Comparison of the mainland and Hong Kong’s epidemic prevention policies from the perspective of collaborative governance

The evolution of the virus has further improved Omicron\u27s ability to spread, and the dynamic clearing policy of Hong Kong and the mainland will be severely challenged in 2022. To explore the implementation of anti-epidemic policies in Hong Kong and mainland China and their respective problems, this study starts from the perspective of collaborative governance, understands the work and performance of the government and other social organizations in the epidemic, and draws conclusions after analysis. This study found that both Hong Kong and the mainland have formed relatively complete epidemic prevention systems through literature research and qualitative interviews. In contrast, Hong Kong\u27s epidemic prevention policy is more relaxed, while the mainland\u27s epidemic prevention policy is more effective in preventing the spread of the virus. The mainland government has a certain affiliation with the community and has better power coordination and organizational coordination capabilities. The Hong Kong government has a cooperative relationship with NGOs, and NGOs in Hong Kong have greater autonomy and flexibility. On the other hand, from the perspective of collaborative governance, the mainland\u27s epidemic prevention system has problems such as bureaucratic practices and a lack of training for volunteers. In Hong Kong, there are problems such as improper resource allocation, poor communication between the government and NGOs, and low efficiency of rescue and support. In this regard, this study proposes that the two places should learn from each other and learn from each other\u27s successful experiences. The mainland should decentralize government power, promote the diversification of governance subjects, and attach importance to volunteer training and management of community workers. For Hong Kong, the government must allocate resources more rationally, strengthen cooperation with other social organizations, and provide more material and spiritual support for the citizens

Intrinsic Properties and Fabric Anisotropy of Sands

The intrinsic properties and fabric anisotropy of sands significantly affect their macroscopic engineering behavior including packing densities, compressibility and strength. However, due to difficulties in reliably and rapidly determining them, intrinsic properties such as gradation, particle roundness and sphericity as well as the related fabric anisotropy of soils have not received their deserved attention and usage in practice. This dissertation introduces research that has facilitated rapid and precise quantification of soil properties and fabric anisotropy using various newly developed image analysis techniques. Extensive laboratory tests were performed on sands of various gradations, roundnesses, sphericities and geologic origins to develop relationships between their intrinsic properties and macroscopic mechanical behavior. A gradation-shape-fabric based Distinct Element Modeling technique was developed to simulate the properties and fabric anisotropy of soils. Besides geotechnical engineering, the technique can be used by engineers and scientists in various disciplines including material science, geology, mining, powder sciences, pavement engineering and agriculture to simulate more realistic material particle geometries and microstructures.PHDCivil EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138645/1/junxing_1.pd

Efficacy of autologous bone marrow buffy coat grafting combined with core decompression in patients with avascular necrosis of femoral head: a prospective, double-blinded, randomized, controlled study

Introduction Avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH) is a progressive disease that often leads to hip joint dysfunction and even disability in young patients. Although the standard treatment, which is core decompression, has the advantage of minimal invasion, the efficacy is variable. Recent studies have shown that implantation of bone marrow containing osteogenic precursors into necrotic lesion of ANFH may be promising for the treatment of ANFH. Methods A prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effect of bone-marrow buffy coat (BBC) grafting combined with core decompression for the treatment of ANFH. Forty-five patients (53 hips) with Ficat stage I to III ANFH were recruited. The hips were allocated to the control group (core decompression + autologous bone graft) or treatment group (core decompression + autologous bone graft with BBC). Both patients and assessors were blinded to the treatment options. The clinical symptoms and disease progression were assessed as the primary and secondary outcomes. Results At the final follow-up (24 months), there was a significant relief in pain (P \u3c0.05) and clinical joint symptoms as measured by the Lequesne index (P \u3c0.05) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (P \u3c0.05) in the treatment group. In addition, 33.3% of the hips in the control group have deteriorated to the next stage after 24 months post-procedure, whereas only 8% in the treatment group had further deterioration (P \u3c0.05). More importantly, the non-progression rates for stage I/II hips were 100% in the treatment group and 66.7% in the control group. Conclusion Implantation of the autologous BBC grafting combined with core decompression is effective to prevent further progression for the early stages of ANFH. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01613612. Registered 13 December 2011

Data processing system of continuous temperature measurement for liquid steel

Six different methods of accurate measurement of the temperature of liquid steel in real time are analyzed. Using a comparison and analysis, a fast and accurate mathematical model is obtained.Проведен анализ шести различных методов точного измерения температуры жидкой стали в реальном времени. С помощью сравнения и анализа результатов получена быстрая и точная математическая модель.Проведено аналіз шести різних методів точного вимірювання температури рідкої сталі в реальному часі. . За допомогою порівняння і аналізу результатів отримана швидка і точна математична модель

The <i>Sinocyclocheilus</i> cavefish genome provides insights into cave adaptation

BACKGROUND: An emerging cavefish model, the cyprinid genus Sinocyclocheilus, is endemic to the massive southwestern karst area adjacent to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China. In order to understand whether orogeny influenced the evolution of these species, and how genomes change under isolation, especially in subterranean habitats, we performed whole-genome sequencing and comparative analyses of three species in this genus, S. grahami, S. rhinocerous and S. anshuiensis. These species are surface-dwelling, semi-cave-dwelling and cave-restricted, respectively. RESULTS: The assembled genome sizes of S. grahami, S. rhinocerous and S. anshuiensis are 1.75 Gb, 1.73 Gb and 1.68 Gb, respectively. Divergence time and population history analyses of these species reveal that their speciation and population dynamics are correlated with the different stages of uplifting of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We carried out comparative analyses of these genomes and found that many genetic changes, such as gene loss (e.g. opsin genes), pseudogenes (e.g. crystallin genes), mutations (e.g. melanogenesis-related genes), deletions (e.g. scale-related genes) and down-regulation (e.g. circadian rhythm pathway genes), are possibly associated with the regressive features (such as eye degeneration, albinism, rudimentary scales and lack of circadian rhythms), and that some gene expansion (e.g. taste-related transcription factor gene) may point to the constructive features (such as enhanced taste buds) which evolved in these cave fishes. CONCLUSION: As the first report on cavefish genomes among distinct species in Sinocyclocheilus, our work provides not only insights into genetic mechanisms of cave adaptation, but also represents a fundamental resource for a better understanding of cavefish biology. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12915-015-0223-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Bio-inspired geotechnical engineering: Principles, current work, opportunities and challenges

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Bio-inspired geotechnical engineering: principles, current work, opportunities and challenges

A broad diversity of biological organisms and systems interact with soil in ways that facilitate their growth and survival. These interactions are made possible by strategies that enable organisms to accomplish functions that can be analogous to those required in geotechnical engineering systems. Examples include anchorage in soft and weak ground, penetration into hard and stiff subsurface materials and movement in loose sand. Since the biological strategies have been ‘vetted’ by the process of natural selection, and the functions they accomplish are governed by the same physical laws in both the natural and engineered environments, they represent a unique source of principles and design ideas for addressing geotechnical challenges. Prior to implementation as engineering solutions, however, the differences in spatial and temporal scales and material properties between the biological environment and engineered system must be addressed. Current bio-inspired geotechnics research is addressing topics such as soil excavation and penetration, soil–structure interface shearing, load transfer between foundation and anchorage elements and soils, and mass and thermal transport, having gained inspiration from organisms such as worms, clams, ants, termites, fish, snakes and plant roots. This work highlights the potential benefits to both geotechnical engineering through new or improved solutions and biology through understanding of mechanisms as a result of cross-disciplinary interactions and collaborations

Phylogeography and Demographic History of Babina pleuraden (Anura, Ranidae) in Southwestern China

Factors that determine genetic structure of species in southwestern China remain largely unknown. In this study, sequences of two mitochondrial genes (COI and cyt b) were determined to investigate the phylogeography and demography of Babina pleuraden, a pond frog endemic to southwestern China. A total of 262 individuals from 22 populations across the entire range of the species were collected. Our results indicate that B. pleuraden comprises five well-supported mitochondrial lineages roughly corresponding to five geographical areas. The phylogeographic structure of B. pleuraden has been shaped primarily by the unique regional responses of the Yunnan Plateau to the rapid uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau occurred c. 2.5 Mya (B phrase of Qingzang Movement) and climatic oscillation during middle Pleistocene (c. 0.64–0.36 Mya), rather than by the paleo-drainage systems. The present wide distribution of the species has resulted from recent population expansion (c. 0.053–0.025 Mya) from multiple refugia prior to the Last Glacial Maximum, corresponding to the scenario of “refugia within refugia”

Phylogeny of the Labeoninae (Teleostei, Cypriniformes) based on nuclear DNA sequences and implications on character evolution and biogeography

The Labeoninae is a subfamily of the family Cyprinidae, Order Cypriniformes. Oromandibular morphology within the Labeoninae is the greatest among cyprinid fishes. Although several phylogenetic studies about labeonines have been undertaken the results have been inconsistent and a comprehensive phylogeny is needed. Further, an incongruence between morphological and molecular phylogeny requires a systematic exploration of the significance of morphological characters on the basis of the molecular phylogeny. In this study, a total of 292 nucleotide sequences from 73 individuals (representing 24 genera and 73 species) of Labeoninae were analyzed. The results of the phylogenetic analysis indicate that there are four major clades within Labeoninae and three monophyletic lineages within the fourth clade. Results of the character evolution show that all oromandibular morphological characters are homoplastically distributed on the molecular phylogenetic tree and suggests that these chara­cters evolved several times during the history of labeonines. In particular, the labeonine , a specific disc on the lower lip, has been acquired three times and reversed twice. These morphological characters do not have systematic significance but can be useful for taxonomy. The results of biogeography suggest that the Labeoninae originated from Southeast Asia and separately dispersed to Africa, East Asia and South Asia [Current Zoology 58 (6): 837–850, 2012]

Effects of Red Mud on Cadmium Uptake and Accumulation by Rice and Chemical Changes in Rhizospheres by Rhizobox Method

Red mud (RM), a byproduct of aluminum production, is used as amendments to increase the pH and reduce the available Cd in soil, but the effects of RM treatments on rice and rhizosphere chemistry changes at different radial-oxygen-loss (ROL) rates and developmental stages remain unclear. To address this concern, a rhizobox trial was conducted to investigate the effect of 0%, 0.5%, and 1.0% RM, on Cd accumulation by rice cultivars differing in ROL rate (&lsquo;Zheyou12&rsquo; (ZY12), &lsquo;Qianyou1&rsquo; (QY1), and &lsquo;Chunjiangnuo2&rsquo; (CJN2)) at two growth stages (tillering and bolting). The results showed that mobility factors of Cd in the soil were decreased significantly at both stages. The Cd mobility factor (MF) of CJN2 was decreased by 33.01% under 1% RM treatment at bolting stage. The pH value was increased by 0.39&ndash;0.53 units at two stages. RM contains large amounts of metals, which can increase soil iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) concentrations, reduce redox potential, and transform the available Cd into Fe/Mn oxide-bound Cd. In addition, the Fe plaque further increased to inhibit the transformation of Cd. These changes reduced the available Cd in the soil and further decreased Cd absorption by rice. With the increase in RM concentration, the shoot and root biomass increased, and Cd accumulation in the plant significantly decreased. Compared with that under 0% RM treatment, the shoot Cd concentrations of ZY12, QY1, and CJN2 under 1% RM treatment at the bolting stage decreased by 27.59%, 36.00%, and 46.03%, respectively. The relative Cd accumulation ability of the three rice cultivars was CJN2 &lt; QY1 &lt; ZY12. The ROL promotes Fe plaque formation on the root surface. The Fe plaque is an obstacle or buffer between Cd and rice, which can immobilize Cd in Fe plaque and further reduce Cd absorption by rice. The addition of RM, in combination with a high-ROL rice cultivar, is a potential strategy for the safe production of rice on Cd-contaminated soils