A Nationwide Nitrogen Deposition Monitoring Network (NNDMN) containing 43 monitoring sites was established in China to measure gaseous NH3, NO2, and HNO3 and particulate NH4+ and NO3− in air and/or ...precipitation from 2010 to 2014. Wet/bulk deposition fluxes of Nr species were collected by precipitation gauge method and measured by continuous-flow analyzer; dry deposition fluxes were estimated using airborne concentration measurements and inferential models. Our observations reveal large spatial variations of atmospheric Nr concentrations and dry and wet/bulk Nr deposition. On a national basis, the annual average concentrations (1.3–47.0 μg N m−3) and dry plus wet/bulk deposition fluxes (2.9–83.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1) of inorganic Nr species are ranked by land use as urban > rural > background sites and by regions as north China > southeast China > southwest China > northeast China > northwest China > Tibetan Plateau, reflecting the impact of anthropogenic Nr emission. Average dry and wet/bulk N deposition fluxes were 20.6 ± 11.2 (mean ± standard deviation) and 19.3 ± 9.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1 across China, with reduced N deposition dominating both dry and wet/bulk deposition. Our results suggest atmospheric dry N deposition is equally important to wet/bulk N deposition at the national scale. Therefore, both deposition forms should be included when considering the impacts of N deposition on environment and ecosystem health.
Interactions between particles in quantum many-body systems can lead to collective behavior described by hydrodynamics. One such system is the electron-hole plasma in graphene near the ...charge-neutrality point, which can form a strongly coupled Dirac fluid. This charge-neutral plasma of quasi-relativistic fermions is expected to exhibit a substantial enhancement of the thermal conductivity, thanks to decoupling of charge and heat currents within hydrodynamics. Employing high-sensitivity Johnson noise thermometry, we report an order of magnitude increase in the thermal conductivity and the breakdown of the Wiedemann-Franz law in the thermally populated charge-neutral plasma in graphene. This result is a signature of the Dirac fluid and constitutes direct evidence of collective motion in a quantum electronic fluid.
Summary
Background
Inflammation plays a vital role in liver cirrhosis progression and prognosis.
Aim
To investigate the prognostic significance of inflammatory response markers in decompensated ...cirrhotic patients without acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF).
Methods
Independent predictors were identified using multivariate Cox model and then assembled into a nomogram to predict survival. Concordance index (C‐index) and time‐dependent receiver operating characteristics (td‐ROC) analysis were adopted to evaluate and compare the performance of nomogram, model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) scores, MELD‐Na and Chronic Liver Failure‐consortium score for acute decompensated (CLIF‐C ADs).
Results
A total of 902 decompensated cirrhotic patients with different aetiologies were enrolled, with 6‐month, 1‐year and 3‐year mortality of 18.6%, 24.4% and 34.8%, respectively. The cut‐off values for neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) determined by X‐tile program were 5.7 and 1.1 respectively. Patients with NLR>5.7 or LMR≤1.1 had significantly higher mortality (P < 0.001). Independent factors derived from multivariable Cox analysis of development cohort to predict mortality were age, NLR and LMR (hazard ratio (HR): 1.064, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.045–1.084, P < 0.001; HR: 1.124, 95%CI: 1.091–1.158, P < 0.001; HR: 0.794, 95%CI: 0.702–0.898, P < 0.001, respectively). The C‐indexes of nomogram were higher than that of MELD score, MELD‐Na and CLIF‐C ADs for predicting survival. The tdROC and decision curves showed that nomogram was superior to MELD score, MELD‐Na and CLIF‐C ADs. Similar results were observed in validation cohort.
Conclusion
The proposed nomogram with neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio resulted in accurate prognostic prediction for decompensated cirrhotic patients without ACLF.
Linked ContentThis article is linked to Forest and Cai and Shi et al papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14183 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14208.
The electron-hole plasma in charge-neutral graphene is predicted to realize a quantum critical system in which electrical transport features a universal hydrodynamic description, even at room ...temperature
. This quantum critical 'Dirac fluid' is expected to have a shear viscosity close to a minimum bound
, with an interparticle scattering rate saturating
at the Planckian time, the shortest possible timescale for particles to relax. Although electrical transport measurements at finite carrier density are consistent with hydrodynamic electron flow in graphene
, a clear demonstration of viscous flow at the charge-neutrality point remains elusive. Here we directly image viscous Dirac fluid flow in graphene at room temperature by measuring the associated stray magnetic field. Nanoscale magnetic imaging is performed using quantum spin magnetometers realized with nitrogen vacancy centres in diamond. Scanning single-spin and wide-field magnetometry reveal a parabolic Poiseuille profile for electron flow in a high-mobility graphene channel near the charge-neutrality point, establishing the viscous transport of the Dirac fluid. This measurement is in contrast to the conventional uniform flow profile imaged in a metallic conductor and also in a low-mobility graphene channel. Via combined imaging and transport measurements, we obtain viscosity and scattering rates, and observe that these quantities are comparable to the universal values expected at quantum criticality. This finding establishes a nearly ideal electron fluid in charge-neutral, high-mobility graphene at room temperature
. Our results will enable the study of hydrodynamic transport in quantum critical fluids relevant to strongly correlated electrons in high-temperature superconductors
. This work also highlights the capability of quantum spin magnetometers to probe correlated electronic phenomena at the nanoscale.
As the amount of reactive nitrogen (N) generated and emitted increases the amount of N deposition and its contribution to eutrophication or harmful algal blooms in the coastal zones are becoming ...issues of environmental concern. To quantify N deposition in coastal seas of China we selected six typical coastal sites from North to South in 2011. Concentrations of NH3, HNO3, NO2, particulate NH4+ (pNH4+) and pNO3− ranged from 1.97- 4.88, 0.46 -1.22, 3.03 -7.09, 2.24 - 4.90 and 1.13-2.63 g N m−3 at Dalian (DL), Changdao (CD), Linshandao (LS), Fenghua (FH), Fuzhou (FZ), and Zhanjiang (ZJ) sites, respectively. Volume-weighted NO3−-N and NH4+-N concentrations in precipitation varied from 0.46 to 1.67 and 0.47 to 1.31 mg N L−1 at the six sites. Dry, wet and total deposition rates of N were 7.8-23.1, 14.2-25.2 and 22.0 - 44.6 kg N ha−1 yr−1 across the six coastal sites. Average N dry deposition accounted for 45.4% of the total deposition and NH3 and pNH4+ contributed to 76.6% of the dry deposition. If we extrapolate our total N deposition of 33.9 kg N ha−1 yr−1 to the whole Chinese coastal sea area (0.40 million km2), total N deposition amounts to 1.36 Tg N yr−1, a large external N input to surrounding marine ecosystems.
Icotinib has been previously shown to be non-inferior to gefitinib in non-selected advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients when given as second- or further-line treatment. In this open-label, ...randomized, phase 3 CONVINCE trial, we assessed the efficacy and safety of first-line icotinib versus cisplatin/pemetrexed plus pemetrexed maintenance in lung adenocarcinoma patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation.
Eligible participants were adults with stage IIIB/IV lung adenocarcinoma and exon 19/21 EGFR mutations. Participants were randomly allocated (1 : 1) to receive oral icotinib or 3-week cycle of cisplatin plus pemetrexed for up to four cycles; non-progressive patients after four cycles were maintained with pemetrexed until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) assessed by independent response evaluation committee. Other end points included overall survival (OS) and safety.
Between January 2013 and August 2014, 296 patients were randomized, and 285 patients were treated (148 to icotinib, 137 to chemotherapy). Independent response evaluation committee-assessed PFS was significantly longer in the icotinib group (11.2 versus 7.9 months; hazard ratio, 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.43-0.87; P = 0.006). No significant difference for OS was observed between treatments in the overall population or in EGFR-mutated subgroups (exon 19 Del/21 L858R). The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs) in the icotinib group were rash (14.8%) and diarrhea (7.4%), compared with nausea (45.9%), vomiting (29.2%), and neutropenia (10.9%) in the chemotherapy group. AEs (79.1% versus 94.2%; P < 0.001) and treatment-related AEs (54.1% versus 90.5%; P < 0.001) were significantly fewer in the icotinib group than in the chemotherapy group.
First-line icotinib significantly improves PFS of advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients with EGFR mutation with a tolerable and manageable safety profile. Icotinib should be considered as a first-line treatment for this patient population.
Summary
Background
Interventional treatment for overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE), includes non‐absorbable disaccharides, neomycin, rifaximin, L‐ornithine‐L‐aspartate and branched chain amino acids ...(BCAA). However, the optimum regimen remains inconclusive.
Aim
To compare interventions in terms of patients’ adverse events and major clinical outcomes.
Methods
Literature search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library studies published up to July 31 2014. RCTs of above interventions in OHE patients were included. Network meta‐analysis combined direct and indirect evidence to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and mean difference (MD) between treatments and the probabilities of ranking for treatment based on clinical outcomes.
Results
Twenty eligible RCTs were included. When compared with observation, only L‐ornithine‐L‐aspartate (OR 3.71, P < 0.001) and BCAA (OR 3.37, P < 0.001) improved clinical efficacy significantly. However, when L‐ornithine‐L‐aspartate was compared with BCAA, non‐absorbable disaccharides and neomycin, there was a trend suggesting that L‐ornithine‐L‐aspartate may be the most effective intervention with respect to clinical improvement (OR 1.10), rifaximin (OR 1.31), non‐absorbable disaccharides (OR 2.75), neomycin (OR 2.22). In addition, L‐ornithine‐L‐aspartate (MD −20.18, 95% CI −40.12 to −0.27) provided a significant reduction in blood ammonia concentration compared with observation. Neomycin appeared to be associated with more adverse events in comparison with non‐absorbable disaccharides (OR 10.15), rifaximin (OR 17.31), L‐ornithine‐L‐aspartate (OR 3.16) or BCAA (OR 7.69).
Conclusions
L‐ornithine‐L‐aspartate treatment may show a trend in superiority for clinical efficacy among standard interventions for OHE. Rifaximin shows the greatest reduction in blood ammonia concentration, and treatment with neomycin demonstrates a higher probability in causing adverse effects among the five compared interventions.
The vacuolar‐type H+‐ATPase (V‐ATPase) is an ATP‐dependent proton pump, which regulates various cellular processes. To date, most functional studies on V‐ATPases of insects have focused on subunits ...of the V1 complex, and there is little information on the VO genes. In this study, two cDNA sequences of LmV‐ATPase a were identified in Locusta migratoria. RT‐qPCR analysis revealed that LmV‐ATPase a1 and LmV‐ATPase a2 are differentially expressed in various tissues and developmental stages. Injection of dsRNA for the common region of LmV‐ATPase a1 and LmV‐ATPase a2 into third‐instar nymphs resulted in a significant suppression of LmV‐ATPase a. The injected nymphs ceased feeding, lost body weight and finally died at a mortality of 98.6%. Furthermore, aberrations of midgut epithelial cells, the accumulation of electron‐lucent vesicles in the cytoplasm, and a partially damaged brush border were observed in dsLmV‐ATPase a‐injected nymphs using transmission electron microscopy. Especially, the mRNA level of wingles, and notch genes were dramatically down‐regulated in the dsLmV‐ATPase a‐injected nymphs. Taken together, our results suggest that LmV‐ATPase a is required for survival and midgut development of L. migratoria. Hence, this gene could be a good target for RNAi‐based control against locusts.
Injected dsLmV‐ATPase a into 3rd instar nymphs resulted in a mortality of 98.6%.
Nymphs ceased feeding, lost body weight and there was almost no food in midguts.
The accumulation of electron‐lucent vesicles in the cytoplasm, and a partially damaged brush border were observed in dsLmV‐ATPase a‐injected nymphs.
The uniaxial tensile properties of multi-scale fiber-reinforced cementitious material (MSFRCM) with steel and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers and calcium carbonate whisker (CW) were studied. The ...results showed that CW improved the uniaxial tensile stiffness, strength, peak strain, and toughness of the steel-PVA hybrid fiber-reinforced cementitious material. The CW not only played a role in the small deformation stage but also improved the load holding capacity and toughness of the hybrid fiber-reinforced cementitious material during the large deformation stage. Computational models to assess the uniaxial tensile strength and toughness of the MSFRCM were established. Microstructure observations showed that the steel and PVA fibers formed a weak interfacial transition zone (ITZ) due to the “wall effect.” The CW effectively optimized the structure of the ITZ of the steel and PVA fibers through physical and chemical effects, such as filling, bridging, improving Ca(OH)2 orientation, and chemical effects. The steel fibers, PVA fibers, and CW in the MSFRCM bridged cracks at the macro, mesoscopic, and microscopic levels, respectively. As a result, we observed a fiber chain effect that improved the positive hybrid effect between the multi-scale fibers.
A major cause of faults in optical communication links is related to unintentional third party intrusions (normally related to civil/agricultural works) causing fiber breaks or cable damage. These ...intrusions could be anticipated and avoided by monitoring the dynamic strain recorded along the cable. In this work, a novel technique is proposed to implement real-time distributed strain sensing in parallel with an operating optical communication channel. The technique relies on monitoring the Rayleigh backscattered light from optical communication data transmitted using standard modulation formats. The system is treated as a phase-sensitive OTDR (ΦOTDR) using random and non-periodical non-return-to-zero (NRZ) phase-shift keying (PSK) pulse coding. An I/Q detection unit allows for a full (amplitude, phase and polarization) characterization of the backscattered optical signal, thus achieving a fully linear system in terms of ΦOTDR trace coding/decoding. The technique can be used with different modulation formats, and operation using 4 Gbaud single-polarization dual PSK and 4 Gbaud dual-polarization quadrature PSK is demonstrated. As a proof of concept, distributed sensing of dynamic strain with a sampling of 125 kHz and a spatial resolution of 2.5 cm (set by the bit size) over 500 m is demonstrated for applied sinusoidal strain signals of 500 Hz. The limitations and possibilities for improvement of the technique are also discussed.
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