Spatiotemporal Evolution of Carbon Emissions According to Major Function-Oriented Zones: A Case Study of Guangdong Province, China.

Studying the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon emissions from the perspective of major function-oriented zones (MFOZs) is crucial for making a carbon reduction policy. However, most previous research has ignored the spatial characteristics and MFOZ influence. Using statistical and spatial analysis tools, we explored the spatiotemporal characteristics of carbon emissions in Guangdong Province from 2001 to 2021. The following results were obtained: (1) Carbon emissions fluctuated from 2020 to 2021 because of COVID-19. (2) Over the last 20 years, the proportion of carbon emissions from urbanization development zones (UDZs) has gradually decreased, whereas those of the main agricultural production zones (MAPZs) and key ecological function zones (KEFZs) have increased. (3) Carbon emissions efficiency differed significantly among the three MFOZs. (4) Carbon emissions from coastal UDZs were increasingly apparent; however, the directional characteristics of MAPZ and KEFZ emissions were not remarkable. (5) Carbon transfer existed among the three kinds of MFOZs, resulting in the economy and carbon emissions being considerably misaligned across Guangdong Province. These results indicated that the MFOZ is noteworthy in revealing how carbon emissions evolved. Furthermore, spatiotemporal characteristics, especially spatial characteristics, can help formulate carbon reduction policies for realizing carbon peak and neutrality goals in Guangdong Province.

Controlled generation of soliton spectral tunneling by double pulses injection.

Numerical simulations of a simple and direct method to generate soliton spectral tunneling (SST) based on two input pulses are reported in the paper. An intense pump pulse and a weak probe pulse with a time delay are transmitted in a photonic crystal fiber with three zero-dispersion wavelengths. Our results demonstrate that the distance and the state of soliton tunneling are obviously influenced by the probe-pump delay. Therefore, the velocity and efficiency of SST can be effectively regulated by varying the relative time delay, thus affecting the SST formation. This scenario appears promising for designing a "soliton ejector", in which real-time control of the soliton ejection process can be achieved through phase modulation between pulses.

Economic value and characteristics of cloud pharmacy for children based on internet hospital in western China during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional survey study.

Background: Online health care services have been encouraged by the Chinese government in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed the rapid growing of internet hospitals. As an integral part of online health care services, little is known about the economic value and characteristics of cloud pharmacy especially for children. This study aimed to reveal the economic value and comprehensive characteristics of pediatric cloud pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary children's hospital in western China. Methods: A total of 33,254 online prescriptions over the course of February 2020 through December 2021 were analyzed with respect to the user profiles, diseases, consulting behaviors, distribution of departments, delivery region and distance, drug information and degree of satisfaction. The cost savings for patients calculated lost wages and the high-speed railway fees for transport to and from hospital. Results: A total of 33,254 prescriptions, including 56,216 drugs were delivered to 27 provinces and municipalities of China. The internet cloud pharmacy saved a total of more than RMB 11.17 million in financial costs for patients. Of the 33,254 delivered prescriptions, 50.40% were sent to Chongqing Province, the top 5 provinces for out-of-province prescription deliveries were Sichuan (37.77%), Guizhou (8.00%), Yunnan (1.18%), Hubei (0.66%) and Guangdong (0.42%). In terms of department distribution, neurology (31.7%), respiratory (15.0%) and endocrinology (14.6%) were the top three departments. Epilepsy (16.2%), precocious puberty (10.3%) and asthma (8.7%) were the top three frequently consulted diseases. The peak times of day for online prescriptions occurred at 9 AM and 8 PM. 99.67% of users gave full marks for their internet counseling. Conclusion: The pediatric cloud pharmacy is efficient, cost-saving and convenient for children with chronic disease or mild symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread use of this pediatric cloud pharmacy can help alleviating pressure on offline hospitals and facilitated people's lives beyond geographical and time-related limitations. Further efforts are needed to be made to improve the quality and acceptance of pediatric cloud pharmacy, as well as to regulate and standardize the management of this novel online health care service.

Monotonic loading performance of GFRP beam-column joints connected with slotted-hole bolts.

Nowadays there are many types of glass fiber reinforced polymer(GFRP) composite beam and column joints, such as standard connection, bolted through connection, angle steel connection, tube connection and so on, most of which connected by high-strength bolts with round holes. In this paper, monotonic loading tests on GFRPcomposite beam and column joints connected by slotted-hole bolts were conducted. To compare the performance of different joints, two groups of specimens were used in this study; one of group was the beam-column joints connected by the angle steel, and other group was connected by the tube connection. Specimens with different bolt holes, side plate reinforcement condition, and different bolt pre-tightening forces were studied. Failure modes, bending moment curves, plastic rotation, and yield stiffness of the two groups of joints were compared. Results showed thatthe ultimate bending moment bearing capacity of specimens with side plates could be increased by 30%. Under the same conditions, the bearing capacity of the tube joints was about 10% larger than that of the angle steel joints. Although the bearing capacity of joints was not increased by using slotted holes, plastic rotation capacity and yield stiffness of joints with slotted-hole bolts were 1.1 times than that of the ordinary round-hole bolts joints.

Clinical Characteristics, Surgical Treatment, and Risk Factor Analysis of Postoperative Functional Outcome in Patients with Intracranial Hemangioblastoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to present the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment in patients with intracranial hemangioblastomas and to investigate risk factors for postoperative functional outcomes. METHODS: Patients with intracranial hemangioblastomas who received surgical treatment in our institute between 2011 and 2020 were included. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment, and postoperative functional status. Risk factors for postoperative functional outcomes were further analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We identified 48 patients with 82 intracranial hemangioblastomas resected in this study. There were 22 females and 26 males, and the mean age was 39.3 ± 15.3 years. Total resection was achieved in all the cases. After primary surgery, immediate functional status was improved in 20 patients (41.7%), stable in 9 patients (18.8%), and worsened in 19 patients (39.6%). Forty-two patients (89.4%) had favorable functional status (Karnofsky Performance Scale ≥80) at long-term follow-up. Through univariate and multivariate analysis, body mass index, number of resected tumors per operation, and intraoperative blood loss were independent risk factors for the immediate functional outcome (P = 0.006, P = 0.023, P = 0.038, respectively). Preoperative hydrocephalus was significantly associated with unfavorable long-term functional status (P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Generally, patients can benefit from surgical removal of intracranial hemangioblastomas with favorable functional outcomes. Body mass index, number of resected tumors per operation, and intraoperative blood loss can be used as risk factors for immediate functional outcomes after surgery, and preoperative hydrocephalus for long-term functional status.

Safety and efficacy of surgical treatment for brainstem hemangioblastoma: a meta-analysis.

Brainstem hemangioblastomas are benign, highly vascular tumors located in the mesencephalon, pons, and medulla oblongata. Although surgical resection is currently considered the main therapeutic option for symptomatic lesions, evidence supporting the application of microsurgery has not been systematically assessed. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of surgical treatment for brainstem hemangioblastomas. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was performed to identify all English language publications reporting the outcomes of surgical treatment for brainstem hemangioblastomas. Studies from January 1990 to July 2019 with ≥ 10 cases were included. We analyzed the surgical outcomes, including gross total resection, mortality, neurological morbidity, and functional outcome according to the McCormick Scale or Karnofsky Performance Scale. Thirteen studies with 473 cases were included. The pooled proportion of gross total resection was 98% (95% confidence interval (CI), 94-100%). Overall mortality and neurological morbidity were 4 (95% CI, 2-6%) and 13% (95% CI, 7-20%), respectively. Favorable functional outcomes at the last follow-up were achieved in 85% (95% CI, 78-92%) of all patients. Improved or stable functional outcomes at long-term follow-up were achieved in 94% (95% CI, 89-97%) of patients. This meta-analysis revealed that surgical treatment for brainstem hemangioblastomas is technically feasible and effective with lasting patient benefits and cure.

Incidence, Prognostic Factors and Survival for Hemangioblastoma of the Central Nervous System: Analysis Based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database.

BACKGROUND: Hemangioblastomas are uncommon, benign neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS). This study aims to evaluate the incidence, demographics, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of CNS hemangioblastomas using the data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. METHODS: Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model were employed to identify prognostic factors of overall survival. The Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to evaluate overall survival distribution by treatment modality. A nomogram was further built to predict survival at 3 and 5 years. RESULTS: The overall incidence rate of CNS hemangioblastomas was 0.141 per 100,000 person-years. Through univariate analysis and multivariate analyses, age between 60 and 79 years (HR = 3.697, p < 0.001), age greater than 80 years (HR = 12.318, p < 0.001), African American race (HR = 1.857, p = 0.003), multiple tumors (HR = 1.715, p < 0.001), and prior surgery (HR = 0.638, p = 0.013) were significantly associated with overall survival. Patients receiving surgery alone had better overall survival compared with patients receiving no treatment (p = 0.008) and patients receiving both surgery and radiotherapy (p = 0.002). The calibration plots demonstrated an excellent agreement between nomogram-predicted and actual survival. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, age, race, tumor location, number of tumors, and prior surgery are prognostic factors for survival. Surgery was the most common modality and was suggested as an effective and optimal treatment. The proposed nomogram can predict the prognosis of patients with CNS hemangioblastomas and help clinicians in making decisions.

Hydrogen Sulfide Reduces Cognitive Impairment in Rats After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage by Ameliorating Neuroinflammation Mediated by the TLR4/NF-κB Pathway in Microglia.

Background and Aims: Cognitive impairment is one of the major complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and is closely associated with neuroinflammation. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce cognitive impairment in neurodegenerative diseases, but its effects in SAH have been little studied. This study aimed to investigate the effects of H2S on cognitive impairment after SAH and the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: a sham group, a SAH group, and a SAH + NaHS (an H2S donor) group. The endovascular perforation technique was used to establish the experimental SAH model. NaHS was administered intraperitoneally. An active avoidance test (AAT) was performed to investigate cognitive function. The expression of TNF-α, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus was measured by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The types of cells expressing TNF-α were detected by double immunofluorescence staining. Results: Compared to that in the sham group, the learning and memory ability of rats in the SAH group was damaged. Furthermore, the expression of TNF-α, TLR4, and NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus was elevated in the SAH group (p < 0.05). TNF-α was mainly expressed in activated microglia, which was consistent with the expression of TLR4. Treatment with NaHS significantly decreased the cognitive impairment of rats after SAH and simultaneously reduced the expression of TNF-α, TLR4, and NF-κB p65 and alleviated the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The neuroinflammation reaction in microglia contributes to cognitive impairment after SAH. H2S reduced the cognitive impairment of rats after SAH by ameliorating neuroinflammation in microglia, potentially via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Neurogenic and myogenic properties of pan-colonic motor patterns and their spatiotemporal organization in rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Better understanding of intrinsic control mechanisms of colonic motility will lead to better treatment options for colonic dysmotility. The aim was to investigate neurogenic and myogenic control mechanisms underlying pan-colonic motor patterns. METHODS: Analysis of in vitro video recordings of whole rat colon motility was used to explore motor patterns and their spatiotemporal organizations and to identify mechanisms of neurogenic and myogenic control using pharmacological tools. RESULTS: Study of the pan-colonic spatiotemporal organization of motor patterns revealed: fluid-induced or spontaneous rhythmic propulsive long distance contractions (LDCs, 0.4-1.5/min, involving the whole colon), rhythmic propulsive motor complexes (RPMCs) (0.8-2.5/min, dominant in distal colon), ripples (10-14/min, dominant in proximal colon), segmentation and retrograde contractions (0.1-0.8/min, prominent in distal and mid colon). Spontaneous rhythmic LDCs were the dominant pattern, blocked by tetrodotoxin, lidocaine or blockers of cholinergic, nitrergic or serotonergic pathways. Change from propulsion to segmentation and distal retrograde contractions was most prominent after blocking 5-HT3 receptors. In the presence of all neural blockers, bethanechol consistently evoked rhythmic LDC-like propulsive contractions in the same frequency range as the LDCs, indicating the existence of myogenic mechanisms of initiation and propulsion. CONCLUSIONS: Neurogenic and myogenic control systems orchestrate distinct and variable motor patterns at different regions of the pan-colon. Cholinergic, nitrergic and serotonergic pathways are essential for rhythmic LDCs to develop. Rhythmic motor patterns in presence of neural blockade indicate the involvement of myogenic control systems and suggest a role for the networks of interstitial cells of Cajal as pacemakers.