Using a Smart City IoT to Incentivise and Target Shifts in Mobility Behaviour-Is It a Piece of Pie?

The work presented in this paper is a central part of the research and development in the SUNSET project (contract No. 270228), supported by the 7th Framework Research Program funded by the European Commission. The authors also acknowledge the support of other SUNSET consortium members in helping to create and evaluate the SUNSET tripzoom system

Economic and Social Impacts of Forest Land Conversion in Africa

For this essay, the focus is on how forest conversion affects Africa's people and economy. influence on the community As a tourist attraction, one method of showcasing culture is by using attractions that are commonly recognized, such as (natural resources, culture, social life and so on). The growth of the tourism sector has opened up chances for those who perform cultural acts at tourist sites such as the performing arts, which are typically performed at tourist sites, in addition to boosting the preservation of traditions and traditional arts. locals now have more possibilities for finding work because the Tourism Object is up and running. Because the firm can hire people and so reduce unemployment, it has an economic impact

Sailing into a dilemma : an economic and legal analysis of an EU trading scheme for maritime emissions

On the basis of a joint economic and legal analysis, we evaluate the effects of a “regional” (European) emission trading scheme aiming at reducing emissions of international shipping. The focus lies on the question which share of emissions from maritime transport activities to and from the EU can and should be included in such a system. Our findings suggest that the attempt to implement an EU maritime ETS runs into a dilemma. It is not possible to design a system that achieves emission reductions in a cost efficient manner and is compatible with international law

snRNA 3\u27 End Processing by a CPSF73- Containing Complex Essential for Development in \u3ci\u3eArabidopsis\u3c/i\u3e

Uridine-rich small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are the basal components of the spliceosome and play essential roles in splicing. The biogenesis of the majority of snRNAs involves 3’ end endonucleolytic cleavage of the nascent transcript from the elongating DNA-dependent RNA ploymerase II. However, the protein factors responsible for this process remain elusive in plants. Here, we show that DEFECTIVE in snRNA PROCESSING 1 (DSP1) is an essential protein for snRNA 3’ end maturation in Arabidopsis. A hypomorphic dsp1-1 mutation causes pleiotropic developmental defects, impairs the 3’ end processing of snRNAs, increases the levels of snRNA primary transcripts (pre-snRNAs), and alters the occupancy of Pol II at snRNA loci. In addition, DSP1 binds snRNA loci and interacts with Pol-II in a DNA/RNA-dependent manner. We further show that DSP1 forms a conserved complex, which contains at least four additional proteins, to catalyze snRNA 3’ end maturation in Arabidopsis. The catalytic component of this complex is likely the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 73 kDa-I (CSPF73-I), which is the nuclease cleaving the pre-mRNA 3’ end. However, the DSP1 complex does not affect pre-mRNA 3’ end cleavage, suggesting that plants may use different CPSF73-I-containing complexes to process snRNAs and premRNAs. This study identifies a complex responsible for the snRNA 3’ end maturation in plants and uncovers a previously unknown function of CPSF73 in snRNA maturation

ORM Expression Alters Sphingolipid Homeostasis and Differentially Affects Ceramide Synthase Activity

Sphingolipid synthesis is tightly regulated in eukaryotes. This regulation in plants ensures sufficient sphingolipids to support growth while limiting the accumulation of sphingolipid metabolites that induce programmed cell death. Serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) catalyzes the first step in sphingolipid biosynthesis and is considered the primary sphingolipid homeostatic regulatory point. In this report, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) putative SPT regulatory proteins, orosomucoidlike proteins AtORM1 and AtORM2, were found to interact physically with Arabidopsis SPT and to suppress SPT activity when coexpressed with Arabidopsis SPT subunits long-chain base1 (LCB1) and LCB2 and the small subunit of SPT in a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) SPT-deficient mutant. Consistent with a role in SPT suppression, AtORM1 and AtORM2 overexpression lines displayed increased resistance to the programmed cell death-inducing mycotoxin fumonisin B1, with an accompanying reduced accumulation of LCBs and C16 fatty acid-containing ceramides relative to wild-type plants. Conversely, RNA interference (RNAi) suppression lines of AtORM1 and AtORM2 displayed increased sensitivity to fumonisin B1 and an accompanying strong increase in LCBs and C16 fatty acid-containing ceramides relative to wild-type plants. Overexpression lines also were found to have reduced activity of the class I ceramide synthase that uses C16 fatty acid acyl-coenzyme A and dihydroxy LCB substrates but increased activity of class II ceramide synthases that use very-long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A and trihydroxy LCB substrates. RNAi suppression lines, in contrast, displayed increased class I ceramide synthase activity but reduced class II ceramide synthase activity. These findings indicate that ORM mediation of SPT activity differentially regulates functionally distinct ceramide synthase activities as part of a broader sphingolipid homeostatic regulatory network

snRNA 3\u27 End Processing by a CPSF73- Containing Complex Essential for Development in \u3ci\u3eArabidopsis\u3c/i\u3e

Uridine-rich small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are the basal components of the spliceosome and play essential roles in splicing. The biogenesis of the majority of snRNAs involves 3’ end endonucleolytic cleavage of the nascent transcript from the elongating DNA-dependent RNA ploymerase II. However, the protein factors responsible for this process remain elusive in plants. Here, we show that DEFECTIVE in snRNA PROCESSING 1 (DSP1) is an essential protein for snRNA 3’ end maturation in Arabidopsis. A hypomorphic dsp1-1 mutation causes pleiotropic developmental defects, impairs the 3’ end processing of snRNAs, increases the levels of snRNA primary transcripts (pre-snRNAs), and alters the occupancy of Pol II at snRNA loci. In addition, DSP1 binds snRNA loci and interacts with Pol-II in a DNA/RNA-dependent manner. We further show that DSP1 forms a conserved complex, which contains at least four additional proteins, to catalyze snRNA 3’ end maturation in Arabidopsis. The catalytic component of this complex is likely the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 73 kDa-I (CSPF73-I), which is the nuclease cleaving the pre-mRNA 3’ end. However, the DSP1 complex does not affect pre-mRNA 3’ end cleavage, suggesting that plants may use different CPSF73-I-containing complexes to process snRNAs and premRNAs. This study identifies a complex responsible for the snRNA 3’ end maturation in plants and uncovers a previously unknown function of CPSF73 in snRNA maturation

Dengue’s climate conundrum: how vegetation and temperature shape mosquito populations and disease outbreaks

Introduction: Dengue, a prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease in tropical regions, is influenced by environmental factors such as rainfall, temperature, and urbanization. This study aims to assess the effects of microclimate, vegetation, and Aedes species distribution on dengue transmission in distinct hotspot and non-hotspot locations. Methods: This cohort study was conducted in two sites within Selangor, Malaysia: a recurrent dengue hotspot and a non-dengue hotspot. Microclimatic variables (temperature, humidity, and rainfall) were monitored over six months using data loggers, and vegetation cover was assessed through visual estimation and GIS mapping. Adult Aedes mosquitoes were collected using Gravid Oviposition Sticky (GOS) traps and identified to species level. Dengue virus presence was detected using ProDetect® Dengue NS1 Ag Rapid Test. Weekly indices for mosquito abundance and dengue risk were calculated, and statistical analyses were performed to explore correlations between microclimate, vegetation, and mosquito indices. Results: In the non-dengue hotspot, Aedesalbopictus was the predominant species, while both Aedesaegypti and Ae.albopictus coexisted in the dengue hotspot. No dengue virus was detected in Ae.albopictus, while intermittent virus presence was noted in Ae.aegypti within the dengue hotspot. Significant microclimatic differences were observed: non-dengue hotspot had higher mean humidity and lower minimum temperatures, influenced by greater vegetation cover. In contrast, dengue hotspot showed lower humidity and higher minimum temperatures. Correlation analyses indicated positive associations between temperature and mosquito abundance, with variations in vegetation cover impacting local microclimatic conditions. Conclusion: This study demonstrates how vegetation and microclimatic conditions shape Aedes mosquito distribution and dengue risk. Findings highlight the need for targeted urban planning and community interventions that reduce mosquito breeding habitats, with special attention to vegetation management and environmental modifications to control dengue transmission