•It reviews studies using street view imagery to assess SDGs.•Street view imagery could help assess SDGs 3, 11, 2, and 13.•Element and perception features are often extracted from street view ...imagery.•The greenery view index has been related to many SDGs.•Actions addressing features of street view imagery could help SDGs.
With limited time to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world needs effective, scalable approaches to measure and monitor global progress toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given that many SDGs are closely related to the environment in which people live, satellite data are commonly used for SDG assessment, but they are only based on a top-down view and have inherent technical issues (e.g., insufficient spatial resolution and cloud coverage). In recent years, street view imagery (SVI), as an emerging source of remote sensing data, has been an indispensable supplement to monitor SDGs, by recording the environment from an eye-level view. However, the systematic and comprehensive understanding of SVI applications to promote SDGs is insufficient. We reviewed SVI-related studies of SDGs and found that SVI is mainly used for good health and well-being (SDG 3), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), zero hunger (SDG 2), and climate action (SDG 13). The SVI-based greenery view index was the most common element feature related to SDGs. The SVI-derived human perception features were also often used to assess SDG 3 and SDG 11. Future studies may further investigate the potential mechanisms between SVI-based features and SDGs. This review provides a comprehensive summary and guidance for governments and scholars worldwide to assess SDGs based on SVI in the future.
Microplastics have emerged as significant and concerning pollutants within soil ecosystems. Among the soil biota, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are lethal parasites of arthropods, and are ...considered among the most effective biological agents against pests. Infective juveniles (IJs) of EPNs, as they navigate the soil matrix scavenging for arthropod hosts to infect, they could potentially encounter microplastics. Howver, the impact of microplastics on EPNs has not been fully elucidated yet. We addressed this gap by subjecting Steinernema feltiae EPNs to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) with various sizes, concentrations, and exposure durations. After confirming PS-MP ingestion by S. feltiae using fluorescent dyes, we found that the PS-MPs reduced the survival, reproduction, and pathogenicity of the tested EPNs, with effects intensifying for smaller PS-MPs (0.1–1 μm) at higher concentrations (105 μg/L). Furthermore, exposure to PS-MPs triggered oxidative stress in S. feltiae, leading to increased reactive oxygen species levels, compromised mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased antioxidative enzyme activity. Furthermore, transcriptome analyses revealed PS-MP-induced suppression of mitochondrial function and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. In conclusion, we show that ingestion of PS-MPs by EPNs can compromise their fitness, due to multple toxicity effects. Our results bear far-reaching consequences, as the presence of microplastics in soil ecosystems could undermine the ecological role of EPNs in regulating pest populations.
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•Microplastics (MPs) < 1 µm can be ingested by entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs).•MPs effects on EPNs are size-, dose- and exposure duration- dependent.•MPs induced oxidative stress in EPNs.•MPs disrupted mitochondrial function in EPNs.•MPs hindered EPNs pathogenicity.
In order to identify the surge, multifractal spectrums are investigated in the analysis of dynamic pressure at the outlet of centrifugal compressor with 800 kW. At first, the time series of dynamic ...pressure, including stable and unstable states, are obtained. Then, the relationships between characteristics of multifractal spectrums and dynamic pressure series are studied and explained in detail. The results show that the multifractal spectrum parameter Δf(α) is narrow as the centrifugal compressor is working in stable state. However, Δf(α) becomes wide, as it is working in unstable states. Finally, probability analysis of multifractal variation tendency is used to describe the predictability of the variation. The studies indicated that the associated probability between the data of adjacent periods is highest and the predictability is the strongest in transition period. Thus, the method can be used to predict and avoid surge for centrifugal compressor in early time.
Abstract This study investigated the first-ever reported use of freshwater Nannochloropsis for the bioremediation of dairy processing side streams and co-generation of valuable products, such ...as β-galactosidase enzyme. In this study, N. limnetica was found to grow rapidly on both autoclaved and non-autoclaved whey-powder media (referred to dairy processing by-product or DPBP) without the need of salinity adjustment or nutrient additions, achieving a biomass concentration of 1.05–1.36 g L −1 after 8 days. The species secreted extracellular β-galactosidase (up to 40.84 ± 0.23 U L −1 ) in order to hydrolyse lactose in DPBP media into monosaccharides prior to absorption into biomass, demonstrating a mixotrophic pathway for lactose assimilation. The species was highly effective as a bioremediation agent, being able to remove > 80% of total nitrogen and phosphate in the DPBP medium within two days across all cultures. Population analysis using flow cytometry and multi-channel/multi-staining methods revealed that the culture grown on non-autoclaved medium contained a high initial bacterial load, comprising both contaminating bacteria in the medium and phycosphere bacteria associated with the microalgae. In both autoclaved and non-autoclaved DPBP media, Nannochloropsis cells were able to establish a stable microalgae–bacteria interaction, suppressing bacterial takeover and emerging as dominant population (53–80% of total cells) in the cultures. The extent of microalgal dominance, however, was less prominent in the non-autoclaved media. High initial bacterial loads in these cultures had mixed effects on microalgal performance, promoting β-galactosidase synthesis on the one hand while competing for nutrients and retarding microalgal growth on the other. These results alluded to the need of effective pre-treatment step to manage bacterial population in microalgal cultures on DPBP. Overall, N. limnetica cultures displayed competitive β-galactosidase productivity and propensity for efficient nutrient removal on DPBP medium, demonstrating their promising nature for use in the valorisation of dairy side streams.
The nasal mucosa is the first barrier to pathogen invasion through the respiratory tract. Few studies have focused on nasal resistance to invasion by respiratory pathogens due to the lack of models ...related to the nasal mucosa. Hence, it is necessary to construct a nasal mucosal model to study host-pathogen interactions. We established a long-term
sheep nasal mucosa explant model (NMEM), which exhibited typical epithelial cilia and epithelial proliferation ability within 11 days. Moreover, to evaluate whether the NMEM was suited for
pathogenic study, we used pseudorabies virus (PRV) and showed that it successfully infected and produced severe lesions in the NMEM, particularly interferon (
)-stimulated gene product 15 (
). IFN decreased significantly after the PRV infection. Similarly, we used this NMEM model to screen several antiviral substances, such as probiotics and drugs. A previous study showed that nasal commensal bacteria, particularly
, had high antiviral activity. Then, we used the NMEM to evaluate six sheep-derived
strains and demonstrated that it significantly induced the production of IFN and expression of ISG15. The sheep-derived
was pretreated with the sheep NMEM before the PRV infection to evaluate the antiviral effect. The results showed that NSV2 significantly inhibited infection by PRV and reduced the viral load (
< 0.05). Furthermore, NSV2 may inhibit PRV replication by enhancing ISGylation of cells. In conclusion, we established a reliable
culture model of sheep NMEM, and applied it in antiviral research.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, belonging to the Coronavirus genus, which poses a threat to human health worldwide. Current therapies focus on inhibiting viral replication or using ...anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory compounds to enhance host immunity. This makes the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine compounds ideal therapies due to their proven safety and minimal toxicity. Previous research suggests that andrographolide and baicalin inhibit coronaviruses; however, their synergistic effects remain unclear. Here, we studied the antiviral mechanisms of their synergistic use in vitro and in vivo. We selected the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus for viral studies and found that synergistic andrographolide and baicalein significantly reduced angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 protein level and viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells compared to singal compound individually and inhibited the major protease activity of SARS-CoV-2. This mechanism is essential to reduce the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. In addition, their synergistic use in vivo also inhibited the elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-α-the primary cytokines in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (the main cause of COVID-19 deaths). In conclusion, this study shows that synergistic andrographolide and baicalein treatment acts as potent inhibitors of coronavirus mechanisms in vitro and in vivo-and is more effective together than in isolation.
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Microalgae are considered a viable source of protein and among them spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) stands out for its exceptionally high protein content and its potential ...nutraceutical properties. In the present work, peptic (SP) and tryptic (ST) protein hydrolysates were produced using pepsin and trypsin, respectively. The kinetics of peptides release from the protein were investigated and the hydrolysates composition was assessed by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS, identifying 55 and 76 species-specific peptides in the SP and ST hydrolysates, respectively. The bioactivity was investigated by performing in vitro experiments and cellular assays in Caco-2 cells. SP and ST inhibited in vitro the activity of peptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP-IV) with IC50 of 3.4 and 0.1 mg/mL, respectively, and of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) with IC50 of 3.0 and 0.28 mg/mL. Both activities were confirmed in Caco-2 cells, although their further metabolic degradation reduced their potencies.
The pathogeny of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is intricate, with endocrine disruptors (EDCs) being acknowledged as significant environmental factors. Research has shown a link between exposure to ...per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the development and progression of PCOS, although the precise mechanism is not fully understood. This study utilized toxicogenomics and comparative toxicogenomics databases to analyze data and investigate how PFAS mixtures may contribute to the development of PCOS. The results indicated that 74 genes are associated with both PFAS exposure and PCOS progression. Enrichment analysis suggested that cell cycle regulation and steroid hormone synthesis may be crucial pathways through which PFAS mixtures participate in the development of PCOS, involving important genes such as CCNB1 and SRD5A1. Furthermore, the study identified transcription factors (TFs) and miRNAs that may be involved in the onset and progression of PCOS, constructing regulatory networks encompassing TFs-mRNA interactions and miRNA-mRNA relationships to elucidate their regulatory roles in gene expression. By utilizing data mining techniques based on toxicogenomic databases, this study provides relatively comprehensive insights into the association between exposure factors and diseases compared to traditional toxicology studies. These findings offer new perspectives for further in vivo or in vitro investigations and contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of PCOS, thereby providing valuable references for identifying clinical treatment targets.
•74 genes may play a role in PFAS-related PCOS.•Steroid hormones and cell cycle were two main toxicity mechanisms for PFAS induced PCOS.•TFs and miRNAs may be valuable markers for the diagnosis and treatment of PFAS-related PCOS.
This study aimed to investigate the maternally inherited intergenerational and transgenerational effects of cadmium (Cd) exposure on steroid hormone synthesis in the ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) of ...offspring rats. F1 rats were obtained by mating adult female Sprague–Dawley rats with healthy adult male rats and were exposed to 0, 0.5, 2.0, and 8.0 mg/kg CdCl2 during pregnancy. The adult female rats (PND 56) were mated with healthy adult male rats to produce F2 and F3 rats. The serum progesterone (Pg) and estradiol (E2) levels of the F2 adult female rats were decreased, while those of F3 rats were significantly increased. Moreover, hormone synthesis-related genes had different expression patterns in the F2 and F3 generations. F2 and F3 rat ovarian GCs exhibited altered miRNA expression profiles and DNA methylation patterns. Validation of miRNAs that regulate hormone synthesis-related genes in the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway suggested that miR-124–3p was downregulated in F2 and F3 rats, while miR-133a-5p and miR-150–5p were upregulated in F2 rats and downregulated in F3 rats. In summary, 1) there are maternal genetic intergenerational (GCs hormone synthesis disorder) and transgenerational (GCs hormone synthesis function repair change) effects on hormone synthesis function changes in offspring GCs induced by Cd exposure during pregnancy. 2) Changes in miRNAs and DNA methylation modifications associated with the genetic effects of altered hormone synthesis function in offspring GCs induced by Cd exposure during pregnancy are important. 3) Under the current environmental level of Cd exposure, the possible risk of maternal genetic intergenerational and transgenerational effects of offspring ovarian toxicity should be strongly considered.
•There are maternal genetic intergenerational and transgenerational effects on hormone synthesis in offspring GCs induced by Cd.•Changes in miRNAs and DNA methylation related to the genetic effects of altered hormone synthesis are important.•The possible risk of maternal genetic effects of offspring ovarian toxicity induced by Cd should be strongly considered.
Assembly lines with non-constant task time attribute are widely studied in the literature. For the SALBP-II assembly line balancing problem, we take account of stochastic task time changes, which is ...more practical than the deterministic times often assumed in industrial application. An algorithm - ENCORE, which leverages the traditional algorithm SALOME2, is proposed to address the assembly line balancing problem with stochastic task time attribute. Computational and statistical experiments are conducted to show the efficiency of proposed algorithms over traditional methods with regards to the improvement of total production times.
