Higher Average Rate Research Articles

Efficient face anti-spoofing identifier network (FASIN) with depth and near infrared deep learning methods

Face anti-spoofing (FAS) is a crucial task in the field of face recognition practices, which aims to detect and prevent attempts to spoof/attack a facial recognition system using fake or manipulated images. In this work, we aimed to develop a novel Face Anti-Spoofing Identifier Network (FASIN) with Depth and Near Infrared (NIR) embeddings, trained on multi modalities using multi stream Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The proposed FASIN model is capable of processing RGB, Depth, and NIR images to extract discriminative features and effectively distinguish between genuine and fake faces. The depth maps and the near infrared (NIR) images are acquired from RGB images by constructing the depth map construction network (DMCN) and near infrared construction network (NIRCN) respectively. The FASIN model comprises three sub-networks: one for processing RGB images, a second for processing depth images, and the other sub-network for processing NIR images. All the sub-networks consist of multiple CNN layers, which extract features at different scales and levels of abstraction. The inherent noise and other variables may reduce the efficacy of CNN, the wavelet spatial attention mechanism has been proposed to support the RGB CNN stream and it is named wavelet attention CNN (WA-CNN). The extracted features are then concatenated using a multi modal feature fusion module to obtain a robust feature representation that is used to classify real and fake faces. An ensemble learning mechanism has been attached to the model to learn the concatenated features effectively. Experimental results obtained on four benchmark datasets (namely, CelebA-Spoof, CASIA-SURF, WMCA, and MSU-MFSD) demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed FASIN model collated with the state-of-the-art methods. The proposed FASIN model achieves high accuracy and low average classification error rates (ACER), indicating its potential for real-world applications in face anti spoofing identification systems.

Especially Spreading of Cestodes Avitellina centripunctata (Rivota, 1874) in Sheep Kept on Flat Territories of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

In the article was considered the especially of avitellinosis spreading in sheep kept in the flat territories of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Studying the dynamics of avitellinosis in the mentioned territories, it is established that sheep are infected with helminths almost during the whole pasture season. Avitellinoses are intestinal helminthic diseases that cause huge economic damage to farm animals; the productivity of adult animals is reduced, there is a significant waste of young animals.In 2018-2019, the distribution of Avitellina centripunctata species was studied in Sadarak and Sharur districts using carpological and helminthological autopsy methods of sheep small intestine. The highest infestation of Avitellina centripunctata was observed in sheep over a year old during autumn period. In lambs, avitellinae appear in May-June. Infection with avitellinosis of animals kept in farms of two districts was rather high (average infection rate 42.5%). During the research it was found that more young animals are infected with avitellina in spring and older animals in autumn. As a result of the conducted studies, it was found that infection of animals kept in lowlands of Nakhchivan AR and not transferred to mountain pastures with avitellinosis is quite high.

Triggering Catalyst-Mediated Electron Transfer for Enhanced Ion Separation in Redox-Flow Battery Desalination System

Redox-flow battery desalination (FBD), an emerging electro-membrane separation technology, has garnered considerable attention due to its advantages such as continuous operation, low energy consumption, and relatively high average salt removal rate. FBD systems consist of current collectors, redox-flow electrolyte, and ion-exchange membranes (IEM) arranged in a 4-chamber structure. During operation, electron currents from the current collectors are converted into ion currents via the redox reaction of redox-active couples, such as Fe(CN)6 3− and Fe(CN)6 4−. Consequently, the ion current transported through the IEM leads to the production of diluted stream and concentrated stream in the dilute chamber and concentrate chamber, respectively.To optimize the performance of the FBD system, enhancing the efficiency of the redox reaction is crucial. The reaction mechanism involves three steps. Taking oxidation as an example, the first step entails the transfer of Fe(CN)6 4− from the bulk solution to the surface of the current collector. Subsequently, Fe(CN)6 4− undergoes electron transfer to the electrode, forming Fe(CN)6 3−. The third step is the diffusion of Fe(CN)6 3− into the bulk solution. To shorten the path of redox couple and enhance the transportation of electron current, studies have attempted to use conductive electrode in FBD system, such as graphite felt and electrospun carbon fiber. However, limited attention has been given to the electrochemical reaction kinetics between redox couples. Hence, there is an opportunity to focus on catalyzing the redox reaction within FBD systems.In this study, the FBD system performance were enhanced by incorporating an electrocatalyst. Nickel oxide (NiO) was chosen as the electrocatalyst and coated onto the graphite felt electrode (GF) through a hydrothermal method, resulting in the formation of the NiO-GF electrode. Electrochemical characterization conducted in Fe(CN)6 3−/4− electrolyte revealed that the NiO-GF electrode exhibited a smaller semicircle in EIS spectra and higher corresponding current in the CV loop, compared to the GF electrode. These results suggest that the NiO-GF electrode can effectively serve as a catalyst-mediated electrode in FBD process. Further investigations will be conducted to assess its performance in the FBD process, with a focus on its potential applications in high water recovery. Figure 1

Prevention and Control of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI): A Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Project.

This patient safety and quality improvement report outlines the successful reduction of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) through a comprehensive interdisciplinary team approach. It emphasizes the implementation of best practices and the involvement of both patients and their families in catheter care. The project was conducted at Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City, the largest rehabilitation facility in the Middle East, with 511 beds and over 20 inpatient units. The primary objective of this project was to assess gaps in current CAUTI prevention practices and implement effective strategies to reduce infection rates. By adopting quality improvement methodologies from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the Deming Four-Stage Cycle, the aim was to prevent CAUTIs and improve patient safety and clinical outcomes. Urinary catheters, commonly used for patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction and sacral deep pressure injuries, posed a high risk of infection, with a daily infection risk of 3-7%. Despite available preventive measures, the facility experienced a high average CAUTI rate of 1.28/1000 catheter daysfrom 2021 to mid-2023. This project involved the systematic identification of gaps, the adoption of evidence-based practices, and the engagement of healthcare staff, patients, and families in rigorous CAUTI prevention efforts. The project resulted in a significant reduction in the CAUTI rate, decreasing from 1.28 infections per 1000 catheter days pre-intervention to 0.42 infections per 1000 catheter days post-intervention. This improvement highlights the effectiveness of collaborative efforts and evidence-based interventions in controlling and preventing CAUTIs. The findings of this project demonstrate that CAUTI prevention is achievable through a coordinated approach involving healthcare providers, strong evidence-based interventions, and the active participation of patients and families. This collaborative model led to better patient safety outcomes and significantly reduced CAUTI rates, showing the importance of comprehensive care strategies in mitigating preventable patient harm.

Community attitudes toward tourism and quality of life: a case study of Palangan village, Iran

Community perception is essential for influencing the physical, social, and environmental growth of a region and is key to achieving a high Quality of Life (QOL). Tourism serves as a common means of introducing outsiders to the area where the community lives. Embracing tourism in remote locations like small towns or rural areas can be difficult, and the success of tourism hinges on community attitudes towards it. The community's engagement and approval of tourism are dependent on the benefits such as how tourism improves their QOL in both the short. Therefore, this study aims to explore the local community's perceptions on how tourism influences various aspects of QOL. A survey of 160 households in Palangan Village was conducted to collect primary data, using a conceptual model with 16 indices to evaluate QOL. The findings indicate that the local community generally has a positive perception of the effects of tourism, especially on key QOL components. Civic and generative well-being are considered more significant than other aspects of QOL. Analysis of the data reveals differences in perception across the 16 QOL indices. The highest average ratings were for institutional participation (3.476), quality of employment (3.456), and individual capability (3.203), while the lowest ratings were for standard of living (1.883), social solidarity (2.289), and environmental resource quality (2.725). For instance, the institutional participation index received an average response rating of 3.476. Additionally, the dispersion coefficient index highlighted notable variations in perception, particularly for satisfaction with living conditions (0.488) and standard of living (0.488). Conversely, employment quality (0.360), institutional cooperation (0.385), and freedom of choice had the lowest dispersion coefficients (0.386). Other indices showed moderate levels of dispersion and distribution of perception. In conclusion, these results underscore the significance of community perception in tourism development and its affect on QOL. They also underscore the importance of strategic planning and balanced development to ensure that all aspects of QOL benefit from the expanding tourism sector, leading to a more sustainable and harmonious community.

Effective zero-shot learning method for event classification in Φ-OTDR sensing systems

Despite various Φ-OTDR intrusion event recognition methods having achieved high average accuracy rates (over 90%), these methods usually rely on a large amount of training sample data (80% of the data). When faced with certain intrusion events that are difficult to simulate or have few samples available, the model tends to overfit common types of intrusion events. To address this issue, this paper proposes a zero-sample learning one-dimensional residual model based on attribute point loss (APL-ZSL-1DResNet) to recognize one-dimensional intrusion event signals when training samples are insufficient. The proposed method is validated on two datasets, including a self-made dataset and an open dataset. In the experiments, each category of samples was set as zero-sample intrusion events, achieving an average recall rate of 75% and 66% respectively for zero-sample events, and an average recall rate of 94.6% and 83.5% respectively for common intrusion events.

Unusual cobalt behaviors and enrichment in cobalt-rich crust from the Magellan seamounts in the Western Pacific

Marine cobalt-rich (Co-rich) crusts are submarine critical metal resources with high economic value. In this study, detailed in-situ fine-scale morphological, mineralogical, and geochemical analyses were conducted on Co-rich crust from the Western Pacific. The Co-rich crust can be divided into three layers: (1) Layer 1 is the oldest anthracite layer and contacts with the substrate, showing a very dense laminated/columnar texture. Layer 1 can be further divided into two distinct sublayers: a lower black, massive, dense sublayer (Layer 1–1) and an upper black-to-brown sublayer (Layer 1–2). (2) Layer 2 is porous and locally vuggy, and its pore space is filled with a large amount of silicate detrital minerals and clay minerals. (3) Layer 3, on the top, is black and dense, with a dendritic, columnar/laminated texture. Co is very unevenly distributed throughout the whole crust, with three distinct Co-rich areas. Layer 3 is a typical hydrogenetic crust and has not undergone late alteration. The main processes for Co enrichment are specific adsorption-oxidation on Mn-oxides and the structural incorporation of Co3+ into Mn-oxide phases. The average Co content of the Layer 3 is much higher than that of the other two layers. The presence of abundant detrital and clay minerals, along with high levels of Al, Si, and Ti in Layer 2, indicates the incorporation of terrigenous material, resulting in a high average growth rate. However, these processes are not conducive to Co enrichment. In the phosphatized Layer 1, fluctuations in element content are significantly greater than in the upper, non-phosphatized layers. Phosphatization has resulted in the partial decomposition of the initial Co-rich micro-layers, which may have reactivated and migrated Co, contributing to secondary Co enrichment.

Мониторинг развития Дуплетного объекта взрыва газа С22 на полуострове Ямал по данным дистанционного зондирования Земли

The paper presents a comprehensive study of the C22 gas blowout Doublet object formed in 2023 in the central part of Yamal peninsula carried out with the use of remote sensing (RS) data and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The object is situated 12.7 km south of the Bovanenkovo field. The uniqueness of the C22 crater lies in its location — 230 m from a similar, widely-known C2 object exploded in 2012, which is why the C22 object is named ‘Doublet’. Based on RS data the researchers have determined that within August 23 and September 3, 2023 the C22 permafrost heaving mound (PHM) exploded. According to ArcticDEM data for the period 2011-2023, the features of changes in the size of C22 PHM have been studied, including an abnormally high average growth rate of 44 cm/year three years before its explosion, which can serve as one of the criteria for identifying explosive PHM objects. The UAV data of May 14, 2024 has resulted in building a 3D model, which displays a partially snow-covered cavity in a ground ice massif. The depth of the cavity from the crater parapet is at least 28.5 m, the diameter of the crater neck is about 13 m. In the lower part, the cavity widens to 26 m and additionally extends by at least 8 m in the NNW direction at an azimuth of about 341°, which is consistent with the direction of the faults of the Bovanenkovo field identified by seismic exploration data. The bottom of the cavity has an elliptical shape with the size from 26×33 m to 26×41 m. The study is interdisciplinary and is included in the list of critical technologies for the prevention and reduction of risks of natural and man-made emergencies.

Modeling a High-Energy, High-Rate Li/CFx Battery with a Capacity-Contributing Electrolyte

The Li/CFx primary cell has the highest specific energy of any commercialized cell, but recent funding programs (e.g., the IARPA RESILIENCE program) seek significant increases in performance beyond that achieved with current cell formulations, including both higher average rates than are typical for Li/CFx (e.g., C/3 for the RESILIENCE program) and high-rate pulses (e.g., 5C/3, also for the RESILIENCE program).1 One method to raise the specific energy beyond that of current commercial cells is to also obtain capacity from the electrolyte (i.e., to use a capacity-contributing electrolyte).2,3 This should occur after the CFx has been mostly consumed. The present talk will briefly introduce experimental results demonstrating the operation of a capacity-contributing electrolyte in a Li/CFx cell, and then focus on our 0-D modeling framework that includes three reactants (CFx, salt, and solvent), a cathode that undergoes volume expansion during discharge (based on the molar volumes of the reactants and products), and the growth of resistive electrolyte products.4 Our base case cell design is for a ~750 Wh/kg cell. We demonstrate the behavior of our model formulation for a C/3 average rate with two 5C/3 one-minute pulses (one at 99% and one at 20% SOC, based on the capacity of the CFx and capacity-contributing electrolyte). We find that there is significant cathode swell during discharge (i.e., 10s of %) that affects the cell polarization, and the electrochemical behavior of the 20% SOC pulse is highly dependent on the thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport properties of the salt and solvent reactants and products. Our modeling framework can be applied to additional chemistries with multiple active materials, significant electrode thickness changes, and resistive electrolyte products.1. https://www.iarpa.gov/research-programs/resilience2. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 19, 6874–68773. Adv. Mater., 2015, 27, 3473–34834. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 158 (5) A504-A510 (2011)

Routine Data Analysis of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Use and Rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections Since Coverage of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis by the Statutory Health Insurance in Germany

Human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is considered as an effective protection against a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, it is still unclear, how PrEP use is associated with the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) other than HIV. PrEP became reimbursable in Germany from September 1, 2019 for persons with statutory health insurance (SHI). With the EvE-PrEP study, the Federal Ministry of Health commissioned the evaluation of the effects of the new reimbursement situation in Germany. In the presented module of the EvE-PrEP study, routine data from three large German SHI funds were analyzed in anonymized form for the period January 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. Data were analyzed regarding: Characteristics and adherence of PrEP users, treatment success of PrEP, and changes in STI incidence rates before and since PrEP use. The cooperating SHI funds collectively covered about 52% of the overall population in Germany in 2019. A total of 7102 persons with PrEP use were included into the analysis. These were predominantly male (99%), on average 37.4 years old and a high proportion of persons lived in large cities. The average quotient of PrEP daily defined doses and assumed days on PrEP was 87%. The average STI rates normalized per 100 person-years at individual level pre PrEP did not statistically significant differ compared to since PrEP (chlamydia: 17.5 vs. 17.6, gonococcal infection: 29.1 vs. 30.7, and syphilis: 14.6 vs.13.6). A large data set was used to evaluate the introduction of PrEP as a SHI benefit in Germany. A potentially suspected increase in bacterial STI incidence rates was not found. A rather high average adherence rate was observed. The very high proportion of men and people from the largest German cities among PrEP users is striking. These results could indicate barriers to PrEP access for people at risk of HIV, especially if they are women or people living in less urban areas.

Thermotunable mid-infrared metamaterial absorption material based on combined hollow cylindrical VO2 structure

We have designed a metamaterial absorption material based on the VO2 phase transition effect. The aim is to realize thermally tunable broadband absorption in the mid-infrared band. The metamaterial absorption material is a three-layer structure. From top to bottom, the combined hollow cylindrical VO2 resonant layer, the SiO2 dielectric layer and the Ti substrate. In this work, we perform numerical simulations using the three-dimensional time-domain finite element difference method. The simulation shows that the absorption material's average absorption intensity is adjustable by temperature between 0.09 and 0.95. At a temperature of 342 K, the absorption material has an absorption bandwidth of 17.3 μm (6.43 μm to 23.73 μm) with an absorption rate above 90%. And the average absorption in this band range is 94.95%. And this band covers the wavelength of the atmospheric transparency window (8 μm∼14 μm), which suggests that our absorption material has great application prospects. In this work, we first analyze the electromagnetic field at the absorption material's resonant wavelength and explain the absorption material's absorption mechanism. Then, we investigated the absorption effect of the absorption material under the VO2 structure with different temperatures. And we explain temperature's effect on the absorption material's absorption effect by analyzing the electric field's change on the absorption material's surface at different temperatures for the same wavelength. The effect of the absorption material structural parameters on the absorption material absorption performance to determine the optimal structural parameters was then investigated. Finally, we investigate the absorption curves of the absorption material under different columnar VO2 layers and demonstrate the innovative and unique nature of the designed absorption material. The absorption material we designed has a simple structure and is easy to configure. And the absorption material has high average absorption rate and a wide absorption bandwidth. We therefore believe that the metamaterial absorption material has great application prospects in optoelectronic detection, infrared imaging and infrared stealth.

High average power and high repetition rate eye-safe Raman laser driven by a two-crystal Nd:YVO4 laser.

We report on a high average power and high repetition rate nanosecond pulsed eye-safe KGW Raman laser intracavity driven by an acousto-optic Q-switched 1342 nm two-crystal Nd:YVO4 laser. Taking advantages of the carefully selected two-composite-laser-crystal configuration, the thoroughly optimized gate-open time of acousto-optic modulator and the ingeniously designed U-shaped resonator, substantial power and efficiency enhancements as well as superior mode matching have been enabled. Under the injected pump power of 64.5 W, the average output powers of the first-Stokes fields at 1496 and 1527 nm can be up to 8.1 and 9.5 W with 25 kHz repetition rate and 3.2 µs gate-open time, respectively, corresponding to the optical power conversion efficiencies of 12.6% and 14.7%. Meantime, the resultant pulse widths are determined to be 4.6 and 6.3 ns with the peak powers of approximately 70 and 60 kW, respectively. The beam quality can be maintained with M2 < 1.5 across the entire output power range.

RELIGIOUS IMPLICATORS OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S SENSE OF SECURITY

ABSTRACT: Aim: The aim of the study was to capture the relationship between the subjective sense of security and the religiosity of youth. The goal was to identify those areas of the sense of security that correlate with elements constituting the sense of security and to capture differences between the genders of the participants. Methods: The study used Z. Uchnast's Security Feeling Questionnaire and R. Jaworski's Personal Religiosity Scale. A total of 112 individuals aged 19 to 28 participated in the study. Statistical analyses were conducted using Statistica software, employing non-parametric tests due to the non-normality of distributions. Results: The highest average ratings by participants concerned the sense of closeness (M=2,56), while stability (M=1,99) and trust (M=2,03) were rated lower. Gender analysis showed significant differences, with women rating their overall sense of security higher than men. Overall religiosity showed low but statistically significant correlations with self-trust and other dimensions of security, indicating positive associations with higher levels of religious engagement. Conclusion: Religiosity may serve a supportive role in building a sense of security, particularly through aspects of trust and closeness in interpersonal relationships. Further research is needed to better understand these mechanisms and to explore how other demographic variables may influence these relationships. Oryginality: Dynamic changes in postmodernism, introducing chaos into the lives of young people, imply a sense of threat. Therefore, it is important to periodically conduct studies monitoring the state of personal religiosity, which is strongly stigmatized today yet simultaneously constitutes a positive predictor of the sense of security. The originality of the article is indicated by the results of scientific research and the conclusions drawn from them. Keywords: security, sense of security, closeness, stability, trust, religiosity, personal religiosity, impersonal religiosity, faith, morality.

Corporate tax, R&amp;D and export decisions: Evidence from European firms

AbstractThe paper presents a unified framework for analyzing the impact of corporate taxation on R&amp;D and exporting, considering firm productivity heterogeneity and sunk costs. We empirically examine three hypotheses using data from 7819 European firms spanning 2001–2014. We propose that: (a) an increase in corporate tax reduces the likelihood of innovation, (b) an increase in corporate tax reduces the likelihood of exporting, and (c) firms that innovate are more likely to enter foreign markets. On average, a high Effective Average Tax Rate (EATR) lowers the probability of investing in R&amp;D and exporting by 2.3% and 1.41%, respectively. For firms with low Total Factor Productivity (TFP), the adverse effect of taxation on R&amp;D investment ranges from 3.71% in our baseline analysis to 12.9% in our sensitivity analysis. Interestingly, while EATR positively influences the export decisions of high‐TFP firms, a higher EATR can reduce the export probability by up to 25.5% for firms at the lower end of the TFP distribution. Our findings demonstrate a causal relationship between firm heterogeneity and their capacity to mitigate the distortions caused by higher taxes. From a policy perspective, our results suggest that fostering innovation is essential for firms aiming to expand into international markets.

Fast, Efficient Tailoring Growth of Nanocrystalline Diamond Films by Fine-Tuning of Gas-Phase Composition Using Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition.

Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films are attractive for many applications due to their smooth surfaces while holding the properties of diamond. However, their growth rate is generally low using common Ar/CH4 with or without H2 chemistry and strongly dependent on the overall growth conditions using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD). In this work, incorporating a small amount of N2 and O2 additives into CH4/H2 chemistry offered a much higher growth rate of NCD films, which is promising for some applications. Several novel series of experiments were designed and conducted to tailor the growth features of NCD films by fine-tuning of the gas-phase compositions with different amounts of nitrogen and oxygen addition into CH4/H2 gas mixtures. The influence of growth parameters, such as the absolute amount and their relative ratios of O2 and N2 additives; substrate temperature, which was adjusted by two ways and inferred by simulation; and microwave power on NCD formation, was investigated. Short and long deposition runs were carried out to study surface structural evolution with time under identical growth conditions. The morphology, crystalline and optical quality, orientation, and texture of the NCD samples were characterized and analyzed. A variety of NCD films of high average growth rates ranging from 2.1 μm/h up to 6.7 μm/h were successfully achieved by slightly adjusting the O2/CH4 amounts from 6.25% to 18.75%, while that of N2 was kept constant. The results clearly show that the beneficial use of fine-tuning of gas-phase compositions offers a simple and effective way to tailor the growth characteristics and physical properties of NCD films for optimizing the growth conditions to envisage some specific applications.

A Comparative Analysis of Acute Physiological and Perceptual Responses in Whole-Body and Ergometer-Based High-Intensity Interval Training Protocols.

The primary aim of the present investigation was to compare the acute physiological and perceptual responses between two modes of interval training using a randomized crossover design. More specifically, eleven young adult participants (23 ± 4 years, 77 ± 13 kg, 178 ± 7 cm) performed two protocols: one composed of whole-body calisthenics exercises and another on a cycle ergometer. Both protocols encompassed eight 20 s bouts at intensities equivalent to all-out (HIIT-WB) and 170% of the maximal power output (HIIT-C), respectively, interspersed with 10 s of passive rest. The peak and average heart rate, the rating of perceived effort, and blood lactate, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase concentrations were measured. Aside from blood lactate (HIIT-WB = 9.4 ± 1.8 mmo/L; HIIT-C = 12.5 ± 2.5 mmol/L, p < 0.05) and the rating of perceived exertion (HIIT-WB = 8.8 ± 0.9; HIIT-C = 9.6 ± 0.5, p < 0.05), physiological responses did not significantly differ between protocols (all p > 0.05), with high average heart rate values (HIIT-WB = 86 ± 6% HRmax; HIIT-C = 87 ± 4% HRmax) and a low magnitude of muscle damage, as inferred by CK and LDH concentrations (HIIT-WB = 205.9 ± 56.3 and 203.5 ± 72.4 U/L; HIIT-C = 234.5 ± 77.1 and 155.1 ± 65.3 U/L), respectively. It can be concluded that both protocols elicit vigorous heart rate responses and a low magnitude of muscle damage and, therefore, appear as viable alternatives to improve aerobic fitness. The inclusion of a whole-body HIIT protocol may be an interesting alternative for training prescription in relation to more common interval training protocols.

High stability of carbonate weathering relevant carbon sink under biological pump effect in inland waters: Insights from Shawan Karst Experimental Site, Southwest China

The dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) produced by carbonate weathering may be lost by degassing or be biologically fixed as it transports from inland water to the ocean. Knowledge of DIC stability under these two processes in surface water systems is crucial for evaluating the role of carbonate weathering in the global carbon cycle. Here, we evaluated the net ecosystem productivity of aquatic ecosystems (NEPs), water‒air CO2 exchange fluxes (FCO2), and Carbon budgets (Carbonbudget=(TOCoutput+0.5DICoutput)−(TOCinput+0.5DICinput)) in five simulated spring-pond systems controlled by carbonate weathering and different land uses. Using these parameters and the unique structure of our simulation site, the stability of the carbonate weathering-driven carbon sink (DIC) in surface water was discussed. The results showed that the NEP and FCO2 of the study site presented significant negative relationships and were mainly controlled by aquatic ecosystem metabolisms than abiotic processes. Most aquatic ecosystems in our study site were autotrophic (NEP>0) due to the strong biological carbon pump effect (BCP) induced by carbonate weathering. Moreover, the DIC input enhanced the FCO2 in the warm season. The intensive BCP enhanced both CO2 release and atmospheric CO2 invasion. Moreover, we found that the stability of DIC was positively related to DIC input, which can be influenced by BCP and human land use. After considering the net changes in Carbon budget through the groundwater-surface water systems, a high average carbon stabilization rate (CSR) of approximately 103.7% of carbonate weathering carbon sink was found in our study site. This indicated that BCP could retain most of the DIC that was driven by carbonate weathering. Therefore, due to the high stability of the carbonate weathering carbon sink under the BCP, we stress that it should be considered a significant carbon sink in the global carbon cycle.

Effects of a diverse prebiotic fibre supplement on HbA1c, insulin sensitivity and inflammatory biomarkers in pre-diabetes: a pilot placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial.

Prebiotic fibre represents a promising and efficacious treatment to manage pre-diabetes, acting via complementary pathways involving the gut microbiome and viscosity-related properties. In this study, we evaluated the effect of using a diverse prebiotic fibre supplement on glycaemic, lipid and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with pre-diabetes. Sixty-six patients diagnosed with pre-diabetes (yet not receiving glucose-lowering medications) were randomised into treatment (thirty-three) and placebo (thirty-three) interventions. Participants in the treatment arm consumed 20 g/d of a diverse prebiotic fibre supplement, and participants in the placebo arm consumed 2 g/d of cellulose for 24 weeks. A total of fifty-one and forty-eight participants completed the week 16 and week 24 visits, respectively. The intervention was well tolerated, with a high average adherence rate across groups. Our results extend upon previous work, showing a significant change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in the treatment group but only in participants with lower baseline HbA1c levels (< 6 % HbA1c) (P = 0·05; treatment -0·17 ± 0·27 v. placebo 0·07 ± 0·29, mean ± sd). Within the whole cohort, we showed significant improvements in insulin sensitivity (P = 0·03; treatment 1·62 ± 5·79 v. placebo -0·77 ± 2·11) and C-reactive protein (P FWE = 0·03; treatment -2·02 ± 6·42 v. placebo 0·94 ± 2·28) in the treatment group compared with the placebo. Together, our results support the use of a diverse prebiotic fibre supplement for physiologically relevant biomarkers in pre-diabetes.

Does old-age security promote rural residents' consumption? A decomposition based on contribution and replacement rates

Vulnerable groups have low income and face borrowing constraints. What is the effect of pension security on lifelong consumption? Since 2011, China has been piloting old-age security among rural residents, which provides opportunities to study this issue. We numerically simulate the impact of old-age security on rural residents' consumption based on the overlapping generations framework and empirically test the findings. The empirical results show that pension security increases per capita expenditure during the working and retirement periods by 2.04% and 0.91%, respectively. The current excessively high average payment rate (exceeding the numerical simulation threshold of 0.1) has a negative moderating effect on the two consumption periods. The replacement rate, which primarily exhibiting a wealth effect, positively moderates consumption in both periods. Our research has theoretical and practical implications for optimizing social security and promoting welfare among low-income groups.

Engineering Magnetic Nanoclusters for Highly Efficient Heating in Radio-Frequency Nanowarming.

Effective thawing of cryopreserved samples requires rapid and uniform heating. This is achievable through nanowarming, an approach that heats magnetic nanoparticles by using alternating magnetic fields. Here we demonstrate the synthesis and surface modification of magnetic nanoclusters for efficient nanowarming. Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoclusters with an optimal diameter of 58 nm exhibit a high specific absorption rate of 1499 W/g Fe under an alternating magnetic field at 43 kA/m and 413 kHz, more than twice that of commercial iron oxide cores used in prior nanowarming studies. Surface modification with a permeable resorcinol-formaldehyde resin (RFR) polymer layer significantly enhances their colloidal stability in complex cryoprotective solutions, while maintaining their excellent heating capacity. The Fe3O4@RFR nanoparticles achieved a high average heating rate of 175 °C/min in cryopreserved samples at a concentration of 10 mg Fe/mL and were successfully applied in nanowarming porcine iliac arteries, highlighting their potential for enhancing the efficacy of cryopreservation.