Consumption Rate Research Articles

Energy Conscious Squirrel Search based Task Scheduling Mechanism in Fog Environment

ABSTRACTThe swift explosion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the past few years has resulted in a deluge of data that requires timely processing. However, transmitting such massive amounts of data in and out from cloud leads to high latency and network bandwidth. Consequently, the field of fog computing has turned out as a feasible platform for utilizing resources within the vicinity of IoT devices for providing services in a timely manner. The resource constrained trait of fog nodes demands judicious management of resources in satisfying the requirements of IoT applications. This makes energy efficiency a core issue in fog networks. This article addresses the issue of energy efficiency by proposing an energy conscious squirrel search algorithm (EcSSA) for scheduling tasks in fog environment. A salient feature of EcSSA lies in the novel objective function that aims to optimize the energy consumption by minimizing the cumulative active time of all nodes in the network. Simulation studies conducted as part of this work demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly improves average energy consumption, average makespan, and carbon dioxide emission rate in comparison to the existing algorithms.

A pilot study of precision treatment for patients with lung cancer pain by Longteng Tongluo recipe using serum genomics.

To investigate the efficacy of Longteng Tongluo recipe (, LTTL) combined with three-step analgesia for the treatment of lung cancer pain, and the changes in serum miRNA expressions before- and after treatment with LTTL and its correlation with lung cancer pain. The possible mechanism underlying LTTL effects on the treatment of lung cancer pain was conducted. The pilot study was conducted at the oncology ward of the Yueyang Hospital and the Longhua Hospital between March 2018 and October 2019. A prospective, single-blind, placebo controlled, randomized clinical trial of LTTL or placebo combined with three-step analgesia treatments were administered to 24 cancer pain patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Analgesic efficacy was investigated as the primary outcome. Equivalent morphine consumption and numerical rating scale (NRS) scores were used as the secondary outcome. In the present study, we utilized deep sequencing techniques to compare the differential miRNA expressions in serum samples obtained from two groups: the lung cancer pain treatment group (LTTL + three-step analgesia) and the control group (placebo + three-step analgesia). Next, we employed the target prediction database to investigate the target genes for differential miRNA expressions and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis along with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis to examine the roles and the major biochemical and signaling pathways related to the differentially expressed target genes, respectively. LTTL treatment significantly reduces the NRS score (P = 0.021) as compared to those before treatment, along with significant reductions in the total morphine equivalent consumption (P = 0.007) and the average daily equivalent morphine consumption (P = 0.003) as opposed to the control group. The expressions of 31 miRNAs differed considerably between the two groups of patients (≥ 2 times up-modulated or down-regulated between these groups, P<0.05). For instance, the miRNAs expression levels for patients before treatment (has-miR-2110 and has-miR-7d-3p) were significantly enhanced as compared to the healthy people, after LTTL treatment, the expressions of miR-2110 and miR-7d-3p in patients with lung cancer pain reduced significantly. Studies show that the above two miRNAs were significantly associated with lung cancer pain, which could mediate lung cancer pain. Furthermore, we identified 355 genes as potential targets of the 31 differentially expressed miRNAs. Pathway enrichment analyses using KEGG and GO analysis indicated that these target genes may play a crucial role in the development and modulation of lung cancer pain. LTTL demonstrated a discernible impact on alleviating lung cancer pain and its mechanism of action may be related to the downregulation of has-miR-2110 and has-miR-7d-3p expressions. This pilot study provides support for further exploration of LTTL in patients with lung cancer pain.

Selecting the most successfull recycling strategy over daily consumption products: application of q-Rung Orthopair Fuzzy Topsis method

Recycling is the process of collecting and reusing that helps the countries to achieve their sustainable development goals. This study, for the first time in the literature, considers the recycling of many daily consumption products as a decision-making problem with the q-rung orthopair fuzzy (q-ROF) approach. In Turkey, recycling initiatives are primarily led by the government and municipalities, involving either reprocessing in public facilities or collaboration with private enterprises. The research evaluates the effectiveness of recycling strategies, considering paper, plastic, textiles, batteries, frying oils, electronics, glass, and wood as alternative products. Criteria such as convertibility rate, resource usage for recycling, converted product lifespan, recycling process complexity, economic gain, product consumption rate, and trading opportunities are employed in the decision-making process. The q-rung orthopair fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (q-ROFTOPSIS) method is applied to assess these criteria. Decision makers, comprising a recycling expert, a recycling business engineer, and an academician specializing in recycling studies, contribute to the evaluation. The study reveals electronic products as the most successful in recycling, while frying oils exhibit the least success.

Study and Analysis thermal performance of Taza gas power plant in Kirkuk –Iraq

In this research, the concept of energy balance was implemented in one of the gas turbine electricity generation units in Iraq (Kirkuk - Taza) K1. The design operating data is taken and compared with the data calculated in the computer model used by Engineering Equation Solutions (EES), and the validity of the model used was confirmed. The results indicate the release of a large amount of thermal energy into the atmosphere due to the open Brayton cycle, as energy losses amounted to 60% of the energy input. The results based on the data of the first unit of the station demonstrated that the theoretical efficiency of the unit is a function of the two variables, which are the temperature of the air entering the compressor and the Turbine inlet temperature: Increasing the compressor inlet temperature leads to a decrease in net power output and first-law efficiency and an increase in the specific fuel consumption rate. Increasing the turbine inlet temperature to 1°C leads to an improvement in both net power output and first-law efficiency by (0.24MW, and 0.04) %), respectively. The results also showed that cooling the air entering the compressor for 1°C leads to improving power output and first law efficiency by (0.72MW, and 0.12%), respectively, and reduces specific fuel consumption by 7.8kg/MWh.

Role of ferroptosis in mitochondrial damage in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is driven by oxidative stress-mitochondrial damage. Activation of ROS producing cytosolic NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) in diabetes precedes retinal mitochondrial damage, initiating a vicious cycle of free radicals. Elevated ROS levels peroxidize membrane lipids increasing damaging lipid peroxides (LPOs). While glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) neutralizes LPOs, an imbalance in its generation-neutralization leads to ferroptosis, which is characterized by increased LPOs, free iron and decreased GPx4 activity. Mitochondria are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and iron and have mitochondrial isoform of GPx4. Our aim was to investigate mitochondrial ferroptosis in diabetic retinopathy, focusing on Nox2 mediated ROS production. Using human retinal endothelial cells, incubated in 5mM or 20mM D-glucose for 12 to 96 hours, with or without Nox2 inhibitors (100μM apocynin, 5μM EHop-016 or 5μM Gp91 ds-tat), or ferroptosis inhibitors (1μM ferrostatin-1, 50μM deferoxamine) or activator (0.1μM RSL3), cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS, LPOs, iron, GPx4 activity, mitochondrial integrity (membrane permeability, oxygen consumption rate, mtDNA copy numbers) and cell death were quantified. High glucose significantly increased ROS, LPOs and iron levels and inhibited GPx4 activity in cytosol, and while Nox2 and ferroptosis inhibitors prevented glucose-induced increase in ferroptosis markers, mitochondrial damage and cell death, RSL3, further worsened them. Furthermore, high glucose also increased ferroptosis markers in the mitochondria, which followed their increase in the cytosol, suggesting a role of cytosolic ROS in mitochondrial ferroptosis. Thus, targeting Nox2-ferroptosis should help break down the self-perpetuating vicious cycle of free radicals, initiated by the damaged mitochondria, and could provide novel therapeutics to prevent/retard the development of diabetic retinopathy.

Deciphering the key drivers of oxidative potential during ammonium nitrate-mediated aqueous-phase photoreaction of methoxyphenols

Methoxyphenols are released in abundance from lignin pyrolysis during biomass burning. Apart from being atmospheric brown carbon components that absorb solar radiation and warm the climate, methoxyphenols also undergo photoreaction in the atmospheric aqueous phase and form secondary organic aerosols (aqSOA). While efforts have been devoted to understanding chemical evolutions and climate-related optical properties of aqSOA, their potential health impacts also require timely investigations. Herein, we used the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay to investigate oxidative potential of the aqSOA formed during the 8-hr aqueous-phase photoreaction of two typical methoxyphenols, vanillin and vanillic acid, under pH 2 or 8, and with or without ammonia nitrate. The highest DTT consumption rates (RDTT) were observed for vanillin aqSOA formed in the presence of ammonia nitrate and at pH 8. At pH 2, although RDTT increased rapidly during early photoreaction, it reduced after prolonged illumination. High resolution mass spectrometry and linear regression analyses were performed to correlate the photoreaction products with the observed RDTT. Results showed that three products that present quinone, lactone and dimer structures, respectively, should be the key drivers of elevated RDTT for aqSOA formed during photoreaction of vanillin and vanillic acid alone, whereas it shifted to the nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds during their photoreaction with ammonia nitrate. Our results have revealed the role of nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds in the oxidative potential and health effects of aqSOA from biomass burning, which was rarely recognized before and warrants immediate assessments.

Characterization of Serum Biochemical Changes in Response to Alcohol Consumption Using FT‐Raman Spectroscopy

ABSTRACTAlcohol is one of the most widely used stimulants globally, with increasing consumption rates annually. Prolonged alcohol consumption leads to significant physiological and neurological changes, potentially resulting in various diseases, which could be detect in serum. Therefore, FT‐Raman spectroscopy was used to measure chemical changes in the serum of heavy drinkers, and these results were compared with the serum composition of a control group of non‐drinkers. Obtained results showed a significant increase in lipids and a decrease in the amide/lipid ratio after alcohol administration. Additionally, higher amide III/amide II and lower amide II/amide I ratios were observed in the serum of alcohol‐addicted patients. These shifts of 892, 966, 1286, 1459 and 2940 cm−1 peaks indicate alterations in the protein‐lipid balance due to alcohol consumption. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to further analyze the spectral data, with the first three principal components accounting for 95.36% of total data variability. A Bayesian‐optimized k‐nearest neighbor (BO‐KNN) model was applied for classification. The optimal hyperparameters—two neighbors, correlation distance metric, and squared inverse distance weight—were determined after seven iterations, resulting in a remarkably low classification error of 0.0384. The BO‐KNN model achieved training and test accuracies of 95.92% and 90.48%, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 1.00 for the training set and 0.90 for the test set, demonstrating the model's high precision and robustness. In conclusion, FT‐Raman spectroscopy effectively revealed significant chemical changes in the serum of alcohol‐addicted individuals, providing valuable insights into the biochemical impact of alcohol consumption.

Design and optimization of hybrid renewable energy systems for hydrogen production at Aksaray University campus

In this study, an off-grid HRES is proposed to ensure the electricity demands of the campus in a reliable, cost-effective, and non-polluting way for Aksaray University to have a sustainable and green campus. Within this framework, three HRESs were designed and compared using HOMER Pro software to find the optimum HRES, using a combination of different components related to zero carbon emissions and fully renewable energy sources, including transportation with environmentally friendly hydrogen fuel cell buses for students, academics, and staff. According to the optimization results obtained for the various configurations, the optimum HRES has a net cost of $20.3 million for the 25-year project life, with annual costs of $1.57 million. The levelized cost of electricity of the proposed system, represented by Scenario III, is calculated to be 0.327$/kWh. The PV panels produce 4,758,497 kWh/year at a levelized cost of 0.0404$/kWh, while the wind turbines produce electricity at a levelized cost of 0.0625$/kWh. The optimal system includes a 2000 kW electrolyzer that produces 73,061 kg of hydrogen annually, with a consumption rate of 46.4 kWh/kgH2. The hydrogen tank has an energy reserve of 83,333 kWh with a storage capacity of 2500 kg. The results indicate that Scenario III is a robust, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly energy solution for the campus, paving the way for a greener future. Furthermore, the proposed HRES model provides a practical framework that can influence campus energy policies and potentially serves as a model for other educational institutions that are interested in implementing sustainable energy solutions.

The effect of using Echinacea extract as an immune system stimulant and antioxidant on blood indicators, growth efficiency, and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens to produce a healthy product

This study aimed to discover how echinacea powder extract (EPE), an antioxidant, affects the growth rate, body composition, and blood parameters in broilers as an alternative to antibiotics. In a completely randomized design study, four experimental groups received 280 broiler chicks, 5 days old (Cobb 500). Each group was distributed into seven replicates, each containing ten unsexed chicks. Four groups were randomly selected from the chicks; the first group (the control group) was given drinking water only. Conversely, the birds in treatments 2, 3, and 4 were supplemented with EPA in their drinking water. They received 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 cm3 EPA/liter water every 3 days weekly until the end of the trial (30 days). Our findings found significant differences in avian mass between experimental treatments during growth phases. The control group weighed 887 g, while the 3.0 cm3 EPE group weighed 850 g. The Duncan test showed a difference in FI and FCR among those favoring the EPE groups. Our results showed no significant changes in carcass features, except for spleen, gizzard, and abdominal fat, with the 3.0 cm3 EPE group having weight-higher organs and lower abdominal fat. Also, the control had higher TP, albumin, and globulin levels, while the EPE diet increased ALT and AST and decreased TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL levels. Furthermore, EPE-containing diets resulted in higher IgG concentrations, lower MDA levels, and higher SOD activity compared to the control group. According to the ANOVA analysis, the water consumption rate did not significantly differ across the trial groups. It included adding EPE with 3.0 cm3 enhanced growth performance, carcass traits, and antioxidant activity to obtain health outcomes for end users.

Design and optimization of the exhaust system for an aviation piston engine

Abstract To further enhance the performance of an aviation piston engine, an engine performance simulation analysis model was constructed by using GT-Power software to design improvements to its exhaust system. The impacts of different exhaust system schemes on the exhaust process, the in-cylinder combustion, and the heat release process at a cruising speed of 5500 RPM were analyzed. Based on the results, under cruising speed conditions, a new exhaust system was designed for the engine by referring to the structural form of a resonant exhaust system. The D-optimal Latin hypercube sampling method was used to obtain sample data for the experimental design of the structural parameters of the designed exhaust system. The response surface approximation models characterizing power and fuel consumption rate were established by using the least squares method. The significance of the impact of each structural parameter on engine performance was analyzed through a multifactor analysis of variance. The key structural parameters of the designed exhaust system were then subjected to multi-objective optimization. The results indicate that at 5500 RPM, the designed exhaust system can increase engine power by 2.88%; after optimization, engine power can be further increased by 3.15%, and the fuel consumption rate is reduced by 4.07%.

An optimal scheduling strategy for electricity-thermal synergy and complementarity among multi-microgrid based on cooperative games

Multi-microgrid (MMG) systems provide an effective way to convert renewable energy into other forms of energy for low-carbon utilization. However, the coupling of multi-energy and renewable energy brings a challenge to the stable operation and dispatch of the system. Therefore, an electricity-thermal-gas-hydrogen MMG complementary optimization model based on peer-to-peer (P2P) electricity-thermal synergy is proposed. The model focuses on the coupling and conversion of electricity, hydrogen, and thermal through a hydrogen energy storage system (HESS) combined with renewable energy, and incorporates integrated demand response (IDR) and ladder-type carbon trading mechanism (LCTM). Subsequently, based on the cooperative game and the alternating direction multiplier method (ADMM), a multi-energy synergistic and complementary optimal scheduling strategy is proposed, which increases the flexibility of multi-energy sharing. In addition, a revenue allocation optimization strategy that takes into account the fairness and renewable energy consumption rate is proposed to achieve the stability of the alliance system operation. Finally, the simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed model and strategy, realizing the complementary sharing of regional multi-energy, enabling the expansion of the boundaries of optimal energy allocation, further improving the low-carbon economic operation capability of MMG, and reducing the dependence of the system on the energy market.

Water consumption rates in indoor swimming pools: Analysis of design assumptions in the context of green deal implementation

A significant part of the operating costs of indoor pools is influenced by the demand for water and the amount of sewage discharged. In Poland, there are no current national guidelines for the design of pool installations. Designers often use the guidelines of the German standard DIN 19643, the application of which in Poland is limited due to construction law regulations. The aim of the work is to analyze design assumptions (guidelines for designing water supply and sewage installations) vs. actual water consumption in a selected Auapark (case study). The analysis takes into account new design solutions (water recovery from washings, rainwater management, new filter design), irregularities in the implementation assumptions (oversized installation diameters), existing operational problems related to appropriate water quality and reference to the seasons (March 2023 - June 2024). It has been shown that the use of modern solutions, consistent with the idea of sustainable development, in the field of water and sewage management allows to significantly reduce the demand for water and sewage discharged in relation to the currently adopted indicators and assumptions in this area. For example: in summer, the consumption of water was 36.3 m3/d, while the projected consumption was 132.5 m3/d.

ZnR/GPR39 Regulates Hepatic Insulin Signaling, Tunes Liver Bioenergetics and ROS Production, and Mitigates Liver Fibrosis and Injury

Adequate supply of zinc is essential for hepatic function and its deficiency is associated with acute liver injury (ALI) and chronic nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, how zinc controls hepatic function is unknown. We found that the zinc sensitive ZnR/GPR39, a mediator of zinc signaling, enhances hepatic phosphorylation of ERK1/2, which is reduced in ZnR/GPR39 deficient livers. Surprisingly, livers from ZnR/GPR39 knockout (KO) mice exhibited elevated insulin receptor expression and downstream AKT activation. Moreover, ZnR/GPR39 KO mice had higher blood fasting glucose level, pronounced hepatic lipid accumulation, increased hepatocyte oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. These data suggest that ZnR/GPR39 modulates insulin receptor signaling, a major pathway in hepatic metabolism. Associated with the impaired signaling, ZnR/GPR39 KO livers exhibited increased tissue fibrosis, manifested by marked elevation of collagen expression, compared to wildtype (WT). Additionally, we found alteration of hepatocyte junctional proteins that was accompanied by increased macrophage infiltration and higher liver inflammation in ZnR/GPR39 KO mice. To determine the role of ZnR/GPR39 in ALI, we applied a mild LPS challenge that induced profound decrease in hepatic OCR, also leading to higher ROS generation in ZnR/GPR39 KO hepatocytes, but not in WT. We further found increased serum IL-2 and AST/ALT ratio only in ZnR/GPR39 KO mice. Our findings reveal a role of ZnR/GPR39 in controlling hepatic insulin receptor signaling and mitigating liver fibrosis and inflammation, thus underscoring the important role of ZnR/GPR39 in liver signaling and function.

Transcription factor ETS1‑mediated ECT2 expression promotes the malignant behavior of prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy diagnosed in men worldwide. Epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 (ECT2) is an oncogene involved in the progression of human tumors. The present study aimed to explore the involvement of ECT2 in prostate cancer and its participation in the malignant progression of prostate cancer. ECT2 expression in prostate cancer cell lines was examined via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. The effects of knockdown of ECT2 expression in PC-3 cells on cellular biological behaviors, including proliferation, migration and invasion, were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays. The glycolysis level was determined based on the lactate release, glucose uptake, oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate. The binding relationship between ECT2 and ETS1 was verified using luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. The results indicated that ECT2 was highly expressed in prostate cancer cell lines. Knockdown of ECT2 expression could inhibit cell proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis. In addition, the transcription factor ETS1 could directly bind to the ECT2 promoter and positively regulate ECT2 expression. These data were combined with the results of rescue experiments and demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of the knockdown of ECT2 expression on the malignant behavior and glycolysis of prostate cancer cells were partially reversed by ETS1 overexpression. In conclusion, ETS1 induced transcriptional upregulation of ECT2 and enhanced the malignant biological behaviors of prostate cancer cells, thereby promoting the progression of prostate cancer. This evidence provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Assessment of Common Ragweed (Ambrosia Artemisiifolia L.) Seed Predation in Crop Fields and Their Adjacent Semi-Natural Habitats in Hungary

Ambrosia artemisiifolia has turned into a noxious weed species in agricultural fields and landscapes in Europe. Durable control options are still needed to limit the abundance of this species. Weed seed consumption by naturally occurring seed predators is a key ecosystem service in agricultural areas. Seed predation levels of common ragweed were examined in wheat and maize fields and adjacent semi-natural habitats (SNHs). To evaluate the weed seeds’ exposure to invertebrate seed predators, 20 cards each were set on the soil surface inside the crop field and in SNHs with four replications. Twenty seeds of ragweed were attached to sandpaper. Seed removal was assessed every 24 h of exposure for 5 days in June and November 2019, October 2020, and June 2021. The seed consumption level was measured according to the number of removed seeds from the seed cards. High consumption rates of ragweed seeds were found in all sampling rounds in both seasons and habitats. The seed predation rates in 2019 were stronger within crop fields in summer than in autumn with a slight difference between SNHs and inside fields. Our results demonstrate the possibility of seed predation contributing to Integrated Plant Protection (IPM) of common ragweed in rural areas.

Germacrone ameliorates acute lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion by regulating macrophage M1 polarization and mitochondrial defects.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury severely affects the lungs. Germacrone (Ger) possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, it is unclear whether it protects the lungs from I/R injury. In this study, we elucidate the mechanisms by which Ger protects lungs from I/R injury. C57BLKS/J male mice are subjected to I/R injury via complete clamping of the superior mesenteric artery. Ger is administered before intestinal I/R. Mitochondrial morphology is observed via electron microscopy. The histopathology of the lung tissues is monitored via hematoxylin-eosin and immunofluorescence staining. The mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate is measured via an XF96 extracellular flux analyzer. In the I/R mouse model, lung specimens present significant lung damage accompanied by increases in the levels of collagen III, vimentin, and α-SMA in lung tissues. After treatment with Ger, lung impairment and fibrosis in I/R-induced acute lung injury (ALI) model mice are restored, suggesting that Ger improves I/R-ALI. In addition, Ger administration decreases the release of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6, and COX2, as well as the expressions of M1 macrophage markers, facilitating cell survival in the I/R-ALI model. Additionally, Ger (EC50: 47.16 μM) ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing I/R-ALI-induced apoptosis, increasing the expression of SIRT1, and reducing the levels of HIF1-α, Nrf2, and OGG1 in MLE-12 cells. Ger may affect macrophage polarization and improve subsequent mitochondrial defects through the SIRT1-HIF1α-Nrf2 signaling pathway in MLE-12 cells, which ultimately improves lung function and lung inflammation in the I/R-ALI model.

The interplay of Brown carbon (BrC) surrogates and copper: Implications for the oxidative potential of ambient particles

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) poses adverse effects on human via producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative potential (OP, ability to generate ROS) can be induced by various chemicals in PM, while their interplay remains poorly characterized. Here, we systematically assessed influences of Cu2+ on OP of Brown carbon (BrC) (e.g., imidazoles) using dithiothreitol (DTT) assay. Results showed DTT consumption rate exhibited an initial rise and later decline (0.25 −0.56 µM/min) along with increase of BrC concentration (0.1 − 2 µM), while no general trend was observed for •OH formation. Although Cu2+ showed either antagonism or synergism with BrC against DTT consumption, Cu2+ displayed antagonism with most BrC against •OH generation. Fluorescence quenching experiments provided evidence of complexation between Cu2+ and water-soluble organic compounds (WSOCs, from ambient PM2.5), which was influenced by Cu2+ concentration. Further parallel factor analysis of spectra showed that polycarboxylate-type humic acid-like substances (complexation site number (n): 0.46, complexation equilibrium constant (k): 0.51) and fulvic acid-like compounds (n: 0.42, k: 0.62) were the main components in WSOCs that complexed with Cu2+. Our results suggest the interactions of BrC and copper play a crucial role in PM OP and highlight complexation in evaluation of PM OP.

Alcohol culture and employee treatment

This paper examines the impact of corporate alcohol culture on employee treatment, and find that a rich corporate alcohol culture atmosphere is negative significantly associated with employee treatment. Mechanistically, the corporate alcohol culture increases the aggressiveness motivation of management, in turn increasing risk taking and management overconfidence. Furthermore, the corporate alcohol culture extends managing external social network rather than developing interpersonal relationships, which causes management to less focus on protecting employees' rights and interests. Notably, the inhibitory impact of corporate alcohol culture on employee treatment is particularly pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs), male-dominated industries, and firms with high entertainment expenditure rates. These insights underscore the nuanced dynamics of alcohol culture within corporate settings and its implications for employee welfare and organizational behavior.

Stratification of human gut microbiomes by succinotype is associated with inflammatory bowel disease status

BackgroundThe human gut microbiome produces and consumes a variety of compounds that interact with the host and impact health. Succinate is of particular interest as it intersects with both host and microbiome metabolism. However, which gut bacteria are most responsible for the consumption of intestinal succinate is poorly understood.ResultsWe build upon an enrichment-based whole fecal sample culturing approach and identify two main bacterial taxa that are responsible for succinate consumption in the human intestinal microbiome, Phascolarctobacterium and Dialister. These two taxa have the hallmark of a functional guild and are strongly mutual exclusive across 21,459 fecal samples in 94 cohorts and can thus be used to assign a robust “succinotype” to an individual. We show that they differ with respect to their rate of succinate consumption in vitro and that this is associated with higher concentrations of fecal succinate. Finally, individuals suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are more likely to have the Dialister succinotype compared to healthy subjects.ConclusionsWe identified that only two bacterial genera are the key succinate consumers in human gut microbiome, despite the fact that many more intestinal bacteria encode for the succinate pathway. This highlights the importance of phenotypic assays in functionally profiling intestinal microbiota. A stratification based on “succinotype” is to our knowledge the first function-based classification of human intestinal microbiota. The association of succinotype with IBD thus builds a bridge between microbiome function and IBD pathophysiology related to succinate homeostasis.1f3imNYWH_SuaBpDzz9CS6Video

Effects of temperature on fish aggression and the combined impact of temperature and turbidity on thermal tolerance

Deforestation can increase light penetration and runoff entering adjacent freshwaters leading to increased average water temperature, stronger diel temperature fluctuations, and increased water turbidity. Changes in temperature extremes (particularly upper peaks) are important for fishes as their body temperature and rate of oxygen consumption varies with environmental temperature. Here, we compare effects of diel-fluctuating versus stable water temperature regimes on the behaviour and upper thermal tolerance (measured as Critical Thermal Maximum, CTmax) of the Bluntnose Minnow, Pimephales notatus. Fish were acclimated to either a static 18°C, static 24°C or a diel-fluctuating treatment of low to high (18-24°C) for a total of 10 weeks. Activity level and aggression were measured for 6 consecutive weeks during the acclimation period. Activity level remained high across treatments and over time. However, fish from the diel-fluctuating treatment exhibited a significant increase in aggression over the day as temperatures increased from 18°C to 24°C. Following acclimation, upper thermal limits of fish from each treatment were measured under two conditions: clear water (<2 NTU) and turbid water (25 NTU). This was to evaluate effects of acute turbidity exposure that might arise with heavy rain on deforested streams. CTmax was lowest in fish acclimated to static 18°C and highest in fish acclimated to static 24°C; fish acclimated to diel 18-24°C showed an intermediate CTmax. Exposure to acute turbidity during CTmax trials significantly lowered CTmax across all treatments, highlighting the importance of multiple-stressor studies in evaluating upper thermal tolerance of fishes.