Interception Effect Research Articles

Probability analysis of shallow landslides in varying vegetation zones with random soil grain-size distribution

The physically-based landslide susceptibility models are widely used to guide disaster prevention and mitigation in mountainous areas due to their significant predictive capability. However, this method faces limitations in regions with complex topography and vegetation types, primarily due to a lack of consideration for the spatial uncertainty of planted soil caused by variations in soil particle size composition. Therefore, a new model is established to predict shallow landslide occurrence considering the impact of the uncertainty of soil particle size composition on soil shear strength parameters. This model optimizes the assignment strategy for soil physical strength parameters with the support of the random soil grain-size field theory. Subsequently, it organically integrates the impact of plants on slope stability, involving root reinforcing, moisture regulation (preferential flow and root water uptake), and the canopy's interception and weight loading effects, based on the infinite slope model. The model is validated in a region with significant vegetation zonality in Sichuan Province, China. The results show: (i) the testing indicator AUC values range from 0.862 to 0.873, indicating that the model can effectively predict the spatial occurrence probability of shallow landslides, (ii) the proposed LSM-VEG-GSD model exceeds by 17.50% the traditional pseudo-static model according to the AUC score, and (iii) regardless of water height ratio interval, the probability of slope failure in different vegetation zones increases with slope angle, following an S-shaped curve regression pattern. Overall, the findings of this study contribute to predicting the stability of shallow landslides in terrain transition zones with high potential landslide concealment and uncertainty under the influence of vegetation.

Synergistic Effects of Polydopamine/Medical Stone Bio-Adsorbents for Enhanced Interfacial Adsorption and Dynamic Filtration of Bacteria.

Polymer-based wastewater disinfection, which is typically performed using chemical oxidation or irradiation, can result in various toxic byproducts and corrosion under harsh environments. This study introduces a robust bio-adsorbent prepared from naturally abundant polydopamine-modified medical stone (MS@PDA) for the high-efficiency removal of bacteria from water. The PDA nanocoating can be easily applied through an in situ self-polymerization process, resulting in a considerably high bacterial adsorption capacity of 6.6 k pcs mm-2 for Staphylococcus aureus. A cyclic flow-through dynamic filtration and a disinfection system was implemented using an MS@PDA porous filter with an average pore size of 21.8 ± 1.4 µm and porosity of ~83%, achieving a 5.2-6.0-fold enhancement in the cumulative removal efficiency for MS@PDA2. The underlying mechanisms were elucidated through the synergistic effects of interfacial bio-adsorption and size-dependent interception. Notably, the bacteria captured on the surface could be killed using the enhanced photothermal effects of the PDA nanocoating and the inherent antimicrobial properties of the mineral stone. Thus, this study not only provides a new type of advanced bio-adsorbent but also provides new perspectives on an efficient and cost-effective approach for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Effects of Xerophytic Vegetation-Salix on Soil Water Redistribution in Semiarid Region

Xerophytic vegetation re-regulates and allocates water resources through canopy interception, root water uptake and transpiration, and changes the water budget among precipitation, runoff, interception and infiltration, thus having a significant impact on the processes of the hydrological cycle. In this study, we investigated the effect of xerophytic shrub-Salix on soil water redistribution and water budget through an in situ monitoring experiment combined with two-dimensional vegetation water consumption modeling. The results showed that, due to the interception effect of root water uptake, it was difficult for precipitation infiltration to recharge deep soil water and groundwater. The measured data of soil moisture content, hydraulic head and precipitation were used to verify and calibrate the performance of the soil water flow model in the vadose zone by HYDRUS-2D. The effect of roots system on soil water was simulated, and the appropriate spacing of Salix replanting was estimated. Combined with the relationship between the transverse roots system and the crown width obtained by the investigation, it was determined that the spacing between the Salix should be greater than five times the crown width, so that the balance between the water consumption of Salix and the water supply of deep soil by precipitation could be considered. The results of this study are important for estimating groundwater recharge in arid areas and provide practical vegetation replanting options for similar regions.

Study on the performance of electrostatic agglomeration enhances magnetic filter material for filtering fugitive particles in the iron and steel industry

In this work, a new method is proposed to utilize a magnetic filter material to suppress the escape of fugitive particles in the iron and steel industry. The magnetic filter material was prepared using the impregnation method, exhibiting superior demagnetization resistance. The magnetic field effect generated by magnetic filter material was combined with the diffusion, interception, and inertial effects of traditional filtration mechanisms to enhance the removal of fugitive particles. The magnetic polyimide filter material improves the filtration efficiency of particles with a diameter less than 2.0 μm by approximately 20% compared with polyimide filter materials. In addition, the filtration performance was further enhanced through electrostatic agglomeration. When the positive electrode voltage is +18 kV, and the negative electrode voltage is −16 kV, after the bipolar pre-charging treatment of fugitive particles with a diameter of 0.1–1.0 μm, the magnetic polyimide filter material can achieve a filtration efficiency of more than 90%, the magnetic polyimide (P84), magnetic polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and magnetic fiberglass filter materials all achieve a filtration efficiency of over 94% with a diameter of 0.5–1.0 μm. This study lays the foundation for the proposal new dust removal methods for the iron and steel industry.

Experimental study of interception effect by submerged dam on microplastics

Submerged dam can alter microplastic (MP) transport, and act as a sink for MPs. In this paper, we investigated the interception rates of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and Polystyrene (PS) by an artificial submerged dam in a flow flume at first, and found that most of the un-intercepted PVC and PS particles by the dam accumulated behind it under the subcritical (Fr < 1) and turbulent (Re > 500) flows. PVC particles behind the dam mainly concentrated within two dam widths, and the concentration of PS particles decreased with the distance behind the dam lengthening. Then, we performed linear regression fitting and Redundancy Analysis (RDA) between the interception rates collected in 162 experiment tests and environmental factors, including flow velocity, distance to dam and MP concentration. The results showed that the interception rate of PVC and PS particles increased with the distance to dam lengthening, but decreased with the flow velocity and MP concentration heightening. RDA revealed that the interception rate was influenced by flow velocity, distance to dam, and MP concentration from the most to the least. Our findings are believed to contribute to understanding the mechanism of the interception effect of submerged dam on microplastics.

Activated hydrogen-promoted self-generation of H2O2 and reduction of Fe(III) mediated by Pd-based catalysts: A green Fenton-like process

The traditional Fenton process has two issues that hinder its further application and promotion. One is the generation of large amounts of iron sludge. The other is the safe storage and transport of explosive H2O2. The problems could be solved by accelerating to regenerate Fe(II) and realizing to self-generate H2O2. The key to the solution lies in the use of reducing active hydrogen [H] to supply electrons. The effect of different loading methods of Pd0 nanoparticles (NPs), active centres for [H] generation, on the catalytic performance is unknown. Herein, the Pd/UiO-66(Zr) (Pd0 NPs loaded on the surface of UiO-66(Zr)) and Pd@UiO-66(Zr) (Pd0 NPs confined into the pores of UiO-66(Zr)) were synthesized. It confirmed that the [H] could be used to promote to regenerate Fe(II) and self-generate H2O2. Using only a trace amount of ferrous (25 μM) and without H2O2, the trimethoprim (20 mg·L−1) could be thoroughly removed within 90 min. Moreover, the stability of Pd@UiO-66(Zr) was slightly superior to that of Pd/UiO-66(Zr) because of the confinement effect of pore wall on Pd0 NPs, as well as the interception effect on the intermediate products that can be complexed with Pd0 NPs.

Nifedipine outperforms labetalol: A comparative analysis of hypertension management in black pregnancies

BackgroundNifedipine has previously exhibited superior efficacy to labetalol in managing hypertension in the non-pregnant Black population, establishing itself as a first-line treatment option. However, the unique challenges of hypertension during pregnancy, especially prevalent in Black individuals, remain underexplored in terms of effective medication choices. This gap highlights the need for targeted research on antihypertensive efficacy specifically within this population. ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nifedipine versus labetalol in managing blood pressure in Black pregnancies. The primary measure is the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure trajectories throughout pregnancy, determining the superiority of nifedipine in this context. Study designA retrospective cohort study was conducted at a multi-center institution in the metropolitan Detroit area, encompassing data from 1,235 Black pregnancies affected by chronic hypertension between 2015 and 2022. Mean blood pressure trajectories during pregnancy were fit by linear mixed effects model with a random intercept and time effect. ResultsPatients on nifedipine had an estimated 2.08 mmHg lower mean systolic and 1.60 mmHg lower mean diastolic blood pressure compared to those on labetalol, with significant p-values of 0.040 and 0.028. Additionally, nifedipine users were less likely to need increased doses, with an odds ratio of 0.28 (95 % CI: 0.19–0.40, p < 0.001) compared to labetalol users. ConclusionThis study provides compelling evidence that nifedipine outperforms labetalol in managing blood pressure during Black pregnancies. These findings suggest that the initiation of nifedipine should be considered in the management of chronic hypertension among Black pregnant individuals, offering a potentially more effective treatment option.

Disease progression in Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment: 5-year longitudinal study from the early Parkinson's disease longitudinal Singapore (PALS) cohort.

To investigate motor, non-motor and cognitive progression in early Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). PD patients were recruited within 1 year of diagnosis and were classified into PD-MCI group and PD with normal cognition (PD-NC) group. H&Y staging scale, MDS-UPDRS part III were used to assess disease severity and motor progression. Non-motor symptom scale (NMSS) was used to evaluate the NMS progression. Cognitive progression was assessed from 5 cognitive domains. Annual progression changes in the longitudinal outcomes were examined via linear mixed model with random intercept effect. False discovery rate (FDR) method was performed to control for multiple testing comparison and q-value was calculated. We set the threshold of q-values as 0.1. A total of 205 PD patients, including 107 PD-MCI and 98 PD-NC patients were assessed prospectively over a 5-year period. PD-MCI patients, compared to PD-NC group, had a significantly higher progression rate in H&Y score (0.11 vs. 0.06, p=0.03, q=0.08), MDS-UPDRS motor score (3.11 vs. 1.90 p<0.001, q=0.06) and postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD) score (0.40 vs. 0.20, p=0.02, q=0.07). PD-MCI group also exhibited significantly faster deterioration in NMSS perceptual domain (PD-MCI vs. PD-NC: 0.38 vs. -0.04, p=0.01, q=0.06) and cognitive visuospatial domain (PD-MCI vs. PD-NC: 0.13 vs. -0.06, p=0.048, q=0.09) after adjustment for confounders and multiple comparisons. PD-MCI patients had faster decline in motor functions, visuo-perceptual and visuospatial performance. These findings provide a more comprehensive prognosis of PD-MCI, which could be helpful for clinician to manage PD-MCI patients.

Effect of rainfall interception and resting period on the soil seed bank

The ecosystems across the world are affected by diverse impacts of climate change. Climate change will also affect soil seed bank as the seed bank is determined by the plants that are above the ground. This study was conducted to determine whether rainfall interception and resting period will affect the soil seed bank or not. Rainfall interception was employed as main plot treatment at four different levels—namely, 15%, 30%, 60%, and 0%—and the main plot treatments were each replicated five times using the rainout shelters arranged as main plot treatments in a split-plot experimental design. The main plots are 49 m2 (7 m × 7 m) in size and were covered by metal frame structures with V-shaped clear acrylic bands on top without ultraviolet filter, and these plots were sub-divided into two sub-plots to determine the effect of resting periods (70 and 90 days). The soil samples were 8 cm in diameter and 20 cm in depth (1,005 cm3). We used seed emergence method rather than seed separation method to determine the soil seed bank due to the very small size of some seeds for some species. The 60% rainfall interception resulted in significantly high forb densities at both resting periods. The forb densities decreased by 32 and 35% at 15% and 30%, while they increased by 195% at 60% rainfall interception compared to 0% rainfall interception at 70-day resting period. Resting period significantly affected grass densities at 60% rainfall as the densities were higher at 70- than 90-day resting period. At 90-day resting period, grass densities were significantly higher at 0% rainfall interception than the rest of the treatments, while the grass densities were significantly lower at 60% rainfall interception. The 60% rainfall interception resulted in significantly (p&amp;lt; 0.05) higher total densities (forbs and grass) in both resting periods. Total density increased by 2.9% and 143.48% at 15% and 60% rainfall interception, respectively. Our results show that drought has a negative effect on grass soil seed bank, while it improves the forbs soil seed bank. Furthermore, the resting period has no significant effects on soil seed bank in grasslands.

Variations in provenance and transport of terrestrial organic matter in the Changjiang River during the flood season

River is a crucial channel for the transport of terrestrial organic carbon (OCterr) into the sea, and has significant implications for the global carbon cycle. However, with the intensification of human activities within the watershed (such as dams and changes in land use), the sediment and OCterr output from rivers have significantly decreased. To study the influence of human activities on the provenance and transport of particulate organic carbon (POC) exported from the Changjiang River Basin (CRB), we collected suspended particulate matter samples during the rainy season of 2021. The POC content exhibited an increasing trend from the headwater zone to the estuary. Results of three-end-member mixing model indicated that both soil-derived and autochthonous OC (OCauto) contributed approximately more than 40.0 %. Notably, OCauto experienced a significant increase from the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) to estuary in the mainstem, attributed to the sediment interception effect of the TGD. The POC contents in the headwater zone and Jinshajiang River in 2021 were lower compared to those in 2007, which can be attributed to a decrease in cultivated land area and increase sediment trapping by cascade dams. Affected by TGD, the POC content in the middle and lower reaches as well as the delta zone first decreased in 2003 and then increased from 2007 to 2021. Additionally, the degradation of lignin phenols and n-alkanes was influenced by the TGD, which prolonged the retention time of terrestrial plants. Compared to previous studies, the decrease in soil-derived OC and increase in OCauto in CRB, influenced by dams and land use, could have long-lasting effect on carbon burial in the ECS.

Improving ion rejection by optimizing the structure and charge distribution of the Janus membrane

Due to the asymmetry of charge distribution and geometric structure, the Janus membrane can simultaneously intercept counter-ions and co-ions. This work constructed four Janus membrane configurations using numerical simulation methods. Due to the different potential within the membrane and the selectivity level, there is a significant deviation in the interception performance. The results found that the change in the height of the Janus membrane affects the distribution of anion and cation concentration inside the nanochannel, and the asymmetry of the nanochannel height is more conducive to interception than a uniform nanochannel. The effect of the nanochannel length of the first section on the rejection rate is higher than that of the second section. Considering the design of the membrane, we recommend that the pore length of the first section be set to about 50 nm. Since the flow potential balances the electroviscous force, the optimization of the flow rate for ion transport is often opposite to the interception effect. The Janus membrane has asymmetric pore size and charge distribution characteristics and has excellent retention ability for divalent salts under low-pressure intensity and high-concentration conditions.

Time cooperative guidance law based on neural network

In response to the issue of coordinated guidance for vehicle groups, a neural network-based time-to-go prediction method has been designed. The influence of the motion state of both the vehicle and the target on the prediction results has been considered in this method. Compared with the classical method, the prediction error of the moving target is obviously reduced. A guidance law with a time synergy coefficient is proposed. This method adjusts the flight trajectory of the vehicles by the time-to-go error, ensuring that the cluster of vehicle arrive at the target simultaneously. According to the simulation results, the prediction error of the neural network is less than 0.4 s, and the maximum coordination error is 0.2 s, which achieves the effect of cooperative interception.

Human activities altered the enrichment patterns of microplastics in mangrove blue carbon ecosystem in the semi-enclosed Zhanjiang Bay, China

Mangroves, as the key blue carbon ecosystem, are considered ‘potential sinks’ for microplastics (MPs) in the land-ocean interface zones. However, there is limited understanding of enrichment patterns of MPs in mangrove blue carbon ecosystem, particularly in relation to human activities. This study explored the abundance, composition, and diversity of MPs in mangrove and non-mangrove sediments in Zhanjiang Bay (ZJB) to investigate the effects of human activities on MPs enrichment patterns in the blue carbon system. The results showed that MPs were widely prevalent in all sediment samples, and the abundance of MPs was significantly higher in all mangrove sediments than in non-mangrove sediments (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the average abundance of MPs was found to be 263.67 ± 85.25 items/kg in non-mangrove sediment samples, whereas in mangrove sediment samples, it was 618.17 ± 71.75 items/kg. The average abundance of MPs in mangroves was about 1.6 times higher than that in non-mangroves, indicating that mangroves have an interception effect on MPs, and human activities are the key factor leading to the difference in MPs enrichment patterns between mangroves and non-mangroves. Furthermore, the predominant MPs shapes in both mangroves and non-mangroves are fragments, with multicolor and green being the most common colors and most MPs sizes ranging between 100 and 330 µm. Besides, there was no significant relationship found between MPs abundance and particulate organic carbon (P &amp;gt; 0.05), indicating that MPs pollution didn’t significantly alter the natural POC pool in ZJB. Overall, this study provided important baseline information on MPs pollution in the mangrove blue carbon ecosystems in ZJB, which was implications for future mitigation of MPs pollution and the management of mangrove ecosystem.

Association of Hospitalist Care and Outcomes for Patients Electively Admitted for Chemotherapy

Introduction: Patients with hematologic malignancies frequently receive elective anticancer therapy as inpatients. The impact of introducing hospitalists on quality outcomes in this subset of patients is unknown. Methods: Patients with leukemia or lymphoma electively admitted for anticancer therapy to either a hematologist-led service (TS; n=59) or to a hospitalist-led service (HS; n=102) during two parallel 18-month time periods were included. Mixed linear regression models with first-order random effects for intercept (individual) and slope (time) were used to estimate the association between service and the quality outcomes of length of stay (LOS), time from admission to anticancer therapy initiation, and discharge time of day. Results: For patients who received a fixed-duration anticancer therapy regimen, after adjustment for clinical and demographic covariates, mean LOS was reduced by &gt;2 days (TS=5.97 days (95% CI: 5.13, 6.81); HS=3.88 days (95% CI, 3.53, 4.23); p&lt;0.001), mean time from admission to first anticancer therapy administration decreased by 4 hours (TS=8.32 hours (95% CI: 5.72, 10.93); HS= 4.36 hours (95% CI: 3.49, 5.23); p=0.001)), and mean discharge time was similarly decreased by 110 minutes (TS=3:12 PM (95% CI: 2:06 PM, 4:19 PM); HS=1:22 PM (95% CI: 12:48 PM, 1:57 PM); p=0.01)). For regimens that required variable monitoring for post-treatment methotrexate clearance, tumor lysis syndrome, or white blood cell count recovery, no significant difference in outcomes was noted. Conclusion: Hospitalist care of patients with hematologic malignancies admitted for elective anticancer therapy may lead to improved quality and efficiency of care.

Diurnal shifts of rumen fermentation and microbial profiles revealed circadian rhythms of rumen bacteria, methanogens, and protozoa under high-grain and high-forage diets

In this study, we investigated how the composition and population of rumen microbiota shifted in response to diurnal oscillations under 2 different diets (high grain vs high forage). Five multiparous Holstein dairy cows with similar body weight, days in milk, and parity were enrolled in this study. The cows were fed high-grain (HG) diet for 21 d and then shifted to high-forage (HF) diet in the next 21 d (7-d washout and 14-d experimental period). During the experimental period, dry matter intake (DMI) and rumination activity were recorded, and rumen fluid was collected 8 times post-feeding every 6 h during the last 2 d of each dietary feeding period. The rumen microbial (bacterial, archaeal, and protozoal) population and composition were assessed using quantitative PCR and amplicon sequencing respectively. The daily dynamic of measurements was assessed using cosinor model. The associations between microbial taxa and rumen fermentation profiles were assessed using linear mixed model, in which the cows were termed as random intercept effects. Daily rhythmicity was observed for DMI, rumination activity, and rumen fermentation profiles under both diets. Additionally, rumination time, rumen pH, and acetate/propionate ratio had a higher mesor (the average level of diurnal fluctuations) under HF diet than in HG diet. The amplitude (the distance between the peak and mesor) of DMI, rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen, and total volatile acid concentration were higher under HG diet than in HF diet. Although no significant diurnal oscillation was observed in rumen microbial population, the relative abundance of 14 bacterial genera, one protozoal genus, and 2 archaeal species had significant diurnal oscillations under both HF and HG diets. Among them, the bacterial genera Ruminococcus and Colidextribacter had time at peak of rhythm within 0 to12 h after feeding, which were also negatively associated with the rumen acetate/propionate ratio. The bacterial genus Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group had time at peak of rhythm within 12 to 24 h after feeding, which was also positively associated with the rumen acetate/propionate ratio. Our study illustrated the daily dynamic on the rumen microbiota population and composition under different diets, and also identified the feeding-responsive rumen microbiota, highlighting a more targeted approach is needed to manipulate rumen microbiota.

Experimental and numerical simulation study on forced ventilation and dust removal of coal mine heading surface

In order to study the problems of unreasonable airflow distribution and serious dust pollution in a heading surface, an experimental platform for forced ventilation and dust removal was built based on the similar principles. Through the similar experiment and numerical simulation, the distribution of airflow field in the roadway and the spatial and temporal evolution of dust pollution under the conditions of forced ventilation were determined. The airflow field in the roadway can be divided into three zones: jet zone, vortex zone and reflux zone. The dust concentration gradually decreases from the head to the rear of the roadway. Under the forced ventilation conditions, there is a unilateral accumulation of dust, with higher dust concentrations away from the ducts. The position of the equipment has an interception effect on the dust. The maximum error between the test value and the simulation result is 12.9%, which verifies the accuracy of the experimental results. The research results can provide theoretical guidance for the application of dust removal technology in coal mine.

MnO2@CS modified catalytic membrane for simultaneous organics removal and membrane fouling mitigation via peroxymonosulfate activation

The integration of advanced oxidation process and ultrafiltration membrane has been regarded as an effective method to improve pollutants removal and mitigate membrane fouling simultaneously in the field of wastewater treatment. Hence, a novel catalytic membrane microreactor, referred to as MnO2@CS-UF, was synthesized via coupling MnO2 modified carbon spheres (MnO2@CS) with membrane. The mesoporous structure of MnO2@CS guaranteed adequate water transfer channels and also contributed to more exposure of active sites. With MnO2@CS uniformly dispersed, the MnO2@CS-UF membrane showed increased hydrophilicity, higher permeability and superior peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-activation capability. With synergistic effect of pore interception and catalytic degradation, MnO2@CS-UF showed excellent organic pollutants removal (MB removal of about 100 % in 5 min), and had a prominent mitigation effect on membrane fouling caused by model NOM. In addition, MnO2@CS-UF/PMS system showed excellent catalytic filtration performance in the treatment of actual secondary effluent (SE). MnO2@CS-UF/PMS system could effectively remove fluorescent organics, and the removal rates of I-V region were 36.3 %, 72.3 %, 67.7 %, 73.5 % and 71.4 %, respectively. The permeance decline of MnO2@CS-UF was also effectively alleviated, with irreversible and reversible resistances reduced by 61.0 % and 23.2 % than UF membranes, individually. High-valent manganese-oxo species and singlet oxygen played a leading role in contaminants elimination, whereas radical oxidation acted as auxiliary contributors. Standard blocking became the dominant fouling pattern for MnO2@CS-UF/PMS, demonstrating that the MnO2@CS catalytic layer ensured the synthesis of vast active substances, prevented foulant adhesion on pore walls and alleviated the growth of cake layer. These results illustrated that the integration of MnO2@CS catalytic degradation and membrane filtration was feasible to improve the permeate quality and mitigate membrane fouling in wastewater reclamation.

Water quality assessment, possible origins and health risks of toxic metal(loid)s in five cascade reservoirs in the upper Mekong

The Mekong River holds significant importance as a transnational water system within the Asian region. This study investigated the pollution characteristics, origins, and health risks associated with eighteen toxic metal (loid)s (TMs) across various depths in five cascade reservoirs located in the upper Mekong. The findings revealed that naturally sourced TMs (As, Cd, Li, Mo, Sb, and Sr) exhibited elevated levels in upstream reservoirs due to the interception effects of cascade dams. Anthropogenically sourced TMs (Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) showed heightened concentrations in downstream reservoirs, linked to increased human activities in the downstream region. In deep-water reservoirs, the vertical distribution of redox-sensitive elements was influenced by thermal stratification, with concentrations of As, Cs, Li, Mo, Rb, Sr, and U notably higher in the hypolimnion than the epilimnion. Importantly, the concentrations of all elements in these cascade reservoirs meet Chinese and WHO drinking water standards. Water quality index (WQI: 9.2–19.1), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI: 0.96–1.37), and Nemerow index (NI: 0.35–0.56) confirmed the commendable quality of the cascade reservoir waters. The health risk assessment identified As, Sb, U, and Tl as primary contributors to non-carcinogenic risks in the cascade reservoirs. In the context of a series of cascade dams along this substantial river, this research establishes a solid foundation for preventing TM pollution and ensuring the long-term sustainability of water resources.

Two sample Mendelian Randomisation using an outcome from a multilevel model of disease progression

Identifying factors that are causes of disease progression, especially in neurodegenerative diseases, is of considerable interest. Disease progression can be described as a trajectory of outcome over time—for example, a linear trajectory having both an intercept (severity at time zero) and a slope (rate of change). A technique for identifying causal relationships between one exposure and one outcome in observational data whilst avoiding bias due to confounding is two sample Mendelian Randomisation (2SMR). We consider a multivariate approach to 2SMR using a multilevel model for disease progression to estimate the causal effect an exposure has on the intercept and slope. We carry out a simulation study comparing a naïve univariate 2SMR approach to a multivariate 2SMR approach with one exposure that effects both the intercept and slope of an outcome that changes linearly with time since diagnosis. The simulation study results, across six different scenarios, for both approaches were similar with no evidence against a non-zero bias and appropriate coverage of the 95% confidence intervals (for intercept 93.4–96.2% and the slope 94.5–96.0%). The multivariate approach gives a better joint coverage of both the intercept and slope effects. We also apply our method to two Parkinson’s cohorts to examine the effect body mass index has on disease progression. There was no strong evidence that BMI affects disease progression, however the confidence intervals for both intercept and slope were wide.

Effect of Soil Amendment of Greening Waste on Leaching Loss of Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus

It is of great practical significance for comprehensively promoting the green development of agriculture to explore practical products for preventing and controlling nitrogen and phosphorus leaching. In this study, PVC soil column experiments and field experiments were used to evaluate the interception effect of soil amendments produced by green wastes on nitrogen and phosphorus leaching. The pH value, EC value, the nutrient contents of ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3 −-N), total nitrogen (TN), and available phosphorus (AP) in different soil layers and leaching solution were determined, and the interception effects of soil amendment on nitrogen and phosphorus leaching were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that the soil amendments of green waste had significant inhibition and control effects on the leaching of NH4 +-N, NO3 −-N, APs, and TN. The interception mechanism of the soil amendments of green waste on nitrogen and phosphorus leaching was mainly to absorb a large amount of leaching solution and various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients. The results also showed that the soil amendment of green waste had a certain nutrient content and buffering effect on acid and alkali and the main form of nitrogen leaching was NO3 −-N. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of cheap and effective physical products to prevent and control nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from farmland.