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Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are critical public health challenges influenced by environmental and meteorological factors. Understanding the association between these factors and disease incidence can provide valuable insights for disease prevention and control.This study analyzed data from Anshun City, western Guizhou, collected between January 2018 and December 2022. A Distributed Lag Non-linear Model (DLNM) was employed to evaluate the lagged and non-linear effects of meteorological variables (e.g., temperature, precipitation, wind speed) and air pollutants (e.g., PM2.5, SO2) on the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Covariates such as seasonality and time trends were included to adjust for confounding effects.The results revealed significant associations between meteorological factors, air pollution, and disease incidence. Increased precipitation and SO2 concentrations significantly elevated the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, particularly at a lag of 25–30 days (e.g., RR for SO2 = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10–1.28). Conversely, higher average and maximum wind speeds demonstrated a protective effect (e.g., RR for maximum wind speed = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.62–0.78). Seasonal patterns and temperature variations further influenced disease incidence.These findings highlight the complex interactions between meteorological factors and air pollution in influencing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease risk. The study provides evidence for targeted public health interventions and emphasizes the importance of incorporating meteorological and environmental data into disease prevention strategies.

Osmoregulation is important for plant growth, development and response to environmental changes. SNF1-related protein kinase 2s (SnRK2s) are quickly activated by osmotic stress and are central components in osmotic stress and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathways; however, the upstream components required for SnRK2 activation and early osmotic stress signaling are still unknown. Here, we report a critical role for B2, B3 and B4 subfamilies of Raf-like kinases (RAFs) in early osmotic stress as well as ABA signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana . B2, B3 and B4 RAFs are quickly activated by osmotic stress and are required for phosphorylation and activation of SnRK2s. Analyses of high-order mutants of RAFs reveal critical roles of the RAFs in osmotic stress tolerance and ABA responses as well as in growth and development. Our findings uncover a kinase cascade mediating osmoregulation in higher plants. Rapid activation of SnRK2 kinases is central to plant responses to osmotic stress and abscisic acid. Here the authors show that a group of Raf-like kinases are very quickly activated by osmotic stress, and then phosphorylate and activate SnRK2s.

In Brayton cycle energy storage systems powered by supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2), compressors are among the most critical components. Understanding their internal flow loss characteristics is, therefore, essential for enhancing the performance of such systems. This study examines the main sCO2 compressor from Sandia Laboratory, utilizing entropy production theory to elucidate the sources and distribution of energy losses both across the entire machine and within its key flow components. The findings reveal that turbulent viscous dissipation is the predominant contributor to total entropy production. Interestingly, while the relative importance of the entropy produced by various sources as the mass flow rate rises remains essentially unchanged, the total entropy production exhibits a non-monotonic trend, first decreasing and then increasing with the mass flow rate. High entropy production in the impeller is primarily concentrated in the clearance region and along the rear cover of the impeller tip. In the diffuser, it is most pronounced on the front and rear plates and within the central flow path. Meanwhile, in the volute, the highest entropy production occurs around the diffuser outlet and along the outer region of the volute’s centerline.