Point Of Convergence Research Articles

Assessing the Impact of Ship-Sourced Marine Pollution on Filyos Port

In 2021, Turkiye launched the Filyos Valley Project, a strategic initiative with the potential to serve as both a central hub for the transfer of Central Asian oil to the West and as a logistical bridge between China and Europe. Located near the city of Zonguldak in northern Turkiye, this project encompasses a range of logistical components, including the extensive and high-capacity Filyos Port, which is the third-largest port in the country. The port is situated in close proximity to the Sakarya gas field in the Western Black Sea, Turkiye's largest natural gas production area, and currently serves as a base for natural gas drilling ships and their support vessels. Filyos Port plays a crucial role in Turkiye's energy security due to its strategic location near the Istanbul Strait, a key convergence point for maritime traffic in the Black Sea. However, this proximity also poses a significant risk; pollution from a maritime accident along the approach routes to the Strait could severely disrupt the port's operational capabilities. This study aims to analyze the behavior and spread patterns of ship-sourced oil pollution near Filyos Port and to determine the timeframe within which the port would be exposed to such pollution. This research offers a comprehensive framework for port authorities to develop effective contingency plans, ensuring operational sustainability and enhancing the region’s energy security by mitigating the risks of marine pollution.

Agile transformation in uncertain times: exploring diffusion strategies and organisational maturity

ABSTRACT The turbulent and dynamic environment in which organisations are evolving today forces them to adapt in a timely manner and strengthen their resilience. Agility represents one of the recognised capacities to reach that resilience in a VUCA environment. However, consensus is not yet reached regarding how to become agile, and which ‘agility’ better matches the organisation’s needs and trajectory. Based on a qualitative exploratory approach of 15 expert narratives, dominantly from IT field, this study seeks to answer how does the adoption of agility in companies operating in uncertain business environments affect and reflect their level of organisational maturity. The research analyses the variety of strategies used by organisations to embrace agility and how these strategies correlate with levels of organisational maturity. Utilising New Institutional Theory (NIT) – a widely acknowledged framework in modern social sciences – this research uncovers the agility triggers in the organisation. Moreover, the findings highlight a continuum to agile organisation of three stages. The research also takes a fresh look at the concept of maturity. Maturity in the context of agile transformation lies a convergence point that reflects a global coherence in the system: the individual, the collective, the organisational, as well as the external, that of the organisations implementing agile practices.

The function of Mef2c toward the development of excitatory and inhibitory cortical neurons.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are caused by abnormal brain development, leading to altered brain function and affecting cognition, learning, self-control, memory, and emotion. NDDs are often demarcated as discrete entities for diagnosis, but empirical evidence indicates that NDDs share a great deal of overlap, including genetics, core symptoms, and biomarkers. Many NDDs also share a primary sensitive period for disease, specifically the last trimester of pregnancy in humans, which corresponds to the neonatal period in mice. This period is notable for cortical circuit assembly, suggesting that deficits in the establishment of brain connectivity are likely a leading cause of brain dysfunction across different NDDs. Regulators of gene programs that underlie neurodevelopment represent a point of convergence for NDDs. Here, we review how the transcription factor MEF2C, a risk factor for various NDDs, impacts cortical development. Cortical activity requires a precise balance of various types of excitatory and inhibitory neuron types. We use MEF2C loss-of-function as a study case to illustrate how brain dysfunction and altered behavior may derive from the dysfunction of specific cortical circuits at specific developmental times.

Crossing cable design optimization of multi-tower cable-stayed bridge based on joint analytical method and genetic algorithm

As the length of the main span increases, the stiffness of multi tower cable-stayed bridges continues to decrease. The performance of the structure can be improved by setting crossing cables at the main span. The setting of crossing cables is a key issue in the overall design of bridges. This study presents a new optimization strategy to achieve the optimal setting of crossing cables. The developed technique combines analytical algorithm, optimization algorithm and finite element method. The anchor position, number, cross-sectional area and cable force of crossing cable are taken as variables. Firstly, an analytical algorithm is used to determine the feasible interval of the number and area of crossing cables, and then the genetic algorithm is used to search for the optimal solution within the feasible interval to obtain the crossing cable layout with minimum steel. Based on the analytical method, the feasible interval is determined, so that the population is close to the convergence point from the initial state, and the optimization efficiency is improved. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by four optimization problems, and the influence of the deck stiffness on the anchor position of crossing cable is discussed, which provides a reference for the setting of the crossing cables in the preliminary design stage.

First Report of Rhizoctonia solani AG 4 HG-III Causing Stem Lesion of Watermelon in Idaho.

In July 2022, stem lesions, approximately 4 to 5 cm in length as well as leaf wilt and dark brown necrosis on stems and roots were observed in two fields in Southwest Idaho on 20 to 30% of watermelons (Citrullus lanatus). To determine the causal agent, isolations were attempted from symptomatic tissue. The surface of the affected material was disinfected with 0.6% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min and rinsed three times with sterile water. Approximately 2 mm3 sections of tissue were plated on water agar amended with 0.02% penicillin and 0.08% streptomycin and incubated at room temperature for 7 days. Fungal colonies were tentatively identified as Rhizoctonia from right-angle branching and septate hyphal structures, slight constriction and septum near the branch base, and the production of 1 to 2 mm white to light brown irregularly shaped sclerotia. Single hyphal tips were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) and grown at room temperature. Approximately ten isolates from each field with a consistent macromorphology were observed. These isolates had light brown mycelia, produced sclerotia at ambient temperature with no exposure to continuous light, and a representative isolate, designated D22-110 was selected for sequencing and pathogenicity testing. For isolate D22-110, mycelia were removed with a scalpel after 7 days of growth, for DNA extraction and sequencing of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region as previously described (White et al., 1990). A 726 bp product was generated and the sequence was submitted to GenBank (Accession No. OQ794049). NCBI-BLAST indicated this sequence was 99% identical (631 of 634 bp and 632 of 634 bp identical) with known reference isolates previously identified as R. solani AG 4 HG-III (Accession No. AF354075 and AF354076, respectively) from a phylogenetic study (Gonzalez et al., 2001). Pathogenicity testing was performed twice on two-week-old seedlings of watermelon cultivars Endless Summer and Wingman in greenhouse conditions (29oC, 12 h daylight). Two disks (3 mm diam) from 7-day-old plates of PDA were placed around each seedling at the root and stem convergence point. Ten seedlings were mock-inoculated with sterile PDA plugs as a control. Approximately 35% damping-off incidence was observed on inoculated seedlings six days post-inoculation, while control seedlings remained healthy. At 20 days post-inoculation, 20 (first trial) and 34 seedlings (second trial) were assessed for visible stem and root lesions. Incidence of stem lesions occurred on 90% of seedlings, with 80% of seedlings possessing lesions greater than 10 mm in diameter. Seedlings without R. solani inoculation were free of stem and root lesions. R. solani was re-isolated from symptomatic tissue, with 40% frequency of isolation, identified by right-angle branching of the hyphae thus confirming Koch's postulates. R. solani AG 4 has been reported in watermelon in the US since 1994 (Hall and Summer, 1994) but the AG 4 subgroup was not reported. AG 4 HG-III was reported in melon seedlings causing damping-off in Kyrgyzstan (Erper et al. 2016). In other hosts, AG 4 HG-III was found in potatoes in South Africa (Muzhinji et al., 2014), buckwheat and foxtail millet in China (Zhou et al., 2015; Hao et al., 2023), broccoli and spinach (Kuramae et al., 2003) and turnip green (Sekiguchi et al., 2015). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solani AG 4 HG-III causing disease in watermelon in Idaho. Given the the rate of disease incidence observed in the field, growers should consider avoiding planting alternative host crops to minimize inoculum buildup.

On the “How” and the “Why”: Nietzsche on Happiness and the Meaningful Life

Abstract Nietzsche is commonly interpreted as strongly rejecting and even despising any possible conception (or pursuit) of happiness. And yet, one of the most pervasive topics in Nietzsche’s work is the problem of human suffering, the pursuit of meaning (or purpose) in life, and the possibility of a joyful or affirmative disposition toward existence. In this article, I argue that Nietzsche’s criticism of common conceptions of happiness should be seen as a redefinition, rather than a rejection, of the notion of human happiness, with important implications for contemporary discussions on the topic. I start by addressing three of the main contemporary theories of happiness from a Nietzschean perspective, underlining both the points of convergence and the points of divergence between Nietzsche and each of these accounts. I then gather the conclusions of the previous section, add Nietzsche’s positive claims on happiness and the meaningful life, and sketch what might be called a Nietzschean theory of happiness. Finally, I situate Nietzsche’s position in the contemporary debate on the topic and outline what I take to be his most important contributions to current discussions on happiness, meaning, and well-being in human life.

The impact of pH value on the transfer and release dynamics of doxorubicin facilitated by carbon nanotubes within the capillary network surrounding cancerous tumors through molecular dynamics simulation

Among the pharmacological agents employed in cancer therapy, doxorubicin holds a prominent place due to its widespread use and potent cytotoxic effects and doxorubicin offers considerable promise in combating cancer, its administration requires careful consideration of the delicate balance between therapeutic benefit and potential harm, highlighting the intricate landscape of cancer treatment. Molecular dynamics simulation was used in this research to evaluate the effect of pH on the transfer and release kinetics of doxorubicin via carbon nanotubes within the capillary network surrounding cancer tumors. Upon examination of the acquired data, it became evident that following a duration of 10 ns, the temperature of the scrutinized structure stabilized at 310 K. Additionally, the analysis revealed that over the same period, the potential energy of examined structure reached a convergence point of 5.68 kcal/mol. Moreover, as the pH level increased from 3 to 11, a notable reduction in the maximum velocity of particle motion was detected, diminishing from 0.0028 to 0.0021 Å/fs. This elevation in pH led to a decline in the interaction between the vessel and solute, decreasing from 0.57 to 0.42 kcal/mol. Similarly, the interaction between the vessel and tumor experienced a decline, escalating from 6.95 to 6.05 kcal/mol with the pH increased from 3 to 11. Lastly, the pH elevation resulted in a marked reduction in the rate of drug release, decreasing from 84 to 46 %. This work concluded that MD simulations greatly enhanced the progress of pH-responsive CNT-based drug delivery systems. By offering comprehensive understanding of their behavior in acidic tumor environments, these simulations optimized these systems for targeted cancer treatment.

Clinical Utility of Ocular Assessments in Sport-Related Concussion: A Scoping Review.

Background/objectives: Ocular tools and technologies may be used in the diagnosis of sport-related concussions (SRCs), but their clinical utility can vary. The following study aimed to review the literature pertaining to the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of such assessments. Methods: The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews was adhered to. Reference standard reliability (RSR ≥ 0.75) and diagnostic accuracy (RSDA ≥ 0.80) were implemented to aid interpretation. Results: In total, 5223 articles were screened using the PCC acronym (Population, Concept, Context) with 74 included in the final analysis. Assessments included the King-Devick (KD) (n = 34), vestibular-ocular motor screening (VOMs) and/or near point of convergence (NPC) (n = 25), and various alternative tools and technologies (n = 20). The KD met RSR, but RSDA beyond amateur sport was limited. NPC met RSR but did not have RSDA to identify SRCs. The VOMs had conflicting RSR for total score and did not meet RSR in its individual tests. The VOMs total score did perform well in RSDA for SRCs. No alternative tool or technology met both RSR and RSDA. Conclusion: Ocular tools are useful, rapid screening tools but should remain within a multi-modal assessment for SRCs at this time.

Bioadministration: A Concept for Analyzing Human and Non-Human Organism Interaction in Organizational Studies within the Context of Longevity

Embark on a thought-provoking exploration with us as we delve into the fascinating world of bio-administration—a convergence point where the intricacies of biology intersect with the dynamics of organizational management. Authored by an interdisciplinary team comprising the vision of an oncologist, on guidance of an economics professor and a public administration professor, this article sheds light on the emerging concept of bio-administration and its implications for organizational theory and practice. From the fundamental workings of life to the complex structures of human society, join us on this insightful journey as we uncover the synergies between biology and organizational dynamics.

A New Accurate Aircraft Trajectory Prediction in Terminal Airspace Based on Spatio-Temporal Attention Mechanism

Trajectory prediction serves as a prerequisite for future trajectory-based operation, significantly reducing the uncertainty of aircraft movement information within airspace by scientifically forecasting the three-dimensional positions of aircraft over a certain period. As convergence points in the aviation network, airport terminal airspace exhibits the most complex traffic conditions in the entire air route network. It has stronger mutual influences and interactions among aircraft compared to the en-route phase. Current research typically uses the trajectory time series information of a single aircraft as input for subsequent predictions. However, it often lacks consideration of the close-range spatial interactions between multiple aircraft in the terminal airspace. This results in a gap in the study of aircraft trajectory prediction that couples spatiotemporal features. This paper aims to predict the four-dimensional trajectories of aircraft in terminal airspace, constructing a Spatio-Temporal Transformer (ST-Transformer) prediction model based on temporal and spatial attention mechanisms. Using radar aircraft trajectory data from the Guangzhou Baiyun Airport terminal airspace, the results indicate that the proposed ST-Transformer model has a smaller prediction error compared to mainstream deep learning prediction models. This demonstrates that the model can better integrate the temporal sequence correlation of trajectory features and the potential spatial interaction information among trajectories for accurate prediction.

A framework armed with node dynamics for predicting technology convergence

In the rapidly evolving landscape of industrial and societal progress, technology convergence plays a pivotal role. This dynamic process is usually characterized by the emergence of new nodes and new links. With the long-term and recent interests in predicting technology convergence, link prediction has become the primary approach on the basis of large-scale patent data. Though, the problem of node dynamics is still not addressed in the literature. For this purpose, this paper presents a technology convergence prediction framework with three core modules as follows. (1) A candidate node set is introduced during the network construction phase, mimicking the generation of newly-emerging nodes. (2) An inductive graph representation learning approach is deployed to generate feature vectors for newly-emerging nodes as well as existing ones. (3) The evaluation criteria are revised to shift from the predictable range to the actual predicted range, which can provide a more realistic assessment of predictive performance. Finally, experimental results on the domain of cancer drug development validate the feasibility and effectiveness of our framework in capturing the dynamics of technology convergence, especially concerning the relationships of newly emerged nodes and links. This study provides valuable insights into technology convergence dynamics and points to future research and applications.

The Carrier’s Defence to Liability for Delay under the Montreal Convention and EU Regulation 261/2004

This paper analyses the specific defence to liability for delay available to carriers, comparing its features under the Montreal Convention (MC99) and EU Regulation 261/2004 (Regulation 261). The relationship between these legal instruments has never been an easy one, whereas recent case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union on the socalled ‘extraordinary circumstances defence’ invites to explore similarities and differences between the international and the European approaches. The scope of application of the defence is clearer in Regulation 261 than in MC99. The former will only affect cancellations and delays – not cases of denied boarding, and its impact remains limited to the lump-sum compensation set out in Article 7 of Regulation 261. In turn, MC99 covers delays, but it is uncertain whether it also encompasses cancellations and situations of denied boarding – particularly when the passengers concerned are provided alternate transportation. Moreover, the defence laid down in MC99 applies to damage occasioned by delay, but the definition of ‘damage’ is left to domestic law. This situation gives rise to diverging decisions by national courts. Regarding the conceptualization of the defence, the wording of the relevant provisions might lead to think that both instruments share a regime of liability for presumed culpability. However, the extraordinary circumstances defence is much more complex. As a consequence, there is no alignment between MC99 and Regulation 261, although points of convergence are highlighted.

Foucault and Wittgenstein: Practical Critique and Democratic Politics

This paper aims to explore a set of convergence points between Foucault’s and Wittgenstein’s perspectives on philosophy and language, integrating them into a mutually complementary approach that I term ‘practical critique.’ The concept of ‘practical critique’ is founded on three pillars: the understanding of philosophy and language as critical practices, the public nature of language, and confessional subjectivity. I examine these three areas of convergence across three subsequent sections. In the concluding section, I discuss how this perspective can be fertile for understanding democratic politics today. I argue that all three pillars predominantly support democratic politics over any other political form. To explain that, I engage with the debate on the language of democratic theory and the potential expansion of the understanding of the public sphere. The notion of the public that emerges from this perspective offers an alternative or supplementation to the classical Habermasian view of the public sphere and democratic theory. It is envisioned as an open space of discursive multiplicity and diversity, where practices of exclusion or oppression can be made visible, challenged, and resisted.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RUSSIA IN THE LONG TERM

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between the economic weight of Russia and its large neighboring countries (Japan, Germany, Turkey, and Poland) until the end of the 21st century. The primary research method is a systematic comparative analysis of key aspects influencing economic development. The analytical model is based on the dominant influence of human capital on economic dynamics. Among Russia's large neighboring countries, during the period from 2005 to 2023, Japan exhibited the slowest GDP growth by PPP with an exponential trend (3.0 times slower), followed by Poland (1.64 times slower) and Germany (1.4 times slower). Turkey's GDP growth by PPP was 27% higher than that of Russia, which outpaced the global average growth rate by approximately 16%. Russia's unexpected move from 6th to 4th place in the world by GDP in PPP terms is a result of the economy's heavy dependence on oil prices and a series of oil price crises in 2008, 2014, and 2020, which obscured the real growth of the Russian economy. It has been shown that periods of convergence in GDP by PPP between Russia and large neighboring countries (mainly Germany) have repeatedly coincided with military conflicts. These include the War of 1812, World Wars I and II, the Russia-Georgia conflict (2008), and others. In terms of population size, which is the most important factor in GDP growth, Russia has slightly outpaced Japan over the last 35 years (by 16.5% in 2023). Going forward, Japan's population will decline rapidly compared to Russia. The fastest-growing neighboring country, Turkey, will reach the closest point of convergence with Russia in population size by 2060, after which the gap will begin to widen. In terms of the proportion of the population with tertiary education (DT), Russia (57%) is ahead of the neighboring countries under consideration, but Russia's DT growth over the last 20 years has been only 3%, which is a significant problem.

Decoding the Role of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 and Its Isoforms in Breast Cancer.

Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is a crucial mitogenic factor with important functions in the mammary gland, mainly through its interaction with the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R). This interaction activates a complex signaling network that promotes cell proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inhibits apoptosis. Despite extensive research, the precise molecular pathways and intracellular mechanisms activated by IGF-1, in cancer, remain poorly understood. Recent evidence highlights the essential roles of IGF-1 and its isoforms in breast cancer (BC) development, progression, and metastasis. The peptides that define the IGF-1 isoforms-IGF-1Ea, IGF-1Eb, and IGF-1Ec-act as key points of convergence for various signaling pathways that influence the growth, metastasis and survival of BC cells. The aim of this review is to provide a detailed exami-nation of the role of the mature IGF-1 and its isoforms in BC biology and their potential use as possible therapeutical targets.

Research on the Design and Teaching Model of Vocational English Courses Based on Ideological and Political Perspectives

In the context of globalization and informatization, the mere cultivation of language skills no longer meets the comprehensive quality requirements of society for vocational graduates. Integrating ideological and political education into vocational English courses helps to enhance students' ideological and political literacy and cultural identity. This study explores the design and teaching model of vocational English courses based on ideological and political perspectives. By analyzing the connotations and goals of ideological and political education, it discusses its points of convergence with vocational English courses and proposes specific course designs and teaching models. The results show that integrating ideological and political education not only improves students' English application abilities but also enhances their ideological and political literacy and cultural identity, providing strong support for the reform and innovation of vocational education.

One-year follow-up of clinical convergence measures in children enrolled in the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial-Attention and Reading Trial.

To assess the long-term stability of clinical measures of convergence (near point of convergence [NPC] and positive fusional vergence [PFV]) in participants enrolled in the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial-Attention and Reading Trial (CITT-ART) who received 16 weeks of office-based vergence/accommodative therapy. A total of 310 children, 9-14 years old, with symptomatic convergence insufficiency were enrolled in CITT-ART. Some 270 completed both their 16-week primary outcome visit followed by a 1-year follow-up visit. Of those 270, 181 (67%) were randomised to the vergence/accommodative therapy. Of the 181 in the vergence/accommodative group, 121 (67%) reported not receiving any additional treatment after the 16-week primary outcome visit. The mean change in NPC, PFV and percentages of children classified by the predetermined success criteria of convergence (normal NPC [<6 cm] and/or improved by ≥4 cm; normal PFV [passing Sheard's criterion and base-out break >15Δ] and/or improved by ≥10Δ) were compared at the 16-week primary outcome visit and 1 year later. Of the 121 who returned for their 1-year follow-up visit, there was no significant change in mean adjusted NPC (reduction of -0.2 cm; 95% CI: -1.0 to 0.5 cm) at 1 year. There was a statistically significant decrease in mean-adjusted PFV (-4.7∆; 95% CI: -6.5 to -2.8Δ) at 1 year. There were similar percentages of participants classified as 'normal' (p = 0.30), 'normal and/or improved' (p > 0.50) and 'normal and improved' (p > 0.14) based on NPC and PFV at the 1-year visit compared with the 16-week primary outcome visit. The improvements in NPC and PFV following 16 weeks of vergence/accommodative therapy (with no reported additional treatment thereafter) in children with symptomatic convergence insufficiency persisted 1-year post-treatment.

Many-Objective Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (MaOGOA): A New Many-Objective Optimization Technique for Solving Engineering Design Problems

In metaheuristic multi-objective optimization, the term effectiveness is used to describe the performance of a metaheuristic algorithm in achieving two main goals—converging its solutions towards the Pareto front and ensuring these solutions are well-spread across the front. Achieving these objectives is particularly challenging in optimization problems with more than three objectives, known as many-objective optimization problems. Multi-objective algorithms often fall short in exerting adequate selection pressure towards the Pareto front in these scenarios and difficult to keep solutions evenly distributed, especially in cases with irregular Pareto fronts. In this study, the focus is on overcoming these challenges by developing an innovative and efficient a novel Many-Objective Grasshopper Optimisation Algorithm (MaOGOA). MaOGOA incorporates reference point, niche preserve and information feedback mechanism (IFM) for superior convergence and diversity. A comprehensive array of quality metrics is utilized to characterize the preferred attributes of Pareto Front approximations, focusing on convergence, uniformity and expansiveness diversity in terms of IGD, HV and RT metrics. It acknowledged that MaOGOA algorithm is efficient for many-objective optimization challenges. These findings confirm the approach effectiveness and competitive performance. The MaOGOA efficiency is thoroughly examined on WFG1-WFG9 benchmark problem with 5, 7 and 9 objectives and five real-world (RWMaOP1- RWMaOP5) problem, contrasting it with MaOSCA, MaOPSO, MOEA/DD, NSGA-III, KnEA, RvEA and GrEA algorithms. The findings demonstrate MaOGOA superior performance against these algorithms.

Combinatorial control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm development by quorum-sensing and nutrient-sensing regulators.

The human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, inhabits and forms sessile antibiotic-resistant communities called biofilms in a wide range of biotic and abiotic environments. In this study, we examined how two global sensory signaling pathways-the RhlR quorum-sensing system and the CbrA/CbrB nutritional adaptation system-intersect to control biofilm development. Previous work has shown that individually these two systems repress biofilm formation. Here, we used biofilm analyses, RNA-seq, and reporter assays to explore the combined effect of information flow through RhlR and CbrA on biofilm development. We find that the ΔrhlRΔcbrA double mutant exhibits a biofilm morphology and an associated transcriptional response distinct from wildtype and the parent ΔrhlR and ΔcbrA mutants indicating codominance of each signaling pathway. The ΔrhlRΔcbrA mutant gains suppressor mutations that allow biofilm expansion; these mutations map to the crc gene resulting in loss of function of the carbon catabolite repression protein Crc. Furthermore, the combined absence of RhlR and CbrA leads to a drastic reduction in the abundance of the Crc antagonist small RNA CrcZ. Thus, CrcZ acts as the molecular convergence point for quorum- and nutrient-sensing cues. We find that in the absence of antagonism by CrcZ, Crc promotes the expression of biofilm matrix components-Pel exopolysaccharide, and CupB and CupC fimbriae. Therefore, this study uncovers a regulatory link between nutritional adaption and quorum sensing with potential implications for anti-biofilm targeting strategies.IMPORTANCEBacteria often form multicellular communities encased in an extracytoplasmic matrix called biofilms. Biofilm development is controlled by various environmental stimuli that are decoded and converted into appropriate cellular responses. To understand how information from two distinct stimuli is integrated, we used biofilm formation in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model and studied the intersection of two global sensory signaling pathways-quorum sensing and nutritional adaptation. Global transcriptomics on biofilm cells and reporter assays suggest parallel regulation of biofilms by each pathway that converges on the abundance of a small RNA antagonist of the carbon catabolite repression protein, Crc. We find a new role of Crc as it modulates the expression of biofilm matrix components in response to the environment. These results expand our understanding of the genetic regulatory strategies that allow P. aeruginosa to successfully develop biofilm communities.

Intelligent Cockpits for Connected Vehicles: Taxonomy, Architecture, Interaction Technologies, and Future Directions.

Highly integrated information sharing among people, vehicles, roads, and cloud systems, along with the rapid development of autonomous driving technologies, has spurred the evolution of automobiles from simple "transportation tools" to interconnected "intelligent systems". The intelligent cockpit is a comprehensive application space for various new technologies in intelligent vehicles, encompassing the domains of driving control, riding comfort, and infotainment. It provides drivers and passengers with safety, comfort, and pleasant driving experiences, serving as the gateway for traditional automobile manufacturing to upgrade towards an intelligent automotive industry ecosystem. This is the optimal convergence point for the intelligence, connectivity, electrification, and sharing of automobiles. Currently, the form, functions, and interaction methods of the intelligent cockpit are gradually changing, transitioning from the traditional "human adapts to the vehicle" viewpoint to the "vehicle adapts to human", and evolving towards a future of natural interactive services where "humans and vehicles mutually adapt". This article reviews the definitions, intelligence levels, functional domains, and technical frameworks of intelligent automotive cockpits. Additionally, combining the core mechanisms of human-machine interactions in intelligent cockpits, this article proposes an intelligent-cockpit human-machine interaction process and summarizes the current state of key technologies in intelligent-cockpit human-machine interactions. Lastly, this article analyzes the current challenges faced in the field of intelligent cockpits and forecasts future trends in intelligent cockpit technologies.