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.

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.

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.

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.

Invasive weed disrupts facilitation of nutrient uptake in grass-clover assemblage

Nutrient constraints in low-fertility soil were modified by different species combinations.Grass-clover assemblages benefited both species in terms of nutrient procurement.Interplay of competition and facilitation is demonstrated.An invasive weed removed essential nutrients from the grazing cycle.To investigate the interplay of competition and facilitation between plants in low-fertility pasture grasslands of New Zealand,we compared nutrient uptake and acquisition of key nutrients of three species from different func-tional groups.Combinations of Pilosella officinarum(mouse-eared hawk-weed,an invasive weed),Trifolium repens(white clover,a nitrogen fixer)and Dactylis glomerata(cocksfoot,a pasture grass)were planted into a soil with low-to-deficient concentrations of key nutrients.Highest yields were achieved by the grass growing alone but,when the clover and grass had grown together,there were complementary benefits in terms of procurement of a wide range of nutrients from soil despite lower root biomass.The inva-sive weed negated these benefits,and soil nutrients were exploited less efficiently when Pilosella had grown alone or in a mixture with the other species.Competition from the weed removed the benefits of grass-legume coexistence.These findings are interpreted to suggest that requirements for legumes to be the main source of nitrogen in pasture grasslands may be compromised unless competitive weeds are controlled to avoid disrupted procurement of key nutrients.It is likely these constraints to nutrient procurement would similarly impact conservation grasslands.

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.

Functionalized lipid nanoparticles modulate the blood-brain barrier and eliminate α-synuclein to repair dopamine neurons

The challenge in the clinical treatment of Parkinson's disease lies in the lack of disease-modifying therapies that can halt or slow down the progression. Peptide drugs, such as exenatide (Exe), with potential disease-modifying efficacy, have difficulty in crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) due to their large molecular weight. Herein, we fabricate multi-functionalized lipid nanoparticles (LNP) Lpc-BoSA/CSO with BBB targeting, permeability-increasing and responsive release functions. Borneol is chemically bonded with stearic acid and, as one of the components of Lpc-BoSA/CSO, is used to increase BBB permeability. Immunofluorescence results of brain tissue of 15-month-old C57BL/6 mice show that Lpc-BoSA/CSO disperses across the BBB into brain parenchyma, and the amount is 4.21 times greater than that of conventional LNP. Motor symptoms of mice in Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe group are significantly improved, and the content of dopamine is 1.85 times (substantia nigra compacta) and 1.49 times (striatum) that of PD mice. α-Synuclein expression and Lewy bodies deposition are reduced to 51.85% and 44.72% of PD mice, respectively. Immunohistochemical mechanism studies show AKT expression in Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe is 4.23 times that of PD mice and GSK-3β expression is reduced to 18.41%. Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe could reduce the production of α-synuclein and Lewy bodies through AKT/GSK-3β pathway, and effectively prevent the progressive deterioration of Parkinson's disease. In summary, Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe increases the entry of exenatide into brain and promotes its clinical application for Parkinson's disease therapy.

Can Trade Facilitation Prevent the Formation of Zombie Firms?Evidence from the China Railway Express

Using data on firms listed on Chinese A-share markets from 2009 to 2017,this paperapplies the difference-in-difference model to test the effect of trade facilitation onpreventing the formation of zombie firms.We find that the China Railway Express(CRE)significantly prevented the formation of such firms.Mechanism tests show:(i)the CRE has accelerated the speed of sales,which increased the overseas salesrevenue of firms;(ii)the economies of scale and the capital accumulation effectcaused by the CRE can help increase firms'solvency and development ability.Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the effect of the CRE on preventing theformation of zombie firms is mainly reflected in non-state-owned firms,firms inhighly competitive industries,and firms in the eastern region of China.We suggestthat China should continue to promote trade facilitation by expanding the CRE andstrengthening the market's dominant role in preventing the formation of zombie firms.Disadvantaged firms should seize the development opportunities brought by the CRE.

Enhancing CO_(2) transport with plasma-functionalized ionic liquid membranes

The ionic liquid(IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate treated with radiofrequency plasma is proposed for functionalization and immobilization on polyethersulfone supports to form supported ionic liquid membranes for CO_(2) separation.The effects of treatment time and transmembrane pressure difference on CO_(2) permeance were evaluated.The best gas permeation performance was obtained with a treatment time of 10 min and the transmembrane pressure difference was 0.25 MPa.Characterization of the materials by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrates that the IL is grafted with carboxyl groups and deprotonated through plasma treatment.A preliminary mechanism for the plasma treatment and facilitated transport of CO_(2)has been proposed on this basis.

Fuel of the Future

Lawmakers call for stepping up hydrogen power production to facilitate China’s clean and low-carbon energy transformation and create a new engine of growth.

Germination response of desert annuals to shrub facilitation is species specific but not ecotypic

Aims Positive plant interactions can promote higher species density of beneficiary species in deserts.However,there is limited evidence examining the trait sets of seeds from beneficiary species.in this study,we examined the hypothesis that shrubs(benefactors)influ-ence the germination of desert annuals(beneficiaries)and promote ecotypic differentiation by generating distinct microhabitats through abiotic stress amelioration.The following predictions were tested using growth chambers and field-collected seeds:(i)seed mass and viability will be greater and less variable for seeds collected from within shrub understory relative to seeds from open microhabitats,(ii)germination of seeds from shrub and open microhabitats will be greatest under simulated home(source)conditions,(iii)seeds from the shrub microhabitat will adaptively accelerate their germination rate when germinated in simulated home(source)microhabitats relative to their simulated away(reciprocal)microhabitat.Methods Seeds and their associated maternal plants were collected from four annual species found within a shrub understory(Larrea triden-tata)and open microhabitats in the Mojave Desert of California(35.30ºN,117.26ºW,793 m.a.s.l.),and then reciprocally germi-nated in growth chambers simulating both microclimatic conditions.Cumulative germination and germination rate was measured every 4-5 days for 42 days.Important Findings There was no significant difference in the mean or coefficient of variation for seed mass and viability between the shrub and open microhabitats.The source of the seeds did not significantly impact the cumulative germination,and there was no accelerated rate of germination within potential species ecotypes thereby suggesting no ecotypic differentiation.Cumulative germination was signifi-cantly higher within the shrub-simulated microhabitat for three out of the four species examined.Cumulative germination and germina-tion rate were significantly different between species.Hence,shrubs influence the germination of desert annuals,and the outcome of this interaction is species specific,but shrub microhabitats do not nec-essarily alter the more conserved seed biology traits.Future studies should examine the influence of gene flow on beneficiary adapta-tion and the influence of species-specificity on beneficiary species response to facilitation.

Indirect facilitation by a liana might explain the dominance of a small tree in a temperate forest

Aims Lianas are expected to influence composition,structure and func-tioning of forest systems due to unequal distribution across the potential set of host plants.However,our understanding of mecha-nisms associated with preferences for specific hosts is still limited,and so is our ability to discern between endogenous and exogenous forces driving forest dynamics in the long run.In this paper,we eval-uated whether the dominant liana Hedera helix can indirectly con-tribute to the eventual dominance of the small multi-stemmed tree Corylus avellana in a remnant temperate forest in central Iberian Peninsula from comparatively reduced liana infestation on C.avel-lana relative to co-occurring woody species.Methods through principal component analysis and co-occurrence ana-lysis,we studied the distribution and spatial association between woody species and the liana H.helix.We analyzed the relationship between the number of species in a plot and the number of species infested by the liana to test the hypothesis that H.helix is a gen-eralist liana.through generalized linear mixed models,we tested the dynamic-multi-stemmed growth form of C.avellana as a plaus-ible life strategy to withstand,in the long run,the liana infestation.In particular,we tested(i)the relationship between stem size and the probability of H.helix infestation including all the tree species within plots and(ii)the relationship between stem size and mortal-ity as evidence of the stem turn over in the tree C.avellana.Important Findings Our results indicate that H.helix and C.avellana significantly co-occur in mature stands of this remnant temperate forest where pion-eer woody species are absent.Hedera helix severely infests all the woody species whenever stem size exceed≈25 cm perimeter and there is physical contact at the base of the stem.this implies that all the trees in the community are potential hosts for H.helix.Mixed models indicate that both,infestation by H.helix and stem mortality,are positively related to C.avellana stem perimeter.Reduced long-term infestation of the liana by means of a multi-stemmed growth form with high stem turnover in C.avellana might be an advantage with respect to unipodial tree species.thus,the liana-tree coexistence pattern may be interpreted as an indirect positive interaction that,contrary to previous findings,results here in species dominance instead of species coexistence.

Effects of drought and slope aspect on canopy facilitation in a mountainous rangeland

Aims Species composition and diversity of the mountainous rangelands are results of interactions between environmental severities,het-erogeneous topography and facilitative effects by nurse plants.This research was aimed to compare relative effects of these three envi-ronmental variables on the natural vegetation of a mountainous rangeland.For a more detailed understanding,effects of four dif-ferent nurse species were separately compared on the various plant growth forms and on two community plant responses(diversity and abundance).Methods A mountainous semiarid rangeland was selected in Baharkish,Quchan,Northeast of Iran.Density and canopy cover of all plant species were recorded under the canopy of four different shrubs and in open areas,in north and south-facing aspects,and in a normal and a drought year.Shannon diversity,total abundance(%cover)and the abundance of different growth forms were used as crite-ria for assessing effects of the environmental variables.Data were arranged in a factorial combination and analyzed by three-way analysis of variance using a GLM analysis.Important Findings(i)Drought,aspect and canopy created niche differentiation:annual forbs and shrubs were more affected by drought,whereas geophytes and grasses were more responsive to slope aspects.Effects of drought and slope aspect were more profound on species diversity,whereas that of canopy facilitation was stronger on plant abundance.(ii)Canopy facili-tation was dependent on severity of the abiotic factors and life history of interacting species.Canopy facilitation allowed for the persistence of only annual forbs,but it was disadvantaged during the drought year.Plant community responses to abiotic factors(slope and drought)were more dependent on the plant growth form,while responses to canopy facilitation were more dependent on the morphology and/or ecology of nurse shrubs.(iii)Effect of shrubs was dependent on their morphology and ecology:shrubs with larger canopy area and nitrogen fixation capa-bility increased,but those with allelopathic effects or a dense canopy structure decreased the diversity of the understory species.

A Framework of Work-Family Facilitation： Observations from Employees in the Financial Industry in Taiwan

This study aims to understand the work-family facilitation and its antecedents. Positive synergies from work and family domains （work-family facilitation） were examined from interviewing financial service employees （N = 15） in Taiwan. Data analysis showed： （1） resources from both work and family domains, （2） the themes of work-family facilitation, （3） the relationship between work-family facilitation and the obtained resources across domains. These findings have managerial implications for designing work-and family-relevant policies that enhance work-family facilitation to further improve employees＇ quality and functions of work and family life.

A study on post-exercise facilitation in 11 patients with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome

Objective To study the operation method of the post-exercise facilitation(PEF)in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome(LEMS),and to seek for the meaning of PEF in clinical work.Methods Eleven patients with LEMS were included to accept the PEF and the repetitive nerve stimulation(RNS)test.When performing the PEF test,compound muscle action potentials(CMAPs)of abductor digitiminimi were recorded after a specified time

上海市实施整合式慢性病社区健康管理模式的促进和障碍因素

目的分析整合式慢性病社区健康管理模式实施的促进和障碍因素,区分模式服务量高覆盖率组和低覆盖率组在实施性研究的整合性理论框架(consolidated framework for implementation research,CFIR)上的结构差异,为政府部门提供政策建议。方法结合CFIR对22名专家进行半结构化访谈,采用定性结构评级法对13家社区卫生服务中心受访者评分,利用NVivo 12软件编码。结果高覆盖率组和低覆盖率组的相对优势、外部政策与激励、实施准备度、反思和评价、领导个人特质5个CFIR结构有差异。促进因素包括:测量数据更加精准,提高了高血压和糖尿病患者的异常检出率和控制率;模式实现了服务、技术、数据“三整合”,优化管理流程,提供管理抓手;基础性和个性化服务结合吸引患者到基层就诊;模式与我国政策背景,初级卫生保健工作和以患者为中心理念兼容;数字化工具的应用减轻医护人员工作负担;领导重视是基础,利益方间的通力合作是重要保障。障碍因素包括:宏观层面缺少卫生行政机构的支持性政策,组织架构和运行机制尚未建立,建设、投入主体以及具体工作规范和流程有待明确;缺乏监督管理机制和质量评估小组;模式推广目标模糊;缺乏规范化系统性的培训计划;为不同群体提供服务存在挑战,缺乏有效的社会面宣传;模式仍须提高需方获得感;社区布局限制了模式的服务提供。结论卫生行政部门应明确模式的建设、运行、投入主体,完善组织架构并明确各利益方的功能定位和职责分工,进一步制定工作规范和工作流程;建立信息反馈机制和质量控制小组并进行定期评估;制定清晰的目标;加大宣传教育,扩大宣传面;利用数字化工具形成良性医患互动机制。

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.