bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Effects of Lycium ruthenicum Murray against Acute Alcoholic Liver Disease in Mice via the Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Xia Niantong , Ding Zimian , Dong Mingran , Li Shuyang , Liu Jia , Xue Hongwei , Wang Zhigang , Lu Juan , Chen Xi
Published: April 2024

Acute alcoholic liver disease (ALD) resulting from short-term heavy alcohol consumption has become a global health concern. Moreover, anthocyanins have attracted much attention for their ability to prevent oxidation and inflammation. The present work evaluates the protective effects of Lycium ruthenicum Murray (LRM) against ALD and explores the possible underlying mechanism involved. The total anthocyanin content in LRM was 43.64 ± 9.28 Pt g/100 g dry weight. Mice were orally administered 50, 125, or 375 mg LRM/kg body weight (BW) for 21 days. On days 18–21, mice were orally administered 15 mL of ethanol/kg BW. Markers of liver damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation were examined. Furthermore, the modulatory effect of LRM on Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB pathway molecules was evaluated through quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‒qPCR) and immunohistochemistry analyses. The difference between the groups indicated that LRM improved liver histopathology and the liver index, decreased aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β expression, but elevated superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-s-transferase levels. Moreover, LRM upregulated Nrf2 and Ho-1 but downregulated Nf-κb and Tnf-α genes at the transcript level. In summary, LRM alleviated ethanol-induced ALD in mice by reducing oxidative damage and associated inflammatory responses. LRM protects against ALD by reducing damage factors and enhancing defense factors, especially via the Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB pathway. Thus, LRM has application potential in ALD prophylaxis and treatment.
Effects of Administration and Intensity of Statins on Mortality in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
Authors: Lho Yunmee , Kim Gui Ok , Kim Bo Yeon , Son Eun Jung , Kang Seok Hui
Published: April 2024

(1) Background: Few studies have investigated the association between the intensity of statins and patient survival rates in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) as primary outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate patient survival rates according to the intensity of statins using a large sample of patients undergoing maintenance HD. (2) Methods: Data from a national HD quality assessment program were used in this study (n = 53,345). We divided the patients into four groups based on the administration and intensity of statins: Group 1, patients without a prescription of statins (n = 37,944); Group 2, patients with a prescription of a low intensity of statins (n = 700); Group 3, patients with a prescription of a moderate intensity of statins (n = 14,160); Group 4, patients with a prescription of a high intensity of statins (n = 541). (3) Results: Significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed among the four groups. Group 1 had the best patient survival among the four groups in the univariate Cox regression analyses. However, multivariable Cox regression analyses showed that the patient survival rate was higher for Group 3 than for Group 1. Cox regression analyses using data of a balanced cohort showed that, on univariate analyses, the HRs were 0.93 (95% CI, 0.91–0.95, p < 0.001) in Group 2 and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.93–0.96, p < 0.001) in Group 3 compared to that in Group 1. Group 4 had a higher mortality rate than Groups 2 or 3. The results from the cohort after balancing showed a similar trend to those from the multivariable Cox regression analyses. Young age and less comorbidities in Group 1 were mainly associated with favorable survival in Group 1 in the univariate analysis using cohort before balancing. Among the subgroup analyses based on sex, age, presence of diabetes mellitus, and heart disease, most multivariable analyses showed significantly higher patient survival rates in Group 3 than for Group 1. (4) Conclusions: Our study exhibited significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups, leading to limitations in establishing a robust association between statin intensity and clinical outcomes. However, we conducted various statistical analyses to mitigate these differences. Some results, including multivariable analyses controlling for baseline characteristics and analyses of a balanced cohort using propensity score weighting, indicated improved patient survival in the moderate-intensity statin group compared to non-users. These findings suggest that moderate statin use may be associated with favorable patient survival.
Saturated Iso-Type Fatty Acids from the Marine Bacterium Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens with Anti-Trypanosomal Potential
Authors: Santos Ferreira Dayana Agnes , de Castro Levatti Erica Valadares , Santa Cruz Lucas Monteiro , Costa Alan Roberto , Migotto Álvaro E. , Yamada Amanda Yaeko , Camargo Carlos Henrique , Christodoulides Myron , Lago João Henrique G. , Tempone Andre Gustavo
Published: April 2024

Chagas disease is a Neglected Tropical Disease with limited and ineffective therapy. In a search for new anti-trypanosomal compounds, we investigated the potential of the metabolites from the bacteria living in the corals and sediments of the southeastern Brazilian coast. Three corals, Tubastraea coccinea, Mussismilia hispida, Madracis decactis, and sediments yielded 11 bacterial strains that were fully identified by MALDI-ToF/MS or gene sequencing, resulting in six genera—Vibrio, Shewanella, Mesoflavibacter, Halomonas, Bacillus, and Alteromonas. To conduct this study, EtOAc extracts were prepared and tested against Trypanosoma cruzi. The crude extracts showed IC50 values ranging from 15 to 51 μg/mL against the trypomastigotes. The bacterium Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens was selected for fractionation, resulting in an active fraction (FII) with IC50 values of 17.7 μg/mL and 23.8 μg/mL against the trypomastigotes and amastigotes, respectively, with neither mammalian cytotoxicity nor hemolytic activity. Using an NMR and ESI-HRMS analysis, the FII revealed the presence of unsaturated iso-type fatty acids. Its lethal action was investigated, leading to a protein spectral profile of the parasite altered after treatment. The FII also induced a rapid permeabilization of the plasma membrane of the parasite, leading to cell death. These findings demonstrate that these unsaturated iso-type fatty acids are possible new hits against T. cruzi.
Solid Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems of Furosemide: In Vivo Proof of Concept for Enhanced Predictable Therapeutic Response
Authors: Gul Sania , Sridhar Sathvik Belagodu , Jalil Aamir , Akhlaq Muhammad , Arshad Muhammad Sohail , Sarwar Hafiz Shoaib , Usman Faisal , Shareef Javedh , Thomas Sabin
Published: April 2024

Liquid self-nano emulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) of furosemide (FSM) have been explored as a potential solution for enhancing solubility and permeability but are associated with rapid emulsification, spontaneous drug release, and poor in vivo correlation. To overcome the shortcoming, this study aimed to develop liquid and solid self-emulsifying drug delivery systems for FSM, compare formulation dynamics, continue in vivo therapeutic efficacy, and investigate the advantages of solidification. For this purpose, liquid SNEDDS (L-SEDDS-FSM) were formed using oleic acid as an oil, chremophore EL, Tween 80, Tween 20 as a surfactant, and PEG 400 as a co-surfactant containing 53 mg/mL FSM. At the same time, solid SNEDDS (S-SEDDS-FSM) was developed by adsorbing liquid SNEDDS onto microcrystalline cellulose in a 1:1 ratio. Both formulations were evaluated for size, zeta potential, lipase degradation, and drug release. Moreover, in vivo diuretic studies regarding urine volume were carried out in mice to investigate the therapeutic responses of liquid and solid SNEDDS formulations. After dilution, L-SEDDS-FSM showed a mean droplet size of 115 ± 4.5 nm, while S-SEDDS-FSM depicted 116 ± 2.6 nm and zeta potentials of −5.4 ± 0.55 and −6.22 ± 1.2, respectively. S-SEDDS-FSM showed 1.8-fold reduced degradation by lipase enzymes in comparison to L-SEDDS-FSM. S-SEDDS-FSM demonstrated a sustained drug release pattern, releasing 63% of the drug over 180 min, in contrast to L-SEDDS-FSM, exhibiting 90% spontaneous drug release within 30 min. L-SEDDS-FSM exhibited a rapid upsurge in urine output (1550 ± 56 μL) compared to S-SEDDS-FSM, showing gradual urine output (969 ± 29 μL) till the 4th h of the study, providing sustained urine output yet a predictable therapeutic response. The solidification of SNEDDS effectively addresses challenges associated with spontaneous drug release and precipitation observed in liquid SNEDDS, highlighting the potential benefits of solid SNEDDS in improving the therapeutic response of furosemide.
Drug Release from Lipid Microparticles—Insights into Drug Incorporation and the Influence of Physiological Factors
Authors: Wolska Eliza , Sadowska Karolina
Published: April 2024

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of physiological factors, namely tear fluid and lysozyme enzyme, as well as surfactant polysorbate, on the release profile from solid lipid microparticles (SLM), in the form of dispersion intended for ocular application. Indomethacin (Ind) was used as a model drug substance and a release study was performed by applying the dialysis bag method. Conducting release studies taking into account physiological factors is expected to improve development and screening studies, as well as support the regulatory assessment of this multi-compartment lipid dosage form. The effect of the lysozyme was directly related to its effect on lipid microparticles, as it occurred only in their presence (no effect on the solubility of Ind). Polysorbate also turned out to be an important factor interacting with the SLM surface, which determined the release of Ind from SLM. However, in study models without tear fluid or lysozyme, the release of Ind did not exceed 60% within 96 h. Ultimately, only the simultaneous application of artificial tear fluid, lysozyme, and polysorbate allowed for the release of 100% of Ind through the SLM dispersion. The examination of the residues after the release studies indicated the possibility of releasing 100% of Ind from SLM without complete degradation of the microparticles’ matrix. The incubation of SLM with tear fluid confirmed a similar influence of physiological factors contained in tear fluid on the surface structure of SLM as that observed during the in vitro studies.
Corchorus tridens L.: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Nutritional Content and Pharmacological Properties
Authors: Kudumela Refilwe Given , Ramadwa Thanyani Emelton , Mametja Neo Mokgadi , Masebe Tracy Madimabi
Published: April 2024

Phytotherapy is a cost-effective alternative that continues to evolve. This has sparked significant research interest in naturally occurring compounds found in edible plants that possess antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Corchorus tridens L. is a wild edible plant widely recognised for its edible leaves, which are used for vegetable and animal feed. The plant is widely distributed across the African continent and is utilised in numerous countries for treating fever, pain, inflammation, and sexually transmitted diseases. Extracts from various parts of this plant exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, and pesticidal properties. This plant is a rich source of amino acids, vitamins, essential fatty acids, proteins, and minerals, as well as secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, quinines, steroids, terpenoids, phenols, and tannins. Additional studies are still needed to determine other biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory activity, involvement in the treatment of measles, prevention of anaemia, and pain-relieving properties. The current review aims to provide information on the characteristics, distribution, nutritional content, bioactive compounds, traditional uses, and biological activities of the edible plant species C. tridens L. to stimulate further research interest to address the existing literature gaps concerning this plant.
Effect of Secondary Paper Sludge on Physiological Traits of Lactuca sativa L. under Heavy-Metal Stress
Authors: Yurkevich Marija , Kurbatov Arkadiy , Ikkonen Elena
Published: April 2024

To eliminate the negative effect of soil contamination with heavy metals on plant growth and crop yield, different methods and techniques are the subject of discussion and study. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of secondary pulp and paper-mill sludge application to soil on the response of the main physiological processes such as the growth, photosynthesis, and respiration of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants to soil contamination with Pb. For the pot experiment, Pb was added to sandy loam soil at concentrations of 0, 50, and 250 mg Pb(NO3)2 per kg of the soil, and secondary sludge was added to a 0, 20, or 40% sludge solution during each plant watering. The Pb-mediated change in plant biomass allocation, decrease in the photosynthetic rate, increase in leaf respiration rate, and the degree of light inhibition of respiration were closely associated with increases in both root and shoot Pb content. For the Pb-free soil condition, secondary sludge application contributed to the allocation of plant biomass towards a greater accumulation in the shoots than in the roots. Although stomatal opening was not affected by either Pb or sludge, sludge application increased photosynthetic CO2 assimilation regardless of soil Pb content, which was associated with an increase in the electron-transport rate and carboxylase activity of Rubisco. Soil contamination with Pb significantly increased the ratio of respiration to photosynthesis, reflecting a shift in the carbon balance toward carbon losses in the leaves, but sludge application modified the coupling between the processes with a decrease in the proportion of respiratory carbon losses. The sludge-mediated recovery of the physiological processes of L. sativa reflected an increase in plant tolerance to soil contamination with heavy metals, the formation of which is associated with plant and soil adjustments initiated by secondary sludge application.
Monitoring the Invasion of S. alterniflora on the Yangtze River Delta, China, Using Time Series Landsat Images during 1990–2022
Authors: Zhou Xinshao , Zuo Yangyan , Zheng Ke , Shao Chunchen , Shao Shuyao , Sun Weiwei , Yang Susu , Ge Weiting , Wang Yonghong , Yang Gang
Published: April 2024

Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) has grown rapidly in China since its introduction in 1979, showing the trend of alien species invasion, which has seriously affected the ecosystem balance of coastal wetlands. The temporal and spatial expansion law of S. alterniflora can be obtained through remote sensing monitoring, which can provide a reference and basis for S. alterniflora management. This paper presents a method for extracting and mapping S. alterniflora based on phenological characteristics. The coastal areas of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration are selected as the research area, and the Landsat time series data from 1990 to 2022 on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform are used to support the experiment in this paper. Firstly, the possible growing area of S. alterniflora was extracted using the normalized differential moisture index (NDMI), normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI), and normalized differential water index (NDWI); Then, the time series curve characterizing the phenological characteristics of vegetation was constructed using the vegetation index to determine the difference phase of phenological characteristics between S. alterniflora and other vegetation. Finally, a decision tree was constructed based on the phenological feature difference phase data to extract S. alterniflora, and it is applied to the analysis of temporal and spatial changes of S. alterniflora in the study area from 1990 to 2022. The results show that the area of S. alterniflora increased from ~1426 ha in 1990 to ~44,508 ha in 2022. However, the area of S. alterniflora began to show negative growth in 2015 due to the construction of nature reserves and ecological management. The results of correlation analysis showed that the growth of C. japonicum was significantly affected by temperature stress and weakly affected by precipitation. This study verified that Landsat time series images can effectively extract vegetation phenological information, which has strong feasibility for extraction and dynamic monitoring of S. alterniflora and provides technical support for the management and monitoring of invasive plants in coastal wetlands.
Assessing Groundwater Sustainability in the Arabian Peninsula and Its Impact on Gravity Fields through Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Measurements
Authors: Mohasseb Hussein A. , Shen Wenbin , Abd-Elmotaal Hussein A. , Jiao Jiashuang
Published: April 2024

This study addresses the imperative to comprehend gravity shifts resulting from groundwater storage (GWS) variations in the Arabian Peninsula. Despite the critical importance of water resource sustainability and its relationship with gravity, limited research emphasizes the need for expanded exploration. The investigation explores the impact of GWS extraction on the gravity field, utilizing Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) data in addition to validation using the WaterGAP Global Hydrology Model (WGHM). Spanning April 2002 to June 2023, this study predicts GWS trends over the next decade using the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model. The comprehensive time-series analysis reveals a significant GRACE-derived groundwater storage (GWS) trend of approximately −4.90 ± 0.32 mm/year during the study period. This trend has a notable impact on the gravity anomaly (GA) values, as observed through the decomposition analysis. The projected GWS indicates a depletion rate of 14.51 km3/year over the next decade. The correlation between GWS and GA is substantial at 0.80, while the GA and rainfall correlation is negligible due to low precipitation rates. Employing multiple linear regression explains 80.61% of the variance in gravity anomaly due to GWS, precipitation, and evapotranspiration. This study investigates climate change factors—precipitation, temperature, and evapotranspiration—providing a holistic understanding of the forces shaping GWS variations. Precipitation and evapotranspiration exhibit nearly equal values, limiting GWS replenishment opportunities. This research holds significance in studying extensive GWS withdrawal in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly concerning crust mass stability.
Joint Radar Jamming and Communication System Design Based on Universal Filtered Multicarrier Chirp Waveform
Authors: Liu Gaogao , Huang Ziyu , Zhang Qidong , Mu Beibei , Guo Hongfu
Published: April 2024

In this article, we propose a joint waveform based on universal filtered multicarrier (UFMC) chirp for radar jamming and communication joint systems. Modulation of radar jamming chirp signals and communication signals on different subcarrier groups in the UFMC sub-band is used to achieve the waveform design. The jamming signal in the waveform contains a frequency shift coefficient that depends on the delay time, which can effectively improve the anti-frequency hopping ability and enhance the overall jamming efficiency. Simultaneously jamming signals can provide assistance in channel estimation and equalization of communication, improving the information transmission quality of communication subsystems. We concluded through reasonable trade-off analysis that the combined weight of radar jamming and communication is closely related to the overall performance of the waveform. The simulation results show that the proposed UFMC chirp synthesized waveform has good jamming and communication performance. Software defined radio (SDR) simulation experiments demonstrated the effectiveness of this method in practical environments.
Retrieval of Total Suspended Matter Concentration Based on the Iterative Analysis of Multiple Equations: A Case Study of a Lake Taihu Image from the First Sustainable Development Goals Science Satellite’s Multispectral Imager for Inshore
Authors: Hu Xueke , Li Jiaguo , Sun Yuan , Bao Yunfei , Sun Yonghua , Chen Xingfeng , Yan Yueguan
Published: April 2024

Inland waters consist of multiple concentrations of constituents, and solving the interference problem of chlorophyll-a and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) can help to accurately invert total suspended matter concentration (Ctsm). In this study, according to the characteristics of the Multispectral Imager for Inshore (MII) equipped with the first Sustainable Development Goals Science Satellite (SDGSAT-1), an iterative inversion model was established based on the iterative analysis of multiple linear regression to estimate Ctsm. The Hydrolight radiative transfer model was used to simulate the radiative transfer process of Lake Taihu, and it analyzed the effect of three component concentrations on remote sensing reflectance. The characteristic band combinations B6/3 and B6/5 for multiple linear regression were determined using the correlation of the three component concentrations with different bands and band combinations. By combining the two multiple linear regression models, a complete closed iterative inversion model for solving Ctsm was formed, which was successfully verified by using the modeling data (R2 = 0.97, RMSE = 4.89 g/m3, MAPE = 11.48%) and the SDGSAT-1 MII image verification data (R2 = 0.87, RMSE = 3.92 g/m3, MAPE = 8.13%). And it was compared with iterative inversion models constructed based on other combinations of feature bands and other published models. Remote sensing monitoring Ctsm was carried out using SDGSAT-1 MII images of Lake Taihu in 2022–2023. This study can serve as a technical reference for the SDGSAT-1 satellite in terms of remote sensing monitoring of Ctsm, as well as monitoring and improving the water environment.
MDANet: A High-Resolution City Change Detection Network Based on Difference and Attention Mechanisms under Multi-Scale Feature Fusion
Authors: Jiang Shanshan , Lin Haifeng , Ren Hongjin , Hu Ziwei , Weng Liguo , Xia Min
Published: April 2024

In the domains of geographic information systems and remote sensing image analysis, change detection is vital for examining surface variations in high-resolution remote sensing pictures. However, the intricate texture characteristics and rich details found in high-resolution remote sensing photos are difficult for conventional change detection systems to deal with. Target misdetection, missed detections, and edge blurring are further problems with current deep learning-based methods. This research proposes a high-resolution city change detection network based on difference and attention mechanisms under multi-scale feature fusion (MDANet) to address these issues and improve the accuracy of change detection. First, to extract features from dual-temporal remote sensing pictures, we use the Siamese architecture as the encoder network. The Difference Feature Module (DFM) is employed to learn the difference information between the dual-temporal remote sensing images. Second, the extracted difference features are optimized with the Attention Refinement Module (ARM). The Cross-Scale Fusion Module (CSFM) combines and enhances the optimized attention features, effectively capturing subtle differences in remote sensing images and learning the finer details of change targets. Finally, thorough tests on the BTCDD dataset, LEVIR-CD dataset, and CDD dataset show that the MDANet algorithm performs at a cutting-edge level.
Nose-Over and Nose-Down Accidents in General Aviation: Tailwheels and Aging Airplanes
Authors: de Voogt Alex , Louteiro Kayla
Published: April 2024

Safety in General Aviation has been a continuous concern. About 12% of all airplane accidents in General Aviation involve nose-overs and nose-down events. A total of 134 accidents reported by the National Transportation Safety Board that include nose-overs and nose-downs were analyzed for their main causes. It was found that 35% of the defining events involved a loss of control on the ground while 58% of the total dataset involved tailwheel-type aircraft. A relatively high proportion of aircraft built before 1950 were found, which are also aircraft that have tailwheel-type landing gear, and thereby a higher propensity for ground loops and nose-overs. It is shown that the high accident rate in General Aviation, especially for accidents that did not result in a fatality, was, to an important extent, explained by tailwheel and older aircraft in the US General Aviation airplane fleet struggling with controlling the aircraft on the ground. Attention to this group of aircraft in future studies may help to more effectively address the relatively high accident rates in General Aviation.
Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of an Extract from the Overground Parts of Phlomis russeliana Lag. ex Benth
Authors: Kondeva-Burdina Magdalena , Shkondrov Aleksandar , Popov Georgi , Manov Vasil , Krasteva Ilina
Published: April 2024

An evaluation of the possible hepatotoxicity/hepatoprotective effects of a defatted extract of the above ground parts of Phlomis russeliana was conducted in vitro and in vivo. The extract was tested in vitro on hepatocytes alone and in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-bioactivation model. The same toxic substance was used for the in vivo evaluation on old Wistar rats. The extract was standardised via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) by the quantification of total flavonoids and verbascoside. Gallic acid equivalents were used to express the content of total phenolic compounds. The identification of flavonoids in this species was undertaken for the first time. The extract was not statistically hepatotoxic in vitro on the isolated rat hepatocytes. In the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity model, the extract had a hepatoprotective effect, which was concentration-dependant (the highest at 50 µg/mL). An in vivo study on old rats confirmed the observed antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. The histological findings were favourable for the rats, given the extract and CCl4 in combination. They had an unchanged organ structure, which is commensurable with these animals, treated with a combination of CCl4 and silymarin.
Effect of Verbal Encouragement on Performance and Affective Responses in Male Sport Science Students during Sprint Modalities
Authors: Sahli Faten , Jebabli Nidhal , Selmi Okba , Boujabli Manar , Sahli Hajer , Zghibi Makram , Haddad Monoem
Published: April 2024

This investigation aimed to examine the effect of verbal encouragement teacher to student (VETS) versus verbal encouragement student to student (VESS) on physical performance and affective responses during different modalities of sprint tests in active male students. In a randomized crossover design, twenty-two male sport science students (age: 21 ± 1.2 years, body height: 1.77 ± 0.3 m, body mass: 76.6 ± 2.1 kg, BMI: 22.9 ± 1.3 kg·m−2) performed linear and change-of-direction sprint tests under one of three conditions: (1) VETS; (2) VETS; (3) no verbal encouragement. In each condition, participants performed the 20 m sprint test, the 10 × 2 sprint test, and the L sprint test. The assessed parameters comprised physical performance, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and a feeling scale. Post hoc test analysis indicates a significant increase in physical performance during VETS and VESS conditions compared to the control condition due to a decrease in sprint in line 20 m (VETS: p < 0.001, d = 0.55; VESS: p = 0.016, d = 0.41), sprint 10*2 (VETS: p < 0.001, d = 0.64; VESS: p = 0.05, d = 0.36), and sprint L (VETS: p = 0.001, d = 1.19) times compared to the control condition. Moreover, the feeling score was greater after VETS compared to other conditions (p = [<0.001–0.001], d = [0.77–1.18]). In addition, the RPE had no effect on sprint performance between the different conditions. It is indicated that VETS, rather than VESS, is a more significant and effective way to increase effort intensity and positive feelings during sprinting modalities.
Location-Oriented Policies in China: Establishment of State-Level Development Zones and Enterprise Innovation Behaviors
Authors: Zhao Kai , Wu Wanshu , Xu Shengxiang , Liu Jialin , Sun Weidong
Published: April 2024

The impact of state-level development zones on company innovation behaviors—specifically, innovation input, output, and quality—is examined in this research. This study utilizes the establishment of state-level development zones as a quasi-natural experiment and employs a Staggered Difference-In-Difference model to systematically evaluate the actual effects. Furthermore, this research focuses on the heterogeneous effects of state-level development zones on enterprise innovation, taking into account different functional positionings, such as the Economic and Technological Development Zone (ETDZ), the High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (HIDZ), and the Special Customs Supervision Zone (SCSZ). The results of previous research indicate that the establishment of state-level development zones may effectively foster company innovation and have a noteworthy effect on the input, output, and quality of innovation. The establishment of ETDZs and HIDZs can significantly encourage enterprises to increase their investment in innovation. The innovation incentive effect of HIDZs is stronger than that of ETDZs. On the other hand, the establishment of SCSZs is more beneficial for improving the output and quality of innovation in enterprises. ETDZs can promote innovation output by adjusting industry agglomeration in the region. HIDZs can encourage enterprises to increase their innovation input by intensifying tax preferences and reducing the level of industry agglomeration. SCSZs can effectively promote the innovation input, innovation output, and innovation quality of enterprises by increasing government subsidies and the intensity of tax preferences.
Wireless Diagnosis and Control of DC–DC Converter for Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: El Abbadi Reda , Aatabe Mohamed , Bouzid Allal El Moubarek
Published: April 2024

Integrating a photovoltaic (PV) microgrid system with wireless network control heralds a new era for renewable energy systems. This fusion capitalizes on the strengths of photovoltaic technology, leveraging solar energy for electricity generation while incorporating advanced networked control capabilities. Although employing network communication to facilitate information exchange among system elements offers benefits, it also introduces novel challenges which can hinder fault diagnosis, such as packet loss and communication delay. This paper focuses on a cloud-based fault detection approach for an effective boost converter within a photovoltaic system. Faults are diagnosed using a detection algorithm based on the Lyapunov function, ensuring power optimization. The effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated through simulations of a PV generator model utilizing real-time weather data collected in Brazil, illustrating its robustness through the acquired results.
Spatiotemporal Heterogeneous Responses of Ecosystem Services to Landscape Patterns in Urban–Suburban Areas
Authors: Zou Xinyan , Wang Chen , Que Xiang , Ma Xiaogang , Wang Zhe , Fu Quanli , Lai Yuting , Zhuang Xinhan
Published: April 2024

With the acceleration of urbanization, the ecosystem around cities is facing severe challenges. The drastic changes in the landscape pattern, especially in urban–suburban areas, are usually regarded as one of the main drivers. However, the spatiotemporal heterogeneous impacts of landscape patterns on the ecosystem services in this region remain unclear. To address this issue, we propose a novel framework integrating the InVEST-based ecosystem service assessment and spatiotemporal weighted regression (STWR)-based analysis of the spatiotemporal heterogeneity in urban–suburban areas, and apply it to the empirical study of Fuzhou City from 2000 to 2020. It first utilized the InVEST model to build a comprehensive ecosystem service index (CES) from five aspects (i.e., habitat quality, carbon storage, water yield, soil retention, and water purification capacity). Then, four landscape pattern indices (LPIs) (i.e., patch density (PD), area-weighted mean fractal dimension (FRAC_AM), splitting (SPLIT), and Shannon’s diversity (SHDI) index) were selected to build the STWR model. We compared and analyzed the differences in the spatial coefficient surfaces and significance tests generated by the STWR model in urban, urban–suburban, and rural areas. Results show that the following: (1) The CES in Fuzhou shows an upward trend from the urban area to the urban–suburban and rural areas, with significant gradient differences. (2) Compared with other areas, the LPIs in urban–suburban areas show more fragmentation, discreteness, and diversity, indicating more socioeconomic activities. (3) Although LPIs’ impacts on CES change over time (increasing from 2005 to 2010 and 2020 but decreasing in 2015), their effects are relatively low in urban–suburban areas, significantly lower than in urban areas. (4) Interestingly, the LPI coefficients near the urban–suburban boundary seem more significant. (5) This framework can effectively reveal the spatiotemporal heterogeneous relationships between various LPIs and CES, thus guiding concrete policies and measures that support decision-making for improving the ecosystem services surrounding cities through shaping landscape patterns.
Advancing Social and Economic Sustainability in Urban Areas: A Methodology for Determining Architectural Programs of Shopping Centers
Authors: Medić Saša , Atanacković Jeličić Jelena , Rapaić Milan
Published: April 2024

The surge in shopping center construction within urban areas, especially without a strategic plan, has been particularly notable in Eastern Balkan cities during the 21st century. This tendency may lead to decreased economic activity and noticeable shifts in social and cultural dynamics. The primary objective of this study is to introduce and apply the Methodology for Determining Architectural Programs (MDAP), a mathematical model designed to optimize the planning process of shopping centers. Focused on spatial disposition and internal program distribution, MDAP extends the foundational Huff model by incorporating relevant economic parameters—consumers’ purchasing power and potential investors’ costs. Examining the city of Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia, the results indicate the consistency of the MDAP’s results compared to the application of the basic Huff model. This approach could contribute to a more balanced economic distribution within cities, promoting social and cultural relations while offering investors a relevant feasibility study and preserving shopping centers’ profitability. This study underscores the significance of considering social sustainability in urban planning, emphasizing how strategic urban retail development can positively impact social dynamics alongside economic viability by maximizing the potential utilization of existing retail spaces. However, potential limitations include unforeseen social, economic, and political factors influencing shopping center location decisions, posing challenges in real-world applications relying on complex social relations.
Reverse Engineering of Building Layout Plan through Checking the Setting out of a Building on a Site Using 3D Laser Scanning Technology for Sustainable Building Construction: A Case Study
Authors: Kim Hyunjun , Kim Ju-Yong , Shin Yoonseok
Published: April 2024

Among smart construction technologies, 3D laser scanning technology is used in a variety of applications, including progress measurement, quantity management, reverse engineering (RE), health monitoring, mechanical electronic plumbing (MEP), and so on, using point clouds data (PCD) in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) field. This technology is one of the important data acquisition technologies in construction status to perform active project management through the complete and accurate three-dimensional and visual judgment of building acts. The surveying work for setting out a building is the first step in constructing a building; the location of the building must match the design plan for a building to be sustainable. This is because, if a location deviation exceeds the permitted range, the building must be demolished and rebuilt. When this happens, sustainable construction management is impossible due to delays in the construction schedule, increased construction costs, waste generation, and so on. The purpose of this study is to investigate a case where the accuracy of setting out a building was measured in the construction stage of a building and the building layout design was modified by RE. Although the foundation construction of the case building was in progress, it was confirmed that the setting out of the building measured using a 3D laser scanner did not match with the building layout plan. Therefore, there was no legal problem even if the layout plan is modified according to the measured results, so the building layout plan was modified through RE. Consequently, it was confirmed that a case building under construction became sustainable through RE, and that sustainable construction management was possible by preventing construction schedule delays, increased construction costs, and waste generation.
Bayesian Inference of Recurrent Switching Linear Dynamical Systems with Higher-Order Dependence
Authors: Wang Houxiang , Chen Jiaqing
Published: April 2024

Many complicated dynamical events may be broken down into simpler pieces and efficiently described by a system that shifts among a variety of conditionally dynamical modes. Building on switching linear dynamical systems, we develop a new model that extends the switching linear dynamical systems for better discovering these dynamical modes. In the proposed model, the linear dynamics of latent variables can be described by a higher-order vector autoregressive process, which makes it feasible to evaluate the higher-order dependency relationships in the dynamics. In addition, the transition of switching states is determined by a stick-breaking logistic regression, overcoming the limitation of a restricted geometric state duration and recovering the symmetric dependency between the switching states and the latent variables from asymmetric relationships. Furthermore, logistic regression evidence potentials can appear as conditionally Gaussian potentials by utilizing the Pólya-gamma augmentation strategy. Filtering and smoothing algorithms and Bayesian inference for parameter learning in the proposed model are presented. The utility and versatility of the proposed model are demonstrated on synthetic data and public functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Our model improves the current methods for learning the switching linear dynamical modes, which will facilitate the identification and assessment of the dynamics of complex systems.
Systemic Financial Risk Forecasting with Decomposition–Clustering-Ensemble Learning Approach: Evidence from China
Authors: Ouyang Zhongzhe , Lu Min
Published: April 2024

Establishing a scientifically effective systemic financial risk early warning model is of great significance for prudently mitigating systemic financial risks and enhancing the efficiency of financial supervision. Based on the measurement of systemic financial risk and the network sentiment index of 47 financial institutions, this study adopted the “decomposition–reconstruction–integration” approach, utilizing techniques such as extreme-point symmetric empirical mode decomposition (ESMD), empirical mode decomposition (EMD), variational mode decomposition (VMD), hierarchical clustering, fast independent component analysis (FastICA), attention mechanism, bidirectional long short-term memory neural network (BiLSTM), support vector regression (SVR), and their combination, to construct a systemic financial risk prediction model. The empirical results demonstrate that decomposing and reconstructing relevant indicators before predicting systemic financial risks can enhance prediction accuracy. Among the proposed models, the ESMD-HFastICA-BiLSTM-Attention model exhibits superior performance in systemic financial risk early warning.
Exposure to Molybdate Results in Metabolic Disorder: An Integrated Study of the Urine Elementome and Serum Metabolome in Mice
Authors: Zhou Kun , Tang Miaomiao , Zhang Wei , Chen Yanling , Guan Yusheng , Huang Rui , Duan Jiawei , Liu Zibo , Ji Xiaoming , Jiang Yingtong , Hu Yanhui , Zhang Xiaoling , Zhou Jingjing , Chen Minjian
Published: April 2024

The increasing use of molybdate has raised concerns about its potential toxicity in humans. However, the potential toxicity of molybdate under the current level of human exposure remains largely unknown. Endogenous metabolic alterations that are caused in humans by environmental exposure to pollutants are associated with the occurrence and progression of many diseases. This study exposed eight-week-old male C57 mice to sodium molybdate at doses relevant to humans (0.01 and 1 mg/kg/day) for eight weeks. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) were utilized to assess changes in urine element levels and serum metabolites in mice, respectively. A total of 838 subjects from the NHANES 2017–2018 population database were also included in our study to verify the associations between molybdenum and cadmium found in mice. Analysis of the metabolome in mice revealed that four metabolites in blood serum exhibited significant changes, including 5-aminolevulinic acid, glycolic acid, l-acetylcarnitine, and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl octanoate. Analysis of the elementome revealed a significant increase in urine levels of cadmium after molybdate exposure in mice. Notably, molybdenum also showed a positive correlation with cadmium in humans from the NHANES database. Further analysis identified a positive correlation between cadmium and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl octanoate in mice. In conclusion, these findings suggest that molybdate exposure disrupted amino acid and lipid metabolism, which may be partially mediated by molybdate-altered cadmium levels. The integration of elementome and metabolome data provides sensitive information on molybdate-induced metabolic disorders and associated toxicities at levels relevant to human exposure.
Host Barriers Limit Viral Spread in a Spillover Host: A Study of Deformed Wing Virus in the Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Authors: Streicher Tabea , Brinker Pina , Tragust Simon , Paxton Robert J.
Published: April 2024

The transmission of pathogens from reservoir to recipient host species, termed pathogen spillover, can profoundly impact plant, animal, and public health. However, why some pathogens lead to disease emergence in a novel species while others fail to establish or do not elicit disease is often poorly understood. There is strong evidence that deformed wing virus (DWV), an (+)ssRNA virus, spills over from its reservoir host, the honeybee Apis mellifera, into the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. However, the low impact of DWV on B. terrestris in laboratory experiments suggests host barriers to virus spread in this recipient host. To investigate potential host barriers, we followed the spread of DWV genotype B (DWV-B) through a host’s body using RT-PCR after experimental transmission to bumblebees in comparison to honeybees. Inoculation was per os, mimicking food-borne transmission, or by injection into the bee’s haemocoel, mimicking vector-based transmission. In honeybees, DWV-B was present in both honeybee faeces and haemolymph within 3 days of inoculation per os or by injection. In contrast, DWV-B was not detected in B. terrestris haemolymph after inoculation per os, suggesting a gut barrier that hinders DWV-B’s spread through the body of a B. terrestris. DWV-B was, however, detected in B. terrestris faeces after injection and feeding, albeit at a lower abundance than that observed for A. mellifera, suggesting that B. terrestris sheds less DWV-B than A. mellifera in faeces when infected. Barriers to viral spread in B. terrestris following oral infection may limit DWV’s impact on this spillover host and reduce its contribution to the community epidemiology of DWV.
Characterization of Mycoviruses in Armillaria ostoyae and A. cepistipes in the Czech Republic
Authors: Walterová Lucie , Botella Leticia , Hejna Ondřej , de la Peña Marcos , Tonka Tomáš , Čurn Vladislav
Published: April 2024

Members of the genus Armillaria are widespread forest pathogens against which effective protection has not yet been developed. Due to their longevity and the creation of large-scale cloning of Armillaria individuals, the use of mycoviruses as biocontrol agents (BCAs) against these pathogens could be an effective alternative. This work describes the detection and characterization of viruses in Armillaria spp. collected in the Czech Republic through the application of stranded total RNA sequencing. A total of five single-stranded RNA viruses were detected in Armillaria ostoyae and A. cepistipes, including viruses of the family Tymoviridae and four viruses belonging to the recently described “ambivirus” group with a circular ambisense genome arrangement. Both hammerhead (HHRz) and hairpin (HpRz) ribozymes were detected in all the ambiviricot sequences. Armillaria viruses were compared through phylogenetic analysis and confirmed their specific host by direct RT-PCR. One virus appears to infect both Armillaria species, suggesting the occurrence of interspecies transmission in nature.
Natural Killer Cells Do Not Attenuate a Mouse-Adapted SARS-CoV-2-Induced Disease in Rag2−/− Mice
Authors: Ellsworth Calder R , Wang Chenxiao , Katz Alexis R , Chen Zheng , Islamuddin Mohammad , Yang Haoran , Scheuermann Sarah E , Goff Kelly A , Maness Nicholas J , Blair Robert V , Kolls Jay K , Qin Xuebin
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the roles of T, B, and Natural Killer (NK) cells in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19, utilizing mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2-MA30 (MA30). To evaluate this MA30 mouse model, we characterized MA30-infected C57BL/6 mice (B6) and compared them with SARS-CoV-2-WA1 (an original SARS-CoV-2 strain) infected K18-human ACE2 (K18-hACE2) mice. We found that the infected B6 mice developed severe peribronchial inflammation and rapid severe pulmonary edema, but less lung interstitial inflammation than the infected K18-hACE2 mice. These pathological findings recapitulate some pathological changes seen in severe COVID-19 patients. Using this MA30-infected mouse model, we further demonstrate that T and/or B cells are essential in mounting an effective immune response against SARS-CoV-2. This was evident as Rag2−/− showed heightened vulnerability to infection and inhibited viral clearance. Conversely, the depletion of NK cells did not significantly alter the disease course in Rag2−/− mice, underscoring the minimal role of NK cells in the acute phase of MA30-induced disease. Together, our results indicate that T and/or B cells, but not NK cells, mitigate MA30-induced disease in mice and the infected mouse model can be used for dissecting the pathogenesis and immunology of severe COVID-19.