Growth Expansion Research Articles

Sistema de gestión energética usando un controlador difuso de velocidad optimizada con enjambre artificial de peces basado en un clasificador de aprendizaje neuronal recurrente profundo

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) must ensure power demand through minimum fuel consumption and a control strategy. Existing control methods were easy to implement, showing quick response and good performance. Power demand is linked to numerous factors such as level of social and economic expansion, industrialization, urbanization, and technological growth. However, power demand problems like higher energy waste, poor quality, less accuracy, lack of robustness, and limited operating range were not reduced in existing controller methods. This paper presents an Artificial Fish Swarm Speed Optimization Fuzzy PID Controller (AFSSOF-PIDC). AFSSOFPIDC-DRNLC includes different layers in drive train management. Initially, different vehicle data is considered in the input layer and then sent to hidden layer 1. Fitness is identified by improved Artificial Fish Swarm Speed Optimization to find optimal values that minimize the power demand, and then send it toward hidden layer 2. A Mamdani Fuzzy PID Controller is used in hidden layer 2. If the fitness value of the vehicle information is less than the threshold value, fuel consumption is minimized in the HEV. Otherwise, consumption of fuel is not minimized in the HEV. Finally, energy management is achieved through minimal power demand. The results indicate that the performance of the proposed AFSSOFPIDC-DRNLC technique minimizes fuel consumption by increasing the performance of the controller as compared with existing methods.

Effect of Agricultural Investments, Credit and Exports on Agricultural Growth in Nigeria (1981-2020)

This study evaluated the impact of agricultural investments, credit and exports on agricultural growth in Nigeria (1981-2020). Annual data were sourced from the CBN Statistical bulletins, FAO and World Bank websites. The Vecto Error Correction Model (VECM) and Single-Equation Error-Correction-Model (ECM) were used to examine the long-run and short-run relationships of the variables respectively. The VECM results shows that coefficients of agricultural export (AEXP) and public agricultural investment (PAI) significantly influenced agricultural expansion (growth) in Nigeria in the long run. While in the short run, only the coefficient of foreign direct investment (FDIA) was found to have significant impact on agricultural growth in Nigeria. The study recommended that the government at all levels should create a favourable investment climate in terms of policies to draw foreign investment to the agricultural sector and, Federal and State Governments should increase its level of budgetary allocation to the agricultural segment of Nigeria economy to boost the agricultural sector.

Evaluation of the Essential Oils Used in the Production of Biopesticides: Assessing Their Toxicity toward Both Arthropod Target Species and Beneficial Pollinators

Biopesticides, alongside the expansive growth of conventional agriculture, emerged as a hopeful avenue for mitigating the environmental impact of synthetic chemicals. Essential oils derived from various plant species are regarded as environmentally friendly and have been suggested by numerous researchers for combating the pest species. However, in addition to their detrimental effects on harmful species, these essential oils exert varying degrees of impact on non-target species with which they share ecological relationships. This review serves the dual purpose of updating data on the use of the essential oils as biopesticides, considering the substantial increase in research output in the recent years. Simultaneously, it aims to provide a focused synthesis on the essential oils currently approved for commercial use as biopesticides, and shedding light on their impact on beneficial pollinator species, which may inadvertently suffer from the application of substances deemed safe by most users.

The Sharing Economy Increases Social Network Activity and thus the Ability to Realize Traffic

The digital transformation of the 21st century has catalyzed the emergence of two dominant phenomena: the sharing economy and the expansive growth of social networks. This paper meticulously delves into the intricate relationship between these two transformative domains, offering a comprehensive exploration of their convergence and the profound impact this has on consumer behavior, evolving business models, and overarching societal norms. Presently, the landscape is distinctly marked by the democratization of resources, enabling greater access and utilization, coupled with a significant shift in communication paradigms. This shift is predominantly driven by innovative platforms such as Airbnb, Uber, and Facebook, which have redefined user engagement and economic transactions. Peering into the future, it becomes evident that technological advancements, stand at the forefront of refining this convergence. These technologies promise to address and offer robust solutions to prevailing challenges, especially those related to trust, transparency, and tailored personalization. Yet, this promising horizon is interspersed with challenges. Pressing issues such as regulatory frameworks, the imperative of data privacy, and the consistent demand for quality assurance necessitate astute navigation by all stakeholders involved. In summation, the dynamic interplay between the sharing economy and social networks heralds a transformative paradigm shift in the digital age. This shift places a spotlight on sustainability, fosters community collaboration, and champions the ethos of shared value. Stakeholders, ranging from businesses to end consumers, are emphatically encouraged to navigate this evolving digital terrain with adaptability, strategic foresight, and informed prudence.

VdPT1 Encoding a Neutral Trehalase of Verticillium dahliae Is Required for Growth and Virulence of the Pathogen.

Verticillum dahliae is a soil-borne phytopathogenic fungus causing destructive Verticillium wilt disease. We previously found a trehalase-encoding gene (VdPT1) in V. dahliae being significantly up-regulated after sensing root exudates from a susceptible cotton variety. In this study, we characterized the function of VdPT1 in the growth and virulence of V. dahliae using its deletion-mutant strains. The VdPT1 deletion mutants (ΔVdPT1) displayed slow colony expansion and mycelial growth, reduced conidial production and germination rate, and decreased mycelial penetration ability and virulence on cotton, but exhibited enhanced stress resistance, suggesting that VdPT1 is involved in the growth, pathogenesis, and stress resistance of V. dahliae. Host-induced silencing of VdPT1 in cotton reduced fungal biomass and enhanced cotton resistance against V. dahliae. Comparative transcriptome analysis between wild-type and mutant identified 1480 up-regulated and 1650 down-regulated genes in the ΔVdPT1 strain. Several down-regulated genes encode plant cell wall-degrading enzymes required for full virulence of V. dahliae to cotton, and down-regulated genes related to carbon metabolism, DNA replication, and amino acid biosynthesis seemed to be responsible for the decreased growth of the ΔVdPT1 strain. In contrast, up-regulation of several genes related to glycerophospholipid metabolism in the ΔVdPT1 strain enhanced the stress resistance of the mutated strain.

Potent and selective binders of the E3 ubiquitin ligase ZNRF3 stimulate Wnt signaling and intestinal organoid growth

Selective and precise activation of signaling transduction cascades is key for cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration. However, the development of small- or large-molecule agonists for many signaling pathways has remained elusive and is rate limiting to realize the full clinical potential of regenerative medicine. Focusing on the Wnt pathway, here we describe a series of disulfide-constrained peptides (DCPs) that promote Wnt signaling activity by modulating the cell surface levels of ZNRF3, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that controls the abundance of the Wnt receptor complex FZD/LRP at the plasma membrane. Mechanistically, monomeric DCPs induce ZNRF3 ubiquitination, leading to its cell surface clearance, ultimately resulting in FZD stabilization. Furthermore, we engineered multimeric DCPs that induce expansive growth of human intestinal organoids, revealing a dependence between valency and ZNRF3 clearance. Our work highlights a strategy for the development of potent, biologically active Wnt signaling pathway agonists via targeting of ZNRF3.

Enhancing Institutional Performance of Tutoring Centers in Kuala Lumpur: The Role of Document-Based Budget Management

Effective budget management is pivotal for any institution, acting as a linchpin for informed decision-making. Central to this study is the exploration of how document-based budget management applications can substantially augment the quality of institutional performance. Specifically, this research focuses on the Jalan Kebun Tutoring Center, which serves the children of Indonesian expatriates employed in Selangor, Malaysia. The chosen methodological approach for this study is applied research via a case study format. Data interpretation relies on comparative descriptive analysis. The research progression encompasses several stages: needs identification, application development, testing, results revision, and, finally, implementation. The findings underscore the escalating demand for a dedicated application to streamline financial accounting processes. This urgency is heightened by the expansive growth of institutions and the increasing demand from various stakeholders for transparent financial reporting. Notably, the pilot testing of the application affirmed its capacity to bolster speed, precision, and efficiency in disseminating crucial financial information to relevant parties. An essential recommendation stemming from this study is the potential integration of this financial application with academic processes. Such an integration could present a holistic view, offering comprehensive information that bridges both academic and financial spheres, ensuring a unified institutional management approach.

Customer Purchase Decision for Mixue Ice Cream and Tea: Role of Product, Price, Place and E-WOM

In the Southeast Asia region, Indonesia holds the position of the largest market for Boba drinks. with an estimated market value of US$1.6 billion, accounting for 43.7% of the total boba market value in the region. Mixue Ice Cream and Tea is one of the leading contemporary beverage brands in Southeast Asia, with over 1000 outlets. This brand has gained considerable attention in Indonesia, with many social media users sharing posts about their products and prices, as well as the brnd's rapid and expansive business growth in the country. This study purposed to determine how much influence Product, Price, Place, Information Quality, Information Quantity, Information Credibility have on Purchase Decision of Mixue. The study was carried out with a survey of 400 respondents participated, and the data analysis were using the Structural Equation Modeling with Smart PLS 4.0 Software. Product, Price, Place, Information Quality, Information Credibility, and Information Quantity all fall into the category of "good" based on descriptive analysis. The outcomes of this study reveal that the variables of Product, Price, Place, and Information Quality exerted a notable positive and statistically significant impact on the Purchase Decision. Conversely, both Information Quantity and Information Credibility were found to lack a significant influence on the Purchase Decision.

A Business Acquisition Case on Jollibee Foods Corporation’s Purchase of Mang Inasal

This case is about the largest quick-service restaurant (QSR) conglomerate in the Philippines, Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), acquiring its fastest growing competitor Mang Inasal (MI). At a time when MI was on its best trajectory toward expansion and financial growth, its CEO, Edgar Sia, sold 70% of the company to the market leader for P3 billion in 2010 and the remaining 30% of the stake for P2 billion in 2016—whopping amounts which, in the eyes of JFC Management, were reasonable enough to fully acquire a highly prized company. Organizing information drawn from public sources, the author wrote this case to encourage intellectual discourse among students and professors of business as they critically analyse the acquisition decision, both from the standpoint of MI and JFC.

Coordination of Pickpocket ion channel delivery and dendrite growth in Drosophila sensory neurons.

Sensory neurons enable an organism to perceive external stimuli, which is essential for survival. The sensory capacity of a neuron depends on the elaboration of its dendritic arbor and the localization of sensory ion channels to the dendritic membrane. However, it is not well understood when and how ion channels localize to growing sensory dendrites and whether their delivery is coordinated with growth of the dendritic arbor. We investigated the localization of the DEG/ENaC/ASIC ion channel Pickpocket (Ppk) in the peripheral sensory neurons of developing fruit flies. We used CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering approaches to tag endogenous Ppk1 and visualize it live, including monitoring Ppk1 membrane localization via a novel secreted split-GFP approach. Fluorescently tagged endogenous Ppk1 localizes to dendrites, as previously reported, and, unexpectedly, to axons and axon terminals. In dendrites, Ppk1 is present throughout actively growing dendrite branches and is stably integrated into the neuronal cell membrane during the expansive growth of the arbor. Although Ppk channels are dispensable for dendrite growth, we found that an over-active channel mutant severely reduces dendrite growth, likely by acting at an internal membrane and not the dendritic membrane. Our data reveal that the molecular motor dynein and recycling endosome GTPase Rab11 are needed for the proper trafficking of Ppk1 to dendrites. Based on our data, we propose that Ppk channel transport is coordinated with dendrite morphogenesis, which ensures proper ion channel density and distribution in sensory dendrites.

Abstract 12022: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Wait-Time Management: Derivation and Validation of the Canadian TAVI Triage Tool (CAN3T)

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for patients with aortic stenosis has seen indication expansion and exponential growth in demand over the last decade. In many jurisdictions the growing demand outpaced capacity, increasing wait-times and pre-procedural adverse events. Objective: To derive prediction models that estimate the risk of adverse events on the waitlist that would inform the development of a triage tool for use by clinicians to identify patients who should be prioritized for TAVI. Methods: We conducted an observational retrospective cohort study using population-based administrative data from Ontario, Canada. Adult patients referred for TAVI from April 1 st , 2012 to March 31 st , 2020 were included and followed-up to the first of: death, TAVI procedure, removal from waitlist, or end of the observation period. We used competing risk subdistributions hazards models to find significant predictors for each of the following outcomes: (1) all-cause death while on the waitlist, (2) all-cause hospitalization while on the waitlist, (3) receipt of urgent TAVI, and (4) a composite of outcomes 1-3. The median predicted risk in our population at 12 weeks was chosen as a threshold for a maximum acceptable risk while on the waitlist, and was incorporated in the triage tool to recommend individualized wait-times. Results: We included 13,128 patients in the analyses. 586 (4.46%) patients died on the waitlist, and 4,343 (33.08%) had at least one all-cause hospitalization. 6,854 TAVIs were completed, of which 1,135 (16.56%) were urgent procedures. We were able to create parsimonious models for each outcome that included clinically relevant predictors. Optimism-corrected C-statistics varied from 0.63 to 0.75, optimism-corrected Brier scores from 0.03 to 0.19, and the calibration slopes from 0.79 to 0.99. Conclusions: We developed the Canadian TAVI Triage Tool (CAN3T), a triage tool to assist clinicians in the prioritization of patients who should have timely access to TAVI. We anticipate that the CAN3T will be a valuable support tool for patients and clinicians, with the potential of bringing meaningful changes to the health system as it may improve equity in access to care, reduce preventable adverse events and improve system efficiency.

Harnessing the synergistic impacts of environmental innovations, financial development, green growth, and ecological footprint through the lens of SDGs policies for countries exhibiting high ecological footprints

According to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the principal threats to human well-being encompass both non-renewable and renewable energy sources, alongside a mounting environmental deficit, which aligns with the targets of SDG-7 and SDG-13. This study explores how environmental technologies, financial growth, and energy use influence the ecological footprint and green growth in the top-ten countries with the biggest ecological footprint from 1990 to 2019. Environmental innovations, green growth, and renewable energy improve the environment, while financial expansion and the use of non-renewable energy have been shown to be detrimental to the environment. Financial expansion, ecological impact, and non-renewable energy constrain green growth. However, environmental innovation and renewable energy deployment have a cumulative effect on green growth. Moreover, the results of the panel causality approach signpost a bidirectional causal association between environmental innovations, green growth, non-renewable and renewable energy, and ecological footprint. Nevertheless, it is observed that there exists a unidirectional causal relationship from financial development to ecological footprint and green growth. Moreover, this paper provides an in-depth evaluation and offers significant policy recommendations, both in a general sense and specifically targeted towards countries with the highest ecological footprints.

Projecting spatial interactions between global population and land use changes in the 21st century

Previous research on global urban land expansion has primarily focused on accommodating the growing population without adequately considering the trade-offs between urban land and ecological services. Consequently, it is important to investigate the effect of this expansion on the ecological service system, while also examining the potential trade-offs between population growth and available urban land. Here, we quantify how different global land expansion options contribute to reconciling global population changes and to compliance with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and human settlements. Using an integrated framework for projecting global land consumption with the trade-off strategy between global land expansion and population under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs), we aim to bridge the knowledge gap in this area. The results of our study suggest that implementing a trade-off strategy between global land expansion and population growth can successfully reduce the levels of global land consumption in the future. Under the SSP1 scenario, for instance, our findings indicate that implementing trade-off policies can significantly reduce land consumption while increasing carbon sinks and protecting the global ecological service system. Specifically, converting land to forest or grassland can help decrease land consumption by 8.07% by the end of the 21st century. These insights can be valuable in designing land use policies that incorporate data-based solutions and address the challenges of sustainable urban development while also accommodating population growth.

EV products obtained from iPSC-derived MSCs show batch-to-batch variations in their ability to modulate allogeneic immune responses in vitro.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have demonstrated therapeutic potential in diverse clinical settings, largely due to their ability to produce extracellular vesicles (EVs). These EVs play a pivotal role in modulating immune responses, transforming pro-inflammatory cues into regulatory signals that foster a pro-regenerative milieu. Our previous studies identified the variability in the immunomodulatory effects of EVs sourced from primary human bone marrow MSCs as a consistent challenge. Given the limited proliferation of primary MSCs, protocols were advanced to derive MSCs from GMP-compliant induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), producing iPSC-derived MSCs (iMSCs) that satisfied rigorous MSC criteria and exhibited enhanced expansion potential. Intriguingly, even though obtained iMSCs contained the potential to release immunomodulatory active EVs, the iMSC-EV products displayed batch-to-batch functional inconsistencies, mirroring those from bone marrow counterparts. We also discerned variances in EV-specific protein profiles among independent iMSC-EV preparations. Our results underscore that while iMSCs present an expansive growth advantage, they do not overcome the persistent challenge of functional variability of resulting MSC-EV products. Once more, our findings accentuate the crucial need for batch-to-batch functional testing, ensuring discrimination of effective and ineffective MSC-EV products for considered downstream applications.

Dynamic shifts in primary metabolism across fruit development stages in Capsicum chinense (cv. Habanero)

The development of fleshy fruits involves changes in size and mass, followed by cell differentiation, which is associated with anatomical and histological changes. Parallel to these changes, metabolic alterations lead to the production of osmolytes and energy that modify cell turgor pressure, thereby promoting cell expansion and fruit growth. Detailed information is known about these processes in climacteric fruits (e.g. tomato); however, the regulation of metabolism and its association with anatomical changes in non-climacteric fruit development are poorly understood. In this study, we used detailed anatomical and histological analyses to define three developmental phases of chili pepper (Capsicum chinense cv. Habanero): cell division, cell expansion, and ripening. We showed that each was marked by distinct metabolic profiles, underpinning the switches in energy metabolism to support cellular processes. Interestingly, mitochondrial activity was high in the early stages of development and declined over time, with a modest increase in O2 consumption by pericarp tissues at the beginning of the ripening stage. This respiratory-like burst was associated with the degradation of starch and malate, which are the sources of energy and carbon required for other processes associated with fruit maturation.

ВПЛИВ СМІТТЄВИХ ПОЛІГОНІВ НА МІСТОБУДУВАННЯ ТА АРХІТЕКТУРУ ВЕЛИКИХ МІСТ

Today, urban development is rapidly gaining momentum due to economic growth and changing lifestyles, which leads to urban expansion and population growth. This leads to an increase in the amount of solid waste in urban areas. The problem of solid waste management is now one of the most pressing issues on a global scale. Garbage does not leave us at home, at work, on the streets of the city, even during a quiet walk in the park - it accompanies us everywhere. In fact, garbage has become an integral part of our everyday life, and humanity has even learned to coexist with it. However, the problem is far from as simple as it seems at first glance. The root of the problem lies not in the garbage itself, but in the way people treat it. Consider, for example, such disturbing phenomena as "landfills" or "landfills", which are currently the subject of general concern. First, landfills have a negative impact on the environment. They cause soil contamination around the landfill and groundwater pollution, which in turn leads to serious problems with the availability of clean water. In addition, landfills cause air pollution and the spread of unpleasant odors over long distances. Despite the widespread belief that all waste-related problems can be solved through recycling, landfills remain the most common method of waste disposal worldwide. There is also a perception that landfills are a cost-effective way to treat waste. Although this is undoubtedly the most affordable and easiest way to solve the problem. But it is worth remembering that the cost of these savings exceeds the environmental problems that will soon arise. Modern waste and landfill management has a major impact on the architecture and urban planning of large cities. This article explores the urgent problem of improper waste management in the context of urban development. Based on the latest data and research, a thorough analysis of the impact of landfills on the environment, infrastructure, and quality of life of residents of large cities is carried out.

History of Polish Diarism – Selected Contexts

In this article, I raise issues connected with the history of Polish diary writing since the Middle Ages until the early 20th century. I discuss the process and directions of establishing diary writing a separate branch of historical literature. Texts of historical nature (memoirs or diaries) were referred to by their authors as stories, notes of events, diaries or a course of life. Their origin can be traced back to medieval chronicles describing events that involved the Polish nation, in which the authors shyly included scattered and miniscule autobiographical mentions. Diary writing in Poland began to assume shape as a genre at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. There was a growing number of diaries in which the reality was described with a bias. This was a manifestation of the specific ‘zeitgeist’: the commonplace belief in the historical importance and meaning of the events witnessed or attended by the author, making them worth describing for future generations. Owing to vivid and expressive historical accounts, the 17th century expansive growth of diary writing entered the realm of fine literature. The 18th century brought changes in the methodology of historical sciences, as reflected by the prevalence of memoirs over diaries, and the perception of a memoir as a form of autobiography. The development of diary writing at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries was associated with surmounting the limitations of the class system and the emergence of a modern nation as a socio-cultural structure. In this historical setting, plebeian diaries, authored by ordinary people, were gaining in popularity. Diaries were written by representatives of all classes and social strata, be it aristocracy, urban-based intelligentsia originating from nobility, peasants or workers. In the first half of the 20th century, in addition to diaries written by individuals, practised for centuries, the way was paved for mass diary writing. Writing plebeian diaries was encouraged by scholars and editors of journals. At the same time, an institution of collective and competition diary writing emerged, in which the attitude to history was similar to that advocated by representatives of the Annales schools, namely history seen in connection with everyday life.

Navigating the AI Revolution: The Case for Precise Regulation in Health Care.

Health care is undergoing a profound transformation through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). However, the rapid integration and expansive growth of AI within health care systems present ethical and legal challenges that warrant careful consideration. In this viewpoint, the author argues that the health care domain, due to its complexity, requires specialized approaches to regulating AI. Precise regulation can provide clear guidelines for addressing these challenges, thereby ensuring ethical and legal AI implementations.

Echocardiographic Characteristics of Pulmonary Artery Intimal Sarcoma: Comparison With CTPA.

This study examined the echocardiographic characteristics of patients with pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma (PAIS) and compared the results with those from computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Twenty-six (26) patients were diagnosed with PAIS at the current institution during the study period, and 23 were eligible for analysis. Echocardiography and CTPA examinations were performed in all enrolled patients. The echocardiography results showed that most lesions had expansive growth in the left pulmonary artery (PA); the right PA; or a combination of the left PA, right PA, and main PA, with extension to the pulmonary valve and/or right ventricular outflow tract. These lesions also had distinctive sieve-like echogenic signals. Echocardiography also showed that some lesions had lobulated shapes, were nearly round and echolucent or with calcifications, and moved during imaging. The lesion distribution was similar in CTPA and echocardiography (p=0.361), but CTPA was more sensitive in detection of the complete shape (p=0.023). The unique echocardiographic characteristics of PAIS, especially the "sieve sign", could help in the diagnosis of this cancer. Transthoracic echocardiography is a non-invasive technique that appears effective in detecting PAIS.

Nutrient-driven dedifferentiation of enteroendocrine cells promotes adaptive intestinal growth in Drosophila.

Post-developmental organ resizing improves organismal fitness under constantly changing nutrient environments. Although stem cell abundance is a fundamental determinant of adaptive resizing, our understanding of its underlying mechanisms remains primarily limited to the regulation of stem cell division. Here, we demonstrate that nutrient fluctuation induces dedifferentiation in the Drosophila adult midgut to drive adaptive intestinal growth. From lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, we identify a subpopulation of enteroendocrine (EE) cells that convert into functional intestinal stem cells (ISCs) in response to dietary glucose and amino acids by activating the JAK-STAT pathway. Genetic ablation of EE-derived ISCs severely impairs ISC expansion and midgut growth despite the retention of resident ISCs, and in silico modeling further indicates that EE dedifferentiation enables an efficient increase in the midgut cell number while maintaining epithelial cell composition. Our findings identify a physiologically induced dedifferentiation that ensures ISC expansion during adaptive organ growth in concert with nutrient conditions.