The rapid evolution of integrated photonics has ushered in a transformative era for optical communication and information processing systems, with silicon-based optical chips emerging as a cornerstone technology [...]
Shahid Mahmood, Asifa Iqbal, Amel Ali Alhussan
et al.
Abstract This study investigates the pivotal role of political stability, good governance, and institutional support in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 11, and 12 in Pakistan, an emerging economy. SDG 7 deals with affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, SDG 11 deals with sustainable cities and communities and SDGs 12 promotes sustainable consumption and production patterns. The data was collected using a quantitative method from various sources, including the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, the Ministry of Climate Change, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, and various NGOs involved in issues such as renewable energy, sustainable cities, and responsible consumption. The collected data was analyzed by using SMART PLS. This study concludes that political stability serves as the foundation for achieving sustainable development goals. It has been observed that the implementation of good governance, which includes principles of transparency, accountability, and public participation, significantly enhances the effectiveness of policies aimed at achieving these SDGs. More specifically, sufficient financial resources and appropriate physical infrastructure are identified as key factors in addressing challenges related to Pakistan’s sustainable development goals. Policymakers should also prioritize investments in sustainable infrastructure projects that align with SDGs 7, 11, and 12, such as investing in renewable energy sources, sustainable urban development, and promoting responsible consumption and production practices.
History of scholarship and learning. The humanities, Social Sciences
Tyrosol is an important component of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, and their biosynthetic pathways are currently a hot research topic. d-Erythrose 4-phosphate is a key precursor for the biosynthesis of tyrosol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hence, the flux of d-Erythrose 4-phosphate determined the yield of tyrosol synthesis. In this study, we first obtained an S. cerevisiae strain S19 with a tyrosol yield of 247.66 mg/L by metabolic engineering strategy. To increase the production of d-Erythrose 4-phosphate, highly active phosphoketolase BA-C was obtained by bioinformatics combined with tyrosol yield assay. The key residue sites 183, 217, and 320 were obtained by molecular docking, kinetic simulation, and tyrosol yield verification. After mutation, the highly efficient phosphoketolase BA-CHis320Met was obtained, with a 37.32 % increase in enzyme activity. The tyrosol production of strain S26 with BA-CHis320Arg increased by 43.05 % than strain S25 with BA-C and increased by 151.19 % compared with the strain S19 without phosphoketolase in a 20 L fermenter. The mining and modification of phosphoketolase will provide strong support for the de novo synthesis of aromatic compounds.
Mei-Tzu Wang, Ken-Pen Weng, Sheng-Kai Chang
et al.
Asians have a higher carrier rate of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-related genetic variants than Caucasians do. This study aimed to identify PAH-related genetic variants using whole exome sequencing (WES) in Asian idiopathic and heritable PAH cohorts. A WES library was constructed, and candidate variants were further validated by polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing in the PAH cohort. In a total of 69 patients, the highest incidence of variants was found in the BMPR2, ATP13A3, and GDF2 genes. Regarding the BMPR2 gene variants, there were two nonsense variants (c.994C>T, p. Arg332*; c.1750C>T, p. Arg584*), one missense variant (c.1478C>T, p. Thr493Ile), and one novel in-frame deletion variant (c.877_888del, p. Leu293_Ser296del). Regarding the GDF2 variants, there was one likely pathogenic nonsense variant (c.259C>T, p. Gln87*) and two missense variants (c.1207G>A, p. Val403Ile; c.38T>C, p. Leu13Pro). The BMPR2 and GDF2 variant subgroups had worse hemodynamics. Moreover, the GDF2 variant patients were younger and had a significantly lower GDF2 value (135.6 ± 36.2 pg/mL, p = 0.002) in comparison to the value in the non-BMPR2/non-GDF2 mutant group (267.8 ± 185.8 pg/mL). The BMPR2 variant carriers had worse hemodynamics compared to the patients with the non-BMPR2/non-GDF2 mutant group. Moreover, there was a significantly lower GDF2 value in the GDF2 variant carriers compared to the control group. GDF2 may be a protective or corrected modifier in certain genetic backgrounds.
Mao‐Hsuan Huang, Chih‐Ming Cheng, Ju‐Wei Hsu
et al.
AimBipolar disorder (BD) and major depression have been associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD); however, few studies have directly compared the risk of PD development between patients with BD and major depression while considering relevant risk factors and psychotropic medications.MethodsUsing the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 21,186 patients with BD, 21,188 patients with major depression, and 42,374 controls were enrolled between 2001 and 2009, and followed until the end of 2011. Individuals who developed PD during the follow‐up period were identified. Cox regression models were used to analyze the hazard ratio (HR) of developing PD, adjusting for demographic factors, comorbidities, and psychotropic medication usage.ResultsBoth patients with BD [HR 8.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.35–11.72] and those with major depression (HR 5.68, 95% CI 4.15–7.78) had an elevated risk of subsequent PD compared to the controls. Patients with BD were associated with a 51% increased risk of subsequent PD compared with patients with major depression. Long‐term treatment with antiepileptic mood stabilizers was associated with increased PD risk among patients with late‐onset BD and high Charlson comorbidity index scores. Lithium was not associated with an increased PD risk.ConclusionsThe study highlights an elevated PD risk in patients with BD and major depression compared to the controls, with BD patients at highest risk. Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between psychotropic medications and neurodegenerative processes in BD, aiming to optimize therapeutic strategies and improve patient outcomes.
BACKGROUND:
Owing to the adverse effects of unilateral neglect (UN) on rehabilitation outcomes, fall risk, and activities of daily living, this field has gradually got considerable interest. Notwithstanding, there is presently an absence of efficient portrayals of the entire research field; hence, the motivation behind this study was to dissect and evaluate the literature published in the field of UN following stroke and other nonprogressive brain injuries to identify hotspots and trends for future research.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Original articles and reviews related to UN from 1970 to 2022 were retrieved from the Science Citation Index Expanded of the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix software were used to observe publication fields, countries, and authors.
RESULTS:
A total of 1,202 publications were incorporated, consisting of 92% of original articles, with an overall fluctuating upward trend in the number of publications. Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States made critical contributions, with Neuropsychologia being the most persuasive academic journal, and Bartolomeo P. ranked first in both the quantity of publications and co-citations. Keywords were divided into four clusters, and burst keyword detection demonstrated that networks and virtual reality might additionally emerge as frontiers of future development and warrant additional attention.
CONCLUSIONS:
UN is an emerging field, and this study presents the first bibliometric analysis to provide a comprehensive overview of research in the field. The insights and guidance garnered from our research on frontiers, trends, and popular topics could prove highly valuable in facilitating the rapid development of this field while informing future research directions.
Medical technology, Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system
The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale was initially developed by NASA in the 1970s and is now widely used in space, nuclear, and other complex technology sectors in the US and beyond. The TRL scale is particularly useful for determining where extrapolation of untested sub-systems or features could produce technical risk, cause expensive redesigns, or act as a roadblock to technology development. In this paper, we propose the development of a sociotechnical readiness level (SRL), premised on the understanding that the successful development and eventual use of a technology requires achieving not only full technological readiness but also anticipating, prioritizing, and addressing societal concerns that may arise during the course of development of a technology. Failures to anticipate and address societal factors in the early stages of technology development have led to high-profile delays and, in some cases, ultimate failures of nuclear technology projects. The sociotechnical readiness scale, which conceptually draws on the design research and science and technology studies scholarship, centers on principles of equity and environmental justice in technology design, and emphasizes the need for social engagement during the process of technology development. Nowhere is such an approach to technology development more vital or needed than for the long-term management of spent nuclear fuel.
The tourism industry is in a fight for survival during the coronavirus pandemic. This essay was written based upon several interviews conducted with directors and general managers of nine well-known hotels in China with the aim to investigate what new technologies are used to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. DeLone and McLean’s Information System Success Model was applied to examine the adopted digital technologies. Live-stream promotion and live-stream conference are introduced to primarily improve information quality, while 5G technology and Wi-Fi 6 are installed to enhance the system quality. Facial recognition, AI, and Robots are integrated to the daily operations to enhance service quality. Challenges and future directions are discussed.
Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the pregnancy feasibility of women with mild pulmonary hypertension according to pregnancy outcomes. Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the differences in maternal and fetal outcomes between mild and moderate-to-severe pulmonary hypertension. Relevant English and Chinese literature were searched in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (COCHRANE), CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP databases between January 1st, 1990 and April 18th, 2023, and the references of the included articles and relevant systematic reviews were reviewed to determine whether studies were missed. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled and observational studies (including case-control studies and cohort studies) examining maternal and fetal pregnancy outcomes with pulmonary hypertension. Conference abstracts, case reports, case series reports, non-comparative studies, and review articles were excluded. Results This meta-analysis included 32 studies. In this study, maternal and fetal outcomes were better in the mild pulmonary hypertension group than in the moderate-to-severe group. Regarding maternal mortality, the mild group was much lower than the moderate to severe group. We found a significant decrease in maternal mortality in the mild group after 2010. However, no significant difference in maternal mortality before and after 2010 was observed in the moderate to severe group. Cardiac complications, ICU admission, neonatal preterm birth, small for gestational age infants, low birth weight infants, neonatal asphyxia, and neonatal mortality were significantly lower in the mild pulmonary hypertension group than in the moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension group. The cesarean section rates of the two groups were similar. However, the vaginal delivery rate in the mild pulmonary hypertension group was significantly higher than that in the moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension group. Conclusions This meta-analysis confirmed that pregnancies with mild pulmonary hypertension had significantly better maternal and fetal outcomes than those with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension. For patients with mild pulmonary hypertension and good cardiac function, continued pregnancy or even delivery should be considered under multidisciplinary monitoring. However, maternal and fetal complications with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension significantly increase. Hence, it is essential to evaluate pregnancy risk and terminate it in time.
Electronic equipment is indispensable in the industrial 4.0 era. Electromagnetic Compatibility issues with electronic devices are increasingly concerning. The phenomenon of electromagnetic field compatibility is getting higher and higher. The operating quality of electronic equipment is more and more adversely affected, such as by the phenomenon of hesitation in operation for the operating structures, the generation of fire and explosion of electrical equipment, the loss of information, and many other negative effects. This paper discusses the relationship between Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) scoring, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) scoring, and Electromagnetic Susceptibility (EMS) scoring with the performance quality of electronic devices (QUA). We perform reviews on regulatory institutions governing Electromagnetic Compatibility on electronic devices. To evaluate the proposed Electromagnetic Compatibility structure and its relationship to electronic devices, we proposed to use the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The research results of the model show that the electronic device layout conditions and the lack of systematic conditions have a negative impact on the operating quality of the electronic equipment, while the conditions on equipment techniques, scientific and technological resources have positive and significant impacts.
Accurately monitoring and predicting the large-scale dynamic changes of water levels in coastal zones is essential for its protection, restoration and sustainable development. However, there has been a challenge for achieving this goal using a single radar altimeter and retracking technique due to the diversity and complexity of coastal waveforms. To solve this issue, we proposed an approach of estimating water level of the coastal zone in Beibu Gulf, China, by combination of waveform classifications and multiple sub-waveform retrackers. This paper stacked Random Forest (RF), XGBoost and CatBoost algorithms for building an ensemble learning (SEL) model to classify coastal waveforms, and further evaluated the performance of three retracking strategies in refining waveforms using Cryosat-2, SARAL, Sentinel-3 altimeters. We compared the estimation accuracy of the coastal water levels between the single altimeter and synergistic multi-altimeter, and combined Breaks for Additive Season and Trend (BFAST), Mann-Kendall mutation test (MK) with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithms to track the historical change process of coastal water levels, and predict its future development trend. This paper found that: (1) The SEL algorithm achieved high-precision classification of different coastal waveforms with an average accuracy of 0.959, which outperformed three single machine learning algorithms. (2) Combination of Threshold Retracker and ALES+ Retracker (TR_ALES+) achieved the better retracking quality with an improvement of correlation coefficient (R, 0.089~0.475) and root mean square error (RMSE, 0.008∼ 0.029 m) when comparing to the Threshold Retracker & Primary Peak COG Retracker and Threshold Retracker & Primary Peak Threshold Retracker. (3) The coastal water levels of Cryosat-2, SARAL, Sentinel-3 and multi-altimeter were in good agreement (R>0.66, RMSE<0.135m) with Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) water level. (4) The coastal water levels of the Beibu Gulf displayed a slowly rising trend from 2011 to 2021 with an average annual growth rate of 8mm/a, its lowest water level focused on May-August, the peak of water level was in October-November, and the average annual growth rate of water level from 2022-2031 was about 0.6mm/a. These results can provide guidance for scientific monitoring and sustainable management of coastal zones.
Science, General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution
Turnkey technology has emerged as a game-changing tool in cyber warfare, offering state and non-state actors unprecedented access to advanced cyber capabilities. The advantages of turnkey technology include rapid deployment and adaptability, lower costs and resource requirements, the democratization of cyber warfare capabilities, and enhanced offensive and defensive strategies. However, turnkey technology also introduces significant risks, such as the proliferation of cyber weapons, ethical considerations, potential collateral damage, escalation of conflicts, and legal ramifications. This paper provides a unique perspective on the implications of turnkey technology in cyber warfare, highlighting its advantages, risks, and challenges, as well as the potential strategies for mitigating these concerns. The research's novelty lies in examining real-world examples and proposing a multifaceted approach to address the challenges associated with turnkey technology in cyber warfare. This approach focuses on developing effective cybersecurity measures, establishing international norms and regulations, promoting responsible use and development of turnkey technology, and enhancing global cooperation on cyber warfare issues. By adopting this accountable and balanced approach, governments, organizations, and the international community can work together to create a more secure and stable digital environment, leveraging the benefits of turnkey technology while minimizing the associated risks and challenges.
Tom Savage, Antonio del Rio Chanona, Gbemi Oluleye
Increasing the adoption of alternative technologies is vital to ensure a successful transition to net-zero emissions in the manufacturing sector. Yet there is no model to analyse technology adoption and the impact of policy interventions in generating sufficient demand to reduce cost. Such a model is vital for assessing policy-instruments for the implementation of future energy scenarios. The design of successful policies for technology uptake becomes increasingly difficult when associated market forces/factors are uncertain, such as energy prices or technology efficiencies. In this paper we formulate a novel robust market potential assessment problem under uncertainty, resulting in policies that are immune to uncertain factors. We demonstrate two case studies: the potential use of carbon capture and storage for iron and steel production across the EU, and the transition to hydrogen from natural gas in steam boilers across the chemicals industry in the UK. Each robust optimisation problem is solved using an iterative cutting planes algorithm which enables existing models to be solved under uncertainty. By taking advantage of parallelisation we are able to solve the nonlinear robust market assessment problem for technology adoption in times within the same order of magnitude as the nominal problem. Policy makers often wish to trade-off certainty with effectiveness of a solution. Therefore, we apply an approximation to chance constraints, varying the amount of uncertainty to locate less certain but more effective solutions. Our results demonstrate the possibility of locating robust policies for the implementation of low-carbon technologies, as well as providing direct insights for policy-makers into the decrease in policy effectiveness resulting from increasing robustness. The approach we present is extensible to a large number of policy design and alternative technology adoption problems.