Functional Relationship Research Articles

Photoluminescence studies of different types of feldspars and the implications to the dating application using a Raman system

In recent years, the infrared photoluminescence (PL) of feldspar has been explored for geological dating because it offers a great increase in signal intensity with increasing radiation dose. However, a comprehensive understanding of the PL emission spectra of different types of feldspar minerals remains poorly understood and the uncommonly available instruments have hindered its research. In this study, we investigated PL characteristics (e.g., emission spectra and the dependence of PL emission on irradiation dose) of single-crystal alkali and plagioclase feldspars using a commercial Raman microscope instrument configured to excite samples with 532 and 785 nm lasers. The results show that despite being sample-dependent, 2–3 PL bands peaking at ∼2.10 eV (590 nm), 1.75 eV (710 nm), and 1.43 eV (865 nm) under 532 nm laser excitation, and 0–2 peaks ranging from ∼1.44 eV (863 nm) to ∼1.34 eV (925 nm) under 785 nm laser excitation, are broadly observed. These variations in PL bands may be attributed to subtle differences in chemical composition and crystal structure among the feldspar minerals. The sensitivity of PL emission to irradiation dose varies greatly depending on feldspar types and peak positions. The PL intensities of the peaks at ∼1.43 eV (865 nm) are particularly sensitive in K-feldspar, demonstrating their potential applicability for dating applications. Additionally, solar bleaching experiments demonstrate that PL signals of these peaks can be effectively reset by 1.5 h of solar exposure. The dose-response curves obtained using 860–870 nm PL signals of K-feldspar conform to a relationship of a single saturating exponential function between the signal and irradiation dose. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that a commonly available Raman system can be utilized for PL measurements of single grains.

Fast Optimization Method of Flexible Support Structure Based on Mathematical Model

In order to realize the rapid analysis and optimization of the flexible support structure, the parametric design method is used to establish the three-dimensional model. Basic dimension parameters of the flexible support structure are linked with external data sources, and the functional relationship between dimensions is established to ensure the rationality of the model. It only needs to change the data in the data source to realize the automatic update of the 3D model when the model needs to be reconstructed. Compared with the finite element method, the optimization model improves the efficiency of simulation analysis and optimization design. The model proposed in this paper can obtain the optimal solution by weighing the mass and deformation displacement of the structure.

Topographic and Climatic Factors Effect Spatiotemporal Coupling Relationship of Soil Water Conservation Function with Vegetation in Source of the Yellow River

The Gannan Water Conservation area is an indispensable part of the ecological barrier on the Tibetan Plateau and is a key ecological area for the water supply. Exploring the coupled coordination relationship between vegetation and soil contributes to the conservation and planning of the natural environment. In this study, soil water conservation function (SWCF) was investigated with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data in the Gannan Water Conservation Area at the source of the Yellow River, and the spatiotemporal coupling relationship between the SWCF and vegetation was explored. Meanwhile, their responses to topographic and climatic factors were investigated with structural equation models. The main results indicated that the coupling coordination degree (DVS) in the soil depth was in a barely coordinated state, with 0–10 cm > 20–30 cm > 10–20 cm, showing that the area proportion of ‘Basic balanced–Synchronous development of VEG and SWCF’ was the highest, and the spatial aggregation feature was obvious. As the gradient of topographic factors varied, the coupling coordination also varied at various soil depths. Meanwhile, the absolute values of the correlation coefficients of the temperature and precipitation with the coupling coordination were the highest at 20–30 cm compared to the other soil depths, demonstrating that the effect was more significant in deeper soils than in shallower ones. Furthermore, the path coefficients of the topographic factors were larger than those of the climatic factors in the 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm layers, while the opposite was true in the 0–10 cm layer. In general, the vegetation conditions and water conservation function of soil in the source area of the Yellow River are basically developing synchronously, and the topographic factor is the key factor for the geographical difference in the coupling relationship between the two factors.

Relationship of physical function and body composition to suicidal ideation in the elderly: A Systematic Review

Relationship of physical function and body composition to suicidal ideation in the elderly: A Systematic Review

Impaired Cardiac Sympathetic Activity Is Associated With Myocardial Remodeling and Established Biomarkers of Heart Failure.

123Iodine-meta-iodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy is useful for assessing cardiac autonomic dysfunction and predict outcomes in heart failure (HF). The relationship of cardiac sympathetic function with myocardial remodeling and diffuse fibrosis remains largely unknown. We aimed to evaluate the cardiac sympathetic function of patients with HF and its relation with myocardial remodeling and exercise capacity. Prospectively enrolled patients with HF (New York Heart Association class II-III) were stratified into HF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≥45%) and reduced LVEF. Ventricular morphology/function and myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) fraction were quantified by cardiovascular magnetic resonance, global longitudinal strain by echocardiography, cardiac sympathetic function by heart-to-mediastinum ratio from 123iodine-meta-iodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy. All participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The cohort included 33 patients with HF with preserved LVEF (LVEF, 60±10%; NT-proBNP [N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide], 248 [interquartile range, 79-574] pg/dL), 28 with HF with reduced LVEF (LVEF, 30±9%; NT-proBNP, 743 [interquartile range, 250-2054] pg/dL) and 20 controls (LVEF, 65±5%; NT-proBNP, 40 [interquartile range, 19-50] pg/dL). Delayed (4 hours) 123iodine-meta-iodobenzylguanidine heart-to-mediastinum ratio was lower in HF with preserved LVEF (1.59±0.25) and HF with reduced LVEF (1.45±0.16) versus controls (1.92±0.24; P<0.001), and correlated negatively with diffuse fibrosis assessed by ECV (R=-0.34, P<0.01). ECV in segments without LGE was increased in HF with preserved ejection fraction (0.32±0.05%) and HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (0.31±0.04%) versus controls (0.28±0.04, P<0.05) and was associated with the age- and sex-adjusted maximum oxygen consumption (peak oxygen consumption); (R=-0.41, P<0.01). Preliminary analysis indicates that cardiac sympathetic function might potentially act as a mediator in the association between ECV and NT-proBNP levels. Abnormally low cardiac sympathetic function in patients with HF with reduced and preserved LVEF is associated with extracellular volume expansion and decreased cardiopulmonary functional capacity.

Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study of the Relationship of Thyroid Volume and Function with Anthropometric Measurements, Body Composition Analysis Parameters, and the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome in Euthyroid People Aged 18-65.

Background and Objectives: The thyroid is a key endocrine gland for the regulation of metabolic processes. A body composition analysis (BCA) is a valuable complement to the assessment of body mass index, which is derived only from body weight and height. This cross-sectional retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationships between thyroid volume (TV) and thyroid function parameters, anthropometric measurements, BCA parameters, and the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adults without clinically overt thyroid disease. Material and Methods: This study involved 45 people (females: 57.8%; MetS: 28.9%) hospitalized for planned diagnostics without signs of acute illness or a deterioration of their health and without thyroid disease, who underwent thyroid ultrasound scans, biochemical tests to assess their thyroid function, MetS assessments, anthropometric measurements, and BCAs using the bioelectrical impedance method. Results: The TV was significantly larger in people with MetS compared to people without MetS. The TV was significantly higher and the serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentration was significantly lower in overweight and obese people than in normal and underweight people. The free triiodothyronine (FT3) serum concentration and TV were correlated with waist circumference and some parameters of the BCA, and the FT3 concentration was also correlated with the body mass index, waist-hip ratio, and waist-height ratio. No significant correlations were found between the FT4 and TSH and the results of the anthropometric and BCA measurements. Conclusions: Even in a population of euthyroid patients without clinically overt thyroid disease, there were some significant relationships between the volume and function of the thyroid gland and the results of their anthropometric parameters, BCAs, and the presence of MetS features.

Exploring Relationships of Heart Rate Variability, Neurological Function, and Clinical Factors with Mortality and Behavioral Functional Outcome in Patients with Ischemic Stroke.

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability. The relationships of heart rate variability (HRV) and stroke-related factors with mortality and functional outcome are complex and not fully understood. Understanding these relationships is crucial for providing better insights regarding ischemic stroke prognosis. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between HRV, neurological function, and clinical factors with mortality and 3-month behavioral functional outcome in ischemic stroke. We prospectively collected the HRV data and monitored the behavioral functional outcome of patients with ischemic stroke. The behavioral functional outcome was represented by a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. This study population consisted of 58 ischemic stroke patients (56.9% male; mean age 70) with favorable (mRS score ≤ 2) and unfavorable (mRS score ≥ 3) outcome. The analysis indicated that the median of the mean RR interval (RR mean) showed no statistical difference between mortality groups. Conversely, the median of the RR mean had significant association with unfavorable outcome (OR = 0.989, p = 0.007). Lower hemoglobin levels had significant association with unfavorable outcome (OR = 0.411, p = 0.010). Higher National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission had significant association with unfavorable outcome (OR = 1.396, p = 0.002). In contrast, age, stroke history, NIHSS score at admission, and hemoglobin showed no significant association with mortality in ischemic stroke. These results imply that HRV, as indicated by the median of RR mean, alongside specific clinical factors and neurological function at admission (measured by NIHSS score), may serve as potential prognostic indicators for 3-month behavioral functional outcome in ischemic stroke.

Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Pattern Evolution and Decoupling Relationships of Land Use Functions Based on Ecological Protection and High-Quality Development: A Case Study of the Yellow River Basin, China

With rapid industrialization and urbanization, the contradiction between the human exploitation of land production and living functions and natural ecosystem service functions has intensified. The issues of how to coordinate the exploitation and conservation functions of land and guide the rational distribution of human activities have become important for global sustainable development, especially considering the realization that multifunctional land use is an effective way to relieve land pressure and improve land use efficiency, that land multifunction has significant spatio-temporal heterogeneity, and that there is a mutual promotion and stress relationship between multifunctional land use. However, few existing studies have discussed the decoupling relationship among land use functions. In this study, a system of 10 sub-functions and 25 indicators was established based on the production function (PDF), living function (LVF), and ecological function (ELF) for 59 cities in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). There are both subjective and objective procedures employed to determine the weights, while an exploratory spatial data analysis is used to analyze the time-based and territorial changes in various functions of land use in the study area from 2000 to 2020. The decoupling relationship between the three functions is detected utilizing the theoretical foundation of the decoupling analysis. The results show that land use is multifunctional, LUFs develop unevenly, and their spatial distribution varies substantially. The results of the decoupling analysis demonstrate that the predominant types of correlations among the land use ELF and PDF and LVF over the research period are strong decoupling and strong negative decoupling correlations, with the former being a dilemma and the latter being a sustainable type of development.

Relationship of thyroid function with genetic subtypes and treatment with growth hormone in Prader-Willi syndrome.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is the most common genetic syndrome with obesity and results from loss of expression of paternally inherited genes on chromosome 15q11-q13 by a variety of mechanisms which include large deletions (70%-75%), maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) (20%-30%), and imprinting defects (2%-5%) or balanced translocations. Individuals often have a characteristic behavior disorder with mild intellectual disability, infantile hypotonia associated with poor sucking, short stature, and obesity. PWS is characterized by hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction with growth hormone (GH) deficiency, hypogonadism, and several other hormonal deficiencies resulting in short stature, centrally driven excessive appetite (hyperphagia), central obesity, cryptorchidism, and decreased lean body mass. In this study, we determined and sought differences in the incidence of thyroid abnormalities among the common genetic subtypes in a cohort of 52 subjects with PWS because there was limited literature available. We also sought the effects of growth hormone (GH) treatment on the thyroid profile. Fifty-two subjects with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of PWS were included in this study at the University of California, Irvine. Blood samples for baseline thyroxine stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels were obtained in the morning after an overnight fast for 8-12 h. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS (SPSS Inc., 21.0). Mean values were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and student's t-test and statistical significance were set at p < 0.05. The subjects included 26 males and 26 females with an age range of 3-38 years. There were 29 subjects with chromosome 15q11-q13 deletions and 23 with UPD; 28 were GH treated currently or in the past, and 24 never received GH. There was no significant difference in age or body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) between GH-treated versus non-GH-treated groups. BMI was higher in the deletion group compared to the UPD group (p = 0.05). We identified two individuals who were clinically diagnosed and treated for hypothyroidism, one of whom was on GH supplements. We identified two additional individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism who were not on GH treatment, giving a frequency of 7.6% (4/52) in this cohort of patients. We did not find significant differences in thyroid function (TSH) in the deletion versus UPD groups. We found significant differences in thyroid function, however, between GH-treated and non-GH-treated groups. The mean TSH was lower (2.25 ± 1.17 uIU/M, range 0.03-4.92 uIU/M versus 2.80 ± 1.44 uIU/M, range 0.55-5.33 uIU/M respectively, p = 0.046), and the free T4 levels were significantly higher (1.13 ± 0.70 and 1.03 ± 0.11 ng/dL, respectively, p = 0.05) in the GH-treated individuals compared to non-GH-treated individuals. In this cohort of subjects with PWS, we identified two previously diagnosed individuals with hypothyroidism and two individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism (4/52, 7.6%), three of whom were not receiving GH treatment. We did not find any significant differences in thyroid function between molecular subtypes; however, we found that euthyroid status (lower TSH levels and higher free T4 levels) was significantly higher in individuals who were treated with GH compared to the untreated group. We recommend that individuals with PWS should be screened regularly for thyroid deficiency and start treatment early with GH in view of the potentially lower incidence of thyroid deficiency.

GCNs-Net: A Graph Convolutional Neural Network Approach for Decoding Time-Resolved EEG Motor Imagery Signals.

Toward the development of effective and efficient brain-computer interface (BCI) systems, precise decoding of brain activity measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG) is highly demanded. Traditional works classify EEG signals without considering the topological relationship among electrodes. However, neuroscience research has increasingly emphasized network patterns of brain dynamics. Thus, the Euclidean structure of electrodes might not adequately reflect the interaction between signals. To fill the gap, a novel deep learning (DL) framework based on the graph convolutional neural networks (GCNs) is presented to enhance the decoding performance of raw EEG signals during different types of motor imagery (MI) tasks while cooperating with the functional topological relationship of electrodes. Based on the absolute Pearson's matrix of overall signals, the graph Laplacian of EEG electrodes is built up. The GCNs-Net constructed by graph convolutional layers learns the generalized features. The followed pooling layers reduce dimensionality, and the fully-connected (FC) softmax layer derives the final prediction. The introduced approach has been shown to converge for both personalized and groupwise predictions. It has achieved the highest averaged accuracy, 93.06% and 88.57% (PhysioNet dataset), 96.24% and 80.89% (high gamma dataset), at the subject and group level, respectively, compared with existing studies, which suggests adaptability and robustness to individual variability. Moreover, the performance is stably reproducible among repetitive experiments for cross-validation. The excellent performance of our method has shown that it is an important step toward better BCI approaches. To conclude, the GCNs-Net filters EEG signals based on the functional topological relationship, which manages to decode relevant features for brain MI. A DL library for EEG task classification including the code for this study is open source at https://github.com/SuperBruceJia/ EEG-DL for scientific research.

The relationship of early postmenopausal symptoms, sexual function, and serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone with anxiety score in postmenopausal women referring to health centers of tabriz

Background. Anxiety is independently associated with severe quality of life impairment and severe postmenopausal symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of early postmenopausal symptoms, sexual function, and serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) with anxiety scores. Methods. In this cross-sectional descriptive correlational study, 117 eligible postmenopausal women aged 50-60 years with mild to moderate anxiety were selected using convenience sampling method. The Beck Anxiety Inventory, Green's Menopause Symptoms Scale, and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were completed. Data were analyzed using Pearson and Spearman tests and linear regression model. Results. By adjusting the confounding variables, the total score of FSFI and its sub-domains had no statistically significant relationship with Beck Anxiety Inventory score (P&gt;0.05). The total score of Greene Climacteric Scale (r=0.535; P&lt;0.001) and sub-domains of anxiety (r=0.448; P&lt;0.001), depression (r=0.344; P&lt;0.001), and physical symptoms (r=0.509; P&lt;0.001), as well as the serum level of DHEA (r=-0.754; P&lt;0.001) had statistically significant relationship with Beck Anxiety Inventory score. The total score of Greene Climacteric Scale and its sub-domains, except for the sexual dimension, and DHEA level could predict anxiety score. Conclusion. The score of menopausal symptoms and its subdomains, except for the sexual domain and DHEA level, could predict the anxiety score. The findings of this study show the importance of the relationship between early menopause symptoms and serum level of dihydroepiandrosterone with anxiety score in postmenopausal women. Practical Implications. It is suggested to conduct a more comprehensive study considering a wider sample size and socio-cultural factors and barriers.

Association between lung function and risk of microvascular diseases in patients with diabetes: A prospective cohort and Mendelian randomization study

Background and aimsTo investigate causal relationships of lung function with risks microvascular diseases among participants with diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), respectively, in prospective and Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Methods and results14,617 participants with diabetes and without microvascular diseases at baseline from the UK Biobank were included in the prospective analysis. Of these, 13,421 had T2DM and 1196 had T1DM. The linear MR analyses were conducted in the UK Biobank with 6838 cases of microvascular diseases and 10,755 controls. Lung function measurements included forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). The study outcome was microvascular diseases, a composite outcome including chronic kidney diseases, retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy. During a median follow-up of 12.1 years, 2668 new-onset microvascular diseases were recorded. FVC (%predicted) was inversely associated with the risk of new-onset microvascular diseases in participants with diabetes (Per SD increment, adjusted HR = 0.86; 95%CI:0.83–0.89), T2DM (Per SD increment, adjusted HR = 0.86; 95%CI:0.82–0.90) and T1DM (Per SD increment, adjusted HR = 0.87; 95%CI: 0.79–0.97), respectively. Similar results were found for FEV1 (%predicted). In MR analyses, genetically predicted FVC (adjusted RR = 0.55, 95%CI:0.39–0.77) and FEV1 (adjusted RR = 0.48, 95%CI:0.28–0.83) were both inversely associated with microvascular diseases in participants with T1DM. No significant association was found in those with T2DM. Similar findings were found for each component of microvascular diseases. ConclusionThere was a causal inverse association between lung function and risks of microvascular diseases in participants with T1DM, but not in those with T2DM.

Dose-Effect Relationship of Kidney Function After SABR for Primary Renal Cell Carcinoma: TROG 15.03 FASTRACK II

BackgroundStereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is a novel option to treat primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, a high radiation dose may be received by the treated kidney, which may affect its function post-treatment. This study investigates the dose-effect relationship of kidney SABR with posttreatment renal function. MethodsThis was a prespecified secondary endpoint of the multicenter FASTRACK II clinical trial (NCT02613819). Patients received either 26 Gy in a single fraction (SF) for tumors with a maximal diameter of 4 cm or less, or 42 Gy in three fractions (multi-fraction (MF)) for larger tumors. To determine renal function change, 99mTc-DMSA SPECT/CT scans were acquired, and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated at baseline, 12-, and 24-months post-treatment. Imaging datasets were rigidly registered to the planning CT where kidneys were segmented to calculate dose-response curves. ResultsFrom 71 enrolled patients, data from 36 (51%) and 26 (37%) patients were included in this study based on availability of post-treatment data at 12- and 24-months, respectively. The ipsilateral kidney GFR decreased from baseline by 42% and 39% in the SF cohort, and by 45% and 62% in the MF cohort, at 12- and 24-months respectively (p-values < 0.03). The loss in renal function was 3.6±0.8% and 4.5±1.0% in the SF cohort, and 1.7±0.1% and 1.7±0.2% in the MF cohort, at 12- and 24-months respectively. The major loss in renal function occurred in high-dose regions, where dose-response curves converged to a plateau. ConclusionsFor the first time in a multicenter study, the dose-effect relationship at 12- and 24-months post-SABR treatment for primary RCC was quantified. Kidney function reduces linearly with dose up to 100 Gy BED3.

Oxygen's final frontier: novel capillary-mitochondrial relationships in muscle predicate function.

Oxygen's final frontier: novel capillary-mitochondrial relationships in muscle predicate function.

Interpretable Cognitive Ability Prediction: A Comprehensive Gated Graph Transformer Framework for Analyzing Functional Brain Networks.

Graph convolutional deep learning has emerged as a promising method to explore the functional organization of the human brain in neuroscience research. This paper presents a novel framework that utilizes the gated graph transformer (GGT) model to predict individuals' cognitive ability based on functional connectivity (FC) derived from fMRI. Our framework incorporates prior spatial knowledge and uses a random-walk diffusion strategy that captures the intricate structural and functional relationships between different brain regions. Specifically, our approach employs learnable structural and positional encodings (LSPE) in conjunction with a gating mechanism to efficiently disentangle the learning of positional encoding (PE) and graph embeddings. Additionally, we utilize the attention mechanism to derive multi-view node feature embeddings and dynamically distribute propagation weights between each node and its neighbors, which facilitates the identification of significant biomarkers from functional brain networks and thus enhances the interpretability of the findings. To evaluate our proposed model in cognitive ability prediction, we conduct experiments on two large-scale brain imaging datasets: the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC) and the Human Connectome Project (HCP). The results show that our approach not only outperforms existing methods in prediction accuracy but also provides superior explainability, which can be used to identify important FCs underlying cognitive behaviors.

Pulmonary function and body composition parameters of children with cystic fibrosis from a hight complexity institution between 2015 and 2018

BackgroundAn adequate nutritional status in patients with cystic fibrosis correlates with higher survival and better pulmonary function. Body mass index (BMI) is an anthropometric indicator with independent association with pulmonary function, and it can hide alterations of nutritional status in cystic fibrosis. ObjectiveTo determine the relationship of lung function with BMI and body composition parameters in children with cystic fibrosis in a Hight Complexity institution between 2015 and 2018. Materials and methodsIt was an observational study with analytical, cross-sectional, and retrospective scope, including 33 patients between 5 and 17 years old. Spearman's test was applied to evaluate correlation of FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in first second) with BMI and five body composition parameters by bioelectrical impedance using InbodyS10 equipment. Statistical significance was considered with p < 0.05. ResultsPositive correlation was obtained between FEV1 and appendicular skeletal muscle mass between lung function and percentage of fat-free mass (p = 0.006) and phase angle (p = 0.001). Percent fat mass had a negative correlation with FEV1 (p = 0.007). BMI and fat free mass index did not correlate with lung function (p = 0.085). ConclusionsAppendicular skeletal muscle mass correlated better than BMI with lung function in children with cystic fibrosis. It is recommended to perform anthropometric follow-up by BMI complemented with body composition study in children with cystic fibrosis. Analyses with larger populations are required to standardize its use.

Принципы преобразования механизма государственных закупок и их применение в Российской Федерации

The research is devoted to the identification, identification and study of the principles of transformation of the public procurement mechanism in modern Russian practice under the influence of current public demands and systemwide challenges. The empirical base of the study is based on the previously obtained results of the study of the functioning of the sphere of public procurement, implemented on the basis of the federal law No. 44-FZ "On the Contract System in the Field of procurement of goods, Works, services for State and Municipal Needs", their place in the state economic Mechanism and quantitative indicators of their impact on achieving the goals of state economic policy. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the differentiation and characterization of various groups of framework restrictions that affect the functioning and transformation of the mechanism of public procurement, as well as determining the directions of functional relationships between these groups. A component of the scientific novelty of the study is also the formulation of the rules (principles) recommended by the author for the transformation of the public procurement mechanism with their subject-descriptive justification and the formation of a systematic representation of their application in relation to the process of sequential transformation of the public procurement mechanism. The scientific contribution of the author to the study of the processes of improvement of the modern sphere of public procurement consists in the application of the method of formal logic in relation to the identification of objective grounds for the constant transformation of the mechanism of public procurement and its sequential transition from one state to another. The result of the study was the author's recommendations on the practical application of the principles of transformation of the public procurement mechanism in order to improve the scope of public procurement activities and increase the effectiveness in achieving the goals of state economic policy through public procurement.

De novo GRIN variants in M3 helix associated with neurological disorders control channel gating of NMDA receptor

N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are members of the glutamate receptor family and participate in excitatory postsynaptic transmission throughout the central nervous system. Genetic variants in GRIN genes encoding NMDAR subunits are associated with a spectrum of neurological disorders. The M3 transmembrane helices of the NMDAR couple directly to the agonist-binding domains and form a helical bundle crossing in the closed receptors that occludes the pore. The M3 functions as a transduction element whose conformational change couples ligand binding to opening of an ion conducting pore. In this study, we report the functional consequences of 48 de novo missense variants in GRIN1, GRIN2A, and GRIN2B that alter residues in the M3 transmembrane helix. These de novo variants were identified in children with neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders including epilepsy, developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. All 48 variants in M3 for which comprehensive testing was completed produce a gain-of-function (28/48) compared to loss-of-function (9/48); 11 variants had an indeterminant phenotype. This supports the idea that a key structural feature of the M3 gate exists to stabilize the closed state so that agonist binding can drive channel opening. Given that most M3 variants enhance channel gating, we assessed the potency of FDA-approved NMDAR channel blockers on these variant receptors. These data provide new insight into the structure–function relationship of the NMDAR gate, and suggest that variants within the M3 transmembrane helix produce a gain-of-function.

Analysis method of explosive electromagnetic radiation energy

AbstractThe energy of electromagnetic radiation from explosions is coupled to electronic equipment circuits, disrupting the initiation sequence or causing failure in an increasing number of cases, which seriously affects the stability of weapon systems. There is a significant difference between the characteristics of the explosive electromagnetic radiation signals and modulated electromagnetic signals. The electric field intensity and signal power cannot directly represent the magnitude of the explosive electromagnetic radiation energy, and traditional electromagnetic signal analysis methods are unsuitable for explosion electromagnetic signal analysis. To solve this problem, the mechanism of explosive electromagnetic radiation was first analyzed. Through verification experiments of the explosion electromagnetic intensity and temperature, it was concluded that there is a strong correlation between the explosion plasma temperature and electromagnetic intensity. The temperature of the explosive plasma is derived based on the measured surface temperature of the explosive fireball, a functional relationship is established between the energy of the explosive plasma and the temperature of the plasma, and plasma energy is introduced as a parameter for electric field intensity correction. The interference signal analysis method based on eye diagram is used to calibrate the electromagnetic radiation damage ability, achieving quantitative analysis of the interference degree of electromagnetic radiation energy on the signal, and providing a new approach for the analysis of explosive electromagnetic radiation energy.

Multi-Trophic Species Diversity Contributes to the Restoration of Soil Multifunctionality in Degraded Karst Forests through Cascading Effects

The biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) relationship is the basis for studying the restoration of degraded ecosystems, and the simultaneous assessment of multi-trophic-level biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality relationship is more conducive to unravelling the restoration mechanism of degraded ecosystems, especially for degraded forest ecosystems with harsh habitats and infertile soils such as karst. In this study, we evaluated the biodiversity and soil multifunctionality (SMF) of degraded karst forests (scrub, SB; secondary growth forests, SG; old-growth forests, OG) in the Maolan National Nature Reserve, China, using 30 sample plots. Biodiversity and soil multifunctionality (SMF) at three trophic levels (plant–soil fauna–soil microorganisms), were assessed through vegetation surveys and soil sampling. One-way ANOVA showed that SMF increased with natural restoration, but multi-trophic level biodiversity showed different trends. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between plant species diversity and SMF (p &lt; 0.001), whereas soil fauna and soil microorganisms were negatively correlated with SMF. Structural equation modeling revealed a cascading effect of the multi-trophic level on the stimulation of the SMF during restoration. Only soil microorganisms exhibited a direct driving effect on SMF (p &lt; 0.001), whereas plants indirectly influenced soil microorganisms through soil fauna, which subsequently affected the SMF. Although we observed the negative effects of increased plant diversity on soil fauna and soil microbial diversity in terms of quantitative relationships, the increase in soil fauna species and the evenness of soil microbial function still contributed to SMF restoration. This study revealed the cascading effects of multi-trophic diversity in promoting SMF restoration and emphasized that soil microbes are key to unraveling restoration mechanisms and processes, whereas soil fauna is an important intermediate link.