Habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to bird communities, especially those in open and semi-open ecosystems such as steppes. This study investigates how steppe birds adapt to and utilize fragmented habitat...Habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to bird communities, especially those in open and semi-open ecosystems such as steppes. This study investigates how steppe birds adapt to and utilize fragmented habitats by combining niche modeling with ecological trait analysis. We conducted standardized point surveys to examine the habitat preferences of 32 bird species in Inner Mongolia, China, and quantified their habitat niche parameters using the Outlying Mean Index (OMI). Our results reveal distinct habitat preferences among species, with some thriving in intact environments while others are better adapted to fragmented areas. Grassland species showed high specialization along the fragmentation gradient, while others exhibited adaptability to varying levels of fragmentation. Using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM), we identified three key traits influencing habitat occupancy: hand-wing index, body mass, and range size. Specifically, species with medium hand-wing indices, moderate body mass, and larger range sizes were more likely to occupy heavily fragmented habitats. These findings provide empirical evidence on how habitat fragmentation affects bird species in steppe ecosystems. The study highlights the importance of functional traits in understanding avian responses to habitat fragmentation and offers a foundation for developing effective conservation strategies to preserve biodiversity in fragmented landscapes.展开更多
Objective:To investigate whether the presence or absence of improvement in chronic severe functional constipation(CSFC)at the early stage of treatment with electroacupuncture predicts subsequent response or non-respon...Objective:To investigate whether the presence or absence of improvement in chronic severe functional constipation(CSFC)at the early stage of treatment with electroacupuncture predicts subsequent response or non-response,and to determine the optimal treatment duration for assessing subsequent responses to electroacupuncture.Methods:This is a post hoc analysis using data pooled from two large-scale randomized controlled trials.Patients with CSFC were recruited,and those in the electroacupuncture groups were included in the present study.Early improvement was defined as a weekly increase of≥1 complete spontaneous bowel movement(CSBM)compared to baseline.Three treatment response criteria were evaluated:≥3CSBMs per week,overall CSBM response,and sustained CSBM response.Predictive statistics,including sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value,were calculated at weeks1–4.Receiver operating characteristic curves and accuracy rates were used to determine the optimal timepoint for differentiation between responders and non-responders.Results:Cases from a total of 813 participants who received electroacupuncture were analyzed.The proportion of improvers was 40.34%by week 1,increasing to 52.52%by week 4.After 8 weeks of treatment,the response rates were 30.14%,25.83%and 25.58%according to the three aforementioned criteria,respectively.Early improvement was a strong predictor of treatment response,with week 3 demonstrating the highest predictive accuracy.Conclusion:Early improvement with electroacupuncture,especially at week 3,can predict subsequent outcomes.Our findings suggest that acupuncturists may identify non-responders who might require adjustments to therapeutic strategies early in treatment.展开更多
This paper examines an epidemic predator-prey model with prey dispersal and Holling type-II functional response. In this model, it is assumed that the predator population suffers a transmissible disease. By analyzing ...This paper examines an epidemic predator-prey model with prey dispersal and Holling type-II functional response. In this model, it is assumed that the predator population suffers a transmissible disease. By analyzing the corresponding characteristic equations, the local stability of each of feasible equilibria and the existence of Hopf bifurcations at the coexistence equilibrium is addressed. Using Lyapunov functionals and LaSalle's invariance principle, we obtained the sufficient conditions for the global stability of the trivial equilibrium, the predator-extinction equilibrium, the disease-free equilibrium and the coexistence equilibrium, respectively. The paper also includes numerical simulations to illustrate the analytical results.展开更多
A predator-prey model with prey dispersal and Holling type-Ⅱ functional response is investigated.In this model,the time delay due to the gestation of the predator and stagestructure for the predator are considered.By...A predator-prey model with prey dispersal and Holling type-Ⅱ functional response is investigated.In this model,the time delay due to the gestation of the predator and stagestructure for the predator are considered.By analyzing the corresponding characteristic equations,the local stability of each of the nonnegative equilibria is discussed.The existence of Hopf bifurcations at the positive equilibrium is established.By using Lyapunov functionals and LaSalle’s invariance principle,sufficient conditions are obtained for the global stability of the positive equilibrium,the nonnegative boundary equilibrium and the trivial equilibrium of the model,respectively.Numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the main results.展开更多
AIM:To assess the visual electrophysiological outcomes in children with functional amblyopia who exhibited poor response to conventional treatment.METHODS:Twenty-one children with functional amblyopia,aged 5.7±2....AIM:To assess the visual electrophysiological outcomes in children with functional amblyopia who exhibited poor response to conventional treatment.METHODS:Twenty-one children with functional amblyopia,aged 5.7±2.1y(range:4-10y),underwent comprehensive ophthalmic and refractive evaluations.Spectral domain-optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)and multifocal electroretinography(mfERG)were conducted to analyze the macular retinal thickness and the first-order response P1 ring of the mfERG in the amblyopic eye(AE)compared to the fellow good eye(GE).RESULTS:Initially,visual acuity in the AE ranged from 20/800 to 20/40,while the GE exhibited a range of 20/25 to 20/20(P<0.01).After 6mo of treatment,17 patients demonstrated improved visual acuity in the AE to 20/50 or better,while 4 children showed no improvement.SD-OCT revealed comparable macular and optic disc structures between the AE and GE.Prior to treatment,the mfERG P1 ring amplitude was significantly reduced in the AE compared to GE(P<0.05).The AE/GE ratio of P1 ring amplitude showed significant improvement post-treatment.However,a smaller AE/GE ratio before treatment was associated with poorer improvement post-treatment.CONCLUSION:In the management of functional amblyopia,a thorough assessment of amblyopic eye examinations is crucial.Approximately 20%of amblyopic eyes may not achieve significant improvement in visual acuity,despite the absence of detectable organic retinal abnormalities.mfERG may reveal underlying abnormalities.Integrating mfERG into initial assessments or treatment follow-ups can aid in identifying potential hidden retinal defects and predicting the prognosis of the amblyopic eye.展开更多
Zebrafish larvae are useful for identifying chemicals against lateral line(LL)hair cell(HC)damage and this type of chemical screen mainly focuses on searching for protectors against cell death.To expand the candidate ...Zebrafish larvae are useful for identifying chemicals against lateral line(LL)hair cell(HC)damage and this type of chemical screen mainly focuses on searching for protectors against cell death.To expand the candidate pool of HC protectors,a self-built acoustic escape response(AER)-detecting system was developed to apply both low-frequency near-field sound transmission and AER image acquisition/processing modules.The device quickly confirmed the changed LL HC functions caused by most known ototoxins,protectors,and neural transmission modifiers,or knockdown of LL HC-expressing genes.With ten devices wired in tandem,five‘hit’chemicals were identified from 124 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors to partially restore cisplatin-damaged AER in less than a day.AS2863619,ribociclib,and SU9516 among the hits,protected the HCs in the mouse cochlea.Therefore,using free-swimming larval zebrafish,the self-made AER-detecting device can efficiently identify compounds that are protective against HC damage,including cell death and loss-of-function.展开更多
Finite dement formulations are used to simulate the evolution of the elastoplastic response of functionally graded cemented carbides (FGCC) due to thermal loading. The geometry of specimens is an axisymmetric solid ...Finite dement formulations are used to simulate the evolution of the elastoplastic response of functionally graded cemented carbides (FGCC) due to thermal loading. The geometry of specimens is an axisymmetric solid cylinder with a two-dimensional gradient. The elastoplastic constitutive relationship is developed by constraint factors. Numerical results show that compressive stresses occur in the surface zone and tensile stresses in the cobalt rich zone when the temperature drops from the initial stress-free temperature of 800 to 0℃. The maximum value of the surface compressive stress is 254 MPa and the maximum value of the tensile stress is 252 MPa in the cobalt rich zones. When the cobalt concentration difference in the specimens is equal to or greater than 0.3, there is pronounced plastic flow in cobalt rich zone. When the temperature heats up from 0 to 800 ℃, the total plastic strain reaches 0.001 4. Plastic flow has a significant effect on the reduction of thermal stress concentration.展开更多
The cardiopulmonary health of children may be affected by acute ozone(O3)exposure during physical activity[1];however,its effects in high-altitude regions such as the Xizang Plateau remain uncertain.In high-altitude a...The cardiopulmonary health of children may be affected by acute ozone(O3)exposure during physical activity[1];however,its effects in high-altitude regions such as the Xizang Plateau remain uncertain.In high-altitude areas,lower oxygen levels may cause children to experience shortness of breath or require increased respiratory effort during vigorous activities such as running.This could lead to increased pollutant inhalation,potentially elevating the burden on the cardiovascular system and triggering adverse reactions such as increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure.Furthermore,differences in physiological adaptation between Han children who have migrated to Xizang and Tibetan children who are native to the region may contribute to different reactions to environmental exposure[2].展开更多
Single fiber pull-out testing was conducted to study the origin of the functional responses to loading of carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composites. The variation of electrical resistance with the bonding force ...Single fiber pull-out testing was conducted to study the origin of the functional responses to loading of carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composites. The variation of electrical resistance with the bonding force on the fiber-matrix interface was measured. Single fiber electromechanical testing was also conducted by measuring the electrical resistance under static tension. Comparison of the results shows that the resistance increasing during single fiber pull-out is mainly due to the changes at the interface. The conduction mechanism of the composite can be explained by the tunneling model. The interfacial stress causes the deformation of interfacial structure and the interfacial debonding, which have influences on the tunneling effect and result in the change of resistance.展开更多
Understanding the temperature affecting parasitic efficiency is critical to succeed in utilizing parasitoid as natural enemy in pest management. Laboratory studies were carried out to determine the effects of temperat...Understanding the temperature affecting parasitic efficiency is critical to succeed in utilizing parasitoid as natural enemy in pest management. Laboratory studies were carried out to determine the effects of temperature on parasitoid preference of female Anagrus nilaparvatae Pang et Wang (Hymenoptera:Mymaridae) to the eggs of whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera Horváth and brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stl to build a composite model describing changes in parasitic response along a temperature gradient (18, 22, 26, 30, 34°C). The results showed that attack responses of A. nilaparvatae on WBPH and BPH were the best described by a Type II functional response. The two parameters, attack rates (a) and handling times (Th), of A. nilaparvatae to both eggs were influenced by the temperature. The maximum attack rates to WBPH (1.235) and BPH (1.049) were at 26 and 34°C, respectively, and the shortest handling times to WBPH (0.063) and BPH (0.057) were at 30 and 26°C, respectively. However, the optimal temperature for parasitic efficiency of A. nilaparvatae to WBPH and BPH eggs was both at 26°C, which showed that the present microclimate temperature of the habitat in the paddyfield was beneficial to A. nilaparvatae and indicated that parasitic efficiency of A. nilaparvatae would be impaired by global warming.展开更多
By using the continuation theorem of coincidence theory,the existence of a positive periodic solution for a two patches competition system with diffusion and time delay and functional response x_(1)(t)=x_(1)(t)a_(1)(t...By using the continuation theorem of coincidence theory,the existence of a positive periodic solution for a two patches competition system with diffusion and time delay and functional response x_(1)(t)=x_(1)(t)a_(1)(t)-b_(1)(t)x_(1)(t)-c_(1)(t)y(t)1+m(t)x_(1)(t)+D_(1)(t)[x_(2)(t)-x_(1)(t)],x_(2)(t)=x_(2)(t)a_(2)(t)-b_(2)(t)x_(2)(t)-c_(2)(t)∫^(0)_(-τ)k(s)x_(2)(t+s)d s+D_(2)(t)[x_(1)(t)-x_(2)(t)],y′(t)=y(t)a_(3)(t)-b_(3)(t)y(t)-c_(3)(t)x_(1)(t)1+m(t)x_(1)(t)is established,where a i(t),b_(i)(t),c_(i)(t)(i=1,2,3),m(t)and D_(i)(t)(i=1,2)are all positive periodic continuous functions with period w>0,τis a nonnegative constant and k(s)is a continuous nonnegative function on[-τ,0].展开更多
In this paper we analytically and numerically consider the dynamical behavior of a certain predator-prey system with Holling type II functional response, including local and global stability analysis, existence of lim...In this paper we analytically and numerically consider the dynamical behavior of a certain predator-prey system with Holling type II functional response, including local and global stability analysis, existence of limit cycles, transcritical and Hopf bifurcations. Mathematical theory derivation mainly focuses on the existence and stability of equilibrium point as well as threshold conditions for transcritical and Hopf bifurcation, which can in turn provide a theoretical support for numerical simulation. Numerical analysis indicates that theoretical derivation results are correct and feasible. In addition, it is successful to show that the dynamical behavior of this predator-prey system mainly depends on some critical parameters and mathematical relationships. All these results are expected to be meaningful in the study of the dynamic complexity of predatory ecosystem.展开更多
In this paper, we mainly considered the dynamical behavior of a predator-prey system with Holling type II functional response and Allee-like effect on predator, including stability analysis of equilibria and Hopf bifu...In this paper, we mainly considered the dynamical behavior of a predator-prey system with Holling type II functional response and Allee-like effect on predator, including stability analysis of equilibria and Hopf bifurcation. Firstly, we gave some sufficient conditions to guarantee the existence, the local and global stability of equilibria as well as non-existence of limit cycles. By using the cobweb model, some cases about the existence of interior equilibrium are also illustrated with numerical outcomes. These existence and stability conclusions of interior equilibrium are also suitable in corresponding homogeneous reaction-diffusion system subject to the Neumann boundary conditions. Secondly, we theoretically deduced that our system has saddle-node bifurcation, transcritical bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation under certain conditions. Finally, for the Hopf bifurcation, we choose d as the bifurcation parameter and presented some numerical simulations to verify feasibility and effectiveness of the theoretical derivation corresponding to the existence of yk, respectively. The Hopf bifurcations are supercritical and limit cycles generated by the critical points are stable.展开更多
This article deals with the investigation of the effects of porosity distributions on nonlinear free vibration and transient analysis of porous functionally graded skew(PFGS)plates.The effective material properties of...This article deals with the investigation of the effects of porosity distributions on nonlinear free vibration and transient analysis of porous functionally graded skew(PFGS)plates.The effective material properties of the PFGS plates are obtained from the modified power-law equations in which gradation varies through the thickness of the PFGS plate.A nonlinear finite element(FE)formulation for the overall PFGS plate is derived by adopting first-order shear deformation theory(FSDT)in conjunction with von Karman’s nonlinear strain displacement relations.The governing equations of the PFGS plate are derived using the principle of virtual work.The direct iterative method and Newmark’s integration technique are espoused to solve nonlinear mathematical relations.The influences of the porosity distributions and porosity parameter indices on the nonlinear frequency responses of the PFGS plate for different skew angles are studied in various parameters.The effects of volume fraction grading index and skew angle on the plate’s nonlinear dynamic responses for various porosity distributions are illustrated in detail.展开更多
In this paper, we considered a homogeneous reaction-diffusion predator-prey system with Holling type II functional response subject to Neumann boundary conditions. Some new sufficient conditions were analytically esta...In this paper, we considered a homogeneous reaction-diffusion predator-prey system with Holling type II functional response subject to Neumann boundary conditions. Some new sufficient conditions were analytically established to ensure that this system has globally asymptotically stable equilibria and Hopf bifurcation surrounding interior equilibrium. In the analysis of Hopf bifurcation, based on the phenomenon of Turing instability and well-done conditions, the system undergoes a Hopf bifurcation and an example incorporating with numerical simulations to support the existence of Hopf bifurcation is presented. We also derived a useful algorithm for determining direction of Hopf bifurcation and stability of bifurcating periodic solutions correspond to j ≠0 and j = 0, respectively. Finally, all these theoretical results are expected to be useful in the future study of dynamical complexity of ecological environment.展开更多
The predictive model is built according to the characteristics of the impulse response of integrating process. In order to eliminate the permanent offset between the setpoint and the process output in the presence of ...The predictive model is built according to the characteristics of the impulse response of integrating process. In order to eliminate the permanent offset between the setpoint and the process output in the presence of the load disturbance, a novel error compensation method is proposed. Then predictive functional control of integrating process is designed. The method given generates a simple control structure, which can significandy reduce online computation. Furthermore, the tuning of the controller is fairly straightforward. Simulation results indicate that the designed control system is relatively robust to the parameters variation of the process.展开更多
In complex feed structures, there exist main chemical functional groups which are associated with nutrient utilization and availability and functionality. Each functional group has unique molecular structure therefore...In complex feed structures, there exist main chemical functional groups which are associated with nutrient utilization and availability and functionality. Each functional group has unique molecular structure therefore produce unique molecular vibration spectral profile. Feed processing has been used to improve nutrient utilization for many years. However, to date, there was little study on processing-induced changes of feed intrinsic structure and functional groups on a molecular basis within intact tissue. This is because limited research technique is available to study inherent structure on a molecular basis. Recently bioanalytical techniques: such as Synchrotron Infrared Microspectroscopy as well as Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform molecular spectroscopy have been developed. These techniques enable to detect molecular structure change within intact tissues. These techniques can prevent destruction or alteration of the intrinsic protein structures during processing for analysis. However, these techniques have not been used in animal feed and nutrition research. The objective of this review was show that with the advanced technique, sensitivity and responses of functional groups to feed processing on a molecular basis could be detected in my research team. These functional groups are highly associated with nutrient utilization in animals.展开更多
In this paper, the nonlinear transient dynamic response of functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich doubly curved shell with homogenous isotropic material core and functionally graded face sheet is analyzed using...In this paper, the nonlinear transient dynamic response of functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich doubly curved shell with homogenous isotropic material core and functionally graded face sheet is analyzed using a new displacement field on the basis of Reddy's third-order shear theory for the first time. The equivalent material properties for the FGM face sheet are assumed to obey the rule of simple power law function in the thickness direction. Based on Reddy's theory of higher shear deformation, a new displacement field is developed by introducing the secant function into transverse displacement. Four coupled nonlinear differential equations are obtained by applying Hamilton's principle and Galerkin method. It is assumed that the FGM sandwich doubly curved shell is subjected to step loading, air-blast loading, triangular loading, and sinusoidal loading, respectively. On the basis of double-precision variable- coefficient ordinary differential equation solver, a new program code in FORTRAN software is developed to solve the nonlinear transient dynamics of the system. The influences of core thickness, volume fraction, core-to-face sheet thickness ratio, width-to-thickness ratio and blast type on the transient response of the shell are discussed in detail through numerical simulation.展开更多
This paper deals with the questio n of global stability of the positive locally asymptotically stable equilibrium in a class of predator\|prey system of Gause\|typ e with Holling Ⅲ functional response. The Dulac'...This paper deals with the questio n of global stability of the positive locally asymptotically stable equilibrium in a class of predator\|prey system of Gause\|typ e with Holling Ⅲ functional response. The Dulac's criterion is applied and lia punov functions are constructed to establish the global stability.展开更多
The thermal and thermo-elastic-plastic response of newly developed ceramic-metal functionally graded materials under a thermal shock load is studied. The materials are heated at the ceramic surface with a sudden high-...The thermal and thermo-elastic-plastic response of newly developed ceramic-metal functionally graded materials under a thermal shock load is studied. The materials are heated at the ceramic surface with a sudden high-intensity heat flux input, and cooled at the metal surface with a flowing liquid nitrogen. Emphasis is placed on two aspects: (1) the influence of the graded composition of the materials on the temperature and stress response; and (2) the optimum design of the graded composition from a unified viewpoint of the heat insulation property and stress relaxation property. Moreover, a comparison between the thermoelastic stress and the thermo-elastic-plastic stress is also made to indicate the plasticity effect.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32201304)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2412022QD026).
文摘Habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to bird communities, especially those in open and semi-open ecosystems such as steppes. This study investigates how steppe birds adapt to and utilize fragmented habitats by combining niche modeling with ecological trait analysis. We conducted standardized point surveys to examine the habitat preferences of 32 bird species in Inner Mongolia, China, and quantified their habitat niche parameters using the Outlying Mean Index (OMI). Our results reveal distinct habitat preferences among species, with some thriving in intact environments while others are better adapted to fragmented areas. Grassland species showed high specialization along the fragmentation gradient, while others exhibited adaptability to varying levels of fragmentation. Using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM), we identified three key traits influencing habitat occupancy: hand-wing index, body mass, and range size. Specifically, species with medium hand-wing indices, moderate body mass, and larger range sizes were more likely to occupy heavily fragmented habitats. These findings provide empirical evidence on how habitat fragmentation affects bird species in steppe ecosystems. The study highlights the importance of functional traits in understanding avian responses to habitat fragmentation and offers a foundation for developing effective conservation strategies to preserve biodiversity in fragmented landscapes.
基金supported by High-Level Chinese Medical Hospital Promotion ProjectHLCMHPP2023089.
文摘Objective:To investigate whether the presence or absence of improvement in chronic severe functional constipation(CSFC)at the early stage of treatment with electroacupuncture predicts subsequent response or non-response,and to determine the optimal treatment duration for assessing subsequent responses to electroacupuncture.Methods:This is a post hoc analysis using data pooled from two large-scale randomized controlled trials.Patients with CSFC were recruited,and those in the electroacupuncture groups were included in the present study.Early improvement was defined as a weekly increase of≥1 complete spontaneous bowel movement(CSBM)compared to baseline.Three treatment response criteria were evaluated:≥3CSBMs per week,overall CSBM response,and sustained CSBM response.Predictive statistics,including sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value,were calculated at weeks1–4.Receiver operating characteristic curves and accuracy rates were used to determine the optimal timepoint for differentiation between responders and non-responders.Results:Cases from a total of 813 participants who received electroacupuncture were analyzed.The proportion of improvers was 40.34%by week 1,increasing to 52.52%by week 4.After 8 weeks of treatment,the response rates were 30.14%,25.83%and 25.58%according to the three aforementioned criteria,respectively.Early improvement was a strong predictor of treatment response,with week 3 demonstrating the highest predictive accuracy.Conclusion:Early improvement with electroacupuncture,especially at week 3,can predict subsequent outcomes.Our findings suggest that acupuncturists may identify non-responders who might require adjustments to therapeutic strategies early in treatment.
基金Supported by the Social Science Foundation of Hebei Province(Grant No.HB23TJ003)the Science Research Project of Hebei Education Department(Grant No.BJK2024197)。
文摘This paper examines an epidemic predator-prey model with prey dispersal and Holling type-II functional response. In this model, it is assumed that the predator population suffers a transmissible disease. By analyzing the corresponding characteristic equations, the local stability of each of feasible equilibria and the existence of Hopf bifurcations at the coexistence equilibrium is addressed. Using Lyapunov functionals and LaSalle's invariance principle, we obtained the sufficient conditions for the global stability of the trivial equilibrium, the predator-extinction equilibrium, the disease-free equilibrium and the coexistence equilibrium, respectively. The paper also includes numerical simulations to illustrate the analytical results.
基金Supported by the Social Science Foundation of Hebei Province(HB23TJO03)。
文摘A predator-prey model with prey dispersal and Holling type-Ⅱ functional response is investigated.In this model,the time delay due to the gestation of the predator and stagestructure for the predator are considered.By analyzing the corresponding characteristic equations,the local stability of each of the nonnegative equilibria is discussed.The existence of Hopf bifurcations at the positive equilibrium is established.By using Lyapunov functionals and LaSalle’s invariance principle,sufficient conditions are obtained for the global stability of the positive equilibrium,the nonnegative boundary equilibrium and the trivial equilibrium of the model,respectively.Numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the main results.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82271100)the Jiangsu Science and Technology Support Program(No.BE2022805)the Clinical Skills Enhancement Program of Jiangsu Province Hospital(No.JSPH-MC-2022-24).
文摘AIM:To assess the visual electrophysiological outcomes in children with functional amblyopia who exhibited poor response to conventional treatment.METHODS:Twenty-one children with functional amblyopia,aged 5.7±2.1y(range:4-10y),underwent comprehensive ophthalmic and refractive evaluations.Spectral domain-optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)and multifocal electroretinography(mfERG)were conducted to analyze the macular retinal thickness and the first-order response P1 ring of the mfERG in the amblyopic eye(AE)compared to the fellow good eye(GE).RESULTS:Initially,visual acuity in the AE ranged from 20/800 to 20/40,while the GE exhibited a range of 20/25 to 20/20(P<0.01).After 6mo of treatment,17 patients demonstrated improved visual acuity in the AE to 20/50 or better,while 4 children showed no improvement.SD-OCT revealed comparable macular and optic disc structures between the AE and GE.Prior to treatment,the mfERG P1 ring amplitude was significantly reduced in the AE compared to GE(P<0.05).The AE/GE ratio of P1 ring amplitude showed significant improvement post-treatment.However,a smaller AE/GE ratio before treatment was associated with poorer improvement post-treatment.CONCLUSION:In the management of functional amblyopia,a thorough assessment of amblyopic eye examinations is crucial.Approximately 20%of amblyopic eyes may not achieve significant improvement in visual acuity,despite the absence of detectable organic retinal abnormalities.mfERG may reveal underlying abnormalities.Integrating mfERG into initial assessments or treatment follow-ups can aid in identifying potential hidden retinal defects and predicting the prognosis of the amblyopic eye.
基金supported by grants from Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions(2023SHIBS0002)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFF1203505)+5 种基金the National Key R&D Program of China(2024YFC2417900)Shenzhen Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Council(202110293000007)Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(KJZD20230923114909019)the National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFA0801006)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31771618)Guangdong Natural Science Foundation(2022A1515011878).
文摘Zebrafish larvae are useful for identifying chemicals against lateral line(LL)hair cell(HC)damage and this type of chemical screen mainly focuses on searching for protectors against cell death.To expand the candidate pool of HC protectors,a self-built acoustic escape response(AER)-detecting system was developed to apply both low-frequency near-field sound transmission and AER image acquisition/processing modules.The device quickly confirmed the changed LL HC functions caused by most known ototoxins,protectors,and neural transmission modifiers,or knockdown of LL HC-expressing genes.With ten devices wired in tandem,five‘hit’chemicals were identified from 124 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors to partially restore cisplatin-damaged AER in less than a day.AS2863619,ribociclib,and SU9516 among the hits,protected the HCs in the mouse cochlea.Therefore,using free-swimming larval zebrafish,the self-made AER-detecting device can efficiently identify compounds that are protective against HC damage,including cell death and loss-of-function.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.50323008,31070517)Scientific Research Foundation of Guangxi Education Department(No.201203YB097)
文摘Finite dement formulations are used to simulate the evolution of the elastoplastic response of functionally graded cemented carbides (FGCC) due to thermal loading. The geometry of specimens is an axisymmetric solid cylinder with a two-dimensional gradient. The elastoplastic constitutive relationship is developed by constraint factors. Numerical results show that compressive stresses occur in the surface zone and tensile stresses in the cobalt rich zone when the temperature drops from the initial stress-free temperature of 800 to 0℃. The maximum value of the surface compressive stress is 254 MPa and the maximum value of the tensile stress is 252 MPa in the cobalt rich zones. When the cobalt concentration difference in the specimens is equal to or greater than 0.3, there is pronounced plastic flow in cobalt rich zone. When the temperature heats up from 0 to 800 ℃, the total plastic strain reaches 0.001 4. Plastic flow has a significant effect on the reduction of thermal stress concentration.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(grant number 2022YFC3702604)National Natural Science Foundation of China(41977374).
文摘The cardiopulmonary health of children may be affected by acute ozone(O3)exposure during physical activity[1];however,its effects in high-altitude regions such as the Xizang Plateau remain uncertain.In high-altitude areas,lower oxygen levels may cause children to experience shortness of breath or require increased respiratory effort during vigorous activities such as running.This could lead to increased pollutant inhalation,potentially elevating the burden on the cardiovascular system and triggering adverse reactions such as increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure.Furthermore,differences in physiological adaptation between Han children who have migrated to Xizang and Tibetan children who are native to the region may contribute to different reactions to environmental exposure[2].
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China Key Project(No.50238040)
文摘Single fiber pull-out testing was conducted to study the origin of the functional responses to loading of carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composites. The variation of electrical resistance with the bonding force on the fiber-matrix interface was measured. Single fiber electromechanical testing was also conducted by measuring the electrical resistance under static tension. Comparison of the results shows that the resistance increasing during single fiber pull-out is mainly due to the changes at the interface. The conduction mechanism of the composite can be explained by the tunneling model. The interfacial stress causes the deformation of interfacial structure and the interfacial debonding, which have influences on the tunneling effect and result in the change of resistance.
基金supported by the Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest, China (200903051 and 200803003)
文摘Understanding the temperature affecting parasitic efficiency is critical to succeed in utilizing parasitoid as natural enemy in pest management. Laboratory studies were carried out to determine the effects of temperature on parasitoid preference of female Anagrus nilaparvatae Pang et Wang (Hymenoptera:Mymaridae) to the eggs of whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera Horváth and brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stl to build a composite model describing changes in parasitic response along a temperature gradient (18, 22, 26, 30, 34°C). The results showed that attack responses of A. nilaparvatae on WBPH and BPH were the best described by a Type II functional response. The two parameters, attack rates (a) and handling times (Th), of A. nilaparvatae to both eggs were influenced by the temperature. The maximum attack rates to WBPH (1.235) and BPH (1.049) were at 26 and 34°C, respectively, and the shortest handling times to WBPH (0.063) and BPH (0.057) were at 30 and 26°C, respectively. However, the optimal temperature for parasitic efficiency of A. nilaparvatae to WBPH and BPH eggs was both at 26°C, which showed that the present microclimate temperature of the habitat in the paddyfield was beneficial to A. nilaparvatae and indicated that parasitic efficiency of A. nilaparvatae would be impaired by global warming.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(19531070)the Major and Youth Project Foundation of Hubei Province Education Department(2001Z06003)(2002B00002).
文摘By using the continuation theorem of coincidence theory,the existence of a positive periodic solution for a two patches competition system with diffusion and time delay and functional response x_(1)(t)=x_(1)(t)a_(1)(t)-b_(1)(t)x_(1)(t)-c_(1)(t)y(t)1+m(t)x_(1)(t)+D_(1)(t)[x_(2)(t)-x_(1)(t)],x_(2)(t)=x_(2)(t)a_(2)(t)-b_(2)(t)x_(2)(t)-c_(2)(t)∫^(0)_(-τ)k(s)x_(2)(t+s)d s+D_(2)(t)[x_(1)(t)-x_(2)(t)],y′(t)=y(t)a_(3)(t)-b_(3)(t)y(t)-c_(3)(t)x_(1)(t)1+m(t)x_(1)(t)is established,where a i(t),b_(i)(t),c_(i)(t)(i=1,2,3),m(t)and D_(i)(t)(i=1,2)are all positive periodic continuous functions with period w>0,τis a nonnegative constant and k(s)is a continuous nonnegative function on[-τ,0].
文摘In this paper we analytically and numerically consider the dynamical behavior of a certain predator-prey system with Holling type II functional response, including local and global stability analysis, existence of limit cycles, transcritical and Hopf bifurcations. Mathematical theory derivation mainly focuses on the existence and stability of equilibrium point as well as threshold conditions for transcritical and Hopf bifurcation, which can in turn provide a theoretical support for numerical simulation. Numerical analysis indicates that theoretical derivation results are correct and feasible. In addition, it is successful to show that the dynamical behavior of this predator-prey system mainly depends on some critical parameters and mathematical relationships. All these results are expected to be meaningful in the study of the dynamic complexity of predatory ecosystem.
文摘In this paper, we mainly considered the dynamical behavior of a predator-prey system with Holling type II functional response and Allee-like effect on predator, including stability analysis of equilibria and Hopf bifurcation. Firstly, we gave some sufficient conditions to guarantee the existence, the local and global stability of equilibria as well as non-existence of limit cycles. By using the cobweb model, some cases about the existence of interior equilibrium are also illustrated with numerical outcomes. These existence and stability conclusions of interior equilibrium are also suitable in corresponding homogeneous reaction-diffusion system subject to the Neumann boundary conditions. Secondly, we theoretically deduced that our system has saddle-node bifurcation, transcritical bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation under certain conditions. Finally, for the Hopf bifurcation, we choose d as the bifurcation parameter and presented some numerical simulations to verify feasibility and effectiveness of the theoretical derivation corresponding to the existence of yk, respectively. The Hopf bifurcations are supercritical and limit cycles generated by the critical points are stable.
文摘This article deals with the investigation of the effects of porosity distributions on nonlinear free vibration and transient analysis of porous functionally graded skew(PFGS)plates.The effective material properties of the PFGS plates are obtained from the modified power-law equations in which gradation varies through the thickness of the PFGS plate.A nonlinear finite element(FE)formulation for the overall PFGS plate is derived by adopting first-order shear deformation theory(FSDT)in conjunction with von Karman’s nonlinear strain displacement relations.The governing equations of the PFGS plate are derived using the principle of virtual work.The direct iterative method and Newmark’s integration technique are espoused to solve nonlinear mathematical relations.The influences of the porosity distributions and porosity parameter indices on the nonlinear frequency responses of the PFGS plate for different skew angles are studied in various parameters.The effects of volume fraction grading index and skew angle on the plate’s nonlinear dynamic responses for various porosity distributions are illustrated in detail.
文摘In this paper, we considered a homogeneous reaction-diffusion predator-prey system with Holling type II functional response subject to Neumann boundary conditions. Some new sufficient conditions were analytically established to ensure that this system has globally asymptotically stable equilibria and Hopf bifurcation surrounding interior equilibrium. In the analysis of Hopf bifurcation, based on the phenomenon of Turing instability and well-done conditions, the system undergoes a Hopf bifurcation and an example incorporating with numerical simulations to support the existence of Hopf bifurcation is presented. We also derived a useful algorithm for determining direction of Hopf bifurcation and stability of bifurcating periodic solutions correspond to j ≠0 and j = 0, respectively. Finally, all these theoretical results are expected to be useful in the future study of dynamical complexity of ecological environment.
基金This work was supported by National Science Fundation of China (No.60274032)Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (SRFDP) (No.20030248040)and Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship
文摘The predictive model is built according to the characteristics of the impulse response of integrating process. In order to eliminate the permanent offset between the setpoint and the process output in the presence of the load disturbance, a novel error compensation method is proposed. Then predictive functional control of integrating process is designed. The method given generates a simple control structure, which can significandy reduce online computation. Furthermore, the tuning of the controller is fairly straightforward. Simulation results indicate that the designed control system is relatively robust to the parameters variation of the process.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)SaskCanola Funding+1 种基金Saskatchewan Agricultural Development Fund (ADF)Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Chair Fund (Saskatchewan,Canada)
文摘In complex feed structures, there exist main chemical functional groups which are associated with nutrient utilization and availability and functionality. Each functional group has unique molecular structure therefore produce unique molecular vibration spectral profile. Feed processing has been used to improve nutrient utilization for many years. However, to date, there was little study on processing-induced changes of feed intrinsic structure and functional groups on a molecular basis within intact tissue. This is because limited research technique is available to study inherent structure on a molecular basis. Recently bioanalytical techniques: such as Synchrotron Infrared Microspectroscopy as well as Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform molecular spectroscopy have been developed. These techniques enable to detect molecular structure change within intact tissues. These techniques can prevent destruction or alteration of the intrinsic protein structures during processing for analysis. However, these techniques have not been used in animal feed and nutrition research. The objective of this review was show that with the advanced technique, sensitivity and responses of functional groups to feed processing on a molecular basis could be detected in my research team. These functional groups are highly associated with nutrient utilization in animals.
基金the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NNSFC) through Grant No.11472056Beijing Key Laboratory Open Research Project KF20171123202
文摘In this paper, the nonlinear transient dynamic response of functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich doubly curved shell with homogenous isotropic material core and functionally graded face sheet is analyzed using a new displacement field on the basis of Reddy's third-order shear theory for the first time. The equivalent material properties for the FGM face sheet are assumed to obey the rule of simple power law function in the thickness direction. Based on Reddy's theory of higher shear deformation, a new displacement field is developed by introducing the secant function into transverse displacement. Four coupled nonlinear differential equations are obtained by applying Hamilton's principle and Galerkin method. It is assumed that the FGM sandwich doubly curved shell is subjected to step loading, air-blast loading, triangular loading, and sinusoidal loading, respectively. On the basis of double-precision variable- coefficient ordinary differential equation solver, a new program code in FORTRAN software is developed to solve the nonlinear transient dynamics of the system. The influences of core thickness, volume fraction, core-to-face sheet thickness ratio, width-to-thickness ratio and blast type on the transient response of the shell are discussed in detail through numerical simulation.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(195 310 70 )
文摘This paper deals with the questio n of global stability of the positive locally asymptotically stable equilibrium in a class of predator\|prey system of Gause\|typ e with Holling Ⅲ functional response. The Dulac's criterion is applied and lia punov functions are constructed to establish the global stability.
基金This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China.
文摘The thermal and thermo-elastic-plastic response of newly developed ceramic-metal functionally graded materials under a thermal shock load is studied. The materials are heated at the ceramic surface with a sudden high-intensity heat flux input, and cooled at the metal surface with a flowing liquid nitrogen. Emphasis is placed on two aspects: (1) the influence of the graded composition of the materials on the temperature and stress response; and (2) the optimum design of the graded composition from a unified viewpoint of the heat insulation property and stress relaxation property. Moreover, a comparison between the thermoelastic stress and the thermo-elastic-plastic stress is also made to indicate the plasticity effect.