Different Degrees Of Interaction Research Articles

980-970 Ma Sette-Daban event of the Siberian craton: new geochronological and geochemical data, relationship to LIP and potential connection with other LIPs

ABSTRACT The paper presents new geological, geochronological, geochemical and Nd-Sr isotopic data on the Meso- Neoproterozoic dolerites of the Siberian Craton. New U-Pb baddeleyite and apatite ages of a E-W-trending dyke and two sills from southeastern Siberia are 982 ± 11, 977 ± 7, 970 ± 31 and 972 ± 60 Ma, respectively, extending the area of distribution of the event by more than 100 km to the north. The Sette-Daban intrusions are subalkalic mostly low-Ti dolerites, although high-Ti dolerites have been locally documented as well. Trace element abundances in dolerites vary from typical to E-MORB to OIB with arc-like signatures represented by high Th/Yb and low TiO2/Yb ratios. All dolerite samples display moderately positive εNd(t) values varying from +3.3 to +7.7 and indicating the magmas were derived from a depleted mantle source. E-MORB and OIB intrusions are attributed to the different degree of interaction of magma between the depleted asthenospheric mantle and regions within the sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) that were metasomatically enriched during earlier subduction events. Available data on Sette-Daban event distribution, composition and duration satisfy the characteristics of a typical Large Igneous Province (LIP). Similar age 1000–950 Ma mafic magmatism is also recognized in the Baltic and Amazonian cratons and can be potentially correlated with the Sette-Daban event.

Chinese expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment strategies for novel coronavirus infection in immunocompromised populations (2023 edition)

AbstractSince the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) was identified in 2019, it has caused more than 664 million confirmed cases and more than 6.7 million deaths globally by January 20, 2023. So far, the novel coronavirus has undergone mutations from the original, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron strains. Omicron was first detected in South Africa in November 2021 and has since spread rapidly to more than 100 countries around the world, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify it as a “variant of concern” for COVID‐19. Due to its stronger infectivity, faster transmission, and higher reinfection rate, it is more likely to cause immune evasion and infection breakthrough in the vaccinated population. Omicron has replaced Delta strain as the main epidemic strain imported from overseas and in China. People with immunodeficiency are more susceptible to the novel coronavirus due to abnormal immune function, and viral infections tend to be more lasting and severe. In addition, due to the existence of underlying diseases, most people with immunodeficiency have been taking immunosuppressants and other related drugs for a long time, and there are different degrees of interaction between novel coronavirus treatment drugs and original drugs, which brings great challenges to the diagnosis and treatment of people with immunodeficiency after infection with novel coronavirus. According to the Novel Coronavirus Infection Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol (Trial 10th Edition) issued by the National Health Commission, which emphasizes “strengthening the protection of key groups,” people with immune deficiency belong to the high‐risk groups of severe or critical disease. Based on the evidence of evidence‐based medicine and after many discussions by experts from multiple disciplines (Department of Respiratory and Critical Care, Department of Organ Transplantation, Department of Rheumatology, Department of Hematology, Department of Infection, Department of Critical Care Medicine, etc.), 13 recommendations are summarized to provide theoretical and practical reference for the diagnosis and treatment strategy of this special population.

Mechanical properties and microscopic characteristics of fly ash–slag composite backfill

The strength of the backfill is crucial for safe and efficient mining, and the cementing material is the key to obtaining a strong backfill. In this paper, industrial waste was used as a raw material, into which basis basalt fibres of different lengths and dosages were incorporated. First, the influencing factors were determined through orthogonal test designs. The optimal ratio of solid–liquid ratio of 2 and basalt fiber content of 2% and length of 6 mm was obtained, and thereby the complete proportion of the backfill material was obtained. The compressive strength and slump of the backfill material mixed with basalt fibres were investigated, and the interfacial mechanism of the backfill material was analysed at the microscopic level using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the degrees of influence of the different factors on the mechanical properties of the backfill material decreased in the following order: Solid–liquid ratio > fibre dosage > fibre length. Furthermore, there were different degrees of interaction among them. Under the best test proportion, that is, when the Solid–liquid ratio was 2, the fibre dosage was 2%, and the fibre length was 6 mm, the slump was 210 mm, and the compressive strength was 5.03 MPa. The mechanical properties were the best at this time. Through data regression, the relationship between the fibre dosage and the average peak stress was established, and the full curve expression for the uniaxial compressive stress–strain of the BFGF specimen was obtained. According to a microscopic characterisation analysis, the slag formed C–S–H gel, which contributed to the early-stage strength of the filling material; fly ash and coal gangue contained a large amount of aluminium, which formed hydrated aluminosilicate with a framework structure, and this contributed significantly to the later-stage strength of the backfill material. The addition of basalt fibres reduces the internal defects of the backfill, allowing the internal pore structure of the backfill to be optimised and the compressive strength to be increased. The results of this study have been successfully implemented in actual projects. Additionally, they provide a reference for similar mine management projects and have considerable promotion and application value.

Structure and conformation of individual molecules upon adsorption of a mixture of benzoporphyrins on Ag(111), Cu(111), and Cu(110) surfaces.

We investigated the adsorption behavior of a mixture of six 2H-tetrakis-(3, 5-di-tert-butyl-phenyl)(x)benzoporphyrins (2H-diTTBP(x)BPs, x = 0, 1, 2-cis, 2-trans, 3, and 4) on Ag(111), Cu(111) and Cu(110) at room temperature by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under ultra-high vacuum conditions. On Ag(111), we observe an ordered two-dimensional square phase, which is stable up to 400 K. On Cu(111), the same square phase coexists with a stripe phase, which disappears at 400 K. In contrast, on Cu(110), 2H-diTTBP(x)BPs adsorb as immobile isolated molecules or dispersed short chains along the [10] substrate direction, which remain intact up to 450 K. The stabilization of the 2D supramolecular structures on Ag(111) and Cu(111), and of the 1D short chains on Cu(110) is attributed to van der Waals interactions between the tert-butyl and phenyl groups of neighboring molecules. From high-resolution STM, we can assign all six 2H-diTTBP(x)BPs within the ordered structures. Moreover, we deduce a crown shape quadratic conformation on Ag(111) and Cu(111), an additional saddle-shape on Cu(111), and an inverted structure and a quadratic appearance on Cu(110). The different conformations are attributed to the different degree of interaction of the iminic nitrogen atoms of the isoindole and pyrrole groups with the substrate atoms.

Molecular Crosstalk between T Cells and Tumor Uncovers GBM-Specific T Cell Signatures in Blood: Noninvasive GBM Diagnosis Using Immunosensors.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive stage IV brain cancer with a poor prognosis and survival rate. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) in GBM prevents the entry and exit of biomarkers, limiting its treatment options. Hence, GBM diagnosis is pivotal for timely clinical management. Currently, there exists no clinically validated biomarker for GBM diagnosis. T cells exhibit the potential to escape a leaky BBB in GBM patients. These T cells infiltrating the GBM interact with the heterogeneous population of tumor cells, display a symbiotic interaction resulting in intertwined molecular crosstalk, and display a GBM-associated signature while entering the peripheral circulation. Therefore, we hypothesize that studying these distinct molecular changes is critical to enable T cells to be a diagnostic marker for accurate detection of GBM from patient blood. We demonstrated this by utilizing the phenotypic and immunological landscape changes in T cells associated with glioblastoma tumors. GBM exhibits a high level of heterogeneity with diverse subtypes of cells within the tumor, enabling immune infiltration and different degrees of interactions with the tumor. To accurately detect these subtle molecular differences in T cells, we designed an immunosensor with a high detection sensitivity and repeatability. Hence in this study, we investigated the characteristic behavior of T cells to establish two preclinically validated biomarkers: GBM-associated T cells (GBMAT) and GBM stem cell-associated T cells (GSCAT). A comprehensive investigation was conducted by mimicking the tumor microenvironment in vitro by coculturing T cells with cancer cells and cancer stem cells to study the distinct variation in GBMAT and GSCAT. Preclinical investigation of T cells from GBM patient blood shows similar characteristics to our established biomarkers (GBMAT, GSCAT). Further evaluating the relative attributes of T cells in patient blood and tissue biopsy confirms the infiltrating ability of T cells across the BBB. A pilot validation using a SERS-based machine learning algorithm was accomplished by training the model with GBMAT and GSCAT as diagnostic markers. Using GBMAT as a biomarker, we achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 93.3% and 97.4%, respectively, whereas applying GSCAT yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 98.7%, respectively. We also validated this diagnostic methodology by using conventional biological assays to study the change in expression levels of T cell surface markers (CD4 and CD8) and cytokine levels in T cells (IL6, IL10, TNFα, INFγ) from GBM patients. This study introduces T cells as GBM-specific immune biomarkers to diagnose GBM using patient liquid biopsy. This preclinical validation study presents a better translatability into clinical reality that will enable rapid and noninvasive glioblastoma detection from patient blood.

Comparative and Selective Interaction of Amino Acid d-Cysteine with Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles in the Presence of a Fluorescent Probe in Aqueous Medium.

In this communication, we report the comparative and selective interaction of amino acid d-cysteine (d-Cys) with citrate caped gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in the presence of a fluorescent dye, rhodamine B (RhB), in aqueous solution. Au NPs of size 27.5 nm could almost fully quench the steady-state fluorescence emission of RhB at their optimum concentrations in the mixed solution. The interactions of d-Cys, l-Cys, all other relevant d- and l-amino acids, neurotransmitters, and other relevant biological compounds with the Au NPs/RhB mixed solution have been explored by monitoring the fluorescence recovery efficiencies from the almost fully quenched state of RhB fluorescence via a simple steady-state spectrofluorometric method. The higher fluorescence recovery for the interaction of d-Cys with the Au NPs/RhB mixed system is accompanied by a distinct color change (red-wine to bluish-black) of the assay medium after the reaction compared to that of all other interfering compounds considered in this work. The sensitivity of this fluorometric response lies in a broad linear range of concentrations of d-Cys and the limit of detection (LOD) is found to be 4.2 nM, which is low compared to many other methods available in the literature. The different degrees of interaction of d-Cys and l-Cys with the Au NPs/RhB mixed sample have been further explored by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The selective interaction of d-Cys with the proposed Au NPs/RhB mixed system is also found to be correlated with interparticle cross-linking and aggregations of nanoparticles by the analysis of ζ potential and dynamic light scattering (DLS) study, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV–vis absorption spectroscopy etc. The proposed interaction mechanism is further studied with a normal human urine sample to elucidate that the optimized combination of Au NPs and RhB may be realized as an efficient platform for detection of the amino acid d-Cys in a real biosample via a simple fluorometric approach.

Chemical and boron isotopic variations of tourmaline deciphering magmatic-hydrothermal evolution at the Gejiu Sn-polymetallic district, South China

The world-class Gejiu Sn-polymetallic district (southwest China), with ca. 3.27 Mt Sn metal, is a magmatic-hydrothermal deposit associated with the Late Cretaceous biotite granites; however, the magmatic and hydrothermal processes involved in its formation remain poorly understood. Tourmaline is a ubiquitous phase in the Gejiu district, and here we employ in-situ major, trace element, and boron isotope compositions of tourmaline to investigate the source and evolution of the mineralizing fluid, and late-magmatic and hydrothermal processes related to ore formation. Based on petrographic observations, four types of tourmaline are identified: i) late-magmatic tourmaline (Tur I) disseminated in the biotite granites, ii) hydrothermal tourmaline (Tur II) from quartz veins with fracture-filling structure in the biotite granites, iii) hydrothermal tourmaline (Tur IIIa-1, IIIa-2 and Tur IIIb-1, IIIb-2) from fluorite-quartz veins with typical replacement texture against the greisenized granites, among which Tur IIIb-2 is directly related to cassiterite formation, and iv) hydrothermal tourmaline (Tur IV) from sulfide-calcite veins hosted by proximal skarn. Tourmaline (Tur I to Tur III) from the granites belongs mostly to the alkali group and schorl-dravite solid-solution series, with Fe/(Fe + Mg) ranging from 0.83–1.00 for Tur I, 0.68–1.00 for Tur II, and 0.19–1.00 for Tur III, respectively. By contrast, Tur IV belongs mostly to the vacancy group and has foitite–Mg-foitite composition, with Fe/(Fe + Mg) of 0.10–1.00. Large variations of Fe/(Fe + Mg) as well as Na/(Na + Ca) in hydrothermal tourmaline (Tur II to Tur IV), are related to different degrees of interaction between B-rich fluids with host rocks (solidified granite or carbonate). Most trace elements in tourmaline do not correlate with Fe/(Fe + Mg) and Na/(Na + Ca) ratios, implying the trace element compositions are predominantly controlled by melt/fluid compositions and local fluid-rock reactions. Relative to late-magmatic Tur I, hydrothermal tourmaline (Tur II to Tur IV) is enriched in Sr and depleted in Nb, Ta, and (REE + Y), whereas their Li, Be, Sc, V, and Sn concentrations are largely overlapped. The δ11B values in different types of tourmaline fall in a narrow range from −17.8 to −13.7‰, in favor of B-rich fluids episodically exsolved from the granitic melt.Tin enrichment in both late-magmatic and hydrothermal tourmaline grains, especially in those (Tur IIIb) from Sn-mineralized veins, is related to magmatic differentiation and late-stage fluid exsolution. Among all types of tourmaline, Tur IIIb-2 coexisting with cassiterite has elevated Fe3+/(Fe3+ + Fe2+) ratios (mean 0.23), indicating that cassiterite precipitated under relatively oxidized conditions. The distinct chemical (i.e. high Mg, Ti, V, Sc, Sr, and Sn contents) and B-isotope compositions (slightly lower δ11B values of −17.8 to −15.0‰) in syn-ore Tur IIIb-2, combined with the co-occurrence of liquid- and vapor-rich inclusions triggered by fluid boiling in Sn-mineralized veins, suggest that fluid boiling and acid-consuming reaction could be major processes triggering cassiterite precipitation in the quartz vein and greisen. Overall, the chemical and B-isotope signatures of tourmaline are ideal tracers to unravel the magmatic-hydrothermal evolution in the Gejiu Sn-polymetallic district, which could be further employed as a potential prospecting guide for SnW deposits.

A Report on Multi-Target Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Phytoconstituents from Monochoria hastata (Family: Pontederiaceae).

This study aims to investigate the potential analgesic properties of the crude extract of Monochoria hastata (MH) leaves using in vivo experiments and in silico analysis. The extract, in a dose-dependent manner, exhibited a moderate analgesic property (~54% pain inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing test), which is significant (** p < 0.001) as compared to the control group. The complex inflammatory mechanism involves diverse pathways and they are inter-connected. Therefore, multiple inflammatory modulator proteins were selected as the target for in silico analysis. Computational analysis suggests that all the selected targets had different degrees of interaction with the phytochemicals from the extract. Rutin (RU), protocatechuic acid (PA), vanillic acid (VA), and ferulic acid (FA) could regulate multiple targets with a robust efficiency. None of the compounds showed selectivity to Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). However, regulation of COX and lipoxygenase (LOX) cascade by PA can reduce non-steroidal analgesic drugs (NSAIDs)-related side effects, including asthma. RU showed robust regulation of cytokine-mediated pathways like RAS/MAPK and PI3K/NF-kB by inhibition of EGFR and IKBα (IKK), which may prevent multi-organ failure due to cytokine storm in several microbial infections, for example, SARS-CoV-2. Further investigation, using in vivo and in vitro experiments, can be conducted to develop multi-target anti-inflammatory drugs using the isolated compounds from the extract.

Local linear graphon estimation using covariates

Summary We consider local linear estimation of the graphon function, which determines probabilities of pairwise edges between nodes in an unlabelled network. Real-world networks are typically characterized by node heterogeneity, with different nodes exhibiting different degrees of interaction. Existing approaches to graphon estimation are limited to local constant approximations, and are not designed to estimate heterogeneity across the full network. In this paper, we show how continuous node covariates can be employed to estimate heterogeneity in the network via a local linear graphon estimator. We derive the bias and variance of an oracle-based local linear graphon estimator, and thus obtain the mean integrated squared error optimal bandwidth rule. We also provide a plug-in bandwidth selection procedure that makes local linear estimation for unlabelled networks practically feasible. The finite-sample performance of our approach is investigated in a simulation study, and the method is applied to a school friendship network and an email network to illustrate its advantages over existing methods.

Tourmaline as an indicator for late-magmatic to hydrothermal fluid evolution of the Neoproterozoic Baotan tin deposit, South China

Neoproterozoic tin mineralization in South China was closely related to the highly-evolved peraluminous granites in the southeastern and western margins of the Yangtze Block. The Baotan (23 Mt @ 0.43 % Sn) is a largest tin deposit in the Jiuwandashan–Yuanbaoshan tin district, northern Guangxi, and the orebodies are mainly hosted in the Lower Neoproterozoic Sibao Group metasedimentary rocks and Early Neoproterozoic mafic rocks intruding the Sibao Group as well as the apex of the Pinying granitic pluton. This deposit shows widely important tourmaline alteration. Based on petrographic observations, four generations and eight occurrences of tourmalines are identified in the Baotan tin deposit. The first generation is late-magmatic tourmalines and occurs as disseminated (Tur1a) and tourmaline–quartz nodule (Tur1b) in the Pingying biotite granite. The pre-ore hydrothermal tourmalines (Tur2) occur as tourmaline–quartz veinlet in the biotite granite and can be subdivided into both the early Tur2a (second generation) and the late Tur2b (third generation) according to microscopic observation and BSE image. The fourth generation is syn-ore hydrothermal tourmalines (Tur3), and they occur as disseminated in mafic- (Tur3a) and metasedimentary (Tur3c) host rocks, or as vein-type tourmaline–quartz–cassiterite–chlorite ores in mafic- (Tur3b) and metasedimentary (Tur3d) host rocks.The different generations of tourmalines have both similarities and distinct differences in their compositions. Both the late-magmatic Tur1a and Tur1b show similar chemical compositions, with high Fe/(Fe + Mg) (0.73 ∼ 0.96, avg. 0.89) and Na/(Na + Ca) (0.87 ∼ 0.98, avg. 0.95) ratios, and Li, Zn, Ga, Nb and Ta contents, and belong to alkali group and schorl tourmaline. Based on mineral textural and compositional features and Mössbauer spectroscopic analyses, it can be speculated that the Tur1b in the tourmaline–quartz nodules and Tur1a are mainly sourced from a late-magmatic immiscible B–Na–Fe-rich hydrous melt in a reduced environment. The pre-ore Tur2a has similar SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2, Na2O, Li, Be, V, Sn and Zr contents, Fe/(Fe + Mg) and Na/(Na + Ca) ratios and total Al (apfu) with the late-magmatic Tur1a and Tur1b, indicating that it also originates from the Pingying granitic magma. The lower compatible elements (e.g., Fe, Mn, Co, Ni and Zn) and higher LILEs (e.g., Sr, Rb, Ba and Cs) in the pre-ore Tur2a and Tur2b suggest that these tourmalines precipitate from the early evolved magmatic hydrothermal fluids. The wide variations of Fe/(Fe + Mg) and Na/(Na + Ca) ranges, elevated Sr and V contents for the syn-ore Tu3a to Tur3d are attributed to the compositional differences of the host rocks and different degrees of interaction between the ore-forming fluids and the host rocks. The increasing Sr content from the late-magmatic Tur1 and pre-ore Tur2 to the syn-ore Tur3 suggests an involvement of the meteoric water. The Mössbauer spectral features of tourmalines from the late-magmatic Tur1 and syn-ore Tur3 confirm that they form under the different redox environments. The early fluids are relatively reduced magma-derived fluids. The addition of recycled meteoric water causes the fluids at the Tur3 stage to become relatively oxidized and also to be Sr-rich. The significant increase of Sn content from the late-magmatic Tur1 and pre-ore Tur2 to the syn-ore Tur3 also reflect a change from the early reduced fluid to the late oxidized fluid. The textural and compositional changes of Tur1 to Tur3 reflect the evolution of the ore-forming fluids. Fluid mixing between an acidic, reduced, Sn-rich magmatic hydrothermal fluid and cooler, oxidizing meteoric water and as well intensive water–rock reaction are considered as the main processes that cause extensive cassiterite precipitation.

LiDAR and SCADA data processing for interacting wind turbine wakes with comparison to analytical wake models

This study is a follow up on a previous one carried out within the frame of the French project SMARTEOLE, during which, a ground-based scanning LiDAR measurement campaign was conducted in the onshore wind farm of Sole du Moulin Vieux. That previous study focused on the wakes of two wind turbines that experienced different degrees of interaction depending on the incoming wind direction, through the processing of LiDAR measurements. The measurement duration (7 months) ensured the statistical convergence of the ensemble-averaged flow fields obtained after holding a categorisation process based on the wind speed at hub height, wind direction, and atmospheric stability, where only near-neutral stability conditions were considered. The present study focuses on integrating the operational data of the wind turbines through SCADA processing to complement the LiDAR wake field observations and to be used as an input for analytical wake models. First, the correlation between the atmospheric stability, deduced from MERRA-2 dataset, and the free-stream turbulence intensity, measured by the wind turbines’ anemometers, is studied for different wind speed ranges. It is observed that the turbulence intensity tends towards a consistent value as the atmospheric stability approaches near-neutral stability conditions, giving confidence into the applied strategy of data categorisation based on MERRA-2 outputs. The influence of the degree of wake interaction on the wake added turbulence, the velocity and power deficits between both turbines is assessed. Clear trends between the wake added turbulence and both the velocity and power deficits are detected. Consequently, two fitting laws are proposed. Then, different analytical wake models and wake superposition methods are fed with the operational data deduced from the processed SCADA data, and are used for predicting the evolution of the velocity deficit within the wake. Some statistical metrics are used for error quantification of the different engineering wake models compared to the scanning LiDAR measurements, used as reference, and Blondel and Cathelain produces the closest results to the field measurements.

Syn-metamorphic sulfidation of the Gamsberg zinc deposit, South Africa

The Mesoproterozoic Aggeneys-Gamsberg ore district, South Africa, is one of the world´s largest sulfidic base metal concentrations and well-known as a prime example of Broken Hill-type base metal deposits, traditionally interpreted as metamorphosed SEDEX deposits. Within this district, the Gamsberg deposit stands out for its huge size and strongly Zn-dominated ore ( >14 Mt contained Zn). New electron microprobe analyses and element abundance maps of sulfides and silicates point to fluid-driven sulfidation during retrograde metamorphism. Differences in the chemistry of sulfide inclusions within zoned garnet grains reflect different degrees of interaction of sulfides with high metal/sulfur-ratio with a sulfur-rich metamorphic fluid. Independent evidence of sulfidation during retrograde metamorphism comes from graphic-textured sulfide aggregates that previously have been interpreted as quenched sulfidic melts, replacement of pyrrhotite by pyrite along micro-fractures, and sulfides in phyllic alteration zones. Limited availability of fluid under retrograde conditions caused locally different degrees of segregation of Fe-rich sphalerite into Zn-rich sphalerite and pyrite, and thus considerable heterogeneity in sphalerite chemistry. The invoked sulfur-rich metamorphic fluids would have been able to sulfidize base metal-rich zones in the whole deposit and thus camouflage a potential pre-metamorphic oxidation. These findings support the recently established hypothesis of a pre-Klondikean weathering-induced oxidation event and challenge the traditional explanation of Broken Hill-type deposits as merely metamorphosed SEDEX deposits. Instead, we suggest that the massive sulfide deposits experienced a complex history, starting with initial SEDEX-type mineralization, followed by near-surface oxidation with spatial metal separation, and then sulfidation of this oxidized ore during medium- to high-grade metamorphism.

The Interaction between Health Capital Stock and Economic Growth

The health of citizens affects their labor ability. The labor ability of the whole society determines the labor output, and the physical output will bring economic growth, that is, the health of citizens will indirectly affect the economic growth of the whole society. This paper uses the data of public health investment, per capita GDP and fixed capital stock of ten developing and developed countries from 1980 to 2016 to explore the different degrees of interaction between health capital stock and economic growth between developing and developed countries, as well as the possible causal relationship between health capital and economic growth. After unit root test and cointegration test to test the stationarity of the data and ensure that there is no pseudo regression, OLS regression is carried out on the data. The regression results confirm or partially confirm three hypotheses: the promotion degree of health capital to the economic growth of developed and developing countries is significantly different, and the promotion degree of health capital to developing countries is higher; In the long run, the promoting effect of health capital on economic growth is weakened; There is a causal relationship between health capital and economic growth.

Assessment of the flexural capacity of composite reinforced concrete beams using experimental tests and finite element analysis

One of the main governing matters points in studying the composite reinforced concrete beams (CRC) is the force transmission mechanism at the interface between the concrete and the steel section. In this research, a new connection method for CRC beams consisting of reinforced concrete and steel T-section is studied. In this method, the stirrups are utilized to perform as shear connectors. The experimental part of the study includes studying the flexural behavior of the CRC beam with different degrees of interaction. The theoretical part of the study includes constructing a three-dimensional finite element model using ABAQUS software and validating the model using the experimental results. The model was verified by comparing the critical local and global responses of the CRC beams such as the beam deformation, load at which the steel T-section reached yield point, and concrete cracking and crushing. The model showed a good correlation for the estimation of ultimate load with an accuracy of 105% was achieved.

Collaborative online concept mapping for complex gene expression studies in undergraduate research‐based courses

Course-based undergraduate research experiences offer students the opportunity to engage in a research project in a course setting. This efficient model has gained attention as a means to improve the relevance of science training at the undergraduate level. However, while many curricular resources exist, few pedagogical tools are available to support students’ development of how their own research fits into that of the scientific community. Adding to these challenges, recent increases in remote instruction demand resources for online learning environments suitable for advanced research-based laboratory courses. Concept mapping is a method of graphically representing relationships, such as the complex molecular interactions that are studied in many CUREs offered in the biological sciences. Incorporating a concept mapping exercise using an online platform in an upper division molecular biology CURE improved students’ senses of collaboration and understanding of their research project and increased the availability of productive collaborative research efforts in a remote format. Quantitative assessment of student's manuscript-style research reports revealed improvements in students’ scientific writing with respect to recognition of the biological complexity of the overarching project to which students’ data contribute. Two different levels of implementation with different degrees of interaction with the concept map yielded similar outcomes, suggesting that basic interactions with a concept map make a valuable contribution to help students enrolled in CUREs view their data as part of a larger body of work.

Application of the Townsend-George wake theory to field measurements of wind turbine wakes

As wind turbines are usually clustered in wind farms, knowledge of the evolution of the wind turbine wakes is important because downstream turbines will be exposed to them, causing higher loads and maintenance times. For that reason, wind turbine wakes have been studied intensively and different engineering wake models were derived. However, none of them is constructed from a few basic and robust assumptions, while such a formalism already exists for the axisymmetric turbulent wake. Therefore, we will apply these models to data obtained in a wind farm using a scanning LiDAR. The wakes of two wind turbines are analyzed in four different wind directions chosen so that their wakes will have different degrees of interaction. The axisymmetric wake models are found to perform better than the Jensen wake model, and the main source of improvement is shown to be the presence of a virtual origin. Indeed, a virtual origin is shown to also improve the Jensen wake model significantly. Overall, our results indicate that a view from classical axisymmetric wake theory can help to improve the understanding of the evolution of wind turbine wakes in the atmospheric boundary layer.

The Interaction between Health Capital Stock and Economic Growth

The health of citizens affects their labor ability. The labor ability of the whole society determines the labor output, and the physical output will bring economic growth, that is, the health of citizens will indirectly affect the economic growth of the whole society. This paper uses the data of public health investment, per capita GDP and fixed capital stock of ten developing and developed countries from 1980 to 2016 to explore the different degrees of interaction between health capital stock and economic growth between developing and developed countries, as well as the possible causal relationship between health capital and economic growth. After unit root test and cointegration test to test the stationarity of the data and ensure that there is no pseudo regression, OLS regression is carried out on the data. The regression results confirm or partially confirm three hypotheses: the promotion degree of health capital to the economic growth of developed and developing countries is significantly different, and the promotion degree of health capital to developing countries is higher; In the long run, the promoting effect of health capital on economic growth is weakened; There is a causal relationship between health capital and economic growth.

Optimization of the Corrosion Resistance of Electroless Ni–W–P Coatings on Magnesium Alloys by the Response Surface Methodology

Plating processes greatly affect the corrosion resistance of electroless Ni–W–P coatings on magnesium alloys. In the present research, the corrosion resistance of electroless Ni–W–P alloy-coated AZ91D magnesium alloy was optimized by the response surface methodology. The optimum technological parameters of the plating process were determined by establishing a quadratic regression model, and the influence of these variables and their interactions on the corrosion resistance of the coating was analyzed. The optimum technological parameters of the electroless plating process were nickel sulfate concentration = 20 g/L, sodium tungstate concentration = 15 g/L, sodium hypophosphite concentration = 30 g/L, bath temperature = 60 °C, and bath pH = 9.3. Under these conditions, the coating had the best corrosion resistance. Among the aforementioned five variables, sodium tungstate concentration had the most significant influence on the corrosion resistance of the coating. Different degrees of interactions among the variables greatly affected the corrosion resistance of the coating.

Geoquímica de las rocas plutónicas del batolito cambro-ordovícico del Cordón de Lila y de la Sierra de Almeida, Región de Antofagasta, Chile

An Upper Cambrian-Ordovician (490-460 Ma) batholith crop out along the Cordón de Lila and Sierra de Almeida, in the Antofagasta region, northern Chile, which belongs to the Famatinian arc. Two plutonic rock types can be distinguished: granodiorites and monzogranites. The first lithology is positioned along an occidental fringe in as much the second is located along an oriental part of the batholith. The main geochemical difference between the two lithologies is the enrichment in silica and K of the second with respect of the first one. Most of the granodiorites are metaluminous or are located between the metaluminous and peraluminous fields. The monzogranites are mostly peraluminous. The chemical composition of the plutons (mayor and trace elements and rare earth elements) allow to infer a common origin for both groups, from a mafic magma that evolved by fractional crystallization. The difference in composition between both lithologies, specially the meta or peraluminous character, can be explained by means a different degree of interaction of the original magma with the felsic crustal rocks.

Methane oxidation activity and nanoscale characterization of Pd/CeO2 catalysts prepared by dry milling Pd acetate and ceria

The milling of Palladium acetate and CeO2 under dry conditions results in robust, environmentally friendly catalysts with excellent methane oxidation activity. These catalysts show superior performance compared to those prepared by milling metallic Pd and outperform Pd/CeO2 catalysts prepared by traditional incipient wetness technology. Morphological investigation by HRTEM, Raman and DRIFT spectroscopic analysis, in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) characterization techniques, coupled with ambient pressure XPS analysis, have been used to deeply characterize the samples, and allowed to identify the presence of Pd0/Pd2+ species with different degrees of interaction with ceria (Ce3+/Ce4+). These Pd species are likely generated by the mechanical and electronic interplay taking place over the ceria surface during milling and are indicated as responsible for the enhanced catalytic activity.