The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of a gentle shampoo and a mousse containing Adelmidrol, tapioca starch and a non-prescription antimicrobial complex on seborrhoea and other clinical signs secondary to canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). Forty-six dogs with cAD-associated seborrhoea and/or pruritus > 4 cm on the pruritus visual analogue scale (P-VAS) and/or bacterial/Malassezia overgrowth were enrolled. The mousse was applied twice daily, and dogs were evaluated at days (D)0, 7, 14 and optionally 28, by means of a skin seborrheic index (SSI), P-VAS, cAD lesion index (CADLI), and a semiquantitative cytological score. The mean SSI value improved during the first two weeks (4.1 ± 0.37 to 1.9 ± 0.30; p < 0.0001). The mean P-VAS score (cm) decreased from 6.6 ± 0.19 at D0 to 3.8 ± 0.31 at D14 (p < 0.0001). The mean CADLI score dropped from 13.7 ± 1.24 to 8.5 ± 1.14 at D14 (p < 0.001). The cytological score for bacteria and Malassezia decreased from 3.2 ± 0.10 and 3.2 ± 0.11, respectively, to 1.2 ± 0.19 and 1.2 ± 0.24 (p < 0.0001). All the investigated signs further improved at D28. Altogether, these observations suggest that the tested protocol might be useful in managing cAD-associated signs. Full article

Currently, urban areas are confronting considerable challenges stemming from climate change. These challenges possess the potential to have profound implications for the well-being of residents, their means of making a living, and their own assets. Consequently, it is imperative to identify effective solutions that mitigate these effects on the urban environment. Nature-based solutions (NBSs), involving the utilization of natural resources and ecosystem services to alleviate the effects of climate change, have the potential of enhancing our capacity to develop cities that are more resistant to these challenges. To this end, this paper aims to extract some bibliographic data from available research articles on NBSs and climate resilience sought from the common search engines of Scopus, Web of Science, and Lens Base, and then the RStudio version 2022.12.00+353, VoSviewer version 1.6.20, and Biblioshiny-Bibliometrics version 2017 software tools were adopted to collate and analyze the literature data through science mapping analysis. In doing so, it was advocated that these two topics have not been extensively studied in their relationship to each other and that there is a large extent of existing knowledge gaps, the filling of which can foster the development of these ideas and thus help develop our cities in combating against climate change. Exploring the effectiveness of NBSs in boosting climate resilience is a critical research gap. More empirical studies are envisaged to assess the scalability and transferability of those effective NBSs in various regions or countries. Another research gap exists in comprehending the long-term effects on ecosystem services and community welfare. Research on socio-economic advantages, trade-offs, and unintended outcomes is essential for making well-informed decisions when applying various NBSs worldwide. Full article

This study investigates potential financing and management strategies that the Energy Corporation, a Chinese renewable energy company, could adopt in order to expand its green development projects. While China has made significant advancements in renewable energy, its heavy reliance on fossil fuels necessitates a shift towards a more sustainable energy system. To analyze the factors driving and impeding sustainability, this article provides an overview of China’s energy sector and policies. Through case studies of the Energy Corporation and other prominent renewable energy companies, the study showcases a range of demonstration projects, financing models, and management technologies that have the potential to accelerate the growth of sustainable initiatives. Recommendations from expert interviews are also provided, covering areas such as optimizing investment, monitoring distributed assets, and balancing social and environmental impacts. The results show that the Energy Corporation can effectively develop wind, solar, and energy efficiency projects nationwide by leveraging partnerships, utilizing green bonds, employing big data platforms, and engaging stakeholders, while also setting sustainability benchmarks. With a strategic approach, Energy Corporation aims to invest USD 1 billion over the next five years, targeting a renewable energy capacity of 5000 MW and a 20% reduction in CO₂ emissions. Achieving these goals would position Chinese companies as global leaders in the transition to renewable energy. The study also utilized an artificial neural network (ANN) to analyze the impact of increasing green jobs and renewable energy capacities on CO₂ emission reduction and economic growth. The results indicate that green jobs have a more significant effect on reducing CO₂ emissions compared to renewable energy capacities. When green jobs increased while energy capacities remained constant, substantial CO₂ reductions were observed, but the economic growth was only 1%. However, when there was a moderate increase in jobs alongside a four-fold increase in renewable energy capacities, economic growth reached 4%. The neural network’s prediction errors were deemed acceptable based on linear regression analysis and experimental results. Full article

The species–area relationship is important for understanding species diversity patterns at spatial scales, but few studies have examined the relationship using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. We investigated amphibian diversity on 21 islands of the Zhoushan Archipelago and nearby mainland areas in China using the combination of eDNA metabarcoding and the traditional line transect method (TLTM) and identified the species–area relationship for amphibians on the islands. The mean detection probability of eDNA is 0.54, while the mean detection probability of TLTM is 0.24. The eDNA metabarcoding detected eight amphibian species on the islands and nine species in the mainland areas, compared with seven species on the islands and nine species in the mainland areas that were identified by TLTM. Amphibian richness on the islands increased with island area and habitat diversity. The species–area relationship for amphibians in the archipelago was formulated as the power function (S = 0.47A^0.21) or exponential function (S = 2.59 + 2.41 (logA)). Our results suggested that eDNA metabarcoding is more sensitive for the detection of amphibian species. The combined use of eDNA metabarcoding and the traditional line transect method may optimize the survey results for amphibians. Full article

Blasting is a prevalent technique in deep rock excavation, with the state of rock fragmentation under high in-situ stress conditions being distinct from that under low in-situ stress conditions. A new material point method framework utilizing the generalized interpolated material point and convective particle domain interpolation functions was implemented to simulate the single-hole blasting process, analyze the stress distribution around the blasting hole, and elucidate the mechanism of how ground stress influences the expansion of blasting cracks through the interaction with the blasting load. In addition, the dynamic relaxation method realizes the stress’s initialization. It was concluded that the in-situ stress can increase the compressive stress induced by blasting load, whereas it decreases the caused tensile stress. With the increase in the ground stress, the scale of the cracks decreases. Under the non-isobaric condition, the blast-induced cracks preferentially expand along the high stress with the increase in the stress difference between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and the blast-induced cracks are suppressed to the greatest extent in the direction of the minimum ground stress. Full article

As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) rises globally, ensuring the safety and reliability of EV battery systems becomes paramount. Accurately predicting the state of health (SoH) and state of charge (SoC) of EV batteries is crucial for maintaining their safe and consistent operation. This paper introduces a novel approach leveraging deep learning methodologies to predict battery SoH, focusing on implementing a system prototype for real-world applications. The proposed system integrates an extended Kalman filter (EKF) with a deep learning framework, forming a system prototype known as FELL, aimed at EV battery diagnosis and prediction. We devise an algorithm utilizing the EKF to estimate the SoH of the battery. We present a detailed overview of the system architecture and implementation, showcasing its predictive capabilities. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the system in accurately estimating battery SoH with notable improvements in prediction accuracy. Additionally, the FELL system provides users with real-time predictions and comparative analysis across multiple prediction models, offering valuable insights for EV battery management. Full article

The Graph Convolutional Neural Networks (GCN) method has shown excellent performance in the field of deep learning, and using graphs to represent speech data is a computationally efficient and scalable approach. In order to enhance the adequacy of graph neural networks in extracting speech emotional features, this paper proposes a Temporal-Spatial Learnable Graph Convolutional Neural Network (TLGCNN) for speech emotion recognition. TLGCNN firstly utilizes the Open-SMILE toolkit to extract frame-level speech emotion features. Then, a bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi LSTM) network is used to process the long-term dependencies of speech features which can further extract deep frame-level emotion features. The extracted frame-level emotion features are then input into subsequent network through two pathways. Finally, one pathway constructs the extracted frame-level deep emotion feature vectors into a graph structure applying an adaptive adjacency matrix to catch latent spatial connections, while the other pathway concatenates emotion feature vectors with graph-level embedding obtained from learnable graph convolutional neural network for prediction and classification. Through these two pathways, TLGCNN can simultaneously obtain temporal speech emotional information through Bi-LSTM and spatial speech emotional information through Learnable Graph Convolutional Neural (LGCN) network. Experimental results demonstrate that this method achieves weighted accuracy of 66.82% and 58.35% on the IEMOCAP and MSP-IMPROV databases, respectively. Full article

Joint-resident chondrogenic precursor cells have become a significant therapeutic option due to the lack of regenerative capacity in articular cartilage. Progenitor cells are located in the superficial zone of the articular cartilage, producing lubricin/Prg4 to decrease friction of cartilage surfaces during joint movement. Prg4-positive progenitors are crucial in maintaining the joint’s structure and functionality. The disappearance of progenitor cells leads to changes in articular hyaline cartilage over time, subchondral bone abnormalities, and the formation of ectopic ossification. Genetic labeling cell technology has been the main tool used to characterize Prg4-expressing progenitor cells of articular cartilage in vivo through drug injection at different time points. This technology allows for the determination of the origin of progenitor cells and the tracking of their progeny during joint development and cartilage damage. We endeavored to highlight the currently known information about the Prg4-producing cell population in the joint to underline the significance of the role of these cells in the development of articular cartilage and its homeostasis. This review focuses on superficial progenitors in the joint, how they contribute to postnatal articular cartilage formation, their capacity for regeneration, and the consequences of Prg4 deficiency in these cells. We have accumulated information about the Prg4+ cell population of articular cartilage obtained through various elegantly designed experiments using transgenic technologies to identify potential opportunities for further research. Full article

(1) Background: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are a series of unique organ-specific inflammatory toxicities observed in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing PD-1 inhibition combination therapy. The specific underlying mechanisms remain unclear. (2) Methods: We recruited 71 patients with HCC undergoing PD-1 inhibition combination therapy. These patients were then divided into two groups based on irAE occurrence: 34 had irAEs and 37 did not. Using Olink proteomics, we analyzed the aberrant inflammation-related proteins (IRPs) in these patient groups. For single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis, we collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from two representative patients at the pretreatment, irAE occurrence, and resolution stages. (3) Results: Our study revealed distinct plasma protein signatures in HCC patients experiencing irAEs after PD-1 inhibition combination therapy. We clarified the relationship between monocyte activation and irAEs, identified a strongly associated CD14-MC-CCL3 monocyte subset, and explored the role of the IFN-γ signaling pathway in monocyte activation during irAEs. (4) Conclusions: The activation of monocytes induced by the IFN-γ signaling pathway is an important mechanism underlying the occurrence of irAEs in HCC patients receiving PD-1 inhibition combination therapy. Full article

To evaluate perinatal outcomes and risk factors for large for gestational age (LGA; birth weight over 90 percentile) in gestational diabetes diagnosed before 24 gestational weeks and treated with diet therapy alone until delivery (Diet Early gestational diabetes mellitus (Diet Early GDM)), we assessed the maternal characteristics and perinatal outcomes of patients with early GDM (n = 309) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 309) at Keio University Hospital. The gestational weight gain (GWG) expected at 40 weeks was significantly lower in the Diet Early GDM group than in the NGT group. The Diet Early GDM group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of low birth weight (<2500 g) and higher Apgar score at 5 min than the NGT group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the pre-pregnancy body mass index and GWG expected at 40 weeks were significantly associated with LGA for Diet Early GDM. No differences were observed in random plasma glucose levels in the first trimester, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test values, and initial increase or subsequent decrease between the two groups. Dietary early GDM did not exhibit a worse prognosis than NGT. To prevent LGA, it might be important to control maternal body weight not only during pregnancy but also before conception. Full article

The treatment of sewage sludge has become a global concern. Large amounts of sewage sludge can be disposed of by burning coal-mixed sludge. Thermogravimetric analysis and lab-scale combustion experiments in a drop tube furnace were utilized to study the combustion characteristics, pollutant emissions, and heavy metal migration during the co-combustion of coal and sewage sludge. The results showed that the blended fuels with a sewage sludge content less than 10 weight percent exhibited coal-like combustion characteristics. Additionally, the additional sewage sludge favored the ignition performance of blended fuels. When sewage sludge was added, the SO₂ emissions rose to 76 mg/Nm³ under the 10% sludge condition—nearly three times higher than that of coal alone. While NO_x emissions stayed mostly unchanged, HCl and HF emissions were very low. Meanwhile, Cr, Cu, and Ni migrated to the bottom ash, and their concentrations were all reduced with an increase in sewage sludge. Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Hg migrated to the flue gas, mostly in the form of gaseous components. The results provide crucial information in the co-combustion of sewage sludge and coal, with implications in the development and improvement of large-scale, harmless, and resource-recovering techniques for waste sludge. Full article

Despite the increasing interest in enhancing the electrochemical stability of Al alloys through protective coatings, the role of electron donor agents during coating formation remains poorly understood in terms of morphological control and anticorrosion properties in aqueous environments. In this context, 1H-Benzotriazole (BTA) was utilized as a proof of concept to regulate the in situ reactive integration of V₂O₅ into the alumina layer via the plasma electrolytic oxidation of a 6061 Al alloy. BTA played a crucial role in chemically incorporating V₂O₅ into the alumina coating by supplying electrons to VO₃⁻ ions, facilitating their reduction. The quantity of BTA added to the electrolyte was found to influence defect morphology and concurrently enhance the chemical incorporation of V₂O₅. Notably, corrosion measurements revealed that the less porous hybrid film formed with higher corrosion resistance was associated with the utilization of increased concentrations of BTA. These findings highlight the potential of BTA in modifying the structure and improving the ability of alumina coatings to resist corrosion, enabling advanced applications in protecting Al alloys from corrosion. Full article

The pursuit of sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation has led to the exploration of alternative fuel sources, among which hydrogen stands out prominently. This work delves into the potential of hydrogen fuel for internal combustion engines (ICEs), emphasizing its capacity to ensure the required performance levels while concurrently enhancing overall efficiency. The integration of a mild hybrid powertrain in a small size passenger car was considered for obtaining a twofold advantage: mitigating power loss due to low volumetric efficiency and increasing fuel economy. A comprehensive approach combining 0D/1D modeling simulations and experimental validations was employed on a gasoline-powered small size ICE, considering its conversion to hydrogen, and mild hybridization. Vehicle simulations were performed in AVL Cruise M and validated against experimental data. Various electric motors were scrutinized for a small size battery pack typical of mild hybrid vehicles. Furthermore, the paper assesses the potential range achievable with the hydrogen-powered hybrid vehicle and compares it with the range reported by the manufacturer for the original gasoline and pure electric version. In terms of global results, these modifications were found to successfully improve efficiency compared to baseline gasoline and hydrogen fueling. Additionally, performance gains were achieved, surpassing the capabilities of the original gasoline vehicle despite its intrinsic volumetric efficiency limitations when using hydrogen. Along with the conversion to hydrogen and thus zero-carbon tail-pipe emissions, incorporating a Start/Stop system, and the integration of mild hybrid technology with energy recuperation during braking, overall efficiency was enhanced by up to 30% during urban use. Furthermore, the hybridization implemented in the H₂ version allows an autonomy comparable to that of the electric vehicle but with evident shorter refilling times. Specific aspects of the 48 V battery management are also scrutinized. Full article

In this study, we investigate whether analysts in China can effectively function as watchdogs to monitor managerial ESG greenwashing practices or if they inadvertently play a role in fostering such practices. Analyzing a sample of 8498 annual records from 1282 firms listed on the Chinese A-share market from 2012 to 2022, our linear regression analysis in Stata reveals that firms with significant analyst coverage are more prone to ESG greenwashing, even after controlling for firm-level variables such as leverage (Lev), return on assets (ROA), and cash flow. This finding supports the analyst pressure hypothesis. Notably, the effect is particularly pronounced in poorly performing firms but diminishes when star analysts are involved. Furthermore, we examine the moderating effect of corporate reputation on the relationship between analyst coverage and ESG greenwashing. The results indicate that a robust firm reputation amplifies the impact of analyst scrutiny on ESG greenwashing, especially by raising stakeholder expectations. Our aim is not to undermine the role of analysts but to highlight the need for strengthened ESG regulations to enhance analyst oversight and reduce ESG greenwashing. While our findings, influenced by their Chinese context, may not be universally applicable across all regions, they offer valuable insights for emerging markets seeking to implement effective ESG practices. Full article

The retrospective noninterventional study investigated the kinetic energy of video images of 18 fertilized eggs (7 were normal and 11 were abnormal) recorded by a time-lapse device leading up to the beginning of the first cleavage. The norm values of cytoplasmic particles were measured by the optical flow method. Three phase profiles for normal cases were found regarding the kinetic energy: 2.199 × 10⁻²⁴ ± 2.076 × 10⁻²⁴, 2.369 × 10⁻²⁴ ± 1.255 × 10⁻²⁴, and 1.078 × 10⁻²⁴ ± 4.720 × 10⁻²⁵ (J) for phases 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In phase 2, the energies were 2.369 × 10⁻²⁴ ± 1.255 × 10⁻²⁴ and 4.694 × 10⁻²⁴ ± 2.996 × 10⁻²⁴ (J) (mean ± SD, p = 0.0372), and the time required was 8.114 ± 2.937 and 6.018 ± 5.685 (H) (p = 0.0413) for the normal and abnormal cases, respectively. The kinetic energy change was considered a condition for applying the free energy principle, which states that for any self-organized system to be in equilibrium in its environment, it must minimize its informational free energy. The kinetic energy, while interpreting it in terms of the free energy principle suggesting clinical usefulness, would further our understanding of the phenomenon of fertilized egg development with respect to the birth of human life. Full article

In this study, we designed a novel electrochemical sensor by modifying a glass carbon electrode (GCE) with Pd confined mesoporous carbon hollow nanospheres (Pd/MCHS) for the simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA). The structure and morphological characteristics of the Pd/MCHS nanocomposite and the Pd/MCHS/GCE sensor are comprehensively examined using SEM, TEM, XRD and EDX. The electrochemical properties of the prepared sensor are investigated through CV and DPV, which reveal three resolved oxidation peaks for AA, DA, and UA, thereby verifying the simultaneous detection of the three analytes. Benefiting from its tailorable properties, the Pd/MCHS nanocomposite provides a large surface area, rapid electron transfer ability, good catalytic activity, and high conductivity with good electrochemical behavior for the determination of AA, DA, and UA. Under optimized conditions, the Pd/MCHS/GCE sensor exhibited a linear response in the concentration ranges of 300–9000, 2–50, and 20–500 µM for AA, DA, and UA, respectively. The corresponding limit of detection (LOD) values were determined to be 51.03, 0.14, and 4.96 µM, respectively. Moreover, the Pd/MCHS/GCE sensor demonstrated outstanding selectivity, reproducibility, and stability. The recovery percentages of AA, DA, and UA in real samples, including a vitamin C tablet, DA injection, and human urine, range from 99.8–110.9%, 99.04–100.45%, and 98.80–100.49%, respectively. Overall, the proposed sensor can serve as a useful reference for the construction of a high-performance electrochemical sensing platform. Full article

Drug-resistant Morganella morganii, a rod-shaped, Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacillus belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, is a growing worldwide health concern due to its association with high morbidity and mortality rates. Recent advancements in machine learning, particularly Alphafold 2′s protein structure prediction using local physics and pattern recognition, have aided research efforts. This study focuses on the enzymatic activity of aminoglycoside N6′-acetyltransferase (aacA7), a critical transferase enzyme in bacteria that confers resistance to aminoglycosides. AacA7 modifies aminoglycoside molecules by catalyzing the acetylation of their 6′-amino group using acetyl-CoA, rendering antibiotics like kanamycin, neomycin, tobramycin, and amikacin inactive. We propose that Doripenem and OncoglabrinolC can interact with aacA7, potentially modifying its enzymatic activity. Molecular docking analysis of aacA7 with 22 drug targets revealed OncoglabrinolC as the most promising candidate, exhibiting a binding energy of −12.82 kcal/mol. These two top candidates, OncoglabrinolC and Doripenem, were then subjected to 100 ns of molecular dynamic simulations to assess their dynamic conformational features. Furthermore, the PredictSNP consensus classifier was used to predict the impact of mutations on aacA7 protein functionality. The study also investigated the interaction of wild-type and mutant aacA7 proteins with both Doripenem and OncoglabrinolC. These findings provide valuable insights into the binding behavior of OncoglabrinolC and Doripenem as potential lead molecules for repurposing against aacA7, potentially reducing the pathogenicity of Morganella morganii. Full article

The paper presents a wide-bandwidth, low-polarization semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) based on strained quantum wells. By enhancing the material gain of quantum wells for TM modes, we have extended the gain bandwidth of the SOA while reducing its polarization sensitivity. Through a combination of tilted waveguide design and cavity surface optical thin film design, we have effectively reduced the cavity surface reflectance of the SOA, thus decreasing device transmission losses and noise figure. At a wavelength of 1550 nm and a drive current of 1.4 A, the output power can reach 188 mW, with a small signal gain of 36.4 dB and a 3 dB gain bandwidth of 128 nm. The linewidth broadening is only 1.032 times. The polarization-dependent gain of the SOA is below 1.4 dB, and the noise figure is below 5.5 dB. The device employs only I-line lithography technology, offering simple fabrication processes and low costs yet delivering outstanding and stable performance. The designed SOA achieves wide gain bandwidth, high gain, low polarization sensitivity, low linewidth broadening, and low noise, promising significant applications in the wide-bandwidth optical communication field across the S + C + L bands. Full article

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the subject of nanotechnology, with a range of methods developed to synthesize precise-sized and shaped nanoparticles according to particular requirements. Often, the nanoparticles are created by employing dangerous reducing chemicals to reduce metal ions into uncharged nanoparticles. Green synthesis or biological approaches have been used recently to circumvent this issue because biological techniques are simple, inexpensive, safe, clean, and extremely productive. Nowadays, much research is being conducted on how different kinds of nanoparticles connect to proteins and nucleic acids using molecular docking models. Therefore, this review discusses the most recent advancements in molecular docking capacity to predict the interactions between various nanoparticles (NPs), such as ZnO, CuO, Ag, Au, and Fe₃O_4, and biological macromolecules. Full article

Background: The region of the tricuspid valve is an important area for various cardiac interventions. In particular, the spatial relationships between the right coronary artery and the annulus of the tricuspid valve should be considered during surgical interventions. The aim of this study was to provide an accurate description of the clinical anatomy and topography of this region. Methods: We analyzed 107 computed tomography scans (44% female, age 62.1 ± 9.4 years) of the tricuspid valve region. The circumference of the free wall of the tricuspid valve annulus was divided into 13 annular points and measurements were taken at each point. The prevalence of danger zones (distance between artery and annulus less than 2 mm) was also investigated. Results: Danger zones were found in 20.56% of the cases studied. The highest prevalence of danger zones and the smallest distances were found at the annular points of the tricuspid valve located at the posterior insertion of the leaflets, without observed sex-specific differences. Conclusion: The highest risk of iatrogenic damage to the right coronary artery is in the posterior part of the tricuspid valve annulus. Full article

In view of the problem that the output thrust of the solenoid actuator is affected by various factors and is difficult to calculate in actual working conditions, this paper proposes a semi-analytical model constructed by magnetic field subdomain method with internal and external boundary conditions in a cylindrical coordinate system for calculation, and the general solution equations of magnetic vector potential for each subdomain are derived and solved by MATLAB. Taking a push–pull electromagnet as an example, the finite element simulation and experimental comparative analysis are carried out. The correctness and applicable conditions of the subdomain method are illustrated by comparing the gradient plot of magnetic vector potential, inductance curve and electromagnetic force. It is shown that the results calculated by the subdomain method are very close to the finite element method when the magnetic saturation problem is neglected. However, when the nonlinearity of core permeability is considered, the magnetic saturation gradually deepens with the increase in current, and the error of the subdomain method calculation results gradually increases. Through simulation and experimental verification at slight magnetic saturation, the output thrust after considering the core gravity, spring force and electromagnetic force, it is shown that this method has the advantage of computational flexibility compared with the finite element method, and it is easier to write special algorithms according to various working conditions to calculate the important parameters in engineering applications. Full article