Spatiotemporal Correlations between Water Footprint and Agricultural Inputs: A Case Study of Maize Production in Northeast China

To effectively manage water resources in agricultural production, it is necessary to understand the spatiotemporal variation of the water footprint (WF) and the influences of agricultural inputs. Employing spatial autocorrelation analysis and a geographically weighted regression (GWR) model, we explored the spatial variations of the WF and their relationships with agricultural inputs from 1998 to 2012 in Northeast China. The results indicated that: (1) the spatial distribution of WFs for the 36 major maize production prefectures was heterogeneous in Northeast China; (2) a cluster of high WFs was found in southeast Liaoning Province, while a cluster of low WFs was found in central Jilin Province, and (3) spatial and temporal differentiation in the correlations between the WF of maize production and agricultural inputs existed according to the GWR model. These correlations increased over time. Our results suggested that localized strategies for reducing the WF should be formulated based on specific relationships between the WF and agricultural inputs

Measurement Studies Utilizing Similarity Evaluation between 3D Surface Topography Measurements

In the realm of quality assurance, the significance of statistical measurement studies cannot be overstated, particularly when it comes to quantifying the diverse sources of variation in measurement processes. However, the complexity intensifies when addressing 3D topography data. This research introduces an intuitive similarity-based framework tailored for conducting measurement studies on 3D topography data, aiming to precisely quantify distinct sources of variation through the astute application of similarity evaluation techniques. In the proposed framework, we investigate the mean and variance of the similarity between 3D surface topography measurements to reveal the uniformity of the surface topography measurements and statistical reproducibility of the similarity evaluation procedure, respectively. The efficacy of our framework is vividly demonstrated through its application to measurements derived from additive-fabricated specimens. We considered four metal specimens with 20 segmented windows in total. The topography measurements were obtained by three operators using two scanning systems. We find that the repeatability variation of the topography measurements and the reproducibility variation in the measurements induced by operators are relatively smaller compared with the variation in the measurements induced by optical scanners. We also notice that the variation in the surface geometry of different surfaces is much larger in magnitude compared with the repeatability variation in the topography measurements. Our findings are consistent with the physical intuition and previous research. The ensuing experimental studies yield compelling evidence, affirming that our devised methods are adept at providing profound insights into the multifaceted sources of variation inherent in processes utilizing 3D surface topography data. This innovative framework not only showcases its applicability but also underlines its potential to significantly contribute to the field of quality assurance. By offering a systematic approach to measuring and comprehending variation in 3D topography data, it stands poised to become an indispensable tool in diverse quality assurance contexts.This article is published as Liu, Lijie, Beiwen Li, Hantang Qin, and Qing Li. "Measurement Studies Utilizing Similarity Evaluation between 3D Surface Topography Measurements." Mathematics 12, no. 5 (2024): 669. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/math12050669. Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Association between atherogenic index of plasma and depression in individuals with different glucose metabolism status

BackgroundThe atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been implicated in various disease processes, yet its relationship with depression, particularly in the context of differing glucose metabolism status, remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the association between AIP and depression in middle-aged and older adults with varying glucose metabolism profiles.MethodsData were derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted in 2011 and 2018, encompassing 7,723 participants aged 45 years and above. Depression was defined using a cutoff score of ≥12 on the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). The primary outcome of interest was incident depression. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were applied to assess the relationship between baseline AIP levels and depression risk across distinct glucose metabolism categories.ResultsElevated AIP was strongly associated with increased odds of depression. In fully adjusted models, a graded relationship was observed, with higher quartiles of AIP corresponding to greater depression risk. Participants in the highest AIP quartile (Q4) had significantly increased odds of depression (odds ratio [OR]: 3.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.67-4.24, P < 0.001) compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1). Furthermore, RCS analyses revealed a significant positive association between AIP and incident depression among individuals with prediabetes mellitus (Pre-DM) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (P < 0.001), whereas no such association was found in participants with normal glucose regulation (NGR) (P = 0.086). These findings suggest that glucose metabolism status modifies the relationship between AIP and depression risk.ConclusionHigher baseline AIP levels are significantly associated with an increased risk of depression in middle-aged and older adults, with distinct effects modulated by glucose metabolism status. These results highlight the potential utility of AIP as a biomarker for depression risk and suggest that metabolic health should be considered in the development of targeted strategies for depression prevention and intervention

Comprehensive analysis of industrial-scale heating plants based on different biomass slow pyrolysis technologies:Product property, energy balance, and ecological impact

Slow pyrolysis poly-generation technology for rural heating using agroforest residues has reached the stage of industrial demonstration application in China. Comprehensive assessment of technical characteristics and technical adaptability is essential as further industrialization development requires related plants to be sustainable and replicable. In this study, three typical technical processes and application models are discussed; namely, poly-generation for syngas and char using a rotary kiln (SCRK), poly-generation for syngas and char using a vertical kiln (SCVK), and poly-generation for hot water and char using a chain grate furnace (HCCF). The technical characteristics, adaptability to raw materials, product property, energy balance, and ecological impact were systematically analyzed by an empirical analysis based on industrial-scale project data. The SCRK was advantageous in terms of product quality and yield of char; the low heating value (LHV) of syngas exceeded 17.3 MJ/m3, which was approximately thrice that of the other two technical processes. The energy conversion efficiency of the SCVK was 76.8%, that is, approximately 4.0–5.7 percentage points higher than that of the HCCF and SCRK. The emergy sustainability indices of SCRK, SCVK, and HCCF, as ecological indicators, were 31.2, 21.4, and 24.5, respectively. The above results indicate that the heating plants based on biomass slow pyrolysis have promising application prospects. The technology promotion path was discussed by matching production situations, market demands, and technical characteristics based on a technical evaluation radar chart. Some targeted suggestions were proposed for the industrial application of different biomass slow pyrolysis poly-generation technologies. This study provides a reference for industrialization development of biomass slow pyrolysis technologies for rural heating.</p

Frailty index based on laboratory tests improves prediction of short-and long-term mortality in patients with critical acute myocardial infarction

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that the frailty index based on laboratory tests (FI-Lab) can identify older adults at increased risk of adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to determine whether the FI-Lab is associated with mortality risk and can provide incremental improvements in risk stratification of patients with critical acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Materials and methodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database. A 33-item FI-Lab was constructed. Outcomes of interest were in-hospital and 1-year mortality. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between the FI-Lab and outcomes. For the assessment of the incremental predictive value, the FI-Lab was added to several risk stratification scoring systems for critically ill patients, and the following indices were calculated: Δ C-statistic, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and net reclassification improvement (NRI).ResultsOut of 2,159 patients, 477 died in hospital (22.1%), and 898 died during the 1-year follow-up period. After adjustment for confounders, the FI-Lab was associated with increased in-hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–1.07] and 1-year mortality (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.04–1.06) when assessed as a continuous variable (per 0.01-score increase). When assessed as a categorical variable, the FI-Lab was associated with in-hospital mortality (2nd Quartile: OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.18–3.03; 3rd Quartile: OR = 3.46, 95% CI: 2.20–5.46; and 4th Quartile: OR = 5.79, 95% CI: 3.61–9.28 compared to 1st Quartile) as well as 1-year mortality (2nd Quartile: OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.23–2.24; 3rd Quartile: OR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.76–3.26; and 4th Quartile: OR = 3.76, 95% CI: 2.66–5.30 compared to 1st Quartile) after adjustment for confounders. The addition of the FI-Lab to all disease severity scores improved discrimination and significantly reclassified in-hospital and 1-year mortality risk.ConclusionThe FI-Lab was a strong predictor of short- and long-term mortality in patients with critical AMI. The FI-Lab improved the ability to predict mortality in patients with critical AMI and therefore might be useful in the clinical decision-making process

Assembly and comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Indocalamus longiauritus

Indocalamus longiauritus, as a dwarf bamboo holds the ecological and economic significance. Although earlier studies have successfully elucidated its chloroplast (cp) genome, the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome still is uncovered. This study undertook the sequencing, assembly, and comprehensive analysis of the complete mt genome of I. longiauritus. Based on the findings, the mt genome contained one circular and two linear contigs with the total length of 491,541bp. Totally, 59 genes were identified, which included 37 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 3 rRNA genes and 19 tRNA genes. In addition, 119 SSRs and 234 dispersed repeats were discovered. We discovered 602 RNA editing sites, with a striking 78.9% of them involving the conversion of hydrophilic amino acid to hydrophobic ones. Furthermore, in the I. longiauritus mt genome, 12 genes included 8 PCGs (petB, psbH, psbN, atpE, ndhJ, rps4, psaB, and ndhI) and 4 tRNA genes (trnM-CAU, trnV-UAC, trnF-GAA, and trnS-GGA) were found to transfer from the cp genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed a close genetic relationship of I. longiauritus with the species Fargesia qinlingensis and I. tessellatus. Collinearity analysis suggested that significant rearrangements existed in the mt genome of I. longiauritus. Selection pressure analysis revealed that more than half of PCGs had Ka/Ks values less than 1. Obviously, certain genes including rpl2, rpl5, rpl10, rpl14, rps2, rps11, rps12, rps14, rps19, and sdh4 were absent in the mt genomes of I. longiauritus and nine relative Poeceae species. Interestingly, the rpl14 gene was uniquely present in the mt genome of I. longiauritus. This study provides a significant genetic resource for the Bambusoideae family, which will facilitate further investigations in the molecular diversity and genetic evolution of bamboos

Comprehensive assessment of emergency departments in county-level public hospitals: a multicenter descriptive cross-sectional study in Henan province, China

BackgroundEmergency Departments (EDs) play a crucial role in providing immediate medical care, particularly in densely populated countries like China. While previous research has predominantly focused on well-funded urban hospitals, this study offers a comprehensive evaluation of EDs in county-level public hospitals in Henan province, China, aiming to identify disparities and challenges.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in 382 public hospitals across Henan province, China, from July 1, 2023, to August 1, 2023. Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire covering hospital information, human resources, infrastructure, clinical capabilities, and operational capacities. The data collection period for this survey spanned from January 1 to December 31, 2022.ResultsWith a remarkable 94.0% response rate, our study reveals significant disparities in county-level public hospitals compared to their provincial or municipal counterparts in Henan Province, China. County-level hospitals, which constitute 266 of the total 342 surveyed facilities, exhibit notable differences, including fewer doctors (median: 11 vs. 23, p &lt; 0.0001) and nurses (median: 18 vs. 37, p &lt; 0.0001). Additionally, a higher proportion of junior doctors is observed in these hospitals, while senior medical staff are more prevalent in provincial or municipal hospitals (p &lt; 0.001). County-level hospitals also face resource challenges, with fewer beds in the emergency room (median: 4 vs. 7, p = 0.0003) and limited proficiency in advanced clinical procedures such as POCT, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, CRRT, ECMO, ultrasound equipment operation, and intraosseous infusion, with significant differences noted in most of these capabilities (p &lt; 0.05). Operational capabilities show distinctions as well, with county-level hospitals managing a lower patient volume (median: 14,516 vs. 34,703, p &lt; 0.0001) and handling fewer pre-hospital CPR cases (median: 33 vs. 89, p &lt; 0.0001). In-hospital CPR success rates are also lower in county-level hospitals (median ROSC: 25.0% vs. 42.8%, p = 0.0068).ConclusionWhile provincial or municipal hospitals enjoy better resources, county-level hospitals, especially crucial in less urbanized regions, face substantial challenges. Addressing these disparities is imperative, necessitating targeted investments, improved infrastructure, enhanced clinical training, and the adoption of innovations like telemedicine to enhance the quality of emergency care

Two-dimensional germanium islands with Dirac signature on Ag2Ge surface alloy

Two-dimensional (2D) Dirac materials have attracted intense research efforts due to their promise for applications ranging from field-effect transistors and low-power electronics to fault-tolerant quantum computation. One key challenge is to fabricate 2D Dirac materials hosting Dirac electrons. Here, monolayer germanene is successfully fabricated on a Ag2Ge surface alloy. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements revealed a linear energy dispersion relation. The latter was supported by density functional theory calculations. These results demonstrate that monolayer germanene can be realistically fabricated on a Ag2Ge surface alloy. The finding opens the door to exploration and study of 2D Dirac material physics and device applications

Enhancing predictive validity of motoric cognitive risk syndrome for incident dementia and all-cause mortality with handgrip strength: insights from a prospective cohort study

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess whether integrating handgrip strength (HGS) into the concept of motoric cognitive risk (MCR) would enhance its predictive validity for incident dementia and all-cause mortality.MethodsA cohort of 5, 899 adults from the Health and Retirement Study underwent assessments of gait speed, subjective cognitive complaints, and HGS were involved. Over a 10-year follow-up, biennial cognitive tests and mortality data were collected. Cox proportional hazard analyses assessed the predictive power of MCR alone and MCR plus HGS for incident dementia and all-cause mortality.ResultsPatients with MCR and impaired HGS (MCR-HGS) showed the highest adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) for dementia (2.33; 95% CI, 1.49–3.65) and mortality (1.52; 95% CI, 1.07–2.17). Even patients with MCR and normal HGS (MCR-non-HGS) experienced a 1.77-fold increased risk of incident dementia; however, this association was not significant when adjusted for socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, and medical conditions. Nevertheless, all MCR groups demonstrated increased risks of all-cause mortality. The inclusion of HGS in the MCR models significantly improved predictive discrimination for both incident dementia and all-cause mortality, as indicated by improvements in the C-statistic, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification indices (NRI).ConclusionOur study underscores the incremental predictive value of adding HGS to the MCR concept for estimating risks of adverse health outcomes among older adults. A modified MCR, incorporating HGS, could serve as an effective screening tool during national health examinations for identifying individuals at risk of dementia and mortality

Spectroscopic visualization of flat bands in magic-angle twisted monolayer-bilayer graphene: localization-delocalization coexisting electronic states

Recent transport studies have demonstrated the great potential of twisted monolayer-bilayer graphene (tMBG) as a new platform to host moir\'e flat bands with a higher tunability than twisted bilayer graphene (tBG). However, a direct visualization of the flat bands in tMBG and its comparison with the ones in tBG remain unexplored. Here, via fabricating on a single sample with exactly the same twist angle of ~1.13{\deg}, we present a direct comparative study between tMBG and tBG using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. We observe a sharp density of states peak near the Fermi energy in tunneling spectroscopy, confirming unambiguously the existence of flat electronic bands in tMBG. The bandwidth of this flat-band peak is found to be slightly narrower than that of the tBG, validating previous theoretical predictions. Remarkably, by measuring spatially resolved spectroscopy, combined with continuum model calculation, we show that the flat-band states in tMBG exhibit a unique layer-resolved localization-delocalization coexisting feature, which offers an unprecedented possibility to utilize their cooperation on exploring novel correlation phenomena. Our work provides important microscopic insight of flat-band states for better understanding the emergent physics in graphene moir\'e systems.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure