Factors associated with resilience of adult survivors five years after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China.

Given the paucity of quantitative empirical research on survivors' resilience and its predictors in the context of long-term recovery after disasters, we examined how resilience predictors differed by gender among adult survivors five years after the Sichuan earthquake. This was a cross-sectional survey study of adult survivors (N = 495; aged 18-60) living in reconstructed communities five years into the recovery process after the Wenchuan earthquake. The instruments we used included assessments of sociodemographic characteristics and earthquake exposure level, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale. Support-seeking behaviors emerged as a significant predictor of male survivors' resilience, while subjective support and marital status were found to be predictors of female survivors' resilience. Annual household income and chronic disease were predictors for both male and female groups. The findings of this study can be used in devising methods to boost survivors' resilience by promoting their satisfaction with social support and their ability to obtain effective support. Additionally, the results suggest how to assist survivors who may have relatively poor resilience

Mechanistic Exploration of Dendrite Growth and Inhibition for Lithium Metal Batteries

Li metal has been considered an ideal anode in lithium batteries due to its high theoretical capacity of 3860 mAh·g−1 and lowest negative reduction potential of −3.040 V among the standard hydrogen electrodes. However, lithium dendrites can easily grow on the surface of the negative electrode during charging, which results in a short circuit of the battery and reduces its efficiency. This paper investigated dendrite growth and inhibition mechanisms in lithium metal batteries to improve battery life. The impacts of the initial nucleation spacing, surface energy anisotropy strength, and interfacial electrochemical driving force on lithium dendrite growth were analyzed with electrochemical experiments and mathematical models. The results showed that the smaller nucleation spacing inhibits the growth of dendrite side branches and reduces the roughness of lithium metal deposition on the negative electrode. A lower interfacial energy anisotropy strength can slow down the growth of dendrite tips and improve the dendrite growth structure. The growth of the dendrites is influenced by the interfacial electrochemical driving force. Reducing the nucleation overpotential can effectively inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites

Sedimentary environment and shale gas exploration potential of Qiongzhusi Formation in the upslope area: A case study on Well W-207, Weiyuan area, Sichuan Basin

To deeply analyze the thalassochemical conditions and organic matter enrichment mechanism during the Early Cambrian (541-509 Ma)and actively evaluate the potential of shale gas resources of the Lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation(Fm) in the southwestern Sichuan Basin, based on the analysis of the petrology, organic geochemistry, element characteristics, pore structure and adsorption capacity of Qiongzhusi Formation, Well W-207, Weiyuan area, this study has discussed the Early Cambrian paleo-ocean environment, organic matter enrichment control factors and gas-bearing properties of shale gas in the upslope area of the Upper Yangtze Platform. Sedimentary cycle shows that multiple interactive conversioncycles of deep-water continental shelf and shallow-water continental shelf are developed during the fine-grained deposition period of Qiongzhusi Formation under the control of eustasy. In particular, the slope turbidite (fan) and gravity flow sediments indicate that shallow-water continental shelf facies are dominant, and the wells in the upslope of the Weiyuan area are not in deep-water for a long time, with the sedimentary thickness of organic-rich black shale limited. Organic geochemistry evidence indicates that the organic matter of Qiongzhusi Formation in Well W-207 is mainly Type-Ⅰ kerogen, with a high degree of thermal evolution, fewer residual hydrocarbons and a low hydrocarbon generation capacity. The redox parameters indicate that the marine environment on the upslope has a medium restrictive degree, and there is a certain degree of upwelling. The seawater has experienced the transformation process of "anoxic-oxidation-anoxic-secondary oxidation- oxidation". Therefore, the paleo-ocean productivity level in the upslope area is generally low, with an obvious downward trend from bottom to top. The pore structure and nitrogen adsorption curve show that the reservoirs of the Qiongzhusi Formation are mainly complex and irregular slit pores. The methane adsorption capacity is positively correlated with TOC but negatively correlated with temperature, indicating that the high-pressure and high-temperature conditions generally faced by the Qiongzhusi Fm are not suitable for methane adsorption. As a result, the geological conditions of shale gas for Qiongzhusi Fm in the upslope area are complex. With high exploration risk, this study suggests that the resource evaluation direction should change to the intracratonic sag (downslope area), which is characterized by deep-water continental shelf facies

The anterior nucleus of the thalamus plays a role in the epileptic network

Abstract Objectives We investigated both the metabolic differences and interictal/ictal discharges of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) in patients with epilepsy to clarify the relationship between the ANT and the epileptic network. Methods Nineteen patients with drug‐resistant epilepsy who underwent stereoelectroencephalography were studied. Metabolic differences in ANT were analyzed using [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography with three‐dimensional (3D) visual and quantitative analyses. Interictal and ictal discharges in the ANT were analyzed using visual and time‐frequency analyses. The relationship between interictal discharge and metabolic differences was analyzed. Results We found that patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) showed significant metabolic differences in bilateral ANT compared with extratemporal lobe epilepsy in 3D visual and quantitative analyses. Four types of interictal activities were recorded from the ANT: spike, high‐frequency oscillation (HFO), slow‐wave, and α‐rhythmic activity. Spike and HFO waveforms were recorded mainly in patients with TLE. Two spike patterns were recorded: synchronous and independent. In 83.3% of patients, ANT was involved during seizures. Three seizure onset types of ANT were recorded: low‐voltage fast activity, rhythmic spikes, and theta band discharge. The time interval of seizure onset between the seizure onset zone and ANT showed two patterns: immediate and delayed. Interpretation ANT can receive either interictal discharges or ictal discharges which propagate from the epileptogenic zones. Independent epileptic discharges can also be recorded from the ANT in some patients. Metabolic anomalies and epileptic discharges in the ANT indicate that the ANT plays a role in the epileptic network in most patients with epilepsy, especially TLE

Multiple hierarchical linear regression analysis predicting resilience.

<p>Multiple hierarchical linear regression analysis predicting resilience.</p

Means and standard deviations of social support and Pearson correlations between resilience and social support.

<p>Means and standard deviations of social support and Pearson correlations between resilience and social support.</p

Sociodemographic characteristics of the participants.

<p>Sociodemographic characteristics of the participants.</p

Descriptive and univariate analysis of resilience by sociodemographic characteristics and gender.

<p>Descriptive and univariate analysis of resilience by sociodemographic characteristics and gender.</p

Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF-4) inhibits the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and proliferation of human endometrial carcinoma cells

<p>Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) are a group of transcriptional regulators, being tumor-suppressive in various types of cancers, but not clear in human endometrial carcinoma (EC). We investigated the KLF-4 expression in both mRNA and protein levels in 29 EC specimens with RT-qPCR and Western blotting methods, and then to determine its promotion to Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and proliferation of EC Ishikawa cells, via analyzing EMT-associated markers and via CCK-8 and colony forming assay. We found the downregulation of KLF-4 in the 29 EC specimens, correlating with the EC malignance. Moreover, we confirmed reduced levels of EMT and cell proliferation of Ishikawa cells post-KLF-4 overexpression. In conclusion, the significantly reduced KLF-4 correlated with the EC malignance. And the overexpressed KLF-4 promoted the EMT and proliferation of EC cells <i>in vitro</i>. The present study recognized the tumor suppressive role of KLF-4 in EC.</p