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Abstract Objective To investigate the differences in the niacin skin flushing response of adolescent depressed patients and healthy adolescents and its diagnostic value in adolescent depression. Methods Thirty-eight cases of acute episodes of depression in unmedicated adolescents and 47 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included as study subjects, and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, all of which were stimulated with six concentration gradients (up to 60 mmol/L, followed by sequential 3-fold gradient dilution to a minimum of 0.25 mmol/L) of niacin solution on the forearm skin, and the skin flushing area was applied as an assessment index. Results The total area of redness of the skin in response to niacin was significantly lower in the adolescent depression group than in the healthy adolescent group (Z=-3.36, p = 0.001) and was able to distinguish the adolescent depression group from the healthy adolescent group (area under curve = 0.713, sensitivity 51.1%, specificity 83.2%). Conclusions Niacin sensitivity is reduced in adolescent depressed patients, and the niacin skin flush response has potential clinical value as a diagnostic biomarker for adolescent depression.

To improve the stability of solar heating and reduce the high cost of air source heat pump heating, the idea of air source heat pump assisted solar stable heating was proposed. A solar vacuum tube water heater-air source heat pump system was developed and bulit in Weiling Township, Qilihe District, Lanzhou, Gansu Province. The performance of the system was compared to analyze the heat collection efficiency, heat pump coefficient of performance (COP), solar energy guarantee rate, and energy efficiency ratio under sunny, overcast, and cloudy conditions. The results show that the effective heat obtained by solar energy under sunny, overcast, and cloudy conditions is 75.5 kW·h, 4.1 kW·h, and 49.2 kW·h respectively, the system heat collection efficiency is 61.3%, 26.6%, and 55.2%, the average coefficient of performance(COP) of the solar heat pump is 3.6, 3.4, and 3.6, the average COP of the air source heat pump is 0, 2.9, and 3.1, the actual heat supply of the system is 113.4 kW·h, 125.9 kW·h, and 124.8 kW·h, the system power consumption is 33.4 kW·h, 50.5 kW·h, and 42.7 kW·h, the system solar energy guarantee rate is 66.6%, 3.3%, and 39.4%, and the system energy efficiency ratio is 3.4, 2.5, and 2.9 respectively. The research results prove that the solar vacuum tube collector-air source heat pump system is feasible for heating and provide a new way for heating in cold areas.

Shale oil and gas are currently the major fields of unconventional hydrocarbon exploration and development. The Fengcheng Formation (FF) shale in the Mahu Sag of the Junggar Basin is an alkaline lacustrine organic-rich shale with an extremely prospective shale oil potential. However, its strong heterogeneity and complex pore structure greatly influence the development of shale oil. It is significant to investigate the pore and geochemical characteristics of shale reservoirs for shale oil extraction. In this study, the pore structure and geochemical characteristics of FF have been investigated using core analysis, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), low-temperature gas adsorption (LTGA), and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). The results show that the shale of FF has moderate organic matter abundance, and the kerogen is mainly of Type II, which is now at the peak of oil generation. Shale minerals are mainly composed of carbonate (dolomite and calcite) and siliceous (quartz and feldspar) minerals, with extremely low clay mineral content. The pore types are mainly intergranular pores (inter-P), intragranular pores (intra-P), and microfractures associated with mineral particles. The pore space is contributed predominantly by micropores of 0.5–1.2 nm and mesopores of 10–50 nm, whereas macropores are underdeveloped. The pores are mostly ink bottle- and slit-shaped, and the pore connectivity is relatively poor. The pore development of shale in the FF is influenced by organic matter abundance, thermal maturity, mineral composition, etc. Organic matter content (TOC), thermal maturity (Ro), and carbonate minerals have a positive effect on pore development, and the pore volume (PV) increases with TOC, Ro, and carbonate minerals. While clay minerals show a negative effect, the PV decreases with clay minerals. Additionally, the influence of the clay mineral content on the pore morphology of shale should not be ignored. This study investigates the pore structure and geochemical characteristics of the alkaline lacustrine shale of FF in Mahu Sag, which is significant to deepen the understanding of alkaline lacustrine shale and to improve the production of shale oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant height, tiller number, yield of three warm-season forage varieties in Southern China were studied for consecutive two years. The result showed that the three varieties all adapted to the environmental conditions. The annual fresh grass yield of Penniselum purpureum Schum ev. Taiwan, Guimu-1 hybrid P. purpureum and P. sinese Roxb were 220.85, 163.18, 186.20 t/hm2; the crude protein content were 17.39%, 19.02% and 20.91%; the crude fat content were 6.37%, 5.37% and 4.69%; and the crude fiber content were 33.49%, 32.22% and 33.58%, respectively. P. pur-pureum Schum ev. Taiwan had stronger cold resistance, fast growth after overwintering and strong resistance, and no plant diseases and insect pests were found during the test. P. purpureum Schum ev. Taiwan is a high yield and high quality forage variety, which is worth popularizing and applying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]