Evaluation of retinal and choroidal thickness changes in overweight and obese adults without ocular symptoms by swept-source optical coherence tomography

AIM:To evaluate the relationship of overweight and obesity with retinal and choroidal thickness in adults without ocular symptoms by swept-source optical coherence tomography(SS-OCT).METHODS:According to the body mass index(BMI)results,the adults enrolled in the cross-sectional study were divided into the normal group(18.50≤BMI<25.00 kg/m^(2)),the overweight group(25.00≤BMI<30.00 kg/m^(2)),and the obesity group(BMI≥30.00 kg/m^(2)).The one-way ANOVA and the Chi-square test were used for comparisons.Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between the measured variables.RESULTS:This research covered the left eyes of 3 groups of 434 age-and sex-matched subjects each:normal,overweight,and obesity.The mean BMI was 22.20±1.67,26.82±1.38,and 32.21±2.35 kg/m^(2) in normal,overweight and obesity groups,respectively.The choroid was significantly thinner in both the overweight and obesity groups compared to the normal group(P<0.05 for all),while the retinal thickness of the three groups did not differ significantly.Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that BMI was significantly negatively correlated with choroidal thickness,but no significant correlation was observed between BMI and retinal thickness.CONCLUSION:Choroidal thickness is decreased in people with overweight or obesity.Research on changes in choroidal thickness contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of certain ocular disorders in overweight and obese adults.

Triceps skinfold thickness trajectories and the risk of all-cause mortality:A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND The measurement of triceps skinfold(TSF)thickness serves as a noninvasive metric for evaluating subcutaneous fat distribution.Despite its clinical utility,the TSF thickness trajectories and their correlation with overall mortality have not been thoroughly investigated.AIM To explore TSF thickness trajectories of Chinese adults and to examine their associations with all-cause mortality.METHODS This study encompassed a cohort of 14747 adults sourced from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.Latent class trajectory modeling was employed to identify distinct trajectories of TSF thickness.Subjects were classified into subgroups reflective of their respective TSF thickness trajectory.We utilized multivariate Cox regression analyses and mediation examinations to explore the link between TSF thickness trajectory and overall mortality,including contributory factors.RESULTS Upon adjustment for multiple confounding factors,we discerned that males in the‘Class 2:Thin-stable’and‘Class 3:Thin-moderate’TSF thickness trajectories exhibited a markedly reduced risk of mortality from all causes in comparison to the‘Class 1:Extremely thin’subgroup.In the mediation analyses,the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index was found to be a partial intermediary in the relationship between TSF thickness trajectories and mortality.For females,a lower TSF thickness pattern was significantly predictive of elevated all-cause mortality risk exclusively within the non-elderly cohort.CONCLUSION In males and non-elderly females,lower TSF thickness trajectories are significantly predictive of heightened mortality risk,independent of single-point TSF thickness,body mass index,and waist circumference.

Electron G-Factor Anomaly and the Charge Thickness

The electron g-factor relates the magnetic moment to the spin angular momentum. It was originally theoretically calculated to have a value of exactly 2. Experiments yielded a value of 2 plus a very small fraction, referred to as the g-factor anomaly. This anomaly has been calculated theoretically as a power series of the fine structure constant. This document shows that the anomaly is the result of the electron charge thickness. If the thickness were to be zero, g = 2 exactly, and there would be no anomaly. As the thickness increases, the anomaly increases. An equation relating the g-factor and the surface charge thickness is presented. The thickness is calculated to be 0.23% of the electron radius. The cause of the anomaly is very clear, but why is the charge thickness greater than zero? Using the model of the interior structure of the electron previously proposed by the author, it is shown that the non-zero thickness, and thus the g-factor anomaly, are due to the proposed positive charge at the electron center and compressibility of the electron material. The author’s previous publication proposes a theory for splitting the electron into three equal charges when subjected to a strong external magnetic field. That theory is revised in this document, and the result is an error reduced to 0.4% in the polar angle where the splits occur and a reduced magnetic field required to cause the splits.

Variation of efficiency droop with quantum well thickness in In GaN/GaN green light-emitting diode

In GaN/GaN multiple quantum well（MQW） green light-emitting diodes（LEDs） with varying In GaN quantum well layer thickness are fabricated and characterized. The investigation of luminescence efficiency versus injection current reveals that several physical mechanisms may jointly influence the efficiency droop, resulting in a non-monotonic variation of droop behavior with increasing quantum well（QW） thickness. When the QW is very thin, the increase of In GaN well layer thickness makes the efficiency droop more serious due to the enhancement of polarization effect. When the QW thickness increases further, however, the droop is alleviated significantly, which is mainly ascribed to the enhanced nonradiative recombination process and the weak delocalization effect.

Effect of Non-Convective Zone Thickness on Thermal Efficiency of Salt Gradient Solar Ponds

An improved radiation transmission and thermal efficiency model for solar ponds has been proposed based on both the Hull Model and Wang/Seyed-Yagoobi Model in this paper.The new model is more accurate to actual measured conditions because multiple reflections and turbidity effects are included.Absorption penetration,thermal conductivity loss and thermal efficiency under different Non-Convective Zone thicknesses are numerically analyzed and thoroughly discussed.The results show thatΔT/I0 plays a critical role for the thermal efficiency of solar pond.Furthermore,it is found through calculation that there is an optimum thickness of the Non-Convective Zone.When the Non-Convective Zone thickness is less than this critical threshold,both temperature and thermal efficiency are decreased with increasing turbidity.However,when the Non-Convective Zone thickness is greater than this critical threshold,the increasing turbidity within a certain range will be beneficial to improve the thermal efficiency of solar pond.In addition,optimum Non-Convective Zone thickness is also related to the temperature,turbidity,salinity variation and bottom reflectivity.

Determination of aerosol extinction coefficient and mass extinction efficiency by DOAS with a flashlight source

With the method of differential optical absorption spectroscopy （DOAS）, average concentrations of aerosol particles along light path were measured with a flashlight source in Chiba area during the period of one month. The optical thickness at 550 nm is compared with the concentration of ground-measured suspended particulate matter （SPM）. Good correlations are found between the DOAS and SPM data, leading to the determination of the aerosol mass extinction efficiency （MEE） to be possible in the lower troposphere. The average MEE value is about 7.6m^2.g^-1 , and the parameter exhibits a good correlation with the particle size as determined from the wavelength dependence of the DOAS signal intensity.

Configurational information entropy analysis of fragment mass cross distributions to determine the neutron skin thickness of projectile nuclei

Configurational information entropy(CIE)analysis has been shown to be applicable for determining the neutron skin thickness(δnp)of neutron-rich nuclei from fragment production in projectile fragmentation reactions.The BNN+FRACS machine learning model was adopted to predict the fragment mass cross-sections(σ_(A))of the projectile fragmentation reactions induced by calcium isotopes from ^(36)Ca to ^(56)Ca on a ^(9)Be target at 140MeV/u.The fast Fourier transform was adopted to decompose the possible information compositions inσA distributions and determine the quantity of CIE(S_(A)[f]).It was found that the range of fragments significantly influences the quantity of S_(A)[f],which results in different trends of S_(A)[f]~δnp correlation.The linear S_(A)[f]~δnp correlation in a previous study[Nucl.Sci.Tech.33,6(2022)]could be reproduced using fragments with relatively large mass fragments,which verifies that S_(A)[f]determined from fragmentσAis sensitive to the neutron skin thickness of neutron-rich isotopes.

Mass thickness measurements for dual-component samples utilizing equivalent energy of X-rays

In this paper,equivalent energy method is introduced for measuring mass thickness of dual-component samples using dual-energy X-rays.Approximately,the method adopts equivalent mass attenuation coefficients of the two components in mass thickness measurements for dual-component samples,in a certain range of thicknesses.Feasibility of the method is proven by numerical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations(EGSnrc package).The results of absorption experiments using an X-ray machine at tube voltages of 30 and 45 kV,the relative errors are less than 5%between the nominal and detected values.Also,optical low energy is discussed at given high voltages.

Discrimination of Structural Isomers of Aromatic Compounds with EI Mass Spectra and Their Ionization Efficiency Curves of Dehydrogenated Fragment Ions

The mechanism of ionization and fragmentation for terphenyl (diphenylbenzene) with three structural ring isomers (ortho-, meta- and para-), and stilbene (1,2-diphenylethylene) with two geometrical isomers (trans- and cis-) by EI mass spectrometry and ionization efficiency curves are investigation.

Observed and modelled snow and ice thickness in the Arctic Ocean with CHINARE buoy data

Sea ice and the snow pack on top of it were investigated using Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition （CHINARE） buoy data. Two polar hydrometeorological drifters, known as Zeno ice stations, were deployed during CHINARE 2003. A new type of high-resolution Snow and Ice Mass Balance Arrays, known as SIMBA buoys, were deployed during CHINARE 2014. Data from those buoys were applied to investigate the thickness of sea ice and snow in the CHINARE domain. A simple approach was applied to estimate the average snow thickness on the basis of Zeno temperature data. Snow and ice thicknesses were also derived from vertical temperature profile data based on the SIMBA buoys. A one-dimensional snow and ice thermodynamic model （HIGHTSI） was applied to calculate the snow and ice thickness along the buoy drift trajectories. The model forcing was based on forecasts and analyses of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts （ECMWF）. The Zeno buoys drifted in a confined area during 2003-2004. The snow thickness modelled applying HIGHTSI was consistent with results based on Zeno buoy data. The SIMBA buoys drifted from 81. 1°N, 157.4°W to 73.5°N, 134.9°W in 15 months during 2014-2015. The total ice thickness increased from an initial August 2014 value of 1.97 m to a maximum value of 2.45 in before the onset of snow melt in May 2015; the last observation was approximately 1 m in late November 2015. The ice thickness based on HIGHTSI agreed with SIMBA measurements, in particular when the seasonal variation of oceanic heat flux was taken into account, but the modelled snow thickness differed from the observed one. Sea ice thickness derived from SIMBA data was reasonably good in cold conditions, but challenges remain in both snow and ice thickness in summer.

A safe,low-cost and high-efficiency presodiation strategy for pouch-type sodium-ion capacitors with high energy density

Sodium-ion capacitors(SICs)have attracted appreciable attention in virtue of the higher energy and power densities compared with their rivals,supercapacitors and sodium-ion batteries.Due to the lack of sodium resources in cathode,presodiation is critical for SICs to further augment performances.However,current presodiation strategy utilizes metallic sodium as the presodiation material.In this strategy,assembling/disassembling of half-cells is required,which is dangerous and in creases the time and cost of SIC leading to the restriction of their industrialization and commercialization.Herein we present a safe,low-cost and high-efficiency presodiation strategy by first employing Na_(2)C_(2)O_(4) as the sacrificial salt applied in SICs.Na_(2)C_(2)O_(4) is environmentally friendly and possesses considerably low expenditure.No additional residues remain after sodium extraction ascribed to its"zero dead mass"property.When paired with commercial activated carb on as the cathode and commercial hard carbon as the ano de,the constructed pouch-type SICs exhibit high energy and power densities of 91.7 Wh/kg and 13.1 kW/kg,respectively.This work shows a prospect of realizing the safe and low-cost manufacturing for high-performance SICs commercially.

Mass transfer coefficient in the eductor liquid-liquid extraction column

In this research gasoil desalting was investigated from mass transfer point of view in an eductor liquid–liquid extraction column(eductor-LLE device).Mass transfer characteristics of the eductor-LLE device were evaluated and an empirical correlation was obtained by dimensional analysis of the dispersed phase Sherwood number.The Results showed that the overall mass transfer coefficient of the dispersed phase and extraction efficiency have been increased by increasing Sauter mean diameter(SMD)and decreasing the nozzle diameter from 2 to 1 mm,respectively.The effects of Reynolds number(R_(e)),projection ratio(ratio of the distance between venturi throat and nozzle tip to venturi throat diameter,Rpr),venturi throat area to nozzle area ratio(R_(th-n))and two phases flow rates ratio(R_(Q))on the mass transfer coefficient(K)were determined.According to the results,K increase with increasing Re and RQ and also with decreasing Rpr and R_(th-n).Semi-empirical models of drop formation,rising and coalescence were compared with our proposed empirical model.It was revealed that the present model provided a relatively good fitting for the mass transfer model of drop coalescence.Moreover,experimental data were in better agreement with calculated data with AARE value of 0.085.

The optimal thickness of a transmission-mode GaN photocathode

A 150-nm-thick CaN photocathode with a Mg doping concentration of 1.6 × 1017 cm-3 is activated by Cs/O in an ultrahigh vacuum chamber, and a quantum efficiency （QE） curve of the negative electron affinity transmission-mode （t-mode） of the GaN photocathode is obtained. The maximum QE reaches 13.0% at 290 nm. According to the t-mode QE equation solved from the diffusion equation, the QE curve is fitted. From the fitting results, the electron escape probability is 0.32, the back-interface recombination velocity is 5 ×104 cm. s^-1, and the electron diffusion length is 116 nm. Based on these parameters, the influence of CaN thickness on t-mode QE is simulated. The simulation shows that the optimal thickness of GaN is 90 nm, which is better than the 150-nm GaN.

Influence of Polyalkylmethacrylate VII on Boundary Film Formation,Friction,Wear and Efficiency of Lubricants

Polyalkylmethacrylates(PAMAs) are well-known as viscosity index improvers and dispersant boosters.This paper shows that PAMAs are able to adsorb from oil solution on to metal surfaces,to produce thick,viscous boundary films.These films enhance lubricant film formation in slow speed and high temperature conditions and thus produce a significant reduction of friction.A systematic study of this phenomenon has made use of the highly flexible nature of PAMA chemistry.A range of dispersant and non-dispersant polymethacrylates has been synthesized.The influence of different functionalities,molecular weights and architectures on both boundary film formation and friction has been explored using optical interferometry and friction-speed charting.From the results, guidelines have been developed for designing PAMAs having optimal boundary lubricating properties.Through their ability to form boundary films PAMAs can significantly contribute to reduce wear in engine,gear and hydraulic lubrication.As a consequence of their viscometric and tribological performance PAMAs can furthermore improve fuel and energy efficiency in different,namely engine and hydraulic applications.Extensive work is currently conducted in the lubricant industry to develop engine oils with lower sulfur,phosphorus and metal content(low SAPS) and to optimize their frictional properties through the use of friction modifiers or synthetic base stocks.We have investigated the contribution of PAMA viscosity index improvers and boosters to improve fuel economy and to reduce wear levels.This paper reports our efforts to develop a new range of PAMAs that have been optimized in terms of composition,architecture,molecular weight and functionality and which can be used in low viscosity,low SAPS formulations to help meet the stringent requirements of modern engine oils.

Effect of Structural Parameters on the Performance of NS High-efficiency Composite TraysⅠ.The Effect of Aperture and Opening Ratio on NS High-efficiency Composite Trays

In this paper,the structure and characteristics of the NS high-efficiency composite trays based on the doublelayer aperture jet sieve plate and compositely structured packing were investigated.The effect of aperture and opening ratio of plate on the fluid dynamics of the NS high-efficiency composite trays,such as the dry tray pressure drop,the wet tray pressure drop,the entrainment,the froth height,the leakage and mass transfer characteristics,were investigated.As a result, the low pressure drop,the high efficiency and the high capacity are the main advantages of the NS high-efficiency composite trays compared to other types of trays.According to this study,small aperture is useful for reducing the pressure drop and entrainment with a high mass transfer efficiency;while large aperture can achieve high capacity and efficiency in a broader operating range at the same pressure drop and entrainment.

Impacts of laser pulse width and target thickness on laser micro-propulsion performance

In order to optimize the laser ablation performance of a micro-thruster with 1U dimensions,which employs a micro semiconductor laser,the impacts of pulse width and glycidyl azide polymer(GAP)thickness on thrust performance were researched.The results showed that with a GAP thickness of 200μm,the single-pulse impulse(I)increased gradually with the increase in the laser pulse width from 50 to 800μs,while the specific impulse(I_(sp)),impulse coupling coefficient(Cm)and ablation efficiency(η)all reached optimal values with a 200μs pulse width.It is worth noting that the optimal pulse width is identical to the ignition delay time.Both Cmandηpeaked with a pulse width of 200μs,reaching 242.22μN W^(-1)and 35.4%,respectively.With the increase in GAP thickness,I and Cmincreased gradually.GAP of different thicknesses corresponded to different optimal laser pulse widths.Under a certain laser pulse width,the optimal GAP thickness should be the most vertical thickness of the ablation pit,and the various propulsion performance parameters at this time were also optimal.With the current laser parameters,the optimal GAP thickness was approximately 150μm,I_(sp)was approximately 322.22 s,andηwas approximately 34.94%.

The Utility of 1000 - 500 mb Thickness and Weather Type as a Rain-Snow Divide: A 30-Year Study at Albany, NY

Winter synoptic conditions that produce snowfall with bitterly cold temperatures create both social and economic hazards in the capital city of Albany, NY. Sometimes these systems are forecasted in error to produce rain or mixed precipitation. It is beneficial for meteorologists to better understand the commonly used 5400 and 1300 GPM line to better forecast rain versus snow events. Other studies have looked into the use of the 5400 GPM (540 dm) line but none have assessed the validity of this boundary with respect to weather type characterization at Albany. This study aims to determine the reliability of the widely referenced guides for depicting the rain-snow line, and improve forecast aids for the vertical atmosphere during winter precipitation events. The mean daily 500, 850, 925 and 1000 mb heights and weather type frequency of the Spatial Synoptic Classification between November and March of 1980 - 2012 are analyzed. Results indicate that the standard vertical boundaries are inaccurate indicators of a rain versus snow event in Albany. More reasonable rain-snow cut offs for the 1000 - 500 and 1000 - 850 mb thicknesses are 5222 and 1262 GPM. For the 1000 - 925 mb level, 606 GPM is a helpful aid of identifying the rain-snow boundary. Further scrutinizing by weather type indicates that the rain-snow boundary also varies depending on what air mass/weather type is present on a given day. For instance, when the most prominent weather type is observed over Albany (Dry Polar), at the 1000 - 850 mb and 1000 - 500 mb layers, a boundary of 1242 GPM and 5152 GPM is found to be most representative. Results indicate only for the rarest of winter weather types observed over Albany, Moist Tropical, are the standard cut offs useful. Determining the reliability of this precipitation indicator at a specific station, like Albany, could enable meteorologists in other regions of the country to draw parallels between weather type, precipitation, and thickness in their forecast zones.

水平管降膜换热器性能规律研究进展

水平管降膜换热器具有热质传递效率高、阻力小、结构简单等优点,被广泛应用于化工等传统领域及能源利用的节能减排领域。降膜换热器内部发生复杂的流动及传热传质相互耦合过程。介绍了实验及模拟研究手段的进展,综述了不同操作参数(气体温度、流向及流量,溶液流量、温度及浓度,内部媒介流量及温度等)与结构参数(管径、管间距等)对水平管降膜管间流型、液膜厚度与润湿性等流动特性的影响规律,以及对蒸发传热特性、吸收传热传质特性等换热器性能的影响规律,包括整体性能和局部微细特征,为水平管降膜换热器的性能优化提供理论支撑。指出在不同气流特征以及多因素相互作用下多维度的局部流动与传热传质性能的耦合影响规律以及强化换热手段会是水平管降膜换热器未来研究的重点方向。

基于突变理论的隔水岩体失稳分析及安全厚度计算

为了保障岩溶突水隧道施工和运营安全,基于弹性梁模型,应用突变理论建立岩溶突水顶板在动力扰动下失稳的双尖点突变模型;综合考虑围岩性质、静水压力、动力扰动等因素,分析岩溶突水隧道顶板的失稳机制和破坏条件,建立其失稳突变的判别方程,并采用Matlab软件编程,求解顶板的最小安全厚度;同时,为了避免当静水压力过大时,突变理论公式的不合理性,单独计算仅在静水压力的情况下的最小安全厚度,并取两者计算值中的更大值。结果表明:隔水岩体是否保持稳定是由岩体内外因素共同决定的;岩体跨度越长,岩体最小安全厚度越大;岩体弹性模量越大,岩体最小安全厚度越小。在振动频率一定时,爆破荷载越大,岩体最小安全厚度越大;在爆破荷载的大小一定时,爆破振动的频率越大,岩体最小安全厚度越小;静水压力越大,岩体最小安全厚度越大。该岩溶突水隧道顶板安全厚度计算方法具有可行性与较高的准确性。