44 research outputs found
Patterns and determinants of plant-derived lignin phenols in coastal wetlands: implications for organic C accumulation
No full text1. As a major plant-derived soil organic carbon (SOC) component, lignin phenols are unique biomarkers that reflect biogeochemical characteristics under different vegetation compositions and climatic zones in coastal wetlands. However, the latitudinal patterns of plant-derived lignin phenols to SOC and their link with the stability and controlling mechanisms remain poorly understood.
2. A total of 156 soil samples from 39 sites along a 5000 km coastal transect, were taken to explore the effects of biological and environmental controls on the patterns of lignin phenols. Lignin phenols had contents ranging from 1.91 to 83.3 mg g−1 OC, and a positive correlation was detected in grass-dominated salt marsh, but a weakly negative correlation in mangrove. Positive correlations between SOC or lignin content and C/V or S/V (the cinnamyl- or syringyl-to-vanillyl) ratios were found, while overall negative correlations between SOC or lignin content and (Ad/Al)V or (Ad/Al)S (the acid-to-aldehyde of vanillyl or syringyl units) ratios were detected, respectively, which confirmed the validity of these lignin biomarker degradation parameters.
3. Our findings revealed that plant C inputs and monomer ratios directly influenced the capacity of lignin phenols in soils. Lignin content and stabilization was mainly controlled by soil properties (i.e., pH, EC, sand/clay). Mean annual temperature (MAT) influenced the patterns of lignin phenols both directly by increasing decomposition and indirectly by changing the vegetation and soil biogeochemistry (i.e., microbial substrate availability).
4. Coastal wetlands are characterized by high primary productivity and C burial rate, yet plant-derived lignin phenols are not as much as we thought compared to microbial residues C. Precise identification and quantification of the origin, decomposition, and determinants of lignin phenols help us understand their contribution to C sequestration and its response to climate and environmental changes.Please see the README document ("Lignin_content_and_monomer_composition.csv", "Site_location.csv", "Soil_organic_carbon_content.csv", "Soil_properties.csv", "Vegetation_and_climate.csv") and the accompanying published article: Shaopan Xia, Zhaoliang Song, Weiqi Wang, Yaran Fan, Laodong Guo, Lukas Van Zwieten, Iain P. Hartley, Yin Fang, Yidong Wang, Zhenqing Zhang, Cong-Qiang Liu, and Hailong Wang. 2023. Patterns and determinants of plant-derived lignin phenols in coastal wetlands: implications for organic C accumulation. Functional Ecology. Accepted. DOI: 10.5061/dryad.j3tx95xk8
Funding provided by: Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu ProvinceCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004608Award Number: BK20221028Funding provided by: National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001809Award Number: 42141014Funding provided by: National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001809Award Number: 41930862Funding provided by: National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001809Award Number: 42225101Please see the README document ("Lignin_content_and_monomer_composition.csv", "Site_location.csv", "Soil_organic_carbon_content.csv", "Soil_properties.csv", "Vegetation_and_climate.csv") and the accompanying published article: Shaopan Xia, Zhaoliang Song, Weiqi Wang, Yaran Fan, Laodong Guo, Lukas Van Zwieten, Iain P. Hartley, Yin Fang, Yidong Wang, Zhenqing Zhang, Cong-Qiang Liu, and Hailong Wang. 2023. Patterns and determinants of plant-derived lignin phenols in coastal wetlands: implications for organic C accumulation. Functional Ecology. Accepted. DOI: 10.5061/dryad.j3tx95xk
Virtual or Real: Analysis on the Development of Virtual Idols in the Simulation Society--Taking “LASER” and “MANTA” for Examples
No full textVirtual idols with “beautiful skins” and “interesting souls” have gradually become the idolize goal of the second-generation youth group and come into public view. Based on jean Baudrillard ’s “simulacra theory”, this paper summarizes the dual empowerment of voice control created by Cat’s Ear Entertainment to virtual idol men’s groups LASER and MANTA from the virtual and realistic perspectives, and finds that virtual idols also have three major dilemmas in the simulacra society: the fans of virtual idols are alienated; IP long tail communication bundles fan consumption; Pink circle thinking breaks the utopia of virtual idols. With the continuous development of the concept of meta-universe, the healthy and sustainable development of virtual idols is still on the road
Predicting embryonic aneuploidy rate in IVF patients using whole-exome sequencing, supplemental data
No full textIllumina_sum_GeneScoreTable.csv
Description: This gene score table contains 10,029 gene scores from 142 individuals in the Illumina dataset that were used in the study.
Filename: Intermediate_sum_GeneScoreTable.csv
Description: This gene score table contains 8,990 gene scores from 50 individuals in the Intermediate dataset that were used in the study.
Filename: IonTorrent_sum_GeneScoreTable.csv
Description: This gene score table contains 9,082 gene scores from 139 individuals in the IonTorrent dataset that were used in the study
Lake sedimentary biogenic silica from diatoms constitutes a significant global sink for aluminium
No full textDiatoms play an important role in marine biogeochemical cycle of aluminum (Al), as dissolved Al is taken up by diatoms to build their siliceous frustules and is involved in the sedimentation of diatomaceous biogenic silica (BSi). The Al incorporation in BSi facilitates decreasing the dissolution of marine BSi and thus substantially influences the biochemical processes driven by diatoms, such as CO₂ sequestration. However, the role of lake BSi in the terrestrial biochemical Al cycle has not been explored, though lakes represent the second-largest sink for BSi. By identifying the previously unexplored high Al/Si atomic ratios (up to 0.052) in lake BSi, here we show lake BSi is a large terrestrial Al pool due to its high Al content, and lake sedimentary BSi constitutes a significant global sink for Al, which is on the same magnitude as the Al sink in global oceans.Dong Liu, Peng Yuan, Qian Tian, Hongchang Liu, Liangliang Deng, Yaran Song, Junming Zhou, Dusan Losic, Jieyu Zhou, Hongzhe Song, Haozhe Guo, Wenxiao Fa
National Essential Medicines List and policy practice: A case study of China’s health care reform
No full textBackground: In 2009, China implemented the national essential medicines system by enacting the National Essential Medicines List 2009. According to the policy of this system, primary health care institutions can only stock and use essential medicines on the prescribed List. Meanwhile, each province can choose to make its own list of supplemented medicines. The goal of the study is to provide suggestions for emerging problems and identify future policy-making trends. Methods: In this study, we statistically analyzed the National Essential Medicines List 2009 and lists of supplemented medicines of all 29 provinces. We also examined the rationality of such medicines based on the DELPHI method and literature review, after which we studied the provincial supplements in relation to the national essential medicines system. Results: We demonstrated that the National Essential Medicines List 2009 provides a comprehensive coverage of diseases as well as reasonable varieties of drugs for their treatment. The average number of supplemented medicines in 29 provinces is 207, with each medicine included in 2.9 provincial lists on average. Only 2.6% supplemented medicines are included by more than half of the provinces (>15), indicating great regional variance. Among the 32 most frequently supplemented medicines, only 18 meet the selection principles, including two with strict usage restrictions. Conclusion: The structure and selection of the National Essential Medicines List 2009 are relatively reasonable. The main problems, however, include the excessive and non-scientific selection of medicines on the supplemented medicines list. The function of the provincial lists of supplemented medicines has not been achieved, which has influenced the effectiveness of the national essential medicines system in China.Health Care Sciences & ServicesSCI(E)5ARTICLEnull1
Artificial intelligence-generated sustainable gift box design evaluation via reinforcement learning-driven hybrid molecular fuzzy modelling
No full textConsidering its significant role in the first contact customers have with the product, designing a distinctive product packaging that effectively conveys the intended meaning of a product is crucial, but also challenging and complex for companies. Hence, the research aims to identify and rank critical front-of-package cues for packaging design, and to select the best packaging design, in the form of a gift box, among artificial intelligence-generated alternatives. A reinforcement learning-based hybrid decision-making method is developed and adopted to facilitate ranking and selection processes. The proposed methodology, with a spatial and geometric approach, uniquely applies the concepts of molecular geometry to define degrees of membership, non-membership, and hesitancy within the fuzzy set framework, offering a new perspective in fuzzy decision-making. The methodology's foremost superiority is combining the fuzzy decision-making approach with molecular geometry knowledge. Thus, the methodology's use of molecular fuzzy numbers significantly contributes to state-of-the-art engineering. To evaluate the applicability and robustness of the methodological framework, a gift box design for the sustainable products of a textile company is created and implemented as a real case study. The results reveal that brand identity and aesthetic appeal are the most prioritized design criteria in the package design process. Based on the overall evaluation, the third alternative is the best artificial intelligence-generated gift box design for the respective company. This research highlights the key aspects of packaging elements necessary for effective packaging design and the application of artificial intelligence in the gift box design process, providing practical implications for professionals responsible for packaging design. Additionally, this research contributes to the weighting and ranking problems of artificial intelligence-generated gift box design assessment by using molecular fuzzy sets and the reinforcement learning technique, thereby providing a more accurate approach.Hasan Diner [[email protected]]Open access funding provided by Hasan Dincer as a second corresponding author ([email protected])
Resveratrol reduces inflammatory response and detrimental effects in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by down-regulating stimulator of interferon genes/TANK-binding kinase 1/interferon regulatory factor 3 signaling
No full textInflammatory responses induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) play a critical role in the progression of vascular dementia. Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling function as a key mediator of inflammation and immunological responses in the central nervous system (CNS), and resveratrol (RES) exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects. However, the role of STING signaling and the relationship between RES and STING signaling in persistent hypoperfusion-induced cerebral inflammation remain unclear. In this study, Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to either Sham or bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) surgery and received RES or vehicle daily by intraperitoneal injection for 4 or 8 weeks. Morris’s water maze was used for the analysis of cognitive function. The neuroinflammatory responses in white matter and hippocampus of the rat brain were assessed by Western blot, Immunofluorescence staining, and qRT-PCR analyses. Myelin integrity, neutrophil infiltration, and microglia proliferation were assessed by Immunohistochemistry and histologic analysis. We demonstrated that after CCH, neurons, microglia, and astrocyte under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress upregulated the expression of STING, TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), and the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), as well as translocation of IRF3 into the nucleus. These were accompanied by infiltration of neutrophils, activation of microglia, and overproduction of proinflammatory mediators. Improvements in cognitive deficits were related to reduced hippocampal neuronal cell death and increased myelin integrity in RES-treated rats. The neuroprotective effects of RES were associated with suppression of the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), VCAM-1, interferon-β (IFN-β), and IL-1β, likely through mitigation of the STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway. These inhibitory effects exerted by RES also inhibited the levels of myeloperoxidase, reduced excess expression of reactive astrocytes, and activated microglia. In conclusion, the STING/TBK1/IRF3 axis may be critical for proinflammatory responses in cerebral tissue with persistent hypoperfusion, and RES exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing STING/TBK1/IRF3 signaling
Mathematical Modeling and Performance Analysis of Seawater Heat Exchanger in Closed-Loop Seawater-Source Heat Pump System
No full textThe seawater source heat pump (SWHP) utilizes low-grade energy from seawater to satisfy heating/cooling requirements of coastal buildings. Compared with the open-loop SWHP system, the closed-loop system is more stable and reliable when used in cold regions because the seawater heat exchanger can mitigate icing and corrosion problems. This study established mathematical modeling for the seawater heat exchanger, which was validated by the experimental results, to estimate the heat transfer performance. The thermal performance of the seawater heat exchanger under different operating conditions was predicted, and the effects of several key parameters on thermal resistance were analyzed. The results revealed that the pipe wall thermal resistance of the original heat exchanger was the most important factor limiting the heat transfer. Hence, a cost analysis of the heat exchangers with different pipe materials was conducted, and the steel pipe with anticorrosive coating was proven to be optimal in reducing pipe wall thermal resistance and economy. The findings are useful in designing and optimizing the seawater heat exchanger and promoting the application of ocean thermal energy.</p
An analysis of the heat loss and overheating protection of a cavity receiver with a novel movable cover for parabolic trough solar collectors
No full textImproving Meeting Inclusiveness using Speech Interruption Analysis
No full textMeetings are a pervasive method of communication within all types of
companies and organizations, and using remote collaboration systems to conduct
meetings has increased dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, not
all meetings are inclusive, especially in terms of the participation rates
among attendees. In a recent large-scale survey conducted at Microsoft, the top
suggestion given by meeting participants for improving inclusiveness is to
improve the ability of remote participants to interrupt and acquire the floor
during meetings. We show that the use of the virtual raise hand (VRH) feature
can lead to an increase in predicted meeting inclusiveness at Microsoft. One
challenge is that VRH is used in less than 1% of all meetings. In order to
drive adoption of its usage to improve inclusiveness (and participation), we
present a machine learning-based system that predicts when a meeting
participant attempts to obtain the floor, but fails to interrupt (termed a
`failed interruption'). This prediction can be used to nudge the user to raise
their virtual hand within the meeting. We believe this is the first failed
speech interruption detector, and the performance on a realistic test set has
an area under curve (AUC) of 0.95 with a true positive rate (TPR) of 50% at a
false positive rate (FPR) of <1%. To our knowledge, this is also the first
dataset of interruption categories (including the failed interruption category)
for remote meetings. Finally, we believe this is the first such system designed
to improve meeting inclusiveness through speech interruption analysis and
active intervention
