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Background: Asians bear a heavier burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a common comorbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), than non‐Asians. Nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have garnered attention for their potential advantages in renal outcomes. Nevertheless, the impact on diverse ethnic groups remains unknown. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, and clinical trial registries were searched through August 2023 with the following keywords: nonsteroidal MRAs (finerenone, apararenone, esaxerenone, AZD9977, KBP‐5074), CKD, T2DM, and randomized controlled trial (RCT). A random effects model was used to calculate overall effect sizes. Results: Seven RCTs with 14 997 participants were enrolled. Nonsteroidal MRAs reduced urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) significantly more in Asians than non‐Asians: (weighted mean difference [WMD], −0.59, 95% CI, −0.73 to −0.45, p <.01) vs (WMD, −0.29, 95% CI, −0.32 to −0.27, p <.01), respectively. The average decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was similar in Asians and non‐Asians (p >.05). Regarding systolic blood pressure (SBP), nonsteroidal MRAs had a better antihypertension performance in Asians (WMD, −5.12, 95% CI, −5.84 to −4.41, p <.01) compared to non‐Asians (WMD, −3.64, 95% CI, −4.38 to −2.89, p <.01). A higher incidence of hyperkalemia and eGFR decrease ≥30% was found in Asians than non‐Asians (p <.01). Conclusions: Nonsteroidal MRAs exhibited significant renal benefits by decreasing UACR and lowering SBP in Asian than that of non‐Asian patients with CKD and T2DM, without increase of adverse events except hyperkalemia and eGFR decrease ≥30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South China Sea (SCS) experienced three episodes of seafloor spreading and left three fossil spreading centers presently located at 18°N, 17°N and 15.5°N. Spreading ceased at these three locations during magnetic anomaly 10, 8, and 5c, respectively. Daimao Seamount (16.6. Ma) was formed 10. my after the cessation of the 17°N spreading center. Volcaniclastic rocks and shallow-water carbonate facies near the summit of Daimao Seamount provide key information on the seamount's geologic history. New major and trace element and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions of basaltic breccia clasts in the volcaniclastics suggest that Daimao and other SCS seamounts have typical ocean island basalt-like composition and possess a 'Dupal' isotopic signature. Our new analyses, combined with available data, indicate that the basaltic foundation of Daimao Seamount was formed through subaqueous explosive volcanic eruptions at 16.6. Ma. The seamount subsided rapidly (>. 0.12. mm/y) at first, allowing the deposition of shallow-water, coral-bearing carbonates around its summit and, then, at a slower rate (

The high-quality waveguide structure in the Dy 3 + -doped Y3Al5O 1 2 transparent ceramic is of significance for the application of integrated micro-light elements. However, there have been no reports on the preparation of optical waveguides by ion implantation in the Dy 3 + -doped Y3Al5O 1 2 transparent ceramic. The work reports on the formation of optical planar waveguides by using the proton implantation in the Dy 3 + -doped Y3Al5O 1 2 transparent ceramic. The acceleration energy and the dose of the protons are 400 keV and 8 × 1 0 1 6 ions/cm2, respectively. The structure of the fabricated waveguide is captured with the high-res/mag images by a metallurgical microscope. The dark-mode spectrum and the refractive index distribution are gained by the prism coupling system and the RCM software, respectively. The measurement and simulation of the near-field intensity distribution indicate the propagation of light field in the waveguide. The results are of potential to the compact devices in the photonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field investigations and back analyses were conducted on a rockfall hazard. The flexible barrier protection system constructed along the roadside was damaged by the rockfall impact and lost its mitigation ability. Vital physical characteristics such as rockfall trajectory and kinetic energy were presumed based on the data from the aerial survey and the slope digital model. A numerical model, including slope, rockfalls, and flexible barrier, was created and thus the impacting process was reproduced. It demonstrates that the impact kinetic energy of the rockfall is only around 40 % of its design protection energy. The improper connections of members are the leading causes of damage, which prevent the flexible barrier from producing significant deformation and reduce its capacity to absorb impact force. The damage can be avoided by changing the connections of the members to improve the ability of the nets and ropes to slide and deform. The calculation results indicate that the impact resistance of the optimized model is 3 times better than the actual project. The findings can be used as a guide when designing a flexible protection system that performs better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]