In recent years, nano-silica has emerged as a promising synergistic agent for improving the flame retardancy of intumescent flame retardant (IFR) polymer materials. However, few researches have been ...focused on the influence of the nano-silica on the flame retardant behavior of IFR cellulosic materials. In the paper, flame retardant mixtures of nano-silica and traditional IFR (NS-IFR) were applied on cotton fabric (CF) to investigate the synergistic effect of nano-silica on the thermal stability and fire resistance of IFR system. The results of the limited oxygen index (LOI) test and the vertical burning test (VBT) demonstrated that the flame retardancy of the treated cotton fabric was optimized when 4wt% APP/PER/MEL was replaced by the 4% nano-silica. But it is impaired with increasing the concentration of nano-silica. Char residues, characteristic decomposition temperatures and heat release data from thermogravimetric (TG) and micro-scale combustion calorimeter (MCC) measurements revealed that appropriate addition of nano-silica into traditional IFR system can improve the fire protection properties of IFR-CF to a certain extent, but cause depress in thermal stability of IFR-CF. Therefore, for cellulosic textiles, it is not strongly recommended for use of nano-silica as synergistic agents in IFR system.
•Intumescent flame retardant (APP/PER/MEL) cotton fabric treated by nano-silica•Comparisons between APP/PER/MEL without and with nano-silica using TG, FTIR, MCC, LOI and VBT tests•Appropriate amount of nano-silica improve flame retard properties of IFR cotton fabric.•IFR coating cotton fabric with nano-silica worsened thermal stability.
Abstract
Kinematic restoration of the eastern Sichuan fold‐and‐thrust belt (ESFTB) in South China is calibrated with a new thermo‐kinematic model combining analog models, discrete element method, and ...thermochronology data. Thermo‐kinematic analysis provides constraints on the onset, rate, and lateral variation of deformation and exhumation. Results show that the ESFTB experienced a northwestward thrusting and periodic exhumation. Its evolution was characterized by five major stages based on the deformation characteristics; (a) Shortening above a basal decollement and formation of large imbricates separated by narrow synclines during 170–130 Ma; (b) Transition stage during 130–100 Ma; (c) Stepping up of deformation to shallow decollement levels and shaping of the thick‐skinned domain during 100–70 Ma; (d) Shaping of the thin‐skinned domain during 70–20 Ma; and (e) Continuous exhumation and structural modification from 20 Ma to present. The changes in the exhumation rate have been tectonic responses to the subduction retreat of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate and the eastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. The westward subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate resulted in northwestward shortening across South China, progressive deformation of the ESFTB, and rapid exhumation from the Late Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous. The crustal extension associated with the rollback of the Paleo‐Pacific slab accounted for the Mesozoic exhumation rate decrease until the Miocene. The accelerated cooling of the thin‐skinned domain of the ESFTB since the Miocene was a response to the eastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau, while the continuous slow exhumation in the thick‐skinned domain was related to the continuous crustal extension in South China.
Key Points
New thermo‐kinematic method combining analog modeling, discrete element method, balanced reconstruction, and thermochronology data
Eastern Sichuan fold‐and‐thrust belt (ESFTB) experienced northwestward thrusting and periodic exhumation and its evolution can be subdivided into five stages
Exhumation rate changes are responses of ESFTB to subduction retreat of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate and eastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau
•The earthquake triggered 7059 landslides over an area of about 466 km2.•Landslide distribution characters “low affected area, large landslide area”.•Deposits have high mobility and present debris ...flow feature by shaking liquefaction.•Rainfall has obvious influence on landslides, other factors have little impact.
At 18:07 on September 5, 2018 (UTC), a Mw 6.6 earthquake struck the Iburi-Tobu area of Hokkaido, Japan. The Hokkaido Iburi-Tobu (HIT) earthquake is a reverse-slip earthquake with a focal depth of 33.4 km at 42.69°N and 142.07°E. According to the detailed landslide interpretations, there were approximately 7059 landslides induced by this earthquake concentrated in an area of 466 km2. The landslides induced by the HIT earthquake are mostly shallow landslides whose sources are mainly an air-fall pumice layer from the Tarumai volcano, and these landslides exhibit an obvious characteristic of a “low affected area, large landslide area”. The landslide area follows an exponential distribution, and many landslides are composed of multiple subsource areas. There are at least 8778 source areas in the whole landslide area. The landslides present high mobility, and the landslide deposits not only accumulate on the foot but also “flow” down along the gullies, similar to debris flows, despite the gullies being gentle (<6%), which may be related to recent heavy rainfall events. Most landslides occur on gentle hills with an elevation range of 100–250 m, and the landslide height is mainly concentrated between 15 m and 45 m. Major slide directions follow a nearly SSE-NNW direction, and all the landslides occur with PGA (peak ground acceleration) ≥0.5 g.
Alow carbohydrate diet (LCD) is more beneficial for the glycometabolism in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and may be effective in reducing depression. Almond, which is a common nut, has been shown to ...effectively improve hyperglycemia and depression symptoms. This study aimed to determine the effect of an almond-based LCD (a-LCD) on depression and glycometabolism, as well as gut microbiota and fasting glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in patients with T2DM.
This was a randomized controlled trial which compared an a-LCD with a low-fat diet (LFD). Forty-five participants with T2DM at a diabetes club and the Endocrine Division of the First and Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between December 2018 to December 2019 completed each dietary intervention for 3 months, including 22 in the a-LCD group and 23 in the LFD group. The indicators for depression and biochemical indicators including glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), gut microbiota, and GLP-1 concentration were assessed at the baseline and third month and compared between the two groups.
A-LCD significantly improved depression and HbA1c (
<0.01). Meanwhile, a-LCD significantly increased the short chain fatty acid (SCFAs)-producing bacteria
,
and
. The GLP-1 concentration in the a-LCD group was higher than that in the LFD group (
<0.05).
A-LCD could exert a beneficial effect on depression and glycometabolism in patients with T2DM. We speculate that the role of a-LCD in improving depression in patients with T2DM may be associated with it stimulating the growth of SCFAs-producing bacteria, increasing SCFAs production and GPR43 activation, and further maintaining GLP-1 secretion. In future studies, the SCFAs and GPR43 activation should be further examined.
Intraflagellar transport (IFT) particles or trains are composed of IFT-A and IFT-B complexes. To assess the working mechanism of the IFT-A complex in IFT and ciliogenesis, we have analyzed ift43 ...mutants of Chlamydomnonas in conjunction with mutants of the other IFT-A subunits. An ift43 null mutant or a mutant with a partial deletion of the IFT43 conserved domain has no or short flagella. The mutants accumulate not only IFT-B but also IFT-Ain the short flagella, which is in contrast to an ift140 null mutant. The IFT43 conserved domain is necessary and sufficient for the function of IFT43. IFT43 directly interacts with IFT121 and loss of IFT43 results in instability of IFT-A. A construct with a partial deletion of the IFT43 conserved domain is sufficient to rescue the instability phenotype of IFT-A, but results in diminishing of IFT-A at the peri-basal body region. We have further provided evidence for the direct interactions within the IFT-A complex and shown that the integrity of IFT-A is important for its stability and cellular localization. Finally, we show that both IFT43 and IFT140 are involved in mobilizing ciliary precursors from the cytoplasmic pool during flagellar regeneration, suggesting a novel role of IFT-A in transporting ciliary components in the cytoplasm to the peri-basal body region.
Corruption in the host nation is a key issue influencing foreign direct investment. Most existing studies use the expert-knowledge-based corruption index as a proxy for corruption. However, the ...validity of these published corruption indexes is often questioned by scholars and experts. By introducing Internet data to evaluate public corruption awareness levels, this paper uses two different corruption proxy variables to investigate the relationship between host country corruption and China’s OFDI. In addition, these relationships are further compared between the Belt and Road (B&R) countries and non-B&R countries. The empirical results show that there are negative correlations between host country corruption and China’s OFDI flow for the whole sample, B&R countries and non-B&R countries. The empirical results of this paper serve as a reference for Chinese enterprises to make overseas investment decisions.
In the process of flank milling of a no-developable ruled surface, the non-expansible characteristic of the curved surface could negatively affect the surface finish of the mechanical parts. To be ...specific, tool runout is a factor that contributes to the decreased machining accuracy of the surface. In order to solve this problem, a cutter position optimization method based on tool runout is proposed in this paper. The coupling of the principle error and tool runout error was analyzed in the first place. The actual rotation radius of the cutter corresponding to the discrete points of the original cutter axis was then obtained through a method of measurement. The discrete points of the cutter axis in the case of tool runout were located by subdividing the surface continuously in the parameter field of the design surface. An error measurement function of the no-developable ruled surface in the case of the tool runout was constructed based on the new cutter axis position. Using a two-step optimization algorithm, the initial cutter position was finally calculated which was then further optimized through a single-point swing method with the factor of tool runout taken into consideration. The results show that, after incorporating the tool runout factor into the error optimization model, the average machining error is reduced by 25.6% and the overcutting rate is reduced by 18.8%. The surface finish of the mechanical parts is effectively improved.
Accurate forecasting of the energy demand is crucial for the rational formulation of energy policies for energy management. In this paper, a novel ensemble forecasting model based on the artificial ...bee colony (ABC) algorithm for the energy demand was proposed and adopted. The ensemble model forecasts were based on multiple time variables, such as the gross domestic product (GDP), industrial structure, energy structure, technological innovation, urbanization rate, population, consumer price index, and past energy demand. The model was trained and tested using the primary energy demand data collected in China. Seven base models, including the regression-based model and machine learning models, were utilized and compared to verify the superior performance of the ensemble forecasting model proposed herein. The results revealed that (1) the proposed ensemble model is significantly superior to the benchmark prediction models and the simple average ensemble prediction model just in terms of the forecasting accuracy and hypothesis test, (2) the proposed ensemble approach with the ABC algorithm can be employed as a promising framework for energy demand forecasting in terms of the forecasting accuracy and hypothesis test, and (3) the forecasting results obtained for the future energy demand by the ensemble model revealed that the future energy demand of China will maintain a steady growth trend.
Background: Patients who are critically ill with COVID-19 could have impaired nutrient absorption due to disruption of the normal intestinal mucosa. They are often in a state of high inflammation, ...increased stress and catabolism as well as a significant increase in energy and protein requirements. Therefore, timely enteral nutrition support and the provision of optimal nutrients are essential in preventing malnutrition in these patients. Aim: This review aims to evaluate the effects of enteral nutrition in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Method: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted based on the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-Analysis framework and PICO. Searches were conducted in databases, including EMBASE, Health Research databases and Google Scholar. Searches were conducted from database inception until 3 February 2022. The reference lists of articles were also searched for relevant articles. Results: Seven articles were included in the systematic review, and four articles were included in the meta-analysis. Two distinct areas were identified from the results of the systematic review and meta-analysis: the impact of enteral nutrition and gastrointestinal intolerance associated with enteral nutrition. The impact of enteral nutrition was further sub-divided into early enteral nutrition versus delayed enteral nutrition and enteral nutrition versus parenteral nutrition. The results of the meta-analysis of the effects of enteral nutrition in critically ill patients with COVID-19 showed that, overall, enteral nutrition was effective in significantly reducing the risk of mortality in these patients compared with the control with a risk ratio of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.79, 0.99, p = 0.04). Following sub-group analysis, the early enteral nutrition group also showed a significant reduction in the risk of mortality with a risk ratio of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.79, 1.00, p = 0.05). The Relative Risk Reduction (RRR) of mortality in patients with COVID-19 by early enteral nutrition was 11%. There was a significant reduction in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in the early enteral nutrition group compared with the delayed enteral nutrition group. There was no significant difference between enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition in relation to mortality (RR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.59, 1.28, p = 0.48). Concerning the length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay and days on mechanical ventilation, while there were reductions in the number of days in the enteral nutrition group compared to the control (delayed enteral nutrition or parenteral nutrition), the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that early enteral nutrition significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the risk of mortality among critically ill patients with COVID-19. However, early enteral nutrition or enteral nutrition did not significantly (p > 0.05) reduce the length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay and days on mechanical ventilation compared to delayed enteral nutrition or parenteral nutrition. More studies are needed to examine the effect of early enteral nutrition in patients with COVID-19.
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