Similar Change Trend Research Articles

Spatial–temporal change patterns of vegetation coverage in China and its driving mechanisms over the past 20 years based on the concept of geographic division

Based on the datasets of MODIS NDVI and SPOT VETGETATION NDVI from 1999 to 2018, this study has introduced the gravity centre model and time-lag analysis model to explore the spatial–temporal change patterns of the NDVI in China in different sub-regions and its response to climate factors. Results showed that: (1) In 1999–2018, there was an increasing trend in vegetation coverage in China on the whole, with a larger increase occurring in central south and northeast China. (2) The NDVIs of six land use types showed a similar change trend with temperature and precipitation with different time lags. (3) The maximum correlation coefficients between the NDVIs of different land types and climate factors appeared at Lag 0–1 (current month and previous one month) and Lag 0–2 (current month, previous one and two month), while the correlation coefficients were the lowest at Lag 3 (previous three month). (4) During the past twenty years, the gravity centres of the NDVI, temperature and precipitation moved northward as a whole with similar migration trajectories. These results could provide important decision supports for vegetation restorations and ecological protections in different sub-regions of China.

Influence of dasatinib treatment on body height in children with acute myeloid leukemia

To study the influence of dasatinib treatment on body height in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 86 AML children aged <17 years. According to the treatment regimen, these children were divided into a conventional chemotherapy group and a dasatinib chemotherapy group. The 57 children in the conventional chemotherapy group were given conventional chemotherapy drugs without tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and the 29 children in the dasatinib chemotherapy group were given conventional chemotherapy drugs and dasatinib. The two groups were compared in terms of height standard deviation score (HtSDS) at the beginning of treatment and after treatment, as well as the change in HtSDS after 1 and 2 years of treatment. There was no significant difference in HtSDS between the conventional and dasatinib chemotherapy groups before treatment. Within the first two years of treatment, the dasatinib chemotherapy group had a similar change trend of HtSDS as the conventional chemotherapy group. Four children in the dasatinib chemotherapy group reached the final adult height during follow-up, which was significantly lower than the target height (P=0.044). In the conventional chemotherapy group, there was no significant difference between final adult height and target height. In the dasatinib chemotherapy group, the children in adolescence had a significant change in HtSDS after treatment (P=0.032). Dasatinib treatment may affect the final height of children with AML, and the use of dasatinib after the beginning of adolescence may lead to growth disorder, but dasatinib treatment has little effect on body height in the short-term treatment.

VEGETATION AND CLIMATE OF THE ISET-TOBOL INTERFLUVE FROM THE ENEOLITHIC TO THE EARLY IRON AGE: NEW PALAEOECOLOGICAL DATA ON THE OSKINO-09 SWAMP

The article analyses new data, which provides the opportunity to reconstruct the natural environment of peo-ple in the Tobol area (forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia) in the 3rd–1st millennia BC. The authors consider the issue associated with the consistency between off-site pollen data and on-site palynological data, as well as how correctly they reflect natural conditions defining the living environment of the ancient population. Materials for the study were obtained from the Oskino-09 swamp-lake located near the confluence of the Iset and Tobol Rivers in the immediate vicinity of a multilayer settlement (Oskino Boloto). The age of swamp-lake sediments was de-termined using an age-depth model developed on the basis of AMS dates. In this study, the authors analysed pollen and plant macro-remains, as well as the indicators of economic activity (non-pollen palynomorphs, weed pollen). The analysis of stratigraphy, the composition of plant macro-remains and local pollen revealed that up to 1.2 cal ka BC the water body in question was developing as a fresh lake, which allowed the inhabitants of the Oskino Boloto settlement to use it for fishing and as a source of water in the Eneolithic and in the Bronze Age. Its transformation into a swamp occurred in 1.1–0.8 cal ka BC, which coincided with the transition period from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age. During the study period, the swamp-lake and the settlement were surrounded by forests confined to the terraces of the Iset River; starting from the middle of the Eneolithic, birch-pine forests ap-peared in the vicinity. However, pine forests were actively replaced with birch forests at the beginning of the Bronze Age; evidently, warmer temperatures and higher humidity resulted in the appearance of deciduous trees. Most of the Bronze Age is associated with a gradual decrease in humidity, with the signs of an increase in the water table level and the active expansion of birch forests being observed only at the turn of the Bronze and Iron Ages. A new stage of coniferous forest expansion in the Early Iron Age (ca 0.8 cal ka BС) is probably associated with a low level of the water table, as well as with a general fall in the temperature. The natural environment at the beginning of the Early Iron Age is very similar to that at the end of the Eneolithic. New data indicate that there were no completely treeless areas in the studied interval; forests always grew along river terraces. However, most of the settlements located nearby in the Ingala Valley were confined to open meadow-steppe areas forming an inhabited landscape. Despite the differences in the off-site pollen data obtained from the swamp and the on-site data, these data reveal similar trends in climatic changes in the 3rd–1st millennia BC.

The effect of plant protein‐based diets on apparent nutrient digestibility, growth response, egesta quantity, postprandial ammonia excretion rate and serum quality of Nile tilapia

The study assessed the effect of oilseed meal mixtures on the biological value, faecal matter output, ammonia excretion rates and serum biochemistry of Nile tilapia over 63 days. The experimental diets (PPB 1, PPB 2 and PPB 3) were formulated using four selected oilseed meals that were mixed in different protein proportions to contribute 80% of total dietary crude protein. In each diet, either one or two of the oilseed meals were the dominant protein contributor. A commercial tilapia feed was used as the control diet (CTRL). Sex-reversed Nile tilapia fingerlings (35 g) were stocked at 20 fish per tank in a recirculation system and fed at 3% body weight of their respective diets. At the end of the study, ADCs of dry matter, crude lipid and ash were significantly (p < .05) lower in all the plant-based diets compared with the control diet. Fish fed the control diet had significantly higher weight gain and SGR compared with the plant-based diets. Egesta output was 127% higher in the plant-based diets compared with the control diet. All dietary treatments exhibited a similar trend in changes in ammonia nitrogen. Nevertheless, serum metabolites levels indicated no significant differences among treatments. Although the PPBs did not affect ADC of protein and serum profile, fish growth was reduced while faecal output increased.

Conformational and rheological changes of high-pressure processing treated rabbit myosin subfragments during heating

Rabbit skeletal (M. psoas) myosin subunits, heavy meromyosin (HMM) and light meromyosin (LMM), were purified and treated by high pressure processing (HPP). The HPP (100, 200 and 300 MPa)-modified myosin subunits were subjected to thermal treatment (25–70 °C), during which their conformational and rheological properties were explored. The turbidity of all HMM and LMM samples slightly improved from 25 to 55 °C, and then sharply increased from 55 °C to 70 °C (from). Pressure ≥200 MPa changed the structural properties of HMM, exhibited as more exposed hydrophobic and sulfhydryl patches, whereas the increase of hydrophobicity induced by heating decelerated afterwards. The LMM portion exhibited inferior heating stability. Upon heating, both pressurized and nontreated HMM showed similar trends of changes of secondary structure, which included the reduction of α-helices and the increase of β-structures. Only a slight change of secondary structure occurred on LMM after HPP, indicating a higher resistance of LMM on HPP than HMM. These findings suggested that a moderate denaturation generated by HPP would not affect the thermal behavior of myosin subfragments, while pressures of ≥200 MPa might lead to disadvantageous rheological properties by mediating the thermophysical properties of HMM.

Vertical water transport model in concrete based on the coupled effects of the capillarity, gravity and evaporation

A novel vertical water transport model in consideration of the capillarity, gravity effect and evaporation was proposed, and the corresponding finite difference method was recommended to determine the moisture distribution in concrete. The amounts of water absorption and water loss of concrete surface with time were measured, and the distributions of relative humidity (RH) and temperature in concrete were also tested under different environment conditions. Moreover, the numerical simulation was used to elucidate the phenomena of rot, damp and saltpetering in the dry-wet region of concrete column contacting with soil or water. The results showed that the variations of RH and temperature in concrete along the vertical height from liquid level accord well with a Bolztmann function. The relationship between the water absorption and time expresses as an exponential function, but it is a Logistic function between water loss and time. The moisture distribution in concrete observably changes with the vertical height from liquid level and distance from concrete surface, which is mainly caused by the dynamic equilibrium between the absorbed water by capillarity and gravity, and the evaporated water by evaporation. The significant change region of RH along the vertical height of concrete surface was closely related with concrete strength grade and external environment’s RH, and the corresponding values for C20, C30 and C40 are about 20 cm∼30 cm and 10 cm∼20 cm, respectively. The RH and temperature of concrete surface differ from that of external environment, which changes the traditional lopsided view considering the external environment as the micro environment in concrete. The pore characteristic for different concrete strength grade results in a significant variation of the moisture distribution in concrete, which expresses as the similar change trend but different value.

Age-related structural and functional variations in 5,967 individuals across the adult lifespan.

Exploring brain changes across the human lifespan is becoming an important topic in neuroscience. Though there are multiple studies which investigated the relationship between age and brain imaging, the results are heterogeneous due to small sample sizes and relatively narrow age ranges. Here, based on year‐wise estimation of 5,967 subjects from 13 to 72 years old, we aimed to provide a more precise description of adult lifespan variation trajectories of gray matter volume (GMV), structural network correlation (SNC), and functional network connectivity (FNC) using independent component analysis and multivariate linear regression model. Our results revealed the following relationships: (a) GMV linearly declined with age in most regions, while parahippocampus showed an inverted U‐shape quadratic relationship with age; SNC presented a U‐shape quadratic relationship with age within cerebellum, and inverted U‐shape relationship primarily in the default mode network (DMN) and frontoparietal (FP) related correlation. (b) FNC tended to linearly decrease within resting‐state networks (RSNs), especially in the visual network and DMN. Early increase was revealed between RSNs, primarily in FP and DMN, which experienced a decrease at older ages. U‐shape relationship was also revealed to compensate for the cognition deficit in attention and subcortical related connectivity at late years. (c) The link between middle occipital gyrus and insula, as well as precuneus and cerebellum, exhibited similar changing trends between SNC and FNC across the adult lifespan. Collectively, these results highlight the benefit of lifespan study and provide a precise description of age‐related regional variation and SNC/FNC changes based on a large dataset.

Identification of genes related to skeletal muscle growth and development by integrated analysis of transcriptome and proteome in myostatin-edited Meishan pigs

Embryonic development of skeletal muscle is a complex process that is important to the growth of skeletal muscle after birth. However, the mechanisms by which skeletal muscle growth and development in embryonic phase remain unclear. We have previously produced myostatin-knockout (MKO) Meishan pigs with double-muscle (DM) phenotype via zinc finger nucleases (ZFN) technology. To further investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in skeletal muscle growth and development, in this study, we performed an integrated analysis of transcriptome and proteome in longissimus dorsi muscle from myostatin wild type (MWT) and MKO pigs on 65 days post coitus. Results showed that, compared with MWT group, there were 438 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 66 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in MKO group. These DEGs and DEPs were mainly enriched in signaling pathways that are involved in skeletal muscle growth and development, glucose metabolism and apoptosis. Furthermore, we identified two key genes, Troponin T 1 (TNNT1) and Myosin regulatory light chain 9 (MYL9), which showed significant changes in both mRNA and protein levels with the similar changing trends in MKO group. It is thus speculated that TNNT1 and MYL9 may play an important role in skeletal muscle growth and development. SignificanceOur study analyzed some important regulatory genes and proteins during skeletal muscle growth and development, our results provided (1) a new insight to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which growth and development are regulated in porcine skeletal muscle, and (2) some possible molecular makers for improvement of meat quality in the animal husbandry and diagnosis of human muscle diseases in medicine.

A study on electro-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystal films doped with barium titanate nanoparticles prepared by nucleophile-initiated thiol-ene click reaction

ABSTRACT Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films doped with barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles were prepared by nucleophile-initiated thiol-ene click reaction. The effects of BTO content and reaction temperature on the electro-optical properties of PDLC were explored. It is found that the size of liquid crystal droplets is bigger when the amount of BTO increases. As the BTO content increases, the transmittance first rises and then falls, while the voltage that drives the liquid crystal orientation first drops and then rises. The electro-optical properties of PDLC doped with BTO show a similar changing trend with the change of reaction temperature. However, when the reaction temperature becomes higher, the influence of BTO on the electro-optical properties of PDLC becomes greater. Doping BTO helps to obtain PDLC films with good electro-optical properties.

The dynamic behavior of feed efficiency in primiparous dairy cattle

A variety of measures are currently used to evaluate feed efficiency in livestock, with some of the most popular being the linear regression of nutrient intake on the various energy sinks of the cohort being evaluated. The adoption of novel on-farm technologies has greatly increased the breadth and depth of data being collected on a daily basis, which creates the opportunity for the implementation of more advanced feed efficiency models. The objectives of the current study were to leverage data collected using high-throughput biometric technologies to evaluate changes of early-lactation feed efficiency on a daily basis and to develop a novel measure of feed efficiency based on the NRC net energy model. Daily records of nutrient intake, fat- and protein-corrected milk yield, body weight, and body condition score were used to model 7 different indices of feed efficiency (gross feed efficiency, return over feed costs, residual feed intake, residual net energy intake, and net energy efficiencies of lactation, maintenance, and body reserve flux) in primiparous Holstein heifers (n = 40) from 0 to 150 d in milk. We observed that feed efficiency was dynamic and fluctuated over the course of the experimental period regardless of the efficiency measure used, but most measures followed similar trends in changes of efficiency on a day-to-day basis. Of the measures evaluated, return over feed costs would be most suited for management purposes due to practicality and simplicity, whereas other measures, such as the efficiency of net energy flux to and from body reserves, present potential targets for inclusion in breeding goals. Net energy efficiency of lactation was estimated to have higher repeatability compared with residual feed or energy intake, which may reduce the time required to estimate whole-lactation efficiency. Because decreased net energy balance was strongly correlated with increased efficiency for all indices evaluated, future work investigating the associations of feed efficiency with the magnitude and duration of negative energy balance is warranted.

Elevated circulating HtrA4 in preeclampsia may alter endothelial expression of senescence genes

IntroductionPreeclampsia (PE) is a serious complication of human pregnancy. Women who have had PE, especially early-onset PE (EPE), have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. However, how PE is linked to CVD is not well understood. We previously reported that HtrA4, a placenta-specific protease, is significantly elevated in EPE, and inhibits the proliferation of endothelial cells as well as endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). This can potentially impair endothelial repair and regeneration, leading to endothelial aging, which is a major risk factor of CVD. In this study, we examined whether HtrA4 can alter endothelial expression of senescence genes. MethodsHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and primary EPCs isolated from cord blood of healthy pregnancies were used as in vitro models. Firstly, HUVECs were treated with HtrA4 at the highest levels detected in EPE for 48h and screened with a senescence PCR array. The results were then validated by RT-PCR and ELISA in HUVECs and EPCs treated with HtrA4 for 24 and 48h. ResultsWe observed that HtrA4 significantly up-regulated IGFBP3, SERPINE1 and SERPINB2, which all promote senescence. IGFBP-3 protein was also significantly elevated in the media of HtrA4-treated HUVECs. Conversely, a number of genes including CDKN2C, PCNA, CALR, CHEK2 and NOX4 were downregulated by HtrA4. Many of these genes also showed a similar trend of change in EPCs following HtrA4 treatment. DiscussionElevation of placenta-derived HtrA4 in PE alters the expression of endothelial genes to promote cellular senescence and may contribute to premature endothelial aging.

Predictive value of the surgical pleth index for the hemodynamic responses to trachea intubation and skin incision.

Surgical pleth index (SPI) has been widely investigated in assessing the nociceptive level. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SPI level and patient responses to trachea intubation and skin incision. A total of 40 patients undergoing open abdominal general surgery were recruited for analyses. The patients were monitored with electrocardiogram, non-invasive blood pressure, SpO2, invasive blood pressure and SPI before anesthesia induction. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam, propofol, sufentanil and rocuronium and maintained with sufentanil and sevoflurane. Blood pressure, heart rate and SPI were recorded for analyses during the peri-intubation and peri-incision periods. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to analyze the predictive value of blood pressure, heart rate (HR) and SPI for hemodynamic responses for trachea intubation and skin incision. SPI had a similar changing trend to systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The SPI level was linearly correlated with SBP, DBP and HR. SPI increased significantly after intubation and incision in patients with positive but not negative responses to intubation and incision. The ROC analysis showed that only SBP level is predictive of intubation responses. These data suggested that SPI elevated under the noxious stimulation by intubation and incision, but it was not predictive of the hemodynamic responses to intubation and incision.

EFFECTS OF CONTUSION AND EXHAUSTIVE EXERCISE ON MG53, PTRF IN SKELETAL MUSCLE OF RATS

ABSTRACT Objectives To study the effects of contusion and exhaustive exercise on gene expression of MG53, PTRF, Pax7 and β-catenin in skeletal muscle of rats, and reveal the repair mechanism of skeletal muscle injury. Methods Forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 7 groups, with 6 rats in each group. All groups were euthanized at different time points after exhaustive exercise and contusion, respectively, while the control group was euthanized in resting state. The right gastrocnemius muscles were measured for mRNAs of MG53, PTRF, Pax7 and β-catenin by real time PCR. Results MG53 mRNA and PTRF mRNA of skeletal muscle in groups immediately after exhaustive exercise and after contusion increased significantly (p&lt;0.05), while the two indices decreased constantly at 24 and 48 hours after injury with a similar change trend. Compared with the control group, Pax7 mRNA of skeletal muscle as a marker showed no significant difference in exhaustive exercise groups, but decreased at 48 hours after contusion (p&lt;0.05). β-catenin mRNA of skeletal muscle down-regulated significantly over 24 hours after injury, then activated with an increased value at 48 hours after contusion (p&lt;0.05). As a whole, the variations in the above indices in the contusion groups covered a wider range than in the exhaustive exercise groups. Conclusion The cytomembrane repair mechanism of MG53 and PTRF began immediately after the end of exhaustive exercise and contusion. Activation of Pax7 as the satellite cell marker took longer, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway showed first a decrease and then an increase resulting from the time-dependent gene expression during the repair of skeletal muscle injury. Level of evidence III, Therapeutic studies investigating the results of treatment.

P4639Plasma tissue factor coagulation activity in post-acute myocardial infarction patients

Abstract Background Coagulation is involved in fibroproliferative responses following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Left ventricular (LV) remodeling following AMI is closely associated with progression to heart failure. Purpose We aimed to evaluate the association of plasma tissue factor (TF) coagulation activity with LV remodeling prior to heart failure in post-AMI patients. Methods This study was conducted in 228 subjects from the Post-AMI Left Ventricular Remodeling Biomarker Analysis (PAMILA) study and 57 healthy subjects. The post-AMI patients were divided into two age- and sex-matched groups: patients with adverse LV remodeling defined as an increase in LV end systolic volume by ≥15% over 6 months and patients with reverse LV remodeling defined as an decrease in LV end systolic volume by ≥15% over 6 months. TF coagulation activity was determined using human coagulation factor Xa generation based TF chromogenic activity assay and converted into concentrations of active TF (pM). Sodium-citrate anticoagulated plasma was collected at baseline (within 3 days after revascularization), 30 days and 6 months post-AMI. Results are presented as mean±S.E.M. One-way or two-way repeated measures ANOVA or a multiple multi-level longitudinal data analysis with structural equation model was used to assess differences in coagulation activity. P&lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Plasma from healthy subjects and post-AMI patients at baseline had similar concentrations of active TF (TFa): 29.0±1.4 versus 29.1±0.7 pM. Patients treated with warfarin (15 out of 228 patients) showed lower plasma levels of TFa (mean difference −15.2 pM, [95% CI: −18.7, −11.7], p&lt;0.001). Compared to baseline, plasma levels of TFa in the patients was significantly lower at 30 days post-AMI (mean difference −6.9 pM, [95% CI: −4.8, −8.9], p&lt;0.001) and 6 months post-AMI (mean difference −2.8 pM, [95% CI: −0.8, −4.8], p=0.003). Intriguingly, plasma levels of TFa tended to recover from 30 days to 6 months post-AMI (mean difference 4.1 pM, [95% CI: 2.8, 5.4], p&lt;0.001) toward the baseline level and the level in healthy subjects. Similar trends of temporal changes of plasma TFa levels were observed in patients with adverse LV remodeling and those with reverse LV remodeling although TFa levels were slightly higher in patients with reverse LV remodeling (F(2,448)=3.112, p=0.045 for interaction). After adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, medications, lipid profile and risk factors, the temporal changes of plasma TFa levels in patients remain significant, however, the difference between patients with adverse versus reverse LV remodeling was not significant. Conclusion Plasma TF coagulation activity decreased post-AMI but did not differ in patients with adverse versus reverse LV remodeling. Acknowledgement/Funding National University Health System Singapore (NUHS O-CRG 2016 Oct-23) to JW Wang

P: 33 In Vivo Longitudinal 1H MRS Study of Hippocampal, Cereberal and Striatal Metabolic Changes in the Adult Brain Using an Animal Model of Chronic Hepatic Encephalopathy

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) is a severe complication of chronic liver disease (CLD) characterized by cognitive and motor deficits. The diseased liver fails to metabolize toxins from the blood (ammonium, bilirubin etc.) which accumulate in the blood and brain.1 There is evidence that ammonium uptake rate differs among the brain regions.2 Since the CHE patients present various symptoms with different severity, the susceptibility to CHE and the mechanisms causing the damage may depend on the brain region. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time, potential metabolic differences between hippocampus, cerebellum and striatum as key brain regions implicated in manifestation of CHE. METHODS: Hippocampus (n = 7), cerebellum (n = 8) and striatum (n = 4) of adult male Wistar rats were scanned longitudinally using in-vivo 1H-MRS (SPECIAL sequence-TE = 2.8 ms,3 quantification with LCModel) at 9.4T before (week 0) and after bile duct ligation (BDL-CHE model4). Scans and blood tests were performed every two-weeks till week 8. RESULTS: All BDL rats showed an increase in plasma bilirubin and blood ammonia validating the presence of CLD. Increase in brain Glutamine (Gln) was observed for all brain regions being the most pronounced in cerebellum (+134%-week 8) (Figure 1c). Furthermore, this increase showed a strong correlation with blood ammonia for all three brain regions (Figure 1b). The main brain organic osmolytes (Inositol, Taurine, Creatine and total-Choline) displayed a similar decreasing trend in concentration as a response to Gln increase (osmoregulation) for both hippocampus and cerebellum, always having a stronger change for cerebellum. Interestingly, despite the smallest Gln increase, striatum showed more pronounced decrease in concentration of osmolytes than hippocampus (Figure 1d,e). Also, trend towards a decrease in NAA and PE was observed uniquely for striatum (data not shown). A tendency of increase in Lactate was observed being the strongest for cerebellum (+84%-cerebellum, +8%-hippocampus, +5%-striatum) indicating a possible energy metabolism perturbation (Figure 1f). Brain regions displayed different antioxidant response with a decrease in Ascorbate being stronger in cerebellum (data not shown). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study showing in-vivo longitudinal analysis of neurometabolism in three different brain regions in a model of CHE. Hippocampus and cerebellum displayed similar trends in metabolite changes during the course of disease, while the changes were much more pronounced in cerebellum. Striatum showed differences in metabolic response when compared to the other brain regions. Clinical relevance of these findings remain to be determined. We conclude that different brain regions are differentially susceptible to the metabolic consequences of CLD, a field which warrants further study.

CNT-based electro-responsive shape memory functionalized 3D printed nanocomposites for liquid sensors

3D printing of conductive polymer nanocomposites, which combines the electrical conductivity of nanofillers with customer-designed geometries, is promising for various sensors. However, the single shape of sensors restricts their environmental adaptability if the detecting environment changes. Herein, 3D and 4D printing of poly (D,L-lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate) (PLMC)/CNT nanocomposites with electro-responsive shape-changing capability was achieved by direct ink writing (DIW). The rheological and solvent evaporation capabilities of PLMC/CNT ink were modulated to make it printable. Electrical, mechanical, thermal and shape memory properties were investigated and various structures from micro to macro were constructed. The printed structure showed excellent shape-changing behavior under 25 V within 16 s. Then UV photoinitiators were introduced to trigger hydrogen abstraction reaction to make PLMC chains form cross-linking networks. The modified composite ink was printed into shape-changing liquid sensors. The influence of three solvents and layer thickness on liquid sensitivity was compared. The shape-changing capability helped the sensor maintain a high precision for liquid detection. The sensor in its original, deformed and recovered shape showed similar changing trend of resistance and exhibited excellent repeatability. We envision wide environmental adaptability of using the shape-changing sensor for detecting leakage of various solvents in varying environment.

Distribution characteristics and edge effect of soil water and salt in silvopastoral system of the Yellow River Delta, China

We measured soil water and salt distribution characteristics at 0-40 cm soil depth in a silvopastoral system of Fraxinus chinensis and Robinia pseudoacacia mixed forest × Medicago sativa, which is located in Land Use Scientific Observation Field Base of Ministry of Land and Resource in Wudi, Shandong Province, China. The moving split-window technique was used to analyze the internal-system edge effect. The results showed that both soil water and salt contents in this system heterogeneously distributed in the horizontal direction. The variation of soil water was greater and that of soil salt contents was the smaller when closer to the soil surface. With the mixed forest tree row as the boundary line, the contents of soil water and salt on both sides showed similar change trend. With the decreases of distance to the tree row, soil water content reduced first and then increased but the salt contents had a stable fluctuation at 0-10 cm soil layer. Soil water content showed a trend of decrease-flat-decrease but the salt contents first enhanced and then reduced at 10-20 cm soil layer, respectively. At the deeper soil layer (20-40 cm), the water content fluctuated stably but the salt content continued increasing. Both the contents of soil water and salt in the vertical direction increased significantly with soil depth. Except HCO3- and K+, there was a similar change trend between ions and total salt content in the soil of silvopastoral system, and the correlation between these ions and total salt content was Na+>Cl->SO42->Mg2+>Ca2+. Based on the technique of moving split-window, the edge effect zone of soil water in the silvopastoral system was 2.5 m from the east side of the tree row to 2 m from the west side. Soil salinity in the silvopastoral system was mainly affected by the tree row within the range of 1.0 m, and by both of the tree row and M. sativa within the range of 1.0-3.0 m.

Influence of vertical channel on downward flame spread over extruded polystyrene foam

The influence of vertical channel with various structure factors (α) on downward flame spread over extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam is investigated. The flame shape, flame height (Hf), temperature in the channel (Tv) and on the curtain wall surface (Tc), flame spread rate (Vf), and induced air flow (Q) are obtained. Hf first drops and then increases as α rises, attributing to similar changing trends of induced airflow rate and Froude number. Concerning the temperature history, Tc > Tv at the initial stage while Tc < Tv at the middle stage. Both Tc‾(average value) and Tv‾drop as α rises, and Tv‾ >Tc‾under most conditions. A model is established to predict the total, convective and radiative heat fluxes transferred to preheating zone. The convective heat flux is more dominant than the radiative heat feedback from the curtain wall. Vf first rises and then drops as α increases. For α < 1.0, the oxygen supply determines the changing trend of Vf, while the total heat transfer is dominant for 1.0<α < 2.0. Predicted results using the model built in this work indicate that Q increases as α rises, which corresponds to experimental results.

Sex Difference in EEG Functional Connectivity during Sleep Stages and Resting Wake State Based on Weighted Phase Lag Index.

Men and women were reported to be different in brain structure and sleep patterns. Here we analyzed the region, sleep stage and frequency band-specific EEG synchronization intensity of whole night sleep recording of 14 male and 14 age-matched female subjects by calculating weighted phase lag indexes. Moreover, resting wakeful stage EEG was also analyzed and compared. The synchronization intensities showed significant gender differences in all stages and bands: higher in women in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and higher in men in α and β bands in wakeful stage and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, Except for α band, the similar changing trends in characteristics of EEG synchronization during different stages were found in both male and female subjects. These results suggest that there may be some differences in the mechanisms of sleep regulation between men and women. Moreover, the synchronous intensity of different sleep stages in different frequency bands of male and female groups was not consistent with the influence of age, which may be related to the gender differences in aging patterns.

Natural background and anthropogenic drivers of vegetation cover changes in pasture landscape: the case of Central Mongolia

The article analyzes natural, first of all, geomorphological and lithological-edaphic conditions and anthropogenic (increase in livestock and change in the structure of the herd) factors determining the degradation of vegetation in the landscapes of the desert steppes of Mongolia. The sources for the assessment of vegetation cover were the images of Landsat 5 and 8 by which were calculated NDVI index, a joint index of the BSI + LDI and the synthesis of channels for 7—5—3 (Landsat 8) and 7—4—2 (Landsat 5). To assess the role of natural conditions in ArcMap package was built model of geotopes, containing data on the absolute height of the area, its position in the system of landscape levels, the genesis and the type of ground. The analysis of the contribution of anthropogenic factors is carried out on the basis of statistics on somons. It was revealed that in 1990—2015 the number of cattle varied from 1.1 to 2.8 million heads, and in all somons (districts) of Srednegobiisky aimag (region) the increase in the number was due to sheep and goats. It was found that a 47 % of the area of aimag has reduced vegetation cover, and to the greatest extent these processes are typical for different formations of the desert steppe subzone in the Northern and Central parts of aimag. Verification of the obtained results was carried out according to the data of field studies of the Russian-Mongolian complex biological expedition of RAS and AMS. Landscapes potentially susceptible to degradation occupy 60 % of the aimagʼs territory. Among the already transformed landscape sites eluvial and transeluvial geotopes of the socle plains on rocks of mixed composition prevail. It is shown that under similar trends of livestock changes pasture ecosystems of somons with predominance of such landscape sites are more prone to degradation than others.