What Affects Male Sexual Activity: A Comprehensive Review

The fundamental importance of sex lies in the need for reproduction and species continuity. For humans, sexual expression is an important source of physical pleasure and emotional intimacy. Healthy sexual expression is closely related to well-being, health and overall quality of life in both men and women. Sexual activity is also considered an important determinant of quality of life. At present, questions about sex are still largely ignored in routine consultations in almost all medical specialties. The factors affecting sexual activity are complex and can be divided into the influence of bio-psycho-sociological factors. Biological influences include anthropometric parameters, sexual function, lifestyle, neuroendocrine system, and diseases;psychological influences include psychological status, mental illness, and sexual attitudes;sociological influences include factors such as marriage, occupation, and economic status. With the epidemic and outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), people’s way of life and work has changed, which also has a great impact on sexual activities. This article will provide a systematic review of factors related to male sexual activity.

Uncertainty Analysis Method of Casing Extrusion Load for Ultra-Deep Wells

With the consideration of the randomness of complex geologic parameters for ultra-deep wells,an uncertainty analysis method is presented for the extrusion load on casing in ultra-deep wells through complex formation at a certain confidence level.Based on the extrusion load model for casing in ultra-deep wells and the prerequisite of integrity of formation-cement ring-casing,the probability and statistics theory are introduced and the sensitivity analysis on the uncertainty of extrusion load on casing is conducted.The distribution types of each formation parameters are determined statistically.The distribution type and distribution function of the extrusion load on casing are derived.Then,the uncertainty analysis of the extrusion load on casing is carried out on several ultra-deep wells in Shanqian block as case study.Several conclusions are made regarding to the field trial result.The randomness of formation elasticity modulus and formation Poisson’s ratio are the main influence factors.The equivalent density profile of extrusion load on casing in ultra-deep wells is a confidence interval with a certain confidence level,rather than a single curve;the higher the confidence level is,the larger the bandwidth of the confidence interval of equivalent density profile becomes,and the larger the range of uncertainty interval becomes.Compared with the result of uncertainty analysis,an error exists in the result of traditional single valued calculation method.The error varies with different casing program and can be either positive or negative.The application of uncertainty analysis of extrusion load on casing provides proof for the accurate determination of casing collapse safety factor.Thus,the over engineering design or under engineering design as a result of tradition casing design will be avoided.

Targeting a novel inducible GPX4 alternative isoform to alleviate ferroptosis and treat metabolic-associated fatty liver disease

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD),which is previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),represents a major health concern worldwide with limited therapy.Here,we provide evidence that ferroptosis,a novel form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-driven lipid peroxidation,was comprehensively activated in liver tissues from MAFLD patients.The canonical-GPX4(cGPX4),which is the most important negative controller of ferroptosis,is downregulated at protein but not mRNA level.Interestingly,a non-canonical GPX4 transcript-variant is induced(inducible-GPX4,iGPX4)in MAFLD condition.The high fat-fructose/sucrose diet(HFFD)and methionine/choline-deficient diet(MCD)-induced MAFLD pathologies,including hepatocellular ballooning,steatohepatitis andfibrosis,were attenuated and aggravated,respectively,in cGPX4-and iGPX4-knockin mice.cGPX4 and iGPX4 isoforms also displayed opposing effects on oxidative stress and ferroptosis in hepatocytes.Knockdown of iGPX4 by siRNA alleviated lipid stress,ferroptosis and cell injury.Mechanistically,the triggered iGPX4 interacts with cGPX4 to facilitate the transformation of cGPX4 from enzymatic-active monomer to enzymatic-inactive oligomers upon lipid stress,and thus promotes ferroptosis.Co-immunoprecipitation and nano LC–MS/MS analyses confirmed the interaction between iGPX4 and cGPX4.Our results reveal a detrimental role of non-canonical GPX4 isoform in ferroptosis,and indicate selectively targeting iGPX4 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for MAFLD.

Effect of Structural Parameters of Double Shielded TIG Torch on the Fusion Zone Profile for 0Cr13Ni5Mo Martensitic Stainless Steel

The effects of double shielded TIG （tungsten inert gas） torch＇s structural parameters, including the flow rate ratio between the inner and outer layers of gas and the extended length of the electrode （abbreviated as ELE in this work）, on the fusion zone profile have been investigated for OCrl3NiSMo martensitic stainless steel. Results show that the double shielded TIG process yields relatively high penetration of the weld pool in a broad range of the structural parameters. ELE over 3 mm is too large and causes adverse reactions on the protection of electrode. The outer gas with relatively high flow rate or the outer layer with high oxygen content is conducive to the oxygen dissolved into the arc, which results in the oxidation of the weld pool surface and the electrode tip. The double shielded TIG welded metal was tested and presented good impact property.

Principles Giving High Penetration under the Double Shielded TIG Process

A new welding method named double shielded tungsten inert gas （TIG） has been developed to improve the TIG weld penetration. The main principles to increase the weld depth have been discussed. Results show that the critical oxygen content in the weld pool is around 100 × 10 -6 as the temperature coefficient of surface tension changes from negative to positive. The tracer test using pure silver shows that the direction of Marangoni convection changes as the oxygen content increases in the weld pool. The effect of arc constriction on the weld depth has been evaluated on a water-cooled copper plate, and the result indicates that the torch of double shielded can give a more powerful arc. Heavy oxide on the pool surface has undesirable impacts on the increasing of weld depth as the oxygen excessively accumulates in weld pool. It is possible to form chromium oxide in the weld process, while the iron oxide may form as the weld surface exposes to the air after the shielded gas moving away.