This study investigates the facies development and sedimentology of the Late Permian Chhidru Formation,a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic unit exposed in the Western Salt Range,Potwar Basin,Pakistan.The formation is subd...This study investigates the facies development and sedimentology of the Late Permian Chhidru Formation,a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic unit exposed in the Western Salt Range,Potwar Basin,Pakistan.The formation is subdivided into four lithological units reflecting lateral variability,with thicknesses and lithologies ranging from fossiliferous sandy limestone to interbedded limestone and sandstone.These successions record a depositional shift from a carbonate platform to mixed carbonate-clastic,and ultimately,clastic-dominated environments.Lithostratigraphy suggests deposition on the underlying Wargal Limestone carbonates during a Late Permian sea-level fall on the northwest Indian margin of Gondwana.Similar Permian successions with identical lithological characteristics are documented in the Persian Gulf(Dalan Formation),Arabian Platform(Khuff Formation),and Iran(Nesen and Hambust formations).Petrographic analysis reveals deposition in the distal middle to proximal inner shelf settings of a carbonate-siliciclastic mixed,unrimmed platform.Based on identified foraminiferal assemblages,the Chhidru Formation's age is estimated to range from the late Wuchiapingian to Changhsingian stages of the Lopingian epoch.展开更多
The dynamic behaviors of supercooled large water droplets(SLDs)in airflow involving deformation,breakup,and splash affect the local water collection coefficient,leading to an increase in the complexity of aircraft ici...The dynamic behaviors of supercooled large water droplets(SLDs)in airflow involving deformation,breakup,and splash affect the local water collection coefficient,leading to an increase in the complexity of aircraft icing.A parametric study on the influence of deformed water droplets in shear flow is investigated experimentally and numerically.A horizontal refrigerated wind tunnel is used to create the background shear airflow.A high-speed camera records the evolution of cross-stream/streamwise diameters and the breakup process.The level set method is employed to capture the deformation of micrometer-sized supercooled water droplets in continuous airflow.The deformation modes are categorized into five regimes:stabilization,vibration,transition,bag breakup,and bag-stamen breakup.A dimensionless deformation factor L is defined to describe the droplet deformation,which increases with airflow speed,droplet volume,and temperature.Applying the scaling expression Oh~(4.39)We~(0.85),a normalized acceleration model of water droplets in shear airflow is established.Based on the experimental results,a drag coefficient model for disc-shaped droplets within the transient Reynolds number range of 420-10000 is obtained.As the initial Weber number exceeds 9.5 and the maximum deformation factor exceeds 3.5,the droplet enters the breakup regime.Furthermore,bag-stamen breakup occurs when the initial Weber number exceeds 17.5.展开更多
High temperature stress (HT) significantly reduces maize yield by impairing starch accumulation in kernels.However,the mechanism by which HT affects starch synthesis remains controversial-whether through reduced assim...High temperature stress (HT) significantly reduces maize yield by impairing starch accumulation in kernels.However,the mechanism by which HT affects starch synthesis remains controversial-whether through reduced assimilate supply or direct inhibition on kernel metabolism.To clarify these mechanisms,a heat-sensitive maize hybrid,Xianyu 335 (XY),was exposed to 30℃/20℃ (maximum/minimum temperature,control) and 40℃/30℃ for seven consecutive days during the seed setting stage.Synchronous pollination (SP),apical pollination (AP),and shading treatments were applied to manipulate the inherent source–sink ratio in maize plants.Results showed that apical kernel weight decreased by 11.9%under 40℃ in the SP treatment.The ^(13)C content,starch accumulation,and cell-wall invertase (CWIN) activity also declined by 15.9,36.7,and 16.4%,respectively,under HT.In the shading treatment,40℃/30℃ caused even greater reductions in^(13)C content,starch accumulation,and CWIN activity due to diminished assimilate supply.Conversely,in the AP treatment,starch content and CWIN activity increased by 22.0 and 18.5%,respectively,under 40℃/30℃,resulting in kernel weight and ^(13)C content similar to those in SP and shading treatments regardless of temperature.Consistent with apical kernels under AP,HT did not negatively affect middle kernels in either SP or shading treatments,as kernel weight and starch content remained unchanged under HT.Although all kernels were exposed to the same HT or control environment,their responses varied a lot.The impaired starch synthesis in apical kernels under HT was rescued by increasing carbon supply via AP treatment.The contrasting performance among middle kernels,apical kernels under AP,and apical kernels under SP or shading indicates that reduced carbon supply is a critical factor underlying inhibited starch accumulation.Our findings provide a theoretical basis for further understanding kernel abortion under HT.展开更多
Background:Receptor-interacting protein kinases(RIPKs)regulate cell death,inflammation,and immune responses,yet their roles in cancer are not fully understood.This study investigates the expression,genomic alterations...Background:Receptor-interacting protein kinases(RIPKs)regulate cell death,inflammation,and immune responses,yet their roles in cancer are not fully understood.This study investigates the expression,genomic alterations,and functional implications of RIPK family members across various cancers.Methods:We collected multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and other public databases,including gene expression,copy number variation(CNV),mutation,methylation,tumor mutation burden(TMB),and microsatellite instability(MSI).Differential expression and survival analyses were performed using DESeq2 and Cox proportional hazards models.CNV and mutation data were analyzed with GISTIC2 and Mutect2,and methylation data with the ChAMP package.Correlations with TMB and MSI were assessed using Pearson coefficients,and gene set enrichment analysis was conducted with the MSigDB Hallmark gene sets.Results:RIPK family members show significant differential expression in various cancers,with RIPK1 and RIPK4 frequently altered.Survival analysis reveals heterogeneous impacts on overall survival.CNV and mutation analyses identify high alteration frequencies for RIPK2 and RIPK7,affecting gene expression.RIPK1 and RIPK7 are hypermethylated in several cancers,inversely correlating with RIPK3 expression.RIPK1,RIPK2,RIPK5,RIPK6,and RIPK7 correlate positively with TMB,while RIPK3 shows negative correlations in some cancers.MSI analysis indicates associations with DNA mismatch repair.G ene set enrichment analysis highlights immune-related pathway enrichment for RIPK1,RIPK2,RIPK3,and RIPK6,and cell proliferation and DNA repair pathways for RIPK4 and RIPK5.RIPK family members showed heterogeneous alterations across cancers:for example,RIPK7 was mutated in up to~15%of u terine c orpus e ndometrial c arcinoma and l ung s quamous c ell c arcinoma cases,and RIPK1 and RIPK7 exhibited frequent promoter hypermethylation in multiple tumor types.Several genes displayed context-dependent associations with overall survival and with TMB/MSI.Conclusion:This pan-cancer analysis of the RIPK family reveals their diverse roles and potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.The findings emphasize the importance of RIPK genes in tumorigenesis and suggest context-dependent functions across cancer types.Further studies are needed to explore their mechanisms in cancer development and clinical applications.展开更多
The soft actuator is characterized by high safety,flexibility,and adaptability.It is capable of both active and passive defor-mations.This paper presents a discrete degree of freedom(DOF)method for soft actuators to r...The soft actuator is characterized by high safety,flexibility,and adaptability.It is capable of both active and passive defor-mations.This paper presents a discrete degree of freedom(DOF)method for soft actuators to reveal DOF characteristics.The method draws on the superposition mechanism of the deformation characteristics of the sarcomere in the skeletal muscles of living organisms.Firstly,the multi-DOF deformation characteristics of the soft actuator are discretized into superimposed combinations of single-DOF micro-units.Then,the soft actuator was determined to contain deformation characteristics such as extension-contraction,bending,and twisting.Eighteen types of micro-units with basic deforma-tion characteristics were obtained depending on the axis and orientation.Further,the mapping relationship between the combination of micro-units and the motion characteristics of the soft actuator based on the GF set theory was established.Finally,an active-passive DOF co-structured soft actuator(APCSA)was developed.The graphical approach analyzes the experimental results,and it can be concluded that active and passive DOFs can coexist in the composite deformation of the soft actuator.展开更多
The Shenshan Group provides important geological information which is vital in unraveling the amalgamation and subsequent rifting processes of South China.While conventional studies have asserted its formation in a su...The Shenshan Group provides important geological information which is vital in unraveling the amalgamation and subsequent rifting processes of South China.While conventional studies have asserted its formation in a subduction setting,the distinct investigation reveals the necessity for reassessment.To address this,the authors employ integrated methods encompassing petrological,zircon U-Pb geochronological,Lu-Hf isotopic and geochemical methods for sedimentary rocks from the upper Shenshan subgroup and Banxi Group.The geochemical results indicate that they were formed through the recycling deposition of intermediate-acidic igneous source material and experienced moderate chemical weathering.Additionally,both sedimentary sequences exhibit characteristics consistent with those formed in an intracontinental extensional rift setting since ca.810 Ma.The provenance analysis indicates that the upper Shenshan subgroup primarily originates from the Yangtze Domain,while the Banxi Group from both the Yangtze and Cathaysia domains.Synthesizing with previous studies,the Shenshan Group should be subdivided into the lower and upper subgroups which represent distinct tectonic backgrounds.The lower subgroup is inferred to have formed in an Early Neoproterozoic fore-arc setting,akin to the Zhoutan group.The upper subgroup corresponds to the Banxi Group,representing the Middle Neoproterozoic postorogenic rift setting,responding to the breakup of Rodinia.展开更多
This study identified castor oil and phosphate ester as effective retarders through setting time,tensile,and flexural tests,and determined their optimal dosages.The mechanism by which phosphate ester affects the setti...This study identified castor oil and phosphate ester as effective retarders through setting time,tensile,and flexural tests,and determined their optimal dosages.The mechanism by which phosphate ester affects the setting time of polyurethane was further investigated using molecular dynamics simulations.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was also employed to systematically study the physical and chemical interactions between phosphate esters and polyurethane materials.The results demonstrate that a 1%concentration of phosphate ester provides the most effective retarding effect with minimal impact on the strength of polyurethane.When phosphate ester is added to the B component of the two-component polyurethane system,its interaction energy with component A decreases,as do the diffusion coefficient and aggregation degree of component B on the surface of component A.This reduction in interaction slows the setting time.Additionally,the addition of phosphate ester to polyurethane leads to the disappearance or weakening of functional groups,indicating competitive interactions within the phosphate ester components that inhibit the reaction rate.展开更多
The sedimentary geochemistry of St.Martin’s Island is important to determine the origin of the source rock,paleo weathering,tectonic setting,sediment recycling,maturity,sorting,redox condition,and paleo salinity of t...The sedimentary geochemistry of St.Martin’s Island is important to determine the origin of the source rock,paleo weathering,tectonic setting,sediment recycling,maturity,sorting,redox condition,and paleo salinity of the sediments.Major oxides,trace elements,and rare earth elements(REEs)obtained from the INAA technique are presented by analyzing the sediment samples collected from the shoreline of St.Martin’s Island,Bangladesh.The elemental ratios,comparison with average upper continental crust(UCC),binary diagrams(Th/Sc vs.Sc,La/Th vs.Hf,Th/Co vs.La/Sc),and chondrite normalized REE patterns exhibit substantial LREE enrichment,relatively fl at HREE fractionation,considerable negative Eu anomalies(average:0.72),indicates the derivation from a source dominated by felsic rock,with contribution from intermediate source and mafi c component.Sediments from St.Martin’s Island exhibit the deposition of sediments in transitional environments of active and passive continental margin settings.Weathering indices value of CIA,PIA,CIW,CIX,and K 2 O/Rb ratio show moderate chemical weathering,indicating that the sediments are chemically mature.Sedimentary redox indicative proxies,such as U/Th,V/Cr,and V/Sc,show an oxic depositional environment during sediment deposition.The intermediate CIA and other weathering index values of the St.Martin’s sediments show that the area had semiarid and humid climatic conditions throughout the deposition.The Rb/K ratio of the St.Martin’s sediments suggests that the development and deposition of the sedimentary sequence of St.Martin’s Island mainly occurred in a brackish water environment during the geological past.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To explore the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with atlantoaxial joint bone-setting therapy for the treatment of Tourette syndrome.METHODS:We randomly divided 600 patients at a ratio of 1∶1∶1 i...OBJECTIVE:To explore the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with atlantoaxial joint bone-setting therapy for the treatment of Tourette syndrome.METHODS:We randomly divided 600 patients at a ratio of 1∶1∶1 into three groups:group A(acupuncture combined with atlantoaxial joint bone setting therapy group),group B(acupuncture group),and group C(tiapride group).After two months of treatment,the Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)score reduction,improvement in social function impairment,clinical efficacy,and long-term efficacy in the three groups were compared.RESULTS:After treatment,in the analysis of YGTSS score reduction,social function impairment improvement,the clinical control rate,and long-term efficacy,the results were all Group A>Group B>Group C,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).However,the total clinical efficacy of treatment in group A(94.9%)was not significantly different from that in group B(91.8%).Adverse reactions did not occur in groups A and B,and several adverse reactions occurred in 29%(n=58)of the group C patients.CONCLUSION:Compared with traditional drug therapy,acupuncture combined with atlantoaxial joint bone setting therapy has better clinical and long-term efficacy.This treatment strategy can improve the social function of children and prevent adverse reactions to drugs.展开更多
Let X be a closed simply connected rationally elliptic 4-manifold.The rational homotopy type of homotopy fixed point sets X^(hS^(1))is determined,and based on some relations between X^(hS^(1))and X^(S^(1)),the rationa...Let X be a closed simply connected rationally elliptic 4-manifold.The rational homotopy type of homotopy fixed point sets X^(hS^(1))is determined,and based on some relations between X^(hS^(1))and X^(S^(1)),the rational homotopy type of the fixed point set X^(S^(1))is determined.展开更多
Background:Nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 2(NSD2)is a histone methyltrans-ferase,that catalyzes dimethylation of lysine 36 of histone 3(H3K36me2)and is asso-ciated with active transcription of a series of genes.N...Background:Nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 2(NSD2)is a histone methyltrans-ferase,that catalyzes dimethylation of lysine 36 of histone 3(H3K36me2)and is asso-ciated with active transcription of a series of genes.NSD2 is overexpressed in multiple types of solid human tumors and has been proven to be related to unfavorable prog-nosis in several types of tumors.Methods:We established a mouse model in which the NSD2 gene was conditionally knocked out in intestinal epithelial cells.We used azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate to chemically induce murine colorectal cancer.The development of colorectal tumors were investigated using post-necropsy quantification,immunohistochemistry,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results:Compared with wild-type(WT)control mice,NSD2^(fl/fl)-Vil1-Cre mice exhib-ited significantly decreased tumor numbers,histopathological changes,and cytokine expression in colorectal tumors.Conclusions:Conditional knockout of NSD2 in intestinal epithelial cells significantly inhibits colorectal cancer progression.展开更多
Background: Unsafe abortion (USA) is defined as the termination of a non-desired pregnancy, performed by an unqualified person or in an environment without minimum medical standards, or both. It can impact negatively ...Background: Unsafe abortion (USA) is defined as the termination of a non-desired pregnancy, performed by an unqualified person or in an environment without minimum medical standards, or both. It can impact negatively the fertility in the future by tubo-peritoneal lesions. The current study aimed to highlight the infertility factors associated with USA. Material and Methods: From January 1st 2000 to December 31st 2021, a total of 3876 patients that sought care for infertility in the University Clinic of Kinshasa and the Edith Medical Center were enrolled. The socio-demographic, clinical and paraclinical variables were recorded and analyzed in relation to USA history. Results: The patients’ average age was 33.4 ± 5.7 years. Half of them were housewives;about sixty percent of the patients were nulliparous (59.31%). Seventy percent had a secondary infertility with 43.33% having a history of unsafe abortion. The main diagnosis was genital infections and uterus myoma. The chronic endometritis, bilateral tubal occlusion and Uterine synechiae were more associated with USA group. The spermogram anomalies and other partners’ lesions seemed of infectious origin. Conclusion: The USA remains a more frequent phenomenon in our setting. The chronic endometritis, bilateral tubal occlusion, uterine synechiae and indirectly uterus myoma were the infertility factors related to USA. The genital infection of any origin seems to be the main denominator underlying the female and the male infertility in our setting.展开更多
This paper introduces fuzzy N-bipolar soft(FN-BS)sets,a novel mathematical framework designed to enhance multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)processes under uncertainty.The study addresses a significant limitation in ...This paper introduces fuzzy N-bipolar soft(FN-BS)sets,a novel mathematical framework designed to enhance multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)processes under uncertainty.The study addresses a significant limitation in existing models by unifying fuzzy logic,the consideration of bipolarity,and the ability to evaluate attributes on a multinary scale.The specific contributions of the FN-BS framework include:(1)a formal definition and settheoretic foundation,(2)the development of two innovative algorithms for solving decision-making(DM)problems,and(3)a comparative analysis demonstrating its superiority over established models.The proposed framework is applied to a real-world case study on selecting vaccination programs across multiple countries,showcasing consistent DM outcomes and exceptional adaptability to complex and uncertain scenarios.These results position FN-BS sets as a versatile and powerful tool for addressing dynamic DM challenges.展开更多
Dear Editor,I am responding to Zou and Li's,The missing perilymph sign on MRI indicates a perilymphatic fistula:A case report Zou J,Li H.Journal of Otology,2025, 20(1):1-4.https://doi.org/10.26599/JOTO.2025.954000...Dear Editor,I am responding to Zou and Li's,The missing perilymph sign on MRI indicates a perilymphatic fistula:A case report Zou J,Li H.Journal of Otology,2025, 20(1):1-4.https://doi.org/10.26599/JOTO.2025.9540001 proposing the"missing perilymph"sign on MRI as a novel radiological indicator of perilymphatic fistula(PLF).This study adds to the growing body of work seeking objective,non-invasive diagnostic methods for PLF,a condition that has long eluded definitive radiological confirmation.The avoidance of gadolinium contrast in the imaging technique is an additional strength,given increasing awareness of gadoliniumassociated risks (Starekova et al.,2024).展开更多
Objectives:To compare the frequency of passing scores of nursing students participating in objective structured clinical examination(OSCE)by 4 methods of fixed score,Angoff,yes/no Angoff,and 3-level Angoff.The OSCE is...Objectives:To compare the frequency of passing scores of nursing students participating in objective structured clinical examination(OSCE)by 4 methods of fixed score,Angoff,yes/no Angoff,and 3-level Angoff.The OSCE is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the competency of nursing students.To have a fair judgment in OSCE,it is important to determine the standard setting.Methods:In this descriptive-analytical study,which was conducted in 2022,the 7-station OSCE scores and the passing rates of students were compared based on fixed score,Angoff,yes/no Angoff,and the 3-level Angoff by a panel of experts.The research population included nursing teachers(n=13)and nursing students(n=65).Due to the small number of participants,the number of samples in each of these 2 groups was equal to the total number of people in the research population.Results:Findings revealed that of the 13 nursing teachers who participated in the study,the majority were female and had a master’s degree.Among the 65 students taking part in OSCE,the majority were males.Results showed that the passing rate varied depending on the type of OSCE station and the standard-setting methods used.Differences in some cases were statistically significant(P<0.001).Conclusions:Findings suggest that the frequency of passing can vary depending on the method used.It is advisable to consider the average score from multiple methods to accurately determine the passing rate and achieve a more accurate acceptance rate.展开更多
Dear Editor,I am writing in response to Jamil's letter,"Interpretative Challenges of the Missing Perilymph'Sign in PLF Diagnosis."I concur with the author's emphasis on the necessity for cautious...Dear Editor,I am writing in response to Jamil's letter,"Interpretative Challenges of the Missing Perilymph'Sign in PLF Diagnosis."I concur with the author's emphasis on the necessity for cautious interpretation of low-signal areas as evidence of active perilymph leakage,requiring correlation with clinical findings,surgical confirmation,and longitudinal imaging changes.展开更多
Separation between water and land is vital for marine scientific research and coastal zone planning and management.The contrasting backscatter properties of land and ocean enable clear water edge line identification i...Separation between water and land is vital for marine scientific research and coastal zone planning and management.The contrasting backscatter properties of land and ocean enable clear water edge line identification in synthetic aperture radar(SAR)imagery.However,SAR images are prone to speckle noise,and the complexity of the water-land boundaries environment makes accurate water-land separation challenging.To overcome noise and complex background interference in remote sensing images,an improved level set method was employed to enhance water-land separation.In the traditional distance regularized level set method,the selection of the image correlation weight coefficient and the edge indicator function directly influences the accuracy of the final segmentation results.A novel level set segmentation algorithm incorporating an improved edge indicator function is proposed to efficiently and accurately separate the water edge lines in SAR images.The distance regularized level set evolution model is enhanced by incorporating the signed pressure force function as an adaptive parameter,which serves as an external constraint for curve evolution.A novel level set model with an adaptive edge indicator function,combining gradient and regional information,is proposed.Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model enhances the accuracy of waterland separation in SAR images.However,further research is needed to evaluate its potential for detecting boundaries in diverse marine environments and across different types of SAR imagery.展开更多
The extra-peninsular Gondwana Group rocks are exposed in narrow patches within the Lesser Himalayan sequence of the NE-Arunachal Himalayas,India.The bulk of sediments for the sandstones of the Gondwana Group were deri...The extra-peninsular Gondwana Group rocks are exposed in narrow patches within the Lesser Himalayan sequence of the NE-Arunachal Himalayas,India.The bulk of sediments for the sandstones of the Gondwana Group were derived from felsic/acidic to intermediate igneous rocks,with minor mafic input from the upper continental crust(UCC),as supported by various discrimination diagrams based on quantification of detrital minerals coupled with sandstone geochemistry.The inputs from metamorphic sources in subordinate amounts cannot be ruled out,as indicated by quantification of the quartz varieties.These sediments were found to be sourced from the interior part of a craton or shield and recycled platformal sediments which were derived from both passive and active margin settings.The sediments experienced a wide variance in climatic conditions,from arid to humid,suffering low-moderate-inten-sity weathering(CIA:63.43;CIW:86.18;WIP:44.84;PIA:75.37;ICV:2.39;C-value:0.42;PF:0.49;Sr/Cu:9.23 and Rb/Sr:1.68)within the vicinity of the low plains to moderate hills.Additionally,redox-sensitive elements indicate the deposition of sediments under oxygenated or oxygen-rich conditions(U_(au):−2.91;Th/U:7.37;U/Th:0.18;V/Cr:1.71;δU:0.67 and Ce/Ce^(*):0.93).展开更多
Elemental concentrations of the siliciclastic sediments from a sedimentary basin provide clues on paleo-weathering,paleoclimate,provenance,and tectonic setting of the basin.Records for Permo-Triassic mass extinction a...Elemental concentrations of the siliciclastic sediments from a sedimentary basin provide clues on paleo-weathering,paleoclimate,provenance,and tectonic setting of the basin.Records for Permo-Triassic mass extinction and climatic fluctuations are commonly traced from the sediments in the Gondwana basins.Nevertheless,our understanding on sedimentation,provenance,and regional tectonics of the Raniganj Basin,a Gondwana basin in the eastern India is poor.Minerals including clay particles and major and trace element concentrations of the siliciclastic sediments from different formations of the Raniganj Basin have been studied to establish the paleo-weathering,paleoclimate,provenance,and tectonic settings of the basin.This study suggests that the Talchir Formation experienced cold and dry climatic conditions at the sediment source area,while the Barakar,Raniganj,and Panchet formations had prevailing semiarid climates.The sources of the siliciclastic sediments are from the felsic rocks of the Chotanagpur Granite Gneissic Complex(CGGC).Further,the geochemical results suggest a rift-like(passive)tectonic setting for the Raniganj Basin,while few samples represent the collision tectonic setting of the basement CGGC,formed due to collision of major Indian blocks during the Paleo-Neoproterozoic time.展开更多
基金Dr.Stergios D.Zarkogiannis would like to acknowledge UK Research and Innovation Grant(SODIOM)EP/Y004221/1 in supporting the research reported here.
文摘This study investigates the facies development and sedimentology of the Late Permian Chhidru Formation,a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic unit exposed in the Western Salt Range,Potwar Basin,Pakistan.The formation is subdivided into four lithological units reflecting lateral variability,with thicknesses and lithologies ranging from fossiliferous sandy limestone to interbedded limestone and sandstone.These successions record a depositional shift from a carbonate platform to mixed carbonate-clastic,and ultimately,clastic-dominated environments.Lithostratigraphy suggests deposition on the underlying Wargal Limestone carbonates during a Late Permian sea-level fall on the northwest Indian margin of Gondwana.Similar Permian successions with identical lithological characteristics are documented in the Persian Gulf(Dalan Formation),Arabian Platform(Khuff Formation),and Iran(Nesen and Hambust formations).Petrographic analysis reveals deposition in the distal middle to proximal inner shelf settings of a carbonate-siliciclastic mixed,unrimmed platform.Based on identified foraminiferal assemblages,the Chhidru Formation's age is estimated to range from the late Wuchiapingian to Changhsingian stages of the Lopingian epoch.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12227802)。
文摘The dynamic behaviors of supercooled large water droplets(SLDs)in airflow involving deformation,breakup,and splash affect the local water collection coefficient,leading to an increase in the complexity of aircraft icing.A parametric study on the influence of deformed water droplets in shear flow is investigated experimentally and numerically.A horizontal refrigerated wind tunnel is used to create the background shear airflow.A high-speed camera records the evolution of cross-stream/streamwise diameters and the breakup process.The level set method is employed to capture the deformation of micrometer-sized supercooled water droplets in continuous airflow.The deformation modes are categorized into five regimes:stabilization,vibration,transition,bag breakup,and bag-stamen breakup.A dimensionless deformation factor L is defined to describe the droplet deformation,which increases with airflow speed,droplet volume,and temperature.Applying the scaling expression Oh~(4.39)We~(0.85),a normalized acceleration model of water droplets in shear airflow is established.Based on the experimental results,a drag coefficient model for disc-shaped droplets within the transient Reynolds number range of 420-10000 is obtained.As the initial Weber number exceeds 9.5 and the maximum deformation factor exceeds 3.5,the droplet enters the breakup regime.Furthermore,bag-stamen breakup occurs when the initial Weber number exceeds 17.5.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32071978)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD2300901 and 2022YFD2300905)。
文摘High temperature stress (HT) significantly reduces maize yield by impairing starch accumulation in kernels.However,the mechanism by which HT affects starch synthesis remains controversial-whether through reduced assimilate supply or direct inhibition on kernel metabolism.To clarify these mechanisms,a heat-sensitive maize hybrid,Xianyu 335 (XY),was exposed to 30℃/20℃ (maximum/minimum temperature,control) and 40℃/30℃ for seven consecutive days during the seed setting stage.Synchronous pollination (SP),apical pollination (AP),and shading treatments were applied to manipulate the inherent source–sink ratio in maize plants.Results showed that apical kernel weight decreased by 11.9%under 40℃ in the SP treatment.The ^(13)C content,starch accumulation,and cell-wall invertase (CWIN) activity also declined by 15.9,36.7,and 16.4%,respectively,under HT.In the shading treatment,40℃/30℃ caused even greater reductions in^(13)C content,starch accumulation,and CWIN activity due to diminished assimilate supply.Conversely,in the AP treatment,starch content and CWIN activity increased by 22.0 and 18.5%,respectively,under 40℃/30℃,resulting in kernel weight and ^(13)C content similar to those in SP and shading treatments regardless of temperature.Consistent with apical kernels under AP,HT did not negatively affect middle kernels in either SP or shading treatments,as kernel weight and starch content remained unchanged under HT.Although all kernels were exposed to the same HT or control environment,their responses varied a lot.The impaired starch synthesis in apical kernels under HT was rescued by increasing carbon supply via AP treatment.The contrasting performance among middle kernels,apical kernels under AP,and apical kernels under SP or shading indicates that reduced carbon supply is a critical factor underlying inhibited starch accumulation.Our findings provide a theoretical basis for further understanding kernel abortion under HT.
基金supported by grants from the Tianjin Health Technology Project(Grant no.2022QN106).
文摘Background:Receptor-interacting protein kinases(RIPKs)regulate cell death,inflammation,and immune responses,yet their roles in cancer are not fully understood.This study investigates the expression,genomic alterations,and functional implications of RIPK family members across various cancers.Methods:We collected multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and other public databases,including gene expression,copy number variation(CNV),mutation,methylation,tumor mutation burden(TMB),and microsatellite instability(MSI).Differential expression and survival analyses were performed using DESeq2 and Cox proportional hazards models.CNV and mutation data were analyzed with GISTIC2 and Mutect2,and methylation data with the ChAMP package.Correlations with TMB and MSI were assessed using Pearson coefficients,and gene set enrichment analysis was conducted with the MSigDB Hallmark gene sets.Results:RIPK family members show significant differential expression in various cancers,with RIPK1 and RIPK4 frequently altered.Survival analysis reveals heterogeneous impacts on overall survival.CNV and mutation analyses identify high alteration frequencies for RIPK2 and RIPK7,affecting gene expression.RIPK1 and RIPK7 are hypermethylated in several cancers,inversely correlating with RIPK3 expression.RIPK1,RIPK2,RIPK5,RIPK6,and RIPK7 correlate positively with TMB,while RIPK3 shows negative correlations in some cancers.MSI analysis indicates associations with DNA mismatch repair.G ene set enrichment analysis highlights immune-related pathway enrichment for RIPK1,RIPK2,RIPK3,and RIPK6,and cell proliferation and DNA repair pathways for RIPK4 and RIPK5.RIPK family members showed heterogeneous alterations across cancers:for example,RIPK7 was mutated in up to~15%of u terine c orpus e ndometrial c arcinoma and l ung s quamous c ell c arcinoma cases,and RIPK1 and RIPK7 exhibited frequent promoter hypermethylation in multiple tumor types.Several genes displayed context-dependent associations with overall survival and with TMB/MSI.Conclusion:This pan-cancer analysis of the RIPK family reveals their diverse roles and potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.The findings emphasize the importance of RIPK genes in tumorigenesis and suggest context-dependent functions across cancer types.Further studies are needed to explore their mechanisms in cancer development and clinical applications.
基金The Central Government Guides Local Foundation for Science and Technology Development(Grant No.YDZJSX2024B004).
文摘The soft actuator is characterized by high safety,flexibility,and adaptability.It is capable of both active and passive defor-mations.This paper presents a discrete degree of freedom(DOF)method for soft actuators to reveal DOF characteristics.The method draws on the superposition mechanism of the deformation characteristics of the sarcomere in the skeletal muscles of living organisms.Firstly,the multi-DOF deformation characteristics of the soft actuator are discretized into superimposed combinations of single-DOF micro-units.Then,the soft actuator was determined to contain deformation characteristics such as extension-contraction,bending,and twisting.Eighteen types of micro-units with basic deforma-tion characteristics were obtained depending on the axis and orientation.Further,the mapping relationship between the combination of micro-units and the motion characteristics of the soft actuator based on the GF set theory was established.Finally,an active-passive DOF co-structured soft actuator(APCSA)was developed.The graphical approach analyzes the experimental results,and it can be concluded that active and passive DOFs can coexist in the composite deformation of the soft actuator.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42372250,42102262 and 41972235)National Key Research and Development Program Project(2023YFF0803701)+1 种基金Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai)(SML2023SP206)the program of China Scholarship Council。
文摘The Shenshan Group provides important geological information which is vital in unraveling the amalgamation and subsequent rifting processes of South China.While conventional studies have asserted its formation in a subduction setting,the distinct investigation reveals the necessity for reassessment.To address this,the authors employ integrated methods encompassing petrological,zircon U-Pb geochronological,Lu-Hf isotopic and geochemical methods for sedimentary rocks from the upper Shenshan subgroup and Banxi Group.The geochemical results indicate that they were formed through the recycling deposition of intermediate-acidic igneous source material and experienced moderate chemical weathering.Additionally,both sedimentary sequences exhibit characteristics consistent with those formed in an intracontinental extensional rift setting since ca.810 Ma.The provenance analysis indicates that the upper Shenshan subgroup primarily originates from the Yangtze Domain,while the Banxi Group from both the Yangtze and Cathaysia domains.Synthesizing with previous studies,the Shenshan Group should be subdivided into the lower and upper subgroups which represent distinct tectonic backgrounds.The lower subgroup is inferred to have formed in an Early Neoproterozoic fore-arc setting,akin to the Zhoutan group.The upper subgroup corresponds to the Banxi Group,representing the Middle Neoproterozoic postorogenic rift setting,responding to the breakup of Rodinia.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52370128)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2572022AW54)。
文摘This study identified castor oil and phosphate ester as effective retarders through setting time,tensile,and flexural tests,and determined their optimal dosages.The mechanism by which phosphate ester affects the setting time of polyurethane was further investigated using molecular dynamics simulations.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was also employed to systematically study the physical and chemical interactions between phosphate esters and polyurethane materials.The results demonstrate that a 1%concentration of phosphate ester provides the most effective retarding effect with minimal impact on the strength of polyurethane.When phosphate ester is added to the B component of the two-component polyurethane system,its interaction energy with component A decreases,as do the diffusion coefficient and aggregation degree of component B on the surface of component A.This reduction in interaction slows the setting time.Additionally,the addition of phosphate ester to polyurethane leads to the disappearance or weakening of functional groups,indicating competitive interactions within the phosphate ester components that inhibit the reaction rate.
基金Supporting Program for funding this work under Project number(RSP2024R328),King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘The sedimentary geochemistry of St.Martin’s Island is important to determine the origin of the source rock,paleo weathering,tectonic setting,sediment recycling,maturity,sorting,redox condition,and paleo salinity of the sediments.Major oxides,trace elements,and rare earth elements(REEs)obtained from the INAA technique are presented by analyzing the sediment samples collected from the shoreline of St.Martin’s Island,Bangladesh.The elemental ratios,comparison with average upper continental crust(UCC),binary diagrams(Th/Sc vs.Sc,La/Th vs.Hf,Th/Co vs.La/Sc),and chondrite normalized REE patterns exhibit substantial LREE enrichment,relatively fl at HREE fractionation,considerable negative Eu anomalies(average:0.72),indicates the derivation from a source dominated by felsic rock,with contribution from intermediate source and mafi c component.Sediments from St.Martin’s Island exhibit the deposition of sediments in transitional environments of active and passive continental margin settings.Weathering indices value of CIA,PIA,CIW,CIX,and K 2 O/Rb ratio show moderate chemical weathering,indicating that the sediments are chemically mature.Sedimentary redox indicative proxies,such as U/Th,V/Cr,and V/Sc,show an oxic depositional environment during sediment deposition.The intermediate CIA and other weathering index values of the St.Martin’s sediments show that the area had semiarid and humid climatic conditions throughout the deposition.The Rb/K ratio of the St.Martin’s sediments suggests that the development and deposition of the sedimentary sequence of St.Martin’s Island mainly occurred in a brackish water environment during the geological past.
基金Supported by Traditional Chinese medicine foundation of Zhejiang province:Clinical Study on the Correlation Between Tourette Syndrome and Anatomical Changes in the Atlantoaxial Joint(2010ZB162)Medical Health Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission:Study on Protein Fingerprinting of Tourette Syndrome(2011KYB142)+1 种基金Renowned Traditional Chinese Medicine Expert Inheritance Studio Construction Project of Zhejiang province(No.GZS2020049)Key Disciplines of Traditional Chinese Medicine Foundation of Zhejiang Province(2012-XK-D20)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To explore the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with atlantoaxial joint bone-setting therapy for the treatment of Tourette syndrome.METHODS:We randomly divided 600 patients at a ratio of 1∶1∶1 into three groups:group A(acupuncture combined with atlantoaxial joint bone setting therapy group),group B(acupuncture group),and group C(tiapride group).After two months of treatment,the Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)score reduction,improvement in social function impairment,clinical efficacy,and long-term efficacy in the three groups were compared.RESULTS:After treatment,in the analysis of YGTSS score reduction,social function impairment improvement,the clinical control rate,and long-term efficacy,the results were all Group A>Group B>Group C,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).However,the total clinical efficacy of treatment in group A(94.9%)was not significantly different from that in group B(91.8%).Adverse reactions did not occur in groups A and B,and several adverse reactions occurred in 29%(n=58)of the group C patients.CONCLUSION:Compared with traditional drug therapy,acupuncture combined with atlantoaxial joint bone setting therapy has better clinical and long-term efficacy.This treatment strategy can improve the social function of children and prevent adverse reactions to drugs.
文摘Let X be a closed simply connected rationally elliptic 4-manifold.The rational homotopy type of homotopy fixed point sets X^(hS^(1))is determined,and based on some relations between X^(hS^(1))and X^(S^(1)),the rational homotopy type of the fixed point set X^(S^(1))is determined.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFF0710705)the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2021-I2M-1-0 13)+2 种基金funding support from the Special Research Fund for Central UniversitiesPeking Union Medical College (3332022182)the 111 Project (B20095)
文摘Background:Nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 2(NSD2)is a histone methyltrans-ferase,that catalyzes dimethylation of lysine 36 of histone 3(H3K36me2)and is asso-ciated with active transcription of a series of genes.NSD2 is overexpressed in multiple types of solid human tumors and has been proven to be related to unfavorable prog-nosis in several types of tumors.Methods:We established a mouse model in which the NSD2 gene was conditionally knocked out in intestinal epithelial cells.We used azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate to chemically induce murine colorectal cancer.The development of colorectal tumors were investigated using post-necropsy quantification,immunohistochemistry,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results:Compared with wild-type(WT)control mice,NSD2^(fl/fl)-Vil1-Cre mice exhib-ited significantly decreased tumor numbers,histopathological changes,and cytokine expression in colorectal tumors.Conclusions:Conditional knockout of NSD2 in intestinal epithelial cells significantly inhibits colorectal cancer progression.
文摘Background: Unsafe abortion (USA) is defined as the termination of a non-desired pregnancy, performed by an unqualified person or in an environment without minimum medical standards, or both. It can impact negatively the fertility in the future by tubo-peritoneal lesions. The current study aimed to highlight the infertility factors associated with USA. Material and Methods: From January 1st 2000 to December 31st 2021, a total of 3876 patients that sought care for infertility in the University Clinic of Kinshasa and the Edith Medical Center were enrolled. The socio-demographic, clinical and paraclinical variables were recorded and analyzed in relation to USA history. Results: The patients’ average age was 33.4 ± 5.7 years. Half of them were housewives;about sixty percent of the patients were nulliparous (59.31%). Seventy percent had a secondary infertility with 43.33% having a history of unsafe abortion. The main diagnosis was genital infections and uterus myoma. The chronic endometritis, bilateral tubal occlusion and Uterine synechiae were more associated with USA group. The spermogram anomalies and other partners’ lesions seemed of infectious origin. Conclusion: The USA remains a more frequent phenomenon in our setting. The chronic endometritis, bilateral tubal occlusion, uterine synechiae and indirectly uterus myoma were the infertility factors related to USA. The genital infection of any origin seems to be the main denominator underlying the female and the male infertility in our setting.
文摘This paper introduces fuzzy N-bipolar soft(FN-BS)sets,a novel mathematical framework designed to enhance multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)processes under uncertainty.The study addresses a significant limitation in existing models by unifying fuzzy logic,the consideration of bipolarity,and the ability to evaluate attributes on a multinary scale.The specific contributions of the FN-BS framework include:(1)a formal definition and settheoretic foundation,(2)the development of two innovative algorithms for solving decision-making(DM)problems,and(3)a comparative analysis demonstrating its superiority over established models.The proposed framework is applied to a real-world case study on selecting vaccination programs across multiple countries,showcasing consistent DM outcomes and exceptional adaptability to complex and uncertain scenarios.These results position FN-BS sets as a versatile and powerful tool for addressing dynamic DM challenges.
文摘Dear Editor,I am responding to Zou and Li's,The missing perilymph sign on MRI indicates a perilymphatic fistula:A case report Zou J,Li H.Journal of Otology,2025, 20(1):1-4.https://doi.org/10.26599/JOTO.2025.9540001 proposing the"missing perilymph"sign on MRI as a novel radiological indicator of perilymphatic fistula(PLF).This study adds to the growing body of work seeking objective,non-invasive diagnostic methods for PLF,a condition that has long eluded definitive radiological confirmation.The avoidance of gadolinium contrast in the imaging technique is an additional strength,given increasing awareness of gadoliniumassociated risks (Starekova et al.,2024).
基金supported by vice-chancellery for research of Bushehr University and the National Agency for Strategic Research in Medical Sciences Education(NASR)of Tehran(Code:4010071).
文摘Objectives:To compare the frequency of passing scores of nursing students participating in objective structured clinical examination(OSCE)by 4 methods of fixed score,Angoff,yes/no Angoff,and 3-level Angoff.The OSCE is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the competency of nursing students.To have a fair judgment in OSCE,it is important to determine the standard setting.Methods:In this descriptive-analytical study,which was conducted in 2022,the 7-station OSCE scores and the passing rates of students were compared based on fixed score,Angoff,yes/no Angoff,and the 3-level Angoff by a panel of experts.The research population included nursing teachers(n=13)and nursing students(n=65).Due to the small number of participants,the number of samples in each of these 2 groups was equal to the total number of people in the research population.Results:Findings revealed that of the 13 nursing teachers who participated in the study,the majority were female and had a master’s degree.Among the 65 students taking part in OSCE,the majority were males.Results showed that the passing rate varied depending on the type of OSCE station and the standard-setting methods used.Differences in some cases were statistically significant(P<0.001).Conclusions:Findings suggest that the frequency of passing can vary depending on the method used.It is advisable to consider the average score from multiple methods to accurately determine the passing rate and achieve a more accurate acceptance rate.
文摘Dear Editor,I am writing in response to Jamil's letter,"Interpretative Challenges of the Missing Perilymph'Sign in PLF Diagnosis."I concur with the author's emphasis on the necessity for cautious interpretation of low-signal areas as evidence of active perilymph leakage,requiring correlation with clinical findings,surgical confirmation,and longitudinal imaging changes.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 61701416 and 61901195Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China under contract No.BK20211341China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under contract No.2022M712687.
文摘Separation between water and land is vital for marine scientific research and coastal zone planning and management.The contrasting backscatter properties of land and ocean enable clear water edge line identification in synthetic aperture radar(SAR)imagery.However,SAR images are prone to speckle noise,and the complexity of the water-land boundaries environment makes accurate water-land separation challenging.To overcome noise and complex background interference in remote sensing images,an improved level set method was employed to enhance water-land separation.In the traditional distance regularized level set method,the selection of the image correlation weight coefficient and the edge indicator function directly influences the accuracy of the final segmentation results.A novel level set segmentation algorithm incorporating an improved edge indicator function is proposed to efficiently and accurately separate the water edge lines in SAR images.The distance regularized level set evolution model is enhanced by incorporating the signed pressure force function as an adaptive parameter,which serves as an external constraint for curve evolution.A novel level set model with an adaptive edge indicator function,combining gradient and regional information,is proposed.Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model enhances the accuracy of waterland separation in SAR images.However,further research is needed to evaluate its potential for detecting boundaries in diverse marine environments and across different types of SAR imagery.
文摘The extra-peninsular Gondwana Group rocks are exposed in narrow patches within the Lesser Himalayan sequence of the NE-Arunachal Himalayas,India.The bulk of sediments for the sandstones of the Gondwana Group were derived from felsic/acidic to intermediate igneous rocks,with minor mafic input from the upper continental crust(UCC),as supported by various discrimination diagrams based on quantification of detrital minerals coupled with sandstone geochemistry.The inputs from metamorphic sources in subordinate amounts cannot be ruled out,as indicated by quantification of the quartz varieties.These sediments were found to be sourced from the interior part of a craton or shield and recycled platformal sediments which were derived from both passive and active margin settings.The sediments experienced a wide variance in climatic conditions,from arid to humid,suffering low-moderate-inten-sity weathering(CIA:63.43;CIW:86.18;WIP:44.84;PIA:75.37;ICV:2.39;C-value:0.42;PF:0.49;Sr/Cu:9.23 and Rb/Sr:1.68)within the vicinity of the low plains to moderate hills.Additionally,redox-sensitive elements indicate the deposition of sediments under oxygenated or oxygen-rich conditions(U_(au):−2.91;Th/U:7.37;U/Th:0.18;V/Cr:1.71;δU:0.67 and Ce/Ce^(*):0.93).
基金funded by SERB-DST,New Delhi,India for Early Career Research(ECR/2016/001100)during 2017 to 2021.
文摘Elemental concentrations of the siliciclastic sediments from a sedimentary basin provide clues on paleo-weathering,paleoclimate,provenance,and tectonic setting of the basin.Records for Permo-Triassic mass extinction and climatic fluctuations are commonly traced from the sediments in the Gondwana basins.Nevertheless,our understanding on sedimentation,provenance,and regional tectonics of the Raniganj Basin,a Gondwana basin in the eastern India is poor.Minerals including clay particles and major and trace element concentrations of the siliciclastic sediments from different formations of the Raniganj Basin have been studied to establish the paleo-weathering,paleoclimate,provenance,and tectonic settings of the basin.This study suggests that the Talchir Formation experienced cold and dry climatic conditions at the sediment source area,while the Barakar,Raniganj,and Panchet formations had prevailing semiarid climates.The sources of the siliciclastic sediments are from the felsic rocks of the Chotanagpur Granite Gneissic Complex(CGGC).Further,the geochemical results suggest a rift-like(passive)tectonic setting for the Raniganj Basin,while few samples represent the collision tectonic setting of the basement CGGC,formed due to collision of major Indian blocks during the Paleo-Neoproterozoic time.
