Australian governments continue to search for a model capable of planning future urban settlements at an extended spatial scale (the mega-metropolitan region) to accommodate high population growth more sustainably. Attempts at decentralisation over the past half century have failed, as state capital cities continue to sprawl in an unsustainable manner and increase their primacy at the expense of regional cities. This paper examines how two technologies, broadband and fast rail—both infrastructures capable of re-shaping space–time relationships—could underpin a transition of Australia’s largest capital cities into megacity regions by functionally integrating regional cities into their core metropolitan agglomerations. With the Melbourne megacity region as a spatial framework, changes in population and economic development are examined for Melbourne and several regional cities in Victoria following the introduction of regional fast rail (RFR) and broadband. The impact of high-speed rail (HSR) for intercity corridors in southeast England is analysed as a possible analogue for future application in Victoria. The results revealed that RFR primarily served to extend capital city suburban development. Only HSR had the capacity to ‘punch through’ and boost growth for ‘basic’ new economy industries in ‘on-line’ urban centres in corridors linked to London. High-speed broadband proved most attractive to Melbourne’s agglomeration of high-skilled information workers. Lower speed broadband services were more uniformly taken up across all centres. This discussion speculates on the impacts of these and other green economy and digitalisation drivers on prospects for a future megacity region transition in Victoria. Full article

To achieve the failure warning of marine systems and their equipment (MSAE), the threshold is one of the most prominent issues that should be solved first. In this study, a fusion model based on sparse Bayes and probabilistic statistical methods is applied to determine a new and more accurate adaptive alarm threshold. A multistep relevance vector machine (RVM) model is established to realize the parameter reconstruction in which the internal uncertainties caused by the degradation process and the external uncertainty caused by the loading, environment, and disturbances were considered. Then, a varying moving window (VMW) method is employed to determine the window size and achieve continuous data reconstruction. Further, the model based on Johnson distribution systems is utilized to complete the transformation of the residual parameters and calculate the adaptive threshold. Finally, the proposed adaptive decision threshold is successfully involved in the actual examples of the peak pressure and exhaust temperature of marine diesel engines. The results show that the proposed method can realize the continuous health condition monitoring of MSAE, successfully detect abnormal conditions in advance, achieve an early warning of failure, and reserve sufficient time for decision-making to prevent the occurrence of catastrophic disasters. Full article

Wintergrazer-70 and Ganyin No1 are high-yield forage varieties suitable for cultivation in high-altitude areas of Tibet (4300 m above sea level). Ganyin No1 was developed from Wintergrazer-70, with the latter serving as its parent variety. Ganyin No1 was identified as a spring variety, and subsequent RNA sequencing was conducted. RNA sequencing analysis identified 4 differentially expressed genes related to vernalization and 28 genes related to photoperiod regulation. The Sc7296g5-i1G3 gene is related to the flowering inhibition of rye, which may be related to the phenotypic difference in the Ganyin No1 variety in winter and spring. This finding provides valuable insights for future research on Ganyin No1, especially in addressing feed shortages in Tibet during winter and spring. Full article

This article primarily investigates the width problem within weighted band-limited function space in a uniform setting. Through an analysis of the properties of s-numbers, we establish a connection between the widths of weighted band-limited function spaces and the s-numbers of infinite-dimensional diagonal operators. Furthermore, employing the discretization method, we estimate the exact asymptotic orders of Kolmogorov n-width and linear n-width in the weighted band-limited function space, which is characterized by the weight $\omega =\left\{{\omega }_k\right\}={\left\{{\left|k\right|}^r\right\}}_{k\in {\mathbb{Z}}_0}$. Full article

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) encodes numerous proteins characterized by complex immune escape mechanisms. At present, the structure and function of these proteins, including the F317L protein, have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we examined the immunogenicity of the F317L protein. Mice were subcutaneously immunized with the F317L protein using initial and subsequent booster doses, and, at the 28th day post-treatment, we assessed the humoral and cellular immune responses of mice. The F317L protein stimulated production of specific antibodies and activated humoral immune responses. In addition, F317L stimulated the production of large amounts of IFN-γ by splenic lymphocytes, thereby activating cellular immune responses. Using informatics technology, we predicted and synthesized 29 F317L protein T cell epitopes, which were screened using IFN-γ ELISpot. Among these, the F25 (²⁴⁶SRRSLVNPWT²⁵⁵) peptide was identified as having a stronger stimulatory effect than the full-length protein. Collectively, our findings revealed that the ASFV F317L protein can stimulate both strong humoral and cellular immunity in mice, and that the F25 (²⁴⁶SRRSLVNPWT²⁵⁵) peptide may be a potential active T cell epitope. These findings will provide a reference for further in-depth studies of the F317L protein and screening of antigenic epitopes. Full article

In this study, Chlorella pyrenoidosa was cultured with different concentrations of Cr(III) and Cr(VI), and the changes in biomass, lipid content, protein content and total sugar content of Chlorella pyrenoidosa under different culture conditions were detected. The effects of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on the intracellular antioxidant system and related key enzymes of lipid synthesis were analyzed. The results showed that appropriate Cr(III) and Cr(VI) concentrations could make Chlorella pyrenoidosa regulate the contents of SOD, POD, ASA, CAT and GSH in cells, improve the enzyme activity of ACC and promote lipid synthesis. The aim was to investigate the mechanism of lipid synthesis by analyzing the distribution of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in algal cells. The lipid content of Chlorella pyrenoidosa reached its highest level at 50.43 wt% and 38.00 wt% when both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) concentrations in the culture environment were 0.5 mg/L. These values were 1.37 and 1.03 times higher than the control group, respectively. The addition of appropriate Cr(III) and Cr(VI) concentrations can increase ME enzyme activity and decrease PEPC enzyme activity, shorten the biomass accumulation cycle and prolong the lipid synthesis cycle. Full article

Deferoxamine, an iron chelator used to treat diseases caused by excess iron, has had a Food and Drug Administration-approved status for many years. A large number of studies have confirmed that deferoxamine can reduce inflammatory response and promote angiogenesis. Blood vessels play a crucial role in sustaining vital life by facilitating the delivery of immune cells, oxygen, and nutrients, as well as eliminating waste products generated during cellular metabolism. Dysfunction in blood vessels may contribute significantly to the development of life-threatening diseases. Anti-angiogenesis therapy and pro-angiogenesis/angiogenesis strategies have been frequently recommended for various diseases. Herein, we describe the mechanism by which deferoxamine promotes angiogenesis and summarize its application in chronic wounds, bone repair, and diseases of the respiratory system. Furthermore, we discuss the drug delivery system of deferoxamine for treating various diseases, providing constructive ideas and inspiration for the development of new treatment strategies. Full article

The involvement of the second pair of chlorophylls, termed A_-1A and A_-1B, in light-induced electron transfer in photosystem I (PSI) is currently debated. Asparagines at PsaA600 and PsaB582 are involved in coordinating the A_-1B and A_-1A pigments, respectively. Here we have mutated these asparagine residues to methionine in two single mutants and a double mutant in PSI from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, which we term NA600M, NB582M, and NA600M/NB582M mutants. (P700⁺–P700) FTIR difference spectra (DS) at 293 K were obtained for the wild-type and the three mutant PSI samples. The wild-type and mutant FTIR DS differ considerably. This difference indicates that the observed changes in the (P700⁺–P700) FTIR DS cannot be due to only the P_A and P_B pigments of P700. Comparison of the wild-type and mutant FTIR DS allows the assignment of different features to both A_-1 pigments in the FTIR DS for wild-type PSI and assesses how these features shift upon cation formation and upon mutation. While the exact role the A_-1 pigments play in the species we call P700 is unclear, we demonstrate that the vibrational modes of the A_-1A and A_-1B pigments are modified upon P700⁺ formation. Previously, we showed that the A_-1 pigments contribute to P700 in green algae. In this manuscript, we demonstrate that this is also the case in cyanobacterial PSI. The nature of the mutation-induced changes in algal and cyanobacterial PSI is similar and can be considered within the same framework, suggesting a universality in the nature of P700 in different photosynthetic organisms. Full article

The addition of Na[BArF₂₄] (BArF₂₄ = tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate) to [Pd(PP)Cl₂] (PP = 1,1′-bis(phosphino)ferrocene ligands) compounds results in the loss of a chloride ligand and the formation of the dimeric species [Pd₂(PP)₂(μ-Cl)₂][BArF₂₄]₂. In most cases, the addition of a monodentate phosphine, PR₃, to these dimeric species leads to cleaving of the dimer and formation of [Pd(PP)(PR₃)Cl][BArF₂₄]. While these reactions are readily observed via a significant color change, the ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectra offer more significant support, as the singlet for the dimer is replaced with three doublets of doublets. The reaction seems to take place for a wide range of PR₃ ligands, although there do appear to be steric limitations to the reaction. The compounds were thoroughly characterized by NMR, and X-ray crystal structures of several of the compounds were obtained. In addition, the ferrocenyl backbone of the 1,1′-bis(phosphino)ferrocene ligands provides an opportunity to examine the oxidative electrochemistry of these compounds. In general, the potential at which oxidations of these compounds occurs shows a dependence on the phosphine substituents. Full article

The work-sampling method makes it possible to gain valuable insights into what is happening in production systems. Work sampling is a process used to estimate the proportion of shift time that workers (or machines) spend on different activities (within productive work or losses). It is estimated based on enough random observations of activities over a selected period. When workplace operations do not have short cycle times or high repetition rates, the use of such a statistical technique is necessary because the labor sampling data can provide information that can be used to set standards. The work-sampling procedure is well standardized, but additional contributions are possible when evaluating the observations. In this paper, we present our contribution to improving the decision-making process based on work-sampling data. We introduce a correlation comparison of the measured hourly shares of all activities in pairs to check whether there are mutual connections or to uncover hidden connections between activities. The results allow for easier decision-making (conclusions) regarding the influence of the selected activities on the triggering of the others. With the additional calculation method, we can uncover behavioral patterns that would have been overlooked with the basic method. This leads to improved efficiency and productivity of the production system. Full article

In the field of robotics and autonomous driving, dynamic occupancy grid maps (DOGMs) are typically used to represent the position and velocity information of objects. Although three-dimensional light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor-based DOGMs have been actively researched, they have limitations, as they cannot classify types of objects. Therefore, in this study, a deep learning-based camera–LiDAR sensor fusion technique is employed as input to DOGMs. Consequently, not only the position and velocity information of objects but also their class information can be updated, expanding the application areas of DOGMs. Moreover, unclassified LiDAR point measurements contribute to the formation of a map of the surrounding environment, improving the reliability of perception by registering objects that were not classified by deep learning. To achieve this, we developed update rules on the basis of the Dempster–Shafer evidence theory, incorporating class information and the uncertainty of objects occupying grid cells. Furthermore, we analyzed the accuracy of the velocity estimation using two update models. One assigns the occupancy probability only to the edges of the oriented bounding box, whereas the other assigns the occupancy probability to the entire area of the box. The performance of the developed perception technique is evaluated using the public nuScenes dataset. The developed DOGM with object class information will help autonomous vehicles to navigate in complex urban driving environments by providing them with rich information, such as the class and velocity of nearby obstacles. Full article

This work investigated the impact of periodic thickness and doping region on the doping efficiency of the P-type AlGaN superlattice. In this paper, the band structure of the simulated superlattice was analyzed. The superlattice structure of Al_0.1Ga_0.3N/Al_0.4Ga_0.6N, and the AlGaN buffer on the sapphire substrate, achieved a resistivity of ~3.3 Ω·cm. The results indicate that barrier doping and low periodic thickness offer significant advantages in introducing a reduction of the resistivity of P-type AlGaN superlattice structures. Full article

Strain differences have been reported for motor behaviors, and only a subset of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients develop neuropathic pain, implicating genetic or genomic contribution to this condition. Here, we evaluated neuropsychiatric behaviors in A/J, BALB/c, and C57BL/6 male mice and tested genetic or genomic alterations following SCI. A/J and BALB/c naive mice showed significantly less locomotor activity and greater anxiety-like behavior than C57BL/6 mice. Although SCI elicited locomotor dysfunction, C57BL/6 and A/J mice showed the best and the worst post-traumatic recovery, respectively. Mild (m)-SCI mice showed deficits in gait dynamics. All moderate/severe SCI mice exhibited similar degrees of anxiety/depression. mSCI in BALB/c and A/J mice resulted in depression, whereas C57BL/6 mice did not exhibit depression. mSCI mice had significantly lower mechanical thresholds than their controls, indicating high cutaneous hypersensitivity. C57BL/6, but not A/J and BLAB/c mice, showed significantly lower heat thresholds than their controls. C57BL/6 mice exhibited spontaneous pain. RNAseq showed that genes in immune responses and wound healing were upregulated, although A/J mice showed the largest increase. The cell cycle and the truncated isoform of trkB genes were robustly elevated in SCI mice. Thus, different genomics are associated with post-traumatic recovery, underscoring the likely importance of genetic factors in SCI. Full article

Interlocking Inter-Module Connections (IMCs) in Modular Steel Buildings (MSBs) have garnered significant interest from researchers. Despite this, the optimisation of plate thicknesses in such structures has yet to be extensively explored in the existing literature. Therefore, this paper focuses on optimising the thickness of interlocking IMCs in MSBs by leveraging established experimental and numerical simulation methodologies. The study developed various numerical models for IMCs with plate thicknesses of 4 mm, 6 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm, all subjected to compression loading conditions. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive parametric analysis, which evaluates the slip prediction model. A random forest regression model, trained using the ‘TreeBagger’ function, was also implemented to predict slip values based on applied force. Sensitivity analysis and comparisons with alternative methods underscored the reliability and applicability of the findings. The results indicate that a plate thickness of 11.03 mm is optimal for interlocking IMCs in MSBs, achieving up to 8.08% in material cost reductions while increasing deformation resistance by up to 50.75%. The ‘TreeBagger’ random forest regression significantly enhanced slip prediction accuracy by up to 7% at higher force levels. Full article

A single-inductor, low-voltage, three-step self-starting boost converter is proposed for photovoltaic (PV) energy harvesting. In order to enhance energy transfer efficiency, a variable-step Perturb and Observe (P&O) Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) scheme has been devised based on a novel pulse multiplication technique. Upon overcoming the speed and accuracy limitations, the maximum power point (MPP) of the PV model is accurately tracked. In the boost converter, the average inductor current is utilized to implement closed-loop control of the MPPT loop, enhancing the stability of the tracking process and enabling efficient energy transmission. Finally, the boost converter is implemented using a 0.18 μm CMOS process, which is capable of self-starting and maintaining stable operations at input voltages ranging from 90 mV to 300 mV, achieving a peak efficiency of 93%. Full article

Background/Objectives: Atelocollagen is used for soft tissue repair and reconstruction by replacing defective or damaged muscles, membranes, ligaments, and tendons. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of additional paraspinal intramuscular injection of atelocollagen on lumbar epidural steroid injection for reducing pain and improving functional capacity of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 608 consecutive patients with CLBP who received lumbar epidural steroid injection with or without additional paraspinal intramuscular injection of atelocollagen. The Numerical Rating Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index were used to assess pain and functional capacity, respectively, before the procedure, and three months after the injection. Also, we analyzed the relationship between the additional paraspinal intramuscular injection of atelocollagen and the success rate. Results: Both Numerical Rating Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index scores were significantly reduced in both groups at three months after injection. However, there was a significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, the success rate was significantly higher in the additional paraspinal intramuscular injection of atelocollagen group. Conclusions: This study’s results showed that additional paraspinal intramuscular injection of atelocollagen on lumbar epidural steroid injection reduced pain and improved functional capacity for patients with CLBP. Therefore, the paraspinal intramuscular injection of atelocollagen may be a promising option for the treatment of patients with CLBP. Full article

Cu-based ternary oxides with delafossite structure have received considerable attention in recent years for their versatility in a wide range of applications, among which is the possibility to use them in heterostructure solar cells as hole transport layers, due to their promising behavior as p-type conducting oxides. Ab initio calculations have been performed with density functional theory to investigate the role of the trivalent metal within the CuMO₂ structure and the dependence of structural and electronic properties with the species (M = Al, Ga, In, Fe, Cr, Co, Sc, Y) occupying the site of the metal. Generalized Gradient Approximation also including a Hubbard term and nonlocal Heyd–Scuseria–Enzerhof screened hybrid functional schemes were tested and their results were compared. Excellent agreement with experimental lattice parameters and measured gaps have been found. The use of hybrid functionals in HSE approximation considerably improves the bandgaps when compared with the experimental results but takes considerable time to converge, hence the need to explore less demanding methodologies. Trends in the geometry as well as in the electronic properties are discussed, and the effect of mixing different metals (CuM_xN_1−xO₂, M, N being the aforementioned elements) in the geometry and electronic properties of these delafossite materials is investigated. Due to the high cost of HSE calculations, especially when supercells are needed to model several x concentrations, statistical models and techniques based on machine learning have also been explored to predict HSE bandgap values from GGA and structural information. Full article

Implant therapy is a common treatment option in dentistry and orthopedics, but its application is often associated with an increased risk of microbial contamination of the implant surfaces that cause bone tissue impairment. This study aims to develop two silver-enriched platelet-rich plasma (PRP) multifunctional scaffolds active at the same time in preventing implant-associated infections and stimulating bone regeneration. Commercial silver lactate (L) and newly synthesized silver deoxycholate:β-Cyclodextrin (B), were studied in vitro. Initially, the antimicrobial activity of the two silver soluble forms and the PRP enriched with the two silver forms has been studied on microbial planktonic cells. At the same time, the biocompatibility of silver-enriched PRPs has been assessed by an MTT test on human primary osteoblasts (hOBs). Afterwards, an investigation was conducted to evaluate the activity of selected concentrations and forms of silver-enriched PRPs in inhibiting microbial biofilm formation and stimulating hOB differentiation. PRP-L (0.3 µg/mm²) and PRP-B (0.2 µg/mm²) counteract Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida albicans planktonic cell growth and biofilm formation, preserving hOB viability without interfering with their differentiation capability. Overall, the results obtained suggest that L- and B-enriched PRPs represent a promising preventive strategy against biofilm-related implant infections and demonstrate a new silver formulation that, together with increasing fibrin binding protecting silver in truncated cone-shaped cyclic oligosaccharides, achieved comparable inhibitory results on prokaryotic cells at a lower concentration. Full article

Emerging data indicate that lung macrophages (LM) may provide a novel biomarker to classify disease endotypes in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a form of infant chronic lung disease, and that augmentation of the LM phenotype may be a potential therapeutic target. To contribute to this area of research, we first used Optical Redox Imaging (ORI) to characterize the responses to H₂O_2-induced oxidative stress and caffeine treatment in an in vitro model of mouse alveolar macrophages (AM). H₂O₂ caused a dose-dependent decrease in NADH and an increase in FAD-containing flavoproteins (Fp) and the redox ratio Fp/(NADH + Fp). Caffeine treatment did not affect Fp but significantly decreased NADH with doses of ≥50 µM, and 1000 µM caffeine treatment significantly increased the redox ratio and decreased the baseline level of mitochondrial ROS (reactive oxygen species). However, regardless of whether AM were pretreated with caffeine or not, the mitochondrial ROS levels increased to similar levels after H₂O₂ challenge. We then investigated the feasibility of utilizing ORI to examine macrophage redox status in tracheal aspirate (TA) samples obtained from premature infants receiving invasive ventilation. We observed significant heterogeneity in NADH, Fp, Fp/(NADH + Fp), and mitochondrial ROS of the TA macrophages. We found a possible positive correlation between gestational age and NADH and a negative correlation between mean airway pressure and NADH that provides hypotheses for future testing. Our study demonstrates that ORI is a feasible technique to characterize macrophage redox state in infant TA samples and supports further use of this method to investigate lung macrophage-mediated disease endotypes in BPD. Full article

This paper considers a resource allocation problem involving servers and mobile users (MUs) operating in a serverless edge computing (SEC)-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) network. Each MU has a fixed budget, and each server is powered by the grid and has energy harvesting (EH) capability. Our objective is to maximize the revenue of the operator that operates the said servers and the number of resources purchased by the MUs. We propose a Stackelberg game approach, where servers and MUs act as leaders and followers, respectively. We prove the existence of a Stackelberg game equilibrium and develop an iterative algorithm to determine the final game equilibrium price. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is efficient in terms of the SEC’s profit and MU’s demand. Moreover, both MUs and SECs gain benefits from renewable energy. Full article

We established a protocol for the traditional Korean medicine examination (KME) and methodically gathered data following this protocol. Potential indicators for KME were extracted through a literature review; the first KME protocol was developed based on three rounds of expert opinions. The first KME protocol’s feasibility was confirmed, and data were collected over four years from traditional Korean medicine (KM) hospitals, focusing on healthy adults, using the final KME protocol. A literature review identified 175 potential core indicators, condensed into 73 indicators after three rounds of expert consultation. The first KME protocol, which was categorized under questionnaires and medical examinations, was developed after the third round of expert opinions. A pilot study using the first KME protocol was conducted to ensure its validity, leading to modifications resulting in the development of the final KME protocol. Over four years, data were collected from six KM hospitals, focusing on healthy adults; we obtained a dataset comprising 11,036 healthy adults. This is the first protocol incorporating core indicators of KME in a quantitative form and systematically collecting data. Our protocol holds potential merit in evaluating predisposition to diseases or predicting diseases. Full article

Camellia oleifera is a woody oil crop with the highest oil yield and the largest cultivation area in China, and C. oleifera seed oil is a high-quality edible oil recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The objectives of this study were to investigate the variation in fruit yield traits and seed chemical compositions of wild C. oleifera in China and to identify the differences between wild C. oleifera and cultivated varieties. In this study, we collected wild C. oleifera samples from 13 sites covering the main distribution areas of wild C. oleifera to comprehensively evaluate 25 quantitative traits of wild C. oleifera fruit and seed chemical compositions and collected data of 10 quantitative traits from 434 cultivated varieties for a comparative analysis of the differences between wild and cultivars. The results showed that the coefficients of variation of the 25 quantitative traits of wild C. oleifera ranged from 2.605% to 156.641%, with an average of 38.569%. The phenotypic differentiation coefficients ranged from 25.003% to 99.911%, with an average of 77.894%. The Shannon–Wiener index (H’) ranged from 0.195 to 1.681. Based on the results of principal component analysis (PCA) and phenotypic differentiation coefficients, 10 traits differed significantly between wild C. oleifera and cultivated varieties, while the differentiation coefficients (V_ST) for fresh fruit weight, oleic acid, unsaturated fatty acids, stearic acid, and saturated fatty acids were more than 95%, of which fresh fruit weight and oleic acid content were potential domestication traits of C. oleifera. The results of this study can contribute to the efficient excavation and utilization of wild C. oleifera genetic resources for C. oleifera breeding. Full article