Search Results (1,216)

The stability of bank slopes in pumped storage power stations is crucial, particularly in regions where frequent water level fluctuations occur. This study aims to investigate the degradation mechanism of bank slope under such fluctuating conditions, focusing on granite residual soil from the pumped storage power stations in Fujian, China. To explore the effects of drying-wetting cycles and matric suction on soil shear strength, drying and wetting cycles were conducted with unsaturated triaxial shear tests. The results revealed that the shear parameter strengthening effect occurs when the matric suction increases from 50 kPa to 200 kPa. Moreover, during the first five drying-wetting cycles, soil shear strength decreased sharply, with cohesion and internal friction angle decreasing by approximately 15.4% and 11.2%, respectively. This degradation trend stabilized in the later cycles. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of the soil microstructure showed an evolution from a dense structure to a penetrating cavity during the cycles. This change reflects that the strength degradation characteristics of granite residual soils are controlled by the synergistic effects of structural and frictional mechanisms, manifesting as initial degradation followed by stabilization. Additionally, by fitting the nonlinear characteristics of the experimental data, shear strength evolution functions for matric suction and drying-wetting cycles were established, revealing the effect of these factors on strength degradation. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the stability analysis of bank slopes in pumped storage power stations, offering insights into soil behavior under fluctuating water levels. Full article

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) is a primary etiological agent of acute gastroenteritis in domestic dogs. Although molecular and serological evidence have confirmed its circulation in wild carnivores, the clinical impact of spillover events in wildlife hosts remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, we investigated CPV-2 from wild coyote pups (Canis latrans) presenting with clinical gastroenteritis in northeastern Mexico. CPV-2 was successfully isolated in MDCK cells, and whole-genome sequencing was performed on two isolates, B55 and B56 (GenBank accession numbers PQ065988 and PQ065989). A comprehensive analysis identified 23 nucleotide mutations, eight of which were missense mutations resulting in amino acid substitutions in structural (VP) and non-structural (NS) proteins. Notably, amino acid substitution L354V was identified in the NS1 helicase domain of both isolates, a region critical for viral replication. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that isolates B55 and B56 cluster within the CPV-2c subtype, showing high genetic relatedness to circulating Mexican and US canine strains which strongly suggests recent cross-species transmission between domestic dogs and wild coyotes. This study provides the first complete genomic characterization of a clinical CPV-2 infection in wild coyotes in Mexico, underscoring the immediate risk of CPV-2c transmission at the domestic animal–wildlife interface. Full article

This study presents AMUSE++, an advanced speech enhancement framework that extends the MUSE++ model by redesigning its core Mamba module with two major improvements. First, the originally unidirectional one-dimensional (1D) Mamba is transformed into a bi-directional architecture to capture temporal dependencies more effectively. Second, this module is extended to a two-dimensional (2D) structure that jointly models both time and frequency dimensions, capturing richer speech features essential for enhancement tasks. In addition to these structural changes, we propose a Preliminary Denoising Module (PDM) as an advanced front-end, which is composed of multiple cascaded 2D bi-directional Mamba Blocks designed to preprocess and denoise input speech features before the main enhancement stage. Extensive experiments on the VoiceBank+DEMAND dataset demonstrate that AMUSE++ significantly outperforms both the backbone MUSE++ across a variety of objective speech enhancement metrics, including improvements in perceptual quality and intelligibility. These results confirm that the combination of bi-directionality, two-dimensional modeling, and an enhanced denoising frontend provides a powerful approach for tackling challenging noisy speech scenarios. AMUSE++ thus represents a notable advancement in neural speech enhancement architectures, paving the way for more effective and robust speech enhancement systems in real-world applications. Full article

This study evaluates the early impact of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) on key financial indicators in The Bahamas, focusing on the introduction of the SandDollar—the world’s first fully implemented retail CBDC. Using the Synthetic Control Method (SCM), the analysis constructs counterfactual scenarios to assess the effects of CBDCs on three dependent variables: outstanding loans from commercial banks as a percentage of GDP, outstanding deposits as a percentage of GDP, and the number of deposit accounts per 1000 adults. Three separate SCM models were estimated for the period 2014–2024, incorporating a broad set of control variables reflecting financial infrastructure, economic performance, demographic characteristics, and digital readiness. The findings consistently show that the SandDollar’s implementation is associated with reductions in loan issuance, deposit levels, and deposit account ownership compared to their synthetic counterparts. These results support the hypothesis that direct CBDC models may amplify “deposit substitution” and increase liquidity risks by shifting financial activity away from commercial banks. Although the SCM provides a structured causal framework, the short post-treatment period and potential pandemic-related disruptions limit the scope of a long-term understanding. The study underscores the importance of careful CBDC design, particularly the role of intermediated models in mitigating unintended financial stability risks. Full article

This paper investigates credit risk management as a dynamic system. Panel Vector Autoregression (PVAR) is employed to model interrelationships among four key components: Non-Performing Loans (NPLs), Loan Loss Provision (LLP), loan charge-off (LCO) and capital. The Cost-to-Income ratio (CIR) and Size and Net Profit-to-Equity ratio (ROE) are used as control variables. The panel dataset comprises 1461 conventional rural banks in Indonesia with a quarterly frequency from June 2010 to March 2024. There are several key findings of this study. First, credit risk management practices in rural banks predominantly follow an incurred loss approach, although the expected loss model appears to be more commonly adopted by larger institutions. Second, capital serves a critical function as a buffer against credit losses. Third, subsample investigation reveals a significant role of accounting discretionary. This study offers significant implications for both policy development and academic research in microfinance. Full article

This study develops a comprehensive two-stage hybrid framework to forecast food prices in Türkiye, addressing inflation prediction challenges in volatile emerging markets where sample sizes are limited. In the first stage, systematic relationship analyses—comprising correlation, ARDL, cointegration, and Granger causality tests—identified ten key macroeconomic predictors from Central Bank datasets. In the second stage, we evaluated diverse predictive models, including XGBoost, Gradient Boosting, Ridge, LSTM, and SVR, using rice prices as a pilot case. A critical methodological contribution is the empirical comparison of feature engineering strategies; results demonstrate that traditional “smoothing” techniques dilute volatility signals, whereas the “Log-Return Transformation Strategy” strategy significantly improves accuracy. XGBoost emerged as the champion model, achieving a remarkable R² of 0.932 (MAE: 1.68 TL) on the test set. To strictly validate this performance against small-sample limitations, a Recursive Walk-Forward Validation was conducted, confirming the model’s robustness with a strong R² of 0.870 over a 31-month rolling simulation. Furthermore, Robust Rolling SHAP analysis identified Insurance and Transportation costs as primary drivers, evidencing a strong cost-push mechanism and inflation inertia. These findings integrate econometric rigor with machine learning transparency, offering resilient early warning tools for sustainable inflation management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge influenced by social determinants of health (SDHs) such as poverty, overcrowding, malnutrition, and limited healthcare access. Although Central Asia (CA) has achieved progress through vaccination, screening, and treatment, the region continues to face severe disease consequences, unstable incidence patterns, and an escalating challenge of TB resistant to first-line drugs. This study aimed to analyze TB incidence dynamics in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan from 2000–2023, forecast trends to 2030, and identify key SDHs shaping the epidemic. Methods: Data on TB incidence were obtained from the World Bank DataBank for 2000–2023. Of 61 socioeconomic, environmental, and health-related indicators, 29 were included in the analysis. Statistical procedures in SPSS (v24.0) involved time-series forecasting through 2030, calculation of average annual percentage change (AAPC), correlation testing, and linear regression, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: TB incidence generally declined across CA during 2000–2023, though trends varied by country. Forecasts suggest continued decreases in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, while Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic display fluctuating or nonsignificant patterns, likely influenced by SDHs. Regression analyses indicated that anemia, undernourishment, and population density showed a positive relationship with TB incidence, while clean fuel access, physician density, and Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDP) were inversely related. Conclusions: The findings highlight the heterogeneous nature of TB dynamics in CA and the possible role of SDHs. Enhanced surveillance, nutritional and social interventions are required to sustain progress toward End TB targets. Full article

Echinoderms are marine invertebrates that play important roles in structuring marine benthic ecosystems. DNA barcoding has become a valuable tool for species identification; however, reference DNA barcode libraries for echinoderms remain incomplete. This study aims to: (i) develop a COI-5′ reference dataset for echinoderms from Vietnam by integrating DNA barcodes with morphological data; (ii) evaluate species resolution and barcode gaps using multiple analytical approaches; (iii) assess the consistency of species assignments from BOLD and GenBank for echinoderms collected in Vietnam; (iv) make barcode data publicly available to support global reference database development. Thirty-two echinoderm specimens representing 16 species were analyzed for COI-5′ sequences, and BLAST assignments were highly concordant with those from GenBank and BOLD. Integrative validation confirmed that all taxa were monophyletic in the Neighbor Joining Tree, formed single OTUs in Cluster Sequences, and exhibited clear barcode gaps greater than 3% to the nearest-neighbor species. These results provided species-level resolution for 75% and genus-level resolution for 90% of the records. The dataset, spanning four classes, eight orders, and eleven families, enhances barcode coverage and contributes records (ProcessIDs. BINs; GenBank accessions) to public repositories. This study delivers the first curated COI-5′ reference library, supporting regional baselines for taxonomy, conservation, and biodiversity assessment. Full article

Maize, as the global highest-yield grain crop, can impact social stability and security based on its annual yield. Given that maize viruses have caused up to 91% yield reductions, investigating maize virus diseases is of the utmost importance. In July 2020, a suspected maize yellow mosaic virus (MaYMV) was discovered in a maize field, and a MaYMV detection protocol was established. The MaYMV isolate MA70, discovered in a maize plant from Wuri District, Taiwan, in November 2022, was shown to infect both maize 42 days post-inoculation (dpi) and wheat (35 dpi), causing mosaic symptoms, through aphid transmission with corn leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis). To determine the whole genome sequence of MA70, a 5642 bp sequence was obtained using RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Sequencing results indicated a 94.8–96.8% nucleotide sequence similarity with 54 MaYMV isolates from GenBank and with amino acid sequence identities exceeding 90% for all MaYMV proteins. Phylogenetic analysis showed the relationship of MA70 is closest to the Chinese isolate. The nucleotide sequence identity was lower among isolates of more distinct geographical clusters. Between October 2023 and January 2024, survey results indicated that MaYMV prevalence in corn fields across six areas in Taichung reached 17.5% (130/743 plants) and was present in all the sampled fields. MaYMV was present in all sampled fields affirming its ubiquitous presence. This study establishes the first documented case of MaYMV in Taiwan; however, survey findings hint at a potential pre-existing presence in Taiwanese maize fields. Therefore, this research also develops a practical diagnostic tool for field monitoring of MaYMV prevalence, which is crucial for informing future disease management strategies, including the critical need for cross-strait between Taiwan and China collaboration on viral disease surveillance. Full article

DNA barcode sequences remain unavailable for many species of Mexican Coleoptera. This study presents the first COI barcode records for four saproxylophagous beetle species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Cerambycidae) from the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico: Acmaeodera scalaris, Placosternus erythropus, Parevander xanthomelas, and Stenaspis castaneipennis. The sequences, together with their associated metadata, were deposited in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) under the project Oaxaca Central Valley Insect Diversity (OCVID). A. scalaris is newly barcoded for Mexico, while the other three species are newly represented in global barcode databases. The P. xanthomelas barcode differs by approximately 8% from a GenBank sequence labeled with the same name, suggesting either a misidentified reference or a cryptic mitochondrial lineage. These data expand the molecular reference coverage for Neotropical Buprestidae and Cerambycidae and highlight the need for additional taxonomic work to refine species boundaries within Cerambycidae. Full article

Japanese financial authorities have been promoting lending without personal guarantees, with the aim of enhancing the stability of the banking sector. However, banks’ willingness to provide loans without personal guarantees varies. Furthermore, no prior study has directly examined the impact of such loans on bank profitability. Since Japanese regional banks recently began disclosing the proportion of the concerned loans, this study aims to clarify their impacts on bank profitability, utilizing 352 bank/year observations from fiscal years 2019 to 2023. The results indicate that the statistical significance of the impacts of the proportion of loans without personal guarantees on bank profitability is not robust, and that the impacts are economically insignificant. This study contributes to the literature by providing the first empirical evidence on the impact of personal guarantees on bank profitability. It also offers practical insights to financial authorities, demonstrating that loans without personal guarantees do not significantly affect the profitability of regional banks, at least during the examined sample period. Full article

This study reports the first molecularly confirmed occurrence of Phlegmacium herculeum in Algeria, identified through morphological features and ITS sequence analysis (GenBank accession: PQ133121). Phytochemical profiling revealed a diverse composition of metabolites. SPME–GC–MS analysis detected volatile aldehydes (butanal, pentanal), organic acids (butanoic, pentanoic), terpenoids (limonene, 1,8-cineole), phenolics, and long-chain alkanes. Furthermore, the macrofungus has been extracted with organic solvents, and the obtained extracts have been analyzed via NMR and GC–MS, revealing the presence of organic acids (lactic, succinic, azelaic), fatty acids (palmitic, linoleic), and phenolic acids (protocatechuic, 4-hydroxybenzoic). DPPH-based analysis indicated that the antioxidant response of the crude extracts strengthened as the dose increased, with the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract exhibiting the highest inhibition and lowest IC₅₀, attributed to its rich phenolic content. The chloroform (CHCl₃) extract showed moderate activity, consistent with its composition of less polar metabolites such as fatty acids and terpenoids. Antibacterial assays revealed extract-specific effects: CHCl₃ strongly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus (18 mm), while EtOAc was more effective against Gram-negative strains, including Escherichia coli (18 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13 mm). Cytotoxicity testing using Saccharomyces cerevisiae confirmed that both extracts were non-toxic, maintaining ≥90% cell viability. These findings highlight P. herculeum as a novel source of bioactive metabolites with antioxidant and antibacterial potential. Full article

The Botanical Garden of Southern Federal University (SFedU Botanical Garden) is the first botanical garden in the steppe zone of southern Russia, founded in 1927. The priority task of the SFedU Botanical Garden was the introduction of woody plants for greenery and forestry. It has been shown that the introduction of woody plants was the root cause of their invasion in the region. A total of 24 species of invasive trees and shrubs have been identified in the Priazovsky district of the Rostov region. Using species with high seed reproductive capacity and resistance to climatic factors to expand the range of woody plants used for greenery in urban areas poses a real threat of invasion. Thus, 83 species spread spontaneously from the SFedU Botanical Garden collections across its territory, 50 of which are not currently found in the regional culture. An important step in the management of invasive woody plants is for municipalities to adopt basic assortment lists for greening purposes. The SFedU Botanical Garden’s collection policy for woody plants should focus on reducing the number of species in living plant collections by removing species that self-seed and currently have no scientific, educational, or practical use. These species can be stored in a seed bank for future use. The introduction policy of the SFedU Botanical Garden should be aimed at mobilizing and introducing species that are not only highly resilient and effective in providing ecosystem services, but also possess properties that limit their invasion. Full article

The species Caesalpinia spinosa, is a native forest tree of the Andes, which has multiple and valuable uses. In this study, a total of 39 guarango accessions from INIAP´s Gene Bank collection, were evaluated to determine their morphological and ecogeographical diversity. Seventeen quantitative and seven qualitative descriptors were used to characterize morphologically seeds and trees. Multivariate analyses revealed four morphological groups mainly differentiated by seed germination, viability rates, total tree height, and seed and leaflet dimensions, whereas descriptors such as seed color, shape and hilum position, presence of spines, and stem color were not discriminant. On the other hand, ecogeographical characterization, based on 21 bioclimatic, edaphic, and geophysical variables, identified six groups distributed latitudinally along the Ecuadorian Andes. A lack of significant correlation between morphological and ecogeographical variation (Mantel test) was found, suggesting that phenotypic expression is shaped by independent genetic and environmental drivers. This research is the first comprehensive morphological and ecogeographical characterization of the species in Ecuador. This new information will strengthen in situ and ex situ conservation efforts as well as promote the sustainable use of the species in the near future. Full article

Vietnam, a coastal and tropical country, harbors a high diversity of marine mollusks, particularly gastropods and bivalves. However, the taxonomy of these groups is frequently confounded by their morphological similarities and pronounced plasticity. The aim of this study was to assemble the first comprehensive barcode reference library for marine gastropods and bivalves in Vietnam. The samples were collected from four different marine areas. We identified 31 morphospecies belonging to 28 genera, 24 families, and 11 orders. A total of 49 COI-5P sequences were obtained and categorized into 31 taxa (30 to species levels), 83.67% of which were found to be concordant with morphology-based identifications. The topology of Neighbor-Joining trees also grouped the sequences of the same species into monophyletic clusters, which were congruent with 31 taxa. Twenty eight species were placed in single Barcode Index Numbers (BINS) and three in two BINs. Barcode gaps were found for all species. As a result, the obtained COI-5P barcodes are suitable for species identification of 17 gastropod species and 14 bivalves. All COI-5P barcodes have been deposited in GenBank, BOLD, and the website for the national project “Development of DNA Database for Valuable Marine Invertebrates”. Full article