Search Results (1,195)

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is an important factor in female infertility and is often associated with oxidative stress. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOSs), derived from the degradation of alginate, have been demonstrated to have protective effects against various oxidative stress-related diseases. However, the impact of AOSs on POI has not been previously explored. The current study explored the effects of AOSs on ovarian dysfunction in a mouse model of POI induced by D-galactose (D-gal). Female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups: the control (CON), POI model (D-gal), and low-, medium-, and high-dose AOS groups (AOS-L, 100 mg/kg/day; AOS-M, 150 mg/kg/day; AOS-H, 200 mg/kg/day). For 42 consecutive days, mice in the D-gal, AOS-L, AOS-M, and AOS-H groups received daily intraperitoneal injections of D-gal (200 mg/kg/day), whereas those in the CON group received equivalent volumes of sterile saline. Following D-gal injection, AOSs were administered via gavage at the specified doses; mice in the CON and D-gal groups received sterile saline instead. AOS treatment markedly improved estrous cycle irregularities, normalized serum hormone levels, reduced granulosa cell apoptosis, and increased follicle counts in POI mice. Moreover, AOSs significantly reduced ovarian oxidative stress and senescence in POI mice, as indicated by lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), higher activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and decreased protein expression of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), nitrotyrosine (NTY), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and p16 in ovarian tissue. Analysis of the gut microbiota through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) analysis revealed significant differences in gut microbiota composition and SCFA levels (acetic acid and total SCFAs) between control and D-gal-induced POI mice. These differences were largely alleviated by AOS treatment. AOSs changed the gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of Ligilactobacillus and decreasing the abundance of Clostridiales, Clostridiaceae, Marinifilaceae, and Clostridium_T. Additionally, AOSs mitigated the decline in acetic acid and total SCFA levels observed in POI mice. Notably, the total SCFA level was significantly correlated with the abundance of Ligilactobacillus, Marinifilaceae, and Clostridium_T. In conclusion, AOS intervention effectively mitigates ovarian oxidative stress, restores gut microbiota homeostasis, and regulates the microbiota–SCFA axis, collectively improving D-gal-induced POI. Therefore, AOSs represent a promising therapeutic strategy for POI management. Full article

Objective: This study aims to examine the anterior chamber structure and related factors in 8-year-old children based on data from The Yamanashi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS). Methods: A total of 709 children aged 8 years (350 boys and 359 girls) who participated in the JECS Adjunct Study were included. The right eyes were primarily used for measurements. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) was utilized to scan the anterior chambers of the participants’ eyes. The following parameters were measured: Angle Opening Distance (AOD500, 750), Trabecular Iris Space Area (TISA500, 750), Anterior Chamber Angle (ACA500, 750), Peripheral Iris Thickness (IT500, 750), and Peripheral Corneal Thickness (PCT500, 750). The relationships between anterior chamber structure, axial length (AL), spherical equivalent (SE), logMAR (without correction), and body height were analyzed. Results: A significant negative correlation was found between SE and ACA (500: coefficient = −0.19; 750: −0.24), AOD (500: −0.19; 750: −0.24), and TISA (500: −0.17; 750: −0.23) (p < 0.001). Conversely, a significant positive correlation was observed between AL and ACA (500: 0.22; 750: 0.26), AOD (500: 0.25; 750: 0.30), and TISA (500: 0.24; 750: 0.29) (p < 0.001). Boys exhibited a longer AL (boys: girls = 23.30 ± 0.76 mm; girls = 22.79 ± 0.72 mm) and greater CT (500: boys = 812.82 ± 51.94 mm; girls = 784.48 ± 51.81 mm; 750: boys = 776.01 ± 48.64 mm; girls = 751.34 ± 49.63 mm) compared to girls (p < 0.001) despite no significant difference in body height. CT and IT showed no correlation with AL or SE, and visual acuity had minimal correlation with IT and CT. Conclusions: In our cohort of eight-year-old children, the anterior chamber angle structure correlates with ocular structures and refractive error, revealing notable differences between boys and girls. Full article

This study investigates the effects of key atmospheric features on mineral dust emissions and transport in the Sahara–Sahel region, focusing on the Bodélé Depression, during June 2006 and 2011. We use a combination of high-resolution atmospheric simulations (AROME model), satellite observations (MODIS), and reanalysis data (ERA5, ECMWF) to examine the roles of the low-level jet (LLJ), Saharan heat low (SHL), Intertropical Discontinuity (ITD), and African Easterly Jet (AEJ) in modulating dust activity. Our results reveal significant interannual variability in aerosol optical depth (AOD) between the two periods, with a marked decrease in June 2011 compared to June 2006. The LLJ emerges as a dominant factor in dust uplift over Bodélé, with its intensity strongly influenced by local topography, particularly the Tibesti Massif. The position and intensity of the SHL also play crucial roles, affecting the configuration of monsoon flow and Harmattan winds. Analysis of wind patterns shows a strong negative correlation between AOD and meridional wind in the Bodélé region, while zonal wind analysis emphasizes the importance of the AEJ and Tropical Easterly Jet (TEJ) in dust transport. Surprisingly, we observe no significant correlation between ITD position and AOD measurements, highlighting the complexity of dust emission processes. This study is the first to combine climatological context and case studies to demonstrate the effects of African monsoon variability on dust uplift at intra-seasonal timescales, associated with the modulation of ITD latitude position, SHL, LLJ, and AEJ. Our findings contribute to understanding the complex relationships between large-scale atmospheric features and dust dynamics in this key source region, with implications for improving dust forecasting and climate modeling efforts. Full article

The high pH and heavy metal leaching of argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag limit its application in agriculture. Slag carbonation can aid in decreasing slag alkalinity and inhibit heavy metal release; the environmental safety of utilizing carbonated AOD slag (CAS) as a fertilizer remains a topic of significant debate, however. In this work, pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) was planted in CAS-fertilized soil to investigate the accumulation and migration behavior of heavy metals in the soil–plant system and perform an associated risk assessment. Our results demonstrated that CAS addition increases Ca, Si, and Cr concentrations but decreases Mg and Fe concentrations in soil leachates. Low rates (0.25–1%) of CAS fertilization facilitate the growth of pakchoi, resulting in the absence of soil contamination and posing no threat to human health. At the optimal slag addition rate of 0.25%, the pakchoi leaf biomass, stem biomass, leaf area, and seedling height increased by 34.2%, 17.2%, 26.3%, and 8.7%, respectively. The accumulation of heavy metals results in diverging characteristics in pakchoi. Cr primarily accumulates in the roots; in comparison, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Hg preferentially accumulate in the leaves. The migration rate of the investigated heavy metals from the soil to pakchoi follows the order of Cr > Cd > Hg > Ni > Pb; in comparison, that from the roots to the leaves follows the order Cd > Ni > Hg > Cr > Pb. Appropriate utilization of CAS as a mineral fertilizer can aid in improving pakchoi yield, achieving sustainable economic benefits, and preventing environmental pollution. Full article

Ultrahigh resolution fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) mass concentration remote sensing products are crucial for atmospheric environmental monitoring, pollution source verification, health exposure risk assessment, and other fine-scale applications in urban environments. This study developed an ultrahigh resolution retrieval algorithm to estimate 30 m resolution PM_2.5 mass concentrations over urban areas from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2A/B satellite measurements. The algorithm utilized aerosol optical depth (AOD) products retrieved from the Landsat-8 OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI measurements from 2017 to 2020, combined with multi-source auxiliary data to establish a PM_2.5-AOD relationship model across China. The results showed an overall high coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.82 and 0.76 for the model training accuracy based on samples and stations, respectively. The model prediction accuracy in Beijing and Wuhan reached R² values of 0.86 and 0.85. Applications in both cities demonstrated that ultrahigh resolution PM_2.5 has significant advantages in resolving fine-scale spatial patterns of urban air pollution and pinpointing pollution hotspots. Furthermore, an analysis of point source pollution at a typical heavy pollution emission enterprise confirmed that ultrahigh spatial resolution PM_2.5 can accurately identify the diffusion trend of point source pollution, providing fundamental data support for refined monitoring of urban air pollution and air pollution prevention and control. Full article

Lonicera japonica Thunb. is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb whose floral buds are the primary source of pharmacological compounds that require manual harvesting. As a result, its floral bud duration, determined by the opening time, is a key determinant of both quality and economic value. However, the genetic mechanisms controlling floral bud duration remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed population structure analysis and molecular experiments to identify candidate genes associated with this trait. The improved cultivar Beihua No. 1 (BH1) opens its floral buds significantly later than the landrace Damaohua (DMH). Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) to BH1 indicated that jasmonate acts as a negative regulator of floral bud duration by accelerating floral bud opening. A genome-wide selection scan across 35 germplasms with varying floral bud durations identified the transcription factor LjWRKY50 as the causative gene influencing this trait. The dual-luciferase reporter assay and qRT-PCR experiments showed that LjWRKY50 activates the expression of the jasmonate biosynthesis gene, LjAOS. A functional variant within LjWRKY50 (Chr7:24636061) was further developed into a derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) marker. These findings provide valuable insights into the jasmonate-mediated regulation of floral bud duration, offering genetic and marker resources for molecular breeding in L. japonica. Full article

Dust aerosols can influence climate change, the ecological environment, human health, etc. and are one of the most important factors causing global change. The specific contributions of dust events, gusts, and dust devils to dust emission remain unclear in many regions. In this study, we quantified dust emissions generated by dust events, gusts, and dust devils in the center of the Taklimakan Desert of northwestern China and investigated their respective contributions to atmospheric dust aerosols. The results illustrated that monthly dust emissions and the dust emission time for dust events, gusts, and dust devils peaked in July, August, and June, respectively, and the average monthly contributions to dust emissions were 48.2, 10.6, and 41.2% and those to emission time were 60.5, 25.5, and 14.0%, respectively. Although the dust emissions for the dust event were comparable to the sum of gusts and dust devils, the average value of AOD corresponding to the dust event was roughly 2.5 times higher than that of a non-dust day. The results presented in this study not only highlight the undeniable contribution of gusts and dust devils to dust emissions but also indicate that the specific contributions to atmospheric dust aerosols from gusts and dust devils remain uncertain. Full article

Precise photovoltaic (PV) performance modeling is essential for optimizing system design, operational monitoring, and reliable power forecasting—yet spectral correction is often overlooked, despite its significant impact on energy yield uncertainty. This study employs the FARMS-NIT model to assess the impact of spectral irradiance on eight PV technologies across 79 European sites, grouped by Köppen–Geiger climate classification. Unlike previous studies limited to clear-sky or single-site analysis, this work integrates satellite-derived spectral data for both all-sky and clear-sky scenarios, enabling hourly, tilt-optimized simulations that reflect real-world operating conditions. Spectral analyses reveal European climates exhibit blue-shifted spectra versus AM1.5 reference, only 2–5% resembling standard conditions. Thin-film technologies demonstrate superior spectral gains under all-sky conditions, though the underlying drivers vary significantly across climatic regions—a distinction that becomes particularly evident in the clear-sky analysis. Crystalline silicon exhibits minimal spectral sensitivity (<1.6% variations), with PERC/PERT providing highest stability. CZTSSe shows latitude-dependent performance with ≤0.7% variation: small gains at high latitudes and losses at low latitudes. Atmospheric parameters were analyzed in detail, revealing that air mass (AM), clearness index (K_t), precipitable water (W), and aerosol optical depth (AOD) play key roles in shaping spectral effects, with different parameters dominating in distinct climate groups. Full article

Free space optical communication (FSOC) systems operating in the space–atmosphere channel are susceptible to severe turbulence-induced scintillation, particularly in up-link configurations where the adaptive optics (AO) pre-correction becomes ineffective due to anisoplanatic constraints. This study presents a novel scintillation suppression strategy utilizing self-focusing optical pin-like beams (OPBs) with tailored phase modulation, combining theoretical derivation and numerical simulation. It is found that increasing the shape factor γ and modulation depth C elevates the average received power and reduces the scintillation index at the focal point. Meanwhile, quantitative evaluation of the five OPB configurations shows that the parameter set γ = 1.4 and C = 7 × 10⁻⁵ gives a peak scintillation suppression efficiency. It shows that turbulence induced scintillation is suppressed by 44% with the turbulence intensity D/r₀ = 10, demonstrating exceptional effectiveness in up-link transmission. The findings demonstrate that OPB with optimized γ and C establish an approach for uplink FSOC, which is achieved through suppressed scintillation and stabilized power reception. Full article

Aerosols are critical to the Earth’s atmosphere, influencing climate through interactions with solar radiation and clouds. However, accurately replicating the interactions between aerosols and clouds remains challenging due to the complexity of the physical processes involved. This study evaluated the performance of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) models in simulating aerosol optical depth (AOD), cloud fraction (CF), and liquid water path (LWP) by comparing them with satellite observations from MODIS and AMSR-E. Using 30 years of CMIP6 model simulations and available satellite observations during the satellite era, the results show that most CMIP6 models underestimate CF and LWP by 24.3% for LWP in the Northern Hemisphere. An assessment of spatial patterns indicates that models generally align more closely with observations in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. Latitudinal profiles reveal that while most models capture the overall distribution patterns, they struggle to accurately reproduce observed magnitudes. A quantitative scoring system is applied to evaluate each model’s ability to replicate the spatial characteristics of multi-year mean aerosol and cloud properties. Overall, the findings suggest that CMIP6 models perform better in simulating AOD and CF than LWP, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. Full article

The updated MODIS Collection 6.1 (C6.1) Dark Target (DT) aerosol optical depth (AOD) is extensively utilized in aerosol-climate studies in China. Nevertheless, the long-term accuracy of this data remains under-evaluated, especially for the forested areas. This study was undertaken to substantiate the accuracy of MODIS Terra (MOD04) and Aqua (MYD04) at 3 km resolution AOD retrievals at six forested sites in China from 2004 to 2022. The results revealed that MODIS C6.1 DT MOD04 and MYD04 datasets display good correlation (R = 0.75), low RMSE (0.20, 0.18), but significant underestimation, with only 53.57% (Terra) and 52.20% (Aqua) of retrievals within expected error (EE). Both the Terra and Aqua struggled in complex terrain (Gongga Mt.) and high aerosol loads (AOD > 1). In northern sites, MOD04 outperformed MYD04 with better correlation and a relatively high number of retrievals percentage within EE. In contrast, MYD04 outperformed MOD04 in central region with better R (0.69 vs. 0.62), and high percentage within EE (68.70% vs. 63.62%). Since both products perform well in the central region, MODIS C6.1 DT products are recommended for this region. In southern sites, MOD04 product performs relatively better than MYD04 with a marginally higher percentage within EE. However, MYD04 shows better correlation, although a higher number of retrievals fall below EE compared to MOD04. Seasonal biases, driven by snow and dust, were pronounced at northern sites during winter and spring. Southern sites faced issues during biomass burning seasons and complex terrain further degraded accuracy. MOD04 demonstrated a marginally superior performance compared to MYD04, yet both failed to achieve the global validation benchmark (66% within). The proposed results highlight critical limitations of current aerosol retrieval algorithms in forest and mountainous landscapes, necessitating methodological refinements to improve satellite-based derived AOD accuracy in ecological sensitive areas. Full article

Aerosol optical depth (AOD) serves as a critical indicator for atmospheric aerosol monitoring and air quality assessment, and quantifies the radiative attenuation caused by airborne particulate matter. This study uses MODIS remote sensing imagery together with land use transition datasets (2000–2020) and road network density metrics (2014–2020), to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of AOD in Zhejiang Province and its synergistic correlations with urbanization patterns and transportation infrastructure. By integrating MODIS_1KM AOD product, grid-based road network density mapping, land use dynamic degree modeling, and transfer matrix analysis, this study systematically evaluates the interdependencies among aerosol loading, impervious surface expansion, and transportation network intensification. The results indicate that during the study period (2000–2020), the provincial AOD level shows a significant declining trend, with obvious spatial heterogeneity: the AOD values in eastern coastal industrial zones and urban agglomerations continue to increase, with lower values dominating southwestern forested highlands. Meanwhile, statistical analyses confirm highly positive correlations between AOD, impervious surface coverage, and road network density, emphasizing the dominant role of anthropogenic activities in aerosol accumulation. These findings provide actionable insights for enhancing land-use zoning, minimizing vehicular emissions, and developing spatially targeted air quality management strategies in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study provides a solid scientific foundation for advancing environmental sustainability by supporting policy development that balances urban expansion and air quality. It contributes to building more sustainable and resilient cities in Zhejiang Province. Full article

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) are among the key technologies envisaged for sixth-generation (6G) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)–orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless systems. However, their passive nature and the frequent absence of a line-of-sight (LoS) path in dense urban environments make uplink channel estimation and localization challenging tasks. Therefore, to achieve channel estimation and localization, this study models the RIS-mobile station (MS) channel as a double-sparse angular structure and proposes a hybrid channel parameter estimation framework for RIS-assisted MIMO-OFDM systems. In the hybrid framework, Simultaneous Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (SOMP) first estimates coarse angular supports. The coarse estimates are refined by a novel refinement stage employing a Variational Bayesian Expectation Maximization (VBEM)-based Off-Grid Sparse Bayesian Learning (OG-SBL) algorithm, which jointly updates azimuth and elevation offsets via Newton-style iterations. An Angle of Arrival (AoA)–Angle of Departure (AoD) matching algorithm is introduced to associate angular components, followed by a 3D localization procedure based on non-LoS (NLoS) multipath geometry. Simulation results show that the proposed framework achieves high angular resolution; high localization accuracy, with 97% of the results within 0.01 m; and a channel estimation error of 0.0046% at 40 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Full article

Background/Objectives: An accurate quantification of the effective antigens from different serotypes is essential for the quality control of multivalent vaccines, but it remains challenging. Herein, we developed a simple and high-throughput method using differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) for quantifying foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) antigens in monovalent and bivalent vaccines. Methods: Purified serotypes A and O FMDV were used to establish and validate the method. The DSF parameters, including the dye concentration, thermal scanning velocity, and PCR tube material, were optimized at different FMDV concentrations. The established DSF method was validated for the quantification of monovalent and A/O bivalent FMDV, and was compared with the ultracentrifugation of 86 samples from different processing stages and serotypes. Results: The DSF showed that the melting temperature (T_m) of type A (56.2 °C) was significantly higher than that of type O FMDV (50.5 °C), indicating that their T_m can be distinguished in bivalent antigens. After optimizing the DSF parameters, a strong correlation (R² > 0.998) was observed between the 146S concentration and the maximum of the first derivative of the DSF fluorescence (d(RFU)/dT) for both serotypes A and O FMDV. The method demonstrated good reproducibility (RSD < 10%) and high sensitivity (limit of detection: 0.7 μg/mL). Using a multiple linear regression analysis, the simultaneous quantification of A and O FMDV in the bivalent mixtures achieved recovery rates of 82.4–105.5%, with an RSD < 10% for most of the samples. Additionally, the DSF results correlated well with the ultracentrifugation data (Pearson ρ = 0.9789), validating its accuracy and broad applicability. Conclusions: In summary, DSF represents a simple, rapid, and high-throughput tool for the quality control of monovalent and bivalent FMDV vaccines. Full article

Background: Delirium frequently manifests in hospitalized geriatric patients and is associated with negative health outcomes. Available large-scale data regarding its prevalence rate and impact on older Thai patients are limited. This study aimed to analyze trends in the prevalence rate, its consequences, and the factors contributing to death at discharge among this population. Methods: A retrospective study of inpatients over the age of 60 who received a diagnosis of delirium was conducted, utilizing inpatient medical expense documentation for the fiscal years 2019–2023. The identification of delirium was conducted by the National Health Security Office using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Thai Modification (ICD-10-TM) code F05. Results: The 5-year prevalence rate and mortality rate of delirium were 215.1 and 18.7/100,000 population, respectively, and tended to rise over the studied periods. The average hospitalization was 10 days, and the average healthcare expenditure was about 1470 USD/visit. Respiratory disease emerged as the most common primary diagnosis in delirious patients (23.5%). Factors associated with mortality were individuals aged >80 years when juxtaposed with the cohort aged 61–70 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOD] 1.07), being female (AOR 1.13), and a primary diagnosis of respiratory disease (AOR 2.72), cardiovascular disease (AOR 1.68), musculoskeletal disease (AOR 0.61), systemic infection/septicemia (AOR 2.08); or malignancy (AOR 2.97). Conclusions: There was an upward trend in rates of both prevalence and mortality associated with delirium among hospitalized geriatric patients. Advancing age, gender, and particular primary diagnoses were associated with mortality at hospital discharge. Full article