Unveiling the Threat: Case Reports of Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis among Sanctuary Chimpanzees

Primate sanctuaries across Africa play a pivotal role in the rescue and rehabilitation of confiscated and rescued wild primates, many of whom have had extensive contact with humans prior to their arrival and throughout the rehabilitation process, heightening the risk of disease transmission. While tuberculosis is not naturally occurring in free-living chimpanzees, it has been extensively observed in captive primates that have been in close proximity to humans or other captive primates infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This case report delves into an outbreak of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis among juvenile chimpanzees within a sanctuary, detailing the associated diagnostic challenges and treatment approaches. The five cases had close contact with a caregiver infected with tuberculosis, subsequently transmitting the infection to other in-contact chimpanzees. Prolonged treatment, employing the human protocol of quadri-therapy (rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol), followed by bi-therapy (rifampicin and isoniazid), resulted in complete resolution for all five cases. These cases underscore the critical importance of maintaining high levels of biosecurity, implementing effective quarantine measures, and adhering to strict hygiene practices when working with non-human primates.

Heuristic Estimation of the Vacuum Energy Density of the Universe: Part II-Analysis Based on Frequency Domain Electromagnetic Radiation

In Part I of this paper, an inequality satisfied by the vacuum energy density of the universe was derived using an indirect and heuristic procedure. The derivation is based on a proposed thought experiment, according to which an electron is accelerated to a constant and relativistic speed at a distance L from a perfectly conducting plane. The charge of the electron was represented by a spherical charge distribution located within the Compton wavelength of the electron. Subsequently, the electron is incident on the perfect conductor giving rise to transition radiation. The energy associated with the transition radiation depends on the parameter L. It was shown that an inequality satisfied by the vacuum energy density will emerge when the length L is pushed to cosmological dimensions and the product of the radiated energy, and the time duration of emission is constrained by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. In this paper, a similar analysis is conducted with a chain of electrons oscillating sinusoidally and located above a conducting plane. In the thought experiment presented in this paper, the behavior of the energy radiated by the chain of oscillating electrons is studied in the frequency domain as a function of the length L of the chain. It is shown that when the length L is pushed to cosmological dimensions and the energy radiated within a single burst of duration of half a period of oscillation is constrained by the fact that electromagnetic energy consists of photons, an inequality satisfied by the vacuum energy density emerges as a result. The derived inequality is given by where is the vacuum energy density. This result is consistent with the measured value of the vacuum energy density, which is 5.38 × 10-10 J/m. The result obtained here is in better agreement with experimental data than the one obtained in Part I of this paper with time domain radiation.

Hints of the Photonic Nature of the Electromagnetic Fields in Classical Electrodynamics

Several recent publications show that the electromagnetic radiation generated by transmitting antennas satisfy the following universal conditions: The time domain radiation fields satisfy the condition A ≥ h/4π ⇒q ≥ e where A is the action of the radiation field, which is defined as the product of the radiated energy and the duration of the radiation, h is the Planck constant, e is the electronic charge and q is the charge associated with the radiating system. The frequency domain radiation fields satisfy the condition U ≥ hv ⇒q ≥ e where U is the energy radiated in a single burst of radiation of duration T/2 and v is the frequency of oscillation. The goal of this paper is to show that these conditions, which indeed are expressions of the photonic nature of the electromagnetic fields, are satisfied not only by the radiation fields generated by physical antennas but also by the radiation fields generated by accelerating or decelerating electric charges. The results presented here together with the results obtained in previous studies show that hints of the photonic nature of the electromagnetic radiation remain hidden in the field equations of classical electrodynamics, and they become apparent when the dimension of the radiating system is pushed to the extreme limits as allowed by nature.

Heuristic Estimation of the Vacuum Energy Density of the Universe: Part I—Analysis Based on Time Domain Electromagnetic Radiation

In this paper, an inequality satisfied by the vacuum energy density of the universe is derived using an indirect and heuristic procedure. The derivation is based on a proposed thought experiment, according to which an electron is accelerated to a constant and relativistic speed at a distance L from a perfectly conducting plane. The charge of the electron is represented by a spherical charge distribution located within the Compton wavelength of the electron. Subsequently, the electron is incident on the perfect conductor giving rise to transition radiation. The energy associated with the transition radiation depends on the parameter L. It is shown that an inequality satisfied by the vacuum energy density will emerge when the length L is pushed to cosmological dimensions and the product of the radiated energy and the time duration of emission are constrained by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. The inequality derived is given by ρΛ ≤ 9.9×10-9J/m3 where ρΛ is the vacuum energy density. This result is consistent with the measured value of the vacuum energy density, which is 0.538 × 10-9J/m. Since there is a direct relationship between the vacuum energy density and the Einstein’s cosmological constant, the inequality can be converted directly to that of the cosmological constant.

Application of Image Analysis Based on SEM and Chemical Mapping on PC Mortars under Sulfate Attack

The degradation mechanisms of cementitious materials exposed to sulfate solutions have been controversial, despite considerable research. In this paper, two methodologies of image analysis based on scanning electron microscope and chemical mapping are used to analyse Portland cement mortars exposed to sodium sulfate solution. The effects of sulfate concentration in solution and water to cement ratio of mortar, which are considered as the most sensitive factors to sulfate attack, are investigated respectively by comparing the macro expansion with microstructure analysis. It is found that the sulfate concentration in pore solution, expressed as sulfate content in C-S-H, plays a critical role on the supersaturation with respect to ettringite and so on the expansion force generated.

Mechanical Properties and ITZ Microstructure of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Using Carbonated Recycled Coarse Aggregate

The effect of carbonation treatment and mixing method on the mechanical properties and interfacial transition zone（ITZ） properties of recycled aggregate concrete（RAC） was investigated. Properties of recycled concrete aggregate（RCA） were tested firstly. Then, five types of concretes were made and slump of fresh concrete was measured immediately after mixing. Compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of hardened concrete were measured at 28 d. Meanwhile, the microstructure of RAC was analyzed by backscattered electron（BSE） image. It was found that the water absorption ratio of carbonated recycled concrete aggregate（CRCA） was much lower when compared to the untreated RCA. Comparatively, the apparent density of CRCA was not significantly modified. The concrete strength results indicate that the mix CRAC-2 prepared with CRCA by adopting two-stage mixing approach shows the highest compressive strength value compared to the other mixes. The microstructural analysis demonstrate that the mix CRAC-2 has a much denser old ITZ than the untreated RAC because of the chemical reaction between CO2 and the hydration products of RCA. This study confirms that the ITZ microstructure of RAC can be efficiently modified by carbonation treatment of RCA and encourages broadening the application of construction and demolition wastes.

Statistical Analysis on Gender Difference in Neural Activity for Spatial Ability Tasks

Gender differences are investigated from the viewpoint of cognitive neuroscience in the domain of spatial ability. Five task types of geometric problems are used for the collection of task-evoked fMRI data. Although there was no gender-difference in task performance, we found gender differences in neural activity. Some of the important gender differences that we found are 1) that there are far more joint neuro-activations among the brain regions, co-activations or reverse-activations, in males than in females, 2) that the two types of joint activations were nearly half and half in females while it was mostly co-activations in males, 3) that males tend to have more co-activations in the left hemisphere than expected while females tend to have more between-hemisphere co-activations than expected, and 4) that the left-right pairs of BA's are more highly associated than average for males while they are far less associated than average for females.

Smarter eco-cities and their leading-edge artificial intelligence of things solutions for environmental sustainability:A comprehensive systematic review

The recent advancements made in the realms of Artificial Intelligence(AI)and Artificial Intelligence of Things(AIoT)have unveiled transformative prospects and opportunities to enhance and optimize the environmental performance and efficiency of smart cities.These strides have,in turn,impacted smart eco-cities,catalyzing ongoing improvements and driving solutions to address complex environmental challenges.This aligns with the visionary concept of smarter eco-cities,an emerging paradigm of urbanism characterized by the seamless integration of advanced technologies and environmental strategies.However,there remains a significant gap in thoroughly understanding this new paradigm and the intricate spectrum of its multifaceted underlying dimensions.To bridge this gap,this study provides a comprehensive systematic review of the burgeoning landscape of smarter eco-cities and their leadingedge AI and AIoT solutions for environmental sustainability.To ensure thoroughness,the study employs a unified evidence synthesis framework integrating aggregative,configurative,and narrative synthesis approaches.At the core of this study lie these subsequent research inquiries:What are the foundational underpinnings of emerging smarter eco-cities,and how do they intricately interrelate,particularly urbanism paradigms,environmental solutions,and data-driven technologies?What are the key drivers and enablers propelling the materialization of smarter eco-cities?What are the primary AI and AIoT solutions that can be harnessed in the development of smarter eco-cities?In what ways do AI and AIoT technologies contribute to fostering environmental sustainability practices,and what potential benefits and opportunities do they offer for smarter eco-cities?What challenges and barriers arise in the implementation of AI and AIoT solutions for the development of smarter eco-cities?The findings significantly deepen and broaden our understanding of both the significant potential of AI and AIoT technologies to enhance sustainable urban development practices,as well as the formidable nature of the challenges they pose.Beyond theoretical enrichment,these findings offer invaluable insights and new perspectives poised to empower policymakers,practitioners,and researchers to advance the integration of eco-urbanism and AI-and AIoT-driven urbanism.Through an insightful exploration of the contemporary urban landscape and the identification of successfully applied AI and AIoT solutions,stakeholders gain the necessary groundwork for making well-informed decisions,implementing effective strategies,and designing policies that prioritize environmental well-being.

The synergistic interplay of artificial intelligence and digital twin in environmentally planning sustainable smart cities:A comprehensive systematic review

The dynamic landscape of sustainable smart cities is witnessing a significant transformation due to the integration of emerging computational technologies and innovative models.These advancements are reshaping data-driven planning strategies,practices,and approaches,thereby facilitating the achievement of environmental sustainability goals.This transformative wave signals a fundamental shift d marked by the synergistic operation of artificial intelligence(AI),artificial intelligence of things(AIoT),and urban digital twin(UDT)technologies.While previous research has largely explored urban AI,urban AIoT,and UDT in isolation,a significant knowledge gap exists regarding their synergistic interplay,collaborative integration,and collective impact on data-driven environmental planning in the dynamic context of sustainable smart cities.To address this gap,this study conducts a comprehensive systematic review to uncover the intricate interactions among these interconnected technologies,models,and domains while elucidating the nuanced dynamics and untapped synergies in the complex ecosystem of sustainable smart cities.Central to this study are four guiding research questions:1.What theoretical and practical foundations underpin the convergence of AI,AIoT,UDT,data-driven planning,and environmental sustainability in sustainable smart cities,and how can these components be synthesized into a novel comprehensive framework?2.How does integrating AI and AIoT reshape the landscape of datadriven planning to improve the environmental performance of sustainable smart cities?3.How can AI and AIoT augment the capabilities of UDT to enhance data-driven environmental planning processes in sustainable smart cities?4.What challenges and barriers arise in integrating and implementing AI,AIoT,and UDT in data-driven environmental urban planning,and what strategies can be devised to surmount or mitigate them?Methodologically,this study involves a rigorous analysis and synthesis of studies published between January 2019 and December 2023,comprising an extensive body of literature totaling 185 studies.The findings of this study surpass mere interdisciplinary theoretical enrichment,offering valuable insights into the transformative potential of integrating AI,AIoT,and UDT technologies to advance sustainable urban development practices.By enhancing data-driven environmental planning processes,these integrated technologies and models offer innovative solutions to address complex environmental challenges.However,this endeavor is fraught with formidable challenges and complexities that require careful navigation and mitigation to achieve desired outcomes.This study serves as a comprehensive reference guide,spurring groundbreaking research endeavors,stimulating practical implementations,informing strategic initiatives,and shaping policy formulations in sustainable urban development.These insights have profound implications for researchers,practitioners,and policymakers,providing a roadmap for fostering resiliently designed,technologically advanced,and environmentally conscious urban environments.

批实验中土壤对地乐酚吸附的差异

吸附是决定除草剂地乐酚在土壤中迁移的重要机制之一。通常用简单快捷的批实验来衡量土壤对除草剂的吸附。由大量的批实验确定地乐酚在不同土壤样本中的吸附参数,并对各土壤特性与吸附参数的相关性作统计分析。结果表明土壤有机C含量,粘粒含量及阳离子代换量与吸附参数显著正相关,土壤pH值与吸附参数显著负相关。方差分析表明地乐酚在土壤中的吸附表现出很强的空间差异,在不同地点的地乐酚吸附参数无显著区别,而在不同的深度区别显著。超过85%的地乐酚吸附参数的空间差异可由土壤有机C含量的空间差异来解释。

Biliverdin Reductase-A correlates with inducible nitric oxide synthasein in atorvastatin treated aged canine brain

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and neuropathology. Recent preclinical and epidemiological studies proposed statins as a possible therapeutic drug for Alzheimer’s disease, but the exact mechanisms of action are still unknown. Biliverdin reductase-A is a pleiotropic enzyme involved in cellular stress responses. It not only transforms biliverdin-IX alpha into the antioxidant bilirubin-IX alpha but its serine/threonine/ tyrosine kinase activity is able to modulate cell signaling networks. We previously reported the beneficial effects of atorvastatin treatment on biliverdin reductase-A and heme oxygenase-1 in the brains of a well characterized pre-clinical model of Alzheimer’s disease, aged beagles, together with observed improvement in cognition. Here we extend our knowledge of the effects of atorvastatin on inducible nitric oxide synthase in parietal cortex, cerebellum and liver of the same animals. We demonstrated that atorvastatin treatment （80 mg/day for 14.5 months） to aged beagles selectively increased inducible nitric oxide synthase in the parietal cortex but not in the cerebellum. In contrast, inducible nitric oxide synthase protein levels were significantly decreased in the liver. Significant positive correlations were found between biliverdin reductase-A and inducible nitric oxide synthase as well as heme oxygenase-1 protein levels in the parietal cortex. The opposite was observed in the liver. Inducible nitric oxide synthase up-regulation in the parietal cortex was positively associated with improved biliverdin reductase-A functions, whereas the oxidative-induced impairment of biliverdin reductase-A in the liver negatively affected inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, thus suggesting a role for biliverdin reductase-A in atorvastatin-dependent inducible nitric oxide synthase changes. Interestingly, increased inducible nitric oxide synthase levels in the parietal cortex were not associated with higher oxidative/nitrosative stress levels. We hypothesize that biliverdin reductase-A-dependent inducible nitric oxide synthase regulation strongly contributes to the cognitive improvement observed following atorvastatin treatment.

Not really an aftermath.The role of actual construction in the design process of the Sydney Opera House roof

For the past 50 years,the Sydney Opera House has been the subject of a prodigious hagiography of the personalities involved in its realization and their legendary querelles.Yet it remains paradoxically unexplored when it comes to its operative construction decisions,particularly those that relate to the erection of its renowned superstructure.Through the analysis of a newly discovered set of shop drawings prepared for the innovative formwork system of the iconic roof sails,the paper contributes to the construction history of the building whilst shedding light on the hitherto unacknowledged role of the general contractor in the design process.In doing so,it questions the validity of conventional assumptions about the technical division of labour in complex projects,where construction and project management tend to be kept separate from architectural and structural design,furthermore suggesting the need for broader design exegeses,combining project-based and production-based concerns.In reflecting on its import for contemporary practice,the study suggests that the revealing picture of the Sydney Opera House project,as it emerged from the cumbersome archive-based crossanalysis of the manual documentation produced for it,is in principle much easier and perhaps important to obtain today.This is due,on the one side,to availability and diffusion of digital project collaborative platforms;on the other side,to the merging and the blurring of professional and non-professional design contributions.

Study on the Reversible DC-DC Converter as Interface between Low and Medium Voltage DC Networks

This paper introduces an isolated reversible DC-DC converter with a particular topology, which benefits from both the NPC （neutral point clamped） structure and the series-parallel connection of converters. The key property of the proposed topology is the output voltage elevation above the blocking capabilities of each switch, without taking to a delicate synchronization of series-connected semiconductors. The converter is composed by two identical cells, each containing a full bridge, a medium frequency transformer and an NPC converter, connected in parallel at the input and in series at the output. The operation principle of each cell, into which a trapezoidal modulation was implemented, is similar to a DAB （dual active bridge）. A new model improves the dynamic performance of the controller. Simulation and experimental results verify the proposed topology, its control and start-up strategy.

Weight and Efficiency Optimized DC/DC Converter Based on Multiple Interleaved Channels

Today, energy saving is one of the main objectives for engineers. In the case of mobile applications, energy can be saved by two different ways： decreasing the total masse of the system and increasing the efficiency of the overall system. This paper presents two optimization strategies to design a predefined multichannel structure of a boost converter which is dedicated to a solar airplane and used to interface PV panels and the battery system. The first strategy is a multi-criterion method that is able to trace the dependency between the converter＇s efficiency and its power density through the intermediary of the Pareto front. The second method, a mono-criterion approach, maximizes efficiency while respecting the constraint imposed on power density. The mono-criterion method that is applied to maximizing the European efficiency criterion showed that an increase in the number of channels enhanced the quantity of energy collected over a day by increasing the power density of the converter. At the end of the paper, the optimal design calculated was built to give an example of the result obtained by this design methodology. The results of the efficiency measurements made on a realized prototype are presented in this paper.

Physics and applications of charged domain walls

The charged domain wall is an ultrathin(typically nanosized)interface between two domains;it carries bound charge owing to a change of normal component of spontaneous polarization on crossing the wall.In contrast to hetero-interfaces between different materials,charged domain walls(CDWs)can be created,displaced,erased,and recreated again in the bulk of a material.Screening of the bound charge with free carriers is often necessary for stability of CDWs,which can result in giant two-dimensional conductivity along the wall.Usually in nominally insulating ferroelectrics,the concentration of free carriers at the walls can approach metallic values.Thus,CDWs can be viewed as ultrathin reconfigurable strongly conductive sheets embedded into the bulk of an insulating material.This feature is highly attractive for future nanoelectronics.The last decade was marked by a surge of research interest in CDWs.It resulted in numerous breakthroughs in controllable and reproducible fabrication of CDWs in different materials,in investigation of CDW properties and charge compensation mechanisms,in discovery of light-induced effects,and,finally,in detection of giant two-dimensional conductivity.The present review is aiming at a concise presentation of the main physical ideas behind CDWs and a brief overview of the most important theoretical and experimental findings in the field.

A dynamic influence model of social network hotspot based on grey system

The outbreak of hotspot in social network may contain complex dynamic genesis. Using user behavior data from hotspots in social network, we study how different user groups play different roles for a hotspot topic. Firstly, by analyzing users' behavior records, we mine group situation that promotes the hotspot.Several major attributions in a hotspot outbreak, such as individual, peer and group triggers, are defined formally according to the view-point of social identity, social interaction, retweet depth and opinion leader. Secondly,for the problem of the uneven and sparse data in each stage of hotspot topic's life cycle, we propose a dynamic influence model based on grey system to formalize the effect of different groups. Then the process of hotspot evolution driven by distinct crowd is showed dynamically. The experimental result confirms that the model is able not only to qualify users' influence on a hotspot topic but also to predict effectively an upcoming change in a hotspot topic.

A Methodology to Predict Fatigue Life of Cast Iron:Uniform Material Law for Cast Iron

Mechanical, physical and manufacturing properties of east iron make it attractive for many fields of application, such as cranks and cylinder holds. As in design of all metals, fatigue life prediction is an intrinsic part of the design process of structural sections that are made of cast iron. A methodology to predict high-cycle fatigue life of cast iron is proposed. Stress amplitude-strain amplitude, strain amplitude-number of loading cycles relationships of cast iron are investigated. Also, fatigue life prediction in terms of Smith, Watson and Topper parameter is carried out using the proposed method. Results indicate that the analytical outcomes of the proposed methodology are in good accordance with the experimental data for the two studied types of cast iron： EN-GJS-400 and EN-GJS-600.

Characteristics of different charge transfer modes in upward flashes inferred from simultaneously measured currents and fields

The authors present an analysis of different charge transfer modes during upward negative flashes.The analysis includes a total number of 94 pulses that occurred during two upward negative flashes recorded at the Säntis Tower.The pulses included 59 mixed-mode(MM)initial continuous current(ICC)pulses,17 M-component-type ICC(M-ICC)pulses,8 returnstroke pulses,and 10 classical M-component(MC)pulses.It is found that the initial stage of the flash is responsible for the largest share of the total charge transferred to the ground.Simulation results for the electric fields associated with the considered charge transfer modes are presented and discussed.Return stroke(RS)and MM pulses were simulated adopting the MTLE model,while MCs and M-ICC pulses were simulated using the guided wave model of Rakov et al.The simulated results are shown to be in good agreement with simultaneous records of electric fields measured at a distance of 15 km from the Säntis Tower.The inferred velocities for MCs and M-ICC pulses range from 2.0×10^(7) to 9.0×10^(7) m/s,and the corresponding junction point heights range from 1.0 to 2.0 km.The inferred pulse velocities for RSs and MM pulses range from 1.3×10^(8) to 1.65×10^(8) m/s.The inferred current attenuation constants of the MTLE model obtained in this study range from 0.3 to 0.8 km,lower than the value of 2 km previously suggested for RSs in downward flashes.The obtained results support the assumption that the mode of charge transfer to the ground giving rise to MM pulses is similar to that of RSs.The results are also in support of the generally assumed similarity between M-ICC pulses and classical MCs.

Probing the growth and mechanical properties of Bacillus subtilis biofilms through genetic mutation strategies

Bacterial communities form biofilms on various surfaces by synthesizing a cohesive and protective extracellular matrix,and these biofilms protect microorganisms against harsh environmental conditions.Bacillus subtilis is a widely used experimental species,and its biofilms are used as representative models of beneficial biofilms.Specifically,B.subtilis biofilms are known to be rich in extracellular polymeric substances(EPS)and other biopolymers such as DNA and proteins like the amyloid protein TasA and the hydrophobic protein BslA.These materials,which form an interconnected,cohesive,three-dimensional polymer network,provide the mechanical stability of biofilms and mediate their adherence to surfaces among other functional contributions.Here,we explored how genetically-encoded components specifically contribute to regulate the growth status,mechanical properties,and antibiotic resistance of B.subtilis biofilms,thereby establishing a solid empirical basis for understanding how various genetic engineering efforts are likely to affect the structure and function of biofilms.We noted discrete contributions to biofilm morphology,mechanical properties,and survival from major biofilm components such as EPS,TasA and BslA.For example,EPS plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the mechanical properties and the antibiotic resistance of biofilms,whereas BslA has a significant impact on the resolution that can be obtained for printing applications.This work provides a deeper understanding of the internal interactions of biofilm components through systematic genetic manipulations.It thus not only broadens the application prospects of beneficial biofilms,but also serves as the basis of future strategies for targeting and effectively removing harmful biofilms.

Solving surface plasmon resonances and near field in metallic nanostructures:Green’s matrix method and its applications

With the development of nanotechnology,many new optical phenomena in nanoscale have been demonstrated.Through the coupling of optical waves and collective oscillations of free electrons in metallic nanostructures,surface plasmon polaritons can be excited accompanying a strong near field enhancement that decays in a subwavelength scale,which have potential applications in the surface-enhanced Raman scattering,biosensor,optical communication,solar cells,and nonlinear optical frequency mixing.In the present article,we review the Green's matrix method for solving the surface plasmon resonances and near field in arbitrarily shaped nanostructures and in binary metallic nanostructures.Using this method,we design the plasmonic nanostructures whose resonances are tunable from the visible to near-infrared,study the interplay of plasmon resonances,and propose a new way to control plasmonic resonances in binary metallic nanostructures.