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Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are promising candidates for cell-based therapies. Growing evidence has indicated that overweight/obesity can change the bone marrow microenvironment, which affects some properties of BMSCs. As the overweight/obese population rapidly increases, they will inevitably become a potential source of BMSCs for clinical application, especially when receiving autologous BMSC transplantation. Given this situation, the quality control of these cells has become particularly important. Therefore, it is urgent to characterize BMSCs isolated from overweight/obese bone marrow environments. In this review, we summarize the evidence of the effects of overweight/obesity on the biological properties of BMSCs derived from humans and animals, including proliferation, clonogenicity, surface antigen expression, senescence, apoptosis, and trilineage differentiation, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Overall, the conclusions of existing studies are not consistent. Most studies demonstrate that overweight/obesity can influence one or more characteristics of BMSCs, while the involved mechanisms are still unclear. Moreover, insufficient evidence proves that weight loss or other interventions can rescue these qualities to baseline status. Thus, further research should address these issues and prioritize developing methods to improve functions of overweight- or obesity-derived BMSCs.

The endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria frequently cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in their insect hosts, where Wolbachia-infected males cross with uninfected females, leading to no or fewer progenies, indicating a paternal modification by Wolbachia. Recent studies have identified a Wolbachia protein, CidB, containing a DUB (deubiquitylating enzyme) domain, which can be loaded into host sperm nuclei and involved in CI, though the DUB activity is not necessary for CI in Drosophila melanogaster. To investigate whether and how Wolbachia affect protein ubiquitination in testes of male hosts and are thus involved in male fertility, we compared the protein and ubiquitinated protein expressions in D. melanogaster testes with and without Wolbachia. A total of 643 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and 309 differentially expressed ubiquitinated proteins (DEUPs) were identified to have at least a 1.5-fold change with a p-value of <0.05. Many DEPs were enriched in metabolic pathway, ribosome, RNA transport, and post-translational protein modification pathways. Many DEUPs were involved in metabolism, ribosome, and proteasome pathways. Notably, 98.1% DEUPs were downregulated in the presence of Wolbachia. Four genes coding for DEUPs in ubiquitin proteasome pathways were knocked down, respectively, in Wolbachia-free fly testes. Among them, Rpn6 and Rpn7 knockdown caused male sterility, with no mature sperm in seminal vesicles. These results reveal deubiquitylating effects induced by Wolbachia infection, suggesting that Wolbachia can widely deubiquitinate proteins that have crucial functions in male fertility of their hosts, but are not involved in CI. Our data provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of endosymbiont/host interactions and male fertility.

(1) Background: We aim to measure the urban-rural inequality of opportunity in healthcare in China based on the theory of Equality of Opportunity (EOp). (2) Methods: Following the compensation principle , we establish a decomposition strategy for the fairness gap , which we use for the measurement of the inequality of opportunity in urban-rural healthcare utilization. We then use China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) data from 1997 to 2006 to calculate the fairness gap . (3) Results: Empirical analysis using CHNS data shows that the ratio of the fairness gap to the directly observed average urban-rural difference in healthcare was 1.167 for 1997-2000 and 1.744 for 2004-2006. The average urban-rural difference observed directly from original statistical data may have underestimated the degree of this essential inequity. (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that upgrading urban-rural reimbursement ratios may not be sufficient in eliminating the inequality of opportunity in healthcare utilization between urban and rural residents. Within the context of an urban-rural dualistic social structure and widening of the urban-rural income gap, a shift to a pro-disadvantaged policy will be a more effective approach in promoting equality of opportunity in healthcare.

In view of the devastating outcomes of fires and explosions, it is imperative to research the dynamic responses of concrete structures at high temperatures. For this purpose, the effects of the strain rate and high temperatures on the dynamic tension behavior and energy characteristics of high-strength concrete were investigated in this paper. Dynamic tests were conducted on high-strength concrete after exposure to the temperatures of 200, 400, and 600 °C by utilizing a 74 mm diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus. We found that the quasi-static and dynamic tensile strength of high-strength concrete gradually decreased and that the damage degree rose sharply with the rise of temperature. The dynamic tensile strength and specific energy absorption of high-strength concrete had a significant strain rate effect. The crack propagation law gradually changed from directly passing through the coarse aggregate to extending along the bonding surface between the coarse aggregate and the mortar matrix with the elevation of temperature. When designing the material ratio, materials with high-temperature resistance and high tensile strength should be added to strengthen the bond between the mortar and the aggregate and to change the failure mode of the structure to resist the softening effect of temperature.

Microcellular polypropylene (PP)/wood fiber composite foams were fabricated via batch foaming assisted by supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂). Effects of wood fibers on rheology, crystallization, and foaming behaviors of PP were comprehensively investigated. The obtained results showed that the incorporation of wood fibers increased the complex viscosity and the storage modulus of the PP matrix. Jeziorny's model for non-isothermal crystallization kinetics indicated that wood fibers did not change the crystal growth. However, the crystallization rate of the PP matrix was decreased to a certain extent with increasing wood fiber loadings. The wood fiber exerts a noticeable role in improving the cell density and reducing the cell size, despite decreasing the expansion ratio. Interestingly, a "small-sized cells to large-sized cells" gradient cell structure was found around the wood fibers, implying cell nucleation was induced at the interface between wood fiber and PP matrix. When wood fiber loadings were specifically increased, a desirable microcellular structure was obtained. However, further increasing the wood fiber loadings deteriorated the cell structure. Moreover, the crystallinity of the composite foams initially decreased and then slightly increased with increasing wood fiber loadings, while the crystal size decreased.

Solar PV inverters require output filters to reduce unwanted harmonics in their output, where LCL filters are a more economical choice than larger inductance-only filters. A drawback of these filters is that they can introduce power quality disturbances, especially at higher frequencies (above 2 kHz). This paper investigates and characterises the resonance phenomenon introduced by different filter types, i.e., LC or LCL, and identifies their behavioural change when combined with multiple parallel grid-tied PV inverter systems. MATLAB/Simulink modelling aspects of PV inverter systems related to resonance phenomenon are presented, including establishing resonance at a specific frequency where potentially large variations in the parameter selection across manufacturers may exist. In addition, a method is developed to establish output filter frequency response through measurements, which is used to develop validated solar PV harmonic models for high-frequency analysis. The low-frequency harmonic models can be used up to the resonant frequency where the current flowing through the filter capacitor is insignificant compared to the current flowing into the electricity network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We looked into the ways in which the digital economy helps to speed up the convergence of environmentally responsible economic efficiency across China's regions by facilitating the flow and optimization of R&D resources. We measured the mobility of R&D capital and personnel across 30 provinces in China from 2001 to 2022 using a gravity model, assessed the efficiency of green economic using the SBM method, and determined the influence of the digital economy by the use of a fixed-effects model. (1) We identified the σ convergence (the absolute gap between per capita income or per capita economic efficiency levels of different economies gradually decreasing over time) and β convergence (the negative correlation between the rate of economic efficiency increase among various economies or regions and their initial level of economic efficiency) characteristics of green economic efficiency, discovering that the digital economy has sped up the process of convergence of environmentally responsible economic efficiency in regional areas. (2) We found a latecomer advantage in the convergence of China's green economic efficiency, along with the advancement of the digital economy; that is, the green economic efficiency more quickly converged in less developed regions and regions with fewer resources. (3) The digital economy is able to accelerate the convergence of regional green economy efficiency through the use of internal mechanisms such as the efficient flow of research and development factors and the reasonable allocation of those factors. By identifying the impact of the digital economy on the gaps in regional green economic efficiency from the new perspective of the flow and allocation of R&D elements, this study contributes to the existing body of literature. It also provides new information regarding the ways in which the digital economy is driving the development of China's green economy. We offer policy suggestions based on our findings to assist regions in achieving a balance between the digital economy and industrial development through the utilization of resources that are specific to the location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of safety conditions on hazardous rock slopes in civil work, mining and quarrying, and urban environments can be achieved through the use of explosives for the removal of unstable rock elements and final profiling. This technique is often applied because, in most cases, drill and blast operations, where they can be used, are cheaper and faster than other techniques and require fewer subsequent maintenance interventions. Blasting represents a suitable and effective solution in terms of different geometries, rock formation types, access to site, safety, and the long-term durability of results. The primary purpose of this approach is the improvement of the safety conditions of sites, depending on their local features, as well as the safety of workers, so that the blasting scheme, geometry, and firing can be carefully adapted, thus imposing relevant limitations on the operating techniques. All these constraints associated with complex logistics make it difficult to standardize the demolition technique, due to different situations in terms of extension, location, fracturing state, and associated traffic risk. Considering the significant number of influencing factors for both the rock mass features and for the topography, the present research has been necessarily validated through the analysis of several case histories, thus on an experiential basis focusing on some simple control parameters to help engineers and practitioners regarding the first design and control of blasting schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fan power generation, a form of new energy, has gained significant attention. However, as fan capacities grow, the challenges in the development process also increase. A wind maneuver model experiment system must be constructed to simulate the actual fan operation dynamics. The wind turbine simulator is essential for conducting experiments on wind turbines and advancing the research of wind power production technology. However, due to the insufficient moment of inertia in wind turbine simulators under laboratory conditions, physical compensation methods are challenging to implement. Therefore, most scholars rely on software compensation algorithms to realize the stability simulation of wind turbine simulators with small moments of inertia and actual wind turbines with large moments of inertia. Under this research background, this paper presents the existing moment of inertia compensation strategies based on current research hotspots. The theoretical foundation covers the mechanical dynamic models of both actual wind turbines and simulators along with an analysis of inertia compensation strategies, including high-order filters and feedforward bias suppression. Finally, the Simulink simulation platform is used to compare and validate the effectiveness of these strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organ fibrosis is gradually becoming a human health and safety problem, and various organs of the body are likely to develop fibrosis. The ultimate pathological feature of numerous chronic diseases is fibrosis, and few interventions are currently available to specifically target the pathogenesis of fibrosis. The medical detection of organ fibrosis has gradually matured. However, there is currently no effective treatment method for these diseases. Therefore, we need to strive for developing effective and reliable drugs or substances to treat and prevent fibrotic diseases. Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein with many pathological and physiologically active effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, and it protects against pathological and physiological conditions in various disease models. This review summarizes the effects and underlying mechanisms of LF in preventing organ fibrosis. As a naturally active substance, LF can be used as a promising and effective drug for the prevention and remission of fibrotic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the onset of global industrialization, rural planning has evolved significantly in developed countries, establishing a comprehensive framework for sustainable development. However, China's rural areas, rooted in longstanding agrarian traditions, face distinct challenges amid rapid urbanization and globalization, including land degradation, ecological degradation, and rural depopulation. This study examines the progression of rural planning in China, with a focus on Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11): "Sustainable Cities and Communities". Employing a bibliometric approach, we analyzed the literature from the Web of Science database, concentrating on influential publications, collaborative patterns among research institutions, and emerging research themes. Findings reveal that Chinese rural planning research has expanded rapidly since 2004, characterized by interdisciplinary and cross-institutional collaborations. High-impact studies emphasize the transformation of rural settlements, land utilization, and urban–rural dynamics, reflecting an ongoing shift toward sustainable rural revitalization. Co-citation analysis identifies emerging themes such as resilience in rural development, land consolidation, and rural governance under environmental constraints. This study offers theoretical and empirical insights critical to advancing rural planning practices in China, proposing a framework for integrating sustainability into policy and guiding future research to optimize spatial layouts, preserve ecological resources, and support rural transformation aligned with China's socioeconomic objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The growing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has led to an increased need for managing their associated toxicities, including hepatotoxicity, which is one of the most common immune-related adverse events (irAEs) with potentially serious consequences. The effective management of immune-related hepatotoxicity is crucial to prevent complications and allow patients to continue their oncological therapies. However, current guidelines rely on limited data, often derived from retrospective studies, case reports, and case series, leaving considerable uncertainty regarding optimal diagnostic and treatment strategies. This manuscript offers a comprehensive overview of immune-related hepatotoxicity, from standard care practices to the latest evidence, with the aim of providing clinicians with valuable information to effectively manage these adverse events. Cancer immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors, has positively impacted oncological treatments. Despite its effectiveness, immunotherapy is associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that can affect any organ, including the liver. Hepatotoxicity primarily manifests as immune-related hepatitis and, less frequently, cholangitis. Several risk factors, such as pre-existing autoimmune and liver diseases, the type of immunotherapy, and combination regimens, play a role in immune-related hepatotoxicity (irH), although reliable predictive markers or models are still lacking. The severity of irH ranges from mild to severe cases, up to, in rare instances, acute liver failure. Management strategies require regular monitoring for early diagnosis and interventions, encompassing strict monitoring for mild cases to the permanent suspension of immunotherapy for severe forms. Corticosteroids are the backbone of treatment in moderate and high-grade damage, alone or in combination with additional immunosuppressive drugs for resistant or refractory cases. Given the relatively low number of events and the lack of dedicated prospective studies, much uncertainty remains about the optimal management of irH, especially in the most severe cases. This review presents the main features of irH, focusing on injury patterns and mechanisms, and provides an overview of the management landscape, from standard care to the latest evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease with diverse treatment responses and poorer outcomes compared to receptor-positive breast cancer. We aimed to characterize the mitochondrial redox responses of several subtypes of TNBC cells under NAD-deficient stress using an optical redox imaging technique. We observed significant but differential alterations in the mitochondrial redox status. Our findings may aid in identifying responsive cells and biomarkers of treatment response, enabling combination therapy strategies through rapid metabolic phenotyping of TNBC cells under NAD-deficient stress caused by pharmacological inhibition of the NAD biosynthesis salvage pathway. Background/Objectives: Cancer cells rely on metabolic reprogramming that is supported by altered mitochondrial redox status and an increased demand for NAD+. Over expression of Nampt, the rate-limiting enzyme of the NAD+ biosynthesis salvage pathway, is common in breast cancer cells, and more so in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Targeting the salvage pathway has been pursued for cancer therapy. However, TNBC cells have heterogeneous responses to Nampt inhibition, which contributes to the diverse outcomes. There is a lack of imaging biomarkers to differentiate among TNBC cells under metabolic stress and identify which are responsive. We aimed to characterize and differentiate among a panel of TNBC cell lines under NAD-deficient stress and identify which subtypes are more dependent on the NAD salvage pathway. Methods: Optical redox imaging (ORI), a label-free live cell imaging microscopy technique was utilized to acquire intrinsic fluorescence intensities of NADH and FAD-containing flavoproteins (Fp) thus the mitochondrial redox ratio Fp/(NADH + Fp) in a panel of TNBC cell lines. Various fluorescence probes were then added to the cultures to image the mitochondrial ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial mass, and cell number. Results: Various TNBC subtypes are sensitive to Nampt inhibition in a dose- and time-dependent manner, they have differential mitochondrial redox responses; furthermore, the mitochondrial redox indices linearly correlated with mitochondrial ROS induced by various doses of a Nampt inhibitor. Moreover, the changes in the redox indices correlated with growth inhibition. Additionally, the redox state was found fully recovered after removing the Nampt inhibitor. Conclusions: This study supports the utility of ORI in rapid metabolic phenotyping of TNBC cells under NAD-deficient stress to identify responsive cells and biomarkers of treatment response, facilitating combination therapy strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology in healthcare, with its integration into cardiac surgery offering significant advancements in precision, efficiency, and patient outcomes. However, a comprehensive understanding of AI's applications, benefits, challenges, and future directions in cardiac surgery is needed to inform its safe and effective implementation. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, covering publications from January 2000 to November 2024. Studies focusing on AI applications in cardiac surgery, including risk stratification, surgical planning, intraoperative guidance, and postoperative management, were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted using standardized tools, and findings were synthesized narratively. Results: A total of 121 studies were included in this review. AI demonstrated superior predictive capabilities in risk stratification, with machine learning models outperforming traditional scoring systems in mortality and complication prediction. Robotic-assisted systems enhanced surgical precision and minimized trauma, while computer vision and augmented cognition improved intraoperative guidance. Postoperative AI applications showed potential in predicting complications, supporting patient monitoring, and reducing healthcare costs. However, challenges such as data quality, validation, ethical considerations, and integration into clinical workflows remain significant barriers to widespread adoption. Conclusions: AI has the potential to revolutionize cardiac surgery by enhancing decision making, surgical accuracy, and patient outcomes. Addressing limitations related to data quality, bias, validation, and regulatory frameworks is essential for its safe and effective implementation. Future research should focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, robust testing, and the development of ethical and transparent AI systems to ensure equitable and sustainable advancements in cardiac surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two types of T800 grade carbon fibers, produced using distinct spinning processes, were utilized to fabricate thermoplastic prepregs via the hot melt method. These prepregs were subsequently employed to produce thermoplastic composites. A universal testing machine was used to assess the tensile, bending, and interlaminar shear properties of the composites, evaluating the impact of the two different spinning processes on their mechanical characteristics. The experimental results indicate that the dry spray wet spinning carbon fiber (T800-DJWS) exhibits a smoother surface, more regular cross-section, and more uniform distribution compared to the wet spinning carbon fiber (T800-WS), enhancing the prepreg preparation via the hot melt method. The T800-DJWS/PAEK composite demonstrates a tensile strength that is 706 MPa higher than the T800-WS/PAEK composite, while the latter exhibits a bending modulus 31 GPa higher than the former. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: This study uses machine learning and multicenter registry data for analyzing the determinants of a favorable neurological outcome in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and developing decision support systems for various subgroups. Methods: The data came from the Korean Cardiac Arrest Research Consortium registry, with 2679 patients who underwent OHCA aged 18 or above with the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The dependent variable was a favorable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category score 1–2), and 68 independent variables were included, e.g., first monitored rhythm, in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) duration and post-ROSC pH. A random forest was used for identifying the major determinants of the favorable neurological outcome and developing decision support systems for the various subgroups stratified by the major variables. Results: Based on the random forest variable importance, the major determinants of the OHCA patient outcomes were the in-hospital CPR duration (0.0824), in-hospital electrocardiogram on emergency room arrival (0.0692), post-ROSC pH (0.0579), prehospital ROSC before emergency room arrival (0.0565), coronary angiography (0.0527), age (0.0415), first monitored rhythm (EMS) (0.0402), first monitored rhythm (community) (0.0401), early coronary angiography within 24 h (0.0304) and time from scene arrival to CPR stop (0.0301). It was also found that the patients could be divided into six subgroups in terms of their prehospital ROSC and first monitored rhythm (EMS), and that a decision tree could be developed as a decision support system for each subgroup to find the effective cut-off points regarding the in-hospital CPR duration, post-ROSC pH, age and hemoglobin. Conclusions: We identified the major determinants of favorable neurological outcomes in successfully resuscitated patients who underwent OHCA using machine learning. This study demonstrates the strengths of a random forest as an effective decision support system for each stratified subgroup (prehospital ROSC and first monitored rhythm by EMS) to find its own optimal cut-off points for the major in-hospital variables (in-hospital CPR duration, post-ROSC pH, age and hemoglobin). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operation of large reservoirs significantly modifies flow–sediment regimes, and the reaches immediately downstream of the dams are the first to undergo responsive channel adjustments. Considering that the geomorphological responses are directly related to the flood control safety, channel stability and other sustainable functions of rivers, this paper explores the similarities and dissimilarities of the channel adjustments in the two reaches with gravel–sand beds immediately downstream of the Xiangjiaba reservoir and the Three Gorges Dam, respectively. The results show that major erosion primarily occurred during the initial years of reservoir impoundment. And then with the prominent reduction in washable sediment on the riverbed, the erosion intensity further weakened. It takes 6 to 13 years for the two reaches to reach a new state of relative equilibrium. In comparison, after the equilibrium state has been achieved, the reach with significant tributary sediment inflows exhibits alternating erosion and deposition dynamics, while the other remains relatively stable. The tributaries that transport a large amount of sediment during floods are the main sources of sediment deposition in the downstream reaches of the Xiangjiaba reservoir. However, the tributary inflow of the Qing River with low sediment concentrations has little impact on the riverbed evolution of the reaches from Yichang to Zhicheng immediately downstream of the Three Gorges Dam. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of geomorphic adjustments near dams in response to upstream damming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of nanotechnology during the last two decades has created new opportunities to design and generate more advanced nanotheranostics with diversified capabilities for diagnosis, drug delivery, and treatment response monitoring in a single platform. To date, several approaches have been employed in order to develop nanotheranostics. The purpose of this review is to briefly discuss the key components of nanotheranostic systems, to present the conventional and upcoming imaging and therapeutic modalities that employ nanotheranostic systems, and to evaluate recent progress in the field of cancer nanotheranostic systems in the past five years (2020–2024). Special attention is focused on the design of cancer nanotheranostic systems, their composition, specificity, potential for multimodal imaging and therapy, and in vitro and in vivo characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer immunotherapy using immune checkpoint blockades has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach. However, immunotherapy faces challenges such as low response rates in solid tumors, necessitating strategies to remodel the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) into an immune-activated state. One of the primary approaches to achieve this transformation is through the induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD). Herein, we discussed strategies to maximize ICD induction using nanoparticles. In particular, this review highlighted various studies integrating chemotherapy, radiation therapy (RT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photothermal therapy (PTT) with nanoparticle-based immunotherapy. The research covered in this review aims to provide valuable insights for future studies on nanoparticle-assisted immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel tuning method for the extended state observer (ESO), which is applied in the active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) algorithm operating in a stochastic environment. Instead of the traditional pole placement (PP) method, the selection of ESO gains based on the noise variances of the Kalman filter (KF) is proposed. Also, a simple parametrization of ESO gains for the particular control process based on the observer bandwidth is introduced. A root locus and frequency analysis is conducted for the KF-based observer and presented with regard to the proposed tuning method. The presented results come from experiments carried out on the ball balancing table (BBT) real plant for various measurement noise levels. The possibilities of rejecting measurement noise by the estimation algorithm were investigated to ensure effective control and minimize the control signal energy. Based on the conducted experiments, one can conclude that the presented tuning method provides better results than the traditional PP algorithm in the stochastic environment in terms of control quality and reduction in measurement noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tt72 DNA polymerase is a newly characterized PolA-type thermostable enzyme derived from the Thermus thermophilus phage vB_Tt72. The enzyme demonstrates strong 3′→5′ exonucleolytic proofreading activity, even in the presence of 1 mM dNTPs. In this study, we examined how the exonucleolytic activity of Tt72 DNA polymerase affects the fidelity of DNA synthesis. Using a plasmid-based lacZα gene complementation assay, we determined that the enzyme's mutation frequency was 2.06 × 10−3, corresponding to an error rate of 1.41 × 10−5. For the exonuclease-deficient variant, the mutation frequency increased to 6.23 × 10−3, with an associated error rate of 4.29 × 10−5. The enzyme retained 3′→5′ exonucleolytic activity at temperatures up to 70 °C but lost it after 10 min of incubation at temperatures above 75 °C. Additionally, we demonstrated that Tt72 DNA polymerase efficiently processes 3′/5′-overhangs and removes a single-nucleotide 3′-dA overhang from PCR products at 55 °C. These characteristics make Tt72 DNA polymerase well suited for specialized molecular cloning applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are being seen as the most promising type of autonomous vehicles in the context of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technology. A key enabling factor for the current development of ITS technology based on autonomous vehicles is the task allocation architecture. This approach allows tasks to be efficiently assigned to robots of a multi-agent system, taking into account both the robots' capabilities and service requirements. Consequently, this study provides an overview of the application of drones in ITSs, focusing on the applications of task allocation algorithms for UAV networks. Currently, there are different types of algorithms that are employed for task allocation in drone-based intelligent transportation systems, including market-based approaches, game-theory-based algorithms, optimization-based algorithms, machine learning techniques, and other hybrid methodologies. This paper offers a comprehensive literature review of how such approaches are being utilized to optimize the allocation of tasks in UAV-based ITSs. The main characteristics, constraints, and limitations are detailed to highlight their advantages, current achievements, and applicability to different types of UAV-based ITSs. Current research trends in this field as well as gaps in the literature are also thoughtfully discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the correlation between short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and hospitalization for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Lanzhou, China. A distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was employed to examine the relationship between changes in NO2 concentration and CKD hospitalizations. Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the sensitivity of different populations to NO2 exposure. A total of 35,857 CKD hospitalizations occurred from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2019. The average daily concentration of NO2 was 47.33 ± 17.27 µg/m3. A significant exposure response relationship was observed between changes in NO2 concentration and the relative risk (RR) of CKD hospitalization. At lag0 (the same day) and lag0-1 (cumulative same day and the previous 1 day) to lag0-4 (cumulative same day and the previous 4 days), NO2 exhibited a harmful effect on CKD hospitalizations, with the maximum effect occurring at lag0-1. For every 10 µg/m3 increase in NO2 concentration, the RR of CKD hospitalization was 1.034 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.017, 1.050]. Subgroup analyses revealed that the adverse effects of NO2 were more pronounced in females and individuals aged ≥65 years. The harmful effects were also more significant during the cold season. In conclusion, short-term NO2 exposure is associated with an increased relative risk of CKD hospitalization. Continuous efforts to improve air quality are essential to protect public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of artificial intelligence and edge computing, the demand for high-performance non-volatile memory devices has been rapidly increasing. Two-dimensional materials have ultrathin bodies, ultra-flattened surfaces, and superior physics properties, and are promising to be used in non-volatile memory devices. Various kinds of advanced non-volatile memory devices with semiconductor, insulator, ferroelectric, magnetic, and phase-change two-dimensional materials have been investigated in recent years to promote performance enhancement and functionality extension. In this article, the recent advances in two-dimensional material-based non-volatile memory devices are reviewed. Performance criteria and strategies of high-performance two-dimensional non-volatile memory devices are analyzed. Two-dimensional non-volatile memory array structures and their applications in compute-in-memory architectures are discussed. Finally, a summary of this article and future outlooks of two-dimensional non-volatile memory device developments are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metabolic interplay between macrophages and cancer cells mirrors the plasticity of both kinds of cells, which adapt to the microenvironment by sustaining cell growth and proliferation. In this way, cancer cells induce macrophage polarization, and, on the other hand, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to the survival of cancer cells. In a simplified manner, macrophages can assume two opposite subtypes: M1, pro-inflammatory and anti-tumor phenotype, and M2, anti-inflammatory and protumor phenotype. How do cancer cells induce macrophage polarization? Any actor involved in tumor growth, including the mitochondria, releases molecules into the tumor microenvironment (TME) that trigger a subtype transition. These metabolic changes are the primary cause of this polarization. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the prevalent type of liver primary tumor, is characterized by cells with extensive metabolic adaptions due to high flexibility in different environmental conditions. This review focuses on the main metabolic features of M1 and M2 macrophages and HCC cells underlying their metabolic behavior in response to TME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy has shown significant improvement in the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to TKIs as first-line treatment. Unfortunately, approximately 30% of HCC exhibits intrinsic resistance to ICIs, making new therapeutic combinations urgently needed. The dysregulation of the Notch signaling pathway observed in HCC can affect immune cell response, reducing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Here, we provide an overview of how Notch signaling regulates immune responses and present the therapeutic rationale for combining Notch signaling inhibition with ICIs to improve HCC treatment. Moreover, we propose using exosomes as non-invasive tools to assess Notch signaling activation in hepatic cancer cells, enabling accurate stratification of patients who can benefit from combined strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is increasingly becoming a cause of acute hepatitis. The study evaluated the role of liver-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) and keratin-18 (K-18) markers M30 (apoptosis) and M65 (necrosis) as biomarkers of acute hepatitis. Methods: Sixty-eight patients were sub-grouped as DILI, HBV- and alcohol-related acute hepatitis. Five healthy controls were included. The expression of plasma miR-21-5p, miR-34a-5p and miR-122-5p was evaluated by RT-qPCR analysis using healthy volunteers as reference. M30 and M65 were determined with ELISA kits. Results: All markers were significantly higher in the acute liver disease patients compared to controls. In DILI, miRNA levels positively correlated with M30, M65 and ALT. miR-122-5p had the highest AUC of 0.73, sensitivity of 76.2 and specificity of 72.2 in identifying DILI from other groups. Patients with hepatocellular-pattern DILI showed higher miR-122-5p and miR-21-5p compared to patients with cholestatic or mixed pattern. A new score to discriminate DILI versus other causes of acute hepatitis was developed using the identified risk factors as follows: 0.012 × miR-34a-5p + 0.012 × miR-122-5p − 0.001 × M30 + 2.642 × 1 (if mixed pattern) + 0.014 × 1 (if hepatocellular pattern) + 1.887. The AUC of the score was 0.86, with a sensitivity and specificity of 81%, better than the values of the single markers. Conclusions: Liver-specific miRNAs and K-18 could be promising serum biomarkers of DILI, especially when used in combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Solar System Boundary Exploration (SSBE) mission is the focal point for future far-reaching space exploration. Due to the SSBE having many scientific difficulties that need to be studied, such as a super long space exploratory distance, a super long flight time in orbit, and a significant communication data delay between the ground and the probe, the probe must have sufficient intelligence to realize intelligent autonomous navigation. Traditional navigation schemes have been unable to provide high-accuracy autonomous intelligent navigation for the probe independent of the ground. Therefore, high-accuracy intelligent astronomical integrated navigation would provide new methods and technologies for the navigation of the SSBE probe. The probe of the SSBE is disturbed by multiple sources of solar light pressure and a complex, unknown environment during its long cruise operation while in orbit. In order to ensure the high-accuracy position state and velocity state error estimation for the probe in the cruise phase, an autonomous intelligent integrated navigation scheme based on the X-ray pulsar/solar and target planetary Doppler velocity measurements is proposed. The reinforcement Q-learning method is introduced, and the reward mechanism is designed for trial-and-error tuning of state and observation noise error covariance parameters. The federated extended Kalman filter (FEKF) based on the Q-learning (QLFEKF) navigation algorithm is proposed to achieve high-accuracy state estimations of the autonomous intelligence navigation system for the SSBE probe cruise phase. The main advantage of the QLFEKF is that Q-learning combined with the conventional federated filtering method could optimize the state parameters in real-time and obtain high position and velocity state estimation (PVSE) accuracy. Compared with the conventional FEKF integrated navigation algorithm, the PVSE navigation accuracy of the federated filter integrated based the Q-learning navigation algorithm is improved by 55.84% and 37.04%, respectively, demonstrating the higher accuracy and greater capability of the raised autonomous intelligent integrated navigation algorithm. The simulation results show that the intelligent integrated navigation algorithm based on QLFEKF has higher navigation accuracy and is able to satisfy the demands of autonomous high accuracy for the SSBE cruise phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES-01) is the first satellite of the space-based observational platform for the earthquake (EQ) monitoring system in China. It aims to monitor the ionospheric disturbances related to EQ activities by acquiring global electromagnetic fields, ionospheric plasma, energy particles, etc., opening a new path for innovative explorations of EQ prediction. This study analyzed 47 shallow strong EQ cases (Ms ≥ 7 and depth ≤ 100 km) recorded by CSES-01 from its launch in February 2018 to February 2023. The results show that: (1) For the majority (90%) of shallow strong EQs, at least one payload onboard CSES-01 recorded discernible abnormal signals before the mainshocks, and for over 65% of EQs, two or three payloads simultaneously recorded ionospheric disturbances; (2) the majority of anomalies recorded by different payloads onboard CSES-01 predominantly manifest within one week before or on the mainshock day, or occasionally about 11–15 days or 20–25 days before the mainshock; (3) typically, the abnormal signal detected by CSES-01 does not directly appear overhead the epicenter, but rather hundreds of kilometers away from the epicenter, and more preferably toward the equatorward direction; (4) the anomaly recognition rate of each payload differs, with the highest rate reaching more than 70% for the Electric Field Detector (EFD), Search-Coil Magnetometer (SCM), and Langmuir Probe (LAP); (5) for the different parameters analyzed in this study, the plasma density from LAP, and electromagnetic field in the ULF band recorded by EFD and SCM, and energetic electrons from the High-Energy Particle Package (HEPP) show a relatively high occurrence of abnormal phenomena during the EQ time. Although CSES-01 has recorded prominent ionospheric anomalies for a significant portion of EQ cases, it is still challenging to accurately extract and confirm the real seismic precursor signals by relying solely on a single satellite. The combination of seismology, electromagnetism, geodesy, geochemistry, and other multidisciplinary means is needed in the future's exploration to get infinitely closer to addressing the global challenge of EQ prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Altered gene expression in cancers holds great potential to improve the diagnostics and differentiation of primary and metastatic liver cancers. In this study, the expression of the protein-coding genes ring finger protein 135 (RNF135), ephrin-B2 (EFNB2), ring finger protein 125 (RNF125), homeobox-C 4 (HOXC4), actin-binding LIM protein 1 (ABLIM1) and oncostatin M receptor (OSMR) and the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) prospero homeobox 1 antisense RNA 1 (PROX1-AS1) and leukemia inhibitory factor receptor antisense RNA 1 (LIFR-AS1) was investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal liver metastases and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma liver metastases. Methods: This study included 149 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples from 80 patients. After RNA isolation, quantification, reverse transcription and preamplification, real-time qPCR was performed. The gene expression between different groups was calculated relative to the expression of the reference genes using the ∆∆Cq method and statistically analyzed. The expression of the genes was additionally analyzed using the AmiCA and UCSC Xena platforms. Results: In primary cancers, our results showed differential expression between primary tumors and healthy tissues for all the genes and lncRNA examined. Moreover, we found downregulation of RNF135 in hepatocellular carcinoma, downregulation of OSMR in colorectal liver metastases and upregulation of HOXC4 in cholangiocarcinoma compared to primary liver cancers and metastatic cancers. The major finding is the upregulation of ABLIM1 in cholangiocarcinoma compared to hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal liver metastases, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma liver metastases and healthy liver tissue. We propose ABLIM1 as a potential biomarker that differentiates cholangiocarcinoma from other cancers and healthy liver tissue. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of understanding the differences in gene expression between healthy tissues and primary and metastatic cancers and highlights the potential use of altered gene expression as a diagnostic biomarker in these malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imbalance between excavation and mining is significant as it restricts the efficient development of coal resources. Slow tunneling speed is primarily due to the inability to concurrently conduct excavation and permanent support operations, and temporary support is considered a key solution to this problem. However, the mechanism by which temporary support affects the surrounding rock in unsupported are as remains unclear, hindering the assurance of stability in these areas and the determination of a reasonable unsupported span. To address this issue, this work proposed a stress distribution model as temporary support, elucidating the distribution law of support forces within the surrounding rock. By analyzing the stress differences between areas with and without temporary support, the stress field distribution characteristics of temporary support were determined. Subsequently, the evolution of stress and strain in the surrounding rock within unsupported areas was analyzed concerning changes in temporary support length, support force, and unsupported distance. The results indicated that, although temporary support does not directly act on unsupported areas, it still generates a supportive stress field within them. The maximum unsupported distance should not exceed 3 m, and there is a strong linear relationship between the optimal temporary support force and the unsupported span. Furthermore, the length of temporary support should not exceed 17 m from the tunnel face. The successful application of the shield tunneling robot system verifies that temporary support can ensure the stability of the surrounding rock in unsupported areas, confirming the validity of the temporary support stress distribution model. This research can be used to design and optimize cutting parameters and temporary support parameters, arrange equipment, and design and optimize tunnel excavation processes to achieve safe and efficient tunneling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the increasing frequency of forest fires has threatened ecological and social security. Due to the risks of traditional fire drills, three-dimensional visualization technology has been adopted to simulate forest fire management. This paper presents an immersive decision-making framework for forest firefighting, designed to simulate the response of resources during fires. First, a fire resource scheduling optimization model for multiple fire stations is proposed. This model integrates the characteristics of fire spread with a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) framework, aiming to minimize response time and firefighting costs. It enables flexible resource scheduling optimization under various fire spread scenarios and constraints on firefighting resources. Second, the ant lion optimization algorithm (ALO) is enhanced, incorporating multiple firefighting weighting factors such as the density, distance, and wind direction of burning trees. This improvement allows for the dynamic selection of priority firefighting targets, facilitating the precise allocation of resources to efficiently complete fire suppression tasks. Finally, a three-dimensional virtual forest environment is developed to simulate real-time actions and processes during firefighting operations. The proposed framework provides an immersive and visualized real-time fire simulation method, offering valuable support for decision-making in forest fire management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in disease resistance among pig breeds have been extensively documented, with Sertoli cells (SCs) playing a pivotal role in spermatogenesis. Infections can induce oxidative stress, which can lead to damage to these cells. This study aimed to compare the levels of oxidative stress in SCs from Rongchang and Landrace pig breeds following LPS challenge. SCs were isolated, cultured, and stimulated with LPS to assess cell viability and markers of oxidative stress. Cell viability was evaluated along with oxidative stress markers such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial superoxide, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzymes. Mitochondrial function was assessed using JC-1 and Calcein AM probes. Transcriptomic analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs), while ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) explored enriched pathways. IL20RA, identified through transcriptomics, was validated using the siRNA knockdown technique. The results showed that Rongchang SCs exhibited lower levels of oxidative stress compared to Landrace SCs along with higher activity of antioxidant enzymes. IL20RA emerged as a key regulator since its knockdown affected mitochondrial superoxide production and catalase secretion. The findings suggest that Rongchang SCs possess superior antioxidant capacity, possibly due to the IL20RA-mediated protection of mitochondria, thereby providing insights into breed-specific resistance against oxidative stress and highlighting the role of IL20RA in maintaining stem cell function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in experimental models induces a systemic inflammatory response that is associated with deleterious effects on intestinal morphology and physiology. In this study, we have studied in female mice the effects of dietary supplementation with bovine lactoferrin (bLF) given before intraperitoneal injection of LPS on jejunum and colon. Methods: The first study evaluated the efficiency of different bLF and LPS concentrations to determine the optimal experimental conditions. For the second study mice were fed with 1% bLF before the LPS challenge (3 mg/kg body weight). Plasmatic markers of inflammation, intestinal morphology, permeability, and expression of genes related to epithelial differentiation, epithelial barrier function and intestinal inflammation in both small intestine and colon were evaluated. Results: bLF ingestion before the LPS challenge reduced the TNF-α circulating concentration, compared to control animals. This decrease in plasma TNF-α was correlated with improved intestinal permeability. The morphology of jejunal epithelium, which was affected by LPS challenge, was partly maintained by bLF. Measurement of the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in epithelial differentiation, intestinal inflammation, and epithelial barrier function suggests an overall protective effect of bLF against the adverse effects of LPS in the jejunum. In the colon, the effects of bLF ingestion on the subsequent LPS challenge, although protective, remain different when compared with those observed on jejunum. Conclusions: Taken together, our data indicate that bLF dietary supplementation does have a protective effect on the deleterious intestinal alterations induced by LPS systemic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Vasopressin increases blood pressure through aquaporin-2-mediated water retention and is useful for managing hemodynamics after surgery. However, even after decades of study, clear clinical guidelines on doses and ideal use cases after cardiovascular surgery remain unclear. Here, the existing literature is synthesized on vasopressin use for cardiac surgeries and coupled with real-world clinical experience to outline a clearer clinical path for vasopressin use. Materials and Methods: Literature from 1966 to the present was searched, and information on surgical outcomes for cardiovascular surgery was extracted. Clinicians from the University of Tsukuba with extensive vasopressin experience in pediatric cardiovascular patients were consulted for general use guidelines. Results: Vasopressin response after cardiovascular surgery is multifaceted, and low-power trials, plus conflicting study reports, generally render it as a secondary choice behind norepinephrine. Clinical experience indicates that low doses of 0.2–0.3 mU/kg/min with constant blood pressure and oxygen monitoring for response are required. Although sole use is not recommended, vasopressin may aid in controlling hemodynamics when given with other volemic or osmolal drugs. Conclusions: Vasopressin may work in a select population of first-line non-responders, but relevant response factors remain unanalyzed and clear guidelines for use remain unestablished. Future, large-scale studies are needed to delineate temporal and demographic characteristics that affect response to vasopressin for the purpose of managing post-surgical capillary leakage and hemodynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uric acid (UA), a metabolite of purine and fructose metabolism, is linked to inflammation and metabolic disorders, including gout and cardiovascular disease. Its pro-inflammatory effects are largely driven by the activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, leading to increased cytokine production. Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a ketone produced during fasting or carbohydrate restriction, has been shown to reduce inflammation. This study explores the role of BHB in mitigating the inflammatory and metabolic effects of elevated uric acid levels. Methods: We utilized a murine muscle cell culture treated with UA and BHB. Results: Muscle cells treated with UA had increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced cell viability. Co-treatment with BHB reversed these effects, improving cell survival and reducing cytokine levels. Additionally, uric acid impaired mitochondrial function and increased oxidative stress, which were mitigated by BHB. Furthermore, uric acid disrupted insulin signaling, but BHB co-treatment restored insulin sensitivity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that BHB holds therapeutic potential by counteracting the inflammatory and metabolic disruptions caused by elevated uric acid, making it a promising target for conditions such as hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review investigates the combined effects of stress and carbonation on the durability of concrete, an important but under-researched factor affecting infrastructure longevity. Carbonation substantially degrades concrete, particularly under tensile, compressive, and bending stresses. This paper synthesizes recent findings to explore how these stress states influence the progression of carbonation and overall durability, emphasizing data on carbonation depth, mechanical performance, and structural integrity. Key models and experimental results are evaluated, revealing significant gaps in current knowledge, including limited insights into the long-term impacts of stress-carbonation interactions and the lack of standardized testing methods. To address these gaps, future research should prioritize the refinement of carbonation prediction models under complex stress conditions and the development of high-resilience materials suitable for challenging environments. Ultimately, this review aims to establish a foundation for more accurate predictions of concrete service life, thereby supporting advancements in material science and sustainable construction practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Mental health disorders pose a substantial challenge for healthcare workers, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era. Public health medical residents (PHRs) played a pivotal role during the pandemic and were significantly affected by the heavy workload. This study aims to uncover potential associations between workload characteristics and symptoms of anxiety and insomnia in Italian PHRs based on data collected in 2022 through the Public Health Residents' Anonymous Survey in Italy (PHRASI) study. Methods: A total of 379 residents completed the self-administered questionnaire comprising the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Results: While 36% PHRs reported anxiety symptoms (GAD-2 ≥ 3), 12% reported moderate-to-severe insomnia symptoms (ISI ≥ 15). The multivariate logistic regressions showed that a high work–life interference was associated with the presence of anxiety and insomnia symptoms, while attending two or more simultaneous traineeships was associated with insomnia symptoms. A high workload perceived was positively associated with both the mental health outcomes considered, while the perception of work environment manageability was negatively associated with them. Conclusions: These findings underscore the significant role of the workload in influencing the mental health status of PHRs and emphasize the importance of fostering a supportive work environment that prioritizes mental well-being [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural caving method, as a new technique in underground mining, has been promoted and applied in several countries worldwide. The destruction of the bottom rock mass structure directly impacts the structural stability of underground engineering, resulting in damage and collapse of underground tunnels. Therefore, based on the principles of explosion theory and field monitoring data, a scaled three-dimensional numerical simulation model of underground blasting was constructed using LS-DYNA19.0 software to investigate the attenuation patterns of underground blasting vibrations and their impact on nearby tunnels. The results show that the relative error range between the simulated blasting vibration velocities based on the FEM-SPH (Finite Element Method–Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) algorithm and the measured values is between 7.75% and 9.85%, validating the feasibility of this method. Significant fluctuations in blasting vibration velocities occur when the blast center increases to within a range of 10–20 m. As the blast center distance exceeds 25 m, the vibration velocities are increasingly influenced by the surrounding stress. Additionally, greater stress results in higher blasting vibration velocities and stress wave intensities. Fitting the blasting vibration velocities of various measurement points using the Sadovsky formula yields fitting correlation coefficients ranging between 0.92 and 0.97, enabling the prediction of on-site blasting vibration velocities based on research findings. Changes in propagation paths lead to localized fluctuations in the numerical values of stress waves. These research findings are crucial for a deeper understanding of underground blasting vibration patterns and for enhancing blasting safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-object tracking faces critical challenges, including occlusions, ID switches, and erroneous detection boxes, which significantly hinder tracking accuracy in complex environments. To address these issues, this study proposes a single-task joint learning (STJL) model integrated into an online multi-object tracking framework to enhance feature extraction and model robustness across diverse scenarios. Employing cross-dataset training, the model has improved generalization capabilities and can effectively handle various tracking conditions. A key innovation is the refined tracker initialization strategy that combines detection and tracklet confidence, which significantly reduces the number of false positives and ID switches. Additionally, the framework employs a combination of Mahalanobis and cosine distances to optimize data association, further improving tracking accuracy. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model outperformed state-of-the-art methods on standard benchmark datasets, achieving superior MOTA and reduced ID switches, confirming its effectiveness in dynamic and occlusion-heavy environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the rapid process of urbanization, revealing the patterns and driving forces behind the evolution of blue–green spaces holds significant value for optimizing urban blue–green environments. This study systematically investigates the spatial–temporal evolution characteristics and driving forces of blue–green space in the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle from 1990 to 2020, utilizing GIS technology, landscape pattern analysis, and geographic detectors. The research findings indicate the following: (1) The area of blue–green space in the study area exhibits a general trend of initial growth followed by decline, with significant changes occurring between 2010 and 2020. (2) The fragmentation degree of blue–green space is gradually increasing, while connectivity among landscapes is decreasing; however, there has been an increase in landscape distribution uniformity. More than 90% of blue–green spaces expanded mainly through adjacency patterns. (3) In examining driving forces, it was found that temperature, topographic relief, elevation, population density, and construction intensity are the primary driving factors. Notably, the influence of natural factors has diminished over time while human social factors have significantly intensified. This study offers solutions for optimizing the configuration of blue–green spaces within the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle. It also serves as a reference case for promoting high-quality urbanization in developing countries undergoing rapid urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review examines ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves across different planetary environments, focusing on Earth, Mercury, and Saturn. Data from spacecraft missions (CHAMP, Swarm, and Oersted for Earth; MESSENGER for Mercury; and Cassini for Saturn) provide insights into ULF wave dynamics. At Earth, compressional ULF waves, particularly Pc3 waves, show significant power near the equator and peak around Magnetic Local Time (MLT) = 11. These waves interact complexly with Alfvén waves, impacting ionospheric responses and geomagnetic field line resonances. At Mercury, ULF waves transition from circular to linear polarization, indicating resonant interactions influenced by compressional components. MESSENGER data reveal a lower occurrence rate of ULF waves in Mercury's foreshock compared to Earth's, attributed to reduced backstreaming protons and lower solar wind Alfvénic Mach numbers, as ULF wave activity increases with heliocentric distance. Short Large-Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS) observed at Mercury and Saturn show distinct characteristics compared to those of Earth, including the presence of whistler precursos waves. However, due to the large differences in heliospheric distances, SLAMS (their temporal scale size correlate with the ULF wave frequency) at Mercury are significantly shorter in duration than at Earth or Saturn, since the ULF wave frequency primarily depends on the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field. This review highlights the variability of ULF waves and SLAMS across planetary environments, emphasizing Earth's well-understood ionospheric interactions and the unique behaviours observed for Mercury and Saturn. These findings enhance our understanding of space plasma dynamics and underline the need for further research regarding planetary magnetospheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites produced by fungi, frequently contaminate feed worldwide. Specifically, deoxynivalenol (DON), a type B trichothecene produced by the Fusarium species, is the most prevalent mycotoxin detected in feed. This study using piglets evaluated the biological antidotes to mitigating DON toxicity. Our results showed that the impact of synbiotic additives on growth characteristics, histological alterations, and microbiota composition was pronounced in the DON-contaminated piglet group. Piglets fed SYN supplementation exhibited growth improvement and histological recuperation, including fibrosis and apoptosis in specific organs. Moreover, the two independent variables such as Prevotella 1 and Romboutsia were statistically significant for predicting the final BW. Furthermore, this study builds on previous research and provides insights into the influence of microbiota composition on DON detoxification. Our findings suggest the control of risks associated with DON in feed, and this study significantly contributes to the existing literature. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common mycotoxin observed in cereal grains, and feed contamination poses health risks to pigs. Biological antidotes, such as synbiotics (SYNs), have garnered attention for mitigating DON toxicity. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of SYNs by comparing the blood biochemistry, histology, and gut microbiome of weaned piglets. A 4-week trial was conducted on 32 weaned piglets. After a week of diet and environmental adaptation, the pigs were divided into four groups: (1) control (CON, n = 8); (2) SYN (n = 8); (3) DON (n = 8); and (4) DON+SYN (n = 8). The SYN supplementation of weaned piglets increased the final body weight (21.71 ± 0.93 vs. 20.73 ± 0.84), average daily gain (0.38 ± 0.02 vs. 0.34 ± 0.02), and gain-to-feed ratio (0.49 ± 0.04 vs. 0.43 ± 0.02), and decreased the feed conversion ratio (2.14 ± 0.14 vs. 2.39 ± 0.13) compared to the DON group. A high dose of DON induced liver and colon fibrosis and liver and cecum apoptosis, which were alleviated by SYNs. Glucose in the DON group (84.9 ± 3.7) was significantly lower than in the control (101.3 ± 4.2). Additionally, both the DON and DON+SYN groups exhibited higher creatine (0.9 ± 0.0 and 0.9 ± 0.1) and lower cholesterol (88.3 ± 3.2 and 90.0 ± 4.8) levels (p < 0.05). In conclusion, SYNs alleviated DON toxicity, indicating its potential as an antidote for specific biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analysed lithospheric, atmospheric, and top-side ionospheric magnetic field data six months before the three earthquake doublets occurred in the last ten years around the Arabian tectonic plate. They occurred in 2014, close to Dehloran (Iran), in 2018, offshore Kilmia (Yemen) and in 2022, close to Bandar-e Lengeh (Iran). For all the cases, we considered the equivalent event in terms of total released energy and mean epicentral coordinates. The lithosphere was investigated by calculating the cumulative Benioff strain with the USGS earthquake catalogue. Several atmospheric parameters (aerosol, SO2, CO, surface air temperature, surface latent heat flux humidity, and dimethyl sulphide) have been monitored using the homogeneous data from the MERRA-2 climatological archive. We used the three-satellite Swarm constellation for magnetic data, analysing the residuals after removing a geomagnetic model. The analysis of the three geo-layers depicted an interesting chain of lithosphere, atmosphere, and ionosphere anomalies, suggesting a geophysical coupling before the Dehloran (Iran) 2014 earthquake. In addition, we identified interesting seismic accelerations that preceded the last 20 days, the Kilmia (Yemen) 2018 and Bandar-e Lengeh (Iran) 2022 earthquake doublets. Other possible interactions between the geolayers have been observed, and this underlines the importance of a multiparametric approach to properly understand a geophysical complex topic as the preparation phase of an earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an analysis of the ionospheric electric field dynamics at high latitudes during periods of quiet and disturbed geomagnetic activity by exploiting recent advancements in dynamical systems and extreme value theory. Specifically, we employed two key indicators: the instantaneous dimension d, which evaluates the degrees of freedom within the system, and the extremal index θ , which quantifies the system's persistence in a given state. Electric field measurements were obtained from the CSES-01 satellite at mid- and high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. Our analysis revealed that the instantaneous dimension increases upon crossing specific ionospheric regions corresponding to the auroral oval boundaries. Outside these regions, the instantaneous dimension fluctuates around the state-space dimension, suggesting an ergodic nature of the system. As geomagnetic activity intensifies, differences in the properties of various ionospheric regions persist, albeit with an increased system instability characterized by higher θ values, thus indicating the externally driven nature of the electric field response to geomagnetic activity. This study provides new insights into the spatial and temporal variability of electric field fluctuations in the ionosphere, highlighting the complex interplay between geomagnetic conditions and ionospheric dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]