Search Results (592)

As a key spatial platform for implementing China’s Northeast Revitalization Strategy, coordinated development of production–living–ecological (PLE) functions in the Changchun Metropolitan Area is crucial for high-quality regional development. This study uses 24 counties (districts) in the metropolitan area as analytical units and develops a quantitative indicator system to evaluate PLE functions. We integrate the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method, social network analysis (SNA), and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics, spatial correlation networks, and driving mechanisms of the three functions from 2013 to 2023. Temporally, the production function follows a growth–decline–recovery trajectory, the living function increases overall despite fluctuations, and the ecological function strengthens continuously. Overall, the three functions increasingly exhibit coupling and synergy. Spatially, the production function concentrates in core areas and diffuses along major axes. The living function is led by the core and followed by county-level catch-up. The ecological function is higher in the east, relatively stable in the west, and connected by corridors, together forming a multi-center, axis-based synergistic pattern. In the spatial correlation networks, densities of the production and ecological networks remain largely stable, whereas the living network becomes markedly denser. The three networks display distinct topologies and continue to evolve structurally. For driving mechanisms, the GTWR model provides the best fit. Geographic proximity positively contributes to the formation of all three functional networks, while the eight explanatory factors show pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity. These findings provide an evidence base for optimizing functional coordination and implementing differentiated spatial governance in metropolitan areas. Full article

Under the dual impact of environmental issues and the energy crisis, new energy vehicles (NEVs) have gradually become a phenomenal emerging industry in China, also essentially becoming a new engine to support the growth of China’s economy. While topics related to the NEV industry have gained widespread attention, there is a lack of studies specifically focusing on the characteristics of its industrial spatial distribution pattern. Based on the data related to NEV-listed companies located in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in 2022, this study constructs the corresponding city network using the method of social network analysis (SNA) and interprets the structural features of this network. The results reveal the following: (1) The network exhibits three fundamental characteristics: low density, short path length, and multiple centers. (2) The NEV industry in the YRD has formed the agglomeration pattern of three major “clubs”, projected on the map in the shape of a “golden bow”. (3) Cities in the YRD show a “pyramid-type” collaboration in the NEV industry. (4) Collaboration between cities in the NEV industry can cross the limits of geographic proximity and even administrative boundaries. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between craniocervical posture and skeletal malocclusion patterns in adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 80 adolescents aged 10–15 years diagnosed with skeletal Class I, Class II Division 1, Class II Division 2, or Class III malocclusion. Postural parameters—Sagittal Head Angle (SHA), Craniocervical Angle (CA), and Shoulder Angle (SA)—were assessed using standardized sagittal-plane digital photographs obtained in Natural Head Position. Skeletal classification and cephalometric measurements (SNA°, SNB°, ANB°, GoGn/SN°, and Occlusal Plane/SN°) were determined from lateral cephalometric radiographs. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, and posture–skeletal relationships were evaluated using Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses (p < 0.05). Results: No significant differences were observed in postural parameters among skeletal malocclusion classes (p > 0.05). In the overall sample, SHA showed weak negative correlations with SNA° (r = −0.284, p < 0.01) and SNB° (r = −0.381, p < 0.01), and a weak positive correlation with Occlusal Plane/SN° (r = 0.235, p < 0.05). No significant associations were identified for CA or SA. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that these associations were present exclusively in the Class II Division 2 group, where SHA showed strong negative correlations with both SNA° (r = −0.653, p < 0.01) and SNB° (r = −0.605, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Sagittal head posture may show phenotype-specific associations during adolescence, particularly in Class II Division 2 malocclusion. Incorporating postural assessment into orthodontic evaluation may enhance diagnostic understanding during growth. Full article

Background/Objectives: To identify US military unknowns, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System’s Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory has historically relied upon mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat testing. Where no appropriate family reference sample (FRS) is available or skeletal samples are degraded, autosomal single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) testing with next-generation sequencing could assist. Methods: A method utilizing hybridization capture enrichment of a 95,000 (95K) SNP panel, amenable to FRS and extremely challenging samples, was validated. The Parabon Fx Forensic Analysis Platform was used for analysis and extended kinship inference. Skeletal samples (n = 65) and associated FRS (n = 64) were selected for a performance evaluation and case-type sample study. Results: Considering FRS with ≥7 ng DNA input into library preparation, 94% yielded ≥66,320 SNPs at ≥5X coverage. SNP recovery for skeletal samples at ≥1X coverage ranged from 5 to 94,197 SNPs, averaging 40,770 SNPs. When skeletal samples resulted in ≥13,000 SNPs, the most likely relationship category was consistent with the expected relationship. A log10 likelihood ratio of ≥4 and a posterior probability of ≥99.99% were established as thresholds for strong statistical support, and 87% of inferences met these thresholds while 13% were considered inconclusive. Pairwise kinship inference between unrelated individuals yielded an unrelated result in 85% of comparisons, 66% with strong statistical support. There were 170 instances of false positive 4th degree relationship inferences with strong statistical support. All false positives involved skeletal samples from individuals of admixed ancestry. Conclusions: With this approach, autosomal SNP testing can result in reliable kinship inferences between related individuals out to 3rd, and in some cases 4th, degree relationships, increasing the scope of eligible FRS to aid in identifications. Full article

With the ongoing reform of higher education, the University Practice Education Community (UPEC) has become a crucial platform for advancing collaborative education and innovating talent cultivation models. However, research remains insufficient on the influencing factors of UPEC’s sustainable development and, in particular, on how these factors interact with one another. From a complex systems perspective, this study conceptualizes UPEC as a dynamic and interconnected system in which multiple factors jointly shape sustainability outcomes. Accordingly, the overall objective is to (i) identify key influencing factors, (ii) model and quantify their interrelationships, and (iii) pinpoint critical factors and interaction pathways that structure UPEC sustainability. Adopting this holistic view, we integrate literature review, expert interviews, questionnaire surveys, and social network analysis (SNA) to systematically identify and analyze twenty influencing factors. SNA, as a systems-oriented analytical tool, enables the mapping of structural relationships and interaction pathways among factors, revealing how these interdependencies collectively form the governance ecosystem of UPEC. The results identify eight key factors—including willingness for multi-stakeholder collaboration, stability of cooperation mechanisms, policy and institutional support, effectiveness of communication and coordination mechanisms, feedback and improvement mechanisms, enthusiasm of industry and enterprise participation, local government support, and influence of public opinion—along with five critical paths linking subsystems through chain effects. Based on this diagnostic evidence, this study further outlines strategy implications to support practice-oriented improvement, while the primary contribution remains the identification of key factors and critical interaction structures underlying UPEC sustainability. Full article

Although deep learning has achieved remarkable success in time-series prediction, intraday algorithmic trading is characterized by frequent regime shifts (concept drift), which can rapidly render models trained on historical data obsolete in real applications. This motivates on-device adaptation at edge trading terminals. However, practical deployment is constrained by a tripartite bottleneck: real-time samples are scarce, hardware resources on edge are limited, and communication overhead between cloud and edge must be kept low to satisfy stringent latency requirements. To address these challenges, we develop a hardware-aware edge learning framework that combines federated learning (FL) and meta-learning to enable rapid few-shot personalization without exposing local data. Importantly, the framework incorporates our proposed Sleep Node Algorithm (SNA), which turns the “FL + meta-learning” combination into a practical and efficient edge solution. Specifically, SNA dynamically deactivates “inertial” (insensitive) network components during adaptation: it provides a structural regularizer that stabilizes few-shot updates and mitigates overfitting under concept drift, while inducing sparsity that reduces both on-device computation and cloud-edge communication. To efficiently leverage these unstructured zero nodes introduced by SNA, we further design a dedicated accelerator, EPAST (Energy-efficient Pipelined Accelerator for Sparse Training). EPAST adopts a heterogeneous architecture and introduces a dedicated Backward Pipeline (BPIP) dataflow that overlaps backpropagation stages, thereby improving hardware utilization under irregular sparse workloads. Experimental results demonstrate that our system consistently outperforms strong baselines, including DQN, GARCH-XGBoost, and LRU, in terms of Pearson IC. A 55 nm CMOS ASIC implementation further validates robust learning under an extreme 5-shot setting (IC = 0.1176), achieving an end-to-end training speed-up of $11.35\times$ and an energy efficiency of 45.78 TOPS/W. Full article

To address the difficulty of simultaneously achieving fast response, high stability, and strong disturbance rejection in gimbal systems operating under complex conditions, an adaptive control strategy based on offline–online cooperative optimization is proposed. The method is built upon the conventional proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control framework. First, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed offline to obtain an optimized set of initial control parameters, thereby improving the transient response during the startup phase. Subsequently, a single-neuron adaptive (SNA) mechanism is introduced to adjust the control parameters online according to real-time error information, enhancing the system’s adaptability to environmental variations and external disturbances. Stability analysis demonstrates the convergence of the proposed control scheme. Finally, an experimental gimbal platform is constructed to validate the effectiveness of the method. Experimental results show that, under various disturbance conditions, the proposed strategy effectively reduces angular fluctuation amplitude, shortens the settling time, and maintains smooth control performance. These results indicate that the proposed control strategy exhibits strong robustness and significant engineering applicability. Full article

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling plays a key role in male pattern baldness. We investigated whether targeting Dickkopf 1 (DKK1) and Secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1), two AR-regulated genes, offers a novel therapeutic strategy for hair loss. AR expression was validated in freshly frozen human scalp hair follicles (HFs). AR knockdown was induced in human HFs using AR spherical nucleic acid (SNA). DKK1 and SFRP1 siRNA treatment were performed in HEK293 cells, human dermal papilla cells (hDPC), and human HFs ex vivo. Functional effects of single and combined DKK1 and SFRP1 knockdown were analyzed in human HFs ex vivo by quantitative (immuno)histomorphology. AR knockdown decreased SFRP1 and DKK1 expression. We found reciprocal mRNA upregulation between DKK1 and SFRP1 following their siRNA knockdown in HEK293 and hDPC. We therefore applied a single and combined treatment of DKK1 and SFRP1 siRNA in HFs ex vivo. SFRP1 knockdown prolonged anagen, increased hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and increased DKK1 levels in HFs ex vivo, whereas DKK1 knockdown had no effect, and combined knockdown did not enhance SFRP1’s benefits. The culture-dependent compensatory regulation of SFRP1 and DKK1 underscores Wnt-signaling complexity in hair growth and strengthens the rationale for SFRP1 based therapies in anagen maintenance and hair loss. Full article

Background/Objectives: Maxillary canine impaction is a multifactorial condition that may adversely affect esthetics, function, and occlusal stability. Although various etiologic factors have been proposed, the skeletal characteristics observed in individuals with maxillary canine impaction remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to evaluate sagittal, vertical, and transverse skeletal characteristics in individuals with impacted maxillary canines using lateral and posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs. Methods: This retrospective study included lateral and posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs of 100 individuals (mean age: 15.85 ± 1.69 years) with at least one impacted maxillary canine. Sagittal skeletal relationships were assessed using SNA, ANB, and Wits appraisal, while vertical relationships were evaluated using the GoGn/SN and FH/MP angles. Transverse skeletal dimensions (JR–JL, JR–ZAg, JL–ZAg, and Ag–Ag) were evaluated and compared with a matched control group without impacted maxillary canines using independent-samples t-tests. Results: Sagittal and vertical evaluations demonstrated distributional patterns of skeletal classifications within the impaction sample. Transverse analysis revealed significantly reduced maxillary width (JR–JL) and increased maxillomandibular transverse measurements (JR–ZAg and JL–ZAg) in the impaction group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Sagittal and vertical skeletal findings represent distributional characteristics among affected individuals, whereas statistically significant differences were identified only for transverse skeletal dimensions. These findings underscore the clinical relevance of transverse skeletal assessment in individuals with impacted maxillary canines. Prospective studies are required before such observations can be translated into risk prediction. Full article

The international wheat trade serves as a vital pathway for balancing the global food supply and demand while facilitating the cross-regional allocation of cropland resources. Based on the telecoupling framework, this study constructed a global virtual-cropland-flow network using wheat trade data from eight time points between 1995 and 2023. Social network analysis and quadratic assignment procedure regression were applied to examine its structural evolution and driving factors. The findings reveal that (1) while growing in connectivity, the virtual cropland network exhibits structural vulnerability and evolutionary complexity. (2) The network demonstrated a clear telecoupled structure, with the sending system shifting from U.S.–Canada dominance towards multipolarity, and the receiving system centered in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, with China at its core. The United States and France are major spillover systems. (3) Economic development and foreign demand significantly promote the establishment and intensification of trade relationships between countries. Geographical distance has a dual effect: it strongly negatively influences trade initiation but can be overcome by high complementarity between countries during trade deepening. (4) International wheat trade contributes to global cropland savings but also introduces systemic risks and environmental spillovers in some countries. The results provide theoretical support for building sustainable food trade and agricultural resource governance systems and offer important insights for advancing SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), sustainable land systems, and the optimization of global land governance. Full article

Background: The aims of the study were to describe facial morphology and analyze facial growth in adolescents with Robin sequence (RS) or Stickler syndrome. Methods: The facial morphology, mandibular size, and facial growth of 69 adolescents (ages 12–18) with RS were analyzed using existing cephalometric radiographs (n = 37) and photographs (n = 69). All participants were followed in our institution since birth. None underwent growth-modifying treatment for micrognathia during infancy, but all had conservative orthodontic treatment during adolescence. Results: Cross-sectional cephalometric analysis according to Tweed revealed differences in RS adolescents as compared with reference values, such as a proportionate retrusion of both jaws, as indicated by decreased SNA and SNB angles (p < 0.05). This finding was mostly associated with skeletal Class I (62.2%) and a vertical facial pattern as indicated by increased FMA and CoGoMe angles (p < 0.05). In Delaire’s analysis, patients showed decreased maxillary, maxillary alveolar (p < 0.05), and mandibular body territories (p > 0.05) but increased ramus (p > 0.05) and nasopremaxillary territories (p < 0.05). According to Ricketts’ analysis, mandibular width was decreased in half of our patients (p > 0.05). The mandibles were harmoniously downsized before and after the growth spurt (p < 0.05); however, they exhibited greater growth velocities than controls. A long-term study during puberty revealed an increase in SNB angles and a decrease in ANB angles (both p < 0.05), which improved the maxillomandibular relationship. Additionally, the vertical facial pattern attenuated (FMA, SNGoGn, and CoGoMe angles decreased; p > 0.05). On cross-sectional photographic analysis, 33.3% of patients had an orthofrontal (straight), 59.4% a cisfrontal (convex), and 7.3% a transfrontal (concave) profile. Their vertical facial proportions were normal. In the subjective profile analysis, most patients (approximately 84%) had good or acceptable profiles, with no major deficit of chin projection. The initial degree of neonatal retrognathia and type of cleft palate surgery did not affect major skeletal parameters (p > 0.05). However, the degree of neonatal functional impairment affected the vertical parameters (SNGoGn, FMA angle; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Overall, RS patients presented a bi-retrognathic profile, a normal jaw relationship, and a tendency toward a vertical growth pattern. Partial mandibular catch-up growth occurred during the pubertal growth spurt. The degree of neonatal retrognathia does not predict further mandibular growth. Full article

Against the backdrop of China’s commitment to achieving carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, inter-provincial carbon emissions form a complex interconnected spatial network—clarifying its operational mechanisms is crucial for optimizing regional carbon reduction strategies. Based on 2006–2021 data from 30 Chinese provinces, this study constructs the China Provincial Carbon Emission Spatial Correlation Network (CPCESCN) using a modified gravity model. Social Network Analysis (SNA) explores its structural characteristics, while motif and QAP correlation analyses identify endogenous structural and attribute variables. Innovatively integrating Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGM) and Stochastic Actor-Oriented Models (SAOM), it investigates the network’s static formation mechanisms and dynamic evolution drivers. Results show CPCESCN has a stable multi-threaded structure without isolated nodes, with Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shandong, Zhejiang, Henan, and Sichuan as high-centrality core nodes with high centrality. GDP, green technology innovation, urbanization rate, industrialization rate, energy consumption intensity, and environmental regulations significantly influence network dynamics, with reciprocal relationships as key endogenous drivers. While geographic proximity still facilitates network formation, its impact has weakened notably, and functional complementarity has become the dominant evolutionary driver—based on the findings, policy suggestions are proposed, including deepening inter-provincial functional cooperation, implementing differentiated carbon reduction policies, and optimizing multi-dimensional low-carbon transformation systems. Full article

Calcium is essential for legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation, acting as both a nutrient and a signal. Yet, how varying calcium levels—from deficiency to toxicity—affect the soybean ‘root-nodule-stem’ balance has not been fully elucidated. To investigate this mechanism, a two-year sand culture experiment was conducted with three treatments: low calcium (0.1 mmol/L), moderate calcium (1 mmol/L), and high calcium (10 mmol/L), to systematically analyze their effects on soybean plant growth, nitrogenase activity, and nitrogen fixation capacity. The results indicated that the moderate calcium treatment supported the best root growth and nodule development, with both leghemoglobin (Lb) content and specific nitrogenase activity (SNA) reaching their peak levels. Low calcium stress significantly inhibited root elongation, while poor nodule development accompanied by a decrease in Lb content, thereby suppressing nitrogen fixation potential. In contrast to the low calcium treatment, although high calcium treatment inhibited root growth, it significantly increased the allocation of total plant dry matter to the root system. Under high calcium treatment, the ureide content in nodules increased significantly, whereas the ureide content in stems decreased substantially. This distributional imbalance suggests that high calcium obstructed the long-distance transport of nitrogen fixation products, subsequently leading to a significant decline in nitrogenase activity through a negative metabolic feedback mechanism. Calcium deficiency primarily resulted in structural impairments in nodule development, whereas high calcium induced functional inhibition by blocking ureide transport. Maintaining calcium homeostasis is important for ensuring efficient nitrogen fixation and source-sink balance in soybeans. Full article

A well-structured urban park system (UPS) is crucial for optimizing urban spatial layout and improving the quality of the human living environment. In response to the tendency of current planning to prioritize quantitative indicators while overlooking the relational structure arising from the collective spatial configuration of parks, this study introduces Social Network Analysis (SNA) to evaluate the spatial structure of Shanghai’s park system by constructing a service-coverage overlap network. The findings reveal the following: (1) Parks with high degree centrality are concentrated in high-density urban core areas due to service overlap, whereas large suburban parks with high betweenness centrality function as critical bridging hubs, reflecting a polycentric structure. (2) There is a discernible discrepancy between these emergent network tiers and the statutory park hierarchy, highlighting a tension between bottom-up spatial patterns and top-down planning frameworks. (3) Stability simulations indicate a dual character of the system, where the network topology is vulnerable to attacks yet functionally resilient to failures due to spatial redundancy, suggesting that a decline in service quality may precede the loss of basic accessibility. This study demonstrates the value of SNA in diagnosing park system structure, identifying key nodes, and assessing system resilience. The insights advocate for planning approaches that transcend rigid hierarchical frameworks, integrate the actual functional roles of parks, and protect structural hubs, thereby enhancing systemic resilience and promoting equitable service provision. Full article

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. L.) is a globally vital sugar and energy crop whose genetic improvement has been constrained by its complex polyploid–allopolyploid genome. To address this limitation, we developed a practical, high-throughput single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping system. Using specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) on 107 diverse accessions, we identified 2,420,550 high-quality SNPs anchored to the Saccharum officinarum LA-Purple genome. Stringent filtering yielded 55,750 SNPs for population analysis, which revealed three distinct genetic groups consistent with breeding history and adaptation. From these resources, 329 SNPs were converted into PCR-based ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) markers, resulting in a validated panel of 177 highly reliable SNPs (151 core and 26 extended) organized into an efficient multiplex typing system. The panel exhibited exceptional discriminatory power, successfully distinguishing all 303 tested sugarcane varieties and clearly resolving 186 individuals from three segregated hybrid populations. Compared to existing SSR and SNaPshot platforms, this SNP system offers superior experimental reproducibility, enhanced varietal clustering, and broader genome coverage. This work provides a robust, efficient genotyping tool to advance sugarcane variety identification, germplasm management, pedigree analysis, and marker-assisted breeding, with potential applicability to other complex polyploid crops. Full article