Sensitive Zone Research Articles

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome with Numerous Cranial Nerve Damage Revealing An HIV Infection: A Case Report

Ramsay-Hunt syndrome corresponds to a Varicella zoster infection recurrence in the facial nerve’s sensory ganglion cells in patients with primary varicella infection. It manifests by coetaneous lesions of the sensitive Ramsay-Hunt zone, peripheral facial paralysis, and audiovestibular signs. The prognosis is usually good with well-conducted anti-viral treatment. We report the case of a 49-year-old lady who presented with several cranial nerve injuries, including impairment to cranial nerves V, VII, VIII, IX, and X, along with left facial paralysis, vesicles, discomfort in the left ear, dysphagia, and dysphonia. Her work-up in the search for an immune deficiency objected to an HIV infection. This case study aims to raise awareness among doctors to evaluate Ramsay Hunt syndrome in a patient with HIV who presents ear discomfort and insists on a diversified approach to patient care.

(260) Effects of Surface Delay Agents on Penile Sensibility in Premature Ejaculation

Abstract Introduction The penis is an important sensory organ during sexual intercourse, transforming the sensations experienced from intercourse into neural impulses and transmitting them to the central nervous system. Our previous research has found that the sensitivity of the penis varies due to histological and neuroanatomical differences between the penile shaft and glans. We have identified hypersensitivity zones within the penis, classifying them into three subtypes，namely, glans penis, penile shaft, and whole-penis hypersensitivity. However, it remains unknown whether there are differences in sensitivity after the application of surface anesthetics to these subtypes. Objective As the hypersensitivity of the penis is not uniform throughout, with specific sensitive zones, this study aims to investigate whether there are differences in sensitivity after surface delay agents are applied to the hypersensitive and hyposensitive areas. This will aid in the precise use of surface delay agents and reduce their side effects. Methods Based on the neurophysiological results, 290 patients with primary premature ejaculation were categorized into the group with single glans penis hypersensitivity, the group with single penile shaft hypersensitivity, the group with the whole penis hypersensitivity, and the group with the whole penis being hyposensitivity. Differences in sensory thresholds, latencies, and amplitudes between the hypersensitive and hyposensitive areas of the penis were compared between patients before and after the use of delaying agents on the surface of the penis. Results The surface delay agent can indiscriminately increase the sensory threshold of both the hypersensitive and hyposensitive areas of the penis (P<0.001), but it only prolongs the latency of the hypersensitive area (P<0.001), without affecting the latency of the hyposensitive area of the penis. Conclusions The effects of the surface delay agent on the hypersensitive and hyposensitive areas of the penis are different. The delay agent only extends the latency of the hypersensitive area, suggesting that there may be differences in receptors, sensory cells, and synaptic transmission of sensory nerve fibers between the hypersensitive and hyposensitive areas of the penis. Disclosure No.

Impacts of Climate Change and Human Activity on Lakes around the Depression of Great Lakes in Mongolia

The western region of Mongolia is characterized by an arid climate and a fragile ecological environment. It is a sensitive zone in response to global climate change and one of the major sources of dust globally. This region is home to numerous lakes, and their dynamic changes not only reflect global climate variations but also have implications for the global ecological environment quality. In this study, Landsat images were used as the data source, and Google Earth Engine (GEE) was employed to extract lakes with an area larger than 1 km2 from 1992 to 2021. The spatiotemporal characteristics of lake water area (LWA) changes were analyzed, and a structural equation model was applied to attribute the lake changes. The results indicate an overall trend of increasing lake area followed by a decrease in the study area. Specifically, lakes in the provinces of Khovd and Gobi-Altai exhibited a decreasing trend followed by an increasing trend, while lakes in the provinces of Uvs and Zavkhan showed an increasing trend followed by a decreasing trend. Three typical types of lakes, namely, alpine lakes, throughflow lakes, and terminal lakes, all exhibited a trend of increasing area followed by a decrease. The analysis of driving forces behind lake area changes reveals that climate change and human activities primarily exert indirect influences on the lake area changes in each province. Specifically, climate change and human activities lead to changes in soil moisture, which have a significant explanatory power for lake area changes. Regarding the typical types of lakes, climate change serves as the primary driving force for alpine lakes, while human activities are the main driving forces for throughflow lakes and terminal lakes.

Innovative measurement, trade-off-synergy relationship and influencing factors for agricultural net carbon emissions and effective supply of agricultural products in China

Sensitive zone of global climate change has been formed in China, and it has become a hot topic how can agriculture ensure food security and the supply of important agricultural products while achieving the “Dual Carbon” goal in the country. Based on such background, this paper uses the IPCC carbon emission calculation method, environmental input-output model and economic-water-carbon coefficient method to measure agricultural net carbon emissions, adopts bivariate spatial auto-correlation analysis and SYS-GMM to explore separately the relationship between agricultural net carbon emissions and effective supply of agricultural products, as well as the carbon reduction effect, growth effect and reasonable range of green technology innovation. The results show that: (1) China's agricultural net carbon emissions reveal a spatial distribution of “higher in the east than in the west than in the center” and a temporal characteristic of increasing year by year; China's effective supply of agricultural products shows an increasing trend and a spatial distribution of “higher in the east than in the center than in the west” in 2006–2012 and “higher in the east than in the west than in the center” in 2013–2020. (2) In 2006, 2010, 2015 and 2020, the number of provinces that belong to low-low agglomeration trade-off zone, low-high agglomeration synergy zone, non-significant zone, high-low agglomeration non-trade-off-synergy zone and high-high agglomeration trade-off zone averagely accounted for 12.500 %, 30.000 %, 26.667 %, 9.167 % and 21.667 % of the totality, respectively. (3) The carbon reduction and production growth effects of green technology innovation both show an inverted “U-shape”, and green technology innovation is conducive to both reducing agricultural net carbon emissions and improving supply of agricultural products when it is within a reasonable range of greater than 0.930. (4) Green technology innovation not only has significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity impact, but also exhibits a differential effect on productive agricultural carbon emissions, agricultural trade carbon emissions, agricultural carbon sinks, total output of agricultural products and agricultural net imports in international trade. Therefore, it is proposed that China should establish and improve green technology innovation incubation platforms, guide all participants to ensure the investment and application of green technology products within a reasonable range, formulate and implement regional differential policies and plan in accordance with local conditions, drive ultimately coordinated promotion of agricultural carbon emission reduction and product supply guarantee and lay an important foundation for achieving high-quality economic development and efficient ecological protection.

Forest fires in the Indian Central Himalaya: major drivers, implications, and mitigation measures

ABSTRACT Forest fires pose a significant threat in the Central Himalaya due to both natural and human factors. This study investigates key drivers, consequences, and mitigation measures. Data on 2022 forest fire incidents, affected areas, and economic losses were collected from the State Forest Department, Dehradun, and analyzed using statistical methods. The 2022 forest fire areas were mapped using data from the USGS and NASA FIRMS portals, revealing highly sensitive zones in river valleys and mid-altitudes below 1800 m, covering 13% of the total forest area (approximately 40,000 ha). These regions primarily host monsoon deciduous and flammable pine forests. Recent years have witnessed a notable increase in fire frequency and intensity, attributed to warming river valleys, middle altitudes, and dry climate spells during the fire season. This pioneering study recommends risk reduction strategies, including managing dry pine leaves, forest replacement, constructing fire lines, and providing fire control training to rural communities. Adopting these measures can effectively mitigate the escalating threat of forest fires in the Central Himalaya.

Avian Diversity and Abundance in Ololunga town, Narok County, Kenya

This study sought to determine bird abundance and diversity within Ololunga town, Narok County, Kenya. Using point counts and line transects, a rapid assessment of three habitats, based on levels of human disturbance was conducted. A total of 394 (n=394) birds belonging to 25 families and 34 species were recorded, with bushland recording the highest abundance and species richness (43.15%; and 26), followed by farmlands at 31.47% and 15; and human settlement recording the least (25.38% and 10). The Tukey HSD test established a significant difference in bird abundance between bushlands and human settlement areas (p = 0.014), with no significance between bushlands and farmlands (p = 0.082); nor between farmlands and human settlements (p = 0.356). Jaccard index / similarity coefficient across habitat scores noted a reducing similarity across avian sighted habitats at 0.316, 0.281 and 0.2 for human settlements-farmland; farmland-bushlands; and human settlement-bushland, respectively. Study results demonstrate that human influence has an impact on avian species composition, distribution, and abundance, especially within peri-urban areas of Narok, Kenya. Our study proposes creation of avian sensitive buffer zones within the habitats and ecotones; targeted community education on impacts of anthropogenic activities on avian diversity; and a deeper appraisal on seasonal and functional diversity in habitat types and overlapping ecotones on avian species, with a lens on resource availability.

Identification of ecologically sensitive zones affected by climate change and anthropogenic activities in Southwest China through a NDVI-based spatial-temporal model

Revealing the driving mechanism of climatic change and anthropogenic activities on vegetation variation and identifying the ecologically sensitive zones in Southwest China are critical for formulating regional ecological restoration strategies. Herein, a NDVI-based spatial–temporal model in Southwest China from 2000 to 2021 under the influences of climatic change and anthropogenic activities alone and in combination was determined based on MODIS NDVI and in situ meteorological data using Theil-Sen median analysis, the Mann–Kendall significance test, residual analysis, and relative analysis. The results showed that on the annual scale, the NDVI, predicted NDVI, and residual NDVI significantly increased at rates of 0.0016 yr−1, 0.0008 yr−1, and 0.0008 yr−1 in Southwest China from 2000 to 2021, respectively. Moreover, the NDVI, predicted NDVI, and residual NDVI significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the Guangxi Hills (GXH), Hengduan Mountains (HDM), Sichuan Basin (SCB), Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau (YGP), Zoige Plateau (ZP) and Tibetan Plateau (TP). The areas with an increase in the NDVI, predicted NDVI, and residual NDVI accounted for 81.45 %, 79.73 %, and 71.20 % of Southwest China, respectively. The NDVI variation in Southwest China was dominated by the combined effects of climatic change and anthropogenic activities, accounting for 83.22 % of the total study area. In addition, 62.76 % of the study area exhibited a greening trend. The contributions of climatic change were greater than those of anthropogenic activities for greening areas, and the opposite is true for browning areas. Innovatively, ecologically sensitive zones were identified through the Theil-Sen median analysis and Mann–Kendall significance test and accounted for 16.78 % of the total study area. Overall, this study proposed a NDVI-based spatial–temporal mode to investigate the driving mechanism of driving forces on NDVI variation, identify ecologically sensitive zones and suggest a management framework in Southwest China.

The paradoxical policies: Russia's rampant resource quest and the devastating toll on the planet

The Arctic's geopolitical significance and environmental vulnerabilities have sparked global attention. This paper critically analyzes Russia's evolving Arctic policy, which redefines the region as an extension of its domestic territory, emphasizing national interests. This policy shift prioritizes control over the Northern Sea Route, accentuates military fortification, and intertwines environmental rhetoric with resource exploitation. Russia's pursuit of Arctic development juxtaposes its commitment to environmental sustainability, fueling global concerns. Diplomatic rifts within the Arctic Council amplify tensions as Russia navigates a self-serving policy. Examining the Northern Sea Route's economic potential versus environmental impacts highlights the dilemma of increased shipping in ecologically sensitive zones. The militarization of the Arctic, showcased by Russia's bolstered defense measures, challenges regional security dynamics and amplifies diplomatic strains. Russia's policy inadvertently accelerates the collapse of the Arctic cryosphere, posing catastrophic threats from permafrost melting and potential viral pandemics. Furthermore, the paper delves into the environmental and public health repercussions of the conflict in Ukraine, detailing widespread pollution, infrastructural damage, and health crises. The collateral environmental damage from dam destruction exacerbates existing humanitarian concerns. This analysis underscores the intricate interplay between national interests, environmental sustainability, and global ramifications in shaping the Arctic's future.

Spatial–temporal distribution and key factors of urban land use ecological efficiency in the Loess Plateau of China

Urban land use ecological efficiency is crucial to the urbanization process and urban ecosystem sustainability. Cities in ecologically sensitive zones with frequent natural disasters need more complex land use patterns and plans. Achieving the goal of harmonizing economy and ecosystem is key for sustainable development policy makers in these cities. Aiming to explore the urban land use ecological efficiency (LUEE) of ecologically sensitive areas, urban land use ecological efficiency index system of the Loess Plateau was constructed, the SBM-Tobit model was adopted to measure the LUEE and influencing factors from 2009 to 2018, and the characteristics of spatial–temporal evolution was discussed. The results indicated that there were significant spatial differences of LUEE in ecologically sensitive zone. The high-level cities of LUEE were located in the southwest areas, while low-level cities of LUEE were mostly situated in the northeast zones, and the temporal variation trend showed the characteristic of “W” curve. Additionally, the results of key factors identification demonstrated that science and technology expenditure and public transport development had positive effects on urban LUEE, while the land expansion, GDP growth, the second industry and real estate development will limit the improvement of urban LUEE. This study used the scientific evaluation index system and key factors identification method to explore the land use ecological efficiency in ecologically sensitive zones, aiming to provide a case study reference for urban land management and optimization in ecologically fragile areas.

A Moderating Role of Gender on Agro-Entrepreneurial Intention Among Youths

This article aimed to examine the impact of subjective norm (SN), attitude and perceived behavioural control (PBC) on Nigerian youths’ agro-entrepreneurial intention (EI) as well as moderating role of gender. The unit of analysis is 400 youths in Nigeria, ranging from ages of 18 to 40 years. In this study, structural equation modelling was used. The result shows that attitude, SN and PBC have significant relationship with Nigerian youths’ agro-EI. Also, there is no significant difference between men and women on PBC and attitude towards agro-entrepreneurship, but there is a significant difference on SN. Standard estimates revealed that women have a stronger SN than men. Finally, it was discovered that Nigerian youths have interest in agro-entrepreneurship. This study is unique since it focused specifically on agro-entrepreneurial intent and the moderating role of gender in an agrarian and gender sensitive zone, which many studies ignored. Gender role was emphasized in this study. Thus, it has shown that society and community have more influence on women than men when engaging in agro-entrepreneurship.

Introducing microarchitecture into 3D-printed prosthesis socket: Pressure distribution and mechanical performance

This research is aimed at development of 3D-printed sockets for an orthopaedic prosthesis using methods of pressure redistribution on the inner surface of the socket. Topological freedom provided by modern additive manufacturing allows optimization of the parameters of the socket to create an orthopaedic prosthesis with properties adapted to the needs of a particular patient. This paper proposes an approach to redistribute the pressure in the prosthesis by controlled reinforcement with continuous carbon rods to artificially create zones of higher and lower pressure to facilitate prosthetic wear. Numerical modelling is used for the pre-design of a unique internal architecture of the prosthesis, which can redistribute the pressure on the inner surface of the socket, thus relieving excessive pressure from sensitive soft-tissue zones. The influence of socket thickness, inclination angle of the rods and the elastic behaviour of the polymeric materials on the extent of pressure redistribution is investigated.

Noise levels and annoyance among staff in a tertiary care hospital in North India: A cross-sectional study

Hospital noise has remained a low priority problem in India. An area of not less than 100 meters around a hospital is considered a silence zone, with guidelines restricting noise levels at 50dBA during daytime and 40dBA during the night. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines also stipulate an average of 30dBA and a maximum of 40dbA. Annoyance is a known effect of noise exposure. However, very few studies have attempted to explore the hospital soundscape and the annoyance among staff related to it. Noise data was collected from 30 sites, using a Digital Integrating Sound Level Meter, LutronSL-4035SD (ISO-9001,CE,IEC1010) meeting IEC61672 standards. Stratified random sampling of staff was done on basis of noise exposure. A pre-designed, semi-structured questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic and work profile. Annoyance was defined as a stress reaction to environmental noise and was measured using standardized general purpose noise reaction questionnaire (ISO-TS/15666). Data was analyzed in SPSS. The mean LAeq 24 h across all the sites was 69.5dBA (SD ±5.8dBA) for the weekdays and 66.2dBA (SD ±4.6dBA) for the weekends. Noise levels were higher during the day than during the night, and higher during the weekdays as compared to the weekends. 332(73.8%) study participants were found to be annoyed due to hospital noise. Annoyance among study participants was significantly associated with LAeq 24 h > 80 dBA during the weekdays [aOR = 5.08 (1.17-22.06)] and LAeq 24 h of 65-80 dBA during the weekends [aOR = 2.71 (1.46-5.01)]. Noise levels in the hospital far exceeded WHO and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines recommended for indoor hospital noise, as well as the national guidelines for sensitive zones. Almost three-fourth of the study participants were annoyed due to hospital noise. Significant association was found between annoyance among staff and higher noise levels of their workplace. Similar studies need to be conducted in hospitals across India to generate evidence on the current situtation and identify solutions.

A Comparative Study of Heavy Metal Pollution in Ambient Air and the Health Risks Assessment in Industrial, Urban and Semi-Urban Areas of West Bengal, India: An Evaluation of Carcinogenic, Non-Carcinogenic, and Additional Lifetime Cancer Cases

Air pollution is an immense problem due to its detrimental health effects on human populations. This study investigates the distribution of particle-bound heavy metals and associated health risks in three diverse areas (Durgapur as an industrial complex, Kolkata as an urban area, and Bolpur as a semi-urban region) in West Bengal, India. Twenty-one (84 samples) sampling sites were chosen, covering industrial, traffic, residential, and sensitive zones. The respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) samples were collected using a portable Mini-Vol Tactical Air Sampler, and heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, and As) were analyzed using ICP-OES. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks were assessed using exposure concentration (EC), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and additional lifetime cancer cases. The results highlight variations in heavy metal concentrations across the regions, with industrial areas exhibiting higher levels. Principal component analysis (PCA) unveiled distinct metal co-variation patterns, reflecting sources such as industrial emissions, traffic, and natural contributors. The sum of non-carcinogenic risks (HI) of all heavy metals exceeded the US EPA’s risk limit (HI&lt;1) in both Kolkata and Durgapur, except for Bolpur. Similarly, the sum of cancer risk in three distinct areas exceeded the USEPA limits (1.00E-06). The Monte Carlo simulation revealed the 5th and 95th percentile range of cancer risk was 9.12E-06 to 1.12E-05 in Bolpur, 3.72E-05 to 4.49E-05 in Durgapur and 2.13E-05 to 2.57E-05 in Kolkata. Kolkata had the highest additional lifetime cancer cases compared to Bolpur and Durgapur. This study provides information on the complex connections between heavy metal pollution and possible health risks in industrial, urban, and semi-urban regions.

Trade-offs and synergies relationships of ecosystem services and their socio-ecological driving factors under different spatial scales in Shaoguan City, Guangdong, China.

Ecosystem services refer to the benefits that human obtain from natural ecosystems. Different ecosystem services are generated by the combination of social-ecological driving factors, and exhibit different spatial patterns across scales. The complex relationships and driving mechanisms among ecosystem services under different spatial scales remain unclear. With Shaoguan City from Guangdong Province as the study area, we analyzed the spatial patterns and relationships of four ecosystem services and their trade-offs/synergies (TOSs), quantified their responses to seven social-ecological drivers at the kilometer grid scale and sub-watershed scale, and proposed regional ecologi-cal management and planning strategies for cross-scale sustainable development. The results showed that the spatial distribution of ecosystem services in Shaoguan City exhibited spatial clustering and cross-scale variations. Habitat quality, water yield, and carbon storage exhibited similar spatial distribution pattern. High supply was mainly distributed in mountainous areas in the east, north, west, and south, while weak supply was distributed in plain areas in the central, northwest, south and northeast. In addition, the spatial clustering of these services intensified with increasing spatial scale. Ecosystem services displayed synergistic relationships at both spatial scales, and the intensity of the synergy changed with scale. At both the kilometer grid and sub-watershed scale, the primary drivers for ecosystem services were the normalized vegetation index and digital elevation model. The main driver for TOSs was the mean annual temperature at the kilometer grid scale, while it was the mean annual evapotranspiration at the sub-watershed scale. Based on the supply levels of ecosystem services, the study area could be divided into five distinct ecosystem service bundles, i.e., mountain ecological balance zone, forest ecological conservation zone, urban forest maintenance zone, ecologically sensitive zone, and ecological risk zone. All bundles exhibited both spatial heterogeneity and cross-scale variations. We integrated the cross-scale variations of four representative ecosystem services and their complex interactions and driving mechanisms in Shaoguan City into spatial planning to facilitate the sustainable ecosystem management across multiple scales, which could offer valuable references for the construction of ecological civilization in other regions.

Experimental study on gasoline-ammonia combustion characteristics with pre-chamber jet ignition

In terms of the characteristics of slow combustion rate and high ignition energy of ammonia, an experimental study of gasoline-ammonia combustion characteristics was conducted and the difference in the combustion process between active and passive pre-chambers was revealed, utilizing gasoline as the ignition fuel in conjunction with jet ignition technology. The results show that employing active pre-chamber jet ignition can achieve a maximum ammonia ratio of 85 %. When the ammonia ratio is lower than 70 %, the coefficient of variation can be controlled with 1.5 %. There exists a sensitive zone around 50 % ammonia ratio, where combustion characteristics display heightened sensitivity to changes in ammonia ratio. As the ammonia ratio increases, the combustion process transitions from gasoline-dominated to ammonia-dominated. Consequently, when the ammonia ratio increases from 43 % to 50 %, the combustion duration increases by 62.8 % and the peak of heat release rate decreases by 43.8 %. With the increase of ammonia ratio, CO2 emissions decrease significantly, and the lowest is within 80 g/kW∙h. NOx emissions increase significantly with ammonia ratio increasing, but the rate of increase slows down when ammonia ratio beyond 50 %, which is attributed to the reduction in combustion temperature. Compared with the passive pre-chamber, the active pre-chamber is less influenced by the proportion of ammonia within main chamber, exhibiting a faster combustion rate, especially for conditions with ammonia ratio exceeding 40 %. At lower ammonia proportions, the combustion process exhibited similarities between active and passive pre-chambers. Furthermore, active pre-chambers exhibit a superior capacity to achieve higher ammonia ratios, underscoring their advantages in enhancing both combustion rate and ammonia concentration.

A hybrid shoulder to achieve a significant improvement in tensile strength and fatigue performance of friction stir welded joints for Al–Mg–Si alloy

In this paper, a hybrid shoulder friction stir welding (HS-FSW) process was developed combining the advantages of rotational shoulder friction stir welding (RS-FSW) and non-rotational shoulder friction stir welding (NRS-FSW). Both static and fatigue performance of the HS-FSW Al–Mg–Si alloy joints were examined and compared with those of the RS-FSW and NRS-FSW joints. The ultimate tensile strengths of the joints welded by HS-FSW are increased by 17.3 % and 6.7 %, compared with those of RS and NRS FSW, respectively. Besides, fatigue strengths of HS-FSW joints grow by respective 25.4 % and 1.8 %. For a better understanding of the significant improvements, the fatigue crack propagation (FCP) test and residual stress measurement were carried out. FCP test indicates that the advancing side (AS) is the most sensitive zone for FCP. The residual stress measurements suggest that the HS-FSW joint has the lowest distribution amplitude of residual stress compared with that of the RS-FSW and NRS-FSW joints. Based on above evolution, an assessment is firstly conducted, which reveals that the axial force and the lower heat input to mitigate the amplitude and the peak value of tensile stress during welding, jointly contribute to the superior imprisonment of the tensile strength and fatigue strength of the HS-FSW joints.

Critical Analysis of Firearm Wound Characteristics in Victims Brought for Autopsy at LHMC, New Delhi: A 20-Year Retrospective Study

Firearmwound characteristics vary a lot depending upon type of firearmand firearm ammunition used, site of entry or exit, range and direction of firing, presence or absence of interposing wearing apparels etc. Depending upon the availability and accessibility of firearm, the pattern of firearm injuries and deaths vary from country to country, region to region and locality to locality. Lady Hardinge Medical College &amp; Associated Hospitals, New Delhi primarily deals with medico-legal works pertaining to New Delhi District which is the most sensitive and VVIP zone of India. Hence, the crime rate is controlled in comparison to other parts of Delhi and NCR of Delhi. However, suicidal firearm fatalities by police personnel engaged insecurity, homicidal firearm fatalities and, firearm fatalities due to terrorist activities and counter-terrorism operations do happen occasionally. A 20-year retrospective study from the year 2007 to 2016 revealed that rifled firearms were commonly used. Pre-autopsy X-Ray examination was done only in few cases. Detailed description about wound characteristics, wearing apparels, recovered firearm projectiles were found missing on many autopsy reports.

Simulation and Zoning Research on the Ecosystem Service in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region Based on SSP–RCP Scenarios

Understanding future trends and identifying characteristic differences in regional ecosystem services (ESs), in addition to ecological zoning, is vital for promoting the adjustment of ecological policy and the construction of sustainable ecosystems. Based on shared socioeconomic pathways and representative concentration pathways (SSP–RCP), the spatial distribution pattern of land use in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region (BTH) in 2030 was simulated by using a patch-generating land use simulation model (PLUS) in this study. Water yield, carbon storage, habitat quality, and food product were simulated through the comprehensive evaluation model combining ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST). The comprehensive supply capacity of ESs was assessed. The ecological risk level was calculated by comparing the changes in the integrated supply capacity of ESs in 2020 and under each SSP–RCP scenario in 2030, and ecological zoning was established using a two-dimensional discriminant matrix. The results are as follows: (1) The degradation of grassland and cropland accompanied by an increase in construction land and forest to varying degrees will be the common characteristics of the three SSP–RCP scenarios in BTH. (2) Water yield and carbon storage services will exhibit an upward tendency only under SSP1-2.6, while habitat quality and food product services will exhibit a downward trend under three SSP–RCP scenarios. Obvious geographical heterogeneity exists in the comprehensive supply capacity of ESs. (3) Zones with low ecological risks will mainly be distributed in some counties of Zhangjiakou city, while zones with high ecological risks will account for a large proportion of the whole. There will be great ecological risks in the BTH overall. (4) The BTH was split into four types of ecological zones based on supply and risk. These zones comprise the ecological enhancement zone, ecological restoration zone, ecological sensitive zone, and ecological conservation zone. Corresponding control measures were also proposed. The findings of this study can be used to inform the formulation and improvement of environmental conservation policies.

Receiving a Response Image of a Solar Cell Efficiency by the Photo Scanning Method

The device for quality analysis of solar cells with different sensitive surface areas using radiation from a non-mechanical planar system is described. Current solutions for quality analysis of solar cells have disadvantages: work with analogy data, large dimensions of mechanical focusing system, interaction with small areas active zone of solar cells without possibility of identifying point pattern efficiency. Accordingly, a method is proposed for measuring the efficiency of solar cells at the production stage and during the operational period, which makes it possible to identify places of its insensitivity with the possibility of obtaining quantitative data on efficiency for the purpose of their mathematical processing. The developed photo scanning control device can be suitable for solar cells diagnostics with a sensitive zone area from 9 mm2 to A5 sheet size. The method makes it possible to measure local photocurrent and to find places of solar cell shunting. Process of diagnostics is controlled by one personal computer, which performs functions of controlling illumination of a monitor, setting diagnostic modes, obtaining data on the efficiency of the solar cells, storing and processing them. The device can be based on a laptop and is considered as mobile. Special software is used to manage, visualize and process the output data in a form of a rectangular matrix. An experiment was carried out on artificial darkening of the working areas of solar cells of different sensitivity. This confirmed effect of data changes and a visual display of obscuring zone on the output results. Tests were carried out on solar cells based on polycrystalline silicon. The results showed a high level of visibility and repeatability of the darkened area, and the quality of the data obtained made it possible to identify a small measurement error associated with external “noise”.

Middle to Late Holocene lake evolution and its links with westerlies and Asian monsoon in the middle part of the Hexi Corridor, NW China

AbstractThe interpretation and understanding of the relationship between Middle to Late Holocene climate change in monsoon margins of northwest China with the westerlies and Asian monsoon (AM) remain controversial. Here we present a new multi-proxy sedimentary dataset from the Heihe River basin in the middle part of the Hexi Corridor on the northern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), which is a sensitive zone for the interaction between the westerlies and AM. Fluctuations in grain size, δ13Corg, δ18O, magnetic susceptibility, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and C/N ratio document regional lake and climate evolution since 5334 cal yr BP. Results show that climate conditions on the millennial timescale are humid in the late Middle Holocene (MH) and dry to wet in the Late Holocene (LH). Combined with the multi-model ensemble simulation from PMIP3-CMIP5, high lake levels and wetter climate in the late MH are closely linked to the strengthening Asian summer monsoon. Simultaneously, the slight wetting trend since the late LH may be the superimposing effect of enhanced westerlies and the weakening Asian winter monsoon. These findings can provide insights into the interpretation of the interaction between the westerlies and AM during the Holocene in East Asia.