Research on the Influence of Different Types of Industrial Agglomeration on Ecological Efficiency in Western China

In this study, we used the super-efficient global slacks-based measure of directional distance functions (SBM-DDF) model to evaluate the ecological efficiency and changes in 12 provinces in western China between 2006 and 2020. We then used two linear and nonlinear regression models to analyze in detail the influence mechanisms of different industrial agglomeration forms on the local ecological efficiency. The results show the following: the overall ecological efficiency in the western China region shows a dynamic upward trend. The ecological efficiency of western China is quite different, with the overall characteristics of “high in south and low in north”, “slow in south and fast in north”, and “three-way polarization.” Different types of industrial agglomeration in western China have obvious differences in terms of ecological efficiency. Both specialized agglomeration and unrelated diversification agglomeration in western China have a significant negative impact on ecological efficiency. The relationship between agglomeration-related diversity and ecological efficiency in the western region is of the “U” type. This study’s results can also provide a reference for the formulation of industrial transformation and ecological protection policies in the implementation process of the second round of the western development strategy. This study thus has fundamental significance in the promotion of the second round of western development work

Optimal scheduling management of the parking lot and decentralized charging of electric vehicles based on Mean Field Game

As an intermediary for the interaction between the grid and electric vehicles (EVs), the parking lot aggregator not only facilitates the exchange of electricity between EVs and the grid, but also brings benefits to all participants. This paper proposes a linear quadratic (LQ) Mean Field Game (MFG) theory with a major player to optimal scheduling management of the parking lot and formulate optimal decentralized charging control strategies for a large number of EVs, to achieve the minimization of EVs charging cost while maximizing the profit of the parking lot, but these two problems are a set of coupled control problems. In addition to modeling the interaction between the parking lot and the EVs as a finite-time dynamic game problem, the Nash Certainty Equivalence (NCE) of related optimization problems is also proposed, and the corresponding solution algorithm is designed. The control effects of the proposed dynamic game problem on the charging cycle, as well as the effects of parameters change and electricity price fluctuations on charging control are illustrated through numerical simulations

6-alkylsalicylates are selective Tip60 inhibitors and target the acetyl-CoA binding site

Histone acetyltransferases are important enzymes that regulate various cellular functions, such as epigenetic control of DNA transcription. Development of HAT inhibitors with high selectivity and potency will provide powerful mechanistic tools for the elucidation of the biological functions of HATs and may also have pharmacological value for potential new therapies. In this work, analogs of the known HAT inhibitor anacardic acid were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of HAT activity. Biochemical assays revealed novel anacardic acid analogs that inhibited the human recombinant enzyme Tip60 selectively compared to PCAF and p300. Enzyme kinetics studies demonstrated that inhibition of Tip60 by one such novel anacardic acid derive, 20, was essentially competitive with Ac-CoA and noncompetitive with the histone substrate. In addition, these HAT inhibitors effectively inhibited acetyltransferase activity of nuclear extracts on the histone H3 and H4 at micromolar concentrations

Outcomes and prognostic factors for surgically treated patients with breast cancer spine metastases

Purpose: The aim of this study is to provide some useful insights into the treatments, outcomes, and prognostic factors of patients with breast cancer spine metastases (BCSM). Methods: We report a retrospective case series analyzing 87 patients with BCSM who underwent surgical interventions. Independent prognostic factors for SMFS and OS were extracted using univariate and multivariate analyses, the Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The mean time between primary diagnoses and spinal metastases was 46.8 (median 41, range 0–147 months) months. The analysis showed that lymph node metastasis (p = 0.043, HR 10.498, 95%CI 1.074–102.588) and estrogen receptor (ER) status (p = 0.004, HR 0.368, 95%CI 0.189–0.721) can significantly affect SMFS. Furthermore, visceral metastasis (p = 0.042, HR 2.383, 95%CI 1.032–5.501), multiple metastases (p = 0.035, HR 2.538, 95%CI 1.066–6.048) and post-op chemotherapy (p = 0.003, HR 0.312, 95%CI 0.144–0.675) have significant effects on OS. Lastly, patients identified as Luminal A subtype have longer OS. Conclusions: Lymph node metastases and ER status are independent risk factors in predicting BCSM. Moreover, visceral metastasis, multiple metastases of the spine and post-op chemotherapy are independent prognostic factors. Luminal subtypes have higher rate, but late onset of spine metastases and prolonged survival. Keywords: Breast cancer spine metastasis, Prognostic factors, Survival, Kaplan–Meier method, Perou's classificatio

Microstructural and elemental evolution of polycrystalline alpha-SiC irradiated with ultra-high-fluence helium ions before and after annealing

Helium atoms are the main reaction products that affect the properties of SiC, which is an important structural material used in the nuclear industry. Understanding the behaviour of helium in SiC is important for predicting the lifetimes of SiC in nuclear power systems. Unfortunately, the behaviour of SiC toward ultra-high concentrations (near 50 at.%) of helium have not been investigated extensively. In this study, polycrystalline alpha-SiC was irradiated with 300 keV He2+ ions at a fluence of 7.3 x 10(17) He2+/cm(2) at room temperature, followed by annealing at 900 degrees C and 1200 degrees C, with microstructural and elemental evolution investigated using transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray and Raman spectroscopies. The evolution of helium bubbles, as well as C and Si clusters were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. Significant volume swelling occurred during helium irradiation, and the material recrystallised after annealing at 900 degrees C. Stacking faults and dislocation loops were observed in the recrystallised and crystalline layers, respectively. This work is expected to provide insight into the damage mechanism of SiC exposed to ultra-highfluence He ions and will provide references for the application of SiC in future advanced nuclear energy systems

Improvement of sleep quality in isolated metastatic patients with spinal cord compression after surgery

Abstract Background This study aimed to assess changes in quality of sleep (QoS) in isolated metastatic patients with spinal cord compression following two different surgical treatments and identify potential contributing factors associated with QoS improvement. Methods We reviewed 49 patients with isolated spinal metastasis at our spinal tumor center between December 2017 and May 2021. Total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) and palliative surgery with postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery (PSRS) were performed on 26 and 23 patients, respectively. We employed univariate and multivariate analyses to identify the potential prognostic factors affecting QoS. Results The total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score improved significantly 6 months after surgery. Univariate analysis indicated that age, pain worsening at night, decrease in visual analog scale (VAS), increase in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score (ECOG-PS), artificial implant in focus, and decrease in epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) scale values were potential contributing factors for QoS. Multivariate analysis indicated that the ESCC scale score decreased as an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions Patients with spinal cord compression caused by the metastatic disease had significantly improved QoS after TES and PSRS treatment. Moreover, a decrease in ESCC scale value of > 1 was identified as a favorable contributing factor associated with PSQI improvement. In addition, TES and PSRS can prevent recurrence by achieving efficient local tumor control to improve indirect sleep. Accordingly, timely and effective surgical decompression and recurrence control are critical for improving sleep quality

Study on the Impact of Industrial Agglomeration on Ecological Sustainable Development in Southwest China

Southwest China is a fragile terrestrial ecosystem restricted by its geological background, which leads to a contradiction between its industrial economic development and the ecological environment. In this study, to explore the influence and mechanisms of the three industrial agglomeration modes, namely, specialization, related diversification, and unrelated diversification, on the eco-efficiency of the region, linear and nonlinear regression models were applied to the data of five Southwest provinces from 2006 to 2018. Specialization agglomeration had a significant negative impact on the eco-efficiency of four provinces outside Tibet in Southwest China. With the decrease of industrial specialization, their eco-efficiency improved. The effects of related diversification agglomeration on the ecological efficiency of four provinces outside Tibet in Southwest China showed a “U” curve. The degree of industrial diversification in these provinces exceeded the critical value of 1.46, and the effect on eco-efficiency was shown. The unrelated diversification agglomeration had a negative effect on the ecological efficiency of the four provinces outside Tibet in Southwest China. The degree of industrial-unrelated diversification in Guizhou Province increased slightly, which was not conducive to the improvement of local eco-efficiency. Additionally, it decreased significantly in other provinces, which caused the improvement of local eco-efficiency. The conclusion provides a theoretical basis for industrial green transformation path selection and related policy formulation in Southwest China