Seeking a United Front

IN most parts of Africa today, you cannot communicate officially unless you address yourself in English, Arabic, Portuguese or French languages brought either by migrants from the Middle East or colonialists from the West.

Assessment of Wet Season Precipitation in the Central United States by the Regional Climate Simulation of the WRFG Member in NARCCAP and Its Relationship with Large-Scale Circulation Biases

Assessment of past-climate simulations of regional climate models(RCMs)is important for understanding the reliability of RCMs when used to project future regional climate.Here,we assess the performance and discuss possible causes of biases in a WRF-based RCM with a grid spacing of 50 km,named WRFG,from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program(NARCCAP)in simulating wet season precipitation over the Central United States for a period when observational data are available.The RCM reproduces key features of the precipitation distribution characteristics during late spring to early summer,although it tends to underestimate the magnitude of precipitation.This dry bias is partially due to the model’s lack of skill in simulating nocturnal precipitation related to the lack of eastward propagating convective systems in the simulation.Inaccuracy in reproducing large-scale circulation and environmental conditions is another contributing factor.The too weak simulated pressure gradient between the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico results in weaker southerly winds in between,leading to a reduction of warm moist air transport from the Gulf to the Central Great Plains.The simulated low-level horizontal convergence fields are less favorable for upward motion than in the NARR and hence,for the development of moist convection as well.Therefore,a careful examination of an RCM’s deficiencies and the identification of the source of errors are important when using the RCM to project precipitation changes in future climate scenarios.

Geologic characteristics,exploration and production progress of shale oil and gas in the United States:An overview

We present a systematic summary of the geological characteristics,exploration and development history and current state of shale oil and gas in the United States.The hydrocarbon-rich shales in the major shale basins of the United States are mainly developed in six geological periods:Middle Ordovician,Middle-Late Devonian,Early Carboniferous(Middle-Late Mississippi),Early Permian,Late Jurassic,and Late Cretaceous(Cenomanian-Turonian).Depositional environments for these shales include intra-cratonic basins,foreland basins,and passive continental margins.Paleozoic hydrocarbon-rich shales are mainly developed in six basins,including the Appalachian Basin(Utica and Marcellus shales),Anadarko Basin(Woodford Shale),Williston Basin(Bakken Shale),Arkoma Basin(Fayetteville Shale),Fort Worth Basin(Barnett Shale),and the Wolfcamp and Leonardian Spraberry/Bone Springs shale plays of the Permian Basin.The Mesozoic hydrocarbon-rich shales are mainly developed on the margins of the Gulf of Mexico Basin(Haynesville and Eagle Ford)or in various Rocky Mountain basins(Niobrara Formation,mainly in the Denver and Powder River basins).The detailed analysis of shale plays reveals that the shales are different in facies and mineral components,and"shale reservoirs"are often not shale at all.The United States is abundant in shale oil and gas,with the in-place resources exceeding 0.246×10^(12)t and 290×10^(12)m^(3),respectively.Before the emergence of horizontal well hydraulic fracturing technology to kick off the"shale revolution",the United States had experienced two decades of exploration and production practices,as well as theory and technology development.In 2007-2023,shale oil and gas production in the United States increased from approximately 11.2×10^(4)tons of oil equivalent per day(toe/d)to over 300.0×10^(4)toe/d.In 2017,the shale oil and gas production exceeded the conventional oil and gas production in the country.In 2023,the contribution from shale plays to the total U.S.oil and gas production remained above 60%.The development of shale oil and gas has largely been driven by improvements in drilling and completion technologies,with much of the recent effort focused on“cube development”or“co-development”.Other efforts to improve productivity and efficiency include refracturing,enhanced oil recovery,and drilling of“U-shaped”wells.Given the significant resources base and continued technological improvements,shale oil and gas production will continue to contribute significant volumes to total U.S.hydrocarbon production.

Characteristics of patients with Wilson disease in the United States: An insurance claims database study

BACKGROUND Wilson disease(WD)is a progressive,potentially fatal degenerative disease affecting the liver and central nervous system.Given its low prevalence,collecting data on large cohorts of patients with WD is challenging.Comprehensive insur-ance claims databases provide powerful tools to collect retrospective data on large numbers of patients with rare diseases.AIM To describe patients with WD in the United States,their treatment and clinical outcome,using a large insurance claims database.METHODS This retrospective,longitudinal study was performed in the Clarivate Real-World Data Product database.All patients with≥2 claims associated with an Interna-tional Classification of Diseases 10(ICD-10)diagnostic code for WD(E83.01)between 2016 and 2021 were included and followed until death or study end.Patients were divided into two groups by whether or not they were documented to have received a specific treatment for WD.Clinical manifestations,hospital-isations,liver transplantation and death were documented.RESULTS Overall,5376 patients with an ICD-10 diagnostic code for WD were identified.The mean age at inclusion was 41.2 years and 52.0%were men.A specific WD treatment was documented for 885 patients(15.1%),although the number of patients taking zinc salts may be underestimated due to over the counter purchase.At inclusion,the mean age of patients with a documented treatment was 36.6±17.8 years vs 42.2±19.6 years in those without a documented treatment.During follow-up,273 patients(5.1%)died.Compared with the American general population,the standardised mortality ratio was 2.19.The proportion of patients with a documented WD-specific treatment who died during follow-up was 4.0%and the mean age at death 52.7 years.CONCLUSION Patients treated for WD in the United States had an excess early mortality compared with the American population.These findings indicate that there is a significant unmet need for effective treatment for WD in the United States.

Travel-Limiting Disabilities in the United States: Why Accessibility Matters?

This study evaluates the distribution of travel-limiting disabilities across genders and geographic locations in the United States. This study aims to describe and compare the socioeconomic and demographic variables of the people with and without travel-limiting disabilities across geographic locations and gender. The study further evaluates the trip purpose and impact of Covid-19 fourth wave pandemic on the use of public transit and travel to physical workplace for the people with and without travel-limiting disabilities across gender and geographic locations. The study uses the 2022 weighted National Household Travel Survey dataset and employs descriptive statistics. Results reaffirm the findings from previous literature that there are more people with travel-limiting disabilities in urban areas and among women. Over 50 percent of people aged 65 and above have a form of travel-limiting disabilities. The most trip for people with travel-limiting disabilities is made for shopping and medical purposes. Across all categories, rural areas, urban areas, male and female for the people without travel-limiting disabilities, COVID-19 fourth wave did not change the pattern of trips made to physical workplace as pre-COVID-19 era. This pattern is also observable for the people with travel-limiting disabilities in rural and urban areas. Females with travel-limiting disabilities reported making less trips to physical workplaces while male reported doing the same as before COVID-19 era. The study concludes that the quantification of travel-limiting disabilities across geographic location and gender is vital in disability study and could drive policy implementation for improved accessibility for the vulnerable population.

The Enforcement of Occupational Safety and Health Requirements in Public and Private Sectors in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates

Research Problem: In Abu Dhabi, limited implementation of OSH Regulations contributes to the general unawareness among employees and workers about occupational hazards and safety measures, resulting in slow responsiveness toward enforcement measures and a lack of self-regulatory approaches within companies. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the implementation methods practised in Abu Dhabi with those in developed countries with established OSH regulatory bodies. Methodology: Qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed to gather primary research data. Workers from various industries in Abu Dhabi were sampled on purpose and asked to respond to questionnaires and interviews on OSH protocol awareness and implementation, and circumstances of workplace incidence. Results: The findings of this study showed that the enforcement of OSH requirements in UAE positively correlated to a reduction in the rate of work-related injury and improved business performance. The quantitative research data showed that the energy sector had the highest score (15) while the tourism sector had the lowest score (5.3) in occupational health systems and improvements in business efficiency and productivity. Implications: The outcomes of this study shed light on the importance of implementing OSH Guidelines for companies to empower their safety managers to fully enforce OSH requirements in their organisations. In conclusion, effective OSH enforcement requires cooperation between general workers and OSH managers and facilitation from business owners.

Maternal Mortality Rates among Im/Migrant Populations in the United States

Introduction: Maternal mortality rates have more than doubled in the U.S over the last two decades, making it one of the few places in the world where maternal mortality is increasing. Differences in maternal mortality among certain races and ethnicities are known but few studies examine maternal mortality among immigrants. Since immigrants represent 13.7% of the U.S. population, it is essential to examine immigrant subsets to understand maternal mortality among this vulnerable population. Methods: A literature search identified 318 articles on maternal mortality and immigrants, with 12 articles from the U.S. The keywords included maternal mortality, United States, migrants, asylum seekers, immigrants, and disparities. Maternal mortality statistics were obtained from the World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control. Results: Studies analyzed in this review found an overall lower maternal mortality rate among immigrant women compared to U.S.-born women, except for Hispanic immigrant women. Black women had the highest maternal mortality rate, regardless of immigration status. Conclusion: Although the literature points to lower maternal mortality among immigrants, the data is still somewhat mixed, making it challenging to draw comprehensive conclusions. Additional research examining maternal mortality among Im/migrants in the U.S. is needed to guide future training among healthcare professionals and policymakers.

Coping with the Impact of Climate Change: A Dive into Precision Agriculture in the United States

With the continued increase in the number of people that are food insecure globally, which could be increasing because of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, leading to reduction in international agribusinesses, coupled with drastic climate change exacerbating the problem of food insecurity, there is a constant need to come up with innovative approaches to solve this global issue. In this article, we articulated how precision agriculture can be a tool for ensuring food security in the United States. This study aims to reiterate the significance of precision agriculture in solving global food insecurity.

Evolution and impacts of the United States’Arctic strategy and China’s responses

On 7 October,2022,the Biden administration released an updated version of the National Strategy for the Arctic Region based on new developments in the Arctic region and global affairs.This strategy emphasizes traditional security issues in the Arctic,attaches great importance to climate governance in the region,and advocates for restoring American leadership through international cooperation.In view of the strong influence of the United States(U.S.)in the Arctic region,the changes of the U.S.Arctic strategy will inevitably have an impact on China’s scientific researchrights,economic interests,and governance rights in the Arctic region.To respond to the new situation brought about by the changes in the U.S.Arctic strategy,China should take the initiative to maintain positive relationships with all Arctic countries,and continue its active participation in Arctic affairs.

Inferior outcomes of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma during early-COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

BACKGROUND Early in the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,there was a significant impact on routine medical care in the United States,including in fields of transplantation and oncology.AIM To analyze the impact and outcomes of early COVID-19 pandemic on liver transplantation(LT)for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in the United States.METHODS WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11,2020.We retrospectively analyzed data from the United Network for Organ Sharing(UNOS)database regarding adult LT with confirmed HCC on explant in 2019 and 2020.We defined pre-COVID period from March 11 to September 11,2019,and early-COVID period as from March 11 to September 11,2020.RESULTS Overall,23.5%fewer LT for HCC were performed during the COVID period(518 vs 675,P<0.05).This decrease was most pronounced in the months of March-April 2020 with a rebound in numbers seen from May-July 2020.Among LT recipients for HCC,concurrent diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis significantly increased(23 vs 16%)and alcoholic liver disease(ALD)significantly decreased(18 vs 22%)during the COVID period.Recipient age,gender,BMI,and MELD score were statistically similar between two groups,while waiting list time decreased during the COVID period(279 days vs 300 days,P=0.041).Among pathological characteristics of HCC,vascular invasion was more prominent during COVID period(P<0.01),while other features were the same.While the donor age and other characteristics remained same,the distance between donor and recipient hospitals was significantly increased(P<0.01)and donor risk index was significantly higher(1.68 vs 1.59,P<0.01)during COVID period.Among outcomes,90-day overall and graft survival were the same,but 180-day overall and graft were significantly inferior during COVID period(94.7 vs 97.0%,P=0.048).On multivariable Coxhazard regression analysis,COVID period emerged as a significant risk factor of post-transplant mortality(Hazard ratio 1.85;95%CI:1.28-2.68,P=0.001).CONCLUSION During COVID period,there was a significant decrease in LTs performed for HCC.While early postoperative outcomes of LT for HCC were same,the overall and graft survival of LTs for HCC after 180 days were significantly inferior.

Epidemiology of shoulder dislocations presenting to United States emergency departments:An updated ten-year study

BACKGROUND Glenohumeral dislocation is a common injury that may predispose patients to chronic pain and instability.However,there is a paucity of current data available regarding the epidemiological trends of this injury.AIM To provide an updated,comparative assessment of the epidemiology of shoulder dislocations presenting to emergency departments in the United States.We also sought to analyze patient demographic risk factors and consumer products associated with dislocation events.METHODS Data were obtained from the national electronic injury surveillance system database for glenohumeral dislocations between 2012 and 2021.Incidence,age,sex,and injury characteristics were analyzed using weighted population statistics as well as incidence rates and 95%confidence intervals(CI).RESULTS In total,an estimated 773039 shoulder dislocations(CI:640598-905481)presented to emergency rooms across the United States during the study period.The annual incidence rate was 23.96 per 100000 persons and the average patient age at the time of injury was 37.1 years.Significantly more male patients sustained dislocations than female patients(537189,69.5%,vs 235834,30.5%,P<0.001).With regard to associated consumer products,sports and recreation equipment were involved in the highest proportion of incidents(44.31%),followed by home structures and construction materials(21.22%),and home furnishings,fixtures,and accessories(21.21%).Regarding product sub-groups,stairs,ramps,landings,floors was cited in the greatest number of cases(131745).CONCLUSION The national annual incidence rate of glenohumeral dislocations throughout the study period was approximately 23.92 per 100000 persons.Male adolescents sustained the highest proportion of dislocations,with a peak incidence in age group 15-20 years,predominantly secondary to participation in sporting and recreational activities.Conversely,women experienced a relatively consistent incidence of dislocation throughout their lifespan.After age 63,the incidence rate of dislocations in females was found to surpass that observed in males.

Unveiling transplantation research productivity of United States: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND The United States has witnessed significant advancements in the field of organ transplantation over the course of the last five decades,as demonstrated by a notable increase in the quantity of academic research.The presence of a highly dynamic research environment necessitates continuous evaluations to maintain the integrity and progress of the field.AIM To evaluate the total output and thematic emphasis of transplant research conducted in the United States.METHODS On January 10,2023,we conducted a bibliometric search of United States research output in transplantation journals from the Web of Science database's Science Citation Index Expanded.We excluded editorials,meeting abstracts,and other non-article types.We analyzed annual trends,authors,institutions,articles,keywords,and countries collaborating with the United States,using VOSviewer 1.6.18 to create figures and tables.RESULTS The United States published 25956 papers(3078 reviews and 22878 articles)representing 37.7%of the world's scientific output.Canada emerged as the top collaborator with the United States,co-authoring 1263 articles.Leading institutions in United States transplantation research were the University of Pittsburgh(1749 articles),Mayo Clinic(1605 articles),Harvard Medical School(1549 articles),and Johns Hopkins University(1280 articles).The top three keywords with over 2000 occurrences were"recipients,""survival,"and"outcomes,"indicating a focus on graft and recipient outcome markers by United States researchers.CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate the United States leadership in organ transplantation research,contributing significantly to the global scientific output in this field.However,opportunities exist for fostering expansive partnerships,particularly with developing countries.This study provides valuable insights into the transplantation research landscape in the United States,emphasizing the importance of ongoing evaluations to maintain and propel advancements in this critical medical discipline.The results may facilitate future collaborations,knowledge exchange,and the pursuit of innovative solutions in the realm of organ transplantation.

Information Management in Disaster and Humanitarian Response: A Case in United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

To guarantee a unified response to disasters, humanitarian organizations work together via the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Although the OCHA has made great strides to improve its information management and increase the availability of accurate, real-time data for disaster and humanitarian response teams, significant gaps persist. There are inefficiencies in the emergency management of data at every stage of its lifecycle: collection, processing, analysis, distribution, storage, and retrieval. Disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management are the two main tenets of the United Nations’ worldwide plan for disaster management. Information systems are crucial because of the crucial roles they play in capturing, processing, and transmitting data. The management of information is seldom discussed in published works. The goal of this study is to employ qualitative research methods to provide insight by facilitating an expanded comprehension of relevant contexts, phenomena, and individual experiences. Humanitarian workers and OCHA staffers will take part in the research. The study subjects will be chosen using a random selection procedure. Online surveys with both closed- and open-ended questions will be used to compile the data. UN OCHA offers a structure for the handling of information via which all humanitarian actors may contribute to the overall response. This research will enable the UN Office for OCHA better gather, process, analyze, disseminate, store, and retrieve data in the event of a catastrophe or humanitarian crisis.

Strategic Planning for Drug Regulatory Science in the United States and Its Enlightenments to China

Objective To study the strategic planning of drug regulatory science,the effectiveness and role of policy implementation in the United States so as to gain insights and make suggestions for further improving the strategic planning of drug regulatory science in China.Methods Literature research method and comparative research method were used to compare and analyze the strategic planning of regulatory science in China and the United States.Results and Conclusion Drawing on the US experience,China should set goals based on mission and vision and identify problems,knowledge gaps,and key areas,then concrete measures can be taken to advance regulatory science.

Design and Operation of Municipal Rain and Sewage United Pumping Station

In the process of designing a municipal rainwater and sewage pumping station,it is necessary to accurately grasp the design points,reasonably determine the scale of the rainwater and sewage pumping station,scientifically select the location and layout,and select materials reasonably.After completing the process design of the municipal rainwater and sewage pumping station and putting it into operation,in order to ensure the normal and stable operation of the pumping station,it is necessary to focus on strengthening the operation and management of diving equipment,cleaning equipment,and electromechanical equipment.The author analyzes the key points and specific design path of the process design of municipal rainwater and sewage pumping stations,and puts forward effective strategies for operation management,hoping to contribute to the scientific design and stable operation of municipal rainwater and sewage pumping stations.

基于GRU-DRSN的双通道人体活动识别

人体活动识别(human activity recognizition, HAR)在医疗、军工、智能家居等领域有很大的应用空间。传统机器学习方法特征提取难度较大且精度不高。针对上述问题并结合传感器时序特性,提出了一种融合CBAM(convolutional block attention module)注意力机制的GRU-DRSN双通道并行模型,有效避免了传统串行模型因网络深度加深引起梯度爆炸和消失问题。同时并行结构使得两条支路具有相同的优先级,使用深度残差收缩网络(deep residual shrinkage network, DRSN)提取数据的深层空间特征,同时使用门控循环结构(gated recurrent unit, GRU)学习活动样本在时间序列上的特征,同时进行提取样本不同维度的特征,并通过CBAM模块进行特征的权重分配,最后通过Softmax层进行识别,实现了端对端的人体活动识别。使用公开数据集(wireless sensor data mining, WISDM)进行验证,模型平均精度达到了97.6%,与传统机器学习模型和前人所提神经网络模型相比,有更好的识别效果。

基于CAM-YOLOX的大场景SAR图像近岸场景舰船目标检测

针对大场景SAR图像近岸场景舰船目标检测中遇到的陆地目标虚警和岸边目标漏检等问题,基于YOLOX设计了一种轻量化的改进模型CAM-YOLOX。首先,在骨干部分嵌入CAM,增强舰船特征提取以保持较高的检测性能;其次,在特征金字塔网络结构中增加一个浅层分支,以增强对小目标特征的提取能力;最后,在特征融合网络中用Shuffle unit替换CSPLayer中的CBS和堆叠的Bottleneck结构,实现了模型压缩。在LS-SSDD-v1.0遥感数据集上进行实验,实验结果表明,本文改进算法相较于原始算法在近岸场景舰船检测的精确率P提高了5.51%,召回率R提高了3.68%,模型参数量减小了16.33%。本文算法能在不增加模型参数量的情况下,有效抑制近岸场景中陆地上的虚警和减少岸边舰船漏检率。

Sustained release of vascular endothelial growth factor A and basic fibroblast growth factor from nanofiber membranes reduces oxygen/glucose deprivation-induced injury to neurovascular units

Upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A/basic fibroblast growth factor(VEGFA/b FGF)expression in the penumbra of cerebral ischemia can increase vascular volume,reduce lesion volume,and enhance neural cell proliferation and differentiation,thereby exerting neuroprotective effects.However,the beneficial effects of endogenous VEGFA/b FGF are limited as their expression is only transiently increased.In this study,we generated multilayered nanofiber membranes loaded with VEGFA/b FGF using layer-by-layer self-assembly and electrospinning techniques.We found that a membrane containing 10 layers had an ideal ultrastructure and could efficiently and stably release growth factors for more than 1 month.This 10-layered nanofiber membrane promoted brain microvascular endothelial cell tube formation and proliferation,inhibited neuronal apoptosis,upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins,and improved the viability of various cellular components of neurovascular units under conditions of oxygen/glucose deprivation.Furthermore,this nanofiber membrane decreased the expression of Janus kinase-2/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3(JAK2/STAT3),Bax/Bcl-2,and cleaved caspase-3.Therefore,this nanofiber membrane exhibits a neuroprotective effect on oxygen/glucose-deprived neurovascular units by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Reducing Operation Emissions and Improving Work Efficiency Using a Pure Electric Wheel Drive Tractor

In response to the problems of excessive greenhouse-gas and particulate emissions and the low traction efficiency of conventional diesel tractors in the field,a purely electric wheel-side drive tractor was studied,including an electric motor drive system,a battery ballast system,and an electro–hydraulic suspension system.This paper develops a dynamics model of an electric tractor-ploughing unit under complex soil conditions,leading to the proposal of an active control method for drive wheel torque and a joint control method for the traction force of the suspension system and the front-and rear-axle loads of a tractor.Finally,the tractor is prototyped and assembled,and ploughing tests are carried out.The ploughing results show that the active torque-distribution control method proposed in this study reduces the tractor slip by 14.83%and increases the traction efficiency by 10.28%compared with the average torquedistribution mode.Compared with the conventional traction control mode,the joint control method for traction and ballast proposed in this paper results in a 3.7%increase in traction efficiency,a 15.05%decrease in slip,and a 4.9%reduction in total drive motor energy consumption.This study will help to improve the operation quality and traction efficiency of electric tractors in complex soil conditions.

Impact of apolipoprotein E isoforms on sporadic Alzheimer's disease:beyond the role of amyloid beta

The impact of apolipoprotein E(ApoE)isoforms on sporadic Alzheimer's disease has long been studied;however,the influences of apolipoprotein E gene(APOE)on healthy and pathological human brains are not fully understood.ApoE exists as three common isoforms(ApoE2,ApoE3,and ApoE4),which differ in two amino acid residues.Traditionally,ApoE binds cholesterol and phospholipids and ApoE isoforms display diffe rent affinities for their receptors,lipids transport and distribution in the brain and periphery.The role of ApoE in the human depends on ApoE isoforms,brain regions,aging,and neural injury.APOE E4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease,considering its role in influencing amyloid-beta metabolism.The exact mechanisms by which APOE gene variants may increase or decrease Alzheimer's disease risk are not fully understood,but APOE was also known to affect directly and indirectly tau-mediated neurodegeneration,lipids metabolism,neurovascular unit,and microglial function.Consistent with the biological function of ApoE,ApoE4 isoform significantly alte red signaling pathways associated with cholesterol homeostasis,transport,and myelination.Also,the rare protective APOE variants confirm that ApoE plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis.The objectives of the present mini-review were to describe classical and new roles of various ApoE isoforms in Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology beyond the deposition of amyloid-beta and to establish a functional link between APOE,brain function,and memory,from a molecular to a clinical level.APOE genotype also exerted a heterogeneous effect on clinical Alzheimer's disease phenotype and its outcomes.Not only in learning and memory but also in neuro psychiatric symptoms that occur in a premorbid condition.Cla rifying the relationships between Alzheimer's disease-related pathology with neuropsychiatric symptoms,particularly suicidal ideation in Alzheimer's disease patients,may be useful for elucidating also the underlying pathophysiological process and its prognosis.Also,the effects of anti-amyloid-beta drugs,recently approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease,could be influenced by the APOE genotype.