Changes In Amount Research Articles

The spatial distribution of CFTR-rich Ionocytes cells in the postnatal mouse airway development

Ionocytes are a new type of rare airway epithelial cells expressing Ascl3 and Foxi1 transcription factors, as well as 50% of Cftr-transcripts in mouse airways. However, their role and precise location remain mostly unexplored. This research aimed to shed light on ionocyte ontogeny and distribution within the mouse airway epithelium. Mice were bred in the C57Bl6/J background and maintained in the Specific Pathogen Free mouse facility of Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs) with access to food and water ad libitum. We used 1,7, 10, 14,21 and 28-days-old wild-type mice, 6 and 8-week-old, and 1 year wild-type and 14-days-old 6 and 8-week-old CftrΔF508/ΔF508 animals. The tracheas were sliced in frontal sections, and the ionocytes were identified by immunofluorescence against the FOXI1 transcription factor. All values were expressed as mean ± S.E.M. All animal procedures were approved by the institutional IACUC (CECS-2022-03). We found that FOXI1+cells had a triangular shape with a basolateral process. Unexpectedly, we observed that FOXI1+cells appear postnatally close to the submucosal glands (SMG), and its number increases drastically between 6 and 8-week-old wild type mice. The quantity of FOXI1+cells cells in the adult trachea decreased towards the distal part (proximal=11.2±1.2 vs distal=4.0±0.9 FOXI1+cells/mm basal lamina, n=7, P=<0,001, t-test), and we did not find significative differences between WT and CftrΔF508/ΔF508 adult mouse. FOXI1+cells were often observed in the epithelia around the collecting duct exit and in the collecting duct epithelium of the SMG. In conclusion, our study provides new insights into the localization and distribution of ionocytes in the mouse airway epithelium. Our results indicate that ionocytes may play a role in regulating mucus composition in upper airways. We suggest that age-dependent changes in cell quantity might reflect the need of increased CFTR function in adult stages. Further research is needed to fully understand the function of ionocytes in the airway and their potential role in respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Proyecto Postdoctoral 3220672 Proyecto FONDECYT 1221257. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Influence of sleep symptoms on recovery from concussion in collegiate athletes: a LIMBIC MATARS consortium investigation.

Changes in sleep quality and quantity are commonly endorsed by individuals following a concussion. Limited data exists examining the role of sleep disturbances within 72 hours, and throughout recovery, from concussion. The objective of this study was to determine if the number of days to symptom resolution varied between collegiate athletes with or without sleep-related symptoms following a concussion. Retrospective chart review. Collegiate athletes (n = 539) who were diagnosed with a concussion between the 2015-2020 sport seasons participated in this retrospective chart review. Participants were divided into groups based on the presence or absence of sleep symptoms within 72 hours of a diagnosed concussion. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare days to symptom resolution between groups with α = 0.05. Of the 539 participants, 250 (46.3%) reported sleep-related symptoms. Participants with sleep-related symptoms took significantly longer (U = 30656, p = 0.002) to report symptom resolution at rest (median [full range] = 8.00[0-423]) as compared to participants who did not report sleep-related symptoms (6.00[0-243] days). Collegiate athletes that report sleep-related symptoms immediately following concussion (<72 hours) were observed to take, on median, two days longer to achieve symptom resolution at rest when compared to athletes who did not endorse the same symptoms.

Reduplication in Tagalog and Indonesian Language (Bahasa): A Comparative Study

Reduplication consists of many forms in which each form has a tendency to create error effecting the meanings. The absence of knowledge to construct words appropriately creates difficulties since not all words are readily constructed for word reduplication. Less studies on topic applied were conducted. Therefore, this study is worth doing. The paper aims to describe and to compare the morphological reduplication in both Tagalog and Indonesian Language (Bahasa). This research was a qualitative methods. Qualitative research is a methods used to conduct and to interpret data in accordance with strategies such as collecting, analyzing, and concluding (Hamied, 2017). The data were analyzed by listing and comparing form and meaning of words after they were reduplicated. The findings show that the reduplication in both languages similarities and differences lie in terms of changes of tenses, class, another meaning, and quantity. Both partial and full reduplications were also found in terms of their similarities and differences. Partial reduplication on the words in the morphological reduplication altered two components namely word formation and the word meaning which lied in the changes of tenses which was the most common reduplication in Tagalog language. Meanwhile in Bahasa was the reduplication which referred to quantity. Full reduplication changing took place in the term of words with affix [ka] indicates the changes of meaning and the form as well. In the case of reduplication taken place on Bahasa, it was found that Bahasa had the tendency to have different meanings.

Does settlement land expansion necessarily induce the decrease of cultivated land? Differences in national scale and local counties of China

With the extensive industrialization and urbanization taking place in China during the recent decades, land use throughout the country has experienced profound changes influenced not only by the demand for population growth and living standard improvement but also by the constraints of series of land use policies. However, whether the conflict between the expansion of settlement land (SL) and the loss of cultivated land (CL) have been resolved at the national scale or transferred between the local regions remains unclear. Based on yearly ESA CCI land use and land cover products from 1992 to 2020, the long-term trends of quantity and spatial pattern of SL expansion and CL change in China from national and local views were investigated using trend statistic methods, and finally a comprehensive zoning framework was proposed to recognize the trade-off and synergies relationships between SL expansion and CL change. There are a continuous expansion of SL with global linear trends showing three breakpoints in 2000, 2005, and 2012, and a fluctuation decline of CL presented with four breakpoints in 1997, 2002, 2006, and 2013. Aggregation and dispersion tendencies with linear characteristics of SL expansion and CL change were found with breakpoints in 2001, 2008, 2012, and 2016 and breakpoints in 2001 and 2010, respectively. A spotty spatial pattern of SL was shown spatially coincident with urban agglomerations in China while the planar continuous characteristic was found for CL. Local counties were classified into five tradeoff and synergies zones (TSZs), where general synergies (G-S) and decoupling (D) of SL expansion and CL change were rare cases and the different change in quantity and trend of SL expansion and CL change in local counties was concealed by the national trend. A few scattered counties were belonging to G-S and D TSZs, while most of the counties in the central-east and western China were in General-Tradeoff (G-T) and Superior-Tradeoff (S-T) TSZs. Counties in south and north China with higher percentages of CL were more prevalent in Superior-Synergy (S–S) TSZ. Our findings explicated the complex relationships between SL expansion and CL change of China at the national scale and in local counties, which pointed out the differences of unified land use management activities across scales and could provide insights for future policy-making and management measures of land use to both ensure the national food security and promote regional sustainable development more synchronously.

Assessing the impact of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi on artisanal fisheries in the Venice Lagoon: an interdisciplinary approach

AbstractThe sea walnut, Mnemiopsis leidyi, has invaded and expanded throughout the whole Mediterranean Sea basin. Large blooms were recorded also in the Venice Lagoon (Italy), an ecosystem rich with biodiversity which supports multiple services, including artisanal fishery production. To investigate M. leidyi impacts on lagoon artisanal fisheries, we combined fishers’ local ecological knowledge, fishery landing time series analysis, and field sampling. Firstly, we interviewed artisanal fishers to date the blooms of M. leidyi. Secondly, we analyzed long-term fishery landings records to detect whether changes in landings quantity and composition were related to the ctenophore invasion. Thirdly, we sampled catches of the lagoon fyke nets. This interdisciplinary approach overcame the weaknesses of single methodologies and allowed us to reconstruct the temporal phases of M. leidyi invasion in the Venice Lagoon. Moreover, our results indicate that the lagoon landings significantly declined with the blooms, paralleled by the increase of water temperature. Finally, we showed that the mechanical obstruction of the nets, caused by the massive ctenophore blooms, strongly impacts fishing activities. Our results are a first step in assessing the short and long-term impacts of this invasive species on lagoon ecosystems, including its socioeconomic consequences, whose better understanding is fundamental to inform mitigation and adaptation measures.

Progress of Mitochondrial Function Regulation in Cardiac Regeneration.

Heart failure and myocardial infarction, global health concerns, stem from limited cardiac regeneration post-injury. Myocardial infarction, typically caused by coronary artery blockage, leads to cardiac muscle cell damage, progressing to heart failure. Addressing the adult heart's minimal self-repair capability is crucial, highlighting cardiac regeneration research's importance. Studies reveal a metabolic shift from anaerobic glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation in neonates as a key factor in impaired cardiac regeneration, with mitochondria being central. The heart's high energy demands rely on a robust mitochondrial network, essential for cellular energy, cardiac health, and regenerative capacity. Mitochondria's influence extends to redox balance regulation, signaling molecule interactions, and apoptosis. Changes in mitochondrial morphology and quantity also impact cardiac cell regeneration. This article reviews mitochondria's multifaceted role in cardiac regeneration, particularly in myocardial infarction and heart failure models. Understanding mitochondrial function in cardiac regeneration aims to enhance myocardial infarction and heart failure treatment methods and insights.

Research on AGV scheduling and potential conflict resolution in port scenarios: based on improved genetic algorithm

In the research of Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) scheduling, the most critical issues are the optimization of task allocation to AGVs and the handling of conflict scenarios. To address these challenges, we propose a scheme for AGV scheduling optimization and conflict resolution. To begin with, we introduce a novel improved genetic algorithm grounded on a combination strategy that re-encodes tasks into compound groupings, effectively simplifying large-scale integer programing problems into smaller, more manageable ones. Subsequently, the simplified problem is solved using an improved genetic algorithm. Test results validate that this method not only quickens the pace of finding solutions but also significantly improves the quality of those solutions. This is particularly evident when it comes to managing larger-scale optimization challenges. Furthermore, within AGV system conflict scenarios, this paper divides them into two primary categories: navigational conflicts and task quantity changes. For navigational conflicts, three resolution approaches are designed to address four different types of conflict situations: head-on, crossing, occupation, and chasing conflicts. Considering the fluctuations in task quantity, we developed strategies for rescheduling, non-rescheduling, and insertion rescheduling. Their performances were experimentally compared across various scales of scheduling problems, providing data support and theoretical basis for the selection of scheduling strategies in practical applications.

Study on the Evolvement Trend Process of Hydrological Elements in Luanhe River Basin, China

Over the past 50 years, there have been significant changes in the runoff process in the Luanhe River basin, exacerbating the scarcity of water resources and their spatiotemporal variability. Therefore, conducting research on the characteristics, trends, and cycles of runoff changes in the Luanhe River basin is of great theoretical and practical significance. This study selected rainfall data from the hydrological stations in Weichang, Chengde, and Qinhuangdao in the Luanhe River basin, covering the period from 1985 to 2008, as well as runoff data from the Hanjiaying, Sandaohezi, and Chengde stations. Based on linear trend regression analysis, the Mann–Kendall rank correlation test, Spearman correlation test, Mann–Kendall method, and Mann–Whitney–Pettitt change point analysis method, this study analyzed the trends in water quantity changes and their change points in the Luanhe River basin. The results of the precipitation at the Weichang and Chengde stations show a non-significant rising trend, remaining relatively stable with slightly increases. Conversely, the precipitation of Qinhuangdao Station shows a decreasing trend over time, albeit non-significant. Considering the detailed diagnostic results from both the Mann–Kendall (M-K) and MWP methods, the change point for Weichang precipitation is identified as 2007, while for Chengde, it spans from 1999 to 2002, and for Qinhuangdao, it is around 1997. The trend of the runoff series of three stations shows a significant decreasing trend and strong significance, and the change point for the annual runoff at the Hanjiaying station and the Sandaohezi station is identified as 2006, and for the Chengde station, the primary change point is 2006, with a secondary change point around 2002. The findings of this research can provide scientific references for the rational development and utilization of regional water resources.

Combining anabolic loading and raloxifene improves bone quantity and some quality measures in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) increases fracture risk due to changes in bone quantity and quality caused by mutations in collagen and its processing proteins. Current therapeutics improve bone quantity, but do not treat the underlying quality deficiencies. Male and female G610C+/− mice, a murine model of OI, were treated with a combination of raloxifene and in vivo axial tibial compressive loading starting at 10 weeks of age and continuing for 6 weeks to improve bone quantity and quality. Bone geometry and mechanical properties were measured to determine whole bone and tissue-level material properties. A colocalized Raman/nanoindentation system was used to measure chemical composition and nanomechanical properties in newly formed bone compared to old bone to determine if bone formed during the treatment regimen differed in quality compared to bone formed prior to treatment. Lastly, lacunar geometry and osteocyte apoptosis were assessed. OI mice were able to build bone in response to the loading, but this response was less robust than in control mice. Raloxifene improved some bone material properties in female but not male OI mice. Raloxifene did not alter nanomechanical properties, but loading did. Lacunar geometry was largely unchanged with raloxifene and loading. However, osteocyte apoptosis was increased with loading in raloxifene treated female mice. Overall, combination treatment with raloxifene and loading resulted in positive but subtle changes to bone quality.

Stress state analysis of a cylindrical tank with water of an under water sports palace

The paper analyzes the stress state of a cylindrical tank, which is one of the main structural elements of a sports facility - an underwater sports palace. In the calculation of the cylindrical shell of the tank of constant thickness, the moment theory was used. The reservoir is, in fact, a swimming pool for conducting training sessions on underwater swimming in fins, diving, diving, is considered fixed in its base and filled with liquid (water of a special composition, homogeneous in depth, with a given specific gravity). It is known that integration of the calculation equations of the moment theory (of circular cylindrical shells), namely: a) differential equations of equilibrium; b) equations of deformations; c) equations of forces attributed to the unit length of the coordinate line (tangential forces, bending moments), is a complex mathematical problem associated with solving a system of partial differential equations with variable coefficients. Only the calculation of the curve of a cylindrical shell ultimately leads to a system of differential equations with constant coefficients. Under the assumption of significant depth of the tank compared to the thickness of its walls and the value of the radius of the cylinder base (which allows us to consider it as infinitely long), displacements and forces (tangential and transverse), bending moments are analytically found. The locations of the cylinder surface points, in which the indicated forces and moments acquire maximum values, have been determined; sketches of their diagrams, determining the character of change of these physical quantities (parameters) along the height of the tank, have been given. The results obtained in the work can be further used to clarify and improve engineering methods of calculation of structural elements of sports facilities of this type, both at the stages of their design and in the modes of real operation in order to prevent situations associated with the loss of their strength and stability.

A methodology to study price-quantity interactions in input–output modeling: an application to NextGenerationEU funds

The standard input–output (IO) model consists of two distinct and self-contained modules that describe the underlying factors governing quantities and prices. However, these modules operate independently, existing in separated spheres where prices do not influence quantities and quantities do not affect prices. This limitation restricts the standard model's ability to evaluate market dynamics that involve simultaneous changes in both quantities and prices. To overcome this limitation, we introduce an extended version of the traditional IO price and quantity models, combining them into a unified ‘price-quantity’ model that establishes connections between the two IO modules. We apply this integrated IO model to evaluate the impact of NextGenerationEU funds on the Spanish economy utilizing input–output and national accounts data for 2016.

Evaluation of mucin changes between daily and extended wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses

Background: Initially, contact lenses were recommended only for daily wear because of infection and discomfort concerns. With rising demand, particularly for overnight use, extended wear lenses have gained significance. Despite concerns, intensive development of materials like Lotrafilcon B aims to meet this demand, focusing on comfort and safety.Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the mucin quantity and quality changes between daily and extended wear (Lotrafilcon B), impacting eye health and comfort.Setting: The study was conducted at Kirana Eye Center, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.Methods: This study was a single-blinded randomised clinical trial with two parallel groups. Forty (40) eligible subjects willingly participated. Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) and Ferning-type tests were conducted. The 40 subjects with moderate myopia were then divided into a daily wear and an extended wear group. The MUC5AC test was performed at pre-fitting and at 4 weeks, whereas the Ferning-type tests were taken at pre-fitting and 1st and 4th weeks.Results: For both groups, there was a significant increase in MUC5AC levels from pre-fitting to week four, but with no significant difference between them in final MUC5AC levels. Additionally, the comparison of eyes with normal and abnormal Ferning-types between the two groups showed no significant differences at pre-fitting, 1st and 4th weeks.Conclusion: There is no significant difference in MUC5AC levels with the use of daily or extended wear (with Lotrafilcon B).Contribution: This study compares the impact of daily and extended wear Lotrafilcon B contact lenses on eye health and comfort in moderate myopia patients.

A Dynamics-Weighted Principal Components Analysis of Dominant Atmospheric Drivers of Ocean Variability with an Application to the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre

Abstract This paper describes a framework for identifying dominant atmospheric drivers of ocean variability. The method combines statistics of atmosphere–ocean fluxes with physics from an ocean general circulation model to derive atmospheric patterns optimized to excite variability in a specified ocean quantity of interest. We first derive the method as a weighted principal components analysis and illustrate its capabilities in a toy problem. Next, we apply our analysis to the problem of interannual upper ocean heat content (HC) variability in the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre (SPG) using the adjoint of the MITgcm and atmosphere–ocean fluxes from the ECCOv4-r4 state estimate. An unweighted principal components analysis reveals that North Atlantic heat and momentum fluxes in ECCOv4-r4 have a range of spatiotemporal patterns. By contrast, dynamics-weighted principal components analysis collapses the space of these patterns onto a small subset—principally associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation—that dominates interannual SPG HC variance. By perturbing the ECCOv4-r4 state estimate, we illustrate the pathways along which variability propagates from the atmosphere to the ocean in a nonlinear ocean model. This technique is applicable across a range of problems across Earth system components, including in the absence of a model adjoint. Significance Statement While the oceans have absorbed 90% of the excess heat associated with human-forced climate change, the change in the ocean’s heat content is not steady, with peaks and troughs superimposed upon a general increase. These fluctuations come from chaotic changes in the atmosphere and ocean and can be hard to disentangle. We use this case of ocean heat content variability to introduce a new method for determining the patterns of weather and climate in the atmosphere that are most effective at generating fluctuations in the ocean. To do this, we combine the statistics of recent atmospheric activity with output from a state-of-the-art numerical ocean model that reveals physical processes driving changes in ocean quantities including ocean heat content. This approach suggests that the atmospheric patterns that stimulate the most energetic changes in ocean heat content in the northern North Atlantic are not necessarily the most energetic patterns present in the atmosphere. We test our findings by preventing these patterns from affecting the ocean in our numerical model and measure a strong reduction in ocean heat content fluctuations.

Short-term effects of a simulated massive river flood and its recovery on sediment biogeochemistry of a Mediterranean lagoon

ABSTRACT Strong rainfalls and river floods are becoming increasingly frequent and intense in southern Europe. Mediterranean coastal lagoons, due to their hydrological characteristics, could mitigate the consequences of such events, whose effects on sediment biogeochemistry are poorly studied, yet. To provide insights on this, we investigated short-term changes in organic matter quantity, composition, nutritional quality, degradation rates, and turnover time in a lagoonal benthocosm. Both flooding and recovery phases increased the sedimentary organic load and turnover time, whereas phytopigment contents and C degradation rates were not affected. The biochemical composition varied during both phases, with an increase in carbohydrate and lipid after the flooding, and an increase in protein and chlorophyll-a after its recovery. Our results suggest that even sudden changes in salinity caused by floods and their recovery can increase sedimentary organic loads, with minor effects on their nutritional quality. The observed effects of the flooding persist in the short-term also after the recovery of the salinity, when the substrates are pre-eminently of heterotrophic origin. Our results suggest that extreme, even if short-lasting, episodic events of flooding and recovery can severely alter the benthic trophic status of coastal lagoons, having possible effects on benthic trophodynamics.

Thermal response of DNAN based explosives considering thermodynamic coupling：Under different charge quantity and diameter changes

This paper explores the impact of changes in charge quantity and diameter on the thermal response of DNAN-based explosives. To achieve this, we established a method for simulating thermal, chemical, and mechanical coupling. The study focuses on three fixed charge quantities of explosives, each with varying length-to-diameter ratios, examining alterations in ignition position, timing, and temperature changes under different heating rates, as well as the safe thermal response size in various heating environments. The findings show that the maximum discrepancy between the simulation results and experimental data is under 5 %. It was observed that larger charges are less sensitive to variations in external heating rates and aspect ratios. Specifically, at a heating rate of 1 K/min, projectiles with a diameter exceeding their length by the same factor exhibit greater thermal safety than those with a length exceeding their diameter. This research not only enhances the accuracy of simulation experiments but also offers a comprehensive safety analysis for the combustion of ammunition. The findings provide valuable insights for designing low-vulnerability ammunition structures that are subject to significant thermal stress in various environments, and they are useful for guiding ammunition storage and destruction experiments.

A synergistic framework for dynamic water scarcity assessment: integrated blue and green water

ABSTRACT Dynamic assessment of water scarcity utilising blue and green water can enhance water resource management. The traditional water scarcity assessment mainly considers blue water, ignoring green water, for static evaluation. The improvement objective of this study is dynamically quantifying water scarcity, integrated blue and green water. This study proposed a framework to present an overview of water scarcity within multiple indicators and pinpoint water-stressed areas within an ever-changing process. The framework is based on the theorem of mutual change of quality and quantity to assess the spatiotemporal variability of blue and green water availability and to quantify water scarcity in watersheds. A case study was carried out in Taoer River Basin, a semiarid region of China, to demonstrate the use of the framework. The anthropogenic elements (such as water demand) and natural conditions were combined to quantify water scarcity, as measured by blue and green water scarcity indices. This study also analysed the variation of water scarcity on different spatiotemporal scales. The findings demonstrate that severe water scarcity has been occurring downstream with a tendency towards upstream of the watershed. Collectively, this study provides a useful tool for dynamic water scarcity assessment, helping develop policies to promote sustainable development.

Identification of carbon responsibility factors based on energy consumption from 2005 to 2020 in China

In the process of rapid economic development, the relationship between energy consumption and economic development is close and the coupling relationship is complex. The study proposes a method for the assessment of integrated energy consumption factors. In particular, production and consumption driving factors are expressed in relation to the growth of primary energy consumption responsibility in the energy supply chain system. Specifically, based on previous research, the study builds a LMDI decomposition model based on the primary energy consumption responsibility - embodied energy (PECREE) formula. By analyzing the impact of changes in the final commodity quantity, value-added allocation factor, energy intensity, end-use energy consumption structure and primary energy consumption responsibility conversion factor on primary energy consumption responsibility, the study systematically reveals the linkage relationship between product production and consumption on energy consumption changes, and reveals the related driving mechanism of primary energy consumption responsibility growth. We choose China's energy supply system from 2005 to 2020 as a case study, focusing on the impact of changes in economic sectors on primary energy consumption responsibility, and provide a supplementary explanation from the commodity consumption side. The results show that the change of final use quantity is the most important factor causing the increase of primary energy consumption responsibility, but the impact is decreasing year by year. The impact of energy intensity change on primary energy consumption responsibility is mainly dominated by economic sectors with high energy consumption and high energy intensity. The impact of value-added allocation factor requires systematic consideration of energy intensity of economic sectors. The increase of the proportion of electricity in the end-use energy consumption structure of the economic sector promotes the growth of its primary energy consumption responsibility. The reduction of primary energy consumption responsibility conversion factor for electricity is one of the factors that inhibits the growth of primary energy consumption responsibility. Finally, we believe that while meeting the needs of social development and production and life of the people, China is already on the road of adjustment and transformation of its industrial structure and energy structure, and will continue to make progress in the future.

Comparison in terms of Material Quantity Between Non-Seismic and Seismic Design for Selected Buildings in Malaysia

Almost all buildings in Malaysia were previously designed for non-seismic loading. As such, the need to consider seismic load poses challenges for the engineers and project owners. In order to enlighten the stakeholders on the effect of adopting seismic design, the impact on building material cost and quantities must be investigated in advance. Although many studies have been conducted, the use of hypothetical building models and not considering the actual soil factors in Malaysia may yield unrealistic results. As such, this study is conducted with the aim to evaluate the change in the material quantities of the main frame members using six existing building models subjected to peak ground acceleration of 0.16g and situated on soil type D. The analysis, design and taking-off were conducted with the aid of Tekla Structural Designer software. The results showed significant increase in terms of the material quantity required for the main frame members when seismic design was considered. The increase in the concrete volume and reinforcement tonnage was calculated to be in the range of 6.92% to 404.86% and 3.23% to 563.94%, respectively. The development of high base shear force, the amplification of the seismic force by the soft soil, and relatively stringent detailing in DCM were identified as the contributing factors. With a broader spectrum of results, the stakeholder can anticipate the increase in the material cost for adopting seismic design that can be useful for design submission and project cost estimation.

The first boundary value problem for the fractional diffusion equation in a degenerate angular domain

This article addresses the problems observed in branching fractal structures, where super-slow transport processes can occur, a phenomenon described by diffusion equations with a fractional time derivative. The characteristic feature of these processes is their extremely slow relaxation rate, where a physical quantity changes more gradually than its first derivative. Such phenomena are sometimes categorized as processes with “residual memory”. The study presents a solution to the first boundary problem in an angular domain degenerating into a point at the initial moment of time for a fractional diffusion equation with the RiemannLiouville fractional differentiation operator with respect to time. It establishes the existence theorem of the problem under investigation and constructs a solution representation. The need for understanding these super-slow processes and their impact on fractal structures is identified and justified. The paper demonstrates how these processes contribute to the broader understanding of fractional diffusion equations, proving the theorem’s existence and formulating a solution representation.

Combining modeling and experimental approaches for developing rice-oil palm agroforestry systems.

Monoculture systems in South East Asia are facing challenges due to climate change-induced extreme weather conditions, leading to significant annual production losses in rice and oil palm. To ensure the stability of these crops, innovative strategies like resilient agroforestry systems need to be explored. Converting oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) monocultures to rice (Oryza sativa)-based intercropping systems shows promise, but achieving optimal yields requires adjusting palm density and identifying rice varieties adapted to changes in light quantity and diurnal fluctuation. This paper proposes a methodology that combines a model of light interception with indoor experiments to assess the feasibility of rice-oil palm agroforestry systems. Using a functional-structural plant model of oil palm, the planting design was optimized to maximize transmitted light for rice. Simulation results estimated the potential impact on oil palm carbon assimilation and transpiration. In growth chambers, simulated light conditions were replicated with adjustments to intensity and daily fluctuation. Three light treatments independently evaluated the effects of light intensity and fluctuation on different rice accessions. The simulation study revealed intercropping designs that significantly increased light transmission for rice cultivation with minimal decrease in oil palm densities compared with conventional designs. The results estimated a loss in oil palm productivity of less than 10%, attributed to improved carbon assimilation and water use efficiency. Changes in rice plant architecture were primarily influenced by light quantity, while variations in yield components were attributed to light fluctuations. Different rice accessions exhibited diverse responses to light fluctuations, indicating the potential for selecting genotypes suitable for agroforestry systems.