Continuous Mass Loss Research Articles

Projected evolution of the Qiyi Glacier in the Qilian Mountains using the PyGEM with the calibration of glaciological mass balance

Owing to glacial retreat and associated future runoff variations, major concerns have been raised over the sustainability of water resources in the Qilian Mountains. Based on the Python Glacier Evolution Model, we present projections of the Qiyi glacier for shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) calibrated with the glaciological mass balance. The results indicate the air temperature as the dominant factor in the continuous mass loss of the Qiyi Glacier in the future. Glacier area and volume are projected to decline to 0.16 ± 0.11 km2 (6.4% ± 4.4%, relative to 2015) and 0.0023 ± 0.0006 km³ (2.1% ± 1.5%, relative to 2015), respectively, by 2100, for SSP1-2.6. For SSP5-8.5, the glacier will disappear by 2088. The mass loss of the Qiyi Glacier will accelerate before 2050 for all SSPs but will decelerate after 2050 for SSP1-2.6 and SSP2-4.5. The peak water of glacier runoff will occur between 2034 and 2045, with the duration of high water from 7 to 18 years. Thereafter, the runoff will rapidly decline till 2070–2080 and remain low afterward. Compared with the existing projections, the present projections indicate that the Qiyi Glacier will experience more drastic shrinkage and ice loss in the coming decades. Finally, the glacier runoff is expected to reach its peak water earlier with a shorter duration of high water.

Dynamic changes of diaphragm and limb skeletal muscle in patients with sepsis assessed by bedside ultrasound and their correlation with blood urea/creatinine ratio

To investigate the dynamic changes of diaphragm and limb skeletal muscle in patients with sepsis by bedside ultrasound and their correlation with the ratio of blood urea/creatinine ratio (UCR) in 7 days after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. A prospective observational study was conducted. A total of 55 patients with sepsis admitted to ICU of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from June 2022 to February 2023 were selected as the research objects. General information, laboratory indicators [urea, serum creatinine (SCr), and UCR] on days 1, 4, and 7 of ICU admission, and prognostic indicators were observed. Bedside ultrasound was used to assess the dynamic changes of diaphragm morphology [including diaphragmatic excursion (DE), end-inspiratory diaphragm thickness (DTei), and end-expiratory diaphragm thickness (DTee)] on days 1, 4, and 7 of ICU admission, as well as limb skeletal muscle (quadriceps femoris) morphology [including rectus femoris-muscle layer thickness (RF-MLT), vastus intermedius-muscle layer thickness (VI-MLT), and rectus femoris-cross sectional area (RF-CSA)]. Diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) and RF-CSA atrophy rate were calculated, and the incidence of diaphragm and limb skeletal muscle dysfunction was recorded. The correlation between ultrasound morphological parameters of diaphragm and quadriceps and UCR at each time points in 7 days after ICU admission was analyzed by Pearson correlation. A total of 55 patients with sepsis were included, of which 29 were in septic shock. As the duration of ICU admission increased, the incidence of diaphragm dysfunction in patients with sepsis increased first and then decreased (63.6%, 69.6%, and 58.6% on days 1, 4, and 7 of ICU admission, respectively), while the incidence of limb skeletal muscle dysfunction showed an increasing trend (54.3% and 62.1% on days 4 and 7 of ICU admission, respectively), with a probability of simultaneous occurrence on days 4 and 7 of ICU admission were 32.6% and 34.5%, respectively. The UCR on day 7 of ICU admission was significantly higher than that on day 1 [121.77 (95.46, 164.55) vs. 97.00 (70.26, 130.50)], and RF-CSA atrophy rate on day 7 was significantly higher than that on day 4 [%: -39.7 (-52.4, -22.1) vs. -26.5 (-40.2, -16.4)]. RF-CSA was significantly lower on day 7 compared to day 1 [cm2: 1.3 (1.0, 2.5) vs. 2.1 (1.7, 2.9)], with all differences being statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that RF-CSA on day 7 of ICU admission was negatively associated with the UCR on the same day (r = -0.407, P = 0.029). Diaphragmatic dysfunction in patients with sepsis occurred early and can be improved. Limb skeletal muscle dysfunction occurred relatively later and progresses progressively. The RF-CSA on day 7 of ICU admission may be a reliable measure of limb skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with sepsis, can be an indicator of early identification and diagnosis of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW). Continuous loss of muscle mass occurring in septic patients is mainly associated with persistent organismal catabolism, and undergoes significant changes around a week in ICU.

Characterization of Interfacial Corrosion Behavior of Hybrid Laminate EN AW-6082 &cup; CFRP.

The corrosion behavior of a hybrid laminate consisting of laser-structured aluminum EN AW-6082 &cup; carbon fiber-reinforced polymer was investigated. Specimens were corroded in aqueous NaCl electrolyte (0.1 mol/L) over a period of up to 31 days and characterized continuously by means of scanning electron and light microscopy, supplemented by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Comparative linear sweep voltammetry was employed on the first and seventh day of the corrosion experiment. The influence of different laser morphologies and production process parameters on corrosion behavior was compared. The corrosion reaction mainly arises from the aluminum component and shows distinct differences in long-term corrosion morphology between pure EN AW-6082 and the hybrid laminate. Compared to short-term investigations, a strong influence of galvanic corrosion on the interface is assumed. No distinct influences of different laser structuring and process parameters on the corrosion behavior were detected. Weight measurements suggest a continuous loss of mass attributed to the detachment of corrosion products.

Abstract 382: Pancreatic cancer-derived organoids alter muscle fiber type and increased energy consumption leading to cachexia

Abstract Cachexia, marked by continuous skeletal muscle mass loss and severe metabolic disturbances, presents a substantial challenge for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. Despite its prevalence and the adverse impact on quality of life and survival rates, effective clinical treatments for cachexia remain elusive. This study aims to bridge this gap by employing innovative in vitro models to investigate the underlying mechanisms of cachexia and identify potential therapeutic targets. To enhance the relevance of cell culture models, modifications were introduced to replicate in vivo conditions, where the muscle is exposed to the ongoing kinetics of constant tumor secretion of active factors. Patient-derived PDAC cells were cultured in a dense 3D stiffness extracellular matrix (ECM) to mimic the hypoxic desmoplastic tumor microenvironment. The conditioned medium from prolonged cultured patient-derived organoids (PDOs) was then used to supplement C2C12-derived myotubes. The investigation focuses on dynamic adaptations in muscle fiber type and metabolism when exposed to tumor paracrine factors. Metabolomic investigations of PDO-conditioned medium (PDO CM) on myotubes revealed distinct metabolic differences compared to non-treatment controls. Discriminatory metabolites included those associated with glycolysis, lipid, amino acid, and fatty acid metabolism. PDO CM induced a significant shift in muscle fiber type from slow-twitch to fast-twitch phenotypes, accompanied by de novel expression of embryonic and neonatal Myosin Heavy Chain (MyHC) isoforms. Fast fiber (F59) staining also confirmed the protein expression. Concurrently, PGC-1a, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism, significantly decreased, along with reduced ATP and Mito tracker staining, indicating a metabolic switch under the influence of tumor paracrine factors. Metabolome results on C2C12 myotubes treated with PDO CM also revealed significantly changed ABC transporter-related pathways, an adaptive process required to optimize substrate use under the influence of tumor secretome. However, the genes involved in the proteasome degradation process, such as MAFbx and MuRF1, did not show altered expression. The establishment of an in vitro cachexia model, focusing on changes in energy metabolism and utilizing muscle fiber type alterations as markers, will deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of cancer-associated cachexia. The insights gained may pave the way for identifying potential therapeutic targets to mitigate muscle wasting in PDAC patients and improve overall outcomes. Citation Format: Bo Han, Shuqing Zhao, zhi Yang, Jose Trevino, Steven Grossman, Heinz-Josef Lenz, Ba Xuan Hoang. Pancreatic cancer-derived organoids alter muscle fiber type and increased energy consumption leading to cachexia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 382.

Evolution of Rheological and Microscopic Properties of Asphalt Binders under Fuel Corrosion

Vehicle fuel leaks can adversely affect the performance of asphalt pavements. To study the mechanisms of fuel corrosion damage in asphalt, four asphalt binders were selected in this study, and the evolution of their rheological and microscopic properties was investigated. Fuel corrosion caused continuous mass loss in asphalt binders. Base asphalt lost more than 50% of its mass after 24 h of fuel corrosion, while modified asphalts had better resistance. According to dynamic shear rheometer tests and multiple stress creep recovery tests, modifiers improved the high-temperature rheological properties of these asphalt binders. As the degree of fuel corrosion deepened, the indexes characterizing the high-temperature performance deteriorated. Rubber-modified asphalt showed the best resistance to high-temperature deformation, while the performance of LDPE-modified asphalt was more stable. In contrast, fuel corrosion improved the resistance of asphalt binders to low-temperature cracking to some extent: the creep strength (S) decreased as the creep rate (m) increased, and the resistance of SBS-modified asphalt to low-temperature cracking was optimal, with a 36% decrease in S-value after 24 h of fuel corrosion. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy tests showed that diesel corrosion was a process of this physical dissolution, with no change in the chemical functional groups. Meanwhile, by using fluorescence images and analyzing the four-component test results, we found that fuel corrosion disrupted the stabilized structure formed by the modifiers, and the heavy components in the asphalt binders were converted into light components. This study reveals the evolution of the rheological and microscopic properties of asphalt under fuel corrosion, which can provide a reference for the optimization of fuel corrosion resistance in asphalt pavement.

Nutrological and pharmacological approaches to cancer cachexia: a systematic review

Introduction: Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial syndrome that is generally characterized by the continuous loss of skeletal muscle mass with or without fat loss, often accompanied by anorexia, weakness, and fatigue. Cancer cachexia is associated with poor tolerance to antitumor treatments, reduced quality of life, and a negative impact on survival. Unintentional weight loss has been associated with a negative impact on multiple outcomes in cancer patients, including survival and quality of life. Objective: It was to present the main evidence of the nutrological and pharmacological treatment of cancer cachexia through a systematic review. Methods: The systematic review rules of the PRISMA Platform were followed. The research was carried out from October a December 2023 in Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases. The quality of the studies was based on the GRADE instrument and the risk of bias was analyzed according to the Cochrane instrument. Results and Conclusion: A total of 127 articles were found. A total of 67 articles were evaluated and 24 were included in this systematic review. Considering the Cochrane tool for risk of bias, the overall assessment resulted in 10 studies with a high risk of bias and 10 studies that did not meet GRADE. Most studies showed homogeneity in their results, with X2=74.5%&gt;50%. Based on the results, symptoms associated with cancer cachexia are thought to be caused by tumor-induced changes in host metabolism that result in systemic inflammation and abnormal neurohormonal responses. The sarcopenia seen in many patients with cancer cachexia is caused, in part, by increased activation of circulating proteolysis-inducing factor (PIF) and skeletal muscle protein breakdown by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathways. The nutritional consequences of cancer treatments must be identified early with screening and assessment of nutritional status. Nutritional intervention includes screening and appropriate nutritional assessment, which should begin early in the disease course to reduce or delay negative effects on therapy and quality of life. Liquid nutritional supplements may be useful to help increase caloric intake. Numerous investigations have reported orexigenic activity associated with progestational agents such as megestrol acetate and medroxyprogesterone. Megestrol acetate has received the most attention in randomized controlled trials of cancer patients. Also noteworthy was the use of corticosteroids and mirtazapine for weight gain and pain control.

Effect of vegetation treatment and water stress on evapotranspiration in bioretention systems

Evapotranspiration is a key hydrological process for reducing stormwater runoff in bioretention systems, regardless of their physical configuration. Understanding the volumes of stormwater that can be returned to the atmosphere via evapotranspiration is, therefore, a key consideration in the design of any bioretention system. This study establishes the evapotranspiration dynamics of three common, structurally different, bioretention vegetation treatments (an Amenity Grass mix, and mono-cultures of Deschampsia cespitosa and Iris sibirica) compared with an un-vegetated control using lab-scale column experiments. Via continuous mass and moisture loss data, observed evapotranspiration rates were compared with those predicted by the FAO-56 Penman–Monteith model for five 14-day dry periods during Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Spring 2022. Soil moisture reductions over the 14-day trials led to reduced rates of evapotranspiration. This necessitated the use of a soil moisture extraction function alongside a crop coefficient to represent actual evapotranspiration from FAO-56 Penman–Monteith reference evapotranspiration estimates. Crop coefficients (Kc) varied between 0.65 and 2.91, with a value of 1.0 identified as a recommended default value in the absence of treatment-specific empirical data. A continuous hydrological model with Kc=1.0 and a loading ratio of 10:1 showed that evapotranspiration could account for between 1 and 12% of the annual water budget for a bioretention system located in the UK and Ireland, increasing to a maximum of 35% when using the highest Kc observed (2.91).

Effect of Aquatic Exercises on Strength and Quality of Life in Sarcopenia Older Individuals

Abstract There are various definitions of sarcopenia. Among them, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older Persons (EWGSOP) has defined sarcopenia as "a syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, which carries the risk of unwanted consequences such as physical disability, poor quality of life and death". As a person ages, various changes occur in the skeletal muscle. Nutrition is one of the important factors affecting muscle mass and is a characteristic feature of the continuous loss of muscular mass in the aging process. However, sarcopenia, defined as age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, leads to a deterioration in muscle quantity and quality, gradual slowdown in movements, decreased strength and performance, increased risk of fall-associated injury, and often a decrease in body weight. Treatment options for sarcopenia include lifestyle changes, including physical activity and exercise training, medical nutrition therapy, and pharmacological therapy. Aquatic exercises are a type of exercise that involves the use of all the muscles of the body in a vertical position in the water, opposing the resistance of the water to its own body weight, while cardio and strength training are performed in parallel. Eliminating the risk of falling in sarcopene individuals, working against their own body weight and water resistance can reduce muscle stress while increasing their strength. Healthy lifestyle patterns, proper nutrition and proper exercise programs are effective in preventing sarcopenia and at every stage of the treatment.

Light and temperature controls of aquatic plant photosynthesis downstream of a hydropower plant and the effect of plant removal

Many rivers worldwide are regulated, and the altered hydrology can lead to mass development of aquatic plants. Plant invasions are often seen as a nuisance for human activities leading to costly remedial actions with uncertain implications for aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Mechanical harvesting is often used to remove aquatic plants and knowledge of plant growth rate could improve management decisions. Here, we used a simple light-temperature theoretical model to make a priori prediction of aquatic plant photosynthesis. These predictions were assessed through an open-channel diel change in O2 mass balance approach. A Michaelis-Menten type model was fitted to observed gross primary production (GPP) standardised at 10 °C using a temperature dependence from thermodynamic theory of enzyme kinetics. The model explained 87 % of the variability in GPP of a submerged aquatic plant (Juncus bulbosus L.) throughout an annual cycle in the River Otra, Norway. The annual net plant production was about 2.4 (1.0–3.8) times the standing biomass of J. bulbosus. This suggests a high continuous mass loss due to hydraulic stress and natural mechanical breakage of stems, as the biomass of J. bulbosus remained relatively constant throughout the year. J. bulbosus was predicted to be resilient to mechanical harvesting with photosynthetic capacity recovered within two years following 50–85 % plant removal. The predicted recovery was confirmed through a field experiment where 72 % of J. bulbosus biomass was mechanically removed. We emphasise the value of using a theoretical approach, like metabolic theory, over statistical models where a posteriori results are not always easy to interpret. Finally, the ability to predict ecosystem resilience of aquatic photosynthesis in response to varying management scenarios offers a valuable tool for estimating aquatic ecosystem services, such as carbon regulation. This tool can benefit the EU Biodiversity Strategy and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Unprecedented mass gain over the Antarctic ice sheet between 2021 and 2022 caused by large precipitation anomalies

The Antarctic ice sheet (AIS) is susceptible to global climate change, and its mass loss has been 92 ± 18 Gt yr −1 between 1992 and 2020. Given the current intensive global warming, we investigate the AIS mass changes from January 2003 to December 2022, using the newly released satellite gravimetry and atmospheric datasets. The results show that the continuous mass loss in the AIS between 2003 and 2020 was 141.8 ± 55.6 Gt yr−1 . However, the AIS showed a record-breaking mass gain of 129.7 ± 69.6 Gt yr −1 between 2021 and 2022. During this period, the mass gain over the East AIS and Antarctic Peninsula was unprecedented within the past two decades, and it outpaced the mass loss in the Amundsen sector of the West AIS from 2003 to 2022. Basin-scale analysis shows that the mass gain mainly occurred over Wilhelm II Land, Queen Mary Land, Wilkes Land, and the Antarctic Peninsula due to anomalously enhanced precipitation. Further investigation reveals that during 2021–2022, a pair of symmetrically distributed high-low pressure systems, located at approximately 120°W and 60°E in the Southern Ocean, drove the observed abnormal precipitation and mass accumulation.

Multiple stimuli-response strategy for on-demand degradable implants: Tannic acid-intercalated polycaprolactone

The versatile potential of polycaprolactone (PCL) as degradable implant materials has been wildly studied. Nevertheless, it is still elusive to tailor the degradation rates as well as the evolution of the mechanical performance in vivo. Taking into account the implant materials require different performance as the stage goes on, this work conceived a novel degradation strategy possessing multiple-stimuli response degradation capability, through incorporating tannic acid (TA) as the cross-linking agent into PCL via facile condensation polymerization. The water contents and degradation rates of the PCL-co-TA composite increased with the increase of TA content. Besides the degradation stimulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), the PCL-co-TA composite shows accelerated degradation in neutral and basic solution with obvious surface erosion and continuous mass loss within 90 days, however, its mechanical properties maintain stable during this period. Moreover, the PCL-co-TA composite shows controllable drug release capacity with linear release for over 40 days and stable antimicrobial properties for both E.coli and S.aureus. This work provides a novel principle to design degradable implant materials with on-demand degradation behavior. The PCL-co-TA composite shows advanced specificity, sensitivity and diversity of controlling the degradation, demonstrates the great potential applications for tissue engineering and intelligent medicine device.

Non-Galilean Taylor–Culick law governs sheet dynamics in unsteady fragmentation

We present the results of a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of sheet evolution, expansion and retraction, under unsteady fragmentation upon drop impact on a surface of comparable size to that of the drop. We quantify and model the effect of the continuous time-varying – unsteady – shedding of droplets from the sheet via its bounding rim. We present and validate especially developed advanced image processing algorithms that quantify, with high accuracy, the key quantities involved in such unsteady fragmentation, from sheet, to rim, to ligaments, to droplet properties. With these high precision measurements, we show the important effect of continuous unsteady droplet shedding on the sheet dynamics. We combine experiments and theory to derive and validate governing equations of the sheet that incorporate such continuous shedding – associated with continuous loss of momentum and mass – from unsteady fragmentation. Combining this theory with the universal unsteady rim dynamics discovered in Wang et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 120, 2018, 204503), we show that the governing equation of the sheet can be reduced to a continuous-shedding, non-Galilean Taylor–Culick law, from which we deduce new analytical expressions for the time evolution of the sheet radius. We show the robustness of the predictions to changes of fluid properties, including surface tension and moderate fluid viscosity and elasticity, including use of physiological mucosalivary fluid. We also reconcile prior literature's inconsistent experimental results on the sheet dynamics upon drop impact.

Aspectos moleculares y mecanismos de acción delos inhibidores de SGLT-2: más allá del controlglucémico.

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2i) inhibitors effectively improve glycemic control and reduce body weight and cardiovascular risk. Currently, they have clear indications of heart failure and diabetic nephropathy.Objective of the review: The present narrative study aims to describe the biochemical mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of SGLT2i in ERD and its new indications in heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Essential points of the review:• SGLT2 i also has direct myocardial effects, which include the reduction of ventricular hypertrophy, the inhibitionof sympathetic tone, and the natriuretic impact, which produces a decrease in systolic blood pressure of 5 mmHg.• Metabolic effects include a decrease in serum lipids, a weight loss of 3 kilos in 6 months, and a decrease in adiposetissue at the liver level with continuous fat mass loss.• Other experimental uses are applied in the field of cognitive impairment in diabetic patients. Conclusion: With a diverse therapeutic effect, not limited to the single mechanism of lowering blood glucose levels, SGLT2i has new innovative indications.

Real-time monitoring of residual strength in corroding steel reinforcement using ultrasonic-guided waves and multi-physics modelling

Corrosion-induced material strength degradation is a major threat to the service life of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Continued mass loss and pit formation after the initiation of corrosion in reinforcing steel consequently results in strength degradation. In this study, a non-destructive structural health monitoring (SHM) approach using ultrasonic guided waves with multi-physics modelling to monitor and forecast strength degradation of corroding steel is presented. Surface-bonded piezoelectric wafer transducers (PWTs) are used for actuating and sensing of guided waves in order to correlate the group velocity and amplitude of flexural wave modes with the strength reduction. The major findings of the work are presented in the form of empirical relationships between guided wave characteristics with reduced yield, ultimate, and buckling strength of corroded steel. It is observed that for a rebar of 12 mm diameter having slenderness ratio between 8 and 10, a 10% increase in amplitude and 8.44% increase in group velocity of flexural mode for corroding steel indicates a corresponding reduction of 10.278% in yield strength, 10.277% in ultimate strength, and 4.45% in buckling strength in progression phase of corrosion. A multi-physics numerical model of corrosion in RC structures that considers the effect of local exposure and environment is then elucidated with deviation less than 6.34% from experimental results in order to forecast the mass loss. The presented data fusion strategy, which combines guided wave-based monitoring and multi-physics modelling finds valuable application in assessing the current state of degradation in structural performance and strength-based service life prediction.

Continuous mass loss acceleration of Qiangyong Glacier, southern Tibetan plateau, since the mid-1880s inferred from glaciolacustrine sediments

Himalayan glaciers have been shown by satellite observations to be losing mass at accelerated rates since the mid-1970s, posing severe challenges to downstream water resource availability, ecological functioning, and glacial hazard prevention. Reconstructing long-term glacier fluctuations beyond the satellite era is consequently crucial to fully understand this acceleration. However, glacier reconstructions in the Himalayas are mainly based on discontinuous moraine chronologies, with the most recent ones marking only the timing and position of the Little Ice Age (LIA; 1250–1850 CE) maxima of Himalayan glaciers. Here, we reconstruct continuous records of the activity of Qiangyong Glacier, southern Tibetan Plateau, since the onset of the LIA (1316–2004 CE) and associated variation in precipitation, by retrieving glacier melting and advancing signals from grain size and analysing leaf wax hydrogen isotopes in the same glaciolacustrine sediments. We show that the glacier was relatively stable during the LIA, with its terminus shifting within ∼100 m, depending on the combined effects of precipitation and temperature. However, it retreated by ∼150 m under maximum precipitation conditions at the end of the LIA (approximately 1845–1866 CE) and, most importantly, has exhibited accelerated mass loss since the mid-1880s. Comparisons with regional and Northern Hemisphere temperatures suggest that climate warming rather than decreased precipitation since the end of the LIA plays a primary role in driving this accelerated mass loss. Our glaciolacustrine record add a continuous perspective on the variability of Himalayan glaciers, especially their mass loss status since the end of the LIA.

Synthesis and analysis of novel thermo-acoustic and mechanical behaviour of rattan reinforced composite for value added applications

The idea of low cost green thermoacoustic composites urge special attention as an alternative candidate for synthetic composites in designing of sound proof and highly flexural components for pollution free electric vehicle and other automotive industries. Short randomly oriented rattan fiber has significant contribution in development of high strength to weight ratio composite with high frequency dispersion capability. The present work employs the hand layup method for synthesis followed by ultrasonic cavitation for surface treatment with compatible methanol blended acrylic acid. The Scanning-Electron-Microscopic (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic characterization confirmed the reorientation of different functional groups which facilitate the sound absorption and mechanical properties. The composite with admissible tensile strength 47.5 MPa and high flexural property 121.89 MPa along with 30 HV hardness value has quite distinguishable mechanical characteristics for the fabricated composites. The unique characteristic sound absorption feature of the rattan fiber composite supports the acoustic behaviour with sound absorption coefficient (SAC) of 97% classifies as Class-A type as per ASTM C423-17 standard. A continuous mass loss of 69% from 390.89°C to 475°C is well supported by thermo gravimetric analysis. The regression analysis provides the optimum mechanical performance for which the composites execute its accuracy. Low sound transmissibility of the composite enhances its acoustic performance. The thermo-acoustic insulating properties such as thermal conductivity and acoustic behaviour of the materials are well described converting the rattan fiber for sustainable and eco-friendly applications.

Identifying and estimating the sources of river flow in the cold arid desert environment of Upper Indus River Basin (UIRB), western Himalayas

A reliable water supply in different Himalayan River basins is increasingly important for domestic, agriculture, and hydropower generation. These water resources are under serious threat due to climate change, with the potential to alter the economic stability of 237 million people living in the Indus River Basin alone. In the present study, we used new stable water isotope data set to identify and estimate the different sources of streamflow and their controlling factors in the Upper Indus River Basin (UIRB), India. The data set presented wide spatial and temporal variability without the distinct isotopic signature of various sources of river flow. However, variable but distinct signatures of sources of river/stream flow exist at the sub-basin or catchment scale. These variabilities are ascribed to changing physiographical, meteorological, and local climatic conditions. Further, the distinct microclimatic conditions including altitudinal variability, aspect slope, etc. govern the spatio-temporal variability of sources and streamflow, hence different lapse rates at sub-basin/catchment scale. The study suggested that the contribution of snowmelt and glacier melt to river flow varies spatially and temporally. The Bayesian mixing model results suggested that snowmelt contribution is higher in Indus (63 ± 1.2%) and Shyok (58 ± 1.7%) while as, glacier melt contribution is higher in Nubra 64 ± 2.3% and Suru 60 ± 2.7% sub-basins/catchments. The groundwater contribution (baseflow) sustains and regulates the flow in rivers/streams during winter and spring, which is very vital for the local water supply. The study suggests that the spatially diverse rugged topography and microclimate in UIRB dominantly control the differential contribution from various sources of river flow. The warming climate, which has resulted in a decrease in solid precipitation, continuous glacier mass loss, early melting of snow cover, etc., would have an inconsistent impact on the perennial flow of rivers with the potential to alter the economic and political stability in the region.

Accelerated Degradation of Poly(lactide acid)/Poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PLA/PHB) Yarns/Fabrics by UV and O2 Exposure in South China Seawater.

Marine plastic pollution is emerging as a potential hazard to global ecosystems and human health. Micro-fibers derived from synthetic textiles contribute a considerable proportion of plastic debris. Bio-polymers/bio-plastics have been proposed for the application of apparel products, yet their degradability, fate, durability and related environmental parameters are still elusive and need further exploration. Herein, we report the degradation behavior of poly(lactide acid)/poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PLA/PHB) fabrics, made from PLA/PHB multi-filament yarns, in subtropics marine seawater. The degradation experiments were performed under various parallel conditions including static seawater, aerobic seawater in dark box, aerobic seawater under sunlight, static seawater under ultra-violet light and aerobic seawater under ultra-violet light. Continuous mass loss of PLA/PHB fabrics as the immersion time in the seawater increased was confirmed. The hydrolysis rate of PLA/PHB fabrics accelerated in the presence of UV light and dissolved oxygen in the seawater. Moreover, the tensile strength of the PLA/PHB yarns dropped rapidly by 38.54–68.70% in spite of the mass loss percentage being from 9.57% to 14.48% after 2 weeks’ immersion. All the PLA/PHB fabrics after two weeks’ immersion exhibited similar ATR-IR spectra. Therefore, the degradability of PLA/PHB fabrics, in the marine surface water under the synergistic destructive effect of seawater, UV and dissolved oxygen, provides a pathway for more sustainable textile fibers and apparel products.

Prevalence of depression in patients with sarcopenia and correlation between the two diseases: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundDepression may be the most common cause of emotional distress later in life and can significantly reduce the quality of life in elderly individuals. Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by the continuous loss of skeletal muscle mass and decreased strength and function. In recent years, many studies have shown a correlation between sarcopenia and depression. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression among individuals with sarcopenia and to ascertain whether sarcopenia is independently associated with depression.MethodsWe systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases for papers on sarcopenia published up to 31 August 2021. We reviewed the literature on the number of individuals with sarcopenia, the number of individuals with both sarcopenia and depression, and the odds ratio (OR) of sarcopenia to depression. Statistical analyses were performed using Meta‐DiSc 1.4 software and Stata version 12.0.ResultsNineteen articles met the inclusion criteria for review: nine reported both prevalence and ORs, four described prevalence only, and six detailed the ORs only. Regarding prevalence, there were 1476 cases of sarcopenia and 364 of depression in the selected studies; the mean age of the patients was 75.5 years, and the overall prevalence of depression was 0.28 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21–0.36]. Significant heterogeneity was noted (P < 0.001; I 2 = 92.2%). In the case of ORs, there were 16 869 subjects with a mean age of 73 years; the overall adjusted OR between sarcopenia and depression was 1.57 (95% CI: 1.32–1.86). Significant heterogeneity was noted in the adjusted ORs (P < 0.001; I 2 = 75.1%).ConclusionsThe prevalence of depression in patients with sarcopenia was high relatively, and there was a correlation between sarcopenia and depression.

Composition-controlled degradation behavior of macroporous scaffolds from three-armed biodegradable macromers

Acidification of implant microenvironment and inflammation due to degradation products of high molecular weight poly(α‑hydroxy acids) like PLA and PLGA is a risk that can limit their use in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and drug delivery. We developed macromers that consist of a three-armed core with varying degrees of ethoxylation, hydrolytically degradable oligolactide blocks and terminal methacrylate groups (TriLA macromers) for cross-polymerization into monolithic or macroporous structures. Within the macromer platform, biophysical and biochemical properties can be adjusted by macromer chemistry. In this work, eight new macromer types with a reduced degree of methacrylation or substitution of a fraction of the lactic acid units with glycolic acid were successfully synthesized starting from a fully methacrylated, oligolactide-based TriLA macromer. Chemical characterization confirmed feed-dependent glycolic acid integration and controlled reduction in degree of methacrylation. The degradation behavior of macroporous scaffolds made by solid lipid templating from both the previously established and the new macromers was systematically investigated. In general, the scaffolds displayed continuous mass loss over time when the onset time of degradation was passed. Depending on arm length as well as hydrophilicity of the oligomeric building blocks, degradation half-life ranged from 3 to 4 weeks to over 81 weeks. Glycolic acid integration accelerated network degradation more effectively than an increase in core molecule hydrophilicity. The observed, adjustable degradation profiles with only moderate medium acidification and a dominant phase of almost linear mass loss make this material platform promising for regenerative and drug delivery applications.