Browse Articles

An epigenetic memory at the CYP1A gene in cancer-resistant, pollution-adapted killifish

Correction: Climate effects on the diversification strategy of export firms: Evidence from China

Mobility of South America’s transcontinental drainage divide and shrinkage of the Paraná river basin linked to lithologic and geodynamic controls

Abstract The South American Transcontinental Drainage Divide (TDD) is roughly oriented NE-SW from its Atlantic termination in SE Brazil to its NW termination in the limits between the southwestern edges of the Amazon Craton and the Andean Foreland. Based on a weak spatial coincidence with 90 − 70 Ma igneous intrusions, the origin and stability of the TDD have been attributed to intraplate magmatic activity. Using geomorphic analysis of drainage divides, we infer an overall southward migration of the TDD, even in areas with constrained uplift associated with intrusions. Most of the TDD is also the main drainage divide of the Paraná River Basin (PRB). Our analysis of the PRB divides reveals wholesale basin shrinkage, consistent with the southward migration of the TDD. We infer that the basalts of the Serra Geral Group induce topographic inversion of the PRB. Additionally, the PRB’s thicker continental crust contributes to its higher elevation. Non-uniform dynamic subsidence rates since 50 Ma likely lowered relief in the basin headwaters near the TDD and enhanced across-divide relief asymmetry. Together, these internal and external factors keep the PRB elevated, with low relief, and make it topographically vulnerable to long-term drainage area loss. These base-level controls explain the position and mobility of the TDD.

Do CEOs with government work experience foster enterprise investment in pollution control?

As enterprise leaders, CEOs play a critical role in driving enterprise investment in pollution control. However, few studies have explored the motivations behind enterprise investment in pollution control, primarily how CEOs’ early experiences influence their decisions. Based on the perspective of imprinting theory, this study examines the impact of CEOs with government work experience on enterprise investment in pollution control and the boundary conditions of this impact. Using data from a survey of private enterprises in China from 2008 to 2014, the empirical results indicate that CEOs with government work experience are likelier to promote enterprise investment in pollution control. Additionally, a CEO’s perceptions of economic, social, and political status negatively moderate the relationship between their government work experience and enterprise investment in pollution control. This study enriches and deepens the study on career imprinting in non-commercial fields, status perception, and sustainable development and provides practical significance for hiring CEOs with government work experience to promote enterprise investment in pollution control.

The effect of coagulation traits on the risk of retinal vein occlusion: a mendelian randomization study

Examining driving stability and traffic capacity: A simulation study on appropriate speed limits in expressway work zones

In order to obtain proper speed limits in expressway work zones, CarSim and TruckSim software were used to determine the critical car and truck safe speeds and then VISSIM software was used to determine the traffic capacities and their corresponding speed limits under different upstream transition area lengths and road adhesion coefficients. The results show that critical car and truck safe speeds increase exponentially while traffic capacity and its corresponding speed limit increase logarithmically with rising road adhesion coefficient under a constant upstream transition area length, and critical car and truck safe speeds increase as a power function while traffic capacity and its corresponding speed limit increase exponentially with rising upstream transition area length under a constant road adhesion coefficient. Because Road Traffic Signs and Markings- Part 4: Work Zone (RTSM, GB 5768.4–2017) only gave the relationship between speed limit and upstream transition area length without considering road adhesion coefficient, the obtained determination method of optimal speed limit in expressway work zone in this paper has better reference value.

Multi-terminal flexible DC grid circuit breaker withstands multi-lightning strike analysis

The effects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on self-reported interoception and mental health

Background Atypical interoception has been observed across multiple mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders and depression. Evidence suggests that not only pathological anxiety, but also heightened levels of state anxiety and stress are associated with interoceptive functioning. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the recent Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on self-reported interoception and mental health, and their relationship. Methods Self-report measures of interoceptive attention and accuracy, anxiety, stress and depression taken during the pandemic (at three time points) were compared to the same measures taken from comparable samples prior to the pandemic. In the sample collected during the pandemic, the relationship between interoceptive and mental health measures and focus on COVID-19-related news and information, propensity to take objective measures of COVID-19 symptoms, and subjective beliefs concerning COVID-19 symptoms was assessed. Finally, a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) was used to test directional relationships between self-reported interoceptive and mental health measures across three time points. Results Higher self-reported anxiety was associated with a) increased self-reported attention to bodily signals, b) increased focus on COVID-19-related news and information, c) propensity to take objective measures of COVID-19 symptoms, and d) reduced self-reported interoceptive accuracy for bodily signals participants believed were associated with COVID-19. The CLPM revealed a mutual and comparable directional effect from T1 to T2 between interoceptive attention and measures of mental health. Conclusions Implications of these findings are discussed in the light of existing models and newly proposed accounts of the relationship between interoception and mental health.

Studies on the effects of avocado extract on carbon steel resistance to corrosion in salty formation water

Key barriers and decision supports in revitalizing heritage buildings from investors’ perspective in China: A case study in Guangzhou, China

In the decision-making process for investing in heritage buildings (HBs), various factors such as costs, interests, and tenancy terms influence investors decisions. Understanding the motivations of these investors can facilitate the involvement of social forces with diverse interests in adaptive reuse projects. This paper examines the primary barriers to revitalizing heritage buildings through adaptive reuse decision-making. The specific objectives of this study are as follows: i) To explore the barriers faced by investors in the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings. ii) To provide a comprehensive review of the factors influencing the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, with a particular focus on developing countries. Through structured interviews with 19 investors and field research, three typical categories in the adaptive reuse decision-making process were identified: i) tenancy terms, ii) function, and iii) fire control problems. These findings indicate that vacancy is detrimental to the protection of heritage buildings, while rent plays a significant role in safeguarding them, as revealed by a correlation analysis using quantitative methods. Policymakers should better understand the expectations and needs of the public investors better to enhance support for optimal adaptive reuse decisions.

The kinetics of uracil-N-glycosylase distribution inside replication foci

Research on the evolution of college online public opinion risk based on improved Grey Wolf Optimizer combined with LSTM model

Since the dissemination of information is more rapid and the scale of users on online platforms is enormous, the public opinion risk is more visible and harder to tackle for universities and authorities. Improving the accuracy of predictions regarding online public opinion crises, especially those related to campuses, is crucial for maintaining social stability. This research proposes a public opinion crisis prediction model that applies the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) algorithm combined with long short-term memory (LSTM) and implements it to analyze a trending topic on Sina Weibo to validate its prediction accuracy. A full-chain analytical framework for online public opinion prediction is established in this study, which enables the model to illustrate the level of risk related to public opinion and its variation trend by introducing the public opinion risk index. The prediction accuracy of the model is validated through several evaluation criteria, and a comparison between real and predicted results, and the simulation of the intervention on this incident indicates that the proposed model is competent for both trend prediction and assisting in intervention. The study also demonstrates the importance of immediate response and intervention to public opinion crises.

Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of Acer fabri in adjusting to low-temperature stress through integrated physiological and transcriptomic analysis

Correction: Smoking is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, disease severity, and mortality among patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infections

Facial dominance overrides gender in children’s stereotypes about intelligence

Correction: Validity and reliability International Classification of Diseases-10 codes for all forms of injury: A systematic review

Genome-wide identification and characterization of cation-proton antiporter (CPA) gene family in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and their expression profiles in response to phytohormones

The cation-proton antiporter (CPA) superfamily plays pivotal roles in regulating cellular ion and pH homeostasis in plants. To date, the regulatory functions of CPA family members in rice (Oryza sativa L.) have not been elucidated. In this study, we use rice public data and information techniques, 29 OsCPA candidate genes were identified in the rice japonica variety (referred to as OsCPA) and phylogenetically categorized into K+ efflux antiporter (KEA), Na+/H+ exchanger (NHX), and cation/H+ exchanger (CHX) groups containing 4, 7, and 18 OsCPA genes. The OsCPA proteins were predominantly localized in the plasma membrane and unevenly scattered on 11 chromosomes. The structural analysis of OsCPA proteins revealed higher similarities within groups. Prediction of selection pressure, collinearity, and synteny analysis indicated that all duplicated OsCPA genes had undergone strong purifying selection throughout their evolution. The cis-acting regulatory elements (CAREs) analysis identified 56 CARE motifs responsive to light, tissue, hormones, and stresses. Additionally, 124 miRNA families were identified in the gene promoters, and OsNHX7 was targeted by the highest number of miRNAs (43 miRNAs). Gene Ontology analysis demonstrated the numerous functions of OsCPA genes associated with biological processes (57.14%), cellular components (7.94%), and molecular functions (34.92%). A total of 12 transcription factor families (TFFs), including 40 TFs were identified in gene promoters, with the highest numbers of TFFs (5TFFs) linked to OsCHX13, and OsCHX15. Protein-protein interaction analysis suggested maximum functional similarities between rice and Arabidopsis CPA proteins. Based on expression analysis, OsKEA1, OsKEA2, OsNHX3, and OsNHX7 were frequently expressed in rice tissues. Furthermore, OsNHX3, OsNHX4, OsNHX6, OsNHX7, OsCHX8, and OsCHX17 in abscisic acid, OsKEA1, OsNHX3, and OsCHX8 in gibberellic acid, OsKEA1, OsKEA3, OsNHX1, and OsNHX3 in indole-3-acetic acid treatment were demonstrated as potential candidates in response to hormone. These findings highlight potential candidates for further characterization of OsCPA genes, which may aid in the development of rice varieties.

MiRNA-223-5p inhibits hypoxia-induced apoptosis of BMSCs and promotes repair in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease by targeting CHAC2 and activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) involves femoral head osteonecrosis caused by disrupted blood supply, leading to joint deformity and early osteoarthritis. This study investigates the role of miRNA-223-5p in regulating hypoxia-induced apoptosis and enhancing osteogenesis in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Utilizing a juvenile New Zealand white rabbit model of LCPD established through femoral neck ligation, we transfected BMSCs with miR-223-5p mimics, inhibitors, and controls, followed by hypoxic exposure. The impact of miR-223-5p on BMSC apoptosis was assessed using qPCR, Western blotting, and dual-luciferase reporter assays, focusing on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In vivo, we evaluated the effects of transplanting miR-223-5p-overexpressing BMSCs into the LCPD model. Our results indicate that miR-223-5p is downregulated under hypoxic conditions. Overexpression of miR-223-5p in BMSCs inhibited hypoxia-induced apoptosis and activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by directly targeting CHAC2. In vivo, miR-223-5p-overexpressing BMSCs enhanced femoral head osteogenesis and reduced necrosis in the LCPD model. These findings suggest that miR-223-5p inhibits hypoxia-induced apoptosis in BMSCs by targeting CHAC2 and activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, proposing miR-223-5p as a promising target for improving bone repair in ischemic conditions.

Pedestrian POSE estimation using multi-branched deep learning pose net

In human activity-recognition scenarios, including head and entire body pose and orientations, recognizing the pose and direction of a pedestrian is considered a complex problem. A person may be traveling in one sideway while focusing his attention on another side. It is occasionally desirable to analyze such orientation estimates using computer-vision tools for automated analysis of pedestrian behavior and intention. This article uses a deep-learning method to demonstrate the pedestrian full-body pose estimation approach. A deep-learning-based pre-trained supervised model multi-branched deep learning pose net (MBDLP-Net) is proposed for estimation and classification. For full-body pose and orientation estimation, three independent datasets, an extensive dataset for body orientation (BDBO), PKU-Reid, and TUD Multiview Pedestrians, are used. Independently, the proposed technique is trained on dataset CIFAR-100 with 100 classes. The proposed approach is meticulously tested using publicly accessible BDBO, PKU-Reid, and TUD datasets. The results show that the mean accuracy for full-body pose estimation with BDBO and PKU-Reid is 0.95%, and with TUD multiview pedestrians is 0.97%. The performance results show that the proposed technique efficiently distinguishes full-body poses and orientations in various configurations. The efficacy of the provided approach is compared with existing pretrained, robust, and state-of-the-art methodologies, providing a comprehensive understanding of its advantages.

The extent of western lowland gorilla social relationships within and between groups

The nature of western lowland gorilla social relationships within and between groups is largely understudied, partly due to the challenges of monitoring associations between individuals who live in neighboring groups. In this study, we examined the social relationships of four western lowland gorilla groups in the Ndoki landscape of northern Republic of Congo. To do so, we compiled all-occurrence social interaction and silverback nearest neighbor social networks from data collected during daily group follows conducted over several years. We observed a total of 5,923 dyadic all-occurrence social interactions (1,350 ± 489 per group, 138 intergroup interactions) and 54,989 dyadic silverback nearest neighbor associations (13,747 ± 3,963 observations per group, 105 nearest neighbor observations of intergroup partners during group scans). For all groups, we found that males were more social than females, younger individuals were more social than older gorillas, and slightly greater rates of social behaviors were observed during periods of higher fruit availability. While there was a considerable amount of interindividual variation in social behavior, the network of social interactions demonstrated a large extent of social relationships within and between groups. Additionally, we performed simulated network removals to assess the impact on social dynamics. Across all groups and the total population, the removal of blackback and immature individuals markedly decreased the number of intra- and intergroup relationships (>60% decrease). The documented extent of western lowland gorilla social relationships has direct implications for the conservation of species with multi-level social dynamics. Gaining clarity on the ways in which western lowland gorilla groups naturally occur in the wild, not only provides a greater understanding for their conservation, but also offers insights for managing their social dynamics within captive environments.