Spatially explicit population genetic models have long been developed, yet have rarely been used to test hypotheses about the spatial distribution of genetic diversity or the expected neutral levels of genetic divergence between populations. Here, we use spatially explicit coalescence simulations to explore the properties of the island model and the two-dimensional stepping stone model under a wide range of scenarios with spatio-temporal variation in deme size. We avoid the simulation of genetic data, using the fact that under the studied models, summary statistics of genetic diversity and divergence between demes can be approximated from coalescence times. We perform the simulations using gridCoal, a flexible spatial wrapper for the software msprime developed herein. In gridCoal, deme sizes can change arbitrarily across space and time, and migration rates between individual demes can be specified. We identify the different factors that can cause a deviation from the theoretical expectations, such as the simulation time in comparison to the effective deme size and the spatio-temporal autocorrelation across the grid. Our results highlight that Fst, a measure of the strength of population structure, principally depends on recent demography, which makes it robust to temporal variation in deme size. We also warn that predicting genetic diversity from coalescence times requires a much longer run time than needed for the estimation of Fst. Finally, we illustrate the use of gridCoal on a real-world example, the range expansion of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) since the Last Glacial Maximum, using different degrees of spatio-temporal variation in deme size.

Understanding the factors affecting thermal tolerance is crucial for predicting the impact climate change will have on ectotherms. However, the role developmental plasticity plays in allowing populations to cope with thermal extremes is poorly understood. Here, we meta-analyse how thermal tolerance is acutely and persistently impacted by early thermal environments by using data from 150 experimental studies on 138 ectothermic species. Thermal tolerance only increased by 0.13°C per 1°C change in developmental temperature and substantial variation in plasticity (~36%) was the result of shared evolutionary history and species ecology. Aquatic ectotherms were more than three times as plastic as terrestrial ectotherms. Notably, embryos expressed weaker but more heterogenous plasticity than older life stages, with numerous responses appearing as non-adaptive. While we did not find universal evidence for developmental temperatures to have persistent effects on thermal tolerance, persistent effects were vastly under-studied, and their direction and magnitude varied with ontogeny. Embryonic stages may represent a critical window of vulnerability to changing environments and we urge researchers to consider early life stages when assessing the climate vulnerability of ectotherms. Overall, our synthesis suggests that developmental changes in thermal tolerance will rarely reach levels of perfect compensation and buffer ectotherms from rising temperatures.

Identifying and understanding patterns of biological diversity is crucial at a time when even the most remote and pristine marine ecosystems are threatened by resource exploitation such as deep-seabed mining. Metabarcoding provides the means through which to perform comprehensive investigations of diversity by examining entire assemblages simultaneously. Nematodes commonly represent the most abundant infaunal metazoan group in marine soft sediments. In this meta-analysis, we compiled all publicly available metabarcoding datasets targeting the 18S rRNA v1-v2 region from sediment samples to conduct a global-scale examination of nematode Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV) alpha diversity patterns, evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) and phylogenetic community structure at different depths and environments. We found that nematode ASV richness followed a parabolic trend, increasing from the intertidal to the shelf, reaching a maximum in the bathyal and decreasing in the abyssal zone. No depth- or environment-specific assemblages were identified as a large fraction of genera were shared. Contrastingly, the vast majority of ASVs were unique to each environment and/or depth zone; genetic diversity was thus highly localised. The intertidal and abyssal samples had the highest ED values, indicating that both a dynamic, fluctuating ecosystem, as well as a relatively stable yet very old one, can produce highly diversified assemblages. Overwhelmingly, nematode ASVs in all environments exhibited phylogenetic clustering, pointing to environmental filtering as the primary force defining community assembly rather than competitive interactions. This finding stresses the importance of habitat preservation for the maintenance of marine nematode diversity.

There is an increasing use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as bridge to transplantation or permanent destination therapy in the heart failure patient population. Infection remains a common complication in LVADs, with Gram-positive skin flora as predominant pathogens implicated, including Staphylococcus aureus. While there is emerging evidence for synergistic antibiotic combinations with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, there remains a significant gap in the literature for persistent methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia. In this article, we describe the first successful treatment of persistent LVAD-related bacteremia with salvage oxacillin plus ertapenem. The salvage therapy described here must be balanced by the risks for toxicity, impact on resistance, microbiota disruption, drug shortages, and patient costs. This combination warrants further evaluation in the clinical setting to better establish its role in our expanding patient population.

Hyalomma ticks are important vectors of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) and other pathogens. They are frequently carried as immatures from Africa, the Middle East and Mediterranean areas to temperate Europe via migratory birds and emergence of its adults has been reported in many countries where it has so far been non-endemic. Our aim was to implement the first steps of the DAMA (Document, Assess, Monitor, Act) protocol by monitoring the potential arrival of adult Hyalomma ticks in Hungary applying citizen-science methods. Ticks were collected from April-December 2021 by asking volunteer participants through a self-made website to look for unusual hard ticks on themselves, their pets and livestock. Owing to the intensive media campaign, the project website had over 31 thousand visitors within seven months and 137 specimens and several hundreds of photos of hard ticks were submitted by citizen scientists from all over the country. Beside Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Dermacentor marginatus and Haemaphysalis inermis, a specimen from a dog was morphologically identified as a male Hyalomma marginatum and another removed from a cattle as a male Hyalomma rufipes. The dog and the cattle had never been abroad, they were approximately 280 km apart, thus the two Hyalomma observations can be considered as separate introductions. Amplification of the partial mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene was successful for both specimens. Sequencing verified the previous morphological identification for both ticks. Based on the phylogenetic analyses the Hy. marginatum individual most likely belongs to the Eurasian population and the Hy. rufipes to a clade of mixed sequences from Europe and Africa. We summarize the scattered historical reports about the occurrence of Hyalomma ticks and CCHFV in Hungary. Our data highlight the effectiveness of citizens science programmes in the monitoring and risk assessment of CCHFV emergence and preparedness in our region.

Highly evolved biocatalysts that can endure harsh environmental conditions during industrial processes are highly desirable. The availability of suitable biocatalysts with high enzyme activity, substrate selectivity, and stability could lower the production costs in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries, resulting in more economical products. Naturally evolved enzymes could not be exploited in industrial applications because of their compromised properties. Till date, protein engineering strategies have helped us improve the desired physical and catalytic properties of enzymes to meet their performance needs in industrial and medical applications. Protein engineering technologies such as directed evolution and rational redesigning are well-suited for improving bio-catalytic properties. Each approach has its own set of limitations, and the implementation of techniques is contingent on the availability of prerequisite information about the biocatalyst. Protein structure information is essential for rational design, but no prior structural knowledge is required for directed evolution. Furthermore, semi-rational approaches and enzyme designing are also being used. Considering these facts, this study outlines the various molecular techniques used to improve the physical and catalytic properties of enzymes. It also emphasizes the magnitude of particular strategies used to improve the properties of biocatalysts to meet the needs of industrial processes.

A document by Aashish Kumar. Click on the document to view its contents.

The diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is made through a combination of clinical features supported by a panel of diagnostic tests. Our cases highlight the similarities in the clinical presentation of patients with the specific immunodeficiency activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta syndrome 1 (APDS1 or PIK3CD) and PCD. We highlight the importance of repeating nasal nitric oxide testing (nNO) when PCD has not been confirmed by genetic or ciliary electron micrograph (EM) analysis in the setting of an expanded suppurative lung disease differential that includes considerations for immunodeficiency as well as PCD.

Key Points 1. This study reports clinical outcome data on 76 patients with platinum-resistant recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous carcinoma treated with nivolumab, making it the largest published single centre case series of its kind. 2. Radiotherapy was administered alongside systemic therapy with nivolumab, defined as radiotherapy within 8 weeks of prior systemic therapy, in 16 of 76 patients (21%). 3. Nivolumab was continued following radiotherapy completion due to ongoing clinical benefit from the drug in 9 of 16 patients (56%). 4. Durable complete response following radio-immunotherapy was seen in 2 of the 9 patients (22%) who continued nivolumab subsequent to radiotherapy. 5. Indications for radiotherapy included symptom control (3 of 9), oligoprogression (5 of 9) and incomplete response (1 of 9).

Title: Looking for Lead Adhesions While Planning for Transvenous Lead ExtractionAuthor: Callahan, Thomas DAuthor Expanded:Thomas D. Callahan, IV, MD, FACC, FHRSDirector, Inpatient Inpatient ServiceAssociate Program Director, Cardiovascular Medicine FellowshipCleveland ClinicClinical Assistant Professor of MedicineCleveland Clinic Lerner College of MedicineCleveland Ohiocallaht@ccf.orgPhone 216-444-2267Fax: 216-636-6953Corresponding Author: Thomas D. Callahan, IV, MD, FACC, FHRSFunding: NoneDisclosures:Thomas D. Callahan, IV, MD serves as a consultant to Biotronik. (modest)Key words:Transvenous lead extraction, TLE, adhesion, planning, predictionAcknowledgements: None

This paper is devoted to the study of Caputo-type fractional FitzHugh-Nagumo equations driven by fractional Brownian motion (fBm). We establish the existence and uniqueness of mild solution under some conditions on the coefficients. The exponential synchronization and finite-time synchronization for the stochastic FitzHugh-Nagumo equations are provided. The analysis of synchronization phenomenon for time-fractional FitzHugh-Nagumo equations perturbed by fBm are provided.

Pediatric Pulmonology , LetterElevated serum TARC/CCL17 levels are associated with childhood interstitial lung disease in patients with SFTPC gene mutationYuto Otsubo MD1; Yuji Fujita MD1; Yusuke Ando MD, PhD1; George Imataka MD, PhD1; Shigemi Yoshihara MD, PhD11Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo Medical University, 880, Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi, 321-0207, JapanCorresponding author:Yuto OtsuboDepartment of Pediatrics, Dokkyo Medical University, 880, Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi, 321-0293, JapanTel: +81-0282-86-1111Fax: +81-0282-86-7152E-mail: otsubo.920315@gmail.comKeywords:Childhood interstitial lung disease; TARC/CCL17; SFTPCRunning head:Childhood ILD and increased TARC/CCL17 levelTo the Editor,Childhood interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a serious and often life-threatening disease that causes interstitial lung lesion formation during childhood. Several causative genes of childhood ILD, such asSFTPC , SFTPB , and ABCA3 , have been identified in some children. The pathogenesis of ILD caused by SFTPC mutations may include the accumulation of surfactant protein C (SP-C) in vesicles, inhibition of pulmonary surfactant reuptake, and decreased secretion of SP-C, but this remains to be confirmed.1Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine/C-C motif chemokine ligand 17 (TARC/CCL17) is a known disease marker of atopic dermatitis. Recently, an association between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a representative disease with pulmonary interstitial lesions, and TARC/CCL17 has been reported,2 but none between childhood ILD and TARC/CCL17.Here we report our experience of a case of childhood ILD in which the patient had an SFTPC mutation and an elevated TARC/CCL17 level at disease onset that decreased as the patient improved with treatment. TARC/CCL17 may be involved in the pathogenesis of ILD in children withSFTPC mutation, which is different from the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.An otherwise healthy 15-month-old girl was admitted to our hospital with fever, difficulty breathing, and poor oral intake. Nine days prior to the visit, nasal discharge and cough appeared and gradually worsened; subsequently, poor oral intake appeared. No fine crackles were noted. The patient required supplemental oxygen and was admitted to the hospital. She had no history of respiratory impairment at birth, but she had a family history of ILD in her maternal grandmother. Informed consent was obtained from the patient’s guardians for the publication of this case report.Laboratory tests showed a white blood cell count of 941 × 109/L, neutrophil count of 58%, C-reactive protein level of 0.01 mg/dL, lactate dehydrogenase level of 929 IU/L, Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) level of 909 U/mL (normal range < 500 U/mL), surfactant protein A level of 2770 ng/mL (normal <43.8 ng/mL), and surfactant protein D level of 319 ng/mL (normal <43 ng/mL), which were suspicious findings for ILD (Table 1). ß-D-glucan level was 7.9 pg/mL (normal <20 pg/mL) and cytomegalovirus antibodies were negative for both IgG and IgM. Chest radiography showed bilateral frosted shadows (Fig. 1), and a chest computed tomography scan showed bilateral diffuse frosted shadows (Fig. 2), leading to ILD diagnosis.Although prednisolone was started on the 2nd day of admission, the patient’s respiratory status did not sufficiently improve, and oxygen supplementation was required. Therefore, methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg/day) was administered twice for 3 consecutive days on days 13-15 and 19-21; however, the respiratory status remained poor. Hydroxychloroquine (10 mg/kg/day) was then started on day 21, and azithromycin (10 mg/kg/day) three times a week was started on day 56, following which the respiratory status gradually improved. On drinking cold water, the patient often coughed and sometimes vomited. When the water was warmed from 4°C to approximately 20°C, coughing and cough-induced vomiting drastically decreased. On day 66 of hospitalization, the patient was discharged with home-based oxygen. Respiratory status, oxygenation, and laboratory data for ILD markers such as KL-6 gradually improved (Table 1).Genetic analysis of SFTPB , SFTPC , ABCA3 ,CSF2RA , and CSF2RB showed SFTPC mutation and p.I73T (c.218T>C), and the ILD was determined to be caused by theSFTPC mutation.Additional examination revealed elevated TARC/CCL17 level at 10,270 pg/mL (normal <998 pg/mL), but IgE (24.2 IU/mL; normal <173 IU/mL) and IL-4 (2.7 pg/mL; normal <6 pg/mL) levels were not elevated in the early stages of treatment. TARC/CCL17 level decreased to 2,122 pg/mL on day 131 after the admission. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) level was measured twice on days 11 and 83, and on both, the GM-CSF level was under 5 pg/mL without significant elevation. Anti-GM-CSF antibody (0.3 U/mL; normal <1.7 U/mL) was negative.It has been hypothesized that many of these effector cell populations are recruited by TARC/CCL17 and act profibrogenically, but the details remain largely unknown.3) SFTPC mutations increase the number of abnormal alveolar type 2 epithelial cells (AT2) due to impaired metabolism of SP-C. A knock-in mouse model capable of regulating the expression of an isoleucine-to-threonine substitution at codon 73 (p.I73T) in SFTPC, at the same site as in the present case, showed persistently elevated TARC/CCL17 level in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Furthermore, the same study also reported that TARC/CCL17 is specifically released by AT2.3 In ILD caused by SFTPC mutations, its pathogenesis involves AT2 hyperplasia. The decrease in TARC/CCL17 level in our patient suggests that either AT2 itself or TARC/CCL17 production from AT2 itself decreased with treatment. In this case, we report, for the first time, elevated serum TARC/CCL17 level in a patient with SFTPC mutation, which decreased with treatment.Our patient showed no symptoms of atopic dermatitis, and she had no skin condition, and no elevation of IgE and IL-4 levels. In the SFTPC p.I73T mouse model mentioned above, no significant level of IL-4 or IL-13 was detected in BALF, and no involvement of the Th2 response was observed.This high TARC/CCL17 level was not considered to be a result of the GM-CSF cascade. TARC/CCL17 is released from macrophages as a product of the GM-CSF cascade.4) GM-CSF is also known to be produced by AT2.5) However, in this case, serum GM-CSF levels were normal and not elevated, both at the beginning of treatment and after improvement.The limitation of this case is that bronchoalveolar lavage was not performed; therefore, the evaluation was based on serum level rather than local lung findings.This case suggests that TARC/CCL17 is involved in ILD pathogenesis. Further elucidation of the chemokine and receptor signaling cascade may lead to the targeting of some stages for therapy, which may be an important issue for future medical treatment. Therefore, elucidation of this pathogenesis is desirable.References1) Beers MF, Mulugeta S. Surfactant protein C biosynthesis and its emerging role in conformational lung disease. Annu Rev Physiol 2005;67:663-696.2) Sivakumar P, Ammar R, Thompson JR, Luo Y, Streltsov D, Porteous M, McCoubrey C, Ill EC, Beers MF, Jarai G, et al. Integrated plasma proteomics and lung transcriptomics reveal novel biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Respir Res 2021;22;273:1-13.3) Nureki SI, Tomer Y, Venosa A, Katzen J, Russo SJ, Jamil S, Barrett M, Nguyen V, Kopp M, Mulugeta S, et al. Expression of mutant Sftpc in murine alveolar epithelia drives spontaneous lung fibrosis. J Clin Invest 2018;128:4008-4024.4) Hamilton JA. GM-CSF-dependent inflammatory pathways. Front Immunol 2019;10;2055:1-8.5) Woo YD, Jeong D, Chung DH. Development and functions of alveolar macrophages. Mol Cells 2021;44:292-300.Conflicts of interest:The authors disclose no conflicts.Contributors:YO cared for the patient, conceived the concept of the case report, and drafted the initial manuscript. YF, YA, GI, and SY critically reviewed the manuscript for intellectual content. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.Acknowledgment:We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.We thank Dr. Goro Koinuma, Division of Pulmonology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan, for his invaluable expert opinion regarding the diagnosis and treatment of the patients.Sources of funding:No funding was obtained for this study.

COVID-19 vaccines have been linked to some adverse effects, including fever, myalgia, and headache. Bell’s Palsy, a rare adverse effect was reported to be associated with the use of mRNA-1273 vaccine. Here, we present case of 17-year-old female who acquired Bell’s Palsy following administration of mRNA-1273 (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccination.

A document by Ana de Carvalho Vaz. Click on the document to view its contents.

Background: In children suspected of asthma, diagnosis is confirmed via variable expiratory airflow limitation. This study aimed to evaluate the pulmonary function characteristics in children suspected of asthma without bronchodilator response (BDR) and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Method: We utilised two separate retrospective observational cohorts of children who underwent spirometry and bronchial provocation testing for asthma. Spirometry parameters were collected and compared between definite asthma, probable asthma, and non-asthma groups. The original cohort comprised 1199 children who visited the Severance Hospital (Seoul, Korea) between January 2017 and December 2019. The external cohort included 105 children who visited the Gangnam Severance Hospital between January 2000 and December 2017. Result: Probable asthma accounted for 16.8% and 32.4% of the original and external cohorts, respectively. Baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of FVC (FEF25-75), and FEF75 showed stepwise decrements from non-asthma, probable asthma, to definite asthma patients (P < 0.001). The probable asthma group showed significantly higher odds of abnormal FEV1/FVC (OR, 2.24 [95%CI, 1.43-3.52]) and FEF25-75 (OR, 2.05 [95%CI, 1.13-3.73]) than the non-asthma group and lower odds of abnormal FEV1 (OR, 0.05 [95%CI, 0.01-0.19]), FEV1/FVC (OR, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.18-0.41]), FEF25-75 (OR, 0.17 [95%CI, 0.11-0.28]), and FEF75 (OR, 0.14 [95%CI, 0.08-0.24]) compared to the definite asthma group. The external cohort was consistent with the original cohort. Conclusion: We show evidence of airway dysfunction in children for whom a high clinical suspicion of asthma exists without evidence of BDR and BHR.

Investigating the intricate mechanisms of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling in living cells is far from trivial. Over the last 20 years, the rise of genetically encoded resonance energy transfer (RET) sensors has shed new light onto the mechanisms of GPCR signalling. Such findings have challenged classical views on GPCR signalling and enhanced our understanding of the spatiotemporal dimensions of GPCR activity, leading to the discovery of endosomal GPCR signalling. This review highlights the use of RET sensors to monitor GPCR signalling in real-time and in live cells, focusing on GPCR activation and trafficking, and second messenger activity. It explores the physiological relevance of illustrative cases of endosomal signalling and discusses potential avenues to improve RET approaches to further explore endogenous GPCR activity in physiologically relevant contexts.

Dr Manvi Verma (ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5971-2940)Article Type: Letter to the Editor“Re: Impact of the availability of midurethral slings on treatment strategies for stress urinary incontinence: a cost-effectiveness analysis”Dr Manvi Verma1, Dr Jaya Chaturvedi2M.Ch. Student in Cosmetic Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, IndiaProfessor & Head, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India

ABSTRACT Background No validated tools exist to evaluate chronic urticaria (CU) control in children. While the Urticaria Control Test (UCT) exhibits favourable clinometric properties in adult CU, it is not yet validated in children. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the validity of the UCT for the assessment of pediatric CU. Methods Children presenting with CU were consecutively recruited. Participants completed both the UCT and the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI). We assessed the internal consistency, convergent and known-groups validity, and screening accuracy of the UCT at study entry and at follow-up. Results A total of 52 children with CU were recruited. The UCT exhibited respectable internal consistency in the evaluation of CU (Cronbach’s α=0.73 [95%CI: 0.62, 0.85]). UCT and CDLQI scores strongly correlated (r=-0.74, P<0.01). The UCT distinguished between different strata of disease severities established by the CDLQI (P<0.01). Screening accuracy of the UCT was excellent in the discrimination of poorly controlled CU (area under the curve=0.82). An optimal cut-off of ≤10 was determined for defining poorly controlled CU (sensitivity=95.5%, specificity=63.3%). Data at follow-up were consistent with data at study entry. Conclusion The UCT is a valid tool for the assessment of pediatric CU and CSU, as evidenced by acceptable internal consistency, convergent and known-groups validity, and screening accuracy at multiple time points.

Previous studies have demonstrated positive net primary production effects with in-creased precipitation in semi-arid grasslands of Inner Mongolian. The knowledge of the store and storage potential of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) can help us to under-stand how ecosystems would respond to anthropogenic disturbances under different management strategies. Therefore, we carried out research on the storage of organic C and N in four sites where the floras and landform were similar but the intensities of disturbance by grazing animals varied. The primary objective of this study was to pinpoint how the store and storage potential of C and N would respond to grazing exclusion and precipitation. We determined concentrations of both soil organic car-bon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (TN) in the 0–50 cm soil layers. Concentrations of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were measured by an innovative method in our study. Additionally, soil bacteria and fungi content were determined in the 0–50 cm soil layers. The total C , N , MBC and MBN storage were significantly different among the four grasslands (P<0.05), and they all decreased substantially with grassland degradation and increased to a significant extent with the introduction of natural grassland (ND). More than 90% C and 95% N stored in soil were lost, while they were minor in other pools (including those stored in above-ground biomass, litter, and roots). It is inter-esting to note that micro-aggregate is a limiting factor to soil and microbial nutrients pool compared to precipitation. The limit range of C and N storage observed in these grassland soils suggests that enclosed-fence may be a valuable mechanism of seques-tering C in the top meter of the soil profile. The results of this study can provide a basis for better recovery of grassland that grazing disturbed in semi-arid areas.

Structural, mechanical, electronic, optical and piezoelectric properties of Na 2 SiO 3 are studied under different compressive uni-directional pressure(0-50 GPa with a difference of 10 GPa) using density functional theory (DFT). The calculated structural properties are well agreed with the previously reported results. At 12 GPa, our calculation shows structural phase transition from orthorhombic Cmc2 1 to triclinic P1. The mechanical profile of Na 2 SiO 3 structures under different compressive unidirectional pressures are analysed by calculating the elastic moduli, Poisson's ratio and eigenvalues of stiffness matrix. Our study shows mechanical stability of the system till pressure reaches 40 GPa. Herein, we have obtained an indirect band gap of 2.97 eV at 0 GPa. Between 0-50 GPa, the band gaps are within the range of 2.62 to 3.46 eV. The system under our study possesses wide band gap and high optical absorption in UV-Vis range of electro-magnetic(em) radiation. The calculated static refractive indices η x,y,z (0) are closed to unity suggesting its transparent behaviour. For piezoelectric properties, we have reported the total Cartesian polarization. Our calculations have revealed that Na 2 SiO 3 to be one of the promising candidates for opto-electronic devices while its application in ferroelectric and piezoelectric devices could be improved with further research.

In this paper, we obtain a regularity criterion of the solution to the three-dimensional incompressible Hall-magnetohydrodynamic equations involving only the vorticity.

In this paper, we study the stability of a viscous shock wave for the isentropic Navier-Stokes-Korteweg equations under space-periodic perturbation. It is shown that if the initial perturbation around the shock and the amplitude of the shock are small, then the solution of the N-S-K equations tends to the viscous shock.

As the important coal bases in northwestern China, the hydrological and ecological environment of Ordos, northern Shaanxi (Shanbei) and Shanxi Province has attracted more and more attention. Terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA) and precipitation, as important hydrological elements, play an important role in the distribution and growth of vegetation. In this paper, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation data, and the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) were used to analyze the spatial-temporal changes and coupling relationships of TWSA, precipitation and ecological environment from 2002 to 2020. The numerical results showed the TWSA in the study area has a decreasing trend and the rates are -6.19mm/a, -7.67mm/a and -16.92mm/a for Ordos, Shanbei and Shanxi Province, respectively. On the contrary, the precipitation appeared an increasing trend and the rates are 0.35mm/a, 0.63mm/a and 0.18mm/a for these three sub-regions. It is found that the precipitation is not the main factor causing the variation of TWSA, but the coal mining activities and artificial irrigation activities, which is especially clear in the Taihang Mountains in eastern of Shanxi Province. The ecological environment has been improving, and TWSA and precipitation are the important hydrological factors causing this change. Precipitation is the main reason for improving the ecological environment in three sub-regions on a seasonal scale, especially in summer. The research results are helpful to understand the impact of hydrological changes on the ecological environment, which play an important role in environmental governance in coal mining areas.

Objective: To describe our experience with using intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) to assess the size of the rapid deployment prosthetic valves by measuring the native aortic annulus. Methods: Retrospective review of single institution series of patients undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement with Rapid Deployment Bioprosthetic Valves. Included were patients who had their native aortic valve replaced either isolated or as part of any additional procedure. The aortic annulus was measured prior to initiation of the operation using TEE. An analysis was conducted between Echocardiographic annular measurements and actual implanted valve sizes. Results: Forty patients underwent rapid deployment valve implantation in the aortic position. Of these, 32.5% of patients had the same size valve as the measured aortic annulus, 40% of patients had a valve implanted that was 1 mm different, and 25% of patients had 2 mm difference. One patient (2.5%) was found to have an aortic annular measurement of 3mm less than the actual implanted valve. The mean annular size based on intraoperative TEE was 23.5 mm (range: 21-28 mm, sdv: 1.8). The mean valve size implanted was 23.7 mm (range: 21-27 mm, sdv: 1.9). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean annular measurement and the valve size selected (0.2 mm, p = 0.50). Conclusion: TEE can further enhance valve sizing and guidance through a proper and safe deployment. Although evident in our experience, larger scale studies are needed to further elucidate conclusions on the importance of avoiding under-sizing valves.