ASTM provides world-leading digitalized standards services--Interview with Hu Yanan,Operation Manager of the ASTM International China Office

With a 126-year history,ASTM International still exudes strong vitality today.It is one of the most renowned standards organizations in the world,boasting a globally leading standards development system and database.It is open,transparent,fair,diverse,inclusive,and consensus-driven,but these are just some of its characteristics.ASTM always prioritizes the development of standards and the needs of industries and users.

Dual-directional regulation of spinal cord injury and the gut microbiota

There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiota affects the incidence and progression of central nervous system diseases via the brain-gut axis.The spinal cord is a vital important part of the central nervous system;however,the underlying association between spinal cord injury and gut interactions remains unknown.Recent studies suggest that patients with spinal cord injury frequently experience intestinal dysfunction and gut dysbiosis.Alterations in the gut microbiota can cause disruption in the intestinal barrier and trigger neurogenic inflammatory responses which may impede recovery after spinal cord injury.This review summarizes existing clinical and basic research on the relationship between the gut microbiota and spinal cord injury.Our research identified three key points.First,the gut microbiota in patients with spinal cord injury presents a key characteristic and gut dysbiosis may profoundly influence multiple organs and systems in patients with spinal cord injury.Second,following spinal cord injury,weakened intestinal peristalsis,prolonged intestinal transport time,and immune dysfunction of the intestine caused by abnormal autonomic nerve function,as well as frequent antibiotic treatment,may induce gut dysbiosis.Third,the gut microbiota and associated metabolites may act on central neurons and affect recovery after spinal cord injury;cytokines and the Toll-like receptor ligand pathways have been identified as crucial mechanisms in the communication between the gut microbiota and central nervous system.Fecal microbiota transplantation,probiotics,dietary interventions,and other therapies have been shown to serve a neuroprotective role in spinal cord injury by modulating the gut microbiota.Therapies targeting the gut microbiota or associated metabolites are a promising approach to promote functional recovery and improve the complications of spinal cord injury.

Pathologically successful conversion hepatectomy for advanced giant hepatocellular carcinoma after multidisciplinary therapy:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the leading causes of death due to its complexity,heterogeneity,rapid metastasis and easy recurrence after surgical resection.We demonstrated that combination therapy with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE),hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC),Epclusa,Lenvatinib and Sintilimab is useful for patients with advanced HCC.CASE SUMMARY A 69-year-old man who was infected with hepatitis C virus(HCV)30 years previously was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain.Enhanced computed tomography(CT)revealed a low-density mass in the right lobe of the liver,with a volume of 12.9 cm×9.4 cm×15 cm,and the mass exhibited a“fast-in/fast-out”pattern,with extensive filling defect areas in the right branch of the portal vein and an alpha-fetoprotein level as high as 657 ng/mL.Therefore,he was judged to have advanced HCC.During treatment,the patient received three months of Epclusa,three TACE treatments,two HAIC treatments,three courses of sintilimab,and twenty-one months of lenvatinib.In the third month of treatment,the patient developed severe side effects and had to stop immunotherapy,and the Lenvatinib dose had to be halved.Postoperative pathological diagnosis indicated a complete response.The patient recovered well after the operation,and no tumor recurrence was found.CONCLUSION Multidisciplinary conversion therapy for advanced enormous HCC caused by HCV infection has a significant effect.Individualized drug adjustments should be made during any treatment according to the patient's tolerance to treatment.

Rbm8a regulates neurogenesis and reduces Alzheimer's disease-associated pathology in the dentate gyrus of 5×FAD mice

Alzheimer’s disease is a prevalent and debilitating neurodegenerative condition that profoundly affects a patient’s daily functioning with progressive cognitive decline,which can be partly attributed to impaired hippocampal neurogenesis.Neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus is likely to persist throughout life but declines with aging,especially in Alzheimer’s disease.Recent evidence indicated that RNA-binding protein 8A(Rbm8a)promotes the proliferation of neural progenitor cells,with lower expression levels observed in Alzheimer’s disease patients compared with healthy people.This study investigated the hypothesis that Rbm8a overexpression may enhance neurogenesis by promoting the proliferation of neural progenitor cells to improve memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease.Therefore,Rbm8a overexpression was induced in the dentate gyrus of 5×FAD mice to validate this hypothesis.Elevated Rbm8a levels in the dentate gyrus triggered neurogenesis and abated pathological phenotypes(such as plaque formation,gliosis reaction,and dystrophic neurites),leading to ameliorated memory performance in 5×FAD mice.RNA sequencing data further substantiated these findings,showing the enrichment of differentially expressed genes involved in biological processes including neurogenesis,cell proliferation,and amyloid protein formation.In conclusion,overexpressing Rbm8a in the dentate gyrus of 5×FAD mouse brains improved cognitive function by ameliorating amyloid-beta-associated pathological phenotypes and enhancing neurogenesis.

Does ash dieback affect the reproductive ecology of Fraxinus excelsior L.?

Forest tree species reproduction is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity of future generations and the stability of forest ecosystems.The ongoing ash dieback disease could affect the reproductive ecology of Fraxinus excelsior L.and have a major impact on the quantity and quality of pollen and seeds.In this study,we investigated pollen production and viability of pollen and seeds of ash trees with different health status from 2018 to 2022.Inflorescences were collected from 105 trees(pollen production),pollen from 125 trees(pollen viability),and seeds from 53 trees(seed quality)in two seed orchards and in one floodplain forest in southern Germany.Not all parameters were examined at every site every year.The average pollen production per tree was estimated at 471.2±647.9 billion pollen grains.In addition,we found that a high number of inflorescences did not equate to high pollen production per inflorescence.Pollen production of healthy and diseased trees did not differ significantly,although only 47%of severely diseased male trees(vs.72%for healthy trees)produced flowers.With regards to pollen viability,the TTC test showed an average viability of 73%±17%.Overall,there was a slight tendency for diseased trees to have less viable pollen.However,a significant difference could only be calculated for trees in the floodplain forest.The percentage of germinable seeds in 2018 was 38%in the floodplain forest and 57%in one of the seed orchards.The percentage of viable seeds(TTC test)ranged from 17 to 22%in the orchards in 2020.Non-viable seeds were usually heavily infested by insects.In general,seed quality was not significantly different between healthy and diseased trees.Our results indicate that ash dieback affects flower formation and pollen viability but not pollen production or seed quality.Nevertheless,the fact that hardly any flowering was observed,especially for trees that were seriously affected,suggests a negative effect of ash dieback on reproductive performance.Thus,severely diseased trees will transfer their genes to a smaller extent to the next generation.

ESIT 2024: Gathering of Global Minds to Hangzhou for Cutting-Edge Infrared and Terahertz Innovation

The third Earth&Space:from Infrared to Terahertz International Conference(ESIT 2024)successfully took place in Hangzhou,China,from September 20 to 22,2024.Co-hosted by the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics,Chinese'Academy of Sciences(SITP)along with five prestigious institutions,the conference provided a premier platform for international collaboration on cutting-edge developments in infrared,terahertz,and space exploration technologies.

Impact of letters to the editor and publications in 2023

A letter to the editor constitutes a short communication addressing a range of topics pertinent to the readership of a journal(Dkhar,2018).This format offers several benefits,such as timeliness,accessibility,innovation,and conciseness,thereby serving as an effective means to disseminate cuttingedge scientific ideas.Over the past five years,there has been a considerable increase in the number of letters published,representing the highest growth rate(approximately 20%)observed in the last three decades(Figure 1A).In the field of academic publishing,letters to the editor are typically more concise than typical research papers.

Aircraft Observation and Simulation of the Supercooled Liquid Water Layer in a Warm Conveyor Belt over North China

This paper studied a snow event over North China on 21 February 2017,using aircraft in-situ data,a Lagrangian analysis tool,and WRF simulations with different microphysical schemes to investigate the supercooled layer of warm conveyor belts(WCBs).Based on the aircraft data,we found a fine vertical structure within clouds in the WCB and highlighted a 1-2 km thin supercooled liquid water layer with a maximum Liquid Water Content(LWC) exceeding0.5 g kg^(-1) during the vertical aircraft observation.Although the main features of thermodynamic profiles were essentially captured by both modeling schemes,the microphysical quantities exhibited large diversity with different microphysics schemes.The conventional Morrison two-moment scheme showed remarkable agreement with in-situ observations,both in terms of the thermodynamic structure and the supercooled liquid water layer.However,the microphysical structure of the WCB clouds,in terms of LWC and IWC,was not apparent in HUJI fast bin scheme.To reduce such uncertainty,future work may focus on improving the representation of microphysics in bin schemes with in-situ data and using similar assumptions for all schemes to isolate the impact of physics.

Insights into the Microwave Instruments Onboard the Fengyun 3D Satellite:Data Quality and Assimilation in the Met Office NWP System

This paper evaluates the microwave instruments onboard the latest Chinese polar-orbiting satellite, Fengyun 3D (FY- 3D). Comparing three months of observations from the Microwave Temperature Sounder 2 (MWTS-2), the Microwave Humidity Sounder 2 (MWHS-2), and the Microwave Radiation Imager (MWRI) to Met Office short-range forecasts, we characterize the instrumental biases, show how those biases have changed with respect to their predecessors onboard FY- 3C, and how they compare to the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) onboard NOAA-20 and the Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Imager (GMI). The MWTS-2 global bias is much reduced with respect to its predecessor and compares well to ATMS at equivalent channel frequencies, differing only by 0.36 ± 0.28 K (1σ) on average. A suboptimal averaging of raw digital counts is found to cause an increase in striping noise and an ascending- descending bias. MWHS-2 benefits from a new calibration method improving the 183-GHz humidity channels with respect to its predecessor and biases for these channels are within ± 1.9 K to ATMS. MWRI presents the largest improvements, with reduced global bias and standard deviation with respect to FY-3C;although, spurious, seemingly transient, brightness temperatures have been detected in the observations at 36.5 GHz (vertical polarization). The strong solar-dependent bias that affects the instrument on FY-3C has been reduced to less than 0.2 K on average for FY-3D MWRI. Experiments where radiances from these instruments were assimilated on top of a full global system demonstrated a neutral to positive impact on the forecasts, as well as on the fit to the background of independent instruments.

All-sky Data Assimilation of MWTS-2 and MWHS-2 in the Met Office Global NWP System.

Microwave radiances from passive polar-orbiting radiometers have been,until recently,assimilated in the Met Office global numerical weather prediction system after the scenes significantly affected by atmospheric scattering are discarded.Recent system upgrades have seen the introduction of a scattering-permitting observation operator and the development of a variable observation error using both liquid and ice water paths as proxies of scattering-induced bias.Applied to the Fengyun 3 Microwave Temperature Sounder 2(MWTS-2)and the Microwave Humidity Sounder 2(MWHS-2),this methodology increases the data usage by up to 8%at 183 GHz.It also allows for the investigation into the assimilation of MWHS-2118 GHz channels,sensitive to temperature and lower tropospheric humidity,but whose large sensitivity to ice cloud have prevented their use thus far.While the impact on the forecast is mostly neutral with small but significant short-range improvements,0.3%in terms of root mean square error,for southern winds and low-level temperature,balanced by 0.2%degradations of short-range northern and tropical low-level temperature,benefits are observed in the background fit of independent instruments used in the system.The lower tropospheric temperature sounding Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer(IASI)channels see a reduction of the standard deviation in the background departure of up to 1.2%.The Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit A(AMSU-A)stratospheric sounding channels improve by up to 0.5%and the Microwave Humidity Sounder(MHS)humidity sounding channels improve by up to 0.4%.

Assessment and Assimilation of FY-3 Humidity Sounders and Imager in the UK Met Office Global Model

China＇s FengYnn 3 （FY-3） polar orbiting satellites axe set to become an important sonrce of observational data for nu- merical weather prediction （NWP）, atmospheric reanalyses, and climate monitoring studies over the next two decades. As part of the Climate Science for Service Partnership China （CSSP China） prograln, FY-3B Microwave Humidity Sounder 1 （MWHS-1） and FY-3C MWHS-2 observations have been thoroughly assessed and prepared for operational assimilation. This represents the first time observations from China＇s polar orbiting satellites have been used in the UK＇s global NWP model. Since 2016, continuous data quality monitoring has shown occasional bias changes found to be correlated to changes in the energy supply scheme regulating the platform heating system and other transient anomalies. Nonetheless, MWHS-1 and MWHS-2 significantly contribute to the 24-h forecast error reduction by 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively, and the combination of both instruments is shown to improve the fit to the model background of independent sounders by up to 1%. The observations from the Microwave Radiation Imager （MWRI） also are a potentially significant source of benefits for NWP models, but a solar-dependent bias observed in the instrument half-orbits has prevented their assimilation. This paper presents the bases of a correction scheme developed at the Met Office for the purpose of a future assimilation of MWRI data.

A state-of-the-art review on geothermal energy exploration in Morocco: Current status and prospects

In the last few decades, addressing the global challenge of implementation of strategies for renewable energy and energy efficiency has become crucial.Morocco, since 2009, has made a steadfast commitment to sustainability, with a particular focus on advancing the development of renewable energy resources. A comprehensive strategy has been formulated, centering on utilizing the country's energy potential to drive progress in this vital sector. Morocco is considered a country with abundant thermal water, indicating deep reservoirs with significant hydrothermal potential. Geothermal zones were selected based on the abundance of hot springs where water temperatures were high and geothermal gradients were significant. The abundance and importance of hot springs, combined with recent volcanism and ongoing non-tectonic activity linked to alpine orogeny, strongly suggest that these regions are promising reservoirs for geothermal energy. This great potential also extends to neighboring countries. In northeast and south Morocco, the temperature of thermal water ranges from 26 to 54℃. This study serves as an inclusive review of the geothermal potentialities in Morocco.

Mechanical Properties and Thermal Shock Resistance of SrAl_(2)Si_(2)O_(8) Reinforced BN Ceramic Composites

Hexagonal boron nitride(h-BN)ceramics have become exceptional materials for heat-resistant components in hypersonic vehicles,owing to their superior thermal stability and excellent dielectric properties.However,their densification during sintering still poses challenges for researchers,and their mechanical properties are rather unsatisfactory.In this study,SrAl_(2)Si_(2)O_(8)(SAS),with low melting point and high strength,was introduced into the h-BN ceramics to facilitate the sintering and reinforce the strength and toughness.Then,BN-SAS ceramic composites were fabricated via hot press sintering using h-BN,SrCO_(3),Al_(2)O_(3),and SiO_(2) as raw materials,and effects of sintering pressure on their microstructure,mechanical property,and thermal property were investigated.The thermal shock resistance of BN-SAS ceramic composites was evaluated.Results show that phases of as-preparedBN-SAS ceramic composites are h-BN and h-SrAl_(2)Si_(2)O_(8).With the increase of sintering pressure,the composites’densities increase,and the mechanical properties shew a rising trend followed by a slight decline.At a sintering pressure of 20 MPa,their bending strength and fracture toughness are(138±4)MPa and(1.84±0.05)MPa·m^(1/2),respectively.Composites sintered at 10 MPa exhibit a low coefficient of thermal expansion,with an average of 2.96×10^(-6) K^(-1) in the temperature range from 200 to 1200℃.The BN-SAS ceramic composites prepared at 20 MPa display higher thermal conductivity from 12.42 to 28.42 W·m^(-1)·K^(-1) within the temperature range from room temperature to 1000℃.Notably,BN-SAS composites exhibit remarkable thermal shock resistance,with residual bending strength peaking and subsequently declining sharply under a thermal shock temperature difference ranging from 600 to 1400℃.The maximum residual bending strength is recorded at a temperature difference of 800℃,with a residual strength retention rate of 101%.As the thermal shock temperature difference increase,the degree of oxidation on the ceramic surface and cracks due to thermal stress are also increased gradually.

Development of a Decision Aid for Family Surrogate Decision Makers of Critically Ill Patients Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy in ICU:A User-Centered Design for Rapid Prototyping

Objectives Renal replacement therapy(RRT)is increasingly adopted for critically ill patients diagnosed with acute kidney injury,but the optimal time for initiation remains unclear and prognosis is uncertain,leading to medical complexity,ethical conflicts,and decision dilemmas in intensive care unit(ICU)settings.This study aimed to develop a decision aid(DA)for the family surrogate of critically ill patients to support their engagement in shared decision-making process with clinicians.Methods Development of DA employed a systematic process with user-centered design(UCD)principle,which included:(i)competitive analysis:searched,screened,and assessed the existing DAs to gather insights for design strategies,developmental techniques,and functionalities;(ii)user needs assessment:interviewed family surrogates in our hospital to explore target user group's decision-making experience and identify their unmet needs;(iii)evidence syntheses:integrate latest clinical evidence and pertinent information to inform the content development of DA.Results The competitive analysis included 16 relevant DAs,from which we derived valuable insights using existing resources.User decision needs were explored among a cohort of 15 family surrogates,revealing four thematic issues in decision-making,including stuck into dilemmas,sense of uncertainty,limited capacity,and delayed decision confirmation.A total of 27 articles were included for evidence syntheses.Relevant decision making knowledge on disease and treatment,as delineated in the literature sourced from decision support system or clinical guidelines,were formatted as the foundational knowledge base.Twenty-one items of evidence were extracted and integrated into the content panels of benefits and risks of RRT,possible outcomes,and reasons to choose.The DA was drafted into a web-based phototype using the elements of UCD.This platform could guide users in their preparation of decision-making through a sequential four-step process:identifying treatment options,weighing the benefits and risks,clarifying personal preferences and values,and formulating a schedule for formal shared decision-making with clinicians.Conclusions We developed a rapid prototype of DA tailored for family surrogate decision makers of critically ill patients in need of RRT in ICU setting.Future studies are needed to evaluate its usability,feasibility,and clinical effects of this intervention.

Thoughts on the system construction of digital Chinese medicine

Digital Chinese medicine refers to a comprehensive system that utilizes unified scientific technologies to fully explore and reproduce human phenomenology, patterns of physical changes, and related human experiences. It encompasses the acquisition, storage, and processing of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) data, information.

Calculation of Mass Concrete Temperature and Creep Stress under the Influence of Local Air Heat Transfer

Temperature-induced cracking during the construction of mass concrete is a significant concern.Numerical simulations of concrete temperature have primarily assumed that the concrete is placed in an open environment.The problem of heat transfer between the air and concrete has been simplified to the concrete’s heat dissipation boundary.However,in the case of tubular concrete structures,where air inlet and outlet are relatively limited,the internal air temperature does not dissipate promptly to the external environment as it rises.To accurately simulate the temperature and creep stress in tubular concrete structures with enclosed air spaces during construction,we establish an air–concrete coupled heat transfer model according to the principles of conjugate heat transfer,and the accuracy of the model is verified through experiments.Furthermore,we conduct a case study to analyze the impact of airflow within the ship lock corridor on concrete temperature and creep stress.The results demonstrate that enhancing airflow within the corridor can significantly reduce the maximum concrete temperature.Compared with cases in which airflow within the corridor is neglected,the maximum concrete temperature and maximum tensile stress can be reduced by 12.5℃ and 0.7 MPa,respectively,under a wind speed of 4 m/s.The results of the traditional calculation method are relatively close to those obtained at a wind speed of 1 m/s.However,the temperature reduction process in the traditional method is faster,and the method yields greater tensile stress values for the corridor location.

The Relationship between Parental Stress and Child Conformity:The Mediating Role of Resilience

Background:In today’s society,parental stress has become a prevalent and significant issue,impacting not only parents’mental health but also potentially profoundly affecting children’s growth and education.This topic has garnered continuous attention from scholars.The present study aims to delve into the relationship between parental stress and children’s behavior,particularly focusing on children’s conformity and discipline development during crucial stages.This study aims to explore the relationship between parental stress,child conformity,and resilience,and further examines the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between parental stress and child conformity.Methods:We used three scales:the Parental Stress Scale,the Child Conformity Scale,and the Resilience Scale,to survey 890 elementary school students(aged 6–12)and their parents in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region of China.We employed SPSS 26.0 software for data analysis,conducting descriptive statistics,correlation analysis,and mediation effect tests sequentially.In the mediation effect tests,we utilized structural equation modeling(SEM)and regression analysis to examine the mediation effects,ensuring the accuracy and scientific nature of our analysis.Results:Through descriptive statistics,correlation analysis,regression models,and mediation effect tests,we found that parental stress significantly negatively predicts child conformity,while resilience shows a significant positive prediction.Further mediation analysis indicates that resilience plays a partial mediating role between parental stress and child conformity,with the mediation effect accounting for 36.67%.Conclusion:These findings highlight the importance of the family environment on child behavior and provide valuable insights and recommendations for family education practices in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.Therefore,we suggest future research should further explore the complex relationships among parental stress,child conformity,and resilience,and examine regional differences to better promote children’s overall development.

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the treatment of obstructive shock caused by venous air embolism:A case report

BACKGROUND Venous air embolism(VAE)is a potentially lethal condition,with a reported incidence rate of about 0.13%,and the true incidence may be higher since many VAE are asymptomatic.The current treatments for VAE include Durant's maneuver,aspiration and removal of air through venous catheters,and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.For critically ill patients,use of cardiotonic drugs and chest compressions remain useful strategies.The wider availability of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)has brought a new option for VAE patients.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old female patient with VAE presented to the emergency clinic due to abdominal pain with fever for 1 d and unconsciousness for 2 h.One day ago,the patient suffered from abdominal pain,fever,and diarrhea.She suddenly became unconscious after going to the toilet during the intravenous infusion of ciprofloxacin 2 h ago,accompanied by nausea and vomiting,during which a small amount of gastric contents were discharged.She was immediately sent to a local hospital,where cranial and chest computed tomography showed bilateral pneumonia as well as accumulated air visible in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery.The condition deteriorated despite endotracheal intubation,rehydration,and other treatments,and the patient was then transferred to our hospital.Veno-arterial ECMO was applied in our hospital,and the patient's condition gradually improved.The patient was successfully weaned from ECMO and extubated after two days.CONCLUSION ECMO may be an important treatment for patients with VAE in critical condition.

The Influence of Workplace Environment on Mental Health:A Quantitative and Qualitative Investigation in China

Background:The demanding nature of nursing,characterized by long hours,high-stress environments,and substantial workloads,can significantly impact nurses’mental health.However,there are limited studies that assessed the influence of workplace environment on nursing mental health based on both quantitative and qualitative approaches.Methods:This study aims to comprehensively investigate the multidimensional relationship between the workplace environment and nurses’well-being.This cross-sectional study was based on a sample of 3256 nurses from various healthcare settings in Shandong province,China(2022),who participated in the quantitative phase.For the qualitative phase,a subsample of participants from the quantitative phase was selected(n=200)using purposive sampling to ensure diversity in terms of age,gender,years of experience,and healthcare settings.The mean age was 35.2 years,with 74%female participants.Results:Significant negative correlations were found between leadership support and mental distress,while workload showed negative associations with General Positive Affect and mental health functioning(p<0.05).Multiple linear regression demonstrated the predictive power of workplace dimensions on mental health,with leadership support,teamwork,and organizational culture positively associated with mental health functioning(p<0.05).Thematic analysis underscored the intricate interplay between workplace indicators and mental health dimensions,emphasizing the need for a holistic approach.Conclusion:This study reveals that key workplace factors,including leadership support,teamwork,and organizational culture,play a vital role in enhancing nurse mental health,which is essential for sustaining high-quality patient care and a resilient healthcare workforce.

The Structure and the Density of a Bare Quark Star in a Cold Genesis Theory of Particles

Based on the preonic structure of quarks obtained in a Cold genesis theory of particles (CGT), it was obtained a semi-empiric relation for the current mass of quarks specific to CGT but with the constants obtained with the aid of the Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner formula, giving values close to those obtained by the Standard Model, the current quark’s volume at ordinary nuclear temperature being obtained as sum of theoretic apparent volumes of preonic kerneloids. The maximal densities of the current quarks: strange (s), charm (c), bottom (b), and top (t) resulted in the range (0.8 - 4.2) × 1018 kg/m3, as values which could be specific to possible quark stars, in concordance with previous results. By the preonic quark model of CGT, the possible structure of a quark star resulted from the intermediary transforming: Ne(2d+u)→s−¯+λ−and the forming of composite quarks with the structure: C−(λ−-s−¯-λ−) and C+(s−¯-λ−-s−¯), and of Sq-layers: C+C−C+ and C−C+C− which can form composite quarks: Hq±=(SqS¯qSq);(S¯qSqS¯q), corresponding to a constituent mass: M(Hq) = (12,642;12,711) MeV/c2, the forming of heavier quarks inside a quark star resulting as possible in the form: Dq = n3Cq, (n ≥ 3). The Tolman-Oppenheimer limit: MT=0.7M⊙for neutron stars can also be explained by the CGT’s quark model.