Abundant Supply Research Articles

Opioid: Plenitude versus pittance.

The opioid crisis in the USA and in other developed countries can potentially affect low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The licit medical use of opioids has two sides. The USA and high-income countries maintain abundant supply for medical prescription. Between 1990 and 2010, the use of opioids for cancer pain relief was overtaken by a dramatic rise in the opioid prescriptions for non-cancer acute or chronic pain. The surge led to the opioid epidemic, recognized as social catastrophe in the USA, Canada and in some countries in Europe. From 2016, the medical community, health policy regulators and law-makers have taken actions to tackle this opioid crisis. On the other side, formulary deficiency and low opioid availability exists for three-fourths of the global population living in LMICs. Physicians and nurses in Asia and Africa engaged in cancer pain relief and palliative care face a constant paucity of opioids. Millions of patients in LMICs, suffering from life-modifying cancer pain, do not have access to morphine and other essential opioids, due to restrictive opioid policies. Attention will be needed to improve opioid availability in large parts of the world, even though the opioid crisis has led to control the licit medical use in the USA.

Supplier bottleneck and information dissemination

AbstractThis paper investigates the capacity decisions of complementary suppliers who produce different components of a final product. The suppliers solicit private forecast information from a buyer who has more precise information regarding the market as compared to the suppliers. In this context, the lowest capacity built among suppliers—termed as effective capacity—represents the bottleneck of a supply chain, which in turn determines the throughput of the entire channel. The standard analysis based on full rationality posits that the capacity decisions of suppliers are based on their prior belief of demand, with no consideration of the buyer's information dissemination or the number of peer suppliers. We test the predictions experimentally, and our laboratory observations reject the prediction of rational model. Then, we develop a behavioral model based on suppliers' heterogeneity in the processing of demand information provided by the buyer. Our behavioral model indicates that suppliers lower their capacity levels when the number of suppliers increases, thereby exacerbating the supplier bottleneck. While the buyer may exaggerate the market demand to ensure abundant supply, interestingly, the inflation can benefit suppliers by increasing their capacity levels. In this manner, the inflation of the buyer can serve to mitigate the supplier bottleneck, thereby resulting in a win–win outcome for both the suppliers and the buyer.

Hydrogen generation from bamboo biomass using enzymatic hydrolysis and subsequent microbial electrolysis in a single chamber microbial electrolysis cell

Sustainable, economical. and clean energy production technologies acutely needed abundant supply of raw materials (biomass) and superior process engineering techniques to deliver the desired throughput. In this endeavour, here we demonstrated the utilization of lignocellulose (Bambusa bambos) by successive enzymatic treatment and microbial electrolysis in a single chamber MEC for generating clean fuel-hydrogen. In addition, we studied MEC (V=400 mL) by modifying an anode (graphene with 100 cm2 area) with monodisperse iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). Enzymatically (10% w/w laccase) pretreated Bambusa bambos with 40.31% reduced lignin was subjected to batch hydrolysis (20% w/w enzyme-to-substrate ratio) using cellulase. The glucose produced (99.54 ± 4 mg/dL) after 96 h of incubation was further operated in single chamber MEC equipped with highly efficient IONPs coated electrodes for hydrogen production. Engineering parameters namely-applied voltage (0.6-1.0 V) and mixing characteristics (0–400 rpm) were also investigated to improve the system performance. The MEC with IONPs coated anode offered hydrogen production efficiency 1.14 times higher as compared to MEC with the uncoated anode. The maximum hydrogen production of 0.02 g (224 mL) per gram of biomass was obtained in MEC with the coated anode at an applied voltage of 0.8 V under the influence of moderate mixing (200 rpm).

Nitrogen-Doping-Induced High-Performance Carbon Nanofiber Anodes for Potassium-Ion Storage

Due to the abundant supply of potassium, potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are considered as a promising alternative battery system to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Carbonaceous materials are the preferred anode materials for these batteries. However, the electrochemical performance of carbonaceous anode materials is still unsatisfactory, hindering the development of PIBs. In this work, nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (N-CNFs) were synthesized by the calcination of bacterial cellulose with urea acting as a nitrogen source. When employed as an anode material for PIBs, the N-CNFs exhibit a stable specific capacity of 205 mA h g–1 at 0.2 C after 250 cycles and an outstanding rate capability of 149.7 mA h g–1 at 5.0 C. The N-doped structure can facilitate the K+ and electronic conductivity, which will effectively enhance electrochemical performance of the electrode. In addition, ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry pattern analyses illustrate the reversible insertion of K+ in the N-CNF electrode.

Analysis of Extreme Rainstorms Associated with Tropical Cyclone Rammasun (2014) over Guangxi Province of China

The tropical cyclone (TC) Rammasun (1409) successively caused three extreme rainstorms centered in Hepu, Fangcheng, and Lingshan in Guangxi. In this study, a set of datasets, including the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) TC best-track data, rain gauge stations, radar products, and the latest ERA5 reanalysis, were used to investigate the spatial–temporal characteristics and causes of the three rainstorms. Overall, there are apparent discrepancies among them regarding the triggering and maintenance mechanisms. Prior to its landfall in Guangxi, the rainstorm surge (hourly precipitation 136.9 mm) around Hepu was triggered by the approaching low-level jet and northward intrusion of convective instability in the context of abundant vapor supply and vigorous convection. At the weakening stage, Rammasun gradually crossed over the Shiwan Mountains, with a strong convection zone in the western eyewall moving to Fangcheng, which enhanced the precipitation there under the help of topographic uplift. The friction effect slowed down the TC, and contributed to accumulation of the precipitation, which, however, was somewhat suppressed (hourly precipitation less than 50 mm) by the low-level stratification. In the decaying stage, the Lingshan rainstorm was triggered under the combined efforts of the high-level divergence due to the expansion of the South Asian high and the surface convergence between the southeasterly and southerly winds, accompanied by the westward expansion of the high-energy zone. Finally, the corresponding conceptual models for the three rainstorms are summarized and should provide important implications to both research and forecasting for TC-related heavy precipitation.

Unique benthic foraminiferal communities (stained) in diverse environments of sub-Antarctic fjords, South Georgia

Abstract. Sub-Antarctic fjords are among the environments most affected by the recent climate change. In our dynamically changing world, it is essential to monitor changes in these vulnerable settings. Here, we present a baseline study of “living” (rose-bengal-stained) benthic foraminifera from fjords of South Georgia, including fjords with and without tidewater glaciers. Their distribution is analyzed in the light of new fjord water and sediment property data, including grain size and sorting, total organic carbon, total sulfur, and δ13C of bulk organic matter. Four well-defined foraminiferal assemblages are recognized. Miliammina earlandi dominates in the most restricted, near-shore and glacier-proximal habitats, Cassidulinoides aff. parkerianus in mid-fjord areas, and Globocassidulina aff. rossensis and an assemblage dominated by Ammobaculites rostratus, Reophax subfusiformis, and Astrononion echolsi are in the outer parts of the fjords. Miliammina earlandi can tolerate strong glacial influence, including high sedimentation rates in fjord heads and sediment anoxia, as inferred from sediment color and total organic carbon / sulfur ratios. This versatile species thrives both in the food-poor inner reaches of fjords that receive mainly refractory petrogenic organic matter from glacial meltwater and in shallow-water coves, where it benefits from an abundant supply of fresh, terrestrial, and marine organic matter. A smooth-walled variant of C. aff. parkerianus, apparently endemic to South Georgia, is the calcareous rotaliid best adapted to inner-fjord conditions characterized by moderate glacial influence and sedimentation rates and showing no preference for particular sedimentary redox conditions. The outer parts of fjords with clear, well-oxygenated bottom water are inhabited by G. aff. rossensis. Ammobaculites rostratus, R. subfusiformis, and A. echolsi dominate in the deepest-water settings, with water salinities ≥ 33.9 PSU and temperatures 0.2–1.4 ∘C, characteristic of winter water and Upper Circumpolar Deep Water. The inner- and mid-fjord foraminiferal assemblages seem specific to South Georgia, although with continued warming and deglaciation, they may become more widespread in the Southern Ocean.

Emerging albumin hydrogels as personalized biomaterials.

Developing biomaterials-based tissue engineering scaffolds with personalized features and intrinsic biocompatibility is appealing and urgent. Through utilizing various strategies, albumin, as the most abundant protein in plasma, could be fabricated into sustainable, cost-effective, and potentially personalized hydrogels that would display enormous biological applications. To date, much of the albumin-based research is primarily engrossed in using albumin as a therapeutic molecule or a drug carrier, not much as a scaffold for tissue engineering. For this reason, we have come up with a detailed and insightful review of recent progress in albumin-based hydrogels having an emphasis on production techniques, material characteristics, and biological uses. It is envisioned that albumin-based scaffolds would be appealing and useful platforms to meet current tissue engineering needs and achieve the goal of clinical translation to benefit patients. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The creation of autologous material-based scaffolds is a potential method for preventing immunological reactions and obtaining the best therapeutic results. Patient-derived albumin hydrogels may consequently provide improved opportunities for personalized treatment due to their abundant supply and minimal immunogenicity. To provide a detailed and insightful summary on albumin-based hydrogels, this review includes latest comprehensive information on their preparation procedures, features, and applications in 3D printing and other biomedical applications. The challenges, along with the future potential for implementing albumin-based hydrogels in clinics, have also been addressed.

Influence of carbonization temperature on cobalt-based nitrogen-doped carbon nanopolyhedra derived from ZIF-67 for nonoxidative propane dehydrogenation

Propylene is a significant basic material for petrochemicals such as polypropylene, propylene oxide, etc. With abundant propane supply from shale gas, propane dehydrogenation (PDH) becomes extensively attractive as an on-purpose propylene production route in recent years. Nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) nanopolyhedra supported cobalt catalysts were synthesized in one-step of ZIF-67 pyrolysis and investigated further in PDH. XPS, TEM and N 2 adsorption-desorption were used to study the influence of carbonization temperature on as-prepared NC supported cobalt catalysts. The temperature is found to affect the cobalt phase and nitrogen species of the catalysts. And the positive correlation was established between Co 0 proportion and space time yield of propylene, indicating that the modulation of carbonization temperature could be important for catalytic performance.

A Synergistic Approach to Atmospheric Water Scavenging.

An abundant supply of fresh water is one of the leading challenges of the 21st century (UNESCO. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2018: Nature-Based Solutions for Water;UNESCO: Paris, France, 2018; p 154). Here we describe a new approach to scavenge atmospheric water that employs a hierarchically ordered porous material with embedded particles (Lash, M. H.; Jordan, J. C.; Blevins, L. C.; Fedorchak, M. V.; Little, S. R.; McCarthy, J. J.Non-Brownian Particle-Based Materials with Microscale and Nanoscale Hierarchy. Ang. Chem. Int. Ed.201554, 5854-5858). This composite uses structure to amplify native material performance to realize synergy between the capture and storage and to ultimately qualitatively change the adsorption behavior of the hydrogel (from unfavorable to favorable). In this way we can capture moisture at significantly lower relative humidities than would otherwise be feasible with the native materials. Not only does this approach pose the potential for a cheap and low-energy source of clean water but it could also be modified for application across a variety of condensable vapor reclamations.

Clinical anatomy of hepatic vessels by computed tomography angiography: A minireview.

The liver has a complex vascular anatomy with a unique dual blood supply. Clinical conditions of the liver vary widely and include disorders originating in the vascular and biliary systems as well as the parenchyma. In most vascular disorders, the effects on the liver are generally subclinical because of its abundant blood supply. However, early diagnosis of such vascular diseases can significantly reduce patient morbidity and mortality. Because imaging findings of vascular disease are not always readily apparent, diagnosis can be difficult. Computed tomography angiography is an excellent imaging modality for visualizing the vascular anatomy of patients for treatment planning. In this review article, we focus on the vascular anatomy of the liver and the imaging findings in some acute hepatic vascular diseases.

Adipose Tissue and Adipose-Tissue-Derived Cell Therapies for the Treatment of the Face and Hands of Patients Suffering from Systemic Sclerosis

Adipose tissue is recognized as a valuable source of cells with angiogenic, immunomodulatory, reparative and antifibrotic properties and emerged as a therapeutic alternative for the regeneration and repair of damaged tissues. The use of adipose-tissue-based therapy is expanding in autoimmune diseases, particularly in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), a disease in which hands and face are severely affected, leading to disability and a decrease in quality of life. Combining the advantage of an abundant supply of fat tissue and a high abundance of stem/stromal cells, fat grafting and adipose tissue-derived cell-based therapies are attractive therapeutic options in SSc. This review aims to synthesize the evidence to determine the effects of the use of these biological products for face and hands treatment in the context of SSc. This highlights several points: the need to use relevant effectiveness criteria taking into account the clinical heterogeneity of SSc in order to facilitate assessment and comparison of innovative therapies; second, it reveals some impacts of the disease on fat-grafting success; third, an important heterogeneity was noticed regarding the manufacturing of the adipose-derived products and lastly, it shows a lack of robust evidence from controlled trials comparing adipose-derived products with standard care.

A Mesoscale Ocean–Atmosphere Coupled Pathway for Decadal Variability of the Kuroshio Extension System

Abstract The Kuroshio Extension (KE) system has been observed to experience a decadal cycle between dynamically stable and unstable states. However, divergent conclusions on its interaction with the atmosphere obfuscate the understanding of its oscillatory nature at the preferred decadal time scale. Here, using satellite observations and the ERA-Interim reanalysis in 2002–16, physical process-oriented diagnoses suggest that the wintertime finer-scale thermodynamic response to mesoscale oceanic surface conditions and slow oceanic Rossby wave adjustment frame a coupled ocean–atmosphere delayed oscillator for the decadal KE variability. During the stable state of the KE system, the downstream KE transition region is rich in mesoscale oceanic warming associated with warm eddies, which induces surface wind convergence and upward motion, probably via the enhanced turbulent mixing. Meanwhile, increased finer-scale diabatic heating in the lower troposphere with abundant moisture supply from warmer water likely facilitates the deep-reaching updraft that adiabatically cools the middle troposphere. The background northwesterly wind helps to spread out the cooling, leading to southward deflection of local atmospheric eddy available potential energy (EAPE) production by baroclinic conversion. Consequently, the synoptic eddy activity displaces southward across the basin with additional energy supply from the increased diabatic production of EAPE downstream. Anomalous synoptic eddy thermal and vorticity forcing eventually fosters the basin-scale equivalent-barotropic cyclonic circulation anomaly, which is further maintained by energy conversion from the background state. The resultant wind-driven negative sea surface height anomalies propagate westward into the upstream KE region with a delay of ∼4 years and can trigger the unstable state of the KE system.

Sedimentology and evolution of the Holocene radial tidal sand ridge in the south Yellow Sea, China

The radial tidal sand ridge (RTSR) off the Jiangsu Coast in the south Yellow Sea is one of the most fantastic and unique natural landscapes in the world. A large number of investigations on geomorphology and marine geology have been implemented during the last several decades. The formation and evolution of the RTSR, however, are still under debate. To resolve this issue, 10 ∼30–60 m-long cores were retrieved from the Jiangsu coastal plain and offshore sand ridge field in 2018–2019. Stratigraphic transects chronologically constrained by abundant radiocarbon dates were built based on sedimentological and paleoecological (i.e., foraminifer) data from selected cores. Combined with well-documented core stratigraphy from earlier studies, an age–depth plot with a local sea-level change curve revealed that the RTSR initiated approximately 9,000 cal a BP in a sandy bedform shape under transgressive conditions, continued throughout the Holocene, but developed mostly after 1128 AD, when the Yellow River flowed southward into the Yellow Sea. Abundant sediment supply, thus, appears to have played a major role in the formation and evolution of the RTSR in the south Yellow Sea.

Macao’s Split Labour Market

Abstract Edna Bonacich’s split labour market states that socio-political factors generate differential outcomes for workers in a region, generally as the result of ethnic antagonism. This ethnic antagonism, Bonacich argues, does not require open violence or even verbal confrontation but can operate through exclusion movements and “caste” systems. In this paper, we use Bonacich’s framework to analyse the production of a split labour market in the Macao, Special Administrative Region of China. Macao depends on an abundant supply of low-skilled migrant workers to remunerate the workforce. While many migrant workers are foreigners, most are ‘internal’ migrants from Mainland China, meaning that a conventional explanation of ethnic differences is insufficient. Bonacich had observed that “exclusion attempts and caste-like arrangements are found among national groupings within a racial category” giving the example of ‘whites’ in the United States excluding other ‘whites’ from different parts of Europe. However, Macao as a part of China constitutes a unique example in that an exclusion attempt and caste-like arrangement is to be found within the same national grouping of the same racial category in the same country. As this research considers how ethnic and quasi-ethnic differences are produced and sustained in Macao through government policy; social attitudes and the social practices of workers and businesses, we find that permanent Macao id card holders, which gives out numerous benefits and rights, is as a form of exclusion movement. Moreover, local workers act as a labour aristocracy: they extract concessions from businesses and suppress migrant workers economically, politically and socially. Edna Bonacich’s split labour market helps explain how a labour aristocracy is maintained subtly at the interest of local workers through concessions from the businesses.

Evaluating the sources and fate of nitrate in riparian aquifers under agricultural land using in situ-measured noble gases, stable isotopes, and metabolic genes

Riparian zones with their buffering ability and abundant water supply are often subjected to intensive agricultural activities. We investigated a riparian aquifer located near a stream in South Korea that recently experienced sharply decreasing groundwater levels and elevated nitrate (NO3–) concentrations, which were attributed to local agricultural activities. Our goal was to identify the predominant nitrogen sources and NO3– removal processes. Multiple approaches including geochemical and isotopic tracers, land-use analysis, metabolic gene quantification, and inert gas tracers were used to elucidate groundwater and nutrient dynamics in stream-side granitic aquifers. The dual isotopic composition of NO3– identified manure and sewage as the major sources of NO3– contamination. Denitrification was the dominant NO3– removal process in the aquifer, as demonstrated by the negative relationship between δ15N and δ18O values in NO3–and NO3–/Cl–. Denitrification and anammox genes were also observed in microbial communities of the aquifer throughout the study site, suggesting that these processes support effective natural NO3– attenuation in groundwater. A mixing model constructed using a catchment-scale dataset including SiO2 concentrations and δ18O-H2O suggested that mixing with paddy soil water was the major driver of denitrification in the aquifer at the study site, where impervious layers provided anaerobic conditions for natural NO3– attenuation. Denitrification reduced the NO3– flux into the nearby stream by up to 114.4 NO3– kg/ha/y (26 kg N/ha/y). The N2 generated by denitrification did not accumulate in the groundwater, but mostly escaped from groundwater to the atmosphere, as demonstrated by the degassed signature of dissolved inert gases below the air saturated water level. This study identified the predominant NO3– sources and conceptualized N cycling in the heavily developed agricultural riparian aquifer using multiple tracers, demonstrating that NO3– is partially removed through denitrification and possibly anammox while N2 mostly escapes into the atmosphere.

Global Sensitivity Analysis of 0-D Lithium Sulfur Electrochemical Model

This paper examines global parameter sensitivity in a zero-dimensional lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery model. Li-S batteries are an appealing cell chemistry due to their high theoretical energy density, abundant supply, and low cost. Due to the lack of complete understanding of the underlying working mechanisms for Li-S cells, the development of mathematical models and state estimation is still in its early stages. Model development and parameter Identification are closely associated. Both are essential for developing battery management systems (BMS) in commercialized Li-S powered applications. This paper highlights the parameter Identification challenges associated with Li-S models. Sensitivity analysis helps for parameter Identification by revealing information about parameter relevance and interdependence. Sensitivity analysis also helps in understanding different physical ranges of parameters, and their impact on model performance/response. In this work, we examine global sensitivity analysis (GSA). A key challenge for GSA, especially in Li-S batteries, is a lack of available information in the literature about a-priori distributions of Li-S parameters. This paper aims to elucidate this challenge by comparing GSA under different parameter distributions. Three model parameters are chosen in this analysis, and their sensitivities are compared under three different distributions. We find that, under certain distributions of parameters, relative importance of the parameters shifts.

Современный статус балобана в России и в Казахстане

Современный статус балобана в России и в Казахстане

Analysis on the Heavy Rain Weather Process in Most Areas of China from July 26 to 30, 2022

To analyze a new heavy rain case over China during the year 2022, by using the data from NCC-CMA and NCEP, a heavy rain weather process in most areas of China from July 26 to 30, 2022 was analyzed. Synoptic methods were used in this research and results show that under the influence of low vortex and wind shear, the abundant water vapor supply brought by the southeast airflow in the lower level and the lifting of the Taihang Mountain, heavy rain weather occurred in the northern part of Henan, China. In the west of Liaoning and Jilin, the rainfall process had the characteristics of frontal rainfall and the stable precipitation resulted in heavy rain weather. To sum up, the rainfall process was mainly affected by the upper-level trough, low-level wind shear and low-level jet.

Harnessing value and sustainability: Fish waste valorization and the production of valuable byproducts.

The valorization of by-products, that are residual materials resulting from commercial product manufacturing, holds significant potential in various industries such as food, agrochemical, medical, and pharmaceutical sectors. This chapter explores the utilization of fish waste as a means to achieve sustainability in fish resources and enhance the production of profitable products. By developing cost-effective technologies, the abundant global supply of fish by-products can be transformed into low-cost sources of proteins and functional hydrolysates. This alternative approach in the food industry utilizes fish and seafood waste to generate valuable compounds with nutritional and functional properties, surpassing those found in traditional mammal products. Despite being commonly discarded, fish heads, viscera, skin, tails, blood, and seafood shells contain a wealth ofminerals, lipids, amino acids, polysaccharides, and proteins suitable for human health applications. This chapter presents an exploration of the various products and bioactive compounds that can be derived from seafood waste, contributing to a more sustainable and value-driven future.

Fisheries and aquaculture products consumption in France: when the Covid-19 crisis did not lead to more sustainable purchases

In terms of food consumption, sustainability dimensions are often conflicting with purchasing power and practical purchases. France lands, farms, imports, and consumes large quantities of fisheries and aquaculture products (FAPs). The pandemic affected both domestic and foreign FAP supply through restrictions on trade and fishing conditions. Numerous sale points offering FAPs were closed during the pandemic. This general context has likely questioned the role of consumers on environmental, economic, and social matters. The aim of the paper is to assess whether the Covid-19 crisis has been an opportunity for French consumers to align their consumption at-home with the environmental issues by favouring domestic producers, short channels, or eco-friendly products. Quantitative data on at-home ordinary household purchases in metropolitan France from 2017 to 2021 was used along with t-test methods. It seems that fresh FAPs consumption did not truly adapt to the domestic fish production in defiance of import restrictions and available surpluses. While fresh shellfish at-home consumption did not change significantly in 2020, salmon and cod are still widely favoured by French consumers at-home, although their French production is virtually non-existent. On the contrary, domestically produced fish species remains poorly consumed at-home. The abundant supply of fresh salmon initially intended for other markets has permitted to consolidate the dominant position of this species on the French at-home consumption market. Initiated by supermarkets and hypermarkets and followed up by consumers, the trend of purchasing pre-packaged fresh fish has been substantially amplified by the pandemic and seems to persist over time.