Changes In Internal Environment Research Articles

Interoceptive inference and prediction in food-related disorders.

The brain's capacity to predict and anticipate changes in internal and external environments is fundamental to initiating efficient adaptive responses, behaviors, and reflexes that minimize disruptions to physiology. In the context of feeding control, the brain predicts and anticipates responses to the consumption of dietary substances, thus driving adaptive behaviors in the form of food choices, physiological preparation for meals, and engagement of defensive mechanisms. Here, we provide an integrative perspective on the multisensory computation between exteroceptive and interoceptive cues that guides feeding strategy and may result in food-related disorders.

Have Climate Factor Changes Jeopardized the Value of Qinghai Grassland Ecosystem Services within the Grass–Animal Balance?

Internal and external environmental changes have led to changes in the service value of plateau ecosystems. Plateau ecosystems are facing a risk of falling into “recession”. Meanwhile, climate change has become an important factor affecting the service value of plateau grassland ecosystems. In this paper, from the perspective of how changes in climate factors inhibit the value of ecosystem services of plateau grasslands, we adopt the equivalent factor method to measure the value of grassland ecosystem services in eight municipal levels in Qinghai Province from 2000 to 2021. We also construct a fixed utility model to test how changes in climate factors affect the value of ecosystem services and use the grass–animal balance as a mediating effect model for the test. The results of the study showed that (1) the increase in temperature and precipitation among the changes in climate factors significantly suppresses the ecosystem service value of grassland in the plateau. (2) The mediation test shows that the grass–livestock balance helped suppress the effects of climate factor changes on the ecological service value of plateau grassland. (3) The heterogeneity test shows that the area containing the Three-River-Source National Park is more resistant to climate factor changes. Climate factor changes have a greater impact on the ecosystem service value of plateau grassland in high altitude areas and have a significant positive effect on sustained low grassland carrying pressure index status. Therefore, in the protection of plateau grassland ecosystems, we should pay attention to the inputs in the ecosystems as well as appropriate grazing. At the same time, this study can provide a reference value for the decision-making with respect to ecological natural resources protection or restoration in plateau grassland under the effects of climate factors.

The Impact of Digital Transformation on Corporate Financial Performance: A Case Study of Luzhou Laojiao

With the development of the Internet and big data, the global economy is tending to the deep integration of digital economy and real economy. The state attaches great importance to the digital development strategy and has issued a number of policies to support the digital transformation of enterprises. Therefore, digital transformation has become a necessary means for enterprises to cope with internal and external adverse environmental changes and improve their survival and development. This paper selects Luzhou Laojiao, which has great development potential in the liquor industry, as the research object to sort out the background and path of its digital transformation, and then selects relevant indicators from four aspects of profitability, debt paying ability, operating ability and growth ability for analysis. This paper analyzes the impact of Luzhou Laojiao's digital transformation on its financial performance, and provides reference for other enterprises in the same industry undergoing digital transformation.

Insights into the cooling rate and preservative effect of slurry ice on large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) in terms of the fish/ice ratio, salinity, and the ice mass fraction

AbstractThe cooling effect of slurry ice as cooling medium on large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) was studied by considering different fish/ice ratio, salinity and initial ice mass fraction (40%, 60%, and 80%). Results obtained with optical microscope clarified that the ice particle size and cooling time of slurry ice were decreased at increasing salinity. Best precooling efficiency was obtained with specific values of fish/ice ratio 1:2, salinity 5.0%, and initial ice mass fraction 60%. Then, the effects of precooling time (0, 3, 12, and 24 h) in slurry ice on the quality of large yellow croaker stored at 4°C were investigated. The results showed that slurry ice precooling could significantly (p < 0.05) inhibit the microbial reproduction and retard the quality deterioration of large yellow croaker. Therefore, slurry ice can be a promising precooling method for the quality maintenance of marine fish.Practical applicationsLarge yellow croaker is extremely perishable due to its nutrient abundance. The spoilage process of fish is vitally influenced by the changes of internal environment and external environment after harvest. Timely precooling can prominently improve the shelf‐life of perishable foods. Slurry ice, a two‐phase system consisting of seawater (or artificial seawater) and spherical ice microcrystals, is regarded as an alternative precooling medium. Compared with conventional ice, slurry ice has faster cooling rate, little physical damage to soft tissue such as aquatic products and has better fluidity allows it to comprehensively cover the fish surface, thereby protecting fish from oxidation.

Near-infrared fluorescent probe to track Cys in plant roots under heavy metal hazards and its application in cells and zebrafish

Heavy metals, including Hg2+, Cr6+ and Cd2+, have always been a major issue in environmental pollution, leading to abnormal changes in the levels of biologically active molecules including Cys in plants, seriously affecting all aspects of the growth and development of plants. This makes it essential to develop a simple and practical method to study the potential impact of heavy metals on plants. In this paper, our research group has developed near-infrared fluorescent probe WRM-S, which has the advantages of fast response, sensitivity to Cys, and successfully applying it to cells and zebrafish. Moreover, it combined the close relationship between heavy metal stress on plants and Cys, using Cys as the detection target, monitoring the internal environment changes of two plants under Hg2+, Cr6+, and Cd2+ stress in the environment, and then conducting 3D imaging. The results indicated that the probe has strong penetration ability in plant tissues, and revealed abnormal changes in plant Cys levels caused by heavy metal stress-induced cellular oxidative stress or cytotoxicity. Thus, the in-situ imaging detection of this probe provides a direction for the physiological dynamics research of plant environmental stress.

Diverse habitats shape the movement ecology of a top marine predator, the white shark Carcharodon carcharias

AbstractAn animal's movement is influenced by a plethora of internal and external factors, leading to individual‐ and habitat‐specific movement characteristics. This plasticity is thought to allow individuals to exploit diverse environments efficiently. We tested whether the movement characteristics of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias differ across ontogeny and among habitats along the coast of Central California. In doing so, we elucidate how changes in internal state (physiological changes coinciding with body size) and external environments (differing seascapes and/or diel phases) shape the movement of this globally distributed predator. Twenty‐one white sharks, from small juveniles to large adults, were equipped with motion‐sensitive biologging tags at four contrasting seascapes: two islands, a headland, and an inshore cove. From multisensor biologging data, 20 metrics characterizing movement (i.e., depth use, vertical velocities, activity, turning rates, and bursting events) were derived and subjected to multivariate analyses. Movement characteristics were most different across seascapes, followed by ontogeny and diel phase. Juvenile sharks, which were only encountered at the cove, displayed the most distinct movement characteristics. Sharks at this seascape remained close to the shore traveling over smaller areas, shallower depth ranges, and with lower levels of tail beat frequencies, when corrected for size, than sub‐adult and adult sharks tagged elsewhere. Distinct tortuous daytime versus linear nighttime horizontal movements were recorded from sharks at island seascapes but not from those at the headland or inshore cove. At the offshore islands, the linear nighttime swimming patterns coincided with repeated dives to and from deeper water. The availability of prey and access to deeper water are likely drivers of the differences in movement characteristics described, with varying demographics of pinniped prey found at the subadult and adult aggregation areas and juvenile sharks being piscivorous and their habitat neither adjacent to pinniped haul out areas nor deeper water. This study demonstrates plasticity in the movements of a top predator, which adapts its routine to suit the habitat it forages within.

Biological characteristics of mechanosensitive channels MscS and MscL in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is an important respiratory pathogen that can cause porcine contagious pleuropneumonia (PCP), resulting in significant economic losses in swine industry. Microorganisms are subjected to drastic changes in environmental osmolarity. In order to alleviate the drastic rise or fall of osmolarity, cells activate mechanosensitive channels MscL and MscS through tension changes. MscL not only regulates osmotic pressure but also has been reported to secrete protein and uptake aminoglycoside antibiotic. However, MscL and MscS, as the most common mechanosensitive channels, have not been characterized in A. pleuropneumoniae. In this study, the osmotic shock assay showed that MscL increased sodium adaptation by regulating cell length. The results of MIC showed that deletion of mscL decreased the sensitivity of A. pleuropneumoniae to multiple antibiotics, while deletion of mscS rendered A. pleuropneumoniae hypersensitive to penicillin. Biofilm assay demonstrated that MscL contributed the biofilm formation but MscS did not. The results of animal assay showed that MscL and MscS did not affect virulence in vivo. In conclusion, MscL is essential for sodium hyperosmotic tolerance, biofilm formation, and resistance to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, penicillin, and oxacillin. On the other hand, MscS is only involved in oxacillin resistance.IMPORTANCEBacterial resistance to the external environment is a critical function that ensures the normal growth of bacteria. MscL and MscS play crucial roles in responding to changes in both external and internal environments. However, the function of MscL and MscS in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae has not yet been reported. Our study shows that MscL plays a significant role in osmotic adaptation, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation of A. pleuropneumoniae, while MscS only plays a role in antibiotic resistance. Our findings provide new insights into the functional characteristics of MscL and MscS in A. pleuropneumoniae. MscL and MscS play a role in antibiotic resistance and contribute to the development of antibiotics for A. pleuropneumoniae.

The role of platelets in sepsis: A review.

Sepsis, a life-threatening condition characterized by organ dysfunction, results from a complex series of pathophysiological mechanisms including immune dysfunction, an uncontrolled inflammatory response, and coagulation abnormalities. It is a major contributor to global mortality and severe disease development. Platelets, abundant in the circulatory system, are sensitive to changes in the body's internal environment and are among the first cells to respond to dysregulated pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant reactions at the onset of sepsis. In the initial stages of sepsis, the coagulation cascade, inflammatory response, and endothelial tissue damage perpetually trigger platelet activation. These activated platelets then engage in complex inflammatory and immune reactions, potentially leading to organ dysfunction. Therefore, further research is essential to fully understand the role of platelets in sepsis pathology and to develop effective therapeutic strategies targeting the associated pathogenic pathways. This review delves into the involvement of platelets in sepsis and briefly outlines the clinical applications of associated biomarkers.

The Bumpy Road to Good Governance and Public Service Delivery : Analysis of the Challenges to Strategic Plans Implementation in Public Organisations in The Gambia

Scholars have long established the connections between strategic plans and service delivery and how lack of dedicated plans to clinically bypass the attendant complexities and intricacies tends to undermine the efficacy of the implementation process. Most research on the crucial antidote against bad governance, which is often attributed to arbitrary policy making, dearth of accountable leadership and uninformed decisions have been conducted in the developed climes where public service delivery are comparatively better served. Research about strategic plans in Africa, where most public institutions grope in the dark for lack of strategic torchlights to navigate the bumpy road to delivering public goods at a challenging time when citizens are becoming more demanding of governance dividends, is commensurably low. The paper, therefore, analysed the challenges to strategic plans implementation in achieving the objectives of public service organisations (PSOs) in The Gambia. Cross-sectional data about institutional challenges to adopted strategic plans were collected from relevant authorities and key informants, and descriptively analysed. The study revealed a range of challenges confronting implementation of strategic plans by PSOs in the country, namely, poor public service emoluments resulting in low staff morale and systemic corruption (RII = 3.90), political interference (RII = 3.88), inadequate facilities (RII = 3.86), lack of top management commitment (RII = 3.81), lack of political will (RII = 3.81), inadequate strategic management professionals and expertise (RII = 3.67), and insufficient budgetary allocations (RII = 3.66). Added to this, negative employee behaviour and attitude, negative and unfavourable internal and external environmental changes and conditions, and corruption and mismanagement of funds among others were the challenges that confronted PSOs during strategic plans implementation. The research validates strategic plan as a good governance tool for public service delivery in The Gambia.

Інформаційні джерела та етапи стратегічного аналізу

To effectively carry out its economic activity, the enterprise needs to quickly respond to internal and external environmental changes, carrying out a strategic analysis. The effectiveness of such an analysis largely depends on the accountant's qualifications as the subject of its implementation. The article's purpose is to critically evaluate information sources, stages, and methods of strategic analysis, strengthening its theoretical and methodical support with the growing functional capabilities of the accountant. It was determined that the object of strategic analysis of the management process is the enterprise as an open management system and the forms and types of its activities. Strategic analysis helps create a system of main indicators of the enterprise's long-term development. The main tasks, information sources and strategic analysis stages were revealed. The strategic analysis methods, which are within the competence of a professional accountant, were critically evaluated. The article discusses the relationship between the functions of accounting and strategic analysis, given that both processes are performed by an accountant using many methods and professional judgment. It was established that qualitative strategic analysis is the key to effective enterprise strategic management. It is confirmed by the fact that the management strategy needs information about the strategic position of the enterprise, which is provided by accounting. An organizational and methodical mechanism for conducting strategic analysis by accountants of enterprises with an optimal set of methods and information sources was proposed. Combining accounting tools with traditional methods of strategic analysis (SWOT and GAP analysis) ensures obtaining conclusions for forming/adjusting the enterprise's development strategy in conditions of dynamic changes in the external and internal environment.

Delayed Exposure to Second Language Acquisition: The Robustness of Critical Period Hypothesis and the Limitations of the Plasticity Theory

Studies of language acquisition have shown that language learning ability declines with age. It has been documented that the overwhelming majority of learners who begin the process of second language (L2) learning after passing the critical period — after a certain age – cannot attain native-like competence (underlying knowledge of language) at the end state. There is a universal folk belief, shared by almost all psycholinguists, that at an early age, the brain is plastic; it can modify its own structure, organization and function as a direct consequence of experiences and learning. According to this belief, the plasticity of the brain fades with age and with the increasing specialisation of the different hemispheres and areas of the brain. However, recently neuroscientists, equipped with the complementary aid of brain neuroimaging, have discovered that mature brain is far from being fixed as previously thought; it has the ability to continuously adapt its structure and function based on internal and external environmental changes and/or input such as experience, ageing, illness, injury and learning, meaning that the brain remains plastic throughout life. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to illustrate that the theory about the loss of brain plasticity during natural maturation is not valid in explaining the question why L2 learning is affected by delayed exposure to a language? It should be mentioned here that until now, the overwhelming majority of L2 researchers tend to think of plasticity as a phenomenon confined to early development; and therefore, evidence supporting plasticity is generally ignored.

유해화학물질 취급시설 관련 뉴스와 국민신문고 민원 트렌드 빅데이터 분석

Since the 2013 revision of the Toxic Chemicals Management Act to the Chemical Substances Control Act, the evaluation of how internal and external environmental changes affect legal systems for facilities handling hazardous chemicals is crucial for prospective system enhancements. Through an analysis of news and civil complaints from 2014 to 2023, it was observed that both external news and internal civil complaints related to handling facilities peaked in 2019, declining as the legal system stabilized. News trends were tracked using Term Frequency(TF), while civil complaints were assessed using TF-IDF (Inverse Document Frequency) to identify significant keywords. The entity name analysis algorithm, Structured Support Vector Machine, was applied to investigate keyword relationships. Among the notices concerning handling facilities, civil complaints related to small quantity standards and small quantity handling facilities were the highest. Inquiries regarding damage reduction facility standards, such as bund walls and detectors, ranked prominently, suggesting a need for policy service improvements in this area.

Amide proton transfer imaging in rats after heatstroke.

Metabolic acidosis is the most common acid-base change following heatstroke. This study aimed to evaluate the internal environment changes caused by heatstroke using amide proton transfer (APT) imaging. Nineteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group (CTRL, n = 7) and the heatstroke group (HS, n = 12). All the rats underwent a 7.0-T MRI, which included T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and APT imaging. Subsequently, the surviving HS group rats repeated the same magnetic resonance scanning after 25 days and were designated as the follow-up group (FU, n = 7). APT values were measured in the hippocampus, thalamus, and corpus callosum. The APT values of the three groups were statistically analyzed and found in the hippocampus (CTRL vs. HS, P = 0.011; CTRL vs. FU, P = 0.078; HS vs. FU, P = 0.484; η ² = 0.276), left thalamus (CTRL vs. HS, P = 0.004; CTRL vs. FU, P = 0.014; HS vs. FU, P = 0.822; η ² = 0.331), right thalamus (CTRL vs. HS, P = 0.003; CTRL vs. FU, P = 0.015; HS vs. FU P = 0.769; η ² = 0.336), and corpus callosum (CTRL vs. HS, P < 0.001; CTRL vs. FU, P = 0.005; HS vs. FU, P = 0.523; η ² = 0.437). APT imaging can be a viable and practical tool for diagnosing heatstroke and monitoring its progression.

Smart Responsive Microneedles for Controlled Drug Delivery.

As an emerging technology, microneedles offer advantages such as painless administration, good biocompatibility, and ease of self-administration, so as to effectively treat various diseases, such as diabetes, wound repair, tumor treatment and so on. How to regulate the release behavior of loaded drugs in polymer microneedles is the core element of transdermal drug delivery. As an emerging on-demand drug-delivery technology, intelligent responsive microneedles can achieve local accurate release of drugs according to external stimuli or internal physiological environment changes. This review focuses on the research efforts in smart responsive polymer microneedles at home and abroad in recent years. It summarizes the response mechanisms based on various stimuli and their respective application scenarios. Utilizing innovative, responsive microneedle systems offers a convenient and precise targeted drug delivery method, holding significant research implications in transdermal drug administration. Safety and efficacy will remain the key areas of continuous efforts for research scholars in the future.

Allostasis and Resilience from a Neuroendocrine Perspective

Resilience is a term that describes the capacity of coping with and recovering from stress and adversity. In terms of the concept of allostasis, resilience is the ability to appropriately regulate allostasis, efficiently terminate the allostatic response, prevent the occurrence of allostatic load/overload or restore homeostasis. Recently, it has been shown that oxytocin may be involved in this series of stress adaptation systems. We aim to discuss the changes in oxytocin neuron activation, oxytocin release and its actions of stress adaptation in response to internal and external environmental changes, and the regulation of resilience by oxytocin.

Improvement of the enterprise’s production program as a way to adapt to market changes

Purpose. Proving the possibility of improving the procedure to adapt the enterprise to market trends based on the self adjustment of its production program using the solutions of direct and dual linear programming problems with the help of the Microsoft Excel package “Search for solutions” add-on. Methodology. The methodological basis of the study is the provisions of modern economic theory, the fundamental works by foreign and domestic scientists on the formation of management systems and the peculiarities of enterprises’ adaptation to changes. The methodological apparatus of economic and mathematical modeling, operations research, in particular, the theory of duality of linear programming problems is widely used. Findings. The enterprise’s adaptation to changes in the external and internal environment with the help of the proposed iterative procedure of unused reserves redistribution between scarce resources made it possible to increase the products’ sale by reducing the manufacturing of one type of products and increasing the output of another one under the conditions of a stable range of products manufacturing at the enterprise. Originality. The article substantiates the procedure of the enterprise adaptation to changes in internal and external environments on the basis of self adjustment of its production program using the solutions of direct and dual problems of linear programming. Practical value. The article features the applied aspects to self adjust the enterprise production program, aimed to increase the efficiency of economic activity by means of step-by-step improvement of the optimal production plan (works, services).

The Essential Interconnection of the Reticular Formation, Intermediolateral Nucleus, and Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis: A Comprehensive View on Cellular Homeostasis

This paper explores the hypothesis that the Intermediolateral Nucleus, by possessing a direct and unique connection with the adrenal medulla, stands in contrast to the two-neuron pathway typical of the Sympathetic Nervous System. This distinctive characteristic of the Intermediolateral Nucleus may play a crucial role in counter-entropic and cellular energy regulation. The Reticular Formation, extending from the brainstem to the start of the cervical spinal cord, is vital for the regulation of heart rate, breathing, and cognitive functions, facilitating continuous chemical interaction throughout the body and being pivotal for energy regulation. The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis, as the primary response mechanism to cellular challenges, holds a central role in energy regulation, countering entropic processes, and supporting vital bioenergetic complexities for survival. The intimate collaboration between the Reticular Formation, the Intermediolateral Nucleus, and the Hypothalamic-PituitaryAdrenal Axis is essential for the continuous process of adjustments and readaptations, enabling the organism to respond and adapt to constant changes in both internal and external environments. This study deepens our understanding of homeostasis and the synergistic interaction between these structures in the vital process of maintaining homeostasis and energy regulation.

How Does Secure-Base Leadership Affect Employees' Taking-Charge Behavior: The Role of Psychological Availability and Independent Self-Construal.

Under the VUCA background, enterprises need to actively change to meet the requirements of internal and external environmental changes. This article surveyed 250 employees. Using statistical software SPSS 27.0 and Process 4.1, we address the outcome of secure-base leadership on employees' taking-charge behavior by considering the influencing mechanisms and boundary conditions. The results indicate that secure-base leadership positively shapes employees' taking-charge behavior, and psychological availability plays a mediating role in the relationship between secure-base leadership and such employee behavior. Independent self-construal positively moderates the impact of psychological availability on employees' taking-charge behavior and positively moderates the indirect impact of secure-base leadership on such behavior through psychological availability. Our findings could enrich the empirical research on employees' taking-charge behavior by secure-base leadership, thereby promoting the sustainable development of organizations.

Modeling of Project Portfolio Risk Evolution and Response under the Influence of Interactions

Due to dynamic changes in both internal and external environments, the risk evolution of the project portfolio (PP) becomes extremely complicated, thereby increasing the difficulties of effective risk response. In particular, the real-time influence of risk interactions on the evolution of project portfolio risk (PPR) often goes unnoticed. Meanwhile, risk contagiousness is completely ignored in risk response. To tackle this challenge, this study proposes a PPR evolution and response (PPRER) model by improving the Barrat–Barthelemy–Vespignani (BBV) model and by introducing the evolutionary dynamics method into the PPR response research. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed model are verified through a numerical illustration. Computational results demonstrate that the proposed model can simulate the evolution process of PPRs under the influence of their interactions and give a snapshot of the real-time interactive relationship between PPRs. Based on the obtained results, decision-makers can take effective risk responses by identifying critical strategy intrusion nodes at any time in the evolution process.

The Impact of Learning Organization on Intrapreneurship: The Case of Jordanian Pharmaceutics

Due to the competitive and uncertain environment nowadays, organizations could respond to these environmental factors effectively by being more learning-oriented, where individuals and teams are encouraged to constantly learn and grow and knowledge is shared and disseminated throughout the organization. This may allow the organization to better understand its environment and respond to changing circumstances in a more effective and efficient way. By improving the organization towards learning organization, the organization could continuously improve its ability to adapt and change through the acquisition and application of new knowledge and skills. Moreover, intrapreneurship could assist organizations in adapting to internal and external environmental changes, which in turn could help firms to innovate and revitalize their businesses. To actualize this study, data were gathered from 263 managers in Jordanian pharmaceutical companies. The collected data were coded against SPSS 25, then normality, validity, and reliability were tested and multiple regressions were used to examine the hypotheses. Thus, this research found an effect for learning organization dimensions (supportive learning environment, concrete learning processes and practices, leadership that reinforces learning, and creating learning structures) on intrapreneurship the context of Jordanian pharmaceutical companies.