The cell cycle and the transcriptome dynamics of yeast exposed to extracellular self-DNA during an aerobic batch culture on glucose have been investigated using cytofluorimetric and RNA-seq analyses. In parallel, the same study was conducted on yeast cells growing in the presence of (heterologous) nonself-DNA. The self-DNA treatment determined a reduction in the growth rate and a major elongation of the diauxic lag phase, as well as a significant delay in the achievement of the stationary phase. This was associated with significant changes in the cell cycle dynamics, with slower exit from the G0 phase, followed by an increased level of cell percentage in the S phase, during the cultivation. Comparatively, the exposure to heterologous DNA did not affect the growth curve and the cell cycle dynamics. The transcriptomic analysis showed that self-DNA exposure produced a generalized downregulation of transmembrane transport and an upregulation of genes associated with sulfur compounds and the pentose phosphate pathway. Instead, in the case of the nonself treatment, a clear response to nutrient deprivation was detected. Overall, the presented findings represent further insights into the complex functional mechanisms of self-DNA inhibition. Full article

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for virus handling has the side effect of heat stress, which requires intervention to improve. This study aimed to evaluate the comfort of a newly designed PPE ensemble for virus handling. Three types of PPE ensembles were tested: reg-ular PPE as a control, PPE plus breathable cooling wear (cooling wear), and PPE plus a portable airflow cooling device (cooling device). Twelve participants simulated six activities, including physical activities, activities requiring concentration, and manual dexterity activities, for one hour. The microclimate conditions, perceived discomfort, and physiological responses were measured after each experimental activity. The results show that the use of cooling wear and a cooling device had a significant effect on the microclimate conditions, perceived comfort, and physiological responses of users, proving superior to the use of regular PPE. A cooling device can improve the microclimate more than cooling wear, thereby directly increasing perceived comfort and decreasing physiological responses. It can be concluded that the use of cooling wear and a cooling device effectively increases the comfort of wearing PPE. The cooling device is more suitable for use in tropical climates with hot and humid characteristics, so it is a better choice than cooling wear. Full article

The oral health-related quality of life of pregnant women and its effects on health conditions are important topics to be investigated in scientific research. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of pre-pregnancy obesity on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in pregnant women. A prospective cohort study was carried out with 93 pregnant women who were evaluated in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy (T1) and after delivery (T2). The following were analyzed: dental caries (DMFT), OHRQoL (OHIP-14), anthropometric data (BMI), socioeconomic, demographic, oral hygiene behavioral habits and the use of dental services. Unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression analyses were performed to determine the impact of predictors on OHRQoL. The results of the adjusted analysis showed lower education relative risk (RR) (1.37; 95%CI 1.02–1.83; <0.00), low income (RR 2.19; 95%CI 1.63–2.93; <0.00) and higher BMI pre-pregnancy (RR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01–1.04; <0.00) were associated with worse OHRQoL in postpartum pregnant women. Flossing was a predictor of better OHRQoL at T2 (RR 0.73; 95%CI 0.57–0.93; <0.01). Higher BMI, low education, low income and inadequate oral hygiene habits were predictors of worse OHRQOL of pregnant women after the birth of the baby. Full article

Although research on land use transitions has gradually received widespread attention since its introduction to China at the beginning of the new millennium, the lack of a clear portrayal of the transitional characteristics and pathways of land use at the theoretical level has prevented this research from providing adequate support for the regulation and management of rural land use activities. This study aims to bridge this research gap from a functional perspective, since the transition of land system functions—also known as land use functions—heralds the completion of a regional land use transition. The methods employed included a literature review and theoretical analysis. The results show the following: (1) the relationships between land use morphology, land use multifunctionality, and land use functions transition (LUFT) were identified; (2) the connotation of the multifunctional agriculture transition theory was analyzed, and the applicability and limitations of drawing on the theory for researching the transition of land use functions in rural China elucidated; (3) a method for characterizing LUFT is proposed from the “state” and “quality”; (4) a theoretical framework for the LUFT was constructed and anchored in transition theory; and (5) it was summarized that there are three transitional pathways: weak-strong, strong-weak, and dynamic balance. In conclusion, while theories originating from the West can provide references for Chinese research, the significant difference between their socio-economic backgrounds necessitates reconstructing these theories in the light of the actual situation in rural China. The theoretical construction of land use transitions from a functional perspective can more clearly delineate the process, the trend, and the characteristics of the transitions of rural land use, thus offering valuable insights for the regulation and management of land use. Full article

Three new cyclic lipopeptides, olenamidonins A-C (1–3), in addition to two previously reported metabolites (4 and 5), were accumulated in the ΔdtxR_so deletion mutant of deepsea-derived Streptomyces olivaceus SCSIO 1071. The structures of these cyclic lipopeptides were determined by a combination of spectroscopic methods and circular dichroism (CD) measurement. The antibacterial assay results showed that compounds 1–5 displayed different degrees of growth inhibition against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains Enterococcus faecalis CCARM 5172 and Enterococcus faecium CCARM 5203 with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1.56−6.25 μg/mL. Full article

In recent years, there has been a significant uptick in the integration of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) into the power grid, driven by the global shift toward renewable energy sources. The Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) has developed standardized models for these inverters to facilitate their representation in system studies, playing a crucial role in evaluating IBRs, especially those modeled as grid-following inverters (GFLs). However, with the increasing prevalence of IBRs, the adjustment of grid interaction between grid-forming inverters (GFMs) and GFLs should be considered in terms of frequency stability assessment. This study investigates the optimization of synchronous generators and IBR operations in more detail. The IBR operation is evaluated with considerations for ratio and penetration. The findings suggest that with over 50% IBR penetration, GFL capacity should be reduced, and GFM capacity should be over 35% of IBR to maintain grid frequency stability. Moreover, this study also explains advanced prediction of frequency nadir, particularly the optimal ratio of WECC generic and GFM through the least squares method. Furthermore, the small-signal dynamic characteristics of WECC are studied at various gain values to investigate frequency droop control. Full article

This study evaluated the performance of remote sensing (RS) algorithms for the estimation of actual maize evapotranspiration (ET_a) using different spaceborne, airborne, and proximal multispectral data in a semi-arid climate region to identify the optimal platform that provides the best ET_a estimates to improve irrigation water management and help make irrigated agriculture sustainable. The RS platforms used in the study included Landsat-8 (30 m pixel spatial resolution), Sentinel-2 (10 m), Planet CubeSat (3 m), multispectral radiometer or MSR (1 m), and a small uncrewed aerial system or sUAS (0.03 m). Two-source surface energy balance (TSEB) models, implementing the series and parallel surface resistance approaches, were used in this study to estimate hourly maize ET_a. The data used in this study were obtained from two maize research sites in Greeley and Fort Collins, CO, USA, in 2020 and 2021. Each research site had different irrigation systems. The Greeley site had a subsurface drip system, while the Fort Collins site had surface irrigation (furrow). Maize ET_a predictions were compared to observed maize ET_a data from an eddy covariance system installed at each research site. Results indicated that the MSR5 proximal platform (1 m) provided optimal RS data for the TSEB algorithms. The MSR5 “point-based” nadir-looking surface reflectance data and surface radiometric temperature combination resulted in the smallest error when predicting hourly (mm/h) maize ET_a. The mean bias and root mean square errors (MBE and RMSE, respectively), when predicting maize hourly ET_a using the MSR5 sensor data, were equal to −0.02 (−3%) ± 0.07 (11%) mm/h MBE ± RMSE and −0.02 (−3%) ± 0.09 (14%) mm/h for the TSEB parallel and series approaches, respectively. The poorest performance, when predicting hourly TSEB maize ET_a, was from Landsat-8 (30 m) multispectral data combined with its original thermal data, since the errors were −0.03 (−5%) ± 0.16 (29%) mm/h and −0.07 (−13%) ± 0.15 (29%) mm/h for the TSEB parallel and series approaches, respectively. These results indicate the need to develop methods to improve the quality of the RS data from sub-optimal platforms/sensors/scales/calibration to further advance sustainable irrigation water management. Full article

The anti-inflammatory effects of supernatants produced from sprouted barley inoculated with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KCTC3104 (Lp), Leuconostoc mesenteroides KCTC3530 (Lm), Latilactobacillus curvatus KCTC3767 (Lc), or a mixture of these lactic acid bacteria were investigated using RAW264.7 macrophages. BLp and BLc, the lyophilized supernatants of fermented sprouted barley inoculated with Lp and Lc, respectively, effectively reduced the nitric oxide (NO) levels hypersecreted by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 and LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cells. BLp and BLc effectively reduced the NO levels in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, and these effects tended to be concentration-dependent. BLc and BLp also exhibited strong DPPH radical scavenging activity and immunostimulatory effects. BLp and BLc significantly suppressed the levels of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cells, indicating their anti-inflammatory effects. These effects were greater than those of unfermented barley sprout (Bs). The functional components of Bs, BLp, and BLc were analyzed by HPLC, and it was found that lutonarin and saponarin were significantly increased in the fermented sprouted barley sample inoculated with Lp and Lc (BLp and BLc). Full article

The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among Enterobacteriaceae pose significant threats to global public health. In this study, we conducted a short-term surveillance effort in Southern Thailand hospitals to characterize the genomic diversity, AMR profiles, and virulence factors of Enterobacteriaceae strains. We identified 241 carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, of which 12 were selected for whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and genome analysis. The strains included Proteus mirabilis, Serratia nevei, Klebsiella variicola, Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella indica, Klebsiella grimontii, Phytobacter ursingii, Phytobacter palmae, Kosakonia spp., and Citrobacter freundii. The strains exhibited high levels of multidrug resistance, including resistance to carbapenem antibiotics. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a diverse array of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), with strains carrying genes for ß-lactamase, efflux pumps, and resistance to other antibiotic classes. Additionally, stress response, metal tolerance, and virulence-associated genes were identified, highlighting the adaptability and pathogenic potential of these strains. A plasmid analysis identified several plasmid replicons, including IncA/C2, IncFIB(K), and Col440I, as well as several plasmids identical to those found globally, indicating the potential for the horizontal gene transfer of ARGs. Importantly, this study also identified a novel species of Kosakonia spp. PSU27, adding to the understanding of the genetic diversity and resistance mechanisms of Enterobacteriaceae in Southern Thailand. The results reported in this study highlight the critical importance of implementing effective antimicrobial management programs and developing innovative treatment approaches to urgently tackle AMR. Full article

To address collision challenges between multi-UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) during obstacle avoidance, a novel formation control method is proposed. Leveraging the concept of APF (artificial potential field), the proposed approach integrates UAV maneuver constraints with a consensus formation control algorithm, optimizing UAV velocities through the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The optimal consensus control algorithm is then employed to achieve the optimal convergence rate of the UAV formation. To mitigate the limitations of traditional APF, a collinear force deflection angle is introduced, along with an obstacle avoidance method aimed at preventing UAVs from being trapped in locally optimal solutions. Additionally, an obstacle avoidance algorithm based on virtual force fields between UAVs is designed. Comparative analysis against the basic algorithm demonstrates the effectiveness of the designed optimal consensus algorithm in improving formation convergence performance. Moreover, the improved APF resolves local optimal solution issues, enabling UAVs to effectively navigate around obstacles. Simulation results validate the efficacy of this method in achieving multi-UAV formation control while effectively avoiding obstacles. Full article

The current development of prosumer microsources and the expected spread of electric vehicles may cause the appearance of significant current and voltage unbalance in low-voltage (LV) networks. This unbalance, which is an unfavorable phenomenon, may occur when using single-phase photovoltaic (PV) microsources and single-phase home chargers for electric vehicles. This paper presents a proposal for the symmetrization of the LV network using devices for the reconfiguration of phases in the power supply. Both the different locations of these devices and the different objective functions for device implementation are analyzed. The research was carried out on an example LV network, taking into account several variants of the development of PV microsources and home chargers for electric vehicles. The analysis indicates that the appropriate location of phase reconfiguration devices and the use of an appropriate objective function leads to a significant reduction in unfavorable unbalancing in the LV network. Full article

Radiologic reconstruction technology allows the wide use of three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) images in thoracic surgery. A minimally invasive surgery has become one of the standard therapies in thoracic surgery, and therefore, the need for preoperative and intraoperative simulations has increased. Three-dimensional CT images have been extensively used, and various types of software have been developed to reconstruct 3D-CT images for surgical simulation worldwide. Several software types have been commercialized and widely used by not only radiologists and technicians, but also thoracic surgeons. Three-dimensional CT images are helpful surgical guides; however, in almost all cases, they provide only static images, different from the intraoperative views. Lungs are soft and variable organs that can easily change shape by intraoperative inflation/deflation and surgical procedures. To address this issue, we have developed a novel software called the Resection Process Map (RPM), which creates variable virtual 3D images. Herein, we introduce the RPM and its development by tracking the history of 3D CT imaging in thoracic surgery. The RPM could help develop a real-time and accurate surgical navigation system for thoracic surgery. Full article

In fair-skinned populations worldwide, skin cancer is a serious public health threat. A significant percentage of all reported occupational diseases fall back on skin cancer. Over the past few decades, there has been a rise in the frequency of skin cancer diagnoses among outdoor workers. The main cause of non-melanoma skin cancer is solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which is also the most common occupational carcinogenic exposure in terms of the number of exposed workers (i.e., outdoor workers). Sun protection—and concomitantly the prevention of occupational skin cancer—is a component of workplace safety. The risks of solar UVR exposure at work are often disregarded in practice, despite the recent recognition of the need for measures to support outdoor workers’ sun protection behavior. It is anticipated that occupational dermatology will become increasingly focused on sun safety in the coming decades. To handle current hurdles in a sustainable manner, the full range of preventive measures should be utilized. Existing strategies for the prevention of occupational skin cancer might be evolved and enriched by new (educational) concepts, methods, and/or technologies. In this, not only components of general prevention and individual prevention but also setting-based prevention and behavior-based prevention might be freshly thought through. Full article

L-theanine, a unique non-protein amino acid, is an important bioactive component of green tea. Previous studies have shown that L-theanine has many potent health benefits, such as anti-anxiety effects, regulation of the immune response, relaxing neural tension, and reducing oxidative damage. However, little is known concerning whether L-theanine can improve the clearance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage in organisms. Here, we reported that L-theanine treatment increased ATP production and improved mitochondrial morphology to extend the lifespan of UVC-exposed nematodes. Mechanistic investigations showed that L-theanine treatment enhanced the removal of mtDNA damage and extended lifespan by activating autophagy, mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics, and mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^mt) in UVC-exposed nematodes. In addition, L-theanine treatment also upregulated the expression of genes related to mitochondrial energy metabolism in UVC-exposed nematodes. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the possibility that tea drinking may prevent mitochondrial-related diseases. Full article

The integration of cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and machine learning (ML) has the potential to significantly enhance the productivity and profitability of traditional fish farming. Farmers using traditional fish farming methods incur enormous economic costs owing to labor-intensive schedule monitoring and care, illnesses, and sudden fish deaths. Another ongoing issue is automated fish species recommendation based on water quality. On the one hand, the effective monitoring of abrupt changes in water quality may minimize the daily operating costs and boost fish productivity, while an accurate automatic fish recommender may aid the farmer in selecting profitable fish species for farming. In this paper, we present AquaBot, an IoT-based system that can automatically collect, monitor, and evaluate the water quality and recommend appropriate fish to farm depending on the values of various water quality indicators. A mobile robot has been designed to collect parameter values such as the pH, temperature, and turbidity from all around the pond. To facilitate monitoring, we have developed web and mobile interfaces. For the analysis and recommendation of suitable fish based on water quality, we have trained and tested several ML algorithms, such as the proposed custom ensemble model, random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), logistic regression (LR), bagging, boosting, and stacking, on a real-time pond water dataset. The dataset has been preprocessed with feature scaling and dataset balancing. We have evaluated the algorithms based on several performance metrics. In our experiment, our proposed ensemble model has delivered the best result, with 94% accuracy, 94% precision, 94% recall, a 94% F1-score, 93% MCC, and the best AUC score for multi-class classification. Finally, we have deployed the best-performing model in a web interface to provide cultivators with recommendations for suitable fish farming. Our proposed system is projected to not only boost production and save money but also reduce the time and intensity of the producer’s manual labor. Full article

As the quality of public space has become significant for urban development, the creation of high-quality public spaces is becoming increasingly important. Since the implementation of urban renewal policies, an increasing number of buildings have emerged, creating new types of public spaces. Compared to original public spaces, new public spaces are more open, flexible, and diverse. The design of public spaces is closely related to users and the flâneur can precisely serve as a user and observer to conduct in-depth research. So, our study was conducted under the identity of the flâneur, focusing on two cases in Guangzhou. The flâneur completes the data collection through two methods. Static research involves observing and taking photos, whereas dynamic research involves interviews and questionnaires. This study analysed three aspects: the group category, behavioural diversity, and activity time and evaluated the public space using the NPS scale. The study found that the recommendation rate of new urban public spaces is higher than that of original public spaces. The study also found that original public spaces need to be improved in four ways: equipping furniture facilities, improving traffic congestion, increasing blue-green spaces, and establishing artistic spaces. New urban public spaces need to make efforts to create more interactive spaces and increase stagnation points. Full article

Local agri-food disruptive innovations are becoming increasingly crucial for the transformation of agri-food regimes towards sustainability. This study incorporates a systemic approach to explore the relevance of various capacities available at the city region level to prepare, initiate, and lead a change in the sustainability trajectory of local agri-food systems. It explores the city of Valdivia, Chile, which has a large movement of sustainable cooperatives and diverse disruptive private and public agri-food initiatives that are challenging the deep free-market economic and social model with an agro-exporting, competitive, and centralist focus. Through the systemic approach of sustainability transition studies, themes of emergence and development of local agri-food transition processes are being developed, and the findings are linked to studies of social movements and the social and solidarity economy. Full article

Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder frequently observed in the pediatric population, and, due to advancements in genetic techniques, an increasing number of genes have been associated with this disorder. In genetic conditions, chorea may be the primary feature of the disorder, or be part of a more complex phenotype characterized by epileptic encephalopathy or a multisystemic syndrome. Moreover, it can appear as a persistent disorder (chronic chorea) or have an episodic course (paroxysmal chorea). Managing chorea in childhood presents challenges due to its varied clinical presentation, often involving a spectrum of hyperkinetic movement disorders alongside neuropsychiatric and multisystemic manifestations. Furthermore, during infancy and early childhood, transient motor phenomena resembling chorea occurring due to the rapid nervous system development during this period can complicate the diagnosis. This review aims to provide an overview of the main genetic causes of pediatric chorea that may manifest during infancy and early childhood, focusing on peculiarities that can aid in differential diagnosis among different phenotypes and discussing possible treatment options. Full article

Research into bird habitat selection can unveil the impact of specific habitat characteristics on bird survival. However, empirical information on the environmental factor preferences and differences within the yew ecological garden for birds is still lacking. This study was conducted in a yew ecological garden located in the southern experimental area of the Meihua Mountain National Nature Reserve, Fujian Province, China. We selected three commonly occurring bird species for analysis to discern the factors influencing habitat selection and interspecific differences and the impact of habitat environmental factors. Canopy density and coverage were identified as dominant factors influencing habitat selection for the Red-billed Blue Magpie (Urocissa erythrorhyncha), Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus), and Orange-bellied Leafbird (Chloropsis hardwickii). The height of perching trees, average tree height, and average diameter at breast height were all important determinants for the habitat selection of Red-billed Blue Magpie and Black Bulbul. These dominant factors were consistent with logistic regression analysis results. Both one-way ANOVA and stepwise discriminant analysis revealed significant differences in habitat selection among three commonly occurring bird species. Our results provide important insights into avian habitat selection in patchy habitats, which can be used as a guideline for future conservation and habitat management. Full article

Canonical transient receptor potential channel 3 (TRPC3) is the most abundant TRPC channel in the brain and is highly expressed in all subfields of the hippocampus. Previous studies have suggested that TRPC3 channels may be involved in the hyperexcitability of hippocampal pyramidal neurons and seizures. Genetic ablation of TRPC3 channel expression reduced the intensity of pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE). However, the underlying cellular mechanisms remain unexplored and the contribution of TRPC3 channels to SE-induced neurodegeneration is not determined. In this study, we investigated the contribution of TRPC3 channels to the electrophysiological properties of hippocampal pyramidal neurons and hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and the contribution of TRPC3 channels to seizure-induced neuronal cell death. We found that genetic ablation of TRPC3 expression did not alter basic electrophysiological properties of hippocampal pyramidal neurons and had a complex impact on epileptiform bursting in CA3. However, TRPC3 channels contribute significantly to long-term potentiation in CA1 and SE-induced neurodegeneration. Our results provided further support for therapeutic potential of TRPC3 inhibitors and raised new questions that need to be answered by future studies. Full article

In this study, we propose a polarized electron blocking layer (EBL) structure using Al_xGa_1−xN/Al_xGa_1−xN to enhance the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of AlGaN-based ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs). Our findings indicate that this polarized EBL structure significantly improves IQE compared to conventional EBLs. Additionally, we introduce an electric-field reservoir (EFR) optimization method to maximize IQE. Specifically, optimizing the polarized EBL structure of Al_xGa_1−xN/Al_xGa_1−xN enhances the hole drift rate, resulting in an IQE improvement of 19% and an optical output power increase of 186 mW at a current of 210 mA. Full article

Bisphenol-A (BPA), a synthetic compound ubiquitously present in the environment, can act as an endocrine disruptor by binding to both canonical and non-canonical estrogen receptors (ERs). Exposure to BPA has been linked to various cancers, in particular, those arising in hormone-targeted tissues such as the breast. In this study, we evaluated the effect of BPA intake through drinking water on ErbB2/neu-driven cancerogenesis in BALB–neuT mice, transgenic for a mutated ErbB2/neu receptor gene, which reproducibly develop carcinomas in all mammary glands. In this model, BPA accelerated mammary cancerogenesis with an increase in the number of tumors per mouse and a concurrent decrease in tumor-free and overall survival. As assessed by immunohistochemistry, BALB–neuT tumors were ER-negative but expressed high levels of the alternative estrogen receptor GPR30, regardless of BPA exposure. On the other hand, BPA exposure resulted in a marked upregulation of progesterone receptors in preinvasive tumors and of Ki67, CD31, and phosphorylated Akt in invasive tumors. Moreover, based on several infiltration markers of immune cells, BPA favored an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Finally, in vitro cell survival studies performed on a cell line established from a BALB–neuT breast carcinoma confirmed that BPA’s impact on cancer progression can be particularly relevant after chronic, low-dose exposure. Full article