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Carsharing has received considerable attention as a sustainable mobility paradigm. Various service designs and dynamic business environments have increased the decision complexity for the carsharing business. Therefore, carsharing operators require a tool for assessing business development from holistic perspectives. This research provides a framework for outlining the requirements of the carsharing system with holistic perspectives of stakeholders being considered, as well as to derive assessment metrics for examining carsharing development. To create the framework, the system modeling tool, context diagram, was adopted to map out the interactions of externalities with the system and the requirements of the system. Eight assessment metrics: the market condition, business advantage, parking condition, electric vehicle deployment, self-serving configuration, vehicle reservation, vehicle maintenance, and pricing scheme, were eventually identified from the system modeling. From these dimensions, we review 24 carsharing cases from China, Europe, Japan, and the United States, and we summarize discrepancies among different marketplaces and some managerial insights on carsharing development, such as carsharing motivators and inhibitors, innovations in respect of different business backgrounds, approaches of increasing parking privileges, approaches of increasing electrifications, essential digital features, reservation regimes, methods of vehicle maintenances, and service pricing regimes.

Two new species of Ainsliaea (Asteraceae: Pertyoideae), Ainsliaea erectifolia X.X.Su and S.P.Chen and Ainsliaea laxiflora X.X.Su and S.P.Chen, both from Fujian, Southeast China, are described and illustrated here. Morphologically, A. erectifolia is similar to A. simplicissima, but can be distinguished by both surfaces of leaves being glabrous and the capitulum bearing 3 flowers. A. laxiflora is similar to A. polystachya , but differs by its rosette leaves aggregating near the middle part of the stem, the capitulum bearing 3 flowers, the terminal inflorescence rachilla shorter than lateral rachillae, anthers lower than corolla lobes, and style equal to or slightly higher than corolla lobes. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the two new species were closely related to each other and belong to section Aggregatae. These two species have currently been assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN guidelines. Furthermore, the complete plastid genomes of these two new species are reported. This study not only introduces two new Ainsliaea species but also provides their plastid genome data, offering valuable genetic resources for understanding the evolutionary history of the genus Ainsliaea. We have identified two new Ainsliaea species from China, Ainsliaea erectifolia X.X.Su & S.P.Chen and Ainsliaea laxiflora X.X.Su & S.P.Chen. Both the morphological observation and phylogenetic investigation support the status of Ainsliaea erectifolia and Ainsliaea laxiflora as new species. Besides, we reported four Ainsliaea plastomes from two new species.

Fabric anisotropy significantly influences the mechanical behavior of sandy soils, potentially resulting in diverse failure patterns during shield tunneling owing to insufficient support pressure. In this paper, a set of specimens with bedding angles ( α ) and an isotropic specimen are well generated to simulate active failure at the tunnel face using DEM. The evolving failure of the soil in distinct α are scrutinized, and ground settlement is further explored. Furthermore, microscopic information is juxtaposed to systematically elucidate the influence of α on failure patterns at a microscopic level. Macroscopic findings reveal that, aside from specimens with α = 0° and 90°, particle displacement experiences deflection as it extends toward the ground surface in other specimens. However, this deflection behavior is only noticeable under conditions of large deformation. Additionally, across all specimens, the maximum displacement of the ground surface is observed in those with α = 90°, while the minimum value is noted in specimens with α = 45°. Notably, considerable particle rotation occurs within the shear face. However, the deflection behavior has not been found in specimens with α = 0° and 90°. Similarly, in specimens with these two specimens, there is no noteworthy deflection observed in the principal direction of contact normal.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) gene family plays a crucial role in both plant growth and response to abiotic stress. Approximately half of the Orchidaceae species are estimated to perform CAM pathway, and the availability of sequenced orchid genomes makes them ideal subjects for investigating the PEPC gene family in CAM plants. In this study, a total of 33 PEPC genes were identified across 15 orchids. Specifically, one PEPC gene was found in Cymbidium goeringii and Platanthera guangdongensis; two in Apostasia shenzhenica, Dendrobium chrysotoxum, D. huoshanense, Gastrodia elata, G. menghaiensis, Phalaenopsis aphrodite, Ph. equestris, and Pl. zijinensis; three in C. ensifolium, C. sinense, D. catenatum, D. nobile, and Vanilla planifolia. These PEPC genes were categorized into four subgroups, namely PEPC-i, PEPC-ii, and PEPC-iii (PTPC), and PEPC-iv (BTPC), supported by the comprehensive analyses of their physicochemical properties, motif, and gene structures. Remarkably, PEPC-iv contained a heretofore unreported orchid PEPC gene, identified as VpPEPC4. Differences in the number of PEPC homolog genes among these species were attributed to segmental duplication, whole-genome duplication (WGD), or gene loss events. Cis-elements identified in promoter regions were predominantly associated with light responsiveness, and circadian-related elements were observed in each PEPC-i and PEPC-ii gene. The expression levels of recruited BTPC, VpPEPC4, exhibited a lower expression level than other VpPEPCs in the tested tissues. The expression analyses and RT-qPCR results revealed diverse expression patterns in orchid PEPC genes. Duplicated genes exhibited distinct expression patterns, suggesting functional divergence. This study offered a comprehensive analysis to unveil the evolution and function of PEPC genes in Orchidaceae.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) gene family plays a crucial role in both plant growth and response to abiotic stress. Approximately half of the Orchidaceae species are estimated to perform CAM pathway, and the availability of sequenced orchid genomes makes them ideal subjects for investigating the PEPC gene family in CAM plants. In this study, a total of 33 PEPC genes were identified across 15 orchids. Specifically, one PEPC gene was found in Cymbidium goeringii and Platanthera guangdongensis; two in Apostasia shenzhenica, Dendrobium chrysotoxum, D. huoshanense, Gastrodia elata, G. menghaiensis, Phalaenopsis aphrodite, Ph. equestris, and Pl. zijinensis; three in C. ensifolium, C. sinense, D. catenatum, D. nobile, and Vanilla planifolia. These PEPC genes were categorized into four subgroups, namely PEPC-i, PEPC-ii, and PEPC-iii (PTPC), and PEPC-iv (BTPC), supported by the comprehensive analyses of their physicochemical properties, motif, and gene structures. Remarkably, PEPC-iv contained a heretofore unreported orchid PEPC gene, identified as VpPEPC4. Differences in the number of PEPC homolog genes among these species were attributed to segmental duplication, whole-genome duplication (WGD), or gene loss events. Cis-elements identified in promoter regions were predominantly associated with light responsiveness, and circadian-related elements were observed in each PEPC-i and PEPC-ii gene. The expression levels of recruited BTPC, VpPEPC4, exhibited a lower expression level than other VpPEPCs in the tested tissues. The expression analyses and RT-qPCR results revealed diverse expression patterns in orchid PEPC genes. Duplicated genes exhibited distinct expression patterns, suggesting functional divergence. This study offered a comprehensive analysis to unveil the evolution and function of PEPC genes in Orchidaceae.

Purpose The purpose was to explore underlying maternal, obstetric, and neonatal risk factors of retinal hemorrhages (RH) in healthy full-term newborns. Methods A total of 1199 full-term infants, with gestational age more than 37 weeks and Apgar score of 7 or above, were included in this study. Infants with severe systemic diseases or any other eye diseases were excluded. Eye examinations with RetCamIII within 1 week of birth were performed in all infants. Maternal, obstetric, and neonatal parameters were analyzed and compared between newborns with RH and those without RH. Results RH was seen in 294 of the 1199 infants (24.5 %) in this study. Among factors examined in the study, spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) (odds ratio [ OR ] =3.811 [95 % CI 2.649–5.483], P  < 0.001) and cephalhematoma ( OR  = 1.823 [95 % CI 1.009–3.296], P  = 0.047) correlated positively with RH occurrence in newborns, while a history of cesarean delivery correlated negatively with RH occurrence ( OR  = 0.296 [95 % CI 0.139–0.630], P  = 0.002). There was no statistical correlation found between RH and the other risk factors examined in this study. These factors included gender, gestational age, birth weight, maternal age, volume, and turbidity of amniotic fluid, duration of the first or second stage of labor, anemia, hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP), fetal distress, intracranial hemorrhage, and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Conclusions RH is common in full-term newborns. A lower prevalence of newborn RH was found in infants delivered by mothers with a history of cesarean delivery. In contrast, SVD and cephalhematoma were found to be potential risk factors for the development of newborn RH in full-term infants. Infants with these risk factors may, therefore, require greater attention in regard to RH development.

MSH5, a member of the MutS homolog DNA mismatch repair protein family, has been shown to be required for proper homologous chromosome recombination in diverse organisms such as mouse, budding yeast and Caenorhabditis elegans. In this paper, we show that a mutant Arabidopsis plant carrying the putative disrupted AtMSH5 gene exhibits defects during meiotic division, producing a proportion of nonviable pollen grains and abnormal embryo sacs, and thereby leading to a decrease in fertility. AtMSH5 expression is confined to meiotic floral buds, which is consistent with a possible role during meiosis. Cytological analysis of male meiosis revealed the presence of numerous univalents from diplotene to metaphase I, which were associated with a great reduction in chiasma frequencies. The average number of residual chiasmata in the mutant is reduced to 2.54 per meiocyte, which accounts for ~25% of the amount in the wild type. Here, quantitative cytogenetical analysis reveals that the residual chiasmata in Afresh5 mutants are randomly distributed among meiocytes, suggesting that AtMSH5 has an essential role during interferencesensitive chiasma formation. Taken together, the evidence indicates that AtMSH5 promotes homologous recombination through facilitating chiasma formation during prophase Ⅰ in Arabidopsis.

Zinc-ion batteries have demonstrated promising potential for future energy storage, whereas drawbacks, including dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reaction, and localized deposition, heavily hinder their development for practical applications. Herein, unlike elaborated structural design and electrolyte excogitation, we introduce an effective parts-per-million (ppm)-scale electrolyte additive, phosphonoglycolic acid (PPGA), to overcome the intrinsic issues of zinc negative electrode in mild acidic aqueous electrolytes. Profiting from absorbed PPGA on zinc surface and its beneficial interaction with hydrogen bonds of adjacent water molecules, stable symmetric stripping/plating of zinc in aqueous ZnSO 4 electrolyte at around 25  o C was achieved, procuring 362 and 350 days of operation at 1 mA cm -2 , 1 mAh cm -2 and 10 mA cm -2 , 1 mAh cm -2 , respectively. As a proof-of-concept, an Ah-level Zn||Zn 0.25 V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O pouch cell examined the validity of PPGA and sustained 250 cycles at 0.2 A g -1 and around 25 o C without capacity loss. The Zn||Br 2 redox flow battery demonstrated an operation of over 800 h at 40 mA cm -2 , 20 mAh cm -2 with an average coulombic efficiency of 98%, which is attributed to restrained dendrite growth and side effects. This work is believed to open up new ways forward for knowledge of electrolyte additive engineering. Challenges of zinc electrodes imped their progress in energy storage. Here, authors propose a parts-per-million scale electrolyte additive, phosphonoglycolic acid, enabling Zn stripping/stripping for nearly a year in coin cells, and exhibiting high durability in pouch cells and redox flow batteries.

Denitrifying bacteria harboring the nitrate reductase S ( nir S) gene convert active nitrogen into molecular nitrogen, and alleviate eutrophication in aquaculture water. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) is an important component of aquaculture water and a carrier for denitrification. SPM with different particle sizes were collected from a coastal high-altitude aquaculture pond in Maoming City, China. Diversity, community structure, abundance of nir S-type denitrifying bacteria on SPM and environmental influencing factors were studied using high-throughput sequencing, fluorescence quantitative PCR, and statistical analysis. Pseudomonas , Halomonas , and Wenzhouxiangella were the dominant genera of nir S-type denitrifying bacteria on SPM from the ponds. Network analysis revealed Pseudomonas and Halomonas as the key genera involved in the interaction of nir S-type denitrifying bacteria on SPM in the ponds. qPCR indicated a trend toward greater nir S gene abundance in progressively larger SPM. Dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and SPM particle size were the main environmental factors influencing changes in the nir S-type denitrifying bacterial community on SPM in coastal high-altitude aquaculture pond water. These findings increase our understanding of the microbiology of nitrogen cycle processes in aquaculture ecosystem, and will help optimize aquatic tailwater treatment strategies.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is a protective response to restore protein homeostasis by activating the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, UPR can trigger cell death under severe and/or persistently high ERS. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a complex of multiple proteins that activates the secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in a caspase-1-dependent manner to participate in the regulation of inflammation. The NLRP3 inflammasome involvement in ERS-induced inflammation has not been completely described. The intersection of ERS with multiple inflammatory pathways can initiate and aggravate chronic diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that ERS-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is the pathological basis of various inflammatory diseases. In this review, we have discussed the networks between ERS and NLRP3 inflammasome, with the view to identifying novel therapeutic targets in inflammatory diseases.Key points• Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is an important factor for the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasomes that results in pathological processes.• ERS can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome to induce inflammatory responses via oxidative stress, calcium homeostasis, and NF-κB activation.• The interactions between ERS and NLRP3 inflammasome are associated with inflammation, which represent a potential therapeutic opportunity of inflammatory diseases.