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Objective The disputes among humans, water and land have seriously restricted the sustainable development of the Dongting Lake region (TDLR). Methods To address this issue, it is crucial to understand the evolution of the hydrological environment in the TDLR, enabling solutions to the competition for space between human activities and water. By determining the evolution of the human-water relationship in the TDLR over the past 500 years, the influences of natural and human factors on the evolution of the hydrological environment are studied. Results Considering the characteristics of tectonic subsidence and sediment inflow in the TDLR, an evolutionary model of the hydrological environment induced by human activities and the geological environment was obtained, and not only the changing trends in the storage and drainage of water and sediment in the TDLR and Yangtze River but also the possibility of future evolution of the TDLR were clarified. Conclusion The key finding are as follows: (1) The continuous land reclamation has encroached on floodwater retention areas, significantly reducing Dongting Lake's flood storage capacity. (2) The construction of the Jingjiang Dyke has raised flood levels in the Jingjiang River and exerted a backwater effect on Dongting Lake, exacerbating flood disasters during the high-water period. (3) The straightening of the Jingjiang River has led to sediment deposition from Chenglingji to Wuhan, and the decline of the three distributaries of the Jingjiang River, causing shrinkage at the lake's inlets and blockage at its outlets. (4) Since the operation of the Three Gorges Reservoir, the sediment accumulation of the inflow water from Dongting Lake decreased significantly, and that of the Jingjiang reach below Chenglingji increased significantly. Under the influence of human activities, the flood storage capacity of Dongting Lake has decreased annually; therefore, the water inflow during flood periods is difficult to discharge, and dry water replenishment has gradually decreased; therefore, the dry period in the TDLR has lengthened, and water has difficulty flowing. As a result, both flood and drought disasters have intensified. (5) The Jianghan-Dongting Lake Plain is still undergoing rapid structural subsidence, but the rate of sedimentation exceeds the amount of tectonic settlement; hence, Dongting Lake is at risk of morphing into marshes and land.

To meet the “peak carbon and carbon neutrality” targets, the gradual reduction of coal-fired electricity generation through the co-firing of coal and NH3 has emerged as a new pathway to achieve carbon reduction. However, the co-firing characteristics of coal and NH3 are not yet clear. Therefore, the coal/NH3 co-firing experiments were conducted based on a flat-flame burner to investigate the influence of ammonia blending ratio (E(NH3), 0−100%) and coal/NH3 injection methods (pre-mixed, non-pre-mixed) on combustion characteristics. Camera, flue gas analyzer, and thermocouples were used to observe flame morphology, gas composition, temperature distribution along the centerline heights above the burner (HAB), and measure the unburned carbon content in fly ash. The results showed that during the initial stage of combustion, the competition for O2 between coal and NH3 was more pronounced. The NH3 combustion in the combustion zone created a rich water vapor atmosphere. Under low E(NH3) conditions in pre-mixed combustion, CO reacted with OH, resulting in a decrease in CO concentration. On the other hand, under high E(NH3) conditions, NH3 preferentially reacted with O2, leading to an incomplete combustion of a significant amount of carbon. Additionally, the rich water vapor atmosphere promoted coal gasification reactions, resulting in a significant increase in CO concentration in the combustion reduction zone, reaching a maximum of 19773.05 mg/Nm3. However, this process altered the pore structure of the coke, increased the specific surface area of the coke, accelerated the combustion process of coal powder, and reduced the residual carbon content in fly ash from 13.90% (pure coal combustion) to 13.44% (E(NH3)=80%) under pre-mixed conditions. An early injection of NH3 reduced the preheating effect of NH3 combustion on coal powder and decreased the combustion intensity in the flame reaction zone. The addition of NH3 significantly increased the NOx emissions, and with increasing E(NH3), there was an initial increase followed by a decrease in NOx, with the peak concentration of NO occurring earlier. The unburned NH3 content and oxygen content were the main factors influencing the formation of N2O and NO2. Increasing the residence time of coal/NH3 combustion, reducing the unburned NH3 content, and creating a reducing atmosphere were effective ways to reduce NOx emissions. Under high E(NH3) conditions in pre-mixed combustion (E(NH3)≥80%, HAB=100 mm) and non-pre-mixed conditions, the CO2 percentage showed a decreasing trend with increasing E(NH3). Pre-mixed conditions with an E(NH3) range of 40% to 60% were more favorable for achieving low nitrogen, low carbon, and high-efficiency combustion of coal/NH3. The co-firing of coal powder with NH3 exhibited mutual promotion and restriction effects, requiring some effective measures based on specific circumstances to harness the promotion effect of coal/NH3 co-firing.

Phosphogypsum (PG) and coal gangue (CG), as the largest solid waste today, the effective utilization of this part of the resource can help to alleviate environmental pollution and resource waste. The aim of this study was to utilize the excellent thermal insulation properties of original PG and the regulation of hydration products by calcined coal gangue (CCG) to produce phosphogypsum-based calcined coal gangue composite cementitious materials (PBCM). The optimal ratio of PBCM was studied through a combination of mechanical properties and thermal insulation properties. Finally, the effect of the foam factor is further investigated. The results show that: CCG can be used as a silicon-rich material with gelling properties to regulate the hydration products generated. The test block with a foam content of 8 % has the best performance, with a compressive strength of 2.53 MPa and a thermal conductivity of 0.1427 W/(m·K). The optimal experimental scheme obtained from the orthogonal test was as follows: The optimal experimental design obtained from orthogonal experiments was as follows: PG, quicklime (QL), sulfoaluminate cement (SAC) and foam contents were 45 %, 8 %, 8 % and 8 %, respectively. The CCG: cement and water-solid ratios (W/S) were 3:7 and 0.275, respectively. The development of high-performance composites presented in this study is conducive to enhancing waste utilization and provides a novel approach as well as a theoretical foundation for insulating building materials in practical engineering applications.

Driven by continuous advancements in artificial intelligence, especially deep learning, the level of realism associated with deepfake technology continues to improve year after year, which poses unprecedented challenges to the field of deepfake detection. The boundary between what we as humans can detect as real or fake becomes evermore blurred as new generations of algorithms such as Dall-E 3 and Stable Diffusion are released. This paper provides a comprehensive study into the landscape of deepfake detection, exploring in-depth the key challenges, recognising recent successes, and suggesting promising avenues for future research. A meta-literature review is conducted to identify the current challenges and future directions, which form the foundation of this work. They are investigated by analysing state-of-the-art research with a focus on the key components that are crucial to the design of a deepfake detector, i.e., the architecture, detection methods and datasets. A major challenge identified by this study is the lack of dataset diversity leading to unfair attribute representation. This must be addressed by improving standardisation on dataset ethics and privacy. This is one of the main reasons for the insufficient generalisation capability of current deepfake detectors as demonstrated by their unsatisfactory performance when faced with unseen data or data in the wild. This literature review provides deepfake detection researchers and practitioners with the latest information that will serve as a vital resource for their continued and important activity, now and in the future.

Abstract Highly stretchable porous materials are promising for flexible electronics but their fabrication is a great challenge. Herein, several kinds of highly stretchable conductive porous elastomers with low or negative Poisson’s ratios are achieved by uniaxial, biaxial, and triaxial hot-pressing strategies. The reduced graphene oxide/polymer nanocomposite elastomers with folded porous structures obtained by uniaxial hot pressing exhibit high stretchability up to 1200% strain. Furthermore, the meta-elastomers with reentrant porous structures combining high biaxial (or triaxial) stretchability and negative Poisson’s ratios are achieved by biaxial (or triaxial) hot pressing. The resulting elastomer-based wearable strain sensors exhibit an ultrawide response range (0-1200%). The materials can be applied for smart thermal management and electromagnetic interference shielding, which are achieved by regulating the porous microstructures via stretching. This work provides a versatile strategy to highly stretchable and negative-Poisson-ratio porous materials with promising features for various applications such as flexible electronics, thermal management, electromagnetic shielding, and energy storage.

Abstract Titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based photodynamic antibacterial (PDA) agents present a novel approach for addressing drug-resistant bacterial infections and the associated tissue damage. However, the suboptimal dispersibility, negative charge, and weak photocatalytic activity under visible light of TiO2 hinder its practical applications. This study aimed to address these limitations by developing a highly hydrophilic and dispersed Zn-TiO2/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (HTGZ) nano-system with exceptional visible light catalytic activity and tissue repair ability. HTGZ produced an antibacterial ratio over 98% within a short time, likely due to the enhanced production of reactive oxygen species under visible light. After being co-cultured for 4 days, L929 cells and BMSCs maintained over 90% activity, indicating that HTGZ had no significant cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the transcriptomic and metabolic analyses revealed that the antibacterial mechanism mainly came from the destruction of cell membranes and the disruption of various metabolic processes, such as purine metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis. Critically, results of in vivo experiments had authenticated that HTGZ significantly promoted infected tissue regeneration by slaughtering bacteria and release Zn2+. After 14 days, the wound area was only one-third that of the control group. Overall, the enhanced antibacterial efficacy and wound-healing potential position HTGZ as a promising nano-antibacterial medication for the clinical treatment of infectious bacterial diseases.

Abstract Background Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a chronic glomerular disease that leads to nephrotic syndrome in adults. The aim of this study was to identify novel biomarkers and immune-related mechanisms in the progression of MN through an integrated bioinformatics approach. Methods The microarray data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between MN and normal samples were identified and analyzed by the Gene Ontology analysis, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis and the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) enrichment. Hub The hub genes were screened and identified by the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves evaluated the diagnostic value of hub genes. The single-sample GSEA analyzed the infiltration degree of several immune cells and their correlation with the hub genes. Results We identified a total of 574 DEGs. The enrichment analysis showed that metabolic and immune-related functions and pathways were significantly enriched. Four co-expression modules were obtained using WGCNA. The candidate signature genes were intersected with DEGs and then subjected to the LASSO analysis, obtaining a total of 6 hub genes. The ROC curves indicated that the hub genes were associated with a high diagnostic value. The CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and B cells significantly infiltrated in MN samples and correlated with the hub genes. Conclusions We identified six hub genes (ZYX, CD151, N4BP2L2-IT2, TAPBP, FRAS1 and SCARNA9) as novel biomarkers for MN, providing potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment.

The Middle Permian Maokou Formation in the Sichuan Basin is an important natural gas payzone. Recently, Zhejiang Oilfield Company of CNPC obtained industrial gas flow of vertical well test 42×103 m3/d and horizontal well (well DB 1H) test 556×103 m3/d in the limy source rock gas reservoir of eyelid and eyeball- shaped limestone in the first member of the Maokou Formation in well DB 1, Da'an exploration area, western Chongqing. A breakthrough has been made in the unconventional gas exploration of argillaceous limestone in the southern Sichuan and western Chongqing area, showing good exploration prospects in this area. The eyelid and eyeball-shaped limestone in the first member of the Maokou Formation in the Sichuan Basin has the characteristics of self-generation and self-storage, continuous and stable distribution and high thermal maturity. The limestone of central gentle slope facies shows no water sensitivity or acid sensitivity, and is dominated by carbonate brittle minerals, which is ideal for acid-fracturing development. It is of great significance to study the characteristics and main controlling factors of the organic rich limestone reservoir. Taking well DB 1 as an example, this paper carried out a study on the petrology, sedimentology and reservoir characteristics of the first member of the Maokou Formation, and it is found that, deposited on the central gentle slope with frequent water activity and abundant organism, the dark gray to black micrite with high organic matter content has good physical properties. In general, submember c has better physical properties than submember a. The development degree of macropores in eyelid-shaped limestone is higher than that in eyeball-shaped limestone, and the development degree of micropores is not much different. The main pore types of the first member of the Maokou Formation include dissolution pores, fractures, clay mineral apertures and organic pores. The pores in clay minerals (mainly talc) and organic matters are mainly distributed in the eyelid-shaped limestone. Depositional process and diagenesis are the main factors controlling the development of the eyelid and eyeball-shaped limestone reservoirs. The central gentle slope facies controls the development and distribution features of the organic-rich micrites. Diagenesis as well as fracture and dissolution effects improve the reservoir capacity of limestone, which is critical for hydrocarbon accumulation. Stable and high yield commercial gas flow was obtained in the vertical wells and horizontal wells in the first member of the Maokou Formation which has high organic matter content in well DB 1 block in the western Chongqing area, indicating that the accumulation and occurrence conditions of limestone source rock gas are good in the first member of the Maokou Formation. It has two kinds of accumulation modes with self-generation and self-storage dominance and short distance aggregation of local structural bands, and has the characteristics of continuous distribution of gas reservoir and large resource scale. The "continuous gas reservoir: in the limestone source rock in the first member of the Maokou Formation has great exploration potential, which will become an important exploration target with good potential in the Sichuan Basin.

The Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation is the favorable target area for deep shale gas exploration and development in southeastern Sichuan Basin. Based on whole-rock X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscope, reservoir evolution thermal simulation experiment and nitrogen adsorption experiment, the diagenetic characteristics of deep shale reservoir in Longmaxi Formation were analyzed, and the reservoir pore evolution law was clarified. The results show that: ①The diagenetic minerals of the deep shale in the Longmaxi Formation are mainly quartz and clay minerals, with a small amount of carbonate minerals and feldspar. The primary inorganic pores are mainly controlled by mechanical compaction and cementation (quartz, carbonate, clay, pyrite). The organic pores are mainly controlled by the thermal maturity of organic matter, dissolution and later compaction. ②In the process of thermal simulation experiment, the organic pores of shale show a process of change from scratch, from small to large and then from large to small. Later, the organic matter is affected by compaction and graphitization, and the volume of micropores and mesopores begins to decrease. ③The shale pores of Longmaxi Formation have undergone several evolutionary stages. In the early stage of diagenesis, compaction caused a large number of inorganic pores to disappear. In the middle stage of diagenesis, kerogen hydrocarbon generation occupied pores, dissolution and cementation transformed pores. In the late diagenetic period, liquid hydrocarbon cracking gas and pressurization promote the development of organic pores.

Objective:. To evaluate the correlation between the incidence of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) in pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and the perioperative possible risk factors. Methods:. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Medline for studies describing complications related to PD from 2018 to 2022. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata/SE16.0 software. Results:. In 6 retrospective studies, 1 systematic review, and 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT) experiment, 12,419 patients (2174 and 10,245 patients, respectively, in DGE and no delayed gastric emptying [NDGE] groups). The preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score between DGE and NDGE groups (log odds ratio [OR] = 0.23, 95% credible interval [CI]: 0.11–0.35, P < .01), operation time (mean diff. = 21.87, 95% CI: 15.96–27.78, P < .01), estimated intraoperative blood loss (EIBL; mean diff. = 70.67, 95% CI: 17.75–123.58, P < .05), postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) (log OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.24–1.46, P < .05) were statistically significant. No significant differences in preoperative body mass index (BMI), preoperative biliary drainage, and pancreatic texture were observed (P > .05). Conclusion:. The incidence of DGE is significantly correlated with the operation time, preoperative ASA score, POPF, and EIBL,which suggests that the surgeon should thoroughly evaluate the patient through adequate preoperative examination before the operation. Finally, standardized practice and perfect technology are undoubtedly necessary to reduce complications.

Necrosis of the femoral head is a common refractory disease. At present, conventional open surgery is still used in most clinics, and postoperative pain, swelling and ecchymosis are common postoperative complications. This paper reviewed the clinical data of a patient undergoing hip replacement for femoral head necrosis. Based on the comprehensive nursing assessment, the Traditional Chinese Medicine ointment rubbing technique was carried out to relieve the postoperative pain, swelling and local ecchymosis, and improve the patient's comfort and early postoperative recovery. (股骨头坏死是一种常见的难治性疾病, 目前临床多采用传统的开放手术, 术后疼痛、肿胀及瘀斑是术后常见并发症。本文回顾1例股骨头坏死行髋关节置换术患者临床资料, 在加强护理评估的基础上, 运用中药膏摩技术缓解术后疼痛、肿胀及局部瘀斑, 旨在提高患者舒适度, 促进术后早日康复。)

Abstract Background Adult nephropathy is mainly caused by idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). In cases of proteinuria, Modified Ponticelli Regimens (MPR) are often successful. However, it can cause adverse side effects. Oral Sanqi Qushi Granule (SQG) with MPR is effective in patients with IMN. However, whether it can improve the remission rate of IMN and shorten the remission time is unknown. In this trial, SQG with MPR on IMN will be evaluated clinically for its efficacy and safety. Methods We will randomly assign IMN patients who meet the criteria to receives SQG plus cyclical Cyclophosphamide (CTX)/steroids or with placebo plus cyclical CTX/steroids for 6 months. A 12-month follow-up will be conducted on them. Status of remission will be used to assess treatment efficacy. Discussion This study aims to appraise whether treatment with SQG plus cyclical CTX/steroids is superior to placebo plus cyclical CTX/steroids in the remission rate of patients with adult IMN. Adverse events of SQG plus MPR will be also evaluated for further researches about Chinese Medicine and MPR on whether it can improve the remission rate of IMN in half a year and shorten the remission time and relieve adverse effects will also be clarified. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200061953 . Registered on 13 July 2022.

Thermal performance of densely populated underground buildings is normally influenced by various factors, including the surrounding rock (SR), ventilation, and indoor heat sources. It is recognized that little experimental studies on thermal control for the above building was reported. In this article, a full-size 50-person mine refuge chamber (MRC) was newly constructed to test the thermal performance under natural convection and ventilation. The heat ducts were used to simulate the heat released from human body. Experimental results indicated that: (1) the intensity of the heat transfer between rock and air increases with the rise in heat source rate and ventilation temperature (VT), while it decreases as the initial surrounding rock temperature (ISRT) increases; (2) when considering the joint temperature control of pre-cooled SR, it is recommended to reduce the VT linearly during the evacuation period in order to ensure the thermal safety of personnel. During the non-refuge period, the cold amount should be stored as far as possible into the shallow SR body to make full use of it; (3) to ensure the thermal safety of an MRC with a capacity of 30 people for 96 h, cooling measures are required when the ISRT exceeds 21.3 °C. In addition, when the ISRT reaches 27.6 °C, the per capita ventilation is 0.19 m3/min, and the temperature is 26 °C, which can also meet the requirements. This study provides experimental verification as a basis for future research on underground space temperature control considering the influence of SR.

The Zhaotong national shale gas demonstration area in Yunnan (hereinafter referred to as demonstration area) is China's third largest national shale gas production base after Changning–Weiyuan in Sichuan and Fuling in Chongqing. And after more than ten years of deep and careful cultivation, a series of important achievements have been obtained in the exploration and development. From the perspective of exploration and development history, theory and technology, this paper systematically summarizes the exploration discovery process and productivity construction progress of shale gas in the demonstration area, expounds the geological exploration theories and key technologies of mountain shale gas, and predicts their development prospect and direction. And the following research results are obtained. First, the exploration and development in the demonstration area has gone through five development stages, and so far, three major productivity construction zones have been formed, including Huangjinba and Zijinba middle–deep shale gas zones and Taiyang shallow shale gas zone, with cumulative proved geological reserves more than 3100 × 108 m3 and cumulative gas production more than 72 × 108 m3. It has been constructed into the third largest green shale gas demonstration base in China. Second, the “multi-field coordination and multi-element coupling” mountain shale gas enrichment, accumulation and occurrence theory of “sedimentary background controlling source rock and reservoir, reworking intensity controlling preservation, and three-dimensional sealing controlling enrichment” is put forward innovatively, and the “three-dimensional sealing system” accumulation model of extrabasinal shallow shale gas is established. Third, a series of zone selection and evaluation technologies for mountain shale gas in strongly reworked complex structural areas have been developed, and the concept of geology–engineering integration has first been adopted to create transparent shale gas reservoirs and cultivate high-yield wells. A major exploration breakthrough has been achieved from marginal basin medium deep shale gas layers to extrabasin ultra shallow to medium shallow ones, and domestic first large-scale monoblock shallow shale gas field with reserves over 2570 × 108 m3 has been discovered. Fourth, a landmark technological achievement and efficient development model with geology–engineering integration and shale geomechanical evaluation as the core has been formed, which leads the clean, green and efficient exploration and development of mountain shale gas. In conclusion, it is necessary to implement the exploration strategic idea of “two outgoing” in the demonstration area, i.e., “walking out of the stable area of the basin and marching into the complex structure areas in the Dianqianbei Depression” and “walking out of the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation and exploring other layers for breakthrough”. What's more, it is recommended to carry out the double-layer stereoscopic horizontal well pattern deployment of “Leping Formation CBM (coal measure gas) + Longmaxi Formation shale gas” appropriately in a large scale, so as to establish a new integrated development model for the three-dimensional efficient development of mountain shale gas and CBM.

Abstract Background Emerging evidence has shown the crucial roles of pleomorphic adenoma gene (PLAG) family genes in multiple cancers. However, their functions and mechanisms in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) remain poorly understood. Methods We analyzed the expression levels of PLAG family genes in both The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and a Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and confirmed the results in our three independent cohorts of 382 PAAD tissues and 362 adjacent nontumor pancreatic tissues. Integrated analyses were carried out to explore the function, mechanism and prognostic value of the selected PLAG family gene in PAAD patients. Results By analyzing the TCGA and GEO databases, PLAGL1 was identified to be downregulated in PAAD tissues, and its decreasing levels of both mRNA and protein were verified in our three independent PAAD cohorts. PLAGL1 expression was inversely correlated with clinicopathological factors including the Ki67+ cell rate and pathologic stage. Further GSEA of the TCGA-PAAD cohort demonstrated that multiple signaling pathways implicated in cell proliferation were enriched in the lower PLAGL1 expressing PAAD group. Moreover, we demonstrated that PLAGL1 expression was obviously negatively associated with patients’ overall survival outcome in both the TCGA-PAAD cohort and our verification cohorts. Additionally, through MTS and BrdU assays, we further demonstrated in vitro that PLAGL1 had the impact of preventing the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. Conclusions Our present study suggested that downregulated PLAGL1 might act as a biomarker in predicts poor prognosis and one of important factors in increasing cell proliferation in PAAD. This study provides us with a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic strategy for PAAD, which deserves further study.

聚焦安全关键软件, 研究基于PROMELA形式模型验证C程序中违反断言、数组越界、空指针解引用、死锁及饥饿等5类故障技术。建立C程序抽象语法树节点到PROMELA模型, 验证属性相关函数到PROMELA模型的2类映射规则; 根据映射规则提出由C程序自动生成PROMELA形式模型的算法, 并对算法进行理论分析; 针对C程序中5种故障类型, 分别给出基于PROMELA模型的形式化验证方法, 并分析验证的范围; 覆盖各类故障的验证范围, 为每类故障类型选取12个C程序案例进行实证研究, 实验结果证明了方法的有效性。

Objective To investigate the effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comprehensive nursing interventions on prevention of abdominal distension and constipation after unilateral total knee replacement. Methods A total of 120 patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty were randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group (n=60) used conventional nursing measures to prevent postoperative abdominal distension and constipation. In the observation group(n=60), comprehensive nursing interventions including Chinese medicine hot election bag, constipation massage therapy combined with acupoint application were carried out. The incidence of postoperative constipation was s compared between the two groups, and the degree of postoperative abdominal distension was measured. Results There was no significant difference in the incidence of constipation at 24 hours after operation between the two groups (P＞0. 05). The incidence of constipation in the observation group was lower than that in the control group at 48 h, 72h and the 7 days after operation, with statistical significance (P＜0. 05). A lower degree of abdominal distension was reported in the observation group than that of the control group at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 7 days after surgery, with statistical significance(P＜0. 05). Conclusion The combined application of TCM comprehensive nursing interventions can effectively relieve abdominal distention and reduce the incidence of constipation in patients after unilateral total knee replacement, and promote early postoperative defecation. (目的 探讨中医综合护理干预预防单侧全膝关节置换术后腹胀和便秘的效果。方法 单侧全膝关节置换术患者120例随机分为对照组和观察组, 各60例。对照组采用常规方法预防术后腹胀和便秘, 观察组在常规护理基础上增加中医综合护理干预, 包括中药热奄包、便秘推拿治疗联合穴位贴敷。记录两组术后便秘发生情况, 评价两组术后腹胀程度。结果 两组患者术后24 h便秘发生率比较, 差异无统计学意义(P＞0. 05); 术后48 h、72 h及术后第7天, 便秘发生率观察组均低于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。术后24 h、48 h、72 h及术后第7天腹胀程度评价结显示, 观察组较对照组轻微, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。结论 中医综合护理能有效缓解单侧全膝关节置换手术患者术后腹胀程度, 降低术后便秘发生率, 促进患者术后早期排便。)

The Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian Wufeng-Longmaxi shales in the Middle Yangtze area have strong vertical heterogeneity, affecting the gas-bearing capacity of shale reservoirs and the fracturing ability.This study integrates wire-line logs, drilling cores, thin section observations, total organic carbon content, X-ray diffraction mineralogy measurement, and major, trace elements measurement.Under the stratigraphic sequence framework in the study area, the vertical variation of TOC content, mineralogical composition and shale lithofacies were studied.Combined with geochemical proxies for paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental conditions, the main factors controlling vertical heterogeneity were discussed.The results show that the Wufeng-Longmaxi shales have two 3rd-order sequences.The Wufeng Formation is divided into the transgressive systems tract(TST1) and high stand systems tract(HST), and the Longmaxi Formation is divided into the transgressive systems tract(TST2) and the early high stand systems tract(EHST).During the transgression period, the shale has high silica content, low clay content, and high organic carbon content, and mainly developed siliceous shale facies and clay-bearing siliceous shale facies.In the early high-stand systems tract period, shale developed silty bands and lenticular bedding, with high clay content, and low organic carbon content, and mainly developed siliceous-clay mixed shale lithofacies.The vertical changes of paleoclimate indicators(CIA, Rb/Sr), paleo-productivity indicators(Cu/Al, P/Al), redox environmental indicators(MoEF, UEF), and terrestrial input(Ti, Zr) indicators indicate a high productivity, anoxic sedimentary environment, low terrestrial input and relatively dry and cold climate conditions for the transgression period, while during the high-stand systems tract deposition, the study area has low productivity, oxic-dysoxic environment, high terrestrial input and relatively warm and humid climateconditions.The paleo climate, paleo productivity, redox conditions, volcanic activity, terrestrial input and bottom currents are the main factors controlling the stratigraphic heterogeneity of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shales in the study area.Finally, by comparing with some parameters of the shale in the Upper Yangtze region, it is found that the study area shows the differences in deeper burial depth, thinner organic shale, lower gas content and more brittle mineral content.

Most studies about tunnel environments focus on the adjustment of brightness in tunnels and pay little attention to the decoration of the walls. This study is based on a highway tunnel in Jilin province, China. Five design schemes (white, gray, dark-blue, light-yellow, and blue sky with white clouds) were selected for the tunnel vaults. The experiment was conducted on a self-developed driving simulation platform. Pupil diameter and heart rate growth (HRG) were proposed to analyze the driving comfort. A SMI eye tracker and a Polar heart-rate belt were employed to record the pupil diameter and heart rate, respectively. The results indicate that the color of the tunnel vault considerably influences the pupil diameter and HRG of a driver. The degrees of emotional fluctuation and psychological tension is higher for drivers in dark-color environments than in light-color environments. Therefore, light colors must be prioritized when designing tunnel vaults. The results also indicate that a tunnel vault in blue sky with white clouds is the most comfortable for drivers. This experiment provides a reference for the tunnel design.

Clayey aquitards are widespread in the coastal plain and they are capable to preserve paleo-saltwater. Its salinity distribution and transport process play an important role on the evolution of aquifer groundwater, yet they have attracted little attention. In this paper, undisturbed clayey samples in seven boreholes along the Jiangsu coastal plain were collected and porewater was extracted by squeezing. Based on the natural tracers Cl- and Br- profiles and numerical simulation, porewater salinity characterization and transport mechanism were analyzed. The results showed that two trends of porewater Cl- variations are observed: one is that Cl- peak value is near surface and decreases with depth; the other one is that the Cl- peak value is at depth of 25 m and decreases towards both ends. Porewater has a Cl- range of 486.2-38 036.7 mg/L and Cl/Br of 72-360(average: 241). The relations between Cl- and Cl/Br ratios and the profile signature indicate that saline porewater is of marine origin, and from the Holocene transgression seawater. Subsequently, they were diluted by freshwater. Aquitard porewater 1-D transport model suggests that the transgression and regression events are dominant for the salinity evolution. Holocene seawater is still trapped in the sediment whereas Pleistocene seawater has been flushed out. In aquitard, diffusion is dominant for solute transport with the vertical velocity of 0.43-15.8 mm/yr and influenced by advection in higher permeability sand layers. The redistribution of paleo-saltwater, in particular, in the condition of groundwater over-extraction, would be the important saline source for aquifer groundwater.

The emergence of earth system science and groundwater flow system theory marked the beginning of a new era of hydrogeology.The theory of groundwater flow systems has become a new paradigm of hydrogeology, and its development has provided new enlightenment in methodology for groundwater research.Since the early 1980s, the Groundwater Flow System Group of China University of Geosciences(Wuhan) has continued to carry out theoretical and applied research on groundwater flow systems.In this paper, we attempt to review and summarize these research from a methodological point of view.Groundwater problems are affected by many factors.The research should be based on the "combination of goal and problem orientation".Only when the target is accurate, can one move towards the goal without losing direction in the vast amount of information.The "hypothetical deduction method" adopted in the research, first deduces the expected phenomenon based on the existing knowledge and data, then observes and seek evidence purposefully, and then revises the hypothesis to continue the verification until the hypothesis is confirmed or falsified.In the process of deductive evidence-seeking, technical methods such as "controlled experiment", "information extraction and organization", and "integration of multidisciplinary methods and means" can be used.The case analysis confirmed that the controlled simulation experiment has enabled us to obtain a new understanding of the groundwater flow patterns; the use of multi-channel information extraction, processing and organization to build a groundwater flow system patterns can effectively solve practical problems in various projects; and the integration of multiple disciplines and means, and the mutual verification of various information have improved the credibility of the results.Based on the case studies, we summarized the methodologies in order to provide a reference for correctly understanding the theory of groundwater flow systems and promote the application of new theories and new ideas in hydrogeological research.

In the early 1960s, Tóth obtained hierarchical groundwater flow systems by using analytical solution based on given-head upper boundary, which is a milestone breakthrough in hydrogeology and successfully solved a series of theoretical and practical problems.However, the defects of Tóth's analytical solution have been followed for a long time such as focusing solely on mathematical simulation and ignoring the physical mechanism; taking terrain control of water table as a universal law; and ignoring the distortion of the mathematical simulation based on given-head upper boundary.These shortcomings, especially the lack of the physical mechanisms exploration, not only hindered the development of Tótian theory itself, but also made the theory difficult to be understood, so that the theory has not being widely applied yet by the international hydrogeological community.This paper proposes an expression for the minimum energy consumption rate of groundwater flow referring to the principle of minimum energy consumption rate applied in river dynamics.Based on the exited results of "numerical simulation of groundwater flow patterns using flux as upper boundary", the physical mechanism is further explored, and it is concluded that groundwater flow follows the principle of minimum energy consumption rate.

Scientific and reasonable evaluation of groundwater resources is essential for overall planning, rational development and utilization of regional groundwater, and ensuring the safety of regional ecological environment.Obtaining spatial heterogeneous distribution information of aquifer characteristics is a critical first step in resolving a variety of groundwater issues, such as seepage, pollution transport, groundwater development and exploitation.The heterogeneity of aquifers, however, is difficult to properly define due to the limitations of traditional survey equipment.Two-point geostatistics determines the correlation of random variables through variogram, solves the spatial linear estimation of geological variables and characterizes their anisotropy.Multi-point geostatistics breaks through the limitation of spatial correlation between two points, and effectively reflects the spatial distribution characteristics of aquifer parameters through multi-point training image modeling, which is also more suitable for simulating complex geological bodies.Based on this, the paper briefly describes and discusses the commonly used two-point geostatistics in the assessment of the spatial variation of aquifer parameters.Furthermore, the hydraulic conductivity is utilized as a medium to summarize the restricted synergistic relationships between hydraulic conductivity and electrical resistivity, hydraulic gradient or hydraulic head in two-point geostatistics.Besides, the advantages of multi-point geostatistical modeling are summarized after being compared with traditional geostatistical modeling.The unsolved problems and future development direction by its own algorithms and modeling methods are also discussed.Meanwhile, it is also pointed out that under the background of the rapid development of satellite, radar and remote sensing technology, the arrival of geological big data era shows a general trend that multi-source, multi-spatial and multi-resolution spatial data can be integrated and scale-driven by data assimilation, machine learning and other methods to help geostatistics achieve numerical modeling.

Abstract The naturally formed aeolian sand dunes in northern Shaanxi exhibit unique engineering characteristics. Several challenges, such as the poor self-stabilization ability of the surrounding rock, difficultly in injecting grout, and insufficient construction experience, restrict the construction of road tunnels under this stratum. Therefore, in this study, a case study of the Shenmu No. 1 tunnel was conducted to investigate the engineering characteristics of aeolian sand tunnels, compare the grouting effects of commonly used grouting materials, and discuss the reinforcement effects of different construction schemes in aeolian sand tunnels. Based on a field grouting test, it was determined that it is difficult to inject ordinary cement grout into an aeolian sand layer. Furthermore, it was determined that superfine cement grout and modified sodium silicate grout can be injected, but the former exhibits a poor reinforcement effect. Additionally, results of numerical analysis indicated that an approach based on a concept of “horizontal jet grouting pile + benching partial excavation method with a temporary invert” is suitable for the construction of tunnels in aeolian sand in China.

Abstract Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal malignancy due to failures of early detection and high metastasis in patients. While certain genetic mutations in tumors are associated with severity, the molecular mechanisms responsible for cancer progression are still poorly understood. Synaptotagmin-8 (SYT8) is a membrane protein that regulates hormone secretion and neurotransmission, and its expression is positively regulated by the promoter of the insulin gene in pancreatic islet cells. In this study, we identified a previously unknown role of SYT8 in altering tumor characteristics in pancreatic cancer. SYT8 levels were upregulated in patient tumors and contributed towards increased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Increased SYT8 expression also promoted tumor metastasis in an in vivo tumor metastasis model. Furthermore, we showed that SYT8-mediated increase in tumorigenicity was regulated by SIRT1, a protein deacetylase previously known to alter cell metabolism in pancreatic lesions. SIRT1 expression was altered by orphan nuclear receptor ERRα and troponin-1 (TNNI2), resulting in cell proliferation and migration in an SYT8-dependent manner. Together, we identified SYT8 to be a central regulator of tumor progression involving signaling via the SIRT1, ERRα, and TNNI2 axis. This knowledge may provide the basis for the development of therapeutic strategies to restrict tumor metastasis in pancreatic cancer.

Vertical compressive stress of the foundation is a vital parameter for determining the coefficient of self-weight collapsibility of loess tunnels. This paper aims to provide a theoretical solution for the vertical compressive stress of shallow neighbourhood loess tunnel foundation. Firstly, the formula of boundary depth for deep- and shallow-buried neighbourhood loess tunnels with the consideration of the construction order of two holes is derived. In addition, solutions for surrounding rock pressure of the first and rear holes are established. Then, calculation of foundation vertical compressive stress of shallow neighbourhood loess tunnel is deduced by basing on the Flamant’s elasticity solution. Finally, the Xi’an metro line NO. 2 is taken as a case study to examine and verify the applicability of the proposed theoretical method. The case study results show that the variation between the proposed formula and numerical simulation is less than 15%, which proves the reliability of our proposed formula and its potential application in the construction of shallow neighbourhood loess tunnels.

Full-cycle and real-time monitoring of the wellbore flow during hydraulic fracturing is challenging in unconventional oil and gas development. In the past few years, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) provides opportunities to measure the acoustic energy distribution along the entire horizontal well. It is a promising tool for real-time monitoring and understanding of the fluid injection process. However, the signal identification of effective flow in the wellbore from DAS data is cumbersome and prone to error. We propose a deep learning approach to solve this problem. The neural network is a combination of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Networks (BiLSTM) to extract the spatial and temporal features from the DAS data. The trained model is applied to the field data collected in the horizontal well. The results demonstrate its capability for intelligent monitoring and real-time evaluation for hydraulic fracturing.

Natural gases from the Taiyang (shallow), Jiaoshiba (middle), and Weirong (deep) shale gas fields in the southern Sichuan Basin were analyzed for molecular and stable carbon isotopic compositions to investigate the geochemical characteristics and gas origins. All the gases belong to shale gas from the Upper Ordovician–Lower Silurian shale and are dominated by methane with gas wetness generally less than 0.83%. The δ13C1 values are −28.5‰, −30.3‰, and −35.2‰ in Taiyang, Jiaoshiba, and Weirong shale gas fields, respectively. The extremely high thermal maturity is the controlling factor for the enrichment of 13C in methane, with a minor contribution from the heavy carbon isotope of the organic matter in the Ordovician Wufeng Formation. Fischer–Tropsch-type synthesis of hydrocarbon gas from CO2 and H2 contributes to the increase of wet gas, which results in the offset from the δ13C1∼wetness linear trend in the Taiyang and Jiaoshiba gas fields. Methane, ethane, and propane in the Taiyang shale gas field have increasing δ13C values with increasing burial depth, which is mainly caused by diffusive migration. All gases are characterized by a complete carbon isotopic reversal trend (δ13C1 > δ13C2 > δ13C3), and it is mainly caused by the reversible free-radical reactions with the conversion from alkane to alkyl groups, with some contribution from the Fischer–Tropsch-type synthesis. The results of this study will improve our understanding of the geochemical characteristics of shale gases from different burial depths and have important implications for future shale gas exploration in the deep and shallow layers.

In this paper, shale gas cores from the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Zhaotong National Shale Gas Demonstration Area were selected to study the hydration effect of different fluids on the fracture morphology inside the shale, the rock tensile strength and the Brazilian tensile failure mode. Fresh water and slick water were adopted for hydration pretreatments and the CT technique was used to compare the changes of the fabric in the shale. Then, Brazilian tensile tests were carried out to study the tensile strength and tensile failure modes of the shale specimen after hydration pretreatment. Finally, two horizontal wells in the study area were selected to perform pilot tests of hydration pretreatment in their fracturing operation sites. And the following research results were obtained. First, in the process of spontaneous imbibition, the hydration effect of fresh water is superior to that of slick water in promoting the fracture complexity of marine shale in the same hydration duration. Second, fresh water has greater surface tension and lower viscosity and its hydration effect can not only promote the propagation of original fractures but induce new micro-fractures or branches, while the hydration effect of slick water mainly promotes the propagation of original fractures. Third, due to hydration effect, marine shale is damaged and its tensile strength is reduced. After the hydration pretreatment by fresh water and slick water, the tensile strength of the shale specimens are reduced by 35.6% and 18.1%, respectively. Fourth, according to the propagation paths of main fractures, the Brazilian tensile failure modes of hydrated shale can be divided into four types (i.e., step shaped, dog-leg shaped, branching shaped and arc shaped) or their combinations, while the tensile failure mode of unhydrated shale is only a straight line. Fifth, hydration effect can effectively increase the complexity of the hydraulic fractures in marine shale, so if the conditions permit, it is recommended to inject a certain amount of fresh water at a high pumping rate within the limited pressure after perforation and to shut in the well until the hydraulic fracturing operation. And in order to reduce the difficulties of pumping the proppant during the hydraulic fracturing operation, a pumping strategy of “low proppant concentration, large volume of slurries” can be adopted to reach the expected proppant volume.

The Zhaotong National Shale Gas Demonstration Area along the southern margin of the Sichuan Basin is located in the complex marine tectonic area of South China, where shale deformation and reformation are intense and the factors controlling sweet spots are complex, so the preservation conditions have an important impact on the enrichment of shale gas. In order to support the selection and evaluation of shale gas sweet spots in this area and improve the success rate of drilling, this paper carried out a geological survey on field outcrops. Then, based on drilling, mud logging and physical property test data, the structural deformation pattern and the regional deformation characteristics of this demonstration area were analyzed, and the development characteristics of formation joints and fractures, the sealing capacity of shale surrounding rock and the distribution characteristics of gas reservoirs were studied. Finally, the preservation conditions of shale gas in the Wufeng Formation of Upper Ordovician and the Longmaxi Formation of Lower Silurian were discussed. And the following research results were obtained. First, in the Zhaotong National Shale Gas Demonstration Area, three structural deformation patterns are developed from south to north, including trough type, equal amplitude type and baffle type, which are distributed in three major deformation zones, respectively, i.e., the shear deformation zone of Central Guizhou Uplift, the compression–torsion deformation zone of northern Yunnan–Guizhou Depression and the compression deformation zone of Southern Sichuan Depression. Second, three types of joints and fractures whose relationships with the direction of strata are high angle, middle–low angle and bedding intersection are developed in the Wufeng–Longmaxi formations and its overlying strata, and their occurrence characteristics are basically consistent with those of the three major deformation zones. Third, the shale of Wufeng–Longmaxi formations is thick in the north and thin in the south and possesses the preservation conditions of source–reservoir integration and self-sealing hydrocarbon accumulation. And combined with the sealing ability of the overburden strata and the roof and floor, its preservation conditions are overall better. Fourth, from the perspective of shale gas component, this area can be divided into three belts, i.e., methane, methane + nitrogen mixture and nitrogen from north to south. And the preservation conditions of shale gas are generally better in the north and worse in the south. In conclusion, the shale in the central–northern part of Zhaotong National Shale Gas Demonstration Area (compression deformation area and its southern margin) is the most favorable area because of its large shale thickness, weak reformation and deformation, bedding development of joints and fractures, good sealing performance and excellent preservation conditions. The compression–torsion deformation zone of northern Yunnan–Guizhou Depression in the central part is moderate in preservation conditions, and it is the relatively favorable area. The shear deformation zone of Central Guizhou Uplift in the southern part has poor preservation conditions, and it is a prospective area.

Background: Biodegradable suture anchors are commonly used for repairing torn rotator cuffs, but these biodegradable materials still suffer from low mechanical strength, poor osteointegration, and the generation of acidic degradation byproducts. Method: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term mechanical behavior and osteogenetic capabilities of a biocomposite anchor injection molded with 30% β-tricalcium phosphate microparticles blended with 70% poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide) (85/15). This study investigated in vitro degradation and in vivo bone formation in a canine model. The initial mechanical behavior, mechanical strength retention with degradation time, and degradation features were investigated. Results: The results showed that the biocomposite anchor had sufficient initial mechanical stability confirmed by comparing the initial shear load on the anchor with the minimum shear load borne by an ankle fracture fixation screw, which is considered a worst-case implantation site for mechanical loading. The maximum shear load retention of the biocomposite anchor was 83% at 12 weeks, which is desirable, as it aligns with the rate of bone healing. The β-tricalcium phosphate fillers were evenly dispersed in the polymeric matrix and acted to slow the degradation rate and improve the mechanical strength of the anchor. The interface characteristics between the β-tricalcium phosphate particles and the polymeric matrix changed the degradation behavior of the biocomposite. Phosphate buffer saline was shown to diffuse through the interface into the biocomposite to inhibit the core accelerated degradation rate. In vivo, the addition of β-tricalcium phosphate induced new bone formation. The biocomposite material developed in this study demonstrated improved osteogenesis in comparison to a plain poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide) material. Neither anchor produced adverse tissue reactions, indicating that the biocomposite had favorable biocompatibility following long-term implantation. Conclusion: In summary, the new biocomposite anchor presented in this study had favorable osteogenetic capability, mechanical property, and controlled degradation rate for bone fixation. Translational potential of this article: The new biocomposite anchor had sufficient initial and long-term fixation stability and bone formation capability in the canine model. It is indicated that the new biocomposite anchor has a ​potential for orthopedic application. Keywords: Anchor-bone interaction, Biocomposite anchor, Degradation rate, Mechanical property, Osteogenesis

Based on exploration and development results and evaluation of marine shale gas in South China in the past ten years, in view of the features of “high maturity, strong tectonic reformation and high shear stress” of the shale in Zhaotong exploration zone in the Yunnan and Guizhou Plateau, as well as the key issues of long time diffusion and leakage of shallow shale gas, and the preservation conditions, the factors controlling shallow shale gas sweet spot and key zone selection evaluation technology of shale gas are investigated. From 2017 to 2018, the first significant exploration breakthrough was made in the Taiyang anticline at a buried depth of 700 to 2 000 m, discovering large-scale proved geological reserves of shallow shale gas. By examining the accumulation conditions and sweet spot control factors of the shallow shale gas in this area, it is found that the accumulation and productivity potential of shale gas in the mountainous area with complex structure outside basin are controlled by five factors: (1) The gas-rich area has weak tectonic reformation and good preservation conditions on the whole, taking on typical anticline trap occurrence mode. (2) The gas-rich area is in over-pressure state and high in shale gas content. (3) The gas-rich area has high quality shale and thus superior source rock condition. (4) The gas-rich area has high quality reservoirs dominated by class I. (5) The shale gas reservoir in the gas-rich area has high content of brittle minerals and small difference between maximum and minimum horizontal stresses which are conducive to hydraulic fracturing. The innovative practice and core technologies formed during the exploration and production capacity construction of shallow shale gas in the Zhaotong demonstration zone have great reference significance for shallow shale gas exploration and development in other areas. Key words: shallow shale gas, Silurian Longmaxi Formation, Ordovician Wufeng Formation, exploration breakthrough, Taiyang anticline area, Zhaotong area, anticline

Well shut-in and drainage after shale gas fracturing are important factors affecting the productivity. Due to the imperfect optimization method of shale gas flowback, there has been no clear explanation for the problems such as “formulation of reasonable well shut-in time” and “less fracturing fluid flowback but high-gas production phenomenon” during shale gas drainage. In this paper, the double pressure funnels (one funnel is formed during fracturing by pressure difference from wellbore to formation, and two funnels are formed during flowback by pressure difference from fracture to formation and from fracture to wellbore) and gas-liquid two-way mass transfer (gas transfer by diffusion and liquid transfer by pressure difference) in shale gas drainage are investigated by calculating the pressure distribution after fracturing shale gas wells. The discrete numerical simulation by using unstructured PEBI grid is conducted, and the result is as follows: when shale gas well is shut-in for 20 days and produce for 1 year, the daily gas production corresponding to fracturing fluid flowback rates of 20%, 10%, and 5% are 47700 m3, 5800 m3, and 72700 m3, respectively. The investigation of double pressure funnels and gas-liquid two-way mass transfer explains clearly the phenomenon “less fracturing fluid flowback but high-gas production.” Meanwhile, the two conditions for optimizing the well shut-in time after fracturing are presented. That is, as for the studied case, the moving speed of the pressure boundary line should be less than 0.1 m/d, and the water-gas ratio near the fracture should be less than 1/d with time. Consequently, the reasonable well shut-in time is optimized to be 20-25 days. The findings in this work are of benefit to enrich the flowback theory of shale gas after fracturing and provide a theoretical basis for the optimization technology of shale gas drainage after fracturing.

Introduction: Some encouraging findings of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in management of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) obtained in the setting of clinical trials are hard to validate in the daily clinical practice due to a complicated treatment scenario of CHM in practice. The primary objective of this registry is to provide a description of treatment patterns used in management of IMN and assess clinical remission in daily practice in a Chinese population sample with IMN.Methods and analysis: This is a prospective, multicenter cohort which will comprise 2000 adults with IMN regardless of urinary protein levels that will be recruited from 11 nephrology centers across China. The participants will be followed for up to at least 2 years. Primary outcome is composite remission (either complete remission or partial remission) 24 months after enrolment. The secondary outcomes are complete remission, partial remission, time to remission, no response, relapse, proteinuria, annual change of glomerular filtration rate, antibodies against PLA2R, and composite endpoint of 40% reduction of glomerular filtration rate, doubling of serum creatinine, end-stage renal disease, and death. Propensity score analysis will be used for matching and adjustment.Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (BF2020-094-01). Results of the study will be published in both national and international peer-reviewed journals, and presented at scientific conferences. Investigators will inform the participants as well as other IMN patients of the findings via health education.Study registration: ChiCTR2000033680 (prospectively registered).

Recently, magnetic two-dimensional Cr2TiC2Tx MXenes with promising applications in spin electronics have been experimentally confirmed. However, the underlying magnetic mechanism needs to be further investigated. Along these lines, in this work, the magnetic properties of Cr2TiC2On/4F2−n/4 and Cr2TiC2On/4 structures were simulated through first-principle calculations using the GGA+U approach. The values of 4.1 and 3.1 eV were calculated for the Hubbard U of Cr and Ti, respectively, by applying the linear response method. Interestingly, the Cr2TiC2On/4F2−n/4-based configurations with low O content (n ≤ 4) exhibit antiferromagnetic behavior, while the majority of the respective configurations with high O content (n ≥ 5) are ferromagnetic. As far as the Cr2TiC2O5/4F3/4 structure (n = 5) is concerned, the value of about 2.64 μB was estimated for the magnetic moment of the Cr atom. On top of that, the Curie temperature lies within the range of 10~47 K. The extracted theoretical results are in good agreement with experimental outcomes of the Cr2TiC2O1.3F0.8-based structure. From the simulated results, it can be also argued that the magnetic moment of Cr atoms and the Neel temperature can be directly tuned by the active content of O atoms. The conductivity of both Cr2TiC2On/4F2−n/4 and Cr2TiC2On/4 configurations can be regulated by the externally applied magnetic field, while the density of states around the Fermi level shifted significantly between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic arrangements. The acquired results provide important theoretical insights to tuning the magnetic properties of Cr2TiC2Tx-based structures through surface termination mechanisms, which are quite significant for their potential applications in spin electronics.

Petroleum-contaminated soil (PCS) exhibits a variety of oil–soil interfacial properties. Surface heterogeneity of soil particles is one of the most critical influencing aspects. The interaction energies of the heterogeneous surfaces of montmorillonite (Mnt) and kaolinite (Kln) for saturates adsorption were determined by molecular simulation to be −1698.88 ± 0.67 (001 surface of Mnt), −73.81 ± 0.51 (010 edge of Mnt), −3086.33 ± 0.46 (001 surface of Kln), and −850.17 ± 0.74 (010 edge of Kln) kJ/mol, respectively. The adsorption of both clays with saturates relied on van der Waals forces, and the edges of Mnt were hardly adsorbed with saturates. According to adhesive force measurements, the oil–clay interaction forces of Mnt and Kln were 111.18 ± 0.01 and 122.65 ± 0.03 μN, respectively. In agreement with the simulations, Kln adsorbed saturates more strongly. Dynamic interfacial rheology and liquid viscoelasticity also revealed differences in adsorption behaviors between Mnt–saturates and Kln–saturates. It demonstrated that in the case of relatively low clay concentrations, the impact of particle surface heterogeneity on the adsorption process was stronger than that of structure even though Mnt had multilayer structures. Moreover, in thermodynamic adsorption experiments, it was evident that Kln adsorbed more oil than Mnt at the adsorption equilibrium states even though both were multilayer adsorptions and the adsorption amounts declined with increasing temperature. Simultaneously, the characteristics of the thermal adsorption of clay and saturates with different proportions were consistent with clay dispersion in saturates, and Kln released more heat being combined with oil. Overall, the heterogeneity of clay particles strongly affects the oil–clay interfacial chemical behaviors, causing more difficulty in treating PCS containing Kln than those containing Mnt. These results provide a theoretical basis for PCS treatment technology.

Pancreatic cancer (PCa) is one of the most aggressive lethal malignancies, and cancer metastasis is the major cause of PCa-associated death. F-box/LRR-repeat protein 7 (FBXL7) regulates cancer metastasis and the chemosensitivity of human pancreatic cancer. However, the clinical significance and biological role of FBXL7 in PCa have been rarely studied. In this study, we found that the expression of FBXL7 was down-regulated in PCa tissues compared with tumor-adjacent tissues, and the low expression of FBXL7 was positively associated with cancer metastasis. Functionally, overexpression of FBXL7 attenuated PANC1 cell invasion, whereas FBXL7 silencing promoted BxPC-3 cell invasion. Forced expression of FBXL7 upregulated the expression of epithelial markers (e.g., E-cadherin) and repressed the expression of mesenchymal markers (e.g., N-cadherin and Vimentin), indicating that FBXL7 negatively regulated the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of PCa cells. Furthermore, we identified that FBXL7 repressed the expression of Snail1, a crucial transcription factor of EMT. Mechanistically, FBXL7 bound to Snail1 and promoted its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. In vivo studies demonstrated that FBXL7 inhibition promotes PCa metastasis. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that FBXL7 knockdown could efficiently enhance PCa metastasis by regulating Snail1-dependent EMT.

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal solid malignancies in the world due to its excessive cell proliferation and aggressive metastatic features. Emerging evidences revealed the importance of posttranscriptional modifications of RNAs in PC progression. However, knowledge about the 5-methylcytosine (m5C) RNA modification in PC is still extremely limited. In this study, we attempted to explore the expression changes and clinical significances of 12 known m5C-related genes among PC patients. Methods: A total of 362 normal and 382 tumor specimens from PC patients were examined for candidate m5C-related gene and protein expression by using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The proliferation rate of PC cells was detected by MTS assay. Xenograft mouse models were used to assess the role of NSUN6 in PC tumor formation. Findings: Through analyzing the four Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, six m5C-related genes shown significant and consistent alterations were selected for further examination in our 3 independent PC cohorts. Finally, we identified the reduction of NSUN6 as a common feature of all PC sample sets examined. NSUN6 expression correlated with clinicopathologic parameters including T stage, and Ki67+ cell rate. Further assessing the transcriptional profiles of 50 PC tissues, we found biological processes associated with cell proliferation like cell cycle and G2M checkpoint were enriched in NSUN6 lower expression group. Helped by in vitro PC cell lines and in vivo xenograft mouse models, we confirmed the role of NSUN6 in regulating cell proliferation and PC tumor growth. Last but also importantly, we also show the good performance of NSUN6 in evaluating tumor recurrence and survival among PC patients. Interpretation: Our data suggested that NSUN6 is an important factor involved in regulating cell proliferation of PC, and highlights the potential of novel m5C-based clinical modalities as a therapeutic approach in PC patients. Funding: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 81803014, 81802424, and 81802911).

In this study, we developed a tunnel excavation model test system to investigate the deformation and mechanical response of the surrounding rocks and tunnel structure during the reconstruction and expansion of an existing shallow single-hole tunnel into a twin-arch tunnel. A model test was conducted to study the variation in the ground surface settlement characteristics, surrounding rock pressure, and internal stresses of the supporting structure and midwall during the construction process. The influence of the excavation distance on displacements and structural stress between the faces of the left and right tunnels was analysed using numerical software. A comparison between the model test results and the monitoring and measurement construction results revealed a fairly consistent ground surface settlement, indicating that the system is stable and reliable and can be widely applied to laboratory model test research on tunnel excavation. Results show that the excavation of the first tunnel had a significant effect on the stability of the surrounding rock within the distance of a single-tunnel span behind the tunnel face. When the excavation distance between the two tunnels exceeded twice the length of the single-tunnel span, its effect on the stresses and deformation of the reconstructed twin-arch tunnel was negligible.

To improve the accuracy of centrifugal pump fault diagnosis, a novel fault diagnosis method based on improved multiple fractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA), the fusion of multi-sensing information derived from the back propagation (BP) neural network and the Dempster–Shafter (D-S) evidence theory, is accordingly proposed. Firstly, the multifractal spectral parameters of four sensor signals under four different operating conditions were extracted as centrifugal pump fault feature vectors using improved MFDFA and input to the BP neural network. Then, the basic trust assignment function was constructed by calculating trustworthiness (both local and global) as priori information, which is based on the output results of the neural networks specific to of each group of sensors. Finally, the basic trust assignment function was fused with decision processing in accordance with the D-S evidence combination rule in order to effectively achieve the multi-sensor information fusion centrifugal pump fault diagnosis. The experimental results show the multiple fractal spectrum feature parameters extracted by the improved MFDFA can accurately reflect the signal essence, and can be used as the fault feature vector. On this basis, this multi-sensor fault diagnosis reduces the uncertainty of fault classification and demonstrates improved accuracy compared to the single-sensor fault diagnosis thanks to being based on a combination of the BP neural networks and D-S evidence theory. Thereby, this method can facilitate accurate diagnosis of the centrifugal pump fault type with high confidence, subsequently providing a novel and alternative method to existing methods of diagnosis.

A polarized arrangement of neuronal microtubule arrays is the foundation of membrane trafficking and subcellular compartmentalization. Conserved among both invertebrates and vertebrates, axons contain exclusively ‘plus-end-out’ microtubules while dendrites contain a high percentage of ‘minus-end-out’ microtubules, the origins of which have been a mystery. Here we show that in Caenorhabditis elegans the dendritic growth cone contains a non-centrosomal microtubule organizing center (MTOC), which generates minus-end-out microtubules along outgrowing dendrites and plus-end-out microtubules in the growth cone. RAB-11-positive endosomes accumulate in this region and co-migrate with the microtubule nucleation complex γ-TuRC. The MTOC tracks the extending growth cone by kinesin-1/UNC-116-mediated endosome movements on distal plus-end-out microtubules and dynein clusters this advancing MTOC. Critically, perturbation of the function or localization of the MTOC causes reversed microtubule polarity in dendrites. These findings unveil the endosome-localized dendritic MTOC as a critical organelle for establishing axon-dendrite polarity.

With the development of modern cities, roads, and landscapes, it is becoming increasingly important for infrastructure such as tunnels to provide an esthetically pleasing experience. In this respect, it is necessary to conduct studies that consider the esthetic design of tunnel portals using esthetics research. Regarding the esthetic evaluation of tunnel portals, this paper fully considers the dynamic visual effect from the driver's perspective. This study combines the use of Blender, SpeedTree Modeler Cinema, Adobe Photoshop CS6, and other software for secondary development. These programs are connected to the driving simulation platform Euro Truck Simulator 2 (which is equipped with a driving simulator) to construct a set of driving simulation tests that enable the esthetic evaluation of a tunnel portal. The Banlun Tunnel on the Funing-Longliu Expressway in Yunnan Province, China, is used as a case study, and four impact factors that vary significantly in esthetic design are included: the linearity, color, greening and texture of the portal. Using an orthogonal experimental design, the influence of the esthetic degree was simulated and evaluated, and the order of sensitivity to esthetic factors of a headwall tunnel portal was sequentially determined as follows: the portal texture exerts the maximum impact on the beauty degree of the headwall portal, followed by the portal greening and the portal color, while the portal linearity exerts the minimum impact. The results show that the developed driving simulation test system can be used to determine the sensitivity of esthetic factors for a tunnel portal and obtain an optimal collocation of esthetic factors on different levels; hence, it provides feedback for use in designing the optimum esthetic tunnel portal. This test system can be used as a reference when conducting future evaluations and studies on tunnel portal esthetics.

Abstract: Based on scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption experiment at low temperature, the pore types and structures of the Longmaxi Formation shale in the Dianqianbei area, SW China were analyzed, and a molecular model was built. According to mathematical statistics, the validation of the model was solved by converting it into a mathematical formula. It is found by SEM that the pores in clay mineral layers and organic pores occupy most of the pores in shale; the nitrogen adsorption experiment at low temperature reveals that groove pores formed by flaky particles and micro-pores are the main types of pores, and the results of the two are in good agreement. A molecular model was established by illite and graphene molecular structures. Moreover, based on the fractal theory and the Frenkel-Halsey-Hill formula, a modified Frenkel-Halsey-Hill formula was proposed. The reliability of the molecular model was verified to some extent by obtaining parameters such as the fractal dimension, replacement rate and fractal coefficients of correction, and mathematical calculation. This study provides the theoretical basis for quantitative study of shale reservoirs. Key words: Dianqianbei area, shale, Silurian, Longmaxi Formation, micro-pore, pore model, model verification

In this data, the statistical analyses of vanadium oxide microspheres cathode materials are presented for the research article entitled “Statistical analyses on hollow and core-shell structured vanadium oxides microspheres as cathode materials for Lithium ion batteries” (Liang et al., 2017) [1]. This article shows the statistical analyses on N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm and morphology vanadium oxide microspheres as cathode materials for LIBs. Keywords: Adsorption-desorption isotherm, Pore size distribution, SEM images, TEM images

The influence of shale composition on methane adsorption capability and gas content is investigated using 14 samples from Well YS8 in the southern Sichuan Basin, China. The results show that the Langmuir adsorption capacity of the Longmaxi shale is mainly a function of the total organic carbon (TOC) content. When TOC is ~1.1%, 50% CH4 is adsorbed onto the surface of the organic matter. The mineral content has limited control on the adsorption capacity of the Longmaxi shales. Organic matter is also a major control on gas content when TOC content is 1.0%, gas content remains constant, indicating that gas preservation is more important than gas generation and rock adsorption capacity. Scatter plots of TOC versus gas content and, Langmuir adsorption capacity shows that when TOC is 2.0%.

By using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and CT scanning technologies, hydration experiments have been conducted on shale samples from the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Zhaotong area in North Yunnan and Guizhou Provinces under the confining pressure of 10 MPa to study the effect of hydration on the propagation of pores and natural fractures in shale formation. The results show that the hydration not only offsets the permeability drop caused by confining pressure, but makes the fracture network more complicated, the connection between fractures and pores better with larger volume, and permeability higher by facilitating the dilation, propagation and cross-connection of primary pores, natural fractures, and newly created micro-fractures; hydration damage mainly occurs along the bedding plane or the direction of primary fractures; samples with better-developed primary pores and fractures are most affected by hydration, samples with best-developed primary pores and natural fractures are less affected by hydration, samples with only pores are least affected by hydration; and the hydration intensity of shale plugs is affected by the development of primary pores and fractures, clay content, brittleness index, confining pressure and the hydration duration jointly. Therefore, in shale reservoir stimulation, it is suggested that the pumping schedule, shut-in operation or clean-up with small choke during early flow-back process be considered according to the features of shale reservoir to enhance the complexity and connection of facture network and improve the stimulation effect. Key words: shale reservoir, stimulation, flow-back process, hydration, NMR, CT scanning, pores and natural fractures