The legacy of United States cluster munition use in Laos and Cambodia during the Second Indochina War is residual bomblets that unexpectedly detonate years later, killing and injuring children, farmers, and other civi...The legacy of United States cluster munition use in Laos and Cambodia during the Second Indochina War is residual bomblets that unexpectedly detonate years later, killing and injuring children, farmers, and other civilians. Cluster munitions release dozens of smaller bomblets that rain deadly ammunition on troops, armored tanks, and vegetation, effectively striking broad sections of war zone landscapes in one launch. While many bomblets detonate immediately, others fail to detonate and can lie dormant on the ground for years. The primary objectives of this study were to document the long-term consequences and impacts of the US Air Force bombing of Laos and Cambodia during the Second Indochina War (1959 to 1973). The historical lessons learned by United States should be shared with Russia and Ukraine governments and military. These countries need to discontinue the use of cluster bombs to prevent additional people living along the Russia-Ukraine border from having to live and die with the consequences of unexploded ordnance, including cluster bombs, for the next century.展开更多
Background Diets with high inclusion of corn co-products such as corn fermented protein(CFP)may contain excess Leu,which has a negative impact on feed intake and growth performance of pigs due to increased catabolism ...Background Diets with high inclusion of corn co-products such as corn fermented protein(CFP)may contain excess Leu,which has a negative impact on feed intake and growth performance of pigs due to increased catabolism of Val and Ile and reduced availability of Trp in the brain for serotonin synthesis.However,we hypothesized that the negative effect of using CFP in diets for weanling pigs may be overcome if diets are fortified with crystalline sources of Val,Trp,and(or)Ile.Methods Three hundred and twenty weanling pigs were randomly allotted to one of 10 dietary treatments in a com-pletely randomized design,with 4 pigs per pen and 8 replicate pens per treatment.A corn-soybean meal diet and 2 basal diets based on corn and 10%CFP or corn and 20%CFP were formulated.Seven additional diets were formu-lated by fortifying the basal diet with 20%CFP with Ile,Trp,Val,Ile and Val,Ile and Trp,Trp and Val,or Ile,Trp and Val.A two-phase feeding program was used,with d 1 to 14 being phase 1 and d 15 to 28 being phase 2.Fecal scores were recorded every other day.Blood samples were collected on d 14 and 28 from one pig per pen.On d 14,fecal samples were collected from one pig per pen in 3 of the 10 treatments to determine volatile fatty acids,ammonium concen-tration,and microbial protein.These pigs were also euthanized and ileal tissue was collected.Results There were no effects of dietary treatments on any of the parameters evaluated in phase 1.Inclusion of 10%or 20%CFP in diets reduced(P<0.05)final body weight on d 28,and average daily gain(ADG)and average daily feed intake(ADFI)in phase 2 and for the entire experimental period.However,pigs fed the CFP diet supplemented with Val,Ile,and Trp had final body weight,ADFI,ADG and gain to feed ratio in phase 2 and for the entire experiment that was not different from pigs fed the control diet.Fecal scores in phase 2 were reduced(P<0.05)if CFP was used.Conclusions Corn fermented protein may be included by up to 20%in diets for weanling pigs without affecting growth performance,gut health,or hindgut fermentation,if diets are fortified with extra Val,Trp,and Ile.Inclusion of CFP also improved fecal consistency of pigs.展开更多
During times of war, it is rare to find a government willing and able to require the military to fund and support environmental impact studies. In the 1960s, many United States scientists expressed concerns about the ...During times of war, it is rare to find a government willing and able to require the military to fund and support environmental impact studies. In the 1960s, many United States scientists expressed concerns about the use of herbicides during the Vietnam War. This protest was led by Dr. Arthur Galston and eventually included scientists with the National Academy of Science. By 1970, the Department of Defense (DoD) was ordered to permit the scientists to visit South Vietnam during the war to document these impacts. In all 1500 scientist days were spent in South Vietnam. In addition, the US government and military funded research studies on the impact of herbicides on animals. The goal of military use of herbicides, as chemical weapons, was to defoliate jungle forests and destroy food crops as a strategy to win battles and the war. The primary objective of this research study is to describe how it is possible for a country to fund and carry out scientific studies during the conduct of a war rather than decades later. The environmental impact study findings often lack boots on the ground validation and can be inaccurate or misleading in some situations. The United States (US) and other countries, including Russia and Ukraine, need to learn the historical lessons from the US use of herbicides, containing dioxin TCDD and/or arsenic (As), as chemical weapons during the Vietnam War.展开更多
The Suez Canal is a unique sea-level waterway between northern Africa and southern Asia that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via the Isthmus of Suez. The canal’s artificial navigation route substantiall...The Suez Canal is a unique sea-level waterway between northern Africa and southern Asia that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via the Isthmus of Suez. The canal’s artificial navigation route substantially reduced the sailing distance between countries in Europe and East Asia and offered a more direct route between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean through the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The primary objective of this study is to document the historical, economical, and environmental impacts of connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea via a canal. After the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 the canal became an economically lifeline for Egypt. However, the economic gains were partially offset by negative environmental impacts. The impact of port activities on the environment depends on their cargo volume and location, seaports can have an impact on the air quality and therefore on the health of the communities along the Suez Canal. The salinity barrier to migration was removed and animals and plants from the Red Sea began colonizing the eastern Mediterranean. Since the 1880s, species from the Indo-Pacific Ocean have been introduced, via the canal, into the Mediterranean ecosystem. They are endangering some local and endemic species and impacting the ecology. The results showed significant changes in the shoreline and land cover due to climate change and anthropogenic activities that necessitate the implementation of adequate protective measures. The findings of this study may assist policymakers in formulating adaptation plans to protect this crucial area, the communities along the Suez Canal and the Red Sea and Mediterranean ports, from climate change and human activities.展开更多
Upper mantle discontinuities play an important role in slab dynamics and mantle responses in the subduction zones.Despite increasing numbers of seismological observations in the Hindu Kush, fine structures of mantle d...Upper mantle discontinuities play an important role in slab dynamics and mantle responses in the subduction zones.Despite increasing numbers of seismological observations in the Hindu Kush, fine structures of mantle discontinuities still remain less explored, highlighting less understood interactions of the Indian slab and discontinuities. Here we collected a large dataset of several dense seismic networks/arrays, extracted near-source SdP waves in P-wave codas using the N-th root slant stackings, and then systematically imaged upper mantle discontinuities around the Indian slab beneath Hindu Kush. In comparison with the IASP91 model, we confirmed an abrupt topographic transition of the 410-km discontinuity(410) from uplifts of up to 41 km to depressions of less than 20 km near the slab edge and a slightly depressed 660-km discontinuity(660) with depths of 660 to 668 km below the slab front, as well as a fluctuating 300-km discontinuity(300) with depths of 264 to 337 km. We suggest that the 410 is elevated by the Indian slab due to the interior coldness, and deepened near the slab edge by the hot upwelling slab-entrained mantle that escapes below the slab bottom. Based on a depressed 410 inside the Indian slab and a 660with slight depressions below the slab, we infer that the subducted Indian slab currently stretches into the upper MTZ. Moreover,we interpret the fluctuant 300 as the coesite to stishovite phase transition in the subduction-zone mantle enriched in the eclogite.When considered alongside other studies, our results can provide more insights into the dynamics of the Indian slab and mantle responses.展开更多
Unlike conventional room and pillar underground coal mining,where subsidence is designed to be prevented,subsidence is a planned outcome of other methodologies.These include high extraction retreat,where the roof supp...Unlike conventional room and pillar underground coal mining,where subsidence is designed to be prevented,subsidence is a planned outcome of other methodologies.These include high extraction retreat,where the roof supporting pillars are systematically removed,and longwall mining,which employs a machine that mines a continuous strip of coal,thus leaving no roof supports.Both types result in the surface dropping -70% of the mined-out thickness.In Illinois there was a concern that farm land thus subsided would be lost to productive agriculture.Consequently,the possibility that planned mine subsidence would be banned in Illinois lead to the creation of the Illinois Mine Subsidence Research Program in 1985 to investigate agricultural impacts of planned mine subsidence and the possibility of mitigating its impact.Its findings established that subsidence was not as detrimental as feared and that the impacts could be mitigated.The project was a successful collaboration of state and federal governments and local Universities.Similarly,in Queensland,longwall mining is opposed by some in the farming community.In response,Bandanna Energy,the company planning the mining,organized the Agricultural Coexistence Research Committee to oversee research into the mitigation of longwall mining impacts.Although the soils,climate,and regulatory regimes are different,concerns of the local communities are similar.展开更多
The Precambrian basement rocks of the Eastern Granite-Rhyolite Province(EGRP)in central Illinois(midcontinent region of North America)exhibit a complex history of early volcanism,granite emplacement,and intrusion of m...The Precambrian basement rocks of the Eastern Granite-Rhyolite Province(EGRP)in central Illinois(midcontinent region of North America)exhibit a complex history of early volcanism,granite emplacement,and intrusion of mafic rocks.A comprehensive suite of dedicated petrographic analyses,geophysical logs,and drill core from four basement-penetrating wells,two-dimensional and three-dimensional seismic reflection data,and U-Pb age data from the Illinois Basin–Decatur Project(IBDP)and Illinois Carbon Capture Storage(ICCS)Project site provide new constraints for interpreting the Precambrian basement of the Illinois Basin.These new data reveal the basement to be compositionally and structurally complex,having typical EGRP felsic volcanic rocks intruded by the first reported gabbro in the Precambrian basement in Illinois.Zircons(n?29)from rhyolite give a U-Pb weighted mean average age of 14679 Ma.Zircons(n?3)from a gabbro dike that intrudes the rhyolite yield a concordia age of 107312 Ma,which corresponds to Grenville-age extension and represents the first Grenville-age rock in Illinois and in the EGRP.A high-resolution three-dimensional seismic reflection volume,coincident with the four wells,provides a context for interpreting the petrological data and implies a high degree of heterogeneity for basement rocks at the IBDP–ICCS site,as also shown by the drill cores.The occurrence of Grenville-age gabbro is related to a prominent bowl-like structure observed on local two-dimensional seismic reflection profiles and the three-dimensional volume that is interpreted as a deep-seated mafic sill complex.Furthermore,heterogeneities such as the brecciated EGRP rhyolite and later gabbro intrusion observed in the basement lithology at the IBDP–ICCS may reflect previously unknown distal elements of the 1.1 Ga Midcontinent Rift in the EGRP and more likely Grenville-age extension.展开更多
Introduction: Although individual-level dietary behavior among racial/ethnic minority groups in the US is influenced by cultural food preferences and socioeconomic position, few studies of the food store environment h...Introduction: Although individual-level dietary behavior among racial/ethnic minority groups in the US is influenced by cultural food preferences and socioeconomic position, few studies of the food store environment have simultaneously examined both factors. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the availability of culturally specific fruits and vegetables for African Americans and Latinos by levels of neighborhood deprivation. The 5 small central Illinois cities selected for the study have exhibited increasing numbers of both racial/ ethnic groups in the last decade. Methods: A validated audit tool was used to survey 118 food stores in 2008. Census 2000 block group data was used to create a neighborhood deprivation index (categorized as low, medium, and high) based on socioeconomic characteristics using principal component analysis. Statistical analyses were performed in SPSS version 17.0 to determine whether the availability of culturally specific fruits and vegetables (n = 31) varied by neighborhood levels of deprivation and store type. Results: Fewer than 50% of neighborhoods carried culturally specific fruits and vegetables, with the lowest availability found in low deprivation neighborhoods (p < 0.05). Culturally specific fruits and vegetables were most often found in neighborhoods with medium levels of deprivation, and in grocery stores (p < 0.05). Latino fruits and vegetables were less likely to be found across neighborhoods or in stores, compared to African-American fruits and vegetables. Conclusions: The limited availability of culturally specific fruits and vegetables for African Americans and Latinos highlights potential environmental challenges with adherence to daily dietary guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption in these groups.展开更多
Fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)offers a potential treatment avenue for hepatic encephalopathy(HE)by leveraging beneficial bacterial displacement to restore a balanced gut microbiome.The prevalence of HE varies w...Fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)offers a potential treatment avenue for hepatic encephalopathy(HE)by leveraging beneficial bacterial displacement to restore a balanced gut microbiome.The prevalence of HE varies with liver disease severity and comorbidities.HE pathogenesis involves ammonia toxicity,gut-brain communication disruption,and inflammation.FMT aims to restore gut microbiota balance,addressing these factors.FMT's efficacy has been explored in various conditions,including HE.Studies suggest that FMT can modulate gut microbiota,reduce ammonia levels,and alleviate inflammation.FMT has shown promise in alcohol-associated,hepatitis B and C-associated,and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Benefits include improved liver function,cognitive function,and the slowing of disease progression.However,larger,controlled studies are needed to validate its effectiveness in these contexts.Studies have shown cognitive improvements through FMT,with potential benefits in cirrhotic patients.Notably,trials have demonstrated reduced serious adverse events and cognitive enhancements in FMT arms compared to the standard of care.Although evidence is promising,challenges remain:Limited patient numbers,varied dosages,administration routes,and donor profiles.Further large-scale,controlled trials are essential to establish standardized guidelines and ensure FMT's clinical applications and efficacy.While FMT holds potential for HE management,ongoing research is needed to address these challenges,optimize protocols,and expand its availability as a therapeutic option for diverse hepatic conditions.展开更多
Background Reduction of the particle size of corn increases energy digestibility and concentrations of digestible and metabolizable energy.Pelleting may also reduce particle size of grain,but it is not known if there ...Background Reduction of the particle size of corn increases energy digestibility and concentrations of digestible and metabolizable energy.Pelleting may also reduce particle size of grain,but it is not known if there are interactions between particle size reduction and pelleting.The objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that particle size reduction and pelleting,separately or in combination,increase N balance,apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of fiber and fat,and net energy(NE)in corn-soybean meal diets fed to group-housed pigs.Methods Six corn-soybean meal-based diets were used in a 3×2 factorial design with 3 particle sizes of corn(i.e.,700,500,or 300μm)and 2 diet forms(i.e.,meal or pelleted).Pigs were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water.Twenty-four castrated male pigs(initial weight:29.52 kg;standard diviation:1.40)were allotted to the 6 diets using a 6×6 Latin square design with 6 calorimeter chambers(i.e.,4 pigs/chamber)and 6 periods.Oxygen consumption and CO_(2)and CH_(4)productions were measured during fed and fasting states and fecal and urine samples were collected.Results Regardless of particle size of corn,the ATTD of gross energy(GE),N,and acid-hydrolyzed ether extract(AEE),and the concentration of NE were greater(P<0.05)in pelleted diets than in meal diets.Regardless of diet form,the ATTD of GE,N,and AEE,and the concentration of NE were increased(linear;P<0.05)by reducing the particle size of corn,but the increase was greater in meal diets than in pelleted diets(interaction;P<0.05).Conclusions Both pelleting and reduction of corn particle size increased nutrient digestibility and NE,but increases were greater in meal diets than in pelleted diets.展开更多
The function-led design of porous hydrochar from mineral-rich biowaste for environmental applications inevitably suffers from carbon-ash recalcitrance.However,a method to alter the original carbon skeleton with ash re...The function-led design of porous hydrochar from mineral-rich biowaste for environmental applications inevitably suffers from carbon-ash recalcitrance.However,a method to alter the original carbon skeleton with ash remains elusive and hinders the availability of hydrochar.Herein,we propose a facile strategy for breaking the rigid structure of carbon-ash coupled hydrochar using phase-tunable molten carbonates.A case system was designed in which livestock manure and NaHCO3 were used to prepare the activated hydrochar,and NH3 served as the target contaminant.Due to the redox effect,we found that organic fractions significantly advanced the melting temperature of Na2CO3 below 800℃.The Na species steadily broke the carbon-ash interaction as the thermal intensity increased and transformed inorganic constituents to facilitate ash dissolution,rebuilding the hydrochar skeleton with abundant hierarchical channels and active defect edges.The surface polarity and mesopore distribution collectively governed the five cycles NH3 adsorption attenuation process.Manure hydrochar delivered favorable potential for application with a maximum overall adsorption capacity of 100.49 mg·g^(-1).Integrated spectroscopic characterization and theoretical computations revealed that incorporating NH3 on the carbon surface could transfer electrons to chemisorbed oxygen,which promoted the oxidation of pyridine-N during adsorption.This work offers deep insight into the structure function correlation of hydrochar and inspires a more rational design of engineered hydrochar from high-ash biowaste.展开更多
The anticancer potential of quassinoids has attracted a great deal of attention for decades,and scientific data revealing their possible applications in cancer management are continuously increasing in the literature....The anticancer potential of quassinoids has attracted a great deal of attention for decades,and scientific data revealing their possible applications in cancer management are continuously increasing in the literature.Aside from the potent cytotoxic and antitumor properties of these degraded triterpenes,several quassinoids have exhibited synergistic effects with anticancer drugs.This article provides an overview of the potential anticancer properties of quassinoids,including their cytotoxic and antitumor activities,mechanisms of action,safety evaluation,and potential benefits in combination with anticancer drugs.展开更多
In this case report featured in World Journal of Orthopedics,Kelmer et al describe a rare finding of a 28-year-old female patient who presented with a recurrent fibroreactive nodule 7 months following the resection of...In this case report featured in World Journal of Orthopedics,Kelmer et al describe a rare finding of a 28-year-old female patient who presented with a recurrent fibroreactive nodule 7 months following the resection of a primary cyclops lesion,suggesting recurrent cyclops syndrome.The patient had undergone an initial anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction for a non-contact right knee injury and reported successful recovery.Two years later,the patient sustained a repeat right knee injury followed by a positive McMurray test and acute pain with terminal extension.Arthroscopic synovectomy confirmed magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)finding of a cyclops lesion,which was surgically removed.Seven months postoperatively,the patient reported stiffness and difficulty with terminal extension.Repeat MRI indicated a recurrent cyclops lesion,which was surgically resected.Following resection of the second lesion,the patient underwent physical therapy and achieved full range of motion,maintaining complete recovery 19 months postoperatively.Recurrent cyclops lesions have rarely been reported in the literature,and this article is novel in its report of recurrent cyclops syndrome following a bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft.The presentation of this unusual finding exposes a need for further investigation of cyclops lesion pathology,which will aid its prevention and treatment.展开更多
The East Asia(or Physospermopsis) clade was recognized in previous molecular phylogenetic investigations into the higher-level relationships of Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae. The composition of this clade, the phylogen...The East Asia(or Physospermopsis) clade was recognized in previous molecular phylogenetic investigations into the higher-level relationships of Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae. The composition of this clade, the phylogenetic relationships among its constituent taxa, and the placement of species previously determined to be problematic have yet to be resolved. Herein, nr DNA ITS sequences were obtained for150 accessions of Apioideae, representing species whose distributions are in East Asia or genera having one or more species included within the East Asia clade. These data, along with published ITS sequences from other Apioideae(for 3678 accessions altogether), were subjected to maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. The results show that the East Asia clade contains representatives of 11currently recognized genera: Hansenia, Hymenolaena, Keraymonia, Sinolimprichtia, Acronema, Hymenidium, Physospermopsis, Pimpinella, Sinocarum, Tongoloa, and Trachydium. However, the latter seven genera have members falling outside of the East Asia clade, including the generic types of all except Tongoloa. Within the clade, the species comprising these seven genera are widely intermingled, greatly increasing confusion among relationships than previously realized. The problematic species Physospermopsis cuneata is confirmed as falling within the East Asia clade, whereas P. rubrinervis allies with the generic type in tribe Pleurospermeae. Physospermopsis kingdon-wardii is confirmed as a member of the genus Physospermopsis, whereas the generic attributions of P. cuneata and Tongoloa stewardii remain unclear. Two species of Sinocarum(S. filicinum and S. wolffianum) are transferred into the genus Meeboldia. This is the most comprehensive molecular phylogenetic investigation of the East Asia clade to date, and while the results increase systematic understanding of the clade, they also highlight the need for further studies of one of the most taxonomically intractable groups in Apioideae.展开更多
Artificial intelligence(AI)and deep learning are becoming increasingly powerful tools in diagnostic and radiographic medicine.Deep learning has already been utilized for automated detection of pneumonia from chest rad...Artificial intelligence(AI)and deep learning are becoming increasingly powerful tools in diagnostic and radiographic medicine.Deep learning has already been utilized for automated detection of pneumonia from chest radiographs,diabetic retinopathy,breast cancer,skin carcinoma classification,and metastatic lymphadenopathy detection,with diagnostic reliability akin to medical experts.In the World Journal of Orthopedics article,the authors apply an automated and AIassisted technique to determine the hallux valgus angle(HVA)for assessing HV foot deformity.With the U-net neural network,the authors constructed an algorithm for pattern recognition of HV foot deformity from anteroposterior highresolution radiographs.The performance of the deep learning algorithm was compared to expert clinician manual performance and assessed alongside clinician-clinician variability.The authors found that the AI tool was sufficient in assessing HVA and proposed the system as an instrument to augment clinical efficiency.Though further sophistication is needed to establish automated algorithms for more complicated foot pathologies,this work adds to the growing evidence supporting AI as a powerful diagnostic tool.展开更多
High-energy nuclear collisions encompass three key stages:the structure of the colliding nuclei,informed by low-energy nuclear physics,the initial condition,leading to the formation of quark-gluon plasma(QGP),and the ...High-energy nuclear collisions encompass three key stages:the structure of the colliding nuclei,informed by low-energy nuclear physics,the initial condition,leading to the formation of quark-gluon plasma(QGP),and the hydrodynamic expansion and hadronization of the QGP,leading to fnal-state hadron distributions that are observed experimentally.Recent advances in both experimental and theoretical methods have ushered in a precision era of heavy-ion collisions,enabling an increasingly accurate understanding of these stages.However,most approaches involve simultaneously determining both QGP properties and initial conditions from a single collision system,creating complexity due to the coupled contributions of these stages to the fnal-state observables.To avoid this,we propose leveraging established knowledge of low-energy nuclear structures and hydrodynamic observables to independently constrain the QGP's initial condition.By conducting comparative studies of collisions involving isobar-like nuclei—species with similar mass numbers but diferent ground-state geometries—we can disentangle the initial condition's impacts from the QGP properties.This approach not only refnes our understanding of the initial stages of the collisions but also turns high-energy nuclear experiments into a precision tool for imaging nuclear structures,ofering insights that complement traditional low-energy approaches.Opportunities for carrying out such comparative experiments at the Large Hadron Collider and other facilities could signifcantly advance both highenergy and low-energy nuclear physics.Additionally,this approach has implications for the future electron-ion collider.While the possibilities are extensive,we focus on selected proposals that could beneft both the high-energy and low-energy nuclear physics communities.Originally prepared as input for the long-range plan of U.S.nuclear physics,this white paper refects the status as of September 2022,with a brief update on developments since then.展开更多
At the panel session of the 3rd Global Forum on the Development of Computer Science,attendees had an opportunity to deliberate recent issues affecting computer science departments as a result of the recent growth in t...At the panel session of the 3rd Global Forum on the Development of Computer Science,attendees had an opportunity to deliberate recent issues affecting computer science departments as a result of the recent growth in the field.6 heads of university computer science departments participated in the discussions,including the moderator,Professor Andrew Yao.The first issue was how universities are managing the growing number of applicants in addition to swelling class sizes.Several approaches were suggested,including increasing faculty hiring,implementing scalable teaching tools,and working closer with other departments through degree programs that integrate computer science with other fields.The second issue was about the position and role of computer science within broader science.Participants generally agreed that all fields are increasingly relying on computer science techniques,and that effectively disseminating these techniques to others is a key to unlocking broader scientific progress.展开更多
Remote sensing(RS)facilitates forest inventory across a wide range of variables required by the UNFCCC as well as by other agreements and processes.The Conventional model-based(CMB)estimator supports wall-to-wall RS d...Remote sensing(RS)facilitates forest inventory across a wide range of variables required by the UNFCCC as well as by other agreements and processes.The Conventional model-based(CMB)estimator supports wall-to-wall RS data,while Hybrid estimators support surveys where RS data are available as a sample.However,the connection between these two types of monitoring procedures has been unclear,hindering the reconciliation of wall-to-wall and non-wall-to-wall use of RS data in practical applications and thus potentially impeding cost-efficient deployment of high-end sensing instruments for large area monitoring.Consequently,our objectives are to(1)shed further light on the connections between different types of Hybrid estimators,and between CMB and Hybrid estimators,through mathematical analyses and Monte Carlo simulations;and(2)compare the effects and explore the tradeoffs related to the RS sampling design,coverage rate,and cluster size on estimation precision.Primary findings are threefold:(1)the CMB estimator represents a special case of Hybrid estimators,signifying that wallto-wall RS data is a particular instance of sample-based RS data;(2)the precision of estimators in forest inventory can be greater for stratified non-wall-to-wall RS data compared to wall-to-wall RS data;(3)otherwise costprohibitive sensing,such as LiDAR and UAV,can support large scale monitoring through collecting RS data as a sample.These conclusions may reconcile different perspectives regarding choice of RS instruments,data acquisition,and cost for continuous observations,particularly in the context of surveys aiming at providing data for mitigating climate change.展开更多
The Dnieper River headwaters are in Russia’s Valdai Hills and the river flows south to the Black Sea. The Dnieper River provides a waterway in which to transport goods to and from various European nations. In additio...The Dnieper River headwaters are in Russia’s Valdai Hills and the river flows south to the Black Sea. The Dnieper River provides a waterway in which to transport goods to and from various European nations. In addition, the dams on the river provide hydro power. There are approximately 2260 km of Dnieper waterways in Russia, in Belarus, and within Ukraine. The Dnieper River has numerous urban centers including Smolensk in Russia, Mogilev in Belarus and Kiev and Zaporizhzhya in Ukraine. The worst nuclear accident in history unfolded, in the Dnieper River watershed, in northern Ukraine as a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded and burned. After an accident, such as Chernobyl, radionuclide contaminated bodies of water via direct deposition from the air, discharge as effluent or indirectly from catchment basin washout. When radionuclides contaminate large bodies of water, they are quickly dispersing and accumulate in water bottom sediments, benthos, aquatic plants, and bottom feeding fish. The main pathways to humans are through contamination of drinking-water, from use of water for irrigation of food crops, and consumption of contaminated fish. Kakhovka Dam on the Dnieper River was destroyed during the Russian-Ukraine conflict and the dam needs to rebuild as soon as possible. Perhaps lessons learned by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), after using TNT to blow up the Birds Point front line levee on the Mississippi River in May of 2011, can be applied to the man-induced 2023 Kakhovka Dam breach. The Birds Point man-induced levee breaches and subsequent flooding of farmland resulted in the loss of the 2011 crops and damaged the future soil productivity. The strong current and sweep of the water through the three man-induced levee breaches on the New Madrid floodway levee created deep gullies, displaced tons of soil, and damaged irrigation equipment, farms, and homes. The New Madrid floodway agricultural lands were restored, and the environmental damages were mitigated. The Kakhovka Dam destruction caused widespread flooding which affected settlements and farmland across the Dnieper watershed. The presence and breach-induced redistribution of Chernobyl-derived nuclides is an additional condition not present at the New Madrid man-induced levee breach. Four canal networks have become disconnected from the feeder reservoir. The canals were the source of drinking water for 700,000 people living in southern Ukraine. The Kakhovka canals also provided irrigation for vast areas of farmland. The water loss from the canals adversely affected food production in the region. The primary objectives of this paper are to assess lessons learned by the USACE and apply them in Ukraine to help restore and manage the Dnieper lifeline and watershed.展开更多
During the 2nd Indochina War which started in 1959, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Air America, and the Air Force waged a secret and unconventional air war in Laos from Udorn Air Force base locat...During the 2nd Indochina War which started in 1959, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Air America, and the Air Force waged a secret and unconventional air war in Laos from Udorn Air Force base located in Thailand and across the Mekong River from Vientiane, Laos. Starting in 1961, four years before the official start of the American-Vietnam War, Agent Blue, the arsenic-based herbicide used to kill rice and other food crops, was used extensively in Laos, Vietnam and to a lesser extent in Cambodia. During the secret 2nd Indochina War and the Vietnam Civil War the public knew little about the use of Agent Blue. After the official start of the American-Vietnam War in 1965, the United States media news reports, about chemical warfare were dominated by the story of Agent Orange and its devastating impacts. The public knew very little about the previous use of Agent Blue in both wars. The first known media pick up of the Agent Blue (arsenic based) and Agent Pink, Agent Green, and Agent Purple (all three contain 2, 4, 5-T and unknown amounts of dioxin TCDD) was in May of 1964. Jim G. Lucas, a Scripps-Howard staff reporter submitted an article that was published as an editorial in Washington Post on May 26, 1964. The next news reference to this chemical weapon was a Letter to the Editor published in the New York Times titled “Agent Blue” in Vietnam by Arthur H. Westing in (1971). The use of herbicides, including Agent Blue in Laos during the 2nd Indochina War, was kept a secret until 1982, when a draft of Buckingham’s study of Operation Ranch Hand was made public. Much about the U.S. war effort in Laos is still classified. In a 2014 issue of the VVA Veteran magazine, Loana Hoylman published an article on “Today’s Blue Arsenic in the Environment”. The first refereed journal article on this topic, “The Fate of Agent Blue, the Arsenic-Based Herbicide, Used in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War” was published in 2020 in the Open Journal of Soil Science by Kenneth R. Olson and Larry Cihacek. In 2021 the Asia Times (print) and VietnamVeteranNews (radio podcast) picked up the Agent Blue story. During the early 2020s, Olson published six additional refereed journal articles on Agent Blue, cacodylic acid, and arsenic. The primary objective is to determine why no major news organization in the United States, including the New York Times and Washington Post, have never investigated Agent Blue use during the 2nd Indochina and Vietnam wars? Why did the use of Agent Blue story, used to destroy Laotian and South Vietnamese civilian food (rice) sources and production sites, received only very limited coverage by US print media news organizations during the last 64 years?展开更多
文摘The legacy of United States cluster munition use in Laos and Cambodia during the Second Indochina War is residual bomblets that unexpectedly detonate years later, killing and injuring children, farmers, and other civilians. Cluster munitions release dozens of smaller bomblets that rain deadly ammunition on troops, armored tanks, and vegetation, effectively striking broad sections of war zone landscapes in one launch. While many bomblets detonate immediately, others fail to detonate and can lie dormant on the ground for years. The primary objectives of this study were to document the long-term consequences and impacts of the US Air Force bombing of Laos and Cambodia during the Second Indochina War (1959 to 1973). The historical lessons learned by United States should be shared with Russia and Ukraine governments and military. These countries need to discontinue the use of cluster bombs to prevent additional people living along the Russia-Ukraine border from having to live and die with the consequences of unexploded ordnance, including cluster bombs, for the next century.
基金Financial support for this research from Minnesota Corn Growers Association(Burnsville,MN,USA)Green Plains Energy(Omaha,NE,USA)is greatly appreciated.
文摘Background Diets with high inclusion of corn co-products such as corn fermented protein(CFP)may contain excess Leu,which has a negative impact on feed intake and growth performance of pigs due to increased catabolism of Val and Ile and reduced availability of Trp in the brain for serotonin synthesis.However,we hypothesized that the negative effect of using CFP in diets for weanling pigs may be overcome if diets are fortified with crystalline sources of Val,Trp,and(or)Ile.Methods Three hundred and twenty weanling pigs were randomly allotted to one of 10 dietary treatments in a com-pletely randomized design,with 4 pigs per pen and 8 replicate pens per treatment.A corn-soybean meal diet and 2 basal diets based on corn and 10%CFP or corn and 20%CFP were formulated.Seven additional diets were formu-lated by fortifying the basal diet with 20%CFP with Ile,Trp,Val,Ile and Val,Ile and Trp,Trp and Val,or Ile,Trp and Val.A two-phase feeding program was used,with d 1 to 14 being phase 1 and d 15 to 28 being phase 2.Fecal scores were recorded every other day.Blood samples were collected on d 14 and 28 from one pig per pen.On d 14,fecal samples were collected from one pig per pen in 3 of the 10 treatments to determine volatile fatty acids,ammonium concen-tration,and microbial protein.These pigs were also euthanized and ileal tissue was collected.Results There were no effects of dietary treatments on any of the parameters evaluated in phase 1.Inclusion of 10%or 20%CFP in diets reduced(P<0.05)final body weight on d 28,and average daily gain(ADG)and average daily feed intake(ADFI)in phase 2 and for the entire experimental period.However,pigs fed the CFP diet supplemented with Val,Ile,and Trp had final body weight,ADFI,ADG and gain to feed ratio in phase 2 and for the entire experiment that was not different from pigs fed the control diet.Fecal scores in phase 2 were reduced(P<0.05)if CFP was used.Conclusions Corn fermented protein may be included by up to 20%in diets for weanling pigs without affecting growth performance,gut health,or hindgut fermentation,if diets are fortified with extra Val,Trp,and Ile.Inclusion of CFP also improved fecal consistency of pigs.
文摘During times of war, it is rare to find a government willing and able to require the military to fund and support environmental impact studies. In the 1960s, many United States scientists expressed concerns about the use of herbicides during the Vietnam War. This protest was led by Dr. Arthur Galston and eventually included scientists with the National Academy of Science. By 1970, the Department of Defense (DoD) was ordered to permit the scientists to visit South Vietnam during the war to document these impacts. In all 1500 scientist days were spent in South Vietnam. In addition, the US government and military funded research studies on the impact of herbicides on animals. The goal of military use of herbicides, as chemical weapons, was to defoliate jungle forests and destroy food crops as a strategy to win battles and the war. The primary objective of this research study is to describe how it is possible for a country to fund and carry out scientific studies during the conduct of a war rather than decades later. The environmental impact study findings often lack boots on the ground validation and can be inaccurate or misleading in some situations. The United States (US) and other countries, including Russia and Ukraine, need to learn the historical lessons from the US use of herbicides, containing dioxin TCDD and/or arsenic (As), as chemical weapons during the Vietnam War.
文摘The Suez Canal is a unique sea-level waterway between northern Africa and southern Asia that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via the Isthmus of Suez. The canal’s artificial navigation route substantially reduced the sailing distance between countries in Europe and East Asia and offered a more direct route between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean through the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The primary objective of this study is to document the historical, economical, and environmental impacts of connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea via a canal. After the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 the canal became an economically lifeline for Egypt. However, the economic gains were partially offset by negative environmental impacts. The impact of port activities on the environment depends on their cargo volume and location, seaports can have an impact on the air quality and therefore on the health of the communities along the Suez Canal. The salinity barrier to migration was removed and animals and plants from the Red Sea began colonizing the eastern Mediterranean. Since the 1880s, species from the Indo-Pacific Ocean have been introduced, via the canal, into the Mediterranean ecosystem. They are endangering some local and endemic species and impacting the ecology. The results showed significant changes in the shoreline and land cover due to climate change and anthropogenic activities that necessitate the implementation of adequate protective measures. The findings of this study may assist policymakers in formulating adaptation plans to protect this crucial area, the communities along the Suez Canal and the Red Sea and Mediterranean ports, from climate change and human activities.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 42074101, 42374113, 42074103)the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund (Grant Nos. CEAIEF20220201, CEAIEF20230204)+1 种基金the Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program (Grant No. 2023FY101500)the TianHe Qingsuo Special Fund Project。
文摘Upper mantle discontinuities play an important role in slab dynamics and mantle responses in the subduction zones.Despite increasing numbers of seismological observations in the Hindu Kush, fine structures of mantle discontinuities still remain less explored, highlighting less understood interactions of the Indian slab and discontinuities. Here we collected a large dataset of several dense seismic networks/arrays, extracted near-source SdP waves in P-wave codas using the N-th root slant stackings, and then systematically imaged upper mantle discontinuities around the Indian slab beneath Hindu Kush. In comparison with the IASP91 model, we confirmed an abrupt topographic transition of the 410-km discontinuity(410) from uplifts of up to 41 km to depressions of less than 20 km near the slab edge and a slightly depressed 660-km discontinuity(660) with depths of 660 to 668 km below the slab front, as well as a fluctuating 300-km discontinuity(300) with depths of 264 to 337 km. We suggest that the 410 is elevated by the Indian slab due to the interior coldness, and deepened near the slab edge by the hot upwelling slab-entrained mantle that escapes below the slab bottom. Based on a depressed 410 inside the Indian slab and a 660with slight depressions below the slab, we infer that the subducted Indian slab currently stretches into the upper MTZ. Moreover,we interpret the fluctuant 300 as the coesite to stishovite phase transition in the subduction-zone mantle enriched in the eclogite.When considered alongside other studies, our results can provide more insights into the dynamics of the Indian slab and mantle responses.
文摘Unlike conventional room and pillar underground coal mining,where subsidence is designed to be prevented,subsidence is a planned outcome of other methodologies.These include high extraction retreat,where the roof supporting pillars are systematically removed,and longwall mining,which employs a machine that mines a continuous strip of coal,thus leaving no roof supports.Both types result in the surface dropping -70% of the mined-out thickness.In Illinois there was a concern that farm land thus subsided would be lost to productive agriculture.Consequently,the possibility that planned mine subsidence would be banned in Illinois lead to the creation of the Illinois Mine Subsidence Research Program in 1985 to investigate agricultural impacts of planned mine subsidence and the possibility of mitigating its impact.Its findings established that subsidence was not as detrimental as feared and that the impacts could be mitigated.The project was a successful collaboration of state and federal governments and local Universities.Similarly,in Queensland,longwall mining is opposed by some in the farming community.In response,Bandanna Energy,the company planning the mining,organized the Agricultural Coexistence Research Committee to oversee research into the mitigation of longwall mining impacts.Although the soils,climate,and regulatory regimes are different,concerns of the local communities are similar.
基金supported by the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC)
文摘The Precambrian basement rocks of the Eastern Granite-Rhyolite Province(EGRP)in central Illinois(midcontinent region of North America)exhibit a complex history of early volcanism,granite emplacement,and intrusion of mafic rocks.A comprehensive suite of dedicated petrographic analyses,geophysical logs,and drill core from four basement-penetrating wells,two-dimensional and three-dimensional seismic reflection data,and U-Pb age data from the Illinois Basin–Decatur Project(IBDP)and Illinois Carbon Capture Storage(ICCS)Project site provide new constraints for interpreting the Precambrian basement of the Illinois Basin.These new data reveal the basement to be compositionally and structurally complex,having typical EGRP felsic volcanic rocks intruded by the first reported gabbro in the Precambrian basement in Illinois.Zircons(n?29)from rhyolite give a U-Pb weighted mean average age of 14679 Ma.Zircons(n?3)from a gabbro dike that intrudes the rhyolite yield a concordia age of 107312 Ma,which corresponds to Grenville-age extension and represents the first Grenville-age rock in Illinois and in the EGRP.A high-resolution three-dimensional seismic reflection volume,coincident with the four wells,provides a context for interpreting the petrological data and implies a high degree of heterogeneity for basement rocks at the IBDP–ICCS site,as also shown by the drill cores.The occurrence of Grenville-age gabbro is related to a prominent bowl-like structure observed on local two-dimensional seismic reflection profiles and the three-dimensional volume that is interpreted as a deep-seated mafic sill complex.Furthermore,heterogeneities such as the brecciated EGRP rhyolite and later gabbro intrusion observed in the basement lithology at the IBDP–ICCS may reflect previously unknown distal elements of the 1.1 Ga Midcontinent Rift in the EGRP and more likely Grenville-age extension.
文摘Introduction: Although individual-level dietary behavior among racial/ethnic minority groups in the US is influenced by cultural food preferences and socioeconomic position, few studies of the food store environment have simultaneously examined both factors. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the availability of culturally specific fruits and vegetables for African Americans and Latinos by levels of neighborhood deprivation. The 5 small central Illinois cities selected for the study have exhibited increasing numbers of both racial/ ethnic groups in the last decade. Methods: A validated audit tool was used to survey 118 food stores in 2008. Census 2000 block group data was used to create a neighborhood deprivation index (categorized as low, medium, and high) based on socioeconomic characteristics using principal component analysis. Statistical analyses were performed in SPSS version 17.0 to determine whether the availability of culturally specific fruits and vegetables (n = 31) varied by neighborhood levels of deprivation and store type. Results: Fewer than 50% of neighborhoods carried culturally specific fruits and vegetables, with the lowest availability found in low deprivation neighborhoods (p < 0.05). Culturally specific fruits and vegetables were most often found in neighborhoods with medium levels of deprivation, and in grocery stores (p < 0.05). Latino fruits and vegetables were less likely to be found across neighborhoods or in stores, compared to African-American fruits and vegetables. Conclusions: The limited availability of culturally specific fruits and vegetables for African Americans and Latinos highlights potential environmental challenges with adherence to daily dietary guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption in these groups.
文摘Fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)offers a potential treatment avenue for hepatic encephalopathy(HE)by leveraging beneficial bacterial displacement to restore a balanced gut microbiome.The prevalence of HE varies with liver disease severity and comorbidities.HE pathogenesis involves ammonia toxicity,gut-brain communication disruption,and inflammation.FMT aims to restore gut microbiota balance,addressing these factors.FMT's efficacy has been explored in various conditions,including HE.Studies suggest that FMT can modulate gut microbiota,reduce ammonia levels,and alleviate inflammation.FMT has shown promise in alcohol-associated,hepatitis B and C-associated,and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Benefits include improved liver function,cognitive function,and the slowing of disease progression.However,larger,controlled studies are needed to validate its effectiveness in these contexts.Studies have shown cognitive improvements through FMT,with potential benefits in cirrhotic patients.Notably,trials have demonstrated reduced serious adverse events and cognitive enhancements in FMT arms compared to the standard of care.Although evidence is promising,challenges remain:Limited patient numbers,varied dosages,administration routes,and donor profiles.Further large-scale,controlled trials are essential to establish standardized guidelines and ensure FMT's clinical applications and efficacy.While FMT holds potential for HE management,ongoing research is needed to address these challenges,optimize protocols,and expand its availability as a therapeutic option for diverse hepatic conditions.
基金The financial support from the National Pork Board,Des Moines,IA,USA,is greatly appreciated。
文摘Background Reduction of the particle size of corn increases energy digestibility and concentrations of digestible and metabolizable energy.Pelleting may also reduce particle size of grain,but it is not known if there are interactions between particle size reduction and pelleting.The objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that particle size reduction and pelleting,separately or in combination,increase N balance,apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of fiber and fat,and net energy(NE)in corn-soybean meal diets fed to group-housed pigs.Methods Six corn-soybean meal-based diets were used in a 3×2 factorial design with 3 particle sizes of corn(i.e.,700,500,or 300μm)and 2 diet forms(i.e.,meal or pelleted).Pigs were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water.Twenty-four castrated male pigs(initial weight:29.52 kg;standard diviation:1.40)were allotted to the 6 diets using a 6×6 Latin square design with 6 calorimeter chambers(i.e.,4 pigs/chamber)and 6 periods.Oxygen consumption and CO_(2)and CH_(4)productions were measured during fed and fasting states and fecal and urine samples were collected.Results Regardless of particle size of corn,the ATTD of gross energy(GE),N,and acid-hydrolyzed ether extract(AEE),and the concentration of NE were greater(P<0.05)in pelleted diets than in meal diets.Regardless of diet form,the ATTD of GE,N,and AEE,and the concentration of NE were increased(linear;P<0.05)by reducing the particle size of corn,but the increase was greater in meal diets than in pelleted diets(interaction;P<0.05).Conclusions Both pelleting and reduction of corn particle size increased nutrient digestibility and NE,but increases were greater in meal diets than in pelleted diets.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52261145701 and U21A20162)the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University.
文摘The function-led design of porous hydrochar from mineral-rich biowaste for environmental applications inevitably suffers from carbon-ash recalcitrance.However,a method to alter the original carbon skeleton with ash remains elusive and hinders the availability of hydrochar.Herein,we propose a facile strategy for breaking the rigid structure of carbon-ash coupled hydrochar using phase-tunable molten carbonates.A case system was designed in which livestock manure and NaHCO3 were used to prepare the activated hydrochar,and NH3 served as the target contaminant.Due to the redox effect,we found that organic fractions significantly advanced the melting temperature of Na2CO3 below 800℃.The Na species steadily broke the carbon-ash interaction as the thermal intensity increased and transformed inorganic constituents to facilitate ash dissolution,rebuilding the hydrochar skeleton with abundant hierarchical channels and active defect edges.The surface polarity and mesopore distribution collectively governed the five cycles NH3 adsorption attenuation process.Manure hydrochar delivered favorable potential for application with a maximum overall adsorption capacity of 100.49 mg·g^(-1).Integrated spectroscopic characterization and theoretical computations revealed that incorporating NH3 on the carbon surface could transfer electrons to chemisorbed oxygen,which promoted the oxidation of pyridine-N during adsorption.This work offers deep insight into the structure function correlation of hydrochar and inspires a more rational design of engineered hydrochar from high-ash biowaste.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82274085)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20220478)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Higher Education institutions of China(22KJB360010).
文摘The anticancer potential of quassinoids has attracted a great deal of attention for decades,and scientific data revealing their possible applications in cancer management are continuously increasing in the literature.Aside from the potent cytotoxic and antitumor properties of these degraded triterpenes,several quassinoids have exhibited synergistic effects with anticancer drugs.This article provides an overview of the potential anticancer properties of quassinoids,including their cytotoxic and antitumor activities,mechanisms of action,safety evaluation,and potential benefits in combination with anticancer drugs.
文摘In this case report featured in World Journal of Orthopedics,Kelmer et al describe a rare finding of a 28-year-old female patient who presented with a recurrent fibroreactive nodule 7 months following the resection of a primary cyclops lesion,suggesting recurrent cyclops syndrome.The patient had undergone an initial anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction for a non-contact right knee injury and reported successful recovery.Two years later,the patient sustained a repeat right knee injury followed by a positive McMurray test and acute pain with terminal extension.Arthroscopic synovectomy confirmed magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)finding of a cyclops lesion,which was surgically removed.Seven months postoperatively,the patient reported stiffness and difficulty with terminal extension.Repeat MRI indicated a recurrent cyclops lesion,which was surgically resected.Following resection of the second lesion,the patient underwent physical therapy and achieved full range of motion,maintaining complete recovery 19 months postoperatively.Recurrent cyclops lesions have rarely been reported in the literature,and this article is novel in its report of recurrent cyclops syndrome following a bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft.The presentation of this unusual finding exposes a need for further investigation of cyclops lesion pathology,which will aid its prevention and treatment.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 31960048 and 31872649)Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program (no. YNWRQNBJ-2019-208)+2 种基金the Department of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province (no. 202201AT070118)the Hundred Talents Program of Kunming Medical University (no. 60118260127)the Gaoligong Mountain, Forest Ecosystem, Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province (no. 202205AM070006)。
文摘The East Asia(or Physospermopsis) clade was recognized in previous molecular phylogenetic investigations into the higher-level relationships of Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae. The composition of this clade, the phylogenetic relationships among its constituent taxa, and the placement of species previously determined to be problematic have yet to be resolved. Herein, nr DNA ITS sequences were obtained for150 accessions of Apioideae, representing species whose distributions are in East Asia or genera having one or more species included within the East Asia clade. These data, along with published ITS sequences from other Apioideae(for 3678 accessions altogether), were subjected to maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. The results show that the East Asia clade contains representatives of 11currently recognized genera: Hansenia, Hymenolaena, Keraymonia, Sinolimprichtia, Acronema, Hymenidium, Physospermopsis, Pimpinella, Sinocarum, Tongoloa, and Trachydium. However, the latter seven genera have members falling outside of the East Asia clade, including the generic types of all except Tongoloa. Within the clade, the species comprising these seven genera are widely intermingled, greatly increasing confusion among relationships than previously realized. The problematic species Physospermopsis cuneata is confirmed as falling within the East Asia clade, whereas P. rubrinervis allies with the generic type in tribe Pleurospermeae. Physospermopsis kingdon-wardii is confirmed as a member of the genus Physospermopsis, whereas the generic attributions of P. cuneata and Tongoloa stewardii remain unclear. Two species of Sinocarum(S. filicinum and S. wolffianum) are transferred into the genus Meeboldia. This is the most comprehensive molecular phylogenetic investigation of the East Asia clade to date, and while the results increase systematic understanding of the clade, they also highlight the need for further studies of one of the most taxonomically intractable groups in Apioideae.
文摘Artificial intelligence(AI)and deep learning are becoming increasingly powerful tools in diagnostic and radiographic medicine.Deep learning has already been utilized for automated detection of pneumonia from chest radiographs,diabetic retinopathy,breast cancer,skin carcinoma classification,and metastatic lymphadenopathy detection,with diagnostic reliability akin to medical experts.In the World Journal of Orthopedics article,the authors apply an automated and AIassisted technique to determine the hallux valgus angle(HVA)for assessing HV foot deformity.With the U-net neural network,the authors constructed an algorithm for pattern recognition of HV foot deformity from anteroposterior highresolution radiographs.The performance of the deep learning algorithm was compared to expert clinician manual performance and assessed alongside clinician-clinician variability.The authors found that the AI tool was sufficient in assessing HVA and proposed the system as an instrument to augment clinical efficiency.Though further sophistication is needed to establish automated algorithms for more complicated foot pathologies,this work adds to the growing evidence supporting AI as a powerful diagnostic tool.
基金U.S.Department of Energy,Office of Science,Ofifce of Nuclear Physics,under Award or Contract No.DE-SC002418(JDB),DE-SC0024602(SH,JJ,CZ),DE-SC0004286(UH),DE-FG02-10ER41666(CL,WL),DE-SC0013365,DE-SC0024586 and DE-SC0023175(DL),DE-SC0011088(YL),DE-AC02-05CH11231(MP),DE-FG02-89ER40531(AT),DE-SC0012704(BS),DE-SC0021969 and DE-SC0024232(CS),DE-SC0023861(JN),DE-FG02-07ER41521(ZX)by National Science Foundation under grant number OAC-2103680(JN)+1 种基金by European Union(ERC,Initial Conditions),VILLUM FONDEN with grant no.00025462,and Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond(YZ)by FAPESP projects 2017/05685-2,2018/24720-6,and 2021/08465-9,project INCT-FNA Proc.~No.~464898/2014-5,and CAPES-Finance Code 001(ML)。
文摘High-energy nuclear collisions encompass three key stages:the structure of the colliding nuclei,informed by low-energy nuclear physics,the initial condition,leading to the formation of quark-gluon plasma(QGP),and the hydrodynamic expansion and hadronization of the QGP,leading to fnal-state hadron distributions that are observed experimentally.Recent advances in both experimental and theoretical methods have ushered in a precision era of heavy-ion collisions,enabling an increasingly accurate understanding of these stages.However,most approaches involve simultaneously determining both QGP properties and initial conditions from a single collision system,creating complexity due to the coupled contributions of these stages to the fnal-state observables.To avoid this,we propose leveraging established knowledge of low-energy nuclear structures and hydrodynamic observables to independently constrain the QGP's initial condition.By conducting comparative studies of collisions involving isobar-like nuclei—species with similar mass numbers but diferent ground-state geometries—we can disentangle the initial condition's impacts from the QGP properties.This approach not only refnes our understanding of the initial stages of the collisions but also turns high-energy nuclear experiments into a precision tool for imaging nuclear structures,ofering insights that complement traditional low-energy approaches.Opportunities for carrying out such comparative experiments at the Large Hadron Collider and other facilities could signifcantly advance both highenergy and low-energy nuclear physics.Additionally,this approach has implications for the future electron-ion collider.While the possibilities are extensive,we focus on selected proposals that could beneft both the high-energy and low-energy nuclear physics communities.Originally prepared as input for the long-range plan of U.S.nuclear physics,this white paper refects the status as of September 2022,with a brief update on developments since then.
文摘At the panel session of the 3rd Global Forum on the Development of Computer Science,attendees had an opportunity to deliberate recent issues affecting computer science departments as a result of the recent growth in the field.6 heads of university computer science departments participated in the discussions,including the moderator,Professor Andrew Yao.The first issue was how universities are managing the growing number of applicants in addition to swelling class sizes.Several approaches were suggested,including increasing faculty hiring,implementing scalable teaching tools,and working closer with other departments through degree programs that integrate computer science with other fields.The second issue was about the position and role of computer science within broader science.Participants generally agreed that all fields are increasingly relying on computer science techniques,and that effectively disseminating these techniques to others is a key to unlocking broader scientific progress.
基金supported by the National Social Science Fund of China(No.22BTJ005)the Key Project of National Key Research and Development Plan(No.2023YFF1304002-05)+1 种基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32001252)the International Center for Bamboo and Rattan(Nos.1632022024,1632020029,1632021024).
文摘Remote sensing(RS)facilitates forest inventory across a wide range of variables required by the UNFCCC as well as by other agreements and processes.The Conventional model-based(CMB)estimator supports wall-to-wall RS data,while Hybrid estimators support surveys where RS data are available as a sample.However,the connection between these two types of monitoring procedures has been unclear,hindering the reconciliation of wall-to-wall and non-wall-to-wall use of RS data in practical applications and thus potentially impeding cost-efficient deployment of high-end sensing instruments for large area monitoring.Consequently,our objectives are to(1)shed further light on the connections between different types of Hybrid estimators,and between CMB and Hybrid estimators,through mathematical analyses and Monte Carlo simulations;and(2)compare the effects and explore the tradeoffs related to the RS sampling design,coverage rate,and cluster size on estimation precision.Primary findings are threefold:(1)the CMB estimator represents a special case of Hybrid estimators,signifying that wallto-wall RS data is a particular instance of sample-based RS data;(2)the precision of estimators in forest inventory can be greater for stratified non-wall-to-wall RS data compared to wall-to-wall RS data;(3)otherwise costprohibitive sensing,such as LiDAR and UAV,can support large scale monitoring through collecting RS data as a sample.These conclusions may reconcile different perspectives regarding choice of RS instruments,data acquisition,and cost for continuous observations,particularly in the context of surveys aiming at providing data for mitigating climate change.
文摘The Dnieper River headwaters are in Russia’s Valdai Hills and the river flows south to the Black Sea. The Dnieper River provides a waterway in which to transport goods to and from various European nations. In addition, the dams on the river provide hydro power. There are approximately 2260 km of Dnieper waterways in Russia, in Belarus, and within Ukraine. The Dnieper River has numerous urban centers including Smolensk in Russia, Mogilev in Belarus and Kiev and Zaporizhzhya in Ukraine. The worst nuclear accident in history unfolded, in the Dnieper River watershed, in northern Ukraine as a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded and burned. After an accident, such as Chernobyl, radionuclide contaminated bodies of water via direct deposition from the air, discharge as effluent or indirectly from catchment basin washout. When radionuclides contaminate large bodies of water, they are quickly dispersing and accumulate in water bottom sediments, benthos, aquatic plants, and bottom feeding fish. The main pathways to humans are through contamination of drinking-water, from use of water for irrigation of food crops, and consumption of contaminated fish. Kakhovka Dam on the Dnieper River was destroyed during the Russian-Ukraine conflict and the dam needs to rebuild as soon as possible. Perhaps lessons learned by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), after using TNT to blow up the Birds Point front line levee on the Mississippi River in May of 2011, can be applied to the man-induced 2023 Kakhovka Dam breach. The Birds Point man-induced levee breaches and subsequent flooding of farmland resulted in the loss of the 2011 crops and damaged the future soil productivity. The strong current and sweep of the water through the three man-induced levee breaches on the New Madrid floodway levee created deep gullies, displaced tons of soil, and damaged irrigation equipment, farms, and homes. The New Madrid floodway agricultural lands were restored, and the environmental damages were mitigated. The Kakhovka Dam destruction caused widespread flooding which affected settlements and farmland across the Dnieper watershed. The presence and breach-induced redistribution of Chernobyl-derived nuclides is an additional condition not present at the New Madrid man-induced levee breach. Four canal networks have become disconnected from the feeder reservoir. The canals were the source of drinking water for 700,000 people living in southern Ukraine. The Kakhovka canals also provided irrigation for vast areas of farmland. The water loss from the canals adversely affected food production in the region. The primary objectives of this paper are to assess lessons learned by the USACE and apply them in Ukraine to help restore and manage the Dnieper lifeline and watershed.
文摘During the 2nd Indochina War which started in 1959, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Air America, and the Air Force waged a secret and unconventional air war in Laos from Udorn Air Force base located in Thailand and across the Mekong River from Vientiane, Laos. Starting in 1961, four years before the official start of the American-Vietnam War, Agent Blue, the arsenic-based herbicide used to kill rice and other food crops, was used extensively in Laos, Vietnam and to a lesser extent in Cambodia. During the secret 2nd Indochina War and the Vietnam Civil War the public knew little about the use of Agent Blue. After the official start of the American-Vietnam War in 1965, the United States media news reports, about chemical warfare were dominated by the story of Agent Orange and its devastating impacts. The public knew very little about the previous use of Agent Blue in both wars. The first known media pick up of the Agent Blue (arsenic based) and Agent Pink, Agent Green, and Agent Purple (all three contain 2, 4, 5-T and unknown amounts of dioxin TCDD) was in May of 1964. Jim G. Lucas, a Scripps-Howard staff reporter submitted an article that was published as an editorial in Washington Post on May 26, 1964. The next news reference to this chemical weapon was a Letter to the Editor published in the New York Times titled “Agent Blue” in Vietnam by Arthur H. Westing in (1971). The use of herbicides, including Agent Blue in Laos during the 2nd Indochina War, was kept a secret until 1982, when a draft of Buckingham’s study of Operation Ranch Hand was made public. Much about the U.S. war effort in Laos is still classified. In a 2014 issue of the VVA Veteran magazine, Loana Hoylman published an article on “Today’s Blue Arsenic in the Environment”. The first refereed journal article on this topic, “The Fate of Agent Blue, the Arsenic-Based Herbicide, Used in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War” was published in 2020 in the Open Journal of Soil Science by Kenneth R. Olson and Larry Cihacek. In 2021 the Asia Times (print) and VietnamVeteranNews (radio podcast) picked up the Agent Blue story. During the early 2020s, Olson published six additional refereed journal articles on Agent Blue, cacodylic acid, and arsenic. The primary objective is to determine why no major news organization in the United States, including the New York Times and Washington Post, have never investigated Agent Blue use during the 2nd Indochina and Vietnam wars? Why did the use of Agent Blue story, used to destroy Laotian and South Vietnamese civilian food (rice) sources and production sites, received only very limited coverage by US print media news organizations during the last 64 years?
