Search Results (17,653)

Urban sustainability depends on balancing transportation accessibility, housing affordability, and social equity. Displacement—defined in this study as the population-level loss of low-income households from a census block over time—poses a growing challenge to inclusive urban development. This study examines statistical relationships and spatial patterns linking transit accessibility, housing affordability, and low-income household displacement across the four largest counties in Tennessee. Negative binomial regression models are used to quantify relationships between transit accessibility, housing affordability, and displacement, revealing that housing affordability is consistently linked to displacement, while the effects of transit accessibility vary substantially across counties. Bivariate Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) identify localized clusters where displacement coincides with transit or housing constraints, and Multivariate Cluster Typology Analysis classifies census blocks into distinct typologies, highlighting region-specific trade-offs between accessibility and affordability. Together, the results demonstrate that displacement dynamics are highly context dependent, underscoring the need for place-based and sustainability-oriented policy responses. The findings provide an empirical basis for integrating transportation and housing strategies to reduce displacement risks and support equitable and sustainable urban development in diverse metropolitan contexts. Full article

As a key strategic sector underpinning China’s future development, the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is essential to enhancing national competitiveness and advancing sustainable economic and social development. Based on Chinese provincial panel data from 2012 to 2022, we explore how industrial structure upgrading (ISU) affects the resilience of China’s AI industry chain (RAIIC) and empirically test the underlying transmission mechanism using a mediation effect model. The results indicate that (1) ISU significantly enhances the RAIIC, thereby providing a solid structural foundation for its long-term stability and sustainable evolution; (2) the impact of ISU on the RAIIC can be realized by enhancing regional financial agglomeration and human capital levels; (3) the positive impact of ISU on the RAIIC is significantly stronger in regions with larger population sizes, higher levels of economic development, higher technological sophistication, and more advanced digital inclusive finance. These findings imply that policy design should emphasize regional coordination and dynamic adaptability so as to support the balanced and sustainable nationwide development of the AI industry. According to these findings, we propose corresponding policy recommendations aimed at providing theoretical support and practical guidance for the sustainable and high-quality development of China’s AI industry. Full article

Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization, megacities have become crucial drivers of development. As the country with the largest number of megacities (seven in total), China is confronted with significant challenges such as population–resource–environment conflicts, which render high-quality development an imperative pursuit. This study employs a system dynamics approach to assess high-quality development in China’s megacities. It analyzes interactions among economic growth, technological innovation, environmental quality, and livelihood security under policy regulation, clarifying their evolutionary mechanisms and constructing a model to project the high-quality development index (HQDI) and coupling coordination degree (CCD) among subsystems. Findings reveal an upward trend in both HQDI and CCD across the seven megacities, with notable stratification. Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen form the top echelon, leveraging financial and technological resources, driven by science and green development. Guangzhou and Chongqing constitute the second tier, supported by regional integration and industrial clusters, while Chengdu and Tianjin form the third echelon via regional strategic transformations. In coordinated development, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou lead with multi-link synergy, whereas Chengdu, Chongqing, and Tianjin advance industry–ecology–livelihood coordination through regional strategies. This study offers insights for overcoming development bottlenecks, optimizing policies, and enhancing urban governance to foster a coordinated, high-quality development pattern. Full article

Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm, FAW) has rapidly spread across Asia and Africa in recent years, with its seasonal long-distance migration ability serving as the biological basis driving its region-wide outbreaks. Although the migratory biology of FAW has been extensively studied, it remains unclear whether there is stable differentiation between migratory and non-migratory individuals. In this study, we revealed the significant differences in morphological parameters between migratory populations and laboratory-reared populations. The migratory populations exhibited a greater body length and width and forewing size, as well as a lower body weight, compared to the laboratory colony. After three generations of indoor rearing, the migrants’ morphology and flight capacity converged to the laboratory phenotype, indicating the existence of a migratory ecotype in FAW. Through further investigation, a method for identifying the migratory ecotype of FAW was proposed based on the corrected wing loading (WL) and forewing aspect ratio (FA), which was successfully applied to distinguish individuals of the migratory ecotype in field populations. Our results confirm that FAWs exhibit stable differentiation into a migratory ecotype, and using WL and FA provides a robust, field-deployable tool for regional FAW monitoring, early warning systems, and targeted FAW control. Full article

Expanding the chemical diversity of DNA–encoded libraries (DELs) is crucial for identifying binders to emerging drug targets using DEL technology. In the present study, as part of our ongoing efforts to develop on–DNA diazide platforms (D–DAPs)—platform molecules possessing both aromatic and aliphatic azide groups on a single core reactive scaffold—we designed and synthesized a new compact diazide platform, designated as a compact D–DAP (C–D–DAP). This molecule is based on a low–molecular–weight reactive scaffold, 3–azido–5–(azidomethyl)benzoic acid, to facilitate small–molecule drug discovery targeting enzymes and G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs). Furthermore, we established two distinct stepwise warhead construction strategies that exploit the chemoselective transformations of the azide groups in the C–D–DAP, which exhibit different reactivities. In addition, four virtual DELs were generated based on stepwise warhead elaboration from the C–D–DAP scaffold. Comparative chemical diversity analysis against bioactive compounds from ChEMBL revealed that these virtual libraries populate structural regions that are sparsely represented among known molecules. Each virtual library also occupies a distinct region of structural space relative to the others and displays intermediate quantitative estimate of drug–likeness (QED) values. Full article

Urban expansion and its driving factors are frequently analyzed within administrative regions to inform regional urban planning, yet such analyses often fall short at the natural basin scale (referring to the spatial extent defined by hydrological drainage boundaries) due to the scarcity of statistical data. Geographic and socio-economic spatial data can offer more detailed information across various research scales compared to traditional data (such as administrative statistical data, survey-based data, etc.), providing a potential solution to this limitation. Thus, this study took the Indus Basin as an example to reveal its urban expansion patterns and driving mechanism based on natural–economic–social time-series (2000–2020) spatial data, landscape expansion index, and geographical detector model (GDM). Future urban expansion distribution under different scenarios was also projected using Cellular Automata and Markov model (CA-Markov). The results indicated the following: (1) The Indus River Basin experienced rapid urban expansion during 2000–2020 dominated by edge-expansion, with urban expansion intensity showing a continuous increase. (2) Between 2000 and 2010 as well as 2010 and 2020, the dominant factor influencing urban expansion shifted from altitude to population (Pop), while the strongest interacting factors shifted from fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and altitude to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Pop. (3) Future urban expansion probably occupies substantial mountainous area under the normal scenario, while the expansion region shifts towards the central plains to protect more ecological zones under a sustainable development scenario. Findings in this study would deepen the understanding of urban expansion characteristics of the Indus Basin and benefit its future urban planning. Full article

This paper addresses the problem of imbalance between coastal and inland areas and recognises the reuse of abandoned buildings as an evolutionary regeneration strategy which, through specific interventions linked by a system of routes for tourism and sport, can gradually trigger sustainable development on a regional scale. It presents research conducted in recent years on behalf of local administrations and continued in national and European projects. The reference context is the Abruzzo region, where coastal, hilly and mountainous areas are a short distance apart and include both densely built-up and populated urban centres and small depopulated towns surrounded by landscapes of high environmental value. The objective is to define, through the responsible use of built resources, viable and sustainable strategies for regeneration and rebalancing oriented towards the concept of transformative resilience. The methodology adopted is divided into phases and includes both theoretical developments and case study applications according to an approach that networks building restoration and reuse interventions in the region. The key results consist of defining a reuse logic that considers the regional territory as a whole, linking different resources, functions and environments. This logic, which envisages the organisation of new functions on a regional scale, emphasises the capacity of building reuse to produce positive effects on the territory and trigger socio-economic development dynamics. This research forms part of the experience underlying a project of significant national interest (PRIN 2022 TRIALs), which will provide guidelines for activating the transformative resilience capacities of inland areas of central Italy. Full article

Background: Varroa destructor is the major threat to honey bee health, and selective breeding for resistance traits such as Varroa-sensitive hygiene represents a promising long-term strategy for controlling mite populations. However, breeding programs that rely on highly controlled mating schemes, including single-drone instrumental insemination, may reduce allelic diversity at the complementary sex determiner (csd) locus, potentially increasing the production of non-viable diploid males and compromising colony fitness. Methods: To evaluate whether csd diversity can be maintained under these conditions, we characterized the hypervariable region of csd in a selectively bred Apis mellifera population subjected to four years of selection. Using a validated de novo assembly pipeline, we reconstructed 43 amino-acid sequences from 33 diploid worker pupae sampled across 13 colonies. Results: Seven distinct alleles were identified, five of which were shared among multiple colonies and corresponded to variants already described in the literature, while two were private to individual colonies and novel in the literature. Colony-level frequency data revealed a moderate diversity: the most common allele was detected in nine colonies, with an allelic frequency of 31%. Moreover, the expected heterozygosity of the population was estimated at 0.79. Conclusions: Overall, these findings show that csd diversity can be partially maintained even under strong selective pressure when multiple maternal lines are retained, and they underscore the importance of incorporating genetic information into breeding decisions to support the long-term sustainability of selective breeding programs. Full article

Investigating the prevalence and molecular genetic characteristics of Anaplasma ovis, Theileria spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and hemotropic Mycoplasma infections in sheep populations across different regions of Gansu Province is of significant importance for the prevention and control of these pathogens. A total of 1523 sheep blood samples were collected from 19 counties (districts) in Gansu Province. Pathogen screening was conducted using PCR-based molecular detection techniques, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of specific genes (e.g., Msp4, 18S rRNA) from selected positive samples. Blood-borne pathogens infections in Gansu Province were widespread but unevenly distributed geographically. Theileria spp. and Anaplasma ovis were the dominant pathogens, with overall infection rates of approximately 16.7% and 9.6%, respectively. The highest Anaplasma ovis infection rate (82.5%) was observed in the Gannan region, where co-infections were common (24/97). An exceptionally high Theileria spp. infection rate (87.5%) was detected in the Zagana area. No pathogens were detected in Wuwei, Jingyuan, Huining, Jingtai, Qinghuan, or Maqu. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Msp4 gene sequences of Anaplasma ovis isolates from Gansu shared 99.48% homology with strains from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Anaplasma phagocytophilum isolates also showed high homology (99.53–99.84%) with multiple global strains. Seasonal data indicated significantly higher Theileria spp. infection rates in spring (23–34%) compared to other seasons (approximately 12%). Gansu Province is an endemic area for multiple blood-borne pathogens, with distinct regional clustering and seasonality in prevalence. The high conservation of pathogen gene sequences suggests genetic stability. This study provides essential epidemiological baseline data and a scientific foundation for targeted prevention and control of blood-borne pathogen diseases in sheep in Gansu Province. Full article

Sonneratia alba Sm. and Sonneratia caseolaris (L.) Engl. are two ecologically important components of mangrove communities in Thailand. However, their population genetic patterns in Thailand remain poorly understood. Here, we assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of 107 S. alba and 131 S. caseolaris individuals sampled across their full coastal range in Thailand using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Population structure analyses consistently revealed strong genetic subdivision associated with geography: S. alba formed three clusters (including one admixed group), whereas S. caseolaris formed two clusters. In both species, populations were clearly separated between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, reflecting the isolating influence of the Malay Peninsula. Genetic differentiation between clusters was high (F_ST = 0.364 in S. alba and 0.321 in S. caseolaris). Genetic differentiation increased with geographic distance in S. caseolaris, whereas no such relationship was detected in S. alba. Both species exhibited low levels of genetic diversity (H_o = 0.173; H_e = 0.223 in S. alba and H_o = 0.290; H_e = 0.406 in S. caseolaris). Together, these results reveal pronounced spatial genetic structure and limited evolutionary connectivity between coastal regions, providing genome-wide insights into mangrove population differentiation with important implications for conservation and restoration. Full article

Cassava is one of the most important crops in global food security. It is the second most important staple crop in Africa. Its significance is enhanced by the fact that it very well tolerates droughts, and therefore it may be a prospective response to climate change in hot and dry areas. The potentials of cassava are under-utilized in Eastern Africa, and there is a lack of research studies regarding climate impacts on cassava yields in this region. The present research focuses on cassava production in Eastern Africa, analyzing the relationship of cassava yields, harvested areas, temperature, and precipitation from 1961 to 2023. The statistical analysis applies panel regression for the 63 years of time series, for the 15 most important cassava producing countries of Eastern Africa. Findings show that while the impacts of rainfall are insignificant on yields, the effects of temperature are significantly positive, indicating yield and area increases with warming climate. An expansion of the cassava growing area and the expanding rural population contributed to decreasing yields, probably because of the expansion of smallholder subsistence farming, suffering from to limitations in other farming resources. Therefore, even if climate change may benefit cassava production, other factors create severe limitations on improving yields. However, the positive response of the crop to rising temperatures is a clear sign that it is a useful choice for food security under climate change and would deserve more support from agricultural policymakers in Eastern Africa. Full article

This review explores the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1 infections within the human brain, highlighting the significant neurological implications of these viral infections. SARS-CoV-2 can infect the central nervous system (CNS), with evidence of the virus detected in various brain regions, including the hypothalamus, cerebellum, and olfactory bulb. This infection is linked to microglial activation and neuroinflammation, which can lead to severe neurological outcomes in affected individuals. Autopsy studies revealed microglial changes, including downregulation of the P2RY12 receptor, indicating a shift from homeostatic to inflammatory phenotype. Similar changes in microglia are found in the brains of people with HIV-1 (PWH) []. In SARS-CoV-2, the correlation between inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, and MCP-1, found in cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissues, indicates significant neurovascular inflammation. Astrogliosis and microglial nodules were observed, further emphasizing the inflammatory response triggered by the viral infections, again in parallel to those found in the brains of PWH. Epidemiologic data indicate that although SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in PWH mirror those in People without HIV (PWoH) populations, Long-COVID prevalence is markedly higher among PWH. Evidence of overlapping cognitive impairment, mental health burden, and persistent neuroinflammation highlights diagnostic complexity and therapeutic gaps. Despite plausible mechanistic synergy, direct neuropathological confirmation remains scarce, warranting longitudinal, biomarker-driven studies. Understanding these interactions is critical for developing targeted interventions to mitigate CNS injury and improve outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Socioeconomic stressors, such as financial strain, rising living costs, and perceived price burden, have gained relevance in the post-pandemic period and may adversely affect adolescent mental health. This study examined the association between subjective financial stress and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and emotional/behavioral difficulties among adolescents in Northern Italy. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2025 Corona and Psyche South Tyrol (COP-S) population survey. A total of 2554 adolescents aged 11–19 years and their parents participated; 1598 adolescents provided complete data for analyses of socioeconomic stressors (parent-reported Family Affluence Scale III, adolescent self-reported and parent proxy and self-reported burden due to price increases). Mental health outcomes included depressive symptoms (PHQ-2), generalized anxiety (SCARED-GAD), and emotional/behavioral difficulties (SDQ). Associations were assessed using chi-square tests, Kendall’s tau correlations, and two-factor ANOVA models. Results: Elevated depressive symptoms were present in 10.7% of adolescents, emotional/behavioral difficulties in 13.9%, and anxiety symptoms in 27.9% of adolescents. Female adolescents consistently showed higher symptom levels in all domains. Self-reported financial burden was the strongest and most consistent correlate of mental health problems, demonstrating small-to-moderate positive correlations with depressive symptoms (τ = 0.20, p < 0.001), emotional/behavioral difficulties (τ = 0.14, p < 0.001), and anxiety (τ = 0.25, p < 0.001). Parent-reported burden showed weaker and less consistent associations, and the Family Affluence Scale III was not significantly related to any of the mental health outcomes. ANOVA models indicated that adolescents’ own perception of financial burden significantly predicted anxiety levels in both age groups (11–14 and 15–19 years), whereas discrepancies between adolescent and parent burden perceptions were particularly relevant among younger adolescents. Conclusions: In this affluent European region, subjective financial strain, especially adolescents’ perception of burden due to rising prices, is a stronger determinant of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and psychosocial difficulties than parental burden reports or structural affluence indicators. Adolescents, especially females, appear to be particularly vulnerable. These findings underscore the importance of addressing subjective financial stress in adolescent mental health and public health strategies. Full article

As agricultural labor shifted toward non-farm sectors and the farming population aged, innovative production arrangements became essential to sustain land productivity. While partial agricultural production chain management (PAPM) was widespread, the productivity impact of whole-process agricultural production chain management (WAPM)—a comprehensive model integrating all production stages—remained empirically underexplored. Using nationally representative panel data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS, 2014–2018) for grain-producing households, this study estimates the differential impacts of WAPM and PAPM with a two-way fixed-effects (TWFE) model, supplemented by propensity score matching (PSM) as a robustness check. The results show that WAPM significantly enhanced land productivity. Notably, the effect size of WAPM (coefficient: 0.486) is substantially larger than that of PAPM (coefficient: 0.214), indicating that systematic integration of service chains offers superior efficiency gains over fragmented outsourcing. Mechanism analysis suggests that WAPM improves productivity primarily by alleviating labor constraints and mitigating the disadvantages of small-scale farming. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis demonstrated that these benefits are amplified in major grain-producing regions and hilly areas. These findings support policies that facilitate a transition from single-link outsourcing toward whole-process integrated service provision. Full article

Postoperative pain management in pediatric patients remains a significant challenge despite improvements in perioperative care. Regional anesthesia techniques applied as part of multimodal analgesia strategies offer the potential to reduce opioid use, accelerate recovery, and minimize side effects such as respiratory depression, nausea, and delayed mobilization. This review examines the clinical applications, advantages, and limitations of regional anesthesia blocks in the context of common pediatric surgical procedures—appendectomy, inguinal hernia repair, circumcision, cholecystectomy, and pyloromyotomy. We provide procedural comparisons in terms of analgesic efficacy, opioid-sparing effects and suitability for ambulatory surgery. In conclusion, regional anesthesia techniques have significant potential to improve postoperative outcomes in pediatric patients. However, block selection should be individualized, considering the type of surgical procedure, patient characteristics, and operator experience. Increasing applicability and routinely implementing ultrasound-guided procedures will encourage the safer and more effective use of these techniques in pediatric anesthesia. Full article