Smoking of Carica papaya in Nigeria:The rationale,the public health effects and policies for intervention

Psychoactive substance use is characterized by the habitual use of substances that have significant effects in altering the activities of neurotransmitters in certain regions of the brain.Consequently,these alterations manifest as cognitive,emotional,perceptual and behavioural changes in affected individuals[1].

Erratum regarding Declaration of Competing Interest statements in previously published articles

Declaration of Competing Interest statements were incorrectly included in the published version of the following articles that appeared in previous issues of Materials Reports:Energy.The appropriate Declaration of Competing Interest statements,provided by the authors,are included below.

Rational Engineering of Secondary Metabolic Pathways in a Heterologous Host to Enable the Biosynthesis of Hibarimicin Derivatives with Enhanced Anti-Melanomic Activity

A 61-kb biosynthetic gene cluster(BGC),which is accountable for the biosynthesis of hibarimicin(HBM)B from Microbispora rosea subsp.hibaria TP-A0121,was heterologously expressed in Streptomyces coelicolor M1154,which generated a trace of the target products but accumulated a large amount of shunt products.Based on rational analysis of the relevant secondary metabolism,directed engineering of the biosynthetic pathways resulted in the high production of HBM B,as well as new HBM derivates with improved antitumor activity.These results not only establish a biosynthetic system to effectively synthesize HBMs-a class of the largest and most complex Type-Ⅱpolyketides,with a unique pseudo-dimeric structure-but also set the stage for further engineering and deep investigation of this complex biosynthetic pathway toward potent anticancer drugs.

Blockchain-Based Key Management Scheme Using Rational Secret Sharing

Traditional blockchain key management schemes store private keys in the same location,which can easily lead to security issues such as a single point of failure.Therefore,decentralized threshold key management schemes have become a research focus for blockchain private key protection.The security of private keys for blockchain user wallet is highly related to user identity authentication and digital asset security.The threshold blockchain private key management schemes based on verifiable secret sharing have made some progress,but these schemes do not consider participants’self-interested behavior,and require trusted nodes to keep private key fragments,resulting in a narrow application scope and low deployment efficiency,which cannot meet the needs of personal wallet private key escrow and recovery in public blockchains.We design a private key management scheme based on rational secret sharing that considers the self-interest of participants in secret sharing protocols,and constrains the behavior of rational participants through reasonable mechanism design,making it more suitable in distributed scenarios such as the public blockchain.The proposed scheme achieves the escrow and recovery of personal wallet private keys without the participation of trusted nodes,and simulate its implementation on smart contracts.Compared to other existing threshold wallet solutions and keymanagement schemes based on password-protected secret sharing(PPSS),the proposed scheme has a wide range of applications,verifiable private key recovery,low communication overhead,higher computational efficiency when users perform one-time multi-key escrow,no need for trusted nodes,and personal rational constraints and anti-collusion attack capabilities.

Approximate solution of Volterra-Fredholm integral equations using generalized barycentric rational interpolant

It is well-known that interpolation by rational functions results in a more accurate approximation than the polynomials interpolation.However,classical rational interpolation has some deficiencies such as uncontrollable poles and low convergence order.In contrast with the classical rational interpolants,the generalized barycentric rational interpolants which depend linearly on the interpolated values,yield infinite smooth approximation with no poles in real numbers.In this paper,a numerical collocation approach,based on the generalized barycentric rational interpolation and Gaussian quadrature formula,was introduced to approximate the solution of Volterra-Fredholm integral equations.Three types of points in the solution domain are used as interpolation nodes.The obtained numerical results confirm that the barycentric rational interpolants are efficient tools for solving Volterra-Fredholm integral equations.Moreover,integral equations with Runge’s function as an exact solution,no oscillation occurrs in the obtained approximate solutions so that the Runge’s phenomenon is avoided.

Experimental study of core MHD behavior and a novel algorithm for rational surface detection based on profile reflectometry in EAST

Microwave reflectometry is a powerful diagnostic that can measure the density profile and localized turbulence with high spatial and temporal resolution and will be used in ITER,so understanding the influence of plasma perturbations on the reflect signal is important.The characteristics of the reflect signal from profile reflectometry,the time-of-flight(TOF)signal associated with the MHD instabilities,are investigated in EAST.Using a 1D full-wave simulation code by the Finite-DifferenceTime-Domain(FDTD)method,it is well validated that the local density flattening could induce the discontinuity of the simulated TOF signal and an obvious change of reflect amplitude.Experimental TOF signals under different types of MHD instabilities(sawtooth,sawtooth precursors and tearing mode)are studied in detail and show agreement with the simulation.Two new improved algorithms for detecting and localizing the radial positions of the low-order rational surface,the cross-correlation and gradient threshold(CGT)method and the 2D convolutional neural network approach(CNN)are presented for the first time.It is concluded that TOF signal analysis from profile reflectometry can provide a straightforward and localized measurement of the plasma perturbation from the edge to the core simultaneously and may be a complement or correction to the q-profile control,which will be beneficial for the advanced tokamak operation.

The Global Security Initiative: Its Relevance, Rationale and Delivery

Today,our world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century.Global security landscape is becoming ever more unstable and uncertain.In the face of growing deficits in security,Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Security Initiative(GSI),offering a clear answer to the question of the times:what kind of security concept does the world need,and how can we achieve common security?It is of great significance to fully grasp the relevance of and the rationale for the GSI,and push for its strategic delivery,so as to contribute to the long-term peace and stability of the world.

Practice of Perioperative Rational Use of Antibacterial Drugs Based on Drug Pathway

[Objectives]To establish a new management model for rational use of perioperative antibacterial drugs in surgical departments.[Methods]Based on evidence-based medicine,the department s drug pathway was formulated,and the new mode of rational drug use control was established by using fine pharmaceutical technology intervention,and the intervention effect was evaluated by the intensity of antibacterial drug use,per capita drug costs and the proportion of drugs.[Results]After adopting drug pathway in departments,the intensity of antibacterial drug use,per capita drug costs and the proportion of drugs decreased significantly,and the effect of rational drug use control was remarkable.[Conclusions]The drug pathway provides a new management and control mode for the rational use of perioperative antibacterial drugs in surgical departments of hospitals.Thus,it is worthy of popularization and application.

Exact controllability of rational expectations model with multiplicative noise and input delay

This paper considers the rational expectations model with multiplicative noise and input delay,where the system dynamics rely on the conditional expectations of future states.The main contribution is to obtain a sufficient condition for the exact controllability of the rational expectations model.In particular,we derive a sufficient Gramian matrix condition and a rank condition for the delay-free case.The key is the solvability of the backward stochastic difference equations with input delay which is derived from the forward and backward stochastic system.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Community Pharmacy Services on Rational Medication Use in Elderly Patients with Hypertension and Diabetes

Objective:To explore the effect of community pharmacy services on rational medication use in elderly patients with hypertension and diabetes.Methods:Between November 2022 and December 2023,80 elderly patients with hypertension and diabetes were selected and randomly divided into a control group(routine medication guidance)and an observation group(community pharmacy services),with 40 subjects each.The medication effect scores,blood pressure,blood sugar levels,and quality of life scores before and after intervention were compared between the two groups.Results:Comparison of pharmaceutical knowledge,medication compliance,and safe medication behavior scores showed that the observation group had higher scores as compared to the control group(P<0.05);blood pressure(systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,heart rate)and blood sugar(fasting blood glucose,2 h postprandial blood glucose,glycated hemoglobin)index levels were compared,and the observation group’s index levels were lower than those of the control group(P<0.05);the scores of physical health,mental health,social relationships,and environment in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Community pharmacy services improved the rational medication effect of elderly patients with hypertension and diabetes,and improved their blood pressure,blood sugar control levels,and quality of life.

The Malleus Maleficarum:Rationalism vs.Superstition?

The Malleus Maleficarum(1486)by Henry Institoris and Jacques Sprenger was written in order to help inquisitors identify,persecute,and prosecute witches.The book is well-known but not studied as much as one could think,and is sometimes confused with another treatise written in 1669,which includes works by demonologists,such as Jean Nider,Bernard Basin,and Bartolomeo de Spina.This can be explained by the fact that several successive editions were published,which changed the essence of the first essay,until the 17th century.My argument is that the first edition was paradoxical and not as strict as one could imagine.The book was a“bible”for the inquisition about the subjugation of witches,but in the same way,the book seemed to be far too rationalistic when confronted with satanism and superstition.Indeed,we believe that the thesis of the Malleus Maleficarum was also a new way of conceiving of knowledge,fighting against superstition by using the tools of early rationalism at the end of the 15th century.The witches’knowledge that is investigated in the book is confronted with theology,as well as with reason.There is significant evidence of the writers’rationalistic view about occultism and belief.

Karl Popper＇s Critical Rationalism＂ Corroboration versus Confirmation＊

This paper reviews and adds to previous arguments for the thesis that Karl Popper was mistaken to have rejected hypothetico-deductive confirmation. By turning from the positive idea of verification to the negative idea of criticism, Popper believed that he had turned his back on induction. He believed he had ＂solved＂ the ＂problem of induction＂ by providing a non-inductive account of corroboration. Popper used the term ＂corroboration＂ rather than confirmation which he believed was too closely allied to the notion of the inductive or probabilistic support that a theory can receive from evidence. Wesley Salmon＇s （1967） ＂concept of confirming evidence＂ and Clark Glymour＇s （1980） ＂bootstrap conception of evidence for theory＂ both defended respectively the thesis that passed tests can be confirmed by evidence or warranted by the degree of probability. Using a sequence of symbols in logical form or analysis, I shall further defend the concept to hypothetico-deductive confirmation in order to show that the known weaknesses of Popper＇s critical rationalism are remediable, once the notion of evidence for theories is brought back into consideration.

THE RATIONALISM THEORY AND ITS FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS METHOD OF SHELL STRUCTURES

In this paper, a kind of rationalism theory of shell is established which is of different mechanic characters in tension and in compression, and the finite element numerical analysis method is also described.

Rational Design of Grain Size to Improve Rice Yield and Quality

Grain size, determined by grain length, grain width and grain thickness, is associated with grain yield and quality. Many genes controlling grain size were cloned and their related regulatory mechanisms were clearly clarified. However, whether these genes can be directly introduced into japonica rice for grain size improvement is unknown.

Estimation of the Actual Evapotranspiration by the SEBAL Method in the Irrigated Rice Perimeter of Zatta (Yamoussoukro—Côte d’Ivoire)

In this study, the SEBAL (Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land) model was used to map the spatio-temporal distribution of actual evapotranspiration in the Yamoussoukro department (Côte d’Ivoire). Like other regions of the country, the Yamoussoukro district is confronted with the phenomenon of evapotranspiration (ET). This is a very important component that comes into play in the water balance but also in the calculation of the water needs of agricultural crops. Consequently, its estimation is of paramount importance in research related to the rational management of water resources, particularly agricultural water. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatio-temporal distribution of actual evapotranspiration (AET) as a function of land cover and land use. The methodology used is based on the SEBAL model which uses remote sensing (Landsat 8_OLI/TIRS) and climatic data to estimate actual evapotranspiration and analyze the spatio-temporal distribution of AET. The results reveal that the AET varied from 0 to 5.44 mm/day over the period from December 2019 to February 2020 with an average value of 4.92 mm/day. The highest average values occurred for water bodies (4.90 mm/day) and flooded vegetation (4.88 mm/day) while the lowest values occurred in residential areas (2.04 mm/day). Furthermore, the results show that the difference between the SEBAL model and the FAO-Penman-Monteith method is minimal with an average RMSE of 0.36 mm/day for all the satellite images. This study demonstrates the considerable potential of remote sensing for the characterization and estimation of spatial evapotranspiration in the Zatta irrigated rice-growing area.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals New Insights into the Respiration Metabolism Mechanism of Different Feeding Rations of Sea Cucumber(Apostichopus japonicus)

Sea cucumber(Apostichopus japonicus)is an excellent model for investigating effects of bottom-dwellers on carbon mig-ration and transformation.However,the molecular mechanism of respiratory metabolism process variation caused by feeding rations is poorly understood.In this study,treatment groups set as 1%(about 0.63g),3%,and 7%of total body weight(named F1,F3 and F7 groups respectively).The potential molecular mechanisms behind the functions of respiratory tree and body wall were investigated by RNA-Seq.A total of 52411 expressed genes were identified from 89342 expressed transcripts.The results showed 759,254 and 334 genes were up-regulated,and 334,445 and 992 genes were down-regulated in respiratory tree of F1 vs.F3,F1 vs.F7 and F3 vs.F7,respectively.Meanwhile,2070,1601 and 896 genes were up-regulated,and 1303,1337 and 1144 genes were down-regulated in body wall between F1 vs.F3,F1 vs.F7 and F3 vs.F7,respectively.Differentially expressed genes were enriched in salivary secretion and ECM-receptor interaction pathways in respiratory tree,and in various types of N-glycan biosynthesis,ribosome and sphingolipid metabolism pathways in body wall.These results suggested respiratory tree and body wall were involved in activation of respiratory metabolisms in response to different feeding rations.Our research provided valuable knowledge for physiological differences in res-piratory metabolism.

Rational solutions of Painlevé-Ⅱequation as Gram determinant

Under the Flaschka-Newell Lax pair,the Darboux transformation for the Painlevé-Ⅱequation is constructed by the limiting technique.With the aid of the Darboux transformation,the rational solutions are represented by the Gram determinant,and then we give the large y asymptotics of the determinant and the rational solutions.Finally,the solution of the corresponding Riemann-Hilbert problem is obtained from the Darboux matrices.

Estimating Sums of Convergent Series via Rational Polynomials

Sums of convergent series for any desired number of terms, which may be infinite, are estimated very accurately by establishing definite rational polynomials. For infinite number of terms the sum infinite is obtained by taking the asymptotic limit of the rational polynomial. A rational function with second-degree polynomials both in the numerator and denominator is found to produce excellent results. Sums of series with different characteristics such as alternating signs are considered for testing the performance of the proposed approach.

Present situation of rational drug use in plateau area

Plateau is characterized by low oxygen,low pressure,strong radiation,cold and dryness,among which low oxygen is the main factor that affects the normal life activities of human body.Altitude hypoxia leads to significant changes in the metabolic characteristics of drugs in vivo,which in turn affects the efficacy and adverse actions of drugs.This paper summarizes the present situation of rational drug use in plateau area and pinpoints the existing problems.Meanwhile,we posit the strategies and measures for realizing rational and precise pharmacotherapy of plateau residents.First,we need to acquire a panoramic view of differential and relative pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in between plateau area and plain area by carrying out comparative studies on drug metabolisms and on comprehensive drug efficacies and mechanisms.Second,we must apply the findings from basic research to clinical practice and formulate guidelines and recommendations of drug use for plateau habitants.Finally,we should eventually achieve precise and individualized drug use for plateau habitants based on their characteristic etiology and pathogenesis.

Analysis on Value Rationality of Traditional Farm Tools in the Taomin Area

This paper introduces the types of traditional farm tools,and analyzes the value rationality of these traditional farm tools:on the one hand,these farm tools have witnessed the farming culture,and they are also a manifestation of local culture in the Taomin area,representing the cultural characteristics and civilization progress of this area.