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As manufacturers continue to provide new and unique products and services for their customers, we argue that warranty menus with differentiated options are an often-overlooked unique selling point. Meanwhile, there is a huge swathe of customers who own durable products which are still in use even after the expiration of a warranty. It is in this area that we develop a research perspective which urges customers to consider warranty plans and post-warranty maintenance strategies simultaneously when making a purchasing decision. In this paper, through the lens of a consumer, we propose an integrated model of warranty and post-warranty maintenance under a flexible renewable warranty. This model takes into account repair limits and multiple failure types with time-varying probabilities. As part of this, a new post-warranty maintenance strategy is designed, in which the repair time-based corrective replacement and the age-based preventive replacement are combined. The life cycle cost rate of the product is minimised by a synthetic decision-making about the consumer's warranty purchase and post-warranty maintenance strategy. Numerical studies show that there exists a joint optimal solution, which can help the customer to develop an optimal overall warranty-maintenance strategy under the warranty menu with minimised cost rate. An integrated model of warranty and post-warranty maintenance is developed. The warranty product has minor and catastrophic failures with time-varying probabilities. A flexible renewable warranty is considered for the consumer. A post-warranty maintenance strategy with the repair time limit is proposed. The optimal warranty-maintenance strategy is derived to minimise the Life cycle cost rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new energy vehicle (NEV) is emerging as an important alternative in the automobile industry in its potential to alleviate environmental pollution and contribute to carbon neutrality. The rapid growth of NEVs has been reflected in the scaling up of electric vehicle battery production. The dramatic increase of retired batteries, however, exposes the technological limitations in current recycling operations, which will ultimately impede the sustainable development of the NEV supply chain. Blockchain technology (BT) adoption provides a solution by contributing to the construction of an efficient recycling network. Our research investigates the influence of carbon reduction instruments on the uptake of BT. The key findings are as follows. Under a carbon tax system, (1) carbon emission reduction encourages the battery supplier to adopt BT; (2) BT adoption increases the profits of NEV supply chain stakeholders. Under carbon cap-and-trade regulations, (1) the unit outsourcing fee and the performance of the BT impact the investment decision of the manufacturer; (2) the profit of the third-party enterprise is increased by introducing the BT. Under both policies, improving the efficiency of BT helps to upgrade the traceability level and contribute to carbon neutrality in the NEV supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine the potential protective role of naringenin against the harmful effects induced by cadmium in KGN cell line. Cell viability was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 assay. Caspase-3/-9 activities were determined by caspase-3/-9 activity assay kits, respectively. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected by ROS-Glo™ H2O2 Assay, antioxidant capacity was determined by a total antioxidant capacity assay kit. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP level, and ATP synthase activity were determined by JC-1, ATP assay kit, and ATP synthase activity assay kit, respectively. The mRNA expression was determined by qRT-PCR. Cadmium reduced cell viability and increased caspase-3/-9 activities in a concentration-dependent manner. Naringenin improved cell viability and reduced caspase-3/-9 activities in cadmium-stimulated KGN cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Cadmium diminished the antioxidant capacity, increased ROS production, and induced mitochondrial dysfunction in KGN cells. These effects were ameliorated by naringenin treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, naringenin reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in KGN cells exposed to cadmium. SIRT1 knockdown downregulated its expression in KGN cells and compromised the protective effects of naringenin on cell viability and caspase-3/-9 activities in cadmium-stimulated KGN cells. Naringenin prevented the reduction of MMP, ATP levels, and ATP synthase activity in cadmium-stimulated KGN cells in a concentration-dependent manner. However, these protective effects were significantly reversed by SIRT1 knockdown. In conclusion, this study suggests that naringenin protects against cadmium-induced damage by regulating oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and inflammation in KGN cells, with SIRT1 playing a potential mediating role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A porous microplate embedded with two nanocomposite piezoelectric layers is investigated in the current work. All three layers are functionally graded and completely attached to each other, and the microstructure lies on a bi-parameter elastic foundation that withstands shear and normal forces simultaneously. Also, an external voltage is subjected to the piezoelectric patches. The mentioned patches are reinforced with carbon nanotubes to enhance their electro-mechanical performance. A higher-order shear deformation theory and von Karman's assumptions are hired to demonstrate the kinematic relations. Next, applying Hamilton's principle and variational technique, the governing motion equations are derived with the help of the modified couple stress theory to capture the scale influence. To solve the system of differential equations, a closed-form Navier method is employed, and by ensuring the correctness of the results, then it turns to investigate the impact of different factors including porosity percentage and also pores' distribution patterns, nanotubes dispersion patterns, and other important factors on the natural frequencies of the model. Obtained results show that symmetric and uniform porosity distributions have the maximum and minimum amounts of natural frequencies. Moreover, the maximum difference between natural frequencies of three different porosity distribution occurs in e0 = 0.95 and is approximately 32%. The current study results may consider to design and produce smart structures and devices with improved performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy is recognized as a promising therapeutic target for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Crocetin is an aglycone of crocin naturally occurring in saffron and has been found to alleviate brain injury diseases. However, whether crocetin affects autophagy after TBI remains unknown. Therefore, we explore crocetin roles in autophagy after TBI. We used a weight-dropped model to induce TBI in C57BL/6J mice. Neurological severity scoring (NSS) and grip tests were used to evaluate the neurological level of injury. Brain edema, neuronal apoptosis, neuroinflammation and autophagy were detected by measurements of brain water content, TUNEL staining, ELISA kits and western blotting. Crocetin ameliorated neurological dysfunctions and brain edema after TBI. Crocetin reduced neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation and enhanced autophagy after TBI. Crocetin alleviates TBI by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation and activating autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increased use of collaborative robots, a new production model of the human-robot collaborative hybrid assembly cell (HRCHAC) is becoming a new trend in customised production. Collaborative assembly between workers and robots in assembly cells can significantly increase productivity and improve the well-being of workers once the distribution of tasks and resources is optimised. This paper proposes a new integrated task allocation model to better utilise human-robot collaboration to increase productivity and improve worker well-being. The developed model enables the skills of both workers and robots to be fully utilised while ensuring economic efficiency and the effective protection of workers' physiological and psychological health. First, the product assembly process is decomposed into several assembly tasks, and the characteristics of each task are analysed. Second, a bi-objective mixed-integer planning model is developed with the objectives of minimising unit product assembly time and maximising total task matching. The ergonomics-related objectives are considered in terms of both the physiological and psychological fatigue of the worker, and relevant constraints are established. An improved NSGA-II algorithm is developed to determine the final task allocation scheme. Finally, the proposed method is applied to a real industrial case to verify the effectiveness of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experience-in-store-and-buy-online (ESBO) is a popular omni-channel strategy. This paper studies the effects of inspection service provision on the interactions of a dynamic-pricing retailer and strategic consumers, i.e., the effects of the ESBO initiative on store operations. Selling a seasonal product over two periods, the omni-channel retailer may allow consumers to inspect this product offline only in the first period (first-period inspection) or in both periods (two-period inspection). First, we find that allowing first-period inspection makes the retailer better off. The retailer will price the product higher in the first period but probably lower in the second period. Even so, more consumers will purchase in the first period: that is, allowing first-period inspection can somewhat deter strategic deferral. Meanwhile, the seemingly negative intertemporal showrooming behavior (i.e., inspect the product offline in the first period but defer online purchase to the second period) benefits the retailer. Compared to first-period inspection, allowing two-period inspection increases the retailer's prices in both periods as well as profit, provided that inspection is definitely available in the second period. On the other hand, when inspection is possible in the second period, it may be profitable to allow inspection only in the first period.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human managers are increasingly challenged by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in performing managerial functions. We undertook a field experiment that used AI vis-à-vis human managers to perform structured, data-intensive evaluations of employee performance. We generate two sets of insights. First, employees considered AI to be both fairer and more accurate in evaluating their performance than the average human manager. Second, to catch up with AI, human managers' fairness perceived by employees played a first-order role by (a) helping human managers, to a greater extent than those managers' evaluation accuracy, to close the performance gap of the employees evaluated by them compared with that of those evaluated by AI, and (b) constraining the effect of human managers' perceived accuracy of evaluations on employees' performance. Thus, facing the competition from AI, it is all the more important for human managers to treat employees fairly and build positive interpersonal relationships with employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Industry 4.0 revolution is changing the manufacturing landscape. A broad set of new technologies emerged (including software and connected equipment) that digitise manufacturing systems. These technologies bring new vitality and opportunities to the manufacturing industry, but they also bring new challenges. This paper focuses on the impact of Industry 4.0 on production planning approaches and software. We first propose a digital twin framework that integrates production planning systems and frontier technologies. The frontier technologies that may impact production planning software are the internet of things, cloud manufacturing, blockchain, and big data analytics. Second, we provide a state-of-the-art on the application of each technology in the production planning, as well as a detailed analysis of the benefit and application status. Finally, this paper discusses the future research and application directions in the production planning. We conclude that Industry 4.0 will lead to the construction of data-driven models for production planning software. These tools will include models built accurately from data, account for uncertainty, and partially actuate the decision autonomously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic congestion is a major concern in urban transportation in supply chain management. Road-based logistic companies can mitigate their Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions effectively by optimising their operation. In this study, we observed a low-carbon, fixed-tour scheduling problem with time windows (LC-FTSP-TW) that is designed to consider the factors that can minimise the greenhouse-gas emissions of logistics systems. Through better planning of the delivery times, we delineated a system to control the schedules of two vehicle types: fossil-fuel-powered and electric-powered vehicles. We formulated the LC-FTSP-TW as a mixed-integer linear programming model that can take into consideration time-varying traffic conditions, customer time windows, and vehicle energy-consumption functions. The proposed model was observed to be convenient for practical use, as it could be solved directly using commercial optimisation toolboxes, such as CPLEX and Gurobi, with continuous optimal results. In addition, we developed an efficient dynamic programming algorithm for solving large-sized problems with discrete optimal results. Computational experiments were conducted on a group of test instances to verify the proposed model and algorithm, which demonstrated considerable reductions in CO2 emissions compared to non-optimised solutions for both the tested fossil-fuel-powered and electric-powered vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal patterns (SP) exert a notable influence on the course and prognosis of patients with affective disorders, serving as a specifier in diagnosis. However, there is limited exploration of seasonality among psychotic patients, and the distinctions in seasonality among psychiatric patients remain unclear. In this study, we enrolled 198 psychiatric patients with anxiety and depressive disorders (A&D), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ), as well as healthy college students. Online questionnaires, including the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) for seasonality, the Morningness and Eveningness Questionnaire-5 (MEQ-5) for chronotypes, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), were administered. The validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the SPAQ were thoroughly analyzed, revealing a Cronbach's alpha of 0.896 with a two-factor structure. Results indicated that higher seasonality was correlated with poorer sleep quality and a more delayed chronotype (p < 0.05). Significant monthly variations were particularly evident in BD, specifically in mood, appetite, weight, social activities, and sleep dimensions (p < 0.001). In summary, the Chinese version of SPAQ is validated, demonstrating moderate correlations between seasonality, chronotype, and sleep quality. BD patients exhibited the strongest seasonality, while mood disorder patients displayed more delayed chronotypes than SZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate information on agricultural field boundaries is important for precision agriculture. Contour detection combining local cues presents a high performance on nature images. Image sparse representation describes an image is reconstructed by using as few basic functions as possible. The number of farmland parcel boundaries is small and unbalanced for the whole agricultural fields. It fits the application category of sparse representation. In this research, we investigate an approach based on contour detection and sparse representation for the extraction of farmland parcel boundaries. First, field boundaries have an obvious brightness contrast with the internal parts of the farmland parcels. We capture the cue to describe per pixel. Then, we use efficient sparse coding algorithm to represent every pixel for boundary determination. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves a sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, ${F_1}$ F 1 and AUC of 0.6089, 0.9055, 0.8865, 0.4073 and 0.7552, respectively. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of combining local features with sparse representation for a fast and accurate farmland parcel boundary extraction approach from remote sensing images. Comparison results with existing methods on two datasets demonstrate that the proposed method is able for accurate discrimination of the farmland parcel boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to critically assess existing risk prediction models for postoperative mortality in older individuals with hip fractures, with the objective of offering substantive insights for their clinical application. A comprehensive search was conducted across prominent databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang, spanning original articles in both Chinese and English up until 1 December 2023. Two researchers independently extracted pertinent research characteristics, such as predictors, model performance metrics, and modeling methodologies. Additionally, the bias risk and applicability of the incorporated risk prediction models were systematically evaluated using the Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST). Within the purview of this investigation, a total of 21 studies were identified, constituting 21 original risk prediction models. The discriminatory capacity of the included risk prediction models, as denoted by the minimum and maximum areas under the subject operating characteristic curve, ranged from 0.710 to 0.964. Noteworthy predictors, recurrent across various models, included age, sex, comorbidities, and nutritional status. However, among the models assessed through the PROBAST framework, only one was deemed to exhibit a low risk of bias. Beyond this assessment, the principal limitations observed in risk prediction models pertain to deficiencies in data analysis, encompassing insufficient sample size and suboptimal handling of missing data. Subsequent research endeavors should adopt more stringent experimental designs and employ advanced statistical methodologies in the construction of risk prediction models. Moreover, large-scale external validation studies are warranted to rigorously assess the generalizability and clinical utility of existing models, thereby enhancing their relevance as valuable clinical references. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In warehouses, routing decisions for vehicles are highly related to the schedule of docks and loading operations. To mind the gap that most existing studies consider the routing decisions solely, this study investigates the vehicle routing problem with time windows and loading scheduling (VRPTW-LS). In this problem, the loading schedules at the loading docks and the visiting sequences for vehicles are determined to minimise the total travelled distance. To solve this problem, an adaptive large neighbourhood search algorithm, embedded with a tailored solution representation and an efficient feasibility check mechanism, is developed. In addition, the results of extensive computational experiments verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm, and some analyses are conducted to obtain managerial insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of ecommerce and digital technologies, we have witnessed a boom of platform operations. Amid their strong growth prospects, it is observed that platforms have created controversial issues and challenges, which could be potentially solved by the combination of blockchain features. More and more studies exploring the implementation of blockchain in platform operations have appeared in recent years. In this paper, motivated by the industrial practices of different types of product selling and service platforms, we first conduct a holistic literature review of the most representative papers relevant to platform operations. Examining the value of different blockchain features in operations management field, we further review the related works on platform operations with blockchain technologies. Afterwards, we analyse the innovative applications and challenges in platforms such as physical and virtual product selling platforms, rental/sharing and on-demand service platforms. A future research agenda is established which lays the solid foundation for further studies on platform operations in the blockchain era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding visitors’ park experience in urban tourist destinations to enhance their satisfaction is crucial for effective park management and urban planning. Through a topic modelling analysis using user-generated data from TripAdvisor and employing the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm, 20 attributes of urban park experience are identified and grouped into three categories and five dimensions. Besides confirming some of the attributes of park experience identified in previous research, this study also uncovers new attributes that provide insights into visitors’ urban park experience related to the historical and cultural aspects (e.g. filming location, carriage rides and rickshaws). Furthermore, positive and negative effects of each attribute on visitor satisfaction are identified. Findings also suggest significant seasonal difference in attributes of visitors’ urban park experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by basic psychological needs theory, this multi-case study explored four supervisors’ feedback practices and their effects on Chinese English-major students’ engagement with feedback on their undergraduate dissertations written in English. Data comprised interviews with students and supervisors, stimulated recalls with students, audio recordings of supervisor-student conferences, and students’ multiple dissertation drafts with supervisory feedback. Cross-case comparisons were made to gauge the supervisory support. The analyses revealed salient differences in pedagogical caring, optimal structure, and autonomy support provided by the supervisors. The supervisees engaged affectively, behaviorally, and cognitively with supervisory feedback to different extents, and their engagement depended on the types and amounts of teacher support available. The findings of the study contribute to the application of basic psychological needs theory by extending it to undergraduate dissertation supervision. Practical implications for improving undergraduate dissertation supervision in the Chinese context are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the advancements in multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC – ICP – MS) technology have significantly enhanced our understanding of the isotopic variations in tungsten (W) and tin (Sn) among natural samples. The application of W isotopic fractionation (δ186/184W NIST 3163) has emerged in tracing the material cycle associated with solid Earth evolution as an excellent indicator. Also, the findings of Sn isotopic fractionation (e.g. δ122/118Sn 3161a) in cassiterite have achieved initial success in revealing magmatic-hydrothermal processes. However, the mechanisms responsible for variations in W and Sn isotopes in the ore-forming processes remain to be fully addressed, and there is an urgent need to apply the W – Sn isotope systematics to geology (especially for ore deposit geology). In this contribution, the high-precision analytical methods for W and Sn isotopes, the significant variability in isotopic compositions, and the immense functionality of the tracing process are systematically summarized and reviewed. Conclusively, the prospects of the application of W and Sn isotopes in geology are listed, and it is pointed out that it is urgent to introduce W – Sn double isotope systematics into the study of ore deposits, apply the stable isotopic method for tracing the source of ore-forming materials and modelling the evolution of W and Sn isotopes in W – Sn metallogenic system. Focusing on the composition variations of W and Sn isotopes in magmatic-hydrothermal evolution is expected to explore the fractionation mechanism of those isotopes in the mineralization process from multiple perspectives, establishing the evolution model of W and Sn isotopes in the complex W – Sn metallogenic system, which can provide a fresh approach for in-depth understanding of the genesis of W – Sn mineralization, and then facilitating a new perspective for the study of large-scale W – Sn polymetallic mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic ammonia oxidation process has the advantages of energy and cost reduction, therefore, it has been considered as one of the main alternatives to conventional biological denitrification process in recent years. Biochar has been applied in the anammox process for nitrogen removal efficiency. But, due to its extracellular electron transfer capacity and abundance of redox-specific functional groups, which served as extracellular electron acceptor to anaerobically oxidize NH4+ is still controversy. In this study, the anaerobic ammonia oxidation was investigated when biochar was used as electron acceptor in the wastewater. According to the optimal process variables determined in the batch tests, when the influent NH4+-N concentration in the anaerobic ammonia oxidation reaction was 30–50 mg/L and the biochar dosing was at 10 g/L, it showed some promotion in the long-term experiments. The anaerobic ammonia oxidation process with biochar as the electron acceptor reached more than 60% NH4+-N removal efficiency in the system, and the ΔNO3--N/ΔNH4+-N ratio reached 0.19 which tended to the theoretical value. After 20 days, the voltage in the system keeps fluctuating about 4 mV, indicated that the functional bacteria using biochar as the electron acceptor gradually dominated the system. In addition, the abundance of norank_f__norank_o__SBR1031 in the Chloroflexi phylum has increased significantly at 29.92%, while the abundance of the major genus Candidatus_Kuenenia in AnAOB has decreased slightly at 11.47%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workload management is a critical concern in shared control of unmanned ground vehicles. In response to this challenge, prior studies have developed methods to estimate human operators' workload by analyzing their physiological data. However, these studies have primarily adopted a single-model-single-feature or a single-model-multiple-feature approach. The present study proposes a Bayesian inference model to estimate workload, which leverages different machine learning models for different features. We conducted a human subject experiment with 24 participants, in which a human operator teleoperated a simulated High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) with the help from an autonomy while performing a surveillance task simultaneously. Participants' eye-related features, including gaze trajectory and pupil size change, were used as the physiological input to the proposed Bayesian inference model. Results show that the Bayesian inference model achieves a 0.823 F1 score, 0.824 precision, and 0.821 recall, outperforming the single models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firstly, we study the existence, regularity and decay of positive solutions for the elliptic system \[ \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} & -\Delta u+u=vg(u) \quad {\rm in}\ \mathbb R^N, \\ & -\Delta v+v=G(u) \quad {\rm in}\ \mathbb R^N, \end{array} \right. \] { − Δ u + u = vg (u) in R N , − Δv + v = G (u) in R N , where $ N\geq 3 $ N ≥ 3 , g satisfies Berestycki-Lions type conditions. In Sobolev space, the system can be transformed into the Choquard equations with Bessel potential \[ -\Delta u+ u=\left(\mathfrak{g}_2\star G(u)\right) g(u) \quad {\rm in}\ \mathbb R^N, \] − Δ u + u = (g 2 ⋆ G (u)) g (u) in R N , where $ \mathfrak {g}_2 $ g 2 is the fundamental solution of the linear operator $ -\Delta + I $ − Δ + I on $ \mathbb R^N $ R N . Moreover, by assuming that g is nondecreasing, we obtain the radial symmetry and monotonic property of positive solutions by moving plane method, and the existence of ground state solutions by non-Nehari manifold method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study examined the relationships among students' participation in Residential College (RC) activities, their sense of belonging, academic engagement, and academic achievement. Participants: Two hundred and forty-six undergraduate students from a public university in Macau participated in this study. Methods: A set of survey questions were responded by each participant via an online link. Results: Participation in RC activities cultivated students' sense of belonging toward RC which in turn contributed to their sense of belonging toward the university. Students' academic engagement mediated the relationship between sense of belonging toward UM and academic achievement. Conclusions: These findings confirmed previous studies demonstrating the important role of RC participation in student learning and development, and shed lights on the optimization of RC system in the university as well as student development in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study offers a critical examination of university policies developed to address recent challenges presented by generative AI (GenAI) to higher education assessment. Drawing on Bacchi's 'What's the problem represented to be' (WPR) framework, we analysed the GenAI policies of 20 world-leading universities to explore what are considered problems in this AI-mediated assessment landscape and how these problems are represented in policies. Although miscellaneous GenAI-related problems were mentioned in these policies (e.g. reliability of AI-generated outputs, equal access to GenAI), the primary problem represented is that students may not submit original work for assessment. In the current framing, GenAI is often viewed as a type of external assistance separate from the student's independent efforts and intellectual contribution, thereby undermining the originality of their work. We argue that such problem representation fails to acknowledge how the rise of GenAI further complicates the process of producing original work and what it means by originality in a time when knowledge production becomes increasingly distributed, collaborative and mediated by technology. Therefore, a critical silence in higher education policies concerns the evolving notion of originality in the digital age and a more inclusive approach to address the originality of students' work is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilingual children often lag behind monolinguals on standardized measures of language acquisition, such as vocabulary tests. This bilingual lag could be related bilinguals' lesser experience with the target language relative to monolinguals. In this study, we predicted that sequential Mandarin-English bilinguals would perform worse than same-aged English monolinguals on a standardized measure of complex sentence production. As predicted, the bilingual preschoolers performed worse than age-matched English monolinguals. However, once English experience was covaried, there was no significant difference between the two groups. After controlling for age, we tested three predictors of complex sentence production: (1) English vocabulary, (2) verbal memory, and (for the bilinguals) (3) Mandarin vocabulary. For both bilinguals and monolinguals, English vocabulary and verbal memory were significant predictors. These results support the argument that experience with a particular language is highly predictive of children's ability to produce complex sentences in that language. Verbal memory is also an important predictor of individual differences in the ability to produce complex sentences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-pressure groundwater brings great challenges to the construction of mountain tunnels. Hence, controlling and discharging groundwater are two key problems that must be addressed before constructing tunnels in high-pressure and water-rich region. Fluid–solid coupling seepage analysis method is used to analyze the variation of displacement, stress and pore water pressure of the tunnel. A waterproof and drainage method suitable for tunnels in high-pressure and water-rich region is proposed. Curtain grouting plays a dual role in waterproof and reinforcing surrounding rock. Decompression drainage holes are designed in order to further reduce the pore water pressure acting on the initial lining. The thickness of grouting circle, the permeability coefficient ratio and the decompression drainage holes distribution rate of the initial lining are the main factors that affect the waterproof and drainage effect of tunnels in high-pressure and water-rich region. Suggested parameters on waterproof and drainage measures for tunnels in high-pressure and water-rich region are given after comprehensive analysis, which can provide basis for the technology on high-pressure groundwater treatments and constructions of underground engineering under complex geological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The front facia gives the car vivid features; accordingly, and an appropriate product personalisation degree (PD) can improve product branding, related to the appearance design, while avoiding excessive design features. This study investigates the effects of the car front facia PD on user perceptions and proposes design guidelines for vehicle designers and manufacturers. An open-ended experiment was conducted with 30 participants using 60 car fronts to study user emotions and preferences related to product personality based on questionnaire and physiological electrical signal evaluation results. The features were extracted using the chaos theory and cvxEDA algorithm. The obtained results indicate that the PD was consistent with user emotions. Furthermore, when the consistency between PD and user emotions is high, a significant variation in user preferences can be observed. Therefore, when designing high-PD products, the sub-item product personalisation degree (sub-item PD) should be carefully managed, considering the overall logic and coherence. Highlights Product personalisation degree is positively correlated with the subjective and objective emotions of users. The impact of product personalisation degree on user preferences and subjective emotions is not always the same, particularly pleasure and arousal. When product personalisation degree is highly correlated with the subjective and objective emotions of users, the user preferences are highly differentiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bicyclol is a hepatoprotective agent widely used for treating chronic hepatitis and drug-induced liver injuries in clinics. The purpose of the study was to elucidate the contribution of CYP450 enzymes to the metabolism of bicyclol using the relative activity factor approach. After incubation with human liver microsomes and recombinant human liver CYP450 enzymes, the calculated contribution of CYP3A4 and 2C19 to the metabolism of bicyclol was 85.6–90.3% and 9.2–9.7%, respectively. The metabolism was interrupted in the presence of CYP3A4 and 2C19 selective inhibitors. These findings help to predict or avoid metabolic drug–drug interactions or toxicity in clinical applications of bicyclol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomena with within-strata characteristics that are more similar than between-strata characteristics are ubiquitous (e.g., land-use types and image classifications). It can be summarized as spatial stratified heterogeneity (SSH), which is measured and attributed using the geographical detector (Geodetector) q-statistic. SSH is typically calibrated by stratification and hundreds of algorithms have been developed. Little is discussed about the conditions of the methods. In this work, a novel stratification method based on head/tail breaks is introduced for the purpose of better capturing the SSH of geographical variables with a heavy-tailed distribution. Compared to conventional sample-based stratifications, the presented approach is a population-based optimized stratification that indicates an underlying scaling property in geographical spaces. It requires no prior knowledge or auxiliary variables and supports a naturally determined number of strata instead of being subjectively preset. In addition, our approach reveals the inherent hierarchical structure of geographical variables, characterizes its dominant components across all scales, and provides the potential to make the stratification meaningful and interpretable. The advantages were illustrated by several case studies in natural and social sciences. The proposed approach is versatile and flexible so that it can be applied for the stratification of both geographical and nongeographical variables and is conducive to advancing SSH-related studies as well. This study provides a new way of thinking for advocating spatial heterogeneity or scaling law and advances our understanding of geographical phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the idea of game learning, this paper studies the Cournot game model of the multi-oligopoly market and studies the realization of the Nash equilibrium by using adaptive differential evolution algorithm based on relaxation strategies. The realization path of Nash equilibrium is attained through an adaptive differential evolution based on a relaxation strategy procedure applied to an objective function with best response dynamics. Among them, the objective function is derived from the sum of the payoff changes of each oligopoly under best response decisions. And theoretically proved that the Nash equilibrium is the optimal solution of the objective function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use panel data from 780 Chinese listed companies from 2006–2019 to investigate the threshold impact of supply chain relationship structure on supply chain governance performance. The results indicate that supplier concentration has a single threshold effect on supplier and internal governance performance but no threshold effect on customer governance performance. Customer concentration has single and dual threshold effects on internal and customer governance performance, respectively. Although customer concentration has a single threshold effect on supplier governance performance, it is not significant before or after it reaches the threshold. These findings enrich the literature on supply chain relationship management and supply chain governance and can guide managers in managing supply chain relationships to improve governance performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effect of short selling on total-factor productivity (TFP) using China's short-selling pilot program as a quasi-natural experiment. Short-selling significantly improves TFP, and this positive effect is mainly driven by improvements in firms' innovation ability and resource-allocation efficiency. The results are robust to potential endogeneity using propensity-score matching, a placebo test, and exogenous shocks. Further, the positive effect is more pronounced when external governance mechanisms (i.e. market competition and institutional investor supervision) are weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylic is an ideal material for some components in underwater engineerings, such as observation windows and fully-transparent hulls of Human-Occupied Vehicle (HOV). The safety of these acrylic structures is quite essential for the integrity of the underwater facility and the research on the acrylic performance used in the deep sea is not very systematic. To capture the accurate properties of the acrylic used for these structures, several compression experiments are carried out to identify the compressive elasticity of acrylic under different loading rates, including the elastic region, upper yield point and lower yield point. Non-linear performance and rate-dependent characteristics are found in the experiments. Based on the experimental data, polynomial form of hyper-elasticity is well-matched to describe the non-linear stress and strain diagram. Numerical analysis of acrylic specimen and observation window are conducted based on the hyper-elastic model. The results show good consistency between simulations and experiments. The illustrated material model provides a basis for establishing a more accurate design-by-analysis-methodology for acrylic structures used in underwater facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fine-grained ship classification (FGSC) task in remote sensing aims to distinguish subordinate ship categories. Due to the high similarity among different subcategories and the significant variations in pose, scale, rotation, and color within the same subcategory in the fine-grained ship datasets, the FGSC task is extremely challenging. To alleviate these issues, a novel approach, named Dual-Stream Network (DSNet), is proposed in this paper for FGSC. DSNet consists of two sub-branches: the Local Residual Branch (LRB) and the Global Representation Branch (GRB). Specifically, the LRB effectively extracts the most discriminative local fine-grained features of the target using Full-scale Skip Connections (FSC) and Stripe Pooling Add (SPA) modules. The GRB captures global contextual information through Swin-Transformer (Swin-T), establishing remote dependencies of the target and extracting global coarse-grained features. Furthermore, a Lightweight Fusion (LF) block is designed in the feature fusion module to combine the feature information from the two branches. This ensures that the discriminative global and local information complement each other without overwhelming one another, thereby effectively improving the performance of the model. Extensive experiments and analyses demonstrate that our proposed method achieves state-of-the-art performance on two mainstream FGSC datasets in remote sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain integration (SCI) has been considered an antecedent of sustainability performance (SP) by some studies; however, empirical findings on the nexus between SCI and SP in the existing literature are inconsistent. The study aims to provide an extensive literature review on the SCI–SP relationship. We propose a conceptual research framework to investigate the SCI–SP relationship with consideration of the effects of contextual moderators. A meta-analysis is adopted to analyse the sample of 60 selected empirical papers focusing on this relationship. The results provide evidence of a positive relationship between SCI and SP, which is affected by the two types of moderating variables: operationalisation of SP construct and control variables (industry sector, economic development, and the country's logistics capabilities). We find that SCI has the greatest impact on economic SP and the lowest impact on social SP. The SCI–SP relationship is more robust in the service industry than in the manufacturing industry. When a country's logistics capabilities increase, SCI's influence on SP becomes weaker. The results of this study are drawn from extant empirical research, and thus the validity and reliability of these findings rely on the validity and reliability of the original studies. This study is the first meta-analysis to examine the vital relationship between SCI and SP and adopted a country's logistics capabilities as a moderator. The results offer managerial insights regarding integration dimensions that positively affect various measures of SP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An eco-friendly, metal-free approach for synthesizing dihydrobenzo[b][1,8]naphthyridine derivatives has been established. This method employs ortho-chloroquinolin-α,β-unsaturated ketones as dipolarophiles and acyclic enaminones as amphiphilic nucleophiles, enabling a formal [3 + 3] annulation reaction under phase-transfer catalysis to offed the targeted products. It boasts transition-metal-free conditions, broad functional group compatibility, and straightforward operational procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-dimensional numerical simulations were performed to study the interactions between shock wave and premixed flame. The three-dimensional (3D) fully-compressible, reactive Navier–Stokes equations were solved using a high-order numerical method on a dynamically adapting mesh. The effect of wall friction on the shock–flame interaction was examined by varying wall boundary condition on sidewall. The simulations agree with previous experiment in terms of flame perturbation and flame evolution. The results show two effects of wall friction on flame–shock interaction: (1) flame stretching and (2) damping of local flame perturbation very close to the no-slip wall. The stretch effect leads to non-uniform development of the perturbated flame and consequently a significantly higher growth rate in both global flame perturbation and averaged pressure in the no-slip case compared to the free-slip case. By contrast, the damping effect locally moderates the flame perturbation in close proximity to the no-slip wall because less vorticity is deposited on this part of flame during shock–flame interaction. Quantitative analysis of vortex dynamics suggests that vorticity generation that is produced by baroclinic torque and enhanced by the dilation term during shock–flame interaction causes a growth of flame perturbation via Richtmyer–Meshkov instability. Nevertheless, the vorticity generation is greatly weakened in close proximity to the no-slip wall by the viscous torque and viscous dissipation terms due to friction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the feasibility of a standardized training and assessment system for magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy (MCCG). The results of 90 trainees who underwent the standardized training and assessment system of the MCCG at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from May 2020 to November 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. The trainees were divided into three groups according to their medical backgrounds: doctor, nurse, and non-medical groups. The training and assessment system adopted the '7 + 2' mode, seven days of training plus two days of theoretical and operational assessment. The passing rates of theoretical, operational, and total assessment were the primary outcomes. Satisfaction and mastery of the MCCG was checked. Ninety trainees were assessed; theoretical assessment's passing rates in the three groups were 100%. The operational and total assessment passing rates were 100% (25/25), 97.92% (47/48), and 94.12% (16/17), for the doctor, nurse, and non-doctor groups respectively, with no significant difference (χ2 = 1.741, p = 0.419). No bleeding or perforation occurred during the procedure. Approximately, 96.00% (24/25), 95.83% (46/48), and 94.12% (16/17) of the doctor, nurse and non-medical groups anonymously expressed great satisfaction, respectively, without statistically significant difference (χ2 = 0.565, p = 1.000). The average follow-up time was 4–36 months, and 87 trainees (96.67%) had mastered the operation of the MCCG in daily work. Standardized training and assessment of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopists is effective and feasible. Additionally, a strict assessment system and long-term communication and learning can improve teaching effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Live streaming technologies transform the information processing of customers by changing the way they interact with and acquire information. However, this emerging technological artefact may induce both positive and negative consequences for customer decision making. It is yet unknown what constitutes the dimensions of the juxtaposed IT affordances and how they affect customer behaviours in this new social phenomenon. This paper contributes to IS research by uncovering the specific bright and dark sides of IT affordances in live streaming e-commerce and by explaining the cognitive mechanisms underpinning customer purchase and brand citizenship behaviours. We employed a sequential mixed-methods design to embrace and contextualise the theory of affordance, vicarious learning, and cognitive load to rigorously develop a theoretical framework of the juxtaposed IT affordance in live streaming e-commerce. The results indicate that positive affordances (e.g., interactivity, visibility, and entertainment) have stronger effects on both economic and non-economic value. However, the potential dark side (e.g., broadcasting and source diversity) has more negative effects on purchase intention than brand citizenship behaviour, underscoring the importance of involving customers in co-creating brand-related value in live streaming e-commerce. Our findings contribute considerably to the emerging literature on live streaming e-commerce and provide actionable recommendations for practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To research the vibration problem caused by bearing assembly errors in machine tool spindles, a special test rig for rolling bearing misalignment is designed and built. The dynamic model of the spindle-bearing-pedestal system of the test rig is established, and the characterization method for bearing parallel and angular misalignments is given through the Hertz contact theory. The effect rule of the misalignment level on spindle vibration response is studied by simulation and experiment, and the system dynamic model and bearing misalignment model are verified. On this basis, the vibration characteristics of the spindle system under the joint effect of raceway misalignment and waviness are further analyzed. The numerical and experimental results show that when the bearing is in the misalignment state, the excitation of bearing variable compliance increases. The assembly errors of the bearing raceway lead to the deviation of the centroid motion trajectory of the spindle tool end, which seriously affects the machining accuracy of the machine tool. In the case of severe angular misalignment, the system shows chaotic motion, indicating that the instability of the system is enhanced. The impact of angular misalignment on system vibration is greater than parallel misalignment, so bearing ring tilt should be avoided as far as possible in practice. In addition, it is also found that the variation of excitation amplitude of bearing waviness caused by raceway tilt is related to the relationship between the number of waviness and ball number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional vibro-acoustic modulation methods for bolt looseness detection often use a probe wave with single frequency. However, using a single frequency probe wave not only reduces the detection accuracy but also increases the difficulty of selecting the frequency of the probe wave. To overcome these drawbacks, this paper proposes a bolt looseness detection method based the vibro-acoustic modulation using a frequency sweep probe wave. For the low-frequency pump wave, the excitation frequency is set as the resonant frequency of the bolted joint to enhance the modulation effect. For the high-frequency probe wave, a frequency sweep excitation is used to replace the single frequency excitation, which improves the detection accuracy and overcomes the difficulty of selecting the probe frequency. A signal processing method is proposed to extract modulation information from the complex response signal obtained under a frequency sweep excitation. A nonlinear modulation index is defined using the extracted modulation information to quantify the loosening level of bolts. An experimental setup is designed to implement the vibro-acoustic modulation detection method on a bolted joint. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective for detecting bolt looseness and has high detection sensitivity and accuracy for the early bolt loosening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral remote sensing combined with data preprocessing techniques and machine learning algorithms is a new way to efficiently estimate plant SPAD. In this study, the raw hyperspectral reflectance data of the dwarf forest of Cinnamomum camphora (Linn.) Presl (C. camphora) were subjected to 0-2nd order differential transformations (a step size of 0.25) using SPAD during the harvesting period of C. camphora. The spectral indices with the highest correlation with SPAD in each order were also selected as input variables for the model, and the measured values of SPAD from simultaneous observations were used as the output variable. Support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and backpropagation neural network (BPNN) were used to construct the SPAD inversion model. The results showed that the correlation between the spectral index and the SPAD of the dwarf forest of C. camphora and the accuracy of the constructed prediction model tended to increase and then decrease with increasing differential order. After a comprehensive comparison, the RF-based SPAD prediction model achieved the highest accuracy with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.824, root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.619, and mean relative error (MRE) of 3.207% for the validation set, using spectral indices computed by the 1.5-order differential treatment as the input variables. This study provides a theoretical basis for improving the accuracy of plant leaf SPAD inversion based on hyperspectral remote sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations serve as a pivotal metric for assessing the biological content and eutrophication levels of waterbodies. In optical remote sensing, empirical and semi-analytical methods are commonly employed for Chl-a retrieval. Leveraging the Level-1B remote sensing data from the Directional Polarimetric Camera (DPC) aboard the Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Inventory Satellite (TECIS), this study amalgamates empirical algorithms (OC2, OC3, Aiken-P, and Aiken-C) and look-up-table (LUT) techniques to estimate Chl-a in open water. Test data acquired from DPC on 20 August 2022, are validated against the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on the Terra satellite and AERONET-Ocean Color water-leaving radiance data for the same area and date. The results reveal that among the tested algorithms, particularly in the log10 scale space, the Aiken-P algorithm demonstrates the highest correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.6333), with the lowest bias of 1.0366 and a minimum mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.2097. This underscores the suitability and accuracy of the Aiken-P algorithm for water colour retrieval based on DPC-derived data, highlighting its practical applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MCOLN1/TRPML1 is a nonselective cationic channel specifically localized to the late endosome and lysosome. With its property of mediating the release of several divalent cations such as Ca2+, Zn2+ and Fe2+ from the lysosome to the cytosol, MCOLN1 plays a pivotal role in regulating a variety of cellular events including endocytosis, exocytosis, lysosomal biogenesis, lysosome reformation, and especially in Macroautophagy/autophagy. Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process that maintains cytoplasmic integrity by removing superfluous proteins and damaged organelles. Acting as the terminal compartments, lysosomes are crucial for the completion of the autophagy process. This review delves into the emerging role of MCOLN1 in controlling the autophagic process by regulating lysosomal ionic homeostasis, thereby governing the fundamental functions of lysosomes. Furthermore, this review summarizes the physiological relevance as well as molecular mechanisms through which MCOLN1 orchestrates autophagy, consequently influencing mitochondria turnover, cell apoptosis and migration. In addition, we have illustrated the implications of MCOLN1-regulated autophagy in the pathological process of cancer and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. In summary, given the involvement of MCOLN1-mediated autophagy in the pathogenesis of cancer and myocardial I/R injury, targeting MCOLN1 May provide clues for developing new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of these diseases. Exploring the regulation of MCOLN1-mediated autophagy in diverse diseases contexts will surely broaden our understanding of this pathway and offer its potential as a promising drug target. Abbreviation: CCCP:carbonyl cyanide3-chlorophenylhydrazone; CQ:chloroquine; HCQ: hydroxychloroquine;I/R: ischemia-reperfusion; MAP1LC3/LC3:microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MCOLN1/TRPML1:mucolipin TRP cation channel 1; MLIV: mucolipidosis type IV; MTORC1:MTOR complex 1; ROS: reactive oxygenspecies; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the effect of nitrogen loading rates (NLRs) on the stability of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) for treating simulated ionic rare earth mine wastewater with high ammonia nitrogen and extremely low organic content. Mature AGS from a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was seeded into five identical SBRs (R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5). The five reactors were operated with different NLRs (0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 kg/m3·d). After 30 days of operation, R1, R2 and R5 were dominated by broken granules, while most of the granules in R3 and R4 still maintained a complete structure. The properties of granules from R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 deteriorated to varying degrees, while the granules from R3 and R4 showed better stability than that from R1, R2 and R5. In R1, R2, R3 and R4, the steady-state ammonia nitrogen removal efficiencies were all greater than 90%, and the steady-state removal efficiencies of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) were approximately 30%. In R5, the removal efficiencies of ammonia nitrogen and TIN were both approximately 70%. The dominant nitrifying and denitrifying bacterial genera of the granules from the five reactors were Nitrosomonas and Thauera, respectively, and their relative abundance was much higher in granules from R3 and R4. The results demonstrated that a relative equilibrium between the growth and metabolism of nitrifying/denitrifying bacteria was achieved when NLR was between 0.8 and 1.2 kg/m3·d, which could provide technical support for the stability maintenance of AGS in the treatment of ionic rare earth mine wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the impact on bond credit ratings of reduced information processing costs from two investor interactive platforms in China, i.e. 'Easy Interaction' and 'e-Interaction'. These online platforms provide investors with a channel to directly communicate with listed companies and learn much of corporate operations. Replies and explanations from management assist investors in integrating disclosed information and reducing information processing costs. The reduced costs likely impose reputational concerns on credit rating agencies (CRAs), leading to more stringent rating standards and less rating inflation. We find that more interactions result in lower credit ratings of corporate bonds. This effect is more pronounced for bonds rated by global-partnered CRAs and bonds whose issuers have higher information complexity, and less pronounced for bonds whose issuers have official consultation websites. Further analyses show that reduced information processing costs are associated with more information contents in rating downgrades and timelier ratings. Our findings provide evidence for the disciplinary effect of reduced processing costs on CRA behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Findings: In the context of parent-child book sharing, cultural influences on cognitive distancing language and associations with child executive function (EF) have been understudied. This study examined cultural group similarities/differences in parent and child book-sharing distancing language among preschool-aged dual language learners from low-income Mexican American (MA) and Chinese American (CA) families. We further tested concurrent relations between parent/child distancing language and children's EF. The sample consisted of 88 children (45 MAs, 43 CAs, age = 38–68 months) enrolled in Head Start preschools and their parents. To assess distancing language, utterances were coded for cognitive demand and classified as referential (low demand), behavioral (moderate demand), or inferential (high demand). Cognitive tasks tapping inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility were used to assess child EF. Results showed parents and children from both cultural groups produced comparable numbers of story-related utterances. MA dyads used higher proportions of parent/child inferential statements and a lower proportion of parent referential questions. The proportions of parent behavioral questions and child behavioral statements were positively related to child cognitive flexibility. Practice or Policy: Findings highlight heterogeneity in parent-child verbal interactions among low-income multilingual families and have implications for promoting preschoolers' cognitive/language development in diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of mixed natural gas can clarify the specific sources of natural gas accumulation and provide the basis for the exploitation of natural gas resources. Analysis of gas compositions and carbon isotopic ratios of different components of mixed natural gas shows that the carbon isotopic fractionation of methane and ethane from different sources has a small difference after mixing. This conclusion is derived from the experimental data in Table 1, 0.88 is the average of all Ro values. Well DN8 and DN9 produced light oil with a density between 0.75 and 0.82 g/cm3 and viscosity between 1.63 and 3.3 MPa. Generally, in the high maturity stage of organic matter, the carbon isotopic fractionation values of methane and ethane of natural gas from a single source should display a difference of at least 4.0% to 5.0%. The δ13C value of methane and ethane in well DN8 are only 1.6%. It is considered that the mixing of natural gas from different sources causes this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of neurodegenerative lesions and cognitive impairment. In this study, a series of novel palmatine derivatives were designed and synthesized through the introduction of a heteroatom using carbodiimide-mediated condensation. The synthesized compounds were then screened for toxicity and potency, leading to the identification of compound 2q, which exhibited low toxicity and high potency. Our findings demonstrated that compound 2q displayed significant neuroprotective activity in vitro, emerging as a promising candidate for Alzheimer's disease treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine jatrophane diterpenoids were isolated from the whole plant Euphorbia helioscopia, including two new ones, helioscopnins A (1) and B (2). Comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis and ECD calculations elucidated their structures, including absolute configurations. All compounds were evaluated for bioactivity towards autophagic flux by flow cytometry using HM mCherry-GFP-LC3 cells. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9 significantly increased autophagic flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social impact of cultural tourism remains controversial even though tourism development seeks a socially and economically balanced outcome. This article explores the potential of liminality as a means of explaining how cultural tourism development affects social cohesion at the neighbourhood level, particularly through open spaces. A quantitative survey of 349 respondents from two national-level tourism districts in Shanghai, Yuyuan and Xinhua, was conducted using the structural equation modeling technique. Three attributes of cultural tourism destinations (CTDs) that affect social cohesion – cultural expressions, spatial features, and management – as measured by 12 items were identified and validated in the study. The results emphasized that CTDs' cultural expressions, such as the form and appearance of buildings, had a strong positive impact on social cohesion. However, the connotation of social cohesion in CTDs is more about latent cohesion than manifest cohesion, which means people share place attachment and a sense of belonging without necessarily having closer interactions. The findings also indicate that liminality, which provides a sense of reviving and freedom, mediates CTDs' contribution to social cohesion. The study provides a reference for tourism planning and management to enhance social cohesion and further achieve consolidated tourism development by facilitating liminality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]