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Trade deregulation and fiscal revenue in selected Pacific Island countries
This paper examines the revenue implications of trade deregulation in a panel of Pacific Island countries from 2010 to 2021. First, we undertake a cross-country analysis of tax revenue, trade, and tax structure. Secondly, we empirically analyze the effect of trade deregulation on trade tax and overall government tax revenue. We find that as the countries have become more deregulated over the decade, the trade tax revenues and direct income tax revenues have declined whereas domestic indirect tax revenues have increased. The empirical estimation reveals the potential Laffer effect for trade tax revenues with respect to trade openness. The effect of regional trade agreements also shows some support for trade tax revenues. Further, the external public debt has a significant positive effect on aggregate tax revenues, while foreign aid has been significant in explaining the decline in both aggregate tax revenues as well as trade tax revenues in the selected Pacific Island countries.
Method for long-term room temperature storage of mouse freeze-dried sperm
DSIA U-Net: deep shallow interaction with attention mechanism UNet for remote sensing satellite images
AI-based visualization of loose connective tissue as a dissectable layer in gastrointestinal surgery
AbstractWe aimed to develop an AI model that recognizes and displays loose connective tissue as a dissectable layer in real-time during gastrointestinal surgery and to evaluate its performance, including feasibility for clinical application. Training data were created under the supervision of gastrointestinal surgeons. Test images and videos were randomly sampled and model performance was evaluated visually by 10 external gastrointestinal surgeons. The mean Dice coefficient of the 50 images was 0.46. The AI model could detect at least 75% of the loose connective tissue in 91.8% of the images (459/500 responses). False positives were found for 52.6% of the images, but most were not judged significant enough to affect surgical judgment. When comparing the surgeon’s annotation with the AI prediction image, 5 surgeons judged the AI image was closer to their own recognition. When viewing the AI video and raw video side-by-side, surgeons judged that in 99% of the AI videos, visualization was improved and stress levels were acceptable when viewing the AI prediction display. The AI model developed demonstrated performance at a level approaching that of a gastrointestinal surgeon. Such visualization of a safe dissectable layer may help to reduce intraoperative recognition errors and surgical complications.
Design principles for engineering bacteria to maximise chemical production from batch cultures
AbstractBacteria can be engineered to manufacture chemicals, but it is unclear how to optimally engineer a single cell to maximise production performance from batch cultures. Moreover, the performance of engineered production pathways is affected by competition for the host’s native resources. Here, using a ‘host-aware’ computational framework which captures competition for both metabolic and gene expression resources, we uncover design principles for engineering the expression of host and production enzymes at the cell level which maximise volumetric productivity and yield from batch cultures. However, this does not break the fundamental growth-synthesis trade-off which limits production performance. We show that engineering genetic circuits to switch cells to a high synthesis-low growth state after first growing to a large population can further improve performance. By analysing different circuit topologies, we show that highest performance is achieved by circuits that inhibit host metabolism to redirect it to product synthesis. Our results should facilitate construction of microbial cell factories with high and efficient production capabilities.
High-entropy alloys catalyzing polymeric transformation of water pollutants with remarkably improved electron utilization efficiency
AbstractHigh-entropy alloy nanoparticles (HEA-NPs) exhibit favorable properties in catalytic processes, as their multi-metallic sites ensure both high intrinsic activity and atomic efficiency. However, controlled synthesis of uniform multi-metallic ensembles at the atomic level remains challenging. This study successfully loads HEA-NPs onto a nitrogen-doped carbon carrier (HEAs) and pioneers the application in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to drive Fenton-like oxidation. The HEAs-PMS system achieves ultrafast pollutant removal across a wide pH range with strong resistance to real-world water interferences. Furthermore, the nonradical HEAs-PMS system selectively transforms phenolics into high-molecular-weight products via a polymerization pathway. The unique non-mineralization regime remarkably reduces PMS consumption and achieves a high electron utilization efficiency of up to 213.4%. Further DFT calculations and experimental analysis reveal that Fe and Co in HEA-NPs act as the primary catalytic sites to complex with PMS for activation, while Ni, Cu, and Pd serve as charge mediators to facilitate electron transfer. The resulting PMS* complexes on HEAs possess a high redox potential, which drives spatially separated phenol oxidation on nitrogen-doped graphene support to form phenoxyl radicals, subsequently triggering the formation of high-molecule polymeric products via polymerization reactions. This study offers engineered HEAs catalysts for water treatment with low oxidant consumption and emissions.
Racial/ethnic differences in mental health treatment received among people with comorbid cardiometabolic and depressive symptomology: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2017 to March 2020 Pre-Pandemic
Background Individuals with chronic physical conditions and comorbid mental illness have increased probability of adverse health outcomes. As minority populations have limited access to both medical care and culturally appropriate mental health services, having a comorbid mental health condition can further impede their ability to manage chronic conditions and widen racial disparities in health outcomes. Further, racial/ethnic disparities in treatment patterns are likely to exacerbate disparities in adverse health outcomes. Objective To identify the racial/ethnic mental health treatment patterns among individuals with cardiometabolic and depressive symptomology co-occurrence. Methods This study utilized National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 2017 to March 2020 Pre-Pandemic. The primary analysis was an adjusted linear logistic regression analysis of race/ethnicity, comorbidity status and mental health treatment type. Regression models were estimated to determine the likelihood of receiving counseling and medication therapy, and to determine if the likelihood is associated with race/ethnicity. Results Primary findings indicate that depressive symptomology only was the most common designation and fewer than half of persons received any mental health treatment. Across all racial/ethnic groups, receiving no mental health treatment was the most common designation. Sixty-one percent of Non-Hispanic White persons and more than three out of four Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black persons with only depressive symptoms received no mental health treatment. Adjusted regression analyses revealed that participants with comorbid cardiometabolic and depressive symptomology have 28% lower odds of receiving combined mental health professional and medication therapy than participants with depressive symptomology only. Conclusions Simultaneously treating both mental illness and cardiometabolic symptoms properly is complicated, but there may be untapped synergies in treating both concurrently. Therefore, to achieve favorable health outcomes, policy should be implemented to optimize clinical treatment by addressing aspects of both conditions in an integrated approach and may need to be culturally tailored to be effective.
Assessing left main bifurcation anatomy and haemodynamics as a potential surrogate for disease risk in suspected coronary artery disease without stenosis
Experimental research on remote non-contact laser vibration measurement for tunnel lining cavities
Adaptability evaluation model and experiment of full section SBM in deep strata based on AHP-fuzzy theory
Boosting the durability of RuO2 via confinement effect for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer
The hybrid lipoplex induces cytoskeletal rearrangement via autophagy/RhoA signaling pathway for enhanced anticancer gene therapy
AbstractDelivering plasmid DNA (pDNA) to solid tumors remains a significant challenge due to the requirement for multiple transport steps and the need to promote delivery efficiency. Herein, we present a virus-mimicking hybrid lipoplex, composed of an arginine-rich cationic lipid, hyaluronic acid derivatives coated gold nanoparticles, and pDNA. This system induces cytoskeletal rearrangements through “outside-in” mechanical and “inside-out” biochemical signaling, overcoming intra- and intercellular barriers to enhance pDNA delivery. By modulating autophagy, RhoA signaling, and cytoskeletal dynamics, we achieve a 20-fold increase in gene expression with high tissue specificity in solid tumors. Furthermore, the system is applied to co-deliver a p53 plasmid and an MDM2 inhibitor, demonstrating significant synergistic antitumor effects in hepatocellular and lung carcinomas.
Effects of the non-native Arapaima gigas on native fish species in Amazonian oxbow lakes (Bolivia)
The introduction of non-native fish species into new environments has raised global concerns due to potential ecological impacts on recipient ecosystems. A previous study focusing on the introduced fish species Arapaima gigas in Bolivian Amazon waters showed that its isotopic niche significantly overlapped with most co-occurring native fish species, suggesting potential competition. To evaluate this hypothesis, we extended here the investigation by comparing the trophic position and isotopic niche width of eleven abundant native fish species inhabiting both colonized and non-colonized floodplain lakes. We found lower trophic positions in colonized versus non-colonized lakes only for native piscivores, mostly driven by a shift towards increased dietary proportion of detritivorous fishes. Conversely, results showed that the isotopic niche width of most fish species analyzed (i.e. 10 over 11 species) did not significantly decrease in colonized compared to non-colonized lakes. Our overall results suggest potentially low competitive interactions between A. gigas and native fishes, with the notable exception of piscivorous species. We attribute our findings to the high abundance of available resources in Amazon oxbow lakes.
Climate drives the long-term ant male production in a tropical community
Understanding the interplay between social isolation, age, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic
Mercury (II) adsorption process from an aqueous solution through activated carbon blended with fresh pistachio green shell powder
An integrated photonic engine for programmable atomic control
AbstractSolutions for scalable, high-performance optical control are important for the development of scaled atom-based quantum technologies. Modulation of many individual optical beams is central to applying arbitrary gate and control sequences on arrays of atoms or atom-like systems. At telecom wavelengths, miniaturization of optical components via photonic integration has pushed the scale and performance of classical and quantum optics far beyond the limitations of bulk devices. However, material platforms for high-speed telecom integrated photonics lack transparency at the short wavelengths required by leading atomic systems. Here, we propose and implement a scalable and reconfigurable photonic control architecture using integrated, visible-light modulators based on thin-film lithium niobate. We combine this system with techniques in free-space optics and holography to demonstrate multi-channel, gigahertz-rate visible beamshaping. When applied to silicon-vacancy artificial atoms, our system enables the spatial and spectral addressing of a dynamically-selectable set of these stochastically-positioned point emitters.
Dietary amino acids promote glucagon-like hormone release to generate global calcium waves in adipose tissues in Drosophila
Abstract Propagation of intercellular calcium waves through tissues has been found to coordinate different multicellular responses. Nevertheless, our understanding of how calcium waves operate remains limited. In this study, we explore the real-time dynamics of intercellular calcium waves in Drosophila adipose tissues. We identify Adipokinetic Hormone (AKH), the fly functional homolog of glucagon, as the key factor driving Ca 2+ activities in adipose tissue. We find that AKH, which is released into the hemolymph from the AKH-producing neurosecretory cells, stimulates calcium waves in the larval fat by a previously unrecognized gap-junction-independent mechanism to promote lipolysis. In the adult fat body, however, gap-junction-dependent intercellular calcium waves are triggered by a presumably uniformly diffused AKH. Additionally, we discover that amino acids activate the AKH-producing neurosecretory cells, leading to increased intracellular Ca 2+ and AKH secretion. Altogether, we show that dietary amino acids regulate the AKH release from the AKH-producing neurosecretory cells in the brain, which subsequently stimulates gap-junction-independent intercellular calcium waves in adipose tissue, enhancing lipid metabolism.
Assessment of the methodological quality of studies on core outcome sets for respiratory diseases: A systematic review and meta-research study
Background With increasing attention to core outcome sets (COS), the number of studies on COS for respiratory diseases (COS-RD) is on the rise. However, the methodological quality is still unclear. Therefore, we conducted a study to assess the methodological quality of studies on COS-RD. Methods PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for study protocols or original studies on COS-RD about adults, from their inception to February 23, 2024. The COMET database and Chinese databases (including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Chongqing VIP database, and China Biology Medicine) were also searched as a supplement. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies using the Core Outcome Set-STAndardised Protocol (COS-STAP) statement, the Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Development (COS-STAD) recommendations, and the Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Reporting (COS-STAR) statement. Results A total of 27 articles (five study protocols and 22 original studies, 26 studies) were included in this study. For the assessment of study protocols using the COS-STAP statement, the item with the lowest complete reporting rate was "missing data" (Item 9, 40.0%), while "description how outcomes may be dropped/combined, with reasons" (Item 5b, 60.0%) and "dissemination" (Item 11, 60.0%) had relatively low complete reporting rates. For the assessment of original studies using the COS-STAD recommendations, the item with the highest non-reporting rate was "care was taken to avoid ambiguity of language used in the list of outcomes" (Item 11, 45.5%), while "the population(s) covered by COS" (Item 3, 31.8%) and "the intervention(s) covered by COS" (Item 4, 31.8%) had relatively high non-reporting rate. When using the COS-STAR statement to assess the original studies, the item with the lowest complete reporting rate was "protocol deviations" (Item 11, 13.6%), while “describe how outcomes were dropped/combined, with reasons (if applicable)” (Item 6b, 36.4%), "participants" (Item 5, 40.9%), "ethics and consent" (Item 10, 54.5%), "protocol/registry entry" (Item 14, 63.6%), and “outcome scoring” (Item 8, 63.6%) had relatively low complete reporting rates. Conclusion The methodological quality of studies on COS-RD needs to be further improved. The appropriate use of aforementioned international reporting standards can advance the methodological quality and reporting transparency of studies on COS-RD.