This study examines the risks of seawater intrusion (SWI) in data scarce aquifers along the Eastern Mediterranean by quantifying the interaction of the main natural, anthropogenic and climatic drivers, while also considering varying abilities of implementing adaptation and mitigation measures. For this purpose, we conducted a semi-quantitative Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis representing a first attempt at integrating a complex physical process with multi layered influences in a SWOT analysis model that was tested at 26 coastal aquifers with varying levels of SWI severity. The analysis results showed alarming signs of SWI at several eastern and southeastern aquifers, particularly those underlying densely populated centers (i.e. Beirut, Lebanon; Magoza, Cyprus; Gaza, Palestine and the Nile Delta, Egypt). The analysis also highlighted adaptive capabilities that appear to be strong in Cyprus, Israel and Turkey, emerging in Egypt, and weak in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. The risks exhibited a strong and statistically significant positive relationship with the reported status of SWI at the tested aquifers thus providing an effective decision-making tool towards the preliminary assessment of SWI in regions with data scarcity. The study concludes with proposing a framework for sustainable aquifer management in the East Med region with emphasis on controlling SWI risks.Tropical secondary forests play a prominent role in conserving biodiversity and providing ecosystem services, but their recovery can be slow and their succession trajectory is distinct from old-growth forests. Thinning is an essential silvicultural approach to enhance the recovery rate and timber production of forests. However, the selection of trees to thin has been mainly based on size class rather than on species identity. There is little empirical or experimental evidence of species-focused thinning with the goal of altering species composition. We examined the effects of thinning on community structure, demographic rates, species richness and functional diversity of woody plants in a detailed investigation of 60-year-old secondary tropical lowland rain forest on Hainan Island, South China. The density and basal area of trees ≥5 cm DBH (diameter at breast height) increased significantly after five years' recovery with no significant change for saplings (DBH less then 5 cm). Species composition after thid girdling of pioneer and mid-successional species in a way that could accelerate recovery and improve the growth and recruitment of late-successional species in tropical secondary forests.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/protac-tubulin-degrader-1.html  Thinning at a relatively low intensity can maintain species diversity and alter species functional composition. This outcome shows promise for improved future management of tropical forests in human-modified tropical forest landscapes.Previously, a transverse-to-transverse single scattering model (T-T SSR) was developed for a pulse echo configuration, which may have limitations for strongly scattering materials. In this work, a transverse-to-transverse double scattering model (T-T DSR) is presented to model the transverse ultrasonic backscatter more accurately. First, the Wigner distribution of the transducer beam pattern is extended to a transverse wave. Next, the multiple scattering framework is followed to derive the transverse and longitudinal components of the second-order scattering. Then, a quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) method is used with Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) acceleration to calculate numerical results of the final expression which contains a five-dimensional integral. The correlation length, the focal length of the transducer, and incident angle are used to investigate differences between the T-T DSR model and the T-T SSR model. Finally, a backscatter experiment is performed on two stainless steel specimens with different grain sizes to determine the respective correlation lengths. The results show that the T-T DSR model has better performance over the T-T SSR model for evaluating the grain size of these relatively strongly-scattering specimens.
  This study aimed to screen key genes significantly associated with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and predicted suitable drugs for the treatment of CTEPH from the perspective of immune cells.
 
  The dataset GSE130391 was used for this analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the CTEPH and control groups were screened. Abundance of infiltrating immune cells was analyzed and immune-related DEGs were identified. Next, the circular RNA (circRNA)-micro RNA (miRNA)-mRNA network was constructed, followed by functional enrichment analysis. Then, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and drug-gene interactions were predicted. Finally, miRNA and circRNA prediction results were verified by our previously published studies.
 
  Five key immune cell-related DEGs [CD83 molecule (CD83), complement c5a receptor 1 (C5AR1), atypical chemokine receptor 1 (ACKR1), profilin 2 (PFN2), and solute carrier family 2 member 3 (SLC2A3)] were identified. Several circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions were obtained, including circ_0022342miR-503-5pSLC2A3 and circ_0002062miR-92b-3p/miR-92a-3pmannosidase alpha class 2A member 1 (MAN2A1). Immune cell for SLC2A3 was eosinophils and for MAN2A1 was regulatory T cells (Tregs). Additionally, Glufosfamide and Kifunensine might be suitable as candidate drugs for CTEPH treatment.
 
  SLC2A3 and MAN2A1 may be important genes for the pathogenesis of CTEPH. Possible immune regulation mechanisms in CTEPH may be circ_0022342miR-503-5pSLC2A3 and circ_0002062miR-92b-3p/miR-92a-3pMAN2A1. These results may be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of CTEPH from the perspective of immunology.
 SLC2A3 and MAN2A1 may be important genes for the pathogenesis of CTEPH. Possible immune regulation mechanisms in CTEPH may be circ_0022342miR-503-5pSLC2A3 and circ_0002062miR-92b-3p/miR-92a-3pMAN2A1. These results may be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of CTEPH from the perspective of immunology.
  Long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has substantially reduced the risk of post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis at the expense of major bleeding. We hypothesized that a short-term DAPT followed by extended P2Y
  inhibitor monotherapy might be appropriate for patients with both high ischemic and bleeding risks.
 
  We searched the databases Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify randomized trials assessing the antiplatelet strategies after PCI. The primary safety endpoint was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 3 or 5 bleeding. The efficacy outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality/cardiovascular disease (CVD) death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. A random-effect model was used to calculate the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
 
  We identified 5 randomized trials comparing P2Y
  inhibitor monotherapy with standard DAPT (12months) (16,057 versus 16,088).