Synergistic Pattern Research Articles

Synergistic Evolution of PM2.5 and O3 Concentrations: Evidence from Environmental Kuznets Curve Tests in the Yellow River Basin

Air pollution, especially the synergistic pollution of PM2.5 and O3, poses a severe threat to human life and production. The synergistic formation mechanism of PM2.5 and O3 pollution is relatively confirmed, while research on their spatiotemporal synergy is urgent. Based on remotely sensed interpretation data from 90 cities in the Yellow River Basin, we analyzed the synergistic evolution of PM2.5 and O3 concentrations during 2013–2020. Combined with the environmental Kuznets curve, we performed factor analysis using a panel regression model. The synergistic evolution pattern shows a gradual decrease in PM2.5 concentration and a gradual increase in O3 concentration. There is a strong spatial auto-correlation in the two pollutants’ concentrations. The relationship between economy and PM2.5 concentration shows an “N-shaped” curve, while that between O3 concentration and economic development presents an inverse “N-shaped” curve. The environmental Kuznets curve shows that the deterioration of O3 pollution takes place later than the mitigation of PM2.5 pollution. Various factors have obvious heterogeneous effects on PM2.5 and O3 concentrations. Meanwhile, the sensitivity effect of per capita GDP on PM2.5 concentration in the midstream region is stronger than that in the upstream region, while the sensitivity effect of per capita GDP on O3 concentration is strongest in the midstream region than that in upstream and downstream region.

Carbon emissions in China's urban agglomerations: spatio-temporal patterns, regional inequalities, and driving forces.

Urban agglomerations are the centers of carbon emissions. However, research on sector-specific carbon emissions in different urban agglomerations is still limited. Drawing on the data of China's six urban agglomerations in 2005, 2010, and 2015, this study investigates the spatio-temporal patterns, regional inequalities, and driving forces of total, industrial, transportation, and residential carbon emissions. The study found that Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei was the total and sectoral emission center among the studied urban agglomerations. Additionally, regional carbon inequalities gradually decreased, implying a growing regional synergistic carbon pattern. The driving forces of carbon emissions, including population, GDP, energy intensity, secondary industry, tertiary industry, foreign investment, urbanization, and green coverage, varied across sectors and regions. Notably, foreign investment could lead to lower carbon emissions in less developed agglomerations like Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Central Plains, and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, whereas more developed agglomerations like the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta benefited less from foreign investment. Besides, ChengYu has good ecological conditions and sustainable development modes, which linked urbanization and green space to reduced carbon emissions in the industrial sector. The findings can help formulate differentiated carbon policy and support sustainable development.

Dalbergia odorifera undergoes massive molecular shifts in response to waterlogging combined with salinity.

Field and greenhouse studies attempting to describe the molecular responses of plant species under waterlogging (WL) combined with salinity (ST) are almost nonexistent. We integrated transcriptional, metabolic, and physiological responses involving several crucial transcripts and common differentially expressed genes and metabolites in fragrant rosewood (Dalbergia odorifera) leaflets to dissect plant-specific molecular responses and patterns under WL combined with ST (SWL). We discovered that the synergistic pattern of the transcriptional response of fragrant rosewood under SWL was exclusively characterized by the number of regulated transcripts. The response patterns under SWL based on transcriptome and metabolome regulation statuses revealed different patterns (additive, dominant, neutral, minor, unilateral, and antagonistic) of transcripts or metabolites that were commonly regulated or expressed uniquely under SWL. Under SWL, the synergistic transcriptional response of several functional gene subsets was positively associated with several metabolomic and physiological responses related to the shutdown of the photosynthetic apparatus and the extensive degradation of starch into saccharides through α-amylase, β-amylase, and α-glucosidase or plastoglobuli accumulation. The dissimilarity between the regulation status and number of transcripts in plants under combined stresses led to nonsynergistic responses in several physiological and phytohormonal traits. As inferred from the impressive synergistic transcriptional response to morpho-physiological changes, combined stresses exhibited a gradually decreasing effect on the changes observed at the molecular level compared to those in the morphological one. Here, by characterizing the molecular responses and patterns of plant species under SWL, our study considerably improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying combined stress.

Influence mechanism of the three-zone synergistic efficiency-enhancing pattern on the 3D flow field and thermal resistance characteristics for wet cooling towers

For a super-large natural draft wet cooling tower (S-NDWCT) equipped in a 1000 MW unit, a 3D numerical model of the three-zone synergistic efficiency-enhancing pattern (TSEP) was established and validated. This study focused on the influence mechanism of the three-zone parameters on the 3D flow field and thermal resistance characteristics, including the installation height h, installation angle θ, total coverage area S, length L and number n of the split-flow plate, water distribution partition radius R1, the proportion of inner zone water amount P, and fillings partition radius R2. The results showed that the TSEP reconfigures and comprehensively optimizes the airflow field, and presents the more uniform air-water ratio and water temperature fields. The volumetric heat transfer coefficient hv increases and then reduces as h, θ, S, n, R1, P and R2 increase, and increases continuously with increasing L in the range studied. Additionally, the ventilation G increases and then reduces with the increase of h, θ, R1 and P, increases with rising S, n and R2, and reduces with L increases. Finally, the relatively optimized values of the three-zone parameters are obtained. In this case, compared with a conventional tower, the hv and G increase by 11.3% and 10.6%, respectively.

Bionic leaf-inspired catalyst bed structure for solar membrane reactor aiming at efficient hydrogen production and separation

Membrane reactor technology permits efficient solar thermochemical conversion at low temperatures, but the performance is often limited by concentration polarization. To cope with the hydrogen (H2) concentration polarization in solar membrane reactors, this study proposes a bionic solar membrane reactor (BSMR) inspired by the excellent production-transport management ability of leaves. Designing the structural parameters of the bionic catalyst bed obtains the efficient BSMR, and mechanistically analyzes its reaction and separation performance enhancement. The results show that the BSMR achieves a synergistic reinforcement pattern of ordered H2 separation driving reaction and reaction providing H2 separation pressure at >90° pore block tilt angle, while large porosity differences and small pore block lengths can further amplify this synergy. Currently, the BSMR with pore blocks of 140° tilt angle, 20 mm length and 0.3 low porosity has the optimal performance, which improves methane conversion and hydrogen recovery by 13.4–99.0% and 13.7–99.0%, respectively, relative to the conventional solar membrane reactor under different operating conditions. Also, it is shown that optimal performance enhancement is achieved at high steam-to-methane ratios, low inlet temperatures and high inlet flow rates. In general, the design referring to leaves makes BSMR well inherit the consistently superior performance of leaves, providing new ideas for efficient hydrogen production and separation.

A repertoire of alginate lyases in the alginate polysaccharide utilization loci of marine bacterium Wenyingzhuangia fucanilytica: biochemical properties and action pattern.

Alginate lyases are important tools for alginate biodegradation and oligosaccharide production, which have great potential in food and biofuel fields. The alginate polysaccharide utilization loci (PUL) typically encode a series of alginate lyases with a synergistic action pattern. Exploring valuable alginate lyases and revealing the synergistic effect of enzymes in the PUL is of great significance. An alginate PUL was discovered from the marine bacterium Wenyingzhuangia fucanilytica CZ1127T , and a repertoire of alginate lyases within it was cloned, expressed and characterized. The four alginate lyases in PUL demonstrated similar optimal reaction conditions: maximum enzyme activity at 35-50 °C and pH 8.0-9.0. The results of action pattern indicated that they were two PL7 endolytic bifunctional enzymes (Aly7A and Aly7B), a PL6 exolytic bifunctional enzyme (Aly6A) and a PL17 exolytic M-specific enzyme (Aly17A). Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to reveal the synergistic effect of the four enzymes. The end products of Aly7A were further degraded by Aly7B and eventually generated oligosaccharides, from disaccharide to heptasaccharide. The oligosaccharide products were completely degraded to monosaccharides by Aly6A, but it was unable to directly degrade alginate. Aly17A could also produce monosaccharides by cleaving the M-blocks of oligosaccharide products, as well as the M-blocks of polysaccharides. The combination of these enzymes resulted in the complete degradation of alginate to monosaccharides. A new alginate PUL was mined and four novel alginate lyases in the PUL were expressed and characterized. The four cooperative alginate lyases provide novel tools for alginate degradation and biological fermentation. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Synergistic optimization of partition water distribution, non-equidistant fillings and dry-wet hybrid rain zone for wet cooling towers

Existing single-zone or two-zone synergistic optimization technologies have limited performance improvements for the large natural draft wet cooling towers (LNDWCTs). To further improve the cooling performance of the LNDWCTs, this study proposes for the first time a three-zone (water-spraying, fillings and rain zones) synergistic optimization method from a global optimization perspective. The 3D numerical calculation model is created and validated. Then, this work investigates emphatically the impact of the different three-zone parameters on the cooling performance, including the partition water distribution radius (R1 = 20 ∼ 60 m), the water distribution percentage in the inner zone (γ=5 ∼ 90 %), the fillings partition radius (R2 = 0 ∼ 65 m), the total coverage area of the split-flow plate (S = 2000 ∼ 2900 m2), the installation angle (θ=0 ∼ 27°), the split-flow plate length (L = 15 ∼ 55 m) and number (n = 3 ∼ 10). The simulation results illustrate that, within the studied range, the water temperature drop, cooling efficiency and Merkel number increase and then decrease with the increasing R1,γ, R2, θ and n, and increase successively with the increasing S and L. The optimized three-zone parameter combination scheme is R1 = 55 m, γ=75 %, R2 = 50 m, S = 2900 m2, θ=6°, L = 55 m and n = 7. Compared to the LNDWCT without any optimization technology, the water temperature drop, cooling efficiency, Merkel number, ventilation and evaporation loss of the cooling tower with optimized three-zone synergistic pattern increase by 0.58 °C, 3.37 %, 0.17, 1480 kg/s and 41.28 kg/s, respectively. This study can lay a theoretical basis for the multi-zone synergistic optimization research of LNDWCTs and provide a reference for the technical modifications and engineering applications.

Novel synergistic mechanism of 11-keto-β-boswellic acid and Z-Guggulsterone on ischemic stroke revealed by single-cell transcriptomics

Although strides have been made, the challenge of preventing and treating ischemic stroke continues to persist globally. For thousands of years, the natural substances Frankincense and Myrrh have been employed in Chinese and Indian medicine to address cerebrovascular diseases, with the key components of 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) and Z-Guggulsterone (Z-GS) being the active agents. In this study, the synergistic effect and underlying mechanism of KBA and Z-GS on ischemic stroke were examined using single-cell transcriptomics. Fourteen cell types were identified in KBA-Z-GS-treated ischemic penumbra, and microglia and astrocytes account for the largest proportion. They were further re-clustered into six and seven subtypes, respectively. GSVA analysis reflected the distinct roles of each subtype. Pseudo-time trajectory indicated that Slc1a2 and Timp1 were core fate transition genes regulated by KBA-Z-GS. In addition, KBA-Z-GS synergistically regulated inflammatory reactions in microglia and cellular metabolism and ferroptosis in astrocytes. Most notably, we established an innovative drug-gene synergistic regulation pattern, and genes regulated by KBA-Z-GS were divided into four categories based on this pattern. Finally, Spp1 was demonstrated as the hub target of KBA-Z-GS. Taken together, this study reveals the synergistic mechanism of KBA and Z-GS on cerebral ischemia, and Spp1 may be the synergistic target for that. Precise drug development targeting Spp1 may offer a potential therapeutic approach for treating ischemic stroke.

An improved method for corn stalk in-situ degrading synthetic bacterial consortium construction in a cold region of China

A cornstalk-degrading bacterial consortium was constructed from a cold region of China. Soil and cornstalks samples were screened using lignin or cellulose as sole carbon source to obtain individual bacterial strains. Additionally, a bottom-up strategy was used to construct a bacterial consortium composed of six strains with a synergistic enzymatic pattern, resulting in a cornstalk weight loss of 43.62%, which was 15.08 percentage points higher than the control. Lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose components of cornstalk, respectively, lost 52.40%, 41.24%, and 45.97% of their weight at 15 °C soil conditions and within a 40 days period. This was significantly higher than the control treatment, especially for the lignin component. The consortium was composed of Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas sp., Citrobacter portucalensis, B. thuringiensis, P. putida, Acinetobacter lwoffii.

Why fitness impacts of different herbivores may combine nonadditively, and why it matters to the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore communities

Background and aims – The manner by which the effects of multiple antagonists combine is a fundamental issue in ecology. This issue has been especially important in plant-herbivore evolutionary ecology—particularly predicting whether the combined fitness impacts of multiple herbivores on a shared host plant can be inferred by simply adding the individual impacts that each herbivore has when feeding alone. Despite accumulating empirical data, relatively little theoretical progress has been made in explaining why impacts of herbivore damage often combine nonadditively, as well as predicting the conditions that lead to a greater-than-additive (synergistic) or to a less-than-additive (subadditive) pattern. Material and methods – Based on considerations of limiting resources and source-sink relationships, I proposed and tested two hypotheses: 1) The fitness impacts of two species of herbivores that affect the same resource (i.e. feed on the same tissue in a similar fashion) will combine in a synergistic pattern (if that resource is not limiting reproduction when plants do not experience herbivory), and 2) The fitness impacts of two herbivores that affect different resources (i.e. feed on different tissues) will combine in a subadditive pattern. I performed a field experiment in which horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) was exposed to a factorial combination of four levels of leaf herbivory and five levels of simulated floral herbivory. Key results – The results were consistent with both hypotheses: 1) The combined fitness impact of flower damage that was simulated as being caused by two florivorous species feeding on the same plants was greater than the sum of the same total amount of damage when the two species were simulated as feeding individually; and 2) The combined fitness impact of the leaf and floral damage was less than the sum of the same total amount of damage when the two species fed individually. Conclusions – The main ecoevolutionary implication of these results is that subadditive impacts of leaf- and flower-feeding herbivores could weaken selection for resistance in horsenettle (or any plant species that hosts multiple herbivores), and thus subadditive impacts may contribute to the maintenance of diverse herbivore communities sharing a species of host plant.

Synergistic Antibacterial Potential of Greenly Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles with Fosfomycin Against Some Nosocomial Bacterial Pathogens

A considerable number of morbidities and fatalities occur worldwide as a result of the multidrug resistant microorganisms that cause a high prevalence of nosocomial bacterial infections. Hence, the current investigation was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial potency of green fabricated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against four different nosocomial pathogens. The flower extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa mediated green fabrication of AgNPs and their physicochemical features were scrutinized using different techniques. Antimicrobial activity of the biogenic AgNPs and their synergistic patterns with fosfomycin antibiotic were evaluated using disk diffusion assay. UV spectral analysis affirmed the successful formation of AgNPs through the detection of broad absorption band at 395 and 524 nm, indicating the surface plasmon resonance of the biofabricated AgNPs. In this setting, the biofabricated AgNPs demonstrated average particle size of 58.682 nm according to transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs. The detected hydrodynamic diameter was higher than that noticed by TEM analysis, recording 72.30 nm in diameter and this could be attributed to the action of capping agents, which was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysis. Disk diffusion assay indicated the antibacterial potency of biogenic AgNPs (50 μg/disk) against Enterobacter cloacae, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli strains with relative inhibition zone diameters of 12.82 ± 0.36 mm, 14.54 ± 0.15 mm, 18.35 ± 0.24 mm and 21.69 ± 0.12 mm, respectively. In addition, E. coli was found to be the most susceptible strain to the biogenic AgNPs. However, the highest synergistic pattern of AgNPs-fosfomycin combination was detected against K. pneumonia strain recording relative synergistic percentage of 64.22%. In conclusion, the detected synergistic efficiency of AgNPs and the antibiotic fosfomycin highlight the potential for utilizing this combination in the biofabrication of effective antibacterial agents against nosocomial pathogens.

Adaptability Study of Higher Vocational Education Enabling the Transformation and Upgrading of Manufacturing Industry --Equipment Manufacturing Industry in Guangdong Province as an Example

Guangdong is the first economic province in China, and by the end of 2022, the GDP of Guangdong Province has ranked first in the country for 34 consecutive years. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan", Guangdong Province has vigorously developed the manufacturing industry, insisted on the manufacturing industry as the leader, focused on the development of advanced manufacturing industry and high-tech manufacturing industry, promoted the development of the industrial structure to a higher level, and initially formed a "one nucleus, one belt, one area" manufacturing industry synergistic development pattern, in the In terms of scale strength, innovation level and foreign trade cooperation, Guangdong manufacturing is in the national leading level. In the new stage of development, Guangdong manufacturing is in urgent need of transformation and upgrading to reshape its competitive advantages. Vocational education shoulders the important mission of serving regional economic development, and the development of vocational education can provide strong talent support for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry. Through the integration of industry and education, it is conducive to promoting the technological research and development and product innovation of enterprises, and enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises in the international market, so as to empower the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry in Guangdong Province.

Interlocus analysis of associations of polymorphic markers of age-associated diseases of superoxide dismutase genes with aging and longevity

With the purpose to search for predictors of aging and longevity we studied the pattern of the SOD1 and SOD2 genes polymorphic loci interaction in a sample of residents of the Republic of Bashkortostan, including 1592 individuals in age between 18 and 109 years old. We discovered the reduction of the chances to become the long-liver among carriers of the combination ofSOD2*rs4880*TT genotype and SOD1*rs2070424*G allele (OR=0.33, POR=0.02, SF=0.27, PSF=0.046 for elderly people and OR=0.31, POR=0.01, SF=0.28, PSF=0.041 for old seniors), as well as of the SOD2*rs4880*TT and SOD1*rs2070424*GA genotypes combination (OR=0.32, POR=0.01, SF=0.29, PSF=0.043 for the elderly people). The found alleles/genotypes combinations, which associated with the low activity of Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD, have a synergistic pattern of interaction and are unfavorable for the attainment the longevity.

FOXM1 and MMR genes immunohistochemical expression in colorectal cancer: promising prognostic insights and candidate therapeutic targets

Abstract Background and objectives Colorectal cancer (CRC) high mortality in developing countries necessitates the delineation of the underlying mechanisms compromising its prognosis despite of current advances. Mismatch repair (MMR) genes protein expression is established as a surrogate to categorize CRC MMR status with different prognostic and therapeutic considerations, variations are observed not only among different classes but also within the same class. FOXM1 is involved in multitask carcinogenesis and is recently targeted in some cancers. Our objective was to study FOXM1 expression in different CRC subclasses to exploit any potential inferences of its role. Material and methods This retrospective study encompassed 51 CRC specimens received in Ain Shams University Hospital, immunohistochemical studies for microsatellite stability genes to determine MMR status and FOXM1 expression were performed. Results were statistically compared and correlated to the clinicopathological prognostic indices. Results FOXM1 expression was statistically significant when correlated to lymphovascular invasion and nodal metastasis. Despite failing to establish a statistical correlation with FOXM1 expression level yet a suggestive tendency of overexpression with precursor tubulovillous adenoma, mucinous and signet ring CRC, grade 3, PT3 was noted. FOXM1 high expression concorded with MMR deficient status, mounting to a statistical significance in right CRCs, this association was disrupted when nodal status was tested. Conclusion FOXM1 shows varying expression in CRC subclasses, variations did not follow a consistent synergistic pattern thus the effect of FOXM1 on prognostic indicators likely involves molecular coded cross-talks with mismatch repair genes as well as others. We offer innovative insights for prognostic aptitudes of FOXM1 that might pave promising utility in future if further validated.

TRIANGLE OF POLITICAL POWER OF THE MATARAMAN COMMUNITY IN KEDIRI

The political upheaval in the early days of reform had an impact on the formation of parties which were no longer monopolized by the political elites during the New Order era. This was evidenced by the democratic principle of transparency in the election of government officials. The development of the political culture at the regional level is different from the situation at the national level. The development of political culture at the regional level is more dominated by political thoughts and behavior based on a mature political culture. The Mataraman Kediri community has social and cultural characteristics that also influence their political traditions. In the context of general elections, the Mataraman community has a special characteristic in their political choices which is reflected in the choice and support for certain political parties, that the way the people elect depends on their past historical patterns. The results of this study indicate that the people of Mataraman Kediri have a synergistic political pattern known as thearchitecture of power politics. The relationship between the religious elite, entrepreneurs, and the government has a political synergy that is able to influence political patterns and maps in the Mataraman region of Kediri.

Cocultivation of Chinese prescription and intestine microbiota: SJZD alleviated the major symptoms of IBS-D subjects by tuning neurotransmitter metabolism.

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a recurrent and common disease featuring dysbiotic intestinal microbiota, with limited treatments. Si-Jun-Zi Decoction (SJZD), a classic Chinese prescription, has been extensively used for IBS-D. This work aimed to explore the ex vivo interactions of SJZD and IBS-D's intestinal microbiota. Five samples of intestinal microbiota collected from IBS-D volunteers and five age-matched healthy controls were recruited from the Affiliated Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). A representative mixture of intestinal microbiota was composed of an equal proportion of these fecal samples. To simulate the clinical interaction, this microbiota was cocultivated with SJZD at clinical dosage in an anaerobic incubator at 37°C for 35 h. Microbiota and metabolic alterations were assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing in the V3/V4 regions and a nontargeted metabolome platform, respectively. After being cocultivated with SJZD, the dysbiotic intestine microbiota from IBS-D subjects was largely restored to those of the healthy controls. A total of 624 differentially expressed metabolites were detected by nontargeted metabolomics, of which 16 biomarkers were identified. These metabolites were then enriched into 11 pathways by KEGG, particularly those involved in neurotransmitter metabolism responses for the major symptom of IBS-D. Correlation analysis of bacterial metabolites demonstrated a synergistic pattern of neurotransmitter metabolism between Streptococcus and E. Shigella. SJZD rescued the dysbiotic intestinal microbiota and ameliorated the dysfunctional neurotransmitter metabolism involved in IBS-D's major symptoms.

Activity enhancement of core–shell Pd@mCeO2 catalysts for phenol hydrogenation to cyclohexanone by tuning metal-support interactions

A core–shell catalyst composed of mCeO2 shell and Pd metal core was prepared by one-pot wet chemical method and used for the hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone. The phenol conversion and cyclohexanone selectivity were 96.3 % and 95.3 % at reaction conditions of 50 min, 80 °C and 1 MPa H2. The effects of Ce species and Br species in the preparation of catalysts was studied, and the synthesis mechanism of core–shell Pd@mCeO2 catalysts was preliminarily revealed. By discussing the phenol adsorption mechanism and the redox properties of the catalyst, the activation of H2 by Pd sites and phenol by cerium oxide (CeO2) sites of the surface were studied. H2-TPR and XPS characterization were used to explain the effect of Ce species and Br species for the catalytic performance. These results indicated that the electronic structure of Pd was regulated by the interaction between Pd and Ce, and different O sites were generated around the Pd sites. In situ IR spectra indicated that phenol was adsorbed and dissociated on cerium to form phenoxy species and water, this synergistic catalytic pattern of carrier activated substrate and hydrogenation site promoted the hydrogenation of phenol and improved the catalytic efficiency.

The impact of Escherichia coli contamination products present in recombinant African horse sickness virus serotype 4 proteins on the innate and humoral immune responses

Transcriptome analysis was used to characterise the in vitro primary and secondary immune responses induced in horse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated for 24 h with the individual recombinant proteins of a virulent AHSV serotype 4 (AHSV4) field isolate (rAHSV4 proteins) that were previously expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results showed that the E. coli contamination products greatly affected the innate and humoral immune response transcripts. Hence, the impact of E. coli contamination products present in the individual rAHSV4 proteins on the translational immune response was determined. The combined amplification effects of synergistic pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), TNF-α and IL-1β signalling induced potent pro-inflammatory responses that were too overwhelming for the anti-inflammatory cytokines and regulators to control. In addition to inducing robust B cell and antibody-mediated responses, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation of the innate-like B cells and subsequent polyreactive (natural) antibody responses could potentially contribute to endotoxin tolerance.

Synergy between stock prices and investor sentiment in social media

The underlying assumption of using investor sentiment to predict stock prices, stock market returns, and liquidity is that of synergy between stock prices and investor sentiment. However, this synergistic relationship has received little attention in the literature. This paper investigates the synergistic pattern between stock prices and investor sentiment using social media messages from stock market investors and natural language processing techniques. At the macro level, we reveal extremely significant positive synergy between investor sentiment and stock prices. That is, when a stock price rises, investor sentiment rises, and when a stock price falls, investor sentiment falls. However, this synergy may be reversed or even disappear over a specific time period. Through a segmented measurement of the synergy between stock prices and investor sentiment over the course of a day, we also find that investor sentiment on social media is forward looking. This provides theoretical support for using investor sentiment in stock price prediction. We also examine the effect of lockdowns, the most draconian response to COVID-19, on synergy between stock prices and investor sentiment through causal inference machine learning. Our analysis shows that external anxiety can significantly affect synergy between stock prices and investor sentiment, but this effect can promote either positive or negative synergy. This paper offers a new perspective on stock price forecasting, investor sentiment, behavioral finance, and the impact of COVID-19 on the stock markets.

Synergistic effect of hydrogen atmosphere and biochar catalyst on tar decomposition and methane-rich gas production during biomass pyrolysis

This study investigated the synergistic effect of a hydrogen atmosphere and biochar for tar removal and CH4-rich gas production during the pyrolysis-catalytic reforming of biomass using a lab-scale dual-stage fixed-bed furnace. The biomass feedstock was pyrolyzed under a hydrogen atmosphere at 850 °C, and then the evolved vapors were passed to a second stage with pyrolysis gases reformed in the presence of biochar as a catalyst. The influence of reforming temperature, hydrogen concentration, and the mineral and layer height of the biochar catalyst were investigated. Using such a synergistic pattern not only effectively promoted tar decomposition but also generated methane-rich gas and continuously regenerated the biochar catalyst. In particular, the tar conversion efficiency reached 93.72 % with the use of biochar under a hydrogen concentration of 20 % at a reformer temperature of 850 °C. The CH4 yield increased evidently with increasing hydrogen concentration and reforming temperature. The maximum CH4 yield in producer gas of 36.52 vol% was obtained at a catalytic temperature of 850 °C and a hydrogen concentration of 100 %. The catalytic activity of minerals in biochar has a significant effect on tar decomposition and producer gas components, which was proven by the decrease in CH4 yield when demineralized biochar was used for reforming the catalyst. The tar conversion efficiency and yield of CH4 tended to increase with increasing biochar catalyst layer height. Finally, a hydropyrolysis-catalytic reforming mechanism of a hydrogen atmosphere and biochar catalyst in tar removal and methane-rich gas production was proposed.