This paper attempts to interpret Richard Powers' ecological thoughts in his sixth novel Gain. It mainly records the development of the corporate body's expansion and the individual body's declination to fu...This paper attempts to interpret Richard Powers' ecological thoughts in his sixth novel Gain. It mainly records the development of the corporate body's expansion and the individual body's declination to further analyze how the corporate organism becomes a lethal threat to the individual in the end. The two narrative lines reveals the worsening of industrial greedy and the increasing danger of human existence.Powers expresses his holistic ecological vision: Are big companies human's greatest hope or greatest threat?展开更多
Two japonica rice varieties, Wuyujing 3 and 97-7, were used to study the changes in contents of soluble protein, free amino acids and endopeptidase activity during photosynthetic declination. The content of soluble pr...Two japonica rice varieties, Wuyujing 3 and 97-7, were used to study the changes in contents of soluble protein, free amino acids and endopeptidase activity during photosynthetic declination. The content of soluble protein in flag leaf of cv. Wuyujing 3 was higher than that of cv. 97-7, but decreased rapidly in Wuyujing 3. Free amino acids in flag leaf and the thirteenth leaf of Wuyujing 3 started to increase 10 days before the turning point of photosynthetic declination (TPPD), while it occurred just 1-2 days before TPPD in the flag leaf and the thirteenth leaf of 97-7. During reversible phase of photosynthetic declination, endopeptidase activity remained at a low level and increased slightly only in the later part of this phase. Then it rose up rapidly at irreversible decline phase and reached a very high level. For Wuyujing 3, the change in endopeptidase activity in the thirteenth leaf was parallel to that in flag leaf. However, for 97-7, the rapid increase of endopeptidase activity in the thirteenth leaf started later than that of flag leaf. The results implied that the rate of protein breakdown and conversion to transportable nitrogen in leaves of 97-7 was slower than that in leaves of Wuyujing 3 during photosynthetic declination and it led to relatively lower seed setting rate and fully filling grains rate in 97-7. This may be one of the important reasons why 97-7 could not bring the high yield potentiality into play and the findings may be taken into consideration while breeding for high potential varieties in future.展开更多
With the rapidly aging human population,age-related cognitive decline and dementia are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide.Aging is considered the main risk factor for cognitive decline and acts through alterati...With the rapidly aging human population,age-related cognitive decline and dementia are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide.Aging is considered the main risk factor for cognitive decline and acts through alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota,microbial metabolites,and the functions of astrocytes.The microbiota–gut–brain axis has been the focus of multiple studies and is closely associated with cognitive function.This article provides a comprehensive review of the specific changes that occur in the composition of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in older individuals and discusses how the aging of astrocytes and reactive astrocytosis are closely related to age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.This article also summarizes the gut microbiota components that affect astrocyte function,mainly through the vagus nerve,immune responses,circadian rhythms,and microbial metabolites.Finally,this article summarizes the mechanism by which the gut microbiota–astrocyte axis plays a role in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.Our findings have revealed the critical role of the microbiota–astrocyte axis in age-related cognitive decline,aiding in a deeper understanding of potential gut microbiome-based adjuvant therapy strategies for this condition.展开更多
Increasing temperatures and severe droughts threaten forest vitality globally.Prediction of forest response to climate change requires knowledge of the spatiotemporal patterns of monthly or seasonal climatic impacts o...Increasing temperatures and severe droughts threaten forest vitality globally.Prediction of forest response to climate change requires knowledge of the spatiotemporal patterns of monthly or seasonal climatic impacts on the growth of tree species,likely driven by local climatic aridity,climate trends,edaphic conditions,and the climatic adaption of tree species.The ability of tree species to cope with changing climate and the effects of environmental variables on growth trends and growth-climate relationships across diverse bioclimatic regions are still poorly understood for many species.This study investigated radial growth trends,interannual growth variability,and growth-climate sensitivity of two dominant tree species,Pinus tabulaeformis(PT)and Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica(PS),across a broad climatic gradient with a variety of soil properties in temperate Northern China.Using a network of 83 tree ring chronologies(54 for PT and 29 for PS)from 1971 to 2010,we documented that both species maintained constant growth trends at wet sites,while both displayed rapid declines at dry sites.We reported the species-specific drivers of spatial heterogeneity in growth trends,interannual growth variability,and growth-climate relationships.Calculated climatic variables and soil properties were identified as the most critical factors affecting the growth trends and growth-climate relationships.However,climatic variables play more essential roles than soil properties in determining the spatial heterogeneity of the growth-climate relationship.Lower clay content and higher soil nutrient regimes can exacerbate the moisture-related susceptibility of tree growth.Our findings highlight that soil properties emerged as important modulating factors to predict the drought vulnerability of forests in addition to climatic variables.Considering the continued climate warmingdrying trend in the future,both pines will face a more severe growth decline and increase in drought vulnerability at drier sites with lower clayed soil or higher nutrient regimes.展开更多
Industrial-scale experiments were conducted to study the effects of tertiary air declination angle(TDA)on the coal combustion and steam temperature characteristics in the first 350-MW supercritical down-fired boiler i...Industrial-scale experiments were conducted to study the effects of tertiary air declination angle(TDA)on the coal combustion and steam temperature characteristics in the first 350-MW supercritical down-fired boiler in China with the multiple-injection and multiple-staging combustion(MIMSC)technology at medium and high loads.The experimental results indicated that as the TDA increased from 0°to 15°,the overall gas temperature in the lower furnace rose and the symmetry of temperature field was enhanced.The ignition distance of the fuel-rich coal/air flow decreased.In near-burner region,the concentration of O2 decreased while the concentrations of CO and NO increased.The concentration of NO decreased in near-tertiary-air region.The carbon in fly ash decreased significantly from 8.40%to 6.45%at a load of 260 MW.At a TDA of 15°,the ignition distances were the shortest(2.07 m and 1.73 m)at a load of 210 MW and 260 MW,respectively.The main and reheat steam temperatures were the highest(557.2℃ and 559.4℃ at a load of 210 MW,558.4℃ and 560.3℃ at a load of 260 MW).The carbon in fly ash was the lowest(4.83%)at a load of 210 MW.On changing the TDA from 15°to 25°,the flame kernel was found to move downward and the main and reheat steam temperatures dropped obviously.The change of TDA has little effect on NO_(x) emissions(660–681 mg/m^(3) at 6%O_(2)).In comprehensive consideration of the pulverized coal combustion characteristics and the unit economic performance,an optimal TDA of 15°is recommended.展开更多
Earth’s magnetic declination was experimentally measured at 15 sites in western USA from Alaska to Texas;each site exhibited a large linear feature identifiable in virtual globe imagery(NASA’s World Wind or Google E...Earth’s magnetic declination was experimentally measured at 15 sites in western USA from Alaska to Texas;each site exhibited a large linear feature identifiable in virtual globe imagery(NASA’s World Wind or Google Earth).The difference between the geographic bearing of the linear feature measured directly on a virtual globe image and the magnetic bearing of the same linear feature measured on the ground with a compass defines the magnetic declination d for that site.For all 15 sites,d values,determined by this differencing procedure,ranged from about 208 to 58 E and fell within 18(over half within 0.58)of expected values.Global positioning system(GPS)data recorded at most sites and plotted on virtual globe images aided in the identification of relevant features.This straightforward method for determining magnetic declination using virtual globe software and a compass provides a contemporary geospatial field/laboratory activity that dramatically elucidates and contrasts features of magnetic and geographic coordinate systems for students in various disciplines involving geomagnetism,navigation,geography or spherical polar geometry.展开更多
1.Background When searching for the term“muscle power”on Google Scholar,about 3.7 million hits come up in 60 ms,and for the past 3 years,there were approximately 225 yearly peer-reviewed publications dealing with mu...1.Background When searching for the term“muscle power”on Google Scholar,about 3.7 million hits come up in 60 ms,and for the past 3 years,there were approximately 225 yearly peer-reviewed publications dealing with muscle power.Muscle power has been used to assess and predict athletic performance,to determine muscle rehabilitation following injury or disease,to measure functional decline as occurs in aging,and many other topics.展开更多
Rarer dementias are associated with atypical symptoms and younger onset,which result in a higher burden of care.We provide a review of the global literature on longitudinal decline in activities of daily living(ADLs)i...Rarer dementias are associated with atypical symptoms and younger onset,which result in a higher burden of care.We provide a review of the global literature on longitudinal decline in activities of daily living(ADLs)in dementias that account for less than 10%of dementia diagnoses.Published studies were identified through searches conducted in Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online(MEDLINE),Excerpta Medica Database(Embase),Excerpta Medica Care(Emcare),PsycINFO,and Cumulative Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature(CINAHL).The search criteria included terms related to‘rarer dementias’,‘activities of daily living’and‘longitudinal or cross-sectional studies’following a predefined protocol registered.Studies were screened,and those that met the criteria were citation searched.Quality assessments were performed,and relevant data were extracted.20 articles were selected,of which 19 focused on dementias within the frontotemporal dementia/primary progressive aphasia spectrum,while one addressed posterior cortical atrophy.Four studies were cross-sectional and 16 studies were longitudinal,with a median duration of 2.2 years.The Disability Assessment for Dementia was used to measure decline in 8 of the 20 studies.The varied sequences of ADL decline reported in the literature reflect variation in diagnostic specificity between studies and within-syndrome heterogeneity.Most studies used Alzheimer’s disease staging scales to measure decline,which cannot capture variant-specific symptoms.To enhance care provision in dementia,ADL scales could be deployed postdiagnosis to aid treatment and planning.This necessitates staging scales that are variant-specific and span the disease course from diagnosis to end of life.展开更多
In January and February of 2025,China's textile and clothing exports totaled 42.88 billion US dollars,marking a 4.5%decrease compared to the same period in the previous year.The primary factors contributing to thi...In January and February of 2025,China's textile and clothing exports totaled 42.88 billion US dollars,marking a 4.5%decrease compared to the same period in the previous year.The primary factors contributing to this decline are as follows:First,China’s textile and clothing exports nearly reached USD 45 billion in January and February of 2024,setting a high base.Second,in order to avoid tariffs imposed by the United States,enterprises generally concentrated their exports at the end of last year and January this year.展开更多
Objective:As the prevalence of chronic diseases among the elderly increases year by year,chronic renal insufficiency caused by hypertension has become a hot issue of concern to society and even the world.Methods:This ...Objective:As the prevalence of chronic diseases among the elderly increases year by year,chronic renal insufficiency caused by hypertension has become a hot issue of concern to society and even the world.Methods:This article conducted a retrospective analysis of 1856 elderly people over 65 years old,with a follow-up time of 6 years.The aim is to compare the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate(EGFR)between hypertensive and non-hypertensive populations under non-intervention conditions,and to explore the impact of blood pressure on EGFR in the elderly.Results:The incidence of hypertension among the elderly in this region is significantly higher than the national level.The EGFR value of hypertensive patients is significantly lower than that of non-hypertensive people.There is a difference in the percentage decline in EGFR between hypertensive and non-hypertensive populations under non-intervention conditions,with hypertensive patients experiencing a higher rate of EGFR decline.When blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mmHg,the EGFR decline ratio is lower compared to when blood pressure is higher than 120/80 mmHg.Conclusion:Lowering blood pressure can effectively slow down the decline of EGFR,and the prevalence of hypertension should be reduced.展开更多
EXCERPTS FROM MAJOR CHINESE MAGAZINES A RIVER REBORN China Newsweek 27 October For decades,the Yangtze River,China’s longest waterway and a vital habitat for aquatic life,suffered severe ecological decline.Overfishin...EXCERPTS FROM MAJOR CHINESE MAGAZINES A RIVER REBORN China Newsweek 27 October For decades,the Yangtze River,China’s longest waterway and a vital habitat for aquatic life,suffered severe ecological decline.Overfishing and human activity depleted its biodiversity,and by the late 2010s,its bio-integrity index had sunk to the lowest level,with almost no fish.展开更多
On July 18th, in the first half of 2025, Rieter recorded an order intake of CHF 355.4 million(first half of 2024: CHF 403.4 million). This corresponds to a decline of around 12% compared to the same period last year. ...On July 18th, in the first half of 2025, Rieter recorded an order intake of CHF 355.4 million(first half of 2024: CHF 403.4 million). This corresponds to a decline of around 12% compared to the same period last year. The expected broader market recovery has led to shifts in investment decisions on the part of customers due to the global trade disputes(particularly US punitive tariffs) and the geopolitical uncertainty.展开更多
Americans have always been proud of their democratic system. Since the end of World War Ⅱ, the United States has even used its democratic system as a template to “democratize” some other countries. However, in rece...Americans have always been proud of their democratic system. Since the end of World War Ⅱ, the United States has even used its democratic system as a template to “democratize” some other countries. However, in recent years, the domestic democratic chaos in the United States has intensified, causing widespread doubts about the American political system and its democratic model.展开更多
A decline in tree growth has occurred in numerous regions over recent decades and is associated with enhanced water deficits driven by climate warming.This phenomenon may be more noticeable at lower latitudes with hig...A decline in tree growth has occurred in numerous regions over recent decades and is associated with enhanced water deficits driven by climate warming.This phenomenon may be more noticeable at lower latitudes with higher temperatures.However,the process by which these elevated temperatures alter growth performance is not well understood.In this study,by combining tree-ring data(including 340 increment cores)and remotely sensed vegetation index data,we investigated the long-term growth performance of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica Litv.(Mongolian pine),an important species for afforestation in northern China,in response to environmental factors in an area of introduction(lower latitude)and its native range(higher latitude).More notable decreases in both tree-ring width index(RWI)and basal area increment at breast height coincided with lower values and larger variations in the satellite-derived vegetation index in the area of introduction.The RWI showed stronger negative correlations with temperature and positive correlations with the self-calibrating Palmer drought severity index during most months in the introduction area.These results indicate that enhanced drought stress caused by elevated temperatures in lower latitudes might be a key factor for the growth decline in Mongolian pine plantations.The negative impact of increased temperatures on tree growth through exacerbating drought stress at lower latitudes with water deficit highlights the need to reduce water stress in forest management in such areas under climate warming-driven aridification.展开更多
BACKGROUND Mild cognitive impairment(MCI)and subjective cognitive decline(SCD)are risk indicators for dementia and require ongoing management.Traditional Korean medicine(TKM)commonly employs acupuncture and herbal med...BACKGROUND Mild cognitive impairment(MCI)and subjective cognitive decline(SCD)are risk indicators for dementia and require ongoing management.Traditional Korean medicine(TKM)commonly employs acupuncture and herbal medicine for cognitive impairment;yet,clinical research on acupotomy is lacking.Although most TKM treatments occur in primary care,the research is largely hospital-based.This registry was established to systematically collect real-world data on the clinical progress,efficacy,and safety of TKM with acupotomy for patients with MCI or SCD in primary care.It is hypothesized that TKM with acupotomy improves cognitive function and is safe for these patients.AIM To establish an MCI or SCD registry of patients receiving TKM,including acupotomy,to analyze its clinical efficacy and safety.METHODS This observational registry study will be conducted across 22 medical institutions;approximately 500 participants will be recruited.Data—sociodemographic information,medication history,height,weight,vital signs,and assessment questionnaires(Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean,short form of Korean-Everyday Cognition,Numeric Rating Scale,Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index)—will be collected at 3-month intervals over a year.This study will also document the TKM treatment administered and any adverse events.Routine TKM procedures will be followed,with acupuncture and acupotomy administered as per protocol;treatments including herbal medicine,Chuna therapy,and moxibustion may be administered at the practitioner’s discretion.RESULTS The registry will capture a wide range of real-world clinical data regarding demographic profiles,treatment processes,and adverse events.This detailed documentation is expected to clarify patient characteristics,evaluate the clinical course,and identify factors that may affect cognitive improvement in patients with MCI and SCD.CONCLUSION This research may provide evidence supporting acupotomy for cognitive impairment in primary care by confirming its efficacy and safety,providing preliminary evidence for TKM-based interventions aimed at improving cognitive function.展开更多
Warm-wet climatic conditions are widely regarded as conducive to remarkable tree growth,alleviating climatic pressures.However,the notable decline in tree growth observed in the southern edge of boreal forests has hei...Warm-wet climatic conditions are widely regarded as conducive to remarkable tree growth,alleviating climatic pressures.However,the notable decline in tree growth observed in the southern edge of boreal forests has heightened concerns over the spatial-temporal dynamics of forest decline.Currently,attaining a comprehensive grasp of the underlying patterns and their propelling factors remains a formidable challenge.We collected tree ring samples from a network of 50 sites across the Greater Xing'an Mountains.These samples were subsequently grouped into two distinct clusters,designated as Groups A and B.The percentage change of growth(GC,%)and the proportion of declining sites were utilized to assess forest decline.The decline in tree growth within Larix gmelinii forests exhibits significant regional variation,accompanied by temporal fluctuations even within a given region.Group A exhibited a pronounced increase in frequency(59.26%)of occurrences and encountered more severe declines(21.65%)in tree growth subsequent to the 1990s,contrasting sharply with Group B,which observed lower frequencies(20.00%)and relatively less severe declines(21.02%)prior to the 1980s.The primary impetus underlying the opposite radial growth increments observed in Larix gmelinii trees from the interplay between their differential response to temperatures and wetter climatic conditions,which is significantly influenced by varying stand densities.In cold-dry conditions,low-density forests may experience soil water freezing,exacerbating drought conditions and thereby inhibiting tree growth,in Group B.Trees growth in high-density stands is restrained by warm-wet conditions,in Group A.These results provide new insights into the variability at the southern edge of the boreal forest biome with different responses to density and climate.展开更多
Pre-reading 1.What did historians believe caused the decline of Easter Island’s population?2.How did the Rapa Nui people grow crops in a harsh environment?Easter Island,which is in the Pacific Ocean to the west of Ch...Pre-reading 1.What did historians believe caused the decline of Easter Island’s population?2.How did the Rapa Nui people grow crops in a harsh environment?Easter Island,which is in the Pacific Ocean to the west of Chile,is famous for its giant stone statues.For a long time,historians believed that the people who once lived there destroyed their environment by using too many natural resources.As the island could support fewer people,the population dwindled.However,new research suggested that this probably wasn’t true.展开更多
Current gas well decline analysis under boundary-dominated flow(BDF)is largely based on the Arps'empirical hyperbolic decline model and the analytical type curve tools associated with pseudo-functions.Due to the n...Current gas well decline analysis under boundary-dominated flow(BDF)is largely based on the Arps'empirical hyperbolic decline model and the analytical type curve tools associated with pseudo-functions.Due to the nonlinear flow behavior of natural gas,these analysis methods generally require iterative calculations.In this study,the dimensionless gas rate(qg/qgi)is introduced,and an explicit method to determine the average reservoir pressure and the original gas in place(OGIP)for a volumetric gas reservoir is proposed.We show that the dimensionless gas rate in the BDF is only the function of the gas PVT parameters and reservoir pressure.Step-by-step analysis procedures are presented that enable explicit and straightforward estimation of average reservoir pressure and OGIP by straight-line analysis.Compared with current techniques,this methodology avoids the iterative calculation of pseudo-time and pseudo-pressure functions,lowers the multiplicity of type curve analysis,and is applicable in different production situations(constant/variable gas flow rate,constant/variable bottom-hole pressure)with a broad range of applications and ease of use.Reservoir numerical simulation and field examples are thoroughly discussed to highlight the capabilities of the proposed approach.展开更多
Rapid population aging has led to an increased focus on age-related conditions such as sarcopenia.causing loss of muscle mass and strength^([1,2]). Sarcopenia is associated with adverse outcomes,including falls, funct...Rapid population aging has led to an increased focus on age-related conditions such as sarcopenia.causing loss of muscle mass and strength^([1,2]). Sarcopenia is associated with adverse outcomes,including falls, functional decline, frailty, and mortality, which can lower the quality of life and shorten lifespan^([1,2]).展开更多
In 2019,China had over 13.14 million dementia cases,with incidence rates of(56.47–207.08)/100,000[1].Early cognitive impairment—a key dementia symptom—reduces quality of life,increases care dependence,and lowers su...In 2019,China had over 13.14 million dementia cases,with incidence rates of(56.47–207.08)/100,000[1].Early cognitive impairment—a key dementia symptom—reduces quality of life,increases care dependence,and lowers survival in older adults[2].A decline in physical function can also be observed in older adults with increasing age.Grip strength has been shown to be a marker of overall physiological function in older adults.展开更多
文摘This paper attempts to interpret Richard Powers' ecological thoughts in his sixth novel Gain. It mainly records the development of the corporate body's expansion and the individual body's declination to further analyze how the corporate organism becomes a lethal threat to the individual in the end. The two narrative lines reveals the worsening of industrial greedy and the increasing danger of human existence.Powers expresses his holistic ecological vision: Are big companies human's greatest hope or greatest threat?
文摘Two japonica rice varieties, Wuyujing 3 and 97-7, were used to study the changes in contents of soluble protein, free amino acids and endopeptidase activity during photosynthetic declination. The content of soluble protein in flag leaf of cv. Wuyujing 3 was higher than that of cv. 97-7, but decreased rapidly in Wuyujing 3. Free amino acids in flag leaf and the thirteenth leaf of Wuyujing 3 started to increase 10 days before the turning point of photosynthetic declination (TPPD), while it occurred just 1-2 days before TPPD in the flag leaf and the thirteenth leaf of 97-7. During reversible phase of photosynthetic declination, endopeptidase activity remained at a low level and increased slightly only in the later part of this phase. Then it rose up rapidly at irreversible decline phase and reached a very high level. For Wuyujing 3, the change in endopeptidase activity in the thirteenth leaf was parallel to that in flag leaf. However, for 97-7, the rapid increase of endopeptidase activity in the thirteenth leaf started later than that of flag leaf. The results implied that the rate of protein breakdown and conversion to transportable nitrogen in leaves of 97-7 was slower than that in leaves of Wuyujing 3 during photosynthetic declination and it led to relatively lower seed setting rate and fully filling grains rate in 97-7. This may be one of the important reasons why 97-7 could not bring the high yield potentiality into play and the findings may be taken into consideration while breeding for high potential varieties in future.
基金supported by the Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem Innovation Foundation,No.22HHXBSS00047(to PL)Graduate Science and Technology Innovation Project of Tianjin,No.2022BKY173(to LZ)Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Bureau Foundation,No.20201194(to PL).
文摘With the rapidly aging human population,age-related cognitive decline and dementia are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide.Aging is considered the main risk factor for cognitive decline and acts through alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota,microbial metabolites,and the functions of astrocytes.The microbiota–gut–brain axis has been the focus of multiple studies and is closely associated with cognitive function.This article provides a comprehensive review of the specific changes that occur in the composition of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in older individuals and discusses how the aging of astrocytes and reactive astrocytosis are closely related to age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.This article also summarizes the gut microbiota components that affect astrocyte function,mainly through the vagus nerve,immune responses,circadian rhythms,and microbial metabolites.Finally,this article summarizes the mechanism by which the gut microbiota–astrocyte axis plays a role in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.Our findings have revealed the critical role of the microbiota–astrocyte axis in age-related cognitive decline,aiding in a deeper understanding of potential gut microbiome-based adjuvant therapy strategies for this condition.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Plan of China(No.2022YFE0127900)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32071558,32171559)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation Key Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,China(No.2023ZD23)the Hulunbuir Science and Technology Plan Project(No.SF2022001)the Fundamental Research Funds of CAF(CAFYBB2023ZA002).
文摘Increasing temperatures and severe droughts threaten forest vitality globally.Prediction of forest response to climate change requires knowledge of the spatiotemporal patterns of monthly or seasonal climatic impacts on the growth of tree species,likely driven by local climatic aridity,climate trends,edaphic conditions,and the climatic adaption of tree species.The ability of tree species to cope with changing climate and the effects of environmental variables on growth trends and growth-climate relationships across diverse bioclimatic regions are still poorly understood for many species.This study investigated radial growth trends,interannual growth variability,and growth-climate sensitivity of two dominant tree species,Pinus tabulaeformis(PT)and Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica(PS),across a broad climatic gradient with a variety of soil properties in temperate Northern China.Using a network of 83 tree ring chronologies(54 for PT and 29 for PS)from 1971 to 2010,we documented that both species maintained constant growth trends at wet sites,while both displayed rapid declines at dry sites.We reported the species-specific drivers of spatial heterogeneity in growth trends,interannual growth variability,and growth-climate relationships.Calculated climatic variables and soil properties were identified as the most critical factors affecting the growth trends and growth-climate relationships.However,climatic variables play more essential roles than soil properties in determining the spatial heterogeneity of the growth-climate relationship.Lower clay content and higher soil nutrient regimes can exacerbate the moisture-related susceptibility of tree growth.Our findings highlight that soil properties emerged as important modulating factors to predict the drought vulnerability of forests in addition to climatic variables.Considering the continued climate warmingdrying trend in the future,both pines will face a more severe growth decline and increase in drought vulnerability at drier sites with lower clayed soil or higher nutrient regimes.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51706054)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2019M660633).
文摘Industrial-scale experiments were conducted to study the effects of tertiary air declination angle(TDA)on the coal combustion and steam temperature characteristics in the first 350-MW supercritical down-fired boiler in China with the multiple-injection and multiple-staging combustion(MIMSC)technology at medium and high loads.The experimental results indicated that as the TDA increased from 0°to 15°,the overall gas temperature in the lower furnace rose and the symmetry of temperature field was enhanced.The ignition distance of the fuel-rich coal/air flow decreased.In near-burner region,the concentration of O2 decreased while the concentrations of CO and NO increased.The concentration of NO decreased in near-tertiary-air region.The carbon in fly ash decreased significantly from 8.40%to 6.45%at a load of 260 MW.At a TDA of 15°,the ignition distances were the shortest(2.07 m and 1.73 m)at a load of 210 MW and 260 MW,respectively.The main and reheat steam temperatures were the highest(557.2℃ and 559.4℃ at a load of 210 MW,558.4℃ and 560.3℃ at a load of 260 MW).The carbon in fly ash was the lowest(4.83%)at a load of 210 MW.On changing the TDA from 15°to 25°,the flame kernel was found to move downward and the main and reheat steam temperatures dropped obviously.The change of TDA has little effect on NO_(x) emissions(660–681 mg/m^(3) at 6%O_(2)).In comprehensive consideration of the pulverized coal combustion characteristics and the unit economic performance,an optimal TDA of 15°is recommended.
文摘Earth’s magnetic declination was experimentally measured at 15 sites in western USA from Alaska to Texas;each site exhibited a large linear feature identifiable in virtual globe imagery(NASA’s World Wind or Google Earth).The difference between the geographic bearing of the linear feature measured directly on a virtual globe image and the magnetic bearing of the same linear feature measured on the ground with a compass defines the magnetic declination d for that site.For all 15 sites,d values,determined by this differencing procedure,ranged from about 208 to 58 E and fell within 18(over half within 0.58)of expected values.Global positioning system(GPS)data recorded at most sites and plotted on virtual globe images aided in the identification of relevant features.This straightforward method for determining magnetic declination using virtual globe software and a compass provides a contemporary geospatial field/laboratory activity that dramatically elucidates and contrasts features of magnetic and geographic coordinate systems for students in various disciplines involving geomagnetism,navigation,geography or spherical polar geometry.
文摘1.Background When searching for the term“muscle power”on Google Scholar,about 3.7 million hits come up in 60 ms,and for the past 3 years,there were approximately 225 yearly peer-reviewed publications dealing with muscle power.Muscle power has been used to assess and predict athletic performance,to determine muscle rehabilitation following injury or disease,to measure functional decline as occurs in aging,and many other topics.
基金supported by UKResearch and Innovation(MR/S03546X/1)National BrainAppeal,Economic and Social ResearchCouncil(ES/S010467/1)+4 种基金Wellcome Trust(221915/Z/20/Z),ESRC(ES/W006014/1)Royal National Institute for Deaf People-Dunhill Medical Trust Pauline Ashley(204841/Z/16/Z,PA23)London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre(221915/Z/20/Z)Bloomsbury and East London Doctoral Training Partnership(ES/P000592/1)National Institute for Health Research.
文摘Rarer dementias are associated with atypical symptoms and younger onset,which result in a higher burden of care.We provide a review of the global literature on longitudinal decline in activities of daily living(ADLs)in dementias that account for less than 10%of dementia diagnoses.Published studies were identified through searches conducted in Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online(MEDLINE),Excerpta Medica Database(Embase),Excerpta Medica Care(Emcare),PsycINFO,and Cumulative Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature(CINAHL).The search criteria included terms related to‘rarer dementias’,‘activities of daily living’and‘longitudinal or cross-sectional studies’following a predefined protocol registered.Studies were screened,and those that met the criteria were citation searched.Quality assessments were performed,and relevant data were extracted.20 articles were selected,of which 19 focused on dementias within the frontotemporal dementia/primary progressive aphasia spectrum,while one addressed posterior cortical atrophy.Four studies were cross-sectional and 16 studies were longitudinal,with a median duration of 2.2 years.The Disability Assessment for Dementia was used to measure decline in 8 of the 20 studies.The varied sequences of ADL decline reported in the literature reflect variation in diagnostic specificity between studies and within-syndrome heterogeneity.Most studies used Alzheimer’s disease staging scales to measure decline,which cannot capture variant-specific symptoms.To enhance care provision in dementia,ADL scales could be deployed postdiagnosis to aid treatment and planning.This necessitates staging scales that are variant-specific and span the disease course from diagnosis to end of life.
文摘In January and February of 2025,China's textile and clothing exports totaled 42.88 billion US dollars,marking a 4.5%decrease compared to the same period in the previous year.The primary factors contributing to this decline are as follows:First,China’s textile and clothing exports nearly reached USD 45 billion in January and February of 2024,setting a high base.Second,in order to avoid tariffs imposed by the United States,enterprises generally concentrated their exports at the end of last year and January this year.
基金“Clinical Research on Chronic Disease Screening and Therapeutic Guidance for Elderly People Over 60 Years Old”Kunming Science and Technology Plan Project(Project No.:2017-1-S-15382)。
文摘Objective:As the prevalence of chronic diseases among the elderly increases year by year,chronic renal insufficiency caused by hypertension has become a hot issue of concern to society and even the world.Methods:This article conducted a retrospective analysis of 1856 elderly people over 65 years old,with a follow-up time of 6 years.The aim is to compare the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate(EGFR)between hypertensive and non-hypertensive populations under non-intervention conditions,and to explore the impact of blood pressure on EGFR in the elderly.Results:The incidence of hypertension among the elderly in this region is significantly higher than the national level.The EGFR value of hypertensive patients is significantly lower than that of non-hypertensive people.There is a difference in the percentage decline in EGFR between hypertensive and non-hypertensive populations under non-intervention conditions,with hypertensive patients experiencing a higher rate of EGFR decline.When blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mmHg,the EGFR decline ratio is lower compared to when blood pressure is higher than 120/80 mmHg.Conclusion:Lowering blood pressure can effectively slow down the decline of EGFR,and the prevalence of hypertension should be reduced.
文摘EXCERPTS FROM MAJOR CHINESE MAGAZINES A RIVER REBORN China Newsweek 27 October For decades,the Yangtze River,China’s longest waterway and a vital habitat for aquatic life,suffered severe ecological decline.Overfishing and human activity depleted its biodiversity,and by the late 2010s,its bio-integrity index had sunk to the lowest level,with almost no fish.
文摘On July 18th, in the first half of 2025, Rieter recorded an order intake of CHF 355.4 million(first half of 2024: CHF 403.4 million). This corresponds to a decline of around 12% compared to the same period last year. The expected broader market recovery has led to shifts in investment decisions on the part of customers due to the global trade disputes(particularly US punitive tariffs) and the geopolitical uncertainty.
文摘Americans have always been proud of their democratic system. Since the end of World War Ⅱ, the United States has even used its democratic system as a template to “democratize” some other countries. However, in recent years, the domestic democratic chaos in the United States has intensified, causing widespread doubts about the American political system and its democratic model.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grants number 32220103010,32192431,31722013,32101587,32271571)the National Key R&D Program of China(2020YFA0608100)+1 种基金the Major Program of Institute of Applied Ecology,Chinese Academy of Sciences(IAEMP202201)Liaoning Provincial Science and Technology Major Project(2023JH1/10400001).
文摘A decline in tree growth has occurred in numerous regions over recent decades and is associated with enhanced water deficits driven by climate warming.This phenomenon may be more noticeable at lower latitudes with higher temperatures.However,the process by which these elevated temperatures alter growth performance is not well understood.In this study,by combining tree-ring data(including 340 increment cores)and remotely sensed vegetation index data,we investigated the long-term growth performance of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica Litv.(Mongolian pine),an important species for afforestation in northern China,in response to environmental factors in an area of introduction(lower latitude)and its native range(higher latitude).More notable decreases in both tree-ring width index(RWI)and basal area increment at breast height coincided with lower values and larger variations in the satellite-derived vegetation index in the area of introduction.The RWI showed stronger negative correlations with temperature and positive correlations with the self-calibrating Palmer drought severity index during most months in the introduction area.These results indicate that enhanced drought stress caused by elevated temperatures in lower latitudes might be a key factor for the growth decline in Mongolian pine plantations.The negative impact of increased temperatures on tree growth through exacerbating drought stress at lower latitudes with water deficit highlights the need to reduce water stress in forest management in such areas under climate warming-driven aridification.
基金Supported by The Korea Health Technology Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute,funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare,Republic of Korea,No.RS-2023-KH138802.
文摘BACKGROUND Mild cognitive impairment(MCI)and subjective cognitive decline(SCD)are risk indicators for dementia and require ongoing management.Traditional Korean medicine(TKM)commonly employs acupuncture and herbal medicine for cognitive impairment;yet,clinical research on acupotomy is lacking.Although most TKM treatments occur in primary care,the research is largely hospital-based.This registry was established to systematically collect real-world data on the clinical progress,efficacy,and safety of TKM with acupotomy for patients with MCI or SCD in primary care.It is hypothesized that TKM with acupotomy improves cognitive function and is safe for these patients.AIM To establish an MCI or SCD registry of patients receiving TKM,including acupotomy,to analyze its clinical efficacy and safety.METHODS This observational registry study will be conducted across 22 medical institutions;approximately 500 participants will be recruited.Data—sociodemographic information,medication history,height,weight,vital signs,and assessment questionnaires(Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean,short form of Korean-Everyday Cognition,Numeric Rating Scale,Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index)—will be collected at 3-month intervals over a year.This study will also document the TKM treatment administered and any adverse events.Routine TKM procedures will be followed,with acupuncture and acupotomy administered as per protocol;treatments including herbal medicine,Chuna therapy,and moxibustion may be administered at the practitioner’s discretion.RESULTS The registry will capture a wide range of real-world clinical data regarding demographic profiles,treatment processes,and adverse events.This detailed documentation is expected to clarify patient characteristics,evaluate the clinical course,and identify factors that may affect cognitive improvement in patients with MCI and SCD.CONCLUSION This research may provide evidence supporting acupotomy for cognitive impairment in primary care by confirming its efficacy and safety,providing preliminary evidence for TKM-based interventions aimed at improving cognitive function.
基金National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.32371871)。
文摘Warm-wet climatic conditions are widely regarded as conducive to remarkable tree growth,alleviating climatic pressures.However,the notable decline in tree growth observed in the southern edge of boreal forests has heightened concerns over the spatial-temporal dynamics of forest decline.Currently,attaining a comprehensive grasp of the underlying patterns and their propelling factors remains a formidable challenge.We collected tree ring samples from a network of 50 sites across the Greater Xing'an Mountains.These samples were subsequently grouped into two distinct clusters,designated as Groups A and B.The percentage change of growth(GC,%)and the proportion of declining sites were utilized to assess forest decline.The decline in tree growth within Larix gmelinii forests exhibits significant regional variation,accompanied by temporal fluctuations even within a given region.Group A exhibited a pronounced increase in frequency(59.26%)of occurrences and encountered more severe declines(21.65%)in tree growth subsequent to the 1990s,contrasting sharply with Group B,which observed lower frequencies(20.00%)and relatively less severe declines(21.02%)prior to the 1980s.The primary impetus underlying the opposite radial growth increments observed in Larix gmelinii trees from the interplay between their differential response to temperatures and wetter climatic conditions,which is significantly influenced by varying stand densities.In cold-dry conditions,low-density forests may experience soil water freezing,exacerbating drought conditions and thereby inhibiting tree growth,in Group B.Trees growth in high-density stands is restrained by warm-wet conditions,in Group A.These results provide new insights into the variability at the southern edge of the boreal forest biome with different responses to density and climate.
文摘Pre-reading 1.What did historians believe caused the decline of Easter Island’s population?2.How did the Rapa Nui people grow crops in a harsh environment?Easter Island,which is in the Pacific Ocean to the west of Chile,is famous for its giant stone statues.For a long time,historians believed that the people who once lived there destroyed their environment by using too many natural resources.As the island could support fewer people,the population dwindled.However,new research suggested that this probably wasn’t true.
基金supported by the Young Elite Scientist Sponsorship Program by Beijing Association for Science and Technology,China(No.BYESS2023262)the Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum(Beijing),China(No.2462022BJRC004).
文摘Current gas well decline analysis under boundary-dominated flow(BDF)is largely based on the Arps'empirical hyperbolic decline model and the analytical type curve tools associated with pseudo-functions.Due to the nonlinear flow behavior of natural gas,these analysis methods generally require iterative calculations.In this study,the dimensionless gas rate(qg/qgi)is introduced,and an explicit method to determine the average reservoir pressure and the original gas in place(OGIP)for a volumetric gas reservoir is proposed.We show that the dimensionless gas rate in the BDF is only the function of the gas PVT parameters and reservoir pressure.Step-by-step analysis procedures are presented that enable explicit and straightforward estimation of average reservoir pressure and OGIP by straight-line analysis.Compared with current techniques,this methodology avoids the iterative calculation of pseudo-time and pseudo-pressure functions,lowers the multiplicity of type curve analysis,and is applicable in different production situations(constant/variable gas flow rate,constant/variable bottom-hole pressure)with a broad range of applications and ease of use.Reservoir numerical simulation and field examples are thoroughly discussed to highlight the capabilities of the proposed approach.
基金supported by the Ministry of Education Chunhui Program Collaborative Scientific Research Projects(Grant No.:HZKY20220286)Henan Province Foreign Experts Introduction Program(Grant No.:HNGD2022021)+1 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province(Grant No.:23230042151)the Foundation of the National Key Program of Research and Development of China(Grant No.:2016YFC0900803)。
文摘Rapid population aging has led to an increased focus on age-related conditions such as sarcopenia.causing loss of muscle mass and strength^([1,2]). Sarcopenia is associated with adverse outcomes,including falls, functional decline, frailty, and mortality, which can lower the quality of life and shorten lifespan^([1,2]).
基金supported by the Shanghai New Three-year Action Plan for Public Health(Grant No.GWV-10.1-XK16)the US National Institute on Aging(RO1-AGO34479).
文摘In 2019,China had over 13.14 million dementia cases,with incidence rates of(56.47–207.08)/100,000[1].Early cognitive impairment—a key dementia symptom—reduces quality of life,increases care dependence,and lowers survival in older adults[2].A decline in physical function can also be observed in older adults with increasing age.Grip strength has been shown to be a marker of overall physiological function in older adults.
