Main Forms Research Articles

Multiple Natural Polymers in Drug and Gene Delivery Systems.

Natural polymers are organic compounds produced by living organisms. In nature, they exist in three main forms, including proteins, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids. In recent years, with the continuous research on drug and gene delivery systems, scholars have found that natural polymers have promising applications in drug and gene delivery systems due to their excellent properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, low immunogenicity, and easy modification. However, since the structure, physicochemical properties, pharmacological properties and biological characteristics of biopolymer molecules have not yet been entirely understood, further studies are required before large-scale clinical application. This review focuses on recent advances in the representative natural polymers such as proteins (albumin, collagen, elastin), polysaccharides (chitosan, alginate, cellulose) and nucleic acids. We introduce the characteristics of various types of natural polymers, and further outline the characterization methods and delivery forms of these natural polymers. Finally, we discuss possible challenges for natural polymers in subsequent experimental studies and clinical applications. It provides an important strategy for the clinical application of natural polymers in drug and gene delivery systems.

Mechanical and electrical performances of ternary Cu-2.8%Ni-0.7%Si alloy modulated by ultrasonic solidification

One-dimensional (1D) and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasounds were introduced into the solidification process of ternary Cu-2.8wt%Ni-0.7wt%Si alloy together with the in-situ measurements of acoustic fields. In the case of 1D ultrasound, stable cavitation was the main form of acoustic energy transmission. The grain size of α-Cu dendrites was reduced because stable cavitation improved the wetting between impurities and alloy melt, which further promoted nucleation process. When 3D ultrasounds were applied, transient cavitation was the dominant mode of acoustic energy dissipation. This induced local high undercooling in alloy melt, causing a significant increase in bulk nucleation rates and the formation of numerous tiny α-Cu equiaxed grains. Meanwhile, as ultrasonic dimension increased, the strengthened acoustic streaming accelerated solute and thermal diffusion and weakened the preferred orientation of growing α-Cu grains. The proportion of low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) increased consequently, which suppressed the nucleation and growth of δ-Ni2Si discontinuous precipitates (DPs) during subsequent annealing treatment. The tensile strength and electrical conductivity of 3D ultrasonically solidified alloy after annealing reached 688.2 MPa and 2.7×107 S/m respectively, showing obvious advantages in synergetic mechanical and electrical performances.

Implementation of geometric morphometry in the study of shapes of Bronze Age sickles from the Volga-Ural region

This article aims at evaluating the potential of geometric morphometry by means of an example of analysis of shapes of the Bronze Age sickles from the Volga-Ural region, as compared with the traditional morphometric approach. For the study, cast bronze sickles with hooks, categorized by V.A. Dergachev and V.S. Bochkarev into the Ibrakaevo, Derbeden, Perelyub and Yavlenka types using the traditional morphometric approach, have been selected. The analysis was applied to only full drawings of the items, including reconstructed ones, while fragmented items were not considered. The sample constitutes 167 objects: 86 Ibrakaevo, 49 Derbeden, 24 Perelyub, and 8 of the Yavlenka type. Application of geometric morphometry tools shows that, within the sample, three main forms can be easily identified, with the exception of the sickles earlier attributed to the Yavlenka type, probably due to their small number. Prepara-tion of primary files for recording landmark coordinates and processing of files with recorded coordinates were carried out in the tpsUtil program. The analysis of characteristics of changes of the forms was carried out using the principal component method in the MorphoJ program. Summarizing the obtained results, we can say that the principal components method has been able to identify three main variations of the objects. Most clear are the differences between the Ibrakaevo and Derbeden types, which show virtually no overlap. An intermediate position between them is taken by the Perelyub type, which is also distinctively grouped in the graph being close to the Ibrakaev group. In terms of identifying individual types, the results of the study are rather consistent with the data obtained by the tradi-tional morphometry. At the same time, it is possible to trace the vectors of shape variability for all types of tools based on three main components. Overall, it can be concluded that the method of geometric morphometry demonstrates its efficiency for the analysis of shapes of metal sickles and in future it could be applied to wider sample groups.

A Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment Model for a Road Network Based on Neural Networks and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation

The frequency of extreme weather events has increased worldwide, leading to more intense natural disasters, which pose significant threats to human life and property safety. The main form of disaster occurrence is multi-hazard coupling and multi-hazard chaining. This paper constructs a road natural disaster risk assessment model using a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and neural network to quantitatively analyze road disasters with multiple hazards, and provides valuable insights for the predication of road natural disaster risk. Here, ten factors, including temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, elevation, slope, slope orientation, vegetation cover, geologic lithology, historical impact factors, and road density, were selected as input variables, and risk grade was selected as the output value (the evaluation results). The remaining hidden layers use the fully connected neural network. This model was first trained using historical data (from 2011 to 2021) obtained from road networks and natural disasters in Guangxi, China. Then, taking Lingchuan County as an example, the model was used to predict the risk of natural disasters on its roads, and, finally, the prediction accuracy of the model was determined by comparing the results with actual disaster situations. This study can provide theoretical support and technical operations for the development of subsequent early warning systems.

Deprivation and Its Association with Child Health and Nutrition in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area of Uganda.

African cities are experiencing increasing living standard disparities with limited evidence of intra-urban health disparities. Using data from the 2006-2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys, we employed the UN-Habitat definition to examine slum-like household conditions in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA). Subsequently, we developed a slum-like severity index and assessed its association with under-5 common morbidities and healthcare access. We also assessed the characteristics of people in slum-like household conditions. We identified five slum-like conditions: substandard housingconditions, limited water access, overcrowding, unclean cooking fuel, and limited toilet access. By 2016, 67% of GKMA households were classified as slum-like conditions, including 31% in severe conditions. Limited toilet access, overcrowding, and limited water access were the main forms of deprivation.Living in slum-like household conditions correlated with lower education levels, youth status, unprofessional jobs, and marriage. Compared to neighboring Kampala city urban outskirts, Kampala city households had lower slum-like prevalence. Children in GKMA living in slum-like household conditions were morelikely to experience diarrhea (moderate: OR = 1.21[95% CI: 1.05-1.39], severe: OR = 1.47 [95% CI: 1.27-1.7]); fever (moderate: OR = 2.67 [95% CI: 1.23-5.8], severe: OR = 3.09 [95% CI: 1.63-5.85]); anemia (moderate: OR = 1.18 [95% CI: 0.88-1.58], severe: OR = 1.44 [95% CI: 1.11-1.86]); and stunting (moderate: OR = 1.23 [95% CI: 1.23-1.25], severe: OR = 1.40 [95% CI: 1.41-1.47]) compared to those living in less slum-like conditions. However, seeking treatment for fever was less likely in slum-like household conditions, and the association of slum-like household conditions with diarrhea was insignificant. These findings underscore the precarious urban living conditions and the need for targeted health interventions addressing the social determinants of health in urban settings.

Co enrichment and Au–Cu–Co association in the Yundukala deposit in East Junggar, NW China: An in situ LA-ICP-MS study

The Yundukala deposit is a newly discovered Au–Cu–Co deposit located in the northern margin of Junggar in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The Au–Cu–Co mineralization is associated with the contact zone between a dioritic intrusion and basalt. The formation of the vein mineralization can be divided into three mineralization stages: chlorite + pyrite, quartz + polymetallic sulfide, and quartz + calcite. Ore microscopy and in-situ laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to investigate textural and compositional relationship between pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, and cobaltite. The gold in the deposit is present in two main mineralogical forms: native gold (micron inclusions of the gold) and invisible gold (solid solution of gold). Cobalt in the vein mineralization is primarily associated with cobaltite, whereas pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, and pyrrhotite contain small amounts of cobalt. There is a positive correlation between As and Au in Py-Ⅱ (R2Au-As = 0.9211; R2Au-As = 0.4306) and cobaltite and a positive correlation between Co and Au in cobaltite (R2Au-Co = 0.8168). This relationship supports a model in which arsenic plays a role in the occurrence of gold. The correlation of trace elements in minerals and the formation sequence and interpenetration relationship between minerals indicate the progressive geochemical evolution of a single ore-forming fluid arising from a single vein mineralizing event. Hydrothermal processes led to alteration of the surrounding rocks while simultaneously extracting Au, Cu, and Co, forming ore-forming fluids. As physical conditions changed, minerals began to precipitate, ultimately resulting in the formation of ore deposits during the Carboniferous period (354–353 Ma).

Cannabinoids for Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia: An Overview.

Dementia, with loss of memory, cognitive abilities, and independent daily functioning, is increasing worldwide, related to an aging population. Currently, there is no curative treatment for dementia. Treatment of the frequently occurring behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is partially effective and associated with significant side effects. Cannabinoids are lipophilic molecules acting on the CB1 end CB2 receptors, essential for main biological processes such as sleep, appetite, memory, and pain. Cannabinoids might have a positive impact on amyloid formation in Alzheimer's disease, the main form of dementia, and on BPSD symptoms. Most knowledge currently concerns delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). In the context of dementia and BPSD, THC might be beneficial for associated spasticity and possible pain or lack of appetite and CBD probably works better on sleep, agitation, and anxiety. This overview of prospective clinical studies and randomized clinical trials, published between 2005 and April 2023, using cannabinoids for BPSD suggests that older studies using low-dose oral synthetic THC showed no positive results. Still, more recent studies using THC/CBD-based oral medication at higher doses show promising results and are feasible and safe in this elderly polymedicated population. Several RCTs are ongoing and planned worldwide, and we hope other trials will follow to establish clinical efficiency and optimal dosing, as well as other outcomes such as deprescribing other medications and facilitation of care. We suggest that researchers also address the more sociological aspects of prescribing cannabinoids for dementia and BPSD in their specific context.

(160) Prospective Evaluation of Proximal Decompression for the Management of Refractory Ischemic Priapism

Abstract Introduction A prolonged undesired erection of the penis that is often unrelated to sexual arousal is referred to as priapism. Over 95% of people who experience priapism are ischemic, which causes blood to become stuck in the corpora, increase hypoxia, hypercarbia, and acidosis that resemble compartment syndrome, and hinders penile venous outflow. IP is a urological emergency due to the risk of cavernosal fibrosis and consequent permanent ED. Injections of α-agonist and corporal irrigation/aspiration are the main forms of treatment for short-duration priapism, with distal shunting as a last resort. Patients with refractory and/or prolonged ischemic priapism (PIP) find their strategy more challenging. There is a low probability that irrigation/aspiration procedures, α-agonist injections, and distal shunting will work for people who have priapism that lasts longer than 24 hours. Objective This study was conducted on 21 male patients with refractory and\or prolonged IP to evaluate the outcomes of proximal decompression in the management of those patients. The primary end point was to assess priapism resolution in the patients. While the secondary end point was to assess erection recovery in those patients and their ability to perform sexual intercourse. Methods Patients’ information had been collected from the hospital data and connection with them had been through phone calls and hospital follow-up visits. Results Among the current study patients, the most detected etiology was tramadol intake (23.8%), followed by THC addiction and idiopathic ischemic priapism, while the least common were papaverine injection and hematological disorder (4.8%). 23.8% of the patients had twice aspirations, while 33.3% had a once. 14.3% of the patients had T shunt. 33.3% had bilateral PSD, and the other 66.7% had unilateral PSD. In the present study the decompression was successful in all the patients, where all the patients showed resolution of priapism, however 57.1% were able to perform sexual intercourse. The mean duration to achieve complete detumescence after surgery in this study was 24.2 ± 8.4 days. 33.3% had no complications, 52.4% had edema, while 14.3% had wound infection. The mean baseline IIEF score of the present study patients was 22.6 ± 2.2 (most of the patients (75%) hadn’t erectile dysfunction, 9.5% had mild erectile dysfunction and 4.8% had mild to ED), which was decreased after 3 months of the surgery (7.7 ± 2.8). Three months post-operatively severe ED was detected in 52.4% of the patients, 33.3% had moderate ED and 14.3% had mild to moderate ED. Six months after surgery the erectile dysfunction improved, where the mean IIEF score was 12.2 ± 5.0. Mild ED was detected in 23.8 %, Mild to moderate ED in 33.3 %, Moderate ED in 19 % and Severe ED in 23.8 %. The difference between the IIEF scores at base line, 3 months postoperatively and 6 months postoperatively was statistically significant. Conclusions Penoscrotal decompression (PSD) is a simple, safe, highly effective, and easily reproducible procedure for resolution of RIP with glans preservation in addition to more satisfactory erectile function outcomes to a certain extent Disclosure Yes, this is sponsored by industry/sponsor: alexandria main university hospital Clarification: Industry funding only - investigator initiated and executed study Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: alexandria main university hospital.

Sharing economy models and sustainability: Towards a typology

The sharing economy was initially beckoned as a facilitator of exchanges that would not compromise future needs and held great promise for those at the lower end of the socioeconomic pyramid. However, as the sharing economy expanded, questions about its sustainability emerged. This expansion manifested in two main forms: an influx of new users and providers into existing operations and the emergence of new platforms, resulting in a proliferation of sharing economy models. By categorizing these models based on their resource utilization, this paper establishes a connection between scalability and compromised sustainability, shedding light on the interplay between the two. The paper identifies seven distinct configurations in the sharing economy: co-use, re-use, repeated use, sustainable output, pooling of resources, and products and services created specifically for individual users. These configurations serve as a tool to uncover the tensions between scalability and coordination, as well as between sustainability and provision. The paper contributes to prior research by bringing attention to how the sharing economy is entangled in these tensions and by developing a typology. Understanding how these tensions can be resolved presents a highly significant practical contribution, allowing stakeholders in the sharing economy to navigate the challenges of scalability and sustainability effectively.

Comparative transcriptome study highlights the versatility of nitrogen metabolism in Chlamydomonas

Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient and nitrate is one of the main forms of this macronutrient available for plants and microbes. Nitrate is not only the substrate for the nitrate assimilation pathway, but also a crucial signal for the regulation of numerous metabolic, developmental, and cellular differentiation processes. In the present study, two species of the Chlamydomonas genus, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cc124 and Chlamydomonas sp. MACC-216 were used to investigate the versatility of nitrate metabolism in green microalgae. Quantification of nitrate removal efficiency showed that Chlamydomonas sp. MACC-216 strongly outperforms C. reinhardtii cc124. Transcriptional changes occurring under nitrate-replete and nitrate-deplete conditions were specifically investigated in the selected species of Chlamydomonas. Whole transcriptome analysis revealed that the genes playing a role in nitrate assimilation did not show differential expression in C. reinhardtii cc124 under changing nitrate conditions (only 45 genes exhibited differential regulation), while in Chlamydomonas sp. MACC-216 a large set of genes (3143) showed altered expression. Furthermore, genes responsible for urea metabolism, like DUR3A gene corresponding to urea transport, were found to be upregulated in Chlamydomonas sp. MACC-216 under nitrate-deplete condition, while the same gene showed elevated expression level in C. reinhardtii cc124 under nitrate-replete condition. The present study indicated the diverseness of nitrate metabolism among species within the Chlamydomonas genus.

Substance-flow analysis and emission-reduction strategies for thallium in the steel industry process

Thallium, which is a highly toxic and sparsely distributed element, is often found in various mineral compounds. Its release into the environment primarily occurs through the mining of metals, metallurgical processes, and the combustion of fossil fuels. These activities release thallium from minerals, concentrating it in ash, wastewater, and exhaust gases, thus contributing to thallium pollution. With over 600 active steelworks in China continuously producing steel, the risk of thallium pollution is significant and thus presents a major challenge. This research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of the physical phase evolution, migration pathways, and emission characteristics of thallium in steelworks. For the first time, a thallium flow network in steelworks is developed using substance flow analysis. This involves examining the input, output, waste discharge characteristics, and potential for reduction of thallium. The findings reveal that iron concentrate is the primary source of thallium in steelworks, with dust being the main form of thallium output. The quantities of thallium input, output, and circulation are found to be 425.44, 365.49, and 49.66 mg/t-CS, respectively. Implementing source control, endpoint governance, or a combination of both can reduce pollutant emissions in steelworks by 41.47%, 43.35%, and 65.63%, respectively. This study enhances our understanding of thallium pollution in steelworks.

Phytic acid pre-modulated and Fe/N co-doped biochar derived from ramie fiber to active persulfate for efficient degradation of tetracycline via radical and non-radical pathways

Biochar-driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been widely applied in water decontamination from recalcitrant organic pollutants, yet its performance is restricted due to the complex functional groups of precursors and the obstacles of regulating the active sites. Herein, we prepared a phytic acid (PA) pre-modulated and Fe/N co-doped biochar derived from ramie fiber (Fe/N-PABC) to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) removal. The pre-treatment by PA facilitates the formation of pore structure and provide abundant loading sites for subsequent iron and nitrogen (Fe, N) doping. The main forms of Fe, N present in Fe/N-PABC are Fe0, Fe (II), pyridine N, and graphite N, respectively. In the presence of Fe/N-PABC, 80 % of TCH were degraded by PDS in 20 min at pH 5.0, whereas only 16.3 % of TCH was removed by single PDS. The oxidation of TCH was affected in the presence of Cl-, NO3–, SO42-, H2PO4- and HCO3–. Meanwhile, the performance was also validated in authentic waters in terms of degradation efficiency of TCH. The synergistic effects of radical and 1O2 dominated non-radical pathways were confirmed with the introduction of Fe, N in the system. Electrochemical oxidation experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations unveiled the electron transfer pathway and the key role of Fe/N-PABC/PDS* as an intermediate oxide. The possible degradation pathways were proposed based on the identification of degradation products. This study sheds light on the innovative concepts for modulating functional biochar and offering fundamental mechanisms of antibiotic degradation in wastewater treatment.

Dietary Effects of Fasting on the Lipid Panel.

Dietary habits, such as the Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), have been shown to improve cardiac health. Another more recent popular form of dieting incorporates periods of fasting known as intermittent fasting. The two main forms are alternate-day fasting and time-restricted eating. PubMed search and literature review was undertaken. This review evaluates the current literature regarding the effects of the fasting dietary model and other types of fasting upon the lipid panel. There have been studies that have shown that intermittent fasting does provide a benefit in cardiovascular health, weight loss, and hypertension. However, the effect on cholesterol and triglyceride levels during intermittent fasting is in question. The effect that fasting has on one's lipid panel is unclear, there are studies that show that different forms of fasting affect the lipid panel in various ways. There are studies that show that intermittent fasting does improve one's lipid profile and provides health benefits. Randomized controlled clinical trials with a large sample size are needed to evaluate the effects that intermittent fasting has based on race, ethnicity, gender, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetic and healthy patients, and will lead to definitive evidence of lipid panel outcomes beyond current evidence based solely upon observational cohorts with numerous and multifactorial confounding factors and biases.

The impact of the acidic polysaccharides pool on CO2 concentrations and fluxes: A case study on urban waters of China

Urban rivers and lakes are major components of inland waters. A deeper understanding of how carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are impacted in urban waters is important for quantifying the contributions of urban waters to the global carbon budget. Acidic polysaccharides (APS) are a major component of the carbon pool, though there is still much uncertainty associated with CO2 concentrations and fluxes. Here, we measured the dissolved APS (DAPS), particulate APS (PAPS), and CO2 concentrations and fluxes in a typical urban river (the Ganjiang River) and two lakes (Xiang Lake and Qingshan Lake) in China, and assessed the impact of different APS fractions on CO2 concentrations and fluxes. Our results show abundant DAPS and PAPS in urban waters, with PAPS being the main form in winter while DAPS the main component in other seasons. The Ganjiang River and the urban lakes were supersaturated with CO2 at concentrations of 35.67 ± 19.99 μmol·L−1 & 27.79 ± 17.52 μmol·L−1 and emissions of 64.52 ± 53.38 mmol·(m2 d)−1& 36.56 ± 56.97 mmol·(m2 d)−1 from river and lake waters, respectively. Linear mixed-effects model analysis further revealed that increased DAPS concentration led to significantly higher CO2 concentrations and fluxes, whereas PAPS exhibited a negative influence on CO2 concentrations and fluxes in the urban lakes. Our work provides deeper insight into CO2 evasion in inland freshwater ecosystems as well as carbon neutrality in urban waters.

S2k guideline: Diagnosis and therapy of localized scleroderma.

The updated S2k guideline deals with the diagnosis and therapy of localized scleroderma (LoS). LoSrepresents a spectrum of sclerotic skin diseases in which, depending on the subtype and localisation, structures such as adipose tissue, muscles, joints, and bones may also be affected. Involvement of internal organs or progression to systemic sclerosis does not occur. LoScan be classified into four main forms: limited, generalized, linear, and mixed forms, with some additional subtypes. For cases of limited skin involvement, the guideline primarily recommends therapy with topical corticosteroids. UV therapy can also be recommended. In subtypes with severe skin or musculoskeletal involvement, systemic therapy with methotrexate is recommended. During the active phase of the disease, systemic glucocorticosteroids can be used additionally. In cases of methotrexate and steroid refractory courses, contraindications, or intolerance, mycophenolate mofetil, mycophenolic acid, or abatacept can be considered as second-line systemic therapies. In the case of linear LoS, autologous adipose-derived stem cell transplantation can also be performed for correcting soft tissue defects.

Dietary selenomethionine reduced oxidative stress by resisting METTL3-mediated m6A methylation level of Nrf2 to ameliorate LPS-induced liver necroptosis in laying hens

Selenomethionine (SeMet) as the main form of daily dietary selenium, occupies essential roles in providing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which alleviates inflammatory liver damage. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most prevalent and abundant internal transcriptional modifications that regulate gene expression. To investigate the protective mechanism of SeMet on liver injury and the regulatory effect of m6A methylation modification, we established the model by supplementing dietary SeMet, and LPS as stimulus in laying hens. LMH cells were intervened with SeMet (0.075 μM) and/or LPS (60 μg/mL). Subsequently, histopathology and ultrastructure of liver were observed. Western Blot, qRT-PCR, colorimetry, MeRIP-qPCR, fluorescent probe staining and AO/EB were used to detect total m6A methylation level, m6A methylation level of Nrf2, ROS, inflammatory and necroptosis factors. Studies showed that SeMet suppressed LPS-induced upregulation of total m6A methylation levels and METTL3 expression. Interestingly, SeMet reduced the m6A methylation level of Nrf2, activated antioxidant pathways and alleviated oxidative stress. LMH cells were transfected with 50 μm siMETTL3. SeMet/SiMETTL3 reversed the LPS-induced reduction in Nrf2 mRNA stability, slowed down its degradation rate. Moreover, LPS induced oxidative stress, led to necroptosis and activated NF-κB to promote the expression of inflammatory factors. SeMet/SiMETTL3 alleviated LPS-induced necroptosis and inflammation. Altogether, SeMet enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity by reducing METTL3-mediated m6A methylation levels of Nrf2, ultimately alleviating liver damage. Our findings provided new insights and therapeutic target for the practical application of dietary SeMet in the treatment and prevention of liver inflammation, and supplied a reference for comparative medicine.

FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS IN THE SMART CITY ECOSYSTEM

The widespread adoption of digital technologies in finance has led to the development of new financial instruments. Digital technologies offer benefits such as faster transactions, increased consumer satisfaction, and greater competitiveness of financial institutions. The article examines the latest forms of Fintech and their distribution in smart cities, as well as the implementation of smart projects. It is important to note that any subjective evaluations have been excluded from this analysis. The article systematises the main directions and forms of application of modern financial technologies. These include payments, lending, investing, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, assessment, and analytics. Payment systems and applications that allow online payments, money transfers, and cashless transactions fall under the payments category. Crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, and microfinance are forms of lending. Investment robots and smart portfolios are automated platforms that fall under investing. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain are technologies that allow transactions with cryptocurrencies. Innovative methods of assessing the creditworthiness of clients and providing loans fall under the assessment and analytics category. Implementing projects in smart cities requires significant resources. To expand the financial capacity of local authorities, the following tools are used: public financing, partnerships with the private sector, crowdfunding, international programs and initiatives, investment funds, loans, and partnerships with academic and research institutions. Fintech has advantages, but it also poses threats and challenges such as cyber threats, personal data protection, risks of illegal operations, and psychological aspects. Appropriate actions are necessary to prevent and address these issues, and further research is needed.

Risk and mechanisms of phosphorus release at the sediment-water interface of lakes in cold and arid regions during non-frozen seasons.

In recent years, the eutrophication of lakes has accelerated in cold arid regions; the release of nutrients from sediments is an important contributor. The sequential extraction method, high-resolution peeper (HR-Peeper), and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) techniques were used to study the occurrence characteristics, release risk, and release mechanism of phosphorus (P) at the sediment-water interface (SWI) of Ulanor Wetland in the Hulun Lake Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. The mean total P concentration in overlying water was lower in August than that in May. Dissolved organic P (DOP) or particulate P (PP) was the main form of P in the overlying water. PP dominates in May and DOP in August. Refractory P was the main form of P in sediments. The concentrations of soluble reactive P and DGT-active P in the pore water of the sediment column were higher than those in the overlying water, and the concentrations were higher in August than those in May. Release of P in the wetland sediments occurred during the non-frozen seasons, with a higher risk in August than in May. The good linear correlation between dissolved P, Fe, and Mn in the DGT profiles verified their co-release due to the anaerobic reduction of Fe/Mn oxides. Moreover, alkaline sediments are also conducive to the release of sediment P. This study can provide data and theoretical support for eutrophication control in Ulanor Wetland and other similar water bodies in cold and arid regions.

Driving effects of dissolved organic carbon on cadmium release of the sediments by cyanobacterial decomposition

The driving effects of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on cadmium (Cd) release of the sediments by cyanobacterial decomposition were investigated, and the great shallow lakes (Taihu Lake, China) with the algae-type, grass-type, and grass-algal alternation areas were chosen as the study area. The results showed that DOC concentration in the overlying water and Cd content in sediments were the highest in the algae-type areas, amounting to 6.4 mg L−1 and 2.4 mg kg−1, respectively, while the DOC contents in the surface sediments showed higher in the algae-type and grass-type areas. The sediments from the grass-type and algal-type areas showed the strong Cd source state, and only the sediments from Zhushan Bay had the sink state. Most of the sediments had the low Cd release risk, and the values of the degree of Cd saturation (DCdS) and Cd release risk index (CdRI) showed a significant correlation with the DOC content in the sediments (P < 0.05). The Cd release contribution originated from the surface sediments, and F1 (the extractable state of Cd form) was the main Cd release form (the maximum value of 51 % from grass-type areas). Due to the algal decomposition and the complex external environment, the contribution values of F2 (the reducible state of Cd form) and F1 was similar (40 %–47 %) in the process of Cd release from the surface and bottom sediments in grass-algae alternation areas, as well as in some algae-type areas. This study provides theoretical foundation for Cd release control at the ecosystems level.

Association between sacroiliac joint forms and subchondral changes in patients with Crohn's disease.

To assess the relationship between anatomical variants of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) and subchondral changes detected in magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). This was a retrospective study of 60 CD patients, who were divided into two groups: with (n = 16) and without SIJ (n = 44) involvement, depending on the presence of inflammatory (bone marrow edema) and structural changes (sclerosis and erosions) in MRE. Anatomical variants of SIJ were assessed in CT of the abdomen and/or pelvis, distinguishing typical form with convex iliac surface and atypical forms. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to reveal an association between joint changes and forms. Our study included 60 patients (38 males; mean age 38.72 years ± 13.33). Patients with SIJ changes were older (p = .044). No significant differences in CD localization and behavior were found. The most common SIJ lesions were structural changes (in 75% of patients); the main atypical form was the iliosacral complex. The univariate and multivariate analyses showed a significant association of atypical forms with total subchondral changes (odds ratio [OR]: 3.429, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.043-11.268; p = .042; OR: 5.066, 95% CI: 1.273-20.167; p = .021, respectively), and with structural changes (OR: 4.185, 95% CI: 1.155-15.160; p = .029; OR: 5.986, 95% CI: 1.293-27.700; p = .022, respectively). Atypical forms of SIJ are a risk factor for the occurrence of structural joint changes in CD patients. An association between bone marrow edema and atypical forms was not found.