DBS produces its therapeutic effects remain enigmatic. Here, we define a behavioral cutoff criterion to distinguish depressive-like behaviors and non-depressive-like behaviors in mice after morphine withdrawal. We identified a basolateral amygdala (BLA) to NAc D1 medium spiny neuron (MSN) pathway that controls depressive-like behaviors after morphine withdrawal. Furthermore, the paraventricular nucleus of thalamus (PVT) to NAc D2 MSN pathway controls naloxone-induced acute withdrawal symptoms. Optogenetically induced long-term potentiation with κ-opioid receptor (KOR) antagonism enhanced BLA to NAc D1 MSN signaling and also altered the excitation/inhibition balance of NAc D2 MSN signaling. We also verified that a new 50 Hz DBS protocol reversed morphine withdrawal–evoked abnormal plasticity in NAc. Importantly, this refined DBS treatment effectively alleviated naloxone-induced withdrawal symptoms and depressive-like behaviors and prevented stress-induced reinstatement. Taken together, the results demonstrated that input- and cell type–specific synaptic plasticity underlies morphine withdrawal, which may lead to novel targets for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Abstract Little is known about the epidemiology and impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) mortality among hypertensive elderly population in northeast China. The community‐based study included 4497 hypertensive elderly residents aged ≥65 years who lived in northeast China from September 2017 to March 2019. Information on CVD deaths was obtained from baseline until July 31, 2021. Cox proportional hazard regression models were performed in the evaluation of CVD mortality. We identified 101 persons with AF. The prevalence of AF was 2.2% among elderly hypertensive population, which increased significantly with age. The prevalence of AF was higher in men than in women. The awareness rate was 51.5%, higher in urban areas than in rural areas (68.8% vs 43.5%, P = .018). Only 4.0% patients received oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy among AF patients. Moreover, diabetes (26.7%) and dyslipidemia (37.6%) were highly prevalent in AF patients. Furthermore, 212 persons died due to CVD (14.7/1000 person‐years) during a median follow‐up of 3.2 years. AF patients had a 3.42 (95% CI: 2.07‐5.63) times higher risk of CVD mortality than the patients without AF in the fully adjusted model. Therefore, the burden of AF among hypertensive elderly population in northeast China was considerable. Long‐term screening and management strategies for AF and related risk factors are required among hypertensive elderly in northeast China.

Shale gas release in canister can significantly enrich our understanding in gas-in-place characteristics. However, studies on shale gas release characteristics and its controlling factors are rare. In this study, gas release curves of 52 shale samples and 3 coal samples were measured using wellsite canister testing technique. According to curve shape, three curve patterns including L-shaped, S-shaped, and M-shaped are identified, and the difference among three curve patterns mainly lies in the fractional gas volume released in surface temperature stage. To evaluate the dependence of released gas content on shale properties, the variation in released gas content with organic matter, minerals, porosity, permeability, specific surface area, and pore volume is analyzed and found that the released gas content shows a strong dependence on the properties that control or could increase gas adsorption and diffusion capacity, such as TOC content, specific surface area, and permeability, while showing no dependence on the properties that control free gas storage capacity, such as minerals, porosity, and pore volume. Additionally, correlations of released gas content with adsorbed/free gas show that the released gas during canister testing is the gas that was in the adsorbed state in reservoir, and the free gas has been lost during coring, as well as a fraction of adsorbed gas. Above findings provide insightful information not only on gas-in-place evaluations but also on the dynamic behavior of adsorbed/free gas from producing well.

The enrichment characteristics of deep shale gas in the Ordovician Wufeng–Silurian Longmaxi formations in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas are investigated through experiments under high temperature and high pressure, including petrophysical properties analyses, triaxial stress test and isothermal adsorption of methane experiment. (1) The deep shale reservoirs drop significantly in porosity and permeability compared with shallower shale reservoirs, and contain mainly free gas. (2) With higher deviatoric stress and axial strain, the deep shale reservoirs have higher difficulty fracturing. (3) Affected by structural location and morphology, fracture characteristics, geofluid activity stages and intensity, deep shale gas reservoirs have more complicated preservation conditions. (4) To achieve the commercial development of deep shale gas reservoirs, deepening geological understanding is the basis, and exploring reservoir simulation technology befitting the geological features is the key. (5) The siliceous shale and limestone-bearing siliceous shale in the Metabolograptus persculptus–Parakidograptus acuminatus zones (LM1–LM3 graptolite zones) are the high-production intervals for deep shale gas and the most favorable landing targets for horizontal drilling. Deeps water areas such as Jiaoshiba, Wulong, Luzhou and Changning with deep shale reservoirs over 10 m thickness are the most favorable areas for deep shale gas enrichment. It is recommended to carry out exploration and development practice in deep-water shale gas areas deposited deep with burial depth no more than 5000 m where the geological structure is simple and the shale thickness in the LM1–LM3 graptolite zone is greater than 10 m. It is better to increase the lateral length of horizontal wells, and apply techniques including high intensity of perforations, large volume of proppant, far-field and near-wellbore diversions to maximize the stimulated deep reservoir volume.

Background and Aims Increasing evidence suggests that some reproductive factors/hazards are associated with a future risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. While major (non-perinatal) depression has consistently been associated with CVD, the long-term risk of CVD after perinatal depression (PND) is largely unknown. Methods A nationwide population-based matched cohort study involving 55 539 women diagnosed with PND during 2001–14 in Sweden and 545 567 unaffected women individually matched on age and year of conception/delivery was conducted. All women were followed up to 2020. Perinatal depression and CVD were identified from Swedish national health registers. Using multivariable Cox models, hazard ratios (HR) of any and type-specific CVD according to PND were estimated. Results The mean age at the PND diagnosis was 30.8 [standard deviation (SD) 5.6] years. During the follow-up of up to 20 years (mean 10.4, SD 3.6), 3533 (6.4%) women with PND (expected number 2077) and 20 202 (3.7%) unaffected women developed CVD. Compared with matched unaffected women, women with PND had a 36% higher risk of developing CVD [adjusted HR = 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31–1.42], while compared with their sisters, women with PND had a 20% higher risk of CVD (adjusted HR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.07–1.34). The results were most pronounced in women without a history of psychiatric disorder (P for interaction <.001). The association was observed for all CVD subtypes, with the highest HR in the case of hypertensive disease (HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.41–1.60), ischaemic heart disease (HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.13–1.65), and heart failure (HR 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06–1.74). Conclusions Women with PND are at higher risk of CVD in middle adulthood. Reproductive history, including PND, should be considered in CVD risk assessments of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eye region conveys considerable information regarding an individual’s emotions, motivations, and intentions during interpersonal communication. Evidence suggests that the eye regions of an individual expressing emotions can capture attention more rapidly than the eye regions of an individual in a neutral affective state. However, how attentional resources affect the processing of emotions conveyed by the eye regions remains unclear. Accordingly, the present study employed a dual-target rapid serial visual presentation task: happy, neutral, or fearful eye regions were presented as the second target, with a temporal lag between two targets of 232 or 696 ms. Participants completed two tasks successively: Task 1 was to identify which species the upright eye region they had seen belonged to, and Task 2 was to identify what emotion was conveyed in the upright eye region. The behavioral results showed that the accuracy for fearful eye regions was lower than that for neutral eye regions under the condition of limited attentional resources; however, accuracy differences across the three types of eye regions did not reach significance under the condition of adequate attentional resources. These findings indicate that preferential processing of fearful expressions is not automatic but is modulated by available attentional resources.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most fatal malignancies with high morbidity and mortality rates in the world, whose molecular pathogenesis is incompletely understood. As an RNA-binding protein participating in the processing and modification of RNA, KIAA1429 has been proved to be implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple cancers. However, how KIAA1429 functions in alternative splicing is not fully reported. In the current study, multi-omics sequencing data were used to analyze and decipher the molecular functions and the underlying mechanisms of KIAA1429 in HCC samples. RNA sequencing data (RNA-seq) analysis demonstrated that in HCCLM3 cells, alternative splicing (AS) profiles were mediated by KIAA1429. Regulated AS genes (RASGs) by KIAA1429 were enriched in cell cycle and apoptosis-associated pathways. Furthermore, by integrating the RNA immunoprecipitation and sequencing data (RIP-seq) of KIAA1429, we found that KIAA1429-bound transcripts were highly overlapping with RASGs, indicating that KIAA1429 could globally regulate the alternative splicing perhaps by binding to their transcripts in HCCLM3 cells. The overlapping RASGs were also clustered in cell cycle and apoptosis-associated pathways. In particular, we validated the regulated AS events of three genes using clinical specimens from HCC patients, including the exon 6 of BPTF gene and a marker gene of HCC. In summary, our results shed light on the regulatory functions of KIAA1429 in the splicing process of pre-mRNA and provide theoretical basis for the targeted therapy of HCC.

A new method is proposed to analyze the pore-scale mechanisms and characterization of light oil storage in shale nanopores, which is based on the Hydrocarbon Vapor Adsorption (HVA) and Pore Calculation Model (PCM). First, the basic principle of the HVA-PCM method is introduced, and the experimental/mathematical analysis processes are given. Then, the HVA-PCM method is applied to shale samples to analyze the mechanisms and characterization of light oil storage in shale nanopores. The results provide insights into the pore-scale oil storage mechanisms, oil storage structure, oil film thickness, oil distribution within different sized pores, and the oil storage state. Finally, the advantages and limitations of the HVA-PCM method are discussed, and suggestions for further improvement are proposed. Overall, the HVA-PCM method is a powerful tool for extracting quantitative information on the light oil storage in shale nanopores.

The intensive study of the pore structure and its controlling factors of shale reservoir has important guiding significance for further exploration and exploitation of shale gas. This work investigated the effects of organic and inorganic compositions on the development of pore structures of the Upper Permian Shanxi shale in the southern Yan’an area, Ordos Basin. Based on the results of high-pressure mercury intrusion, low-pressure N2 and CO2 adsorption and organic geochemical experiments, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope observations, the mineral composition, pore structure and its influencing factors of the transitional shale were studied systematically. The results indicate that the total organic carbon (TOC) content of the shale is between 0.12% and 5.43%, with an average of 1.40%. The type of the organic matter (OM) belongs to Type III and has over maturity degree with an average Ro of 2.54%. An important character of this kind of shale is the large proportion of clay mineral content, which ranges from 40.70% to 87.00%, and with an average of 60.05%. Among them, illite and kaolinite are the main components, and they account for 36.6% and 36.7% of the total clay minerals respectively, followed by chlorite and illite/smectite (I/S) mixed layer. The quartz content is between 10.6% and 54.5%, with an average of 35.49%. OM (organic matter) pores are mostly circular bubble-shaped pores, and most of them are micropores, while inorganic pores are well developed and mainly contributed by clay mineral pores and have slit-type, plate-like and irregular polygon forms. Mesopores are the major contributor to pore volume (PV), while micropores contribute the least to PV. The contribution of micropores to the specific surface area (SSA) is greater than 61%, followed by mesopores. Macropores have almost no contribution to the development of SSA. OM pores are the main contributor to the total specific surface area of the shale, with an average contribution rate of 61.05%, but clay mineral pores contribute more to the total pore volumes. In addition, both the content of chlorite and illite/smectite (I/S) mixed layer is positively correlated with the volume ratio of mesopores. It was found that high TOC, I/S mixed layer and chlorite content are all favorable conditions for the target shale.

BackgroundLate-life depression (LLD), characterized by cognitive deficits, is considered heterogeneous across individuals. Previous studies have identified subtypes with diverse symptom profiles, but their cognitive patterns are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the subtypes of LLD and the cognitive profile of each group.MethodsIn total, 109 depressed older adults were enrolled. We performed latent class analysis using Geriatric Depression Scale items as indicators to generate latent classes. We compared the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with cognitive functions between groups and conducted regression analysis to investigate the association between class membership and variables with significant differences.ResultsTwo classes were identified: the “pessimistic” group was characterized by pessimistic thoughts and the “worried” group with a relatively high prevalence of worry symptoms. The two groups did not differ in sociodemographic characteristics. The “pessimistic” group showed a higher rate of past history of depression and lower age of onset. The “worried” group had more physical comorbidities and a higher rate of past history of anxiety. The “pessimistic” group was more impaired in general cognitive function, executive function, information processing speed, and attention. Lower general and executive functions were associated with the membership in the “pessimistic” group.ConclusionsSubjects with pessimistic symptoms and subjects with a propensity to worry may form two distinct subtypes of late-life depression with different cognitive profiles. Further, the cognitive evaluation of subjects with pessimistic symptoms is of utmost importance.

Environmental issues associated with the widespread use of agricultural chemicals are being seriously concerned. Of them, toxicological impacts of fungicides in aquatic organisms are often overlooked. Here, soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) hatchlings were exposed to different concentrations of vinclozolin (0, 5, 50, 500 and 5000 μg/L) for 60 days to investigate the impact of fungicide exposure on their gut microbial composition and diversity. Vinclozolin exposure significantly affected the composition of the gut microbiota in hatchling turtles. Unexpectedly, gut bacterial diversity and richness of vinclozolin-exposed turtles (but not for the 5000 μg/L-exposed group) were relatively higher than control ones. At the phylum level, the abundance of Firmicutes was decreased, while that of Proteobacteria was increased in high-concentration groups. At the genus level, some bacterial genera including Cellulosilyticum, Romboutsia and Clostridium_sensu_stricto, were significantly changed after vinclozolin exposure; and some uniquely observed in high-concentration groups. Gene function predictions showed that genes related to amino acid metabolism were less abundant, while those related to energy metabolism more abundant in high-concentration groups. The prevalence of some pathogens inevitably affected gut health status of vinclozolin-exposed turtles. Such gut microbiota dysbiosis might be potentially linked with hepatic metabolite changes induced by vinclozolin exposure.

The total organic carbon (TOC) content of organic-rich shale is a key parameter in screening for potential source rocks and sweet spots of shale oil/gas. Traditional methods of determining the TOC content, such as the geochemical experiments and the empirical mathematical regression method, are either high cost and low-efficiency, or universally non-applicable and low-accuracy. In this study, we propose three machine learning models of random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), and XGBoost to predict the TOC content using well logs, and the performance of each model are compared with the traditional empirical methods. First, the decision tree algorithm is used to identify the optimal set of well logs from a total of 15. Then, 816 data points of well logs and the TOC content data collected from five different shale formations are used to train and test these three models. Finally, the accuracy of three models is validated by predicting the unknown TOC content data from a shale oil well. The results show that the RF model provides the best prediction for the TOC content, with R2 = 0.915, MSE = 0.108, and MAE = 0.252, followed by the XGBoost, while the SVR gives the lowest predictive accuracy. Nevertheless, all three machine learning models outperform the traditional empirical methods such as Schmoker gamma-ray log method, multiple linear regression method and ΔlgR method. Overall, the proposed machine learning models are powerful tools for predicting the TOC content of shale and improving the oil/gas exploration efficiency in a different formation or a different basin.

Antisense long noncoding RNA (as-lncRNA) is a lncRNA transcribed in reverse orientation that is partially or completely complementary to the corresponding sense protein-coding or noncoding genes. As-lncRNAs, one of the natural antisense transcripts (NATs), can regulate the expression of their adjacent sense genes through a variety of mechanisms, affect the biological activities of cells, and further participate in the occurrence and development of a variety of tumours. This study explores the functional roles of as-lncRNAs, which can cis-regulate protein-coding sense genes, in tumour aetiology to understand the occurrence and development of malignant tumours in depth and provide a better theoretical basis for tumour therapy targeting lncRNAs.

The emergence of pseudorabies virus (PRV) variants brings serious harm to the swine industry, and its effective treatments are limited at present. As one of the probiotics, the Lactobacillus species have beneficial characteristics of regulating the balance of intestinal flora, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria and viruses' proliferation, and improving self-immunity. In this study, Lactobacillus plantarum HN-11 and Lactobacillus casei HN-12 were selected and identified through morphology observation, Gram stain microscopy, 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, and specific amplification of the recA gene and pheS gene. All tested isolates exhibited rapid adaptation to the different conditions, excellent acid, and bile tolerance, and sensitivity to Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The antibiotic susceptibility assay displayed the isolates sensitive to most antibiotics and resistant to Lincomycin and Norfloxacin. Moreover, the supernatants of HN-11 and HN-12 inhibited PRV proliferation in ST cells. The results of animal experiments showed that supplementing the challenged mice with the supernatants of Lactobacillus isolates in advance delayed the course of the disease. PRV was detected in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and brain tissues of dead mice in the test groups, and its copies in the lungs were significantly decreased compared with the control mice (P < 0.05). These findings proved the advantages of L. plantarum and L. casei as potential probiotic cultures, which could provide a basis for its application in microecological preparations and functional formulations.

To clarify the implication of alkane carbon and hydrogen isotopes for the genesis and accumulation of over-mature shale gas, we carried out a comparative study on Longmaxi shale gases from eight blocks in the Upper Yangtze area. The results show that the δ13CCH4, δ13CC2H6, and δ13CC3H8 of Longmaxi shale gas are all positively correlated with Ro. According to the distribution model of δ13C with thermal maturity, the Longmaxi shale gas lies in the reversal stage. Shale gas is a mixture of the kerogen cracking gas and secondary cracking gas, and the mixing ratio of the two cracking gas can be estimated by isotopic fractionation experiments of thermogenic gas. The proportion of secondary cracking gas in the shale gas of the Longmaxi Formation ranges from 33 to 72%. The increase of secondary cracking gas with lower δ13C would reduce the carbon isotope of the shale gas. The δ13CC2H6 and δ13CC3H8 have acute sensitivity to the occurrence of secondary cracking gas, hence they can be used as potential indicators of shale gas content. The decline of gas generation capacity, the reduction of micropores, and the destruction of tectonic movement are the considerable factors leading to the decrease of gas content in high-maturity shale.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) is a life-threatening syndrome, which is caused by EBV infection that is usually refractory to treatment and shows relapse. The development of new biomarkers for the early diagnosis and clinical treatment of EBV-HLH is urgently needed. Exosomes have been shown to mediate various biological processes and are ideal non-invasive biomarkers. Here, we present the differential plasma exosomal proteome of a patient with EBV-HLH before vs. during treatment and with that of his healthy twin brother. A tandem mass tag-labeled LC-MS technique was employed for proteomic detection. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses indicated that differential proteomic profiles were related to virus infection, coagulopathy, nervous system dysfunction, imbalance of immune response, and abnormal liver function. The candidate biomarkers were first identified in the patient’s plasma exosomes at different treatment and follow-up time points. Then, 14 additional EBV-HLH exosome samples were used to verify six differentially expressed proteins. The upregulation of C-reactive protein, moesin, galectin three-binding protein, and heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein and the downregulation of plasminogen and fibronectin 1 could serve as potential biomarkers of EBV-HLH. This plasma exosomal proteomic analysis provides new insights into the diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of EBV-HLH.

Abstract Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most dangerous mycotoxins for humans and animals. This study aimed to investigate the effects of compound probiotics (CP), CP supernatant (CPS), AFB1-degradation enzyme (ADE) on chicken embryo primary intestinal epithelium, liver and kidney cell viabilities, and to determine the functions of CP + ADE (CPADE) or CPS + ADE (CPSADE) for alleviating cytotoxicity induced by AFB1. The results showed that AFB1 decreased cell viabilities in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners. The optimal AFB1 concentrations and reactive time for establishing cell damage models were 200 µg/L AFB1 and 12 h for intestinal epithelium cells, 40 µg/L and 12 h for liver and kidney cells. Cell viabilities reached 231.58% (p

Sb2Se3 has recently emerged as a promising material for optic-electronic applications. In this work, trapped carrier recombination in Sb2Se3 was investigated by joint use of time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. trapped carrier thermal excitation into the continuous band was observed in TRMC kinetics. Based on the exponential band tail model, the depth of the trap state, where trapped carriers are released into a continuous band, was estimated to range from 33.0 meV to 110.0 meV at room temperature. Temperature-varying TRMC and PL were further employed to study the influence of temperature on the trapped carrier recombination. Negative thermal quenchings of PL intensity and quantity of thermal emission carriers were observed and can be well explained by the thermal excitation of deep trapped carriers into shallow trap states and the continuous band. Two thermal activation energies of 12.5 meV and 304.0 meV were also revealed. This work is helpful for understanding the trapped carrier recombination process in polycrystalline Sb2Se3 film.

BackgroundElderly people are susceptible to atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischemic stroke (IS); however, less information is known about the association between AF and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in elderly population with IS. We aimed to investigate the features of AF among aged people with IS and to illustrate whether AF accounted for CVD mortality.MethodsAt baseline, 790 patients with IS were enrolled from the general northeast Chinese elderly population (>60 years) between September 2017 to March 2019. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of AF in each age group were analyzed, as well as major-related cardiovascular risk factors. The population was followed until July 31, 2021, and information on CVD death was obtained.ResultsA total of 25 people had AF, and the prevalence of AF in the elderly population with IS was 3.2%. The AF prevalence grew along with age from 1% (60–64 years) to 4.3% (70–74 years) and 4.2% (≥75 years), which was higher in the urban residents than in the rural residents (5.7 vs. 2.2%, P = 0.014). The awareness and treatment rates of patients with AF were 80 and 8%. After a median follow-up period of 3.3 years, 58 subjects died due to CVD and 5 subjects were accompanied with AF (rate 70.6/1,000 person-years). Elderly IS patients with AF had a 3.65-fold increased risk of CVD death in the fully adjusted model when compared with non-AF participants.ConclusionThe AF prevalence increased with age among the elderly population with IS. Moreover, elderly patients with IS in northeast China with AF had a higher CVD mortality. Therefore, early screening and prompt management of AF in elderly population with IS in northeast China are required.

Arsenic is a highly toxic and carcinogenic element, which poses a huge threat to millions of people. The toxicity of arsenic links to its solubility. Therefore, the immobilization of arsenic is of great significance. Among a series of arsenic immobilization materials (include arsenate, arsenite and arsenide), scorodite is the most suitable one due to its excellent stability. In this study, we propose a novel method to synthesize scorodite using ferrihydrite as an in situ iron donator. The process occurs via the dissolution of ferrihydrite followed by the coprecipitation of iron and arsenic ions on the surface of ferrihydrite. A series of experiments were carried out to investigate the optimal reaction conditions and applicable scope of initial arsenic concentration for this process. The results indicated that 99.9% of arsenic was removed from aqueous solution and immobilized as stable scorodite at reaction time of 6 h, pH 1.5, Fe/As molar ratio of 1.1 and reaction temperature of 90°C. This process is applicable to the solution with initial arsenic concentration ranging from 1 to 10 g/L, which shows great potential for practical applications.

Abstract The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous γ-herpesvirus related to various types of cancers, including epithelial nasopharyngeal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, and lymphoma. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are expressed extensively in mammalian cells and play crucial roles in regulating various cellular processes and multiple cancers. Cellular lncRNAs can be differentially expressed induced by EBV infection. The dysregulated lncRNAs probably modulate the host immune response and other biological functions. At present, lncRNAs have been found to be significantly increased or decreased in EBV-infected cells, exosomes and EBV-associated cancers, suggesting their potential function and clinical application as biomarkers. In addition, EBV-encoded lncRNAs, BART and BHLF1 lncRNAs, may play roles in the viral oncogenesis. Analysis of the specific lncRNAs involved in interactions with the EBV machinery will provide information on their potential mechanism of action during multiple steps of EBV tumorigenesis. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding EBV-related lncRNAs and their possible roles in the pathogenesis of EBV-associated cancers.