Storage time affects the level and diagnostic efficacy of plasma biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases

Several promising plasma biomarker proteins,such as amyloid-β(Aβ),tau,neurofilament light chain,and glial fibrillary acidic protein,are widely used for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.However,little is known about the long-term stability of these biomarker proteins in plasma samples stored at-80°C.We aimed to explore how storage time would affect the diagnostic accuracy of these biomarkers using a large cohort.Plasma samples from 229 cognitively unimpaired individuals,encompassing healthy controls and those experiencing subjective cognitive decline,as well as 99 patients with cognitive impairment,comprising those with mild cognitive impairment and dementia,were acquired from the Sino Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Decline project.These samples were stored at-80°C for up to 6 years before being used in this study.Our results showed that plasma levels of Aβ42,Aβ40,neurofilament light chain,and glial fibrillary acidic protein were not significantly correlated with sample storage time.However,the level of total tau showed a negative correlation with sample storage time.Notably,in individuals without cognitive impairment,plasma levels of total protein and tau phosphorylated protein threonine 181(p-tau181)also showed a negative correlation with sample storage time.This was not observed in individuals with cognitive impairment.Consequently,we speculate that the diagnostic accuracy of plasma p-tau181 and the p-tau181 to total tau ratio may be influenced by sample storage time.Therefore,caution is advised when using these plasma biomarkers for the identification of neurodegenerative diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease.Furthermore,in cohort studies,it is important to consider the impact of storage time on the overall results.

The burden of upper motor neuron involvement is correlated with the bilateral limb involvement interval in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis:a retrospective observational study

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a rare neurodegenerative disease characterized by the involvement of both upper and lower motor neurons.Early bilateral limb involvement significantly affects patients'daily lives and may lead them to be confined to bed.However,the effect of upper and lower motor neuron impairment and other risk factors on bilateral limb involvement is unclear.To address this issue,we retrospectively collected data from 586 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with limb onset diagnosed at Peking University Third Hospital between January 2020 and May 2022.A univariate analysis revealed no significant differences in the time intervals of spread in different directions between individuals with upper motor neuron-dominant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and those with classic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.We used causal directed acyclic graphs for risk factor determination and Cox proportional hazards models to investigate the association between the duration of bilateral limb involvement and clinical baseline characteristics in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.Multiple factor analyses revealed that higher upper motor neuron scores(hazard ratio[HR]=1.05,95%confidence interval[CI]=1.01–1.09,P=0.018),onset in the left limb(HR=0.72,95%CI=0.58–0.89,P=0.002),and a horizontal pattern of progression(HR=0.46,95%CI=0.37–0.58,P<0.001)were risk factors for a shorter interval until bilateral limb involvement.The results demonstrated that a greater degree of upper motor neuron involvement might cause contralateral limb involvement to progress more quickly in limb-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.These findings may improve the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with limb onset and the prediction of patient prognosis.

The joint Laplace transforms for killed diffusion occupation times

The approach of Li and Zhou(2014)is adopted to find the Laplace transform of occupation time over interval(0,a)and joint occupation times over semi-infinite intervals(-∞,a)and(b,∞)for a time-homogeneous diffusion process up to an independent exponential time e_(q)for 0<a<b.The results are expressed in terms of solutions to the differential equations associated with the diffusion generator.Applying these results,we obtain explicit expressions on the Laplace transform of occupation time and joint occupation time for Brownian motion with drift.

Co-seismic surface displacement of the June 21, 2022 M_(W)6 Khōst,Afghanistan earthquake from InSAR observations

A robust estimation of the earthquake location, seismic moment, and fault geometry is essential for objective seismic hazard assessment. Seismic events in a remote location, specifically in the absence of seismic and GNSS networks, can be investigated effectively using the In SAR-based technique. This study adopts the Differential Interferometric SAR(DIn SAR) technique to quantify the co-seismic surface displacement caused by the June 21, 2022, Khōst M_(W)6 earthquake that occurred along the western plate boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plate. The interferograms show that the maximum surface deformation occurred on the northwest and southwest of the fault line. From coherence, the Line of Sight(LOS) displacement, and the co-seismic surface displacement analysis, it has been observed that surface deformation was most pronounced in the southwest region of the fault line, and the surface has moved to the opposite direction along the fault line, which indicates a sinistral slightly oblique strike-slip movement. This In SAR-based observation appears consistent with the seismic waveforms derived from co-seismic surface displacements. Further, it has been argued that the slip deficit accumulated during the period of the last about 48 years along the frontal region of the northward extension of the Suleiman range and associated fault zone is qualitatively estimated at about 1.5 m, which is consistent with the seismic waveforms derived finite slip model.

Development of a 2D spatial displacement estimation method for turbulence velocimetry of the gas puff imaging system on EAST

A gas puff imaging(GPI)diagnostic has been developed and operated on EAST since 2012,and the time-delay estimation(TDE)method is used to derive the propagation velocity of fluctuations from the two-dimensional GPI data.However,with the TDE method it is difficult to analyze the data with fast transient events,such as edge-localized mode(ELM).Consequently,a method called the spatial displacement estimation(SDE)algorithm is developed to estimate the turbulence velocity with high temporal resolution.Based on the SDE algorithm,we make some improvements,including an adaptive median filter and super-resolution technology.After the development of the algorithm,a straight-line movement and a curved-line movement are used to test the accuracy of the algorithm,and the calculated speed agrees well with preset speed.This SDE algorithm is applied to the EAST GPI data analysis,and the derived propagation velocity of turbulence is consistent with that from the TDE method,but with much higher temporal resolution.

Defining the association between the prolonged operative time and 90-day complications in patients undergoing radical cystectomy

Objective:Radical cystectomy is a complex lengthy procedure associated with postoperative morbidity.We aimed to assess the operative time(OT)in patients undergoing radical cystectomy and its impact on 90-day postoperative complications and readmission rates.Methods:The retrospective cohort study included 296 patients undergoing radical cystectomy and urinary diversion from May 2010 to December 2018 in our institution.The OT of 369 min was set as a cutoff value between short and long OT groups.The primary outcome was 90-day postoperative complication rates.Secondary outcomes were gastrointestinal recovery time,length of hospital stay,and 90-day readmission rates.Results:The overall incidence of 90-day postoperative complications was 79.7%where 43.2%representing low-grade complications according to the ClavieneDindo classification(Grade 1 and Grade 2),and 36.5%representing high-grade complications(Grade3).Gastrointestinal tract and infectious complications are the most common complications in our data set(45.9%and 45.6%,respectively).On multivariable analysis,prolonged OT was significantly associated with odds of high-grade complications(odds ratio 2.340,95%confidence interval 1.288e4.250,p=0.005).After propensity score-matched analysis,a higher incidence of major complications was identified in the long OT group 55(51.4%)compared to 35(32.7%)in the short OT group(p=0.006).A shorter gastrointestinal tract recovery time was noticed in the short OT group(p=0.009).Prolonged OT was associated with a higher 90-day readmission rate on univariate and multivariate analyses(p<0.001,p=0.001,respectively).

Geochemical and Isotopic Techniques Constraints on the Origin,Evolution,and Residence Time of Low-enthalpy Geothermal Water in Western Wugongshan,SE China

Geothermal resources are increasingly gaining attention as a competitive,clean energy source to address the energy crisis and mitigate climate change.The Wugongshan area,situated in the southeast coast geothermal belt of China,is a typical geothermal anomaly and contains abundant medium-and low-temperature geothermal resources.This study employed hydrogeochemical and isotopic techniques to explore the cyclic evolution of geothermal water in the western Wugongshan region,encompassing the recharge origin,water-rock interaction mechanisms,and residence time.The results show that the geothermal water in the western region of Wugongshan is weakly alkaline,with low enthalpy and mineralization levels.The hydrochemistry of geothermal waters is dominated by Na-HCO_(3)and Na-SO_(4),while the hydrochemistry types of cold springs are all Na-HCO_(3).The hydrochemistry types of surface waters and rain waters are NaHCO_(3)or Ca-HCO_(3).The δD and δ^(18)O values reveal that the geothermal waters are recharged by atmospheric precipitation at an altitude between 550.0 and 1218.6 m.Molar ratios of maj or solutes and isotopic compositions of^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr underscore the significant role of silicate weathering,dissolution,and cation exchange in controlling geothermal water chemistry.Additionally,geothermal waters experienced varying degrees of mixing with cold water during their ascent.Theδ^(13)C values suggest that the primary sources of carbon in the geothermal waters were biogenic and organic.Theδ^(34)S value suggests that the sulfates in geothermal water originate from sulfide minerals in the surrounding rock.Age dating using 3H and^(14)C isotopes suggests that geothermal waters have a residence time exceeding 1 kaBP and undergo a long-distance cycling process.

VARIATIONAL ANALYSIS FOR THE MAXIMAL TIME FUNCTION IN NORMED SPACES

For a general normed vector space,a special optimal value function called a maximal time function is considered.This covers the farthest distance function as a special case,and has a close relationship with the smallest enclosing ball problem.Some properties of the maximal time function are proven,including the convexity,the lower semicontinuity,and the exact characterizations of its subdifferential formulas.

Effect of aspect ratio of elliptical stirred vessel on mixing time and flow field characteristics in the absence of baffles

Elliptical tanks were used as an alternative to circular tanks in order to improve mixing efficiency and reduce mixing time in unbaffled stirred tanks(USTs). Five different aspect ratios of elliptical vessels were designed to compare their mixing time and flow field. Computational fluid dynamics(CFD) simulations were performed using the k–ε model to calculate the mixing time and simulate turbulent flow field features, such as streamline shape, velocity distribution, vortex core region distribution, and turbulent kinetic energy(TKE) transfer. Visualization was also carried out to track the tinctorial evolution of the liquid phase. Results reveal that elliptical stirred tanks can significantly improve mixing performance in USTs. Specifically, the mixing time at an aspect ratio of 2.00 is only 45.3% of the one of a circular stirred tank. Furthermore, the secondary flow is strengthened and the vortex core region increases with the increase of aspect ratio. The axial velocity is more sensitive to the aspect ratio than the circumferential and radial velocity. Additionally, the TKE transfer in elliptical vessels is altered. These findings suggest that elliptical vessels offer a promising alternative to circular vessels for enhancing mixing performance in USTs.

Electrothermal Model Based Remaining Charging Time Prediction of Lithium-Ion Batteries against Wide Temperature Range

Battery remaining charging time(RCT)prediction can facilitate charging management and alleviate mileage anxiety for electric vehicles(EVs).Also,it is of great significance to improve EV users’experience.However,the RCT for a lithiumion battery pack in EVs changes with temperature and other battery parameters.This study proposes an electrothermal model-based method to accurately predict battery RCT.Firstly,a characteristic battery cell is adopted to represent the battery pack,thus an equivalent circuit model(ECM)of the characteristic battery cell is established to describe the electrical behaviors of a battery pack.Secondly,an equivalent thermal model(ETM)of the battery pack is developed by considering the influence of ambient temperature,thermal management,and battery connectors in the battery pack to calculate the temperature which is then fed back to the ECM to realize electrothermal coupling.Finally,the RCT prediction method is proposed based on the electrothermal model and validated in the wide temperature range from-20℃to 45℃.The experimental results show that the prediction error of the RCT in the whole temperature range is less than 1.5%.

Accuracy assessment of global vertical displacement loading tide models for the equatorial and Indian Ocean

The three-dimensional displacements caused by ocean loading effects are significant enough to impact spatial geodetic measurements on sub-daily or longer timescales,particularly in the vertical direction.Currently,most tide models incorporate the distribution of vertical displacement loading tides;however,their accuracy has not been assessed for the equatorial and Indian Ocean regions.Global Positioning System(GPS)observations provide high-precision data on sea-level changes,enabling the assessment of the accuracy and reliability of vertical displacement tide models.However,because the tidal period of the K_(2) constituent is almost identical to the orbital period of GPS constellations,the estimation of the K_(2) tidal constituent from GPS observations is not satisfactory.In this study,the principle of smoothness is employed to correct the systematic error in K_(2) estimates in GPS observations through quadratic fitting.Using the adjusted harmonic constants from 31 GPS stations for the equatorial and Indian Ocean,the accuracy of eight major constituents from five global vertical displacement tide models(FES2014,EOT11a,GOT4.10c,GOT4.8,and NAO.99b)is evaluated for the equatorial and Indian Ocean.The results indicate that the EOT11a and FES2014 models exhibit higher accuracy in the vertical displacement tide models for the equatorial and Indian Ocean,with root sum squares errors of 2.29 mm and 2.34 mm,res-pectively.Furthermore,a brief analysis of the vertical displacement tide distribution characteristics of the eight major constituents for the equatorial and Indian Ocean was conducted using the EOT11a model.

Effects of Serum Concentration, Synchronization Time and Confluence on the Cell-Cycle Synchronization Efficiency of Goat Fibroblasts

This study aims to evaluate the effect of serum concentration, synchronization time, and confluence degree on the synchronisation efficiency of goat fibroblast cycle. The results indicated that there was no difference in the percentage of nucleated fibroblasts in the G0/G1 stage between serum concentrations of 0.3% and 0.4% (83.89% and 82.69%, respectively, P > 0.05) as well as between serum concentrations of 0.2% and 0.5% (76.95% and 75.46%, respectively, P > 0.05). The percentage of nucleated fibroblasts in the G0/G1 stage was highest at the concentration of 0.3% and lowest in the control group (83.89% vs. 62.67%, P 0.05). The beneficial effect of high confluence was confirmed by the large percentage of nucleated fibroblasts at the G0/G1 stage. The 60% confluency was significantly lower than the 80% and 100% confluency (73.44%, 86.63%, and 87.17%, respectively, P < 0.05). The results indicate that the goat fibroblast cycle synchronization is the most effective at the serum concentration of 0.3%, 72 hours of synchronization and 100% confluency.

THE OPTIMAL LARGE TIME BEHAVIOR OF3D QUASILINEAR HYPERBOLIC EQUATIONS WITH NONLINEAR DAMPING

We are concerned with the large-time behavior of 3D quasilinear hyperbolic equations with nonlinear damping.The main novelty of this paper is two-fold.First,we prove the optimal decay rates of the second and third order spatial derivatives of the solution,which are the same as those of the heat equation,and in particular,are faster than ones of previous related works.Second,for well-chosen initial data,we also show that the lower optimal L^(2) convergence rate of the k(∈[0,3])-order spatial derivatives of the solution is(1+t)^(-(2+2k)/4).Therefore,our decay rates are optimal in this sense.The proofs are based on the Fourier splitting method,low-frequency and high-frequency decomposition,and delicate energy estimates.

The Emergence of Time from Quantum Information Dynamics

This paper presents a novel framework for understanding time as an emergent phenomenon arising from quantum information dynamics. We propose that the flow of time and its directional arrow are intrinsically linked to the growth of quantum complexity and the evolution of entanglement entropy in physical systems. By integrating principles from quantum mechanics, information theory, and holography, we develop a comprehensive theory that explains how time can emerge from timeless quantum processes. Our approach unifies concepts from quantum mechanics, general relativity, and thermodynamics, providing new perspectives on longstanding puzzles such as the black hole information paradox and the arrow of time. We derive modified Friedmann equations that incorporate quantum information measures, offering novel insights into cosmic evolution and the nature of dark energy. The paper presents a series of experimental proposals to test key aspects of this theory, ranging from quantum simulations to cosmological observations. Our framework suggests a deeply information-theoretic view of the universe, challenging our understanding of the nature of reality and opening new avenues for technological applications in quantum computing and sensing. This work contributes to the ongoing quest for a unified theory of quantum gravity and information, potentially with far-reaching implications for our understanding of space, time, and the fundamental structure of the cosmos.

An analytical model to estimate the time delay to reach spontaneous ignition considering heat loss in oil reservoirs

During air injection into an oil reservoir,an oxidation reaction generates some heat to raise the reservoir temperature.When the reservoir temperature reaches an ignition temperature,spontaneous ignition occurs.There is a time delay from the injection to ignition.There are mixed results regarding the feasibility of spontaneous ignition in real-field projects and in laboratory experiments.No analytical model is available in the literature to estimate the oxidation time required to reach spontaneous ignition with heat loss.This paper discusses the feasibility of spontaneous ignition from theoretical points and experimental and field project observations.An analytical model considering heat loss is proposed.Analytical models with and without heat loss investigate the factors that affect spontaneous ignition.Based on the discussion and investigations,we find that it is more difficult for spontaneous ignition to occur in laboratory experiments than in oil reservoirs;spontaneous ignition is strongly affected by the initial reservoir temperature,oil activity,and heat loss;spontaneous ignition is only possible when the initial reservoir temperature is high,the oil oxidation rate is high,and the heat loss is low.

Characterization of Hydroxyapatite Extracted from Crab Shell Using the Hydrothermal Method with Varying Holding Times

Hydroxyapatite(HA)is a bio ceramic commonly utilized in bone tissue engineering due to its bioactive and osteoconductive properties.Crab shells are usually disregarded as waste material despite their significant CaCO_(3) content,and have not been widely utilized in the synthesis of HA.This study aims to synthesize and analyze HA derived from crab shells using the hydrothermal method with different durations of holding time.This study utilized precipitated calcium carbonate(PCC)derived from crab shells.With a hydrothermal reactor set at 160℃ and varying holding times of 14(HA_14),16(HA_16),and 18(HA_18)h,a PCC and(NH4)2HPO4 mixture was used to synthesize HA.The synthesis results were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy(SEM),fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),and X-ray diffraction(XRD)tests.This study has accomplished the synthesis of HA from crab shells.Nonetheless,the final product of synthesis still contained CaCO_(3) as an impurity.The prolonged hydrothermal holding time of 14 to 18 h resulted in a reduction of impurities while increasing the percentage of crystal weight and crystallite size of HA.Specimen CH_18 is the best-quality product generated in this study.This specimen produced HA with the highest percentage of crystal weight and crystallite size compared to the other specimens.Furthermore,specimen CH_18 exhibited the lowest concentration of impurities.The Ca/P ratio in this specimen was also the closest to 1.67.The Ca/P ratio,crystallite size,and crystal weight percentage of this specimen are 1.54,19.06 nm,and 99.1%,respectively.

Seasonal Characteristics of Forecasting Uncertainties in Surface PM_(2.5)Concentration Associated with Forecast Lead Time over the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

Forecasting uncertainties among meteorological fields have long been recognized as the main limitation on the accuracy and predictability of air quality forecasts.However,the particular impact of meteorological forecasting uncertainties on air quality forecasts specific to different seasons is still not well known.In this study,a series of forecasts with different forecast lead times for January,April,July,and October of 2018 are conducted over the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH)region and the impacts of meteorological forecasting uncertainties on surface PM_(2.5)concentration forecasts with each lead time are investigated.With increased lead time,the forecasted PM_(2.5)concentrations significantly change and demonstrate obvious seasonal variations.In general,the forecasting uncertainties in monthly mean surface PM_(2.5)concentrations in the BTH region due to lead time are the largest(80%)in spring,followed by autumn(~50%),summer(~40%),and winter(20%).In winter,the forecasting uncertainties in total surface PM_(2.5)mass due to lead time are mainly due to the uncertainties in PBL heights and hence the PBL mixing of anthropogenic primary particles.In spring,the forecasting uncertainties are mainly from the impacts of lead time on lower-tropospheric northwesterly winds,thereby further enhancing the condensation production of anthropogenic secondary particles by the long-range transport of natural dust.In summer,the forecasting uncertainties result mainly from the decrease in dry and wet deposition rates,which are associated with the reduction of near-surface wind speed and precipitation rate.In autumn,the forecasting uncertainties arise mainly from the change in the transport of remote natural dust and anthropogenic particles,which is associated with changes in the large-scale circulation.

Intrinsic Spin Angular Momentum of Electron Relation to the Discrete Indivisible Quantum of Time Kshana or Moment

The frequency of any periodic event can be defined in terms of units of Time. Planck constructed a unit of time called the Plank time from other physical constants. Vyasa defined a natural unit of time, kshana, or moment based on the motion of a fundamental particle. It is the time taken by an elementary particle, to change its direction from east to north. According to Vyasa, kshana is discrete, exceedingly small, indivisible, and is a constant time quantum. When the intrinsic spin angular momentum of an electron was related to the angular momentum of a simple thin circular plate, spherical shell, and solid sphere model of an electron, we found that the value of kshana in seconds was equal to ten to a power of minus twenty-one second. The disc model for the spinning electron provides an accurate value of the number of kshanas per second as determined previously and compared with other spinning models of electrons. These results indicate that the disk-like model of spinning electrons is the correct model for electrons. Vyasa’s definition of kshana opens the possibility of a new foundation for the theory of physical time, and perspectives in theoretical and philosophical research.

The Time Being and Its Disidentification With the Modern Liberal Order

The Time Being is a concept that is rooted in the here and now,cognizant of the importance of every action in a moment that can prevent harm and promote goodness.Such moments have the power to leave enduring impressions that transcend time and location.This idea of a time being is one that Ozeki uses to emphasize the historical ties and influence of her characters.It also assists readers in recognizing the similarities between historical oppressive systems and the ways in which they can endure.Kandice Chuh also addresses the notion of applying anti-Western philosophies to better understand oneself in order to disassociate and dismantle contemporary structures that have the potential to damage and skew the perception of our shared humanity.Through Buddhist philosophy,Dogen Zenji’s concept of a time being,and disidentification with demanding neoliberal structures,the novel’s characters are able to discover new perspectives on life and develop a new sense of self that enables them to want to live.Ozeki finds ways to give her characters a stronger sense of self by drawing on Buddhist teachings.Through Zenji’s teachings,Nao,her father,and great-uncle,find peace and consolation in worlds that are too focused on future comforts that can be destructive to the present self.

Prediction of three-dimensional ocean temperature in the South China Sea based on time series gridded data and a dynamic spatiotemporal graph neural network

Ocean temperature is an important physical variable in marine ecosystems,and ocean temperature prediction is an important research objective in ocean-related fields.Currently,one of the commonly used methods for ocean temperature prediction is based on data-driven,but research on this method is mostly limited to the sea surface,with few studies on the prediction of internal ocean temperature.Existing graph neural network-based methods usually use predefined graphs or learned static graphs,which cannot capture the dynamic associations among data.In this study,we propose a novel dynamic spatiotemporal graph neural network(DSTGN)to predict threedimensional ocean temperature(3D-OT),which combines static graph learning and dynamic graph learning to automatically mine two unknown dependencies between sequences based on the original 3D-OT data without prior knowledge.Temporal and spatial dependencies in the time series were then captured using temporal and graph convolutions.We also integrated dynamic graph learning,static graph learning,graph convolution,and temporal convolution into an end-to-end framework for 3D-OT prediction using time-series grid data.In this study,we conducted prediction experiments using high-resolution 3D-OT from the Copernicus global ocean physical reanalysis,with data covering the vertical variation of temperature from the sea surface to 1000 m below the sea surface.We compared five mainstream models that are commonly used for ocean temperature prediction,and the results showed that the method achieved the best prediction results at all prediction scales.