Search Results (11,040)

With the acceleration of urbanization in China, water resources have become a key factor restricting regional sustainable development. Current research primarily examines the temporal or spatial variations in the water resources ecological footprint (WREF), with limited emphasis on the integration of both spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we collected the data and information from the 2005–2022 Statistical Yearbook and Water Resources Bulletin of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA), and calculated evaluation indicators: WREF, water resources ecological carrying capacity (WRECC), water resources ecological pressure (WREP), and water resources ecological surplus and deficit (WRESD). We primarily analyzed the temporal and spatial variation in the per capita WREF and used the method of Geodetector to explore factors driving its temporal and spatial variation in the YRDUA. The results showed that: (1) From 2005 to 2022, the per capita WREF (total water, agricultural water, and industrial water) of the YRDUA generally showed fluctuating declining trends, while the per capita WREF of domestic water and ecological water showed obvious growth. (2) The per capita WREF and the per capita WRECC were in the order of Jiangsu Province > Anhui Province > Shanghai City > Zhejiang Province. The spatial distribution of the per capita WREF was similar to those of the per capita WRECC, and most areas effectively consume water resources. (3) The explanatory power of the interaction between factors was greater than that of a single factor, indicating that the spatiotemporal variation in the per capita WREF of the YRDUA was affected by the combination of multiple factors and that there were regional differences in the major factors in the case of secondary metropolitan areas. (4) The per capita WREF of YRDUA was affected by natural resources, and the impact of the ecological condition on the per capita WREF increased gradually over time. The impact factors of secondary metropolitan areas also clearly changed over time. Our results showed that the ecological situation of per capita water resources in the YRDUA is generally good, with obvious spatial and temporal differences. Full article

Common prosperity serves as a pivotal condition for achieving sustainable development by fostering social equity, bolstering economic resilience, and promoting environmental stewardship. Differential land revenue, as a crucial form of property based on spatial resource occupation, significantly contributes to the achievement of common prosperity, though empirical evidence of its impact is limited. This study explores the potential influence of land utilization revenue disparity on common prosperity from the perspective of urban macro differential rent (UMDR). Utilizing panel data from 280 Chinese cities spanning 2007 to 2020, we discover that UMDR and common prosperity levels exhibit strikingly similar spatiotemporal evolution. Further empirical analysis shows that UMDR significantly raises urban common prosperity levels, with a 0.217 standard unit increase in common prosperity for every 1 standard unit rise in UMDR. This boost stems from enhanced urban prosperity and the sharing of development achievements, encompassing economic growth, improved public services, enhanced ecological civilization, and more equitable distribution of development gains between urban and rural areas and among individuals. Additionally, we observe that UMDR has a more pronounced effect on common prosperity in eastern cities and those with a predominant service industry. This study enhances the comprehension of the relationship between urban land revenue disparities, prosperity, and equitable sharing, presenting a new perspective for the administration to contemplate the utilization of land-based policy tools in pursuit of the common prosperity goal and ultimately achieve sustainable development. Full article

This study examined the distribution and disease associations of non-HLA-B*27 HLA-B alleles in Romanian spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients, aiming to address the underrepresentation of Eastern European populations in immunogenetic research. Methods: We analyzed 263 HLA-B*27-negative patients from Northeastern Romania fulfilling ASAS criteria. HLA-B genotyping was performed at two-digit resolution, and allele distributions were compared with two Romanian HLA-B*27-negative control groups (n = 335 and n = 1705 cases), using chi-square testing and logistic regression. Compared to controls, HLA-B*47 (p = 0.0007) and HLA-B*54 (p = 0.0013) were significantly enriched, while HLA-B*40 was underrepresented (p = 0.0287). Notably, HLA-B*54 was observed exclusively in axial SpA. Within the cohort, both HLA-B*13 and HLA-B*57 alleles were associated with psoriasis, while HLA-B*37 and HLA-B*41 alleles were clustered within the reactive arthritis group. The HLA-B*35 and HLA-B*18 alleles were the most frequently observed alleles across most clinical phenotypes. When comparing the frequency of HLA-B associations, the most common genotypes among SpA patients were B*08-B*18, B*13-B*35, and B*35-B*51. Notably, B*08-B*18 was more frequent in patients with radiographic sacroiliitis grade ≥ 2, while B*35-B*51 was more frequent in those with confirmed systemic inflammation, as indicated by elevated CRP or ESR levels. Analysis of peptide-binding patterns revealed a cluster of risk alleles, HLA-B*08, B*18, B*35, B*40, and B*54, sharing similar features, distinct from the canonical profile of B*27. These findings highlight the contribution of non-B*27 HLA-B alleles to SpA susceptibility in an Eastern European population and support the notion that HLA-B*27-negative SpA may represent a distinct clinical and immunological entity, driven by alternative pathogenic mechanisms. They also emphasize the importance of population-specific immunogenetic profiling and support expanding genetic characterization in HLA-B*27-negative patients. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the mean age of eruption of permanent teeth and their clinical emergence sequence in a longitudinal sample of children from a multi-ethnic urban population. Methods: A total of 854 children (413 females and 441 males), aged between 4 and 13 years, were examined annually for a minimum of 4 consecutive years, as part of their annual dental screening appointment. The presence of permanent teeth was recorded at each examination. Mean and median ages, with standard deviations, of individual tooth eruption were calculated, in addition to the eruption sequence, and the analysis of the data was performed using the lognormal distribution model. Regarding the error of the method, two examiners reviewed all relevant dental screening forms, and any discrepancies were resolved through consultation with the senior author. Results: The sequence of permanent tooth eruption followed a consistent pattern across sexes, with distinct differences between the maxillary and mandibular arches. In the maxilla, eruption began with the first molar, while in the mandible, it started with the central incisor. Mandibular teeth generally erupted earlier than maxillary teeth, with girls experiencing earlier eruption than boys, with some exceptions, and prolonged eruption periods. No statistically significant differences were found in the timing of eruption between contralateral homologous teeth. Conclusions: Based on the present data, the observed sequence of tooth eruption in a multi-ethnic urban population showed similar patterns across sexes. Mandibular teeth generally erupt earlier than maxillary teeth, with girls experiencing earlier eruption than boys. Full article

When faults occur in transmission lines of grid-forming PV systems, the LVRT control and virtual impedance function cause the fault characteristics of grid-forming inverters to differ significantly from those of synchronous generators, which deteriorates the performance of existing protection schemes. To address this issue, this paper analyzes the fault characteristics of PV transmission lines under grid-forming control objectives and the adaptability of traditional current differential protection. Subsequently, a novel pilot protection based on the Jensen–Shannon distance is proposed for transmission line of grid-forming PV systems. Initially, the post-fault current samples are modeled as discrete probability distributions. The Jensen–Shannon distance algorithm quantifies the similarity between the distributions on both line ends. Based on the calculated distance results, internal and external faults are distinguished, optimizing the performance of traditional waveform-similarity-based pilot protection. Simulation results verify that the proposed protection reliably identifies internal and external faults on the protected line. It demonstrates satisfactory performance across different fault resistances and fault types, and exhibits strong noise immunity and synchronization error tolerance. In addition, the proposed pilot protection is compared with the existing waveform-similarity-based protection schemes. Full article

The small-spotted catshark and the smooth-hound are cartilaginous, carnivorous fish with similar depth ranges in their habitats. These two species are among the most abundant elasmobranchs in the Adriatic Sea and are frequently caught by local fishermen using longline fishing. Despite their ecological similarities, little is known about the physiological differences in their digestive processes. The study of enzymatic digestion in these ecologically relevant species helps to fill the knowledge gap in the understanding of nutrient processing in cartilaginous fish. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine, measure and compare the enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, non-specific esterase and aminopeptidase. Fish were caught in the central part of the Adriatic Sea between 2021 and 2023. A total of 60 adult individuals were analyzed, with samples taken from six parts of the digestive tract. Histochemical analysis of 1440 slides revealed clear differences in enzyme activity between the two species. In the small-spotted catshark, cellular protein degradation was most pronounced in esophagus, posterior stomach and rectum, whereas in the smooth-hound, it was concentrated in posterior stomach and spiral intestine. Cellular digestion of lipids in the small-spotted catshark appears to occur primarily in the stomach. The results of this study provide new insights into the distribution of cellular digestive enzymes in cartilaginous fish and emphasize the importance of studying the entire digestive tract as an integrated system rather than focusing on individual parts. This study fills an important knowledge gap and contributes to a deeper understanding of digestive physiology, which in turn has implications for species conservation and biological variability. Full article

The Shahejie Formation in Nanpu Sag is a crucial region for deep-layer hydrocarbon exploration in the Bohai Bay Basin. To address the impact of faults on sublacustrine fan formation and spatial distribution within the study area, this study integrated well logging, laboratory analysis, and 3D seismic data to systematically analyze sedimentary characteristics of sandbodies from the first member of the Shahejie Formation (Es₁) sublacustrine fans, clarifying their planar and cross-sectional distributions. Further research indicates that Gaoliu Fault activity during Es₁ deposition played a significant role in fan development through two mechanisms: (1) vertical displacement between hanging wall and footwall reshaped local paleogeomorphology; (2) tectonic stresses generated by fault movement affected slope stability, triggering gravitational mass transport processes that remobilized fan delta sediments into the central depression zone as sublacustrine fans through slumping and collapse mechanisms. Core observations reveal soft-sediment deformation features, including slump structures, flame structures, and shale rip-up clasts. Seismic profiles show lens-shaped geometries with thick centers thinning laterally, exhibiting lateral pinch-out terminations. Inverse fault-step architectures formed by underlying faults control sandbody distribution patterns, restricting primary deposition locations for sublacustrine fan development. The study demonstrates that sublacustrine fans in the study area are formed by gravity flow processes. A new model was established, illustrating the combined control of the Gaoliu Fault and reverse stepover faults on fan development. These findings provide valuable insights for gravity flow exploration and reservoir prediction in the Nanpu Sag, offering important implications for hydrocarbon exploration in similar lacustrine rift basins. Full article

Recent advancements in generative artificial intelligence have significantly progressed the field of text-to-music generation, enabling users to create music from natural language descriptions. Despite the success of various models, such as MusicLM, MusicGen, and AudioLDM, the current approaches struggle to capture fine-grained genre-specific characteristics, precisely control musical attributes, and handle underrepresented cultural data. This paper introduces a novel, lightweight fine-tuning method for the AudioLDM framework using low-rank adaptation (LoRA). By updating only selected attention and projection layers, the proposed method enables efficient adaptation to musical genres with limited data and computational cost. The proposed method enhances controllability over key musical parameters such as rhythm, emotion, and timbre. At the same time, it maintains the overall quality of music generation. This paper represents the first application of LoRA in AudioLDM, offering a scalable solution for fine-grained, genre-aware music generation and customization. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method improves the semantic alignment and statistical similarity compared with the baseline. The contrastive language–audio pretraining score increased by 0.0498, indicating enhanced text-music consistency. The kernel audio distance score decreased by 0.8349, reflecting improved similarity to real music distributions. The mean opinion score ranged from 3.5 to 3.8, confirming the perceptual quality of the generated music. Full article

Objectives: We assessed the difference between quiet stance and gait in the spatial distribution and intensity of foot plantar pressures and whether it is possible to estimate the distribution during gait from data obtained during stance. Methods: A total of 60 healthy subjects with a mean age of 31.0 ± 9.4 years performed two trials for quiet stance and four trials for gait on a baropodometric walkway with their eyes open. Foot plantar pressures were recorded from 10 areas of the foot sole. Results: During quiet stance, the highest plantar pressure occurred at metatarsal heads (M2 to M4) and the medial (MH) and lateral halves of the heel (LH). During gait, the profile of plantar pressure values was like that during stance, but significantly higher. The differences concentrated at the big toe (T1), M2 to M4, MH, and LH, whilst toes (T2,3,4,5) and midfoot (MF) showed the smallest difference. A significant positive correlation was found between the corresponding areas of foot pressure during gait and stance. Conclusions: During quiet stance and gait, the overall profile of plantar pressure distribution was similar. During quiet stance, the subjects loaded more on the heels, in keeping with the known position of the center of pressure just in front of the ankles. During gait, higher pressures on the metatarsal areas are related to the forward propulsion of the center of mass. The correlation between the corresponding areas of foot pressure during gait and stance suggests that the pressure distribution during gait can partly be estimated from that during stance. This finding might be useful in most clinical settings when a single sensorized platform rather than a complete walkway is available. Full article

Privacy preservation poses significant challenges in third-party data sharing, particularly when handling table data containing personal information such as demographic and behavioral records. Synthetic table data generation has emerged as a promising solution to enable data analysis while mitigating privacy risks. While Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are widely used for this purpose, they exhibit limitations in modeling table data due to challenges in handling mixed data types (numerical/categorical), non-Gaussian distributions, and imbalanced variables. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel adversarial learning framework integrating gradient boosting trees for synthesizing table data, called Adversarial Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (AGBDT). Experimental evaluations on several datasets demonstrate that our method outperforms representative baseline models regarding statistical similarity and machine learning utility. Furthermore, we introduce a privacy-aware adaptation of the framework by incorporating k-anonymization constraints, effectively reducing overfitting to source data while maintaining practical usability. The results validate the balance between data utility and privacy preservation achieved by our approach. Full article

In the present work, the optimization of ceramic-based composite WC(Co,Ni) welds by laser cladding was carried out using response surface methodology based on finite element analysis. The heat distribution and temperature field of laser-melted WC(Co,Ni) ceramic coatings were simulated using ANSYS software, which allowed the computation of the distribution of residual stresses. The results show that the isotherms in the simulation of the temperature field are elliptical in shape, and that the isotherms in front of the moving heat source are dense with a larger temperature gradient, while the isotherms behind the heat source are sparse with a smaller temperature gradient. In addition, the observed microstructural evolution shows that the melting zone domains of WC(Co,Ni) are mainly composed of unmelted carbides. These carbides are dendritic, rod-like, leaf-like, or net-like, and are agglomerated into smaller groups. The W content of these unmelted carbides exceeds 80%, while the C content is around 1.5–3.0%. The grey areas are composed of WC, Co and Ni compounds. Based on the regression model, a quadratic model was successfully constructed. A three-dimensional profile model of the residual stress behaviour was further explored. The estimated values of the RSM-based FEA model for residual stress are very similar to the actual results, which shows that the model is effective in reducing residual stress by laser cladding. Full article

Aiming to address the problems of asynchronous acquisition time of multiple sensors in the crop phenotype acquisition system and high cost of the acquisition equipment, this paper developed a low-cost crop phenotype synchronous acquisition system based on the PTP synchronization protocol, realizing the synchronous acquisition of three types of crop data: visible light images, thermal infrared images, and laser point clouds. The paper innovatively proposed the Difference Structural Similarity Index Measure (DSSIM) index, combined with statistical indicators (average point number difference, average coordinate error), distribution characteristic indicators (Charm distance), and Hausdorff distance to characterize the stability of the system. After 72 consecutive hours of synchronization testing on the timing boards, it was verified that the root mean square error of the synchronization time for each timing board reached the ns level. The synchronous trigger acquisition time for crop parameters under time synchronization was controlled at the microsecond level. Using pepper as the crop sample, 133 consecutive acquisitions were conducted. The acquisition success rate for the three phenotypic data types of pepper samples was 100%, with a DSSIM of approximately 0.96. The average point number difference and average coordinate error were both about 3%, while the Charm distance and Hausdorff distance were only 1.14 mm and 5 mm. This system can provide hardware support for multi-parameter acquisition and data registration in the fast mobile crop phenotype platform, laying a reliable data foundation for crop growth monitoring, intelligent yield analysis, and prediction. Full article

With the rapid increase in global lithium demand, the exploration of newly discovered lithium in the bauxite of the Wenshan area in southeastern Yunnan has become increasingly important. However, the current research on clay-type lithium in the Wenshan area has primarily focused on local exploration, and large-scale predictive metallogenic studies remain limited. To address this, this study utilized multi-source remote sensing data from ZY1-02D and ASTER, combined with ALOS 12.5 m DEM and Sentinel-2 imagery, to carry out remote sensing mineral identification, structural interpretation, and prospectivity mapping for clay-type lithium in the Wenshan area. This study indicates that clay-type lithium in the Wenshan area is controlled by NW, EW, and NE linear structures and are mainly distributed in the region from north of the Wenshan–Malipo fault to south of the Guangnan–Funing fault. High-value areas of iron-rich silicates and iron–magnesium minerals revealed by ASTER data indicate lithium enrichment, while montmorillonite and cookeite identification by ZY1-02D have strong indicative significance for lithium. Field verification samples show the highest Li₂O content reaching 11,150 μg/g, with six samples meeting the comprehensive utilization criteria for lithium in bauxite (Li₂O ≥ 500 μg/g) and also showing an enrichment of rare earth elements (REEs) and gallium (Ga). By integrating stratigraphic, structural, mineral identification, geochemical characteristics, and field verification data, ten mineral exploration target areas were delineated. This study validates the effectiveness of remote sensing technology in the exploration of clay-type lithium and provides an applicable workflow for similar environments worldwide. Full article

Goats are considered to be the ideal climate-resilient animal species in the tropics. Fewer studies are documented assessing the heat stress response of caprine ruminal microbiota, which can also be a crucial indicator of the resilience and/or adaptability of animals. This study was conducted to comparatively assess the heat stress responses of two indigenous goat breeds, Nandidurga and Bidri, based on changes associated with the rumen fermentation pattern and distribution pattern of rumen microbiota. A total of 24 adult animals were randomly allocated into four groups of six animals each, NC (n = 6; Nandidurga control), NHS (n = 6; Nandidurga heat stress), BC (n = 6; Bidri control) and BHS (n = 6; Bidri heat stress). The animals were reared in climate chambers for a duration of 45 days wherein the NC and BC animals were maintained under thermoneutral temperature while the NHS and BHS animals were subjected to simulated heat stress. Heat stress was observed to significantly reduce the rumen ammonia, extracellular CMCase, intracellular carboxy methyl cellulase (CMCase) and total CMCase both in Nandidurga and Bidri goats. In addition to this, a significant reduction in acetate, propionate and total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) was observed in Nandidurga goats. The V3–V4 16s rRNA sequencing further revealed a significant alteration in the rumen microbiota in heat-stressed Nandidurga and Bidri goats. While both the breeds exhibited nearly similar responses in the rumen microbial abundance levels due to heat stress, breed-specific differences were also observed. Furthermore, the LEFSe analysis revealed a significant alteration in the abundances of microbes at the genus level, which were observed to be relatively greater in Bidri goats than Nandidurga goats. Furthermore, these alterations were predicted to impair the functional pathways, especially pathways associated with metabolism. This study therefore provided an insight into the rumen microbial dynamics in heat-stressed goats. Though both the breeds exhibited excellent resilience to the subjected heat stress, there were relatively less ruminal alterations in Nandidurga goats than in Bidri goats. Full article

In recent years, phylogenomic approaches have significantly deepened our understanding of moss diversity. These techniques have uncovered numerous previously overlooked species and provided greater clarity in resolving complex taxonomic relationships. In this context, the genus Rehubryum is particularly outstanding, because of its close morphological similarity to both Ulota and Atlantichella. The challenges posed by its segregation are addressed in this study, which integrates morphological and molecular data to reassess the circumscription of Rehubryum and its phylogenetic placement within the subtribe Lewinskyinae. Our results support the recognition of a new species, R. kiwi, and show that its inclusion within the genus further complicates the morphological delimitation of Rehubryum from Ulota, as both genera are distinguishable by only two consistent gametophytic characteristics: a submarginal leaf band of elongated cells, and the presence of geminate denticulations in the margins of the basal half of the leaf. Moreover, R. kiwi challenges the current morphological circumscription of Rehubryum itself, as it overlaps in key characteristics with its sister genus Atlantichella, rendering their morphological separation untenable. The striking interhemispheric disjunction between Rehubryum and Atlantichella raises new questions about long-distance dispersal and historical biogeography in mosses, despite these complexities at the generic level. Nevertheless, species-level distinctions remain well defined, especially in sporophytic traits and geographic distribution. These findings highlight the pervasive cryptic diversity within Orthotrichaceae, underscoring the need for integrative taxonomic frameworks that synthesize morphology, molecular phylogenetics, and biogeography to resolve evolutionary histories. Full article