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On a farm raising approximately 75 000 Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) for egg production, the diseased quail showed clinical signs of swelling of the head, nasal discharge, increased lacrimation, and decreased egg production. The flock experienced a mortality rate of 5.7% per day. Macroscopic observation revealed large, gelatinous masses of caseous exudate in the sinuses, egg peritonitis, and airsacculitis. Microscopically, non-purulent or purulent inflammation accompanied by lymphoid hyperplastic tissue with germinal centers was observed in the oculofacial respiratory mucosa. The developing stage of the lesions was abscess formation. In the investigation of pathogens, antigens to Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Pasteurella multocida serotype D were immunolabeled on and demonstrated in the mucosal membranes. In addition, P. multocida, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., and Streptococcus sp. were isolated from the infraorbital sinuses, and Mycoplasma isolated from a diseased bird was confirmed as M. gallisepticum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, Cryptosporidium sp. was frequently found in the brush border. Serological, bacteriological and PCR examinations, some with negative outcomes, were carried out concerning microbes that are known to cause swollen heads in birds (Haemophilus paragallinarum, Newcastle disease virus and turkey rhinotracheitis virus). The average concentration of ammonia fumes in the cages was 30.6 parts/106, which suggests that the high levels of ammonia fumes promoted infection and multiplication of M. gallisepticum in the quail, and that the clinical disease then worsened due to mixed infection with M. gallisepticum and Cryptosporidium sp. or other bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caspian Sea and the Hyrcanian forest rely on each other to maintain balanced hydrological and climatological conditions and preserve the local wildlife and natural resources. Climate variation impacts this balance and the ecological status of the forest. In this study, thermal and phenological seasonality in three Hyrcanian protected areas is evaluated over a period of 33 years (1987–2019). The results suggest extensions of 3–18 days per decade in growing seasons. This could be mitigated by applying policies such as the expansion of protected areas, stringent endangered species conservation, updated silviculture practices, social awareness and cross-sectoral management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although firms suffer from regional climate risk in their production and operation, they are still highly expected by the public to play a leading role in addressing regional climate risk. In this paper, we study how regional climate risk affects corporate social responsibility (CSR). By constructing regional climate risk indicators and employing the OLS method to conduct empirical analyses, we find that regional climate risk can significantly promote CSR. Furthermore, regional climate risk can suppress firm's cash flow, thereby exerting internal pressure on firms to assume CSR. Meanwhile, regional climate risk can raise higher public expectations for firms, imposing external pressure on them to assume CSR. We suggest that external pressure from the public plays a dominant role in CSR decision-making. Besides, we confirm that CSR can achieve a win-win goal for both firms and the public by mitigating the damage of regional climate risk on the firm's long-term performance. We provide a new perspective for studying firm's motivation to assume CSR under the influence of regional climate risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological nitrogen removal is a classic technique for removing nitrogen from wastewater that has been studied extensively and gives high nitrogen removal rate, energy efficiency, and is relatively environmentally benign. Using biological nitrogen removal processes to treat the diverse components of wastewater requires a thorough understanding of the microorganisms and pathways involved. However, information regarding the diverse microorganisms participating in nitrogen removal processes remains limited. This review presents the current knowledge of the researches into these microorganisms, including ammonia oxidizing bacteria, archaea, complete ammonia oxidation bacteria, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, and heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification bacteria. The metabolic pathways and enzymatic reactions involved in nitrogen cycle of abovementioned microorganisms are demonstrated. The key enzymes, functional genes, and metabolic pathways of the nitrogen removal-related microorganisms were extensively discussed. Additionally, the advantages of the different microorganisms for the ammonia oxidation, denitrifying, and HN-AD are described. Finally, the limitations and strategies in unraveling the nitrogen metabolic pathways were presented. The aim of the review is to improve our understanding of the principle involved in advanced nitrogen removal processes to allow possible improvements to wastewater treatment processes to be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gross primary productivity (GPP) is an essential parameter to estimate the efficiency of carbon transfer in terrestrial ecosystems. The daily GPP has been monitored in the past using mainly optical satellite imagery. However, GPP has never been monitored using satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. We evaluate the possibility of using Sentinel-1 SAR data to estimate GPP and compare with field GPP measurements using eddy covariance (EC) systems in three commercial potato fields, located in the Andean region of Colombia, using three different water irrigation levels. Raw and processed radar data from Sentinel-1 were compared with the daily and accumulated GPP from the EC. Results indicate that SAR data has a high correlation with the accumulated GPP measured by the EC in the field. The normalized radar backscatter and radar brilliance coefficients with VH polarization show a good correlation with the EC accumulated GPP in irrigated potato fields (R2: 0.77–0.81), while radar vegetation indices show a good correlation with the EC accumulated GPP in potato fields with no irrigation (R2≈0.82). In particular, the accumulated GPP during the whole potato crop cycle was estimated with good accuracy (~5% error with irrigation and ~10% error with no irrigation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acinetobacter baumannii complex (Abc) is currently a significant cause of difficult-to-treat pneumonia. Due to the high prevalence rates of carbapenem- and extensively drug-resistant (CR, XDR) phenotypes, limited antibiotic options are available for the effective treatment of pneumonia caused by CR/XDR-Abc. Areas covered: In vitro susceptibility data, relevant pharmacokinetic profiles (especially the penetration ratios from plasma into epithelial-lining fluid), and pharmacodynamic indices of key antibiotics against CR/XDR-Abc are reviewed. Expert opinion: Doubling the routine intravenous maintenance dosages of conventional tigecycline (100 mg every 12 h) and minocycline (200 mg every 12 h) might be recommended for the effective treatment of pneumonia caused by CR/XDR-Abc. Nebulized polymyxin E, novel parenteral rifabutin BV100, and new polymyxin derivatives (SPR206, MRX-8, and QPX9003) could be considered supplementary combination options with other antibiotic classes. Regarding other novel antibiotics, the potency of sulbactam-durlobactam (1 g/1 g infused over 3 h every 6 h intravenously) combined with imipenem-cilastatin, and the β-lactamase inhibitor xeruborbactam, is promising. Continuous infusion of full-dose cefiderocol is likely an effective treatment regimen for CR/XDR-Abc pneumonia. Zosurabalpin exhibits potent anti-CR/XDR-Abc activity in vitro, but its practical use in clinical therapy remains to be evaluated. The clinical application of antimicrobial peptides and bacteriophages requires validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI); a full waveform lidar sensor, acquires samples of the terrain and vegetation structures. To derive a spatially continuous estimate, the canopy height and cover metrics retrieved from GEDI L2A and L2B, respectively, were extrapolated using support vector regression models and explanatory variables derived from multiple remotely sensed datasets. Explanatory variables extrapolated GEDI canopy height with RMSE = 3.83 m (R2 = 0.84) as the performance was validated using a subset of GEDI data. However, the accuracy decreased to RMSE = 7.98 m (R2 = 0.65) as validated with field-measured canopy heights. The accuracy of the prediction of forest canopy covers retrieved from GEDI L2B generally remains poor; RMSE = 0.14 (R2 = 0.53). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphometric analysis of a drainage basin along with its stream network is indispensable for analysing a river basin's prevailing geomorphology, geo-hydrology, and erosional susceptibility. In this study, an enhanced morphometric evaluation method using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to assess and prioritize 12 sub-basins of the Godavari River basin (GRB), India, based on their erosional susceptibility. The findings of erosional susceptibility were validated using the Sediment Yield (SY) model. Our findings highlight that the sub-basins of Indravati, Pranhita, and Manjira, i.e. 42.42% (132707.4 km2) of the entire GRB are at high risk of erosional susceptibility, requiring immediate implementation of soil conservation measures. Our findings also highlight that 52.71% of the GRB is in the mature stage of geological evolution, wherein erosional landform-building processes are still ongoing. Overall, GRB has a relatively low drainage density with dendritic drainage patterns, permeable soils, and elongated sub-basins of enhanced erosional susceptibility. Moreover, the results of the SY model exhibited 90% agreement with the results of the enhanced morphometric analysis. This study presents an efficient framework for enhanced morphometric analysis that can assist policymakers in the demarcation of priority zones for erosional susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research assessing the effects of mouthpieces on an individual's aerobic, anaerobic, or muscular performance have attributed cited improvements to the participant's ability to jaw clench. Jaw clenching research finds positive outcomes with the task of jaw clenching with targeted muscle groups in a controlled laboratory setting. Thus, the study's goal was to determine if the addition of a mouthpiece would positively affect performance outcomes in a field-based whole-body muscle movement. Fourteen participants (8=F and 6=M) NCAA softball and baseball athletes completed 5 maximal bat swings with and without a mouthpiece in 4 conditions: no jaw clenching (NC), mouthpiece and jaw clenching (MP+C), mouthpiece only (MP), and jaw clenching only (C). Significant differences occurred in conditions, with the highest velocity noted in the combined condition of MP+C (71.9 mph) as compared to NC (67.9 mph), MP (68.6 mph), and C (70.9 mph). A repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated significant differences with bat swing velocity (F = 13.19, df 3, p < 0.0001). Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in MP+C with MP (p = 0.007); MP+C with NC (p = 0.001), and C with NC (p = 0.009). The results of this study provide evidence of jaw clenching's positive effects on the dynamic, whole-body explosive activity of a bat swing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM), especially Laser Powder-Bed Fusion (L-PBF), provides alloys with unique properties, but faces printability challenges like porosity and cracks. To address these issues, a co-design strategy integrates chemistry and process indicators to efficiently screen the design space for defect-free combinations. Physics-based models and visualization tools explore the process space, and KGT models guide microstructural design. The approach combines experiments, databases, deep learning models, and Bayesian optimization to streamline AM alloy co-design. By merging computational tools and data-driven techniques with experiments, this integrated approach addresses AM alloy challenges and drives future advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since ~ 25 Ma ago the plate margin between the Australian plate and the Philippine Sea and Pacific-Caroline plates in northwestern New Guinea has been undergoing oblique convergence and resulted in various uplifts and compressional deformation in the Bird's Head Peninsula. These reflect partitioning into north-northeast compression and east-west sinistral strike-slip faulting analogous to that in the Sumatran active margin. We present new data on the provenance of the upper Miocene to lower Pliocene succession in the northeastern Bird's Head Peninsula and its structure that has enabled a new tectonic synthesis. Initiation of oblique convergence resulted in development of the sinistral strike-slip Sorong Fault and docking of the Oligocene Arfak Volcanics from the southern Philippine Sea Plate. At ~ 15–12 Ma the compressional component initiated 40 km of dextral offset of the Sorong Fault along the northwest-trending Ransiki Fault. Subsequently, sinistral movement along the Sorong Fault was impeded by formation of a restraining bend at the Ransiki Fault, with uplift shown by the provenance of the local upper Miocene to lower Pliocene conglomerates. Further compressional deformation in the late Pliocene to Pleistocene caused widespread uplift and folding in the adjacent upper Miocene to lower Pliocene succession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory markers have a wide range of predictive values in the prognosis of non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). Poor nutritional status usually means a poor prognosis in patients with NSCLC, which is widely recognized by oncologists and nutritionists. Serum albumin has a certain value in evaluating the prognosis of patients. Several inflammatory albumin-related markers have been proposed, but they have not been widely used in predicting the prognosis of NSCLC in clinical practice. We aim to systematically review the published clinical evidence of albumin-related inflammatory markers in predicting the prognosis of NSCLC and to describe their progress and value. The results showed that the markers included in the review could be prognostic indicators in patients with NSCLC. However, we found that the cut-off value of albumin-related inflammatory markers with quantitative nature was very chaotic and needed to be defined by recognized standards. We summarized and compared the advantages and disadvantages of these markers, but a prospective cohort study with long-term follow-up after adjustment for important confounders is still necessary. Whether the results and conclusions could be directly applied in clinical practice needs to be identified and evaluated. There is an urgent need to classify and standardize the albumin-related inflammatory markers that play an important role in the prognosis of NSCLC, which is the key to ensuring the transformation from clinical study to clinical application. Albumin-related inflammatory markers could be prognostic indicators in non-small cell lung cancer. The classification and standardization of albumin-related inflammatory markers guarantee the transformation from clinical study to clinical application. Future prospective studies of albumin-related inflammatory markers excluding confounding factors are very necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a new volatility model based on dependent functional data to investigate the intraday volatility characteristics of CSI 300 in the context of high-frequency data. The volatility curve is fitted and reconstructed using three methods: functional principal component analysis, Newey-West kernel, and truncation-free Bartlett kernel. We adopt a functional time series approach for short-term dynamic forecasting. The empirical results show that the proposed dependent functional volatility estimation model based on the long-term covariance of the truncated Bartlett kernel can accurately capture the intraday volatility trajectory and outperforms other models in terms of forecast accuracy and profitability. This study improves the volatility-related research methodology, which is conducive to discovering the price formation mechanism of the stock index futures market and improving risk management capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing deforestation and fires since 2019 raises concerns about the irreversible destruction of the Brazilian Amazon. Our goal was to better understand these changes in south-west Pará across different land-tenure and farm systems and between the terms of President Rousseff, Temer, and Bolsonaro. We reconstructed deforestation and fire history using all Landsat and Sentinel-2 observations from 2014 to 2020 and assessed, using quasi-experimental methods, the average treatment effects of each presidency on deforestation and fires across land-tenure and farm types. Deforestation nearly quadrupled to 1,201 km2, particularly during Bolsonaro in undesignated areas and conservation units and on medium-sized farms (p < 0.001). Burning increased to 4,805 km2 and in all tenure types (p < 0.001). The increase was strongest in agrarian settlements and conservation units and on medium and large farms. Our observations show the importance of clarifying land-tenure and re-strengthening disincentives of environmental infractions, which have been weakened specifically under President Bolsonaro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the dynamism of a submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) zone in SW India. Two electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys were conducted in the project area to delineate the seawater-fresh water interface and characterize the subsurface aquifer layers. Beach groundwater dynamics were also studied by continuously monitoring salinity, temperature, and nutrient concentration in the groundwater from three shallow dug wells on the beach. The ERT surveys were planned in such a way as to fall between these dug wells. The flow domain was modeled using a numerical modeling approach, and the rate of fresh SGD flux and its spatial variation along the coastline has been estimated. The study proves that the numerical modeling approach combined with other field measurements and observations, such as ERT and continuous monitoring gives a comprehensive understanding of SGD and associated processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compute the first gravimetric geoid model for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHG2022) based upon the KTH method and additive corrections. The BHG2022 is computed with the help of 34,820 terrestrial gravity points and a digital elevation model produced by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. The gravity data is gridded onto a 0.02 arc-degree resolution via the nearest neighbour interpolation method. ITU_GGC16 and ITG-Grace2010 models are utilised to provide long wavelengths of gravity field up to 280 and 180 maximum degree/order in the geoid computation, respectively. On the basis of an external evaluation by 609 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-levelling points homogeneously distributed over the country, the accuracy of the BHG2022 is estimated to be 5.65 cm absolutely. This is the most precise geoid model ever seen in this territory. The result highlights the significant effect of all gravity data obtained from various sources on the accuracy of the geoid model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-acylation and O-acylation of pseudoephedrine are studied by using aroyl chlorides and/or ethyl chloroformate as acylating agents. Thus, treatment of pseudoephedrine or its salt with benzoyl or p-nitrobenzoyl chlorides affords the corresponding N- or O-acylated products 2a, b, 3a, b and 4. Also, pseudoephedrine 1 was allowed to react with ethoxymethylenemalononitrile to yield 2-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-phenylethyl](methyl)amino}methylene)malononitrile (5). New oxazolidine derivatives 6a–c were conveniently synthesized in high yields from the reaction of 1 with different bis(methylthio)yledinenitriles. X-ray crystallographic study of 4 revealed that the compound crystallized in orthorhombic system. The structure is stabilized by the intermolecular interactions as well as a network of hydrogen bond contacts, conformed parallel layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils from the leaves of Fokienia hodginsii (Dunn) A. Henry & H. H. Thomas and Amentotaxus argotaenia (Hance) Pilg. from Vietnam were obtained by hydrodisitllation and the chemical components determined by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Also the microdilution broth assay was used to test the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil. The yield of the essential oil was 0.22% (v/w). The major components of F. hodginsii were α-pinene (73.2%), limonene (10.3%), myrcene (4.1%) and β-pinene (2.6%). Amentotaxus argotaenia feature essential oil with α-pinene (20.4%), δ-cadinene (7.8%) and β-selinene (7.6%) as main compounds. The leaf essential oil of F. hodginsii displayed potent antimicrobial activity towards the Gram-positive microorganisms of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 32.0 μg/mL and 64.0 μg/mL, respectively. The essential oil of A. argotaenia showed activity against E. faecalis ATCC 29212, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 with MIC value of 64.0 μg/mL; as well as Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (MIC, 32.0 μg/mL). Additionally, the essential oil of A. argotaenia exhibited the most anti-candidal action towards Candida albicans ATCC 10231 with MIC value of 32.0 μg/mL. The chemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of F. hodginsii were being reported for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The choice of best therapeutic strategy for difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) Gram-negative infections currently represents an unmet clinical need. This review provides a critical reappraisal of real-world evidence supporting the role of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) optimization of novel beta-lactams in the management of DTR Gram-negative infections. The aim was to focus on prolonged and/or continuous infusion administration, penetration rates into deep-seated infections, and maximization of PK/PD targets in special renal patient populations. Retrieved findings were applied to the three most critical clinical scenarios of Gram-negative resistance phenotypes (i.e. carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales; difficult-to-treat resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii). Several studies supported the role of PK/PD optimization of beta-lactams in the management of DTR Gram-negative infections for both maximizing clinical efficacy and preventing resistance emergence. Optimizing antimicrobial therapy with novel beta-lactams based on the so called 'antimicrobial therapy puzzle' PK/PD concepts may represent a definitive jump into the future toward a personalized patient management of DTR Gram negative infections. Establishing a dedicated and coordinated multidisciplinary team and implementing a real-time TDM-guided personalized antimicrobial exposure optimization of novel beta-lactams based on expert clinical pharmacological interpretation, could represent crucial cornerstones for the proper management of DTR Gram-negative infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DRASTIC is a model used to reliably assess the pollution potential of aquifers at global location. Despite various criticisms of this model or its optimization, sometimes the territorial or geological conditions still must rely on this model approach based on its simplicity. The existence of sinkholes in the alluvial aquifer with an underlying karst aquifer is a clear example of the need to change or optimize the DRASTIC model to improve accuracy of prediction. In this study, the DRASTIC model was changed by adding two factors, the distance to a sinkhole and the sinkhole catchment factors. The modified DRASTIC model was then used to evaluate the pollution potential of Abarkouh aquifer in Yazd province, Central Iran. The intrinsic vulnerability index of Abarkouh aquifer was calculated by the weighted sum method in GIS. The resulting numerical values ranged between 62 and 176 for full study area. Without adding the two layers related to Sin-DRASTIC, the generic DRASTIC Index map showed summed values ranging between 54 and 130. The final Sin-DRASTIC map was divided it into 4 orders very low (<106; 722 km2, 78%), low (107-133; 186 km2, 20%), low to moderate (133-160; 15.3 km2, 1.7%), and moderate vulnerability (161-176; 1.7 km2, 0.3%) vulnerability. Both of the created maps showed high Area Under the Curve values at 76% and 78% for the generic DRASTIC and Sin-DRASTIC respectively. However, the area of the aquifer containing the sinkholes showed low and very low zones of contamination vulnerability on the generic DRASTIC map. The sensitivity analysis showed that the aquifer vulnerability to pollution is mainly controlled by the vadose zone impacts and the sinkhole catchment factor. Therefore, it is concluded that for geologic settings containing sinkholes that are open or contain higher vertical hydraulic conductivity sediment compared to the general matrix of the unconfined aquifer, the Sin-DRASTIC model method yields a superior prediction. Sin-DRASTIC is a modified version of the generic DRASTIC method that used in regions wherein sinkholes occur The Sin-DRASTIC models was applied to intrinsic vulnerability of Abarkouh aquifer, Central Iran. The high AUC values at 76% and 78% for the generic DRASTIC and Sin-DRASTIC respectively, show the accuracy of the results. In the Sin-DRASTIC map the sinkhole areas showed a high potential for groundwater contamination [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing interest in the health burden of malaria in ancient times is complimented by recent DNA confirmation of its presence at several archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. This study presents a model of ancient malaria risk for the region with utility for synthesis and application. The GIS-based model combines malaria risk factors that can be reasonably known for pre-modern times. Calibration, verification, and validation of the model is possible through use of a detailed map of pre-eradication malaria endemicity in Italy, the 1882 Carta della Malaria dell’Italia. The model provides a cross-disciplinary tool by bringing technical GIS capabilities to the evaluation of textual sources having potential malarial connections. The study’s main product is an open access relative malaria risk layer for GIS use and application to historical reconstruction. Example maps using model output and potential use are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the interplay between different environmental governance discourses to assess to what extent each discourse finds ground for implementation. This study sheds light on the constituencies for broader transformational changes in global forest governance and, more emphatically, explores how different discourses built around forest and environmental governance employ different mechanisms (discursively and through policy instruments) within the operation of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) debate. The focus of the analysis is the case of the jurisdictional REDD+ program in the state of Acre, in Brazil's Western Amazon. The underlying assumption in this research rests in the belief that REDD+ operation is linked to coupled social-political and economic contexts, which tend to follow social contingencies, and historical dependencies. Through documental analysis and the assessment of local stakeholders´ narratives, the research highlights the overall dominance of discourses built on to concepts of efficiency in contrast to a minor presence of discourses of social justice. In more broader terms, this study suggests that path dependencies place barriers which condition the extent to which transformations are rendered possible (or desirable) through program design and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been ranked as the leading cause of death in the world, whose global incidence is increasing year by year. Citrus, one of the most popular fruits in the world, is rich in flavonoids. Citrus flavonoids attract special attention due to a variety of biological activities, especially in the prevention and treatment of CVDs. The research progress of citrus flavonoids on CVDs have been constantly updated, but relatively fragmented, which needed to be systematically summarized. Hence, the recent research about citrus flavonoids and CVDs were reviewed, including the types and in vivo processes of citrus flavonoids, epidemiology study and mechanism on prevention and treatment of CVDs by citrus flavonoids. This review would provide a theoretical basis for the citrus flavonoids research and a new idea in the citrus industry development and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsiate is a non-pungent analogue of capsaicin. It belongs to the family of capsinoids which are esters of vanillyl alcohol with fatty acids while capsaicin belongs to the family of capsaicinoids that are amides of vanillylamine with a variety of branched-chain fatty acids. While capsaicin is extensively reported for plethora of pharmacological actions, capsiate remains much less explored. Extracted from various species of Capsicum plant, the molecule has also been chemically synthesized via a number of synthetic and enzymatic routes. Based on its action on transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1 receptors, recent research has focused on its potential roles in treatment of obesity, metabolic disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disorders and gastro-intestinal disorders. Its toxicity profile has been reported to be much safe. The molecule, however, faces the challenge of low aqueous solubility and stability. It has been commercialized for its use as a weight loss supplement. However, the therapeutic potential of the compound which is much beyond boosting metabolism remains unexplored hitherto. This comprehensive review summarizes the studies demonstrating the therapeutic potential of capsiate in various pathological conditions. Discussed also are potential future directions for formulation strategies to develop efficient, safe and cost-effective dosage forms of capsiate to explore its role in various disease conditions. The databases investigated include Cochrane library, Medline, Embase, Pubmed and in-house databases. The search terms were "capsiate," "capsinoids," "thermogenesis," and their combinations. The articles were screened for relevance by going through their abstract. All the articles pertaining to physicochemical, physiological, pharmacological and therapeutic effects of capsiate have been included in the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article illustrates the potential of the telecoupling framework to improve causal attribution in land system science (LSS). We shed light on the distinct analytical approaches that have characterized telecoupling research to date, how these can contribute to LSS with new insights, and whether such insights can improve causal attribution. By reviewing 45 empirical telecoupling studies, we firstly demonstrate how telecoupling is applied in a broad variety of ways within LSS and across different disciplines and research topics, albeit with qualitative data and assessments being underrepresented. Secondly, we show that telecoupling is clearer in its contribution to causal attribution when applied explicitly in framework integration or empirical application, rather than when it is included more indirectly as a narrative. Finally, we argue that telecoupling can complement existing LSS theory with a flexible and holistic approach to dealing with the uncertainties and complexities related to attributing causality in a globalized world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the drivers of forest transitions is relevant to inform effective forest conservation. We investigate pathways of forest transitions in the United States (1920–2010), France (1850–2010), and Austria (1830–2010). By combining evidence from forest inventories with the forest model CRAFT, we first quantify how change in forest area (ΔA), maximum biomass density (ΔBdmax), and actual biomass as fraction of maximum biomass (ΔFmax) shaped forest dynamics. Second, to investigate the connections between forest change and societal resource use, or social metabolism, we quantify the importance of selected proximate and underlying socio-metabolic drivers. We find that agricultural intensification and reduced forest grazing correlated most with positive ΔA and ΔBdmax. By contrast, change in biomass imports or harvest did not explain forest change. Our findings highlight the importance of forest growth conditions in explaining long-term forest dynamics, and demonstrate the distinct ways in which resource use drove forest change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mapping the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) in lands covered by tropical forests is important to understand the relationship and dynamics of SOC in this type of ecosystem. In this study, the Random Forest (RF) algorithm was used to map SOC stocks of topsoil (0–15 cm) in forest lands of the Dominican Republic. The methodology was developed using geospatial datasets available in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform combined with a set of 268 soil samples. Twenty environmental covariates were analyzed, including climate, topography, and vegetation. The results indicate that Model A (combining all 20 covariates) was only marginally better than Model B (combining topographic and climatic covariates), and Model C (only combining multispectral remote sensing data derived from Landsat 8 OLI images). Model A and Model B yielded SOC mean values of 110.35 and 110.87 Mg C ha−1, respectively. Model A reported the lowest prediction error and uncertainty with an R2 of 0.83, an RMSE of 35.02 Mg C ha−1. There was a strong dependence of SOC stocks on multispectral remote sensing data. Therefore, multispectral remote sensing proved accurate to map SOC stocks in forest ecosystems in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to develop a supervised classification integrating synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Sentinel-1 (S1) and optical Sentinel-2 (S2) data for land use/land cover (LULC) mapping in a heterogeneous Mediterranean forest area. The time-series of each SAR and optical bands, three optical indices (normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI; normalized burn ratio, NBR; normalized difference red-edge index, NDRE), and two SAR indices (radar vegetation index, RVI; radar forest degradation index, RFDI), constituted the dataset. The coherence information from SAR interferometry (InSAR) analysis and three optical biophysical variables (leaf area index, LAI; fraction of green vegetation cover, fCOVER; fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, fAPAR) of the single final month of the time-series were added to exploit their correlation with the canopy structure and improve the classification. The random forests (RF) algorithm was used to train and classify the final dataset, and an exhaustive grid search analysis was applied to set the optimal hyperparameters. The overall accuracy reached an F-scoreM of 90.33% and the integration of SAR improved it by 2.53% compared to that obtained using only optical data. The whole process was performed using freely available data and open-source software and libraries (SNAP, Google Earth Engine, Scikit-Learn) executed in Python-script language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the prognostic value of preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) to predict oncological outcome and intravesical recurrence (IVR) in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). This study involved the clinical data of 255 patients with UTUC who had undergone RNU from 2004 to 2019 at our institution. Patients were grouped according to an optimal value of preoperative PNI. Kaplan–Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the associations of preoperative PNI with progression-free survival (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and IVR. Patients with low PNI were more likely to be older, have higher tumor stage, higher eGFR, and multifocal lesions. No significant association was found between PNI and CSS, IVR. In subgroup analysis according to the risk stratification, low PNI was associated with worse PFS, CSS, and OS for patients with higher risk. Multivariate analyses showed that elevated PNI was an independent prognostic indicator for PFS (P = 0.014) and OS (P = 0.048). A low PNI is an independent predictor of PFS and OS in patients with UTUC after RNU. By subgroup analysis, the prognostic value of PNI was limited to patients with higher risk. PNI may become a useful biomarker to predict oncological outcomes in patients with UTUC after RNU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils (EOs) extracted from aromatic plants are a potential source of several bioactive compounds. In the present study, hydro-distillation of Apium graveolens essential oil (AG-EO) was carried out and its chemical constituents were analyzed using Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC/MS) followed by examination of its antifungal, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potential against human breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231. Analysis of EO resulted in the identification of nineteen (19) compounds majorly in 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediol (65.2%), 3-butyl phthalide (9.1%), limonene (6.4%), 1,1-dimethyl-1,2,3,5,7,8,9,9a-octahydro-benzocyclohepten-6-one (5.6%). Further, antifungal activity of A. graveolens EO (AG-EO) against three soil borne phytopathogenic fungal strains namely Fusarium oxysporum, Curvularia lunata, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum showed significant mycelial growth inhibition at a concentration of 500 μg/mL with IC50 value ranging between 966-220.76 μg/mL. The antioxidant potential of EO was evaluated using dedicated spectrophotometric assays such as FRAP and DPPH. Results revealed the free radical scavenging potential of AG-EO with the value of 7.71±0.04 mM AAE/100g (for DPPH assay) and 8.31±0.03 mM AAE/100g (for FRAP assay). Additionally, the percentage of cell survival of MDA-MD-231 human breast cancer cells after treatment with EO was about 68% at 24h showing the cytotoxic effect of AG-EO against breast cancer cells whereas for non-malignant control HEK 293T cells it was about 83%. The present study indicated that the antioxidant, antifungal, and cytotoxic potential of AG-EO, a natural source of bioactive compounds, could be employed in the food, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and cosmetics industries. However, further evaluations on animal models and clinical studies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locals in the Persian Gulf islands traditionally use Sinularia compressa to treat cancer. Therefore, this study deals with the cytotoxic activity of the soft coral Sinularia compressa chloroform extract (SCE), its pro-apoptotic activity, and the determination of its secondary metabolites. Cytotoxicity was done against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and MCF‑10A cells. Apoptosis induction was checked by flow cytometry. The DCFDA and JC‐1 probes were used to assess the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Caspase-9, Bax, and Bcl-2 proteins were determined with ELISA Kit, and by western blot analysis. SCE exhibited cytotoxic activity with an IC50 value of 32.51 ± 0.70 μg/ml against MCF-7, and 8.53 ± 0.97 μg/ml against MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. The induction of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway was found by ROS generation, attenuation of Bcl-2 and induction of Bax proteins. It was supported by activation of caspase-9, increased apoptotic cells, as well as decrease of ΔΨm. In the acute toxicity, there was no detectable sign of hepatic or renal toxicity in the SCE 100 mg/kg. GC mass and NMR identified bioactive compounds as one monoterpene, one sesquiterpene, five fatty acids, one phthalate, and two steroidal compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is associated with postoperative complications and long-term survival of various cancers. However, its role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is inconclusive. The aim of this study was to identify the prognostic value of PNI in predicting survival in ESCC patients undergoing radical radiotherapy. We retrospectively reviewed 354 ESCC patients undergoing radical radiotherapy. The time-dependent receiver operating characteristics was used to determine the optimal cutoff value. The association between PNI and survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model. Propensity score matching was applied to balance the baseline characteristics. PNI was positively correlated with hemoglobin (P < 0.001) and prealbumin (P < 0.001). The optimal cutoff value of PNI was set at 50.5. The 5-year overall survival (OS) in low PNI group and high PNI group were 20.8% and 34.0%, respectively (P < 0.001). The 5-year progression free survival in patients with low PNI and high PNI were 15.2% and 28.5%, respectively (P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that PNI was a significant predictor for OS (P = 0.038). In the PSM analysis, PNI still remained an independent predictor for OS (P = 0.015). The PNI is a significant and independent predictor for OS of ESCC patients undergoing radical radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oils isolated from the rhizomes and the aerial parts of Homalomena cochinchinensis were analysed for the first time using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and disk diffusion method. Consequently, 36 constituents were reported from H. cochinchinensis rhizomes, including linalool (57.4%), terpinen-4-ol (10.6%), α-sabinene (4.2%) as major compounds. Meanwhile, 30 compounds have been identified in the essential oil of the aerial parts of H. cochinchinensis, which myrcene (41.1%), sabinene (8.2%), D-limonene (9.1%) were the main constituents. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of the essential oil from the rhizomes of the studied species could inhibit the growth of all six tested bacterial strains, including Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium whereas the essential oil from the aerial parts was proved to be able to inhibit the growth of five bacterial strains except S. enteritidis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many biofilm studies have focused on axial biofilms, however biofilms in nature and in vivo environment are multi-species. Farnesol is a sesquiterpene alcohol found in many essential oils. This study investigated the in vitro effects of farnesol on planktonic cells and biofilms of Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. The ultrastructural morphology of farnesol treated cells was evaluated by TEM. According to the XTT results, farnesol caused a significant decrease in metabolic activity and scanning electron microscope images confirmed a reduction in the preformed biofilm as a result of farnesol treatment for single species C. albicans and E. coli biofilms. Although farnesol has less effect on dual species biofilm compared to the single species biofilms, its effect on the dual biofilm was found to be stronger than amphotericin B or ampicillin. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of farnesol on fungal-bacterial biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Artemia enriched with probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic additives on the growth performance, survival, and intestinal histomorphometry of Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum larvae. The larvae were distributed in 12 incubators at a density of 35 larvae L−1, with an average weight of 0.4 mg and length of 3.20 ± 0.26 mm. After the decapsulation of Artemia nauplii, the organisms were placed in containers with salinized water and aeration for 6 h of enrichment. The treatments were: control (no additives), Bacillus subtilis, inulin, and synbiotic (B. subtilis + inulin) 7 gL−1 day for 12 days. Treatment larvae that received B. subtilis supplementation had better (P < 0.05) length gain, total height, and height of the intestinal villi (P <.05) compared to other treatments. In conclusion, the enrichment of Artemia nauplii with B. subtilis improved the length gain and increased the intestinal villi of the larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold-bearing dust generated during the roasting process of refractory gold concentrates is valuable as secondary gold resources. In this study, the characterization of gold-bearing dust from carbon-bearing gold concentrates was determined by direct cyanidation and mineralogy research. Moreover, identification of refractoriness in the dust was determined by selective removal of minerals. Results showed that the dust belonged to refractory ores. Gold was observed to be presented as native and electrum which main associated with iron oxides. After preleaching with a 6 mol/L NaOH solution, arsenic, and carbon removal rates were 99.66% and 60.63%, respectively, and gold extraction was 58.90%, only 4.60% higher than that of direct cyanidation. After preleaching with a 15 wt.% H2SO4 solution, iron, arsenic, and carbon removal rates were 33.65%, 80.38%, and 12.60%, respectively, and gold extraction achieved 80.40%. After roasting, carbon and arsenic removal rates were 95.00% and 54.65%, respectively, and gold extraction achieved 84.52% under the optimum condition. Removal of carbonaceous matter and iron oxides could efficiently improve gold extraction, and the adverse effects of carbonaceous matter and iron oxides were the main reasons for refractoriness. Based on these results, a proper process for gold extraction from the dust was developed, and gold extraction achieved 95.50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prompt implementation of appropriate targeted antibiotic therapy representsa valuable approach in improving clinical and ecological outcome in critically septic patients. Thismultidisciplinary opinion article aims to develop evidence-based algorithms for targeted antibiotictherapy of infection-related ventilator associated complications (IVACs) caused by Enterobacterales,which are among the most common pathogens associated with these conditions. A multidisciplinary team of four experts had several rounds of assessment for developingalgorithms devoted to targeted antimicrobial therapy of IVACs caused by Enterobacterales.A literature search was performed on PubMed-MEDLINE (until March 2021) to provide evidence forsupporting therapeutic choices. Quality and strength of evidence was established according toa hierarchical scale of the study design. Six different algorithms with associated recommendations concerning therapeutic choice and dosing optimization were suggested according to the susceptibilitypattern of Enterobacterales: multi-susceptible, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing,AmpC beta-lactamase-producing, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing, OXA-48-producing, and metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL)-producing Enterobacterales. The implementation of algorithms focused on prompt revision of antibiotic regimensguided by results of conventional and rapid diagnostic methodologies, appropriate place in therapy ofnovel beta-lactams, implementation of strategies for sparing the broadest-spectrum antibiotics, and PK/PD optimization of antibiotic dosing regimens is strongly suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are seeing an increasing trend in their prevalence among both genders and are the seventh most common cancer type occurring at the global level. Studies addressing both the cancer cell physiology and individual differences in response to a specific treatment modality should be understood for arriving at effective treatment and management of the HNCs. In this article, we discuss the trends in HNC research and their various approaches starting from 2D in vitro models, which are the traditional experimental materials to recently established Cancer-Tissue Originated Spheroids (CTOS) distinctly contributing towards personalized or precision medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term 'financialization of real estate' (FoRE) refers to the method of connecting financial markets with the geographical location of real estate assets. Therefore, the unevenness of regional development is closely tied to FoRE. In Japan, FoRE's initial focus was Tokyo; however, the interest has recently spread to the periphery. This shift occurred owing to changes in investment actors and their strategies, which also changed the impact of the penetration of FoRE on regional economies. This article will elucidate the factors that constitute the FoRE core–periphery structure, focusing on regional real estate market characteristics and investment actors' attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy animals can constitute a reservoir for Escherichia coli potentially dangerous for humans. Our objectives were to investigate virulence genes in E. coli isolated from healthy animals in southern Tunisia and to determine their resistance to antimicrobials of high importance in humans and animals. 126 fecal samples were collected from healthy animals (cattle, sheep, goats, chicken, camel, bustard and rabbit) and assayed by PCR for virulence genes and by disk diffusion for antimicrobial resistance. STEC were isolated most frequently from goats (27.7%), sheep (20%) and cattle (14.2%). ExPEC prevalence of iucD (41.6%), papC (27.7%), sfa (13.8%), afa8 (13.8%) and iron (72.2%) was highest in camels. Prevalence of the ExPEC associated genes iss and cnf and the EPEC defining gene eae was highest in rabbits (53.3, 13.3, and 53.3%, respectively). The genes defining enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive and enteroaggregative E. coli were not detected and faeG was found only in camels (5.5%). The most common phylogenetic groups were B1 (54.5%) and B2 (16.6%). Virulence gene profiles varied greatly between animal species. Overall, antimicrobial resistance was not highly prevalent, the highest resistance being observed against tetracycline, 43.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I examine the relationship between technological and aesthetic shifts in Andean North Coast prestige ceramics and sociopolitical change by focusing on pottery as a form of information technology in a world without formal writing. To do so, I begin by defining two techno-aesthetic macro-traditions to emphasize the interconnections among technique and visual appearance, semantics and aesthetics. I then demonstrate how these two traditions waxed and waned in complementary fashion for millennia, and I set the shifts in their popularity within their broader sociopolitical contexts. In investigating technological choices and their concomitant visual qualities, I explore the interplay between technological, aesthetic, and sociopolitical transformations, with a focus on the changing role of ceramics as media for communicating ideological narratives of power and authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes an automated method for distinguishing trees (T) from no-trees (NT) by means of optical data. We make use of an optical approach based on a statistical threshold to detect T areas on visible and near infrared bands. An object-based image classification allows to detect three kinds of tree out of forest (TOF) structures: forest patches (FP), isolated trees (IT), tree hedgerows (THR), distinguished from forest (F). Ground truth validation allows estimating the accuracy of classification. Four optical bands and six spectral indices are compared detecting images' T areas: B2, B3, B4 and B8 bands, Negative Luminance (NL), Normalized Difference Vegetation index (NDVI), Green NDVI (GNDVI), Blue NDVI (BNDVI), Panchromatic NDVI (PNDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). NL shows a relatively better capability for TOF detection and classification, with overall accuracy (OA) exceeding 92% and p-value = 10−5. Experiments were conducted on optical data acquired by Sentinel-2 in 2016 over the Alfina highland, central Italy. The tree characteristics were extracted exploiting GNU Octave Image Package. Our results show that this new approach could be extended to the detection and mapping of TOF within large areas of agroforestry landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to compare the performance of typical open global DEM datasets by using the indexes of elevation error, relative error and hydrologic network. Taking Fenhe River Basin of China as the study area, this research made quantitative performance comparison among four typical open global DEM datasets including SRTM data with 1" (SRTM1) and 3" (SRTM3) resolutions, ASTER Global DEM data at the 2nd version (GDEM-v2) and ALOS World 3D-30 m (AW3D) data. Through process and selection, more than 80,000 ICESat/GLA14 points were used as the reference data, and the elevation error was computed and compared accordingly. Furthermore, relative error was analyzed using slope values, and false slope ratio index was computed and categorically compared. Finally, the hydrologic networks extracted from the four DEM datasets were compared to the reference hydrologic network acquired by visual interpretation from remote sensing images. The research results show that the AW3D has the best performance, which is approximate to but a little better than SRTM1. The performance of SRTM3 and GDEM-v2 is similar, which are much worse than that of AW3D and SRTM1, and the performance of GDEM-v2 is the worst of all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarisation vortex structures in ferroelectric materials are being considered as a promising alternative to current memory cells due to the merit of high storage density. However, ferroelectric storage devices would inevitably be affected by external loads. When an applied mechanical or electrical load reaches its critical value, it could cause the loss of stored data because the polarisation vortex loses the stability. Some phase field simulations were conducted to investigate the stability of the polarisation vortex under different stresses or curled electric fields. The results show that the polarisation vortex structure has the strongest resistance to a tensile stress, followed by a compressive stress, but the weakest to a curled electric field. The temperature sensitivity of the polarisation vortex structure to resist different loads is also significantly different. The temperature sensitivity is the strongest for the curled electric field, followed by for the tensile stress, but the weakest for the compressive stress. This work would be helpful for tuning polarisation vortex and designing ferroelectric storage devices in specific working environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous ferroelectric materials show great potential for achieving competitive dielectric/piezoelectric properties with light weight. In this study, a phase-field model was employed to simulate the ferroelectric domain structure evolution of porous barium titanate. It is suggested that the ferroelectric/dielectric/piezoelectric properties are strongly influenced by the porosity level and the size of pores for porous ceramics. It is demonstrated that the ferroelectric switching behaviour, the remnant polarisation, the dielectric constant and the piezoelectric constant are enhanced in nanoporous ferroelectrics with ellipse-shaped pores by introducing mechanisms of symmetry breaking. By providing a means of achieving enhanced properties, nanoporous ferroelectrics with ellipse-shaped pores may have a broad impact on the applications of ferroelectrics and enhance the utility of the materials for selected applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]