Search

High-precision U-Pb zircon ages of 125.755 ± 0.061 Ma and 124.122 ± 0.048 Ma, respectively, represent the onset and termination of Yixian Formation in the Jin-Yang basin, bracketing its duration to 1.633 ± 0.078 Myr.

Comprehensive Summary: HpnG plays a crucial role in the production of ribosylhopane, a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of bacteriohopanepolyol. Despite early extensive studies, the precise function of HpnG has remained elusive. Here, we report functional characterization of HpnG as a purine nucleoside phosphorylase, which converts adenosylhopane to phosphoribosylhopane in the presence of phosphate. HpnG demonstrates broad substrate specificity and impressive stability, making it a valuable enzymatic tool for applications in nucleoside processing and related biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing data do not consistently support the link between elderly adults' waist circumferences and sleep disorders. This study aimed to evaluate whether waist circumference was connected with sleep disorder in the elderly. This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2005–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) regarding waist circumference, sleep disorders, and confounding factors. Included in the study were participants older than 60 who completed sleep questionnaires and waist circumference measurements. Using a multivariate logistic regression model and subgroup analyses, the relationship between waist circumference and sleep disorder was evaluated. To explore the non-linear relationship, restricted cubic spline (RCS) with three knots coupled with a logistic regression model to assess the dose-response relationship between waist circumference (continuous variables) and sleep disorder. A total of 2,545 (Weighted 14,682,916.3) elderly participants with complete information were included in the analysis and 312 (Weighted 1,777,137.8) subjects met the definition of sleep disorder. Compared with participants without sleep disorder, those with sleep disorder had a higher waist circumference (100.80 cm vs. 108.96 cm, P< 0.001). The results of the multivariable adjusted logistic regression model suggested that those in quartiles 4 (≥ 75th percentile) for their waist circumference had higher odds of sleep disorder [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.66–4.54, P < 0.001] compared with those in quartile 1. The RCS result showed that the OR of sleep disorder and waist circumference displayed a linear relationship (P <0.001, Non-linear P = 0.642). Age and gender subgroup analysis revealed comparable relationships between waist circumference and sleep disorder among elderly individuals. Waist circumference was associated with sleep disorders in the elderly. There was a dose-response relationship between waist circumference and the likelihood of sleep disorder. Those with a larger waist circumference were more likely to have a sleep disorder than those with a smaller waist circumference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high‐strength and multiple self‐healing polymer materials remains a major challenge. In this study, a hybrid self‐healable polymer using the combination of intrinsic and extrinsic self‐healing is demonstrated. The epoxy resin microcapsules with dynamic disulfide bonded shells are successfully prepared through an interfacial polymerization method, which are then added into the intrinsically self‐healable epoxy resin substrate also containing disulfide bonds. The unique combination structure enables the polymer composites to exhibit high mechanical strength and excellent multiple self‐healing efficiency. On the one hand, the Young's modulus and tensile strength of the material are enhanced due to the reinforcement effect of the fillers. On the other hand, the extrinsic self‐healing strategy of the microcapsules, which released repair agents, can support the intrinsic repairing substrate to improve the self‐healing ability of the material. More interestingly, the design of the disulfide bond structure of the microcapsule shell contributes to the high self‐healing capability of the material during multiple self‐healing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry and hot Foehn wind weather often occurs in Urumqi, China, due to its canyon terrain. This directly impacts the lives and health of local people. Using surface meteorological variables (including the hourly wind, temperature, humidity, and pressure) measured in situ at the Urumqi Meteorological Station and ERA5 reanalysis from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in the past 15 years (2008–2022), the characteristics of Foehn wind and their relationship with EI Niño and extreme high-temperature events in Urumqi are analyzed. The results show that the annual distributions of Foehn wind present a fluctuating pattern, and the highest frequency occurred in 2015. Compared to the summer (July) and winter (February) seasons, Foehn wind occurs most frequently in spring (March, April, May) and autumn (September, October, and November). Daily variations in Foehn wind occur most frequently from 9:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. In particular, high levels are found at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in April and May. In 2011, 2012, and 2014, the average wind speed of FW exceeded 6 m/s, and the lowest average wind speed was 3.8 m/s in 2021. The temperature and relative humidity changes (ΔT and ΔRH) caused by Foehn wind are the most significant in winter and when Foehn wind begins to occur. The high-temperature hours related to Foehn wind weather in Urumqi represented 25% of the total in the past 15 years. During the EI Niño period, the amount of Foehn wind in Urumqi significantly increased; The correlation coefficient beteewn slide anomaly of Foehn days and the Oceanic Niño Index is as high as 0.71. Specifically, Foehn wind activity aggravates extreme high-temperature events. This study provides indications for Foehn wind weather forecasting in Urumqi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]