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In this study, we describe and illustrate a new species, Primula weiliei L.S.Yang, Z.K.Wu & G.W.Hu, from the Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province in Central China. It is morphologically assigned to Primula sect. Aleuritia based on its dwarf and hairless habit, long petiole, fruits longer than calyx and covered by farina on the scape. This new species is similar to P. gemmifera and P. munroi subsp. yargongensis in the same section, but it can be distinguished by its smaller calyxes, homostylous flowers, corolla tube throat without annular appendage and only 1–2 flowers in each inflorescence. Based on the assessment conducted according to the IUCN Red List criteria, we propose that P. weiliei be classified as a Critically Endangered (CR) species.

Design standards necessitate the use of a sufficient lap splice length when dealing with longer spans of Reinforced Concrete (RC) members. An inadequate lap splice length results in a reduction of both the flexural strength and ductility of reinforced concrete beams. The failure risk of these beams is considered a potential threat which is experimentally identified, numerically analyzed, and carefully mitigated in this research to increase building safety and sustainability to avoid risk of construction failure. The ongoing experimental and numerical research focuses on examining the structural performance of RC beams with insufficient lap splice length, which have been fortified through various applications of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) ferrocement layers. A total of eleven beams, divided into four groups, were purposefully designed and tested under bending loads until they reached the point of collapse. The investigated parameters included the casting technique, installation strategy, and anchorage length (La) for such layers. Cast in situation and pre-casting scenarios were utilized in order to cast the strengthening ECC layers. The La for all layers was designed to be the main studied variable beside type of casting and installation technique. Three La values were studied: 30D, 40D, and 50D where D is the bar diameter of main reinforcement steel in tension side. It was found that, the application of chemical anchor bolts in cast in situation ECC ferrocement layers credited the higher enhancement in both cracking and ultimate stages by about 92–137% and 114–164% for cracking and ultimate levels, respectively. Then, the experimentally measured outcomes were employed for developing nonlinear Finite Element Models (FEMs) to simulate the performance of such ECC ferrocement layers that employed. The variance between numerical results and experimental counterparts ranged in between 6% and 9%, achieving an acceptable variance.

Because of their distinct mechanical, rheological, and physical features, lightweight concrete and glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) bars have a significant growth in the modern building sectors over the past decade. Minimizing subsequent quake damages, particularly in multistory residential or administrative RC structures, is a key concern for governments in earthquake zones. The dual frame-wall system is among the most appropriate structural systems for resisting seismic loads in multistory concrete structures. Therefore, this research aims to quantify the seismic damage of multistory dual frame-wall systems with varying heights of 12, 20, and 25 stories under mild, medium, and severe earthquake intensities. The inelastic damage analysis of RC buildings program is utilized to nonlinearly analyze 54 cases containing various materials such as normal concrete, lightweight concrete, steel reinforcement bars, and GFRP bars. Using lightweight concrete with half the density of normal concrete and pure linear-elastic GFRP bars in floor construction will significantly decrease the geometric nonlinearity effect created by the load-displacement (P-Δ) effect and dissipate a large amount of the kinetic energy generated by seismic excitation, resulting in a significant reduction in post-earthquake damage. When compared to the normal concrete, using lightweight concrete in floor construction reduced the mean story damage index by 14–20% as the building's height increased, while reinforcing these floors with GFRP bars resulted in substantial decreases in the overall damage index, reaching about 57–68% when both building's heights and seismic excitation intensities were considered.

Earthquakes occur without warning and cause considerable shock to structures by shaking the ground. If deformation or damage beyond the permissible range occurs in a structure owing to an earthquake, serious problems arise in terms of usability, repair, and reinforcement. Therefore, numerous seismic reinforcement devices have been developed to prevent structural damage caused by earthquakes. However, the existing seismic reinforcement devices are problematic because they need to be replaced after an earthquake owing to deformation. Therefore, in this study, we developed a pretension damper, a seismic reinforcement device that exhibits excellent recentering, load resistance, and energy dissipation capacity performances by applying superelastic shape memory alloy wire with pretension and friction bolts, and analyzed the behavior characteristics. For this purpose, the design parameters set as the diameter and material of the wire, pretension, and friction bolts. Finite element analysis was performed using the ABAQUS program for a total of 24 dampers according to design parameters, and maximum load performance, energy dissipation capacity, residual displacement was analyzed. The results confirmed that the recentering and load resistance performance are improved when pretension is applied, and the energy dissipation performance is improved when friction bolts are installed. Applying the superelastic shape memory alloy instead of Gr. 50 steel enhances the damper performance in terms of the maximum force, energy dissipation capacity, and residual displacement. In particular, when pretension is applied to Gr.50 steel wire, performance deteriorates, so pretension is not recommended in this case. In particular, the application of pretension to Gr.50 steel wire is not recommended due to reduced performance. The best performance was SPF20 damper, which showed a maximum load of 1153.7 kN, residual displacement of 0 mm, and energy dissipation capacity of 309855.19 kN·mm.

This study aims to assess the efficacy of innovative and sustainable methods in improving the shear performance of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams lacking shear stirrups. Eleven specimens, including two control specimens and nine strengthened ones, underwent monotonic loading through three-point testing. Various strengthening configurations were investigated, involving the application of Stainless-Steel Strips (SSSs) affixed to the beam surface in the defective zone, along with a Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) jacket. In the first set of beams, SSSs were vertically applied, while the second set featured beams with SSSs inclined at 60°, and the third set had SSSs inclined at 45°. Each set comprised three beams, allowing for the examination of the impact of SSS thicknesses, set at 1 mm, 1.25 mm, and 1.50 mm. After the installation of SSSs, all strengthened beams received an FRCM jacket, including a 5 mm Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) layer with embedded Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) textile. The study concludes that incorporating SSS strips with an FRCM jacket delays the initiation of the first crack in defective beams. Increasing SSSs thickness contributes to a more favorable crack distribution. The 60° inclined SSSs proves to be the most effective, rectifying the deficiency from the absence of shear stirrups and surpassing the original beam's performance. Additionally, finite element analysis was conducted, and the results supported the accurateness of the developed model in simulating responses and crack patterns throughout all loading stages.

Abstract Background Medicinal plants have been used for centuries and are still relied upon by over 80% of the Ethiopian population. The people of Gamo, southern Ethiopia, have a rich cultural and traditional lifestyle with a long history of using plant resources for various uses including traditional herbal medicine. However, their traditional knowledge of traditional medicinal plants in Boreda Abaya District has not been explored Ethnobotanically yet, despite preserving diverse indigenous traditional medicinal plants. Hence, the study aimed to document and analyze traditional medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge and practices used by local people. Materials and methods Quantitative ethnobotanical data were collected via semi-structured interviews, face-to-face conversations, group discussions, and guided field trips between September 2022 and February 2023. In total, 92 informants participated, of which 25 were key informants. Quantitative data indices (informant consensus factor—ICF—and use report—Ur) were computed by MS Excel spreadsheet software. Scientific names of medicinal plants were checked via World Flora Online. Results In the present study, we recorded 188 traditional medicinal plant species belonging to 163 genera and 73 plant families. Lamiaceae (16 species), Asteraceae (16 species), Fabaceae (11 species), and Euphorbiaceae (8 species) contributed highest number of species and were found to be predominant family in the area. Leaves and seeds were most frequently used plant parts, and pounding (46%) was the main method to prepare remedies. The sudden sickness disease category scored the highest consensus (ICF: 0.35), followed by blood and circulatory-related disease categories (ICF: 0.33). The highest number of plant taxa (61 species) used to treat dermal disease has a 71-use report score, while fewer plant taxa (21 species) were utilized to treat genitourinary system-related disease category, having 25 use reports. Ocimum lamiifolium (Ur:56) and Moringa stenopetala (Ur:51) are widely used species and received highest use report value. Conclusion Gamo people possess extensive traditional knowledge of ethnomedicine. The region's vegetation hosts diverse medicinal species, but deforestation, agriculture, and droughts threaten them. Local conservation practices require scientific support, prioritizing species having higher use reports (Ur), and in-depth investigations of promising species for drug development are essential.

Climate change poses a serious long-term threat to biodiversity. To effectively reduce biodiversity loss, conservationists need to have a thorough understanding of the preferred habitats of species and the variables that affect their distribution. Therefore, predicting the impact of climate change on species-appropriate habitats may help mitigate the potential threats to biodiversity distribution. Xerophyta, a monocotyledonous genus of the family Velloziaceae is native to mainland Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. The key drivers of Xerophyta habitat distribution and preference are unknown. Using 308 species occurrence data and eight environmental variables, the MaxEnt model was used to determine the potential distribution of six Xerophyta species in Africa under past, current and future climate change scenarios. The results showed that the models had a good predictive ability (Area Under the Curve and True Skill Statistics values for all SDMs were more than 0.902), indicating high accuracy in forecasting the potential geographic distribution of Xerophyta species. The main bioclimatic variables that impacted potential distributions of most Xerophyta species were mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio9) and precipitation of the warmest quarter (Bio18). According to our models, tropical Africa has zones of moderate and high suitability for Xerophyta taxa, which is consistent with the majority of documented species localities. The habitat suitability of the existing range of the Xerophyta species varied based on the climate scenario, with most species experiencing a range loss greater than the range gain regardless of the climate scenario. The projected spatiotemporal patterns of Xerophyta species help guide recommendations for conservation efforts.

Polyurea coatings are well recognized for their remarkable protective properties, making them highly appropriate for practical use in the field of concrete building. The use of polyurea coatings in the concrete building business is currently constrained, despite its prevalent application in industrialized nations. The limited use may be ascribed to ambiguities about the determinants of effective implementation in this particular setting, as well as the dearth of extensive study in the realm of new building materials. The primary objective of this research is to assess and conceptualize the key determinants linked to the use of polyurea coatings in concrete building endeavors. Utilizing a quantitative research approach, a comprehensive literature analysis was conducted to identify a total of 21 probable success variables. The reliability of the questionnaire was established by the administration of a pilot survey, and afterwards, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to enhance the clarity and precision of the underlying components. The researchers used structural modeling (SEM) approaches to develop a robust model using the primary data obtained from the questionnaire survey. The EFA revealed the presence of five unique constructs that have an impact on the effectiveness of polyurea coatings in concrete building projects. These constructions comprise several characteristics, including environmental considerations, functional requirements, protective properties, execution processes, and creative elements. The significance and relevance of this research are shown by the validation of the study's results using SEM. The study makes a valuable contribution towards the progression of polyurea coating use within the concrete building sector.

The variation in patterns of plant species distribution has been of interest to naturalists and ecologists. However, African mountains remain nature's laboratories least explored. This study aims to identify the altitudinal pattern of plant taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, and community structure of Mt. Elgon, which is an isolated ancient volcanic mountain of the Oligocene-Miocene epoch in Africa, hosting a rare species pool. Species diversity data (1606 species) was obtained through random walk field surveys, herbaria collections and online databases. We calculated Faiths’ phylogenetic diversity and its standard effect size (SES_PD), net related index (NRI) and nearest taxon index (NTI) among its four vegetation zones, six habitats and 28–100m elevation bands. Our results indicated that herbaceous plants had higher species richness than woody plants and they both assumed a monotonic decline pattern among vegetation zones, and a hump shaped pattern among habitats and 100m elevation bands. However, standardized phylogenetic diversity and structure (SES_PD, NTI and NRI) pattern differed and fluctuated between woody and herbaceous plants demonstrating a zigzag pattern. Mid-elevation phylogenetic overdispersion structure was observed based on NRI (clade level), while phylogenetic clustering progressively increased with elevation in NTI (taxon level). The complex phylogenetic diversity and structure in this study indicate a unique ecosystem worth conservation and more scientific exploration. Consequently, we recommend regions of phylogenetic overdispersion structure for priority conservation.

Objective To investigate the relationship between triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and the total load of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and its different imaging markers. Methods A total of 202 patients with CSVD admitted to The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2020 to May 2022 were selected. The clinical data of all patients were collected and TyG index was calculated. The lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) were evaluated by MRI, and total load of CSVD score was calculated. Results 1) TyG index and total load of CSVD score: Logistic regression analysis showed the male (OR = 2.245, 95%CI: 1.017-4.957; P = 0.045), increase of age (OR = 1.084, 95%CI: 1.046-1.124; P = 0.000), hypertension (OR = 2.457, 95%CI: 1.189-5.078; P = 0.015) and increase of TyG index (OR = 2.657, 95%CI: 1.353-5.216; P = 0.005) were risk factors for moderate and severe total load of CSVD. 2) TyG index and imaging markers of CSVD: Logistic regression analysis showed the increase of TyG index was the risk factor of moderate and severe WMH (OR = 2.313, 95%CI: 1.095-4.885; P = 0.028), CMBs (OR = 1.690, 95%CI: 1.011-2.824; P = 0.045), lacunes (OR = 2.087, 95%CI: 1.235-3.525; P = 0.006), moderate and severe EPVS in basal ganglia (OR = 2.005, 95%CI: 1.190-3.378; P = 0.009). Conclusions TyG index is associated with the total load and various imaging markers of CSVD, which can be used as a valuable biomarker to evaluate CSVD and its severity.

Abstract Background Low levels of Free Triiodothyronine (FT3) are associated with poor survival in chronic kidney disease, and the aim of this study was to further assess the relationship between changes in FT3 levels and renal damage in patients with type 2 diabetes based on glomerular and tubular markers. Methods We retrospectively studied 452 type 2 diabetic patients, measured glomerular damage markers (UACR, eGFR) and tubular damage markers (NAG/Cr,β2-MG), analyzed the relationship between FT3 and renal damage by logistic regression models, and plotted restrictive cubic splines. Results 41.6% of subjects had diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and the prevalence of DKD decreased progressively with increasing FT3 levels in the third quartile. Spearman correlation analysis showed that FT3 was negatively associated with UACR, NAG/Cr and β2-MG, while eGFR was positively associated with FT3. Multifactorial analysis, after adjusting for relevant confounders, revealed that compared with the lowest quartile of FT3, the highest quartile reduced the risk of developing urinary albumin (OR = 0.499,95% CI:0.289–0.856), moderate to severe impairment of glomerular filtration rate (OR = 0.106,95% CI:0.032–0.354), renal tubular marker β2 -MG positive (OR = 0.516,95% CI:0.299 to 0.883) and the risk of DKD occurrence (OR = 0.450,95% CI:0.260 to 0.774). In the sample model, FT3 levels below 4.39 pmol/L were associated with an increased risk of glomerular tubule injury and DKD occurrence. Conclusions FT3 is closely associated with glomerular tubular injury and is a protective factor. As FT3 levels (

Erosion in piping structures poses a significant challenge for oil industries as the conveyance of solid particles leads to operational malfunctions and structural failures affecting the overall oil plant operation. Conventional oil recovery methods have historically dominated, while in response to the challenges imposed by declining conventional oil production, the global shift towards non-conventional methods necessitates a reevaluation of erosion mitigation strategies due to increased piping infrastructure. Therefore, in this study research has been conducted to reduce erosion and optimize the piping structure. Variables impacting the erosion in piping were investigated from the literature, and simulation cases were made based on the impacted variables. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFDs) analysis was performed using the Discrete Phase Model (DPM) to determine the erosion wear rate in each simulation case; based on the CFD results, variables with low Turbulent Dissipation Rates (TDRs) and Erosion Rates (ERs) were determined, and the optimized piping structure was designed. As a result, the optimized piping structure showed an 80% reduction in the turbulent dissipation rate and a 99.2% decrease in the erosion wear rate. These findings highlight a substantial improvement in erosion control, ensuring the safety and longevity of piping structures in oil plant operations.

Sedimentation in the harbors’ basins is an environmental phenomenon that frequently disrupts safe shipping and necessitates costly dredging operations. The layout of harbors and the permeability of protective structures such as breakwaters influence sediment transport within harbor basins. Thus, through a multistep framework, this study investigates the sedimentation management issues for the Egyptian proposed Ezbet Elborg fishing harbor based on field measurements and a numerical morphodynamic coastal modeling system (CMS). First, field measurements were analyzed and evaluated for acquiring a full grasp of the research area’s bathymetry and hydrodynamics. Second, a two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulation CMS model was set up and calibrated against field measurements wherein the developed CMS model highly correlated with actual measurements by 97%. CMS results demonstrate that the predominant NNW wave with the formed longshore current on both the harbor’s sides affects sediment accumulation within the harbor’s basin. Third, 100 simulations for the proposed harbor including different structural modulation scenarios affecting the sedimentation issue were investigated via the calibrated CMS model. Finally, an exploratory data analysis (EDA) is performed via correlation matrix and ANOVA test for the CMS’s scenarios’ results to gain an in-depth view of the relation between the harbors’ layout and the structural characteristics with the sedimentation volumes. Results showed that breakwaters’ orientation affects sediment accumulation more than its length. Also, breakwater permeability and basin width are significantly affecting sediment accumulation. Ultimately, the current study makes a substantial contribution to integrated coastal structure management (ICSM) by helping coastal stakeholders to mitigate the negative impacts of the harbors’ sediment deposition aiming at sustaining both environmental and economic aspects.

This study presents the development of a thermal energy storing cementitious composite that incorporates phase change material (PCM) microencapsulated in biosourced polymer shell (m-PCM). The biodegradability of the encapsulated PCM was assessed using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), which confirmed the high biodegradability of the m-PCM shell under specific environmental conditions. To examine the thermophysical properties of the m-PCM, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed. The DSC results revealed exothermic enthalpies of 84.7 J/g and 140.2 J/g, with associated peak temperatures of − 3.2 °C and − 22.9 °C, respectively. Subsequently, the m-PCM was incorporated into cement-based mortar at proportions of 5%, 10%, and 15% by weight of binder. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of the m-PCM on the mechanical properties of the mortar. The results indicated a significant decrease in mechanical strength upon incorporating the m-PCM. However, this reduction in strength was mitigated by the addition of silica fume (SF) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in combination. Furthermore, a thermal cycling test was performed to examine the behavior of the nanomodified m-PCM incorporated mortar under varying ambient conditions. The results showed that the addition of MWCNTs improved both the mechanical performance and thermal performance of the composite.

Abstract Background Two staging systems, the 8th staging system by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the 11th Japanese classification by Japan Esophageal Society (JES), are currently applied in the clinic for predicting the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The differences between the two staging systems have been widely researched. However, little studies focus on the differences in specific staging between the two systems. Therefore, we aimed to compare the performance of different staging in predicting overall survival (OS) of Chinese patients with ESCC. Methods This retrospective study included 268 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection for ESCC between January 2008 and December 2013. Patients were staged by the 8th AJCC and 11th JES staging systems. OS was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared between N stages and between stage groupings using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently related to outcome. Further, we compared the concordance indexes (C-indexes) of the two staging systems. Results The mean age was 61.25 ± 7.056 years, median follow-up was 44.82 months, and 5-year OS rate was 47%. The OS was well predicted by the 8th AJCC N staging (P

Abstract A comorbidity of chronic pain is sleep disturbance. Here, we identify a dual-functional ensemble that regulates both pain-like behaviour induced by chronic constrictive injury or complete Freund’s adjuvant, and sleep wakefulness, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in mice. Specifically, a select population of NAc neurons exhibits increased activity either upon nociceptive stimulation or during wakefulness. Experimental activation of the ensemble neurons exacerbates pain-like (nociceptive) responses and reduces NREM sleep, while inactivation of these neurons produces the opposite effects. Furthermore, NAc ensemble primarily consists of D1 neurons and projects divergently to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and preoptic area (POA). Silencing an ensemble innervating VTA neurons selectively increases nociceptive responses without affecting sleep, whereas inhibiting ensemble-innervating POA neurons decreases NREM sleep without affecting nociception. These results suggest a common NAc ensemble that encodes chronic pain and controls sleep, and achieves the modality specificity through its divergent downstream circuit targets.

Abstract Objective Diabetes is a life-long disease that poses a serious threat to safety and health. We aimed to assess the disease burden attributable to diabetes globally and by different subgroups, and to predict future disease burden using statistical models. Methods This study was divided into three stages. Firstly, we evaluated the disease burden attributable to diabetes globally and by different subgroups in 2019. Second, we assessed the trends from 1990 to 2019. We estimated the annual percentage change of disease burden by applying a linear regression model. Finally, the age-period-cohort model was used to predict the disease burden from 2020 to 2044. Sensitivity analysis was performed with time-series models. Results In 2019, the number of incidence cases of diabetes globally was 22239396 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 20599519–24058945). The number of prevalence cases was 459875371 (95% UI 423474244–497980624) the number of deaths cases was 1551170 (95% UI 1445555–1650675) and the number of disability-adjusted life years cases was 70880155 (95% UI 59707574–84174005). The disease burden was lower in females than males and increased with age. The disease burden associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus was greater than that with type 1; the burden also varied across different socio-demographic index regions and different countries. The global disease burden of diabetes increased significantly over the past 30 years and will continue to increase in the future. Conclusion The disease burden of diabetes contributed significantly to the global disease burden. It is important to improve treatment and diagnosis to halt the growth in disease burden.

Abstract Background To date, plastid genomes have been published for all but two holoparasitic angiosperm families. However, only a single or a few plastomes represent most of these families. Of the approximately 40 genera of holoparasitic angiosperms, a complete plastid genome sequence is available for only about half. In addition, less than 15 species are currently represented with more than one published plastid genome, most of which belong to the Orobanchaceae. Therefore, a significant portion of the holoparasitic plant plastome diversity remains unexplored. This limited information could hinder potential evolutionary pattern recognition as well as the exploration of inter- and intra-species plastid genome diversity in the most extreme holoparasitic angiosperms. Results Here, we report the first plastomes of Kenyan Hydnora abyssinica accessions. The plastomes have a typical quadripartite structure and encode 24 unique genes. Phylogenetic tree reconstruction recovers the Kenyan accessions as monophyletic and together in a clade with the Namibian H. abyssinica accession and the recently published H. arabica from Oman. Hydnora abyssinica as a whole however is recovered as non-monophyletic, with H. arabica nested within. This result is supported by distinct structural plastome synapomorphies as well as pairwise distance estimates that reveal hidden diversity within the Hydnora species in Africa. Conclusion We propose to increase efforts to sample widespread holoparasitic species for their plastid genomes, as is the case with H. abyssinica, which is widely distributed in Africa. Morphological reinvestigation and further molecular data are needed to fully investigate the diversity of H. abyssinica along the entire range of distribution, as well as the diversity of currently synonymized taxa.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Proteus mirabilis is an important opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen. This study reports the whole genome sequence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. mirabilis PM1162 and explores its antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their genetic environments. Methods: P. mirabilis PM1162 was isolated from a urinary tract infection in China. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed. ARGs, insertion sequence (IS) elements, and prophages were identified using ResFinder, ISfinder, and PHASTER software, respectively. Sequence comparisons and map generation were performed using BLAST and Easyfig, respectively. Results: On its chromosome, P. mirabilis PM1162 harboured 15 ARGs, including cat, tet(J), blaCTX-M-14 (three copies), aph(3′)-Ia, qnrB4, blaDHA-1, qacE, sul1, armA, msr(E), mph(E), aadA1, and dfrA1. We focused our analysis on the four related MDR regions: (1) genetic contexts associated with blaCTX-M-14; (2) the prophage containing blaDHA-1, qnrB4, and aph(3′)-Ia; (3) genetic environments associated with mph(E), msr(E), armA, sul, and qacE; and (4) the class II integron harbouring dfrA1, sat2, and aadA1. Conclusion: This study reported the whole genome sequence of MDR P. mirabilis PM1162 and the genetic context of its ARGs. This comprehensive genomic analysis of MDR P. mirabilis PM1162 provides a deeper understanding of its MDR mechanism and elucidates the horizontal spread of its ARGs, thus providing a basis for the containment and treatment of the bacteria.

The use of phase change materials (PCMs) has become an increasingly common way to reduce a building’s energy usage when added to the building envelope. This developing technology has demonstrated improvements in thermal comfort and energy efficiency, making it a viable building energy solution. The current study intends to provide a comprehensive review of the published studies on the utilization of PCMs in various constructions of energy-efficient roofs, walls, and ceilings. The research question holds massive potential to unlock pioneering solutions for maximizing the usefulness of PCMs in reducing cooling demands, especially in challenging high-temperature environments. Several issues with PCMs have been revealed, the most significant of which is their reduced effectiveness during the day due to high summer temperatures, preventing them from crystallizing at night. However, this review investigates how PCMs can delay the peak temperature time, reducing the number of hours during which the indoor temperature exceeds the thermal comfort range. Additionally, the utilization of PCMs can improve the building’s energy efficiency by mitigating the need for cooling systems during peak hours. Thus, selecting the right PCM for high temperatures is both critical and challenging. Insulation density, specific heat, and thermal conductivity all play a role in heat transfer under extreme conditions. This study introduces several quantification techniques and paves the way for future advancements to accommodate practical and technical solutions related to PCM usage in building materials.

Mt Elgon is an ancient transboundary volcanic mountain found at the Kenya-Uganda boarder possessing high plant diversity. This study documents an updated checklist of the mountain’s vascular plants obtained through random-walk field excursions and retrieval of herbarium specimen tracing back to 1900. We compiled 1709 species from 673 genera in 131 families. One new species of the family Cucurbitaceae was also reported. This checklist records respective habitat, habits, elevation ranges, voucher numbers and global distribution ranges of each species. Native and exotic species were also distinguished, where 8.4% of the total species in 49 families were exotic species. There were 103 endemic species, while 14 species were found to be both rare and endemic. IUCN conservation status revealed 2 Critically Endangered, 4 Endangered, 9 Vulnerable and 2 Near Threatened species. This study presents the first and most comprehensive plant inventory of Mt Elgon that will facilitate further ecological and phylogenetic studies.

Background: Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is a risk factor for cognitive function, whereas healthy lifestyles are associated with better cognition. We aimed to examine their joint effects on cognition among the Chinese elderly. Methods: The data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey was used. Participants’ cognitive performance was assessed by the Chinese version of the mini-mental state examination. Residential proximity to major roadways was obtained through self-report and categorized into five categories: > 300 m, 201–300 m, 101–200 m, 50–100 m, and 300 m from major roadways and adopting a healthy lifestyle had a significantly decreased risk of cognitive impairment. Stratified analysis indicated that the associations between TRAP and cognitive impairment were more pronounced among participants adopting an unhealthy lifestyle compared to the participants adopting a healthy lifestyle. Conclusions: TRAP may impair cognitive function, and its detrimental impacts may be lessened by healthy lifestyles.

Abstract Background The genus Veronicastrum Heist. ex Fabr. are mainly distributed in East Asia, and only Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farw. is disjunctively distributed in eastern North America. The south area of China (extending to Taiwan Island) is the richest in Veronicastrum species. It is of medicinal importance in China as traditional herbs used to treat ascites diseases that caused by schistosomiasis. During field investigation of plant resources in Pingbaying National Forest Park, Southwestern Hubei, China, an unknown flowering population of Veronicastrum was discovered from thick humus layers adjacent to rocks under broad-leaved forests by walkways. They were collected and morphological characters assesed for further taxonomic treatment. Molecular analysis was also conducted to ascertain its phylogenetic position in the genus Veronicastrum. Results This species is similar to Veronicastrum liukiuense (Ohwi) T.Yamaz. from the Ryukyu Islands, but can be distinctly differed by its axillary inflorescences (versus terminal on short leafy branches), pedicels up to 2.5 mm (versus sessile), corollas purple to purple-red (versus white tinged with pale purple) and florescence June to July (versus September to October). Also, phylogenetic studies showed the species was an independent clade in the genus Veronicastrum based on the maximum likelihood (ML) analyses using two different matrix sequences of concatenated molecular markers. The plastid genome of this new species is also reported in this study for the first time. Conclusion The morphological and molecular evidences support the recognition of Veronicastrum wulingense as a new species.

Cynanchum thesioides, a species widely distributed in north-eastern Asia, is revised to include two new synonyms: Vincetoxicum sibiricum f. linearifolium, described from Shandong, China in 1877, but long neglected and Cynanchum gobicum, previously believed to be endemic to Mongolia. Typification for C. thesioides and all its synonyms is given, including lectotypification of V. sibiricum var. australe and V. sibiricum f. linearifolium. An updated description, three figures showing the diverse habitats, habits and variation in morphological characters, and a general distribution map are also provided.

Land use/land cover (LULC) indices can be considered while developing land surface temperature (LST) models. The relationship between LST and LULC indices must be established to accurately estimate the impacts of LST changes. This study developed novel machine learning models for predicting LST using multispectral Landsat images data of Freetown city in Sierra-Leon. Artificial neural network (ANN) and gene expression programming (GEP) were employed to develop LST prediction models. Images of multispectral bands were obtained from Landsat 4-5 and 8 satellites to develop the proposed models. The extracted data of LULC indices, such as normal difference vegetation index (NDVI), normal difference built-up index (NDBI), urban index (UI), and normal difference water index (NDWI), were utilized as attributes to model LST. The results show that the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the ANN and GEP models were 0.91oC and 1.08 oC, respectively. The GEP model was used to yield a relationship between LULC indices and LST in the form of a mathematical equation, which can be conveniently used to test new data regarding the thematic area. The sensitivity analysis revealed that UI is the most influential parameter followed by NDBI, NDVI, and NDWI towards contributing LST.

Soil is a heterogeneous medium, the characteristics that determine soil slope stability are highly variable, making the analysis a difficult task. The present research approach is switching from deterministic to probabilistic in order to account for the variability in soil properties. This research presents the use of three soft-computing techniques to evaluate reinforced soil slope reliability based on slope stability: Genetic Algorithm based Adaptive Network based Fuzzy Inference System (GA-ANFIS), Random Forests Classifier (RFC), and Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH). Shear strength parameters c (cohesion), ϕ (angle of shearing resistance) and ϒ (unit weight) are used as input variables, while Factor of Safety of Reinforced Soil Slope (F) is used as an output variable to determine the stability of a soil slope of a certain height. The Models were also evaluated using various assessment parameters and GA-ANFIS outperformed having some testing outputs as NS= 0.997, RMSE= 0.017, VAF= 99.731 %, Bias Factor= 1.002, PI= 1.998, R2 = 0.997, GPI= 6.6E-08, U95 = 0.627, tstat= 0.247 and β = 1.543. The GA-ANFIS model outperformed the GMDH and RFC models, according to the findings of the analyses using Taylor diagram and ROC curve. As a result, the GA-ANFIS model can be utilized as a reliable soft computing technique to analyze reinforced soil slope stability.

Earthquakes are natural disasters that can cause large-scale damage to humans and property. Many methods have been proposed to reduce the damage caused by earthquakes. These include dampers that are applied to structures to provide seismic reinforcement. Dampers absorb energy and reduce the response to earthquakes. However, in the case of an earthquake exceeding the allowable capacity, dampers may be damaged or permanently deformed, resulting in replacement of the dampers incurring considerable economic losses. In this study, to solve this problem, a new concept of an elastic friction damper that can reduce damage by applying a new material with recentering performance was developed; the performance of the damper was evaluated by experiments. The elastic friction damper is composed of polyurethane springs that provide recentering force by applying precompression, steel wires and permanent magnet cubes that provide energy dissipation capability. First, for the performance evaluation, a compression experiment was conducted to obtain the ideal precompression value of the polyurethane spring. In addition, a tensile experiment was performed to determine the elastic section and ductility of the steel wire. The frictional force generated by the attachment of permanent magnet cubes was determined in a previous research. Using these results, a detailed design of the elastic friction damper was developed, and six specimens were built for structural experiments. The design parameters of the specimens were set according to the precompression force applied on the polyurethane and the presence or absence of permanent magnets. The structural experiments were performed according to the loading protocol in which the displacement was increased as much as the elastic section of the steel wires. The results of the structural experiments showed that as the precompression value increased, the energy dissipation and the maximum load value increased. The friction behavior of the permanent magnet cubes continued until the end of the structural experiments. As a result of the experiment, SPM3 damper with 20% precompressed polyurethane spring and permanent magnet cube had the best maximum load and energy dissipation capacity, and SP3 damper without permanent magnet cube had the best recentering force. therefore, the damper incorporating the precompressed polyurethane springs and the permanent magnet cubes effectively reduced the residual strain and showed excellent performance in terms of the recentering force and the energy dissipation.

Globally, endemic species and natural habitats have been significantly impacted by climate change, and further considerable impacts are predicted. Therefore, understanding how endemic species are impacted by climate change can aid in advancing the necessary conservation initiatives. The use of niche modeling is becoming a popular topic in biological conservation to forecast changes in species distributions under various climate change scenarios. This study used the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator version 1 (ACCESS-CM2) general circulation model of coupled model intercomparison project phase 6 (CMIP6) to model the current distribution of suitable habitat for the four threatened Annonaceae species endemic to East Africa (EA), to determine the impact of climate change on their suitable habitat in the years 2050 (average for 2041–2060) and 2070 (average for 2061–2080). Two shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs) SSP370 and SSP585 were used to project the contraction and expansion of suitable habitats for Uvariodendron kirkii, Uvaria kirkii, Uvariodendron dzomboense and Asteranthe asterias endemic to Kenya and Tanzania in EA. The current distribution for all four species is highly influenced by precipitation, temperature, and environmental factors (population, potential evapotranspiration, and aridity index). Although the loss of the original suitable habitat is anticipated to be significant, appropriate habitat expansion and contraction are projections for all species. More than 70% and 40% of the original habitats of Uvariodendron dzombense and Uvariodendron kirkii are predicted to be destroyed by climate change, respectively. Based on our research, we suggest that areas that are expected to shrink owing to climate change be classified as important protection zones for the preservation of Annonaceae species.

Sambucus L. is found in the family Viburnaceae (syn. Adoxaceae) and encompasses approximately 29 accepted species. The complex morphology of these species has caused continued confusion concerning their nomenclature, classification, and identification. Despite previous attempts to resolve taxonomic complexities in the Sambucus genus, there are still unclear phylogenetic relationships among several species. In this study, the newly obtained plastome of Sambucus williamsii Hance. as well as the populations of Sambucus canadensis L., Sambucus javanica Blume, and Sambucus adnata Wall. ex DC were sequenced, and their sizes, structural similarity, gene order, gene number, and guanine–cytosine (GC) contents were analyzed. The phylogenetic analyses were conducted using the whole chloroplast genomes and protein-coding genes (PCGs). The findings revealed that the chloroplast genomes of Sambucus species exhibited typical quadripartite double-stranded DNA molecules. Their lengths ranged from 158,012 base pairs (bp) (S. javanica) to 158,716 bp (S. canadensis L). Each genome comprised a pair of inverted repeats (IRs), which separated the large single-copy (LSC) and small single-copy (SSC) regions. In addition, the plastomes contained 132 genes, encompassing 87 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and four rRNA genes. In the simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis, A/T mononucleotides had the highest proportion, with the most repetitive sequences observed in S. williamsii. The comparative genome analyses showed high similarities in structure, order, and gene contents. The hypervariable regions in the studied chloroplast genomes were trnT-GGU, trnF-GAA, psaJ, trnL-UAG, ndhF, and ndhE, which may be used as candidate barcodes for species discrimination in Sambucus genus. Phylogenetic analyses supported the monophyly of Sambucus and revealed the separation of S. javanica and S. adnata populations. Sambucus chinensis Lindl. was nested within S. javanica in the same clade, collaborating their conspecific treatment. These outcomes indicate that the chloroplast genome of Sambucus plants is a valuable genetic resource for resolving taxonomic discrepancies at the lower taxonomic levels and can be applied in molecular evolutionary studies.

Reducing dependence on specific types of vegetable oils for Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) rejuvenation is critical. Babassu oil, extracted from palm trees, emerges as a promising candidate. This study evaluates the addition of babassu oil to asphalt binder (penetration grade 50/70) in proportions ranging from 1 % to 12 %. Both direct addition of the oil and incorporation as part of a modified binder in long-term aged binder were tested. A total of 41 samples underwent physical and rheological testing, complemented by aging protocols. The findings indicate that babassu oil significantly decreases binder stiffness, as evidenced by reduced viscosity and performance grade. Samples containing 7–12 % oil enabled the production of warm mix asphalt at temperatures between 141°C and 150°C. The addition of 3 % or more oil mitigated the effects of thermal aging. The oil-modified binder demonstrated superior performance compared to direct oil addition in terms of reducing the stiffness of aged binder. Higher oil contents (greater than 4 %) enhanced the interaction, potentially allowing for an increase in RAP content. The integration of babassu oil into asphalt not only improves sustainability but also enhances economic efficiency, thereby supporting the principles of a circular economy.

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the shear improvement of defected reinforced concrete (RC) beams using sustainable aluminum boxes filled with high performance concretes (HPCs). The study compares the performance of eleven RC beams with different configurations of aluminum boxes, filling materials, and inclination angles. Additionally, it examines the effect of reinforcing the ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) used to fill these boxes with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. The results show that the proposed technique can effectively restore and enhance the load-deflection behavior, ultimate capacity, stiffness, and energy absorption of the beams. Inclining aluminum boxes within beams at a 45-degree angle and filling them with strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCCs) partially restores performance. A beam with three boxes showed significant improvements over the defected beam, achieving 65 % higher stiffness, 44 % higher cracking load, and 33 % higher ultimate load. The optimal configuration was found to be 60-degree inclined aluminum boxes filled with UHPC and embedded GFRP bars. This configuration achieved a near-identical performance to the non-defected control beam and surpassed it in some respects. Furthermore, a two-pronged approach was employed. Firstly, finite element models (FEMs) were developed and carefully validated against experimental results. These validated models then became the foundation for a parametric study, allowing researchers to investigate the influence of various parameters on the beam's performance. The parametric study indicates that with a fixed thickness of the aluminum boxes used, beams strengthened with boxes filled with UHPC have higher shear capacity compared to those strengthened with boxes filled with SHCC. Secondly, a theoretical formula was proposed to predict the total shear capacity of the strengthened beams. This formula exhibited excellent agreement with both the experimental data and the finite element (FE) results, solidifying its potential as a practical tool for engineers in design and analysis.

Abstract Background Calanthe (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) is a pantropical genus distributed in Asia and Africa. Its species are of great importance in terms of economic, ornamental and medicinal values. However, due to limited and confusing delimitation characters, the taxonomy of the Calanthe alliance (Calanthe, Cephalantheropsis, and Phaius) has not been sufficiently resolved. Additionally, the limited genomic information has shown incongruences in its systematics and phylogeny. In this study, we used illumina platform sequencing, performed a de novo assembly, and did a comparative analysis of 8 Calanthe group species' plastomes: 6 Calanthe and 2 Phaius species. Phylogenetic analyses were used to reconstruct the relationships of the species as well as with other species of the family Orchidaceae. Results The complete plastomes of the Calanthe group species have a quadripartite structure with varied sizes ranging between 150,105bp-158,714bp, including a large single-copy region (LSC; 83,364bp- 87,450bp), a small single-copy region (SSC; 16,297bp -18,586bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs; 25,222bp - 26,430bp). The overall GC content of these plastomes ranged between 36.6-36.9%. These plastomes encoded 131-134 differential genes, which included 85-88 protein-coding genes, 37-38 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Comparative analysis showed no significant variations in terms of their sequences, gene content, gene order, sequence repeats and the GC content hence highly conserved. However, some genes were lost in C. delavayi (P. delavayi), including ndhC, ndhF, and ndhK genes. Compared to the coding regions, the non-coding regions had more sequence repeats hence important for species DNA barcoding. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a paraphyletic relationship in the Calanthe group, and confirmed the position of Phaius delavayi in the genus Calanthe as opposed to its previous placement in Phaius. Conclusion This study provides a report on the complete plastomes of 6 Calanthe and 2 Phaius species and elucidates the structural characteristics of the plastomes. It also highlights the power of plastome data to resolve phylogenetic relationships and clarifies taxonomic disputes among closely related species to improve our understanding of their systematics and evolution. Furthermore, it also provides valuable genetic resources and a basis for studying evolutionary relationships and population genetics among orchid species.

Abstract Background The disease burden of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has become a significant public health threat. We aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis to mitigate the health hazards of NMSC. Methods This study had three objectives. First, we reported the NMSC-related disease burden globally and for different subgroups (sex, socio-demographic index (SDI), etiology, and countries) in 2019. Second, we examined the temporal trend of the disease burden from 1990 to 2019. Finally, we used the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model integrated nested Laplacian approximation to predict the disease burden in the coming 25 years. The Norpred age-period-cohort (APC) model and the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model were used for sensitivity analysis. Results The disease burden was significantly higher in males than in females in 2019. The results showed significant differences in disease burden in different SDI regions. The better the socio-economic development, the heavier the disease burden of NMSC. The number of new cases and the ASIR of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) were higher than that of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 2019 globally. However, the number of DALYs and the age-standardized DALYs rate were the opposite. There were statistically significant differences among different countries. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of NMSC increased from 54.08/100,000 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 46.97, 62.08) in 1990 to 79.10/100,000 (95% UI: 72.29, 86.63) in 2019, with an estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of 1.78. Other indicators (the number of new cases, the number of deaths, the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and the age-standardized DALYs rate) showed the same trend. Our predictions suggested that the number of new cases, deaths, and DALYs attributable to NMSC would increase by at least 1.5 times from 2020 to 2044. Conclusions The disease burden attributable to NMSC will continue to increase or remain stable at high levels. Therefore, relevant policies should be developed to manage NMSC, and measures should be taken to target risk factors and high-risk groups.