Modeling, Analysis, and Applications of Complex Systems

Recent advances in theory and applications of complex dynamical systems have contributed much to the successful handling of certain problems in biology, physics, economics, engineering, and so forth that until recently were thought too difficult to be analyzed. These complex systems may be characterized by systems with uncertainty, impulse, time delay, stochastic perturbation, hybrid dynamics, distributed dynamics, and chaotic dynamics. The overall aim of this special issue is to bring together the latest or innovative knowledge and advances in mathematics for handling complex systems, which may depend largely on methods from mathematical analysis, artificial intelligence, statistics, and engineering, including nonlinear dynamics, time series analysis, neural networks, and evolutionary computation. The solicited papers in this special issue should provide solutions to modeling, analysis, control, and applications of real-world complex systems. The topics in this special issue included, but are not limited to, modelling, analysis, and applications of complex systems such as impulsive systems, pulse-modulated systems, switching systems, delayed systems, discontinuous control system theory, bifurcation theory and chaotic dynamics. The response to this special issue on modelling, analysis, and applications of complex systems was beyond our expectation. We received 39 papers in this research field. This special issue includes thirty-one high-quality peer-reviewed articles. These articles contain some new, novel, and innovative techniques and ideas that may stimulate further research in every branch of theory and applications of complex systems

China's gas market under new situations: Trends and countermeasures – Taking Sichuan and Chongqing gas provinces as an example

The world oil and gas market has entered a new period of low oil prices, which has inevitably affected the natural gas market in China. So, it is urgent to timely study the market trends and to actively seek for appropriate countermeasures. In this paper, the development trends of China's gas market under the situations of New Normal and low oil prices were analyzed from the perspective of sustainable development of the natural gas industrial chain and market, by taking the Sichuan and Chongqing gas provinces as an example, which are of representative and of great significance to China in its natural gas market. The following trends were identified. First, the gas market reform will be deepened. Second, the competition among major market players will be intensified. Third, supply will exceed demand. Fourth, export tasks will be difficult. Fifth, higher demand of “guarantees of the minimum GDP, tax and profit” will be raised for local government. And sixth, low-cost strategy will be indispensable to oil and gas enterprises. In order to cater to these trends, some countermeasures were presented during the 13th Five-Year Plan. First, to improve the natural gas market system, to strengthen the supply-side reform, to complete market development modes, and to promote the introduction of governmental policies for relevant industries. Second, to develop the efficient gas-consuming clusters such as industrial parks, LNG-fueled vehicles and vessels, and distributed energy sources system, to establish innovative marketing strategy systems, and to boost the localization of resource consumption, through the establishment of strategic alliances for natural gas terminal markets in partnership with local governments and competitive enterprises, while the Chinese government is intensifying efforts in promoting energy conservation and pollution reduction and haze control. Third, to improve the cobweb pipeline network system, and to establish the strategic reserve system. And fourth, to make greater efforts to deepen internal reforms, to cut costs in a sustainable way through technological and managerial innovation, so as to respond to any changes in the natural gas market as a result of low oil prices

Views of health care professionals on the implementation of preoperative advance care planning in older patients with head and neck cancer: Q methodology

Objective: To investigate the views of health care professionals in a head and neck surgical department toward the implementation of advance care planning prior to surgery for older patients with head and neck cancer. Method: Q methodology was used to explore and analyze participants’ views by combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Participants were asked to rank 35 Q statements generated via semi-structured interviews and a literature review and to explain the reasons for their ranking in subsequent interviews. The data was then analyzed and used to develop a factor series to illustrate participants’ views. Results: This study surveyed 15 health care professionals, including eight doctors and seven nurses. The views of health care professionals toward preoperative implementation of advance care planning discussions were varied and could be categorized into three types: defending the autonomy of patients, patients’ knowledge and the Chinese traditional cultural context hinder the implementation of preoperative advance care planning, and lack of confidence in performing preoperative advance care planning. Conclusions: Although the health care professionals in the head and neck surgical department in this study recognized the benefits of preoperative discussions regarding advance care planning, patients’ knowledge level, traditional Chinese values, inadequate capacity among health care professionals, and unsound legal policies have caused these professionals to have misgivings about preoperative counseling and discussing advance care planning with patients. Further studies should be conducted, and strategies to overcome barriers to discussions of preoperative advance care planning should be developed

Effect of Cluster-Zone Leaf Removal at Different Stages on Cabernet Sauvignon and Marselan (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L.) Grape Phenolic and Volatile Profiles

This study investigated the effect of leaf removal at three stages of grape development on the phenolic and volatile profiles of Cabernet Sauvignon and Marselan grapevines for two consecutive years in the Jieshi Mountain region, an area of eastern China with high summer rainfall. The results indicated that cluster-zone leaf removal generally reduced the titratable acidity of both varieties, but did not affect the total soluble solids of grape berries. Leaf-removal treatments increased the anthocyanin and flavonol content of berries in both varieties. However, in Cabernet Sauvignon, leaf removal negatively affected the norisoprenoid compounds, with a more pronounced impact observed when the leaf removal was conducted at an early stage. This negative effect may be related to a decrease in the levels of violaxanthin and neoxanthin, potential precursors of vitisprine and β-damascenone. In contrast, the removal of leaves had no effect on the norisoprenoid aroma of Marselan grapes

Preparation and toxicity evaluation of a novel nattokinase-tauroursodeoxycholate complex

Nattokinase (NK), which has been identified as a potent fibrinolytic protease, has remarkable potential in treatment of thrombolysis, and even has the ability to ameliorate chronic vein thrombosis. To reduce the hemorrhagic risk from an intravenous injection of NK, nattokinase-tauroursodeoxycholate (NK-TUDCA) complex was prepared at different pH values and with different ratios of NK and TUDCA. When assessing survival time, survival state, tail injury, and the body weight of mice, it was found that the NK-TUDCA complex (NK: 10 kIU/ml; TUDCA: 10 mg/ml; pH 5.0) had a lower toxicity when administered at an NK dosage of 130 kIU/kg in the acute toxicity test and 13 kIU/kg in the repeated low-dose challenge. From the results of the in vitro thrombolytic test and characterization of NK-TUDCA, we speculated that the delayed release of NK-TUDCA might be the main cause of toxicity reduction by the complex. This study described the preparation of an NK complex with low toxicity following intravenous administration, which could be utilized for further clinical study of NK. Keywords: Nattokinase, Tauroursodeoxycholate, Complex, Toxicity test, In vitro thrombolytic tes

EGCG modulates PKD1 and ferroptosis to promote recovery in ST rats

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes devastating loss of function and neuronal death without effective treatment. (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has antioxidant properties and plays an essential role in the nervous system. However, the underlying mechanism by which EGCG promotes neuronal survival and functional recovery in complete spinal cord transection (ST) remains unclear