Temporal Variability of Tropospheric NO_(2) over Cities in the United States,Western Europe and China from 2005 to 2022

Anthropogenic Nitrogen oxides(NO_(x)=NO_(2)+NO)emissions are highly concentrated in urban area,and the weekly cycles,seasonal patterns and long-term trends of tropospheric NO_(2) columns over cities differ from region to region due to different emission sectoral compositions and human activities.In this study,we used satellite observed tropospheric NO_(2) column data to compare the longand short-term NO_(2) column density time series over cities in the United Sates(the U.S.),western Europe and China.The results showed that in all the targeted cities,the outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease in 2019(COVID-19)moved the December peak of the city-level NO_(2)columns forward to November and October or even earlier in 2020 and 2021.On weekly level,cities in the U.S.show the lowest NO_(2) columns ratio on weekend/work day,then come the western European cities,and a weak weekly pattern is seen in Chinese cities.For all the cites,we find a higher weekend/work day NO_(2) ratio in cold seasons than in warm seasons,indicating a higher contribution from NOx emission sectors of residential,industry and power plants in the warm seasons.In the long-term,NO_(2) columns over the U.S.and western European cities declined by a fraction twice that of the regional mean level from 2004 to 2021.In China,NO_(2) columns started to decrease since 2012,at a similar rate between the city and regional level.This work confirms the importance to quantify and control NOx emissions from cities.

The 2 ℃ Global Temperature Target and the Evolution of the Long-TermGoal of Addressing Climate Change-From the United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change to the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement proposed to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 ℃ abovepre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 ℃ above pre-industriallevels. It was thus the first international treaty to endow the 2 ℃ global temperature target with legal effect.The qualitative expression of the ultimate objective in Article 2 of the United Nations Framework Conventionon Climate Change （UNFCCC） has now evolved into the numerical temperature rise target in Article 2 of theParis Agreement. Starting with the Second Assessment Report （SAR） of the Intergovernmental Panel on Cli-mate Change （IPCC）, an important task for subsequent assessments has been to provide scientific informa-tion to help determine the quantified long-term goal for UNFCCC negotiation. However, due to involvementin the value judgment within the scope of non-scientific assessment, the IPCC has never scientifically af-firmed the unacceptable extent of global temperature rise. The setting of the long-term goal for addressingclimate change has been a long process, and the 2 ℃ global temperature target is the political consensuson the basis of scientific assessment. This article analyzes the evolution of the long-term global goal foraddressing climate change and its impact on scientific assessment, negotiation processes, and global low-carbon development, from aspects of the origin of the target, the series of assessments carried out by the 1PCCfocusing on Article 2 of the UNFCCC, and the promotion of the global temperature goal at the political level.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dairy industry: Lessons from China and the United States and policy implications

The purposes of this study are to assess the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on the dairy industries in China and the United States and to derive policy recommendations for enhancing the diary industries’resilience to pandemics and other market shocks.Specifically,data from the two nations are used to analyze and compare the mechanisms through which the pandemic has affected their dairy industries and to discuss potential lessons from their experiences.The findings suggest that this pandemic has heavily affected the dairy industries in both China and the United States through similar mechanisms,such as decreased farmgate milk prices,disruption and difficulties of moving milk within the supply chains,worker shortages,increased production costs,and lack of operating capital.There were also significant differences in the affecting mechanisms between the two nations,including transportation difficulties from widespread road closures and significant reduction in holiday sales of dairy products in China,and the shutdown of many dairy processors in the United States due to the closing of schools,restaurants,and hotels.While government financial reliefs are highly needed to help many dairy farms and processors survive this pandemic in the short term,the dairy industries and governments need to work together to develop long-term strategies and policies to balance the industries’efficiency and flexibility,product specialization and diversification,supply chain integration and local food systems,and market mechanisms and policy regulations and interventions.

Estimating Unconfined Compressive Strength of Sedimentary Rocks in United Arab Emirates from Point Load Strength Index

In this paper, three rock types including Sandstone, Mudstone, and Crystalline Gypsum were part of a laboratory study conducted to develop a dataset for predicting the unconfined compressive strength of UAE intact sedimentary rock specimens. Four hundred nineteen rock samples from various areas along the coastal region of the UAE were collected and tested for the development of this dataset and evaluation of models. From the statistical analysis of the data, regression equations were established among rock parameters and correlations were expressed and compared by the ones proposed in literature.

Barriers to vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)control:experience from the United States

To date,the United States(U.S.)has been the most heavily impacted country by the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).By November 30,2020,when this paper was written,13.5 million cases were reported in the U.S.with over 268000 deaths.Historically,vaccines have been one of the most effective and efficient technical tools for controlling a communicable disease.While the development of these vaccines has certainly been a challenge,it could be more challenging to achieve robust vaccine uptake because of many barriers.In this review,we focused on two types of barriers documented from long-term experience in the U.S.:structural and attitudinal.Structural barriers are systemic issues that impact one's ability to access a service,and they include time,transportation,cost,and clinic or outlet location;while attitudinal barriers are beliefs or perceptions that impact the willingness of at-risk individuals to seek out and/or accept a service.In the context of vaccination they include beliefs about the communicable disease,beliefs about vaccines,fear,and trust in healthcare and governmental agencies.Of the attitudinal barriers,public trust is a barrier that is of particular importance.In addition to affecting reception of vaccines,it may exacerbate disparities and reduce the likelihood of success of a vaccination program.Recommendations are made to overcome attitudinal barriers to help improve the effectiveness of vaccination programs for COVID-19 control in the U.S.,such as building public support through bipartisan endorsements and leveraging social media platforms to promote vaccination.

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.

Following the Charter of the United Nations: The Basic Guarantee for the Realization of the Right to Development——From the Perspective of Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

This study discusses the basic guarantee of the Charter of the United Nations to realize the right to development from the angle of Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The concepts regarding the people as the focal point, the dignity, the worth of the human being, as well as larger aspects of freedom, and other basic concepts within the Charter of the United Nations, guide the right direction of action for the realization of the right to development. The purpose and principles of the United Nations establishment in the Charter constitute the basic legal protection of the right to development. Values of peace, international dialogue, and international cooperation show the right path to the realization of the right to development.

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.

Phenology of desert plants from an arid gravel plain in eastern United Arab Emirates

Phenological events for desert plants were recorded and rainfall and temperature data were gathered over a three-year time scale at a gravel plain in the eastern region of the United Arab Emirates. Variations of phenological periods were analyzed and correlations between phenological periods and climate factors were discussed. The study showed that the growth and flowering of therophytes were significantly correlated with air tem- perature. The timing and abundance of rainfall came to be another factor significantly correlated with the onset and duration of chamaephyte flowering as well as the duration of therophyte growth and flowering. The variation in rainfall did not affect the onset of flowering in phanerophytes. Peak growing seasons were from November to March and flowering from November to December （also February to March depending on the availability of rainfall）. Flowering in phanerophytes and chamaephytes occurs 4-6 weeks and in therophytes 4-8 weeks after rain, The results showed that variations in growth and phenology between species were correlated with environmental factors, such as temperature and rainfall or, maybe, differences in life form and photosynthetic pathways, each being adapted for utilizing a particular phase of the seasonally and yearly variable rainfall. The sequence of flowering for the species under study was more or less constant despite the difference in the amount of rainfall. The fruiting patterns of most of the species were also found parallel to their flowering patterns. Our results emphasized the need to study multiple species at many sites for the understanding and forecast of regional changes in phenology.

Do people really support conservation?Evidence from China and the United States

Survey studies have consistently shown strong public support for biodiversity conservation,even though conservation regulations often face strong local resistance when they are implemented.This seemingly contradictory phenomenon is due to the fact that previous polls have sought opinion only in the abstract,yet many conservation measures are implemented at the expense of local economic development,and policymakers often face a‘Conservation-Development Tradeoff’-a policy dilemma that remains understudied by social scientists.To fill this gap,this study conducts one of the first comparative surveys on public support for biodiversity conservation in China and the United States.I measure public support for conservation using two separate question versions online.The‘regular version’asks directly about individual support for biodiversity conservation,and the“tradeoff version”asks the same question but in the context of the policy tradeoff.The results show that both American and Chinese citizens are highly supportive of conservation in the abstract.But after they learn about the tradeoff effect,the aggregate support falls sharply,and the Chinese citizens show significantly less support compared to their American counterparts.The survey findings expanded on existing academic research on public attitudes toward conservation policies and can encourage future conservation policymakers to understand the significance of the tradeoff issue,as conventional wisdom may have overestimated public support for biodiversity conservation.Moreover,as China has become a crucial player in global conservation governance,understanding the Chinese public sentiment on the real-world policy dilemma can have important implications for conservation policymaking in the world.

The journey,gain,and thought from engaging in the research of Chinese herbal medicines in China,Japan,and United States

<正>Since early 80s of last century,Chinese herbal medicines focused on the isolation and structural identification of active/chemical compounds have being investigated,started the journey from Henan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.After one year(1985~1986) advanced study in Prof.Jingxi Xie's laboratory in the

Declining Vegetation Growth Rates in the Eastern United States from 2000 to 2010

Negative trends in the monthly MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) time-series were found to be widespread in natural (non-cropland) ecosystems of the eastern United Statesfrom 2000 to 2010. Four sub-regions were detected with significant declines in summed growing season (May-September) EVI, namely theUpper Great Lakes, the Southern Appalachian, the Mid-Atlantic, and the southeastern Coastal Plain forests ecosystems. More than 20% of the undeveloped ecosystem areas in the four sub-regions with significant negative EVI growing season trends were classified as forested land cover over the entire study period. We detected relationships between annual temperature and precipitation patterns and negative forest EVI trends across these regions. Change patterns in both the climate moisture index (CMI) and growing degree days (GDD) were associated with declining forest EVI growing season trends. We conclude that temperature warming-induced change and variability of precipitation at local and regional scales may have altered the growth trends of large forested areas of the easternUnited Statesover the past decade.

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.

Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications of the Early Triassic Nianzi Adakitic Granite Unit in the Yanshan Fold and Thrust Belt:New Constraints from U-Pb Geochronology and Sr-Nd-Hf Isotopes

The Nianzi granite unit,which includes the Nianzi,Xiaolianghou and Xiawopu granitic intrusions,is a significant component of the northern part of the North China Craton(NCC)and is situated in the Yanshan fold and thrust belt(YFTB).However,there is still debate regarding the tectonic evolutionary history of the YFTB during the late Permian to Triassic period,specifically regarding the timing of subduction and collision between the NCC and the Paleo-Asian Ocean.The Nianzi granite unit exhibits unique petrological,geochronological and geochemical signatures that shed light on the tectonic evolutionary history of the YFTB.This study presents detailed petrology,whole-rock geochemistry,together with Sr-Nd isotopic,zircon U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic data of the granites within the Nianzi granite unit.Our findings demonstrate that the granites primarily consist of subhedral K-feldspar,plagioclase,quartz,minor biotite and hornblende,with accessory titanite,apatite,magnetite and zircon.Zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the Xiaolianghou granite was emplaced at 247.5±0.62 Ma.Additionally,the adakitic characteristics of the Nianzi,Xiawopu and Xiaolianghou granitic intrusions,such as high Sr and Ba contents and high ratios of Sr/Y and(La/Yb)N,combined with negative Sr-Nd and Lu-Hf isotopes(87Sr/86Sr)i=0.705681–0.7057433,εNd(t)=−21.98 to−20.97,zirconεHf(t)=−20.26 to−9.92,as well as the I-type granite features of high SiO_(2),Na_(2)O and K_(2)O/Na_(2)O ratios,enriched Rb,K,Sr and Ba,along with depleted Th,U,Nb,Ta,P and Ti,suggest that the Nianzi granitic unit was mainly derived from the partial melting of a thickened lower crust containing hydrous,calc-alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline,mafic to intermediate metamorphic rocks.In light of these parameters,we further integrate our data with previous studies and conclude that the Nianzi granitic unit was generated in a post-collisional extensional environment during the Early Triassic.

Epidemiological characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injuries in the intensive care unit from 2018 to 2023:a retrospective hospital-based study

BACKGROUND:The objective of this retrospective hospital-based study was to describe the epidemiological features of traumatic spinal cord injury(TSCI)in the intensive care unit(ICU)and assess the incidence and possible risk factors for venous thromboembolism(VTE)following TSCI.METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 370 patients with TSCI who were admitted between January 2018 and March 2023.The following parameters were collected:age,sex,body mass index,occupation,underlying diseases,smoking history,education level,etiology of injury,injury segments,American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA)Impairment Scale score,severity of injury,injury severity score(ISS),VTE risk score(Caprini score),treatment,VTE prophylaxis,ICU length of stay,length of hospital stay,concomitant injuries,and complications.Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants.Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for VTE.RESULTS:The mean age of patients with TSCI was 55.5±13.4 years,with a male-to-female ratio of 6.5:1.The leading cause of TSCI was falls from height(46.5%),followed by traffic accidents(36.5%).The cervical spinal cord was the most affected segment,followed by the thoracolumbar region.Among all the patients,362(97.8%)had concomitant injuries.Complications were observed in 255 patients(68.9%)during hospitalization.The incidence rate of VTE was 25.1%.Logistic regression analysis revealed that age(OR=1.721,95%CI:1.207-2.454,P=0.003),mechanical ventilation(OR=3.427,95%CI:1.873-6.271,P<0.001),and non-use of chemical prophylaxis(OR=2.986,95%CI:1.749-5.099,P<0.001)were risk factors for VTE.CONCLUSION:Falls from height and traffic accidents were the main causes of TSCIs in the ICU,especially for male patients with cervical spinal cord injuries.VTE is a frequent complication in patients with TSCI in the ICU.Age,mechanical ventilation,and non-use of chemical prophylaxis were found to be independent risk factors for VTE following TSCI.

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.

Evaluation of the mental health of COVID-19 patients discharged from the intensive care unit

In this editorial,I address the mental health status of patients who have been discharged from intensive care units(ICUs)after battling coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).An ICU admission is generally a stressful experience,and for severe COVID-19 survivors prolonged treatment in the ICU can lead to significant psychological consequences.These individuals may experience psychiatric distress,including symptoms such as insomnia,anxiety,depression,and even posttraumatic psychological issues.Research indicates that during the first 6 months to 1 year following an ICU stay,nearly one-third of survivors exhibit symptoms similar to those of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.Several factors may have contributed to the development of depressive and anxious symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic,particularly for those who underwent an ICU stay.The ICU environment itself is inherently stressful,filled with the constant noise of various medical devices.Studies have provided strong evidence that the prolonged need for ventilation support and the loss of freedom of movement are key factors in the development of psychological problems among COVID-19 patients who had been treated in the ICU.

Discharging patients home from the intensive care unit:A new trend

Discharging patients directly to home from the intensive care unit(ICU)is becoming a new trend.This review examines the feasibility,benefits,challenges,and considerations of directly discharging ICU patients.By analyzing available evidence and healthcare professionals'experiences,the review explores the potential impacts on patient outcomes and healthcare systems.The practice of direct discharge from the ICU presents both opportunities and complexities.While it can potentially reduce costs,enhance patient comfort,and mitigate complications linked to extended hospitalization,it necessitates meticulous patient selection and robust post-discharge support mechanisms.Implementing this strategy successfully mandates the availability of home-based care services and a careful assessment of the patient's readiness for the transition.Through critical evaluation of existing literature,this review underscores the significance of tailored patient selection criteria and comprehensive post-discharge support systems to ensure patient safety and optimal recovery.The insights provided contribute evidence-based recommendations for refining the direct discharge approach,fostering improved patient outcomes,heightened satisfaction,and streamlined healthcare processes.Ultimately,the review seeks to balance patientcentered care and effective resource utilization within ICU discharge strategies.

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.