Transition Area Research Articles

Barred, blotched or intermediate? A photographic-based survey on the spatial distribution of <em>Vipera aspis</em> phenotypes from central-southern Italy

Variation in animal colouration, which holds ecological and evolutionary significance, is evident in snakes, including the polytypic and highly polymorphic asp viper Vipera aspis. This species, currently acknowledged with four subspecies, features three of them (V. a. aspis, V. a. francisciredi and V. a. hugyi) within the Italian territory, each displaying distinct dorsal patterns. Analysing 143 georeferenced photos from personal surveys and citizen science, the present study explores transition areas between V. a. francisciredi and V. a. hugyi, revealing the coexistence of three dorsal pattern phenotypes (i.e. francisciredi, hugyi, and intermediate) across central-southern Italy. The outcome of the work reveals occurrences of francisciredi phenotypes considerably beyond the southern limit indicated in recent literature. Remarkably, intermediate phenotypes cover a significant portion of southern Italy, including Apulia (three records), Basilicata (six records) and Campania (three records) regions, and overlapping with both hugyi and francisciredi ranges. These findings suggest asymmetrical gene flow from northern to southern populations, resembling patterns observed in other reptiles. The intricate distribution of colour phenotypes underscores the necessity for molecular investigations to comprehend the genetic context and evolutionary history of V. aspis populations from central-southern Italy.

Evaluating the motional timescales contributing to averaged anisotropic interactions in MAS solid-state NMR

Abstract. Dynamic processes in molecules can occur on a wide range of timescales, and it is important to understand which timescales of motion contribute to different parameters used in dynamics measurements. For spin relaxation, this can easily be understood from the sampling frequencies of the spectral-density function by different relaxation-rate constants. In addition to data from relaxation measurements, determining dynamically averaged anisotropic interactions in magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR allows for better quantification of the amplitude of molecular motion. For partially averaged anisotropic interactions, the relevant timescales of motion are not so clearly defined. Whether the averaging depends on the experimental methods (e.g., pulse sequences) or conditions (e.g., MAS frequency, magnitude of anisotropic interaction, radio-frequency field amplitudes) is not fully understood. To investigate these questions, we performed numerical simulations of dynamic systems based on the stochastic Liouville equation using several experiments for recoupling the dipolar coupling, chemical-shift anisotropy or quadrupolar coupling. As described in the literature, the transition between slow motion, where parameters characterizing the anisotropic interaction are not averaged, and fast motion, where the tensors are averaged leading to a scaled anisotropic quantity, occurs over a window of motional rate constants that depends mainly on the strength of the interaction. This transition region can span 2 orders of magnitude in exchange-rate constants (typically in the microsecond range) but depends only marginally on the employed recoupling scheme or sample spinning frequency. The transition region often coincides with a fast relaxation of coherences, making precise quantitative measurements difficult. Residual couplings in off-magic-angle experiments, however, average over longer timescales of motion. While in principle one may gain information on the timescales of motion from the transition area, extracting such information is hampered by low signal-to-noise ratio in experimental spectra due to fast relaxation that occurs in the same region.

Design of novel glass fiber reinforced polypropylene cable-anchor component and its long-term properties exposed in alkaline solution

The high performance and long life of engineering structures can be realized through replacing traditional steel materials with glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites with high toughness/durability, flexibility design and recycling. In addition, the anchorage problem of composites needs to be solved by developing new anchorage technologies or forms. In the present paper, a new type cable-anchor component was developed to prolong the service life and realize the reliable anchoring of composite. The influence mechanism of arc angle (10°, 20°, and 30°) on the mechanical properties of cable-anchor component was evaluated through the experimental and mechanical simulation. The durability evolution of cable-anchor component exposed to alkali solution environment was investigated through macro-performance test and microstructure analysis. The results showed the tensile strength retention of cable-anchor component was up to 88.7 % at the arc angles of 10° under the circumferential constraint of carbon fiber. Larger arc angle increased the stress concentration and fiber misalignment of transition area between arc and straight segments, leading to the formation and propagation of defects or cracks in transition areas and early fracture failure. The saturated water absorption and diffusion coefficient of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites were obtained to be 0.78 % and 4.41×10−14 m2/s, respectively. Compared with nylon 6 and epoxy resin, polypropylene has excellent hydrophobic properties with the diffusion coefficient ratio of 0.0077 and 0.024. At the longest immersion, the tensile strength retentions of cable-anchor component were 61.8 % and the failure mode changed from component longitudinal splitting to brittleness fracture of arc region. The degradation mechanism was attributed to the initial defects of arc section formed and expanded under the complex stress and corrosive medium, which further aggravated the fiber/resin interfacial debonding. Through comparing with other glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic and thermosetting composites, the cable-anchor component has higher tensile strength retention after the immersion of alkaline solution owing to excellent hydrophobicity behavior of polypropylene and efficient preparation process.

Clay mineralogy in west Chryse Planitia, Mars: Comparison with present and future landing sites

On Mars, the well-known crustal dichotomy marks the boundary between the old southern highlands and the younger northern lowlands. Among these lowlands, Chryse Planitia resembles a quasi-circular basin surrounded by several highlands, and blends into Acidalia Planitia, another flat lowland located farther north. The transition area between these highlands and the Chryse basin is often designated as “circum-Chryse Planitia”, and is the terminus for many outflow channels. Infrared datasets display several sites therein with extensive clay-bearing outcrops, further testifying for aqueous activity on early Mars – notably around Mawrth Vallis, Oxia Planum and Xanthe Terra. In this study, we investigate clay-bearing outcrops identified along the western margins of circum-Chryse basin, often overlooked in the Martian literature. We also compare them with outcrops found in other regions along the crustal dichotomy and relevant in the Martian literature, such as Oxia Planum, Mawrth Vallis and Nili Fossae. Investigating such deposits is crucial for astrobiological perspectives, as they are appealing targets to search for organic compounds possibly stored throughout the rocks and soils. Fe,Mg-rich clays generally result from the interaction of liquid water with rocks under low temperatures, moderate pH levels and neutral to reducing conditions, factors favorable for life. Here, the clay minerals detected in west Chryse Planitia are consistent with either ferrosaponites or vermiculites associated with hydrobiotite, as recently inferred in Oxia Planum and north Xanthe Terra. Diverse alteration pathways might be involved based on either of these clay species. The clay-bearing rocks crop out in isolated hills in Lunae Planum, and along inverted channels and small craters in Tempe Terra. Further geologic investigations in circum-Chryse Planitia should certainly provide new clues on their origin and weathering conditions, while supporting the upcoming ExoMars rover mission and other future explorations.

The Significance of the Financial Situation of Local Government Units for Their Energy Transition Activities: The Case of the Podkarpackie Region

This paper discusses the financial determinants of the efforts of local government units (LGUs) to invest in the area of energy transition (ET). The main objective is to verify the links between the scale, directions, and funding sources of LGUs’ investments in ET and their budgetary situation described by the level of income independence, budget result, and debt level. The general research hypothesis assumes that the ET investment activity of LGUs is associated with their financial situation. The analysis covers the period 2019–2022 and uses data from the questionnaire-based survey conducted in 2023 among 181 LGUs in the Podkarpackie region in southern Poland. Non-parametric tests were employed to verify the association between the LGUs’ ET investment activity and their financial situation: the Chi2 test, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and the Kendall’s Tau correlation. Financial aspects were shown to influence the scale of municipal ET investments, as well as the type of projects implemented. Among the analysed financial indicators, the debt level was the most important constraint for LGUs to make their own ET investments. The debt level not only determined the scale of municipal ET investment, but also influenced decisions on the type of investments.

Comparison of composite cylinder damage under different working conditions

Abstract The finite element model of the carbon fiber all-wound aluminum cylinder was created to analyze the damage caused by high pressure, and the progression of damage as pressure increased was examined. The damage initially occurs in the transitional area between the cylinder end and cylinder body before progressing to the winding layer of the cylinder. The failure characteristics of the circumferential wound layer contrast with those of the spiral wound layer.

Optimizing shared bike systems for economic gain: Integrating land use and retail

This study explores the optimization of shared-bike station locations, emphasizing the cycling role in low-carbon mobility and local economic revitalization. A unique aspect of this research is the incorporation of the retail activity index in determining station locations, land-use mix, transit proximity, and population and employment densities. A novel weighting method, combining the multi-criteria decision method “Criteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation (CRITIC)” with Ensemble-based predictive algorithms (Random Forest, XGBoost, Gradient Boosting), was developed to evaluate these factors. Using a geographic information system-based spatial model, this study conducted a suitability analysis by applying these weights to assess and propose bike station sites. The findings from the Seoul case indicate a balanced land-use mix, a low number of transactions linked to cyclists, and a significant gap in multimodal transport integration. The weighting results revealed a high priority for transit proximity and retail activity in station placement. Suitability scores across districts revealed significant variability, suggesting the need for greater integration of cycling policies into urban planning. High-scoring districts, such as Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu, offer insights for improvements in less suitable areas. This study advocates expanded cycling planning, focusing on enhancing access to public transit and retail areas.

Effects of a Near Wake model on the performance of a Multi-Megawatt wind turbine with an active flap

The impact of including the near wake model in the aeroelastic models of an SWT-DD-120 wind turbine equipped with an active trailing edge flap system (ATEF) is studied. The ATEF installed on this turbine was tested in full scale in a series of campaigns between 2018 and 2022. Since standard BEM methods cannot accurately capture the induced velocities near the transition areas of the start and end of flap add-ons due to the strong interaction of the local trailed vorticity with the neighboring blade sections, this study aims to investigate if and how the near wake model is relevant in the aerodynamic and aeroelastic characterization of rotor blades with active flaps. It is shown that the Near Wake model, when combined with an active trailing edge flap system, has a marginal impact on the blades’ thrust-related loads, independently from the presence, actuation state, and actuation frequency of the flap. The impact on the torque-related loads is also marginal at the blade root, while it becomes more relevant in the blade area where the flaps are deployed.

Flow regimes identification of air water counter current flow in vertical annulus using differential pressure signals and machine learning

This study investigates the gas–liquid two-phase counter-current flow through a vertical annulus, a phenomenon prevalent across numerous industrial fields. The presence of an inner pipe and varying degrees of eccentricity between the inner and outer pipes often blur the clear demarcation of flow regime boundaries. To address this, we designed a vertical annulus with adjustable eccentricity (outer and inner diameters of 125 mm and 75 mm, respectively). We conducted gas–liquid counter-current flow experiments under specific conditions: gas superficial velocity ranging from 0.06 to 5.04 m/s, liquid superficial velocity from 0.01 to 0.25 m/s, and five levels of eccentricity (e = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1). We collected differential pressure data at two distinct height distances (DP1: 50 mm and DP2: 1000 mm). We used vectors, composed of both the probability density functions (PDFs) of the differential pressure signals and the power spectral density (PSD) reduced via Principal Component Analysis, as features. Using the CFDP clustering algorithm—based on local density—we clustered the flow regimes of the experimental data, thereby achieving an objective and consistent identification of the flow regime of gas–liquid two-phase counter-current flow in a vertical annulus. Our analysis reveals that for DP1, the main differences in the PSD of various flow regimes occur within the 0.5–1 Hz range. Among the three flow regimes involved, the slug flow exhibits the highest power intensity, followed by the bubbly flow, with the churn flow having the least. In terms of differential pressure distribution, the bubbly and churn flows have a concentrated distribution, while the slug flow is more dispersed. For DP2, the PSD differences primarily exist within the 0.5–2 Hz range. The churn flow has the highest power intensity, followed by the slug flow, with the bubbly flow being the weakest. Here, the bubbly flow's differential pressure distribution is concentrated, while the slug and churn flows are more dispersed. Based on the results of the flow regime classification, we generated a flow regime map and analyzed the influence of annulus eccentricity on the flow regime. We found that in most cases, pipe eccentricity does not significantly affect the flow regime. However, in the transition region—such as the bubbly to slug flow transition zone—flows with medium eccentricity values (e = 0.5, 0.75) are more likely to transition to slug flow. We compared the visual recognition results of flow regimes with the clustering results. 4.04% of the total samples showed different results from visual recognition and clustering, primarily located in the flow regime transition area. Since visually distinguishing flow regimes in these areas is typically challenging, our methodology offers an objective classification approach for gas–liquid two-phase counter-current flow in a vertical annulus.

Analysis of Service Performance for Intermodal Facilities in The Area of Asrama Haji and Bumi Sriwijaya Stations

The integrated intermodal service system between the South Sumatra Light Rail Transit (LRT) and road-based transportation modes such as the Palembang Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Angkot Feeder Musi Emas still has shortcomings, particularly in the areas of the Asrama Haji and Bumi Sriwijaya Station. This research is conducted to observe the conditions of the physical facilities, payment integration, and schedules at both stations, as well as to examine the regulations in meeting the standards of ideal pedestrian physical facilities, which are then compared with passenger perceptions. This research utilizes the methods of crosstabulation analysis and Importance Performance Analysis (IPA). Crosstabulation analysis is used to determine the relationship between respondents' sociodemographic and their travel characteristics. Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) is used to assess passenger perceptions of the performance quality of intermodal facilities. Based on the research finding, according to passengers perceptions of 49 service attributes, there are 20 attributes that have a high level of importance but low performance, indicating the existence of three service provision needs that need to be prioritized for improvement. First, the provision of adequate and disability-friendly sidewalk facilities. Second, the provision of pedestrian crossing facilities. Third, the access to and from the node that is free from traffic conflicts. The recommended solutions include the construction of sidewalks connected to the node points, built higher than the road surface, installation of guiding block, barrier posts, and ramps at each end of the sidewalk, construction of an overpass (JPO) at the Asrama Haji Station and a pelican cross at the Bumi Sriwijaya Station, and the regulation of transit areas to prevent vehicles from parking and waiting at the entrance and exit points of the node.

The influence of the chlorine atom on the biological activity of 2′-hydroxychalcone in relation to the lipid phase of biological membranes - Anticancer and antimicrobial activity

The study investigates the effect of the presence of a chlorine atom in the 2′-hydroxychalcone molecule on its interaction with model lipid membranes, in order to discern its potential pharmacological activity. Five chlorine derivatives of 2′-hydroxychalcone were synthesized and evaluated against liposomes composed of POPC and enriched with cationic (DOTAP) or anionic (POPG) lipids. The physicochemical properties of the compounds were initially simulated using SwissAdame software, revealing high lipophilicity (ilogP values: 2.79–2.90). The dynamic light scattering analysis of liposomes showed that chloro chalcones induce minor changes in the diameter of liposomes of different surface charges. Fluorescence quenching assays with a TMA-DPH probe demonstrated the strong ability of the compounds to interact with the lipid bilayer, with varying quenching capacities based on chlorine atom position. FTIR studies indicated alterations in carbonyl, phosphate, and choline groups, suggesting a transition area localization rather than deep penetration into the hydrocarbon chains. Additionally, dipole potential reduction was observed in POPC and POPC-POPG membranes, particularly pronounced by derivatives with a chlorine atom in the B ring. Antibacterial and antibiofilm assays revealed enhanced activity of derivatives with a chlorine atom compared to 2′-hydroxychalcone, especially against Gram-positive bacteria. The MIC and MBIC50 values showed increased efficacy in the presence of chlorine with 3′-5′-dichloro-2′-hydroxychalcone demonstrating optimal antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity. Furthermore, antiproliferative assays against breast cancer cell lines indicated higher activity of B-ring chlorine derivatives, particularly against MDA-MB-231 cells. In general, the presence of a chlorine atom in 2′-hydroxychalcone improves its pharmacological potential, with derivatives showing improved antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antiproliferative activities, especially against aggressive breast cancer cell lines. These findings underscore the importance of molecular structure in modulating biological activity and highlight chalcones with a chlorine as promising candidates for further drug development studies.

Study on Replacement of Fine Aggregate with Light Weighted Super Absorbent Material in Internal Curing Concrete: A Review

The research on internal post-remediation approaches to high-performing concrete (HPC) for various materials is analyzed in this paper. To achieve the necessary internal hardness, lower the cement suspension's tendency to dry on its own, and drop the chance of cracks in the hardened concrete, common materials are required. Additionally, the behavior of HPC is the primary concern of this study, along with the microstructure of hydrated cement paste, density, strength (compression, tensile, and bending), and shrinkage (self-shrinking and drying). The findings indicated that internal hardness, instead of compressive strength, had a stronger effect on tensile and flexural strength in old age. The interfacial transition area gets denser and stronger as a result of internal solidification. Understanding the effect of waste on internal concrete (ICC) presents the primary challenge in analyzing prior research.

Localization of stuttering based on causal brain lesions.

Stuttering affects approximately 1 in 100 adults and can result in significant communication problems and social anxiety. It most often occurs as a developmental disorder but can also be caused by focal brain damage. These latter cases may lend unique insight into the brain regions causing stuttering. Here, we investigated the neuroanatomical substrate of stuttering using three independent datasets: (i) case reports from the published literature of acquired neurogenic stuttering following stroke (n = 20, 14 males/six females, 16-77 years); (ii) a clinical single study cohort with acquired neurogenic stuttering following stroke (n = 20, 13 males/seven females, 45-87 years); and (iii) adults with persistent developmental stuttering (n = 20, 14 males/six females, 18-43 years). We used the first two datasets and lesion network mapping to test whether lesions causing acquired stuttering map to a common brain network. We then used the third dataset to test whether this lesion-based network was relevant to developmental stuttering. In our literature dataset, we found that lesions causing stuttering occurred in multiple heterogeneous brain regions, but these lesion locations were all functionally connected to a common network centred around the left putamen, including the claustrum, amygdalostriatal transition area and other adjacent areas. This finding was shown to be specific for stuttering (PFWE < 0.05) and reproducible in our independent clinical cohort of patients with stroke-induced stuttering (PFWE < 0.05), resulting in a common acquired stuttering network across both stroke datasets. Within the common acquired stuttering network, we found a significant association between grey matter volume and stuttering impact for adults with persistent developmental stuttering in the left posteroventral putamen, extending into the adjacent claustrum and amygdalostriatal transition area (PFWE < 0.05). We conclude that lesions causing acquired neurogenic stuttering map to a common brain network, centred to the left putamen, claustrum and amygdalostriatal transition area. The association of this lesion-based network with symptom severity in developmental stuttering suggests a shared neuroanatomy across aetiologies.

Biomass Burning in Northeast China over Two Decades: Temporal Trends and Geographic Patterns

Despite the significant impacts of biomass burning (BB) on global climate change and regional air pollution, there is a relative lack of research on the temporal trends and geographic patterns of BB in Northeast China (NEC). This study investigates the spatial–temporal distribution of BB and its impact on the atmospheric environment in the NEC region during 2004 to 2023 based on remote sensing satellite data and reanalyzed data, using the Siegel’s Repeated Median Estimator and Mann–Kendall test for trend analysis, HDBSCAN to identify significant BB change regions, and Moran’s Index to examine the spatial autocorrelation of BB. The obtained results indicate a fluctuating yet overall increasing BB trend, characterized by annual increases of 759 for fire point counts (FPC) and 12,000 MW for fire radiated power (FRP). BB predominantly occurs in the Songnen Plain (SNP), Sanjiang Plain (SJP), Liaohe Plain (LHP), and the transitional area between SNP and the adjacent Greater Khingan Mountains (GKM) and Lesser Khingan Mountains (LKM). Cropland and urban areas exhibit the highest growth in BB trends, each surpassing 60% (p &lt; 0.05), with the most significant growth cluster spanning 68,634.9 km2. Seasonal analysis shows that BB peaks in spring and autumn, with spring experiencing the highest severity. The most critical periods for BB are March–April and October–November, during which FPC and FRP contribute to over 80% of the annual total. This trend correlates with spring planting and autumn harvesting, where cropland FPC constitutes 71% of all land-cover types involved in BB. Comparative analysis of the aerosol extinction coefficient (AEC) between areas with increasing and decreasing BB indicates higher AEC in BB increasing regions, especially in spring, with the vertical transport of BB reaching up to 1.5 km. County-level spatial autocorrelation analysis indicates high–high clustering in the SNP and SJP, with a notable resurgence of autocorrelation in the SNP, suggesting the need for coordinated provincial prevention and control efforts. Finally, our analysis of the impact of BB on atmospheric pollutants shows that there is a correlation between FRP and pollutants, with correlations for PM2.5, PM10, and CO of 0.4, 0.4, and 0.5, respectively. In addition, the impacts of BB vary by region and season, with the most significant impacts occurring in the spring, especially in the SNP, which requires more attention. In summary, considering the escalating BB trend in NEC and its significant effect on air quality, this study highlights the urgent necessity for improved monitoring and strategic interventions.

A Smooth Transition: Assessing Transition Readiness in Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an early onset condition that affects individuals of all ages. Approximately 15%-25% of patients present before the age of 20years, with peak onset occurring during adolescence. To evaluate transition readiness among adolescents diagnosed with IBD and identify barriers to transition. We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients with IBD aged 12-21years. Patients were stratified by age into three groups: A (12-14years), B (14-17years), and C (17 + years). Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire which assessed patient knowledge in three areas of transition: 'Taking Charge,' 'My Health,' and 'Using Health Care.' Fisher's Exact and Chi-Square tests were used to evaluate the associations between age and transition readiness. A total of 127 participants (68 males and 59 females) with a mean age of 16.14years were included. Transition readiness increased with age from 60.7% in Group A to 63.2% and 77.9% in Groups B and C, respectively (p < 0.001). Patient confidence and the importance of transition increased with age, with means of 5.51, 6.17, and 6.94 in Groups A, B, and C (p = 0.02). Patient-reported knowledge of their health condition was > 70%, with no statistical differences between the groups (p = 0.65). Patient knowledge regarding 'Using Health Care' increased from 52% in Group A to 79% in Group C (p < 0.001). The greatest barriers to transitioning were carrying health information for Group A (100%) and obtaining provider referrals for Groups B (75%) and C (51%). This study demonstrated that transition readiness increases with age in adolescents with IBD.

Analysis of femur injury of vehicle frontal collision based on knee mapping test

In order to study the risk of dummy knee injuries in frontal collisions of automobiles, by analyzing a large number of knee mapping test data, the collision waveform intensity and the dummy knee risk situation were classified and counted. The influence laws of different characteristic risk points, collision speeds, and belt forces on femur loads were investigated. The results show that the distribution of OLC values at 50km/h is the largest in the range of 29-32g. The crash waveforms of both models are enhanced after speeding up, but the form of enhancement is different.The position where the driver is most likely to become a risk point is the steering column adjustment switch and the steering column cover bolts and brackets. The passenger seat is the transition area of the harder interior trim, and the highest risk point for femur loads exceeding the limit is the steering column adjustment switch. The highest median femur loads under different risk points is the hard corner of the central control screen. The femur loads increases with the increase of collision speed and decreases with the increase of seat belt tension.

Residents’ perceptions of ecosystem services in an urbanizing basin: A case study in the Guanting Reservoir basin, China

Understanding stakeholders’ differences in perceptions of ecosystem services (ES) is crucial for guiding ecological conservation and planning. However, the variations of ES perception amongst different types of residents in urbanizing areas along an urban-rural gradient are still poorly understood. Combining a questionnaire-based survey, redundancy analysis, and statistical tests, we delineated the urban-rural gradient according to local residents’ socio-economic characteristics, and investigated the differences in local residents’ perceptions of ES and potential factors affecting them in the Guanting Reservoir basin, a rapidly urbanizing basin in China. The results showed that residents living in urban-rural transitional areas attached great importance to provisioning services of providing food and domestic water, regulating services of carbon sequestration and air purification, and cultural services of providing education and training, which were 0.7%–13.1%, 0.7%–9.1% and 2.5%–21.2% higher than that of residents in other areas, respectively. Age and occupation were major factors affecting residents’ perceptions. In terms of land-use types that deliver ES, the difference in perceptions of ES delivered by grassland was the greatest amongst residents. Our results support recommendations for policymakers to take into account the stakeholders’ diverse perceptions, thus promoting residents’ sense of gain on ES.

A New Large-Scale Monitoring Index of Desertification Based on Kernel Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Feature Space Model

As a new vegetation monitoring index, the KNDVI has certain advantages in characterizing the evolutionary process of regional desertification. However, there are few reports on desertification monitoring based on KNDVI and feature space models. In this study, seven feature parameters, including the kernel normalized difference vegetation index (KNDVI) and Albedo, were introduced to construct different models for desertification remote-sensing monitoring. The optimal desertification remote-sensing monitoring index model was determined with the measured data; then, the spatiotemporal evolution pattern of desertification in Gulang County from 2013 to 2023 was analyzed and revealed. The main conclusions were as follows: (1) Compared with the NDVI and MSAVI, the KNDVI showed more advantages in the characterization of the desertification evolution process. (2) The point–line pattern KNDVI-Albedo remote-sensing index model had the highest monitoring accuracy, reaching 94.93%, while the point–line pattern NDVI-TGSI remote-sensing monitoring index had the lowest accuracy of 54.38%. (3) From 2013 to 2023, the overall desertification situation in Gulang County showed a trend of improvement with a pattern of “firstly aggravation and then alleviation.” Additionally, the gravity center of desertification in Gulang County first shifted to the southeast and then to the northeast, indicating that the northeast’s aggravating rate of desertification was higher than in the southwest during the period. (4) From 2013 to 2023, the area of stable desertification in Gulang County was the largest, followed by the slightly weakened zone, and the most significant transition area was that of extreme desertification to severe desertification. The research results provide important decision support for the precise monitoring and governance of regional desertification.

The correlation between time-intensity curve parameters of transrectal contrast-enhanced ultrasound and pathological prognostic factors in rectal adenocarcinoma.

To investigate the correlation between time-intensity curve (TIC) parameters obtained from transrectal contrast-enhancedultrasound (TR-CEUS) and important pathological prognostic factors in rectal adenocarcinoma. We retrospectively included 477 patients with pathologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma. TIC parameters werederived from preoperative dynamic TR-CEUS images. These parameters included peak intensity (PI), time to peak (TTP),mean transit time (MTT), slope (S), and area under the curve (AREA). Pathological prognostic factors included TN stage,tumor diameter, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), perineural invasion, and tumor differentiation. Spearman's correlation analysisand binary logistic regression were used to analyze the association between TIC parameters and pathological prognosticfactors. pT1-2 stages rectal carcinomas exhibited higher PI-max, PI-min, S-max, S-min, AREA-max, and AREA-minthan pT3-4 stages (all p<0.05). pN0 stage rectal adenocarcinomas displayed higher PI-max, S-max, AREA-max, PI-ratio, Sratio,and AREA-ratio than pN1-2 stage (all p<0.05). PI-ratio and S-ratio were higher in the LVI-negative and tumor diameter≥4cm group compared to the LVI-positive and tumor diameter <4cm group, respectively (p<0.05). Well-differentiated rectaladenocarcinomas displayed higher PI-max, AREA-max, PI-ratio, S-ratio, and AREA-ratio than the moderate-poor differentiatedgroup (all p<0.05). PI-max, S-max, AREA-max, PI-ratio, S-ratio, and AREA-ratio were negatively correlated with pNstage (all p<0.05). PI-ratio and S-ratio were independent predictive factors for the pN stage (OR=0.774, OR=1.048). S-ratioand AREA-ratio were independent predictive factors for tumor differentiation (OR=1.071, OR=0.911). TIC parametersderived from TR-CEUS exhibit correlations with specific pathological prognostic factors in rectal adenocarcinomas.This non-invasive method may hold promise for preoperatively assessing the prognosis of rectal adenocarcinoma patients.

Negative family and interpersonal relationship are associated with centromedial amygdala functional connectivity alterations in adolescent depression.

The amygdala, known for its functional heterogeneity, plays a critical role in the neural mechanism of adolescent major depressive disorder (aMDD). However, changes in its subregional functional networks in relation to stressful factors remain unclear. We recruited 78 comorbidity-free, medication-naive aMDD patients and 40 matched healthy controls (HC) to explore changes in resting-state functional connectivity (FC) across four amygdala subregions: the centromedial nucleus (CM), the basolateral nucleus (LB), the superficial nucleus (SF), and the amygdalostriatal transition area (Astr). Then, we performed partial correlation analysis to investigate the relationship between amygdala subregional FC and stressful factors as measured by the Chinese Version of Family Environment Scale (FES-CV) and the Adolescent Self-Rated Life Events Scale (ASLEC). Compared to HC, aMDD patients demonstrated significantly decreased functional connectivity between the left CM and left precentral gyrus, as well as between left SF and left precentral gyrus, and between left LB and posterior cingulate gyrus (PCC)/precuneus. In aMDD group, left CM-precentral gyrus FC exhibited negative correlation with interpersonal relationship and punishment, and positive correlation with family cohesion and expressiveness. This study reveals distinct patterns of abnormal functional connectivity among amygdala subregions in aMDD. Our findings suggest that the CM network, in particular, may be involved in stress-related factors in aMDD, which provide a potential target for the prevention and treatment of adolescent depression.