The decay rates of solutions to a chemotaxis-shallow water system

In this paper, we consider the large time behavior of solution for the chemotaxis-shallow water system in R2 . The lower bound for time decay rates of the bacterial density and the chemoattractant concentration are proved by the method of energy estimates, which implies these two variables tend to zero at the L 2 -rate (1 + t) − 1 2 . Furthermore, by the Fourier splitting method, we also show the first order spatial derivatives of the bacterial density tends to zero at the L 2 -rate (1 + t) −

Effect of a combination of donepezil tablets and butylphthalide soft capsules on neurological function in dementia patients, and its effect on serum inflammatory factors

Purpose: To determine the effect of combined use of donepezil tablets and butylphthalide soft capsules in the treatment of patients with vascular dementia, and its effect on serum inflammatory factor levels and neurological functional recovery of patients.Methods: 120 patients with vascular dementia were selected and assigned to group A (n = 60) and group B (n = 60). All patients were treated with donepezil tablets, while patients in group A were, in addition, treated with butylphthalide soft capsules. Mini mental state examination (MMSE) scores, clinical dementia rating scale (CDRS) scores, activities of daily living (ADL) scores, incidence of adverse reactions, serum inflammatory factor levels and neurological functional recovery were determined.Results: There was significantly higher MMSE score in group A than in B, while CDRS score was lower in group A. The ADL scores and inflammatory factor levels were lower in group A than in B (p < 0.001), while neurological functional recovery was markedly better in A (p < 0.001). Incidents of unwanted events were comparable in groups A and B, and there were no serious complications in the patients.Conclusion: The combination therapy of donepezil tablets and butylphthalide soft capsules reduces inflammatory factor levels and improved cognitive level and quality of life of patients with vascular dementia. It also produces good neurological functional recovery and low incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, this treatment strategy has potentials for the management of vascular dementia

SCALE method for single-cell ATAC-seq analysis via latent feature extraction.

Single-cell ATAC-seq (scATAC-seq) profiles the chromatin accessibility landscape at single cell level, thus revealing cell-to-cell variability in gene regulation. However, the high dimensionality and sparsity of scATAC-seq data often complicate the analysis. Here, we introduce a method for analyzing scATAC-seq data, called Single-Cell ATAC-seq analysis via Latent feature Extraction (SCALE). SCALE combines a deep generative framework and a probabilistic Gaussian Mixture Model to learn latent features that accurately characterize scATAC-seq data. We validate SCALE on datasets generated on different platforms with different protocols, and having different overall data qualities. SCALE substantially outperforms the other tools in all aspects of scATAC-seq data analysis, including visualization, clustering, and denoising and imputation. Importantly, SCALE also generates interpretable features that directly link to cell populations, and can potentially reveal batch effects in scATAC-seq experiments

Trend towards virtual and hybrid conferences may be an effective climate change mitigation strategy

Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has urged event holders to shift conferences online. Virtual and hybrid conferences are greener alternatives to in-person conferences, yet their environmental sustainability has not been fully assessed. Considering food, accommodation, preparation, execution, information and communication technology, and transportation, here we report comparative life cycle assessment results of in-person, virtual, and hybrid conferences and consider carbon footprint trade-offs between in-person participation and hybrid conferences. We find that transitioning from in-person to virtual conferencing can substantially reduce the carbon footprint by 94% and energy use by 90%. For the sake of maintaining more than 50% of in-person participation, carefully selected hubs for hybrid conferences have the potential to slash carbon footprint and energy use by two-thirds. Furthermore, switching the dietary type of future conferences to plant-based diets and improving energy efficiencies of the information and communication technology sector can further reduce the carbon footprint of virtual conferences. Moving conferences from in-person to virtual and hybrid modes may have emissions reductions benefits. Here the authors find that the switch to virtual and hybrid conferencing reduces the carbon footprint by 94% when it comes to the switch to virtual conferencing, and 67% for hybrid conferences with carefully selected hubs

Structural defects in 2D MoS2 nanosheets and their roles in the adsorption of airborne elemental mercury

In this research, ab initio calculations and experimental approach were adopted to reveal the mechanism of Hg0 adsorption on MoS2 nanosheets that contain various types of defects. The ab initio calculation showed that, among different structural defects, S vacancies (Vs) in the MoS2 nanosheets exhibited outstanding potential to strongly adsorb Hg0. The MoS2 material was then prepared in a controlled manner under conditions, such as temperature, concentration of precursors, etc., that were determined by adopting the new method developed in this study. Characterisation confirmed that the MoS2 material is of graphene-like layered structure with abundant structural defects. The integrated dynamic and steady state (IDSS) testing demonstrated that the Vs-rich nanosheets showed excellent Hg0 adsorption capability. In addition, ab initial calculation on charge density difference, PDOS, and adsorption pathways revealed that the adsorption of Hg0 on the Vs-rich MoS2 surface is non-activated chemisorption

Preparation and Characterization of Multi-Doped PorousCarbon Nanofibers from Carbonization in Different Atmospheres and Their Oxygen Electrocatalytic Properties Research

Recently, electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as well as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) hinged on electrospun nanofiber composites have attracted wide research attention. Transition metal elements and heteroatomic doping are important methods used to enhance their catalytic performances. Lately, the construction of electrocatalysts based on metal-organic framework (MOF) electrospun nanofibers has become a research hotspot. In this work, nickel-cobalt zeolitic imidazolate frameworks with different molar ratios (NixCoy-ZIFs) were synthesized in an aqueous solution, followed by NixCoy-ZIFs/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrospun nanofiber precursors, which were prepared by a simple electrospinning method. Bimetal (Ni-Co) porous carbon nanofiber catalysts doped with nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur elements were obtained at high-temperature carbonization treatment in different atmospheres (argon (Ar), Air, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S)), respectively. The morphological properties, structures, and composition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Moreover, the specific surface area of materials and their pore size distribution was characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). Linear sweep voltammetry curves investigated catalyst performances towards oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. Importantly, Ni1Co2-ZIFs/PAN-Ar yielded the best ORR activity, whereas Ni1Co1-ZIFs/PAN-Air exhibited the best OER performance. This work provides significant guidance for the preparation and characterization of multi-doped porous carbon nanofibers carbonized in different atmospheres

Critical roles of edge turbulent transport in the formation of high-field-side high-density front and density limit disruption in J-TEXT tokamak

This article presents an in-depth study of the sequence of events leading to density limit disruption in J-TEXT tokamak plasmas, with an emphasis on boudary turbulent transport and the high-field-side high-density (HFSHD) front. These phenomena were extensively investigated by using Langmuir probe and Polarimeter-interferometer diagnostics

The quality of childbirth care in China: women’s voices: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: In the context of improved utilisation of health care and outcomes, rapid socio-economic development and health system reform in China, it is timely to consider the quality of services. Data on quality of maternal health care as experienced by women is limited. This study explores women's expectations and experiences of the quality of childbirth care in rural China. METHODS: Thirty five semi-structured interviews and five focus group discussions were conducted with 69 women who had delivered in the past 12 months in hospitals in a rural County in Anhui Province. Data were transcribed, translated and analysed using the framework approach. RESULTS: Hospital delivery was preferred because it was considered safe. Home delivery was uncommon and unsupported by the health system. Expectations such as having skilled providers and privacy during childbirth were met. However, most women reported lack of cleanliness, companionship during labour, pain relief, and opportunity to participate in decision making as poor aspects of care. Absence of pain relief is one reason why women may opt for a caesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: These findings illustrate that to improve quality of care it is crucial to build accountability and communication between providers, women and their families. Ensuring women's participation in decision making needs to be addressed