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We estimate a series of Threshold Vector Autoregression models to examine the nonlinear nature of interactions among housing market condition, output growth, credit market condition, monetary policy, and inflation across different housing market regimes. We find that the effects of housing, output, monetary, and credit shocks are highly regime-dependent, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Almost all shocks have larger impacts when the housing market is in the distress regime than normal regime. Furthermore, we find that the asymmetrical effects of shocks are the most prominent when the housing market moves in and out of the distress regime. However, once the housing market is in the normal regime, the asymmetry becomes economically insignificant when the housing market condition crosses between moderate and booming growth phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We analyzed cervical sagittal parameters and muscular function in different cervical kyphosis types. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled subjects with cervical spine lordosis (cervical curvature < −4°) or degenerative cervical kyphosis (cervical curvature > 4°), including C-, S-, and R-type kyphosis. We recorded patients' general information (gender, age, body mass index), visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Cervical sagittal parameters including C2–C7 Cobb angle (Cobb), T1 slope (T1S), C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), spino-cranial angle (SCA), range of motion (ROM), and muscular function (flexion-relaxation ratio (FRR) and co-contraction ratio (CCR) of neck/shoulder muscles on surface electromyography). Differences in cervical sagittal parameters and muscular function in subjects with different cervical spine alignments, and correlations between VAS scores, NDI, cervical sagittal parameters, and muscular function indices were statistically analyzed. Results: The FRR of the splenius capitis (SPL), upper trapezius (UTr), and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) were higher in subjects with cervical lordosis than in subjects with cervical kyphosis. FRRSPL was higher in subjects with C-type kyphosis than in subjects with R- and S-type kyphosis (P < 0.05), and was correlated with VAS scores, Cobb angle, T1S, and SVA. FRRUTr was correlated with NDI, SCA, T1S, and SVA. FRRSCM was correlated with VAS scores and Cobb angle. CCR was correlated with SCA and SVA. Conclusion: Cervical sagittal parameters differed among different cervical kyphosis types. FRRs and CCRs were significantly worse in R-type kyphosis than other kyphosis types. Cervical muscular functions were correlated with cervical sagittal parameters and morphological alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is inevitable that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are subjected to random vibrations due to environmental noise, which may impair their mechanical properties. The nonlinear dynamics associated with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) under random noise has been investigated in this work. First, based on the nonlocal theory and the Euler–Bernoulli beam model with fixed supports at both ends, the governed equations and boundary conditions are established according to Hamilton’s principle. Second, the Galerkin method is used to approximate the differential equations of motion and the stochastic averaging method (SAM) is applied to predict the approximate response of the original system. Subsequently, a detailed parametric study is conducted to analyze the nonlinear random vibration response of the SWCNT with nonlocal effects, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparing the analytical results with those from the Runge–Kutta method. Finally, by solving the backward Kolmogorov (BK) equation and the generalized Pontryagin (GP) equation simultaneously, the conditional reliability function (CRF) and mean first-passage time (MFPT) for determining the reliability of SWCNT systems are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver condition worldwide. Numerous studies conducted recently have demonstrated a connection between the dysbiosis of the development of NAFLD and gut microbiota. Rebuilding a healthy gut ecology has been proposed as a strategy involving the use of probiotics. The purpose of this work is to investigate and compare the function of probiotics Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) and VSL#3 in NAFLD mice. Rodent NAFLD was modeled using a methionine choline-deficient diet (MCD) with/without oral probiotic delivery. Subsequently, qPCR, histological staining, and liver function tests were conducted. Mass spectrometry-based analysis and 16S rDNA gene sequencing were used to investigate the liver metabolome and gut microbiota. We found that while both A. muciniphila and VSL#3 reduced hepatic fat content, A. muciniphila outperformed VSL#3. Furthermore, probiotic treatment restored the β diversity of the gut flora and A. muciniphila decreased the abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Ileibacterium valens. These probiotics altered the metabolism in MCD mice, especially the glycerophospholipid metabolism. In conclusion, our findings distinguished the role of A. muciniphila and VSL#3 in NAFLD and indicated that oral-gavage probiotics remodel gut microbiota and improve metabolism, raising the possibility of using probiotics in the cure of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]