MIMO Channel Characteristics in Line-of-Sight Environments

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Variations in species diversity patterns and community assembly rules among vegetation types in the karst landscape

The various vegetation types in the karst landscape have been considered the results of heterogeneous habitats. However, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of regional biodiversity patterns and the underlying ecological processes limits further research on ecological management. This study established forest dynamic plots (FDPs) of the dominant vegetation types (shrubland, SL; mixed tree and shrub forest, MTSF; coniferous forest, CF; coniferous broadleaf mixed forest, CBMF; and broadleaf forest, BF) in the karst landscape and quantified the species diversity patterns and potential ecological processes. The results showed that in terms of diversity patterns, the evenness and species richness of the CF community were significantly lower than other vegetation types, while the BF community had the highest species richness. The other three vegetation types showed no significant variation in species richness and evenness. However, when controlling the number of individuals of FDPs, the rarefied species richness showed significant differences and ranked as BF > SL > MTSF > CBMF > CF, highlighting the importance of considering the impacts of abundance. Additionally, the community assembly of climax communities (CF or BF) was dominated by stochastic processes such as species dispersal or species formation, whereas deterministic processes (habitat filtering) dominated the secondary forests (SL, MTSF, and CBMF). These findings proved that community assembly differs mainly between the climax community and other communities. Hence, it is crucial to consider the biodiversity and of the potential underlying ecological processes together when studying regional ecology and management, particularly in heterogeneous ecosystems

New clinical application prospects of artemisinin and its derivatives: a scoping review

Abstract Background Recent research has suggested that artemisinin and its derivatives may have therapeutic effects on parasites, viruses, tumors, inflammation and skin diseases. This study aimed to review clinical research on artemisinin and its derivatives except anti-malaria and explore possible priority areas for future development. Methods Relevant articles in English and Chinese published before 28 October 2021 were reviewed. All articles were retrieved and obtained from databases including WanFang, PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge International, Embase, OpenGrey, the Grey Literature Report, Grey Horizon, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Studies were selected for final inclusion based on predefined criteria. Information was then extracted and analyzed by region, disease, outcome, and time to identify relevant knowledge gaps. Results Seventy-seven studies on anti-parasitic (35), anti-tumor (16), anti-inflammatory (12), anti-viral (8), and dermatological treatments (7) focused on the safety and efficacy of artemisinin and its derivatives. The anti-parasitic clinical research developed rapidly, with a large number of trials, rapid clinical progress, and multiple research topics. In contrast, anti-viral research was limited and mainly stayed in phase I clinical trials (37.50%). Most of the studies were conducted in Asia (60%), followed by Africa (27%), Europe (8%), and the Americas (5%). Anti-parasite and anti-inflammatory research were mainly distributed in less developed continents such as Asia and Africa, while cutting-edge research such as anti-tumor has attracted more attention in Europe and the United States. At the safety level, 58 articles mentioned the adverse reactions of artemisinin and its derivatives, with only one study showing a Grade 3 adverse event, while the other studies did not show any related adverse reactions or required discontinuation. Most studies have discovered therapeutic effects of artemisinin or its derivatives on anti-parasitic (27), anti-tumor (9), anti-inflammatory (9) and dermatological treatment (6). However, the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) for parasitic diseases (non-malaria) is still controversial. Conclusions Recent clinical studies suggest that artemisinin and its derivatives may be safe and effective candidates for anti-tumor, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory and dermatological drugs. More phase II/III clinical trials of artemisinin and its derivatives on antiviral effects are needed. Graphical Abstrac

Oxygen consumption of the aerobically-perfused cardioplegic donor heart at different temperatures

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the oxygen consumption of explanted aerobically-perfused cardioplegic porcine hearts at different temperatures. Material/Methods: Explanted hearts from 30 pigs weighing 50 kg were randomized into 5 groups. The hearts received continuous antegrade perfusion within a temperature-controlled sealed system. The perfusate consisted of an albumincontaining hyperoncotic cardioplegic nutrition solution with erythrocytes to a hematocrit of 10%. Five temperatures were studied: 37, 30, 22, 15, and 8°C. When the erythrocytes in the perfusate were fully saturated, the oxygenator was excluded from the circuit and blood gases were analyzed periodically until the erythrocytes had desaturated to less than 20%. Between 80% and 60% saturation the desaturation curves were linear in all groups and the oxygen consumption was calculated from this part of the curves. Results: The weight of the hearts was 208±4 g (mean ±SEM, n=30). The oxygen consumption in mL/min/100 g heart tissue was (mean ±SEM, n=6 in each group) 37°C: 1.10±0.04; 30°C: 0.58±0.02; 22°C: 0.33±0.01; 15°C: 0.21±0.01; and 8°C: 0.16±0.02. Conclusions: The oxygen consumption of the cardioplegic perfused pig heart at normothermia was 1.1 mL/min/100 g and was reduced by 85% to 0.16 mL/min/100 g at 8°C

An improved variational approach to off-diagonal exciton-phonon coupling

A state-of-the-art variational wave function incorporating Jastrow-type exciton-phonon correlations, the global-local Ansatz, is utilized to elucidate exciton-phonon correlations in a generalized form of the Holstein Hamiltonian with the simultaneous presence of diagonal and off-diagonal exciton-phonon coupling. Much lowered ground-state energies are found for the global-local Ansatz when compared with the previously studied Toyozawa Ansatz. A three-dimensional phase diagram spanned by the transfer integral and two forms of exciton-phonon coupling is given to illustrate polaronic self-trapping near the zone center.Published versio

synthesisandseparationperformanceofsilicalite1membranesonsilicatubes

High-performance silicalite-1 membranes were synthesized on silica tubes by in-situ hydrothermal synthesis. By using the "solution-filling (SF)" method, the average flux of membranes with the SF method was improved by about 25% compared to that of the membranes without using the SF method; the flux and the separation factor of the membranes prepared with the SF method for an ethanol/water mixture at 60A degrees C were 0.99 kg/(m(2)center dot h) and 73, respectively. It was found that the membranes synthesized on silica tubes exhibited high thermal stability and high reproducibility, and the relatively standard deviations (R.S.D.) of the average flux and separation factor were only 9.6% and 5.6%, respectively, which suggests that the silica support is more suitable than other kinds of supports for preparing high-performance silicalite-1 membranes

synthesisandseparationperformanceofsilicalite1membranesonsilicatubes

High-performance silicalite-1 membranes were synthesized on silica tubes by in-situ hydrothermal synthesis. By using the "solution-filling (SF)" method, the average flux of membranes with the SF method was improved by about 25% compared to that of the membranes without using the SF method; the flux and the separation factor of the membranes prepared with the SF method for an ethanol/water mixture at 60A degrees C were 0.99 kg/(m(2)center dot h) and 73, respectively. It was found that the membranes synthesized on silica tubes exhibited high thermal stability and high reproducibility, and the relatively standard deviations (R.S.D.) of the average flux and separation factor were only 9.6% and 5.6%, respectively, which suggests that the silica support is more suitable than other kinds of supports for preparing high-performance silicalite-1 membranes

Endovascular management of early-onset post-nephrectomy renal arteriovenous fistula: A report of two cases

Purpose: Here, we report two cases of early-onset post-nephrectomy renal arteriovenous fistula who were successfully managed by implantation of patent ductus arteriosus occluders. Case report: Both patients were female, aged 38 and 36 years. They received left renal nephrectomy 9 and 6 months, respectively, with a complaint of chest congestion and dyspnea before admitting to our center. Computed tomographic angiography revealed a huge arteriovenous fistula of the left renal pedicle with a renal venous aneurysm in both patients. The fistulas were isolated by implanting patent ductus arteriosus occluders in the renal artery stumps. Clinical symptoms disappeared after intervention. Computed tomographic angiography confirmed the effectiveness of the occluders during follow-up time. The venous aneurysms shrank to normal size. Conclusion: Our experience indicates that post-nephrectomy renal arteriovenous fistula can present as an early complication which can be efficiently managed by endovascular occlusion of the arterial stump by patent ductus arteriosus occluder