Wind dynamics in dust source areas are influenced by climate change on both regional and global scales. Northeastern arid central Asia is one of the most important sources of Asian dust. We conducted ...grain size analyses of the extracted quartz component of bulk samples from four Holocene aeolian sedimentary sequences in northeastern arid central Asia, in order to reconstruct variations in strength of near‐surface wind, and discussed the possible mechanism. X‐ray diffraction and geochemical analyses were also conducted. The results suggest that in the study area the mean grain size of the quartz component of aeolian sediments is a more reliable proxy for the strength of near‐surface wind and Siberian high‐pressure system. Stronger near‐surface wind and Siberian high‐pressure system occurred during the early to middle Holocene and subsequently their gradually weakened. Lower winter insolation, lower atmospheric CO2 content, and remnant high‐latitude continental ice‐sheets resulted in relatively low winter temperatures in middle and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere during the early to middle Holocene. The lower winter temperatures indicate a stronger Siberian high‐pressure system, which may have been the cause of the stronger near‐surface winds. Due to increasing winter solar insolation and atmospheric CO2 content, and the shrinking high‐latitude continental ice‐sheets, the Siberian high‐pressure system weakened in response to rising winter temperatures during the middle to late Holocene, likely resulting in decreased near‐surface wind strength.
Key Points
The mean grain size of quartz of aeolian sedimentary sequences can be used as a proxy of the near‐surface wind strength
Stronger near‐surface wind occurred during the early to middle Holocene and subsequently the near‐surface wind strength gradually weakened
Winter insolation, atmospheric CO2 content, and high‐latitude continental ice‐sheets influence the near‐surface wind strength
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
In this paper, the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) of Fe 2 CoSi/Pt n multilayers with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy has been investigated. We found that both skew scattering (SS) and side jump ...contribute to the AHE, while SS is the dominant contribution to the AHE. Moreover, the contribution of SS to the AHE becomes less significant when either decreasing the thickness of Pt layer or increasing the number of periods <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">n </tex-math></inline-formula>.
Spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracic surgery (SV-VATS) is reported to have superior or equal efficacy on postoperative recovery to mechanical ventilation VATS (MV-VATS). However, ...perioperative safety of the SV-VATS blebectomy is not entirely demonstrated.
We performed a noninferiority, randomized controlled trial (No. NCT03016858) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax patients aged 16 to 50 years undergoing a SV-VATS and the MV-VATS procedure. The trial was conducted at 10 centers in China from April 2017 to January 2019. The primary outcome was the comparison of intra- and postoperative complications between SV-VATS and MV-VATS procedures. Secondary outcomes included total analgesia dose, change of vital sign during surgery, procedural duration, recovery time, postoperative visual analog pain scores, and hospitalization length.
In this study, 335 patients were included. There was no significant difference between the SV-VATS group and the MV-VATS group in the intra- and postoperative complication rates (17.90% vs 22.09%; relative risk, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-1.26; P = .346). The SV-VATS group was associated with significantly decreased total dose of intraoperative opioid agents; that is, sufentanil (11.37 μg vs 20.92 μg; P < .001) and remifentanil (269.78 μg vs 404.96 μg; P < .001). The SV-VATS procedure was also associated with shorter extubation time (12.28 minutes vs 17.30 minutes; P < .001), postanesthesia care unit recovery time (25.43 minutes vs 30.67 minutes; P = .02) and food intake time (346.07 minute vs 404.02 minutes; P = .002). Moreover, the SV-VATS procedure deceased the anesthesia cost compared with the MV-VATS ($297.81 vs $399.81; P < .001).
SV-VATS was shown to be noninferior to MV-VATS in term of complication rate and in selected patients undergoing blebectomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.
Spontaneous ventilation (SV) versus mechanical ventilation (MV) during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP): A non-inferior randomized controlled trial (RCT). This multicenter, non-inferiority, RCT showed that SV-VATS blebectomy is a safe and feasible technique in PSP patients. The primary outcome showed that intra- and postoperative complication rates were similar between the SV-VATS group and the MV-VATS group, which suggests that SV-VATS could be an option for blebectomy in selected PSP patients. Display omitted
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The AlCoCrFeNi-WC-Ti composite coating exhibits excellent hardness and wear resistance, which mainly comes from the various strengthening mechanisms. An accurate prediction model is crucial for ...analyzing the hardness contribution of various strengthening mechanisms. In this study, AlCoCrFeNi and AlCoCrFeNiW0.5 supercells were constructed by the special quasi random structure (SQS), and then the elastic moduli were obtained by first-principles calculations. Using the elastic moduli, a predicted model was established for the hardness contribution. The results showed that the shear modulus of AlCoCrFeNi and AlCoCrFeNiW0.5 alloys is 80.43 GPa and 68.64 GPa, respectively. Solid solution strengthening with a hardness contribution of 248.5 HV is the dominant strengthening mechanism for the AlCoCrFeNi-WC-Ti composite coating. The sum of hardness contribution is 271.4 HV from various strengthening mechanisms. And compared with the Vickers hardness, the relative error is only 7.4%. For the AlCoCrFeNiW0.5 alloy, namely the coating matrix (CM) of the AlCoCrFeNi-WC-Ti, its sum of hardness contributions is 251.2 HV. Compared with the nanoindentation hardness, the relative error is 4.8%, which indicates that the predicted model is accurate for the hardness contribution.
Display omitted
•The mechanical constants of AlCoCrFeNi and AlCoCrFeNiW0.5 were calculated by first-principles calculations.•The shear modulus is 80.43 GPa, and 68.64 GPa, for AlCoCrFeNi, and AlCoCrFeNiW0.5, respectively.•The sum of hardness contributions is 275.5 HV from various strengthening mechanisms.•The relative error is only 5.8% between the predicted hardness and the Vickers hardness.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
To explore the impacts of perioperative blood transfusion on specific pattern of inflammatory gene expression and nosocomial infections in gastrointestinal cancer patients.
A total of 60 ...gastrointestinal cancer patients aged over 27 years were recruited, blood transfusion was administered to 30 patients. The peripheral venous blood was drawn from the 30 patients undergoing transfusions and messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted from PAXGene tubes collected before surgery and at 48 h following the operation. T-helper cell subtype transcription factors were quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. These genes were selected based on their ability to represent specific immune pathways and their expression level of Th1, Th2 and Th17 and the major Treg-specific TFs T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt and FOXP3 were measured. Postoperative infections were documented using predefined criteria.
There were significantly lower in Th1-specific TF T-bet (P < 0.001) mRNA levels and significantly higher in Th2-specifc TF, GATA-3 (P < 0.001) mRNA levels assayed at 48 h. There was significantly lower in T-bet mRNA/GATA-3 (P < 0.001) mRNA ratio assayed at 48 h. There were significantly higher in Th17-specific TF RORγt (P < 0.001) and Treg-specific TF Foxp3 (P < 0.001) mRNA levels assayed at 48 h. Patients receiving a blood transfusion were more likely to develop postoperative infections (P = 0.02).
There is an association between an immunosuppressive pattern of gene expressions and blood transfusion. This gene expression profile includes a reduction in the activity of T helper cell type 1 (Th1) pathways in those patients receiving a blood transfusion. Furthermore, blood transfusion was associated with an increased susceptibility to nosocomial infections.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
MicroRNA-193b (miRNA-193b) is often differentially expressed and is an important regulator of gene expression in colon cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine whether miRNA-193b affects ...cell growth in colon cancer and to investigate the potential underlying mechanisms. Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC; n=20) and healthy volunteers (n=10) were enrolled from the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangzhou, China). Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the protein expression of SMAD3 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the patient samples. It was determined that miRNA-193b expression was markedly elevated in the CRC tissue samples. Furthermore, silencing of miRNA-193bin SW620 CRC cells by specific inhibitors significantly reduced the cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. In addition, the downregulation of miRNA-193b significantly activated the protein expression of SMAD3 and TGF-β, and promoted caspase-3 activity in SW620 cells. The results of the present study suggested that the deregulation of miRNA-193b may affect cell growth in colon cancer via the TGF-β and SMAD3 signaling pathways.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Histamine receptors are a group of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that play important roles in various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Antihistamines that target the histamine H
...receptor (H
R) have been widely used to relieve the symptoms of allergy and inflammation. Here, to uncover the details of the regulation of H
R by the known second-generation antihistamines, thereby providing clues for the rational design of newer antihistamines, we determine the cryo-EM structure of H
R in the apo form and bound to different antihistamines. In addition to the deep hydrophobic cavity, we identify a secondary ligand-binding site in H
R, which potentially may support the introduction of new derivative groups to generate newer antihistamines. Furthermore, these structures show that antihistamines exert inverse regulation by utilizing a shared phenyl group that inserts into the deep cavity and block the movement of the toggle switch residue W428
. Together, these results enrich our understanding of GPCR modulation and facilitate the structure-based design of novel antihistamines.
As a typical spinel structure material, ZnMnsub.2Osub.4 has been widely researched in the field of electrode materials. However, ZnMnsub.2Osub.4 nanoparticles as electrode materials for ...supercapacitors have the disadvantages of low conductivity, inferior structural integrity, and easy aggregation, resulting in unsatisfying electrochemical performance. In this work, we use a hydrothermal method and high-temperature calcination to deposit ZnMnsub.2Osub.4 nanoparticles on carbon cloth and explore the influence of hydrothermal reaction time on the deposition morphology and distribution of ZnMnsub.2Osub.4 nanoparticles on carbon cloth. The deposition process of ZnMnsub.2Osub.4 nanoparticles on carbon cloth was analyzed, and a ZMO-9 electrode was deduced to be the most suitable electrode for supercapacitors. A series of electrochemical performance tests show that the ZMO-9 electrode has excellent specific capacitance (specific capacity) (499 F·gsup.−1 (299.4 C·gsup.−1) at a current density of 1 A·gsup.−1) and rate performance (75% capacitance retention at a current density of 12 A·gsup.−1). The assembled asymmetric supercapacitor has an energy density of 46.6 Wh·kgsup.−1 when the power density is 800.1 W·kgsup.−1. This work provides a reference for the structural design of ZnMnsub.2Osub.4 supercapacitor electrode materials and the improvement of electrochemical properties.
The replication and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 are comparable to that of BA.1 in experimental animal models. However, BA.2 has rapidly emerged to overtake BA.1 to become the predominant ...circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant worldwide. Here, we compared the replication fitness of BA.1 and BA.2 in cell culture and in the Syrian hamster model of COVID-19. Using a reverse genetics approach, we found that the BA.1-specific spike mutation G496S compromises its replication fitness, which may contribute to BA.1 being outcompeted by BA.2 in the real world. Additionally, the BA.1-unique G496S substitution confers differentiated sensitivity to therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, which partially recapitulates the immunoevasive phenotype of BA.1 and BA.2. In summary, our study identified G496S as an important determinant during the evolutionary trajectory of SARS-CoV-2.
Abstract
Introduction: Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a secondary chronic headache disorder that occurs in individuals with a pre-existing primary headache disorder, particularly migraine ...disorder. Obesity is often combined with chronic daily headaches and is considered a risk factor for the transformation of episodic headaches into chronic headaches. However, the association between obesity and MOH among individuals with migraine has rarely been studied. The present study explored the association between body mass index (BMI) and MOH in people living with migraine. Methods: This cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of data from the Survey of Fibromyalgia Comorbidity with Headache study. Migraine and MOH were diagnosed using the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition. BMI (kg/m2) is calculated by dividing the weight (kg) by the square of the height (m). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between BMI and MOH. Results: A total of 2,251 individuals with migraine were included, of whom 8.7% (195/2,251) had a concomitant MOH. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, education level, headache duration, pain intensity, headache family history, chronic migraine, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fibromyalgia, demonstrated there was an association between BMI (odds ratio OR, 1.05; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.01–1.11; p = 0.031) and MOH. The results remained when the BMI was transformed into a category. Compared to individuals with Q2 (18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤23.9 kg/m2), those with Q4 (BMI ≥28 kg/m2) had an adjusted OR for MOH of 1.81 (95% CI, 1.04–3.17; p = 0.037). In the subgroup analyses, BMI was associated with MOH among aged more than 50 years (OR, 1.13; 95%, 1.03–1.24), less than high school (OR, 1.08; 95%, 1.01–1.15), without depression (OR, 1.06; 95%, 1.01–1.12), and without anxiety (OR, 1.06; 95%, 1.01–1.12). An association between BMI and MOH was found in a sensitivity analysis that BMI was classified into four categories according to the World Health Organization guidelines. Conclusion: In this cross-sectional study, BMI was associated with MOH in Chinese individuals with migraine.
PDF
