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Much research on brainstorming has found that the power of a team can stimulate individual creativity, and that this influence is more prominent in computer-mediated online interactions. However, creativity appears to depend on the outcome of combining certain environmental factors with certain kinds of Individual characteristics. Two experiments using electronic brainstorming were conducted in this study to examine the creative performance of individuals with different cognitive styles in several creative fields and with various environmental cues. Overall, it was found that cognitive styles significantly affected the creativity of individuals. Creative performances of individuals with field-independent cognitive styles were more stable than those of individuals with field-dependent cognitive styles. However, the appearance of environmental cues reversed this particular effect. When cues were present, there were no significant differences between the creativity of field-dependent and field-independent individuals. The findings provide empirical evidence for improving the creativity of field-dependent individuals and have significant implications for education and talent cultivation.

Motivation is key to the generation of creative ideas, intrinsic motivation is the core driving force of creativity. Researchers believe that individuals with higher intrinsic motivation will produce higher novelty and flexibility. Creativity may also be influenced by environmental cues, which are objects in the environment that individuals can use to solve problems. This study investigated the influence of intrinsic motivation and environmental cues on social creativity and whether there is an interaction effect of intrinsic motivation and environmental cues on the process of electronic brainstorming (EBS). The results showed that individuals generated more ideas (both in quantity and type) when presented with more cues. In this process, the influence of the number of cues on the fluency and flexibility of social creativity was regulated by intrinsic motivation. The more novel the cues, the higher the overall level of originality of the ideas generated by participants. In this process, the influence of the novelty of cues on the effectiveness and fluency of social creativity was regulated by intrinsic motivation. This study offers a fresh theoretical perspective on the complicated relationship between intrinsic motivation and creativity. Furthermore, it provides empirical evidence to inform training on social creativity for university students.

The Taylor–Quinney coefficient (TQC) stands as a critical parameter intricately linked to the thermomechanical coupling plastic deformation behavior, defined as the ratio of heat generation to plastic work. Combining experimental studies and atomistic simulations, the TQC is discussed in the context of three CoCrNi-based chemically complex medium/high-entropy alloys (CoCrNi, CoCrNiFe, and CoCrNiFeMn). Notably, the obtained TQC of these alloys hovers around 0.7, well below the generally assumed value of 0.9–1 in traditional metals associated with adiabatic shearing. The lower TQC implies that these alloys possess the much better capability of storing energy of cold-work. It is further found that immobile dislocations are the most effective carriers for storing the energy of cold-work. Among these three alloys, CoCrNiFeMn exhibits the highest TQC due to its relatively lower density of immobile dislocations and Lomer–Cottrell locks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image recognition technology is widely used in the field of criminal investigation or in the civil field, in which fingerprint image recognition technology, as a means of verification, has a very high legal authority and plays an irreplaceable role. In this paper, image recognition technology is specifically applied to the extraction of fingerprint features from crime scenes. The proposed fingerprint image curve changes are used in the image patch recognition algorithm. By analyzing the changes in the fingerprint curve profile, the evolution law of the fingerprint curve is calculated. Then, using the discrete iteration method, the missing fingerprint image is repaired for recognition. Experiments show that the method in this paper can effectively repair the missing fingerprint image part. Despite the low recognition rate for fingerprint images of 88.1%, other quality images are correctly recognized at more than 95% and have a relatively good recognition effect. Legal practitioners are most satisfied with the accuracy of feature extraction using this technique after using it.

Objectives: To investigate the association between the blood concentration of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) in local multiethnic residents and the increased risk for the development of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture population. Methods: A total of 2078 subjects with (study group) or without (control group) MS (1217 Korean-Chinese and 861 Han-Chinese subjects) were included in this study. MS subjects were divided into five groups according to ethnicity and MS components. They were assessed for smoking history, drinking history, past medical history, general demographic characteristics, and LCN2 concentrations. Results: LCN2 concentrations were higher in all ethnic MS groups than in the control group, and the highest concentrations were detected in Han-Chinese subjects with dyslipidemia. Moreover, LCN2 concentrations were significantly higher in Korean-Chinese individuals with all MS components than in the control group. Logistic regression analyses were conducted. In the unadjusted models, Korean-Chinese and Han-Chinese individuals with high LCN2 concentrations both faced a risk of MS with odds ratios (ORs) of 2.339 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.632–3.352) and 1.523 (95% CI: 1.101–2. 108), respectively. After the adjustment, the risk only remained in Korean-Chinese individuals, with an OR of 1.818 (95% CI: 1.031–3.207). Conclusion: Elevated circulating LCN2 was associated with the increased incidence of MS, and the effect in Korean-Chinese individuals was stronger than that in Han-Chinese individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Melatonin, a tryptophan-derived indoleamine metabolite with important roles in plant growth and defense, has recently been regarded as a new plant hormone. Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. Although the melatonin receptor gene, ZmPMTR1 , has already been identified, the genetic basis of melatonin biosynthesis in maize has still not been elucidated. Serotonin N-acetyltransferase (SNAT) is the enzyme that converts serotonin to N-acetylserotonin (NAS) or 5-methoxytryptamine (5MT) to melatonin in Arabidopsis and rice, but no SNAT encoding gene has been identified yet in maize. Methods: The bioinformatics analysis was used to identify maize SNAT genes and the enzyme activity of the recombinant proteins was determined through in vitro assay. The expression levels of ZmSNAT1 and ZmSNAT3 under drought and heat stresses were revealed by public RNA-seq datasets and qRT-PCR analysis. Results: We first identified three maize SNAT genes, ZmSNAT1, ZmSNAT2, and ZmSNAT3, through bioinformatics analysis, and demonstrated that ZmSNAT2 was present in only eight of the 26 cultivars analyzed. We then determined the enzyme activity of ZmSNAT1 and ZmSNAT3 using their recombinant proteins through in vitro assay. The results showed that both ZmSNAT1 and ZmSNAT3 could convert serotonin to NAS and 5-MT to melatonin. Recombinant ZmSNAT1 catalyzed serotonin into NAS with a higher catalytic activity (K m, 8.6 mM; V max, 4050 pmol/min/mg protein) than ZmSNAT3 (K m, 11.51 mM; V max, 142 pmol/min/mg protein). We further demonstrated that the 228th amino acid Tyr (Y228) was essential for the enzymatic activity of ZmSNAT1. Finally, we revealed that the expression of ZmSNAT1 and ZmSNAT3 varied among different maize cultivars and different tissues of a plant, and was responsive to drought and heat stresses. Discussion: In summary, the present study identified and characterized the first two functional SNAT genes in maize, laying the foundation for further research on melatonin biosynthesis and its regulatory role in plant growth and response to abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) tremendously impacts the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the countries involved. However, the BRI's impacts and impact pathways on the synergies and trade‐offs in these countries' SDGs remain unclear. Using global data from 2005 to 2021, we find that the BRI has dramatically promoted low‐income countries' SDGs and the synergies between high‐income countries' SDGs. Continuing to prioritize economic growth as the main focus of the BRI may not be the optimal path for achieving mutual development that benefits all of humanity. Although there is environmental pressure involved with the BRI, this factor does not force involved countries to make trade‐offs between improving SDGs and environmental resources. Furthermore, the BRI affects involved countries' SDGs through two key channels: fostering industries, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9) by enhancing people's well‐being (SDG 3) and promoting zero hunger (SDG 2) through sustainable cities (SDG 11). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing the dual pressures of the exacerbation of global climate change and the deterioration of the domestic environment caused by pollution, China has clearly adopted environmental regulatory measures to improve the climate environment. One measure is the carbon emissions trading scheme (CETS), which serves as a notable example of the country's efforts to improve the climate environment. We gathered panel data from 285 prefecture‐level cities in China from 2005 to 2018 and used the Difference‐in‐Differences (DID) model to empirically examine the synergistic effects of the CETS on carbon emissions and air pollution. The results indicate that CETS have been effective in reducing urban carbon emissions by approximately 9.8%. Additionally, the schemes have caused a simultaneous reduction in particulate matter (PM)2.5 emissions by 11.7% and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by approximately 9.7%, mitigating urban air pollution in China. It demonstrates that the scheme has significant synergistic effects on carbon emissions and air pollution. To achieve synergistic effects of CETS, effective measures include reducing energy intensity and upgrading the industrial structure. The implementation of CETS had heterogeneity in different conditions, and the synergistic effect of the scheme is more significant in eastern regions, large cities, and the final industrial stage. Our findings offer innovative solutions for the integrated management of carbon emissions and air pollution and provide valuable insights for policymakers to enhance China's CETS. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1112–1124. © 2023 SETAC Key Points: The carbon emissions trading scheme (CETS) led not only to the significant reduction by approximately 9.8% in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but also effectively mitigated sulfur dioxide emissions by approximately 9.7% and particulate matter (PM)2.5 emissions by approximately 11.7%.This policy highlights the synergistic impact of reducing carbon emissions and air pollution.The effective emission reduction measures of CETS are focused on reducing energy intensity and upgrading industrial structure; the proper implementation of these measures can achieve significant synergistic emission reduction.Based on the heterogeneous analysis of the pilot scheme, the synergistic effects of the CETS are particularly significant in the eastern regions, large cities, and the final industrial stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore how rice (Oryza sativa L.) can be safely produced in Cd-polluted soil, OsLCT1 and OsNramp5 mutant lines were generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis. One of OsLCT1 mutant (lct1×1) and two of OsNramp5 mutants (nramp5×7 and nramp5×9) were evaluated for grain Cd accumulation and agronomic performances. In paddy field soil containing approximately 0.9 mg/kg Cd, lct1×1 grains contained approximately 40% (0.17 mg/kg) of the Cd concentration of the wild type parental line, less than the China National Food Safety Standard (0.20 mg/kg). Both OsNramp5 mutants showed low grain Cd accumulation (< 0.06 mg/kg) in the paddy (approximately 0.9 mg/kg Cd) or in pots in soil spiked with 2 mg/kg Cd. However, only nramp5×7 showed normal growth and yield, whereas the growth of nramp5×9 was severely impaired. The study showed that lct1×1 could be used to produce rice grains safe for human consumption in lightly contaminated paddy soils and nramp5×7 used in soils contaminated by much higher levels of Cd. Keywords: cadmium, rice, OsNramp5, OsLCT1, genome-editing, heavy metal contamination, CRISPR, Cas9