Decreasing Trend Research Articles

A Study on the Aesthetic Parameters and Proportions of the External Contour for Minimally Invasive Facial Injection.

The aim of this study was to further guide the diagnosis and treatment programs for clinical facial contouring with injectable fillers by studying the facial contour parameters and proportion preferences consistent with Asian aesthetics. A total of 89 subjects (42 males and 47 females aged 20-60 years) who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. The subjects were grouped by age, sex, and external contour attractiveness score, and the external contour aesthetic parameters and proportions of the subjects in different groups were measured and analysed. The upper facial breadth and lower facial breadth decreased with age, with significant differences between the 50-60-year age group and other age groups (P<0.01). The nasomental angle showed a decreasing trend with age, with significant differences between the 40-49-year age group and the 20-29-year and 30-39-year age groups (P<0.05). Males and females were significantly different in calva height, total head height, lower facial height, and calva height to total head height ratio (P<0.05). With increasing age, the external contour attractiveness scores of males and females both showed decreasing trends, with significant differences between the 50-60-year age group and other age groups (P<0.05). The calva height and the cranioauricular angle have a significant impact on external contour attractiveness. In general, temporal depression, cheek sagging, lateral cheek depression, and an ill-defined mandibular border will occur due to ageing, collagen loss, ligament laxity and sagging, and soft tissue atrophy and sagging, reducing the attractiveness of the external contour. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

An analysis of microstructure and property of cerium dioxide incorporated in tungsten-copper composites prepared by activation sintering method

A series of W-Cu-Co-xCeO2 composites were obtained through activation sintering method, and their microstructure and properties were systematically researched. As the amount of CeO2 increased, the size of W particle in composites showed a decreasing trend as a whole. When the CeO2 amount was 0∼0.8 wt.%, the W particles in composites exhibited a large size and dense distribution. As the CeO2 amount further increased, the size of W particle began to significantly decrease and the distribution area of Cu phase was uneven. The porosity of W-Cu-Co-xCeO2 composites first decreased and then increased. The density, relative density, and hardness exhibited an opposite trend. When the CeO2 amount was 0.8 wt.%, these values reached their maximum values of 14.16 g/cm3, 98.66%, and 223 HV3.0, respectively. In addition, the friction coefficient (COF) and wear rate of W-Cu-Co-xCeO2 composites first decreased and then increased, which reached the lowest values at CeO2 of 0.8 wt.%. At this time, the COF and wear rate were about 0.356 and 5.78 × 10-6 mm3/Nm, respectively.

Planar clamping anchorage for CFRP plate: Experimental research, friction-adhesion synergistic mechanism and theoretical model

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) is an anisotropic material, which poses great challenge to its anchorage. In this paper, the performance of a planar clamping anchorage (PCA) for single-layer CFRP plate cable was investigated through the static tensile test. Influencing parameters included interface treatment form, clamping stress, and anchor length. Two interfacial treatment forms were considered: pure friction and friction-adhesion action. Furthermore, the bearing capacity calculation method of friction-adhesion coupling anchor was developed based on the analysis of the process of adhesion and friction. The results indicate that friction-adhesion coupling action significantly improved the anchor bearing capacity compared to pure friction, and the rate of increase in ultimate load displayed a decreasing trend as the clamping stress increased. Additionally, the error between the theoretical and experimental values of anchor bearing capacity for specimens with friction-adhesion coupling anchor was generally within approximately ±10 %.

Assessing the current and future trends of climate extremes at Zarima subbasin North Western Ethiopia

Climate extreme events in Ethiopia have increased, impacting the country’s agriculture dependent economy. Localized studies on rainfall extremes provides valuable insights to develop mitigation measures. This study focuses on the analysis of rainfall extremes for the observed (1984–2018) and the future mid time period (2031–2065) and end time period (2066–2100) projected under RCP4.5: moderate emissions reduction scenario aiming to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations by the mid-21st century and RCP8.5: high emissions scenario with continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions throughout the twenty-first century. Trend analysis was done using R statistical software modified Man Kendell package. The result revealed that the observed total rainfall in wet days (PRCPTOT) showed insignificant declining trend across the subbasin. Under the RCP4.5 scenario, mid time period projections indicated increasing trends in PRCPTOT at Maytsebri, Adiremet and Debarik stations while decreasing trends expected at Ketema Niguse and Zarima stations. In the RCP4.5 end time period, Debarik and Zarima stations showed increasing trends while other stations exhibited decreasing trends. Under the RCP8.5 scenario, PRCPTOT showed insignificant decreasing trend except Ketema Niguse station which showed significant increasing trend during the mid time period. The observed annual maximum 1-day rainfall (RX1day) and annual RX5day rainfall had both positive and negative trends over subbasin. The RCP4.5 scenario projected declining trends in annual RX1day rainfall, while the RCP8.5 scenario projected increasing trends, except the end time projection of Debarik station. Consecutive dry days (CDD) increased and Consecutive wet days (CWD) decreased insignificantly in majority the subbasin. Projections indicated higher CDD and decreased CWD are expected in majority of the subbasin area. These finding implied that further investigation is required on the impact of climate extremes.

Estimation of Actual Evapotranspiration and Water Stress in Typical Irrigation Areas in Xinjiang, Northwest China

The increasing water demand and the disparities in the spatiotemporal distribution of water resources will lead to increasingly severe water shortages in arid areas. Accurate evapotranspiration estimation is the basis for evaluating water stress and informing sustainable water resource management. In this study, we constructed a surface energy balance algorithm for land (SEBAL) model based on the Google Earth Engine platform to invert the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) in typical irrigation areas in Xinjiang, northwest China, during the growing season from 2005 to 2021. The inversion results were evaluated using the observed evaporation data and crop evapotranspiration estimated by the FAO Penman–Monteith method. The water stress index (WSI) was then calculated based on the simulated ETa. The impacts of climatic factors, hydrological conditions, land-use change, and irrigation patterns on ETa and WSI were analyzed. The results indicated the following: (1) The ETa simulated by the SEBAL model matched well with the observed data and the evapotranspiration estimated using the FAO Penman–Monteith approach, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.7. (2) The average ETa was 704 mm during the growing season, showing an increasing trend in the irrigation area of the Yanqi Basin (IAY), whereas for the irrigation area of Burqin (IAB) the average ETa was 677 mm during the growing season, showing an increasing trend. The land cover type mainly influenced the spatial distribution of ETa in the two study areas. (3) The WSI in both irrigation areas exhibited a decreasing trend, with the WSI in the IAY lower than that in the IAB. (4) Climate warming, increases in irrigation areas, and changes in cropping patterns led to increased ETa in the IAY and IAB; the overall decreasing trend in the WSI derived from the popularization of agricultural water-saving irrigation patterns in both regions, which reduces ineffective evapotranspiration and contributes positively to solving the water shortage problem in the basins. This study provides insight into water resource management in the Xinjiang irrigation areas.

Climatology, trends, and future projections of aerosol optical depth over the Middle East and North Africa region in CMIP6 models

This study assesses the aerosol optical depth (AOD) from historical simulations (2003–2014) and future climate scenarios (2015–2100) of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) over the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Multi-model mean (MME) AOD statistics are generated as the average of those from the five best-performing CMIP6 models, which reproduce observational climate statistics. These models were selected based on the validation of various climate metrics, including strong pattern correlations with observations (&amp;gt;0.8). The resulting MME reproduces the observed AOD seasonal cycle well. The observed positive trends (summer and annual) over the Arabian Peninsula (AP) and negative trends (winter) over North Africa are well captured by MME, as regional meteorological drivers associated with observed AOD trends, with few discrepancies. Crucially, the MME fails to capture the AOD trends over North West Africa (NWA). For MENA and NWA regions, two high-emission scenarios, SSP370 and SSP585, project a continuous rise in the annual mean AOD until the end of the century. In contrast, the low-emission scenarios, SSP126 and SSP245, project a decreasing AOD trend. Interestingly, the projected future AOD area-averaged over the AP region varies significantly across all four scenarios in time. Notably, a substantial decrease of about 8–10% in the AOD is projected by the SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585 scenarios at the end of the century (2080–2100) relative to the current period. This projected decrease in annual-mean AOD, including the frequency of extreme AOD years under SSP585, is potentially associated with a concurrent increase in annual-mean rainfall over the AP.

Correlation between Tregs and ICOS-induced M2 macrophages polarization in colorectal cancer progression

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Tregs promote the progression of colorectal cancer by inducing tumor-associated macrophages to polarize into M2 type via ICOS.MethodsPostoperative pathological tissues and clinical pathological data of 268 colorectal cancer patients who underwent initial surgery were collected. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression levels of ICOS, CD163 (a marker for M2 macrophages), and Foxp3 (a marker for Tregs) in cancerous, adjacent non-tumorous, and normal tissues. The relationship of ICOS, M2 macrophages, and Tregs in CRC with clinical pathological characteristics and pre-surgical tumor markers (such as CEA and CA199) was explored.ResultsThe expression levels of M2 macrophages and Tregs increased with tumor progression, while ICOS expression showed a decreasing trend. Compared to adjacent and normal tissues, the expression levels of ICOS, M2 macrophages, and Tregs were higher in CRC tissues. The expression levels of M2 macrophages and Tregs were significantly positively correlated with tumor markers, while ICOS expression was significantly negatively correlated.ConclusionTumor-associated m2 macrophages induced by Tregs and ICOS participate in the dynamic balance of the colorectal cancer tumor microenvironment, and their interaction affects colorectal carcinogenesis and progression. High levels of ICOS are associated with better long-term survival rates.

Trends in Area, Production and Productivity of Castor in Telangana

Aims: To analyse the trends in area, production and productivity of castor in Telangana and major erstwhile districts of Telangana. The main purpose of the study is to understand the growth rate of castor in a region of Telangana, as India is the largest exporter of castor oil, which has multiple industrial applications. Methodology: The secondary data of the area, production and productivity of castor from 2001-02 to 2022-23 were collected from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) was used to analyse the time-series data of castor. CAGR was calculated for 3 periods -Period I (2001-02 to 2011-12), Period II (2012-13 to 2022-23), Overall Period (2001-23). Results: The results showed a decreasing trend in both castor area and production. But castor productivity observed a positive growth rate in Telangana and the major erstwhile castor-growing districts like Mahbubnagar and Medak. However, few districts like Rangareddy, Nalgonda, and Warangal showed negative trends in productivity during Period I. The study highlighted a decline in the castor area due to the incidence of diseases like Botrytis, shifting to other crops such as cotton and climate variability. Conclusion: The study indicated that the decline in the castor area is a major concern and this study will be useful in agricultural policy making to take appropriate actions to reverse the declining trends of castor cultivation in Telangana.

Mechanical Behavior of Buried HDPE Pipe Subjected to Surface Load: Constitutive Modeling and Finite Element Method Simulations

Abstract In this paper, the Sherwood–Frost constitutive model was first used to simulate the stress response and deformation process of buried high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe subjected to surface load, where parameters in this model were obtained by fitting the results of uniaxial tensile tests with different rates and the pipe–soil model was conducted in abaqus. Apparent stress concentration and large deformation are observed in pipe cross section and are closely related to the magnitude and location of surface load. The increments of surface load and offset displacement have opposite effects on the mechanical behavior of pipes. Additionally, the location of the maximum stress appears to shift from the top or bottom to the left and right sides of the pipe cross section with the increment of surface load, and the region of peak hoop stress will show a decreasing trend of counterclockwise rotation. Then, based on stress failure criterion, the relationship between the ultimate bearing capacity of the pipe and the offset displacement was determined, which decided by the angle between the ground and the line connecting load center and cross section center of pipe. Finally, an offset of 0.6 m is a value of interest. When the offset between the load position and the pipe exceeds 0.6 m, the ultimate bearing capacity of the pipe will increase significantly with the increase of the offset. The results of the above research could provide the reference for the safety evaluation and maintenance strategy of gas polyethylene pipe under the surface load.

The effects of acute ammonia stress on liver antioxidant, immune and metabolic responses of juvenile yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)

The impact of acute ammonia nitrogen (NH3−N) stress on the antioxidant, immune, and metabolic capabilities of the liver in juvenile yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) is not yet fully understood. This study set NH3-N concentrations at 0 (natural seawater, control group), 5, and 10 mg/L, and sampled the liver at 6, 24, and 36 h for analysis. As time progresses, NH3-N exposure leads to an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the relative expression levels of related genes, as well as the activity of immune enzymes and ATPase, decrease. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) exhibit different fluctuation patterns. Low concentrations of NH3-N increase the activity of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GHS-PX) and the relative expression levels of the Na+K+-ATPase gene. The relative expression levels of the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6r) gene show a decreasing trend. High concentrations of NH3-N decrease the activity of CAT, GSH-PX, and the relative expression levels of related genes. When the NH3-N concentration is below 5 mg/L, the stress duration should not exceed 36 h. When the NH3-N concentration is between 5 and 10 mg/L, the stress duration should not exceed 24 h, otherwise, it will have a negative impact on the liver of the juvenile yellowfin tuna. This study provides scientific data for the artificial breeding and recirculating aquaculture of juvenile yellowfin tuna.

Rice Growth and Leaf Physiology in Response to Four Levels of Continuous Drought Stress in Southern China

Exploring the growth and physiological response mechanisms of rice under continuous drought stress circumstances can provide a significant scientific foundation and technological assistance for meeting drought difficulties, improving drought resistance and rice (Oryza sativa L.) output, and ensuring food security. In this study, a rice field experiment was conducted under a rain shelter with five different treatments set up: P1 (drought stress from tillering stage), P2 (drought stress from jointing–booting stage), P3 (drought stress from heading–flowering stage), P4 (drought stress from grain filling stage), and CK (adequate water management throughout the growth stage). Continuous drought stress from different growth stages with four levels (mild, medium, moderate, and severe). The results showed that the effects of different drought stress treatments on rice growth varied significantly. Compared with the CK treatment, plant height was reduced by 12.10%, 8.14%, 3.83%, and 1.06% in the P1, P2, P3, and P4 treatments, respectively, and the number of tillers was reduced by 23.83%, 18.91%, 13.47%, and 8.68%, respectively. With the increase in drought stress levels, SPAD values and Rubisco activity of rice leaf continued to decrease; SOD activity showed a decreasing trend, but the decreasing trend of POD and CAT activities was not significant, while MDA content showed an increasing trend. For yield components, continuous drought stress significantly reduced spike length of rice by an average of 3.5%, effective number of spikes by 18.9%, thousand grain weight by 3.7%, grain number per spike by 11.6%, and fruiting rate by 1.8%, respectively, compared to CK treatments during the growth period. In general, continuous drought stress during the early growth period affected the effective spike number and the grain number per spike. Continuous drought stress after the grain filling stage had the least effect on yield (17.62% of yield reduction), and water use efficiency (1.76 kg m−3) was much higher than other treatments. These researchers’ findings provide insight into how rice physiology and growth react to continuous drought stress, which is significant for agricultural operations.

Safety and efficacy of L-Glutamine in reducing the frequency of acute complications among patients with sickle cell disease: A randomized controlled study.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of L-glutamine in reducing vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) and improving cerebral arterial blood flow in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). This is an interventional randomized controlled trial that recruited sixty SCD patients, aged 9.2 ± 3.7 years, who had at least two VOCs during the last 12 months and on a stable dose of hydroxyurea. They were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive glutamine (0.3 gm/kg/dose/12h) orally for 24 weeks or the standard of care (SOC). All patients had VOCs in the last year > 3, those on glutamine had a higher number of VOCs and hospitalization for VOC in the last year. There was a decreasing trend in the number, severity, and hospitalization of VOC and a significantly lower cumulative number of VOCs and hospitalizations in the glutamine group than in SOC (p = 0.008, p < 0.001 respectively). Time-averaged mean maximum velocity for the glutamine group had a marginal increase in both middle cerebral arteries, all values remained normal within a normal range, and in both internal carotid arteries, values increased from abnormally low to normal ranges at week 24. Glutamine reduced the number of VOCs and severity and may have a potentially favorable impact on the cerebral arterial flow velocities.

Slow-velocity eccentric-only resistance training improves symptoms of type 2 diabetic mellitus patients by regulating plasma MMP-2 and -9.

This study investigated the intervention effect of slow-velocity eccentric-only resistance training on type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients based on the role of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP-2 and -9) in regulating extracellular matrix homeostasis. 50 T2DM patients were randomly divided into the slow-velocity eccentric-only resistance training group (E) and control group (C). The E group performed eccentric-only resistance training 3 times a week, every other day for 10 weeks, while the C group did not. Blood samples were collected before and after training, and subjects were tested for changes in clinical parameters, insulin resistance indices [fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)], MMP-2 and -9, and hydroxyproline, and muscle strength (12-RM), respectively. After 10 weeks of training, the E group showed significant decreases in fasting glucose (P < .05), insulin (P < .05), insulin resistance indices (P < .05), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (P < .01), triglycerides (P = .06) and MMP-2 (P < .05), while total cholesterol (P < .05), MMP-9 (P < .05), hydroxyproline (P < .01), Creatine Kinase (CK) (P < .05), and muscle strength (P < .001) significantly increased. There were no significant changes in the count of neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). Compared with the C group, the E group showed a trend of a significant decrease in triglyceride (P < .05), lymphocyte count (P < .05), fasting glucose (P = .07), and plasma MMP-2 (P < .05), while MMP-9 (P < .05), hydroxyproline (P < .001), and muscle strength (P < .01) significantly increased. However, no significant changes were observed in insulin and insulin resistance indices, HbA1c, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, CK, and other inflammatory indicators. Slow-velocity eccentric-only resistance training was beneficial for T2DM, but the potential role of MMP-2 and -9 in regulating extracellular matrix homeostasis is very different in T2DM patients.

Effects of sintering method and Al2O3 content on microstructure and mechanical properties of WC-10Co cemented carbide

Ultra-high toughness and ultra-high hardness WC-10Co-xAl2O3 cemented carbides were successfully prepared by vacuum liquid phase sintering (VS) and spark plasma sintering (SPS) using ultrafine WC and commercial Co powders as raw materials, respectively. The effects of nano-Al2O3 content and sintering process on the relative density, average grain size, microstructure and mechanical properties of WC-10Co alloys were investigated. The results showed that the densification degree of the samples decreased with the increase of Al2O3 content. In addition, the relative densities of the samples prepared by SPS were lower than those of the samples prepared by VS. For the samples prepared by VS, the average grain size increased first and then decreased as the Al2O3 content increased from 3 wt% to 9 wt%, and the percentage of coarse grain showed the same trend. When the addition of Al2O3 was 6 wt%, the average grain size reached the maximum value of 1.39 ± 1.03 μm. Meanwhile, the sample with 6 wt% Al2O3 had a typical inhomogeneous dual-grain structure, and the percentages of fine grain (< 1 μm) and coarse grain (> 1 μm) were about 50%, which displayed the highest fracture toughness of 18.59 MPa·m1/2. The dual-grain structure not only improved the toughness, but also compensated the loss of hardness. However, for the samples prepared by SPS, with the increase of Al2O3 content, the average grain size of WC decreased, while both hardness and toughness were continuously improved. When the Al2O3 content increased to 9 wt%, the grain size reached the minimum value of 0.25 ± 0.08 μm, and meanwhile, the hardness and toughness reached the maximum value of 19.69 GPa and 12.29 MPa·m1/2, respectively. Moreover, as the Al2O3 content increased, the transverse rupture strength (TRS) of the samples prepared by VS increased first and then decreased, and the TRS of sample with 3 wt% Al2O3 reached the maximum value of 1410 MPa. However, the TRS of the sample prepared by SPS showed a decreasing trend.

Trend analysis and prediction of injury incidence in China from 1990 to 2019 based on Bayesian age–period–cohort model

BackgroundInjury is a major challenge to global public health. Analysing the trend of injury incidence in China from 1990 to 2019 and predicting future trends in incidence can provide a...

Differences in End-of-Life Care Between Patients Who Died of Cancer Diseases and Those Who Died of Noncancer Diseases.

Background and Purpose: Patients with advanced noncancer diseases or advanced cancer diseases may experience similar symptom burdens during the end of their lives. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in receiving hospice care service and in receiving aggressive end-of-life care between patients who died of cancer diseases and those who died of noncancer diseases. Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Subjects who died of cancers or noncancer diseases from 2010 through 2019 were analyzed to identify the information on patient's characteristics, receipt of hospice care service, receipt of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during the last hospitalization, and receipt of airway support interventions during the last hospitalization. The independent effects of various characteristics on the receipt of hospice care, CPR during the last hospitalization, and airway support interventions during the last hospitalization were evaluated using multivariate logistic regressions. Results: A total of 587,490 patients were included, of which 434,142 died of cancers and 153,348 died of noncancer diseases. There were significant trends of increase in receiving hospice care service and significant trends of decrease in receiving CPR or airway support interventions during the last hospitalization in both patients who died of cancers and those who died of noncancer diseases. Compared with patients who died of cancers, those who died of noncancer diseases were less likely to receive hospice care service (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.087; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.085-0.089) and had a higher risk of receiving CPR (AOR: 3.610; 95% CI: 3.521-3.704) or airway support interventions during the last hospitalization (AOR: 3.086; 95% CI: 3.021-3.165). Conclusions: Hospice care service should be promoted for all patients with end-stage diseases especially those with noncancer diseases.

Analysis of hospitalization expenses and influencing factors for elderly cancer patients in a tertiary hospital in Dalian, China: a five‑year retrospective study

BackgroundBecause the proportion of elderly individuals and the incidence of cancer worldwide are continually increasing, medical costs for elderly inpatients with cancer are being significantly increasing, which puts tremendous financial pressure on their families and society. The current study described the actual direct medical costs of elderly inpatients with cancer and analyzed the influencing factors for the costs to provide advice on the prevention and control of the high medical costs of elderly patients with cancer.MethodA retrospective descriptive analysis was performed on the hospitalization expense data of 11,399 elderly inpatients with cancer at a tier-3 hospital in Dalian between June 2016 and June 2020. The differences between different groups were analyzed using univariate analysis, and the influencing factors of hospitalization expenses were explored by multiple linear regression analysis.ResultsThe hospitalization cost of elderly cancer patients showed a decreasing trend from 2016 to 2020. Specifically, the top 3 hospitalization costs were material costs, drug costs and surgery costs, which accounted for greater than 10% of all cancers according to the classification: colorectal (23.96%), lung (21.74%), breast (12.34%) and stomach cancer (12.07%). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that cancer type, surgery, year and length of stay (LOS) had a common impact on the four types of hospitalization costs (P < 0.05).ConclusionThere were significant differences in the four types of hospitalization costs for elderly cancer patients according to the LOS, surgery, year and type of cancer. The study results suggest that the health administration department should enhance the supervision of hospital costs and elderly cancer patient treatment. Measures should be taken by relying on the hospital information system to strengthen the cost management of cancer diseases and departments, optimize the internal management system, shorten elderly cancer patients LOS, and reasonably control the costs of disease diagnosis, treatment and department operation to effectively reduce the economic burden of elderly cancer patients.

Nasopharyngeal cancer risk assessment by country or region worldwide from 1990 to 2019

BackgroundNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is 22nd most common cancer that occurs all over the world, but the prevalence rate can exhibit significant geographical differences. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database provides data related to the incidence, mortality, and disease burden of NPC worldwide from 1990 to 2019. We have designed this study in order to evaluate the potential effectiveness of health care policies and strategies for NPC prevention, diagnosis and treatment in different countries or regions around the world.MethodsWe used for the first time two distinct indicators, EAPC-ASIR and EACP-ASDR, to perform cluster analysis on 200 countries or regions around the world.Results200 countries or regions could be divided into five diverse groups. Group 1: The incidence rate showed an increasing trend whereas the mortality rate depicted a decreasing trend. Group 2: Morbidity as well as mortality showed a slight increase; Group 3: Morbidity as well as mortality increased significantly; Group 4: Morbidity and mortality decreased significantly; Group 5: Both morbidity as well as mortality decreased slightly. Moreover, in the context of a global decline in NPC incidence, mortality and disease burden, Group 3 countries, including: “Turkmenistan”, “Bosnia and Herzegovina”, “Dominican Republic”, “Bulgaria”, “Lesotho”, “Cabo Verde”, “Romania”, “Cuba”, “Jamaica”, “Azerbaijan”, “Uzbekistan”, “Chad”, “Belize” and “Ukraine” displayed a significant increase in morbidity, mortality, and disease burden, thus indicating a dangerous trend.ConclusionIt is suggested that the medical and health policies formulated by the countries in Group 3 for NPC, as well as their capacity for conducting censuses, preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases, need to be substantially strengthened.

Analysis on the spatial correlation network and driving factors of carbon emissions in China's logistics industry

Promoting the green development of the logistics industry has become a focal point of attention in China. This study combines an improved gravity model and social network analysis method, focusing on the nineteen provinces of the Yangtze Economic Belt and Yellow River Basin. It constructs a spatial correlation network of carbon emissions in the logistics industry from 2010 to 2021, exploring its formation mechanism and spatial evolution characteristics. The study utilizes a quadratic assignment procedure model to investigate internal driving factors. Building upon this, the study employs an improved STIRPAT model to predict the emission reduction path of the future logistics industry. Results are as follows: (1) Carbon consumption is most pronounced in Shandong, Jiangsu, and Shanghai. The carbon emission shows the characteristics of larger downstream; (2) The bridges of carbon emission-related networks gradually shift from Shandong to Shanxi, Anhui, and Sichuan. Carbon emissions in each sector and spatial spillover effects exhibit dynamic correlations and interactive influences; (3) Energy intensity, freight volume, and the spatial correlation network of the logistics industry are highly correlated; (4) The overall carbon emissions from the logistics industry show a decreasing trend in the future. Anhui and Shaanxi provinces will have high carbon emissions in 2035. The conclusions aim to provide policy suggestions for the region's low-carbon transformation.

Online monitoring of solubility of Li2CO3 in the NaCl–KCl–Na2SO4 system

ABSTRACT The solubility and thermodynamics of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) play an important role in industrial crystal production. The solubility of Li2CO3 in H2O, NaCl, KCl, Na2SO4 and mixed NaCl–KCl–Na2SO4 solutions is measured, respectively, at temperatures ranging from 293.15 K to 368.15 K using the gravimetric method and immersion infra-red probe. The results suggested that the solubility of Li2CO3 exhibits a decreasing trend with increasing temperature. The impurity composition such as NaCl, Na2SO4 and NaCl–KCl–Na2SO4 can significantly affect the solubility of Li2CO3. It is higher than that in pure water, and the addition of KCl decreases its solubility in the temperature ranging from 293.15 K to 313.15 K. The Van’t Hoff and modified Apelblat models are further employed to correlate the solubility data of Li2CO3 in different systems. In addition, the thermodynamic data of Li2CO3 are calculated, which shows a non-spontaneous exothermal process and entropy reduction.