Complex Changes Research Articles

AI-enhanced "Two-thirds Guidelines" for Lipolifting: Addressing Multiple Hallmarks of Facial Aging.

Facial aging involves complex changes such as volume loss, ligament weakening, and skin quality alterations. The "two-thirds guidelines" emerge as a novel strategy to combat these aging signs, drawing from an extensive analysis of 2800 facial fat grafting procedures conducted over two decades. Guided by facial lipolifting data, including patient age, fat type (microfat and nanofat), and injection depth, this study devises a systematic framework for multilayer fat rejuvenation and ligament restoration. The two-thirds guidelines advocate injecting two-thirds of the patient's age for microfat and one-third for nanofat, with specific injection codes for lower, middle, and upper facial regions. A prospective study involving 400 patients confirms the efficacy of the two-thirds guidelines. However, applicability may vary for patients outside SD ranges, particularly concerning facial proportions and body mass index. Patients within the golden ratio range (1.4-1.9) report high satisfaction rates and a 50% fat graft uptake, with minimal complications. For patients outside this range, an artificial intelligence (AI) program was implemented. The two-thirds guidelines offer a comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation, addressing volume loss, ligament weakening, and skin quality. They are applicable in early aging stages, promising enduring and natural outcomes while mitigating effects of weight fluctuations. These guidelines provide a safe, replicable, and adaptable approach to facial fat grafting, either standalone or in combination with facelift techniques, with minimized overfilling risks. A dataset obtained from 2800 patients serves as the foundation for developing an AI program tailored to aid doctors in diagnosing and treating similar cases.

Coagulation disorders in liver cirrhosis - Diagnostics and management

Patients with liver cirrhosis often exhibit complex alterations in their hemostatic system that can be associated with both bleeding and thrombotic complications. While prophylactic correction of abnormal coagulation parameters should be avoided, an individualized approach is recommended prior to invasive procedures, whereby specific preventive measures to stabilize hemostasis should be based on the periprocedural bleeding risk. While the haemostatic system of patients with compensated cirrhosis is often in a rebalanced haemostatic state due to a parallel decline in both pro- and anti-haemostatic factors, a decompensation of liver cirrhosis can lead to destabilization of this fragile equilibrium. Since conventional coagulation tests do not adequately capture the complex changes in the hemostatic system in cirrhosis, functional analysis methods such as viscoelastic tests or thrombin generation assays can be used for evaluating the coagulation status. This review describes the underlying pathophysiological changes in the hemostatic system in liver cirrhosis, provides an overview of diagnostic methods and discusses therapeutic measures in case of bleeding and thrombotic complications.

Driving factors and trend prediction for annual runoff in the upper and middle reaches of the yellow river from 1990 to 2020

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) plays a pivotal role in the water resources management of its region, significantly influenced by the interplay between climate change and human activities, particularly in its upper and middle reaches (UMRYR). This study aims to elucidate the evolving patterns and determinants of runoff within the UMRYR, a matter of considerable importance for the basin’s water resource management, strategy, and distribution. Utilizing the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, this research accessed comprehensive datasets including precipitation, drought index, and terrace area, among others, to examine their effects on runoff variations at five gauge stations across the YRB. Terrace data was extracted from Landsat imagery via the Random Forest Model, while annual runoff figures from 1990 to 2020 were sourced from the Sediment Bulletin of China River. Employing the Mann-Kendall test, we assessed the temporal changes in runoff over three decades. In addition, runoff drivers were analyzed by stepwise regression and redundancy analysis, leading to the construction of a multiple linear regression model. The accuracy of predicting annual runoff using the multiple linear model was verified through cross-validation and comparison with the ARIMA time series model. Our findings reveal the efficacy of the random forest algorithm in classifying terraces, achieving an accuracy rate exceeding 0.8. The period from 1990 to 2020 saw a general increase in annual runoff across the five gauging stations in the UMRYR, albeit with variations in the pattern, particularly at the Tangnaihai gauge station which presented the most complex changes. Crucially, three main drivers—summer precipitation (SP), terrace area (TR), and drought index (DI)—were identified as significant predictors in the regression models. The multiple linear regression model outperformed the ARIMA model in forecasting accuracy, underlining the significance of integrating these drivers into runoff prediction models for the UMRYR.

Wearable Surface Deformation Myography (sDMG) System for Recognition of Locomotion Modes.

This study designs a wearable sensing system for locomotion mode recognition using lower-limb skin surface curvature deformation caused by the morphological changes of musculotendinous complexes and soft tissues. Flexible bending sensors are embedded into stretch pants, enabling curvature deformations of specific skin segments above lower-limb muscle groups to be captured in a noncontact manner. To evaluate the performance of this system, we conducted experiments on eight able-bodied subjects completing seven common locomotive activities, including walking, running, ramp ascending/descending, stair ascending/descending, and standing. The system measured seven channels of deformation signals from two cross-sections on the shank and the thigh. The collected signals were distinguishable across different locomotion modes and exhibited consistency when monitoring steps. Using selected time-domain features and a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier enabled the proposed system to continuously recognize locomotion modes with an average accuracy of 96.5%. Furthermore, the system maintains recognition performance with 95.7% accuracy even after removing and reapplying the sensors. Finally, we conducted comparison experiments to analyze how window length, feature selection, and the number of channels affect recognition performance, providing insights for optimization. We believe that this novel signal platform holds great potential as a valuable supplementary tool in wearable human motion detection, enriching the information diversity for motion analysis, and enabling new possibilities for further advancements and applications in fields including biomedical engineering, textiles, and computer graphics.

Influence of calcination temperature on the 3D nanoscale topography of LaMnO3 thin films: A comprehensive surface analysis

In this paper, we present a comprehensive study on the 3D nanoscale topography of LaMnO3 thin films, focusing on the influence of calcination temperature on surface morphology. The study reveals significant structural, chemical, and morphological changes as a function of the calcination temperature. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of the orthorhombic LaMnO3 structure at 700 °C, 750 °C, and 800 °C, with increasing unit cell volume and crystallite size observed at higher temperatures. FTIR spectra identified characteristic functional groups associated with molecular vibrations, indicating the perovskite structure. SEM imaging showed grain growth with temperature, while EDS analysis confirmed compound formation and substrate interactions. AFM analysis revealed increased surface roughness with temperature, attributed to nucleation and crystal growth. Morphological and microtextural analyses further detailed changes in surface features, peaks, valleys, and voids. Fractal characterization highlighted variations in surface texture with temperature, with a decrease in dominant wavelength indicating changes in microtexture complexity. Overall, the findings provide insights into the temperature-dependent properties of LaMnO3 thin films, essential for optimizing growth conditions and understanding their potential applications in various fields.

Seasonal Changes in the Photosynthetic Pigment Complex of Sphagnum Mosses: The case of Sphagnum papillosum Lindb.

Seasonal Changes in the Photosynthetic Pigment Complex of Sphagnum Mosses: The case of Sphagnum papillosum Lindb.

Informatics of chemical reactions: information entropy as the descriptor of changes in molecular complexity

Informatics of chemical reactions: information entropy as the descriptor of changes in molecular complexity

Reproduce to validate: A comprehensive study on the reproducibility of economics research

AbstractJournals have pushed for transparency of research through data availability policies. Such data policies improve availability of data and code, but what is the impact on reproducibility? We present results from a large reproduction exercise for articles published in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, which has had a data availability policy since its inception in 2009. Out of 363 published articles, we assessed 274 articles. All articles provided some materials. We excluded 122 articles that required confidential or proprietary data or that required the replicator to otherwise obtain the data (44.5% of assessed articles). We attempted to reproduce 152 articles and were able to fully reproduce the results of 68 (44.7% of attempted reproductions). A further 66 (43.4% of attempted reproductions) were partially reproduced. Many articles required complex code changes even when at least partially reproduced. We collect bibliometric characteristics of authors, but find no evidence for author characteristics as determinants of reproducibility. There does not appear to be a citation bonus for reproducibility. The data availability policy of this journal was effective to ensure availability of materials, but is insufficient to ensure reproduction without additional work by replicators.

The Influence of Stakeholder Interests on Safety Outcome Reporting in Psychedelic Research and Implications for Science Communication.

Psychedelics are a group of psychoactive substances which produce complex and subjective changes to consciousness and carry unique safety considerations. There is a growing body of work investigating the use of psychedelics for mental health treatment alongside increasing socio-cultural and political acceptance. This rapid evolution has prompted corporations to fund psychedelic clinical trials, leading to a potential rise in conflicts of interest in relevant studies and publications. However, the body of evidence for the safety and efficacy of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric illnesses is early. There is concern regarding the introduction of bias in psychedelic clinical trials and the selective reporting of results amidst and beyond corporate involvement. At a crucial time in psychedelic drug reform, this paper explores the safety concerns associated with psychedelics, the potential influences of financial stakeholders on safety outcome reporting and the importance of balanced science communication in maintaining public health and safety.

Immunomodulatory activity of ovotransferrin-chlorogenic acid complexes enhanced by high-intensity ultrasound (HIU): A structure-function relationship study

This study investigated the impact of high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) treatment on the physiochemical, conformational, and immunomodulatory activity of the OVT-CA complex, emphasizing the structure-function relationship. HIU treatment reduced particle size, improved dispersion, and increased electronegativity of the complex. It facilitated binding between OVT and CA, achieving a maximum degree of 45.22 mg/g CA grafting and reducing interaction time from 2 h to 15 min. HIU-induced cavitation and shear promoted the exposure of -SH and unfolding of OVT, leading to increased surface hydrophobicity of the complex and transformation of its structure from β-sheet to α-helix. Additionally, CA binds to OVT in the C-lobe region, and HIU treatment modulates the intermolecular forces governing the complex formation, particularly by reinforcing hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and introducing electrostatic interactions. Furthermore, HIU treatment increased the immunomodulatory activity of the complex, which was attributed to complex structural changes facilitating enhanced cell membrane affinity, antigen recognition, and B-cell epitope availability. Hierarchical cluster and Pearson correlation analysis confirmed that HIU treatment duration had a greater impact than power on both the structure and activity of the complex, and an optimal HIU treatment duration within 30 min was found to be crucial for activity enhancement. Moreover, structural changes, including ζ-potential, particle size/turbidity, and surface hydrophobicity, were closely correlated with immunomodulatory activity. This study highlights the potential application of HIU in developing protein–polyphenol immunomodulatory agents for public health and food nutrition.

학생 주도성 기반 교육과정 개발에 관한 실행연구

The purpose of this study is to explore how elementary schools operate a student agency based curriculum through the implementation of the Learning Compass program. Student agency is attracting attention as a value that allows students to actively respond to the uncertainty, complexity, and rapid change that humanity may experience in future society. Recently, research on student agency has been actively conducted in Korea, but there is a lack of action research that includes efforts to foster student agency within the elementary school curriculum. This study observed how education to improve student agency, which is attracting attention during the entry into the future society and curriculum transition, is developed and applied to the elementary school curriculum. Within this, the activities and changes shown by teachers and students were analyzed through teacher action research. As a result, 'teacher agency' that led to the development of the Learning Compass program, 'teaching innovation' represented by one classroom with two teachers and student-led curriculum evaluation, ‘Innovation in teaching and learning methods’ represented by waiting for immersion and creating chunks of thought, The form of ‘class reflection’, represented by the discovery of the power of deliberation, was found in the student agency based curriculum.

Effect of friction-stir processing and subsequent aging treatment on microstructure and service properties of Cu-Cr-Zr alloy

The effect of friction-stir processing (FSP) and the subsequent aging treatment on the microstructure, electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties of a Cu-0.3%Cr-0.5%Zr alloy was studied. FSP promoted complex microstructural changes, including significant grain refinement and dissolution of secondary particles within the stir zone and particle coarsening within the heat-affected zone. The particle phenomena resulted in the essential material softening and degradation of electrical conductivity. The subsequent aging treatment provided particle reprecipitation within the stir zone and thus essentially recovered material properties in this area. In the heat-affected zone, however, the recovery effect was less pronounced, thus leading to the characteristic W-shaped profiles of microhardness and electrical conductivity. This result was attributed to the insufficient degree of supersaturation of the solid solution in this microstructural region, which, in turn, promoted the relatively slow precipitation kinetics.

Geochemistry and microbiology of boreal alluvial soil under salinisation

Soil salinisation in taiga landscapes is in most cases caused by anthropogenic activities. The study was carried out in Perm region (Russia) on the territory of the Verkhnekamskoe Potash Deposit. The inflow of sodium chloride drainage water into ground and surface waters during the production of potash fertilisers contributed to the technogenic salinisation of river valleys in the taiga zone. The purpose of the research was to investigate the microbial composition and chemical properties of alluvial soils in the area affected by NaCl waters in the Lyonva River valley. The chemical properties of soils were determined standard methods such as potentiometric method, titration, and spectrophotometry. The microbial community was determined by 16 s rRNA gene metagenomic analysis. The soil's mineralogical composition was determined using a binocular microscope and diffractometer for XRD. The morphology and microstructure of the samples has been studied using an analytical scanning electron microscope. In Solonchaks, an interdependence of salinity and bacterial species composition was discovered, along with the bacteria's geochemical processes. The topsoil contains a considerable amount of toxic salts, ranging from 5.9 to 17%. The ratio of exchangeable cations in the soil absorption complex changes when exchangeable calcium is replaced by sodium. Salinisation caused the neutralisation of acidic alluvial soils. Bacteria originating from marine and highly mineralised environments predominate in the soil. The soils are dominated by bacteria originating from marine and highly mineralised environments, such as Proteobacteria, Shewanella (75–79%), Thiomicrospira (26%), Desulfuromonas, Marinomonas and Idiomarina (9–10%), Alicyclobacillus (4%). The correlation revealed the connection of some taxa with ions of aqueous extract, as well as with exchangeable sodium, mobile iron and total sulphur. Some bacteria promote azonal geochemical processes within alluvial forest soil, such as the reduction of iron and manganese, the production of sulphides, and the oxidation of sulphur, hydrogen, and iron. Sulphide accumulation resulting in the formation of a hydrotroilite horizon (FeS × nH2O) and iron-bearing formations were found on the soil surface. Studying the properties and degree of soil disturbance makes it possible to identify the contribution of enterprises to environmental pollution, as well as to apply new methods for monitoring, purifying, and storing potassium waste.

Fluorine-doped Na0.65MnO2 with a layer-tunnel structure for high-rate and long-cycle-life sodium-ion cathodes

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) exhibit comprehensive advantages in excellent cycling stability and high-rate performance. In this work, we present a novel cathode with a layered-tunnel coexisted structure with F ions, denoted as Na0.65MnO2-xFx. This material was confirmed the coexistence of layered and rod-like tunnel structures by advanced characterization methods. Due to the high specific capacity of the layered structure and the cycling stability of the rod-like tunnel structure, the Na0.65MnO2-xFx (x=0.2) cathode material exhibits outstanding comprehensive performance. At a rate of 0.1 C, the reversible discharge specific capacity is 124.6 mAh g−1, and notably, after 1000 cycles at a high rate of 10 C, the specific capacity is 55.9 mAh g−1 with a capacity retention rate of 98.2 %. This is significantly higher than the 34.1 mAh g−1 and 48.3 % capacity retention of pristine Na0.65MnO2. The introduction of F leads to an increase in the spacing between the oxide layers, the formation of strong metallic bonds and the formation of composite structures, which not only enhances the stability of the transition metal layer structure but also induces complex changes in the microstructure. This approach of ion doping and microstructure optimization provides a fresh perspective for the design and optimization of high-performance materials for SIBs.

Designing a behaviour change intervention using COM-B and the Behaviour Change Wheel: Co-designing the Healthy Gut Diet for preventing gestational diabetes.

Evidence suggests that modulating the gut microbiota during pregnancy may help prevent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The Healthy Gut Diet study is a complex behaviour change intervention co-designed with women who have a lived experience of GDM. The aim of the study was to describe the development of the behaviour change dietary intervention, the Healthy Gut Diet. This study followed the process for designing behaviour change interventions using the Behaviour Change Wheel. Six researchers and 12 women with lived experience participated in online workshops to co-design the Healthy Gut Diet intervention. This included "diagnosing" the barriers and enablers to two target behaviours: eating more plant foods and eating less ultra processed/saturated fat containing foods. Content analysis of the workshop transcripts and activities was undertaken, underpinned by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behaviour (COM-B) model and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Barriers and enablers to the target behaviours were described across all six COM-B components and 10 TDF domains. The intervention functions for the Healthy Gut Diet were education, enablement, environmental restructuring, persuasion and incentivisation. Forty behaviour change techniques were integrated into five modes of delivery for the Healthy Gut Diet intervention. The feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of the Healthy Gut Diet is being tested within a randomised controlled trial. Using the Behaviour Change Wheel process in partnership with consumers resulted in a clearly described complex intervention targeting barriers and enablers of dietary behaviour change to improve the gut microbiota diversity in pregnant women.

Future changes in coastal upwelling and biological production in eastern boundary upwelling systems

Upwelling along oceanic eastern boundaries has attracted significant attention due to its profound effects on ocean productivity and associated biological and socioeconomic implications. However, uncertainty persists regarding the evolution of coastal upwelling with climate change, particularly its impact on future biological production. Here, using a series of state-of-the-art climate models, we identify a significant seasonal advancement and prolonged duration of upwelling in major upwelling systems. Nevertheless, the upwelling intensity (total volume of upwelled water) exhibits complex changes in the future. In the North Pacific, the upwelling is expected to attenuate, albeit with a minor magnitude. Conversely, in other basins, coastal upwelling diminishes significantly in equatorward regions but displays a slight decline or even an enhancement at higher latitudes. The climate simulations also reveal a robust connection between changes in upwelling intensity and net primary production, highlighting the crucial impact of future coastal upwelling alterations on marine ecosystems.

Combined metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal the secondary metabolite networks in different growth stages of Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f.

Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f. (B. striata) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. B. striata polysaccharides (BSP), stilbenes and 2-isobutyl malic acid glucosoxy-benzyl ester compounds are the main active ingredients in B. striata. However, there is limited report on the changes of medicinal components and their biosynthesis regulation mechanisms in the tubers of B. striata at different stages. The tubers of B. striata were collected during the flowering period, fruiting period, and harvest period to determine the total polysaccharide content using the phenol sulfuric acid method. The changes in secondary metabolites in the tubers at these stages were analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), and transcriptomics was conducted for further exploration of their biosynthetic pathways. The BSP content gradually increases from the flowering period to the fruiting period as the tubers develop, reaching its peak, but subsequently decreases at harvest time, which may be associated with the germination of B. striata buds in later stage. A total of 294 compounds were identified in this study. Among them, a majority of the compounds, such as 2-isobutyl malate gluconoxy-benzyl ester, exhibited high content during the fruit stage, while stilbenes like coelonin, 3'-O-methylbatatasin III, and blestriarene A accumulated during the harvesting period. The transcriptome data also revealed a substantial number of differentially expressed genes at various stages, providing a partial explanation for the complex changes in metabolites. We observed a correspondence between the expression pattern of GDP-Man biosynthesis-related enzyme genes and cumulative changes in BSP. And identified a positive correlation between 9 transcription factors and genes associated with polysaccharide biosynthesis, while 5 transcription factors were positively correlated with accumulation of 2-isobutyl malate gluconoxy-benzyl ester compounds and 5 transcription factors exhibited negative correlated with stilbene accumulation. It is imperative to determine the appropriate harvesting period based on the specific requirements of different active ingredients and the accumulation patterns of their metabolites. Considering the involvement of multiple transcription factors in the biosynthesis and accumulation of its active ingredients, a comprehensive investigation into the specific regulatory mechanisms that facilitate high-quality cultivation of B. striata is imperative.

Exploring the Real-Time Variability and Complexity of Sitting Patterns in Office Workers with Non-Specific Chronic Spinal Pain and Pain-Free Individuals.

Chronic spinal pain (CSP) is a prevalent condition, and prolonged sitting at work can contribute to it. Ergonomic factors like this can cause changes in motor variability. Variability analysis is a useful method to measure changes in motor performance over time. When performing the same task multiple times, different performance patterns can be observed. This variability is intrinsic to all biological systems and is noticeable in human movement. This study aims to examine whether changes in movement variability and complexity during real-time office work are influenced by CSP. The hypothesis is that individuals with and without pain will have different responses to office work tasks. Six office workers without pain and ten with CSP participated in this study. Participant's trunk movements were recorded during work for an entire week. Linear and nonlinear measures of trunk kinematic displacement were used to assess movement variability and complexity. A mixed ANOVA was utilized to compare changes in movement variability and complexity between the two groups. The effects indicate that pain-free participants showed more complex and less predictable trunk movements with a lower degree of structure and variability when compared to the participants suffering from CSP. The differences were particularly noticeable in fine movements.

SN 2019tua: A Type IIb Supernova with Multiple Bumps in the Light Curves

We present photometric and spectroscopic observations and analysis of the Type IIb supernova (SN) SN 2019tua, which exhibits multiple bumps in its declining light curves between 40 and 65 days after discovery. SN 2019tua shows a time to peak of about 25 days, similar to other Type IIb SNe. Our observations indicate a decrease in its brightness of about 1 mag in the 60 days after the peak. At about days 50 and 60, its multiband light curves exhibit bumpy behavior. The complex luminosity evolution of SN 2019tua could not be well modeled with a single currently popular energy source model, e.g., radioactive decay of 56Ni, magnetar, interaction between the ejecta and a circumstellar shell. Even though the magnetar model has a smaller χ 2/dof value, the complex changes in SN 2019tua’s brightness suggest that more than one physical process might be involved. We propose a hybrid circumstellar medium (CSM) interaction plus 56Ni model to explain the bolometric light curve of SN 2019tua. The fitting results show that the ejecta mass M ej ≈ 2.4 M ⊙, the total CSM mass M CSM ≈ 1.0 M ⊙, and the 56Ni mass M Ni ≈ 0.4 M ⊙. The total kinetic energy of the ejecta is E k ≈ 0.5 × 1051 erg. Preexisting multiple shells suggest that the progenitor of SN 2019tua experienced mass ejections within approximately ∼6–44 yr prior to the explosion.

Structural plasticity of pyramidal cell neurons measured after FLASH and conventional dose-rate irradiation.

Evidence shows that ultra-high dose-rate FLASH-radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) protects against normal tissue complications and functional decrements in the irradiated brain. Past work has shown that radiation-induced cognitive impairment, neuroinflammation and reduced structural complexity of granule cell neurons were not observed to the same extent after FLASH-RT (> MGy/s) compared to conventional dose-rate (CONV, 0.1 Gy/s) delivery. To explore the sensitivity of different neuronal populations to cranial irradiation and dose-rate modulation, hippocampal CA1 and medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) pyramidal neurons were analyzed by electron and confocal microscopy. Neuron ultrastructural analyses by electron microscopy after 10 Gy FLASH- or CONV-RT exposures indicated that irradiation had little impact on dendritic complexity and synapse density in the CA1, but did increase length and head diameter of smaller non-perforated synapses. Similarly, irradiation caused no change in PFC prelimbic/infralimbic axospinous synapse density, but reductions in non-perforated synapse diameters. While irradiation resulted in thinner myelin sheaths compared to controls, none of these metrics were dose-rate sensitive. Analysis of fluorescently labeled CA1 neurons revealed no radiation-induced or dose-rate-dependent changes in overall dendritic complexity or spine density, in contrast to our past analysis of granule cell neurons. Super-resolution confocal microscopy following a clinical dosing paradigm (3×10Gy) showed significant reductions in excitatory vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and inhibitory vesicular GABA transporter puncta density within the CA1 that were largely dose-rate independent. Collectively, these data reveal that, compared to granule cell neurons, CA1 and mPFC neurons are more radioresistant irrespective of radiation dose-rate.