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Eliminating the myth of individual penalties in environmental law: Individual penalties and pollution emission reduction before and after the revision of China’s environmental protection act
Developing countries, including China, have long focused on punishing individuals through environmental laws. This focus stems from the fact that individual penalties are increasing and pollution emissions are decreasing. However, the over-emphasis on individual punishment in environmental laws is actually a false superstition. This paper takes the 2015 revision of China’s Environmental Protection Law as the node, analyses the impact of the law revision on the intensity of individual punishment and the degree of pollution emission, and then analyses the correlation between individual punishment and pollution emission reduction. The conclusion is that there is no correlation between individual punishment and pollution emission reduction. As a result, this paper dispels the myth of individual punishment in environmental laws. With the rapid development of economy and society, China’s environmental law should stimulate enterprises, citizens and public welfare organisations to participate, so as to change the purely punitive governance into collaborative governance.
Exploring the impact of virtual reality-based mathematics learning on students’ motivation: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
It has been extensively documented that motivation plays a pivotal role in both the learning and performance of mathematics, often intersecting with various antecedents of mathematical competence, such as math anxiety and self-esteem. These factors, in turn, significantly influence the well-being of students. Therefore, it is necessary to provide learning situations that may impact students’ motivation in learning mathematics. During the digital era, studies have examined the use of technology, particularly, virtual reality-based mathematics learning in explaining the variance of students’ motivation in mathematics learning. However, the results seem to be various and a comprehensive review about the impact of virtual reality mathematics learning on students’ motivation does not seem to exist yet. This review aims to fill this knowledge gap by examining the impact of mathematics learning using virtual reality-based learning materials on students’ motivation. The literature search will be conducted across multiple bibliographic databases, including Cambridge, Oxford, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, SpringerLink. Only studies published in English, German, or Indonesian within the past seven years will be eligible for inclusion in the review. The risk of bias inherent in this review will be evaluated by two independent reviewers utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical assessment tool. Any discrepancies between the reviewers will be resolved through the third reviewer. Further, quality of evidence will be examined using The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE). A review exploring the correlation between mathematics education utilizing virtual reality and student motivation will offer educational practitioners and stakeholder’s valuable insights into the effective integration of technology-based learning resources, particularly virtual reality. The findings of this study aim to elucidate the advantages and potential drawbacks associated with the adoption of virtual reality in mathematics education, as well as identify the student and instructional material characteristics that may be associated with specific increases in motivation. This protocol has been registered in PROSPERO with registration number: CRD42023463974.
Gender roles in ruminant disease management in Uganda: Implications for the control of peste des petits ruminants and Rift Valley fever
There is a distinct division of tasks and roles between men and women in livestock management in the different ruminant production systems in Uganda. Division of roles can influence disease control and prevention. This qualitative study asks what men and women do to prevent or control diseases that affect them and their livestock and what factors influence the choice of disease control measures taken. Discussants represented three production systems (pastoral, agro-pastoral, and mixed crop livestock), selected for the high prevalence of two livestock diseases (peste des petits ruminants and Rift Valley fever). Sex-disaggregated focus group discussions with livestock keepers and key informant interviews with veterinarians and other experts were conducted in six districts in the western, northeastern, and eastern regions of Uganda. Gendered livestock management roles strategically positioned men, women, girls, and boys to observe different clinical manifestations of disease. Livestock keepers mostly reported within-farm prevention and control methods, for which they presumably had more control than between-farm or community-level methods. While livestock keepers embraced disease control options such as the use of drugs, spraying acaracides, and the use of traditional herbs, many had concerns and misconceptions about vaccination as a preventive measure. Although women had fewer concerns about vaccine side effects, they still faced constraints, such as mistrust of animal health workers, limited decision-making powers, domestic workload, and inability to access vaccination points. The study findings can guide appropriate, gender-responsive interventions tailored by production system for controlling ruminant diseases in Uganda.
Research on the impact effect of multimodal transport on domestic and international dual circulation: Evidence from China’s railway and water transport
As an important part of the modern integrated transportation system, multimodal transport can promote changes in the transportation structure and serve as a crucial lever for upgrading the logistics industry and promoting domestic and international economic and trade development. Based on panel data from 31 provinces in China from 2017 to 2023, a fixed-effects model was constructed to empirically test the mechanism and impact of multimodal transport on domestic and international dual circulation. The findings reveal that the development of multimodal transport has a positive effect on both domestic and international circulations, with a more significant impact on the latter. Specifically, waterway multimodal transport significantly promotes both circulations, while railway multimodal transport only significantly affects the domestic circulation. Furthermore, the impact of multimodal transport on domestic and international dual circulations exhibits notable regional heterogeneity, with multimodal transport in eastern regions having a stronger effect on international circulations and that in central regions having a stronger effect on domestic circulations. This paper analyzes the theory of the multimodal transport’s impact on domestic and international dual circulation, provides a practical basis and reference for further research on the development of multimodal transport in relation to domestic and international dual circulation.
A spectral Fletcher-Reeves conjugate gradient method with integrated strategy for unconstrained optimization and portfolio selection
The spectral conjugate gradient (SCG) technique is highly efficient in addressing large-scale unconstrained optimization challenges. This paper presents a structured SCG approach that combines the Quasi-Newton direction and an extended conjugacy condition. Drawing inspiration from the Fletcher-Reeves conjugate gradient (CG) parameter, this method is tailored to improve the general structure of the CG approach. We rigorously establish the global convergence of the algorithm for general functions, using criteria from a Wolfe-line search. Numerical experiments performed on some unconstrained optimization problems highlight the superiority of this new algorithm over certain CG methods with similar characteristics. In the context of portfolio selection, the proposed method extended to address the problem of stock allocation, ensuring optimized returns while minimizing risks. Empirical evaluations demonstrate the efficiency of the method, demonstrating significant improvements in computational efficiency and optimization outcomes.
Comparative study of Taqman-based qPCR assay for the detection of Anisakis simplex and Pseudoterranova decipiens
Anisakidosis is a foodborne parasitic infection caused by the consumption of raw or uncooked seafood that contains third stage larvae from the Anisakidae family. This infection has been observed across the globe, with a particularly high prevalence in South Korea and Japan. Consequently, there is a necessity to compare and analyze the optimal detection methods with a view to preventing Anisakis outbreaks. In this study, a species-specific Taqman-based qPCR method was developed for the detection of the internal transcribed spacer region and mtDNA genes of Anisakis simplex and Pseudoterranova decipiens. Parasite-specific primer/probe sets were selected based on the data from domestic and foreign detection methods. In addition, we have designed our own primer/probe sets based on the target region of each parasite. A comprehensive literature review and a self-creation process were undertaken to select thirteen detection method sets for A. simplex and P. decipiens. The sensitivity of these sets was then evaluated by comparing the Cq values from extracted DNA. The concentrations of six primer/probe sets detected through the screening process were then compared to optimize the test method. The resultant optimized method demonstrated a limit of detection of 0.0019 ng/µL for A. simplex and 0.0001 ng/µL for P. decipiens. The specificity test also confirmed that there was no cross-activity with the five parasite samples and the three types of anisakids plasmid DNA. This study would contribute development of a rapid detection method for anisakidosis, providing a foundation for proactive responses to food poisoning outbreaks.
Association between physical activity, socioeconomic status, blood biomarkers, and diet in lebanese adults
Background Inactivity is a significant contributor to non-communicable diseases. In Lebanon, the World Health Organization reported a rising prevalence of physical inactivity among adults. Various studies highlight the benefits of physical activity (PA) on health, influenced by sociodemographic factors, gender, age, and diet. This study aims to examine PA correlates in Lebanese adults, focusing on blood biomarkers. Methods This cross-sectional study included 296 adults aged ≥18 years. Participants completed a brief sociodemographic and food frequency questionnaire, underwent anthropometric measurements, and provided fasting blood samples. PA was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form and was divided into two categories: low PA corresponding to any walking activity, and moderate to vigorous PA for activities requiring physical effort. Descriptive statistics were computed for sociodemographic characteristics, BMI, waist circumference, energy intake, PA levels, and blood biomarkers. Logistic regressions were used to assess PA and blood biomarkers associations, adjusted for relevant covariates. Results Gender and marital status were associated with moderate to vigorous PA levels. No association was found between PA levels, BMI, waist circumference, diet, or blood biomarkers. Multivariate binary logistic regression analyses showed that females (OR=1.96, 95% CI: 1.16–3.31) and those with LDL moderate risk (OR=1.90, 95% CI: 1.02–3.66), and high risk (OR=2.44, 95% CI: 1.08–5.55), were more likely to show moderate-to-high PA levels. Conclusion PA was positively associated with gender and disease risk, particularly LDL, a biomarker known to jeopardize cardiovascular health. Disease risk appears to be a driving factor in performing physical activity among women. These results may guide early nutrition interventions endorsing physical activity as a preventive measure to decrease the prevalence of cardio metabolic disorders.
25(OH)D3 and F-25(OH)D as indicators of chronic kidney disease progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Salinity tolerance of Round Goby: Informing invasion potential in North American coastal watersheds
Since being introduced into the Laurentian Great Lakes in the 1990s, round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) has spread rapidly, reaching the Hudson River Estuary, NY in 2021. To address the expansion potential into saline environments from this North American coastal invasion front, we experimentally assessed the salinity tolerance of adult round gobies. Water temperatures vary widely in temperate aquatic ecosystems, and our study is the first to investigate the effect of temperature on the salinity tolerance of round goby, conducting tolerance trials at three temperatures: a preferred temperature of 20°C, 26°C reflective of summer conditions, and 5°C reflective of winter conditions. Adult round gobies were subjected to weekly salinity increases of 3 parts per thousand (ppt), concluding at 33ppt. Study specimens were monitored for stress cues (behavior changes and color changes), and mortality. We found significant salinity tolerance differences dependent on water temperature, with the highest tolerance at 5°C and the lowest tolerance at 26°C. By 30ppt, survival was 87% at 5°C and only 7% at 26°C. Based on mortality results, round goby expansion may occur year-round into brackish portions (<21ppt) of the Hudson River Estuary as far south as the Harlem River. This would open access to portions of Long Island Sound, potentially rendering other coastal watersheds to be at risk of invasion. However, temperature-dependent salinity tolerance findings suggest round goby expansion potential into high salinity habitats may be seasonally dependent, with expansion opportunities occurring in colder months and expansion barriers occurring in warmer months. To assess longer term survival and body condition, another experiment maintained round gobies at four sustained salinities (≤ 21ppt) for ten weeks at 20°C. Growth and hepatosomatic index at 21ppt were significantly lower (p<0.001) than at 1, 9, and 15ppt, indicating sustained exposure to higher salinities may affect energy stores, potentially limiting establishment potential.
Advanced analysis of retrotransposon variation in the human genome with nanopore sequencing using RetroInspector
CT radiomics from intratumor and peritumor regions for predicting poorly differentiated invasive nonmucinous pulmonary adenocarcinoma
Abstract Per the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Thoracic Tumors, poorly differentiated invasive nonmucinous adenocarcinoma (INMA) demonstrates aggressive clinicopathological behavior characterized by lymphatic invasion, correlates with poor prognosis, and necessitates modifications to surgical planning even in early-stage adenocarcinoma. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of radiomics features of intratumoral and peritumoral microenvironment in poorly differentiated INMA in the lung. A total of 451 patients with INMA were collected from three hospitals. They were divided into the train cohort (173 grade 1/2; 116 grade 3), internal test cohort (89 grade 1/2; 35 grade 3) and external test cohort (26 grade 1/2; 12 grade 3). The logistic regression analysis was used to establish the clinical and radiomic models. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess diagnostic performance of different models. The internal test dataset (124 patients) was used to evaluate the radiologists’ performance without and with the assistance of optimal model. Nodule attenuation, consolidation size and consolidation-to-tumor ratio (CTR) meaning the ratio of maximum consolidation to tumor dimensions on axial imaging were independent predictors of poorly differentiated INMA (p < 0.05). In the internal test cohort, the area under the curve (AUC) values of the clinical model, the intratumor radiomic model, the combined 3 mm radiomic model, and the combined 5 mm radiomic model were 0.875(95%CI: 0.811–0.938), 0.882(95%CI: 0.807–0.957), 0.907(95%CI: 0.844–0.969) and 0.858(95%CI: 0.783–0.933), respectively. Corresponding results in the external test cohort showed moderate performance across all models: clinical model (AUC: 0.760, 95%CI: 0.603–0.916), intratumor radiomic model (AUC: 0.760, 95%CI: 0.580–0.939), and combined 3 mm/5 mm radiomic model(AUC: 0.772, 95%CI: 0.593–0.952; AUC: 0.766; 95%CIs: 0.580–0.953). Radiologists had higher diagnostic performance and confidence score with the aid of the combined 3 mm radiomic model. The combined 3 mm radiomic model of non-enhanced CT can identify poorly differentiated INMA with excellent performance and improve radiologists to achieve better diagnostic performance.
Publisher Correction: Predicting habitat suitability of Illicium griffithii under climate change scenarios using an ensemble modeling approach
Microbial metabolites associated in stool and left ventricle of heart failure patients revealed by meta-analysis
A risk based pollination network for non-Apis bees demonstrates the importance of understory plant contamination
The overwintering situation and influencing factors of Fulmekiola serrata in Yunnan sugarcane planting areas of China
Coenzyme Q10 protects keratinocytes against oxidation-induced energy stress as revealed by spatiotemporal analysis of cell energetics
Exploring the efficacy of Benincasa hispida extract on obesity linked inflammatory bowel disease by integrating computational analysis and experimental validations
Multiple-to-single maximum power point tracking for empowering conventional MPPT algorithms under partial shading conditions
The effect of inflammatory markers on mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Abstract Consider that inflammatory factors are associated with short-term mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this retrospective analysis of 2,784 AMI patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV database, we evaluated the impact of inflammatory markers on in-hospital mortality and predicted 30-day and 90-day outcomes. Patients were divided into groups based on in-hospital survival (n = 2,364) and mortality (n = 420). Analysis of initial hospital admission laboratory data, including inflammatory factors, revealed these factors as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality (Q4 of RDW: OR 1.96, NLR: OR 1.63, SII: OR 1.85, and SIRI: OR 2.23, all P < 0.05). Cox proportional hazards models confirmed their significance for predicting 30-day (Q4 of NLR: OR 1.83, SII: OR 1.86, and SIRI: OR 2.01, all P < 0.05) and 90-day mortality (Q4 of RDW: OR 1.46, NLR: OR 1.69, SII: OR 1.73, and SIRI: OR 1.72, all P < 0.05). Increasing levels of inflammatory markers correlated with higher odds and hazard ratios, as illustrated by Restricted Cubic Spline curves. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed better survival rates with lower inflammatory marker levels. Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated good predictive performance of individual inflammatory factors, with a new composite marker showing the highest predictive ability (AUC = 0.720). This study underscores the association of inflammatory factors with both hospital and short-term mortality in AMI patients.