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
The Earth’s magnetic declination,a key parameter of the geomagnetic field,has long provided a fundamental reference for navigation,orientation,and geospatial positioning.Owing to temporal and spatial variations in th...The Earth’s magnetic declination,a key parameter of the geomagnetic field,has long provided a fundamental reference for navigation,orientation,and geospatial positioning.Owing to temporal and spatial variations in the geomagnetic field,periodic model updates are essential for maintaining positional accuracy and geophysical consistency.This study modelled the spatiotemporal variability of magnetic declination across Nigeria over 15 years(2010-2025)to enhance geomagnetic referencing for sustainable navigation and mapping systems.The study employed a quantitative geoscientific methodology.The study integrated International Geomagnetic Reference Field(IGRF-14)Gauss coefficients using MATLAB programming to compute magnetic field elements and generate declination models at a 1:50,000 scale.Analytical outputs revealed significant regional variations,with the North-West,South-South,and South-East zones recording the highest declination changes of 2.40˚,2.10˚,and 2.00˚,respectively.Conversely,the North-Central,North-East,and South-West zones exhibited relatively lower variations of 0.70˚,1.20˚,and 1.70˚,respectively.A comparative assessment between declination values from the developed model and those derived from the global geomagnetic calculator revealed minimal discrepancies(−0.009480 to−0.001340),with root mean square errors ranging from 0.00470 to 0.00670.These findings underscore the importance of the magnitude of secular variations of magnetic declination across Nigeria.The variability of these values provides a veritable basis to support geospatial infrastructure development,accurate navigation,and calibration of inertial systems.Regular updates of isogonic maps and geomagnetic parameters are therefore recommended to strengthen national geospatial frameworks,enhance disaster preparedness,and promote SDG-aligned geoscience innovations that underpin resilient infrastructure and sustainable urban development.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
Astrocytes,a major class of glial cells,have emerged as crucial regulators of synaptic function,neuronal homeostasis,and cognitive processes(Cabral-Miranda et al.,2024).These star-shaped cells not only provide structu...Astrocytes,a major class of glial cells,have emerged as crucial regulators of synaptic function,neuronal homeostasis,and cognitive processes(Cabral-Miranda et al.,2024).These star-shaped cells not only provide structural and metabolic support to neurons but also actively participate in modulating synaptic transmission,neurovascular coupling,and inflammatory responses in the brain.展开更多
Acute lung injury(ALl)is characterized by a sudden decline in pulmonary gas exchange function due to various pathological factors,with severe cases progressing to acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).ARDS affects...Acute lung injury(ALl)is characterized by a sudden decline in pulmonary gas exchange function due to various pathological factors,with severe cases progressing to acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).ARDS affects approximately 3million patients annually,accounting for 10% of intensive care unit admissions[1].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
Background Cognitive decline is a significant concern for stroke survivors,affecting their quality of life and increasing their burden on the healthcare system.DL-3-n butylphthalide(butylphthalide)has shown efficacy i...Background Cognitive decline is a significant concern for stroke survivors,affecting their quality of life and increasing their burden on the healthcare system.DL-3-n butylphthalide(butylphthalide)has shown efficacy in the short-term treatment of various cognitive impairments.This study evaluated the efficacy of butylphthalide in preventing cognitive decline over a 12-month period in patients with ischaemic stroke.Methods This prospective following-up study involved patients newly diagnosed with ischaemic stroke between 1 month and 6 months after stroke onset and not in the acute phase.Patients were assigned to either the butylphthalide or control group.Cognitive function was assessed using the mini-mental state examination(MMSE)at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up.Statistical analyses included t-tests,χ2 tests and multivariate regression analyses.Results Butylphthalide was negatively associated with the MMSE D-value(β=−0.122;95%CI−1.932 to−0.298;p=0.003)and the MMSE D-value percentage(β=−0.117;95%CI−0.057 to−0.011;p=0.004).A multivariate analysis indicated that butylphthalide treatment was negatively associated with both changes in orientation and language score.Additionally,the incidence of cognitive decline was significantly lower in the butylphthalide group(OR,0.612;p=0.020)than the control group.An age of≥60 years and lower educational level were identified as risk factors for lower cognitive score and cognitive decline.Conclusion This study demonstrated that butylphthalide is effective in preventing cognitive decline in patients with ischaemic stroke.These findings have significant implications for clinical practice,suggesting that butylphthalide could be incorporated into standard post-stroke care regimens to improve patient outcomes and reduce the healthcare burden.Additional multicentre double-blind trials are recommended to confirm these results in diverse populations.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
Forest ecosystems are critical to ecological stability,yet their functionality is increasingly threatened by the growing frequency of drought,particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.While afforestation enhances for...Forest ecosystems are critical to ecological stability,yet their functionality is increasingly threatened by the growing frequency of drought,particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.While afforestation enhances forest cover in these areas,the capacity of planted forests to adapt to climate change is poorly understood.This study examines the drought resistance and adaptive capacity of planted and naturally growing Schrenk spruce(Picea schrenkiana Fisch.&C.A.Mey.)in the Ili River Basin,Xinjiang,China using tree-ring analysis.The results indicate that natural stands have a stronger correlation with meteorological factors than plantations.Over the past 50 years,significant growth declines occurred during 1995-1997,2007-2009,and 2012-2014,with natural forests showing a greater frequency and severity of declines compared to plantations.Planted stands demonstrated greater resistance to drought,whereas natural forests had higher resilience and recovery.Over time,natural forests have shown declining resistance to drought but increased resilience and recovery.Conversely,plantations showed declines in resistance and recovery but an increased capacity for recovery.Older natural forests are more prone to growth decline,while structurally simpler planted forests show stronger drought resistance.However,following periods of drought,natural forests demonstrated a stronger capacity for recovery.These findings provide valuable insights into the response of P.schrenkiana to climate change and offer support for the sustainable management and conservation of forest ecosystems in the Xinjiang region of China.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
Global climate change has caused range shifts and population declines in various species.However,causal evidence from manipulative studies,particularly for vertebrates,remains scarce.Prolonged temperature increases,a ...Global climate change has caused range shifts and population declines in various species.However,causal evidence from manipulative studies,particularly for vertebrates,remains scarce.Prolonged temperature increases,a direct consequence of climate change,pose significant challenges to species adaptation and survival.We examined the effects of prolonged temperature increases on reproduction,physiology,and behavior adaption in the greater long-tailed hamster using semi-natural enclosures where temperature was manipulated via plastic roofs and windows,creating a greenhouse effect without affecting rainfall.We analyzed data using grouped enclosures(low temperature,LT;high temperature,HT),which showed that prolonged temperature increases led to reduced reproductivity per capita during the breeding season.In addition,prolonged temperature increases reduced night-time activity in founder hamsters during overwintering,increased burrow depth during the breeding season,and raised testicular weights in founder males during the overwintering season.Our study provides experimental evidence that prolonged temperature increases negatively impact population growth of greater long-tailed hamsters by inducing temperature stress and impairing reproductive performance,highlighting the need to address heat stress in wildlife management under climate warming.展开更多
In the third quarter of 2025,the orders index for textile machinery-compiled by ACIMIT's Economics Department(the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers)-recorded a16%decrease compared to the same ...In the third quarter of 2025,the orders index for textile machinery-compiled by ACIMIT's Economics Department(the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers)-recorded a16%decrease compared to the same period in 2024.In absolute terms,the index stood at 41.8 points(base year2021=100).The decline reflects negative performances in both the domestic and foreign markets.Specifically,on the domestic market,orders fell by 17%compared to the same quarter of the previous year,with the absolute index value reaching49.9points.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
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
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
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.
文摘The Earth’s magnetic declination,a key parameter of the geomagnetic field,has long provided a fundamental reference for navigation,orientation,and geospatial positioning.Owing to temporal and spatial variations in the geomagnetic field,periodic model updates are essential for maintaining positional accuracy and geophysical consistency.This study modelled the spatiotemporal variability of magnetic declination across Nigeria over 15 years(2010-2025)to enhance geomagnetic referencing for sustainable navigation and mapping systems.The study employed a quantitative geoscientific methodology.The study integrated International Geomagnetic Reference Field(IGRF-14)Gauss coefficients using MATLAB programming to compute magnetic field elements and generate declination models at a 1:50,000 scale.Analytical outputs revealed significant regional variations,with the North-West,South-South,and South-East zones recording the highest declination changes of 2.40˚,2.10˚,and 2.00˚,respectively.Conversely,the North-Central,North-East,and South-West zones exhibited relatively lower variations of 0.70˚,1.20˚,and 1.70˚,respectively.A comparative assessment between declination values from the developed model and those derived from the global geomagnetic calculator revealed minimal discrepancies(−0.009480 to−0.001340),with root mean square errors ranging from 0.00470 to 0.00670.These findings underscore the importance of the magnitude of secular variations of magnetic declination across Nigeria.The variability of these values provides a veritable basis to support geospatial infrastructure development,accurate navigation,and calibration of inertial systems.Regular updates of isogonic maps and geomagnetic parameters are therefore recommended to strengthen national geospatial frameworks,enhance disaster preparedness,and promote SDG-aligned geoscience innovations that underpin resilient infrastructure and sustainable urban development.
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Astrocytes,a major class of glial cells,have emerged as crucial regulators of synaptic function,neuronal homeostasis,and cognitive processes(Cabral-Miranda et al.,2024).These star-shaped cells not only provide structural and metabolic support to neurons but also actively participate in modulating synaptic transmission,neurovascular coupling,and inflammatory responses in the brain.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foun-dation of China(81970011,81970070,82100086,and 82270390)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(2025AFC006)+2 种基金the research fund from Medical Sci-Tech Innovation Platform of Zhongnan Hospital,Wuhan University(PTXM2025032)the Basic Medicine-Clinical Medicine Transformation Collaborative Fund of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University,the Hubei Province Inno-vation Platform Construction Project(20204201117303072238)the Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Model Animal.
文摘Acute lung injury(ALl)is characterized by a sudden decline in pulmonary gas exchange function due to various pathological factors,with severe cases progressing to acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).ARDS affects approximately 3million patients annually,accounting for 10% of intensive care unit admissions[1].
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funded by Tianjin Municipal Health Commission(TJWJ2023QN115)。
文摘Background Cognitive decline is a significant concern for stroke survivors,affecting their quality of life and increasing their burden on the healthcare system.DL-3-n butylphthalide(butylphthalide)has shown efficacy in the short-term treatment of various cognitive impairments.This study evaluated the efficacy of butylphthalide in preventing cognitive decline over a 12-month period in patients with ischaemic stroke.Methods This prospective following-up study involved patients newly diagnosed with ischaemic stroke between 1 month and 6 months after stroke onset and not in the acute phase.Patients were assigned to either the butylphthalide or control group.Cognitive function was assessed using the mini-mental state examination(MMSE)at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up.Statistical analyses included t-tests,χ2 tests and multivariate regression analyses.Results Butylphthalide was negatively associated with the MMSE D-value(β=−0.122;95%CI−1.932 to−0.298;p=0.003)and the MMSE D-value percentage(β=−0.117;95%CI−0.057 to−0.011;p=0.004).A multivariate analysis indicated that butylphthalide treatment was negatively associated with both changes in orientation and language score.Additionally,the incidence of cognitive decline was significantly lower in the butylphthalide group(OR,0.612;p=0.020)than the control group.An age of≥60 years and lower educational level were identified as risk factors for lower cognitive score and cognitive decline.Conclusion This study demonstrated that butylphthalide is effective in preventing cognitive decline in patients with ischaemic stroke.These findings have significant implications for clinical practice,suggesting that butylphthalide could be incorporated into standard post-stroke care regimens to improve patient outcomes and reduce the healthcare burden.Additional multicentre double-blind trials are recommended to confirm these results in diverse populations.
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.
基金supported by the Tianshan Talent Program of Xinjiang(2022TSYCCX0003,2024TSYCCX0041)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42375054)+1 种基金the Desert Meteorological Science Research Foundation of China(Sqj2021018)the Young Meteorological Talent Program of China Meteorological Administration and Youth Innovation Team of China Meteorological Administration(CMA2023QN08)。
文摘Forest ecosystems are critical to ecological stability,yet their functionality is increasingly threatened by the growing frequency of drought,particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.While afforestation enhances forest cover in these areas,the capacity of planted forests to adapt to climate change is poorly understood.This study examines the drought resistance and adaptive capacity of planted and naturally growing Schrenk spruce(Picea schrenkiana Fisch.&C.A.Mey.)in the Ili River Basin,Xinjiang,China using tree-ring analysis.The results indicate that natural stands have a stronger correlation with meteorological factors than plantations.Over the past 50 years,significant growth declines occurred during 1995-1997,2007-2009,and 2012-2014,with natural forests showing a greater frequency and severity of declines compared to plantations.Planted stands demonstrated greater resistance to drought,whereas natural forests had higher resilience and recovery.Over time,natural forests have shown declining resistance to drought but increased resilience and recovery.Conversely,plantations showed declines in resistance and recovery but an increased capacity for recovery.Older natural forests are more prone to growth decline,while structurally simpler planted forests show stronger drought resistance.However,following periods of drought,natural forests demonstrated a stronger capacity for recovery.These findings provide valuable insights into the response of P.schrenkiana to climate change and offer support for the sustainable management and conservation of forest ecosystems in the Xinjiang region of China.
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.
基金supported by the following grants:Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant 32090021)Young Scientists Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant 32101259)+1 种基金Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST and ISZS(2020-2022QNRC001,ISZS-YESS Program)Chinese Academy of Science projects(Grant ANSO-CR-KP-2020-08).
文摘Global climate change has caused range shifts and population declines in various species.However,causal evidence from manipulative studies,particularly for vertebrates,remains scarce.Prolonged temperature increases,a direct consequence of climate change,pose significant challenges to species adaptation and survival.We examined the effects of prolonged temperature increases on reproduction,physiology,and behavior adaption in the greater long-tailed hamster using semi-natural enclosures where temperature was manipulated via plastic roofs and windows,creating a greenhouse effect without affecting rainfall.We analyzed data using grouped enclosures(low temperature,LT;high temperature,HT),which showed that prolonged temperature increases led to reduced reproductivity per capita during the breeding season.In addition,prolonged temperature increases reduced night-time activity in founder hamsters during overwintering,increased burrow depth during the breeding season,and raised testicular weights in founder males during the overwintering season.Our study provides experimental evidence that prolonged temperature increases negatively impact population growth of greater long-tailed hamsters by inducing temperature stress and impairing reproductive performance,highlighting the need to address heat stress in wildlife management under climate warming.
文摘In the third quarter of 2025,the orders index for textile machinery-compiled by ACIMIT's Economics Department(the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers)-recorded a16%decrease compared to the same period in 2024.In absolute terms,the index stood at 41.8 points(base year2021=100).The decline reflects negative performances in both the domestic and foreign markets.Specifically,on the domestic market,orders fell by 17%compared to the same quarter of the previous year,with the absolute index value reaching49.9points.
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.
