Remotely sensed mid-channel bar dynamics in downstream of the Three Gorges Dam, China

The downstream reach of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) along the Yangtze River (1560 km) hosts numerous mid-channel bars (MCBs). MCBs dynamics are crucial to the river’s hydrological processes and local ecological function. However, a systematic understanding of such dynamics and their linkage to TGD remains largely unknown. Using Landsat-image-extracted MCBs and several spatial-temporal analysis methods, this study presents a comprehensive understanding of MCB dynamics in terms of number, area, and shape, over downstream of TGD during the period 1985−2018. On average, a total of 140 MCBs were detected and grouped into four types representing small ( 2 km2), middle (2 km2 − 7 km2), large (7 km2 − 33 km2) and extra-large size (>33 km2) MCBs, respectively. MCBs number decreased after TGD closure but most of these happened in the lower reach. The area of total MCBs experienced an increasing trend (2.77 km2/yr, p-value 0.01) over the last three decades. The extra-large MCBs gained the largest area increasing rate than the other sizes of MCBs. Small MCBs tended to become relatively round, whereas the others became elongate in shape after TGD operation. Impacts of TGD operation generally diminished in the longitudinal direction from TGD to Hankou and from TGD to Jiujiang for shape and area dynamics, respectively. The quantified longitudinal and temporal dynamics of MCBs across the entire Yangtze River downstream of TGD provides a crucial monitoring basis for continuous investigation of the changing mechanisms affecting the morphology of the Yangtze River system

On the nature of X(3960)

A near-threshold enhancement in the $D_s^+ D_s^-$ system, dubbed as $X(3960)$, is observed by the LHCb collaboration recently. A combined analysis on $\chi_{c0}(3930)~(\to D^+ D^-)$, $X(3960)~(\to D_s^+ D_s^-)$, and $X(3915)~(\to J/\psi\omega)$ is performed using both a $K$-matrix approach of $D_{(s)}\bar{D}_{(s)}$ four-point contact interactions and a model of Flatt\'e-like parameterizations. The use of the pole counting rule and spectral density function sum rule %provides consistent evidence indicate, under current statistics, that this $D_s^+ D_s^-$ near-threshold state has probably the mixed nature of a $c\bar{c}$ confining state and $D_s^+ D_s^-$ continuum.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 5 table

Potpuno iskorištavanje taloga preostalog nakon priprave zeolitskog katalizatora

A novel utilization method of filter residue from the preparation process of zeolite-based catalysts was investigated. Y zeolite and a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst were synthesized from filter residue. Compared to the Y zeolite synthesized by the conventional method, the Y zeolite synthesized from filter residue exhibited better thermal stability. The catalyst possessed wide-pore distribution. In addition, the pore volume, specific surface area, attrition resistance were superior to those of the reference catalyst. The yields of gasoline and light oil increased by 1.93 and 1.48 %, respectively. At the same time, the coke yield decreased by 0.41 %. The catalyst exhibited better gasoline and coke selectivity. The quality of the cracked gasoline had been improved.Proučena je upotreba taloga preostalog nakon priprave katalizatora baziranog na zeolitima. Od taloga su pripravljeni zeolit Y i katalizator za katalitičko krekiranje u fluidiziranom sloju (FCC). Ovako sintetiziran zeolit Y termički je stabilniji u odnosu na zeolit Y sintetiziran konvencionalnom metodom. Katalizator ima široku distribuciju veličine pora. U odnosu na referentni katalizator pokazuje veći obujam pora i specifičnu površinu te bolju otpornost na atriciju. Iskorištenje benzina i lakog ulja povećalo se za 1,93 i 1,48 %, a koksa smanjilo za 0,41 %. Katalizator je pokazao bolju selektivnost s obzirom na benzin i koks, a poboljšala se kvaliteta krekiranog benzina

Gray matter network differences between behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease

We set out to study whether single-subject gray matter (GM) networks show disturbances that are specific for Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 90) or behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD; n = 59), and whether such disturbances would be related to cognitive deficits measured with mini-mental state examination and a neuropsychological battery, using subjective cognitive decline subjects as reference. AD and bvFTD patients had a lower degree, connectivity density, clustering, path length, betweenness centrality, and small world values compared with subjective cognitive decline. AD patients had a lower connectivity density than bvFTD patients (F = 5.79, p = 0.02; mean ± standard deviation bvFTD 16.10 ± 1.19%; mean ± standard deviation AD 15.64 ± 1.02%). Lasso logistic regression showed that connectivity differences between bvFTD and AD were specific to 23 anatomical areas, in terms of local GM volume, degree, and clustering. Lower clustering values and lower degree values were specifically associated with worse mini-mental state examination scores and lower performance on the neuropsychological tests. GM showed disease-specific alterations, when comparing bvFTD with AD patients, and these alterations were associated with cognitive deficits

Exome sequencing followed by large-scale genotyping suggests a limited role for moderately rare risk factors of strong effect in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with strong heritability and marked heterogeneity in symptoms, course, and treatment response. There is strong interest in identifying genetic risk factors that can help to elucidate the pathophysiology and that might result in the development of improved treatments. Linkage and genome-wide association studies (GWASs) suggest that the genetic basis of schizophrenia is heterogeneous. However, it remains unclear whether the underlying genetic variants are mostly moderately rare and can be identified by the genotyping of variants observed in sequenced cases in large follow-up cohorts or whether they will typically be much rarer and therefore more effectively identified by gene-based methods that seek to combine candidate variants. Here, we consider 166 persons who have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and who have had either their genomes or their exomes sequenced to high coverage. From these data, we selected 5,155 variants that were further evaluated in an independent cohort of 2,617 cases and 1,800 controls. No single variant showed a study-wide significant association in the initial or follow-up cohorts. However, we identified a number of case-specific variants, some of which might be real risk factors for schizophrenia, and these can be readily interrogated in other data sets. Our results indicate that schizophrenia risk is unlikely to be predominantly influenced by variants just outside the range detectable by GWASs. Rather, multiple rarer genetic variants must contribute substantially to the predisposition to schizophrenia, suggesting that both very large sample sizes and gene-based association tests will be required for securely identifying genetic risk factors. © 2012 The American Society of Human Genetics

Altered Neural and Behavioral Dynamics in Huntington's Disease: An Entropy Conservation Approach

Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited condition that results in neurodegeneration of the striatum, the forebrain structure that processes cortical information for behavioral output. In the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of HD, striatal neurons exhibit aberrant firing patterns that are coupled with reduced flexibility in the motor system. The aim of this study was to test the patterns of unpredictability in brain and behavior in wild-type (WT) and R6/2 mice. Methodology/Principal Findings: Striatal local field potentials (LFP) were recorded from 18 WT and 17 R6/2 mice (aged 8– 11 weeks) while the mice were exploring a plus-shaped maze. We targeted LFP activity for up to 2 s before and 2 s after each choice-point entry. Approximate Entropy (ApEn) was calculated for LFPs and Shannon Entropy was used to measure the probability of arm choice, as well as the likelihood of making consecutive 90-degree turns in the maze. We found that although the total number of choice-point crossings and entropy of arm-choice probability was similar in both groups, R6/2 mice had more predictable behavioral responses (i.e., were less likely to make 90-degree turns and perform them in alternation with running straight down the same arm), while exhibiting more unpredictable striatal activity, as indicated by higher ApEn values. In both WT and R6/2 mice, however, behavioral unpredictability was negatively correlated with LFP ApEn. Conclusions/Significance: HD results in a perseverative exploration of the environment, occurring in concert with mor