OM Type Research Articles

Efficacy of Amorolfine in Onychomycosis Treatment: A Mixed‐Effects Models and Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis

ABSTRACTBackgroundOnychomycosis (OM) is a common nail infection treated with amorolfine hydrochloride nail lacquer in China. Monitoring drug concentrations and using dermoscopy to evaluate treatment efficacy may provide new insights.ObjectiveThe study aims to analyse amorolfine concentrations in nails with mild to moderate OM, assess treatment outcomes using dermoscopy and explore factors influencing drug concentrations and efficacy.MethodsPatients with mild to moderate OM confirmed by fungal microscopy were enrolled. Amorolfine nail lacquer was applied twice weekly for 36 weeks. Monthly nail samples measured amorolfine concentrations using liquid chromatography. Dermoscopy was performed before and after treatment to evaluate responses. Mixed‐effects models and logistic regression analysed factors affecting drug concentrations and outcomes.ResultsNinety‐seven nails were included. Amorolfine concentrations increased over time, with higher levels in females, fingernails, 2nd–5th digits and superficial white OM (p < 0.05). Age was a risk factor, while drug concentration and OM type were protective for clinical efficacy (p < 0.05). Peak concentration correlated with clinical (r = 0.487, p = 0.000) and mycological (r = 0.433, p = 0.000) responses. Dermoscopic features improved significantly in successful cases (p < 0.05).LimitationsIn the assessment of fungal efficacy, only fungal microscopy was used, and fungal cultures were not performed. The study was limited by a small sample size and the lack of a longer follow‐up to assess relapse.ConclusionAmorolfine concentrations vary with patient and nail characteristics, influencing efficacy. Dermoscopy is valuable for monitoring OM treatment.

Organic matter type and soil texture shape prokaryotic communities during early‐stage soil structure formation

AbstractBackgroundOrganic matter (OM) serves as substrate for heterotrophic microbial growth. Soil structure supports microbial life by providing various niches for colonization. Microorganisms in turn contribute to soil structure formation.AimsWe aim to understand how OM of different origin and soil texture affect prokaryotic community structure and the implications on early‐stage soil structure formation.MethodsAn artificial soil incubation experiment was conducted with different types of OM, including bacterial necromass and particulate organic matter (POM) of larger or smaller size (sPOM). The mineral composition was modified to obtain a clay loam, loam, and sandy loam texture. The abundance and composition of a natural microbial inoculum were determined after 30 days of incubation by real‐time PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, respectively.ResultsThe different OM types had a stronger effect on the prokaryotic community structure and abundance than texture. The necromass treatment supported the most distinct prokaryotic community with the highest abundance and lowest diversity, as well as the most intense formation of water‐stable microaggregates in comparison to POM and sPOM treatments. Abundant bacterial taxa in all treatments are known to include extracellular polymeric substance producers, indicating that functional redundancy warrants aggregation by gluing agents. Texture‐related effects were most consistent in the POM treatment, where larger prokaryotic populations were observed in the coarser‐textured soils with fewer but larger soil pores and lower soil water content.ConclusionsDifferences in prokaryotic community structure and abundance due to OM source indicate that aggregation is dependent on different ecological strategists, a POM‐degrading population that promotes aggregation and contributes to necromass formation, and a necromass‐degrading consortium in which bacteria play a major role.

Differences of marine and transitional shales in the case of dominant pore types and exploration strategies, in China

Whether exploration practices of marine shale can be applied to transitional shale remain unclear. To address this issue, it is first necessary to clarify similarities and differences in dominant pore types between the two shales. In this paper, samples were selected from Lower Silurian marine shale and Upper Permian transitional shale, in China. Methods utilized include organic geochemistry, X-ray diffraction, physical property tests and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that marine shale and transitional shale were similar in OM abundances and thermal maturities, but were different in OM types, mineral components and pore properties. Further, facilitated by image statistics, OM-hosted pores (OMPs) and mineral-hosted pores (MPs) were separated and quantified between the two shales. In particular, more than 90% of pores were OMPs in OM-rich/medium lithofacies of marine shale, whereas above 90% of pores were supplied by MPs in transitional shale. Initially, differences in OM origins and OMP genetic characteristics may trigger the porosity differences. Thermal-genetic OMP, mainly developing in marine shale, features wide distributions, complex surfaces, various sizes, and extensive contributions to pore volume (PV)/pore surface area (PSA). Inheritance OMP, mainly developing in transitional shales, features isolated distributions, smooth surfaces, large diameters, and limited contributions to PV/PSA. Likewise, differences in mineral compositions and MP preservation mechanisms exert influence on the porosity differences. In marine shale, MP is rare and contributes little to PV/PSA due to fierce compaction, cementation and OM occupation. In transitional shale, MP (almost associated with clay flakes) can be protected from cementation and OM occupation, and contributes considerable PV but minimal PSA. It implies that different pore types may impact the reservoir characteristics. Consequently, the exploration targets in marine shales should be OM-rich siliceous lithofacies, whereas targets in transitional shale should be mainly silt-clay lithofacies.

Nature of Volatile Organic Matter in Lake Sediments as a Reflection of Paleoclimate Changes Occurring at 4 ka in the Central Qaidam Basin

This study explores the paleoclimate changes around the 4 ka BP period in the central Qaidam Basin (QB), assessing the differences in spectral characteristics and organic composition of salt lake sediments under different climate change conditions. Sediment samples (10-m-depth profile) were collected from the middle of dry salt flats in East Taijinar Lake (China). Sediment organic matter (SOM) was assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results showed a significant difference in the TOC content of sediments with different lithological characteristics. A lower TOC content in salt-bearing strata was attributed to the extreme sedimentary environment with minimal exogenous inputs. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the SOM in sediments included aliphatic C, ketones and alcohols. Sediments of salt-bearing strata generally exhibited a rise in the content of ketone C=O groups and a decrease in aliphatic C, with an equal content of alcohols compared with silty sand. Therefore, exogenous OM and the content of TOC in silty sand strata are higher than in salt-bearing strata, indicating that the paleoclimate became warmer and wetter after 4 ka BP. GC-MS analysis showed a significant difference between the phenol and aldehyde content in different strata, further indicating that the paleoclimate changed from dry to relatively warm around 4 ka BP. Seven organic compound types were identified in SOM, including aldehydes, hydrocarbons, phenols, esters, ketones, alcohols, and furans. Different strata exhibited different distributions of organic compounds, with particularly high concentrations of aldehydes in salt-bearing strata and phenols in silty sand. Correlation analysis was performed between detrital minerals and OM types in all samples. Results showed a strong positive correlation between detrital minerals and phenols and a strong negative correlation between detrital minerals and aldehydes, with a negative correlation also identified between detrital minerals and ketones. Overall, the reduction in volatile organic compounds demonstrates that the paleoclimate changed from cooler and dry to wet and warm around the 4 ka BP period in the central QB, with the carbon preference index and n-alkane values further demonstrating these results. This study also confirms the importance of volatile organic compound monitoring to assess paleoclimate changes.

Pore Type, Pore Structure, and Controlling Factors in the Late Triassic Lacustrine Yanchang Shale, Ordos Basin, China

Organic-rich lacustrine shales in the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation with thermal maturity mainly in the oil window are the main shale oil and shale gas system in the lacustrine strata of the Ordos Basin, China. Pore systems are important for the storage and transfer of shale oil and gas. The main objectives of this study are to identify the pore types and pore structures and investigate the controlling factors for pore types, pore structures, and total porosities of the lacustrine Yanchang Shale. In this study, organic-rich mudstones, mudstones with siltstone interlayers, siltstone, and sandstones were selected from 15 wells in the southern Ordos Basin. X-ray diffraction, pyrolysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), low-pressure nitrogen adsorption analysis, and helium porosimetry were conducted to investigate the mineral compositions, pore types, pore structures, porosities, and controlling factors. Siltstone and sandstone interlayers heterogeneously developed in the Yanchang Shale. The petrology, mineral composition, geochemistry, pore type, pore structure, and porosity of siltstone interlayers are different from those of mudstones. The siltstone and sandstone interlayers usually have more quartz and feldspars, greater detrital grain sizes, and relatively better grain sorting but are lower in clay minerals, total organic carbon (TOC), amount of free liquid hydrocarbons values (S1), and total residual hydrocarbons values (S2), compared to mudstones. Interparticle (interP), intraparticle (intraP) pores, and organic pores (OPs) were developed in both siltstones and mudstones. OPs were observed in samples with lower thermal maturity (e.g., 0.5–0.85%). The inorganic pore size is greater than that of OPs. Additionally, the inorganic pore diameters in siltstone interlayers are also greater than those in mudstones. Organic-rich mudstones generally have higher pore volumes (PVs) of pores with sizes less than 10 nm, pore volumes of pores with sizes between 10 and 50 nm (PV, 10–50 nm), and specific surface area (SSA), but they have lower PVs of pores with sizes greater than 50 nm, total PV, and porosity when compared to siltstone and sandstone interlayers. The dominant pore type in mudstones is OPs and TOC (first order), sources and OM types (second order), and thermal maturity (third order), while the abundances of rigid grains with greater sizes and grain sorting are the main controlling factors of pore structures, SSA and PV. Both inorganic pores and organic pores are abundant in the siltstone interlayers. The pore size distribution (PSD), PV, and porosity of siltstone interlayers are related to the abundance of rigid grains (first order), grain sorting (second order), grain size (third order), and carbonate cement content. The total PV and porosity of Yanchang Shale reservoirs may have increased with the increased abundance of siltstone and sandstone interlayers.

Pyrolytic data verification in potential assessment and catagenetic transformation of the Proterozoic low-carbon formations of Eastern Siberia

The ancient Precambrian formations of Eastern Siberia include oil and gas source rock (SR) interlayers, but in most cases, they can’t be classified as high-carbon ones, because the actual organic carbon content in these strata is low and rarely exceeds 10%. This point effect the approach to the available geochemical data interpretation and the method of quality samples selection. The aim of the work was to determine methods for pyrolytic data verification and the oil and gas Lower Vendian SR quality assess, that based on the results of geochemical researches. It was identified, that before SR catagenetic transformation analyzation by the Tmax parameter and determining the OM type, samples with a low generation potential or with the migrated bitumen presence should be excluded from the consideration. The presence of secondary epigenetic bitumen also indicates the active HC fluids migration within the basin. After data verification, the SR properties were assessed. So lower Vendian SRs have OM with a satisfactory and high generation potential, second type and low maturity in most cases. The oil and gas window zones are located within large depressions and troughs. In addition, the local heating was noted in zones with a large number of faults, where the heating was conducted due to the intrusions introduction and the hydrothermal fluids action.

Magnetoelectrostatics of axionically active systems: Induced field restructuring in magnetic stars

In the framework of the Einstein-Maxwell-axion theory, we consider a static field configuration in the outer zone of a magnetic star. We assume that this field configuration is formed by the following interacting quartet: a spherically symmetric gravitational field of the Reissner-Nordstr\"om type, pseudoscalar field, associated with an axionic dark matter, strong intrinsic magnetic field, and axionically induced electric field. Based on the analysis of the solutions to the master equations of the model, we show that the structure of the formed field configuration reveals the following triple effect. First, if the strong magnetic field of the star has the dipole component, the axionic halo around the magnetic star with spherically symmetric gravitational field is no longer spheroidal, and the distortion is induced by the axion-photon coupling. Second, due to the distortion of the axionic halo, the magnetic field is no longer pure dipolar, and the induced quadruple, octupole, etc., components appear, thus redistributing the magnetic energy between the components with more steep radial profiles than the dipolar one. Third, the interaction of the axionic and magnetic fields produces the electric field, which inherits their multipole structure. We attract attention to possible applications of the predicted field restructuring to the theory of axionic rotating magnetars.

Organic matter input determines structure development and aggregate formation in artificial soils

The formation of aggregates is considered to happen by clustering and cohesion of mineral particles and organic matter. Up to now, little is known about the role of different organic matter types within this process. We developed an experimental set-up to study the influence of organic carbon (OC) derived from particulate organic matter (POM-C) and from dissolved organic matter (DOM-C) for aggregate formation under controlled laboratory conditions. We designed artificial soil microcosms with loamy texture, mimicking an arable Cambisol, and performed an incubation for 30 days under constant water tension. The microcosms received either POM-C as milled hay litter, DOM-C as solution derived from hay or no additional OC input. We characterized the developed soil matrix by analysing aggregate size distribution and composition as well as the associated pore system.After incubation, we observed the formation of mostly large, water-stable macroaggregates (630–3000 μm) in all treatments with OC addition. POM-C input led to an increase in mass contribution of the large macroaggregates from 6% to 88 ± 6%, when compared to the original particle size distribution, while DOM-C input led to an increase to 59 ± 9%. The size fractions of the small microaggregates and primary particles (<63 μm) were present in a mass contribution of 11 ± 5% for the POM-C addition and 35 ± 7% for the DOM-C addition. The small microaggregates had a predominant size of 2–20 μm. The OC distribution was closely linked to the aggregate size distribution, indicating a functional link concerning the aggregate forming process. In POM-C microcosms, 95% of the OC present after incubation was stored in large macroaggregates. In DOM-C microcosms, the OC was bimodally distributed between large macroaggregates (59 ± 0.8%) and small microaggregates (33 ± 0.4%). CO2 release was highest with DOM-C input, indicating that approximately 41% of the organic matter input was mineralized. High-resolution μCT scanning was used on subsample cores to investigate 3D pore structure differences. POM-C microcosms had a decreased macroporosity (>50 μm pore size) and highly connected pores (Euler number change from −1519 to −5767) after incubation. This indicates a reorganization of the pore space towards a fine, connected pore system with improved gas, water and nutrient exchange and thus implications for the microbial microenvironment. DOM-C microcosms also had an increased pore connectivity (Euler number change from −122 to −665) after incubation, but overall values were smaller than in the POM-C microcosms, indicating that changes in pore structure depend on OM type initiating aggregation.We demonstrate that aggregate formation in a loamy textured artificial soil is possible within 30 days and can take place in the absence of physical interference like stirring or repeated wet-dry cycles. Different organic matter types induce specific formation of aggregates and associated pore system as the effect of microbial decomposition of the OC input and the interaction of OC compounds with mineral surfaces.

Tree water use strategies and soil type determine growth responses to biochar and compost organic amendments

Background and aimsOrganic matter is often used as an amendment to attempt restoration of degraded soils to improve tree establishment and growth. One key aim is to increase plant available water in the soil profile. The texture of the soil, the type of organic amendment (e.g. compost or biochar), and the native environment of the tree (mesic or xeric) will impact how successful restoration efforts are. We aimed to determine whether compost and biochar amendments, either individually or in combination, would improve plant available water (PAW) in both clay and sand soils. We then aimed to measure whether changes in PAW would translate into increased water use and plant growth of both mesic (Corymbia maculata) or xeric (Eucalyptus torquata) tree species under well-watered (WW) or water deficit (WD) conditions. MethodsClay and sand soils were amended with compost, biochar or a compost and biochar mix, whilst unamended soils acted as controls. Soil moisture characteristics of the soil mixes were determined with samples in the laboratory. Fifteen replicate pots (6 l) of each soil treatment were then planted with either mesic and xeric tree species. All pots and trees were subjected to either a WW or WD irrigation regime for 7 weeks. WD irrigation was a set percentage of the daily WW evapotranspiration (ET). ET was calculated as total pot mass one hour after irrigation (to allow for drainage) minus the total pre-dawn pot mass of the subsequent day. The tree biomass, biomass partitioning, ET, and tree water status were measured throughout the experiment to understand growth and stress responses. Key resultsThe xeric tree species (E. torquata) grown in sand soil had a significant increase in growth with all three OM amendments but did not when grown in clay soil. In contrast, we found no significant growth response for the mesic tree species (C. maculata) when grown in either clay or sand amended with any OM treatment. The ET of the xeric tree species was greater for all the OM amended soils for both WW and WD plants in the sand soil. ConclusionsThis study shows that OM amendments may improve the soil water properties of sand-based soils which in turn can increase the growth of xeric tree species. However, more expensive organic amendments may not be necessary, nor mixing of OM types, as we found no tree growth differences amongst the three different OM treatments.

Polarization and stratification of axionically active plasma in a dyon magnetosphere

The state of a static spherically symmetric relativistic axionically active multi-component plasma in the gravitational, magnetic and electric fields of an axionic dyon is studied in the framework of the Einstein - Maxwell - Boltzmann - axion theory. We assume that the equations of axion electrodynamics, the covariant relativistic kinetic equations, and the equation for the axion field with modified Higgs-type potential are nonlinearly coupled; the gravitational field in the dyon exterior is assumed to be fixed and to be of the Reissner-Nordstr\"om type. We introduce the extended Lorentz force, which acts on the particles in the axionically active plasma, and analyze the consequences of this generalization. The analysis of exact solutions, obtained in the framework of this model for the relativistic Boltzmann electron-ion and electron-positron plasmas, as well as, for degenerated zero-temperature electron gas, shows that the phenomena of polarization and stratification can appear in plasma, attracting attention to the axionic analog of the known Pannekoek-Rosseland effect.

Priming of pyrogenic C (biochar) mineralization by dissolved organic matter and vice versa

Due to expected changes in fire frequency and the potential of using pyrolyzed biomass (biochar) amendments to increase soil C storage, there is a need for better ability to predict pyrogenic C (pyC) longevity in soil and its effects on native soil C stability. However, C mineralization from biochar/soil mixtures has been shown to vary greatly and both ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ priming (increased and decreased mineralization of native C, respectively) following biochar amendments have been observed. To better understand the interactions that influence mineralization of pyC and native soil C, bagasse (sugar cane residues) and bagasse biochar pyrolyzed at 300 and 650 °C were incubated in sand over 144 d with soil microbes and dissolved organic matter (DOM) substrates of high and low reactivity (sucrose and humic acid: HA, respectively). Mineralization of particulate and dissolved C was quantified based upon the distinct C isotopic signature of CO2 evolved from each source. Negative priming of bagasse-C mineralization by sucrose (−9.3% cumulative C mineralized) and pyC mineralization by HA (−29 and −68% for low and high temperature biochar, respectively) pointed to the mechanism of ‘substrate switching’, i.e. cases in which added DOM was of greater or similar lability to the particulate OM present. In contrast, positive priming of bagasse mineralization by HA (+77%) and pyC mineralization by sucrose (+271 and 614% for low and high temperature biochar, respectively), was attributed to the mechanisms of soil conditioning (creation of an environment more favourable to microbial growth) and co-metabolism, respectively. Inversely, presence of all the particulates enhanced the mineralization of sucrose (by 8, 58 and 91% for bagasse and low and high temperature biochar, respectively), suggesting a soil conditioning mechanism. In contrast, the biochars had little effect on HA mineralization, likely because of their similar inherent stability and chemistry. These results show that DOM and pyC mineralization in soil is interactive and varies with OM type. Furthermore, the priming observed could be attributed to different mechanisms in different cases, the long term effect of which would likely be greater soil C sequestration than predicted by simple degradation models.

Mineral types and organic matters of the Ordovician-Silurian Wufeng and Longmaxi Shale in the Sichuan Basin, China: Implications for pore systems, diagenetic pathways, and reservoir quality in fine-grained sedimentary rocks

Mineral types (detrital and authigenic) and organic-matter components of the Ordovician-Silurian Wufeng and Longmaxi Shale (siliceous, silty, argillaceous, and calcareous/dolomitic shales) in the Sichuan Basin, China are used as a case study to understand the control of grain assemblages and organic matter on pores systems, diagenetic pathway, and reservoir quality in fine-grained sedimentary rocks. This study has been achieved using a combination of petrographic, geochemical, and mercury intrusion methods. The results reveal that siliceous shale comprises an abundant amount of diagenetic quartz (40–60% by volume), and authigenic microcrystalline quartz aggregates inhibit compaction and preserve internal primary pores as rigid framework for oil filling during oil window. Although silty shale contains a large number of detrital silt-size grains (30–50% by volume), which is beneficial to preserve interparticle pores, the volumetric contribution of interparticle pores (mainly macropores) is small. Argillaceous shale with abundant extrabasinal clay minerals (>50% by volume) undergoes mechanical and chemical compactions during burial, leading to a near-absence of primary interparticle pores, while pores preserved between clay platelets are dominant with more than 10 nm in pore size. Pore-filling calcite and dolomite precipitated during early diagenesis inhibit later compaction in calcareous/dolomitic shale, but the cementation significantly reduces the primary interparticle pores. Pore-throat size distributions of dolomitic shale show a similar trend with silty shale. Besides argillaceous shale, all of the other lithofacies are dominated by OM pores, which contribute more micropores and mesopores and is positively related to TOC and quartz contents. The relationship between pore-throat size and pore volume shows that most pore volumes are provided by pore throats with diameters <50 nm, with a proportion in the order of siliceous (80.3%) > calcareous/dolomitic (78.4%) > silty (74.9%) > argillaceous (61.3%) shales. In addition, development degree and pore size of OM pores in different diagenetic pathway with the same OM type and maturity show an obvious difference. Therefore, we suggest that the development of OM pores should take OM occurrence into account, which is related to physical interaction between OM and inorganic minerals during burial diagenesis. Migrated OM in siliceous shale with its large connected networks is beneficial for forming more and larger pores during gas window. The result of the present work implies that the study of mineral types (detrital and authigenic) and organic matter-pores are better understanding the reservoir quality in fine-grained sedimentary rocks.

Dissolved, particulate, and sedimentary organic matter in the Cai River basin (Nha Trang Bay of the South China Sea)

The data were obtained on the content of organic carbon in the water, particulate matter, and bottom sediments of the Cai River and its tributaries (the basin of Nha Trang Bay). The surface waters of the considered basin contained OM mainly in a dissolved form (DOC/POC = 3). The fraction of Corg in particulate matter amounted to 4.9% on average. Based on the analysis of n-alkanes in bottom sediments, three OM types—autochthonous, mixed, and mainly terrigenous genesis—were distinguished. These types are alternated in series in the lengthwise profile of the river. All the OM types are in close relation to the peculiarities of sedimentation and hydrodynamics of the waters in the treated aquatic area. The geochemical indices (Pr/Ph, OEP17–19, and CPI values) represent the influence of oxidative conditions on OM formation and the intense microbiological transformation of its autochthonous component.

Key factors controlling the gas adsorption capacity of shale: A study based on parallel experiments

This article performed a series of parallel experiments with numerical modeling to reveal key factors affecting the gas adsorption capacity of shale, including shale quality, gas composition and geological conditions. Adsorption experiments for shales with similar OM types and maturities indicate that the OM is the core carrier for natural gas in shale, while the clay mineral has limited effect. The N2 and CO2 adsorption results indicate pores less than 3nm in diameter are the major contributors to the specific surface area for shale, accounting for 80% of the total. In addition, micropores less than 2nm in diameter are generated in large numbers during the thermal evolution of organic matter, which substantially increases the specific surface area and adsorption capacity. Competitive adsorption experiments prove that shale absorbs more CO2 than CH4, which implies that injection CO2 could enhance the CH4 recovery, and further research into N2 adsorption competitiveness is needed. The Langmuir model simulations indicate the shale gas adsorption occurs via monolayers. Geologically applying the adsorption potential model indicates that the adsorption capacity of shale initially increases before decreasing with increasing depth due to the combined temperature and pressure, which differs from the changing storage capacity pattern for free gases that gradually increase with increasing depth at a constant porosity. These two tendencies cause a mutual conversion between absorbed and free gas that favors shale gas preservation. During the thermal evolution of organic matter, hydrophilic NSO functional groups gradually degrade, reduce the shale humidity and increase the gas adsorption capacity. The shale quality, gas composition and geological conditions all affect the adsorption capacity. Of these factors, the clay minerals and humidity are less important and easily overshadowed by the other factors, such as organic matter abundance.

Improving the accuracy of simulation of radiation-reaction effects with implicit Runge-Kutta-Nyström methods

The Landau-Lifshitz equation provides an efficient way to account for the effects of radiation reaction without acquiring the nonphysical solutions typical for the Lorentz-Abraham-Dirac equation. We solve the Landau-Lifshitz equation in its covariant four-vector form in order to control both the energy and momentum of radiating particles. Our study reveals that implicit time-symmetric collocation methods of the Runge-Kutta-Nyström type are superior in accuracy and better at maintaining the mass-shell condition than their explicit counterparts. We carry out an extensive study of numerical accuracy by comparing the analytical and numerical solutions of the Landau-Lifshitz equation. Finally, we present the results of the simulation of particle scattering by a focused laser pulse. Due to radiation reaction, particles are less capable of penetrating into the focal region compared to the case where radiation reaction is neglected. Our results are important for designing forthcoming experiments with high intensity laser fields.

Glucolipotoxicity and the Heart

e. th ec li ni cs .c om Insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus are widely prevalent throughout the world and have reached epidemic proportions in both genders and in people of all racial and ethnic groups. IR has a metabolically complex and as yet incompletely understood etiology. Major driving forces for the rise of IR include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, excess caloric intake, and cigarette smoking, all of which have risen globally in prevalence. IR and diabetes mellitus (DM) increase the risk for all forms of atherosclerotic disease, heart failure, stroke, and microangiopathy, including proliferative retinopathy, nephropathy, and peripheral neuropathy. With over 340 million diabetic patients in the world, it is anticipated that this will result in a catastrophic rise in adult-onset blindness, end-stage renal disease, and need for dialysis, lower extremity amputation, as well as cardiovascular morbidity and premature mortality. Approximately 78% of diabetic patients will die of complications stemming from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The human, social, and economic costs of these clinical sequelae require urgent recognition and intervention. It has recently been estimated that up to twothirds of patients who present with myocardial infarction have either impaired glucose tolerance or DM. IR is frequently encountered in cardiology practice and it is important for cardiologists to have an indepth understanding of how IR adversely impacts cardiac structure, function, and metabolism. The term “glucolipotoxicity” is an apt descriptor for the overarching metabolic changes induced by IR. In this setting, systemic tissues do not internalize glucose appropriately in response to

Thermodynamics of Hořava–Lifshitz black holes

We study black holes in the Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz gravity with a parameter $\lambda$. For $1/3 \le \lambda < 3$, the black holes behave the Lifshitz black holes with dynamical exponent $0 < z \le 4$, while for $\lambda > 3$, the black holes behave the Reissner-Nordstr\"om type black hole in asymptotically flat spacetimes. Hence, these all are quite different from the Schwarzschild-AdS black hole of Einstein gravity. The temperature, mass, entropy, and heat capacity are derived for investigating thermodynamic properties of these black holes.

Preliminary prediction and evaluation on source rock in low exploration basin—A case study from the northeast depression, South Yellow Sea basin, East China

Low exploration activity fields (e.g., deep formation, deep water, and new exploration areas) are of great importance for petroleum exploration. The prediction of source rocks is critical to the preliminary evaluation of low exploration activity fields, which will determine the early strategic electoral district and decision of exploration activity. The northeast depression is a new exploration area at the South Yellow Sea basin at present. Based on lots of seismic data in the study area and a few of well data in adjacent homologous depression, the early evaluation of source rock in the northeast depression was finished by comprehensively using the techniques of geological analogy, geophysical inversion and basin modeling, and an integrated methodology about preliminary evaluation of source rocks to low exploration activity fields is also presented. The methodology consists of three aspects: (1) prediction of the main formation of major source rocks, based on analogy analysis of seismic reflection characteristics and quality of source rocks in adjacent homologous depression; (2) method of seismic attribution to determine the thickness of source rocks; and (3) prediction of vitrinite reflectance, based on basin modeling technique to determine the maturation of source rocks. The results suggest that the source rock of the Taizhou (泰州) Formation is the most important interval for hydrocarbon generation in the northeast depression, which is characterized as high TOC, fine OM type, huge thickness, and high maturity. The western subdepression is the most important hydrocarbon kitchen in the northeast depression.

Superconducting Properties of ${\rm Nb}_{3}{\rm Sn}$ Wire Fabricated by Diffusion Reaction Between Ag-Sn-Mg Alloy and Nb

Mg addition improves T c, B irr, and I c of the Nb3Sn formed by diffusion reaction between Nb and Ag-Sn alloy, when the diffusion reaction is performed below 650 degC. The obtained superconducting properties are similar to those of the bronze-processed Nb3Sn. The formation temperature of Nb3Sn is reduced by the Mg addition. By using OM, SEM, and field emission type EPMA, we could not measure the thickness of Nb3Sn layers, which may be thinner than 0.5 mum. It is not clear that the Mg addition increases the formation rate of Nb3Sn. However, the Nb3Sn layers should have very high J c. The attainable overall J c of the Nb3Sn wire are as high as those of the bronze-processed Nb3Sn wire without Ti and Ta additions, although the optimization of the cross-sectional configuration of Nb and Ag-Sn-Mg in the wire has not yet performed. Therefore the potential of the Nb3Sn conductor made by the new process seems to be very attractive for the practical applications.

Extremal black holes inD=4Gauss-Bonnet gravity

We show that four-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity admits asymptotically flat black hole solutions with a degenerate event horizon of the Reissner-Nordstr\om type ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{2}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{S}^{2}$. Such black holes exist for the dilaton coupling constant within the interval $0\ensuremath{\le}{a}^{2}l{a}_{\mathrm{cr}}^{2}$. Black holes must be endowed with an electric charge and (possibly) with magnetic charge (dyons) but they cannot be purely magnetic. Purely electric solutions are constructed numerically and the critical dilaton coupling is determined ${a}_{\mathrm{cr}}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.488\text{ }219\text{ }703$. For each value of the dilaton coupling $a$ within this interval and for a fixed value of the Gauss-Bonnet coupling $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ we have a family of black holes parametrized by their electric charge. The relation between the mass, the electric charge, and the dilaton charge at both ends of the allowed interval of $a$ is reminiscent of the Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield condition for dilaton black holes in the Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory. The entropy of the dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet extremal black holes is twice the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy.