Sex-specific facilitation and reproduction of the gynodioecious cushion plant Arenaria polytrichoides on the Himalaya-Hengduan mountains,SW China

When benefiting other beneficiaries,cushion plants may reciprocally receive feedback effects.The feedback effects on different sex morphs,however,remains unclear.In this study,taking the gynodioecious Arenaria polytrichiodes as a model species,we aimed to assess the sex-specific facilitation intensity of cushion plant by measuring the beneficiary cover ratio,and to assess the potential costs in cushion reproductive functions by measuring the flower and fruit cover ratios.The total beneficiary cover ratio was similar between females and hermaphrodites.Females produced much less flowers but more fruits than hermaphrodites.These results suggested that females and hermaphrodites possess similar facilitation intensity,and female cushion A.polytrichoides may allocate more resources saved from pollen production to seed production,while hermaphrodites possibly allocate more resources to pollen production hence reducing seed production.The surface areas covered by beneficiaries produced less flowers and fruits than areas without beneficiaries.In addition,strong negative correlations between beneficiary cover and flower cover were detected for both females and hermaphrodites,but the correlation strength were similar for these two sex morphs.However,the correlation between beneficiary cover and fruit cover was only significantly negative for females,suggesting that beneficiary plants negatively affect fruit reproduction of females while have neutral effects on hermaphrodites.All the results suggest that to facilitate other beneficiaries can induce reproductive costs on cushion A.polytrichoides,with females possibly suffering greater cost than hermaphrodites.Such differentiation in reproductive costs between sex morphs,in long-term perspective,may imply sex imbalance in population dynamics.

Encroachment drives facilitation at alpine shrublines

Ongoing encroachment is driving recent alpine shrubline dynamics globally,but the role of shrub-shrub interactions in shaping shrublines and their relationships with stem density changes remain poorly understood.Here,the size and age of shrubs from 26 Salix shrubline populations along a 900-km latitudinal gradient(30°-38°N)were measured and mapped across the eastern Tibetan Plateau.Point pattern analyses were used to quantify the spatial distribution patterns of juveniles and adults,and to assess spatial associations between them.Mean intensity of univariate and bivariate spatial patterns was related to biotic and abiotic variables.Bivariate mark correlation functions with a quantitative mark(shrub height,basal stem diameter,crown width)were also employed to investigate the spatial relationships between shrub traits of juveniles and adults.Structural equation models were used to explore the relationships among conspecific interactions,patterns,shrub traits and recruitment dynamics under climate change.Most shrublines showed clustered patterns,suggesting the existence of conspecific facilitation.Clustered patterns of juveniles and conspecific interactions(potentially facilitation)tended to intensify with increasing soil moisture stress.Summer warming before 2010 triggered positive effects on population interactions and spatial patterns via increased shrub recruitment.However,summer warming after2010 triggered negative effects on interactions through reduced shrub recruitment.Therefore,shrub recruitment shifts under rapid climate change could impact spatial patterns,alter conspecific interactions and modify the direction and degree of shrublines responses to climate.These changes would have profound implications for the stability of alpine woody ecosystems.

Impact of BRICS Trade Facilitation on China's Exports Using Cross-Border E-Commerce

With the rapid growth of the global digital economy, cross-border e-commerce, as an emerging form of trade, has gradually become a powerful engine to promote the development of global trade. BRICS is an important force in the global economy, and the progress of the BRICS countries' trade facilitation level has an important impact on the global trade environment. This paper conducts an in-depth study of the dynamic changes in BRICS trade facilitation from 2013 to 2022, and uses an extended gravity model to analyze the specific impact of this change on China's exports using cross-border e-commerce. The results show that although the BRICS countries have made some progress in trade facilitation, the overall level still needs to be improved, and there are obvious differences among member countries. However, the improvement of trade facilitation among BRICS countries has undoubtedly brought significant positive effects to China's exports using cross-border e-commerce.

The Influence of the Implementation of Trade Facilitation Systems on the Time Required for Creating Delivery Orders: A Case Study of Tema Port

This study evaluated the impact of Ghana’s Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), implemented within the National Single Window initiative, on the efficiency of issuing Delivery Orders (DO) at Tema Port. Filling a gap in the existing literature, the research employed a quantitative approach to assess a specific time-related aspect of the cargo clearance process. Employing an Independent t-test on a dataset spanning 2026 Delivery Orders (924 pre-ICUMS and 1102 post-ICUMS) from July 2020 to July 2023, the study investigated ICUMS’s effectiveness in reducing DO issuance time. Results indicate a noteworthy decrease in average DO issuance time, from 11 days pre-implementation to approximately 9 days post-implementation, a reduction validated by statistical analysis through the independent t-test. In light of these findings, the study recommends ongoing refinement of the implementation, reinforcement of trade facilitation measures, and the adoption of best practices from successful global ports. Continuous stakeholder training and regular assessments of ICUMS performance are also endorsed. The study’s implications support the theoretical framework for Single Window systems and carry significant policy implications, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to streamline trade facilitation processes driven by Information Technology. Practically, the results serve as a management tool for stakeholders, highlighting areas for targeted interventions to reduce DO issuance times. Methodologically, this research contributes by applying robust statistical analysis to a specific component within the Time Release Study framework, offering a nuanced understanding of trade facilitation systems’ effectiveness in improving cargo clearance processes.

Facilitation of controllable excitation in Rydberg atomic ensembles

Strongly-interacting Rydberg atomic ensembles have shown intense collective excitation effects due to the inclusion of single Rydberg excitation shared by multiple atoms in the ensemble.In this paper we investigate a counter-intuitive Rydberg excitation facilitation with a strongly-interacting atomic ensemble in the strong probe-field regime,which is enabled by the role of a control atom nearby.Differing from the case of a single ensemble,we show that,the control atom's excitation adds to a second two-photon transition onto the doubly-excited Rydberg state,arising an excitation facilitation for the ensemble atoms.Our numerical studies depending on the method of quantum Monte Carlo wave function,exhibit the observation constraints of this excitation facilitation effect under practical experimental conditions.The results obtained can provide a flexible control for the excitation of Rydberg atomic ensembles and participate further uses in developing mesoscopic Rydberg gates for multiqubit quantum computation.

Interaction of major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A with the blood-brain barrier

The functional and structural integrity of the blood-brain barrier is crucial in maintaining homeostasis in the brain microenvironment;however,the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and function of the blood-brain barrier remain poorly understood.The major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A has been identified as a key regulator of blood-brain barrier function.It plays a critical role in promoting and maintaining the formation and functional stability of the blood-brain barrier,in addition to the transport of lipids,such as docosahexaenoic acid,across the blood-brain barrier.Furthermore,an increasing number of studies have suggested that major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A is involved in the molecular mechanisms of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in a variety of neurological diseases;however,little is known regarding the mechanisms by which major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A affects the blood-brain barrier.This paper provides a comprehensive and systematic review of the close relationship between major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A proteins and the blood-brain barrier,including their basic structures and functions,cross-linking between major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A and the blood-brain barrier,and the in-depth studies on lipid transport and the regulation of blood-brain barrier permeability.This comprehensive systematic review contributes to an in-depth understanding of the important role of major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A proteins in maintaining the structure and function of the blood-brain barrier and the research progress to date.This will not only help to elucidate the pathogenesis of neurological diseases,improve the accuracy of laboratory diagnosis,and optimize clinical treatment strategies,but it may also play an important role in prognostic monitoring.In addition,the effects of major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A on blood-brain barrier leakage in various diseases and the research progress on cross-blood-brain barrier drug delivery are summarized.This review may contribute to the development of new approaches for the treatment of neurological diseases.

Therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture combined with neuromuscular joint facilitation in treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain

BACKGROUND Stroke is a type of cerebrovascular disease with high prevalence,mortality,and onset of disability.As a neurodevelopmental therapy,neuromuscular joint facilitation(NJF)is widely used in the treatment of orthopedic and neurological disorders in the clinical practice.It is mainly used for central nervous system diseases or orthopedic diseases,movement disorders,and pain rehabilitation.According to related studies,NJF can also be used as a rehabilitation treatment in patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain(HSP).AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with NJF in patients with HSP.METHODS Forty patients with HSP were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group.The treatment group was treated with acupuncture combined with NJF and the control group was treated with acupuncture alone.All patients were assessed by using the visual analogue scale(VAS),Fugl-Meyer assessment(FMA),Barthel index(BI),and passive range of motion(PROM)before and after the training.All the clinical data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 statistical software.RESULTS There was no statistical difference in the general characteristics between the two groups.In the terms of duration of treatment,age,and pre-treatment indicators,the two groups were comparable(P>0.05).After the treatment,VAS,PROM,BI,and FMA scores were significantly improved in the two groups of patients(P<0.05).The VAS,PROM and FMA scores were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group(P<0.05).However,there was no significant difference in BI scores between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Both acupuncture alone and acupuncture combined with NJF in the treatment of HSP are effective,and can improve the clinical symptoms of patients.Acupuncture combined with NJF can improve the upper limb motor function,relieve pain,and increase joint mobility in patients with HSP.The combination therapy is better than acupuncture alone.However,there is no significant difference in improving the score of patients’self-care ability.

Response of root traits of Reaumuria soongorica and Salsola passerina to facilitation

C3 plant Reaumuria soongorica and C4 plant Salsola passerina are super xerophytes and coexist in a mixed community in either isolated or associated growth, and interspecific facilitation occurs in associated growth. In the present study, the root traits including root distribution, root length（RL）, root surface area（RSA）, root weight（RW） and specific root length（SRL） of both species in two growth forms were investigated to clarify their response to facilitation in associated growth. Six isolated plants of each species, as well as six associated plants similar in size and development were selected during the plant growing season, and their roots were excavated at 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40 and 40–50 cm soil depths at the end of the growing season. All the roots of each plant were separated into the two categories of fine roots（2 mm diameter） and coarse roots（≥2 mm diameter）. Root traits such as RL and RSA in the fine and coarse roots were obtained by the root analyzing system WinRHIZO. Most of the coarse roots in R. soongorica and S. passerina were distributed in the top 10 cm of the soil in both growth forms, whereas the fine roots of the two plant species were found mainly in the 10–20 and 20–30 cm soil depths in isolated growth, respectively. However, the fine roots of both species were mostly overlapped in 10–20 cm soil depth in associated growth. The root/canopy ratios of both species reduced, whereas the ratios of their fine roots to coarse roots in RL increased, and both species had an increased SRL in the fine roots in associated growth. In addition, there was the increase in RL of fine roots and content of root N for S. passerina in associated growth. Taken together, the root growth of S. passerina was facilitated for water and nutrient exploration under the interaction of the overlapped roots in both species in associated growth, and higher SRL allowed both species to more effectively adapt to the infertile soil in the desert ecosystem.

The Impact of Trade Facilitation on Economic Development： A Case of East African Community （EAC）

This study examined the impact of trade facilitation on economic development, particularly the impact of customs environment on trade flows over the period from 1995 to 2010. Five countries of the East African Community （EAC）, namely, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, are involved. The study employs a gravity model for estimating bilateral trade flows between the EAC partner states. The ordinary least square （OLS） technique is adopted and applied for the regression analysis by using the Stata 10.0 software. Results suggest that, the customs environment of the importer is significant and possesses a strongly positive impact on East African trade flows. Results also find that the customs environment of the exporter is insignificant, even though it shows a negative relationship with the East African trade flows, hence a negative determinant. East African countries have to improve their customs environment, especially when undertaking an importation, in order to boost the overall trade flow in the block. They should also improve other trade facilitation indicators, such as port efficiency, regulatory environment, and infrastructure. The aid for trade, in terms of technical and financial assistance, should also be enhanced for the development of infrastructure, including roads, railways, ports, bridges, and border posts.

Effectiveness in Group Facilitation Training in the Hospitality Industry: A Case Study

This paper aims at demonstrating that an acceptable level of performance as a group facilitator can be achieved byhospitality industry managers in a 35-hour course, to a maximum of fourteen trainees, experienced in groupleadership but not in small-group facilitation or large-group coordination. Based on a six-step model fororganizational intervention, the course was run in co-facilitation, using the effect of demonstration, modelling, andobservation to improve performance at individual level. The course represents a mix of organizational behaviourand human resources management that has proved to be effective in preparing managers to improve organizationalinnovation and accelerate change in companies. Each step produced outputs, namely three innovation projects.Participants rated the course in every item of an extensive questionnaire as Good and Very Good, except theintroduction (pre-consult), which was considered “too theoretical”. Therefore, the course model proved to beadequate for the preparation of managers as coaches for organizational innovation in the hospitality industry. As tofuture developments, they will have to do mostly with the functioning of a matrix structure in the hospitality industry,so that the whole approach may have a full impact on the company.

Invariant measures for the strong-facilitated exclusion process

Consider a generalized model of the facilitated exclusion process, which is a onedimensional exclusion process with a dynamical constraint that prevents the particle at site x from jumping to x+1 (or x-1) if the sites x-1, x-2 (or x+1, x+2) are empty. It is nongradient and lacks invariant measures of product form. The purpose of this paper is to identify the invariant measures and to show that they satisfy both exponential decay of correlations and equivalence of ensembles. These properties will play a pivotal role in deriving the hydrodynamic limit.

Open visitation in the NICU:nurses’perspectives on barriers and facilitators

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the nurses’perspectives on open family visitation and its barriers and facilitators in neonatal intensive care units(NICUs).Methods:This is a descriptive,cross-sectional study.A total of 113 nurses employed in 3 main NICUs of Tabriz participated in the study through the census sampling method.Nurses’perspectives on open visitation and its facilitators and barriers were assessed and analyzed using the Beliefs and Attitudes toward Visitation in NICU Questionnaire(BAVNIQ)and descriptive and analytical statistics,respectively.Results:Approximately 74%of the nurses who participating in the study had a moderate perspective on open visitation.From the nurses’viewpoint,“Parents’low awareness of sensitivity and hygienic principles of the NICU”was the first(90.3%)barrier,and the 2 factors,namely,“physical structure of the ward/lack of sufficient space”and“far distance between family’s residence and the hospital/having another child,”were the second(86.8%)barrier with an equal percentage.Among the facilitating factors,“Supporting employed parents during the neonate’s hospitalization”and“providing facilities for family accommodation in the hospital”were the first(82.3%)and the second(79.6%)facilitators,respectively,for open visitation.Conclusions:The majority of NICU nurses had a moderate perspective on the family open visitation.This reluctance seems to be originated mainly from the factors inhibiting open visitation,making its implementation challenging for nurses.The perspective of the frontline staff in caring for vulnerable infants on facilitators and barriers to open visitation may help policymakers,managers,and relevant officials in decision-making and implementing new visiting policies in the NICUs.

高标准农田建设提升了农户种粮积极性吗?——基于双季稻种植的考察

高标准农田建设是增强粮食综合生产能力,强化国家粮食安全保障的重要举措。基于江西省1556份微观农户调查数据,采用双季稻种植行为来衡量农户种粮积极性,实证分析高标准农田建设对传统双季稻主产区农户种粮积极性的影响及其作用机制。研究发现:(1)高标准农田建设显著提高了农户种粮积极性,促进传统双季稻主产区农户种植双季稻,并扩大双季稻种植规模,该结论在进行稳健性检验后依然成立。(2)机制分析表明,促进农业社会化服务发展、降低农业生产成本、诱导农地转入是高标准农田建设提高农户种粮积极性的三个重要路径。(3)异质性分析发现,高标准农田建设对农地调整、低细碎化与非平原地区农户的双季稻种植行为有更明显的促进作用。为进一步强化粮食安全保障,更好地发挥高标准农田建设的种粮激励效应,应持续大力推进高标准农田建设,优化高标准农田建设模式,着力降低高标准农田的细碎化程度。

未来30年中国耕地和高标准农田分布的省级预测

科学预测中国未来耕地和高标准农田分布对于保障我国粮食安全和提高耕地质量具有重要意义。该研究假设未来各省份耕地和高标准农田占全国总面积比例不变,根据各省份耕地和高标准农田实际面积、未来全国耕地及各省份高标准农田规划面积等数据,基于最小二乘法的二次多项式拟合预测未来30 a全国及各省份耕地面积和高标准农田面积,进而预测未来各省份耕地面积保有率和高标准农田占耕地比例。结果表明:(1)到2050年,我国耕地面积稳定在1.20×10^(8)hm^(2),耕地面积保有率稳定在100%,高标准农田面积达到1.03×10^(8)hm^(2),高标准农田占耕地比例从2020年的43.59%增长到2050年的85.89%,增长近一倍。(2)七大区域中,黄淮海区、长江中下游区、东南区的高标准农田占耕地比例较高,在2020年均已达到70%以上,东北区、西北区、青藏区、西南区高标准农田占耕地比例则处于40%~60%之间。到2050年,受耕地比例稳定中略有下降的趋势影响,黄淮海区、长江中下游区、东南区、青藏区高标准农田占耕地比例均达90%以上,东北区、西北区、西南区则处于70%~90%之间。(3)从各省份来看,江西省、浙江省、福建省、广东省等南方省份的高标准农田建设比例较高,而内蒙古自治区、黑龙江省、辽宁省、吉林省、山东省等北方省份的耕地面积保有率较高。研究得到的耕地面积及其保有率、高标准农田面积及其占耕地比例等指标的分省份预测值可以为未来相关部门制定国土空间规划等提供科学依据,也可以为未来耕地布局和农田利用等研究提供分省份的总量参考。

宁握护理联合非营养性吸吮在新生儿静脉穿刺的应用

观察宁握护理联合非营养性吸吮对新生儿静脉穿刺疼痛的干预效果,探讨缓解新生儿静脉穿刺疼痛的有效方法。选取2023年3—8月莆田学院附属医院NICU收治的108例新生儿为研究对象,将其按随机数字表法分为对照组、宁握组和联合组各36例。比较3组新生儿疼痛评分、心率和血氧饱和度指标及静脉穿刺成功率。结果显示,静脉穿刺时和穿刺后宁握组和联合组的疼痛评分、心率、血氧饱和度均优于对照组(均P<0.01);3组新生儿静脉穿刺成功率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结果表明,宁握护理联合非营养性吸吮可以有效缓解新生儿静脉穿刺疼痛,值得推广。

基于续论的二语词汇习得研究述评

基于续论的续写任务为外语教学提供了新思路,续写任务对二语词汇的促学效果也已经得到了大量实证研究的验证。本文对现有的基于续论的二语词汇习得研究进行了回顾与探讨,首先讨论了续写促学词汇的理论依据,然后分析现有研究在任务类型、研究范式及影响促学效果的因素等方面的特点。研究发现:(1)基于续论的二语词汇习得研究采用的续写任务类型较为单一,缺少多轮续写、交叉续写等形式的应用,尚未完全发挥出续写任务的促学潜力;(2)现有研究往往仅从词汇知识深度或质量的角度测量词汇知识,忽略了词汇流利度的作用;(3)现有研究主要考察了互动强度和外语水平等因素对续写任务促学效果的影响,对学习者认知与情感因素的关注不足。在此基础上,本文分析了基于续论的二语词汇习得研究的发展方向及趋势,以期为续论在外语教学中的应用研究提供一定的参考。

双循环格局下贸易便利化对进出口贸易的影响--以中日贸易为例

贸易便利化作为一种综合性制度安排,能有效提升我国对外贸易的质量,在国内因素和国际因素发生显著性变化的当下,是挖掘新贸易增长动力的重要手段。本研究对进出口贸易和贸易便利化相关文献进行了回顾,分析了中日贸易便利化的现状,并通过基础设施、商业环境、制度环境和金融环境四个层面分析贸易便利化对中日贸易的影响。研究结果表明,中日贸易便利化对中日贸易发展存在显著的正向促进作用,同时贸易便利化对中日贸易的影响作用受行业、地域等不同因素的影响。为了进一步推动中日贸易提质增效,中国要在推进基础设施建设的基础上,加快制度环境的构建,利用好RCEP这一中日间首个自贸协定的签订契机来提升中日贸易便利化水平,维护中日之间的供应链体系,提升区域经济合作水平。

“一带一路”贸易便利化的十年进展、问题分析与推进路径

共建“一带一路”走过了蓬勃十年,它不仅是中国新时代扩大对外开放的总抓手,而且为国际社会提供了重要合作平台。贸易畅通是共建“一带一路”的核心任务之一,贸易便利化对推动“一带一路”贸易畅通至关重要。在共建“一带一路”十周年之际,本文从商签自贸协定、加强海关合作、交通互联互通、发展贸易新业态四个方面,系统总结十年来“一带一路”贸易便利化的历程与进展,剖析当前存在的问题,探讨进一步提升贸易便利化水平的路径。

外资立法的投资便利化创新之路

历经WTO成员方多年努力,由中国倡导并助推,终于实现了历史性突破——非贸易领域的投资便利化协定应运而生。这不仅预示着国际投资法的聚焦已从投资自由、投资促进、投资保护等传统领域,转向投资便利化这一新型议题,投资便利化正在成为全球治理的一种新趋势,还标志着中国在多边机制尝试设置议题、推进议题、提供公共产品、抵御任何脱钩断链的重大突破。在此背景下,中国签署的双边投资条约作为外资立法的延伸,其升级的动力机制已经形成,理应在透明度、简化程序、投资争端预防机制等方面形成合力。与此同时,国内立法作为履约机制的重要载体,更应注重国内行政程序简化的自身改革,加快电子政务的创新力度,与双边投资条约形成“鸟之两翼、车之两轮”。作为改革开放先行区和制度创新试验田,海南开创国际投资“单一窗口”,期冀先行先试、以地方立法“星星之火”,为各地投资便利化形成“燎原之势”。

绳带辅助本体感觉神经肌肉促进技术训练联合绳带辅助脑机接口训练对脑卒中偏瘫上肢康复效果的随机对照试验

目的探讨绳带辅助本体感觉神经肌肉促进技术(PNF)训练联合绳带辅助脑机接口(BCI)训练在脑卒中偏瘫患者上肢康复中的应用效果。方法2022年3月至2023年2月,选取广西医科大学第二附属医院脑卒中偏瘫住院患者96例,随机分为常规组(n=32)、PNF组(n=32)和联合组(n=32)。各组均给予常规康复治疗,常规组给予上肢PNF训练,PNF组给予上肢绳带辅助PNF训练,联合组给予上肢绳带辅助PNF训练和上肢绳带辅助BCI训练,共4周。治疗前后,分别采用偏瘫上肢功能测试-香港版(FTHUE-HK)、Fugl-Meyer上肢功能评定(FMA-UE)和改良Barthel指数(MBI)进行评估。结果各组FTHUE-HK评分、MBI评分的组内效应(F>341.219,P<0.001)、组间效应(F>21.705,P<0.001)和交互效应(F>3.171,P<0.05)均显著;FMA-UE评分的组内效应(F=520.472,P<0.001)和组间效应(F=41.939,P<0.001)显著,交互效应不显著(P>0.05)。治疗后,各项指标均为联合组最优(P<0.05)。结论绳带辅助PNF训练联合绳带辅助脑机BCI训练能进一步促进脑卒中偏瘫上肢运动功能障碍患者的恢复,提高其日常生活能力。