The Maoming Basin is one amongst a group of Cretaceous-Teniary basins in South China. 347 samples were collected from drill cores MR and MB and sechon MS (110°54’E, 21°45 ’N). Most of the lithological unit...The Maoming Basin is one amongst a group of Cretaceous-Teniary basins in South China. 347 samples were collected from drill cores MR and MB and sechon MS (110°54’E, 21°45 ’N). Most of the lithological units are of Tertiary age. The cores include the Laohuling, Shangcun,Huangniuling and Youganwo formations . The MR core (874m in length) has recorded the polarity history from Normal Zone 18 to Normal Zone 11 on the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS).The strata were formed from about 42Ma to 32Ma, that is from Late Eocene to Early Oligocene.A mean sedimentation rate of this stratigraphic column is 8.1 cm/ka.展开更多
Introduction: Data on mortality in acute kidney injury (AKI) derives from high-income countries where AKI is hospital-acquired and occurs in elderly patients with a high burden of cardiovascular disease. In sub-Sahara...Introduction: Data on mortality in acute kidney injury (AKI) derives from high-income countries where AKI is hospital-acquired and occurs in elderly patients with a high burden of cardiovascular disease. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), AKI is community-acquired occurring in healthy young adults. We aimed to identify predictors of fatal outcomes in patients with AKI in two tertiary hospitals in Cameroon. Methods: Medical records of adults with confirmed AKI, from January 2018 to March 2020 were retrieved. The outcomes of interest were in-hospital deaths and presumed causes of death. We used multiple logistic regressions modeling to identify predictors of death. The study was approved by the ethics boards of both hospitals. Values were considered significant for a p-value of 0.05. Results: We included 285 patient records (37.2% females). The mean (SD) age was 50.1 (19.0) years. Hypertension (n = 97, 34.0%), organ failure (n = 88, 30.9%), and diabetes (n = 60, 21.1%) were the main comorbidities. The majority of patients had community-acquired AKI (78.6%, n = 224), were KDIGO stage 3 (88.8%, n = 253), and needed dialysis (52.6%, n = 150). Up to 16.7% (n = 25) did not receive what was needed. The in-hospital mortality rate was 29.1% (n = 83). Lack of access to dialysis (OR = 27.8;CI: 5.2 - 149.3, p = 0.001), hypotension (OR = 11.8;CI: 1.3 - 24.8;p = 0.001) and ICU admission (OR = 5.7;CI: 1.3 - 24.8, p = 0.001) were predictors of mortality. The presence of co-morbidities or underlying diseases (n = 46, 55%) were the main causes of death. Conclusions: In-hospital AKI mortality is high, as in other low- and middle-income economies. Lack of access to dialysis and the severity of the underlying illness are major predictors of death.展开更多
Context: COVID-19 can spread rapidly in haemodialysis centres, leading to fatal outcomes. Implementing physical measures is crucial in limiting the spread of infection. Aims: To assess adherence to physical measures a...Context: COVID-19 can spread rapidly in haemodialysis centres, leading to fatal outcomes. Implementing physical measures is crucial in limiting the spread of infection. Aims: To assess adherence to physical measures against SARS-Cov2 in haemodialysis patients. Methods and Material: From 13 to 19 July 2021, we administered the questionnaire to haemodialysis patients during or immediately after the dialysis session. The dependent variables were adherence to wearing masks, hand washing outside the dialysis centre, social distancing of at least 1.5 meters, and cough and sneeze hygiene. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using Epi info software;descriptive statistics were presented as mean, headcount, and percentage;related factors were determined by multi-logistic regression. The significance level was 5%. The Health Research Ethics Committee approved the research protocol. Results: 142 patients were included (mean age: 42.5 ± 14 years). Wearing masks, hand-washing, social distancing, and coughing and sneezing hygiene were observed by 88%, 75%, 47%, and 60% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: Wearing masks was the most respected physical measure, while social distancing was the least respected.展开更多
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of two interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) (QuantiFERON-TB Plus (QFT-plus) and T-SPOT.TB assay) for patients suspected of having tuberculosis (TB) i...Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of two interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) (QuantiFERON-TB Plus (QFT-plus) and T-SPOT.TB assay) for patients suspected of having tuberculosis (TB) infection as supportive methods for diagnosing TB. Patients and Methods: The subjects consisted of 45 patients who required clinical differentiation of TB disease from June 2019 to August 2023. The final clinical diagnoses were: 14 patients with active TB disease, 4 with latent TB infection (LTBI), 17 with old (cured) TB disease, and 10 with pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease. We used the two IGRAs for these patients and evaluated the data according to the manufacturer’s guidelines for interpretation or FDA-approved cutoffs. Results: Among the total of 14 patients with active TB disease (mean age: 64 years old, male: 9, and female: 5), a positive response was noted in 10 patients (71%) on QFT-plus and 9 (64%) on T-SPOT.TB. Four patients with a negative response on QFT-plus and T-SPOT.TB were elderly or cancer patients with lymphocytopenia or hypoalbuminemia. All four patients with LTBI showed a positive response (100%) on both QFT-plus and T-SPOT.TB. Among the seventeen patients with old (cured) TB disease, a positive response was noted in 8 patients (47%) on QFT-plus and 9 (53%) on T-SPOT.TB. All patients with pulmonary NTM disease showed a negative response on both QFT-plus and T-SPOT.TB. Conclusions: A false-negative response on QFT-plus as well as T-SPOT.TB was recognized in elderly patients and patients with an immunosuppressed condition, and half of patients with old (cured) TB showed no negative conversion after the completion of treatment through this study. Although it was recently reported that the positive response rate on QFT-plus of patients with active TB disease was high, we consider it necessary to be careful in diagnosing TB infection using IGRAs for patients with severe underlying diseases in a tertiary hospital based on the results.展开更多
The value of system assimilation is to improve working relationships between tutors and learners while increasing workflow efficiency among tertiary institutions with low operational costs. E-skills could be described...The value of system assimilation is to improve working relationships between tutors and learners while increasing workflow efficiency among tertiary institutions with low operational costs. E-skills could be described as electronic education development, to assist ICT professionals to reach their future career goals and aim to help users boost their ICT skills. In a society that is expanding, it is also a crucial issue to take into account. Researchers have turned their attention to this topic because of its significance and contribution to the empowerment of graduates in digital education. Many scholars have proposed many methods for integrating e-skills into society with impressive results, but the rising rate of graduate unemployment in South Africa is gradually becoming a big worry in our society. A model based on Activity Theory (AT) and e-skills will be developed in our tertiary institution to equip graduates with skills that will increase their employability and provide more individualized work opportunities as part of this study’s effort to solve this issue. With the use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Cronbach’s Alpha for validity and reliability testing, the study will create an experimental performance to assess the approach taken to measure e-skills in tertiary institutions to empower graduates in South Africa. The study established that system development and e-skilled models for tertiary institutions are growing gradually, especially in South African institutions, that empower graduates with profitable employability with experiences to improve work operation in the industries. In conclusion, system development and e-skills are very demanding but important to empower graduate employability to determine competency in the professional workforce.展开更多
Eleven tertiarv alkaloids were isolated from Corvdalis decumbens rhizome Their structures were identified as protopine(Ⅶ),allocryptopine(Ⅷ),cryptopine (Ⅸ),muramine(ⅩⅦ);(+)-tetrahydropalmatine(Ⅲ),(+)-kikemanine (...Eleven tertiarv alkaloids were isolated from Corvdalis decumbens rhizome Their structures were identified as protopine(Ⅶ),allocryptopine(Ⅷ),cryptopine (Ⅸ),muramine(ⅩⅦ);(+)-tetrahydropalmatine(Ⅲ),(+)-kikemanine (Ⅳ),(一)-scoulerine (ⅩⅧ),(十)-bulbo- capnine (ⅩⅨ),and(一)一capnoidine(Ⅰ),(一)一bicuculline(Ⅴ),(+) coriumidine(ⅩⅣ), respecti vely。 Among these,cryptopine,muramine,(+)-kikemanine,(-)-scoulerine,(一)capnoidine,(一)一bicuculline were isolated for the first time from this plant展开更多
In the new scientific and technological revolution round,artificial intelligence(AI)technology has become a key leading force for industrial change.Research shows that AI not only promoted technical transformation and...In the new scientific and technological revolution round,artificial intelligence(AI)technology has become a key leading force for industrial change.Research shows that AI not only promoted technical transformation and industry upgrades but also played a significant role in the rapid development of emerging industries.Based on the installed number of industrial robots and the industrial data by the National Bureau of Statistics,this study establishes a theoretical framework with the econometric model and compares the impact of AI on different categories of industries through empirical analysis.Our results show that AI not only promotes economic growth but also plays a key role in promoting the tertiary industry.Hence,optimization of industrial structure and economic upgrade can be induced.展开更多
The Late Tertiary red clay/bed sediments underlying the Quaternary loess-paleosol in the Chinese Loess Plateau possesses high-resolution paleoclimatic changes related to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Magnetostrat...The Late Tertiary red clay/bed sediments underlying the Quaternary loess-paleosol in the Chinese Loess Plateau possesses high-resolution paleoclimatic changes related to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Magnetostratigra-phy and susceptibility measurements are discussed in this paper. The paleomagnetic results show that the red clay/bed began to accumulate at about 8.1 Ma, which represents the oldest Late Tertiary deposit continuously in the central Loess Plateau. The magnetic susceptibility curves show stepwise increases since the initiation of red clay, superimposed on several peaks. Moreover, the magnetic susceptibility increased abruptly since 3.8 Ma, which probably indicates the inception of the modern East Asia monsoon system. Between 3.8 and 2.6 Ma, the stepwise increases of susceptibility may imply progressively intensified East Asia summer monsoon activity related with the stepwise uplift process of the Tibetan Plateau.展开更多
The timing of onset of deposition of the Lulehe Formation is a significant factor in understanding the genesis of the Qaidam basin and the evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we describe a detailed magnetostratigr...The timing of onset of deposition of the Lulehe Formation is a significant factor in understanding the genesis of the Qaidam basin and the evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we describe a detailed magnetostratigraphic and magnetic fabric study of the middle and lower parts of the Lulehe Formation. A total of 234 samples were collected from 117 sites throughout a thickness of almost 460 m of fluvial and lacustrine deposits at the Xitieshan section in the northeastern Qaidam basin. Out of these sites, 94 sites yielded well-defined characteristic remanent magnetization components by stepwise thermal demagnetization and were used to establish the magnetostratigraphy of the studied section. Based on correlation with the geomagnetic polarity timescale, the studied section spans the period from 53.8 Ma to 50.7 Ma. Our results show a three-fold decrease in sedimentation rates as well as marked change in facies from braided river to delta and shore-shallow lake around 52.6 Ma, which suggests tectonic uplift of the northeastern Qaidam basin margin ridge was rapid at the onset of formation of the Qaidam basin and subsequently weakened after 52.6 Ma. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility results indicate that tectonic compression stress had reached the northeastern Tibetan Plateau by the early stages of Indo-Eurasian plate collision and that the direction of stress in the study area was NE-SW. Furthermore, a weakening of tectonic compression stress around 52.6 Ma is consistent with sedimentary records. The age of initial deposition of the Qaidam basin (around 53.8 Ma) was almost synchronous with that of the Qiangtang, Hoh Xil, Xining, and Lanzhou basins, which implies that stress was transferred rapidly through the Tibetan Plateau during or immediately after the onset of Indo-Eurasian collision.展开更多
The Qarhan Salt Lake area is the Quaternary depocenter of the Qaidam Basin, and carries thick lacustrine sediments, as well as rich potassium and magnesium salt deposits. The abundant resources and thick sediments in ...The Qarhan Salt Lake area is the Quaternary depocenter of the Qaidam Basin, and carries thick lacustrine sediments, as well as rich potassium and magnesium salt deposits. The abundant resources and thick sediments in this lake provide an ideal place for the study of biogas formation and preservation, salt lake evolution, and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we attempt to construct a paleomagnetic and ^(230)Th age model and to obtain information on tectonic activity and salt lake evolution through detailed studies on a 1300-m-long drill core(15DZK01) from the northwestern margin of the Qarhan Salt Lake area(Dongling Lake). Based on gypsum ^(230)Th dating, the age of the uppermost clastic deposit was calculated to be around 0.052 Ma. The polarity sequence consist of 13 pairs of normal and reversed zones,which can be correlated with subchrons C2r.1r-C1n of the geomagnetic polarity timescale(GPTS 2012)(from ~2.070 Ma to ~0.052 Ma). Sedimentary characteristics indicate that Dongling Lake witnessed freshwater environment between ~ 2.070 Ma and 1.546 Ma. During this period, the sedimentary record reflects primarily lakeshore, shallow-water and swamp environments, representing favourable conditions for the formation of hydrocarbon source rocks. Between 1.546 Ma and ~ 0.052 Ma, the Dongling Lake was in sulphate deposition stage, which contrasts with the central Qarhan Salt Lake area, where this stage did not occur in the meantime. During this stage, Dongling Lake was in a shallow saltwater lake environment, but several periods of reduced salinity occurred during this stage. During the late Pleistocene at ~0.052 Ma, the Dongling Lake experienced uplift due to tectonic activity, and saltwater migrated through the Sanhu Fault to the central Qarhan Salt Lake area, resulting in the absence of halite deposition stage. The residual saline water was concentrated into magnesium-rich brine due to the lack of freshwater, and few potassium salt deposits occur in the Dongling Lake area.展开更多
Loess deposits with varying thickness are widely distributed on the intermontane valleys and piedmont zones on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions. However, the basal ages and material resour...Loess deposits with varying thickness are widely distributed on the intermontane valleys and piedmont zones on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions. However, the basal ages and material resources of the loess deposits are not clear. The paper studied the Qingzhou loess profile in Shandong with magnetostratigraphic and optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) methods and further investigated its main provenances with the mineralogical methods. The magnetostratigraphic results showed that the Brunhes/Matuyama (B/M) reversal boundary was not recognized, suggesting a basal age younger than 0.78 Ma. Extrapolations by sedimentation rates, based on the upper part depositional rate from the OSL age, the basal age of the Qingzhou loess is about 0.5 Ma. Until now, older loess deposits have not been reported on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions. The results of the paper indicate that the loess deposits in this area might have strated from the Middle Pleistocene. The basal age of Qingzhou loess is approximately synchronous with the Xiashu loess in the middle-lower reaches of Yangtze River. Major components of clay minerals in the Qingzhou profile are dominated by illite. Other clay mineral compositions are mainly smectite, chlorite and kaolinite, which are similar with the Xifeng loess in the Loess Plateau. However, the contents of smectite and the ratios of illite and kaolinte in the Qingzhou loess samples are higher than those in the Xifeng loess samples of the Loess Plateau, indicating that the loess in the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions has different sources from that of the loess deposits in the Loess Plateau. The clay mineral analysis further reinforces the earlier conclu- sion that the marine strata exposed in the Laizhou Bay and the fluvial plain of the lower reaches of Yellow River during the glacier periods are the main material sources for the Qingzhou loess deposits, which is an indicator to the local aridification of the lower reaches of the Yellow River. Loess deposition in the central Shandong mountainous regions started at around 0.5 Ma. The age of Qingzhou loess is approximately synchronous with the ongoing high-latitude cold since the Middle Pleistocene, which indicates that strengthened East Asian winter monsoon was sufficiently energetic to bring substantial quantities of material from the marine strata exposed in the Laizhou Bay and the fluvial plain of the lower reaches of the Yellow River to the central Shandong mountainous regions. The results therefore suggest that both regional geological process and global changes were responsible for the formation of Qingzhou loess since Middle Pleistocene.展开更多
The collecting power of tertiary amines(DRN,DEN and DPN) on kaolinite follows the order of DENDPNDRN.After reacting with DRN,DEN and DPN,the surface potentials of kaolinite increase remarkably,and the recruitments c...The collecting power of tertiary amines(DRN,DEN and DPN) on kaolinite follows the order of DENDPNDRN.After reacting with DRN,DEN and DPN,the surface potentials of kaolinite increase remarkably,and the recruitments caused by collectors also follow the order of DENDPNDRN.The results of dynamics simulation show that the geometries of substituent groups bonding to N are deflected and twisted,and some of bond angles are changed when tertiary amines cations adsorb on kaolinite(001) surface.Based on the results of dynamics simulations and quantum chemistry calculations,the electrostatic forces between three tertiary amines cations and 4×4×3(001) plane of kaolinite are 1.38×10?7 N(DRN12H+),1.44×10-6 N(DEN12H+),1.383×10-6 N(DPN12H+),respectively.展开更多
The Hoh Xil basin, with an area of 101000km\+2 and an average elevation of over 5000m, is a largest Tertiary sedimentary basin in the hinterland of the Tibetan plateau. It is situated in the western part of the Baya H...The Hoh Xil basin, with an area of 101000km\+2 and an average elevation of over 5000m, is a largest Tertiary sedimentary basin in the hinterland of the Tibetan plateau. It is situated in the western part of the Baya Har terrain (BT) and the northern part of the Qiangtang terrain (QT), and covers the Jinsha River Suture Zone (JRSZ), one of the five continental suture zones on the Tibetan plateau. Strong deformation and crustal shortening of about 40% at the Fenghuoshan area (Coward,et al.1990) or 42.8% at the Wudaoliang—Fenghuoshan area (Wang,et al.1999) happened at the northern Tibet before the Neogene. Therefore, sediments deposited the Hoh Xil basin may contain significant information of crustal shortening and early uplift of the Tibetan plateau. However, anterior researchers met a same painful problem to date the sedimentary sequences in the basin. By using a few fossils, they assessed doubt ages for main strata in the Hoh Xil basin, as the Paleogene / Eocene (Yi,et al.1990) or the Cretaceous (BGMRQ 1991; Zhang & Zheng 1994), since other datable materials like volcanic rocks are absent. Therefore, the precise stratigraphic dating becomes a precondition of more scientific research in the northern Tibet.展开更多
The study of magnetostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy in the last two decades has provided a great deal of opportunities to improve the geologic time scale.The Cenozoic and Mesozoic geologic timescale have been well ...The study of magnetostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy in the last two decades has provided a great deal of opportunities to improve the geologic time scale.The Cenozoic and Mesozoic geologic timescale have been well calibrated(Gradstein et al..2012;Ogg et al,2012;Cohen et al.,2018).However,for the Paleozoic era the uncertainty over boundary ages are still very large.展开更多
The eolian deposits distributed in the river valleys in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are very useful in neotectonic and paleoclimatic studies. Firstly, the climate in the eastern margin of the TP i...The eolian deposits distributed in the river valleys in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are very useful in neotectonic and paleoclimatic studies. Firstly, the climate in the eastern margin of the TP is mainly controlled by the Indian summer monsoon, and detailed studies on the loess-paleosol sequences in this region can provide valuable terrestrial evidence of past changes in the Indian summer monsoon. Secondly, the river terraces in the eastern margin of the TP are considered to be a sensitive recorder of neotectonism to reflect the timing and amplitude of the TP uplift.展开更多
Since the coexistence of the Cretaceous and Palaeocene was ascertained in the Hengyang Basin of Hunan in the middle of the 1960's, the Cretaceous and Tertiary boundary has been discussed in several papers, but it ...Since the coexistence of the Cretaceous and Palaeocene was ascertained in the Hengyang Basin of Hunan in the middle of the 1960's, the Cretaceous and Tertiary boundary has been discussed in several papers, but it still remains controversal. The points at issue are the connotation, stratigraphical position and lateral correlation of the Dongtang (or Chejiang) Formation.展开更多
Dear Editor:Biomedical waste is any waste generated during the diagnosis,treatment or immunization of human beings or animals,in research activities pertaining to or in the production of or testing of biologicals,and...Dear Editor:Biomedical waste is any waste generated during the diagnosis,treatment or immunization of human beings or animals,in research activities pertaining to or in the production of or testing of biologicals,and all other categories waste generated by healthcare activities.It includes a broad range of materials from used needles and syringes,soiled dressings,body parts,diagnostic samples,blood,chemicals,pharmaceuticals,展开更多
Background: Cancers have been a major public health problem in developing countries in recent years. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological profile of digestive cancers in secondary and tertiary he...Background: Cancers have been a major public health problem in developing countries in recent years. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological profile of digestive cancers in secondary and tertiary health care facilities in Cameroon. Methodology: This was a cross sectional and descriptive study conducted over a period of 12 months in 14 health structures over the national territory. Included in our study were patients aged 15 and above with a histologically proven digestive cancer, patients with a clinical, biological and morphologic evidence of a digestive cancer. Socio-demographic (age, gender, region of origin, profession), clinical (symptoms on diagnosis, personal and family past history, consumption habits, tumour location) and paraclinical data were recorded on a pretested questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Quantitative data was expressed as means with their corresponding standard deviations. Chi square was used for correlation between variables. A P value 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Five hundred and eighty-two cases of digestive cancers were recorded out of 37,780 consultations/admissions during the study period giving a prevalence of 1.5% with a male predominance (58.1%). The mean age was 53.11 ± 17.26 years (15 - 99) with 33.8% of them below 45 years of age. Tumours were predominantly localized in the liver (43.5%) and colon (24.9%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type in 44.5% of all cases. Alcohol consumption was found to be associated with colorectal cancer (p = 0.028) while tobacco consumption was found to be significantly associated with oesophageal cancer (p ≤ 0.001) and gastric cancer (p = 0.0047). Conclusion: A third of patients with digestive cancers were aged less than 45 years suggesting an early onset of these cancers in our setting. Relatively low prevalence with the liver being the most common site of localisation in our setting.展开更多
The palaeoposition of India after its breakup from Gondwana and its subsequent northward journey during the Mesozoic poses many tectonic riddles. A magnetostratigraphy pattern has been constructed for the Ammonoid ric...The palaeoposition of India after its breakup from Gondwana and its subsequent northward journey during the Mesozoic poses many tectonic riddles. A magnetostratigraphy pattern has been constructed for the Ammonoid rich Middle Jurassic Bathonian succession of Jumara Dome, Kachchh, western India. We present the first magnetostratigraphic results from the Ammonoid bearing exposed Bathonian sediments in Kachchh. The Jumara Dome comprised of mixed carbonate-siliciclastic succession is represented by the Jhurio and Patcham formations and siliciclastic-dominating Chari Formation in the Kachchh Mainland. The Jumara Dome sediments were deposited during sea-level fluctuating, and were interrupted by storms in the shallow marine environment. This study is based on collection of 60 oriented samples from 13 successive levels. Both thermal and AF demagnetization investigations were carried out to isolate the Characteristic Remanent Magnetization (ChRM) directions. Palaeolatitudes were computed using the ChRM directions. Magnetostratigraphic column is prepared and correlated with Geological Time Scale (GTS) of [1] [2], and this column readily matched with GTS at M41 to below and exhibits the dominance of normal polarity in Jumara.展开更多
Effective teaching has always been a goal pursued by teachers as a part of education both from the western and eastern society,for it to some extend is considered an effective way to improve society.In this essay,both...Effective teaching has always been a goal pursued by teachers as a part of education both from the western and eastern society,for it to some extend is considered an effective way to improve society.In this essay,both Chinese and western conceptions of teaching and learning will be discussed.In doing so,their differences and similarities can be seen clearly,which will help the cross-cultural educators to understand their teaching environment and learning styles.展开更多
文摘The Maoming Basin is one amongst a group of Cretaceous-Teniary basins in South China. 347 samples were collected from drill cores MR and MB and sechon MS (110°54’E, 21°45 ’N). Most of the lithological units are of Tertiary age. The cores include the Laohuling, Shangcun,Huangniuling and Youganwo formations . The MR core (874m in length) has recorded the polarity history from Normal Zone 18 to Normal Zone 11 on the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS).The strata were formed from about 42Ma to 32Ma, that is from Late Eocene to Early Oligocene.A mean sedimentation rate of this stratigraphic column is 8.1 cm/ka.
文摘Introduction: Data on mortality in acute kidney injury (AKI) derives from high-income countries where AKI is hospital-acquired and occurs in elderly patients with a high burden of cardiovascular disease. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), AKI is community-acquired occurring in healthy young adults. We aimed to identify predictors of fatal outcomes in patients with AKI in two tertiary hospitals in Cameroon. Methods: Medical records of adults with confirmed AKI, from January 2018 to March 2020 were retrieved. The outcomes of interest were in-hospital deaths and presumed causes of death. We used multiple logistic regressions modeling to identify predictors of death. The study was approved by the ethics boards of both hospitals. Values were considered significant for a p-value of 0.05. Results: We included 285 patient records (37.2% females). The mean (SD) age was 50.1 (19.0) years. Hypertension (n = 97, 34.0%), organ failure (n = 88, 30.9%), and diabetes (n = 60, 21.1%) were the main comorbidities. The majority of patients had community-acquired AKI (78.6%, n = 224), were KDIGO stage 3 (88.8%, n = 253), and needed dialysis (52.6%, n = 150). Up to 16.7% (n = 25) did not receive what was needed. The in-hospital mortality rate was 29.1% (n = 83). Lack of access to dialysis (OR = 27.8;CI: 5.2 - 149.3, p = 0.001), hypotension (OR = 11.8;CI: 1.3 - 24.8;p = 0.001) and ICU admission (OR = 5.7;CI: 1.3 - 24.8, p = 0.001) were predictors of mortality. The presence of co-morbidities or underlying diseases (n = 46, 55%) were the main causes of death. Conclusions: In-hospital AKI mortality is high, as in other low- and middle-income economies. Lack of access to dialysis and the severity of the underlying illness are major predictors of death.
文摘Context: COVID-19 can spread rapidly in haemodialysis centres, leading to fatal outcomes. Implementing physical measures is crucial in limiting the spread of infection. Aims: To assess adherence to physical measures against SARS-Cov2 in haemodialysis patients. Methods and Material: From 13 to 19 July 2021, we administered the questionnaire to haemodialysis patients during or immediately after the dialysis session. The dependent variables were adherence to wearing masks, hand washing outside the dialysis centre, social distancing of at least 1.5 meters, and cough and sneeze hygiene. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using Epi info software;descriptive statistics were presented as mean, headcount, and percentage;related factors were determined by multi-logistic regression. The significance level was 5%. The Health Research Ethics Committee approved the research protocol. Results: 142 patients were included (mean age: 42.5 ± 14 years). Wearing masks, hand-washing, social distancing, and coughing and sneezing hygiene were observed by 88%, 75%, 47%, and 60% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: Wearing masks was the most respected physical measure, while social distancing was the least respected.
文摘Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of two interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) (QuantiFERON-TB Plus (QFT-plus) and T-SPOT.TB assay) for patients suspected of having tuberculosis (TB) infection as supportive methods for diagnosing TB. Patients and Methods: The subjects consisted of 45 patients who required clinical differentiation of TB disease from June 2019 to August 2023. The final clinical diagnoses were: 14 patients with active TB disease, 4 with latent TB infection (LTBI), 17 with old (cured) TB disease, and 10 with pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease. We used the two IGRAs for these patients and evaluated the data according to the manufacturer’s guidelines for interpretation or FDA-approved cutoffs. Results: Among the total of 14 patients with active TB disease (mean age: 64 years old, male: 9, and female: 5), a positive response was noted in 10 patients (71%) on QFT-plus and 9 (64%) on T-SPOT.TB. Four patients with a negative response on QFT-plus and T-SPOT.TB were elderly or cancer patients with lymphocytopenia or hypoalbuminemia. All four patients with LTBI showed a positive response (100%) on both QFT-plus and T-SPOT.TB. Among the seventeen patients with old (cured) TB disease, a positive response was noted in 8 patients (47%) on QFT-plus and 9 (53%) on T-SPOT.TB. All patients with pulmonary NTM disease showed a negative response on both QFT-plus and T-SPOT.TB. Conclusions: A false-negative response on QFT-plus as well as T-SPOT.TB was recognized in elderly patients and patients with an immunosuppressed condition, and half of patients with old (cured) TB showed no negative conversion after the completion of treatment through this study. Although it was recently reported that the positive response rate on QFT-plus of patients with active TB disease was high, we consider it necessary to be careful in diagnosing TB infection using IGRAs for patients with severe underlying diseases in a tertiary hospital based on the results.
文摘The value of system assimilation is to improve working relationships between tutors and learners while increasing workflow efficiency among tertiary institutions with low operational costs. E-skills could be described as electronic education development, to assist ICT professionals to reach their future career goals and aim to help users boost their ICT skills. In a society that is expanding, it is also a crucial issue to take into account. Researchers have turned their attention to this topic because of its significance and contribution to the empowerment of graduates in digital education. Many scholars have proposed many methods for integrating e-skills into society with impressive results, but the rising rate of graduate unemployment in South Africa is gradually becoming a big worry in our society. A model based on Activity Theory (AT) and e-skills will be developed in our tertiary institution to equip graduates with skills that will increase their employability and provide more individualized work opportunities as part of this study’s effort to solve this issue. With the use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Cronbach’s Alpha for validity and reliability testing, the study will create an experimental performance to assess the approach taken to measure e-skills in tertiary institutions to empower graduates in South Africa. The study established that system development and e-skilled models for tertiary institutions are growing gradually, especially in South African institutions, that empower graduates with profitable employability with experiences to improve work operation in the industries. In conclusion, system development and e-skills are very demanding but important to empower graduate employability to determine competency in the professional workforce.
文摘Eleven tertiarv alkaloids were isolated from Corvdalis decumbens rhizome Their structures were identified as protopine(Ⅶ),allocryptopine(Ⅷ),cryptopine (Ⅸ),muramine(ⅩⅦ);(+)-tetrahydropalmatine(Ⅲ),(+)-kikemanine (Ⅳ),(一)-scoulerine (ⅩⅧ),(十)-bulbo- capnine (ⅩⅨ),and(一)一capnoidine(Ⅰ),(一)一bicuculline(Ⅴ),(+) coriumidine(ⅩⅣ), respecti vely。 Among these,cryptopine,muramine,(+)-kikemanine,(-)-scoulerine,(一)capnoidine,(一)一bicuculline were isolated for the first time from this plant
文摘In the new scientific and technological revolution round,artificial intelligence(AI)technology has become a key leading force for industrial change.Research shows that AI not only promoted technical transformation and industry upgrades but also played a significant role in the rapid development of emerging industries.Based on the installed number of industrial robots and the industrial data by the National Bureau of Statistics,this study establishes a theoretical framework with the econometric model and compares the impact of AI on different categories of industries through empirical analysis.Our results show that AI not only promotes economic growth but also plays a key role in promoting the tertiary industry.Hence,optimization of industrial structure and economic upgrade can be induced.
基金This work was co-supported by the CAS "Hundred Talents Project" (Grant No. Renjiaozi [2000J 005) and the National Key Project for Basic Research on Tibet Plateau (Grant No. G1998040809).
文摘The Late Tertiary red clay/bed sediments underlying the Quaternary loess-paleosol in the Chinese Loess Plateau possesses high-resolution paleoclimatic changes related to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Magnetostratigra-phy and susceptibility measurements are discussed in this paper. The paleomagnetic results show that the red clay/bed began to accumulate at about 8.1 Ma, which represents the oldest Late Tertiary deposit continuously in the central Loess Plateau. The magnetic susceptibility curves show stepwise increases since the initiation of red clay, superimposed on several peaks. Moreover, the magnetic susceptibility increased abruptly since 3.8 Ma, which probably indicates the inception of the modern East Asia monsoon system. Between 3.8 and 2.6 Ma, the stepwise increases of susceptibility may imply progressively intensified East Asia summer monsoon activity related with the stepwise uplift process of the Tibetan Plateau.
基金supported by Foundation of Geological Survey of China(no.1212011121261)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no.40902049)+1 种基金the Special Fund for Basic Scienctific Research of Central Colleges, China University of Geoscience (Wuhan) (no.CUGL09206)the State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences(no.GBL11207)
文摘The timing of onset of deposition of the Lulehe Formation is a significant factor in understanding the genesis of the Qaidam basin and the evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we describe a detailed magnetostratigraphic and magnetic fabric study of the middle and lower parts of the Lulehe Formation. A total of 234 samples were collected from 117 sites throughout a thickness of almost 460 m of fluvial and lacustrine deposits at the Xitieshan section in the northeastern Qaidam basin. Out of these sites, 94 sites yielded well-defined characteristic remanent magnetization components by stepwise thermal demagnetization and were used to establish the magnetostratigraphy of the studied section. Based on correlation with the geomagnetic polarity timescale, the studied section spans the period from 53.8 Ma to 50.7 Ma. Our results show a three-fold decrease in sedimentation rates as well as marked change in facies from braided river to delta and shore-shallow lake around 52.6 Ma, which suggests tectonic uplift of the northeastern Qaidam basin margin ridge was rapid at the onset of formation of the Qaidam basin and subsequently weakened after 52.6 Ma. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility results indicate that tectonic compression stress had reached the northeastern Tibetan Plateau by the early stages of Indo-Eurasian plate collision and that the direction of stress in the study area was NE-SW. Furthermore, a weakening of tectonic compression stress around 52.6 Ma is consistent with sedimentary records. The age of initial deposition of the Qaidam basin (around 53.8 Ma) was almost synchronous with that of the Qiangtang, Hoh Xil, Xining, and Lanzhou basins, which implies that stress was transferred rapidly through the Tibetan Plateau during or immediately after the onset of Indo-Eurasian collision.
基金co-supported by the Geological Survey Project of China(Grant No. 1212331413023)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No. U1407207)
文摘The Qarhan Salt Lake area is the Quaternary depocenter of the Qaidam Basin, and carries thick lacustrine sediments, as well as rich potassium and magnesium salt deposits. The abundant resources and thick sediments in this lake provide an ideal place for the study of biogas formation and preservation, salt lake evolution, and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we attempt to construct a paleomagnetic and ^(230)Th age model and to obtain information on tectonic activity and salt lake evolution through detailed studies on a 1300-m-long drill core(15DZK01) from the northwestern margin of the Qarhan Salt Lake area(Dongling Lake). Based on gypsum ^(230)Th dating, the age of the uppermost clastic deposit was calculated to be around 0.052 Ma. The polarity sequence consist of 13 pairs of normal and reversed zones,which can be correlated with subchrons C2r.1r-C1n of the geomagnetic polarity timescale(GPTS 2012)(from ~2.070 Ma to ~0.052 Ma). Sedimentary characteristics indicate that Dongling Lake witnessed freshwater environment between ~ 2.070 Ma and 1.546 Ma. During this period, the sedimentary record reflects primarily lakeshore, shallow-water and swamp environments, representing favourable conditions for the formation of hydrocarbon source rocks. Between 1.546 Ma and ~ 0.052 Ma, the Dongling Lake was in sulphate deposition stage, which contrasts with the central Qarhan Salt Lake area, where this stage did not occur in the meantime. During this stage, Dongling Lake was in a shallow saltwater lake environment, but several periods of reduced salinity occurred during this stage. During the late Pleistocene at ~0.052 Ma, the Dongling Lake experienced uplift due to tectonic activity, and saltwater migrated through the Sanhu Fault to the central Qarhan Salt Lake area, resulting in the absence of halite deposition stage. The residual saline water was concentrated into magnesium-rich brine due to the lack of freshwater, and few potassium salt deposits occur in the Dongling Lake area.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41072260 and 40402026)
文摘Loess deposits with varying thickness are widely distributed on the intermontane valleys and piedmont zones on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions. However, the basal ages and material resources of the loess deposits are not clear. The paper studied the Qingzhou loess profile in Shandong with magnetostratigraphic and optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) methods and further investigated its main provenances with the mineralogical methods. The magnetostratigraphic results showed that the Brunhes/Matuyama (B/M) reversal boundary was not recognized, suggesting a basal age younger than 0.78 Ma. Extrapolations by sedimentation rates, based on the upper part depositional rate from the OSL age, the basal age of the Qingzhou loess is about 0.5 Ma. Until now, older loess deposits have not been reported on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions. The results of the paper indicate that the loess deposits in this area might have strated from the Middle Pleistocene. The basal age of Qingzhou loess is approximately synchronous with the Xiashu loess in the middle-lower reaches of Yangtze River. Major components of clay minerals in the Qingzhou profile are dominated by illite. Other clay mineral compositions are mainly smectite, chlorite and kaolinite, which are similar with the Xifeng loess in the Loess Plateau. However, the contents of smectite and the ratios of illite and kaolinte in the Qingzhou loess samples are higher than those in the Xifeng loess samples of the Loess Plateau, indicating that the loess in the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions has different sources from that of the loess deposits in the Loess Plateau. The clay mineral analysis further reinforces the earlier conclu- sion that the marine strata exposed in the Laizhou Bay and the fluvial plain of the lower reaches of Yellow River during the glacier periods are the main material sources for the Qingzhou loess deposits, which is an indicator to the local aridification of the lower reaches of the Yellow River. Loess deposition in the central Shandong mountainous regions started at around 0.5 Ma. The age of Qingzhou loess is approximately synchronous with the ongoing high-latitude cold since the Middle Pleistocene, which indicates that strengthened East Asian winter monsoon was sufficiently energetic to bring substantial quantities of material from the marine strata exposed in the Laizhou Bay and the fluvial plain of the lower reaches of the Yellow River to the central Shandong mountainous regions. The results therefore suggest that both regional geological process and global changes were responsible for the formation of Qingzhou loess since Middle Pleistocene.
基金Project (2005CB623701) supported by the National Basic Research Program of China Project (201011031) supported by National Department Public Benefit Research Foundation from Ministry of Land and Resources of China+1 种基金 Project (2935) supported by the Foundation for the Author of Zhengzhou Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources CAGS, China Project (1212011120304) supported by the Geological Surrey Program
文摘The collecting power of tertiary amines(DRN,DEN and DPN) on kaolinite follows the order of DENDPNDRN.After reacting with DRN,DEN and DPN,the surface potentials of kaolinite increase remarkably,and the recruitments caused by collectors also follow the order of DENDPNDRN.The results of dynamics simulation show that the geometries of substituent groups bonding to N are deflected and twisted,and some of bond angles are changed when tertiary amines cations adsorb on kaolinite(001) surface.Based on the results of dynamics simulations and quantum chemistry calculations,the electrostatic forces between three tertiary amines cations and 4×4×3(001) plane of kaolinite are 1.38×10?7 N(DRN12H+),1.44×10-6 N(DEN12H+),1.383×10-6 N(DPN12H+),respectively.
文摘The Hoh Xil basin, with an area of 101000km\+2 and an average elevation of over 5000m, is a largest Tertiary sedimentary basin in the hinterland of the Tibetan plateau. It is situated in the western part of the Baya Har terrain (BT) and the northern part of the Qiangtang terrain (QT), and covers the Jinsha River Suture Zone (JRSZ), one of the five continental suture zones on the Tibetan plateau. Strong deformation and crustal shortening of about 40% at the Fenghuoshan area (Coward,et al.1990) or 42.8% at the Wudaoliang—Fenghuoshan area (Wang,et al.1999) happened at the northern Tibet before the Neogene. Therefore, sediments deposited the Hoh Xil basin may contain significant information of crustal shortening and early uplift of the Tibetan plateau. However, anterior researchers met a same painful problem to date the sedimentary sequences in the basin. By using a few fossils, they assessed doubt ages for main strata in the Hoh Xil basin, as the Paleogene / Eocene (Yi,et al.1990) or the Cretaceous (BGMRQ 1991; Zhang & Zheng 1994), since other datable materials like volcanic rocks are absent. Therefore, the precise stratigraphic dating becomes a precondition of more scientific research in the northern Tibet.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.lzujbky-2017-k27)contributed to IGCP 652.
文摘The study of magnetostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy in the last two decades has provided a great deal of opportunities to improve the geologic time scale.The Cenozoic and Mesozoic geologic timescale have been well calibrated(Gradstein et al..2012;Ogg et al,2012;Cohen et al.,2018).However,for the Paleozoic era the uncertainty over boundary ages are still very large.
基金supported by the National Department Public Benefit Research Foundation of China(grant No.201211077)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.40802033)
文摘The eolian deposits distributed in the river valleys in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are very useful in neotectonic and paleoclimatic studies. Firstly, the climate in the eastern margin of the TP is mainly controlled by the Indian summer monsoon, and detailed studies on the loess-paleosol sequences in this region can provide valuable terrestrial evidence of past changes in the Indian summer monsoon. Secondly, the river terraces in the eastern margin of the TP are considered to be a sensitive recorder of neotectonism to reflect the timing and amplitude of the TP uplift.
文摘Since the coexistence of the Cretaceous and Palaeocene was ascertained in the Hengyang Basin of Hunan in the middle of the 1960's, the Cretaceous and Tertiary boundary has been discussed in several papers, but it still remains controversal. The points at issue are the connotation, stratigraphical position and lateral correlation of the Dongtang (or Chejiang) Formation.
文摘Dear Editor:Biomedical waste is any waste generated during the diagnosis,treatment or immunization of human beings or animals,in research activities pertaining to or in the production of or testing of biologicals,and all other categories waste generated by healthcare activities.It includes a broad range of materials from used needles and syringes,soiled dressings,body parts,diagnostic samples,blood,chemicals,pharmaceuticals,
文摘Background: Cancers have been a major public health problem in developing countries in recent years. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological profile of digestive cancers in secondary and tertiary health care facilities in Cameroon. Methodology: This was a cross sectional and descriptive study conducted over a period of 12 months in 14 health structures over the national territory. Included in our study were patients aged 15 and above with a histologically proven digestive cancer, patients with a clinical, biological and morphologic evidence of a digestive cancer. Socio-demographic (age, gender, region of origin, profession), clinical (symptoms on diagnosis, personal and family past history, consumption habits, tumour location) and paraclinical data were recorded on a pretested questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Quantitative data was expressed as means with their corresponding standard deviations. Chi square was used for correlation between variables. A P value 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Five hundred and eighty-two cases of digestive cancers were recorded out of 37,780 consultations/admissions during the study period giving a prevalence of 1.5% with a male predominance (58.1%). The mean age was 53.11 ± 17.26 years (15 - 99) with 33.8% of them below 45 years of age. Tumours were predominantly localized in the liver (43.5%) and colon (24.9%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type in 44.5% of all cases. Alcohol consumption was found to be associated with colorectal cancer (p = 0.028) while tobacco consumption was found to be significantly associated with oesophageal cancer (p ≤ 0.001) and gastric cancer (p = 0.0047). Conclusion: A third of patients with digestive cancers were aged less than 45 years suggesting an early onset of these cancers in our setting. Relatively low prevalence with the liver being the most common site of localisation in our setting.
文摘The palaeoposition of India after its breakup from Gondwana and its subsequent northward journey during the Mesozoic poses many tectonic riddles. A magnetostratigraphy pattern has been constructed for the Ammonoid rich Middle Jurassic Bathonian succession of Jumara Dome, Kachchh, western India. We present the first magnetostratigraphic results from the Ammonoid bearing exposed Bathonian sediments in Kachchh. The Jumara Dome comprised of mixed carbonate-siliciclastic succession is represented by the Jhurio and Patcham formations and siliciclastic-dominating Chari Formation in the Kachchh Mainland. The Jumara Dome sediments were deposited during sea-level fluctuating, and were interrupted by storms in the shallow marine environment. This study is based on collection of 60 oriented samples from 13 successive levels. Both thermal and AF demagnetization investigations were carried out to isolate the Characteristic Remanent Magnetization (ChRM) directions. Palaeolatitudes were computed using the ChRM directions. Magnetostratigraphic column is prepared and correlated with Geological Time Scale (GTS) of [1] [2], and this column readily matched with GTS at M41 to below and exhibits the dominance of normal polarity in Jumara.
文摘Effective teaching has always been a goal pursued by teachers as a part of education both from the western and eastern society,for it to some extend is considered an effective way to improve society.In this essay,both Chinese and western conceptions of teaching and learning will be discussed.In doing so,their differences and similarities can be seen clearly,which will help the cross-cultural educators to understand their teaching environment and learning styles.