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Staphylococcus aureus, particularly drug-resistant strains, poses significant challenges in healthcare due to its ability to form biofilms, which confer increased resistance to antibiotics and immune responses. Building on previous knowledge that several flavonoids exhibit antibiofilm activity, this study sought to identify a novel flavonoid capable of effectively inhibiting biofilm formation and virulence factor production in S. aureus strains including MRSA. Among the 19 flavonoid-like compounds tested, 3,2′-dihydroxyflavone (3,2′-DHF) was identified for the first time as inhibiting biofilm formation and virulence factors in S. aureus with an MIC 75 µg/mL. The antibiofilm activity was further confirmed by microscopic methods. Notably, 3,2′-DHF at 5 µg/mL was effective in inhibiting both mono- and polymicrobial biofilms involving S. aureus and Candida albicans, a common co-pathogen. 3,2′-DHF reduces hemolytic activity, slime production, and the expression of key virulence factors such as hemolysin gene hla and nuclease gene nuc1 in S. aureus. These findings highlight the potential of 3,2′-DHF as a novel antibiofilm and antivirulence agent against both bacterial and fungal biofilms, offering a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics in the treatment of biofilm-associated infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many manufacturing firms face considerable difficulties in building export capacity and selling their products in international markets. These firms often struggle with unpredictable cost changes, logistical problems along the supply chain, and rising labor expenses that could threaten the competitive edge of manufacturing operations. As there is also a clear absence of practical export models tailored to the unique needs of industrial firms, our study aims to offer a more holistic approach to assessing the impact of cost components on enhancing export-oriented production capacity (EOPC), a perspective not comprehensively provided by the comparative advantage theory, the Heckscher–Ohlin model, or the resource-based theory. While offering a comprehensive analysis of cost components in production, we argue that adjusting the resources, managing the costs, and enhancing production efficiency can significantly improve the EOPC of the manufacturing firms. Using primary data collected from 200 manufacturing firms in Oman during the period 2012–2016, multiple regression analysis followed by descriptive statistical analysis together with a correlation matrix indicates strong positive relationships between the EOPC and factors such as the raw material cost (RMC), labor wages (LW), labor force (LF), and R&D costs (RND). Multicollinearity assessment shows VIF values below the threshold, suggesting reliable estimates. Interaction terms and market conditions were integrated into the model, enhancing its predictive accuracy. Preliminary multiple regression analysis confirms the significant impact of the RMC, LW, LF, and R&D on the EOPC, while highlighting the importance of market conditions in moderating these effects. The model's adjusted R2 value indicates a strong fit, showing that the independent variables account for a substantial proportion of the variance in the EOPC. Each variable's importance is reflected in its coefficient, while p-values assess the statistical significance, highlighting which factors are crucial for enhancing export capabilities. Specifically, low p-values for cost components, labor force size, and wages confirm their significant influence, and varying market conditions further modulate these effects, demonstrating the accurate interplay between internal and external factors. Adjustments in cost components under varying market scenarios were analyzed, indicating optimal strategies for increasing the EOPC. Of the five scenarios proposed to distribute the cost either among some variables while keeping others constant or among all the factors, the best-case scenario adjusted all variables together, resulting in a 20% increment in exports. We conclude with some practical and policy implications for governments to support industries in accessing cheap resources through tax reductions on imported raw materials and efficient supply chains, while promoting innovation, technology adoption, and R&D investment at the firm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the efficiency of factor allocation in food production is the foundation for accelerating the formation of new quality productivity and achieving an agricultural green transformation. However, there has been no scholarly focus on their mechanisms and the interactions involved. This exploration is an important reference for enhancing the green production capacity of major grain-producing areas. In this study, 13 prefecture-level cities in Heilongjiang Province, China's largest grain production base, were selected as the research samples. A model for identifying factor misallocation and grain green total factor productivity (AGGTFP) was constructed to identify the spatiotemporal differences in factor misallocation and green total factor productivity. A fixed effects model was used to explore the impact of single-factor misallocation and the interaction of dual-factor misallocation with AGGTFP. The results show that from 2004 to 2022, the AGGTFP in 13 prefecture-level cities in Heilongjiang Province has shown a slow growth trend. The inhibitory effects of single-factor misallocation of land, labor, and capital on green total factor productivity are sequentially enhanced. The interaction effects of capital misallocation and labor misallocation and labor misallocation and land misallocation strengthen the inhibitory effects of misallocation on the AGGTFP. Therefore, it is necessary to further promote the optimization of production factors and improve the green production capacity for grain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical characteristics of coal reservoirs are important factors affecting the occurrence status of coalbed methane, as well as key factors restricting the production capacity. Therefore, taking 3# coal in Qinnan region of China as the research object, based on the actual production data of 200 coalbed methane wells in the research area, experimental testing combined with simulation analysis was used to explore the physical properties of medium and high-order reservoirs and their impact on the occurrence and production of coalbed methane. The characteristics of coalbed methane reservoir formation and production capacity changes in the research area were revealed, and the factors restricting the production capacity of coalbed methane wells were calculated using the gray correlation analysis method. The results indicate that the micropores in the coal reservoir in the study area are well-developed, while the macropores and mesopores (exogenous fractures) are underdeveloped, the surface of the micropores is complex, and the connectivity of the micropores is poor, resulting in reservoirs with high gas adsorption characteristics and low permeability. The fractal characteristics of pores and fractures can reflect the permeability characteristics of reservoirs. Permeability is positively correlated with macropores (exogenous fractures) and mesopores, and negatively correlated with micropores. There is a positive correlation between permeability and productivity, and the reservoir in the study area has a stress-sensitive boundary. The main factors restricting productivity under the complex pore and fracture system of high-rank coal reservoir were identified, and the gray relational analysis method was used to evaluate the development effect of the research area. This study provides guidance for the development of coalbed methane production in high-rank coal reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HZ 26-B buried hill reservoir is located in the eastern part of the South China Sea. This reservoir is characterized by the development of natural fractures, a high density, and a complex geological structure, featuring an upper condensate gas layer and a lower volatile oil layer. These characteristics present significant challenges for oilfield exploration. To address these challenges, this study employed advanced embedded discrete fracture methods to conduct comprehensive numerical simulations of the fractured buried hill reservoirs. By meticulously characterizing the flow mechanisms within these reservoirs, the study not only reveals their unique characteristics but also establishes an embedded discrete fracture numerical model at the oilfield scale. Furthermore, a combination of single-factor sensitivity analysis and the Pearson correlation coefficient method was used to identify the primary controlling factors affecting the development of complex condensate reservoirs in ancient buried hills. The results indicate that the main factors influencing the production capacity are the matrix permeability, geomechanical effects, and natural fracture length. In contrast, the impact of the threshold pressure gradient and bottomhole flow pressure is relatively weak. This study's findings provide a scientific basis for the efficient development of the HZ 26-B oilfield and offer valuable references and insights for the exploration and development of similar fractured buried hill reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter-well frac-hit has become an important challenge in the development of unconventional oil and gas resources such as fractured tight sandstone. Due to the presence of hydraulic fracturing fractures, secondary induced fractures, natural fractures, and other seepage media in real formations, the acquisition of stress fields requires the coupling effect of seepage and stress. In this process, there is also stress sensitivity, which leads to unclear dynamic evolution laws of stress fields and increases the difficulty of the staged multi-cluster fracturing of horizontal wells. The use of a multi-stage stress-sensitive horizontal well production stress field prediction model is an effective means of analyzing the influence of natural fracture parameters, main fracture parameters, and multi-stage stress sensitivity coefficients on the stress field. This article considers multi-stage stress sensitivity and, based on fractured sandstone reservoir parameters, establishes a numerical model for the dynamic evolution of the production stress field in horizontal wells with matrix self-supporting fracture-supported fracture–seepage–stress coupling. The influence of various factors on the production stress field is analyzed. The results show that under constant pressure production, for low-permeability reservoirs, multi-stage stress sensitivity has a relatively low impact on reservoir stress, and the amplitude of principal stress change in the entire fracture length direction is only within the range of 0.27%, with no significant change in stress distribution; The parameters of the main fracture have a significant impact on the stress field, with a variation amplitude of within 2.85%. The ability of stress to diffuse from the fracture tip to the surrounding areas is stronger, and the stress concentration area spreads from an elliptical distribution to a semi-circular distribution. The random natural fracture parameters have a significant impact on pore pressure. As the density and angle of the fractures increase, the pore pressure changes within the range of 3.32%, and the diffusion area of pore pressure significantly increases, making it easy to communicate with the reservoir on both sides of the fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on county-level grain production and food security in North China; selects 17 indicators from both climatic conditions and human activities; applies yield fluctuation coefficients, spatial econometric modelling, the random forest method, and factor analysis to study the characteristics of grain production in North China and the influencing factors; and evaluates the situation of food security in North China based on grain production capacity. The following results were obtained: (1) The spatial and temporal changes in grain production located in North China from 2000 to 2020 are obvious. The grain output in North China from 2000 to 2020 maintains fluctuating growth at a rate of 0.38 × 1011 kg/10a. The east and south are the key areas for grain production in North China. Grain output was relatively stable except for 2003. with the cold spots of grain production being mainly in the northwestern area and the hot spots in the central and southern areas. (2) The changes in grain production in North China from 2000 to 2020 were less affected by climate and mainly influenced by human activity indicators. (3) As time progresses, the area of food shortage zones decreases in size, becoming evenly distributed and dispersed from the initial concentration in northern Hebei and most of Shanxi; the change in the supply–demand equilibrium zones is not obvious; and the area of surplus grain zones increases markedly in size, with a tendency to expand from the south and centre of the study area to the west and north. The grain production capacity of counties in the northwest and north is generally low, and even counties located in surplus grain areas have potential food security risks. However, in the east and south, due to their high grain production capacity, the per capita grain supply situation may be alleviated even in counties located in grain shortage areas. This study can deepen the understanding of the characteristics of food production in North China and enrich the research on food security. Analyses of factors influencing food production will improve a deeper understanding of food security. Food security evaluation based on food production capacity will contribute to a more precise and comprehensive understanding of the food security pattern in North China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the food equivalent unit (FEU), this article analyzed Chinese food consumption patterns, spatial mismatch, and production potential to explore agricultural reform strategies. Assessing production–demand mismatch involved the spatial mismatch model, drawing data from statistical yearbooks. Calculations of food production potential utilized the CASA model and the Thornthwaite Memorial model, with net primary productivity (NPP) derived from remote sensing data as indicators. The results showed that livestock product consumption is on the rise, and the spatial mismatch index for herbivorous livestock products was the largest, ranging from 22.81 to 98.12 in 2019. The mismatched degree distribution of rations and food-consuming livestock products showed a trend of increasing on both sides, with the Hu Huanyong line as the center line. Production factors played a predominant role in food production-to-demand mismatch. Climatic productivity and actual productivity decreased from the southeast to northwest in space in 2019, and human activities significantly impacted productivity. When grassland agriculture is pursued as the adjustment orientation, the production potential can reach up to 4540.76 × 107 kg·FEU. Moreover, a grassland agriculture plan was devised, prioritizing its development in the developed southern regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a crop that is affected by more than a hundred viral species. De la pera is a local varietal type of tomato that is very popular in southeastern Spain. However, it is highly susceptible to several viruses, such as Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), which is considered one of the most important diseases of tomato crops and is a limiting factor for production in both outdoor and protected crops, making it difficult to eradicate. This study shows the effect of gene introgression on the performance of traditional lines of De la pera by combining two genes that offer tolerance to TYLCV, Ty-1 and ty-5, on some yield and quality traits and on the antioxidant capacity of tomato fruits. Two pear tomato breeding families, UMH175 and UMH220, were evaluated. Four lines from each of the families with all homozygous combinations of the Ty-1 and ty-5 genes were studied. The results showed that the introgression of the ty-5 allele produced a slight negative effect on yield, mean fruit weight, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity, in contrast to Ty-1, which produced a large negative effect. None of the introgressions showed a negative effect on the antioxidant compounds. ty-5 is a promising gene for use in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prosperity of Po River Valley's quality agri-food system depends on the efficiency of its field crops, which are recently facing a crisis evidenced by cultivated areas decreasing and yields stagnating. Several factors, including EU policies and climate variability, impose an improvement in the use of production factors and adapted business models: literature shows how digitalization and Agriculture 4.0 can contribute to addressing these challenges. This paper aims to explore drivers and barriers in the adoption of digitalization among Po River Valley field crop farms, in a dynamic view. Using a case study approach to guarantee adequate consideration of context and conditions, three farms were studied. As one of the main outcomes, several drivers (digital skills, data management practices, and interoperability) that should be at the heart of policies were identified as demands to farmers in exchange for financial contributions, or as "innovation space" offered by EU institutions. Policies should not only focus on supporting mechanical/digital equipment acquisition but also on promoting the evolution of farmers' human capital. The framework developed paves the way for future research on the degree of farm digitalization in the same/similar territorial contexts: identified drivers of digital transition can be used as a basis for survey questionnaires, as well as tested in their validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic stresses, such as water limitation, are significant limiting factors in basil production. One alternative to mitigate the harmful effects of this stress on plants is using plant growth regulators. This study's objective is to evaluate different doses of plant regulators in basil under water deficiency conditions. A randomized block experimental design in a factorial scheme with two factors was used: the first factor referred to the water regimes of 50% and 100% stomatal conductance, the second to different doses of the plant regulator mixture: 0 mL L−1 (control), 3 mL L−1, 6 mL L−1, 9 mL L−1, and 12 mL L−1. Each treatment consisted of 12 pots per repetition. Biometric parameters, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and gas exchange were analyzed. The plant regulator positively influenced basil plants under water deficiency, with the most pronounced effects observed at the 12 mL L−1 dose: a 17% increase in the number of leaves, a fourfold increase in CO2 assimilation and carboxylation efficiency, and a sevenfold increase in water use efficiency. Therefore, the application of plant regulators on basil is recommended to mitigate the negative effects of water stress, with the most significant results observed at a dose of 12 mL L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycelium-based green composites (MBCs) represent an eco-friendly material innovation with vast potential across diverse applications. This paper provides a thorough review of the factors influencing the production and properties of MBCs, with a particular focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and long-term sustainability goals. It delves into critical aspects such as fungal species selection, substrate type selection, substrate preparation, optimal conditions, dehydrating methods, post-processing techniques, mold design, sterilization processes, cost comparison, key recommendations, and other necessary factors. Regarding fungal species selection, the paper highlights the significance of considering factors like mycelium species, decay type, hyphal network systems, growth rate, and bonding properties in ensuring the safety and suitability of MBCs fabrication. Substrate type selection is discussed, emphasizing the importance of chemical characteristics such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin content, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and the C: N ratio in determining mycelium growth and MBC properties. Substrate preparation methods, optimal growth conditions, and post-processing techniques are thoroughly examined, along with their impacts on MBCs quality and performance. Moreover, the paper discusses the importance of designing molds and implementing effective sterilization processes to ensure clean environments for mycelium growth. It also evaluates the costs associated with MBCs production compared to traditional materials, highlighting potential cost savings and economic advantages. Additionally, the paper provides key recommendations and precautions for improving MBC properties, including addressing fungal strain degeneration, encouraging research collaboration, establishing biosecurity protocols, ensuring regulatory compliance, optimizing storage conditions, implementing waste management practices, conducting life cycle assessments, and suggesting parameters for desirable MBC properties. Overall, this review offers valuable insights into the complex interplay of factors influencing MBCs production and provides guidance for optimizing processes to achieve sustainable, high-quality composites for diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This article discusses how to plan the transport of fattened pigs from farms to the abattoir efficiently when the farms are coordinated with the abattoir operation. In contrast to the papers published to date that have been concerned with the farmer's profit, this paper adopts the slaughterhouse perspective. Coordination with growers should help to better plan the collection of pigs by establishing the best routes for the trucks to ensure the optimal functioning of the abattoir. Starting from a real scenario, the study delves into a complex Team Orienteering Problem, taking into account factors such as stochastic production and maximum truck workload. The paper adopts the PJS heuristic and compares it with exact methods, revealing the computational infeasibility of the latter. Through scenario analysis, the study unveils insights into practical solutions, highlighting a positive relationship between the exploration of alternative routes, the number of trips, transport costs, and maximum reward. In particular, greater variability in the number of pigs to be collected presents opportunities for a more efficient mix of loads, especially if one truck can visit at least one more farm. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing the pig transport logistics, potentially improving the profitability and sustainability. In the context of pig farming, this paper addresses the optimization problem of collecting fattened pigs from farms to deliver them to the abattoir. Assuming that the pig sector is organized as a competitive supply chain with narrow profit margins, our aim is to apply analytics to cope with the uncertainty in production costs and revenues. Motivated by a real-life case, the paper analyzes a rich Team Orienteering Problem (TOP) with a homogeneous fleet, stochastic demands, and maximum workload. After describing the problem and reviewing the related literature, we introduce the PJS heuristic. Our approach is first compared with exact methods, which are revealed as computationally unfeasible. Later, a scenario analysis based on a real instance was performed to gain insight into the practical aspects. Our findings demonstrate a positive correlation between the number of alternative routes explored, the number of trips, the transportation cost, and the maximum reward. Regarding the variability in the number of pigs to collect, when a truck can visit more than one farm, better solutions can be found with higher variability since the load can be combined more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayer commingled production is a widely used development method to improve the production capacity of gas reservoirs. However, there is currently limited research on the gas production characteristics of multilayer commingled production in hydrate reservoirs with underlying gas. The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of multilayer commingled production in order to determine suitable hydrate reservoirs for such a development method. Firstly, we employed analytical solutions to the equations of fluid flow in porous media to determine the factors affecting the production capacity. Then, by employing numerical simulation and depressurization methods, the rates of gas production and gas release from hydrate dissociation in a single production well were estimated. Additionally, the production capacity ratio of multilayer commingled production and separated-layer production was proposed. The influence of different reservoir characteristics on multilayer commingled production yield was determined and plotted. When there is an interlayer between hydrates and the underlying gas, the formation pressure ratio is the decisive factor affecting the multilayer commingled production yield. When there is no interlayer, the multilayer commingled production rate will increase with an increase in the permeability ratio, hydrate saturation, and underlying gas saturation. This study provides a theoretical foundation for predicting the production capacity of hydrate reservoirs, as well as assistance in selecting the hydrate reservoirs most suitable for multilayer commingled production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: Pig tracking provides strong support for refined management in pig farms and can assist in realizing customized, automated, and intellectualized management. However, there are many complex factors in actual production that result in pigs not being tracked consistently over time. To address this issue, we proposed a long-term video tracking method for group-housed pigs based on improved StrongSORT. The experimental results proved that our study demonstrates high practicality, catering to the needs of practical production. It improved the efficiency of farming personnel and lays the foundation for the automated monitoring of pigs. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that we have also released a dataset specifically designed for long-term pig tracking in this paper. Pig tracking provides strong support for refined management in pig farms. However, long and continuous multi-pig tracking is still extremely challenging due to occlusion, distortion, and motion blurring in real farming scenarios. This study proposes a long-term video tracking method for group-housed pigs based on improved StrongSORT, which can significantly improve the performance of pig tracking in production scenarios. In addition, this research constructs a 24 h pig tracking video dataset, providing a basis for exploring the effectiveness of long-term tracking algorithms. For object detection, a lightweight pig detection network, YOLO v7-tiny_Pig, improved based on YOLO v7-tiny, is proposed to reduce model parameters and improve detection speed. To address the target association problem, the trajectory management method of StrongSORT is optimized according to the characteristics of the pig tracking task to reduce the tracking identity (ID) switching and improve the stability of the algorithm. The experimental results show that YOLO v7-tiny_Pig ensures detection applicability while reducing parameters by 36.7% compared to YOLO v7-tiny and achieving an average video detection speed of 435 frames per second. In terms of pig tracking, Higher-Order Tracking Accuracy (HOTA), Multi-Object Tracking Accuracy (MOTP), and Identification F1 (IDF1) scores reach 83.16%, 97.6%, and 91.42%, respectively. Compared with the original StrongSORT algorithm, HOTA and IDF1 are improved by 6.19% and 10.89%, respectively, and Identity Switch (IDSW) is reduced by 69%. Our algorithm can achieve the continuous tracking of pigs in real scenarios for up to 24 h. This method provides technical support for non-contact pig automatic monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan-triphosphate (TPP) nanogels are widely studied drug delivery carrier systems, typically prepared via a simple mixing process. However, the effects of the processing factors on nanogel production have not been extensively explored, despite the importance of understanding and standardising such factors to allow upscaling and commercial usage. This study aims to systematically evaluate the effects of various fabrication and processing factors on the properties of nanogels using a Design of Experiment approach. Hydrodynamic size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency were determined as the dependent factors. The temperature, stirring rate, chitosan grade, crosslinker choice, and the interaction term between temperature and chitosan grade were found to have a significant effect on the particle size, whereas the effect of temperature and the addition rate of crosslinker on the PDI was also noteworthy. Moreover, the addition rate of the crosslinker and the volume of the reaction vessel were found to impact the encapsulation efficiency. The zeta potential of the nanogels was found to be governed by the chitosan grade. The optimal fabrication conditions for the development of medium molecular weight chitosan and TPP nanogels included the following: the addition rate for TPP solution was set at 2 mL/min, while the solution was then stirred at a temperature of 50 °C and a stirring speed of 600 rpm. The volume of the glass vial used was 28 mL, while the stirrer size was 20 mm. The second aim of the study was to evaluate the potential for scaling up the nanogels. Size and PDI were found to increase from 128 nm to 151 nm and from 0.232 to 0.267, respectively, when the volume of the reaction mixture was increased from 4 to 20 mL and other processing factors were kept unchanged. These results indicate that caution is required when scaling up as the nanogel properties may be significantly altered with an increasing production scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional quality control methodologies are inadequate for fully elucidating the aberrant patterns of product quality. A multitude of factors influence product quality, yet the limited number of controlled quality characteristics is insufficient for accurately diagnosing quality abnormalities. Additionally, there are asymmetries in data collection, data pre-processing, and model interpretation. In this context, a quality anomaly recognition and diagnosis model for the complex product manufacturing process is constructed based on a deep residual network, support vector machine (SVM), and Shapley additive explanation (SHAP). Given the numerous complex product quality characteristic indexes and unpredictable accidental factors in the production process, it is necessary to mine the deep relationship between quality characteristic data and quality state. This mining is achieved by utilizing the strong feature extraction ability of the deep residual shrinkage network (DRSN) through self-learning. The symmetry of the data within the model has also been taken into account to ensure a more balanced and comprehensive analysis. The excellent binary classification ability of the support vector machine is combined with the DRSN to identify the quality anomaly state. The SHAP interpretable model is employed to diagnose the quality anomaly problem of a single product and to identify and diagnose quality anomalies in the manufacturing process of complex products. The effectiveness of the model is validated through case analysis. The accuracy of the DRSN-SVM quality anomaly recognition model reaches 99%, as demonstrated by example analysis, and the model exhibits faster convergence and significantly higher accuracy compared with the naive Bayesian model classification and support vector machine classification models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the digital transformation era, digitalization integrates deeply into production, bolstering output efficiency and economic value. Through stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), this research positions digitalization as an input in the production function, dissecting its elasticity impact on capital, labor, and output. The effect of digitalization on total factor productivity change (TFPC) is explained by comparing TFPC with and without digitalization. Findings reveal that digitalization's integration into economic growth displays a U-shaped trajectory, with initial productivity setbacks transitioning to long-term benefits as industries adapt. The periodic complementarity and substitution between digitalization and labor, along with a weak substitution relationship with capital, illustrate that, as a production factor, digitalization dynamically interacts with other factors, both complementing and substituting them. This dynamic interplay highlights the intricate role that digitalization plays within the production function. Furthermore, digitalization has played a crucial role in China's TFP growth, which also highlights the lack of other technological progress. Meanwhile, the pace of digital transformation presents scalability challenges, evident in the fluctuating scale efficiency change (SEC). Policymakers are advised to address these early stage challenges through supportive measures, ensuring smoother digital transitions. Concurrently, industries should embrace this non-linear transformation, emphasizing adaptability to maximize digitalization's long-term advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive examination of Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis (Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis), the primary resin-extraction tree species in Yunnan Province, China. In this study, we formulated different concentration gradients of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% of diquat solution as tapping stimulant to test the effect of different concentrations on the resin gain rate of Pinus kesiya, and analyzed the relationship between anatomical structure, major chemical composition of turpentine and resin yield by methods such as wood anatomy and chemical composition analysis of turpentine. The primary focus of the investigation was on exploring the interrelationships among resin-tapping stimulants, anatomical structures, turpentine components, and resin yield. Research findings demonstrate a significant enhancement in resin production due to the application of stimulants, with the highest increase rate reaching 55% in a specific group, while others achieved approximately 30% increments. Moreover, measurement data about resin duct dimensions indicate a noteworthy increase in resin duct area for the stimulant-treated group compared to the control group. However, it should be noted that the impact on resin duct area by varying stimulant concentrations was relatively minor. Furthermore, continuous observation of resin extraction from different resin-yield classes of P. kesiya revealed insignificant variation in resin yield over time for the low and moderate resin-yield groups. In contrast, the high resin-yield group exhibited a gradual increase in resin production. Interestingly, the high resin-yield group exhibited the smallest resin duct area, but the highest resin duct density, indicating an interconnectedness of resin duct-related data that influences resin yield. Additionally, correlative investigations between anatomical structures and resin yield demonstrate a positive correlation between resin duct area and resin yield, total resin production, and average resin yield. This underscores the importance of resin duct area as a significant factor in resin production. On the other hand, the influence of stimulant concentrations on the turpentine components was found to be negligible. Overall, the correlation results suggest that turpentine components cannot reliably predict or differentiate between high and low resin-yield trees. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the interrelationships among stimulants, anatomical structures, and turpentine components, offering a theoretical foundation for the resin extraction and resin processing industries in Yunnan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reasonable allocation of grain production factors is of vital importance to food security and agricultural development. To assess the impact of agricultural factor misallocation on food security, this paper, based on the panel data from China spanning from 2005 to 2019, conducted a comprehensive evaluation of agricultural factor misallocation and food security coefficients across 31 provinces in China, using a spatial Durbin model to examine the effects of factor misallocations on food security. The findings are as follows: (1) Production factor misallocation has significant negative impacts on food security, among them, capital misallocation and labor misallocation inhibiting food security in the local and neighboring areas, and land misallocation has a significant negative impact on food security in local areas, while its spatial spillover effect is no longer significant. (2) Mechanism analysis shows that capital misallocation and labor misallocation hinder the development of transportation infrastructure and the transfer of rural labor, thereby reducing food security. Land misallocation has accelerated the construction of transportation infrastructure, promoted the migration of rural labor, and helped ensure food security. (3) The regional heterogeneity test reveals that capital misallocation and labor misallocation hinder food security in major grain-producing areas and both sides of the Hu Huanyong Line (Hu Line). Meanwhile, land misallocation hinders food security development in various grain-producing areas, as well as the southeast of the Hu Line. Based on the above conclusions, this paper proposes suggestions to improve the efficiency of land and labor resource allocation, accelerate the construction of transportation infrastructure, and encourage the transfer speed of surplus agricultural labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine a productive efficiency index that incorporates two new production factors of sustainability—an environmental variable as an undesirable output and a well-being indicator as a desirable output—for 12 years of data from 2007 to 2018 pertaining to 47 prefectures in Japan. This study proposes a combination of a new data envelopment analysis (DEA) intermediate approach with the DEA super-efficiency model to measure the integrated productive efficiency. The approach incorporates CO2 emissions and a well-being indicator into the conventional productivity index. A three-stage analysis is conducted by sequentially adding new factors, CO2 emissions, and a well-being indicator. We also conduct a club convergence analysis of the productive efficiency and observe how clubs are formed, what their characteristics are, and how the efficiency changes over time. Through these approaches, we examine the practicality of the new efficiency measure and discuss regional policy implications. We found that higher labor productivity and carbon productivity in major industries caused increased productive efficiency. Adding sustainability factors to the conventional production factors in efficiency measurement widened the efficiency gap among prefectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In Bangladesh, buffalo dairy farming is gaining traction for its cost-effectiveness and the nutritional benefits of buffalo milk. This study aims to examine how environmental factors like age, number of past calvings, season of calving, intervals between calvings, and dry periods influence milk yield and lactation patterns. Through monitoring 384 buffaloes from seven populations across different ecological zones, significant impacts of various factors on milk production and reproduction were observed. Findings indicate that such environmental considerations are crucial for enhancing buffalo dairy farming, suggesting that a focus on these aspects could substantially benefit genetic improvement programs. Household buffalo dairy farming is gaining popularity nowadays in Bangladesh because of the outstanding food value of buffalo milk as well as the lower production cost of buffalo compared to cattle. An initiative has recently been taken for the genetic improvement of indigenous dairy buffaloes. The present study was carried out to determine the influence of some environmental factors like age, parity, season of calving, calving interval, dry period on the lactation yield, and lactation curve of indigenous dairy buffaloes of Bangladesh. A total of 384 indigenous dairy buffaloes from the 3rd and 4th parity of seven herds under two different agroecological zones covering four seasons were selected and ear tagged for individual buffalo milk recording. A milk yield of 300 days (MY300d) was calculated following the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) and the data were evaluated using the generalized linear model (GLM). In production traits, the mean of calculated lactation period (CLP), calculated lactation yield (CLY), and milk yield of 300 days (MY300d) of the overall population were 267.28 days, 749.36 kg, and 766.92 kg, respectively, whereas calving interval (CI) and dry period (DP) as reproductive traits were 453.06 days and 185.78 days, respectively. The season of calving, age of buffalo cows, population or herd, agroecological zone, calving interval, and dry period had significant effects on production traits (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). The season of calving, level of milk production of 300 days, population, and agroecological zone significantly affected the reproduction traits (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). Parity was found to be non-significant for both types of traits. The average peak yield of test day (TD) milk production was highest at TD4 (4.47 kg, 98th day of lactation). The average MY300d of milk production was the highest in the Lalpur buffalo population (1076.13 kg) and the lowest in the buffalo population of Bhola (592.44 kg). The correlations between milk production traits (CLP, CLY, and MY-300d) and reproduction traits (CI and DP) were highly significant (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). Positive and high correlation was found within milk traits and reproduction traits, but correlation was negative between milk traits and reproduction traits. Therefore, these non-genetic factors should be considered in the future for any genetic improvement program for indigenous dairy buffaloes in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) plays a crucial role in metabolism and brain function. Glucosamine (GLN) has been recognized for its diverse beneficial effects. This study aimed to elucidate the modulation of FGF21 production by GLN and its impact on learning and memory functions. Using both in vivo and in vitro models, we investigated the effects of GLN on mice fed with a normal diet or high-fat diet and on mouse HT22 hippocampal cells, STHdhQ7/Q7 striatal cells, and rat primary cortical neurons challenged with GLN. Our results indicated that GLN promotes learning and memory functions in mice and upregulates FGF21 expression in the hippocampus, cortex, and striatum, as well as in HT22 cells, STHdhQ7/Q7 cells, and cortical neurons. In animals receiving GLN together with an FGF21 receptor FGFR1 inhibitor (PD173074), the GLN-enhanced learning and memory functions and induction of FGF21 production in the hippocampus were significantly attenuated. While exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms, the potential involvement of NF-κB, Akt, p38, JNK, PKA, and PPARα in HT22 and NF-κB, Akt, p38, and PPARα in STHdhQ7/Q7 were noted; GLN was able to mediate the activation of p65, Akt, p38, and CREB in HT22 and p65, Akt, and p38 in STHdhQ7/Q7 cells. Our accumulated findings suggest that GLN may increase learning and memory functions by inducing FGF21 production in the brain. This induction appears to be mediated, at least in part, through GLN's activation of the NF-κB, Akt, p38, and PKA/CREB pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to neighboring Romance languages, Galician currently maintains a more ubiquitous usage of the construction [haber (present) + (de) + infinitive] as a future marker in variation with the periphrastic construction with ir 'go' and the morphological future. We examine this under-studied construction to gain a better understanding of Galician grammar and also contribute new data with which to consider diachronic change regarding the grammaticalization of the future from obligation markers. We conduct a variationist analysis of 1589 tokens of future forms in recorded conversations (CORILGA) in order to determine the frequency of usage, patterns of variation, linguistic conditioning and degree of grammaticalization of the periphrastic forms with haber and ir in contrast to the morphological variant. We find evidence to suggest that the periphrastic construction with haber is highly grammaticalized as a future marker and we identify factors of the production context that modulate the grammaticalization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cecal microbial community plays an important role in chicken growth and development via effective feed conversion and essential metabolite production. The aim of this study was to define the microbial community's variants in chickens' ceca and to explore the most significant association between the microbiome compositions and poultry farming productivity. The meta-analysis included original data from 8 control broiler chicken groups fed with a standard basic diet and 32 experimental groups supplemented with various feed additives. Standard Illumina 16S-RNA gene sequencing technology was used to characterize the chicken cecal microbiome. Zootechnical data sets integrated with the European Production Effectiveness Factor (EPEF) were collected. Analysis of the bacterial taxa abundance and co-occurrence in chicken cecal microbiomes revealed two alternative patterns: Bacteroidota-dominated with decreased alpha biodiversity; and Bacillota-enriched, which included the Actinomycetota, Cyanobacteriota and Thermodesulfobacteriota phyla members, with increased biodiversity indices. Bacillota-enriched microbiome groups showed elevated total feed intake (especially due to the starter feed intake) and final body weight, and high EPEF values, while Bacteroidota-dominated microbiomes were negatively associated with poultry farming productivity. The meta-analysis results lay the basis for the development of chicken growth-promoting feed supplementations, aimed at the stimulation of beneficial and inhibition of harmful bacterial patterns, where relevant metagenomic data can be a tool for their control and selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider an investor, whose capital is divided into an industrial investment x t and cash y t , and satisfy a nonlinear deterministic dynamical system. The investor fixes fractions of capital to be invested, withdrawn, and consumed, and also the production factor parameter. The government fixes a subsidy fraction for industrial investments and a tax fraction for the capital outflow. We study a Stackelberg game, corresponding to the asymptotically stable equilibrium (x ∗ , y ∗) of the mentioned dynamical system. In this game, the government (the leader) uses subsidies to make incentives for the investor (the follower) to maintain the desired level of x ∗ , and uses taxes to achieve this with the minimal cost. The investor's aim is to maximize the difference between the consumption and the price of the production factor at equilibrium. We present an explicit analytical solution of the specified Stackelberg game. Based on this solution, we introduce the notion of a fair industrial investment level, which is costless for the government, and show that it can produce realistic results using a case study of water production in Lahore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petrochemical feedstocks are experiencing a fast growth in demand, which will further expand their market in the coming years. This is due to an increase in the demand for petrochemical-based materials that are used in households, hospitals, transportation, electronics, and telecommunications. Consequently, petrochemical industries rely heavily on olefins, namely propylene, ethylene, and butene, as fundamental components for their manufacturing processes. Presently, there is a growing interest among refineries in prioritising their operations towards the production of fuels, specifically gasoline, diesel, and light olefins. The cost-effectiveness and availability of petrochemical primary feedstocks, such as propylene and butene, can be enhanced through the direct conversion of crude oil into light olefins using fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). To achieve this objective, the FCC technology, process optimisation, and catalyst modifications may need to be redesigned. It is helpful to know that there are several documented methods of modifying traditional FCC catalysts' physicochemical characteristics to enhance their selectivity toward light olefins' production, since the direct cracking of crude oil to olefins is still in its infancy. Based on a review of the existing zeolite catalysts, this work focuses on the factors that need to be optimized and the approaches to modifying FCC catalysts to maximize light olefin production from crude oil conversion via FCC. Several viewpoints have been combined as a result of this research, and recommendations have been made for future work in the areas of optimising the yield of light olefins by engineering the pore structure of zeolite catalysts, reducing deactivation by adding dopants, and conducting technoeconomic analyses of direct crude oil cracking to produce light olefins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization has led to a geographical concentration of economic activities, known as territorialized networks of organizations, especially technopoles. That is why the knowledge process takes on new dimensions and requires a multidimensional and dynamic approach. This study aims to analyze factors of knowledge production dynamics in technopoles based on a conceptual model that is elaborated based on the literature review and tested in a technopole's environment, knowledge creation, knowledge transfer, and knowledge utilization processes. We used partial least squares structural equation modeling confirmatory composite analysis techniques to test the validity and reliability of the model. The technopole actors' heterogeneous nature allowed us to use a stratified sampling technique. The data were collected from 303 respondents from four technopoles in Morocco. Our findings indicate the existence of a strong influence of the factors presented in the research model on knowledge production dynamics in technopoles. Moreover, the technopole actors' contribution to the creation, transfer, and utilization of knowledge is more likely to be effective in increasing knowledge production dynamics within the network. The technopoles are likely to be more successful in regions that have the properties of a large, diversified, and well-established metropolitan economy, a robust research base, and an entrepreneurial culture where stakeholders are actively engaged. Our study is the first to analyze the dynamics of knowledge production in Moroccan territorialized networks of organizations (i.e., technopoles). This study provides insights to managers in formulating efficient knowledge production strategies in technopoles and offers suggestions at three levels: actors of technopoles, technopoles, and regional actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral scent (FS) plays a crucial role in the ecological functions and industrial applications of plants. However, the physiological and metabolic mechanisms underlying FS formation remain inadequately explored. Our investigation focused on elucidating the differential formation mechanisms of 2-phenylethanol (2-PE) and benzyl alcohol (BA) by examining seven related enzyme concentrations and the content of soluble sugar, soluble proteins, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), as well as the C/N ratio. The findings revealed that the peak content of 2-PE in M. 'Praire Rose' and BA in M. 'Lollipop' occurred during the end flowering stage (S4) and flowering stage (S3) periods, respectively. The enzyme concentration change trends of phenylpyruvate decarboxylase (PDL), phenylacetaldehyde reductase (PAR), soluble protein, C, N, and C/N ratio changes during the S3-S4 period in M. 'Praire Rose' and M. 'Lollipop' were entirely opposite. Correlation and PCA analysis demonstrated that the content of CYP79D73 (a P450) and N, and the C/N ratio were key factors in 2-PE production in M. 'Praire Rose'. The production of BA in M. 'Lollipop' was more influenced by the content of phenylacetaldehyde synthase (PAAS), CYP79D73, and soluble sugar. As CYP79D73 exits oppositely in correlation to 2-PE (M. 'Praire Rose') and BA (M. 'Lollipop'), it is hypothesized that CYP79D73 was postulated as the primary factor contributing to the observed differences of 2-PE (M. 'Praire Rose') and BA (M. 'Lollipop') formation. These results carry significant implications for crabapple aromatic flower breeding and the essential oil industry etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for high-quality steel across various industries has led to an increasing need for superior-grade steel. The quality of slab ingots is a pivotal factor influencing the final quality of steel production. However, the current level of intelligence in the steelmaking industry's processes is relatively insufficient. Consequently, slab ingot quality inspection is characterized by high-temperature risks and imprecision. The positional accuracy of quality detection is inadequate, and the precise quantification of slab ingot production and quality remains challenging. This paper proposes a digital twin (DT)-based monitoring system for the slab ingot production process that integrates DT technology with slab ingot process detection. A neural network is introduced for defect identification to ensure precise defect localization and efficient recognition. Concurrently, environmental production factors are considered, leading to the introduction of a defect prediction module. The effectiveness of this system is validated through experimental verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous composite flooding has performed well with regard to enhanced oil recovery after polymer flooding in recent years. In order to significantly increase oil recovery, the development parameters should be designed differently for each well. However, it is difficult to rapidly allocate development parameters through the lowering of computational costs. Therefore, the authors of this paper carried out research to clarify the main controlling factors of parameter allocation. Firstly, the numerical simulation domain was separated into several regions, with injection wells and production wells at the center of each region. The statistical parameters of each region were calculated. Then, the water injection rate, liquid production rate, and chemical agent concentration were allocated based on the proportion of statistical parameters in each region. A large number of development schemes were designed by combining different injection and production allocations that were calculated based on each statistical parameter. Finally, the development performance of each scheme was simulated and analyzed. The statistical parameters corresponding to the best performance scheme were regarded as the main controlling factors of heterogeneous composite flooding after polymer flooding. These results showed that the main controlling factors for the allocation of the water injection rate were pore volume and permeability variation coefficient. The main controlling factors for liquid production rate were the remaining oil saturation, formation coefficient, and reservoir pressure. The main controlling factors for chemical agent concentration were pressure and permeability variation coefficient. These findings concerning the main factors controlling development parameter allocation were validated by practical application in several well groups of an actual reservoir model. This study provides references for improving heterogeneous composite flooding performance for post-polymer flooding reservoirs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides insights at the molecular level into the current and old methods for treating meniscal injuries. Meniscal injuries have been found to have a substantial impact on the progression of osteoarthritis. In line with the "save the meniscus" approach, meniscectomy is considered a last-resort treatment. Nevertheless, it is important to note that mechanical repair alone may not achieve the complete restoration of the meniscus. A deep understanding of the healing pathways could lead to future improvements in meniscal healing. The inclusion of cytokines and chemokines has the potential to facilitate the process of tear repair or impede the inflammatory catabolic cascade. MicroRNA (miRNA) could serve as a potential biomarker for meniscal degeneration, and RNA injections might promote collagen and growth factor production. The critical aspect of the healing process is angiogenesis within the inner zone of the meniscus. The use of collagen scaffolds and the implantation of autologous meniscus fragments have been successfully integrated into clinical settings. These findings are encouraging and underscore the need for well-designed clinical trials to explore the most effective factors that can enhance the process of meniscal repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The age at first calving (AFC) is one of the most used indicators to evaluate the efficiency of rearing systems in dairy herds. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association between AFC and different parameters of productive and reproductive efficiency in dairy cows of Holstein and Jersey breeds and their crosses, reared under pasture-based conditions. A retrospective longitudinal study was carried out with information on the performance of 77,311 cows with birth and culling dates between 1990 and 2016 from 654 specialized dairy herds located in mid and high-altitude regions of Costa Rica. Cows were classified into five classes according to their age in months at first calving (≤24, 25–27, 28–30, 31–33, ≥34). A generalized linear mixed model was used to assess the effect of AFC and breed factors on milk production (first lactation, lifetime total, and per day of life), open period (first calving and lifetime total), and herd life. The mean AFC was 29.5, 29.1, and 28.0 months for Holstein, Holstein × Jersey, and Jersey, respectively. The AFC was significantly associated (p < 0.01) with all the variables evaluated. Cows with AFC ≤ 24 presented a higher (p < 0.01) milk production (total lifetime and per day of life), as well as a longer herd life, compared to cows in classes of AFC > 28 m. The reduction in AFC contributes to a significant increase in the production and reproduction efficiency of pasture-based dairy herds. This effect was consistent across the three breed groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metropolitan area serves as a vital catalyst for advancing the new urbanization strategy and remains a focal point of current academic research in China. This paper endeavors to explore the developmental mechanisms of China's metropolitan areas, centering on the circulation of regional production factors within these urban conglomerations. Additionally, it introduces the hypothesis of various spatial governance models for these metropolitan areas. Drawing upon theoretical research, the paper substantiates the hypothesis regarding the development mechanisms and spatial governance model of metropolitan areas through several case studies. Finally, we present the principal research findings concerning the development mechanisms and spatial governance models of China's metropolitan areas, along with issues in need of further examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heilongjiang Province, as the largest production and supply base for high-quality soybeans in China, plays a vital role in optimizing the layout of soybean production and promoting the revitalization of the soybean industry. Soybean yield is used as a key indicator of soybean production. This study integrated soybean yield data from agricultural reclamation systems and local authorities. A variety of statistical analysis methods, such as barycenter analysis, the Mann–Kendall test, the space–time cube, and grey relational analysis, were used to research the spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors of soybean production in Heilongjiang Province from 2011 to 2021. This paper revealed the spatiotemporal evolution mechanism and explored the reasons for the differences in the effects of influencing factors. The results were as follows. (1) During the period between 2011 and 2021, the center of gravity of county-level soybean yield in Heilongjiang Province moved towards the northwest over a distance of 16.82 km. The soybean yield in the province experienced a mutation in approximately 2018, from a downward trend to an upward trend. (2) The spatiotemporal hot spots of county-level soybean yield in Heilongjiang Province were concentrated along the line from Hailun to Aihui. The types of hot spots included consecutive hot spots, intensifying hot spots, sporadic hot spots, and new hot spots. (3) The spatiotemporal agglomeration patterns of county-level soybean yield in Heilongjiang Province included only high-high clusters, only low-low clusters, only high-low outliers and multiple types. (4) The temporal changes in soybean yield in various counties of Heilongjiang Province had obvious regional characteristics. (5) Socioeconomic factors had aftereffects on soybean planting decisions. (6) Sunlight hours, the price ratio of local soybeans to local maize, average temperature, the number of soybean patents, the price ratio of imported soybeans to local soybeans, soybean cultivation income, local soybean prices, and the number of newly established soybean enterprises were primary influencing factors. Precipitation and soybean import volume were secondary influencing factors. The income difference between maize and soybeans, crops-hitting disaster area, and maize yield were general influencing factors. This study aims to offer new pathways for alleviating the structural contradiction between soybean supply and demand and to provide a reference for the formulation of national soybean industry policies and food security strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The milk yield of dairy cows in a non-stressed state in the cold region in China is lower during cold seasons. In this study, the correlations between indoor environmental factors and milk production were analyzed. Temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity were found to be the main factors affecting milk yield. The warning values of these factors for lower milk production were 5 °C, 60%, and 300 lx, respectively. A neural network model predicting milk yield based on environmental factors was established, and the optimal model parameters were determined, resulting in a high accuracy of R2 = 0.802. This model was used to investigate the optimal measure for improving the indoor environment, which helps to increase milk production and economic benefits, including LED lights, heating radiators, and dehumidifiers. In conclusion, each type of device led to the growth of milk yield, reaching 2.341, 1.706, and 1.893 kg cow−1 Day−1. The combination of heating radiator and LED light resulted in the highest increased net benefit of 16.802 CNY cow−1 Day−1. This is the first time that a neural network model was successfully built to predict milk yield based on climatic features which was also applied to economic analysis of indoor environment improvement for dairy barns in extreme cold regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the critical determinants impacting labor productivity in brickwork operations within the construction industry—a matter of academic and practical significance, particularly in the era of increasing human–robot collaboration. Through an extensive literature review on construction labor productivity, this study identifies factors affecting brickwork productivity. Data were collected from active construction sites during brick wall construction through on-site measurements and participatory observation, and the relative importance of these factors is determined using Principal Component Analysis (PCA)-factor analysis. The validity of the analysis is established through the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test and Bartlett's test of sphericity, with a KMO value of 0.544 and significance at the 0.05 significance level. The analysis reveals four principal components explaining 75.96% of the total variance. Notably, this study identifies the Euclidean distances for the top factors: weather (0.980), number of helpers (0.965), mason competency (0.934), and number of masons (0.772). Additionally, correlation coefficients were observed: wall area had the highest correlation (0.998), followed by wall length (0.853) and height (0.776). Interestingly, high correlations did not necessarily translate to high factor importance. These identified factors can serve as a foundation for predictive modeling algorithms for estimating production rates and as a guideline for optimizing labor in construction planning and scheduling, particularly in the context of human–robot collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato is always considered a food item that gives a sufficient stock of calories, nutrients, and minerals, and its syrup has numerous applications in the food industry. There is a need to review sweet potato syrup production processes in order to develop cost-effective and reliable designs for its production. The overall objective of this study is to update the current knowledge of the sweet potato syrup production processes and factors affecting its production. This study briefly reviews the sweet potato (its varieties, cultivation, and chemical composition/nutritional values), syrup production processes (acidic hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, acid–enzyme hydrolysis, and other processes to improve the quality of syrup), and effective parameters (e.g., enzyme type, enzyme dosage, temperature, pH, the role of water, and the role of starch and starch pretreatment) on the syrup production process. Finally, based on the gaps identified in the area, it discusses the conclusions and future outlook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deteriorated river water quality affects estuarine environments due to river and estuary linkages. Thus, river water quality improvement could play a pivotal role in the maintenance of estuarine ecosystem functions. The South Korean administration opened river weirs to restore river ecosystems and announced that this helped restore habitats and improve water quality. Despite these reported positive results in the rivers, little research has been conducted on the effects of weir opening on estuaries linking to rivers. We investigated the physicochemical properties of the Geum Estuary during the initial weir opening (2018) and stabilization (2021) periods. The results indicated that the NO3− inputs from rivers to estuaries decreased from 2018 to 2021 by 19~68%; however, the trends of [NO3−] in estuarine water columns in nearby estuary dams fluctuated between 2018 and 2021. No change in NO3− pollutant sources was observed from 2018 to 2021. Unlike [NO3−], [PO4−] and [SiO2] were higher in 2021; thus, large amounts of previously accumulated PO4− and SiO2 within the weirs might have been released from the river into the estuary. This supply of PO4− could enhance estuarine phytoplankton growth, where PO4− is a limiting factor for primary production due to excessive inputs of NO3− from rivers. Therefore, dredging the accumulated sediment within weirs should be considered prior to opening them to prevent the release of PO4− and SiO2 into estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cell (WJ-MSC)-derived exosomes contain a diverse cargo and exhibit remarkable biological activity, rendering them suitable for regenerative and immune-modulating functions. However, the quantity of secretion is insufficient. A large body of prior work has investigated the use of various growth factors to enhance MSC-derived exosome production. In this study, we evaluated the utilization of thermostable basic fibroblast growth factor (TS-bFGF) with MSC culture and exosome production. MSCs cultured with TS-bFGF displayed superior proliferation, as evidenced by cell cycle analysis, compared with wild-type bFGF (WT-bFGF). Stemness was assessed through mRNA expression level and colony-forming unit (CFU) assays. Furthermore, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) measurements revealed that MSCs cultured with TS-bFGF produced a greater quantity of exosomes, particularly under three-dimensional culture conditions. These produced exosomes demonstrated substantial anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects, as confirmed by nitric oxide (NO) assays and scratch assays. Taken together, we demonstrate that utilization of TS-bFGF for WJ-MSC-derived exosome production not only increases exosome yield but also enhances the potential for various applications in inflammation regulation and wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial contamination during space missions is problematic for human health and damages filters and other vital support systems. Staphylococcus aureus is both a human commensal and an opportunistic pathogen that colonizes human tissues and causes acute and chronic infections. Virulence and colonization factors are positively and negatively regulated, respectively, by bacterial cell-to-cell communication (quorum sensing) via the agr (accessory gene regulator) system. When cultured under low-shear modelled microgravity conditions (LSMMG), S. aureus has been reported to maintain a colonization rather than a pathogenic phenotype. Here, we show that the modulation of agr expression via reduced production of autoinducing peptide (AIP) signal molecules was responsible for this behavior. In an LSMMG environment, the S. aureus strains JE2 (methicillin-resistant) and SH1000 (methicillin-sensitive) both exhibited reduced cytotoxicity towards the human leukemia monocytic cell line (THP-1) and increased fibronectin binding. Using S. aureus agrP3::lux reporter gene fusions and mass spectrometry to quantify the AIP concentrations, the activation of agr, which depends on the binding of AIP to the transcriptional regulator AgrC, was delayed in the strains with an intact autoinducible agr system. This was because AIP production was reduced under these growth conditions compared with the ground controls. Under LSMMG, S. aureus agrP3::lux reporter strains that cannot produce endogenous AIPs still responded to exogenous AIPs. Provision of exogenous AIPs to S. aureus USA300 during microgravity culture restored the cytotoxicity of culture supernatants for the THP-1 cells. These data suggest that microgravity does not affect AgrC-AIP interactions but more likely the generation of AIPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold is one of the major limiting factors for citrus production, particularly extreme cold waves. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop cold-tolerant varieties and clarify their cold tolerance mechanisms in citrus breeding. In this study, comparative transcriptomic and physiological analyses were performed to dissect the cold tolerance mechanism of Guijing2501 (GJ2501), a new satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu) variety with about 1 °C lower LT50 (the median lethal temperature) relative to Guijing (GJ). The physiological analysis results revealed that GJ2501 is more cold-tolerant with less photoinhibition, PSII photodamage, and MDA accumulation, but higher POD activity than GJ under cold stress. Comparative transcriptomic analysis identified 4200 DEGs between GJ and GJ2501, as well as 4884 and 5580 up-regulated DEGs, and 5288 and 5862 down-regulated DEGs in response to cold stress in GJ and GJ2501, respectively. "Photosynthesis, light harvesting" and "photosystem" were the specific and most significantly enriched GO terms in GJ2501 in response to cold stress. Two CuELIP1 genes (encoding early light-induced proteins) related to the elimination of PSII photodamage and photoinhibition were remarkably up-regulated (by about 1000-fold) by cold stress in GJ2501 as indicated by RT-qPCR verification. Overexpression of CuELIP1 from GJ2501 in transgenic Arabidopsis protected PSII against photoinhibition under cold stress. Taken together, the cold tolerance of GJ2501 may be ascribed to its higher photoprotective capacity under cold stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, based on the sustainable livelihood framework and survey data from 1264 households in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Puer City, and Lincang City in Yunnan Province, China, analyzes the impact mechanism of livelihood capital on the production input behavior of farmers affected by Asian elephant damage and the moderating effect of Asian elephant damage on this process using ordinary least squares (OLS) models. The study finds the following: (1) Asian elephant damage has a significant negative effect on farmers' production input, meaning that as the severity of Asian elephant damage increases, farmers reduce their input into agricultural production factors. (2) Livelihood capital has a significant positive effect on farmers' production input, and both the increment and stock of livelihood capital promote an increase in farmers' production input. (3) Asian elephant damage strengthens the influence of livelihood capital on farmers' inputs of agricultural production factors. Based on these findings, four recommendations are proposed: emphasizing the cultivation and enhancement of farmers' livelihood capital, improving strategies for managing and preventing wildlife damage, optimizing the economic compensation mechanism for human–wildlife conflicts, and adhering to sustainable development and resource allocation. These recommendations aim to enhance wildlife conservation and management policies, strengthen farmers' risk-coping capabilities, and ensure the sustainability of agricultural production and livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scaling of agricultural land is a trend in land use transformation and is important for modernizing agriculture. Therefore, the reasons for large-scale agricultural land formation should be explored. The spatial distribution of large-scale agricultural land and the factors for its formation vary between different regions. Currently, the exploration of the formation mechanism of large-scale agricultural land from the perspective of heterogeneity is not yet sufficient. Therefore, the main objectives of this article are as follows: first, analyze the spatial pattern characteristics of large-scale agricultural land; second, explore the spatial heterogeneity characteristics of influencing factors from both global and local perspectives; third, explore the mechanism of the formation of large-scale agricultural land from the perspective of heterogeneity. The results indicate the following: (1) The large-scale agricultural land distribution pattern in the Wuling Mountains area was high in the east and low in the west. (2) Natural conditions, production factors, and location conditions all significantly impacted large-scale agricultural land, but with differences in their degree of influence. From a local perspective, the influences of various factors in different regions also exhibited spatial heterogeneity. These two types of heterogeneity can be attributed to the differences in regional development stages. (3) Natural conditions, location conditions, and production factors had negative, positive, and positive effects on the agricultural land scale, respectively, but the influence of the first two decreased with the improvement in the regional development stages. The influence of different factors on production factors was related to the regional development stage, and production factors that were suitable for the regional development stage had a greater impact. The conclusion can provide differentiated policy support for regional land use in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient capital investment coupled with limited land resources significantly limits cultivated land use efficiency (CLUE). China's rural credit policy system is currently growing, yet the impact of farmer-level credit on CLUE remains understudied. Therefore, this study investigated whether rural credit enhances CLUE by using the China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS) data. It explored the impact and mechanism of rural credit on CLUE using least squares regression and mediation models. According to our results, the average CLUE level for farmers in the study area was 0.661, which still had much room for improvement compared with Japan, which also has a large population but limited land. In addition, access to rural credit positively affected CLUE, with cultivated land scale-up and technological applications mediating the rural-credit-driven increase in CLUE. Further analyses of the rural credit allocation mode (RCAM) indicated that farmers' use of credit for investment in agricultural production factors boosted CLUE more than non-farming allocation of credit funds. These findings suggest that the government should continue to increase support for rural credit while improving the monitoring mechanism for credit allocation to prevent rural credit de-farming from hindering CLUE improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonally ice-covered marine region of the European Arctic has experienced warming and sea ice loss in the last two decades. During expeditions in August 2020 and 2021, new data on size-fractioned primary production (PP), chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton biomass and composition and carbon fixation rates in the dark were obtained in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) of the Barents Sea, Nansen Basin and Greenland Sea to better understand the response of Arctic ecosystems to ongoing climate changes. Four different situations were observed in the study region: (i) a bloom of the large-cell diatom Podosira glacialis, whose biomass was trapped in a strong halocline at the edge of a dense ice cover; (ii) a bloom of the chain-like colonies of Thalassiosira diatoms on the shelf in mixed waters in fields of shallow ice that could be supported by "fresh" elements in the polynya condition, as well as by terrestrial run-off and drifting ices; at the late stage, this bloom was accompanied by intensive growth of Phaeocystis pouchetti; (iii) dominance of small-cell phytoplankton under weakened stratification and the significant influence of the Atlantic water, depleted of microelements and silicates; (iv) dominance of dinoflagellates of eutrophic water in the contact zone between the water masses of Arctic origin and Atlantic origin in clear water under conditions of increased light intensity. The >10 µm phytoplankton cell size group increased its relative contribution to PP as a response to stratification, light and nutrient load associated with sea ice conditions. Small phytoplankton with sizes < 2 µm formed the basis of total PP in the MIZ regardless of the state of the sea ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a second-generation platelet concentrate whose use in clinical practice has been widely disseminated. This has led to the development of several commercial protocols, creating great confusion as to the terminology and implications of each of them. This integrative review aims to identify the critical factors of each of the phases of the solid-based PRF matrix protocol and their possible influence on their macro- and microscopic characteristics. An electronic search of the MEDLINE database (via PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, LILACS, and OpenGrey was carried out. The search was temporarily restricted from 2001 to 2022. After searching, 43 studies were included that met the established criteria. There were numerous factors to consider in the PRF protocol, such as the material of the blood collection tubes, the duration of phlebotomy, the parameters related to blood centrifugation, the time from centrifugation to dehydration of the fibrin clots and their dehydration into membranes, as well as the time to clinical use. These factors influenced the macro- and microscopic characteristics of the PRF and its physical properties, so knowledge of these factors allows for the production of optimised PRF by combining the protocols and materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land, as an essential resource for social, economic and ecological activities, is regarded as a key factor in material production. Against the background of rapid social and economic transition, land-use carbon emissions have gradually drawn due attention. However, few studies have been conducted to explore the spatial relationship of land-use carbon emissions at the sub-regional level, especially within Sichuan Province, China. This study is aimed at unpacking the spatial network of land-use carbon emissions in Sichuan Province by employing the panel data from 2006 to 2021 and using the method of Social Network Analysis. The results indicate that the net land-use carbon emissions of various prefecture-level divisions in Sichuan generally showed an inverse and asymmetrical "V-shaped" trend. The network correlation was improved and the stability was enhanced, gradually developing into a multi-centric structure. In addition, the spatial relationship among different clusters in the network undergoes a transition from intra-regional to inter-regional spillover. Based on these findings, the carbon balance zoning policy was discussed to provide references for how to coordinate roles and positions in the network when optimizing land-use carbon emission management policies in sub-regional areas with rapid social and economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), one of the ESKAPE pathogens, is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium responsible for nosocomial infections in humans but also for infections in patients affected by AIDS, cancer, or cystic fibrosis (CF). Treatment of PA infections in CF patients is a global healthcare problem due to the ability of PA to gain antibiotic tolerance through biofilm formation. Anti-virulence compounds represent a promising approach as adjuvant therapy, which could reduce or eliminate the pathogenicity of PA without impacting its growth. Pyocyanin is one of the virulence factors whose production is modulated by the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) through its receptor PqsR. Different PqsR modulators have been synthesized over the years, highlighting this new powerful therapeutic strategy. Based on the promising structure of quinazolin-4(3H)-one, we developed compounds 7a–d, 8a,b, 9, 10, and 11a–f able to reduce biofilm formation and the production of virulence factors (pyocyanin and pyoverdine) at 50 µM in two PA strains responsible for CF acute and chronic infections. The developed compounds did not reduce the cell viability of IB3-1 bronchial CF cells, and computational studies confirmed the potential ability of novel compounds to act as potential Pqs system modulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new factor of production, data element has profoundly changed our mode of production, lifestyle and social governance style. The sharing of a data element in the convergence media ecology can greatly improve the circulation of a data element and enhance the value of a data element; however, it may face problems such as insufficient sharing willingness, incomplete sharing circulation mechanism and inadequate implementation of the incentive mechanism. To solve these problems, this paper introduced the evolutionary game theory in the convergence media ecology and established the data-sharing model according to the characteristics of nodes. We analyzed the ecological node evolution path, evolutionary stable strategy and the corresponding state conditions in the model. Furthermore, we carried out the sampling experiment simulation, which verified the effectiveness of the research content in this paper. At the end of the article, we summarize and give some key factors to increase the willingness to participate in sharing in convergence media ecology. This paper enriched the research field of data element sharing in convergence media and explored the willingness and tendency of the participants. The research results can provide targeted suggestions for promoting the sharing of data elements in convergence media ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]