BACKGROUND The pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index(PCDAI)is used as a standard tool to assess disease activity in clinical trials for pediatric Crohn’s disease.AIM To examine which items on the PCDAI drive asse...BACKGROUND The pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index(PCDAI)is used as a standard tool to assess disease activity in clinical trials for pediatric Crohn’s disease.AIM To examine which items on the PCDAI drive assessment of disease activity,and how subgroups of subjective and objective items reflect change in disease state over time.METHODS Selective raw data from three prospectively collected datasets were combined,including 703 children with full PCDAI data at baseline,at 3-mo(Q1,n=670),and 1-year(Q4,n=474).Change in individual PCDAI scores from baseline to Q1 and to Q4 were examined using the non-weighted PCDAI.RESULTS Abdominal pain,well-being,weight,and stooling had the highest change scores over time.Objective indicators including albumin,abdominal exam,and height velocity followed.Change scores for well-being and abdominal exam did not explain significant variance at Q1 but were significant predictors at Q4(P<0.001 and P<0.05).Subjective and objective subgroups of items predicted less variance(18%and 22%)on total PCDAI scores at Q1 and Q4 compared to the full PCDAI,or a composite scale(both 32%)containing significant predictors.CONCLUSION Although subjective items on the PCDAI change the most over time,the full PCDAI or a smaller composite of items including a combination of subjective and objective components classifies disease activity better than a subgroup of either subjective or objective items alone.Reliance on subjective or objective items as stand-alone proxies for disease activity measurement could result in misclassification of disease state.展开更多
The Crohn＇s disease activity index （CDAI） has been commonly used to assess the effects of treatment with different agents in Crohn＇s disease （CD）. However, these studies may be compromised, if the results compar...The Crohn＇s disease activity index （CDAI） has been commonly used to assess the effects of treatment with different agents in Crohn＇s disease （CD）. However, these studies may be compromised, if the results compared to a placebo or standard therapy group （in the absence of a placebo） substantially differ from the expected response. In addition, significant concerns have been raised regarding the reliability and validity of the CDAI. Reproducibility of the CDAI may be limited as significant inter-observer error has been recorded, even if measurements are done by experienced clinicians with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of CD. Finally, many CDAI endpoints are open to subjective interpretation and have the potential for manipulation. This is worrisome as there is the potential for significant financial gain, if the results of a clinical trial appear to provide a positive result. Physicians caring for patients should be concerned about the positive results in clinical trials that are sponsored by industry, even if the trials involve respected centers and the results appear in highly ranked medical journals.展开更多
To investigate of pediatric ulcerative colitis activity index(PUCAI)in ulcerative colitis correlate with mucosal inflammation and endoscopic assessment of disease activity(Mayo endoscopic score).METHODSWe reviewed cha...To investigate of pediatric ulcerative colitis activity index(PUCAI)in ulcerative colitis correlate with mucosal inflammation and endoscopic assessment of disease activity(Mayo endoscopic score).METHODSWe reviewed charts from ulcerative colitis patients who had undergone both colonoscopy over 3 years.Clinical assessment of disease severity within 35 d(either before or after)the colonoscopy were included.Patients were excluded if they had significant therapeutic interventions(such as the start of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents)between the colonoscopy and the clinical assessment.Mayo endoscopic score of the rectum and sigmoid were done by two gastroenterologists.Inter-observer variability in Mayo score was assessed.RESULTSWe identified 99 patients(53%female,74%pancolitis)that met inclusion criteria.The indications for colonoscopy included ongoing disease activity(62%),consideration of medication change(10%),assessment of medication efficacy(14%),and cancer screening(14%).Based on PUCAI scores,33%of patients were in remission,39%had mild disease,23%had moderate disease,and 4%had severe disease.There was“moderate-substantial”agreement between the two reviewers in assessing rectal Mayo scores(kappa=0.54,95%CI:0.41-0.68).CONCLUSIONEndoscopic disease severity(Mayo score)assessed by reviewing photographs of pediatric colonoscopy has moderate inter-rater reliability,and agreement was less robust in assessing patients with mild disease activity.Endoscopic disease severity generally correlates with clinical disease severity as measured by PUCAI score.However,children with inflamed colons can have significant variation in their reported clinical symptoms.Thus,assessment of both clinical symptoms and endoscopic disease severity may be required in future clinical studies.展开更多
Air quenched basic oxygen furnace steel slag （BOF-SS） is processed at very high cooling rate, which is expected to have different cementitious properties from conventional slowly cooled BOF-SS. For this purpose, the...Air quenched basic oxygen furnace steel slag （BOF-SS） is processed at very high cooling rate, which is expected to have different cementitious properties from conventional slowly cooled BOF-SS. For this purpose, the strength activity indexes of air quenched and slowly cooled BOF-SS are investigated. The results reveal that, under the specific surface area （S） of 490 m^2/kg, the compressive strength activity index reaches 1.24 after 28 days with replacement of 15% air quenched BOF-SS and reaches 1.05 after 28 days with replacement of 20% air quenched BOF-SS and 30%granulated blast furnace slag （GBFS）. The cementitious activity of air quenched BOF-SS is obviously higher than that of slowly cooled BOF-SS, mainly because it contains more C3 S and glassy phases.展开更多
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and practicability of an activityindex combining acceleration and location data for automated estrus detection in dairycows. By using a wearable neck tag, me...The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and practicability of an activityindex combining acceleration and location data for automated estrus detection in dairycows. By using a wearable neck tag, measurements of acceleration and location were gathered from 22 multiparous cows monitored incessantly for 6 days to derive activity recordsof each cow. The maximum-minimum distance clustering (MMDC) method was used todivide hourly activity data into low, medium, high, and intensity level groups. The weightedsum of the proportions of the low, medium, high, and intensity activities in an hour constituted the activity level. The activity index was defined as the ratio of the variation inhourly activity level compared to the same time period during the previous three days. Furthermore, whether the cow was in estrus was judged above a set threshold. The studyshowed that the power consumption and communication effects of the neck tags wereacceptable for indoor-housing conditions. For the two consecutive time periods, theactivity-index-based detection algorithm achieved 90.91% for accuracy, 100% for precision,100% for specificity, 83.33% for recall, 90.91% for F1 score, and 0.82 for Kappa coefficient. Onthe basis of these results, it can be concluded that the combination of acceleration andlocation in the activity index can promote estrus detection in dairy cows.展开更多
Existing estimators for the jump activity index only made use of the price dynamics of assets.In this study,we incorporate trading information and propose a trading-flow-adjusted(TA)estimator for the jump activity ind...Existing estimators for the jump activity index only made use of the price dynamics of assets.In this study,we incorporate trading information and propose a trading-flow-adjusted(TA)estimator for the jump activity index for pure-jump Ito semimartingales observed at high frequencies.We derive the central limit theorem of the estimator and perform simulation studies that justify the theory.The new estimator is shown to be more efficient in terms of the convergence rate as compared with the existing estimators,which use only the price information under some realistic conditions.Empirical analysis shows estimates with lower standard errors than those that do not incorporate the trading information.展开更多
Purpose–The efficient utilization of recycled concrete powder(RCP)has attracted much attention.To break through the limitation of single activation technology of RCP,this study investigates the effects of a mechanica...Purpose–The efficient utilization of recycled concrete powder(RCP)has attracted much attention.To break through the limitation of single activation technology of RCP,this study investigates the effects of a mechanical-microwave method on the reactivity of RCP.Design/methodology/approach–The mechanical properties,hydration products,and pore structure of RCP-incorporated mortar were evaluated.Findings–The results demonstrate that the combined activation reduces the median particle size of RCP and induces a low-frequency shift in the Si-O-T FT-IR characteristic peaks,signifying depolymerization of the silicate network and formation of highly reactive broken bond sites.Concurrently,decreased Si2p and Al2p binding energies in XPS spectra confirm enhanced surface reactivity.The 28-day strength activity index(SAI)of RCP mortar improved from 65.7(untreated)to 82.2%under optimal activation conditions(90-min ball milling followed by 10-min microwave irradiation),outperforming solely mechanical activation by 3.6–6.1%.Furthermore,combined activation increased chemically bound water content from 22.8 to 33.7%,accompanied by a low-wavenumber shift in FT-IR peaks of hydration products.The total porosity of RCP mortar decreased from 17.2 to 14.6%,indicating a denser pore structure.Originality/value–This study explores the feasibility and potential mechanism of mechanical-microwave activation of RCP,aiming to provide valuable insights for the sustainable development of materials.Using activated RCP in cement-based materials reduces the demand for cement and substantially cuts carbon emissions,thereby making a critical contribution to the construction industry’s green and low-carbon transition.展开更多
BACKGROUND Crohn’s disease(CD)is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with unknown etiology.Inflammatory chemical mediators synthesized from arachidonic acid,an n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA),have been shown to...BACKGROUND Crohn’s disease(CD)is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with unknown etiology.Inflammatory chemical mediators synthesized from arachidonic acid,an n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA),have been shown to activate CD.Additionally,n-3 PUFAs are metabolized by the same enzyme as n-6 PUFAs and known to inhibit the arachidonic acid cascade.Our previous study noted that the presence of erythrocyte membrane fatty acids is a characteristic finding in Japanese CD patients.It was thus speculated that FADS2 gene polymorphisms,which induce PUFA metabolizing enzymes,are involved in the pathogenesis of CD,though no such relationship was found.AIM To investigate the relationship of FADS2 polymorphisms with serum and erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition ratios,and disease activity.METHODS Using previously reported findings regarding FADS2 genetic polymorphisms,the records of 52 CD patients undergoing treatment at Jikei University Kashiwa Hospital were analyzed.Mutations noted were divided into three groups;wild-type(GG),heterozygous mutants(GA),and homozygous(AA),with the activities of delta-6 and delta-5 desaturases compared using redefined d6d index(rd.d6di)and d5d index(d5di).Additionally,comparisons of serum and erythrocyte membranes for fatty acid composition,and also gene polymorphisms and CD activity index(CDAI)were performed.RESULTS The presence of the rs174538 mutation in FADS2 resulted in reduction of only rd.d6di in the erythrocyte membrane(P<0.01).In contrast,that mutation was found to be associated with d5di induced by FADS1 in serum(P=0.019)as well as the erythrocyte membrane(P<0.0001),and also with reduction in the fatty acid composition of arachidonic acid in both serum(P<0.0001)and the erythrocyte membrane(P<0.01).Regarding disease activity,a positive correlation of CDAI score with rd.d6di in both serum(P<0.05)and the erythrocyte membrane(P<0.05)was found only in the rs174538 wild-type group.In contrast,there was no correction between CDAI and d5di in either serum or erythrocyte membrane samples.CONCLUSION The rs174538 mutation alters the fatty acid profile through strong linkage to the FADS1 gene.In wild-type individuals,rd.d6di was positively correlated with CDAI,suggesting predictive utility of disease severity.展开更多
Fugitive emission has been becoming an important source of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in pharmaceutical industry,but the exact contribution of fugitive emission remains incompletely understood.In present study,p...Fugitive emission has been becoming an important source of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in pharmaceutical industry,but the exact contribution of fugitive emission remains incompletely understood.In present study,pollution characteristics,odorous activity and health risk of stack and fugitive emissions of VOCs from four functional units (e.g.,workshop,sewage treatment station,raw material storage and hazardous waste storage) of three representative pharmaceutical factories were investigated.Workshop was the dominant contributor to VOCs of fugitive emission in comparison with other functional units.Extreme high concentration of VOCs from fugitive emission in unsealed workshop (94.87 mg/m^(3))was observed relative to sealed one (1.18 mg/m^(3)),accounting for 31%and 5%of total VOCs,respectively.Fugitive emission of VOCs in the unsealed workshop mainly consisted of nhexane,1-hexene and dichloromethane.Odorous activity indexes and non-cancer hazard ratios of these VOCs from fugitive emission in the unsealed workshop were as high as that from stack exhaust.Furthermore,cancer risk of dichloromethane from fugitive emission and stack exhaust was up to (1.6-1.8)×10^(-5).Odorous activity or health risk index of the VOCs from fugitive emission was up to 13 or 11 times of the corresponding threshold value,posing remarkable health threat on pharmaceutical workers.Our?ndings highlighted the possibly underestimated contribution of fugitive emission on VOCs in the pharmaceutical industry.展开更多
BACKGROUND Perianal fistulas pose dual challenges to Crohn's disease(CD)patients.Low patient compliance due to the complexity of existing examination methods plagues the treatment and follow-up management of peria...BACKGROUND Perianal fistulas pose dual challenges to Crohn's disease(CD)patients.Low patient compliance due to the complexity of existing examination methods plagues the treatment and follow-up management of perianal CD.AIM To determine the accuracy of endoanal ultrasound(EUS)and shear wave elastography(SWE)for evaluating perianal fistulizing CD(PFCD)activity.METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study.A total of 67 patients from August 2022 to December 2023 diagnosed with CD were divided into three groups:Non-anal fistula group(n=23),low-activity perianal fistulas[n=19,perianal disease activity index(PDAI)≤4],high-activity perianal fistulas(n=25,PDAI>4)based on the PDAI.All patients underwent assessments including EUS+SWE,pelvic magnetic resonance[pelvic magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)],C-reactive protein,fecal calprotectin,CD activity index,PDAI.RESULTS The percentage of fistulas indicated by pelvic MRI and EUS was consistent at 82%,and there was good consistency in the classification of perianal fistulas(Kappa=0.752,P<0.001).Significant differences were observed in the blood flow Limberg score(χ^(2)=8.903,P<0.05)and shear wave velocity(t=2.467,P<0.05)between group 2 and 3.Shear wave velocity showed a strong negative correlation with magnetic resonance novel index for fistula imaging in CD(Magnifi-CD)score(r=-0.676,P<0.001),a weak negative correlation with the PDAI score(r=-0.386,P<0.05),and a weak correlation between the Limberg score and the PDAI score(r=0.368,P<0.05).CONCLUSION EUS combined with SWE offers a superior method for detecting and quantitating the activity of perianal fistulas in CD patients.It may be the ideal tool to assess PFCD activity objectively for management strategies.展开更多
AIMTo isolate and identify the molds involved in mycotic keratitis; to isolate corresponding species from soil samples; to compare the extracellular enzyme activity indices of the molds isolated from keratitis cases a...AIMTo isolate and identify the molds involved in mycotic keratitis; to isolate corresponding species from soil samples; to compare the extracellular enzyme activity indices of the molds isolated from keratitis cases and the corresponding soil isolates.展开更多
Objective:The ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity(UCEIS)and the Mayo endoscopic score(MES)are developed as objective methods of evaluating endoscopic severity in patients with ulcerative colitis(UC).The ai...Objective:The ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity(UCEIS)and the Mayo endoscopic score(MES)are developed as objective methods of evaluating endoscopic severity in patients with ulcerative colitis(UC).The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the UCEIS and MES in predicting the patient's response to mesalazine.Methods:Consecutive patients with UC who had undergone colonoscopy within 1 month before starting mesalazine between October 2011 and July 2016 were retrospectively collected at the Department of Gastroenterology,Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine.The median follow-up was 81 months,and all the data were analyzed in January 2021.The primary outcome was the need for step-up treatment,which included the use of corticosteroids,immunomodulatory,or surgery during admission and follow-up.Data were analyzed using the c2 or Fisher exact test,Spearman test,t-test,and ManneWhitney U test.Results:Totally,65 patients were enrolled,of whom 12(18.5%)needed step-up treatment due to nonresponse to mesalazine.The UCEIS score,MES,and the ulcerative colitis disease activity index(UCDAI)score were significantly higher in patients who had nonresponse to mesalazine(UCEIS score:6.92±0.69 vs.4.45±1.17,p<0.001;MES:2.67±0.49 vs.2.15±0.69,p=0.024;UCDAI score:9.33±1.87 vs.6.70±2.38,p=0.002).In the multivariate analysis,the UCEIS score(OR=25.65,95%CI:3.048 e45.985,p=0.003),UCDAI score(OR=1.605,95%CI:1.144e2.254,p=0.006),and C-reactive protein level(OR=1.056,95%CI:1.006e1.108,p=0.026)were independent risk factors of nonresponse.The area under the ROC curve of UCEIS was 0.95,with a sensitivity of 100%and specificity of 84.6%,a cut-off value of 6,which outperformed the MES with an area under the ROC curve of 0.70.When the UCEIS score≥6,60%of patients eventually needed step-up treatment.Conclusions:The UCEIS is a useful instrument for predicting the therapeutic effect in patients with UC treated with mesalazine.The high probability of mesalazine treatment failure and benefits of other therapies should be discussed in patients with baseline UCEIS score≥6.展开更多
Reducing steel slag （RSS） was mainly acquired from five electric-arc furnace （EAF） steelmaking plants （among them, the products of two plants were carbon steel and those of other plants were stainless steel） for...Reducing steel slag （RSS） was mainly acquired from five electric-arc furnace （EAF） steelmaking plants （among them, the products of two plants were carbon steel and those of other plants were stainless steel） for research tests. The chemical properties, compound compositions, activities and contents of main expansive compounds were tested. The results showed that the field sampled RSS had a very high crystallinity and hydraulicity with main chemical compositions close to those of Portland cement. It can be known from the study that in case of C/S ratio higher than 2.0, the main compound compositions are C2S, C3S, C2F and f-CaO. However, after the RSS was stored for six months, an obvious variation occurred with potential pre-hydration in RSS, where the SO3 content was slightly reduced and the compressive activity index was obviously higher than that at the 28th day.展开更多
The transitional zone between the Sub-Himalaya and the Lesser Himalaya is delineated by the Main Boundary Thrust(MBT)to the north and the Himalayan Frontal Thrust(HFT)to the south.The MBT acts as a major topographic b...The transitional zone between the Sub-Himalaya and the Lesser Himalaya is delineated by the Main Boundary Thrust(MBT)to the north and the Himalayan Frontal Thrust(HFT)to the south.The MBT acts as a major topographic barrier that exerts significant control over longitudinal river valleys and sediment dispersal patterns.This region exhibits pronounced fluvial responses shaped by the interplay of tectonic activity and climatic processes.The present study addresses the need for detailed micro-scale morphometric analysis in this zone to better understand ongoing landscape deformation and neotectonic signatures.A multidisciplinary approach integrating geospatial morphometric techniques with field-based evidence has been employed to investigate terrain evolution.Quantitative morphometric assessments were conducted for 16 sub-basins within an active segment of the MBT,bounded by the Jakhan River to the east and the Giri River to the west.Dimensional changes driven by tectonic uplift and accelerated erosion/incision were evaluated using the hypsometric integral(HI),with most values falling below 0.50,indicating that the drainage basins are in an equilibrium stage.Basin shape(Bs)values range from 0.88 to 6.79,supporting the occurrence of accelerated erosional processes.The stream length gradient index(SL)exhibits values between 86 and 816,suggesting rapid uplift and incision.Similarly,computed values of the Chi(χ)coefficient(479-3706)and the steepness index(Ksn;63-214)reflect differential erosion and strong tectonic control on drainage network evolution.The spatial distribution of tectonic deformation was statistically evaluated using a correlation matrix based on the Relative Index of Active Tectonics(RIAT).The results reveal that approximately 50.33%and 16.25%of the study area fall into high and moderate activity zones,respectively,which is corroborated by historical earthquake records and geomorphic evidence.Neotectonic signatures are preserved in the landscape as river terraces,displaced or tilted strata,V-shaped valleys,river offsets,knickpoints,hanging valleys,and channel migration along the strike of the MBT.These findings underscore the significant role of neotectonics in landform evolution and offer valuable insights for geohazard assessment and mitigation strategies in the rapidly developing foothill regions of the Himalaya.展开更多
To provide a reference basis for reasonable development and utilization of Ampelopsis grossedentata resource and its application in production,we added 0.025%,0.05% and 0.1% dihydromyricetin（DMY）extracted from A.gro...To provide a reference basis for reasonable development and utilization of Ampelopsis grossedentata resource and its application in production,we added 0.025%,0.05% and 0.1% dihydromyricetin（DMY）extracted from A.grossedentata into the basal diets of Yaoshan chickens,and studied the effects of DMY on visceral organ indexes and digestive enzyme activities of 40-day-old healthy Yaoshan chickens.Supplementation of DMY in basal diets influenced visceral organ weight,organ index,length and digestive enzyme activity of small intestine of chickens.Among them,0.05% DMY was the most appropriate volume for supplementation.Compared with control group（without DMY）,0.05% DMY reduced lung weight and index（P〉0.05）,significantly reduced liver weight（P〈0.05）,extremely reduced stomach weight and stomach index（P〈0.01）,increased activity of amylase in small intestine（P〉0.05）,significantly increased length of small intestine and activity of protease（P〈0.05）.Supplementation of 0.05% DMY reduced the visceral organ weight and organ index,enhanced digestion and absorption ability of gastrointestinal tract,thereby improving feed utilization rate and promoting the growth of chickens.展开更多
The Chinese government adopted six ecological restoration programs to improve its natural environments. Although these programs have proven successful in improving local environments, some studies have questioned thei...The Chinese government adopted six ecological restoration programs to improve its natural environments. Although these programs have proven successful in improving local environments, some studies have questioned their performance when regions suffer from drought. Whether we should consider the effects of drought on vegetation change in assessments of the benefits of ecological restoration programs is unclear. Therefore, taking the Grain for Green Program(GGP) region as a study area, we estimated vegetation growth in the region from 2000–2010 to clarify the trends in vegetation and their driving forces. Results showed that: 1) vegetation growth increased in the GGP region during 2000–2010, with 59.4% of the area showing an increase in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI). This confirmed the benefits of the ecological restoration program. 2) Drought can affect the vegetation change trend, but human activity plays a significant role in altering vegetation growth, and the slight downward trend in the NDVI was not consistent with the severity of the drought. Positive human activity led to increased NDVI in 89.13% of areas. Of these, 22.52% suffered drought, but positive human activity offset the damage in part. 3) Results of this research suggest that appropriate human activity can maximize the benefits of ecological restoration programs and minimize the effects of extreme weather. We therefore recommend incorporating eco-risk assessment and scientific management mechanisms in the design and management of ecosystem restoration programs.展开更多
In general,bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation of bioactive constituents from botanical materials frequently ended up with the reward of a single compound.However,botanical materials typically exert their ther...In general,bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation of bioactive constituents from botanical materials frequently ended up with the reward of a single compound.However,botanical materials typically exert their therapeutic actions through multi-pathway effects due to the intrinsic complex nature of chemical constituents.In addition,the content of bioactive compounds in botanical materials is largely dependent on humidity,temperature,soil,especially geographical origins,from which rapid and accurate identification of plant materials is pressingly needed.These long-standing obstacles collectively impede the deep exploi-tation and application of these versatile natural sources.To address the challenges,a new paradigm inte-grating biogravimetric analyses and machine learning-driven origin classification(BAMLOC)was developed.The biogravimetric analyses are based on absolute qHNMR quantification and in vivo zebrafish model-assisted activity index calculation,by which bioactive substance groups jointly responsible for the bioactivities in all fractions are pinpointed before any isolation effort.To differentiate origin-different botanical materials varying in the content of bioactive substance groups,principal component analysis,linear discriminant analysis,and hierarchical cluster analysis in conjunction with supervised support vector machine are employed to classify and predict production areas based on the detection of volatile organic compounds by E-nose and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).Expanding BAMLOC to Codonopsis Radix enables the identification of polyacetylenes and pyrrolidine alkaloids as the bioactive substance group for immune restoration effect and accurately determines the origins of plants.This study advances the toolbox for the discovery of bioactive compounds from complex mixtures and lays a more definitive foundation for the in-depth utilization of botanical materials.展开更多
Understanding the active tectonic processes in the Nandakini Watershed is imperative for evaluating geological hazards and seismic risks,as well as for informing land-use planning and natural resource management strat...Understanding the active tectonic processes in the Nandakini Watershed is imperative for evaluating geological hazards and seismic risks,as well as for informing land-use planning and natural resource management strategies in the region.Tectonic geomorphology serves as a vital tool for characterizing recent tectonic movements.This research employs GIS techniques to elucidate tectonic activity and its influence on drainage patterns in the Nandakini Watershed,utilizing morphometric parameters derived from SRTM DEM data.Morphometric indices are employed to assess the tectonic movement within drainage basins,capturing both areal and linear factors such as drainage density,texture,circulatory and bifurcation ratios,and stream length ratios.The linear and areal morphometric indices are categorized into three classes representing varying degrees of active tectonic activity.These classifications are then utilized to compute the relative active tectonic index(IRAT).In addition,geomorphic parameters include hypsometric integral,stream length-gradient index,normalized steepness index,chi gradient index,and swath profiles.The majority of the studied region is in an extremely high to moderately active tectonic zone.Large-scale faults and thrusts within the basins are closely correlated with these zones that have been identified.The integrated methodology of GIS-based morphometric analysis and geomorphic study enables the identification of deformed landforms associated with ongoing tectonic activity.Furthermore,these results offer valuable insights for informing watershed management strategies and promoting sustainable land use planning initiatives.展开更多
Vegetation change is the most intuitive and sensitive bioindicator reflecting seasonal and interannual variations in the external environment,and it can directly reflect the rapid response of terrestrial ecosystems to...Vegetation change is the most intuitive and sensitive bioindicator reflecting seasonal and interannual variations in the external environment,and it can directly reflect the rapid response of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change.Using remote sensing and meteorological data,this study revealed the spatiotemporal characteristics of leaf area index(LAI)in the north of China during 1982–2022,clarified the response of LAI change to different meteorological factors,quantified the impacts of climate change and human activities on LAI change,and predicted the future trends in LAI change.From 1982 to 2022,the vegetation in the north of China generally showed a greening trend with a change rate of 0.0071 m2/(m2•a).Temperature was strongly positively correlated with LAI and was the main climate factor driving LAI change.Residual analysis revealed that vegetation improvement occurred in across 74.53%of the study area,and vegetation improvement in about 96.83%of the improved zone was attributed to a combination of climate change and human activities.The regions where anthropogenic contribution exceeded 60.00%covered 36.83%of human-affected areas,while the regions where climatic contribution exceeded 60.00%covered 19.77%of climate-affected areas,demonstrating that human activities influenced the intensity of LAI change more deeply despite the broad spatial impact of climate change.Human activities such as afforestation and the Three-North Protective Forest Program played the dominant role in vegetation greening compared to climate change.Hurst index analysis indicated that 80.30%of vegetation in the north of China is expected to experience a non-sustained improvement in the future.These findings will provide a scientific basis for optimizing the protection strategies of the national ecological barrier areas and evaluating the effectiveness of major ecological projects.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the efficacy of moxibustion in ulcerative colitis (UC) rats from morphological, immunological and molecular biological perspectives. METHODS: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned t...AIM: To investigate the efficacy of moxibustion in ulcerative colitis (UC) rats from morphological, immunological and molecular biological perspectives. METHODS: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a blank control group (normal rats, n = 6) and a model replication (MR) group (UC rats, n = 26). A UC model was established by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid/dextran sulfate sodium enema. Rats in the MR group were further randomly assigned to a 9-min moxibustion (9M) group (9 moxa-cone, n = 6), 6-min moxibustion (6M) group (6 moxa-cone, n = 6), 3-min moxibustion (3M) group (3 moxa-cone, n = 6), and a waiting list control (WLC) group (no moxibustion treatment, n = 6). Rats in the moxibustion treatment group were treated in 14 sessions over 28 d. Disease activity, local tissue morphology, serum level of interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-10, and expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)9 as well as nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B p65 in colonic tissue were determined by disease activity index (DAI), hematoxylin and eosin staining, electron microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: DAI was lowest in the 9M group and highest in the WLC group. The differences in DAI between the moxibustion treatment (3M, 6M, 9M) and no treatment groups were significant for all one-to-one comparisons (0.60 +/- 0.54 vs 1.20 +/- 0.44, 0.60 +/- 0.54 vs 1.80 +/- 0.45, 0.60 +/- 0.54 vs 3.0 +/- 0.45, respectively, P < 0.05). Light and electron microscopy showed that the neatness of the glandular arrangement in colonic mucosal epithelia gradually increased in the WLC, 3M, 6M to 9M groups. IL-8 level successively decreased while IL-10 level increased from the WLC to 3M, 6M and 9M groups. The differences among these groups were significant for all comparisons (105.46 +/- 8.75 vs 76.61 +/- 3.58, 105.46 +/- 8.75 vs 69.78 +/- 1.87, 105.46 +/- 8.75 vs 67.41 +/- 1.84, respectively, P < 0.01 for IL-8; and 30.83 +/- 1.29 vs 75.64 +/- 1.90, 30.83 +/- 1.29 vs 80.90 +/- 3.16, 30.83 +/- 1.29 vs 83.46 +/- 2.37, respectively, P < 0.01 for IL-10), except comparison of 6M vs 9M. Expression of TLR9 and NF-kappa B p65 decreased in order: highest in the WLC group and lowest in the 9M group. In addition, the differences among the WLC, 3M, 6M and 9M groups were significant for all comparisons (0.492 +/- 0.026 vs 0.380 +/- 0.022, 0.492 +/- 0.026 vs 0.355 +/- 0.005, 0.492 +/- 0.026 vs 0.327 +/- 0.015, respectively, P < 0.05 for TLR9; and 0.436 +/- 0.041 vs 0.326 +/- 0.022, 0.436 +/- 0.041 vs 0.293 +/- 0.006, 0.436 +/- 0.041 vs 0.265 +/- 0.017, respectively, P < 0.05 for NF-kappa B p65). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion repairs damaged colonic mucosa, suppresses serum IL-8, activates serum IL-10 level, and decreases expression of TLR-9 and NF-kappa B p65 in UC rats. (C) 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND The pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index(PCDAI)is used as a standard tool to assess disease activity in clinical trials for pediatric Crohn’s disease.AIM To examine which items on the PCDAI drive assessment of disease activity,and how subgroups of subjective and objective items reflect change in disease state over time.METHODS Selective raw data from three prospectively collected datasets were combined,including 703 children with full PCDAI data at baseline,at 3-mo(Q1,n=670),and 1-year(Q4,n=474).Change in individual PCDAI scores from baseline to Q1 and to Q4 were examined using the non-weighted PCDAI.RESULTS Abdominal pain,well-being,weight,and stooling had the highest change scores over time.Objective indicators including albumin,abdominal exam,and height velocity followed.Change scores for well-being and abdominal exam did not explain significant variance at Q1 but were significant predictors at Q4(P<0.001 and P<0.05).Subjective and objective subgroups of items predicted less variance(18%and 22%)on total PCDAI scores at Q1 and Q4 compared to the full PCDAI,or a composite scale(both 32%)containing significant predictors.CONCLUSION Although subjective items on the PCDAI change the most over time,the full PCDAI or a smaller composite of items including a combination of subjective and objective components classifies disease activity better than a subgroup of either subjective or objective items alone.Reliance on subjective or objective items as stand-alone proxies for disease activity measurement could result in misclassification of disease state.
文摘The Crohn＇s disease activity index （CDAI） has been commonly used to assess the effects of treatment with different agents in Crohn＇s disease （CD）. However, these studies may be compromised, if the results compared to a placebo or standard therapy group （in the absence of a placebo） substantially differ from the expected response. In addition, significant concerns have been raised regarding the reliability and validity of the CDAI. Reproducibility of the CDAI may be limited as significant inter-observer error has been recorded, even if measurements are done by experienced clinicians with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of CD. Finally, many CDAI endpoints are open to subjective interpretation and have the potential for manipulation. This is worrisome as there is the potential for significant financial gain, if the results of a clinical trial appear to provide a positive result. Physicians caring for patients should be concerned about the positive results in clinical trials that are sponsored by industry, even if the trials involve respected centers and the results appear in highly ranked medical journals.
文摘To investigate of pediatric ulcerative colitis activity index(PUCAI)in ulcerative colitis correlate with mucosal inflammation and endoscopic assessment of disease activity(Mayo endoscopic score).METHODSWe reviewed charts from ulcerative colitis patients who had undergone both colonoscopy over 3 years.Clinical assessment of disease severity within 35 d(either before or after)the colonoscopy were included.Patients were excluded if they had significant therapeutic interventions(such as the start of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents)between the colonoscopy and the clinical assessment.Mayo endoscopic score of the rectum and sigmoid were done by two gastroenterologists.Inter-observer variability in Mayo score was assessed.RESULTSWe identified 99 patients(53%female,74%pancolitis)that met inclusion criteria.The indications for colonoscopy included ongoing disease activity(62%),consideration of medication change(10%),assessment of medication efficacy(14%),and cancer screening(14%).Based on PUCAI scores,33%of patients were in remission,39%had mild disease,23%had moderate disease,and 4%had severe disease.There was“moderate-substantial”agreement between the two reviewers in assessing rectal Mayo scores(kappa=0.54,95%CI:0.41-0.68).CONCLUSIONEndoscopic disease severity(Mayo score)assessed by reviewing photographs of pediatric colonoscopy has moderate inter-rater reliability,and agreement was less robust in assessing patients with mild disease activity.Endoscopic disease severity generally correlates with clinical disease severity as measured by PUCAI score.However,children with inflamed colons can have significant variation in their reported clinical symptoms.Thus,assessment of both clinical symptoms and endoscopic disease severity may be required in future clinical studies.
基金Item Sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China(51234003)
文摘Air quenched basic oxygen furnace steel slag （BOF-SS） is processed at very high cooling rate, which is expected to have different cementitious properties from conventional slowly cooled BOF-SS. For this purpose, the strength activity indexes of air quenched and slowly cooled BOF-SS are investigated. The results reveal that, under the specific surface area （S） of 490 m^2/kg, the compressive strength activity index reaches 1.24 after 28 days with replacement of 15% air quenched BOF-SS and reaches 1.05 after 28 days with replacement of 20% air quenched BOF-SS and 30%granulated blast furnace slag （GBFS）. The cementitious activity of air quenched BOF-SS is obviously higher than that of slowly cooled BOF-SS, mainly because it contains more C3 S and glassy phases.
基金This research activity described in this paper is supported in part by National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2018YFD0500705)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.61771184)Key Special Project in Intergovernmental International Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation of National Key Research and Development Program(Grant No.2019YFE0125600).
文摘The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and practicability of an activityindex combining acceleration and location data for automated estrus detection in dairycows. By using a wearable neck tag, measurements of acceleration and location were gathered from 22 multiparous cows monitored incessantly for 6 days to derive activity recordsof each cow. The maximum-minimum distance clustering (MMDC) method was used todivide hourly activity data into low, medium, high, and intensity level groups. The weightedsum of the proportions of the low, medium, high, and intensity activities in an hour constituted the activity level. The activity index was defined as the ratio of the variation inhourly activity level compared to the same time period during the previous three days. Furthermore, whether the cow was in estrus was judged above a set threshold. The studyshowed that the power consumption and communication effects of the neck tags wereacceptable for indoor-housing conditions. For the two consecutive time periods, theactivity-index-based detection algorithm achieved 90.91% for accuracy, 100% for precision,100% for specificity, 83.33% for recall, 90.91% for F1 score, and 0.82 for Kappa coefficient. Onthe basis of these results, it can be concluded that the combination of acceleration andlocation in the activity index can promote estrus detection in dairy cows.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11201080 and 11571250)Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions+5 种基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11501503)Qinglan Project of Jiangsu Province,National Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China(Grant No.BK20181417)Jiangsu Province College Science Key Foundation(Grant No.17KJA110001)supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.71874028)State Key Programme of National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.71331006)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in University of International Business and Economics(Grant No.16YQ05)。
文摘Existing estimators for the jump activity index only made use of the price dynamics of assets.In this study,we incorporate trading information and propose a trading-flow-adjusted(TA)estimator for the jump activity index for pure-jump Ito semimartingales observed at high frequencies.We derive the central limit theorem of the estimator and perform simulation studies that justify the theory.The new estimator is shown to be more efficient in terms of the convergence rate as compared with the existing estimators,which use only the price information under some realistic conditions.Empirical analysis shows estimates with lower standard errors than those that do not incorporate the trading information.
基金sponsored by Science and Technology Research and Development Plan of China National Railway Group Co.,Ltd.(L2022G009)National Natural Science Foundation of China(52438002)+1 种基金Research Project of China Academy of Railway Science Corporation Limited(2024YJ254)New Cornerstone Science Foundation through the XPLORER PRIZE.
文摘Purpose–The efficient utilization of recycled concrete powder(RCP)has attracted much attention.To break through the limitation of single activation technology of RCP,this study investigates the effects of a mechanical-microwave method on the reactivity of RCP.Design/methodology/approach–The mechanical properties,hydration products,and pore structure of RCP-incorporated mortar were evaluated.Findings–The results demonstrate that the combined activation reduces the median particle size of RCP and induces a low-frequency shift in the Si-O-T FT-IR characteristic peaks,signifying depolymerization of the silicate network and formation of highly reactive broken bond sites.Concurrently,decreased Si2p and Al2p binding energies in XPS spectra confirm enhanced surface reactivity.The 28-day strength activity index(SAI)of RCP mortar improved from 65.7(untreated)to 82.2%under optimal activation conditions(90-min ball milling followed by 10-min microwave irradiation),outperforming solely mechanical activation by 3.6–6.1%.Furthermore,combined activation increased chemically bound water content from 22.8 to 33.7%,accompanied by a low-wavenumber shift in FT-IR peaks of hydration products.The total porosity of RCP mortar decreased from 17.2 to 14.6%,indicating a denser pore structure.Originality/value–This study explores the feasibility and potential mechanism of mechanical-microwave activation of RCP,aiming to provide valuable insights for the sustainable development of materials.Using activated RCP in cement-based materials reduces the demand for cement and substantially cuts carbon emissions,thereby making a critical contribution to the construction industry’s green and low-carbon transition.
文摘BACKGROUND Crohn’s disease(CD)is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with unknown etiology.Inflammatory chemical mediators synthesized from arachidonic acid,an n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA),have been shown to activate CD.Additionally,n-3 PUFAs are metabolized by the same enzyme as n-6 PUFAs and known to inhibit the arachidonic acid cascade.Our previous study noted that the presence of erythrocyte membrane fatty acids is a characteristic finding in Japanese CD patients.It was thus speculated that FADS2 gene polymorphisms,which induce PUFA metabolizing enzymes,are involved in the pathogenesis of CD,though no such relationship was found.AIM To investigate the relationship of FADS2 polymorphisms with serum and erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition ratios,and disease activity.METHODS Using previously reported findings regarding FADS2 genetic polymorphisms,the records of 52 CD patients undergoing treatment at Jikei University Kashiwa Hospital were analyzed.Mutations noted were divided into three groups;wild-type(GG),heterozygous mutants(GA),and homozygous(AA),with the activities of delta-6 and delta-5 desaturases compared using redefined d6d index(rd.d6di)and d5d index(d5di).Additionally,comparisons of serum and erythrocyte membranes for fatty acid composition,and also gene polymorphisms and CD activity index(CDAI)were performed.RESULTS The presence of the rs174538 mutation in FADS2 resulted in reduction of only rd.d6di in the erythrocyte membrane(P<0.01).In contrast,that mutation was found to be associated with d5di induced by FADS1 in serum(P=0.019)as well as the erythrocyte membrane(P<0.0001),and also with reduction in the fatty acid composition of arachidonic acid in both serum(P<0.0001)and the erythrocyte membrane(P<0.01).Regarding disease activity,a positive correlation of CDAI score with rd.d6di in both serum(P<0.05)and the erythrocyte membrane(P<0.05)was found only in the rs174538 wild-type group.In contrast,there was no correction between CDAI and d5di in either serum or erythrocyte membrane samples.CONCLUSION The rs174538 mutation alters the fatty acid profile through strong linkage to the FADS1 gene.In wild-type individuals,rd.d6di was positively correlated with CDAI,suggesting predictive utility of disease severity.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2019YFC0214402)the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41805103, 42177354, and 21777032)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. 2021A1515011492)the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (No. 202102020451)。
文摘Fugitive emission has been becoming an important source of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in pharmaceutical industry,but the exact contribution of fugitive emission remains incompletely understood.In present study,pollution characteristics,odorous activity and health risk of stack and fugitive emissions of VOCs from four functional units (e.g.,workshop,sewage treatment station,raw material storage and hazardous waste storage) of three representative pharmaceutical factories were investigated.Workshop was the dominant contributor to VOCs of fugitive emission in comparison with other functional units.Extreme high concentration of VOCs from fugitive emission in unsealed workshop (94.87 mg/m^(3))was observed relative to sealed one (1.18 mg/m^(3)),accounting for 31%and 5%of total VOCs,respectively.Fugitive emission of VOCs in the unsealed workshop mainly consisted of nhexane,1-hexene and dichloromethane.Odorous activity indexes and non-cancer hazard ratios of these VOCs from fugitive emission in the unsealed workshop were as high as that from stack exhaust.Furthermore,cancer risk of dichloromethane from fugitive emission and stack exhaust was up to (1.6-1.8)×10^(-5).Odorous activity or health risk index of the VOCs from fugitive emission was up to 13 or 11 times of the corresponding threshold value,posing remarkable health threat on pharmaceutical workers.Our?ndings highlighted the possibly underestimated contribution of fugitive emission on VOCs in the pharmaceutical industry.
基金the Major Project of Department of Education of Anhui Province of China,No.2023AH040396.
文摘BACKGROUND Perianal fistulas pose dual challenges to Crohn's disease(CD)patients.Low patient compliance due to the complexity of existing examination methods plagues the treatment and follow-up management of perianal CD.AIM To determine the accuracy of endoanal ultrasound(EUS)and shear wave elastography(SWE)for evaluating perianal fistulizing CD(PFCD)activity.METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study.A total of 67 patients from August 2022 to December 2023 diagnosed with CD were divided into three groups:Non-anal fistula group(n=23),low-activity perianal fistulas[n=19,perianal disease activity index(PDAI)≤4],high-activity perianal fistulas(n=25,PDAI>4)based on the PDAI.All patients underwent assessments including EUS+SWE,pelvic magnetic resonance[pelvic magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)],C-reactive protein,fecal calprotectin,CD activity index,PDAI.RESULTS The percentage of fistulas indicated by pelvic MRI and EUS was consistent at 82%,and there was good consistency in the classification of perianal fistulas(Kappa=0.752,P<0.001).Significant differences were observed in the blood flow Limberg score(χ^(2)=8.903,P<0.05)and shear wave velocity(t=2.467,P<0.05)between group 2 and 3.Shear wave velocity showed a strong negative correlation with magnetic resonance novel index for fistula imaging in CD(Magnifi-CD)score(r=-0.676,P<0.001),a weak negative correlation with the PDAI score(r=-0.386,P<0.05),and a weak correlation between the Limberg score and the PDAI score(r=0.368,P<0.05).CONCLUSION EUS combined with SWE offers a superior method for detecting and quantitating the activity of perianal fistulas in CD patients.It may be the ideal tool to assess PFCD activity objectively for management strategies.
基金Partially supported by the University Grants Commission(UGC),Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,New Delhi-110 002,India[F.No.42-469/2013(SR)]
文摘AIMTo isolate and identify the molds involved in mycotic keratitis; to isolate corresponding species from soil samples; to compare the extracellular enzyme activity indices of the molds isolated from keratitis cases and the corresponding soil isolates.
基金the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LQ21H030010&Q19H030064)Medical Health Science and Technology Project of the Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission(2021417815).
文摘Objective:The ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity(UCEIS)and the Mayo endoscopic score(MES)are developed as objective methods of evaluating endoscopic severity in patients with ulcerative colitis(UC).The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the UCEIS and MES in predicting the patient's response to mesalazine.Methods:Consecutive patients with UC who had undergone colonoscopy within 1 month before starting mesalazine between October 2011 and July 2016 were retrospectively collected at the Department of Gastroenterology,Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine.The median follow-up was 81 months,and all the data were analyzed in January 2021.The primary outcome was the need for step-up treatment,which included the use of corticosteroids,immunomodulatory,or surgery during admission and follow-up.Data were analyzed using the c2 or Fisher exact test,Spearman test,t-test,and ManneWhitney U test.Results:Totally,65 patients were enrolled,of whom 12(18.5%)needed step-up treatment due to nonresponse to mesalazine.The UCEIS score,MES,and the ulcerative colitis disease activity index(UCDAI)score were significantly higher in patients who had nonresponse to mesalazine(UCEIS score:6.92±0.69 vs.4.45±1.17,p<0.001;MES:2.67±0.49 vs.2.15±0.69,p=0.024;UCDAI score:9.33±1.87 vs.6.70±2.38,p=0.002).In the multivariate analysis,the UCEIS score(OR=25.65,95%CI:3.048 e45.985,p=0.003),UCDAI score(OR=1.605,95%CI:1.144e2.254,p=0.006),and C-reactive protein level(OR=1.056,95%CI:1.006e1.108,p=0.026)were independent risk factors of nonresponse.The area under the ROC curve of UCEIS was 0.95,with a sensitivity of 100%and specificity of 84.6%,a cut-off value of 6,which outperformed the MES with an area under the ROC curve of 0.70.When the UCEIS score≥6,60%of patients eventually needed step-up treatment.Conclusions:The UCEIS is a useful instrument for predicting the therapeutic effect in patients with UC treated with mesalazine.The high probability of mesalazine treatment failure and benefits of other therapies should be discussed in patients with baseline UCEIS score≥6.
文摘Reducing steel slag （RSS） was mainly acquired from five electric-arc furnace （EAF） steelmaking plants （among them, the products of two plants were carbon steel and those of other plants were stainless steel） for research tests. The chemical properties, compound compositions, activities and contents of main expansive compounds were tested. The results showed that the field sampled RSS had a very high crystallinity and hydraulicity with main chemical compositions close to those of Portland cement. It can be known from the study that in case of C/S ratio higher than 2.0, the main compound compositions are C2S, C3S, C2F and f-CaO. However, after the RSS was stored for six months, an obvious variation occurred with potential pre-hydration in RSS, where the SO3 content was slightly reduced and the compressive activity index was obviously higher than that at the 28th day.
基金Department of Petroleum Engineering and Earth Sciences,UPES,for supporting this researchR&D,UPES,for providing a PhD scholarship and contingency to support geological fieldworkDST-ANRF Grant no CRG/2023/000555 for partial financial support for this research.
文摘The transitional zone between the Sub-Himalaya and the Lesser Himalaya is delineated by the Main Boundary Thrust(MBT)to the north and the Himalayan Frontal Thrust(HFT)to the south.The MBT acts as a major topographic barrier that exerts significant control over longitudinal river valleys and sediment dispersal patterns.This region exhibits pronounced fluvial responses shaped by the interplay of tectonic activity and climatic processes.The present study addresses the need for detailed micro-scale morphometric analysis in this zone to better understand ongoing landscape deformation and neotectonic signatures.A multidisciplinary approach integrating geospatial morphometric techniques with field-based evidence has been employed to investigate terrain evolution.Quantitative morphometric assessments were conducted for 16 sub-basins within an active segment of the MBT,bounded by the Jakhan River to the east and the Giri River to the west.Dimensional changes driven by tectonic uplift and accelerated erosion/incision were evaluated using the hypsometric integral(HI),with most values falling below 0.50,indicating that the drainage basins are in an equilibrium stage.Basin shape(Bs)values range from 0.88 to 6.79,supporting the occurrence of accelerated erosional processes.The stream length gradient index(SL)exhibits values between 86 and 816,suggesting rapid uplift and incision.Similarly,computed values of the Chi(χ)coefficient(479-3706)and the steepness index(Ksn;63-214)reflect differential erosion and strong tectonic control on drainage network evolution.The spatial distribution of tectonic deformation was statistically evaluated using a correlation matrix based on the Relative Index of Active Tectonics(RIAT).The results reveal that approximately 50.33%and 16.25%of the study area fall into high and moderate activity zones,respectively,which is corroborated by historical earthquake records and geomorphic evidence.Neotectonic signatures are preserved in the landscape as river terraces,displaced or tilted strata,V-shaped valleys,river offsets,knickpoints,hanging valleys,and channel migration along the strike of the MBT.These findings underscore the significant role of neotectonics in landform evolution and offer valuable insights for geohazard assessment and mitigation strategies in the rapidly developing foothill regions of the Himalaya.
文摘To provide a reference basis for reasonable development and utilization of Ampelopsis grossedentata resource and its application in production,we added 0.025%,0.05% and 0.1% dihydromyricetin（DMY）extracted from A.grossedentata into the basal diets of Yaoshan chickens,and studied the effects of DMY on visceral organ indexes and digestive enzyme activities of 40-day-old healthy Yaoshan chickens.Supplementation of DMY in basal diets influenced visceral organ weight,organ index,length and digestive enzyme activity of small intestine of chickens.Among them,0.05% DMY was the most appropriate volume for supplementation.Compared with control group（without DMY）,0.05% DMY reduced lung weight and index（P〉0.05）,significantly reduced liver weight（P〈0.05）,extremely reduced stomach weight and stomach index（P〈0.01）,increased activity of amylase in small intestine（P〉0.05）,significantly increased length of small intestine and activity of protease（P〈0.05）.Supplementation of 0.05% DMY reduced the visceral organ weight and organ index,enhanced digestion and absorption ability of gastrointestinal tract,thereby improving feed utilization rate and promoting the growth of chickens.
基金Under the auspices of the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2017YFC0504701)Science and Technology Service Network Initiative Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.KFJ-STS-ZDTP-036)+1 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.GK201703053)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2017M623114)
文摘The Chinese government adopted six ecological restoration programs to improve its natural environments. Although these programs have proven successful in improving local environments, some studies have questioned their performance when regions suffer from drought. Whether we should consider the effects of drought on vegetation change in assessments of the benefits of ecological restoration programs is unclear. Therefore, taking the Grain for Green Program(GGP) region as a study area, we estimated vegetation growth in the region from 2000–2010 to clarify the trends in vegetation and their driving forces. Results showed that: 1) vegetation growth increased in the GGP region during 2000–2010, with 59.4% of the area showing an increase in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI). This confirmed the benefits of the ecological restoration program. 2) Drought can affect the vegetation change trend, but human activity plays a significant role in altering vegetation growth, and the slight downward trend in the NDVI was not consistent with the severity of the drought. Positive human activity led to increased NDVI in 89.13% of areas. Of these, 22.52% suffered drought, but positive human activity offset the damage in part. 3) Results of this research suggest that appropriate human activity can maximize the benefits of ecological restoration programs and minimize the effects of extreme weather. We therefore recommend incorporating eco-risk assessment and scientific management mechanisms in the design and management of ecosystem restoration programs.
基金the Project of the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.:2022YFC3501802)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.:82204614)+2 种基金Zhejiang Provincial Basic Public Welfare Research Program(Program No.:LTGC24H280002)Xiao Li and Prof.Tianxiang Li(Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine)for collecting and identifying all the CR samplesYingniang Li from the Core Facilities,Zhejiang University School of Medicine for their technical support.
文摘In general,bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation of bioactive constituents from botanical materials frequently ended up with the reward of a single compound.However,botanical materials typically exert their therapeutic actions through multi-pathway effects due to the intrinsic complex nature of chemical constituents.In addition,the content of bioactive compounds in botanical materials is largely dependent on humidity,temperature,soil,especially geographical origins,from which rapid and accurate identification of plant materials is pressingly needed.These long-standing obstacles collectively impede the deep exploi-tation and application of these versatile natural sources.To address the challenges,a new paradigm inte-grating biogravimetric analyses and machine learning-driven origin classification(BAMLOC)was developed.The biogravimetric analyses are based on absolute qHNMR quantification and in vivo zebrafish model-assisted activity index calculation,by which bioactive substance groups jointly responsible for the bioactivities in all fractions are pinpointed before any isolation effort.To differentiate origin-different botanical materials varying in the content of bioactive substance groups,principal component analysis,linear discriminant analysis,and hierarchical cluster analysis in conjunction with supervised support vector machine are employed to classify and predict production areas based on the detection of volatile organic compounds by E-nose and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).Expanding BAMLOC to Codonopsis Radix enables the identification of polyacetylenes and pyrrolidine alkaloids as the bioactive substance group for immune restoration effect and accurately determines the origins of plants.This study advances the toolbox for the discovery of bioactive compounds from complex mixtures and lays a more definitive foundation for the in-depth utilization of botanical materials.
文摘Understanding the active tectonic processes in the Nandakini Watershed is imperative for evaluating geological hazards and seismic risks,as well as for informing land-use planning and natural resource management strategies in the region.Tectonic geomorphology serves as a vital tool for characterizing recent tectonic movements.This research employs GIS techniques to elucidate tectonic activity and its influence on drainage patterns in the Nandakini Watershed,utilizing morphometric parameters derived from SRTM DEM data.Morphometric indices are employed to assess the tectonic movement within drainage basins,capturing both areal and linear factors such as drainage density,texture,circulatory and bifurcation ratios,and stream length ratios.The linear and areal morphometric indices are categorized into three classes representing varying degrees of active tectonic activity.These classifications are then utilized to compute the relative active tectonic index(IRAT).In addition,geomorphic parameters include hypsometric integral,stream length-gradient index,normalized steepness index,chi gradient index,and swath profiles.The majority of the studied region is in an extremely high to moderately active tectonic zone.Large-scale faults and thrusts within the basins are closely correlated with these zones that have been identified.The integrated methodology of GIS-based morphometric analysis and geomorphic study enables the identification of deformed landforms associated with ongoing tectonic activity.Furthermore,these results offer valuable insights for informing watershed management strategies and promoting sustainable land use planning initiatives.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42301127)the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2023D01C185).
文摘Vegetation change is the most intuitive and sensitive bioindicator reflecting seasonal and interannual variations in the external environment,and it can directly reflect the rapid response of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change.Using remote sensing and meteorological data,this study revealed the spatiotemporal characteristics of leaf area index(LAI)in the north of China during 1982–2022,clarified the response of LAI change to different meteorological factors,quantified the impacts of climate change and human activities on LAI change,and predicted the future trends in LAI change.From 1982 to 2022,the vegetation in the north of China generally showed a greening trend with a change rate of 0.0071 m2/(m2•a).Temperature was strongly positively correlated with LAI and was the main climate factor driving LAI change.Residual analysis revealed that vegetation improvement occurred in across 74.53%of the study area,and vegetation improvement in about 96.83%of the improved zone was attributed to a combination of climate change and human activities.The regions where anthropogenic contribution exceeded 60.00%covered 36.83%of human-affected areas,while the regions where climatic contribution exceeded 60.00%covered 19.77%of climate-affected areas,demonstrating that human activities influenced the intensity of LAI change more deeply despite the broad spatial impact of climate change.Human activities such as afforestation and the Three-North Protective Forest Program played the dominant role in vegetation greening compared to climate change.Hurst index analysis indicated that 80.30%of vegetation in the north of China is expected to experience a non-sustained improvement in the future.These findings will provide a scientific basis for optimizing the protection strategies of the national ecological barrier areas and evaluating the effectiveness of major ecological projects.
基金Supported by Scientific and Technological Project of Educational Department of Liaoning Province,China,No.L2011166
文摘AIM: To investigate the efficacy of moxibustion in ulcerative colitis (UC) rats from morphological, immunological and molecular biological perspectives. METHODS: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a blank control group (normal rats, n = 6) and a model replication (MR) group (UC rats, n = 26). A UC model was established by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid/dextran sulfate sodium enema. Rats in the MR group were further randomly assigned to a 9-min moxibustion (9M) group (9 moxa-cone, n = 6), 6-min moxibustion (6M) group (6 moxa-cone, n = 6), 3-min moxibustion (3M) group (3 moxa-cone, n = 6), and a waiting list control (WLC) group (no moxibustion treatment, n = 6). Rats in the moxibustion treatment group were treated in 14 sessions over 28 d. Disease activity, local tissue morphology, serum level of interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-10, and expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)9 as well as nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B p65 in colonic tissue were determined by disease activity index (DAI), hematoxylin and eosin staining, electron microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: DAI was lowest in the 9M group and highest in the WLC group. The differences in DAI between the moxibustion treatment (3M, 6M, 9M) and no treatment groups were significant for all one-to-one comparisons (0.60 +/- 0.54 vs 1.20 +/- 0.44, 0.60 +/- 0.54 vs 1.80 +/- 0.45, 0.60 +/- 0.54 vs 3.0 +/- 0.45, respectively, P < 0.05). Light and electron microscopy showed that the neatness of the glandular arrangement in colonic mucosal epithelia gradually increased in the WLC, 3M, 6M to 9M groups. IL-8 level successively decreased while IL-10 level increased from the WLC to 3M, 6M and 9M groups. The differences among these groups were significant for all comparisons (105.46 +/- 8.75 vs 76.61 +/- 3.58, 105.46 +/- 8.75 vs 69.78 +/- 1.87, 105.46 +/- 8.75 vs 67.41 +/- 1.84, respectively, P < 0.01 for IL-8; and 30.83 +/- 1.29 vs 75.64 +/- 1.90, 30.83 +/- 1.29 vs 80.90 +/- 3.16, 30.83 +/- 1.29 vs 83.46 +/- 2.37, respectively, P < 0.01 for IL-10), except comparison of 6M vs 9M. Expression of TLR9 and NF-kappa B p65 decreased in order: highest in the WLC group and lowest in the 9M group. In addition, the differences among the WLC, 3M, 6M and 9M groups were significant for all comparisons (0.492 +/- 0.026 vs 0.380 +/- 0.022, 0.492 +/- 0.026 vs 0.355 +/- 0.005, 0.492 +/- 0.026 vs 0.327 +/- 0.015, respectively, P < 0.05 for TLR9; and 0.436 +/- 0.041 vs 0.326 +/- 0.022, 0.436 +/- 0.041 vs 0.293 +/- 0.006, 0.436 +/- 0.041 vs 0.265 +/- 0.017, respectively, P < 0.05 for NF-kappa B p65). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion repairs damaged colonic mucosa, suppresses serum IL-8, activates serum IL-10 level, and decreases expression of TLR-9 and NF-kappa B p65 in UC rats. (C) 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
