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The treatment of hyperuricemia and gout is mostly based on lowering serum uric acid levels using drugs, such as allopurinol, or increasing urinary excretion of uric acid. However, some patients still experience adverse reactions to allopurinol and turn to Chinese medicine as an alternative. Therefore, it is crucial to design a preclinical study to obtain more convincing data on the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout with Chinese medicine. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of emodin, a Chinese herbal extract, in a rat model of hyperuricemia and gout. In this study, we used 36 Sprague-Dawley rats, which were randomly divided into six groups for experimentation. Hyperuricemia was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injections of potassium oxonate. The efficacy of emodin in reducing serum uric acid levels was demonstrated by comparing the positive control group with groups treated with three different concentrations of emodin. The inflammatory profiles, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, were unaffected by emodin treatment. In the experimental results, it was observed that the serum uric acid concentration in the vehicle control group was 1.80 ± 1.14, while the concentrations in the moderate and high concentration emodin groups were 1.18 ± 0.23 and 1.12 ± 0.57, resulting in no significant difference in uric acid concentration between these treatment groups and the control group, indicating that emodin has a therapeutic effect on hyperuricemia. The increase in the fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA) demonstrated that emodin promoted urinary uric acid excretion without significantly affecting the inflammatory profile. Thus, emodin reduced the serum uric acid concentration to achieve effective treatment of hyperuricemia and gout by increasing urinary excretion. These results were supported by the measured serum uric acid and FEUA levels. Our data have potential implications for the treatment of gout and other types of hyperuricemia in clinical practice.

Microglia-associated neuroinflammation is recognized as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases; however, there is no effective treatment for the blockage of neurodegenerative disease progression. In this study, the effect of nordalbergin, a coumarin isolated from the wood bark of Dalbergia sissoo , on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses was investigated using murine microglial BV2 cells. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, whereas nitric oxide (NO) production was analyzed using the Griess reagent. Secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was detected by the ELISA. The expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins was assessed by Western blot. The production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular ROS was detected using flow cytometry. Our experimental results indicated that nordalbergin ≤20 µM suppressed NO, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β production; decreased iNOS and COX-2 expression; inhibited MAPKs activation; attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation; and reduced both intracellular and mitochondrial ROS production by LPS-stimulated BV2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that nordalbergin exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities through inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway, NLRP3 inflammasome activation and ROS production, suggesting that nordalbergin might have the potential to inhibit neurodegenerative disease progression.

Bone cancer pain (BCP) is excruciating for cancer patients, with limited clinical treatment options and significant side effects, due to the complex and unclear pathogenesis of bone cancer pain. Peripheral sensitization in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons is a recognized cellular mechanism for bone cancer pain. The pathological mechanism of chronic pain is increasingly being affected by epigenetic mechanisms. In this study, we unbiasedly showed that the DNA hydroxymethylase ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) expression was significantly increased in the L4-6 DRG of BCP rats and ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) expression did not change significantly. Notably, TET1 inhibition by intrathecal injection of Bobcat339 (a TET1 inhibitor) effectively relieved mechanical hyperalgesia in BCP rats. Peripheral sensitization in chronic pain relies on the activation and overexpression of ion channels on neurons. Here, we demonstrated that TRPV4, one of the transient receptor potential ion channel family members, was significantly elevated in the L4-6 DRG of BCP rats. In addition, TRPV4 inhibition by intrathecal injection of HC067047 (a TRPV4 inhibitor) also significantly attenuated mechanical hyperalgesia in BCP rats. Interestingly, we found that TET1 inhibition downregulated TRPV4 expression in the L4-6 DRG of BCP rats. As a result, these findings suggested that TET1 may contribute to bone cancer pain by upregulating TRPV4 expression in the L4-6 DRG of BCP rats and that TET1 or TRPV4 may become therapeutic targets for bone cancer pain.

A trunk-twisting posture is strongly associated with physical discomfort. Measurement of joint kinematics to assess physical exposure to injuries is important. However, using a single Kinect sensor to track the upper-limb joint angle trajectories during twisting tasks in the workplace is challenging due to sensor view occlusions. This study provides and validates a simple method to optimally select the upper-limb joint angle data from two Kinect sensors at different viewing angles during the twisting task, so the errors of trajectory estimation can be improved. Twelve healthy participants performed a rightward twisting task. The tracking errors of the upper-limb joint angle trajectories of two Kinect sensors during the twisting task were estimated based on concurrent data collected using a conventional motion tracking system. The error values were applied to generate the error trendlines of two Kinect sensors using third-order polynomial regressions. The intersections between two error trendlines were used to define the optimal data selection points for data integration. The finding indicates that integrating the outputs from two Kinect sensor datasets using the proposed method can be more robust than using a single sensor for upper-limb joint angle trajectory estimations during the twisting task.

Chronic hepatitis B is a critical cause of many serious liver diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The main challenges in hepatitis B treatment include the rebound of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related antigen levels after drug withdrawal and the immunosuppression caused by the virus. Herein, we demonstrate that the HBV-related antigen can be effectively inhibited and antiviral immunity can be successfully reactivated through codelivery of the small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting HBV X protein (HBx) and the plasmid encoding interleukin 12 (pIL-12) to hepatocytes and immune cells. After being treated by the siRNA/pIL-12 codelivery system, HBx mRNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are dramatically reduced in HepG2.215 cells. More importantly, the downregulated CD47 and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and the upregulated interferon-β promoter stimulator-1 (IPS-1), retinoic acid-inducible gene-1 (RIG-1), CD80, and human leukocyte antigen-1 (HLA-1) in treated HepG2.215 cells indicate that the immunosuppression is reversed by the codelivery system. Furthermore, the codelivery system results in inhibition of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathways, as well as downregulation of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and upregulation of p53, implying its potential in preventing the progression of HBV-induced HCC. In addition, J774A.1 macrophages treated by the codelivery system were successfully differentiated into the M1 phenotype and expressed enhanced cytokines with anti-hepatitis B effects such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Therefore, we believe that codelivery of siRNA and pIL-12 can effectively inhibit hepatitis B virus, reverse virus-induced immunosuppression, reactivate antiviral immunity, and hinder the progression of HBV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. This investigation provides a promising approach for the synergistic treatment of HBV infection.

Few studies evaluating the relationship between depression and exercise consider peoples' socio-demographic characteristics. This cross-sectional study investigated the interaction between exercise and marital status and depression in Taiwanese adults. Data from the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) was recruited from the Taiwan Biobank. Participants indicated their exercise status, showing 5015 no-exercise cases and 3407 exercise cases. Marital status, including unmarried, divorced or separated, and widowed, were all significant, especially among the no-exercise group. The relationship between exercise/no exercise and marital status was examined; no exercise and unmarried, divorced or separated, and widowed, as well as exercise and married were significant to PHQ-2. Gender was significant in both the married and unmarried groups. The association between exercise, marital status, gender, and education on PHQ-2 score was also significant. Married people, especially men, had lower depression scores. Additionally, exercise had a protective effect against depression for unmarried people, especially women.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a high mortality disease with acute inflammation. Corylin is a compound isolated from the whole plant of Psoralea corylifolia L. and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory activities. Herein, we investigated the therapeutic potential of corylin on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced ALI, both in vitro and in vivo. The levels of proinflammatory cytokine secretions were analyzed by ELISA; the expressions of inflammation-associated proteins were detected using Western blot; and the number of immune cell infiltrations in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by multicolor flow cytometry and lung tissues by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, respectively. Experimental results indicated that corylin attenuated LPS-induced IL-6 production in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC3-KT cells). In intratracheal LPS-induced ALI mice, corylin attenuated tissue damage, suppressed inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreased IL-6 and TNF-α secretions in the BALF and serum. Moreover, it further inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including p-JNK, p-ERK, p-p38, and repressed the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in lungs. Collectively, our results are the first to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects of corylin on LPS-induced ALI and suggest corylin has significant potential as a novel therapeutic agent for ALI.

Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) pathology involves extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in cardiac tissues, thus promoting cardiac fibrosis progression. miR-29a-3p reportedly inhibits lung progression and liver fibrosis by regulating ECM protein expression; however, its role in PAH-induced fibrosis remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-29a-3p in cardiac fibrosis progression in PAH and its influence on ECM protein thrombospondin-2 (THBS2) expression. The diagnostic and prognostic values of miR-29a-3p and THBS2 in PAH were evaluated. The expressions and effects of miR-29a-3p and THBS2 were assessed in cell culture, monocrotaline-induced PAH mouse model, and patients with PAH. The levels of circulating miR-29a-3p and THBS2 in patients and mice with PAH decreased and increased, respectively. miR-29a-3p directly targets THBS2 and regulates THBS2 expression via a direct anti-fibrotic effect on PAH-induced cardiac fibrosis. The circulating levels of miR-29a-3p and THBS2 were correlated with PAH diagnostic parameters, suggesting their independent prognostic value. miR-29a-3p targeted THBS2 expression via a direct anti-fibrotic effect on PAH-induced cardiac fibrosis, indicating miR-29a-3p acts as a messenger with promising therapeutic effects.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin that has several adverse effects on most mammalian species. However, the effects of ZEA on macrophage-mediated innate immunity during infection have not been examined. In the present study, bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were used to induce the activation of macrophages and evaluate the effects of ZEA on the inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated signaling pathways. The experimental results indicated that ZEA suppressed LPS-activated inflammatory responses by macrophages including attenuating the production of proinflammatory mediators (nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 )), decreased the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6), inhibited the activation of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways, and repressed the nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-, leucine-rich repeat (LRR)- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. These results indicated that mycotoxin ZEA attenuates macrophage-mediated innate immunity upon LPS stimulation, suggesting that the intake of mycotoxin ZEA-contaminated food might result in decreasing innate immunity, which has a higher risk of adverse effects during infection.

Piplartine (or Piperlongumine) is a natural alkaloid isolated from Piper longum L., which has been proposed to exhibit various biological properties such as anti-inflammatory effects; however, the effect of piplartine on sepsis has not been examined. This study was performed to examine the anti-inflammatory activities of piplartine in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo using murine J774A.1 macrophage cell line, peritoneal macrophages, bone marrow-derived macrophages and an animal sepsis model. The results demonstrated that piplartine suppresses iNOS and COX-2 expression, reduces PGE 2 , TNF-α and IL-6 production, decreases the phosphorylation of MAPKs and NF-κB and attenuates NF-κB activity by LPS-activated macrophages. Piplartine also inhibits IL-1β production and suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation by LPS/ATP- and LPS/nigericin-activated macrophages. Moreover, piplartine reduces the production of nitric oxide (NO) and TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, decreases LPS-induced tissue damage, attenuates infiltration of inflammatory cells and enhances the survival rate. Collectively, these results demonstrate piplartine exhibits anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-induced inflammation and sepsis and suggest that piplartine might have benefits for sepsis treatment.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) has been demonstrated to promote the migration and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the mechanism of action of HMGB1 in regulating tumor mobility remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether HMGB1 affects mitochondria distribution and regulates dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1)-mediated lamellipodia/filopodia formation to promote NSCLC migration. The regulation of mitochondrial membrane tension, dynamics, polarization, fission process, and cytoskeletal rearrangements in lung cancer cells by HMGB1 was analyzed using confocal microscopy. The HMGB1-mediated regulation of DRP1 phosphorylation and colocalization was determined using immunostaining and co-immunoprecipitation assays. The tumorigenic potential of HMGB1 was assessed in vivo and further confirmed using NSCLC patient samples. Our results showed that HMGB1 increased the polarity and mobility of cells (mainly by regulating the cytoskeletal system actin and microtubule dynamics and distribution), promoted the formation of lamellipodia/filopodia, and enhanced the expression and phosphorylation of DRP1 in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. In addition, HMGB1 and DRP1 expressions were positively correlated and exhibited poor prognosis and survival in patients with lung cancer. Collectively, HMGB1 plays a key role in the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia by regulating cytoskeleton dynamics and DRP1 expression to promote lung cancer migration.

Data hiding is the art of embedding data into a cover image without any perceptual distortion of the cover image. Moreover, data hiding is a very crucial research topic in information security because it can be used for various applications. In this study, we proposed a high-capacity data-hiding scheme for absolute moment block truncation coding (AMBTC) decompressed images. We statistically analyzed the composition of the secret data string and developed a unique encoding and decoding dictionary search for adjusting pixel values. The dictionary was used in the embedding and extraction stages. The dictionary provides high data-hiding capacity because the secret data was compressed using dictionary-based coding. The experimental results of this study reveal that the proposed scheme is better than the existing schemes, with respect to the data-hiding capacity and visual quality.

Education, sex, and the APOE-rs405509 variant are associated with Alzheimer's disease and cognitive performance. We investigated if the rs405509 TT, TG, and GG genotypes modulate the effect of sex and education on cognitive impairment in Taiwanese adults. Data on cognitive health (defined by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores) and rs405509 were from Taiwan Biobank. Participants included 2105 men and 2027 women with a mean age of 64 years. Education below university level was significantly associated with lower MMSE scores. The odds ratios (ORs) were 1.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-2.41 for senior high school, 3.39; 95% CI 2.50-4.59 for junior high school, and 11.94; 95% CI 9.91-15.50 for elementary school and below ( p -trend < 0.05). The association between MMSE score and sex was significant only in the lowest educational group (elementary and below), with lower odds of having a low MMSE score in men compared to women (OR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.34-0.77). After stratification by rs405509 genotypes, this association was significant only among TT genotype carriers (OR = 0.481; CI = 0.253-0.915). In conclusion, a significant association between MMSE score and sex was observed in the lowest educational group, especially among carriers of rs405509 TT genotypes.

Current clinical challenges of prostate cancer management are to restrict tumor growth and prohibit metastasis. AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carbox-amide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside), an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) agonist, has demonstrated antitumor activities for several types of cancers. However, the activity of AICAR on the cell growth and metastasis of prostate cancer has not been extensively studied. Herein we examine the effects of AICAR on the cell growth and metastasis of prostate cancer cells. Cell growth was performed by MTT assay and soft agar assay; cell apoptosis was examined by Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining and poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage western blot, while cell migration and invasion were evaluated by wound-healing assay and transwell assay respectively. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related protein expression and AMPK/mTOR-dependent signaling axis were analyzed by western blot. In addition, we also tested the effect of AICAR on the chemosensitivity to docetaxel using MTT assay. Our results indicated that AICAR inhibits cell growth in prostate cancer cells, but not in non-cancerous prostate cells. In addition, our results demonstrated that AICAR induces apoptosis, attenuates transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced cell migration, invasion and EMT-related protein expression, and enhances the chemosensitivity to docetaxel in prostate cancer cells through regulating the AMPK/mTOR-dependent pathway. These findings support AICAR as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of prostate cancer.

We describe herein the preparation of certain 2-substituted 3-arylquinoline derivatives and the evaluation of their anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-activated murine J774A.1 macrophage cells. Among these newly synthesized 2-substituted 3-arylquinoline derivatives, 2-(4-methoxy- benzoyl)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)quinoline ( 18a ) and 2-(4-fluorobenzoyl)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxy- phenyl)quinoline ( 18b ) are two of the most active compounds which can inhibit the production of NO at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Our results have also indicated that compounds 18a and 18b significantly decrease the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-á and IL-6), inhibit the expression of iNOS, suppress the phosphorylation of MAPKs, and attenuate the activity of NF-êB by LPS-activated macrophages. Through molecular docking analysis, we found that 18b could fit into the middle of the TNF-á dimer and form hydrophobic interactions with Leu55, Leu57 chain A and B, Tyr59, Val123 chain B and D, Ile 155. These results suggest that both 18a and 18b are potential lead compounds in inhibiting LPS-induced inflammatory responses. Further structural optimization to discover novel anti-inflammatory agents is ongoing.

Polymer materials exhibit unique properties in the fabrication of optical waveguide devices, electromagnetic devices, and bio-devices. Direct laser writing (DLW) technology is widely used for micro-structure fabrication due to its high processing precision, low cost, and no need for mask exposure. This paper reviews the latest research progresses of polymer-based micro/nano-devices fabricated using the DLW technique as well as their applications. In order to realize various device structures and functions, different manufacture parameters of DLW systems are adopted, which are also investigated in this work. The flexible use of the DLW process in various polymer-based microstructures, including optical, electronic, magnetic, and biomedical devices are reviewed together with their applications. In addition, polymer materials which are developed with unique properties for the use of DLW technology are also discussed.

Metastasis is common in lung cancer and is associated with poor clinical outcomes and increased mortality. Curcumin is a natural anti-cancer agent that inhibits the metastasis of various cancers by modulating the expression of micro (mi) RNAs such as miR-98, which acts as a tumor suppressor. This study investigated the effect of curcumin on miR-98 expression and in vitro cell line growth and invasiveness in lung cancer. Curcumin treatment enhanced the expression of miR-98 and reduced that of the miR-98 target gene LIN28A as well as matrix metalloproteinase ( MMP ) 2 and MMP9 in vitro and in vivo. MiR-98 overexpression suppressed lung cancer cell migration and invasion by inhibiting LIN28A-induced MMP2 and MMP9 expression. Meanwhile, LIN28A level was downregulated by overexpression of miR-98 mimic. Induction of miR-98 by curcumin treatment suppressed MMP2 and MMP9 by targeting LIN28A. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms by which curcumin suppresses lung cancer cell line growth in vitro and in vivo and invasiveness in vitro., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

From the stems of Liriodendron tulipifera, seventeen known compounds have been extracted, isolated and purified. By using spectroscopic analysis, the structures of these pure constituents were determined as three lignans, four steroids and ten benzenoids. Identified compounds were screened for antioxidant abilities using: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazul (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging free radical activity assays; metal chelating power test; and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) examination. The result revealed that seventeen compounds had potential anti-oxidative capabilities. In addition, the anti-tyrosinase effect was determined by calculating the hydroxylation of L-tyrosine to L-dopa and the oxidization of L-dopa to dopaquinone, according to in vitro mushroom tyrosinase evaluation platform. Furthermore, based on assays on B16F10 cell line, our data suggest that five compounds isolated from L. tulipifera would be able to inhibit tyrosinase activity and reduce the melanin content in animal cells. Therefore, some of the examined compounds could be potentially used in the cosmetic skin whitening business, therapeutic applications or the food industry.

This current work was to investigate the biological effects of acidic cosmetic water (ACW) on various biological assays. ACW was isolated from seawater and demonstrated several bio-functions at various concentration ranges. ACW showed a satisfactory effect against Staphylococcus aureus, which reduced 90% of bacterial growth after a 5-second exposure. We used cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to test the properties of ACW in inflammatory cytokine release, and it did not induce inflammatory cytokine release from un-stimulated, normal PBMCs. However, ACW was able to inhibit bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokine TNF-α released from PBMCs, showing an anti-inflammation potential. Furthermore, ACW did not stimulate the rat basophilic leukemia cell (RBL-2H3) related allergy response on de-granulation. Our data presented ACW with a strong anti-oxidative ability in a superoxide anion radical scavenging assay. In mass spectrometry information, magnesium and zinc ions demonstrated bio-functional detections for anti-inflammation as well as other metal ions such as potassium and calcium were observed. ACW also had minor tyrosinase and melanin decreasing activities in human epidermal melanocytes (HEMn-MP) without apparent cytotoxicity. In addition, the cell proliferation assay illustrated anti-growth and anti-migration effects of ACW on human skin melanoma cells (A375.S2) indicating that it exerted the anti-cancer potential against skin cancer. The results obtained from biological assays showed that ACW possessed multiple bioactivities, including anti-microorganism, anti-inflammation, allergy-free, antioxidant, anti-melanin and anticancer properties. To our knowledge, this was the first report presenting these bioactivities on ACW.

Chinese herbs have been and still are widely used as important remedies in Oriental medicine. Over the recent years, a variety of biologically active constituents have been isolated from these sources and confirmed to have multifunctional activity in experimental studies. Honokiol is a small-molecule polyphenol isolated from the genus Magnolia. It is accompanied by other related polyphenols, including magnolol, with which it shares certain biological properties. Recently, honokiol and magnolol have been found to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-microbial properties in preclinical models, without appreciable toxicity. These findings have increased interest in bringing honokiol and magnolol to the clinic as novel therapeutic agents in dermatology. In this review, the findings concerning the major mechanisms of action of honokiol and magnolol are described. Knowledge of the multiple activities of honokiol and magnolol can assist with the development of honokiol and magnolol derivatives and the design of clinical trials that will maximize the potential benefit of honokiol and magnolol in the patient setting for dermatologic disorders.

The Poisson maximum likelihood (PML) is used to estimate the coefficients of the Poisson regression model (PRM). Since the resulting estimators are sensitive to outliers, different studies have provided robust Poisson regression estimators to alleviate this problem. Additionally, the PML estimator is sensitive to multicollinearity. Therefore, several biased Poisson estimators have been provided to cope with this problem, such as the Poisson ridge estimator, Poisson Liu estimator, Poisson Kibria–Lukman estimator, and Poisson modified Kibria–Lukman estimator. Despite different Poisson biased regression estimators being proposed, there has been no analysis of the robust version of these estimators to deal with the two above-mentioned problems simultaneously, except for the robust Poisson ridge regression estimator, which we have extended by proposing three new robust Poisson one-parameter regression estimators, namely, the robust Poisson Liu (RPL), the robust Poisson Kibria–Lukman (RPKL), and the robust Poisson modified Kibria–Lukman (RPMKL). Theoretical comparisons and Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to show the proposed performance compared with the other estimators. The simulation results indicated that the proposed RPL, RPKL, and RPMKL estimators outperformed the other estimators in different scenarios, in cases where both problems existed. Finally, we analyzed two real datasets to confirm the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, huge surges and waves generated during tsunami events have caused devastating destruction to both onshore and offshore infrastructures, seriously threatening the safety and intactness of coastal communities around the world. As one of the most important coastal protection infrastructures, a seawall can effectively reduce the impact intensity of surges and waves, thus playing a vital role in protecting coastal regions. Most previous studies have systematically investigated the hydrodynamic characteristics of seawalls under the action of regular and irregular waves. Meanwhile, solitary wave models are often used as the wave model for tsunamis. However, vast hydrodynamic differences exist between solitary wave models and real-world tsunamis in terms of both wave profile and wave period. Hence, our understanding of the performance of seawalls in mitigating the damaging power of real-world tsunamis is still insufficient. Hence, it is of great significance to systematically study the performance of seawalls in mitigating the huge surges and waves generated during real-world tsunamis. In comparison to previous research, where the wave profiles of solitary waves were used as tsunami wave models, a parameterized tsunami-like wave based on the recorded wave profile of the 2011 Japan tsunami is applied in this study to evaluate the performance of different seawalls in mitigating tsunami surges and waves by using a nonhydrostatic numerical wave model (NHWAVE). The effects of the prominent factors, such as incident wave height, still water depth, beach slope, and the side slope of the seawall, on the hydrodynamics of the seawall are systematically discussed. It is believed that the research findings drawn from this study can further broaden our understanding of the performance of seawalls in mitigating tsunamis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the spatiotemporal characteristics of drought and ecosystem services (using soil conservation services as an example) in the YanHe Watershed, which is a typical water basin in the Loess Plateau of China, experiencing soil erosion. Herein, soil conservation was simulated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and the relationship between drought, soil conservation services, and meteorological, vegetation, and other factors since the implementation of the 'Grain for Green' Project (GFGP) in 1999, were analyzed using the gray relational analysis (GRA) method. The results showed that: (1) The vegetation cover of the Watershed has increased significantly, and evapotranspiration (ET) increased by 14.35 mm·a−1, thereby increasing water consumption by 8.997 × 108 m3·a−1 (compared to 2000). (2) Drought affected 63.86% of the watershed area, gradually worsening from south to north; it decreased in certain middle areas but increased in the humid areas on the southern edge. (3) The watershed soil conservation services, measured by the soil conservation modulus (SCM), increased steadily from 116.87 t·ha−1·a−1 in 2000 to 412.58 t·ha−1·a−1 in 2015, at a multi-year average of 235.69 t·ha−1·a−1, and indicated great spatial variations, with a large variation in the downstream and small variations in the upstream and midstream areas. (4) Integrating normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data into SWAT model improved the model simulation accuracy; during the calibration period, the coefficient of determination (R2) increased from 0.63 to 0.76 and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) from 0.46 to 0.51; and during the validation period, the R2 increased from 0.82 to 0.93 and the NSE from 0.57 to 0.61. (5) The GRA can be applied to gray control systems, such as the ecosystem; herein, vegetation cover and drought primarily affected ET and soil conservation services. The analysis results showed that vegetation restoration enhanced the soil conservation services, but increased ET and aggravated drought to a certain extent. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal variations in vegetation coverage and the response of ET to vegetation restoration in the YanHe Watershed, to verify the significant role of vegetation restoration in restraining soil erosion and evaluate the extent of water resource consumption due to ET in the semi-arid and semi-humid Loess-area basin during the GFGP period. Thus, this approach may effectively provide a scientific basis for evaluating the ecological effects of the GFGP and formulating policies to identify the impact of human ecological restoration on ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]