Agriculture is very sensitive to climate change, and correct forecasting of climate change is a great help to accurate allocation of irrigation water. The use of irrigation water is influenced by ...crop water demand and precipitation. Potential evapotranspiration (ET0) is a measure of the ability of the atmosphere to remove water from the surface through the processes of evaporation and transpiration, assuming no control on water supply. It plays an important role in assessing crop water requirements, regional dry–wet conditions, and other factors of water resource management. This study analyzed the spatial and temporal evolution processes and characteristics of major meteorological parameters at 10 stations in the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi (LPNS). By using the Mann–Kendall trend test with trend–free pre–whitening and the ArcGIS platform, the potential evapotranspiration of each station was quantified by using the Penman–Monteith equation, and the effects of climatic factors on potential evapotranspiration were assessed by analyzing the contribution rate and sensitivity of the climatic factors. The results showed that the climate in LPNS has become warmer and drier. In terms of the sensitivity of ET0 to the variation of each climatic factor in LPNS, relative humidity (0.65) had the highest sensitivity, followed by daily maximum temperature, wind speed, sunshine hours, and daily minimum temperature (−0.05). In terms of the contribution rate of each factor to ET0, daily maximum temperature (5.16%) had the highest value, followed by daily minimum temperature, sunshine hours, relative humidity, and wind speed (1.14%). This study provides a reference for the management of agricultural water resources and for countermeasures to climate change. According to the climate change and the characteristics of the study area, farmers in the region should increase irrigation to guarantee crop water demand.
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•The Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi (LPNS) experienced a warmer and drier period.•Sensitivity and contribution rate analysis were used to explore the driving factor of ET0.•ET0 showed a significant upward trend in the northern part of LPNS.•ET0 was most sensitive to the variation of relative humidity in LPNS。•Maximum temperature had a higher contribution rate to the variation of ET0 in LPNS
Large differences in the intramolecular charge-transfer fluorescence quantum yields and electroluminescence efficiencies were observed among the isomeric donor−acceptor molecules ...2-(4-phenyl-2-quinolyl)-10-methylphenothiazine (2PQMPT) and 3-(4-phenyl-2-quinolyl)-10-methylphenothiazine (3PQMPT). In solution, the 2PQMPT isomer had a larger positive solvatochromism and thus a greater degree of charge transfer, whereas 3PQMPT had a larger fluorescence quantum yield (71%) compared to 2PQMPT (46%). High brightness (23750 cd/m2) and high efficiency (8.18 cd/A, 4.45 lm/W, 2.42% external quantum efficiency at 1015 cd/m2) green electroluminescence was achieved from 3PQMPT diodes. In contrast, green light-emitting diodes with lower brightness (8900 cd/m2) and efficiencies (4.79 cd/A, 2.36 lm/W, 1.41% external quantum efficiency at 690 cd/m2) were obtained from 2PQMPT. The two isomeric donor−acceptor molecules had identical HOMO (5.1 eV) and LUMO (2.4 eV) energy levels derived from electrochemistry. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided insights into the molecular geometry, electronic structures, and properties of the donor−acceptor isomers. These results demonstrate the pronounced influence of the donor/acceptor connection on the charge-transfer emission efficiency of donor−acceptor molecules and the performance of solid-state light-emitting devices based on them.
To determine susceptibility to decompression surgery in diabetic and nondiabetic peripheral neuropathy using a chronic compression neuropathy model.
Twenty-four streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats ...were randomly divided into three groups: group I, chronic compression of the left sciatic nerve for 4 weeks with decompression; group II, similar without decompression; and group III, sham exposing the sciatic nerve only. The other 24 nondiabetic rats were assigned to groups IV-VI, which received compression-decompression, compression, and the sham operation, respectively. Mixed-nerve-elicited somatosensory evoked potentials (M-SSEPs) and compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were measured to verify the compression neuropathy in the posttreatment follow-up. Behavioral observations in thermal hyperalgesia tests were quantified before electrophysiologic examinations. Treated and contralateral nerves were harvested for histomorphologic analysis.
Chronic compression of sciatic nerve induced significant reduction of amplitude and increment of latency of M-SSEP and CMAP in both diabetic and nondiabetic rats. Diabetic group changes were more susceptible. Decompression surgery significantly improved both sensory and motor conduction, thermal hyperalgesia, and the mean myelin diameter of the rat sciatic nerve in both diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Near full recovery of motor and sensory function occurred in the nondiabetic rats, but not in the diabetic rats 8 weeks postdecompression.
Behavioral, electrophysiologic, and histomorphologic findings indicate that decompression surgery is effective in both diabetic and nondiabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Low dielectric constant nanoporous poly(methyl silsesquioxane) (PMSSQ) was prepared through the templating of an amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(styrene-b-2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP). The ...experimental and theoretical studies suggest that the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction is existed between the PMSSQ precursor and PS-b-P2VP. The result of modulated differential scanning calorimeter (MDSC) indicates the miscible hybrid of the PMSSQ precursor/PS-b-P2VP. The miscible hybrid and the narrow thermal decomposition of the PS-b-P2VP lead to nanopores in the prepared films from the results of transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The effects of the loading ratio and the PS block volume ratio (fPS: 0.74, 0.46 and 0.35) on the morphology and properties of the prepared nanoporous PMSSQ films were investigated. The AFM and TEM studies suggest that the uniform pore morphology should be prepared from a modest porogen loading level for the optimum intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The PS-b-P2VP with a smaller fPS requires a higher loading level to obtain the uniform pores. The refractive index and dielectric constant of the prepared nanoporous films could be tuned by the loading ratio in the range of 1.361–1.139 and 2.359–1.509, respectively. However, both properties are independent of the fPS. The prepared study demonstrates the control of the morphology and properties of the nanoporous films through the polymer structure.
In this study, oligomeric phenylsilsesquioxane (OPSQ)-titania optical thin films were synthesized and characterized. OPSQ with the end group of Si–OR was prepared first. Then, it was reacted with ...titanium (IV)
n-butoxide, followed by spin-coating and multi-step curing to form the optical thin films. Highly homogeneous and transparent films were obtained at the titania content of 0–54.8
wt.%. The titania domain in the prepared films was estimated to be 8
nm from the TEM diagram. The optical properties of the prepared hybrid films could be tuned by the titania content. By increasing the titania content from 0 to 54.8
wt.%, the absorption edge and refractive index of the prepared film were increased from 277 to 322
nm and 1.527 to 1.759, respectively. These results could be explained from the growing size effect of the titania domain. The optical loss of the studied planar waveguide by using the OPSQ-titania as the core layer decreased from 0.568 to 0.415
dB
cm
−1 as increasing the titania content from 0 to 15.9
wt.%. It is resulted from the reduction of the C–H bonding density of the hybrid materials by increasing the titania composition. The prepared films could have potential applications for high refractive index coating or optical waveguides.
Abstract Objective To examine the effects of thermal stimulation (TS) on the lower extremity (LE) movement and function in patients with stroke. Design A double-blinded randomized controlled trial. ...Setting A university hospital. Participants Patients (N=34) at least 3 months after stroke were randomly assigned into the experimental and the control groups. Interventions In addition to regular rehabilitation, the experimental group received a 30-minute noxious TS protocol (heat pain 46–47°C/cold pain 2–3°C) 3days/wk for 8 weeks, and the control group received a 30-minute innocuous TS protocol (heat 40–41°C/cold 23–24°C) 3d/wk for 8 weeks. Main Outcome Measures The Low Extremity subscale of the Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (LE-STREAM), the Mobility subscale of STREAM (Mob-STREAM), the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), the Barthel Index (BI), the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS), and the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were administered by a blinded rater at baseline, posttreatment (8wk), and follow-up (12wk). Results Twenty-three participants completed the study protocol and all outcome measurements. No preexisting group differences between the experimental group (n=11) and the control group (n=12) were found on demographic and clinical variables. Compared with baseline, the experimental group showed significant improvements at posttreatment and follow-up on the LE-STREAM, Mob-STREAM, FAC, and BI ( P <.05) while the control group showed no significant improvements for all outcome measures. As for the between-group comparison, significant differences were seen at follow-up (12wk) on the LE-STREAM, Mob-STREAM, BI, and MAS. Conclusions Our findings indicate that an 8-week program of noxious TS combined with a traditional stroke rehabilitation program can improve the LE-related movement and function in patients with stroke for more than 3 months.
In this paper, a meta-heuristic algorithm (electromagnetism-like mechanism, EM) for fuzzy neural network training is introduced. Electromagnetism-like mechanism simulates the electromagnetism theory ...of physics by considering each sample point to be an electrical charge. The EM algorithm utilizes an attraction-repulsion mechanism to move the sample points towards the optimum. Besides, the electromagnetism-like mechanism is not easily falling into local optimum. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to use the electromagnetism-like mechanism to develop the fuzzy neural networks (EMFNN), and employ this EMFNN to train fuzzy if-then rules. According to the case, the EMFNN could successfully generalize new fuzzy if-then rules.
Background The goal of the study was to compare the effects of isokinetic and isotonic strengthening program on the changes of muscle strength, functional capacity, life quality, and inflammatory ...cytokines in hemiparetic patients within 6 months of stroke attack. Methods Thirty-one participants were randomly assigned into either isotonic training group or isokinetic training group. Both training programs were carried out 5 days a week for a total of 4 weeks. Outcome measures included the peak isometric torque of knees at 90° flexion, the peak torque of knees extension and flexion at angular velocities 60°/s and 120°/s, Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey Questionnaire, Timed Up and Go test, and inflammatory cytokines including high sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Results Seven patients were not able to complete the training program and were excluded from our study. The results from the remaining 24 patients showed that there were more peak torque, and SF-36 items significantly improved in the isokinetic training group compared with the isotonic group. The Timed Up and Go test and interleukin-6 were improved in both groups, but tumor necrosis factor-α was improved in only the isokinetic group. There were no significant differences between the improvements of the 2 groups except the isokinetic flexion torque at 60°/s and 120°/s. Conclusions Early strengthening exercise is important for subacute stroke patients, and isokinetic program, if accessible, can bring more significant benefits for them.
The depth profiles of the epitaxial Ni80Fe20(111)/Ru(0001) multilayers were studied by polarized neutron reflectivity and X-ray reflectivity. At the Ru thickness that the anti-ferromagnetic coupling ...was found, the magnetic moments between two Ni80Fe20 interlayers show a biquadratic coupling effect with a double unit cell at low applied fields. A magnetic dead layer of about 0.3 nm was also found at the interface boundaries. The maximal polarization effect applied to the Ru layer is less than 0.03 micro-B.
A sensitivity analysis of a comprehensive mixed‐phase chemical mechanism is conducted under a variety of atmospheric conditions. The local sensitivities of gas and aqueous phase species ...concentrations with respect to a variety of model parameters are calculated using the novel automatic differentiation ADIFOR tool. The main chemical reaction pathways in all phases, interfacial mass transfer processes, and ambient physical parameters that affect tropospheric O3 formation and O3‐precursor relations under all modeled conditions are identified and analyzed. The results show that the presence of clouds not only reduces many gas phase species concentrations and the total oxidizing capacity but alters O3‐precursor relations. Decreases in gas phase concentrations and photochemical formation rates of O3 can be up to 9% and 100%, respectively, depending on the preexisting atmospheric conditions. The decrease in O3 formation is primarily caused by the aqueous phase reactions of O2− with dissolved HO2 and O3 under most cloudy conditions.
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