In this study, 24 h quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) by a cloud-resolving model (with a grid spacing of 2.5 km) on days 1–3 for 29 typhoons in six seasons of 2010–2015 in Taiwan were ...examined using categorical scores and rain gauge data. The study represents an update from a previous study for 2010–2012, in order to produce more stable and robust statistics toward the high thresholds (typically with fewer sample points), which is our main focus of interest. This is important to better understand the model’s ability to predict such high-impact typhoon rainfall events. The overall threat scores (TS, defined as the fraction among all verification points that are correctly predicted to reach a given threshold to all points that are either observed or predicted to reach that threshold, or both) were 0.28 and 0.18 on day 1 (0–24 h) QPFs, 0.25 and 0.16 on day 2 (24–48 h) QPFs, and 0.15 and 0.08 on day 3 (48–72 h) QPFs at 350 mm and 500 mm, respectively, showing improvements over 5 km models. Moreover, as found previously, a strong dependence of higher TSs for larger rainfall events also existed, and the corresponding TSs at 350 and 500 mm for the top 5% of events were 0.39 and 0.25 on day 1, 0.38 and 0.21 on day 2, and 0.25 and 0.12 on day 3. Thus, for the top typhoon rainfall events that have the highest potential for hazards, the model exhibits an even higher ability for QPFs based on categorical scores. Furthermore, it is shown that the model has little tendency to overpredict or underpredict rainfall for all groups of events with different rainfall magnitude across all thresholds, except for some tendency to under-forecast for the largest event group on day 3. Some issues associated with categorical statistics to be aware of are also demonstrated and discussed.
The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is an attractive process for next‐generation ammonia synthesis; therefore, identifying a suitable catalyst for this reaction is critical. In ...recent years, transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and their Janus structures have gained significant attention because of their outstanding catalytic properties. However, the synthesis of Janus TMDs remains challenging, and exposing their active sites is difficult when using a low‐dimensional structure to improve the catalytic activity. To date, relatively little research has been conducted in this area. Herein, emerging Janus WSeS/WSe2 heterostructure nanowalls are systematically explored. These nanowalls are used as a nitrogen fixation catalyst in electrolytes. The nanowalls demonstrate a significant NH3 yield rate and Faradaic efficiency of 13.97 µg h‐mgcat−1 and 35.24% at −0.3 V in 0.1 m HCl, as well as 15.96 µg h‐mgcat−1 and 40.2% in 0.1 M Na2SO4. This study presents an in‐depth analysis of the properties of Janus WSeS/WSe2 heterostructure nanowalls and a conceptual framework for linking TMD‐based catalysts and the NRR.
Herein, emerging Janus WSeS/WSe2 heterostructure nanowalls are systematically explored. These nanowalls are used as a nitrogen fixation catalyst in the electrolytes. The nanowalls exhibit a high NH3 yield rate and Faradaic efficiency of 13.97 µg h‐mgcat−1 and 35.24% at −0.3 V in 0.1 HCl, as well as 15.96 μg h‐mgcat‐1and 40.2% in 0.1 m Na2SO4. This study presents an in‐depth analysis of the properties of Janus WSeS/WSe2 heterostructure nanowalls and a conceptual framework for linking TMD‐based catalysts and the NRR.
Flexible MWCNTs can construct MGPs to form 3-D hybrid structure which inhibit face to face aggregation of multi-graphene platelets and MWCNTs can act as extended coordinating arms for the 3-D hybrid ...architectures, these arms entangle with polymer chain to provide stronger interaction between MWCNTs/MGPs and the epoxy matrix. A remarkable synergetic effect between the MGPs and MWCNTs on the enhanced mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of these epoxy composites was demonstrated.
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► Tortuous MWCNTs construct MGPs to form 3-D hybrid structure and inhibit aggregation. ► MWCNTs act as extended coordinating arms for the hybrid architectures in composites. ► 3-D hybrid architectures exhibit a synergetic effect on performance of composites.
A remarkable synergetic effect between the multi-graphene platelets (MGPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in improving the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of epoxy composites is demonstrated. Stacking of individual two-dimensional MGPs is effectively inhibited by introducing one-dimensional MWCNTs. Long and tortuous MWCNTs can bridge adjacent MGPs and inhibit their aggregation, resulting in a high contact area between the MGP/MWCNT structures and the polymer matrix. Scanning electron microscope images of the fracture surfaces of the epoxy matrix showed that MWCNT/MGP hybrid nanofillers exhibited higher solubility and better compatibility than individual MWCNTs and MGPs did. The tensile strength of GD400-MWCNT/MGP/epoxy composites was 35.4% higher than that of the epoxy alone, compared to only a 0.9% increase in tensile strength for MGP/epoxy composites over the epoxy compound. Thermal conductivity increased by 146.9% using GD400-MWCNT/MGP hybrid fillers and 23.9% for MGP fillers, compared to non-derivatised epoxy.
Abstract
Background
The previous model-based cost-effectiveness analyses regarding elective oocyte cryopreservation remained debatable, while the usage rate may influence the cost per live birth. The ...aim of this study is to disclose the usage and cost-effectiveness of the planned cryopreserved oocytes after oocyte thawing in real-world situations.
Methods
This was a retrospective single-center observational study. Women who electively cryopreserved oocytes and returned to thaw the oocytes were categorized as thawed group. The oocytes were fertilized at our center and the sperm samples for each individual was retrieved from their respective husbands. Clinical outcomes were traced and the cumulative live birth rate per thawed case was calculated. The costs from oocyte freezing cycles to oocyte thawing, and embryo transfer cycles were accordingly estimated. The cumulative cost per live birth was defined by the cumulative cost divided by the live births per thawed case.
Results
We recruited 645 women with 840 oocyte retrieval cycles for elective oocyte freezing from November 2002 to December 2020. The overall usage rate was 8.4% (54/645). After the storage duration exceeded ten years, the probabilities of thawing oocytes were 10.6%, 26.6%, and 12.7% from women who cryopreserved their oocytes at the age ≤ 35 years, 36–39 years, and ≥ 40 years, respectively (
P
= 0.304). Among women who thawed their oocytes, 31.5% (17/54) of women achieved at least one live birth. For the age groups of ≤ 35 years, 36–39 years, and ≥ 40 years, the cumulative live birth rates per thawed case were 63.6%, 42.3%, and 17.6%, respectively (
P
= 0.045), and the cumulative costs for one live birth were $11,704, $17,189, and $35,642, respectively (
P
< 0.001).
Conclusions
The overall usage rate was 8.4% in our cohort. The cumulative live birth rate was greatest in the youngest group and the cumulative cost per live birth was highest in the oldest group, which was threefold greater than that in the group aged ≤ 35 years. The findings added to the limited evidence of the usage rate in real-world situations, which could hopefully aid future analysis and decision-making in public health policy and for women willing to preserve fertility.
Trial registration
None.
Conventional decision theory suggests that under risk, people choose option(s) by maximizing the expected utility. However, theories deal ambiguously with different options that have the same ...expected utility. A network approach is proposed by introducing 'goal' and 'time' factors to reduce the ambiguity in strategies for calculating the time-dependent probability of reaching a goal. As such, a mathematical foundation that explains the irrational behavior of choosing an option with a lower expected utility is revealed, which could imply that humans possess rationality in foresight.
An effective method is proposed to prepare octa(aminophenyl) silsesquioxane (OAPS) functionalized graphene oxide (GO) reinforced polyimide (PI) composites with a low dielectric constant and ...ultrastrong mechanical properties. The amine-functionalized surface of OAPS-GO is a versatile starting platform for in situ polymerization, which promotes the uniform dispersion of OAPS-GO in the PI matrix. Compared with GO/PI composites, the strong interfacial interaction between OAPS-GO and the PI matrix through covalent bonds facilitates a load transfer from the PI matrix to the OAPS-GO. The OAPS-GO/PI composite film with 3.0 wt % OAPS-GO exhibited an 11.2-fold increase in tensile strength, and a 10.4-fold enhancement in tensile modulus compared with neat PI. The dielectric constant (D k) decreased with the increasing content of 2D porous OAPS-GO, and a D k value of 1.9 was achieved.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) induced by cold medicine (CM) may result in severe ocular complications (SOCs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the human ...leucocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism pattern in CM-induced patients with SJS/TEN developing SOCs.
All participants, including patients with SJS/TEN (n=33) and control patients (n=98), were enrolled through visits to the clinic from 2016 to 2017. SOCs were diagnosed (n=26) via a chart review or eye examination. Patient saliva was collected with commercialised kits and genotyped with PCR assays followed by hybridisation with sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) probes (PCR-SSO) using commercial bead-based typing kits.
In all patients with SJS/TEN with SOCs, the HLA-A*02:07 carrier frequency was significantly higher than that in controls (OR=3.24, 95% CI=1.09 to 9.60, p=0.049), as was the genotype frequency (OR=3.89, 95% CI=1.49 to 10.16, p=0.007). In patients with CM-SJS/TEN with SOCs, the HLA-A*02:07 carrier frequency was higher than that in controls (OR=5.56, 95% CI=1.52 to 20.00, p=0.016), as was the allele frequency (OR=6.67, 95% CI=2.33 to 20.00, p=0.001). In patients with CM-SJS/TEN with SOCs, the HLA-B*46:01 allele frequency was significantly higher than that in controls (OR=3.85, 95% CI=1.52 to 10.00, p=0.008).
The HLA-A*02:07 and HLA-B*46:01 alleles were significantly associated with SOCs among Han Chinese patients with CM-SJS/TEN. These findings demonstrate the genetic diversity in SJS pathogenesis among different ethnic groups.
Abstract
Understanding how climate affects trait composition within a biological assemblage is critical for assessing and eventually mitigating climate change impacts on the assemblage and its ...ecological functioning. While body size is a fundamental trait of animals as it affects many aspects of species' biology and ecology, it remains unclear through what mechanisms temperature and its variability influence within‐assemblage body size variation.
This study aims to understand how temperature and its variability shape body size variations in animal assemblages and potentially affect assemblages' vulnerability to climate change. Using >5300 individuals of 680 macromoth species collected from 13 assemblages along a ca. 3000 m elevational gradient in Taiwan, we examined (1) the strength of environmental filtering and niche partitioning in determining the intra‐ and inter‐specific size variations within an assemblage, and (2) the effects of mean temperature and the daily and seasonal temperature variabilities on the strength of the two processes.
We found that the body size composition was strongly affected by temperature and its seasonality via both processes. High temperature seasonality enhanced niche partitioning, causing within‐population size convergence. In contrast, low mean temperature and low seasonality both enhanced environmental filtering, causing within‐assemblage size convergence. However, while low temperature restricted the lower size limit within an assemblage, low seasonality restricted both lower and upper size limits.
This study indicates an overlooked but important role of temperature seasonality in shaping intra‐ and inter‐specific size variations in moth assemblages through both environmental filtering and niche partitioning. With rising temperatures and amplifying seasonality around the globe, potentially weakened filtering forces may increase the size variation within assemblages, reinforcing the assemblage‐level resilience. Nevertheless, enhanced niche partitioning may limit size variation within populations, which may increase the population‐level vulnerability to environmental changes. This study improves the mechanistic understanding of the climatic effects on trait composition in animal assemblages and provides essential information for biodiversity conservation under climate change.
Read the free
Plain Language Summary
for this article on the Journal blog.
摘要
了解氣候如何影響生物群聚內的性狀組成，對於評估並最終減緩氣候變遷對群聚及其生態功能的衝擊至關重要。儘管體型大小是動物的一項重要性狀，在生物及生態的許多層面上造成影響，但目前仍不清楚氣溫及其變異，可以透過什麼樣的機制影響群聚中個體體型大小的組成。
本研究旨在了解氣溫及其變異如何塑造動物群聚中的體型變異，並進而探討它們如何影響群聚面對氣候變遷威脅時的脆弱度。我們利用沿著臺灣約 3000 公尺海拔梯度所採集的 13 個大蛾群聚，共包含屬於 680個物種的 5300多個大蛾個體，來探討: (1) 環境篩選和生態棲位分化這兩項機制，影響群聚內個體體型大小在種內與種間變異的作用強度，以及 (2) 平均氣溫和溫度的日間與季節變異，對這兩項機制所造成的影響。
我們發現平均氣溫及其季節變異，可以透過環境篩選和生態棲位分化這兩項機制影響大蛾群聚中的體型組成。較大的溫度季節變異會增強蛾類物種間生態棲位的分化，造成種內體型大小趨向一致，而低溫與較小的季節變異則皆會增強環境篩選的作用，導致群聚內個體體型趨向一致。透過環境篩選作用，低溫限制了群聚內個體體型的下限，而小的溫度季節變異則同時限制了體型的上限與下限。
本研究指出，氣溫的季節變異透過環境篩選與生態棲位分化來塑造蛾類群聚內和物種內體型大小變異，是過往被忽略的重要機制。隨著全球氣溫升高和季節性增強，預期減弱的環境篩選作用將增加蛾類體型在群聚內的變異，並增強群聚層級的適應能力。然而，預期增強的生態棲位分化，可能將限制蛾類物種內的體型變異，進而提高族群層級對環境變化的脆弱度。這個研究不但增進了我們對於氣候影響群聚性狀組成之機制的了解，並為應對氣候變遷下的生物多樣性保育提供了重要的資訊。
Non-covalent functionalization was used to functionalize graphene nanosheets (GNSs) through π–π stacking of pyrene molecules with a functional segmented polymer chain, which results in a remarkable ...improvement in the thermal conductivity of GNS-filled polymer composites. The functional segmented poly(glycidyl methacrylate) containing localized pyrene groups (Py-PGMA) was prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization, and Py-PGMA was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Raman spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis reveal the characteristics of Py-PGMA–GNS. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated that the functional groups on Py-PGMA–GNSs can generate covalent bonds with the epoxy matrix, and further form a cross-linked structure in Py-PGMA–GNS/epoxy composites. The Py-PGMA on the GNS surface not only plays an important role to facilitate a homogeneous dispersion in the polymer matrix but also improves the GNS–polymer interaction, which results in a high contact area. Consequently, the thermal conductivity of integrated Py-PGMA–GNS/epoxy composites exhibited a remarkable improvement and is much higher than epoxy reinforced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes or GNSs. The thermal conductivity of 4
phr Py-PGMA–GNS/epoxy has about 20% (higher than that of pristine GNS/epoxy) and 267% (higher than pristine MWCNT/epoxy).
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