Early Time Research Articles

A Systematic Analysis of the X-Ray Emission in Optically Selected Tidal Disruption Events: Observational Evidence for the Unification of the Optically and X-Ray-selected Populations

We present a systematic analysis of the X-ray emission of a sample of 17 optically selected, X-ray-detected tidal disruption events (TDEs) discovered between 2014 and 2021. The X-ray light curves show a diverse range of temporal behaviors, with most sources not following the expected power-law decline. The X-ray spectra are mostly extremely soft and consistent with thermal emission from the innermost region of an accretion disk, which cools as the accretion rate decreases. Three sources show formation of a hard X-ray corona at late times. The spectral energy distribution shape, probed by the ratio (L BB/L X) between the UV/optical and X-ray, shows a wide range of L BB/L X ∈ (0.5, 3000) at early times and converges to disklike values of L BB/L X ∈ (0.5, 10) at late times. We estimate the fraction of optically discovered TDEs with L X ≥ 1042 erg s−1 to be at least 40% and show that X-ray loudness is independent of black hole mass. We argue that distinct disk formation timescales are unlikely to be able to explain the diverse range of X-ray evolution. We combine our sample with X-ray-discovered ones to construct an X-ray luminosity function, best fit by a broken power law, with a break at L X ≈ 1044 erg s−1. We show that there is no dichotomy between optically and X-ray-selected TDEs; instead, there is a continuum of early-time L BB/L X, at least as wide as L BB/L X ∈ (0.1, 3000), with optical/X-ray surveys selecting preferentially, but not exclusively, from the higher/lower end of the distribution. Our findings are consistent with unification models for the overall TDE population.

Reduced Late Positive Potentials to distress in individuals with high psychopathic traits during pain judgment tasks

This study examined the empathic processing of individuals with psychopathic traits and healthy controls in response to pain, applying affective perspective-taking (Self vs. Other). Twenty subjects with high psychopathic traits and twenty control subjects performed pain judgment tasks in the study. During the tasks, late positive potentials (LPPs) of the participants were measured to assess emotional processing in reaction to visual stimuli depicting painful or non-painful situations. In early LPP time stage (500-700ms), the control group and the psychopathic trait group exhibited comparable levels of empathic processing regarding pain. However, in late LPP time window (700-1,100ms), the control group showed a greater LPP amplitude to Pain stimuli than No-pain stimuli, whereas the psychopathic trait group exhibited non-significant amplitude differences between Pain and No-pain stimuli. These findings imply that individuals with high psychopathic traits may swiftly terminate the processing and encounter difficulties in reappraising distress cues, especially in the late stage, providing psychophysiological support for distinctive empathic processing with temporal aspects.

Neural Mechanisms Determining the Duration of Task-free, Self-paced Visual Perception.

Humans spend hours each day spontaneously engaging with visual content, free from specific tasks and at their own pace. Currently, the brain mechanisms determining the duration of self-paced perceptual behavior remain largely unknown. Here, participants viewed naturalistic images under task-free settings and self-paced each image's viewing duration while undergoing EEG and pupillometry recordings. Across two independent data sets, we observed large inter- and intra-individual variability in viewing duration. However, beyond an image's presentation order and category, specific image content had no consistent effects on spontaneous viewing duration across participants. Overall, longer viewing durations were associated with sustained enhanced posterior positivity and anterior negativity in the ERPs. Individual-specific variations in the spontaneous viewing duration were consistently correlated with evoked EEG activity amplitudes and pupil size changes. By contrast, presentation order was selectively correlated with baseline alpha power and baseline pupil size. Critically, spontaneous viewing duration was strongly predicted by the temporal stability in neural activity patterns starting as early as 350msec after image onset, suggesting that early neural stability is a key predictor for sustained perceptual engagement. Interestingly, neither bottom-up nor top-down predictions about image category influenced spontaneous viewing duration. Overall, these results suggest that individual-specific factors can influence perceptual processing at a surprisingly early time point and influence the multifaceted ebb and flow of spontaneous human perceptual behavior in naturalistic settings.

Combination of co-amorphization with SNEDDS outperforms Ofev® in the oral absorption of nintedanib

Nintedanib (NTD), approved for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and advanced non-small cell lung cancer, is one of brick dusts with high melting point. Although NTD has been marketed as Ofev®, a soft capsule of NTD ethanesulfonate (NTD-ESA) suspended in oil components, the oral bioavailability is quite low and highly variable. To improve the oral absorption behavior of NTD, we prepared SNEDDS formulation containing NTD-(+)-10-camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) complex with 2 % HPMCP-50. CSA disrupted the high crystallinity of NTD-ESA and the formed complex, NTD-CSA, was found to be amorphous by DSC and XRPD. NTD-CSA provided solubilities in various vehicles much higher than NTD-ESA. Under the gastric luminal condition, NTD-CSA SNEDDS with or without 2 % HPMCP-50 and NTD-CSA powder indicated very good dissolution of NTD from early time periods, while NTD was gradually dissolved until around 60 min from NTD-ESA and Ofev®. Under the small intestinal luminal condition, in contrast, both NTD-CSA SNEDDS formulations almost completely dissolved NTD throughout the experiments, while Ofev®, NTD-CSA, and NTD-ESA exhibited a very poor dissolution of NTD. In the in vivo absorption study, NTD-CSA SNEDDS with 2 % HPMCP-50 significantly improved NTD absorption and reduced the inter-individual variation in oral absorption behavior compared with Ofev®.

Bioactivity and antibacterial effects of zinc-containing bioactive glass on the surface of zirconia abutments

ObjectivesThis study aimed to enhance gingival fibroblast function and to achieve antibacterial activity around the implant abutment by using a zinc (Zn)-containing bioactive glass (BG) coating. Methods45S5 BG containing 0, 5, and 10 wt.% Zn were coated on zirconia disks. The release of silica and Zn ions in physiological saline and their antibacterial effects were measured. The effects of BG coatings on human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) were assessed using cytotoxicity assays and by analyzing the gene expression of various genes related to antioxidant enzymes, wound healing, and fibrosis. ResultsBG coatings are capable of continuous degradation and simultaneous ion release. The antibacterial effect of BG coatings increased with the addition of Zn, while the cytotoxicity remained unchanged compared to the group without coatings. BG coating enhances the expression of angiogenesis genes, while the Zn-containing BG enhances the expression of antioxidant genes at an early time point. BG coating enhances the expression of collagen genes at later time points. ConclusionsThe antibacterial effect of BG improved with the increase in Zn concentration, without inducing cytotoxicity. BG coating enhances the expression of angiogenesis genes, and Zn-containing BG enhances the expression of antioxidant genes at an early time point. BG coating enhances the expression of collagen genes at later time points. Clinical SignificanceAdding 10 wt% Zn to BG could enhance the environment around implant abutments by providing antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic effects, having potential for clinical use.

Effect of nano-silver coated catheter combined with comprehensive care on postoperative infection and rehabilitation in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is an effective treatment method for coronary atherosclerosis, aiming to improve patients’ quality of life and facilitate their return to normal activities after surgery. This study examines the effects of comprehensive nursing intervention and application of nano-silver coated catheter on postoperative infection and rehabilitation among patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting. The study included 72 patients, randomly assigned into an intervention group and a control group, with 36 patients in each. The control group received standard care, while the intervention group received comprehensive care along with postoperative application of nano-silver coated catheter. The study compared various factors, including the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score, quality of life score, postoperative recovery, postoperative infection, satisfaction, and adverse reactions between the two groups. The intervention group exhibited better scores in HAMD, HAMA, PSQI and quality of survival score when compared to the control group. Moreover, the intervention group experienced an earlier time to first bowel movement and first defecation after surgery. The intervention group also demonstrated lower rates of urinary protein detection, pathogen detection, and serum inflammatory factor levels compared to the control group. Additionally, the overall incidence of complications in the control group was higher at 27.8% compared to 8.3% in the intervention group. Furthermore, the satisfaction level in the intervention group was significantly higher at 97.2%, in contrast to 83.3% in the control group. Overall, comprehensive care combined with the postoperative application of a nano-silver coated catheter can effectively address patients’ emotional needs and accelerate recovery. It also reduces the incidence of infection, ultimately enhancing the quality of life and satisfaction levels among patients. This study provides a good nursing plan for the postoperative recovery of CABG patients, which is conducive to promoting the speed of postoperative recovery and improving the quality of life of patients.

SN 2020zbf: A fast-rising hydrogen-poor superluminous supernova with strong carbon lines

SN 2020zbf is a hydrogen-poor superluminous supernova (SLSN) at z = 0.1947 that shows conspicuous C II features at early times, in contrast to the majority of H-poor SLSNe. Its peak magnitude is Mg = −21.2 mag and its rise time (≲26.4 days from first light) places SN 2020zbf among the fastest rising type I SLSNe. We used spectra taken from ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared wavelengths to identify spectral features. We paid particular attention to the C II lines as they present distinctive characteristics when compared to other events. We also analyzed UV and optical photometric data and modeled the light curves considering three different powering mechanisms: radioactive decay of 56Ni, magnetar spin-down, and circumstellar medium (CSM) interaction. The spectra of SN 2020zbf match the model spectra of a C-rich low-mass magnetar-powered supernova model well. This is consistent with our light curve modeling, which supports a magnetar-powered event with an ejecta mass Mej = 1.5 M⊙. However, we cannot discard the CSM-interaction model as it may also reproduce the observed features. The interaction with H-poor, carbon-oxygen CSM near peak light could explain the presence of C II emission lines. A short plateau in the light curve around 35–45 days after peak, in combination with the presence of an emission line at 6580 Å, can also be interpreted as being due to a late interaction with an extended H-rich CSM. Both the magnetar and CSM-interaction models of SN 2020zbf indicate that the progenitor mass at the time of explosion is between 2 and 5 M⊙. Modeling the spectral energy distribution of the host galaxy reveals a host mass of 108.7 M⊙, a star formation rate of 0.24−0.12+0.41 M⊙ yr−1, and a metallicity of ∼0.4 Z⊙.

A Comparison of Different Biomass Combustion Mechanisms in the Transient State

Different combustion reaction process models were used to numerically study the behavior of the temperature, velocity, and turbulence fields, as well as to gain a better understanding of the differences between the reaction products obtained with each model. Transient-state simulations were conducted for a gasifier under specific operating conditions. The standard K-epsilon (2eq) turbulence model was utilized, along with the incorporation of species transport, volumetric responses, and eddy dissipation. In this study, the impacts of one-, two-, and four-step reaction mechanisms on the mass fraction of the products of the reactions, as well as the maximum values of velocity, turbulence, and temperature, were examined. The findings demonstrated that for all mechanisms, the greater maximum values of velocity and turbulence are attained at early time steps and decrease with subsequent time steps. The temperature rises as much in the early time steps and nearly stays the same in the late time steps. In all situations examined, the species’ fraction mass varies slightly in the early time steps but becomes nearly constant in the latter time stages. Similar species mass fraction values were found for both one-step and four-step methods. The results also suggest that the lower half of the gasifier is where the highest mass fraction values are found.

Dim light at night shifts microglia to a pro-inflammatory state after cerebral ischemia, altering stroke outcome in mice

Circadian rhythms are endogenous biological cycles that regulate physiology and behavior and are set to precisely 24-h by light exposure. Light at night (LAN) dysregulates physiology and function including immune response; a critical component that contributes to stroke pathophysiological progression of neuronal injury and may impair recovery from injury. The goal of this study is to explore the effects of dim LAN (dLAN) in a murine model of ischemic stroke to assess how nighttime lighting from hospital settings can affect stroke outcome. Further, this study sought to identify mechanisms underlying pathophysiological changes to immune response after circadian disruption. Male and female adult Swiss Webster (CFW) mice were subjected to transient or permanent focal cerebral ischemia, then were subsequently placed into either dark night conditions (LD) or one night of dLAN (5 lx). 24 h post-stroke, sensorimotor impairments and infarct sizes were quantified. A single night of dLAN following MCAO increased infarct size and sensorimotor deficits across both sexes and reduced survival in males after 24 h. Flow cytometry was performed to assess microglial phenotypes after MCAO, and revealed that dLAN altered the percentage of microglia that express pro-inflammatory markers (MHC II+ and IL-6) and microglia that express CD206 and IL-10 that likely contributed to poor ischemic outcomes. Following these results, microglia were reduced in the brain using Plexxikon 5622 (PLX 5622) a CSFR1 inhibitor, then the mice received an MCAO and were exposed to LD or dLAN conditions for 24 h. Microglial depletion by PLX5622 resulted in infarct sizes that were comparable between lighting conditions. This study provides supporting evidence that environmental lighting exacerbates ischemic injury and post-stroke mortality by a biological mechanism that exposure to dLAN causes a fundamental shift of activated microglial phenotypes from beneficial to detrimental at an early time point after stroke, resulting in irreversible neuronal death.

Patlak Slope versus Standardized Uptake Value Image Quality in an Oncologic PET/CT Population: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Patlak slope (PS) images have the potential to improve lesion conspicuity compared with standardized uptake value (SUV) images but may be more artifact-prone. This study compared PS versus SUV image quality and hepatic tumor-to-background ratios (TBRs) at matched time points. Early and late SUV and PS images were reconstructed from dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) data. Two independent, blinded readers scored image quality metrics (a four-point Likert scale) and counted tracer-avid lesions. Hepatic lesions and parenchyma were segmented and quantitatively analyzed. Differences were assessed via the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (alpha, 0.05). Forty-three subjects were included. For overall quality and lesion detection, early PS images were significantly inferior to other reconstructions. For overall quality, late PS images (reader 1 [R1]: 3.95, reader 2 [R2]: 3.95) were similar (p > 0.05) to early SUV images (R1: 3.88, R2: 3.84) but slightly superior (p ≤ 0.002) to late SUV images (R1: 2.97, R2: 3.44). For lesion detection, late PS images were slightly inferior to late SUV images (R1 only) but slightly superior to early SUV images (both readers). PS-based TBRs were significantly higher than SUV-based TBRs at the early time point, with opposite findings at the late time point. In conclusion, late PS images are similar to early/late SUV images in image quality and lesion detection; the superiority of SUV versus PS hepatic TBRs is time-dependent.

Bimetallic interface on an optical microfiber nucleic acid sensor: Early detection in body fluids

Nucleic acid detection, which is not limited by the “window period”, is an efficacious approach for detecting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection at an early time. Here, method with a short turn-around time, portability, connectivity and cost-effectiveness is developed to suppress HIV disease in the early stage, especially in remote areas. Specifically, an optical microfiber sensor enhanced by a bimetallic interface is developed for the HIV-related DNA detection in body fluids. A bimetallic interface is constructed on the optical microfiber surface to ensure that target nucleic acid hybridization occurs between two gold nanostructures where the evanescent field is strongest. The selective enhancement of the evanescent field at the binding site prevents nonspecific amplification of the whole fiber surface, which may lead to false-positive results. With the enhancement in the bimetallic interface, the sensor can detect HIV-related DNA at concentrations from 1 aM to 0.1 pM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 aM. The portability, flexibility and selectivity of the sensor enable its application in detecting in several body fluids, such as whole serum and artificial saliva, with LODs of 1.15 aM and 1.64 aM, respectively. This work provides a powerful tool for diagnosing HIV in early stages. Ultrasensitive nucleic acid detection in artificial saliva also provides a possibility for noninvasive detection.

POSTOPERATIVE OUTCOMES OF ILIZAROV FRAME FIXATION IN THE LOWER LIMB: AN EVALUATION OF PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOME MEASURES AND ALIGNMENT

IntroductionBy utilising the inherent variability achievable with circular frames, surgeons can manage a wide spectrum of complex injuries, and can deal with deformity at multiple levels, in multiple planes. The aim of this study was to assess functional outcomes utilising patients reported outcome measures (PROMs) of patients being treated with circular (Ilizarov) frame fixation for complex lower limb injuries and assess these results in conjunction with the observed postoperative alignment of the patients’ limbs.Materials & MethodsCases were identified using a prospectively collected database of adult patients presenting between July 2018 and August 2021. Functional outcomes were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS), the 5-level EQ-5D (EQ5D5L), the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale (LKSS), the Olerud-Molendar Ankle Score (OMAS), and the Tegner Activity Scale (TAS). Postoperative radiographs were analysed for fracture union and to quantify malunion (as described in Dror Paleys Principles of Deformity Correction).ResultsThe mean AOFAS, EQ5D5L, LKSS and OMAS scores showed an initial drop from pre-op to early time points and then steady increase over the early, mid, late and frame-off time points, with a resultant score higher than pre-op. Malunion was found in 35 (41.7%) patients, 7 patients had a malunion within 5 degrees of normal, 15 from 5–10 degrees of normal, 12 from 10–15 degrees of normal and 2 out with 15 degrees of normal.ConclusionsCircular frame fixation is an attractive option in complex lower limb trauma where alternative fixation methods are unsuitable. Whilst post-operative success to the surgeon might be determined radiographically, patient reported outcomes give a functionally important, objective measure of the success of the surgery to the patient.

Influence of Early Goal-Directed Therapy Targeting Capillary Refill Time, Serum Lactate or Base Deficit Levels on Morbidity and Mortality in Septic Shock Patients

Influence of Early Goal-Directed Therapy Targeting Capillary Refill Time, Serum Lactate or Base Deficit Levels on Morbidity and Mortality in Septic Shock Patients

Long term outcome after endovascular treatment for large ischemic core acute stroke is associated with hypoperfusion intensity ratio and onset-to-reperfusion time.

Endovascular treatment (EVT) is effective for large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke with smaller volumes of CT perfusion (CTP)-defined core. However, the influence of perfusion imaging during thrombectomy on the functional outcomes of patients with large ischemic core (LIC) stroke at both early and late time windows is uncertain in real-world practice. A retrospective analysis was performed on 99 patients who underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) and CT perfusion (CTP)-Rapid Processing of Perfusion and Diffusion (RAPID) before EVT and had a baseline ischemic core ≥ 50 mL and/or Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) score of 0-5. The primary outcome was the three-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. Data were analyzed by binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A fair outcome (mRS, 0-3) was found in 34 of the 99 patients while 65 had a poor prognosis (mRS, 4-6). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that onset-to-reperfusion (OTR) time (odds ratio [OR], 1.004; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001-1.007; p = 0.008), ischemic core (OR, 1.066; 95% CI, 1.024-1.111; p = 0.008), and the hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR) (OR, 70.898; 95% CI, 1.130-4450.152; p = 0.044) were independent predictors of outcome. The combined results of ischemic core, HIR, and OTR time showed good performance with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.937, significantly higher than the individual variables (p < 0.05) using DeLong's test. Higher HIR and longer OTR time in large core stroke patients were independently associated with unfavorable three-month outcomes after EVT.

The Val Biandino Intrusive Suite (central Southern Alps, N Italy): new geochronological and geochemical data on the Early Permian magmatic activity in the Southalpine Domain

The Early Permian in the present-day Europe area was a time when a major tectonic shift occurred, leading from the tectonic collapse of the Variscan orogeny to the crustal extension and thinning that characterized the Early Permian times. Crustal extension was associated with extensive magmatism at different crustal levels: from gabbro in the lower crust or at the mantle/crust transition to subaerial high-SiO2 volcanic activity. In the whole Southalpine Domain, the Early Permian intrusive bodies occur from the west (e.g. Ivrea-Verbano Complex and “Graniti dei Laghi”) to the east (Ifinger, Brixen and Cima d’Asta intrusive complexes). Among these, in the central Southern Alps (comprised between the Giudicarie Belt and the Lake Como), minor intrusive complexes also occur. The Val Biandino Intrusive Suite consists of two magmatic units: the Val Biandino Quartz-Diorite (VBQD) and the Valle di San Biagio Granite (VSBG). The first of them consists of gabbro-diorite to granodiorite bodies associated with leucocratic cordierite-bearing granitic dikes that intruded the pre-Permian basement. To the west, a W-dipping normal fault of Permian age represents the boundary between this unit and the Valle di San Biagio porphyric granite. All rock varieties of the Val Biandino Intrusive Suite display a high-K calc-alkaline affinity with metaluminous to peraluminous character. Field crosscutting relationships point to a late generation of the cordierite granites of the Val Biandino Quartz-Diorite unit with respect to the more mafic types. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating provided an age of 285.2 ± 1.9 Ma for a cordierite granite of the Val Biandino Quartz-Diorite unit and 283.2 ± 1.9 Ma for the porphyric Valle di San Biagio Granite. Geochemical data suggest that gabbro-diorite, quartz-diorite, granodiorite and leucogranite are not co-magmatic. The existing gaps in term of SiO2 wt% and the higher HREE contents in mafic and intermediate rocks with respect to granite coupled with similar LREE in all rocks support this hypothesis. The high Rb/Sr ratios (> 1) in leucogranite, together with the occurrence of white mica and cordierite point to a significant contribution of crustal partial melting in their genesis. The Val Biandino Intrusive Suite was likely formed through the interaction of magma genesis at the mantle/crust transition and partial melting of the heterogeneous pre-Permian basement of the Southalpine Domain. This scenario explains the strong heterogeneity displayed by the relatively small intrusive complex and the strong crustal signature exhibited by all the magmatic types of the Val Biandino Intrusive Suite.

On the Statistical Mechanics of Mass Accommodation at Liquid-Vapor Interfaces.

We propose a framework for describing the dynamics associated with the adsorption of small molecules to liquid-vapor interfaces using an intermediate resolution between traditional continuum theories that are bereft of molecular detail and molecular dynamics simulations that are replete with them. In particular, we develop an effective single particle equation of motion capable of describing the physical processes that determine thermal and mass accommodation probabilities. The effective equation is parametrized with quantities that vary through space away from the liquid-vapor interface. Of particular importance in describing the early time dynamics is the spatially dependent friction, for which we propose a numerical scheme to evaluate from molecular simulation. Taken together with potentials of mean force computable with importance sampling methods, we illustrate how to compute the mass accommodation coefficient and residence time distribution. Throughout, we highlight the case of ozone adsorption in aqueous solutions and its dependence on electrolyte composition.

Bouncing behavior in f(R,Lm) gravity: Phantom crossing and energy conditions

In this paper, we investigate the bouncing behavior of the universe within the framework of [Formula: see text] gravity, using a simple form of [Formula: see text] (where [Formula: see text] is a free model parameter) as previously studied. The model predicts a vanishing Hubble parameter in the early and late times, with the deceleration parameter approaching a specific limit at the bouncing point. The EoS parameter is observed to cross the phantom divide line ([Formula: see text]) near the bouncing point, indicating a significant transition from a contracting to an expanding phase. The model satisfies the necessary energy conditions for a successful bouncing scenario, with violations indicating exotic matter near the bouncing point. Stability conditions are satisfied for certain values of [Formula: see text] near the bouncing point, but potential instabilities in late-time evolution require further investigation. Finally, we conclude that the [Formula: see text] gravity model is promising for understanding the universe’s dynamics, especially during events like the bouncing phase.

Bilingual parafoveal processing: Children and adults preprocess orthographic information of the upcoming word during sentence reading in their first and second language.

Readers of different ages and across different languages routinely process information of upcoming words in a sentence, before their eyes move to fixate them directly (parafoveal processing). However, there is inconsistent evidence of similar parafoveal processing in a reader's second language (L2). In this eye movement study, the gaze-contingent boundary paradigm (Rayner, 1975a) was used to test whether parafoveal processing of orthographic information is an integral part of both beginning and proficient L2 reading. The eye movements of beginning L2-learners (n = 53, aged 11-14 years) and highly proficient L2-users (n = 56, aged 19-65 years) were recorded while they read sentences in their first language (L1) German and L2 English. Sentences each contained a cognate target word (e.g., English: tunnel, German: Tunnel). The parafoveal preview of the targets either (a) preserved the spelling and meaning of the target (identity condition), (b) preserved letter identities but transposed the position of two adjacent letters (transposed-letter [TL] condition, e.g., tunenl/Tunenl), or substituted the identity of two adjacent letters (substituted-letter condition, e.g., tunocl/Tunocl). TL previews elicited longer early first-pass reading times than identity previews in both L1 and L2 reading in children and adults, suggesting that letter position was processed parafoveally. Substituted-letter previews resulted in longer reading times than TL previews in children and adults in L1 and L2, suggesting that letter identity information was processed independently of position information. These results suggest that letter position and identity information are extracted from the parafovea during L1 and L2 reading, facilitating word recognition in children and adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

U‐Pb carbonate dating reveals long‐lived activity of proximal margin extensional faults during the Alpine Tethys rifting

AbstractSyn‐rift extensional faults play a significant role during the early stage of rifting. Constraining the age of faulting, and how and when deformation shifts from the proximal to the distal margin areas, is crucial for the reconstruction of the rifting process. Previous assessments of the structural and temporal evolution of rift‐related faults of the Adria proximal margin have primarily relied on indirect biostratigraphic evidence. Additionally, the majority of rift‐related faults underwent tectonic inversion during the Alpine orogeny. In this study, in‐situ U‐Pb geochronology was applied on syn‐kinematic calcites to unravel the activity of the Amora Fault, a remarkable example of a Jurassic growth fault unaffected by the Alpine orogeny. The obtained ages, spanning from Hettangian to Callovian, extend the AF activity beyond the previously established Early Jurassic time. This chrono‐structural model has significant implications on the role of major extensional faults in focusing deformation throughout the rift system's evolution.

Research on Green Production of the Iron and Steel Industry Based on DDF-BML Model

Although the iron and steel industry serves as the pillar industry of national economic development, the negative effects of its high emission and high pollution characteristics on the environment cannot be ignored. In order to achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals at an early time and implement five priority tasks, including cutting overcapacity, reducing excess inventory, deleveraging, lowering costs and strengthening areas of weakness, it is urgent to realize the green production of the iron and steel industry. This paper takes listed iron and steel companies from 2016 to 2019 as research samples, and applies the two-stage Malmquist index based on the directional distance function (DDF) to measure the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of iron and steel enterprises. From macro and micro perspectives, the empirical model is used to explore the main influential factors of gtfp. The empirical results show that the overall gtfp growth rate of iron and steel enterprises is not ideal, falling behind at the end of the manufacturing industry. The promotion effect of R&amp;D investment is limited, and the environmental carrying capacity of the production cluster area is approaching the limit. Based on the above empirical results, this paper proposes the following workable implementation path to the realization of the green production of iron and steel industry: On the one hand, the iron and steel enterprises should pay attention to improve technical efficiency, constantly improve low-carbon production process, optimize industrial layout. On the other hand, the government should guide the digital and intelligent development of the iron and steel industry and strengthen supervision to ensure the safety and stability of the supply of resources in the iron and steel industry.