In order to enhance and restore the ecosystems of natural capital in African arid regions,the Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme(G-DEP)consultative meeting was hosted in Dakar,Senegal,from 23 to 25 September 2019.This...In order to enhance and restore the ecosystems of natural capital in African arid regions,the Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme(G-DEP)consultative meeting was hosted in Dakar,Senegal,from 23 to 25 September 2019.This paper details the first African meeting of the G-DEP.Consultative meeting reviewed preceding dryland ecosystems case studies,identified vulnerable arid and semi-arid regions,and proposed sustainable solutions to problems.It also identified the successes and failures of previous attempts to improve vulnerable ecosystems and ultimately formed an action plan to improve these attempts.Climate,ecosystems,and livelihoods for Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),Great Green Wall Initiative(GGWI)for Sahara and Sahel,and China-Africa cooperation on science,technology,and innovation are three extra main sections concerned of the meeting.Separately,more specific topics as the complicated relationship between these natural processes and human activity,including pastoralism,soil restoration,and vegetation regenerate techniques,were fully discussed.Consultative meeting also identified the positive effects international collaboration can have on dryland regions,specifically in the capacity of sharing information,technology,and innovation on purpose to develop a joint proposal for long-term research programs in African arid and semi-arid areas.Moreover,meetings that review the progress made on ecosystem management for the sustainable livelihoods in Africa,identification of priority areas,and the development and implementation of ecosystem programs for proper research and collaboration in African arid and semi-arid zones,have been proposed as strategic recommendations to enhance the global partnership for sustainable development.Furthermore,as the outcomes of the workshop,there are three steps proposed to handle African dryland climate changes,several aspects suggested to solve current dilemmas of the GGWI,and a series of actions recommended for G-DEP related activities in Africa.展开更多
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to evaluate the theoretical knowledge and psychomotor skill acquisition of basic life support(BLS) by a group of secondary school students in Nigeria pre and post BLS training. METH...BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to evaluate the theoretical knowledge and psychomotor skill acquisition of basic life support(BLS) by a group of secondary school students in Nigeria pre and post BLS training. METHODS: This was quasi-experimental study design with 210 participants. They were taught on adult BLS and all the participants practiced BLS on a Resusci-Anne manikin immediately after the training. Data were collected using American Heart Association(AHA) structured questionnaire and psychomotor skills checklist for BLS at baseline, and post BLS training.RESULTS: The pre-training knowledge score was 1.9±1.4. This increased after the BLS training to 11.4±2.4, and the mean difference between the pre and post BLS training scores was 9.48571. Pre-training psychomotor skill score was 0.00±0.00, this increased to 8.9±1.9 after the training, and the mean difference was 8.90000. The knowledge and psychomotor skill difference between pre and post BLS training was signifi cant(P<0.000).CONCLUSION: Most Nigerian secondary school students were not knowledgeable about BLS. Therefore, there is need for the creation of more awareness among the students.展开更多
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder marked by positive and negative symptoms,leading to mood disturbances,cognitive impairments,and social withdrawal.While anti-psychotic medications remain the cornerstone...Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder marked by positive and negative symptoms,leading to mood disturbances,cognitive impairments,and social withdrawal.While anti-psychotic medications remain the cornerstone of treatment,they often fail to fully address certain symptoms.Additionally,treatment-resistant schizophrenia,affecting 30%-40%of patients,remains a substantial clinical challenge.Positive,negative symptoms and cognitive impairments have been linked to disruptions in the glutamatergic,serotonin,GABAergic,and muscarinic pathways in the brain.Recent advances using genome-wide association study and other approaches have uncovered a significant number of new schizophrenia risk genes that uncovered new,and reinforced prior,concepts on the genetic and neurological underpinnings of schizophrenia,including abnormalities in synaptic function,immune processes,and lipid metabolism.Concurrently,new therapeutics targeting different modalities,which are expected to address some of the limitations of anti-psychotic drugs currently being offered to patients,are currently being evaluated.Collectively,these efforts provide new momentum for the next phase of schizophrenia research and treatment.展开更多
The large-scale application of water electrolysis for H_(2) production is hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER).To improve the efficiency of water electrolyzers,numerous effort...The large-scale application of water electrolysis for H_(2) production is hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER).To improve the efficiency of water electrolyzers,numerous efforts have been devoted to developing robust OER catalysts.Among them,Ni-based materials have been identified as state-of-the-art catalysts in alkaline conditions due to their high catalytic activity[1,2].During OER,these catalysts can undergo surface reconstruction and form(oxy)hydroxide species on the surface,which is the real active phase and its chemistry determines the OER performance[3].展开更多
We investigated the impact of convexity and isoperimetric deficits on the accuracy of sectional area estimates of tree stems using traditional methods(caliper,tape,formulas based on stem diameter and circumference).In...We investigated the impact of convexity and isoperimetric deficits on the accuracy of sectional area estimates of tree stems using traditional methods(caliper,tape,formulas based on stem diameter and circumference).In two complementary experiments,the use of photographs to estimate cross-sectional areas was first validated,then the use of a caliper and diameter tape was computer-simulated.The results indicated that the photographic method offers high precision,with mean relative errors below 0.1%,minimal deviation,and no significant bias,and the traditional methods led to substantial and systematic errors,with deviations from circularity and convexity significantly increasing the errors in area estimation.展开更多
Effective management of mining areas in the Luo River Basin,located in the eastern Qinling Mountains,is vital for the integrated protection and restoration needed to support the high-quality development of the Yellow ...Effective management of mining areas in the Luo River Basin,located in the eastern Qinling Mountains,is vital for the integrated protection and restoration needed to support the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.Using the‘cupball'model,this study analyzes the limiting factors and restoration characteristics across four mining areas and proposes a conceptual model for selecting appropriate restoration approaches.A second conceptual model is then introduced to address regional development needs,incorporating ecological conservation,safety protection,and people's wellbeing.The applicability of the integrated model selection framework is demonstrated through a case study on the south bank of the Qinglongjian River.The results indicate that:(1)The key limiting factors are similar across cases,but the degree of ecological degradation varies.(2)Mildly degraded areas are represented by a shallower and narrower‘cup',where natural recovery is the preferred approach,whereas moderately and severely degraded systems call for assisted regeneration and ecological reconstruction,respectively.(3)When the restoration models determined based on limiting factors and development needs are consistent,the model is directly applicable;if they differ,the option involving less artificial intervention is preferred;(4)Monitoring of the restored mining area on the Qinglongjian River's south bank confirms significant improvements in soil erosion control and vegetation coverage.This study provides a transferable methodology for balancing resource extraction with ecosystem conservation,offering practical insights for other ecologically vulnerable mining regions.展开更多
Temperate forests are vital for maintaining ecological security and regulating the global climate.Despite considerable controversy surrounding the biophysical impacts of temperate forests on mid-latitude temperatures,...Temperate forests are vital for maintaining ecological security and regulating the global climate.Despite considerable controversy surrounding the biophysical impacts of temperate forests on mid-latitude temperatures,we analyzed the effects of forest cover change on local temperature using the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF)model from 2010 to 2020 in the Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains(GLKM),Northeastern China,and explored the related driving factors.The conversions between forest and open lands(i.e.,cropland and grassland)were predominant.During the growing season,the conversion of cropland and grassland to forest resulted in warming(0.38±0.10 and 0.41±0.09℃,respectively)in air temperature(Ta),while the reverse conversion caused cooling(-0.31 peratur±0.08 and e-0.24±0.07℃,respectively),which was less than the changes observed in land surface tem(LST).Conversion of forest to impervious land caused warming(1.16 the±0.11℃),and opposite conversion resulted in cooling(can-0.88 t±0.17℃).These results indicate that radiative effects like albedo and net radiation drive the signifi net warming effect from afforestation on open lands within the temperate forest ecoregion.Conversely,conversion to impervious land produced the most substantial net warming impacts,driven by non-radiative effects like sensible heat,latent heat,and ground heat flux(GH).In these conversions,temperature can indirectly influence precipitation(Pre)through vapor pressure deficit(VPD),and Pre can also indirectly affect temperature via evapotranspiration(ET).This study highlights the need to thoroughly understand the impacts of afforestation in temperate forests while avoiding deforestation to regulate the climate effectively.展开更多
Background:The African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control(APOC)was created in 1995 to establish community-directed treatment with ivermectin(CDTi)in order to control onchocerciasis as a public health problem in 20 A...Background:The African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control(APOC)was created in 1995 to establish community-directed treatment with ivermectin(CDTi)in order to control onchocerciasis as a public health problem in 20 African countries that had 80%of the global disease burden.When research showed that CDTi may ultimately eliminate onchocerciasis infection,APOC was given in 2008 the additional objective to determine when and where treatment can be safely stopped.We report the results of epidemiological evaluations undertaken from 2008 to 2014 to assess progress towards elimination in CDTi areas with≥6 years treatment.Methods:Skin snip surveys were undertaken in samples of first-line villages to determine the prevalence of O.volvulus microfilariae.There were two evaluation phases.The decline in prevalence was evaluated in phase 1A.Observed and model-predicted prevalences were compared after correcting for endemicity level and treatment coverage.Bayesian statistics and Monte Carlo simulation were used to classify the decline in prevalence as faster than predicted,on track or delayed.Where the prevalence approached elimination levels,phase 1B was launched to determine if treatment could be safely stopped.Village sampling was extended to the whole CDTi area.Survey data were analysed within a Bayesian framework to determine if stopping criteria(overall prevalence<1.4%and maximum stratum prevalence<5%)were met.Results:In phase 1A 127665 people from 639 villages in 54 areas were examined.The prevalence had fallen dramatically.The decline in prevalence was faster than predicted in 23 areas,on track in another 23 and delayed in eight areas.In phase 1B 108636 people in 392 villages were examined in 22 areas of which 13 met the epidemiological criteria for stopping treatment.Overall,32 areas(25.4 million people)had reached or were close to elimination,18 areas(17.4 million)were on track but required more years treatment,and in eight areas(10.4 million)progress was unsatisfactory.Conclusions:Onchocerciasis has been largely controlled as a public health problem.Great progress has been made towards elimination which already appears to have been achieved for millions of people.For most APOC countries,nationwide onchocerciasis elimination is within reach.展开更多
The United Nations Environment Programme（UN Environment） launched at the end of 2016 a decade-long（2016–2025） flagship programme on Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods（CEL）, with the aim to assist developing co...The United Nations Environment Programme（UN Environment） launched at the end of 2016 a decade-long（2016–2025） flagship programme on Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods（CEL）, with the aim to assist developing countries in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals（SDGs） and climate targets while protecting their ecosystems and improving the livelihoods of their people. The CEL programme is a major initiative supported by China and other developing countries to promote long-term South-South cooperation, led by the United Nations Environment Programme International Ecosystem Management Partnership（UNEP-IEMP）. This article presents the conceptual framework and implementation strategy of the CEL programme, which were proposed through consultations between UN Environment, Chinese and international experts. Within the conceptual framework, the CEL programme will 1） focus its work on the nexus of climate change, ecosystem services and sustainable livelihoods as the primary priority; 2） encourage cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder cooperation, enhance interdisciplinary research, and strive for breakthroughs that cross disciplinary boundaries; 3） provide four types of services and products—monitoring and assessment, capacity building, technology demonstration, and science for policy through mainly South-South cooperation; and 4） have far-reaching impacts on delivering SDGs and climate targets in vulnerable developing countries. The CEL programme is going to be implemented in a strategic way through a set of related projects and initiatives. More particularly, it will 1） focus on fragile ecosystems like drylands, mountains, river basins and coastal zones in Asia, Africa and other key regions along the Belt and Road, in the early stage and expand to include some other regions at a later stage; 2） take a three-phase approach, including Phase I, Kick-off（2016–2018）, Phase II, Development（2019–2021）, and Phase III, Scaling-up（2022–2025）; and 3） draw on the globally relevant knowledge, expertise and other resources of a substantial network of partners. So far, UNEP-IEMP has developed more than twenty projects and initiatives in the regions along the Belt and Road, especially in Africa and the Greater Mekong Subregion, which lay a solid foundation for the implementation of CEL programme in its first phase.展开更多
This article presents the initiation and implementation of a systematic scientific and political cooperation in the Arctic related to environmental pollution and climate change,with a special focus on the role of the ...This article presents the initiation and implementation of a systematic scientific and political cooperation in the Arctic related to environmental pollution and climate change,with a special focus on the role of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme(AMAP).The AMAP initiative has coordinated monitoring and assessments of environmental pollution across countries and parameters for the entire Arctic region.Starting from a first scientific assessment in 1998,AMAP's work has been fundamental in recognizing,understanding and addressing environmental and human health issues in the Arctic,including those of persistent organic pollutants(POPs),mercury,radioactivity,oil,acidification and climate change.These scientific results have contributed at local and international levels to define and take measures towards reducing the pollution not only in the Arctic,but of the whole globe,especially the contaminant exposure of indigenous and local communities with a traditional lifestyle.The results related to climate change have documented the rapid changes in the Arctic and the strong feedback between the Arctic and the rest of the world.The lessons learned from the work in the Arctic can be beneficial for other regions where contaminants may accumulate and affect local and indigenous peoples living in a traditional way,e.g.in the Himalayas.Global cooperation is indispensable in reducing the longrange transported pollution in the Arctic.展开更多
Background:It is estimated that the standard,passive case finding(PCF)strategy for detecting cases of tuberculosis(TB)in Myanmar has not been successful:26%of cases are missing.Therefore,alternative strategies,such as...Background:It is estimated that the standard,passive case finding(PCF)strategy for detecting cases of tuberculosis(TB)in Myanmar has not been successful:26%of cases are missing.Therefore,alternative strategies,such as active case finding(ACF)by community volunteers,have been initiated since 2011.This study aimed to assess the contribution of a Community Based TB Care Programme(CBTC)by local non-government organizations(NGOs)to TB case finding in Myanmar over 4 years.Methods:This was a descriptive study using routine,monitoring data.Original data from the NGOs were sent to a central registry within the National TB Programme and data for this study were extracted from that database.Data from all 84 project townships in five regions and three states in Myanmar were used.The project was launched in 2011.Results:Over time,the number of presumptive TB cases that were referred decreased,except in the Yangon Region,although in some areas,the numbers fluctuated.At the same time,there was a trend for the proportion of cases treated,compared to those referred,that decreased over time(P=0.051).Overall,among 84 townships,the contribution of CBTC to total case detection deceased from 6%to 4%over time(P<0.001).Conclusions:Contrary to expectations and evidence from previous studies in other countries,a concerning reduction in TB case finding by local NGO volunteer networks in several areas in Myanmar was recorded over 4 years.This suggests that measures to support the volunteer network and improve its performance are needed.They may include discussion with local NGOs human resources personnel,incentives for the volunteers,closer supervision of volunteers and improved monitoring and evaluation tools.展开更多
The rise of large-scale artificial intelligence(AI)models,such as ChatGPT,Deep-Seek,and autonomous vehicle systems,has significantly advanced the boundaries of AI,enabling highly complex tasks in natural language proc...The rise of large-scale artificial intelligence(AI)models,such as ChatGPT,Deep-Seek,and autonomous vehicle systems,has significantly advanced the boundaries of AI,enabling highly complex tasks in natural language processing,image recognition,and real-time decisionmaking.However,these models demand immense computational power and are often centralized,relying on cloud-based architectures with inherent limitations in latency,privacy,and energy efficiency.To address these challenges and bring AI closer to real-world applications,such as wearable health monitoring,robotics,and immersive virtual environments,innovative hardware solutions are urgently needed.This work introduces a near-sensor edge computing(NSEC)system,built on a bilayer AlN/Si waveguide platform,to provide real-time,energy-efficient AI capabilities at the edge.Leveraging the electro-optic properties of AlN microring resonators for photonic feature extraction,coupled with Si-based thermo-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometers for neural network computations,the system represents a transformative approach to AI hardware design.Demonstrated through multimodal gesture and gait analysis,the NSEC system achieves high classification accuracies of 96.77%for gestures and 98.31%for gaits,ultra-low latency(<10 ns),and minimal energy consumption(<0.34 pJ).This groundbreaking system bridges the gap between AI models and real-world applications,enabling efficient,privacy-preserving AI solutions for healthcare,robotics,and next-generation human-machine interfaces,marking a pivotal advancement in edge computing and AI deployment.展开更多
Côte d’Ivoire has been the world’s leading producer of cocoa beans for several decades. Apart from this production performance, the quality of the beans, which are mainly exported to the major chocolate-making ...Côte d’Ivoire has been the world’s leading producer of cocoa beans for several decades. Apart from this production performance, the quality of the beans, which are mainly exported to the major chocolate-making countries, presents a quality problem to the point of suffering a discount on the international market. One of these quality problems is the content of ochratoxin A, a mycotoxin produced by fungi. Finally, to verify the level of contamination in beans produced in Côte d’Ivoire, a study was carried out. It consisted of collecting information on fermentation and drying times (The two major post-harvest operations) and collecting beans, which were analyzed by electrophoresis using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. The results obtained show ochratoxin A contents of between 0.05 µg/kg and 0.17 µg/kg. The general level of contamination is therefore very low and below the tolerable limit which is 2 µg/kg. In addition, the correlative study between the fermentation and drying times of the beans revealed no significant influence (p < 0.01) of the duration of these operations on the level of ochratoxin A contamination. Major contamination can occur after post-harvest activities carried out by producers. This is certainly due to the development of fungi responsible for the production of ochratoxin A during the period of storage and marketing of cocoa beans in conditions of high humidity in storage enclosures. Producers need to be made more aware of the need to ensure that cocoa beans are properly dried and stored in dry areas to avoid moisture build-up, which is a source of mould growth and ochratoxin A production.展开更多
Diabetes mellitus(DM)and its complications continue to impose a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide.Diabetic neuropathy(DN)is one of the most common chronic microvascular and neurodegenerative complicat...Diabetes mellitus(DM)and its complications continue to impose a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide.Diabetic neuropathy(DN)is one of the most common chronic microvascular and neurodegenerative complications of DM.It is clinically characterized by allodynia,hyperalgesia,and abnormal or absent nerve fiber sensation,which collectively contribute to poor quality of life,sleep disturbances,depression,and increased mortality.Although several pharmacological agents are available to alleviate DN-related symptoms,their limited long-term efficacy and adverse side effects underscore the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches.This limitation may be attributed to an incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms of DN.Accumulating evidence has highlighted the contribution of glial cells including astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes to the pathogenesis of DN.However,the specific role of astrocytes remains insufficiently defined.Therefore,this review provides a comprehensive evaluation of current knowledge regarding astrocyte involvement in DN mechanisms,with the goal of clarifying their contribution to disease progression and identifying potential therapeutic targets.展开更多
BACKGROUND Botulinum neurotoxin(BoNT)is widely recognized as an effective therapeutic agent for managing various neurological disorders,characterized by motor impairments and neuromuscular deficits.BoNT works by modul...BACKGROUND Botulinum neurotoxin(BoNT)is widely recognized as an effective therapeutic agent for managing various neurological disorders,characterized by motor impairments and neuromuscular deficits.BoNT works by modulating the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction.Recently,BoNT has been shown to enhance spatial memory and attenuate anxiety in experimental aging animals.While neurogenesis in the hippocampus contributes to cognitive properties,BoNT treatment could potentially influence the regulation of adult neurogenesis.As aging-associated microglial activation impairs neurogenesis,the anti-inflammatory properties of BoNT could be associated with the modulation of microglial activity,thereby enhancing cognitive function.AIM To investigate the neurogenic and microglial modulatory properties of BoNT in the hippocampus of aging experimental mice.METHODS Experimental aging mice were administered BoNT and after four weeks,the animals were sacrificed.The brains were subjected to cryosections followed by immunohistochemical analysis to quantify doublecortin(DCX)-positive immature neurons,bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU)-neuronal nuclei(NeuN)double positive newly matured neurons and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(Iba1)-positive microglia in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.In parallel,an additional set of animals was used to evaluate BoNT-mediated alterations in key inflammatory markers such as cyclooxygenase(COX)-2,and nitric oxide(NO)in hippocampal tissues.RESULTS The results revealed a significant increase in the number of DCX-positive immature neurons and BrdU-NeuN positive differentiated neurons in the hippocampus of the BoNT-treated group compared to the control.This enhancement in neurogenesis was accompanied by a marked reduction in the activated form of microglial cells,coupled with decreased mRNA expression of COX-2 and reduced NO levels in the hippocampus of BoNT-treated animals.CONCLUSION This study validates the proneurogenic and anti-neuroinflammatory properties of BoNT,which may underlie its procognitive effects.Hence,BoNT could be a promising therapeutic agent for treating various neurocognitive disorders.展开更多
Resilience studies for water distribution systems(WDS)coupled with other interdependent infrastructure systems attract increasing attention from stakeholders and researchers.However,most existing large-scale WDS model...Resilience studies for water distribution systems(WDS)coupled with other interdependent infrastructure systems attract increasing attention from stakeholders and researchers.However,most existing large-scale WDS models are single infrastructure-based without consideration of other infrastructure systems.This is due to a lack of needed information on systems coupling,the structure of the simulator used,and the computation load involved.To address these gaps,this paper presents a synthetic modeling framework for a real-world WDS as coordinating with other infrastructure systems via a building-mediated clustering approach through consideration of physical distance and node capacity.First,the WDS network topology and operation parameters are inferred via bulk open-source information.A building-mediated clustering approach is designed to systematically derive the interdependence between the WDS and the power system similarly created as a case study.Second,a novel linearization method is developed in formulating the WDS model that can relieve computation load while maintaining accuracy.Finally,a disruption-recovery framework is developed to demonstrate the proposed methodology in modelling WDS resilience.The framework is applied to a neighborhood in Queenstown,Singapore,an area of 20.43 km^(2) and 96,000 population.The near-real-time simulations on the coupled system involving 308 nodes and 384 links showcase the effectiveness and application of the proposed synthetic modeling and formulation.展开更多
Production of this crop is experiencing significant challenges, resulting in a decline in seed and fiber quality. To address this challenge, generations of high-performance cotton plants of the Gossypium hirsutum L. s...Production of this crop is experiencing significant challenges, resulting in a decline in seed and fiber quality. To address this challenge, generations of high-performance cotton plants of the Gossypium hirsutum L. species have been developed and are currently being commercialized. This study evaluated the impact of gin types on the agro-industrial quality of cotton in Côte d’Ivoire. To this end, cotton from the G3, R1, and R2 generations was harvested, sampled, and ginned on machines with 10 and 170 saws in the localities of Ouangolodougou, Ferkessédougou, Korhogo, M’Bengué, Boundiali, Séguéla, and Mankono, as well as at the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique CNRA) in Bouaké. The results demonstrated that cotton fibers obtained from ginning on 10-saw machines exhibited superior quality compared to those from 170-saw machines. Fiber length, fiber length uniformity, and short fiber rate exhibited the highest deviations according to gin type. The use of 170-saw gins resulted in a notable decline in quality. Conversely, micronaire index, fiber tenacity and elongation, and reflectance remained consistent across machine types. These results will enable us to more effectively regulate and advise cotton-processing factories, which primarily utilize 170-saw gins to enhance agro-industrial quality in Côte d’Ivoire. Furthermore, these results will assist breeders in incorporating them into their processes to enhance the quality of the varieties they offer to farmers.展开更多
C-glycosides have been demonstrated to have distinct biological functions and therefore display notable pharmacological values,whereas the access to the versatile structural analog of C-glycosides is a significant cha...C-glycosides have been demonstrated to have distinct biological functions and therefore display notable pharmacological values,whereas the access to the versatile structural analog of C-glycosides is a significant challenge to their advancement as therapeutic agents.We herein disclose a facial and efficient catalytic C-glycosylation using a glycosyl ortho-2,2-dimethoxycarbony lcyclopropylbenzoate(CCBz)as the donor.The trailblazing glycosyl donor can be simply activated by a non-toxic and easily accessible Sc(Ⅲ)catalyst.The ring-strain release of the incorporated donor-acceptor cyclopropane(DAC)serves as a powerful driving force of the glycosylation system.The adaptability of current methods to different types of donors and acceptors was exemplified.Examinations on the synthetic potential were done with the one-pot synthesis of free C-indolyl-glycosides and the subsequent biological studies,unlocking the antibacterial potentials of these compounds.展开更多
A numerical investigation on the effectiveness of the actuator disc method in producing the interactions of multiple tidal stream devices via the 3D-RANS finite element model Telemac3D is explored. The methodology for...A numerical investigation on the effectiveness of the actuator disc method in producing the interactions of multiple tidal stream devices via the 3D-RANS finite element model Telemac3D is explored. The methodology for the implementation of the source term to represent an array of 20 m rotor diameter turbines deployed in an idealized channel is reviewed and discussed in detail. Flow interactions between multiple turbines are investigated for a single row arrangement with only two turbines and a two row arrangement containing three turbines. The results demonstrate that the non-hydrostatic solver shows better agreement when validated against published experimental data. Notably,the mesh density at the device location can strongly influence the simulated thrust from the disc. Although the actuator disc model can generally replicate the wake interactions well, the results indicate that it cannot accurately characterize the flow for regions with high turbulences. While a model setup with the largest lateral spacing(1.5D) demonstrates excellent agreement with the experimental data, the 0.5D model(smallest gap) deviates by up to 25%. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the applied source term in reproducing the wake profile, which is comparable with the published data, and highlight the inherent nature of the RANS and actuator disc models.展开更多
BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes(T2D)is a major health concern globally and its prevalence is expected to continue to escalate.Lifestyle intervention is an integral part of T2D management.Meal replacements are often used as...BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes(T2D)is a major health concern globally and its prevalence is expected to continue to escalate.Lifestyle intervention is an integral part of T2D management.Meal replacements are often used as part of lifestyle intervention programs in T2D and weight management programs.There are various trials being carried out to date;however,a thorough review regarding the usage of meal replacement on its types,dosage and associated outcomes and adverse events is still lacking.AIM To provide a comprehensive overview on existing studies regarding meal replacement usage among patients with T2D,and map out glycemic and weightrelated outcomes along with adverse effects incidences.METHODS This scoping review is conducted based on Arksey and O’Malley’s seminal framework for scoping reviews.A systematic search has been done for studies published between January 2020 and January 2024 across six online databases(Cochrane Library,PubMed,Science Direct,Scopus,Web of Science and Ebscohost Discovery)using specific keywords.Two researchers independently assessed the eligibility of the studies and extracted the data.The selected articles and extracted data were reviewed by all researchers.RESULTS The initial search resulted in an initial count of 53922 articles from which 133 articles were included in this review after eligibility screening.Included studies were categorized based on meal replacement type into low calorie/energy,low glycemic index,protein-rich,low-fat,diabetes-specific formulas,and combined lifestyle intervention programs.Fifty-nine studies reported improvements on hemoglobin A1c,and 70 studies reported positive changes in weight or BMI after the meal replacement intervention.The combination of meal replacements with education,counseling or structured lifestyle interventions has proved to be effective.Only 13 studies reported occurrence of adverse events related to the intervention.Most of the reported incidents were of mild occurrences with constipation being the most reported adverse event.CONCLUSION The results suggest that meal replacements,especially when combined with lifestyle intervention programs and counseling,are an effective and safe strategy in glycemic and weight management among patients with T2D.展开更多
基金Funding to support this consultative meeting was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41761144053,41661144022)the International Partnership Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(121311KYSB201700).
文摘In order to enhance and restore the ecosystems of natural capital in African arid regions,the Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme(G-DEP)consultative meeting was hosted in Dakar,Senegal,from 23 to 25 September 2019.This paper details the first African meeting of the G-DEP.Consultative meeting reviewed preceding dryland ecosystems case studies,identified vulnerable arid and semi-arid regions,and proposed sustainable solutions to problems.It also identified the successes and failures of previous attempts to improve vulnerable ecosystems and ultimately formed an action plan to improve these attempts.Climate,ecosystems,and livelihoods for Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),Great Green Wall Initiative(GGWI)for Sahara and Sahel,and China-Africa cooperation on science,technology,and innovation are three extra main sections concerned of the meeting.Separately,more specific topics as the complicated relationship between these natural processes and human activity,including pastoralism,soil restoration,and vegetation regenerate techniques,were fully discussed.Consultative meeting also identified the positive effects international collaboration can have on dryland regions,specifically in the capacity of sharing information,technology,and innovation on purpose to develop a joint proposal for long-term research programs in African arid and semi-arid areas.Moreover,meetings that review the progress made on ecosystem management for the sustainable livelihoods in Africa,identification of priority areas,and the development and implementation of ecosystem programs for proper research and collaboration in African arid and semi-arid zones,have been proposed as strategic recommendations to enhance the global partnership for sustainable development.Furthermore,as the outcomes of the workshop,there are three steps proposed to handle African dryland climate changes,several aspects suggested to solve current dilemmas of the GGWI,and a series of actions recommended for G-DEP related activities in Africa.
文摘BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to evaluate the theoretical knowledge and psychomotor skill acquisition of basic life support(BLS) by a group of secondary school students in Nigeria pre and post BLS training. METHODS: This was quasi-experimental study design with 210 participants. They were taught on adult BLS and all the participants practiced BLS on a Resusci-Anne manikin immediately after the training. Data were collected using American Heart Association(AHA) structured questionnaire and psychomotor skills checklist for BLS at baseline, and post BLS training.RESULTS: The pre-training knowledge score was 1.9±1.4. This increased after the BLS training to 11.4±2.4, and the mean difference between the pre and post BLS training scores was 9.48571. Pre-training psychomotor skill score was 0.00±0.00, this increased to 8.9±1.9 after the training, and the mean difference was 8.90000. The knowledge and psychomotor skill difference between pre and post BLS training was signifi cant(P<0.000).CONCLUSION: Most Nigerian secondary school students were not knowledgeable about BLS. Therefore, there is need for the creation of more awareness among the students.
基金supported by the Ministry of Health National Medical Research Council (to JL)the National University of Singapore (to JJEC)
文摘Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder marked by positive and negative symptoms,leading to mood disturbances,cognitive impairments,and social withdrawal.While anti-psychotic medications remain the cornerstone of treatment,they often fail to fully address certain symptoms.Additionally,treatment-resistant schizophrenia,affecting 30%-40%of patients,remains a substantial clinical challenge.Positive,negative symptoms and cognitive impairments have been linked to disruptions in the glutamatergic,serotonin,GABAergic,and muscarinic pathways in the brain.Recent advances using genome-wide association study and other approaches have uncovered a significant number of new schizophrenia risk genes that uncovered new,and reinforced prior,concepts on the genetic and neurological underpinnings of schizophrenia,including abnormalities in synaptic function,immune processes,and lipid metabolism.Concurrently,new therapeutics targeting different modalities,which are expected to address some of the limitations of anti-psychotic drugs currently being offered to patients,are currently being evaluated.Collectively,these efforts provide new momentum for the next phase of schizophrenia research and treatment.
文摘The large-scale application of water electrolysis for H_(2) production is hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER).To improve the efficiency of water electrolyzers,numerous efforts have been devoted to developing robust OER catalysts.Among them,Ni-based materials have been identified as state-of-the-art catalysts in alkaline conditions due to their high catalytic activity[1,2].During OER,these catalysts can undergo surface reconstruction and form(oxy)hydroxide species on the surface,which is the real active phase and its chemistry determines the OER performance[3].
文摘We investigated the impact of convexity and isoperimetric deficits on the accuracy of sectional area estimates of tree stems using traditional methods(caliper,tape,formulas based on stem diameter and circumference).In two complementary experiments,the use of photographs to estimate cross-sectional areas was first validated,then the use of a caliper and diameter tape was computer-simulated.The results indicated that the photographic method offers high precision,with mean relative errors below 0.1%,minimal deviation,and no significant bias,and the traditional methods led to substantial and systematic errors,with deviations from circularity and convexity significantly increasing the errors in area estimation.
基金supported by Special major projects for research and development of Henan Provincial(Science and Technology Research Project)(No.252102321104)Humanities and Social Sciences Youth Foundation,Ministry of Education(24YJCZH410)。
文摘Effective management of mining areas in the Luo River Basin,located in the eastern Qinling Mountains,is vital for the integrated protection and restoration needed to support the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.Using the‘cupball'model,this study analyzes the limiting factors and restoration characteristics across four mining areas and proposes a conceptual model for selecting appropriate restoration approaches.A second conceptual model is then introduced to address regional development needs,incorporating ecological conservation,safety protection,and people's wellbeing.The applicability of the integrated model selection framework is demonstrated through a case study on the south bank of the Qinglongjian River.The results indicate that:(1)The key limiting factors are similar across cases,but the degree of ecological degradation varies.(2)Mildly degraded areas are represented by a shallower and narrower‘cup',where natural recovery is the preferred approach,whereas moderately and severely degraded systems call for assisted regeneration and ecological reconstruction,respectively.(3)When the restoration models determined based on limiting factors and development needs are consistent,the model is directly applicable;if they differ,the option involving less artificial intervention is preferred;(4)Monitoring of the restored mining area on the Qinglongjian River's south bank confirms significant improvements in soil erosion control and vegetation coverage.This study provides a transferable methodology for balancing resource extraction with ecosystem conservation,offering practical insights for other ecologically vulnerable mining regions.
基金funded or supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32371878,32001251)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20200781)+1 种基金the Youth Science and Technology Talent Lifting Project of Jiangsu Province(No.JSTJ-2024-324)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD)。
文摘Temperate forests are vital for maintaining ecological security and regulating the global climate.Despite considerable controversy surrounding the biophysical impacts of temperate forests on mid-latitude temperatures,we analyzed the effects of forest cover change on local temperature using the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF)model from 2010 to 2020 in the Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains(GLKM),Northeastern China,and explored the related driving factors.The conversions between forest and open lands(i.e.,cropland and grassland)were predominant.During the growing season,the conversion of cropland and grassland to forest resulted in warming(0.38±0.10 and 0.41±0.09℃,respectively)in air temperature(Ta),while the reverse conversion caused cooling(-0.31 peratur±0.08 and e-0.24±0.07℃,respectively),which was less than the changes observed in land surface tem(LST).Conversion of forest to impervious land caused warming(1.16 the±0.11℃),and opposite conversion resulted in cooling(can-0.88 t±0.17℃).These results indicate that radiative effects like albedo and net radiation drive the signifi net warming effect from afforestation on open lands within the temperate forest ecoregion.Conversely,conversion to impervious land produced the most substantial net warming impacts,driven by non-radiative effects like sensible heat,latent heat,and ground heat flux(GH).In these conversions,temperature can indirectly influence precipitation(Pre)through vapor pressure deficit(VPD),and Pre can also indirectly affect temperature via evapotranspiration(ET).This study highlights the need to thoroughly understand the impacts of afforestation in temperate forests while avoiding deforestation to regulate the climate effectively.
基金Most of the surveys were funded through the APOC Trust Fund and we would like to express our appreciation to the donor community for their sustained financial support to APOC which has made this region-wide evaluation possible.We are grateful to the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme on Research and Training in Tropical Diseases(TDR)for financial support for country-level capacity building for evaluation.
文摘Background:The African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control(APOC)was created in 1995 to establish community-directed treatment with ivermectin(CDTi)in order to control onchocerciasis as a public health problem in 20 African countries that had 80%of the global disease burden.When research showed that CDTi may ultimately eliminate onchocerciasis infection,APOC was given in 2008 the additional objective to determine when and where treatment can be safely stopped.We report the results of epidemiological evaluations undertaken from 2008 to 2014 to assess progress towards elimination in CDTi areas with≥6 years treatment.Methods:Skin snip surveys were undertaken in samples of first-line villages to determine the prevalence of O.volvulus microfilariae.There were two evaluation phases.The decline in prevalence was evaluated in phase 1A.Observed and model-predicted prevalences were compared after correcting for endemicity level and treatment coverage.Bayesian statistics and Monte Carlo simulation were used to classify the decline in prevalence as faster than predicted,on track or delayed.Where the prevalence approached elimination levels,phase 1B was launched to determine if treatment could be safely stopped.Village sampling was extended to the whole CDTi area.Survey data were analysed within a Bayesian framework to determine if stopping criteria(overall prevalence<1.4%and maximum stratum prevalence<5%)were met.Results:In phase 1A 127665 people from 639 villages in 54 areas were examined.The prevalence had fallen dramatically.The decline in prevalence was faster than predicted in 23 areas,on track in another 23 and delayed in eight areas.In phase 1B 108636 people in 392 villages were examined in 22 areas of which 13 met the epidemiological criteria for stopping treatment.Overall,32 areas(25.4 million people)had reached or were close to elimination,18 areas(17.4 million)were on track but required more years treatment,and in eight areas(10.4 million)progress was unsatisfactory.Conclusions:Onchocerciasis has been largely controlled as a public health problem.Great progress has been made towards elimination which already appears to have been achieved for millions of people.For most APOC countries,nationwide onchocerciasis elimination is within reach.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(31361140360)
文摘The United Nations Environment Programme（UN Environment） launched at the end of 2016 a decade-long（2016–2025） flagship programme on Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods（CEL）, with the aim to assist developing countries in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals（SDGs） and climate targets while protecting their ecosystems and improving the livelihoods of their people. The CEL programme is a major initiative supported by China and other developing countries to promote long-term South-South cooperation, led by the United Nations Environment Programme International Ecosystem Management Partnership（UNEP-IEMP）. This article presents the conceptual framework and implementation strategy of the CEL programme, which were proposed through consultations between UN Environment, Chinese and international experts. Within the conceptual framework, the CEL programme will 1） focus its work on the nexus of climate change, ecosystem services and sustainable livelihoods as the primary priority; 2） encourage cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder cooperation, enhance interdisciplinary research, and strive for breakthroughs that cross disciplinary boundaries; 3） provide four types of services and products—monitoring and assessment, capacity building, technology demonstration, and science for policy through mainly South-South cooperation; and 4） have far-reaching impacts on delivering SDGs and climate targets in vulnerable developing countries. The CEL programme is going to be implemented in a strategic way through a set of related projects and initiatives. More particularly, it will 1） focus on fragile ecosystems like drylands, mountains, river basins and coastal zones in Asia, Africa and other key regions along the Belt and Road, in the early stage and expand to include some other regions at a later stage; 2） take a three-phase approach, including Phase I, Kick-off（2016–2018）, Phase II, Development（2019–2021）, and Phase III, Scaling-up（2022–2025）; and 3） draw on the globally relevant knowledge, expertise and other resources of a substantial network of partners. So far, UNEP-IEMP has developed more than twenty projects and initiatives in the regions along the Belt and Road, especially in Africa and the Greater Mekong Subregion, which lay a solid foundation for the implementation of CEL programme in its first phase.
基金Katrin Vorkamp acknowledges funding from the Danish Environmental Protection AgencyRoland Kallenborn acknowledges funding from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences(NMBU)and the University of the Arctic(UArctic).
文摘This article presents the initiation and implementation of a systematic scientific and political cooperation in the Arctic related to environmental pollution and climate change,with a special focus on the role of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme(AMAP).The AMAP initiative has coordinated monitoring and assessments of environmental pollution across countries and parameters for the entire Arctic region.Starting from a first scientific assessment in 1998,AMAP's work has been fundamental in recognizing,understanding and addressing environmental and human health issues in the Arctic,including those of persistent organic pollutants(POPs),mercury,radioactivity,oil,acidification and climate change.These scientific results have contributed at local and international levels to define and take measures towards reducing the pollution not only in the Arctic,but of the whole globe,especially the contaminant exposure of indigenous and local communities with a traditional lifestyle.The results related to climate change have documented the rapid changes in the Arctic and the strong feedback between the Arctic and the rest of the world.The lessons learned from the work in the Arctic can be beneficial for other regions where contaminants may accumulate and affect local and indigenous peoples living in a traditional way,e.g.in the Himalayas.Global cooperation is indispensable in reducing the longrange transported pollution in the Arctic.
基金The program was funded by WHO/TDR Impact grant to two TDR alumni from DMR.The funders had no role in study design,data collection and analysis,decision to publish,or preparation of the manuscript。
文摘Background:It is estimated that the standard,passive case finding(PCF)strategy for detecting cases of tuberculosis(TB)in Myanmar has not been successful:26%of cases are missing.Therefore,alternative strategies,such as active case finding(ACF)by community volunteers,have been initiated since 2011.This study aimed to assess the contribution of a Community Based TB Care Programme(CBTC)by local non-government organizations(NGOs)to TB case finding in Myanmar over 4 years.Methods:This was a descriptive study using routine,monitoring data.Original data from the NGOs were sent to a central registry within the National TB Programme and data for this study were extracted from that database.Data from all 84 project townships in five regions and three states in Myanmar were used.The project was launched in 2011.Results:Over time,the number of presumptive TB cases that were referred decreased,except in the Yangon Region,although in some areas,the numbers fluctuated.At the same time,there was a trend for the proportion of cases treated,compared to those referred,that decreased over time(P=0.051).Overall,among 84 townships,the contribution of CBTC to total case detection deceased from 6%to 4%over time(P<0.001).Conclusions:Contrary to expectations and evidence from previous studies in other countries,a concerning reduction in TB case finding by local NGO volunteer networks in several areas in Myanmar was recorded over 4 years.This suggests that measures to support the volunteer network and improve its performance are needed.They may include discussion with local NGOs human resources personnel,incentives for the volunteers,closer supervision of volunteers and improved monitoring and evaluation tools.
基金the National Research Foundation(NRF)Singapore mid-sized center grant(NRF-MSG-2023-0002)FrontierCRP grant(NRF-F-CRP-2024-0006)+2 种基金A*STAR Singapore MTC RIE2025 project(M24W1NS005)IAF-PP project(M23M5a0069)Ministry of Education(MOE)Singapore Tier 2 project(MOE-T2EP50220-0014).
文摘The rise of large-scale artificial intelligence(AI)models,such as ChatGPT,Deep-Seek,and autonomous vehicle systems,has significantly advanced the boundaries of AI,enabling highly complex tasks in natural language processing,image recognition,and real-time decisionmaking.However,these models demand immense computational power and are often centralized,relying on cloud-based architectures with inherent limitations in latency,privacy,and energy efficiency.To address these challenges and bring AI closer to real-world applications,such as wearable health monitoring,robotics,and immersive virtual environments,innovative hardware solutions are urgently needed.This work introduces a near-sensor edge computing(NSEC)system,built on a bilayer AlN/Si waveguide platform,to provide real-time,energy-efficient AI capabilities at the edge.Leveraging the electro-optic properties of AlN microring resonators for photonic feature extraction,coupled with Si-based thermo-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometers for neural network computations,the system represents a transformative approach to AI hardware design.Demonstrated through multimodal gesture and gait analysis,the NSEC system achieves high classification accuracies of 96.77%for gestures and 98.31%for gaits,ultra-low latency(<10 ns),and minimal energy consumption(<0.34 pJ).This groundbreaking system bridges the gap between AI models and real-world applications,enabling efficient,privacy-preserving AI solutions for healthcare,robotics,and next-generation human-machine interfaces,marking a pivotal advancement in edge computing and AI deployment.
文摘Côte d’Ivoire has been the world’s leading producer of cocoa beans for several decades. Apart from this production performance, the quality of the beans, which are mainly exported to the major chocolate-making countries, presents a quality problem to the point of suffering a discount on the international market. One of these quality problems is the content of ochratoxin A, a mycotoxin produced by fungi. Finally, to verify the level of contamination in beans produced in Côte d’Ivoire, a study was carried out. It consisted of collecting information on fermentation and drying times (The two major post-harvest operations) and collecting beans, which were analyzed by electrophoresis using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. The results obtained show ochratoxin A contents of between 0.05 µg/kg and 0.17 µg/kg. The general level of contamination is therefore very low and below the tolerable limit which is 2 µg/kg. In addition, the correlative study between the fermentation and drying times of the beans revealed no significant influence (p < 0.01) of the duration of these operations on the level of ochratoxin A contamination. Major contamination can occur after post-harvest activities carried out by producers. This is certainly due to the development of fungi responsible for the production of ochratoxin A during the period of storage and marketing of cocoa beans in conditions of high humidity in storage enclosures. Producers need to be made more aware of the need to ensure that cocoa beans are properly dried and stored in dry areas to avoid moisture build-up, which is a source of mould growth and ochratoxin A production.
基金Supported by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme of the Ministry of Higher Education,Malaysia,No.FRGS/1/2024/SKK10/USM/02/8.
文摘Diabetes mellitus(DM)and its complications continue to impose a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide.Diabetic neuropathy(DN)is one of the most common chronic microvascular and neurodegenerative complications of DM.It is clinically characterized by allodynia,hyperalgesia,and abnormal or absent nerve fiber sensation,which collectively contribute to poor quality of life,sleep disturbances,depression,and increased mortality.Although several pharmacological agents are available to alleviate DN-related symptoms,their limited long-term efficacy and adverse side effects underscore the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches.This limitation may be attributed to an incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms of DN.Accumulating evidence has highlighted the contribution of glial cells including astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes to the pathogenesis of DN.However,the specific role of astrocytes remains insufficiently defined.Therefore,this review provides a comprehensive evaluation of current knowledge regarding astrocyte involvement in DN mechanisms,with the goal of clarifying their contribution to disease progression and identifying potential therapeutic targets.
基金Supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board(SERB),No.SERB-EEQ/2016/000639RUSA 2.0,Biological Sciences,Bharathidasan University,No.TN RUSA:311/RUSA(2.0)/2018 dt.December 2,2020+1 种基金the University Grants Commission,Faculty Recharge Programme(UGC-FRP),New Delhi,IndiaCouncil of Scientific and Industrial Research-Senior Research Fellowship(CSIRSRF)-Direct,No.09/0475(23353)/2025-EMR-I.
文摘BACKGROUND Botulinum neurotoxin(BoNT)is widely recognized as an effective therapeutic agent for managing various neurological disorders,characterized by motor impairments and neuromuscular deficits.BoNT works by modulating the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction.Recently,BoNT has been shown to enhance spatial memory and attenuate anxiety in experimental aging animals.While neurogenesis in the hippocampus contributes to cognitive properties,BoNT treatment could potentially influence the regulation of adult neurogenesis.As aging-associated microglial activation impairs neurogenesis,the anti-inflammatory properties of BoNT could be associated with the modulation of microglial activity,thereby enhancing cognitive function.AIM To investigate the neurogenic and microglial modulatory properties of BoNT in the hippocampus of aging experimental mice.METHODS Experimental aging mice were administered BoNT and after four weeks,the animals were sacrificed.The brains were subjected to cryosections followed by immunohistochemical analysis to quantify doublecortin(DCX)-positive immature neurons,bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU)-neuronal nuclei(NeuN)double positive newly matured neurons and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(Iba1)-positive microglia in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.In parallel,an additional set of animals was used to evaluate BoNT-mediated alterations in key inflammatory markers such as cyclooxygenase(COX)-2,and nitric oxide(NO)in hippocampal tissues.RESULTS The results revealed a significant increase in the number of DCX-positive immature neurons and BrdU-NeuN positive differentiated neurons in the hippocampus of the BoNT-treated group compared to the control.This enhancement in neurogenesis was accompanied by a marked reduction in the activated form of microglial cells,coupled with decreased mRNA expression of COX-2 and reduced NO levels in the hippocampus of BoNT-treated animals.CONCLUSION This study validates the proneurogenic and anti-neuroinflammatory properties of BoNT,which may underlie its procognitive effects.Hence,BoNT could be a promising therapeutic agent for treating various neurocognitive disorders.
文摘Resilience studies for water distribution systems(WDS)coupled with other interdependent infrastructure systems attract increasing attention from stakeholders and researchers.However,most existing large-scale WDS models are single infrastructure-based without consideration of other infrastructure systems.This is due to a lack of needed information on systems coupling,the structure of the simulator used,and the computation load involved.To address these gaps,this paper presents a synthetic modeling framework for a real-world WDS as coordinating with other infrastructure systems via a building-mediated clustering approach through consideration of physical distance and node capacity.First,the WDS network topology and operation parameters are inferred via bulk open-source information.A building-mediated clustering approach is designed to systematically derive the interdependence between the WDS and the power system similarly created as a case study.Second,a novel linearization method is developed in formulating the WDS model that can relieve computation load while maintaining accuracy.Finally,a disruption-recovery framework is developed to demonstrate the proposed methodology in modelling WDS resilience.The framework is applied to a neighborhood in Queenstown,Singapore,an area of 20.43 km^(2) and 96,000 population.The near-real-time simulations on the coupled system involving 308 nodes and 384 links showcase the effectiveness and application of the proposed synthetic modeling and formulation.
文摘Production of this crop is experiencing significant challenges, resulting in a decline in seed and fiber quality. To address this challenge, generations of high-performance cotton plants of the Gossypium hirsutum L. species have been developed and are currently being commercialized. This study evaluated the impact of gin types on the agro-industrial quality of cotton in Côte d’Ivoire. To this end, cotton from the G3, R1, and R2 generations was harvested, sampled, and ginned on machines with 10 and 170 saws in the localities of Ouangolodougou, Ferkessédougou, Korhogo, M’Bengué, Boundiali, Séguéla, and Mankono, as well as at the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique CNRA) in Bouaké. The results demonstrated that cotton fibers obtained from ginning on 10-saw machines exhibited superior quality compared to those from 170-saw machines. Fiber length, fiber length uniformity, and short fiber rate exhibited the highest deviations according to gin type. The use of 170-saw gins resulted in a notable decline in quality. Conversely, micronaire index, fiber tenacity and elongation, and reflectance remained consistent across machine types. These results will enable us to more effectively regulate and advise cotton-processing factories, which primarily utilize 170-saw gins to enhance agro-industrial quality in Côte d’Ivoire. Furthermore, these results will assist breeders in incorporating them into their processes to enhance the quality of the varieties they offer to farmers.
基金Ministry of Education(MOE-T2EP30120-0007,Tier-1 RG107/23)of Singapore for the financial support.
文摘C-glycosides have been demonstrated to have distinct biological functions and therefore display notable pharmacological values,whereas the access to the versatile structural analog of C-glycosides is a significant challenge to their advancement as therapeutic agents.We herein disclose a facial and efficient catalytic C-glycosylation using a glycosyl ortho-2,2-dimethoxycarbony lcyclopropylbenzoate(CCBz)as the donor.The trailblazing glycosyl donor can be simply activated by a non-toxic and easily accessible Sc(Ⅲ)catalyst.The ring-strain release of the incorporated donor-acceptor cyclopropane(DAC)serves as a powerful driving force of the glycosylation system.The adaptability of current methods to different types of donors and acceptors was exemplified.Examinations on the synthetic potential were done with the one-pot synthesis of free C-indolyl-glycosides and the subsequent biological studies,unlocking the antibacterial potentials of these compounds.
文摘A numerical investigation on the effectiveness of the actuator disc method in producing the interactions of multiple tidal stream devices via the 3D-RANS finite element model Telemac3D is explored. The methodology for the implementation of the source term to represent an array of 20 m rotor diameter turbines deployed in an idealized channel is reviewed and discussed in detail. Flow interactions between multiple turbines are investigated for a single row arrangement with only two turbines and a two row arrangement containing three turbines. The results demonstrate that the non-hydrostatic solver shows better agreement when validated against published experimental data. Notably,the mesh density at the device location can strongly influence the simulated thrust from the disc. Although the actuator disc model can generally replicate the wake interactions well, the results indicate that it cannot accurately characterize the flow for regions with high turbulences. While a model setup with the largest lateral spacing(1.5D) demonstrates excellent agreement with the experimental data, the 0.5D model(smallest gap) deviates by up to 25%. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the applied source term in reproducing the wake profile, which is comparable with the published data, and highlight the inherent nature of the RANS and actuator disc models.
文摘BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes(T2D)is a major health concern globally and its prevalence is expected to continue to escalate.Lifestyle intervention is an integral part of T2D management.Meal replacements are often used as part of lifestyle intervention programs in T2D and weight management programs.There are various trials being carried out to date;however,a thorough review regarding the usage of meal replacement on its types,dosage and associated outcomes and adverse events is still lacking.AIM To provide a comprehensive overview on existing studies regarding meal replacement usage among patients with T2D,and map out glycemic and weightrelated outcomes along with adverse effects incidences.METHODS This scoping review is conducted based on Arksey and O’Malley’s seminal framework for scoping reviews.A systematic search has been done for studies published between January 2020 and January 2024 across six online databases(Cochrane Library,PubMed,Science Direct,Scopus,Web of Science and Ebscohost Discovery)using specific keywords.Two researchers independently assessed the eligibility of the studies and extracted the data.The selected articles and extracted data were reviewed by all researchers.RESULTS The initial search resulted in an initial count of 53922 articles from which 133 articles were included in this review after eligibility screening.Included studies were categorized based on meal replacement type into low calorie/energy,low glycemic index,protein-rich,low-fat,diabetes-specific formulas,and combined lifestyle intervention programs.Fifty-nine studies reported improvements on hemoglobin A1c,and 70 studies reported positive changes in weight or BMI after the meal replacement intervention.The combination of meal replacements with education,counseling or structured lifestyle interventions has proved to be effective.Only 13 studies reported occurrence of adverse events related to the intervention.Most of the reported incidents were of mild occurrences with constipation being the most reported adverse event.CONCLUSION The results suggest that meal replacements,especially when combined with lifestyle intervention programs and counseling,are an effective and safe strategy in glycemic and weight management among patients with T2D.
