Wheat stripe rust,caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp.tritici(Pst),is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of wheat,and seriously threatens safe production of the crop worldwide.In China,new races historically ...Wheat stripe rust,caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp.tritici(Pst),is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of wheat,and seriously threatens safe production of the crop worldwide.In China,new races historically appeared and rapidly developed to be predominant races and have resulted in ineffectiveness and replacement of wheat resistance cultivars as well as massive reduction in yield.In the present study,the relative parasitic fitness of the two newlyemerged Yr5-virulent races(TSA-6 and TSA-9)were compared with those of four currently predominant Chinese races(CYR31,CYR32,CYR33,and CYR34)based on evaluation on 10 Chinese wheat cultivars.As a result,there were significant differences in the relative parasitic fitness parameters among overall tested races based on multiple comparison(LSD)analysis(P<0.05).The principal component analysis(PCA)of overall parasitic fitness parameters indicated that the sporulation ability,infection and spore survivability,expansion capacity,and potential pathogenicity were the most important parasitic fitness attributes of the tested races.Based on the establishment of extracted three principal components and a comprehensive factor score mathematical models,evaluations of the parasitic fitness attributes of tested races showed that the level of relative parasitic fitness of the tested six races was:CYR32(1.15)>TSA-9(0.95)>TSA-6(0.92)>CYR34(0.29)>CYR31(–1.54)>CYR33(–1.77).The results indicated that two Yr5-virulent races TSA-9 and TSA-6 possessed relative parasitic fitness higher than races CYR34,CYR31,and CYR33,but lower than race CYR32,and have potential risks in developing to be predominant races.Therefore,continual monitoring of both Yr5-virulent races,and their variants is needed.The use of wheat cultivars(lines)with Yr5 resistance gene singly in wheat breeding is essential for being avoided,and is suggested to combine with other effective stripe rust resistance genes.展开更多
Through the use of a survey and statistical methods, this study explores the effects and interventions of handheld Tai Chi water resistance fitness balls on the elderly with Parkinson’s disease. Firstly, a questionna...Through the use of a survey and statistical methods, this study explores the effects and interventions of handheld Tai Chi water resistance fitness balls on the elderly with Parkinson’s disease. Firstly, a questionnaire on exercise compliance for patients with Parkinson’s disease was developed, and its reliability and validity were tested. Then, a survey was conducted to investigate the current status of exercise compliance among Parkinson’s disease patients, including general information, scoring status, and single and multiple factor analyses of influencing factors [1]. The results of the study show that through qualitative research, the dimensions and item pools of the questionnaire were initially constructed, and the reliability analysis of the questionnaire was conducted through Delphi expert consultation, with favorable results in terms of its reliability and validity [2]. Regarding the current status of exercise compliance among Parkinson’s disease patients, the study found that the level of exercise compliance needs improvement, and there are significant differences in exercise compliance levels among patients under different circumstances. Finally, the research results were discussed and conclusions were drawn. The innovation of this study lies in the development of a questionnaire on exercise compliance for patients with Parkinson’s disease and the preliminary qualitative research and Delphi expert consultation conducted on it, providing new ideas and methods for the study of exercise compliance. However, the study also has limitations as it did not examine the effects of other interventions on Parkinson’s disease, so further research should be conducted [3].展开更多
Research into automatically searching for an optimal neural network(NN)by optimi-sation algorithms is a significant research topic in deep learning and artificial intelligence.However,this is still challenging due to ...Research into automatically searching for an optimal neural network(NN)by optimi-sation algorithms is a significant research topic in deep learning and artificial intelligence.However,this is still challenging due to two issues:Both the hyperparameter and ar-chitecture should be optimised and the optimisation process is computationally expen-sive.To tackle these two issues,this paper focusses on solving the hyperparameter and architecture optimization problem for the NN and proposes a novel light‐weight scale‐adaptive fitness evaluation‐based particle swarm optimisation(SAFE‐PSO)approach.Firstly,the SAFE‐PSO algorithm considers the hyperparameters and architectures together in the optimisation problem and therefore can find their optimal combination for the globally best NN.Secondly,the computational cost can be reduced by using multi‐scale accuracy evaluation methods to evaluate candidates.Thirdly,a stagnation‐based switch strategy is proposed to adaptively switch different evaluation methods to better balance the search performance and computational cost.The SAFE‐PSO algorithm is tested on two widely used datasets:The 10‐category(i.e.,CIFAR10)and the 100−cate-gory(i.e.,CIFAR100).The experimental results show that SAFE‐PSO is very effective and efficient,which can not only find a promising NN automatically but also find a better NN than compared algorithms at the same computational cost.展开更多
Health related-physical fitness (HRPF) is critical for maintaining and enhancing health and quality of life. Purposes: To estimate the reference values and predictive equations for frequently used clinical field HRPF ...Health related-physical fitness (HRPF) is critical for maintaining and enhancing health and quality of life. Purposes: To estimate the reference values and predictive equations for frequently used clinical field HRPF measures in a sample of Saudi female college students aged 18 - 24 years. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, body fat percentage (BF %) was estimated. Curl-up test (CUT) and sit and reach test (SRT) were applied in 216 students. The Queen’s College Step Test (QCST) was used to predict maximal oxygen consumption (VO<sub>2</sub> max). Physical activity (PA) level was also measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: The mean of BF %, SRT, CUT, and predicted VO<sub>2</sub> max were 23.98% ± 6.13%, 17.10 ± 7.50 cm, 28.17 ± 7.72 number/min, and 39.58 ± 4.01 ml/kg/min respectively. There was no significant effect of age on all HRPF measures except for BF % (F <sub>(6,215)</sub> = 3.25, p <sub>(6,215)</sub> = 4.01, p strated that BMI was the predictor for BF % and SRT and explained 65% and 4% of total variance respectively. IPAQ score, age, and height were the predictors of CUT counting 17% of total variance. While, BMI and IPAQ score were the predictors for VO<sub>2</sub> max and explained 13% of the total variance. Conclusion: Reference values can be used clinically in the evaluation of HRPF, in the rehabilitation process as well as in designing a program to improve the HRPF for female college students with consideration of age, height, BMI, and PA level for a particular population.展开更多
Ghana, renowned for its abundant gold reserves, plays a significant role in the global mining industry. Effective management and accurate forecasting of these reserves are vital for sustainable resource utilization an...Ghana, renowned for its abundant gold reserves, plays a significant role in the global mining industry. Effective management and accurate forecasting of these reserves are vital for sustainable resource utilization and economic planning. Forecasting gold reserves and estimating their production lifespan are complex tasks that require robust statistical models capable of capturing the underlying dynamics of gold deposit accumulation and extraction. To this end, the four-parameter Beta distribution function emerges as a promising candidate due to its flexibility and ability to handle non-negative data. This research aims to investigate the fitness and applicability of the four-parameter Beta distribution function for forecasting Ghana’s gold reserves and estimating the production lifespan of this precious resource. The empirical paper relied mainly on quarterly secondary datasets on gold reserve between the years 2009 and 2022 secured from the Minerals Commission of Ghana, Accra. Several known statistical distributions including Beta, Weibull, Normal, Logistic and Gamma were explored with Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and evaluated using model selection criteria as AIC and BIC. Goodness of Fits were evaluated using Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test (K-S), Cramer-Von Mises Statistic and Anderson-Darling Statistic. Based on the analysis conducted, the four-parameter Beta distribution provided the best fit for gold reserve in Ghana. At a 99.9% confidence level and considering the current annual average gold production estimate of 3,700,031.248 to 4,302,647.888 ounces, the projected lifespan of gold production in Ghana extends to the year 1,953,765. This astounding estimate suggests that the country’s gold reserves are expected to sustain production for an extended period, providing a critical resource for economic development and supporting the mining industry well into the distant future.展开更多
Ghana, renowned for its abundant gold reserves, plays a significant role in the global mining industry. Effective management and accurate forecasting of these reserves are vital for sustainable resource utilization an...Ghana, renowned for its abundant gold reserves, plays a significant role in the global mining industry. Effective management and accurate forecasting of these reserves are vital for sustainable resource utilization and economic planning. Forecasting gold reserves and estimating their production lifespan are complex tasks that require robust statistical models capable of capturing the underlying dynamics of gold deposit accumulation and extraction. To this end, the four-parameter Beta distribution function emerges as a promising candidate due to its flexibility and ability to handle non-negative data. This research aims to investigate the fitness and applicability of the four-parameter Beta distribution function for forecasting Ghana’s gold reserves and estimating the production lifespan of this precious resource. The empirical paper relied mainly on quarterly secondary datasets on gold reserve between the years 2009 and 2022 secured from the Minerals Commission of Ghana, Accra. Several known statistical distributions including Beta, Weibull, Normal, Logistic and Gamma were explored with Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and evaluated using model selection criteria as AIC and BIC. Goodness of Fits were evaluated using Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test (K-S), Cramer-Von Mises Statistic and Anderson-Darling Statistic. Based on the analysis conducted, the four-parameter Beta distribution provided the best fit for gold reserve in Ghana. At a 99.9% confidence level and considering the current annual average gold production estimate of 3,700,031.248 to 4,302,647.888 ounces, the projected lifespan of gold production in Ghana extends to the year 1,953,765. This astounding estimate suggests that the country’s gold reserves are expected to sustain production for an extended period, providing a critical resource for economic development and supporting the mining industry well into the distant future.展开更多
Purpose:To examine the effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement,psychosocial functioning,and physical fitness in children aged 7-8 years.Methods:Twenty schools in 5 different European coun...Purpose:To examine the effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement,psychosocial functioning,and physical fitness in children aged 7-8 years.Methods:Twenty schools in 5 different European countries(2 second-grade classrooms per school)participated in a cluster randomized controlled trial(Sport at School trial).Participants were assigned to either a control group,which continued with their habitual physical education lessons,or to an intervention group,which replaced these lessons with a 1-year karate intervention(Karate Mind and Movement program).A total of 721 children(344 girls and 377 boys,7.4±0.5 years old,mean±SD)completed the study,of which 333 and 388 were assigned to the control group and intervention group,respectively.Outcomes included academic performance(average grade),psychosocial functioning(Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for parents),and different markers of physical fitness(cardiorespiratory fitness,balance,and flexibility).Results:The intervention provided small but significant benefits compared to the control group for academic achievement(d=0.16;p=0.003),conduct problems(d=-0.28;p=0.003),cardiorespiratory fitness(d=0.36;p<0.001),and balance(d=0.24;p=0.015).There was a trend towards significant benefits for flexibility(d=0.24;p=0.056).No significant benefits were observed for other variables,including psychosocial difficulties,emotional symptoms,hyperactivity/inattention,peer problems,or prosocial behaviour(all p>0.05).Conclusion:A 1-year school-based karate intervention was effective in improving academic achievement,conduct problems,and physical fitness in primary school children.The results support the inclusion of karate during physical education lessons.展开更多
Aphis gossypii has become increasingly difficult to manage due to its strong insecticide resistance.In the laboratory,we established sulfoxaflor-resistant and acetamiprid-resistant strains in two A.gossypii population...Aphis gossypii has become increasingly difficult to manage due to its strong insecticide resistance.In the laboratory,we established sulfoxaflor-resistant and acetamiprid-resistant strains in two A.gossypii populations with different basal insecticide resistance levels,and evaluated the effects of basal insecticide resistance on the resistance development and cross-resistance,as well as differences in fitness.Under the same selection pressure,Yarkant A.gossypii(with low basal insecticide resistance)evolved resistance to sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid more quickly than Jinghe A.gossypii(with high basal insecticide resistance),and the evolution of A.gossypii resistance to sulfoxaflor developed faster than acetamiprid in both Yarkant and Jinghe,Xingjiang,China.The sulfoxaflor-resistant strains selected from Yarkant and Jinghe developed significant cross-resistance to acetamiprid,imidacloprid,thiamethoxam and pymetrozine;while the acetamiprid-resistant strains developed significant cross-resistance to sulfoxaflor,imidacloprid,thiamethoxam,pymetrozine,and chlorpyrifos.The relative fitness of A.gossypii decreased as the resistance to sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid developed.The relative fitness levels of the sulfoxaflor-resistant strains(Yarkant-SulR and Jinghe-SulR)were lower than those of the acetamipridresistant strains(Yarkant-AceR and Jinghe-AceR).In addition,the relative fitness levels of sulfoxaflor-and acetamiprid-resistant strains were lower in Jinghe than in Yarkant.In summary,basal insecticide resistance of A.gossypii and insecticide type affected the evolution of resistance to insecticides in A.gossypii,as well as cross-resistance to other insecticides.The sulfoxaflor-and acetamiprid-resistant A.gossypii strains had obvious fitness costs.The results of this work will contribute to the insecticide resistance management and integrated management of A.gossypii.展开更多
Background:Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients experience symptoms that may affect their quality of life,treatment outcomes,and survival.Preventing and managing breast cancer-related symptoms soon after diagnosis i...Background:Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients experience symptoms that may affect their quality of life,treatment outcomes,and survival.Preventing and managing breast cancer-related symptoms soon after diagnosis is essential.The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between health-related fitness(HRF)and patient-reported symptoms in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.Methods:This study utilized baseline data from the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer Cohort Study that were collected within 90 days of diagnosis.HRF measures included peak cardiopulmonary fitness(peak volume of oxygen consumption(VO_(2peak))),maximal muscular strength and endurance,flexibility,and body composition.Symptom measures included depression,sleep quality,and fatigue.Adjusted multivariable logistic regression was performed for analyses.Results:Of 1458 participants,51.5%reported poor sleep quality,26.5%reported significant fatigue,and 10.4%reported moderate depression.In multivariable-adjusted models,lower relative VO_(2peak)was independently associated with a greater likelihood of all symptom measures,including moderate depression(p<0.001),poor sleep quality(p=0.009),significant fatigue(p=0.008),any symptom(p<0.001),and multiple symptoms(p<0.001).VO_(2peak)demonstrated threshold associations with all symptom measures such that all 3 lower quartiles exhibited similar elevated risk compared to the highest quartile.The strength of the threshold associations varied by the symptom measure with odds ratios ranging from-1.5 for poor sleep quality to-3.0 for moderate depression and multiple symptoms.Moreover,lower relative upper body muscular endurance was also independently associated with fatigue in a dose-response manner(p=0.001),and higher body weight was independently associated with poor sleep quality in an inverted U pattern(p=0.021).Conclusion:Relative VO_(2peak)appears to be a critical HRF component associated with multiple patient-reported symptoms in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.Other HRF parameters may also be important for specific symptoms.Exercise interventions targeting different HRF components may help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients manage specific symptoms and improve outcomes.展开更多
Females actively seek extra-pair paternity(EPP)to acquire a fitness advantage for their offspring.The“contextdependence hypothesis”posits that female extra-pair mate choice has plasticity in response to environmenta...Females actively seek extra-pair paternity(EPP)to acquire a fitness advantage for their offspring.The“contextdependence hypothesis”posits that female extra-pair mate choice has plasticity in response to environmental conditions,and therefore magnitude of female genetic benefits from EPP depends on the environmental variation.Furthermore,chronic heavy metal pollution can cause adverse effects on fitness-related traits of wild birds.However,few studies were available on the interactions between heavy metal pollution and EPP.We selected an area that was contaminated by heavy metals for more than 60 years(Baiyin,BY),a relatively unpolluted area(Liujiaxia,LJX),and Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus)as study species to explore the response of female extrapair mate choice and genetic benefits from EPP to heavy metal pollution in socially monogamous birds.The relatedness between social mates and extra-pair mates was investigated.Additionally,we compared the body size and heterozygosity of extra-pair offspring(EPO),within-pair offspring(WPO),social males and extra-pair males from the two Tree Sparrow populations.We found that at BY,female Tree Sparrows tended to choose extra-pair males with larger body size and lower genetic similarity,thereby producing higher heterozygosity and larger body size of EPO compared with those of WPO.However,no similar phenomenon was observed in the Tree Sparrow population from LJX.In addition,there was a significant interaction between population and paternity in the analyses of the fitness-related traits,suggesting that environmental variation could affect female genetic benefits from EPP.This study confirmed the existence of presumed interactions between environmental pollution and EPP within the natural population of socially monogamous Tree Sparrows.Our findings shed lights on the possible effects of long-term environmental stress on mating system in wild birds.展开更多
Background:There exist few maximal oxygen uptake(VO_(2max))non-exercise-based prediction equations,fewer using machine learning(ML),and none specifically for older adults.Since direct measurement of VO_(2max)is infeas...Background:There exist few maximal oxygen uptake(VO_(2max))non-exercise-based prediction equations,fewer using machine learning(ML),and none specifically for older adults.Since direct measurement of VO_(2max)is infeasible in large epidemiologic cohort studies,we sought to develop,validate,compare,and assess the transportability of several ML VO_(2max)prediction algorithms.Methods:The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging(BLSA)participants with valid VO2_(max)tests were included(n=1080).Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator,linear-and tree-boosted extreme gradient boosting,random forest,and support vector machine(SVM)algorithms were trained to predict VO_(2max)values.We developed these algorithms for:(a)the overall BLSA,(b)by sex,(c)using all BLSA variables,and(d)variables common in aging cohorts.Finally,we quantified the associations between measured and predicted VO_(2max)and mortality.Results:The age was 69.0±10.4 years(mean±SD)and the measured VO_(2max)was 21.6±5.9 mL/kg/min.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator,linear-and tree-boosted extreme gradient boosting,random forest,and support vector machine yielded root mean squared errors of 3.4 mL/kg/min,3.6 mL/kg/min,3.4 mL/kg/min,3.6 mL/kg/min,and 3.5 mL/kg/min,respectively.Incremental quartiles of measured VO_(2max)showed an inverse gradient in mortality risk.Predicted VO_(2max)variables yielded similar effect estimates but were not robust to adjustment.Conclusion:Measured VO_(2max)is a strong predictor of mortality.Using ML can improve the accuracy of prediction as compared to simpler approaches but estimates of association with mortality remain sensitive to adjustment.Future studies should seek to reproduce these results so that VO_(2max),an important vital sign,can be more broadly studied as a modifiable target for promoting functional resiliency and healthy aging.展开更多
Background:Atherosclerosis forms the pathological basis for the development of cardiovascular disease.Since pathological processes initially develop without clinically relevant symptoms,the identification of early mar...Background:Atherosclerosis forms the pathological basis for the development of cardiovascular disease.Since pathological processes initially develop without clinically relevant symptoms,the identification of early markers in the subclinical stage plays an important role for initiating early interventions.There is evidence that regulatory T cells(Tregs)are involved in the development of atherosclerosis.Therefore,the present study aimed to identify and investigate associations with Tregs and their subsets in a cohort of healthy elderly individuals with and without subclinical atherosclerotic plaques(SAP).In addition,various lifestyle and risk factors,such as cardiorespiratory fitness,were investigated as associated signatures.Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed in 79 participants(male:n=50;age=63.6±3.7 years;body mass index=24.9±3.1 kg/m2;mean±SD)who had no previous diagnosis of chronic disease and were not taking medication.Ultrasound of the carotids to identify SAP,cardiovascular function measurement for vascular assessment and a cardiorespiratory fitness test to determine peak oxygen uptake were performed.Additionally,tests were conducted to assess blood lipids and determine glucose levels.Immunophenotyping of Tregs and their subtypes(resting(rTregs)and effector/memory(mTregs))was performed by 8-chanel flow cytometry.Participants were categorized according to atherosclerotic plaque status.Linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze associations between parameters.Results:SAP was detected in a total of 29 participants.The participants with plaque were older(64.8±3.6 years vs.62.9±3.5 years)and had higher peripheral systolic blood pressure(133.8±14.7 mmHg vs.125.8±10.9 mmHg).The participants with SAP were characterized by a lower percentage of rTregs(28.8%±10.7%vs.34.6%±10.7%)and a higher percentage of mTregs(40.3%±14.7%vs.30.0%±11.9%).Multiple logistic regression identified age(odds ratio(OR)=1.20(95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.011.42))and mTregs(OR=1.05(95%CI:1.021.10))as independent risk factors for SAP.Stepwise linear regression could reveal an association of peak oxygen uptake(β=0.441),low-density lipoprotein(LDL)(β=0.096),and SAP(β=6.733)with mTregs and LDL(β=0.104)with rTregs.Conclusion:While at an early stage of SAP,the total proportion of Tregs gives no indication of vascular changes,this is indicated by a shift in the Treg subgroups.Factors such as serum LDL or cardiopulmonary fitness may be associated with this shift and may also be additional diagnostic indicators.This could be used to initiate lifestyle-based preventive measures at an early stage,which may have a protective effect against disease progression.展开更多
Within the extended vector meson dominance model,we investigate the𝑒e^(+)e^(-)→Λ_(c)+Λ_(c)^(- ) reaction and the electromagnetic form factors of the charmed baryon𝛬 Λ_(c)^(+)𝑐.The model par...Within the extended vector meson dominance model,we investigate the𝑒e^(+)e^(-)→Λ_(c)+Λ_(c)^(- ) reaction and the electromagnetic form factors of the charmed baryon𝛬 Λ_(c)^(+)𝑐.The model parameters are determined by fitting them to the cross sections of the process𝑒e^(+)e^(-)→Λ_(c)+Λ_(c)^(- ) and the magnetic form factor|G_(M)|of Λ_(c)^(+) .By considering four charmonium-like states,called𝜓(4500),𝜓(4660),𝜓(4790),and𝜓(4900),we can well describe the current data on the𝑒e^(+)e^(-)→Λ_(c)+Λ_(c)^(- ) reaction from the reaction threshold up to 4.96 GeV.In addition to the total cross sections and|𝐺M|,the ratio|G_(E)/G_(M)|and the effective form factor|Geff|for Λ_(c)^(+) 𝑐are also calculated,and found that these calculations are consistent with the experimental data.Within the fitted model parameters,we have also estimated the charge radius of the charmed Λ_(c)^(+) baryon.展开更多
A country’s ability to create complex goods and diversify its lines of products is essential for addressing all types of vulnerabilities.Quantifying a country’s vulnerability to extreme climatic events,such as droug...A country’s ability to create complex goods and diversify its lines of products is essential for addressing all types of vulnerabilities.Quantifying a country’s vulnerability to extreme climatic events,such as droughts,superstorms,and other natural disasters,and its capacity for successful adaption,is an essential global need that has been ignored.This study examines the role of economic fitness(EF)in addressing climate change risk ex‐posure in BRICS countries in the context of the environmental Kuznets curve using panel data from 1995 to 2015.Panel threshold methodology is employed to ascertain the nonlinear relationship between EF and climate change risk exposure(i.e.,Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative Country Index(ND-GAIN)).In addition,empirical associations were estimated using panel-corrected standard errors,Driscoll-Kraay standard errors,and feasible generalized least squares estimation techniques.These findings demonstrated an inverted N shaped link between EF and ND-GAIN.Moreover,even after controlling for significant ND-GAIN influencing variables such as gross domestic product per capita,financial development,and urbanization,our robustness checks revealed significant and consistent findings.展开更多
High-vertical-resolution radiosonde wind data are highly valuable for describing the dynamics of the meso-and microscale atmosphere. However, the current algorithm used in China's L-band radar sounding system for ...High-vertical-resolution radiosonde wind data are highly valuable for describing the dynamics of the meso-and microscale atmosphere. However, the current algorithm used in China's L-band radar sounding system for calculating highvertical-resolution wind vectors excessively smooths the data, resulting in significant underestimation of the calculated kinetic energy of gravity waves compared to similar products from other countries, which greatly limits the effective utilization of the data. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel method to calculate high-vertical-resolution wind vectors that utilizes the elevation angle, azimuth angle, and slant range from L-band radar. In order to obtain wind data with a stable quality, a two-step automatic quality control procedure, including the RMSE-F(root-mean-square error F) test and elemental consistency test are first applied to the slant range data, to eliminate continuous erroneous data caused by unstable signals or radar malfunctions. Then, a wind calculation scheme based on a sliding second-order polynomial fitting is utilized to derive the high-vertical-resolution radiosonde wind vectors. The evaluation results demonstrate that the wind data obtained through the proposed method show a high level of consistency with the high-resolution wind data observed using the Vaisala Global Positioning System and the data observed by the new Beidou Navigation Sounding System. The calculation of the kinetic energy of gravity waves in the recalculated wind data also reaches a level comparable to the Vaisala observations.展开更多
The energy spectrum of energetic electrons is a key factor representing the dynamic variations of Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts.Increased measurements have indicated that the commonly used Maxwellian and Kappa di...The energy spectrum of energetic electrons is a key factor representing the dynamic variations of Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts.Increased measurements have indicated that the commonly used Maxwellian and Kappa distributions are inadequate for capturing the realistic spectral distributions of radiation belt electrons.Here we adopt the Kappa-type(KT)distribution as the fitting function and perform a statistical analysis to investigate the radiation belt electron flux spectra observed by the Van Allen Probes.By calculating the optimal values of the key KT distribution parameters(i.e.,κandθ2)from the observed spectral shapes,we fit the radiation belt electron fluxes at different L-shells under different geomagnetic conditions.In this manner,we obtain typical values of the KT distribution parameters,which are statistically feasible for modeling the radiation belt electron flux profiles during either geomagnetically quiet or active periods.A comparison of the KT distribution model results with those using the Maxwellian or Kappa distribution reveals the advantage of the KT distribution for studying the overall properties of the radiation belt electron spectral distribution,which has important implications for deepening the current understanding of the radiation belt electron dynamics under evolving geomagnetic conditions.展开更多
As the basic protective element, steel plate had attracted world-wide attention because of frequent threats of explosive loads. This paper reports the relationships between microscopic defects of Q345 steel plate unde...As the basic protective element, steel plate had attracted world-wide attention because of frequent threats of explosive loads. This paper reports the relationships between microscopic defects of Q345 steel plate under the explosive load and its macroscopic dynamics simulation. Firstly, the defect characteristics of the steel plate were investigated by stereoscopic microscope(SM) and scanning electron microscope(SEM). At the macroscopic level, the defect was the formation of cave which was concentrated in the range of 0-3.0 cm from the explosion center, while at the microscopic level, the cavity and void formation were the typical damage characteristics. It also explains that the difference in defect morphology at different positions was the combining results of high temperature and high pressure. Secondly, the variation rules of mechanical properties of steel plate under explosive load were studied. The Arbitrary Lagrange-Euler(ALE) algorithm and multi-material fluid-structure coupling method were used to simulate the explosion process of steel plate. The accuracy of the method was verified by comparing the deformation of the simulation results with the experimental results, the pressure and stress at different positions on the surface of the steel plate were obtained. The simulation results indicated that the critical pressure causing the plate defects may be approximately 2.01 GPa. On this basis, it was found that the variation rules of surface pressure and microscopic defect area of the Q345 steel plate were strikingly similar, and the corresponding mathematical relationship between them was established. Compared with Monomolecular growth fitting models(MGFM) and Logistic fitting models(LFM), the relationship can be better expressed by cubic polynomial fitting model(CPFM). This paper illustrated that the explosive defect characteristics of metal plate at the microscopic level can be explored by analyzing its macroscopic dynamic mechanical response.展开更多
Cemented and mechanically clamped types of end fittings(fitting-C and fitting-M)are commonly used in transformer bushings.During the Luding Ms 6.8 earthquake that occurred in China on September 5,2022,all transformer ...Cemented and mechanically clamped types of end fittings(fitting-C and fitting-M)are commonly used in transformer bushings.During the Luding Ms 6.8 earthquake that occurred in China on September 5,2022,all transformer bushings with the two types of end fittings in a 500 kV substation were damaged.Post-earthquake field investigations were conducted,and the failures of the two types of bushings were compared.Two elementary simulation models of the transformer-bushing systems were developed to simulate the engineering failures,and further compute their seismic responses for comparison.The results indicate that the hitch lugs of the connection flange are structurally harmful to seismic resistance.Fitting-M can decrease the bending stiffness of the bushing due to the flexible sealing rubber gasket.Since it provides a more flexible connection that dissipates energy,the peak accelerations and relative displacements at the top of the bushing are significantly lower than those of the bushing with fitting-C.Compared with fitting-C,fitting-M transfers the high-stress areas from the connection flange to the root of the porcelain,so the latter becomes the most vulnerable component.Fitting-M increases the failure risk of the low-strength porcelain,indicating the unsuitability of applying it in high-intensity fortification regions.展开更多
Species is a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology and biodiversity.However,existing species definitions are often influenced by artificial factors or are challenging in practical application,leading to confusio...Species is a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology and biodiversity.However,existing species definitions are often influenced by artificial factors or are challenging in practical application,leading to confusion in species classification.Due to uncertain environmental changes and random genetic drift,the fitness expectations of a population may shift,causing species to evolve to a new evolutionary state based on their current instantaneous fitness within a dynamic fitness landscape.This contrasts with the classic static fitness landscape,where fitness expectations are constant.In a dynamic fitness landscape,speciation may exhibit path dependence,where the evolution of traits follows a probabilistic path,creating feedback that shapes evolutionary trajectories.The path-dependent evolutionary mechanism suggests that species survival within an ecosystem is not directly determined by their fitness but by the probability of their evolutionary pathways.This model also indicates that species can coexist with varying probabilities under limited environmental pressures.Consequently,new species,cryptic species,or sympatric species may emerge via path-dependent evolutionary processes.Within this framework,we developed a mathematical species concept,which may guide future species classification methodologies.展开更多
Currently,the aerial survey system of low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)has been widely used in acquiring digital map 4D products,mapping,digital linear maps,and other aspects.However,there are problems,such ...Currently,the aerial survey system of low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)has been widely used in acquiring digital map 4D products,mapping,digital linear maps,and other aspects.However,there are problems,such as low precision and weak practicability in constructing digital elevation model(DEM)products through the data collected using consumption level UAVs.Therefore,improving the accuracy of DEM products obtained by consumption level UAVs is a crucial and complex issue in the research of UAV aerial survey systems.In precision elevation measurement,the geodetic height of a certain number of ground points with reasonable distribution in the region is often obtained first.Then,the normal height of the ground points is obtained by leveling,and the elevation residual value surface of the region is fitted.Finally,the normal height of the points to be solved in the region is obtained by fitting the elevation residual surface.Therefore,the elevation residual fitting method was used to improve the accuracy of consumer UAV DEM products in this study.First,a high-quality ground point cloud was obtained by constructing the gradient filtering-cloth simulation filtering(GF-CSF)model.Second,an abnormal elevation fitting residual DEM model was constructed.Lastly,the final DEM was obtained using the DEM difference method.The experimental results show that among the 20 random sampling inspection points,the average elevation residual was 2.3 mm,and the root mean square error(RMSE)was 16.7 mm after the DEM accuracy was improved by the method.The average elevation residual without improving the DEM accuracy was 28.6 mm,and RMSE was 33.7 mm.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072358 and 32272507)the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFD1401000)+1 种基金the earmarked fund for CARS-03,the Natural Science Basic Research Project in Shaanxi Province of China(2020JZ-15)National“111 Project”of China(BP0719026)。
文摘Wheat stripe rust,caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp.tritici(Pst),is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of wheat,and seriously threatens safe production of the crop worldwide.In China,new races historically appeared and rapidly developed to be predominant races and have resulted in ineffectiveness and replacement of wheat resistance cultivars as well as massive reduction in yield.In the present study,the relative parasitic fitness of the two newlyemerged Yr5-virulent races(TSA-6 and TSA-9)were compared with those of four currently predominant Chinese races(CYR31,CYR32,CYR33,and CYR34)based on evaluation on 10 Chinese wheat cultivars.As a result,there were significant differences in the relative parasitic fitness parameters among overall tested races based on multiple comparison(LSD)analysis(P<0.05).The principal component analysis(PCA)of overall parasitic fitness parameters indicated that the sporulation ability,infection and spore survivability,expansion capacity,and potential pathogenicity were the most important parasitic fitness attributes of the tested races.Based on the establishment of extracted three principal components and a comprehensive factor score mathematical models,evaluations of the parasitic fitness attributes of tested races showed that the level of relative parasitic fitness of the tested six races was:CYR32(1.15)>TSA-9(0.95)>TSA-6(0.92)>CYR34(0.29)>CYR31(–1.54)>CYR33(–1.77).The results indicated that two Yr5-virulent races TSA-9 and TSA-6 possessed relative parasitic fitness higher than races CYR34,CYR31,and CYR33,but lower than race CYR32,and have potential risks in developing to be predominant races.Therefore,continual monitoring of both Yr5-virulent races,and their variants is needed.The use of wheat cultivars(lines)with Yr5 resistance gene singly in wheat breeding is essential for being avoided,and is suggested to combine with other effective stripe rust resistance genes.
文摘Through the use of a survey and statistical methods, this study explores the effects and interventions of handheld Tai Chi water resistance fitness balls on the elderly with Parkinson’s disease. Firstly, a questionnaire on exercise compliance for patients with Parkinson’s disease was developed, and its reliability and validity were tested. Then, a survey was conducted to investigate the current status of exercise compliance among Parkinson’s disease patients, including general information, scoring status, and single and multiple factor analyses of influencing factors [1]. The results of the study show that through qualitative research, the dimensions and item pools of the questionnaire were initially constructed, and the reliability analysis of the questionnaire was conducted through Delphi expert consultation, with favorable results in terms of its reliability and validity [2]. Regarding the current status of exercise compliance among Parkinson’s disease patients, the study found that the level of exercise compliance needs improvement, and there are significant differences in exercise compliance levels among patients under different circumstances. Finally, the research results were discussed and conclusions were drawn. The innovation of this study lies in the development of a questionnaire on exercise compliance for patients with Parkinson’s disease and the preliminary qualitative research and Delphi expert consultation conducted on it, providing new ideas and methods for the study of exercise compliance. However, the study also has limitations as it did not examine the effects of other interventions on Parkinson’s disease, so further research should be conducted [3].
基金supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant 2019YFB2102102in part by the National Natural Science Foundations of China under Grant 62176094 and Grant 61873097+2 种基金in part by the Key‐Area Research and Development of Guangdong Province under Grant 2020B010166002in part by the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation Research Team under Grant 2018B030312003in part by the Guangdong‐Hong Kong Joint Innovation Platform under Grant 2018B050502006.
文摘Research into automatically searching for an optimal neural network(NN)by optimi-sation algorithms is a significant research topic in deep learning and artificial intelligence.However,this is still challenging due to two issues:Both the hyperparameter and ar-chitecture should be optimised and the optimisation process is computationally expen-sive.To tackle these two issues,this paper focusses on solving the hyperparameter and architecture optimization problem for the NN and proposes a novel light‐weight scale‐adaptive fitness evaluation‐based particle swarm optimisation(SAFE‐PSO)approach.Firstly,the SAFE‐PSO algorithm considers the hyperparameters and architectures together in the optimisation problem and therefore can find their optimal combination for the globally best NN.Secondly,the computational cost can be reduced by using multi‐scale accuracy evaluation methods to evaluate candidates.Thirdly,a stagnation‐based switch strategy is proposed to adaptively switch different evaluation methods to better balance the search performance and computational cost.The SAFE‐PSO algorithm is tested on two widely used datasets:The 10‐category(i.e.,CIFAR10)and the 100−cate-gory(i.e.,CIFAR100).The experimental results show that SAFE‐PSO is very effective and efficient,which can not only find a promising NN automatically but also find a better NN than compared algorithms at the same computational cost.
文摘Health related-physical fitness (HRPF) is critical for maintaining and enhancing health and quality of life. Purposes: To estimate the reference values and predictive equations for frequently used clinical field HRPF measures in a sample of Saudi female college students aged 18 - 24 years. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, body fat percentage (BF %) was estimated. Curl-up test (CUT) and sit and reach test (SRT) were applied in 216 students. The Queen’s College Step Test (QCST) was used to predict maximal oxygen consumption (VO<sub>2</sub> max). Physical activity (PA) level was also measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: The mean of BF %, SRT, CUT, and predicted VO<sub>2</sub> max were 23.98% ± 6.13%, 17.10 ± 7.50 cm, 28.17 ± 7.72 number/min, and 39.58 ± 4.01 ml/kg/min respectively. There was no significant effect of age on all HRPF measures except for BF % (F <sub>(6,215)</sub> = 3.25, p <sub>(6,215)</sub> = 4.01, p strated that BMI was the predictor for BF % and SRT and explained 65% and 4% of total variance respectively. IPAQ score, age, and height were the predictors of CUT counting 17% of total variance. While, BMI and IPAQ score were the predictors for VO<sub>2</sub> max and explained 13% of the total variance. Conclusion: Reference values can be used clinically in the evaluation of HRPF, in the rehabilitation process as well as in designing a program to improve the HRPF for female college students with consideration of age, height, BMI, and PA level for a particular population.
文摘Ghana, renowned for its abundant gold reserves, plays a significant role in the global mining industry. Effective management and accurate forecasting of these reserves are vital for sustainable resource utilization and economic planning. Forecasting gold reserves and estimating their production lifespan are complex tasks that require robust statistical models capable of capturing the underlying dynamics of gold deposit accumulation and extraction. To this end, the four-parameter Beta distribution function emerges as a promising candidate due to its flexibility and ability to handle non-negative data. This research aims to investigate the fitness and applicability of the four-parameter Beta distribution function for forecasting Ghana’s gold reserves and estimating the production lifespan of this precious resource. The empirical paper relied mainly on quarterly secondary datasets on gold reserve between the years 2009 and 2022 secured from the Minerals Commission of Ghana, Accra. Several known statistical distributions including Beta, Weibull, Normal, Logistic and Gamma were explored with Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and evaluated using model selection criteria as AIC and BIC. Goodness of Fits were evaluated using Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test (K-S), Cramer-Von Mises Statistic and Anderson-Darling Statistic. Based on the analysis conducted, the four-parameter Beta distribution provided the best fit for gold reserve in Ghana. At a 99.9% confidence level and considering the current annual average gold production estimate of 3,700,031.248 to 4,302,647.888 ounces, the projected lifespan of gold production in Ghana extends to the year 1,953,765. This astounding estimate suggests that the country’s gold reserves are expected to sustain production for an extended period, providing a critical resource for economic development and supporting the mining industry well into the distant future.
文摘Ghana, renowned for its abundant gold reserves, plays a significant role in the global mining industry. Effective management and accurate forecasting of these reserves are vital for sustainable resource utilization and economic planning. Forecasting gold reserves and estimating their production lifespan are complex tasks that require robust statistical models capable of capturing the underlying dynamics of gold deposit accumulation and extraction. To this end, the four-parameter Beta distribution function emerges as a promising candidate due to its flexibility and ability to handle non-negative data. This research aims to investigate the fitness and applicability of the four-parameter Beta distribution function for forecasting Ghana’s gold reserves and estimating the production lifespan of this precious resource. The empirical paper relied mainly on quarterly secondary datasets on gold reserve between the years 2009 and 2022 secured from the Minerals Commission of Ghana, Accra. Several known statistical distributions including Beta, Weibull, Normal, Logistic and Gamma were explored with Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and evaluated using model selection criteria as AIC and BIC. Goodness of Fits were evaluated using Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test (K-S), Cramer-Von Mises Statistic and Anderson-Darling Statistic. Based on the analysis conducted, the four-parameter Beta distribution provided the best fit for gold reserve in Ghana. At a 99.9% confidence level and considering the current annual average gold production estimate of 3,700,031.248 to 4,302,647.888 ounces, the projected lifespan of gold production in Ghana extends to the year 1,953,765. This astounding estimate suggests that the country’s gold reserves are expected to sustain production for an extended period, providing a critical resource for economic development and supporting the mining industry well into the distant future.
基金supported by the Erasmus+program of the European Union(567201-EPP-1-2015-2-IT-SPO-SCP)supported by the University of Alcala(FPI2016)。
文摘Purpose:To examine the effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement,psychosocial functioning,and physical fitness in children aged 7-8 years.Methods:Twenty schools in 5 different European countries(2 second-grade classrooms per school)participated in a cluster randomized controlled trial(Sport at School trial).Participants were assigned to either a control group,which continued with their habitual physical education lessons,or to an intervention group,which replaced these lessons with a 1-year karate intervention(Karate Mind and Movement program).A total of 721 children(344 girls and 377 boys,7.4±0.5 years old,mean±SD)completed the study,of which 333 and 388 were assigned to the control group and intervention group,respectively.Outcomes included academic performance(average grade),psychosocial functioning(Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for parents),and different markers of physical fitness(cardiorespiratory fitness,balance,and flexibility).Results:The intervention provided small but significant benefits compared to the control group for academic achievement(d=0.16;p=0.003),conduct problems(d=-0.28;p=0.003),cardiorespiratory fitness(d=0.36;p<0.001),and balance(d=0.24;p=0.015).There was a trend towards significant benefits for flexibility(d=0.24;p=0.056).No significant benefits were observed for other variables,including psychosocial difficulties,emotional symptoms,hyperactivity/inattention,peer problems,or prosocial behaviour(all p>0.05).Conclusion:A 1-year school-based karate intervention was effective in improving academic achievement,conduct problems,and physical fitness in primary school children.The results support the inclusion of karate during physical education lessons.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFD1400300)the Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Oasis,Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China(KFJJ202204)the China Agriculture Research System(CARS-15-20)。
文摘Aphis gossypii has become increasingly difficult to manage due to its strong insecticide resistance.In the laboratory,we established sulfoxaflor-resistant and acetamiprid-resistant strains in two A.gossypii populations with different basal insecticide resistance levels,and evaluated the effects of basal insecticide resistance on the resistance development and cross-resistance,as well as differences in fitness.Under the same selection pressure,Yarkant A.gossypii(with low basal insecticide resistance)evolved resistance to sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid more quickly than Jinghe A.gossypii(with high basal insecticide resistance),and the evolution of A.gossypii resistance to sulfoxaflor developed faster than acetamiprid in both Yarkant and Jinghe,Xingjiang,China.The sulfoxaflor-resistant strains selected from Yarkant and Jinghe developed significant cross-resistance to acetamiprid,imidacloprid,thiamethoxam and pymetrozine;while the acetamiprid-resistant strains developed significant cross-resistance to sulfoxaflor,imidacloprid,thiamethoxam,pymetrozine,and chlorpyrifos.The relative fitness of A.gossypii decreased as the resistance to sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid developed.The relative fitness levels of the sulfoxaflor-resistant strains(Yarkant-SulR and Jinghe-SulR)were lower than those of the acetamipridresistant strains(Yarkant-AceR and Jinghe-AceR).In addition,the relative fitness levels of sulfoxaflor-and acetamiprid-resistant strains were lower in Jinghe than in Yarkant.In summary,basal insecticide resistance of A.gossypii and insecticide type affected the evolution of resistance to insecticides in A.gossypii,as well as cross-resistance to other insecticides.The sulfoxaflor-and acetamiprid-resistant A.gossypii strains had obvious fitness costs.The results of this work will contribute to the insecticide resistance management and integrated management of A.gossypii.
基金funded by a Team Grant(#107534)to KSC,CMF,SNCR,MLM,JKV,GJB,and JRMa Project Grant(#155952)to CMF,KSC,SNCR,MLM,JKV,and JRM+1 种基金a Foundation Grant(#159927)to KSC,CMF,SNCR,MLM,and JKV from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.KSC and JKV are supported by the Canada Research Chairs ProgramCMF was supported by an Alberta Innovates Health Senior Scholar Award and by the Alberta Cancer Foundation Weekend to End Women’s Cancers Breast Cancer Chair.
文摘Background:Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients experience symptoms that may affect their quality of life,treatment outcomes,and survival.Preventing and managing breast cancer-related symptoms soon after diagnosis is essential.The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between health-related fitness(HRF)and patient-reported symptoms in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.Methods:This study utilized baseline data from the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer Cohort Study that were collected within 90 days of diagnosis.HRF measures included peak cardiopulmonary fitness(peak volume of oxygen consumption(VO_(2peak))),maximal muscular strength and endurance,flexibility,and body composition.Symptom measures included depression,sleep quality,and fatigue.Adjusted multivariable logistic regression was performed for analyses.Results:Of 1458 participants,51.5%reported poor sleep quality,26.5%reported significant fatigue,and 10.4%reported moderate depression.In multivariable-adjusted models,lower relative VO_(2peak)was independently associated with a greater likelihood of all symptom measures,including moderate depression(p<0.001),poor sleep quality(p=0.009),significant fatigue(p=0.008),any symptom(p<0.001),and multiple symptoms(p<0.001).VO_(2peak)demonstrated threshold associations with all symptom measures such that all 3 lower quartiles exhibited similar elevated risk compared to the highest quartile.The strength of the threshold associations varied by the symptom measure with odds ratios ranging from-1.5 for poor sleep quality to-3.0 for moderate depression and multiple symptoms.Moreover,lower relative upper body muscular endurance was also independently associated with fatigue in a dose-response manner(p=0.001),and higher body weight was independently associated with poor sleep quality in an inverted U pattern(p=0.021).Conclusion:Relative VO_(2peak)appears to be a critical HRF component associated with multiple patient-reported symptoms in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.Other HRF parameters may also be important for specific symptoms.Exercise interventions targeting different HRF components may help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients manage specific symptoms and improve outcomes.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32370508)the Foundation for Excellent Doctoral Student of Science and Technology Program of Gansu Province(No.23JRRA1125)。
文摘Females actively seek extra-pair paternity(EPP)to acquire a fitness advantage for their offspring.The“contextdependence hypothesis”posits that female extra-pair mate choice has plasticity in response to environmental conditions,and therefore magnitude of female genetic benefits from EPP depends on the environmental variation.Furthermore,chronic heavy metal pollution can cause adverse effects on fitness-related traits of wild birds.However,few studies were available on the interactions between heavy metal pollution and EPP.We selected an area that was contaminated by heavy metals for more than 60 years(Baiyin,BY),a relatively unpolluted area(Liujiaxia,LJX),and Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus)as study species to explore the response of female extrapair mate choice and genetic benefits from EPP to heavy metal pollution in socially monogamous birds.The relatedness between social mates and extra-pair mates was investigated.Additionally,we compared the body size and heterozygosity of extra-pair offspring(EPO),within-pair offspring(WPO),social males and extra-pair males from the two Tree Sparrow populations.We found that at BY,female Tree Sparrows tended to choose extra-pair males with larger body size and lower genetic similarity,thereby producing higher heterozygosity and larger body size of EPO compared with those of WPO.However,no similar phenomenon was observed in the Tree Sparrow population from LJX.In addition,there was a significant interaction between population and paternity in the analyses of the fitness-related traits,suggesting that environmental variation could affect female genetic benefits from EPP.This study confirmed the existence of presumed interactions between environmental pollution and EPP within the natural population of socially monogamous Tree Sparrows.Our findings shed lights on the possible effects of long-term environmental stress on mating system in wild birds.
基金supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Agingsupported by the National Cancer Institute(K01 CA234317)+1 种基金the San Diego State University/UC San Diego Comprehensive Cancer Center Partnership(U54 CA132384 and U54 CA132379)the Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research at the University of California San Diego(P30 AG059299)。
文摘Background:There exist few maximal oxygen uptake(VO_(2max))non-exercise-based prediction equations,fewer using machine learning(ML),and none specifically for older adults.Since direct measurement of VO_(2max)is infeasible in large epidemiologic cohort studies,we sought to develop,validate,compare,and assess the transportability of several ML VO_(2max)prediction algorithms.Methods:The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging(BLSA)participants with valid VO2_(max)tests were included(n=1080).Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator,linear-and tree-boosted extreme gradient boosting,random forest,and support vector machine(SVM)algorithms were trained to predict VO_(2max)values.We developed these algorithms for:(a)the overall BLSA,(b)by sex,(c)using all BLSA variables,and(d)variables common in aging cohorts.Finally,we quantified the associations between measured and predicted VO_(2max)and mortality.Results:The age was 69.0±10.4 years(mean±SD)and the measured VO_(2max)was 21.6±5.9 mL/kg/min.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator,linear-and tree-boosted extreme gradient boosting,random forest,and support vector machine yielded root mean squared errors of 3.4 mL/kg/min,3.6 mL/kg/min,3.4 mL/kg/min,3.6 mL/kg/min,and 3.5 mL/kg/min,respectively.Incremental quartiles of measured VO_(2max)showed an inverse gradient in mortality risk.Predicted VO_(2max)variables yielded similar effect estimates but were not robust to adjustment.Conclusion:Measured VO_(2max)is a strong predictor of mortality.Using ML can improve the accuracy of prediction as compared to simpler approaches but estimates of association with mortality remain sensitive to adjustment.Future studies should seek to reproduce these results so that VO_(2max),an important vital sign,can be more broadly studied as a modifiable target for promoting functional resiliency and healthy aging.
基金funded by the Central Hessen Research Campus,Flexi Fund,Project No.20121_1_1.
文摘Background:Atherosclerosis forms the pathological basis for the development of cardiovascular disease.Since pathological processes initially develop without clinically relevant symptoms,the identification of early markers in the subclinical stage plays an important role for initiating early interventions.There is evidence that regulatory T cells(Tregs)are involved in the development of atherosclerosis.Therefore,the present study aimed to identify and investigate associations with Tregs and their subsets in a cohort of healthy elderly individuals with and without subclinical atherosclerotic plaques(SAP).In addition,various lifestyle and risk factors,such as cardiorespiratory fitness,were investigated as associated signatures.Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed in 79 participants(male:n=50;age=63.6±3.7 years;body mass index=24.9±3.1 kg/m2;mean±SD)who had no previous diagnosis of chronic disease and were not taking medication.Ultrasound of the carotids to identify SAP,cardiovascular function measurement for vascular assessment and a cardiorespiratory fitness test to determine peak oxygen uptake were performed.Additionally,tests were conducted to assess blood lipids and determine glucose levels.Immunophenotyping of Tregs and their subtypes(resting(rTregs)and effector/memory(mTregs))was performed by 8-chanel flow cytometry.Participants were categorized according to atherosclerotic plaque status.Linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze associations between parameters.Results:SAP was detected in a total of 29 participants.The participants with plaque were older(64.8±3.6 years vs.62.9±3.5 years)and had higher peripheral systolic blood pressure(133.8±14.7 mmHg vs.125.8±10.9 mmHg).The participants with SAP were characterized by a lower percentage of rTregs(28.8%±10.7%vs.34.6%±10.7%)and a higher percentage of mTregs(40.3%±14.7%vs.30.0%±11.9%).Multiple logistic regression identified age(odds ratio(OR)=1.20(95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.011.42))and mTregs(OR=1.05(95%CI:1.021.10))as independent risk factors for SAP.Stepwise linear regression could reveal an association of peak oxygen uptake(β=0.441),low-density lipoprotein(LDL)(β=0.096),and SAP(β=6.733)with mTregs and LDL(β=0.104)with rTregs.Conclusion:While at an early stage of SAP,the total proportion of Tregs gives no indication of vascular changes,this is indicated by a shift in the Treg subgroups.Factors such as serum LDL or cardiopulmonary fitness may be associated with this shift and may also be additional diagnostic indicators.This could be used to initiate lifestyle-based preventive measures at an early stage,which may have a protective effect against disease progression.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2023YFA1606703)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12075288)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS.
文摘Within the extended vector meson dominance model,we investigate the𝑒e^(+)e^(-)→Λ_(c)+Λ_(c)^(- ) reaction and the electromagnetic form factors of the charmed baryon𝛬 Λ_(c)^(+)𝑐.The model parameters are determined by fitting them to the cross sections of the process𝑒e^(+)e^(-)→Λ_(c)+Λ_(c)^(- ) and the magnetic form factor|G_(M)|of Λ_(c)^(+) .By considering four charmonium-like states,called𝜓(4500),𝜓(4660),𝜓(4790),and𝜓(4900),we can well describe the current data on the𝑒e^(+)e^(-)→Λ_(c)+Λ_(c)^(- ) reaction from the reaction threshold up to 4.96 GeV.In addition to the total cross sections and|𝐺M|,the ratio|G_(E)/G_(M)|and the effective form factor|Geff|for Λ_(c)^(+) 𝑐are also calculated,and found that these calculations are consistent with the experimental data.Within the fitted model parameters,we have also estimated the charge radius of the charmed Λ_(c)^(+) baryon.
文摘A country’s ability to create complex goods and diversify its lines of products is essential for addressing all types of vulnerabilities.Quantifying a country’s vulnerability to extreme climatic events,such as droughts,superstorms,and other natural disasters,and its capacity for successful adaption,is an essential global need that has been ignored.This study examines the role of economic fitness(EF)in addressing climate change risk ex‐posure in BRICS countries in the context of the environmental Kuznets curve using panel data from 1995 to 2015.Panel threshold methodology is employed to ascertain the nonlinear relationship between EF and climate change risk exposure(i.e.,Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative Country Index(ND-GAIN)).In addition,empirical associations were estimated using panel-corrected standard errors,Driscoll-Kraay standard errors,and feasible generalized least squares estimation techniques.These findings demonstrated an inverted N shaped link between EF and ND-GAIN.Moreover,even after controlling for significant ND-GAIN influencing variables such as gross domestic product per capita,financial development,and urbanization,our robustness checks revealed significant and consistent findings.
基金funded by an NSFC Major Project (Grant No. 42090033)the China Meteorological Administration Youth Innovation Team “High-Value Climate Change Data Product Development and Application Services”(Grant No. CMA2023QN08)the National Meteorological Information Centre Surplus Funds Program (Grant NMICJY202310)。
文摘High-vertical-resolution radiosonde wind data are highly valuable for describing the dynamics of the meso-and microscale atmosphere. However, the current algorithm used in China's L-band radar sounding system for calculating highvertical-resolution wind vectors excessively smooths the data, resulting in significant underestimation of the calculated kinetic energy of gravity waves compared to similar products from other countries, which greatly limits the effective utilization of the data. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel method to calculate high-vertical-resolution wind vectors that utilizes the elevation angle, azimuth angle, and slant range from L-band radar. In order to obtain wind data with a stable quality, a two-step automatic quality control procedure, including the RMSE-F(root-mean-square error F) test and elemental consistency test are first applied to the slant range data, to eliminate continuous erroneous data caused by unstable signals or radar malfunctions. Then, a wind calculation scheme based on a sliding second-order polynomial fitting is utilized to derive the high-vertical-resolution radiosonde wind vectors. The evaluation results demonstrate that the wind data obtained through the proposed method show a high level of consistency with the high-resolution wind data observed using the Vaisala Global Positioning System and the data observed by the new Beidou Navigation Sounding System. The calculation of the kinetic energy of gravity waves in the recalculated wind data also reaches a level comparable to the Vaisala observations.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42188101,42025404,41974186,42174188,and 42204160)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFF0503700)+2 种基金the B-type Strategic Priority Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB41000000)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant Nos.2042022kf1016 and 2042023kf1025)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2022M722447)。
文摘The energy spectrum of energetic electrons is a key factor representing the dynamic variations of Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts.Increased measurements have indicated that the commonly used Maxwellian and Kappa distributions are inadequate for capturing the realistic spectral distributions of radiation belt electrons.Here we adopt the Kappa-type(KT)distribution as the fitting function and perform a statistical analysis to investigate the radiation belt electron flux spectra observed by the Van Allen Probes.By calculating the optimal values of the key KT distribution parameters(i.e.,κandθ2)from the observed spectral shapes,we fit the radiation belt electron fluxes at different L-shells under different geomagnetic conditions.In this manner,we obtain typical values of the KT distribution parameters,which are statistically feasible for modeling the radiation belt electron flux profiles during either geomagnetically quiet or active periods.A comparison of the KT distribution model results with those using the Maxwellian or Kappa distribution reveals the advantage of the KT distribution for studying the overall properties of the radiation belt electron spectral distribution,which has important implications for deepening the current understanding of the radiation belt electron dynamics under evolving geomagnetic conditions.
基金Science and Technology Project of Fire Rescue Bureau of Ministry of Emergency Management(Grant No.2022XFZD05)S&T Program of Hebei(Grant No.22375419D)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11802160).
文摘As the basic protective element, steel plate had attracted world-wide attention because of frequent threats of explosive loads. This paper reports the relationships between microscopic defects of Q345 steel plate under the explosive load and its macroscopic dynamics simulation. Firstly, the defect characteristics of the steel plate were investigated by stereoscopic microscope(SM) and scanning electron microscope(SEM). At the macroscopic level, the defect was the formation of cave which was concentrated in the range of 0-3.0 cm from the explosion center, while at the microscopic level, the cavity and void formation were the typical damage characteristics. It also explains that the difference in defect morphology at different positions was the combining results of high temperature and high pressure. Secondly, the variation rules of mechanical properties of steel plate under explosive load were studied. The Arbitrary Lagrange-Euler(ALE) algorithm and multi-material fluid-structure coupling method were used to simulate the explosion process of steel plate. The accuracy of the method was verified by comparing the deformation of the simulation results with the experimental results, the pressure and stress at different positions on the surface of the steel plate were obtained. The simulation results indicated that the critical pressure causing the plate defects may be approximately 2.01 GPa. On this basis, it was found that the variation rules of surface pressure and microscopic defect area of the Q345 steel plate were strikingly similar, and the corresponding mathematical relationship between them was established. Compared with Monomolecular growth fitting models(MGFM) and Logistic fitting models(LFM), the relationship can be better expressed by cubic polynomial fitting model(CPFM). This paper illustrated that the explosive defect characteristics of metal plate at the microscopic level can be explored by analyzing its macroscopic dynamic mechanical response.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.51878508。
文摘Cemented and mechanically clamped types of end fittings(fitting-C and fitting-M)are commonly used in transformer bushings.During the Luding Ms 6.8 earthquake that occurred in China on September 5,2022,all transformer bushings with the two types of end fittings in a 500 kV substation were damaged.Post-earthquake field investigations were conducted,and the failures of the two types of bushings were compared.Two elementary simulation models of the transformer-bushing systems were developed to simulate the engineering failures,and further compute their seismic responses for comparison.The results indicate that the hitch lugs of the connection flange are structurally harmful to seismic resistance.Fitting-M can decrease the bending stiffness of the bushing due to the flexible sealing rubber gasket.Since it provides a more flexible connection that dissipates energy,the peak accelerations and relative displacements at the top of the bushing are significantly lower than those of the bushing with fitting-C.Compared with fitting-C,fitting-M transfers the high-stress areas from the connection flange to the root of the porcelain,so the latter becomes the most vulnerable component.Fitting-M increases the failure risk of the low-strength porcelain,indicating the unsuitability of applying it in high-intensity fortification regions.
基金supported by the NSFC-Yunnan United fund(U2102221)National Natural Science Foundation of China(32171482)。
文摘Species is a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology and biodiversity.However,existing species definitions are often influenced by artificial factors or are challenging in practical application,leading to confusion in species classification.Due to uncertain environmental changes and random genetic drift,the fitness expectations of a population may shift,causing species to evolve to a new evolutionary state based on their current instantaneous fitness within a dynamic fitness landscape.This contrasts with the classic static fitness landscape,where fitness expectations are constant.In a dynamic fitness landscape,speciation may exhibit path dependence,where the evolution of traits follows a probabilistic path,creating feedback that shapes evolutionary trajectories.The path-dependent evolutionary mechanism suggests that species survival within an ecosystem is not directly determined by their fitness but by the probability of their evolutionary pathways.This model also indicates that species can coexist with varying probabilities under limited environmental pressures.Consequently,new species,cryptic species,or sympatric species may emerge via path-dependent evolutionary processes.Within this framework,we developed a mathematical species concept,which may guide future species classification methodologies.
文摘Currently,the aerial survey system of low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)has been widely used in acquiring digital map 4D products,mapping,digital linear maps,and other aspects.However,there are problems,such as low precision and weak practicability in constructing digital elevation model(DEM)products through the data collected using consumption level UAVs.Therefore,improving the accuracy of DEM products obtained by consumption level UAVs is a crucial and complex issue in the research of UAV aerial survey systems.In precision elevation measurement,the geodetic height of a certain number of ground points with reasonable distribution in the region is often obtained first.Then,the normal height of the ground points is obtained by leveling,and the elevation residual value surface of the region is fitted.Finally,the normal height of the points to be solved in the region is obtained by fitting the elevation residual surface.Therefore,the elevation residual fitting method was used to improve the accuracy of consumer UAV DEM products in this study.First,a high-quality ground point cloud was obtained by constructing the gradient filtering-cloth simulation filtering(GF-CSF)model.Second,an abnormal elevation fitting residual DEM model was constructed.Lastly,the final DEM was obtained using the DEM difference method.The experimental results show that among the 20 random sampling inspection points,the average elevation residual was 2.3 mm,and the root mean square error(RMSE)was 16.7 mm after the DEM accuracy was improved by the method.The average elevation residual without improving the DEM accuracy was 28.6 mm,and RMSE was 33.7 mm.