An arbitrary order locking-free weak Galerkin method for linear elasticity problems based on a reconstruction operator

The weak Galerkin (WG) finite element method has shown great potential in solving various type of partial differential equations. In this paper, we propose an arbitrary order locking-free WG method for solving linear elasticity problems, with the aid of an appropriate $H(div)$-conforming displacement reconstruction operator. Optimal order locking-free error estimates in both the $H^1$-norm and the $L^2$-norm are proved, i.e., the error is independent of the $Lam\acute{e}$ constant $\lambda$. Moreover, the term $\lambda\|\nabla\cdot \mathbf{u}\|_k$ does not need to be bounded in order to achieve these estimates. We validate the accuracy and the robustness of the proposed locking-free WG algorithm by numerical experiments

A Locking-Free Weak Galerkin Finite Element Method for Linear Elasticity Problems

In this paper, we introduce and analyze a lowest-order locking-free weak Galerkin (WG) finite element scheme for the grad-div formulation of linear elasticity problems. The scheme uses linear functions in the interior of mesh elements and constants on edges (2D) or faces (3D), respectively, to approximate the displacement. An $H(div)$-conforming displacement reconstruction operator is employed to modify test functions in the right-hand side of the discrete form, in order to eliminate the dependence of the $Lam\acute{e}$ parameter $\lambda$ in error estimates, i.e., making the scheme locking-free. The method works without requiring $\lambda \|\nabla\cdot \mathbf{u}\|_1$ to be bounded. We prove optimal error estimates, independent of $\lambda$, in both the $H^1$-norm and the $L^2$-norm. Numerical experiments validate that the method is effective and locking-free

Serum protein coating enhances the antisepsis efficacy of silver nanoparticles against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli infections in mice

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to public health and social development worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Eco-friendly spherical AgNPs were synthesized using rutin at room temperature. The biocompatibility of both polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and mouse serum (MS)-stabilized AgNPs was evaluated at 20 μg/mL and showed a similar distribution in mice. However, only MS-AgNPs significantly protected mice from sepsis caused by the multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) CQ10 strain (p = 0.039). The data revealed that MS-AgNPs facilitated the elimination of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the blood and the spleen, and the mice experienced only a mild inflammatory response, as interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, chemokine KC, and C-reactive protein levels were significantly lower than those in the control group. The results suggest that the plasma protein corona strengthens the antibacterial effect of AgNPs in vivo and may be a potential strategy for combating antimicrobial resistance

Process-Oriented Evaluation of Climate and Weather Forecasting Models

Realistic climate and weather prediction models are necessary to produce confidence in projections of future climate over many decades and predictions for days to seasons. These models must be physically justified and validated for multiple weather and climate processes. A key opportunity to accelerate model improvement is greater incorporation of process-oriented diagnostics (PODs) into standard packages that can be applied during the model development process, allowing the application of diagnostics to be repeatable across multiple model versions and used as a benchmark for model improvement. A POD characterizes a specific physical process or emergent behavior that is related to the ability to simulate an observed phenomenon. This paper describes the outcomes of activities by the Model Diagnostics Task Force (MDTF) under the NOAA Climate Program Office (CPO) Modeling, Analysis, Predictions and Projections (MAPP) program to promote development of PODs and their application to climate and weather prediction models. MDTF and modeling center perspectives on the need for expanded process-oriented diagnosis of models are presented. Multiple PODs developed by the MDTF are summarized, and an open-source software framework developed by the MDTF to aid application of PODs to centers’ model development is presented in the context of other relevant community activities. The paper closes by discussing paths forward for the MDTF effort and for community process-oriented diagnosis

Financial Support for Rural Cooperative Economy in China Based on Grey Correlation Analysis

This paper firstly analyzed current situations of financial support for rural cooperative economy in China and tested the correlation between rural finance and rural cooperative economy using the grey correlation analysis method. Results indicate that there is close relationship between amount, structure and efficiency of rural finance and development of rural cooperative economy. The amount of rural finance has the largest promotion function to development of rural cooperative economy, the next is rural finance structure, and the least is efficiency of rural finance. Based on research conclusions, it came up with pertinent policy recommendations

Polysaccharides, Saponins, and Water Decoction of Astragalus membranaceus Significantly Enhance the Non-Specific Immune Response of Spotted Maigre (Nibea albiflora)

The effects of polysaccharides, saponins, and water decoction of the Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus on the immune response of spotted maigre (Nibea albiflora) were investigated. Fish with an average initial weight of 49.6±5.5 g were fed a diet containing 2% extract for four weeks. The lysozyme and phagocytic activities of the fish were determined and compared with those of control fish fed an unsupplemented feed on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Both activities were significantly higher in groups fed the Astragalus extract than in the control group (p0.05). Most important, the Astragalus-fed groups were significantly protected against Vibrio vulnificus challenge compared to the control group (p<0.01). Our results indicatd that polysaccharides and saponins are main active components of Astragalus extracts and can enhance the non-specific immune response in spotted maigre

Impact of Dietary Fiber/Starch Ratio in Shaping Cecal Microbiota in Rabbits

This work aimed to study the response of the growing rabbit caecal ecosystem (bacterial community) after feeding four different NDF:starch diets on the dry mater (A: 2.3, B: 1.9, C: 1.4, D: 1.0). A total of 200 weaned rabbits (35 days of life, 50 per group) were used for experiment at 42 days after an adaptation period of 7 days. Caecal contents were obtained from rabbits fed different NDF/starch diets at 52,62,72,82 days of life, respectively. The bacterial community structure was characterized high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing. Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Synergistetes, and Tenericutes did not significantly change with diet or age. However, Bacteroidetes (PThe accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Effects of Adding Clostridium sp. WJ06 on Intestinal Morphology and Microbial Diversity of Growing Pigs Fed with Natural Deoxynivalenol Contaminated Wheat

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is commonly detected in cereals, and is a threat to human and animal health. The effects of microbiological detoxification are now being widely studied. A total of 24 pigs (over four months) were randomly divided into three treatments. Treatment A was fed with a basal diet as the control group. Treatment B was fed with naturally DON-contaminated wheat as a negative control group. Treatment C was fed with a contaminated diet that also had Clostridium sp. WJ06, which was used as a detoxicant. Growth performance, relative organ weight, intestinal morphology, and the intestinal flora of bacteria and fungi were examined. The results showed that after consuming a DON-contaminated diet, the growth performance of the pigs decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.05), the relative organ weight of the liver and kidney increased significantly (p &lt; 0.05), and the integrity of the intestinal barrier was also impaired, though the toxic effects of the contaminated diets on growing pigs were relieved after adding Clostridium sp. WJ06. The data from MiSeq sequencing of the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) gene suggested that the abundance of intestinal flora was significantly different across the three treatments. In conclusion, the application of Clostridium sp. WJ06 can reduce the toxic effects of DON and adjust the intestinal microecosystem of growing pigs

Effects of Adding Clostridium sp. WJ06 on Intestinal Morphology and Microbial Diversity of Growing Pigs Fed with Natural Deoxynivalenol Contaminated Wheat

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is commonly detected in cereals, and is a threat to human and animal health. The effects of microbiological detoxification are now being widely studied. A total of 24 pigs (over four months) were randomly divided into three treatments. Treatment A was fed with a basal diet as the control group. Treatment B was fed with naturally DON-contaminated wheat as a negative control group. Treatment C was fed with a contaminated diet that also had Clostridium sp. WJ06, which was used as a detoxicant. Growth performance, relative organ weight, intestinal morphology, and the intestinal flora of bacteria and fungi were examined. The results showed that after consuming a DON-contaminated diet, the growth performance of the pigs decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.05), the relative organ weight of the liver and kidney increased significantly (p &lt; 0.05), and the integrity of the intestinal barrier was also impaired, though the toxic effects of the contaminated diets on growing pigs were relieved after adding Clostridium sp. WJ06. The data from MiSeq sequencing of the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) gene suggested that the abundance of intestinal flora was significantly different across the three treatments. In conclusion, the application of Clostridium sp. WJ06 can reduce the toxic effects of DON and adjust the intestinal microecosystem of growing pigs

Analysis of Soil Moisture, Temperature, and Salinity in Cotton Field under Non-Mulched Drip Irrigation in South Xinjiang

The mulch film residues in cotton fields in south Xinjiang have caused serious harm to the soil environment and ecological security in the oasis areas. Non-mulched planting provides an alternative approach to this problem. In this experiment, irrigation was provided on the basis of the reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0). Two layouts of drip tapes (1T4R&mdash;one tape for four rows; 2T4R&mdash;two tapes for four rows) were applied to the non-mulched, drip-irrigated cotton fields in south Xinjiang, and their impacts on soil water&ndash;heat&ndash;salt dynamic changes and the water consumption and yield of cotton were compared and analyzed. The experiment shows that the 2T4R layout provided an excellent soil water&ndash;salt environment for cotton growth and yield formation. Soil temperature decreased by 0.8 &deg;C and drip irrigation belt input increased by CNY1200&middot;hm&minus;2. However, a higher profit derived from the 2T4R layout could compensate for the increased expenditure. The results show that cotton cultivation using non-mulched drip irrigation instead of mulched drip irrigation can potentially alleviate soil environmental and ecological security problems caused by plastic mulch residues in oasis areas. Although cotton yield was reduced by about 15%, water and nitrogen strategies and other field management could be adjusted to compensate for the disadvantages