Urban green ecotone plays an increasingly important role in supporting avian communities. Research on ecotone primarily focuses on large scale and mesoscale effects, leaving small-scale relationships between interface mutations and avian communities poorly understood. This study focused on small-scale urban green spaces and examined 29 sample plots from four urban green spaces in downtown Huangshan, observing bird species and numbers as indicators of avian communities. Landscape patterns such as patch area, density, diversity index, and vegetation characteristics such as vertical forest structure, coverage, evergreen, deciduous, flowering, and fruits plants were selected as factors affecting bird diversity in urban green ecotones. The results showed that 1) ecotone area exhibited a rich composition of avian communities, including greater species diversity and numbers than that in the pure forest area. 2) Ecotone zones showed distinct characteristics—higher patch density and diversity index—indicating rich land-use types and spatial heterogeneity, supporting bird species diversity. While tree and deciduous species appeared similar between the ecotone zone and pure forest area, significant differences were notable in forest facies, cover, shrubs, evergreen, flowering and fruit plants. The coverage value of the ecotone sample was lower than that of the pure forest sample but higher than that of the pure forest sample in terms of forest facies, shrubs, evergreens, and fruit plants. 3) Bird species observed in the ecotone area showed significant correlation with shrubs (r=0.284, p<0.01), leaf litter (r=0.261, p<0.01), patch density (r=0.326, p<0.01), and patch index (r=0.361, p<0.01). A negative correlation was noticed with coverage (r=-0.262, p<0.01), though it did not significantly affect bird species. These findings will hopefully help refine the spatial layout patterns of urban green spaces and optimize plant allocation for enhanced environmental impact.

The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) and environmental RNA (eRNA) released by organisms into their surrounding environment (water, soil, air), have emerged as powerful tools for biodiversity monitoring. While eDNA has been widely adopted for the non-invasive detection of species and characterization of community composition across the tree of life, eRNA is in its infancy. Due to its functional nature, eRNA holds intriguing potential for biodiversity monitoring opening new avenues of research beyond species detection. For example, conspecifics that are almost genetically identical can exhibit distinct transcriptomic differences depending on their life stage. In this issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Parsley and Goldberg (2023) demonstrate, through a lab-validated field study, that eRNA can be used to detect distinct life stages of amphibians. This study elegantly demonstrates that eRNA can be used not only to detect invasive or endangered species but also to reveal population demographic information important for conservation.

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The emotional intelligence has emerged as an important area of research in artificial intelligence covering wide range of real-life domains. A significant contribution has also been made to bring new insights in the field of emotional intelligence and intelligent software agents. Learning agents and educational activities are very attractive for incorporation of emotional aspects in artificial intelligence. Emotions have an important role in intelligent behaviour and influence the human decision-making process. An overview of the state-of-the-art in emotional intelligence research with emphasis on emotional agents has been given covering the area like Emotion detection, Emotional agents, Text emotion detection, Modelling artificial agent's environments, Emotional intelligence and different forms of learning, Emotional agents in robotics, Emotional intelligence in decision support processes, Emotional intelligence in interactive environments, Emotional intelligence in classification and search, Emotion models. Taking the first step, the following review discuss about our work on emotion detection.

Climate change, a global threat of utmost significance, has the potential to trigger shifts in biodiversity distribution and the emergence of novel ecological communities. For species with limited dispersal abilities or geographical barriers within their range, niche conservatism can further constrain their ability to colonize and thrive in future suitable habitats, rendering them more vulnerable to the effects of global climate change. In this study, an ensemble modeling framework and climatic niche dynamics analysis were employed to forecast the impact of climate change on climatic niche dimensions and transferability of two indicator species, namely, Ziziphus spina-christi and Ziziphus nummularia, in Iran. Our analysis revealed that, under optimistic and pessimistic climate change scenarios, the habitat suitability for Z. spina-christi will expand during 2041-2070 and 2071-2100, predominantly towards higher latitudes. In contrast, Z. nummularia is anticipated to experience a general decline in habitat suitability during the same periods and climate scenarios, resulting in the loss of portions of its southern range. Our examination of climatic niche dynamics unveiled a relatively low observed niche overlap between the two species. Randomization tests further underscored the adherence of these species to their historical niches, suggesting challenges in adapting to changing climatic conditions. The integration of predictive models and niche dynamics analysis indicates that these species may encounter difficulties migrating to the tracked niches in distant habitats due to their preserved niches. Given the high sensitivity of arid ecosystems to environmental disturbances and slow recovery rates, the repercussions for arid land biodiversity are indeed profound and irrevocable. Conservation and management measures, including identifying priority areas and creating artificial habitats, are crucial to protect these species' habitats.The study's conclusions are valuable for biodiversity conservation authorities, local stakeholders, and individuals dedicated to preserving Ziziphus habitats within the study area.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP), the most common autoimmune bullous disease, typically presents with generalized crops of tense, pruritic cutaneous blisters and mostly affects the elderly, Here, we aimed to figure out the interplay between peripheral inflammatory proteins and BP. Based on publicly available genetic data, bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to determine the causal association between 91 inflammatory proteins and BP. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary MR method to estimate causal effects, while MR-Egger, weighted mode methods, weighted median, and simple mode were performed to explore the causal association. The leave-one-out (LOO) analysis, MR pleiotropy residual sum, and Cochran’s Qtest were used to exclude possible horizontal pleiotropic outliers and verify the robustness, heterogeneity, and horizontal pleiotropy of the results. The results indicated that 2 inflammatory proteins associated with the risk of BP were identified, These are Macrophage Inflammatory Protein 1a (MIP-1a) [IVW OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.00-2.84, p = 0.048] with a total of 6 SNPs and Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor (LIFR) [IVW OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 0.24-0.93, p = 0.029] with 3 SNPs. In addition, Fractalkine levels [IVW OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98-1.00, p=0.033] was suggested to be the consequences of BP，Sensitivity analysis further excluded the influence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. This study suggested that MIP-1a and LIFR were positively associated with the risk of BP, while the LIFR was negatively associated with the risk of BP ，besides，the Fractalkine levels is more likely to be involved in BP development downstream，which furthers our understanding of immune cells in the pathogenesis of BPand contributes to the study of accurate treatment.

Hafiz T.A. KhanCollege of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare, University of West London, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 9GB, United Kingdom, Email: hafiz.khan@uwl.ac.ukKwaku Mari Addo10 Prickly Pear Street, Dome Pillar 2, GE-325-5315, Accra, Ghana, kmariaddo@gmail.com&Helen Findlay, PhD (Brunel), Independent Researcher, UK

Flood-related policies for England are reviewed, updating needs in the light of recent flood-rich decades and in recognition of future climate trends. This review updates one we published in 2021- a significant year for extreme floods in Europe that were part of a continuing trend; governments now require fast-track adaptation and resilience policies. Currently, the event signals of increasing spatial and temporal variability in impacts is insufficiently incorporated in hazard/risk assessments. We advocate a transformative policy change towards place-based strategies, based on the fast-emerging evidence from three sciences: hydroclimatology, hydrology and hydromorphology. It is vital that policy actions recognise factors such as atmospheric rivers, surface water flooding, and the role of eroded and transported sediments in localised hazards and risks. Located vulnerabilities require local strategies. Attribution of extreme events to climate change, and the recognition and specification of genuinely vulnerable sites, need further refinement and extension into public decision making. Risk assessment needs reform, both from science but also for institutions and individuals, with accompanying reform of flood risk management expenditure. Data analysis, e.g. of rainfall and river flow, needs more disciplined clarity; standard sets are needed together with their variable spatial/temporal application. We further recognise sediment hazards (and other entrained debris spread in flood flows) as new and important components for the located risk of present and emerging ‘hot spots’.

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) represent an advanced technology reshaping wireless communication networks. Through intelligent configuration of wireless propagation environments using both cost-effective passive and active elements, RIS has the potential to bring about considerable performance improvements. In RIS-MIMO systems, precise control of passive RIS elements is crucial in optimizing reflected signal phases. This control necessitates intricate algorithms, given that inaccurate phase optimization can result in suboptimal signal focus and decreased data transmission accuracy. Obtaining accurate channel state information (CSI) is vital for achieving optimal phase control and high data rates; however, estimating channels between the transmitter, RIS, and receiver poses challenges. This paper investigates deep learning methodologies for channel estimation, explicitly addressing the distinctive challenges associated with phase shifts and beamforming. We present tailored deep-learning algorithms for each estimation technique, showcasing notable improvements in estimation accuracy, computational efficiency, and adaptability in dynamic environments.

Introduction:Pressure ulcer disease (PUs) is a common geriatric complication that impacts national public policy and brings a huge social burden. Objective: To analyze the long-term trends in PUs prevalence among Chinese elders aged 60-94 from 1990 to 2019 to inform targeted public policies. Methods:The age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPRs) and crude rates per 100,000 population of PUs were reported in China from 1990 to 2019 from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation using the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) online query tool.The ASPRs of elderly PUs were calculated and stratified by sex and age. Individuals aged 60-94 were divided into a group according to 5 years. The Joinpoint regression model was used to evaluate the trend of PUs elder prevalence across the time.The annual percentage rate change(APC),average annual percentage change(AAPC) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for the EAPCs were calculated to explore the characteristics of the PUs elders prevalence in China. Results: Results showed an upward trend in ASPRs for PUs in both sexes, with higher rates in males.Join-point regression analyses also confirmed a significant upward trend in ASPRs for both sexes among elders, with a more pronounced increase in males.The prevalence of PUs has decreased among 60-69 years old elders but increased after 70 years old. Conclusion:The disease burden of PUs has increased in China from 1990 to 2019, with higher rates in men. The prevalence of PUs in elders showed an overall upward trend but varies at different age stages.Different management and treatment strategies should be developed for the elderly at different age stages and gender.Collaborative efforts involving the government, society, and medical institutions are needed to address the prevention and management of pressure ulcers in China.

Synthetic Notch receptor is flourishing as a powerful tool for the accurate control of cell functions. It is a sensing receptor system developed based on the Notch signaling pathway. The synNotch receptors, combined with the downstream transcription programme, have the potential in constructing organoids and 3D tissues. It can also be used to track and visualize intercellular communication. Additionally, engineering synNotch cells carrying specific receptors significantly improve the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy. This review introduces the modular structure and multifaceted application direction of synNotch and summarizes four core design principles, which may become the key to the regulating receptor function. In addition, the advantages and limitations of synNotch receptors are summarized, providing new insights into the further use of synNotch receptors in biomedicine.

Many insect species provide pollination services for flowering plants. However, the pollination efficiency of various pollinator species varies greatly due to differences in body size, foraging behavior, and visitation rate. Here, we investigated a generalist plant Hibiscus mutabilis, and we compared the body size, visitation rate, and pollination efficiency of five pollinator species. Our observations revealed that the pollination efficiency of the moth species was relatively lower than all bee species. The body length of five pollinator species increased the amount of transferred pollen, and larger bees tended to remove more pollen from anthers and deposit more pollen on stigmas, resulting in higher pollination efficiency. However, there was no correlation between the intertegular distance and pollination efficiency of visitors in H. mutabilis. Body length may be a better index of body size than intertegular distance.

Frequency response analysis is widely used for the offline diagnosis of winding deformations in power transformers. To apply it to a working transformer, the magnitude of signals of the response current, which is of the order of microamperes, needs to be measured by using Rogowski coil sensors against the load current of the order of thousands of amperes. The saturation of the power frequency magnetic field in current sensors must be inhibited to ensure the accurate measurement of response currents with such a small magnitude. The authors of this paper propose a method to suppress the power frequency magnetic field by using a sensing system involving a special connection of three-phase current sensors based on the rule that the sum of the three-phase power frequency load currents of the transformer is close to zero. Each sensor consists of two secondary-side coils: a measuring coil and an anti-saturation coil. The anti-saturation coils are connected in parallel with one anothes through small inductors to eliminate the power frequency magnetic field in the cores of the sensors. We use theoretical analysis to derive the solution to this system. The results of experiments to verify the proposed method showed that it enables the sensors to function with a transformer carrying a load current of 2333 A, while incurring a relative error in the response current that is smaller than 2%.

Hydatid disease is a rare tapeworm infection that can cause the formation of cysts in the liver and other organs. Although it is uncommon for patients to have both hydatid cysts and cancer at the same time, it is possible, and this can easily be confused with metastasis. Proper management of hydatid cysts in a patient with cancer requires the consensus of oncologists, hematologists, and infectious disease specialists. According to a literature review and investigation of case reports, the treatment approach depends on the stage of the cyst, and chemotherapy management remains unchanged. It is crucial to follow specific treatment guidelines for each stage of the cyst to ensure proper treatment.

Introduction: Against the challenging socio-political backdrop of the country, this research examines the periodontal health of pregnant women in Sri Lanka. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 576 pregnant women, attending community Antenatal Clinics in a selected Medical Officer of Health area, in Sri Lanka. A two-stage cluster sampling method with a probability proportionate to size technique was used to select the clinics. Systematic sampling was used to recruit pregnant women from each clinic. An interviewer-administered questionnaire and oral health examination form were used for data collection. Results: Over 60% exhibited poor oral hygiene. Moderate to severe gingivitis was seen among 23.3%. Approximately 67% of participants demonstrated poor knowledge about periodontal diseases. About 67% of the study participants were unemployed and 32.47% had a monthly income of less than 40,000 rupees. Regression analysis identified the trimester of pregnancy, socioeconomic indicators, frequency of dental visits, recent full mouth scaling, and knowledge about periodontal diseases as significant predictors of oral hygiene status. Age, trimester, brushing frequency, recent full mouth scaling, and knowledge about periodontal diseases predicted the gingival status. Participants with a lower socioeconomic status demonstrated poorer oral hygiene and gingival health. Conclusion: There was suboptimal oral hygiene and gingival health coupled with limited access to dental care and inadequate knowledge about periodontal health that demands urgent interventions. The high prevalence of unemployment combined with the association between low socioeconomic indicators and poor periodontal health outcomes, underscores the importance of empowering young women through education and employment.

We study the A-stability and accuracy characteristics of Clenshaw-Curtis collocation and present closed-form expressions to evaluate the Runge-Kutta coefficients of these methods. The stability study proves that these methods are A-stable up to a high number of nodes. High accuracy is another benefit of these methods; numerical experiments demonstrate that they can match the accuracy of the Gauss-Legendre collocation, which has the optimal accuracy order of all Runge-Kutta methods.

Feeding adaptation ofFrançois’ langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi) to thefragmented limestone habitats in Southwest ChinaWei Yaoa,1, Cheng-Ming Huanga,b,1, Jia-Xin Zhaob, Rong Huangb, Wen-Hua Lib,Peng-Lai Fan a,*, Qi-Hai Zhou a,*aKey Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Chinab Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.c Encheng National Nature Reserve, Chongzuo, China∗Corresponding authorRunning Title: Feeding adaptation of François’ langurs to the fragmented limestone habitatsCorresponding author:Prof. Qi-Hai Zhou, Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Normal University, 1# Yanshan Zhong Road, Guiling, Guangxi 541006, China. E-mail:zhouqh@mailbox.gxnu.edu.cnAssociate Prof. Pen-Lai Fan, Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Normal University, 1# Yanshan Zhong Road, Guiling, Guangxi 541006, China. E-mail:fanpl@mailbox.gxnu.edu.cn1Wei Yao and Cheng-Ming Huang are co-first authorsAbstract: Limestone forests are an unusual habitat for primates, especially fragmented limestone habitats. However, limited research has been conducted on François’ langurs (Trachypithecus francois ) in these habitats, and there is a need to understand their behavioral adaptations to the fragmented limestone habitat. We collected data on the diet of François’ langurs in a fragmented limestone habitat in Encheng National Nature Reserve, southwestern Guangxi, China, and their feeding adaptations to the fragmented forest were examined. The results indicated that a total of 101 species of plants were consumed by the langurs. The langurs ate a higher number of food species throughout the year when compared with other species, maintained a high level of food diversity, and ate more vines. Moreover, they were highly selective in their use of vegetation in their home range, and fewer plants provided a high-quality food source. During the season when food resources were scarce, similar to monkey populations in other geographic populations, the consumption of fruits and young leaves decreased as their availability decreased. This led to the use of other species, such as mature leaves and seeds. Overall, François’ langurs in Encheng National Nature Reserve are generally considered to employ energy minimization strategies. The findings support that François’ langurs adjust their feeding behavior to cope with seasonal and micro-variations in their dietary requirements and to adapt to their particular environment.Key words: François’ langurs, Feeding adaptation, Limestone habitat, Fragmentation

Multiple cues are often used for mate choice in complex environments, potentially entailing mismatches between different sources of information. We address the consequences thereof for receivers using the spider mite Tetranychus urticae, in which virgin females are highly valuable mates compared to mated females, given first male sperm precedence. Accordingly, males prefer virgins and distinguish them using cues from the females and/or that are present on the substrate. Whereas the former are more reliable, the latter may allow for a faster or more long-distance response. However, there can be mismatched information between cues as females move and/or mate. Here, we tested the consequences thereof by exposing males to mated or virgin females on patches previously impregnated with cues deposited by females of either mating status. Male mating attempts were solely affected by substrate cues while female acceptance and the number of mating events were independently affected by both cues. Copulation duration, in contrast, depended mainly on the mating status of the female, with the number of copulations and the total time spent mating being intermediate in environments with mismatched information. Ultimately, male survival costs mirrored male investment in mating. These results suggest that, in environments with mismatched information, the substrate cues left by females are instrumental for males to find their mates, but they can also lead to males paying survival costs without the associated benefit of mating effectively, or suffering reduced costs at the expense of losing effective mating opportunities. The benefit of using multiple cues will then hinge upon the frequency of information mismatch, which itself should vary with the dynamics of populations.

Title: Emergency surgical intervention in Microwave ablation-induced massive lung necrosis

POLE codes for DNA polymerase epsilon (Pol ε) and variants of Pol ε catalytic subunit 1 can be pathogenic. We recently reported a novel POLE gene variant (p.[D1131fs];[T1891del]) which leads to bone marrow failure in two Japanese sisters. Here, we describe the successful course of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of these two sisters. Both cases were born with congenital anemia and remained transfusion dependent. Their bone marrow showed gradually proceeding trilineage dysplasia. They both underwent HCT from an unrelated bone marrow donor and successfully achieved engraftment. Ten and eight years have passed respectively, and they are doing well without transfusion.

Background The newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 possesses shared antigenic epitopes with other human coronaviruses. We investigated if COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection may boost cross-reactive antibodies to other human coronaviruses. Methods Pre- and post-vaccination sera from SARS-CoV-2 naïve healthy subjects who received three doses of the mRNA vaccine (BioNTech, BNT) or the inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac, CV) were used to monitor the level of cross-reactive antibodies raised against other human coronaviruses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In comparison, convalescent sera from COVID-19 patients with or without prior vaccination history were also tested. Pseudoparticle neutralization assay was performed to detect neutralization antibody against MERS-CoV. Results Among SARS-CoV-2 infection naïve subjects, BNT or CV significantly increased the anti-S2 antibodies against Betacoronaviruses (OC43 and MERS-CoV) but not Alphacoronaviruses (229E). The pre-vaccination antibody response to the common cold human coronaviruses did not negatively impact the post-vaccination antibody response to SARS-CoV-2. Cross-reactive antibodies that binds to the S2 protein of MERS-CoV were similarly detected from the convalescent sera of COVID-19 patients with or without vaccination history. However, these anti-S2 antibodies do not possess neutralizing activity in MERS-CoV pseudoparticle neutralisation tests. Conclusions Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination may potentially modulate population immune landscape against previously exposed or novel human coronaviruses. The findings have implications for future sero-epidemiological studies on MERS-CoV.

Background: Few studies have investigated the adequate contrast enhancement (CE) evaluation depending on concentration, volume, and rate of contrast media (CM) and the scan parameters in equine contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Objectives: We investigated CE of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) and arteries depending on voltage, concentration, volume, and rate of CM during intra-arterial CECT of equine distal forelimbs. Study design: This is a prospective study. Methods: Six horses underwent fifty-four CT scans. First, the CE of DDFT and arteries was evaluated depending on the voltage (80 or 120 kV) and CM concentration (150, 120, or 90 mg I/mL in 50 mL of CM). Second, CE of DDFT and vessels was evaluated depending on the CM volume (50, 100, or 150 mL) and administration rate (2, 4, or 6 mL/s) with a fixed iodine delivery rate (IDR) (300 or 180 mg I/s). Results: CE of DDFT significantly increased at 80 kV of voltage and 150 mg I/mL of CM concentration (Median: 29.65; IQR: 1.74; P < 0.05). CE of the DDFT positively correlated with CM concentration (P = 0.0004; r = 0.75). At 180 mg I/s of IDR, an increase in rate and volume (6 mL/s and 150 mL) led to low contrast attenuation in the medial and lateral palmar arteries (median and IQR: 985.93 and 71.8 Hounsfield units [HU] and 988.73 and 41.16 HU, respectively); the CE was sufficient to distinguish the artery from the adjacent structures. Main limitations: The number of animals was small for parametric statistical analysis. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a low CM concentration could yield sufficient CE of the DDFT and arteries with adjusted CT scanning parameters or volume and injection rate of CM.