GRACE-Based Terrestrial Water Storage in Northwest China: Changes and Causes

Monitoring variations in terrestrial water storage (TWS) is of great significance for the management of water resources. However, it remains a challenge to continuously monitor TWS variations using in situ observations and hydrological models because of a limited number of gauge stations and the complicated spatial distribution characteristics of TWS. In contrast, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) could overcome the aforementioned restrictions, providing a new reliable means of observing TWS variation. Thus, GRACE was employed to investigate TWS variations in Northwest China (NWC) between April 2002 and March 2016. Unlike previous studies, we focused on the interactions of multiple climatic and vegetational factors, and their combined effects on TWS variation. In addition, we also analyzed the relationship between TWS variations and socioeconomic water consumption. The results indicated that (i) TWS had obvious seasonal variations in NWC, and showed significant decreasing trends in most parts of NWC at the 95% confidence level;(ii) decreasing sunshine duration and wind speed resulted in an increase in TWS in Qinghai province, whereas the increasing air temperature, ameliorative vegetational coverage, and excessive groundwater withdrawal jointly led to a decrease in TWS in the other provinces of NWC;(iii) TWS variations in NWC had a good correlation with water storage variations in cascade reservoirs of the upper Yellow River;and (iv) the overall interactions between multiple climatic and vegetational factors were obvious, and the strong effects of some climatic and vegetational factors could mask the weak influences of other factors in TWS variations in NWC. Hence, it is necessary to focus on the interactions of multiple factors and their combined effects on TWS variations when exploring the causes of TWS variations

The chemical profiling of Salvia plebeia during different growth periods and the biosynthesis of its main flavonoids ingredients

Salvia plebeia (Lamiaceae) is a valuable medicinal plant widely distributed across Asia and Oceania. However, the composition and accumulation patterns of its active ingredients in different organs during the growth and their biosynthetic mechanism remain unknown. Therefore, we conducted metabolite profiling, transcriptomic analysis, and biological functional verification to explore the distribution, accumulation, and biosynthesis mechanisms of flavonoids in S. plebeia. We identified 70 metabolites including 46 flavonoids, 16 phenolic acids, seven terpenoids, and one organic acid, of which 21 were previously unreported in S. plebeia. Combining metabolomic-transcriptomic analysis and biological functional verification, we identified the key genes involved in biosynthesis of its main active ingredients, hispidulin and homoplantaginin, including SpPAL, SpC4H, Sp4CL2, Sp4CL5, SpCHS1, SpCHI, SpFNS, SpF6H1, SpF6OMT1, SpF6OMT2, SpUGT1, SpUGT2, and SpUGT3. Using the identified genes, we reconstructed the hispidulin and homoplantaginin biosynthesis pathways in Escherichia coli, and obtained a yield of 5.33 and 3.86 mg/L for hispidulin and homoplantaginin, respectively. Our findings provide valuable insights into the changes in chemical components in different organs of S. plebeia during different growth and harvest stages and establishes a foundation for identifying and synthesizing its active components

Methylprednisolone as Adjunct to Endovascular Thrombectomy for Large-Vessel Occlusion Stroke

Importance It is uncertain whether intravenous methylprednisolone improves outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion (LVO) undergoing endovascular thrombectomy. Objective To assess the efficacy and adverse events of adjunctive intravenous low-dose methylprednisolone to endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke secondary to LVO. Design, Setting, and Participants This investigator-initiated, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was implemented at 82 hospitals in China, enrolling 1680 patients with stroke and proximal intracranial LVO presenting within 24 hours of time last known to be well. Recruitment took place between February 9, 2022, and June 30, 2023, with a final follow-up on September 30, 2023.InterventionsEligible patients were randomly assigned to intravenous methylprednisolone (n = 839) at 2 mg/kg/d or placebo (n = 841) for 3 days adjunctive to endovascular thrombectomy. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary efficacy outcome was disability level at 90 days as measured by the overall distribution of the modified Rankin Scale scores (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]). The primary safety outcomes included mortality at 90 days and the incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 48 hours. Results Among 1680 patients randomized (median age, 69 years; 727 female [43.3%]), 1673 (99.6%) completed the trial. The median 90-day modified Rankin Scale score was 3 (IQR, 1-5) in the methylprednisolone group vs 3 (IQR, 1-6) in the placebo group (adjusted generalized odds ratio for a lower level of disability, 1.10 [95% CI, 0.96-1.25]; P = .17). In the methylprednisolone group, there was a lower mortality rate (23.2% vs 28.5%; adjusted risk ratio, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.71-0.98]; P = .03) and a lower rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (8.6% vs 11.7%; adjusted risk ratio, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.55-0.99]; P = .04) compared with placebo. Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with acute ischemic stroke due to LVO undergoing endovascular thrombectomy, adjunctive methylprednisolone added to endovascular thrombectomy did not significantly improve the degree of overall disability.Trial RegistrationChiCTR.org.cn Identifier: ChiCTR210005172

A Topology Evolution Model Based on Revised PageRank Algorithm and Node Importance for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor network (WSN) is a classical self-organizing communication network, and its topology evolution currently becomes one of the attractive issues in this research field. Accordingly, the problem is divided into two subproblems: one is to design a new preferential attachment method and the other is to analyze the dynamics of the network topology evolution. To solve the first subproblem, a revised PageRank algorithm, called Con-rank, is proposed to evaluate the node importance upon the existing node contraction, and then a novel preferential attachment is designed based on the node importance calculated by the proposed Conrank algorithm. To solve the second one, we firstly analyze the network topology evolution dynamics in a theoretical way and then simulate the evolution process. Theoretical analysis proves that the network topology evolution of our model agrees with power-law distribution, and simulation results are well consistent with our conclusions obtained from the theoretical analysis and simultaneously show that our topology evolution model is superior to the classic BA model in the average path length and the clustering coefficient, and the network topology is more robust and can tolerate the random attacks

Global Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Differentially Expressed Genes of Six Organs and Putative Genes Involved in (Iso)flavonoid Biosynthesis in Belamcanda chinensis

Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC., a perennial herb of the family Iridaceae, is rich in a variety of (iso)flavonoids with significant organ-specific distribution and has a swollen rhizome that is widely used in East Asia as a traditional medicine. In the present study, comprehensive transcriptomes of six organs (root, rhizome, aerial stem, leaf, flower, and young fruit) of B. chinensis were obtained by high-throughput RNA-sequencing and de novo assembly. A total of 423,661 unigenes (mean length = 618 bp, median length = 391 bp) were assembled and annotated in seven databases: Non-redundant protein sequences, Nucleotide sequences, Swiss-Prot, Protein family database, euKaryotic Ortholog Groups, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Ontology (GO). A total of 4995 transcription factors were identified, including 408 MYB, 182 bHLH, 277 AP2/ERF, and 228 WRKY genes. A total of 129 cytochrome P450 unigenes belonging to 10 divergent clans were identified and grouped into clades in a phylogenetic tree that showed their inferred evolutionary relationship. Differentially expressed unigenes among the six organs were subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment analysis to profile the functions of each organ. Unigenes associated with (iso)flavonoid biosynthesis were then profiled by expression level analysis. Additionally, the complete coding sequences of six predicted enzymes essential to the (iso)flavonoid pathway were obtained, based on the annotated unigenes. This work reveals clear differences in expression patterns of genes among the six organs and will provide a sound platform to understand the (iso)flavonoid pathways in B. chinensis

A Topology Evolution Model Based on Revised PageRank Algorithm and Node Importance for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor network (WSN) is a classical self-organizing communication network, and its topology evolution currently becomes one of the attractive issues in this research field. Accordingly, the problem is divided into two subproblems: one is to design a new preferential attachment method and the other is to analyze the dynamics of the network topology evolution. To solve the first subproblem, a revised PageRank algorithm, called Con-rank, is proposed to evaluate the node importance upon the existing node contraction, and then a novel preferential attachment is designed based on the node importance calculated by the proposed Con-rank algorithm. To solve the second one, we firstly analyze the network topology evolution dynamics in a theoretical way and then simulate the evolution process. Theoretical analysis proves that the network topology evolution of our model agrees with power-law distribution, and simulation results are well consistent with our conclusions obtained from the theoretical analysis and simultaneously show that our topology evolution model is superior to the classic BA model in the average path length and the clustering coefficient, and the network topology is more robust and can tolerate the random attacks

Agricultural Ecological Efficiency under the Carbon Emissions Trading System in China: A Spatial Difference-in-Difference Approach

The agriculture sector plays a significant role in the development of the national economy and providing raw materials to the industrial sector. Trying to get more agricultural productivity, most farmers ignored the adverse effects of agricultural chemicals or pesticides that have a negative impact on the environment. So, the importance of agricultural ecological efficiency needs to be understood. This study attempts to explore whether agriculture, as an important source of carbon dioxide production, can have an effective impact on the agricultural ecological efficiency of carbon trading pilot policies in the context of the global implementation of carbon trading. This study evaluated the agricultural ecological efficiency (AEE) and its spatial distribution characteristics of 31 provinces in China, the data period was from 2000 to 2018. By applying the spatial difference-in-difference (SDID) approach, the study investigates the effects of low-carbon policies on agricultural ecological efficiency in pilot areas. The results demonstrate that low-carbon trading pilot policies have a significant impact on agricultural ecological efficiency. At the same time, the effects of regional economic development, population growth, urbanization, and urban innovation on efficiency are also significant. The improvement of agricultural ecological efficiency requires not only the full implementation of low-carbon trading pilot policies but also the development of regional economy and high-quality agriculture. The findings provide further policy recommendations for high-quality agricultural development

Synthesis and performance of spherical LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 regenerated from nickel and cobalt scraps

To reduce the cost of the complex separation process of nickel, cobalt or manganese from the leaching liquid, a high value-adding process for the direct synthesis of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 and LiNi0.33Co0.33Mn0.33O2 as active cathode materials by the hydroxide co-precipitation method is developed in this paper. The structure, morphology and composition of the regenerated LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 cathode materials are determined with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–AES) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy system (EDXS), respectively. The results show that the regenerated cathode materials have a well-defined layered structure and retain the characteristics of their corresponding hydroxide precursors with a spherical morphology and a particle size in the range from 9 to 12 μm in diameter. Electrochemical tests show that the regenerated cathode materials have good electrochemical performances. The initial discharge capacities (0.1C, 2.7–4.3 V) of the regenerated LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 are 197.7 mAh g− 1, 174.3 mAh g− 1 and 168.3 mAh g− 1 for x = 0.8, 0.5 and 0.33, respectively. The discharge capacities of all materials decrease with increasing discharging current densities and the capacity retention ratios of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 and LiNi0.33Co0.33Mn0.33O2 are 86.3%, 95% and 96% respectively after 50 cycles. Overall, the results show that the performances of regenerated LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 are similar to those of the materials prepared from mixed solution of virgin nickel, cobalt and manganese chemicals

Multi-Depot Heterogeneous Vehicle Routing Optimization for Hazardous Materials Transportation

This paper considers a multi-depot heterogeneous vehicle routing problem (MDHVRP) with time windows, which is very crucial for hazardous materials transportation. For this reason, we formalize this problem as a multi-objective MDHVRP optimization model, where the actual load dependent risk of hazardous materials transportation is considered. To solve the optimization problem, we propose a hybrid multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (HMOEA) and a two-stage algorithm (TSA). In addition, we verify the performance of the proposed algorithms by experiments on the modified Solomon’s VRPTW examples. In the experiment, it can be seen from the distribution of Pareto solution sets and the convergence distribution of IGD values that HMOEA is significantly superior to the other three algorithms in searching for Pareto solutions, as well as in the convergence and diversity of the algorithm. HMOEA and TSA were compared, and the minimum cost obtained by TSA was 13.38% lower than HMOEA, while the minimum risk was 81.69% higher than HMOEA. The advantages of each algorithm in finding solutions in reality were analyzed. A comparison was made between multi-depots heterogeneous VRP and multi-depots homogeneous VRP in the C101 instance, and the results showed that scheduling heterogeneous vehicles would reduce risk and cost