Grassland degradation presents overwhelming challenges to biodiversity,ecosystem services,and the socioeconomic sustainability of dependent communities.However,a comprehensive synthesis of global knowledge on the fron...Grassland degradation presents overwhelming challenges to biodiversity,ecosystem services,and the socioeconomic sustainability of dependent communities.However,a comprehensive synthesis of global knowledge on the frontiers and key areas of grassland degradation research has not been achieved due to the limitations of traditional scientometrics methods.The present synthesis of information employed BERTopic,an advanced natural language processing tool,to analyze the extensive ecological literature on grassland degradation.We compiled a dataset of 4,504 publications from the Web of Science core collection database and used it to evaluate the geographic distribution and temporal evolution of different grassland types and available knowledge on the subject.Our analysis identified key topics in the global grassland degradation research domain,including the effects of grassland degradation on ecosystem functions,grassland ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation,erosion processes and hydrological models in grasslands,and others.The BERTopic analysis significantly outperforms traditional methods in identifying complex and evolving topics in large datasets of literature.Compared to traditional scientometrics analysis,BERTopic provides a more comprehensive perspective on the research areas,revealing not only popular topics but also emerging research areas that traditional methods may overlook,although scientometrics offers more specificity and detail.Therefore,we argue for the simultaneous use of both approaches to achieve more systematic and comprehensive assessments of specific research areas.This study represents an emerging application of BERTopic algorithms in ecological research,particularly in the critical research focused on global grassland degradation.It also highlights the need for integrating advanced computational methods in ecological research in this era of data explosion.Tools like the BERTopic algorithm are essential for enhancing our understanding of complex environmental problems,and it marks an important stride towards more sophisticated,data-driven analysis in ecology.展开更多
Nitric oxide(NO)is a gaseous molecule produced by 3 different NO synthase(NOS)isoforms:Neural/brain NOS(nNOS/bNOS,type 1),endothelial NOS(eNOS,type 3)and inducible NOS(type 2).Type 1 and 3 NOS are constitutively expre...Nitric oxide(NO)is a gaseous molecule produced by 3 different NO synthase(NOS)isoforms:Neural/brain NOS(nNOS/bNOS,type 1),endothelial NOS(eNOS,type 3)and inducible NOS(type 2).Type 1 and 3 NOS are constitutively expressed.NO can serve different purposes:As a vasoactive molecule,as a neurotransmitter or as an immunomodulator.It plays a key role in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CIRI).Hypoxic episodes simulate the production of oxygen free radicals,leading to mitochondrial and phospholipid damage.Upon reperfusion,increased levels of oxygen trigger oxide synthases;whose products are associated with neuronal damage by promoting lipid peroxidation,nitrosylation and excitotoxicity.Molecular pathways in CIRI can be altered by NOS.Neuroprotective effects are observed with eNOS activity.While nNOS interplay is prone to endothelial inflammation,oxidative stress and apoptosis.Therefore,nNOS appears to be detrimental.The interaction between NO and other free radicals develops peroxynitrite;which is a cytotoxic agent.It plays a main role in the likelihood of hemorrhagic events by tissue plasminogen activator(t-PA).Peroxynitrite scavengers are currently being studied as potential targets to prevent hemorrhagic transformation in CIRI.展开更多
Although with aggressive standards of care like surgical resection,chemotherapy,and radiation,high-grade gliomas(HGGs)and brain metastases(BM)treatment has remained challenging for more than two decades.However,techno...Although with aggressive standards of care like surgical resection,chemotherapy,and radiation,high-grade gliomas(HGGs)and brain metastases(BM)treatment has remained challenging for more than two decades.However,technological advances in this field and immunotherapeutic strategies have revolutionized the treatment of HGGs and BM.Immunotherapies like immune checkpoint inhibitors,CAR-T targeting,oncolytic virus-based therapy,bispecific antibody treatment,and vaccination approaches,etc.,are emerging as promising avenues offering new hope in refining patient’s survival benefits.However,selective trafficking across the blood-brain barrier(BBB),immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment(TME),metabolic alteration,and tumor heterogeneity limit the therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapy for HGGs and BM.Furthermore,to address this concern,the NanoBioTechnology-based bioinspired delivery system has been gaining tremendous attention in recent years.With technological advances such as Trojan horse targeting and infusing/camouflaging nanoparticles surface with biological molecules/cells like immunocytes,erythrocytes,platelets,glioma cell lysate and/or integrating these strategies to get hybrid membrane for homotypic recognition.These biomimetic nanotherapy offers advantages over conventional nanoparticles,focusing on greater target specificity,increased circulation stability,higher active loading capacity,BBB permeability(inherent inflammatory chemotaxis of neutrophils),decreased immunogenicity,efficient metabolism-based combinatorial effects,and prevention of tumor recurrence by induction of immunological memory,etc.provide new age of improved immunotherapies outcomes against HGGs and BM.In this review,we emphasize on neuro-immunotherapy and the versatility of these biomimetic nano-delivery strategies for precise targeting of hard-to-treat andmost lethal HGGs and BM.Moreover,the challenges impeding the clinical translatability of these approaches were addressed to unmet medical needs of brain cancers.展开更多
The analysis of combining ability and heterosis is very important in enhancing the yield and oil quality of sunflowers under adverse conditions,and it reveals the potential of the parents and the mechanism of gene act...The analysis of combining ability and heterosis is very important in enhancing the yield and oil quality of sunflowers under adverse conditions,and it reveals the potential of the parents and the mechanism of gene action.In this study,twenty-one hybrids were developed by crossing seven cytoplasmic male sterile(CMS)lines with three restorer lines and evaluated for agronomic and quality traits.Highly significant general combining ability(GCA)and specific combining ability(SCA)effects were observed,confirming the role of both additive and non-additive gene actions.Among the tested crosses,A-42×R-86,A-92×R-86,and A-92×R-114 exhibited the greatest heterotic advantage,with seed yields exceeding 340 kg ha^(−1) over the better parent,oil contents above 19%,and 100-seed weights greater than 27 g.The hybrid A-92×R-114 was particularly notable for its elevated oleic acid level and balanced fatty acid profile,making it a strong candidate for premium oilseed production.In contrast,hybrids like A-20×R-39 exhibited moderate heterosis and less quality superiority.The oleic-to-linoleic acid ratio,a key determinant of oil stability,was strongly controlled by genetic factors.Oil content was largely influenced by additive effects,whereas yield heterosis was predominantly governed by non-additive effects.Overall,A-42×R-86 and A-92×R-114 emerged as the most promising hybrids,combining yield benefits with improved oil quality,and offering practical guidance for parental selection in sunflower breeding programs.展开更多
Grasslands are among the largest terrestrial ecosystems,offering critical ecological,economic,and cultural services worldwide(Bardgett et al.2021;Wang et al.2022).However,they face unprecedented challenges due to clim...Grasslands are among the largest terrestrial ecosystems,offering critical ecological,economic,and cultural services worldwide(Bardgett et al.2021;Wang et al.2022).However,they face unprecedented challenges due to climate change,overgrazing,and land-use change,which threaten their biodiversity,carbon sequestration potential,and the human livelihoods they support(Zhou et al.2023;Straffelini et al.2024).Despite the implementation of various management strategies,gaps remain in understanding the intricate dynamics of grassland ecosystems,their key drivers,and the most effective adaptive management practices(Li et al.2022).展开更多
The occurrence of nitri?cation in some acidic forest soils is still a subject of debate.Identi?cation of main nitri?cation pathways in acidic forest soils is still largely unknown.Acidic yellow soil(Oxisol) samples we...The occurrence of nitri?cation in some acidic forest soils is still a subject of debate.Identi?cation of main nitri?cation pathways in acidic forest soils is still largely unknown.Acidic yellow soil(Oxisol) samples were selected to test whether nitri?cation can occur or not in acidic subtropical pine forest ecosystems.Relative contributions of autotrophs and heterotrophs to nitri?cation were studied by adding selective nitri?cation inhibitor nitrapyrin.Soil NH^+_4-N concentrations decreased,but NO^-_3-N concentrations increased signi?cantly for the no-nitrapyrin control during the ?rst week of incubation,indicating that nitri?cation did occur in the acidic subtropical soil.The calculated net nitri?cation rate was 0.49 mg N kg^(-1)d^(-1)for the no-nitrapyrin control during the ?rst week of incubation.Nitrapyrin amendment resulted in a signi?cant reduction of NO^-_3-N concentration.Autotrophic nitri?cation rate averaged0.28 mg N kg^(-1)d^(-1)and the heterotrophic nitri?cation rate was 0.21 mg N kg^(-1)d^(-1)in the ?rst week.Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB) abundance increased slightly during incubation,but nitrapyrin amendment signi?cantly decreased AOB amo A gene copy numbers by about 80%.However,the ammonia-oxidizing archaea(AOA) abundance showed signi?cant increases only in the last 2weeks of incubation and it was also decreased by nitrapyrin amendment.Our results indicated that nitri?cation did occur in the present acidic subtropical pine forest soil,and autotrophic nitri?cation was the main nitri?cation pathway.Both AOA and AOB were the active biotic agents responsible for autotrophic nitri?cation in the acidic subtropical pine forest soil.展开更多
In this paper,we propose an approach for diagnostics and prognostics of damaged aircraft structures,by combing high-performance fatigue mechanics with filtering theories.Fast&accurate deterministic analyses of fat...In this paper,we propose an approach for diagnostics and prognostics of damaged aircraft structures,by combing high-performance fatigue mechanics with filtering theories.Fast&accurate deterministic analyses of fatigue crack propagations are carried out,by using the Finite Element Alternating Method(FEAM)for computing SIFs,and by using the newly developed Moving Least Squares(MLS)law for computing fatigue crack growth rates.Such algorithms for simulating fatigue crack propagations are embedded in the computer program Safe-Flaw,which is called upon as a subroutine within the probabilistic framework of filter theories.Both the extended Kalman as well as particle filters are applied in this study,to obtain the statistically optimal and semi-optimal estimates of crack lengths,from a series of noisy measurements of crack-lengths over time.For the specific problem,a simple modification to the particle filter,which can drastically reduce the computational burden,is also proposed.Based on the results of such diagnostic analyses,the prognostics of aerospace structures are thereafter achieved,to estimate the probabilistic distribution of the remaining useful life.By using a simple example of a single-crack near a fastener hole,we demonstrate the concept and effectiveness of the proposed framework.This paper thus forms the scientific foundation for the recently proposed concepts of VRAMS(Virtual Risk-Informed Agile Maneuver Sustainment)and Digital Twins of aerospace vehicles.展开更多
Pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of water management,namely continuous flooding(CF),intermittent flooding(IF)and non-flooding(NF),on Cd phytoavailaility in three paddy soils that differed in p H a...Pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of water management,namely continuous flooding(CF),intermittent flooding(IF)and non-flooding(NF),on Cd phytoavailaility in three paddy soils that differed in p H and in Cd concentrations.Diffusive gradients in thin films(DGT)technique was employed to monitor soil labile Cd and Fe concentrations simultaneously at three growth stages(tillering,heading and mature stage)of rice.The Cd phytoavailability were generally in the order of NF>IF>CF,and higher rice Cd(over permitted level,0.2 mg/kg)were only found in neutral and acidic soils under NF conditions.DGT measured soil labile Cd rather than total Cd was the most reliable predictor for Cd accumulation in rice.CF enhanced the formation of root plaques,which related to oxidation of large quantities of available Fe on root surfaces due to the O2 secretion of rice root.The Cd concentration in root plaques shared the same trend with DGT-Cd.Generally,root plaques would inhibit Cd uptake by rice under CF conditions,while under IF and NF conditions,root plaques act as a temporarily store of Cd,and soil labile Cd is the key factor that controls the transfer of Cd from soil to rice.The results of principle component analysis revealed that water management had the greatest effect on soil Cd lability and rice Cd in acidic soil.Thus,it is important to consider the availability of Cd and soil p H when assessing current agricultural practices of contaminated soil in China.展开更多
The study was to determine the long-term effects of subtropical monoculture and rotational cropping systems and fertilization on soil enzyme activities and soil C, N, and P levels. Cropping systems included continuous...The study was to determine the long-term effects of subtropical monoculture and rotational cropping systems and fertilization on soil enzyme activities and soil C, N, and P levels. Cropping systems included continuous sorghum(Sorghum bicolor L.), cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.), corn(Zea mays L.), and cotton/sorghum rotations after 26 years of treatment imposition. Soil under continuous sorghum and continuous corn had 15% and 11%, respectively, greater C concentrations than soil under continuous cotton.Organic C was 10% higher at 0–7.5 cm than at 7.5–15 cm. Total N followed similar trends with soil depth as organic C. Continuous sorghum had 19% higher total N than other crop species and rotations. With fertilization, continuous cotton had the highest total P at 0–7.5 cm and sorghum had the highest at 7.5–15 cm. Soil total P was 14% higher at 0–7.5 than at 7.5–15 cm, and fertilization increased 15% total P compared to unfertilized soil. Arylsulfatase, alkaline phosphatase, and β-d-glucosidase activity were the highest for sorghum and the lowest for cotton. Rotation increased enzyme activities compared to continuous cotton but not for continuous sorghum. Of all crop species and rotations, continuous cotton generally showed the lowest levels of organic matter and enzyme activities after 26 years. Fertilization significantly increased the yields for all cropping systems, but rotation had no significant effect on either sorghum or cotton lint yield compared to each crop grown in monoculture. Long-term cropping did not increase soil organic matter levels beyond short-term gains, indicating the difficulty in promoting C sequestration in subtropical soils.展开更多
Increasing energy consumption in the transportation sector results in challenging greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions and environmental problems.This paper involved integrated assessments on GHG emissions and emergy of the l...Increasing energy consumption in the transportation sector results in challenging greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions and environmental problems.This paper involved integrated assessments on GHG emissions and emergy of the life cycle for the internal combustion engine(ICE)and electric automobiles in the USA over the entire assumed fifteen-year lifetime.The hotspots of GHG emissions as well as emergy indices for the major processes of automobile life cycle within the defined system boundaries have been investigated.The potential strategies for reducing GHG emissions and emergy in the life cycle of both ICE and electric automobiles were further proposed.Based on the current results,the total GHG emissions from the life cycle of ICE automobiles are 4.48 E+07 kg CO2-e which is320 times higher than that of the electric automobiles.The hotspot area of the GHG emissions from ICE and electric automobiles are operation phase and manufacturing process,respectively.Interesting results were observed that comparable total emergy of the ICE automobiles and electric automobiles have been calculated which were 1.54 E+17 and 2.20 E+17 sej,respectively.Analysis on emergy index evidenced a better environmental sustainability of electric automobiles than ICE automobiles over the life cycle due to its higher ESI.To the authors’knowledge,it is the first time to integrate the analysis of GHG emissions together with emergy in industrial area of automobile engineering.It is expected that the integration of emergy and GHG emissions analysis may provide a comprehensive perspective on eco-industrial sustainability of automobile engineering.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the antioxidant and anti-melanogenesis activities of an ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber,Stichopus japonicus,collected from Jeju Island.Methods:Antioxidant activity experiments were asse...Objective:To investigate the antioxidant and anti-melanogenesis activities of an ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber,Stichopus japonicus,collected from Jeju Island.Methods:Antioxidant activity experiments were assessed by an electron spin resonance system and a cellular model of immortalized human keratinocytes(HaCaT)to determine its radical scavenging activity and protective effects against 2,2’-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride(AAPH)-induced oxidative stress.Antimelanogenic activity of the ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber was also examined using the melanoma cell model B16F10 and mushroom tyrosinase.Following the induction byα-melanocytestimulating hormone,the effects of the ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber on intracellular tyrosinase activity,melanin content and the melanogenic protein expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor,tyrosinase,and tyrosinase-related proteins(TRP-1,and TRP-2)were examined.Results:The ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber significantly scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and alkyl radicals[IC50:(0.924±0.035)and(0.327±0.006)mg/mL,respectively],as well as showed a protective effect against oxidative stress and attenuated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species on AAPHinduced HaCaT cells,with no cytotoxicity(12.5-400μg/mL).The ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber also exhibited a tyrosinase inhibitory effect[IC50:(2.750±0.006)mg/mL].Onα-melanocytestimulating hormone-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells,the ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber(25-200μg/mL)significantly inhibited not only melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity,but also protein expressions of microphthalmia-associated transcriptional factor,tyrosinase,TRP-1,and TRP-2.Conclusions:The ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber shows antioxidant and anti-melanogenic potential and may be a natural candidate for anti-aging as well as a whitening agent in the cosmeceuticals industry.展开更多
·AIM:To evaluate the effect of 0.05%atropine on the control of myopia for 2y(phase I)and on spherical equivalent refraction(SER)progression for 1y(phase II)after its withdrawal in Chinese myopic children.·ME...·AIM:To evaluate the effect of 0.05%atropine on the control of myopia for 2y(phase I)and on spherical equivalent refraction(SER)progression for 1y(phase II)after its withdrawal in Chinese myopic children.·METHODS:Totally 142 children with myopia were randomly assigned to the 0.05%atropine group or to the placebo group.In phase I,children received 1 treatment for each eye daily.In phase II,the patients received no treatment.Axial length(AL),SER,intraocular pressure(IOP)and atropine-related side effects were assessed at 6 months’intervals.·RESULTS:During phase I,the mean change of SER was-0.46±0.30 D in the atropine group,compared to-1.72±1.12 D in the placebo group(P<0.001).The mean change of AL in the atropine group(0.26±0.30 mm)was significantly shorter than that in the placebo group(0.76±0.62 mm,P=0.002).In addition,in phase II(12mo after the withdrawal of atropine),there was no significant difference in AL change from the atropine group,when compared with that from the placebo group(0.31±0.25 mm vs 0.28±0.26 mm,P>0.05).Furthermore,the change in SER from the atropine group was 0.50±0.41 D,which was significantly lower than 0.72±0.60 D from placebo group,(P<0.05).Finally,there were no statistically significant differences in IOP between the treatment and control groups at any stages(all P>0.05).·CONCLUSION:The use of 0.05%atropine for two consecutive years may effectively control elongation of AL and thus progression of myopia,without significant SER progression 1y after atropine withdrawal.Therefore,treatment with 0.05%atropine daily for 2y is effective and safe.展开更多
Enterococcus(E.)faecium is recognized as a leading cause of nosocomial infections worldwide.Infection with the organism is often difficult to treat due to its inherent ability to acquire glycopeptide resistance genes ...Enterococcus(E.)faecium is recognized as a leading cause of nosocomial infections worldwide.Infection with the organism is often difficult to treat due to its inherent ability to acquire glycopeptide resistance genes and other virulence genes[1].展开更多
Diesel fuel combustion results in exhaust containing air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.Many railway vehicles use diesel fuel as their energy source.Exhaust emissions,as well as concerns about economical,alte...Diesel fuel combustion results in exhaust containing air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.Many railway vehicles use diesel fuel as their energy source.Exhaust emissions,as well as concerns about economical,alternative power supply,have driven efforts to move to hydrogen motive power.Hydrogen fuel cell technology applied to railways offers the opportunity to eliminate harmful exhaust emissions and the potential for a low-or zero-emission energy supply chain.Currently,only multiple-unit trains with hydrail technology operate commercially.Development of an Integrated Hybrid Train Simulator for intercity railway is presented.The proposed tool incorporates the effect of powertrain components during the wheel-to-tank process.Compared to its predecessors,the proposed reconfigurable tool provides high fidelity with medium requirements and minimum computation time.Single train simulation and the federal government’s Greenhouse gases,Regulated Emissions,and Energy use in Transportation(GREET)model are used in combination to evaluate the feasibility of various train and powertrain configurations.The Piedmont intercity service operating in North Carolina is used as a case study.The study includes six train configurations and powertrain options as well as nine hydrogen supply options in addition to the diesel supply.The results show that a hydrail option is not only feasible,but a low-or zero-carbon hydrogen supply chain could be possible.展开更多
A double optimal solution of an n-dimensional system of linear equations Ax=b has been derived in an affine m-dimensional Krylov subspace with m <<n.We further develop a double optimal iterative algorithm(DOIA),...A double optimal solution of an n-dimensional system of linear equations Ax=b has been derived in an affine m-dimensional Krylov subspace with m <<n.We further develop a double optimal iterative algorithm(DOIA),with the descent direction z being solved from the residual equation Az=r0 by using its double optimal solution,to solve ill-posed linear problem under large noise.The DOIA is proven to be absolutely convergent step-by-step with the square residual error ||r||^2=||b-Ax||^2 being reduced by a positive quantity ||Azk||^2 at each iteration step,which is found to be better than those algorithms based on the minimization of the square residual error in an m-dimensional Krylov subspace.In order to tackle the ill-posed linear problem under a large noise,we also propose a novel double optimal regularization algorithm(DORA)to solve it,which is an improvement of the Tikhonov regularization method.Some numerical tests reveal the high performance of DOIA and DORA against large noise.These methods are of use in the ill-posed problems of structural health-monitoring.展开更多
Sixteen pongamia families were evaluated in a field experiment for eight consecutive years in dryland conditions to identify stable,high-yielding families.The trial was conducted in a randomized complete block design ...Sixteen pongamia families were evaluated in a field experiment for eight consecutive years in dryland conditions to identify stable,high-yielding families.The trial was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications.Each family,consisting of nine trees per replication,was planted at a spacing of3 m x 3 m.Yield stability was analyzed using(1)Eberhart and Russel’s regression coefficient(β_i)and deviation from regression(S_d^2),(2)Wrike’s ecovalence(W_i);(3)Shukla stability variance(σ_i^2);and(4)Piepho and Lotito’s stability index(L_i).Families were also analyzed for adaptability and stability using AMMI and GGE biplots graphical methods.The study revealed significant variances due to family and family x year interaction for pod and seed yield.Families performed differently and ranked differently across years.The performance of families was influenced by both genetic factor and environmental conditions in different years.Among families tested,TNMP20,Acc14,TNMP14 and Acc30 were high yielders for pods,and Acc14,Acc30,TNMP6,RAK19 and TNMP14 were high for seed yield.According to the Eberhart and Russell model,Acc30,TNMP14 and TNMP3 were stable across years.In the graphical view of family x year interaction based on AMMI methods,TNMP3,TNMP4 and TNMP14 had greater stability with moderate seed yield,and Acc14 and Acc30 had moderate stability with high seed yield.On the other hand,GGE biplots revealed Acc14,Acc30 and TNMP14 as high yielders with moderate stability.AMMI and GGE biplots were able to capture nonlinear parts of the family x year interaction that were not be captured by the Eberhart and Russel model while also identifying stable families.Based on different methodologies,Acc14,Acc30 and TNMP14 were identified as high yielding and stable families for promoting pongamia cultivation as a biofuel crop for semi-arid regions.展开更多
Dear Editor,Nitrification,the only process linking the oxidation and reduction of N in natural ecosystems,plays a vital role in maintaining global N equilibrium.Ammonia oxidation is the first and rate-limiting step of...Dear Editor,Nitrification,the only process linking the oxidation and reduction of N in natural ecosystems,plays a vital role in maintaining global N equilibrium.Ammonia oxidation is the first and rate-limiting step of aerobic nitrification and is performed by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB).展开更多
The current pandemic SARS-CoV-2(also known as 2019-nCoV and COVID-19)viral infection is growing globally and has created a disastrous situation all over the world.One of the biggest challenges is that no drugs are ava...The current pandemic SARS-CoV-2(also known as 2019-nCoV and COVID-19)viral infection is growing globally and has created a disastrous situation all over the world.One of the biggest challenges is that no drugs are available to treat this life-threatening disease.As no drugs are available for definitive treatment of this disease and the mortality rate is very high,there is an utmost need to cure the infection using novel technologies.This study will point out some new antimicrobial technologies that have great potentials for eradicating and preventing emerging infections.They can be considered as treatments of choice for viral infections in the future.展开更多
Rodents such as Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus have adapted to living close to human settlements[1].This presents a public health challenge as these rodents are considered as pests that can transmit a number of z...Rodents such as Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus have adapted to living close to human settlements[1].This presents a public health challenge as these rodents are considered as pests that can transmit a number of zoonotic diseases to humans[1,2].A rodent surveillance programme was initiated between the years 2014 and 2015,focusing on rodents captured at wet markets where there is abundant food and considerable human traffic.The present study was conducted in several wet markets in Kuala Terengganu,Malaysia(5.3333°N,103.1500°E).展开更多
基金financially supported by the First-Class Curriculum Program at the School of Economics and Management,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciencesthe National Natural Science Foundation of China(42041005)the National Social Science Foundation of China(23BTQ054)。
文摘Grassland degradation presents overwhelming challenges to biodiversity,ecosystem services,and the socioeconomic sustainability of dependent communities.However,a comprehensive synthesis of global knowledge on the frontiers and key areas of grassland degradation research has not been achieved due to the limitations of traditional scientometrics methods.The present synthesis of information employed BERTopic,an advanced natural language processing tool,to analyze the extensive ecological literature on grassland degradation.We compiled a dataset of 4,504 publications from the Web of Science core collection database and used it to evaluate the geographic distribution and temporal evolution of different grassland types and available knowledge on the subject.Our analysis identified key topics in the global grassland degradation research domain,including the effects of grassland degradation on ecosystem functions,grassland ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation,erosion processes and hydrological models in grasslands,and others.The BERTopic analysis significantly outperforms traditional methods in identifying complex and evolving topics in large datasets of literature.Compared to traditional scientometrics analysis,BERTopic provides a more comprehensive perspective on the research areas,revealing not only popular topics but also emerging research areas that traditional methods may overlook,although scientometrics offers more specificity and detail.Therefore,we argue for the simultaneous use of both approaches to achieve more systematic and comprehensive assessments of specific research areas.This study represents an emerging application of BERTopic algorithms in ecological research,particularly in the critical research focused on global grassland degradation.It also highlights the need for integrating advanced computational methods in ecological research in this era of data explosion.Tools like the BERTopic algorithm are essential for enhancing our understanding of complex environmental problems,and it marks an important stride towards more sophisticated,data-driven analysis in ecology.
文摘Nitric oxide(NO)is a gaseous molecule produced by 3 different NO synthase(NOS)isoforms:Neural/brain NOS(nNOS/bNOS,type 1),endothelial NOS(eNOS,type 3)and inducible NOS(type 2).Type 1 and 3 NOS are constitutively expressed.NO can serve different purposes:As a vasoactive molecule,as a neurotransmitter or as an immunomodulator.It plays a key role in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CIRI).Hypoxic episodes simulate the production of oxygen free radicals,leading to mitochondrial and phospholipid damage.Upon reperfusion,increased levels of oxygen trigger oxide synthases;whose products are associated with neuronal damage by promoting lipid peroxidation,nitrosylation and excitotoxicity.Molecular pathways in CIRI can be altered by NOS.Neuroprotective effects are observed with eNOS activity.While nNOS interplay is prone to endothelial inflammation,oxidative stress and apoptosis.Therefore,nNOS appears to be detrimental.The interaction between NO and other free radicals develops peroxynitrite;which is a cytotoxic agent.It plays a main role in the likelihood of hemorrhagic events by tissue plasminogen activator(t-PA).Peroxynitrite scavengers are currently being studied as potential targets to prevent hemorrhagic transformation in CIRI.
文摘Although with aggressive standards of care like surgical resection,chemotherapy,and radiation,high-grade gliomas(HGGs)and brain metastases(BM)treatment has remained challenging for more than two decades.However,technological advances in this field and immunotherapeutic strategies have revolutionized the treatment of HGGs and BM.Immunotherapies like immune checkpoint inhibitors,CAR-T targeting,oncolytic virus-based therapy,bispecific antibody treatment,and vaccination approaches,etc.,are emerging as promising avenues offering new hope in refining patient’s survival benefits.However,selective trafficking across the blood-brain barrier(BBB),immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment(TME),metabolic alteration,and tumor heterogeneity limit the therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapy for HGGs and BM.Furthermore,to address this concern,the NanoBioTechnology-based bioinspired delivery system has been gaining tremendous attention in recent years.With technological advances such as Trojan horse targeting and infusing/camouflaging nanoparticles surface with biological molecules/cells like immunocytes,erythrocytes,platelets,glioma cell lysate and/or integrating these strategies to get hybrid membrane for homotypic recognition.These biomimetic nanotherapy offers advantages over conventional nanoparticles,focusing on greater target specificity,increased circulation stability,higher active loading capacity,BBB permeability(inherent inflammatory chemotaxis of neutrophils),decreased immunogenicity,efficient metabolism-based combinatorial effects,and prevention of tumor recurrence by induction of immunological memory,etc.provide new age of improved immunotherapies outcomes against HGGs and BM.In this review,we emphasize on neuro-immunotherapy and the versatility of these biomimetic nano-delivery strategies for precise targeting of hard-to-treat andmost lethal HGGs and BM.Moreover,the challenges impeding the clinical translatability of these approaches were addressed to unmet medical needs of brain cancers.
文摘The analysis of combining ability and heterosis is very important in enhancing the yield and oil quality of sunflowers under adverse conditions,and it reveals the potential of the parents and the mechanism of gene action.In this study,twenty-one hybrids were developed by crossing seven cytoplasmic male sterile(CMS)lines with three restorer lines and evaluated for agronomic and quality traits.Highly significant general combining ability(GCA)and specific combining ability(SCA)effects were observed,confirming the role of both additive and non-additive gene actions.Among the tested crosses,A-42×R-86,A-92×R-86,and A-92×R-114 exhibited the greatest heterotic advantage,with seed yields exceeding 340 kg ha^(−1) over the better parent,oil contents above 19%,and 100-seed weights greater than 27 g.The hybrid A-92×R-114 was particularly notable for its elevated oleic acid level and balanced fatty acid profile,making it a strong candidate for premium oilseed production.In contrast,hybrids like A-20×R-39 exhibited moderate heterosis and less quality superiority.The oleic-to-linoleic acid ratio,a key determinant of oil stability,was strongly controlled by genetic factors.Oil content was largely influenced by additive effects,whereas yield heterosis was predominantly governed by non-additive effects.Overall,A-42×R-86 and A-92×R-114 emerged as the most promising hybrids,combining yield benefits with improved oil quality,and offering practical guidance for parental selection in sunflower breeding programs.
文摘Grasslands are among the largest terrestrial ecosystems,offering critical ecological,economic,and cultural services worldwide(Bardgett et al.2021;Wang et al.2022).However,they face unprecedented challenges due to climate change,overgrazing,and land-use change,which threaten their biodiversity,carbon sequestration potential,and the human livelihoods they support(Zhou et al.2023;Straffelini et al.2024).Despite the implementation of various management strategies,gaps remain in understanding the intricate dynamics of grassland ecosystems,their key drivers,and the most effective adaptive management practices(Li et al.2022).
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41271267)
文摘The occurrence of nitri?cation in some acidic forest soils is still a subject of debate.Identi?cation of main nitri?cation pathways in acidic forest soils is still largely unknown.Acidic yellow soil(Oxisol) samples were selected to test whether nitri?cation can occur or not in acidic subtropical pine forest ecosystems.Relative contributions of autotrophs and heterotrophs to nitri?cation were studied by adding selective nitri?cation inhibitor nitrapyrin.Soil NH^+_4-N concentrations decreased,but NO^-_3-N concentrations increased signi?cantly for the no-nitrapyrin control during the ?rst week of incubation,indicating that nitri?cation did occur in the acidic subtropical soil.The calculated net nitri?cation rate was 0.49 mg N kg^(-1)d^(-1)for the no-nitrapyrin control during the ?rst week of incubation.Nitrapyrin amendment resulted in a signi?cant reduction of NO^-_3-N concentration.Autotrophic nitri?cation rate averaged0.28 mg N kg^(-1)d^(-1)and the heterotrophic nitri?cation rate was 0.21 mg N kg^(-1)d^(-1)in the ?rst week.Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB) abundance increased slightly during incubation,but nitrapyrin amendment signi?cantly decreased AOB amo A gene copy numbers by about 80%.However,the ammonia-oxidizing archaea(AOA) abundance showed signi?cant increases only in the last 2weeks of incubation and it was also decreased by nitrapyrin amendment.Our results indicated that nitri?cation did occur in the present acidic subtropical pine forest soil,and autotrophic nitri?cation was the main nitri?cation pathway.Both AOA and AOB were the active biotic agents responsible for autotrophic nitri?cation in the acidic subtropical pine forest soil.
文摘In this paper,we propose an approach for diagnostics and prognostics of damaged aircraft structures,by combing high-performance fatigue mechanics with filtering theories.Fast&accurate deterministic analyses of fatigue crack propagations are carried out,by using the Finite Element Alternating Method(FEAM)for computing SIFs,and by using the newly developed Moving Least Squares(MLS)law for computing fatigue crack growth rates.Such algorithms for simulating fatigue crack propagations are embedded in the computer program Safe-Flaw,which is called upon as a subroutine within the probabilistic framework of filter theories.Both the extended Kalman as well as particle filters are applied in this study,to obtain the statistically optimal and semi-optimal estimates of crack lengths,from a series of noisy measurements of crack-lengths over time.For the specific problem,a simple modification to the particle filter,which can drastically reduce the computational burden,is also proposed.Based on the results of such diagnostic analyses,the prognostics of aerospace structures are thereafter achieved,to estimate the probabilistic distribution of the remaining useful life.By using a simple example of a single-crack near a fastener hole,we demonstrate the concept and effectiveness of the proposed framework.This paper thus forms the scientific foundation for the recently proposed concepts of VRAMS(Virtual Risk-Informed Agile Maneuver Sustainment)and Digital Twins of aerospace vehicles.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41601533 and U1401234)the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation(No.2017A030313241)
文摘Pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of water management,namely continuous flooding(CF),intermittent flooding(IF)and non-flooding(NF),on Cd phytoavailaility in three paddy soils that differed in p H and in Cd concentrations.Diffusive gradients in thin films(DGT)technique was employed to monitor soil labile Cd and Fe concentrations simultaneously at three growth stages(tillering,heading and mature stage)of rice.The Cd phytoavailability were generally in the order of NF>IF>CF,and higher rice Cd(over permitted level,0.2 mg/kg)were only found in neutral and acidic soils under NF conditions.DGT measured soil labile Cd rather than total Cd was the most reliable predictor for Cd accumulation in rice.CF enhanced the formation of root plaques,which related to oxidation of large quantities of available Fe on root surfaces due to the O2 secretion of rice root.The Cd concentration in root plaques shared the same trend with DGT-Cd.Generally,root plaques would inhibit Cd uptake by rice under CF conditions,while under IF and NF conditions,root plaques act as a temporarily store of Cd,and soil labile Cd is the key factor that controls the transfer of Cd from soil to rice.The results of principle component analysis revealed that water management had the greatest effect on soil Cd lability and rice Cd in acidic soil.Thus,it is important to consider the availability of Cd and soil p H when assessing current agricultural practices of contaminated soil in China.
文摘The study was to determine the long-term effects of subtropical monoculture and rotational cropping systems and fertilization on soil enzyme activities and soil C, N, and P levels. Cropping systems included continuous sorghum(Sorghum bicolor L.), cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.), corn(Zea mays L.), and cotton/sorghum rotations after 26 years of treatment imposition. Soil under continuous sorghum and continuous corn had 15% and 11%, respectively, greater C concentrations than soil under continuous cotton.Organic C was 10% higher at 0–7.5 cm than at 7.5–15 cm. Total N followed similar trends with soil depth as organic C. Continuous sorghum had 19% higher total N than other crop species and rotations. With fertilization, continuous cotton had the highest total P at 0–7.5 cm and sorghum had the highest at 7.5–15 cm. Soil total P was 14% higher at 0–7.5 than at 7.5–15 cm, and fertilization increased 15% total P compared to unfertilized soil. Arylsulfatase, alkaline phosphatase, and β-d-glucosidase activity were the highest for sorghum and the lowest for cotton. Rotation increased enzyme activities compared to continuous cotton but not for continuous sorghum. Of all crop species and rotations, continuous cotton generally showed the lowest levels of organic matter and enzyme activities after 26 years. Fertilization significantly increased the yields for all cropping systems, but rotation had no significant effect on either sorghum or cotton lint yield compared to each crop grown in monoculture. Long-term cropping did not increase soil organic matter levels beyond short-term gains, indicating the difficulty in promoting C sequestration in subtropical soils.
基金financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation for Young Scientists of China(Grant No.51608531)
文摘Increasing energy consumption in the transportation sector results in challenging greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions and environmental problems.This paper involved integrated assessments on GHG emissions and emergy of the life cycle for the internal combustion engine(ICE)and electric automobiles in the USA over the entire assumed fifteen-year lifetime.The hotspots of GHG emissions as well as emergy indices for the major processes of automobile life cycle within the defined system boundaries have been investigated.The potential strategies for reducing GHG emissions and emergy in the life cycle of both ICE and electric automobiles were further proposed.Based on the current results,the total GHG emissions from the life cycle of ICE automobiles are 4.48 E+07 kg CO2-e which is320 times higher than that of the electric automobiles.The hotspot area of the GHG emissions from ICE and electric automobiles are operation phase and manufacturing process,respectively.Interesting results were observed that comparable total emergy of the ICE automobiles and electric automobiles have been calculated which were 1.54 E+17 and 2.20 E+17 sej,respectively.Analysis on emergy index evidenced a better environmental sustainability of electric automobiles than ICE automobiles over the life cycle due to its higher ESI.To the authors’knowledge,it is the first time to integrate the analysis of GHG emissions together with emergy in industrial area of automobile engineering.It is expected that the integration of emergy and GHG emissions analysis may provide a comprehensive perspective on eco-industrial sustainability of automobile engineering.
基金supported by a research grant funded by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology(PE99722)supported by Soonchunhyang University Research Fund.
文摘Objective:To investigate the antioxidant and anti-melanogenesis activities of an ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber,Stichopus japonicus,collected from Jeju Island.Methods:Antioxidant activity experiments were assessed by an electron spin resonance system and a cellular model of immortalized human keratinocytes(HaCaT)to determine its radical scavenging activity and protective effects against 2,2’-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride(AAPH)-induced oxidative stress.Antimelanogenic activity of the ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber was also examined using the melanoma cell model B16F10 and mushroom tyrosinase.Following the induction byα-melanocytestimulating hormone,the effects of the ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber on intracellular tyrosinase activity,melanin content and the melanogenic protein expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor,tyrosinase,and tyrosinase-related proteins(TRP-1,and TRP-2)were examined.Results:The ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber significantly scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and alkyl radicals[IC50:(0.924±0.035)and(0.327±0.006)mg/mL,respectively],as well as showed a protective effect against oxidative stress and attenuated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species on AAPHinduced HaCaT cells,with no cytotoxicity(12.5-400μg/mL).The ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber also exhibited a tyrosinase inhibitory effect[IC50:(2.750±0.006)mg/mL].Onα-melanocytestimulating hormone-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells,the ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber(25-200μg/mL)significantly inhibited not only melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity,but also protein expressions of microphthalmia-associated transcriptional factor,tyrosinase,TRP-1,and TRP-2.Conclusions:The ultrasonic extract of red sea cucumber shows antioxidant and anti-melanogenic potential and may be a natural candidate for anti-aging as well as a whitening agent in the cosmeceuticals industry.
基金Supported by the Special Fund for Young and Middle-aged Academic Technology Leaders and Reserve Talents of Yunnan Province (No.202005AC160021)the Famous Doctor of Yun Ling (No.YNWR-MY-2020-088)。
文摘·AIM:To evaluate the effect of 0.05%atropine on the control of myopia for 2y(phase I)and on spherical equivalent refraction(SER)progression for 1y(phase II)after its withdrawal in Chinese myopic children.·METHODS:Totally 142 children with myopia were randomly assigned to the 0.05%atropine group or to the placebo group.In phase I,children received 1 treatment for each eye daily.In phase II,the patients received no treatment.Axial length(AL),SER,intraocular pressure(IOP)and atropine-related side effects were assessed at 6 months’intervals.·RESULTS:During phase I,the mean change of SER was-0.46±0.30 D in the atropine group,compared to-1.72±1.12 D in the placebo group(P<0.001).The mean change of AL in the atropine group(0.26±0.30 mm)was significantly shorter than that in the placebo group(0.76±0.62 mm,P=0.002).In addition,in phase II(12mo after the withdrawal of atropine),there was no significant difference in AL change from the atropine group,when compared with that from the placebo group(0.31±0.25 mm vs 0.28±0.26 mm,P>0.05).Furthermore,the change in SER from the atropine group was 0.50±0.41 D,which was significantly lower than 0.72±0.60 D from placebo group,(P<0.05).Finally,there were no statistically significant differences in IOP between the treatment and control groups at any stages(all P>0.05).·CONCLUSION:The use of 0.05%atropine for two consecutive years may effectively control elongation of AL and thus progression of myopia,without significant SER progression 1y after atropine withdrawal.Therefore,treatment with 0.05%atropine daily for 2y is effective and safe.
基金supported in parts by the research grants from the University of Malaya,Malaysia,under the Research University grant(RU002-2019)the UMCoE Top 100 Research Grant(UM.00000188/HGA.GV)
文摘Enterococcus(E.)faecium is recognized as a leading cause of nosocomial infections worldwide.Infection with the organism is often difficult to treat due to its inherent ability to acquire glycopeptide resistance genes and other virulence genes[1].
文摘Diesel fuel combustion results in exhaust containing air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.Many railway vehicles use diesel fuel as their energy source.Exhaust emissions,as well as concerns about economical,alternative power supply,have driven efforts to move to hydrogen motive power.Hydrogen fuel cell technology applied to railways offers the opportunity to eliminate harmful exhaust emissions and the potential for a low-or zero-emission energy supply chain.Currently,only multiple-unit trains with hydrail technology operate commercially.Development of an Integrated Hybrid Train Simulator for intercity railway is presented.The proposed tool incorporates the effect of powertrain components during the wheel-to-tank process.Compared to its predecessors,the proposed reconfigurable tool provides high fidelity with medium requirements and minimum computation time.Single train simulation and the federal government’s Greenhouse gases,Regulated Emissions,and Energy use in Transportation(GREET)model are used in combination to evaluate the feasibility of various train and powertrain configurations.The Piedmont intercity service operating in North Carolina is used as a case study.The study includes six train configurations and powertrain options as well as nine hydrogen supply options in addition to the diesel supply.The results show that a hydrail option is not only feasible,but a low-or zero-carbon hydrogen supply chain could be possible.
文摘A double optimal solution of an n-dimensional system of linear equations Ax=b has been derived in an affine m-dimensional Krylov subspace with m <<n.We further develop a double optimal iterative algorithm(DOIA),with the descent direction z being solved from the residual equation Az=r0 by using its double optimal solution,to solve ill-posed linear problem under large noise.The DOIA is proven to be absolutely convergent step-by-step with the square residual error ||r||^2=||b-Ax||^2 being reduced by a positive quantity ||Azk||^2 at each iteration step,which is found to be better than those algorithms based on the minimization of the square residual error in an m-dimensional Krylov subspace.In order to tackle the ill-posed linear problem under a large noise,we also propose a novel double optimal regularization algorithm(DORA)to solve it,which is an improvement of the Tikhonov regularization method.Some numerical tests reveal the high performance of DOIA and DORA against large noise.These methods are of use in the ill-posed problems of structural health-monitoring.
基金The work was supported by the NOVOD board to carry out the research project on biofuel.
文摘Sixteen pongamia families were evaluated in a field experiment for eight consecutive years in dryland conditions to identify stable,high-yielding families.The trial was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications.Each family,consisting of nine trees per replication,was planted at a spacing of3 m x 3 m.Yield stability was analyzed using(1)Eberhart and Russel’s regression coefficient(β_i)and deviation from regression(S_d^2),(2)Wrike’s ecovalence(W_i);(3)Shukla stability variance(σ_i^2);and(4)Piepho and Lotito’s stability index(L_i).Families were also analyzed for adaptability and stability using AMMI and GGE biplots graphical methods.The study revealed significant variances due to family and family x year interaction for pod and seed yield.Families performed differently and ranked differently across years.The performance of families was influenced by both genetic factor and environmental conditions in different years.Among families tested,TNMP20,Acc14,TNMP14 and Acc30 were high yielders for pods,and Acc14,Acc30,TNMP6,RAK19 and TNMP14 were high for seed yield.According to the Eberhart and Russell model,Acc30,TNMP14 and TNMP3 were stable across years.In the graphical view of family x year interaction based on AMMI methods,TNMP3,TNMP4 and TNMP14 had greater stability with moderate seed yield,and Acc14 and Acc30 had moderate stability with high seed yield.On the other hand,GGE biplots revealed Acc14,Acc30 and TNMP14 as high yielders with moderate stability.AMMI and GGE biplots were able to capture nonlinear parts of the family x year interaction that were not be captured by the Eberhart and Russel model while also identifying stable families.Based on different methodologies,Acc14,Acc30 and TNMP14 were identified as high yielding and stable families for promoting pongamia cultivation as a biofuel crop for semi-arid regions.
基金funded by the National Science Foundation of China(No.42077035)。
文摘Dear Editor,Nitrification,the only process linking the oxidation and reduction of N in natural ecosystems,plays a vital role in maintaining global N equilibrium.Ammonia oxidation is the first and rate-limiting step of aerobic nitrification and is performed by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB).
文摘The current pandemic SARS-CoV-2(also known as 2019-nCoV and COVID-19)viral infection is growing globally and has created a disastrous situation all over the world.One of the biggest challenges is that no drugs are available to treat this life-threatening disease.As no drugs are available for definitive treatment of this disease and the mortality rate is very high,there is an utmost need to cure the infection using novel technologies.This study will point out some new antimicrobial technologies that have great potentials for eradicating and preventing emerging infections.They can be considered as treatments of choice for viral infections in the future.
基金This study was supported in parts by the research grants from the Ministry of Higher Education,Malaysia for niche area research(Vector:rodents)under the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence(HICoE)program(MO002-2019)the University of Malaya,under the Research University grants(RU005-2020 and RU002-2019)the UMCoE Top 100 Research Grant(UM.00000188/HGA.GV).
文摘Rodents such as Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus have adapted to living close to human settlements[1].This presents a public health challenge as these rodents are considered as pests that can transmit a number of zoonotic diseases to humans[1,2].A rodent surveillance programme was initiated between the years 2014 and 2015,focusing on rodents captured at wet markets where there is abundant food and considerable human traffic.The present study was conducted in several wet markets in Kuala Terengganu,Malaysia(5.3333°N,103.1500°E).
