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Abstract Background Wood-feeding termites have been employed as sources of novel and highly efficient lignocellulolytic enzymes due to their ability to degrade lignocellulose efficiently. As a higher wood-feeding termite, Globitermes sulphureus (Blattaria: Termitidae) plays a crucial role as a decomposer in regions such as Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, and Yunnan, China. However, the diversity of its gut microbiome and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) remains unexplored. Here, we analyzed the diversity of hindgut microbial communities and CAZymes in a higher wood-feeding termite, G. sulphureus, and a lower wood-feeding termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Blattaria: Rhinotermitidae). Results 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that Spirochaetota, Firmicutes, and Fibrobacterota were the dominant microbiota in the hindgut of the two termite species. At the phylum level, the relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota were significantly greater in the hindgut of C. formosanus than in G. sulphureus. At the genus level, the relative abundances of Candidatus_Azobacteroides and Escherichia-Shigella were significantly lower in the hindgut of G. sulphureus than in C. formosanus. Metagenomic analysis revealed that glycoside hydrolases (GHs) with cellulases and hemicellulases functions were not significantly different between G. sulphureus and C. formosanus. Interestingly, the cellulases in G. sulphureus were mainly GH5_2, GH5_4, GH6, GH9, and GH45, while the hemicellulases were mainly GH11, GH8, GH10, GH11, GH26, and GH53. In C. formosanus, the cellulases were mainly GH6 and GH9, and the hemicellulases were mainly GH5_7, GH5_21, GH10, GH12, and GH53. In addition, β-glucosidase, exo-β-1,4-glucanase, and endo-β-1,4-glucanase activities did not differ significantly between the two termite species, while xylanase activity was higher in G. sulphureus than in C. formosanus. The bacteria encoding GHs in G. sulphureus were mainly Firmicutes, Fibrobacterota, and Proteobacteria, whereas Bacteroidota and Spirochaetota were the main bacteria encoding GHs in C. formosanus. Conclusions Our findings characterized the microbial composition and differences in the hindgut microbiota of G. sulphureus and C. formosanus. Compared to C. formosanus, G. sulphureus is enriched in genes encoding for hemicellulase and debranching enzymes. It also highlights the rich diversity of GHs in the hindgut microbiota of G. sulphureus, including the GH5 subfamily, GH6, and GH48, with the GH6 and GH48 not previously reported in other higher termites. These results strengthen the understanding of the diversity of termite gut microbiota and CAZymes.

Abstract With climate change and anthropic influence on the coastal ecosystems, mangrove ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming rate. Accordingly, it becomes important to track, study, record and store the mangrove microbial community considering their ecological importance and potential for biotechnological applications. Here, we provide information on mangrove fungal community composition and diversity in mangrove ecosystems with different plant species and from various locations differing in relation to anthropic influences. We describe twelve newly assembled genomes, including four chromosomal-level genomes of fungal isolates from the mangrove ecosystems coupled with functional annotations. We envisage that these data will be of value for future studies including comparative genome analysis and large-scale temporal and/or spatial research to elucidate the potential mechanisms by which mangrove fungal communities assemble and evolve. We further anticipate that the genomes represent valuable resources for bioprospecting related to industrial or clinical uses.

IntroductionMonkeypox virus (MPXV) hosts are of multiple species, with a risk of cross-species transmission. This phenomenon poses a threat to unreported affected domestic animals and increases the risk to human public health. Clinical diagnostics continue to face challenges regarding specificity among poxviruses. The need for a rapid and precise assay to differentiate between MPXV clades I and II, as well as goatpox virus (GTPV) is essential for enhancing our capacity for disease prevention, control, and epidemiological investigation.MethodsTo address this need, we have successfully developed a multiplex real-time PCR assay targeting MPXV D14L gene for clade I, MPXV D18L gene for clade II, and GTPV RPO30 gene, which can simultaneously detect MPXV clades I and II as well as GTPV.ResultsThe developed assay demonstrated high sensitivity, with limits of detection at 207.83 copies/reaction for MPXV clade I, 252.07 copies/reaction for MPXV clade II, and 208.72 copies/reaction for GTPV. Importantly, there was no cross-reactivity with other non-pox viruses which infect goats. The assay exhibited excellent repeatability, with coefficients of variation (CV%) for intra-assay and inter-assay ranging from 0.17% to 0.89% and 0.58% to 1.09%, respectively.DiscussionThis assay can serve as a vital resource to safeguard against the MPXV epidemic posing a threat to the life safety of goats, to mitigate potential risks to the sheep farming industry, and to prevent the transmission of MPXV to humans through sheep, which could act as a potential transmission vector for infection.

BackgroundInvestigation into the immune heterogeneity linked with atherosclerosis remains understudied. This knowledge gap hinders the creation of a robust theoretical framework essential for devising personalized immunotherapies aimed at combating this disease.MethodsSingle-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis was employed to delineate the immune cell-type landscape within atherosclerotic plaques, followed by assessments of cell-cell interactions and phenotype characteristics using scRNA-seq datasets. Subsequently, pseudotime trajectory analysis was utilized to elucidate the heterogeneity in cell fate and differentiation among macrophages. Through integrated approaches, including single-cell sequencing, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), and machine learning techniques, we identified hallmark genes. A risk score model and a corresponding nomogram were developed and validated using these genes, confirmed through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Additionally, enrichment and immune characteristic analyses were conducted based on the risk score model. The model’s applicability was further corroborated by in vitro and in vivo validation of specific genes implicated in atherosclerosis.ResultThis comprehensive scRNA-seq analysis has shed new light on the intricate immune landscape and the role of macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques. The presence of diverse immune cell populations, with a particularly enriched macrophage population, was highlighted by the results. Macrophage heterogeneity was intricately characterized, revealing four distinct subtypes with varying functional attributes that underscore their complex roles in atherosclerotic pathology. Intercellular communication analysis revealed robust macrophage interactions with multiple cell types and detailed pathways differing between proximal adjacent and atherosclerotic core groups. Furthermore, pseudotime trajectories charted the developmental course of macrophage subpopulations, offering insights into their differentiation fates within the plaque microenvironment. The use of machine learning identified potential diagnostic markers, culminating in the identification of RNASE1 and CD14. The risk score model based on these biomarkers exhibited high accuracy in diagnosing atherosclerosis. Immune characteristic analysis validated the risk score model’s efficacy in defining patient profiles, distinguishing high-risk individuals with pronounced immune cell activities. Finally, experimental validation affirmed RNASE1’s involvement in atherosclerotic progression, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.ConclusionOur findings have advanced our understanding of atherosclerosis immunopathology and paved the way for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Tree productivity is not only determined by stand structure, but also influenced by soil chemical properties, climate and topography. However, the relative importance of each indicator on larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii) productivity were uncertain. In this study, 76 pure larch forest plots were selected based on national forest inventory (NFI) data in Hebei Province, China. Structural equation model (SEM) was used to analyze the direct and indirect effects of stand structure, soil chemical properties, climate and topography on larch productivity, and to quantify the relative importance of each indicator in determining productivity. The results showed that stem volume growth (SVG) of larch was influenced by a combination of stand density, diameter at breast height (DBH), mean winter snow (PAS), annual temperature range (TD), slope, and alkali-hydrolysis nitrogen (AN). SVG tended to increase with decreasing stand density and AN content and increasing DBH. Stand density, DBH and AN were more important than PAS, TD, and slope in explaining SVG variation. The results can provide a scientific basis for adaptive management of larch forests.

Negative thermal expansion (NTE) defies the conventional wisdom of lattice dynamics and offers a novel way to control the expansion coefficient and address some challenges in modern science and technology. From an application standpoint, materials exhibiting NTE across a broad temperature range, including room temperature, are highly sought after. In this work, we propose the multi-doping strategy and prepared a series of rare-earth-based lithium oxides featuring negative thermal expansion, with the objective of adjusting their temperature range. The phase transition temperatures of these materials range from 202 K to 467 K, demonstrating a linear correlation with the average ionic radius of the rare-earth elements. By capitalizing on the synergistic effects of four rare-earth elements, we expand the full width at half maximum of the thermal expansion peak in Li(ErYHoDy)0.25O2 from 1.6 K to 14.5 K, a notable improvement of nearly tenfold is achieved. Additionally, we investigate the low-temperature magnetocaloric effects and inverse barocaloric effects within these rare-earth-based lithium oxides. Temperature- and pressure-dependent Raman scattering measurements indicate that the phase transitions and the barocaloric effects are associated with the stretching mode of the Li–O bond and the vibrational mode of the YO6 octahedron.

Abstract Background Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a world organization for animal health (WOAH) notifiable and economically important transboundary, highly communicable viral disease of small ruminants. PPR virus (PPRV) belongs to the genus Morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae. Aim The present cross-sectional epidemiological investigation was accomplished to estimate the apparent prevalence and identify the risk factors linked with peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in the previously neglected northern border regions of Pakistan. Method A total of 1300 samples (serum = 328; swabs = 972) from 150 flocks/herds were compiled from sheep (n = 324), goats (n = 328), cattle (n = 324), and buffaloes (n = 324) during 2020–2021 and tested using ELISA for detection of viral antibody in sera or antigen in swabs. Results An overall apparent prevalence of 38.7% (504 samples) and an estimated true prevalence (calculated by the Rogan and Gladen estimator) of 41.0% (95% CI, 38.0–44 were recorded in the target regions. The highest apparent prevalence of 53.4% (85 samples) and the true prevalence of 57.0%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were documented in the Gilgit district and the lowest apparent prevalence of 53 (25.1%) and the true prevalence of 26.0%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 19.0–33.0) was reported in the Swat district. A questionnaire was designed to collect data about associated risk factors that were put into a univariable logistic regression to decrease the non-essential assumed risk dynamics with a P-value of 0.25. ArcGIS, 10.8.1 was used to design hotspot maps and MedCalc’s online statistical software was used to calculate Odds Ratio (OR). Some of the risk factors significantly different (P

Abstract Background Surgical staplers have been widely used to facilitate surgeries, and this study aimed to examine the real-world effectiveness of a new powered stapling system with Gripping Surface Technology (GST) on intraoperative outcomes of gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Method The data were extracted from the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University’s (FHHMU) medical records system. Participants (N = 121 patients) were classified into the GST (n = 59) or non-GST group (n = 62), based on the use of the GST system. The intraoperative outcomes such as bleeding were assessed by reviewing video records. T-tests, Chi-square tests, and Mann–Whitney-U tests were used to compare the baseline characteristics between groups. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted for adjusting outcomes to study the effect of variables. Results Compared with the non-GST group, the GST group had significantly lower risks for intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative anastomosis intervention rate, intraoperative suture, and intraoperative pression (aORs: 0.0853 (p

Carbon nano additives (CNAs) are critical to achieving the unique properties of functionalized composites, however, controlling the dispersion of CNAs in material matrix is always a challenging task. In this study, a simple atomization approach was successfully developed to promote the dispersion efficiency of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in cement composites. This atomization approach can be integrated with the direct, indirect and combined ultrasonic stirrings in a homemade automatic stirring-atomization device. Mechanical and microstructure tests were performed on hardened cement pastes blended with GNPs in different stirring and mixing approaches. Results show that the direct ultrasonic stirrings enabled more homogeneous dispersions of GNP particles with a smaller size for a longer duration. The atomized droplets with the mean size of ∼100 ​μm largely mitigated GNPs’ agglomerations. Monolayer GNPs were observed in the cement matrix with the strength gain by up to 54%, and the total porosity decrease by 21% in 0.3 ​wt% GNPs dosage. The greatly enhanced dispersion efficiency of GNPs in cement also raised the cement hydration. This work provides an effective and manpower saving technique toward dispersing CNAs in engineering materials with great industrialization prospects.

The ability of Deinococcus bacteria to survive in harsh environments, such as high radiation, extreme temperature, and dryness, is mainly attributed to the generation of unique pigments, especially carotenoids. Although the limited number of natural pigments produced by these bacteria restricts their industrial potential, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology can significantly increase pigment yield and expand their application prospects. In this study, we review the properties, biosynthetic pathways, and functions of key enzymes and genes related to these pigments and explore strategies for improving pigment production through gene editing and optimization of culture conditions. Additionally, studies have highlighted the unique role of these pigments in antioxidant activity and radiation resistance, particularly emphasizing the critical functions of deinoxanthin in D. radiodurans. In the future, Deinococcus bacterial pigments will have broad application prospects in the food industry, drug production, and space exploration, where they can serve as radiation indicators and natural antioxidants to protect astronauts’ health during long-term space flights.

Photosynthetic characteristics of tall trees play important roles in improving the accuracy of ecosystem models, but they are laborious to be accurately measured or estimated owing to the influence of multiple factors. To clarify the main drivers of vertical and seasonal patterns of leaf photosynthetic characteristics of young planted Larix Olgensis trees, we collected data on the photosynthetic, morphological, and meteorological characteristics by a long-term observation throughout the entire growing season. Vertical and seasonal patterns of leaf photosynthetic characteristics and their impact factors were analyzed. Results showed that maximum net CO2 assimilation (Amax), light saturated stomatal conductance (gs-sat), respiration rate (RD), needle mass per area (NMA), and ratio of needle length to needle width (rlw) all significantly and negatively correlated with relative depth into crown (RDINC), that was caused by the adaptive alteration of mesophyll tissue to the differed light intensity and humidity. Amax and gs-sat both showed a similar 'parabolic' seasonal trend, that was not only affected by the variation of environment but also the leaf economic spectrum, such as NMA. Our results suggested that spatiotemporal variations of crown photosynthetic characteristics were directly influenced by leaf economic spectrum but fundamentally affected by the long-term acclimation to surrounding environmental factors. This is helpful to optimize the crown photosynthesis model to assess instantaneous or even long-term photosynthetic production, in order to clarify the balance of supply and demand within crown, and further guide the effective pruning for individual trees.

Background: The aim of this study is to describe technical considerations and short-term outcomes of the first officially published robot-assisted remote radical distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer with 5G technology. Methods: A 51-year-old gastric cancer patient with clinical stage T2N0M0 underwent 5G-enabled robot-assisted remote radical distal gastrectomy on September 11, 2023 ​at the Third Department of Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Results: The surgery procedure was successfully performed with an average total intraoperative delay of 225 ​ms, average round-trip delay of 30 ​ms and no packet loss rate. The operative time was 140 ​min and intraoperative blood loss was 20 ​ml. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 6 without any postoperative complications. Conclusion: This case has preliminarily verified the feasibility and safety of 5G-enabled robot-assisted remote radical distal gastrectomy for patients with gastric cancer. The initial study fills in the gaps in related fields and lays a solid foundation for subsequent research. To verify its superior operative outcomes, further clinical trials are needed.

Calcium-sulfate-aluminate and Portland cement (CSA-PC) hybrids with balanced engineering properties would be a preferable solution to mitigate the increasingly raised CO2 emissions by PC. Meanwhile, CSA hydrates are rather active to carbonation, therefore, it is urgent to clarify how accelerated CO2 curing (ACC) impacts the microstructure and engineering properties of CSA-PC hybrids. Herein, an ACC scheme with the CO2 gas pressure of 0.5 MPa and duration of 24 h was designed to treat hybrid CSA-PC pastes and mortars. Mechanical properties and capillary absorption of the ACC-treated CSA-PC hybrids were evaluated with profound analysis of microstructure and mineral characteristics by SEM, MIP, Nitrogen adsorption, XRD and TG/DTG. Results show that the ACC treatment can systematically increase compressive strength by up to 65.2 % and depress capillary absorption rate by up to 72.2 %, respectively, for the optimal CSA-PC mixes. Rapid carbonation of the cement clinkers and hydrates, e.g., calcium hydroxide, ettringite, and ye'elimite, results in precipitation of CaCO3 that refines the pore structure and improves the material compactness. 25 % replacement of PC with CSA shows the highest strength gain to CO2 uptake ratio (SGCUR) of 1.05. The findings deepen the mechanistic understandings in microstructure refinement of ACC-treated CSA-PC hybrids with lower CO2 emissions.

Special environmental microorganisms are considered to be of great industrial application value because of their special genotypes, physiological functions and metabolites. The research and development of special environmental microorganisms will certainly bring about some innovations in biotechnology processes and change the face of bioengineering. The Special Environmental Microbial Database (DSEMR) is a comprehensive database that provides information on special environmental microbial resources and correlates them with synthetic biological parts. DSEMR aggregates information on specific environmental microbial genomes, physiological properties, culture media, biological parts, and metabolic pathways, and provides online tool analysis data, including 5268 strains from 620 genera, 31 media, and 42,126 biological parts. In short, DSEMR will become an important resource for the study of microorganisms in special environments and actively promote the development of synthetic biology.

With the development of ecological civilization construction, urban planning and development in China have entered a phase in which optimizing and constructing ecological spaces is required. As a national livable city, Xuchang has experienced rapid economic development in recent years, leading to significant urban expansion that has impacted the layout of ecological space networks in the central urban area and its surroundings. Therefore, identifying and optimizing the spatial layout of ecological corridors in Xuchang City are crucial for ecological development and park city construction. This study utilizes multisource geospatial data to identify and extract ecological corridors in the central urban area of Xuchang City. Ecological resistance and gravity models are employed to identify and verify that the primary ecological corridor pattern in Xuchang City is situated in Weidu District, which is a central urban area. Finally, 11 main ecological corridors in the central urban area are delineated. In response to the identification of ecological corridors, this study integrates spatial analysis methods and text analysis methods to evaluate the characteristics of urban ecological corridors. The results indicate that Xudu Park extends outward, serving as the hub of the ecological network, and that West Lake Park and Luming Lake Park form the core of the urban park system. Finally, based on the spatial relationships, ecological benefits, and citizen experience of each ecological corridor and the green parks it traverses, strategies for optimizing the layout of urban ecological corridors are proposed.

Cryogenic refrigeration technology based on magnetocaloric effects plays a critical role in a variety of technological applications. In this paper, we report the cryogenic magnetocaloric effects of a series of sodium-rare earth fluoride samples (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb) synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. These compounds all crystallize in a hexagonal crystal structure. Down to 2 K, no magnetic ordering was detected, while all compounds show negative Curie–Weiss temperatures indicative of strong antiferromagnetic coupling. Magnetic fields effectively suppress the magnetic fluctuations, leading to a maximum magnetic entropy change of −56 J kg−1 K−1 in NaGdF4 at the magnetic field change from 0 to 50 kOe. These series of compounds are potentially excellent magnetic refrigerants at low temperatures.

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is a morbillivirus that causes the acute and highly pathogenic infectious disease peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in small ruminants and poses a major threat to the goat and sheep industries. Currently, there is no effective treatment for PPRV infection. Here, we propose Carboplatin, a platinum-based regimen designed to treat a range of malignancies, as a potential antiviral agent. We showed that Carboplatin exhibits significant antiviral activity against PPRV in a cell culture model. The mechanism of action of Carboplatin against PPRV is mainly attributed to its ability to block STING mediated autophagy. Together, our study supports the discovery of Carboplatin as an antiviral against PPRV and potentially other closely related viruses, sheds light on its mode of action, and establishes STING as a valid and attractive target to counteract viral infection.

Abstract Stand spatial structure plays a key role in forest management, and in particular the random structural unit, comprising random tree and its neighbors, largely determines forest stability and its productivity. However, how the spatial structure of the random structural unit affects productivity remains unclear. The study focused on four larch forest types from Hebei and Shanxi provinces, China: 35‐year‐old larch (Larix principis‐rupprechtii) plantations (35LP), 39‐year‐old mixed larch–birch (Betula platyphylla) forests (39LB), 58‐year‐old natural larch forests (58LN), and 73‐year‐old mixed larch–birch–spruce (Picea asperata) forests (73LBS). The forest spatial structure index (FSSI) was employed to comprehensively evaluate the stand spatial structure. Additionally, the uniform angle index was used to discern whether the stand structure units were uniform, random, or clumped. A regression model was used to elucidate the effects of species mingling, diameter dominance, and crowding on the productivity of random trees. Results showed that the FSSI varied among the stand types, ranking as 35LP

Abstract To decrease the energy consumption for the electrical manipulation of magnetization, the enhancement of the spin Hall effect through alloying is widely investigated, but the use of rare earth elements is rarely mentioned. This work reports the modification of the spin Hall effect on Pt by doping rare earth Tb atoms. The spin–orbit torque (SOT) performance is significantly enhanced in Pt100‐yTby alloyed heavy metal (HM) layer. Compared with the Tb‐free sample, the damping‐like effective field per unit current density increases to 1.9 times in the samples with Tb content between 5% and 10%. The critical current density for magnetization reversal is greatly reduced by 65% in a device with Pt87Tb13 HM layer and the in‐plane assistant field as small as ±20 Oe is sufficient for the deterministic switching in the same device. By magneto‐optical Kerr effect imaging, it is confirmed that the increased in‐plane field can effectively compensate the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI), which not only helps to reduce the critical current, but also facilitates the domain wall motion and is beneficial for the switching process. All results show that the Pt‐Tb alloy is a competitive candidate for low‐power spintronic devices.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), an important viral disease of swine caused by PRRS virus (PRRSV) was first confirmed in Nepal in 2013. Since then, the virus has spread throughout the country and has now become endemic affecting the pig production nationally. However, molecular characterization of circulating strains has not been done in Nepal yet. In the present study, serum samples were collected from outbreak areas of different districts of Nepal and samples positive for PRRSV by ELISA were sent to Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), United Kingdom for sequence analysis. Out of 35 samples that were sent to APHA, only one sample was found positive by PCR and subjected to sequence analysis based on ORF5, ORF7 and Nsp2. The results from the phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the PRRSV strain belongs to PRRSV-2 and lineage 8 strain. The sequences from the Nepalese PRRSV strain revealed a high degree of similarity with the strains isolated from India, China and Vietnam, with the closest genetic relatedness to the Indian isolates from 2020 and 2018. This is the first study on molecular characterization of PRRS virus circulating in Nepal. Further studies on strains circulating in Nepal are very essential to understand the virus diversity, its spread and evolution.

Forest landscape fragmentation poses a significant challenge to the conservation of species diversity. Evaluating the suitability of forest landscape restoration (FLR) becomes essential as it promotes effective management of forest resources and protects species diversity. This study focused on deploying and testing a suitability evaluation framework system for FLR in the Saihanba area of Hebei, China. The framework system incorporated factors such as land cover type, landscape structure, soil quality, and topography. Using the matter-element model, the study evaluated the restoration suitability and identified priority restoration areas. The results revealed that land cover type and landscape structure were the primary factors influencing FLR in the study area. The suitable area for FLR in the study area was about 519.20 km2, accounting for 55.55% of the total area. The area of moderate, marginal, and unsuitable restoration accounted for 17.30%, 23.96%, and 3.18% of the study area, respectively. The suitable restoration areas predominantly consisted of natural secondary forest characterized by large patch areas, short distances between patches, and complex patch shapes. In the study area, the objective of FLR should be protect large and complex shaped patches of natural secondary forests for better conservation of species diversity. The FLR suitability evaluation conducted in this study provide a valuable guidance for promoting species-diversity conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems at the landscape scale in the study area and other similar regions.

Under-canopy afforestation using different tree species is a key approach in close-to-nature management to improve the structural and functional stability of plantation forests. However, current research on understory afforestation mainly focuses on the seedling stage, with limited attention to saplings or young trees. In this study, we evaluated the growth characteristics and leaf traits of 14-year-old Pinus sylvestris var. Mongolica trees under four different upper forest density (UFD) treatments: 0 trees/hm2 (canopy openness 100%, CK), 150 trees/hm2 (canopy openness 51.9%, T1), 225 trees/hm2 (canopy openness 43.2%, T2), and 300 trees/hm2 (canopy openness 28.4%, T3). We found that the survival rate of P. sylvestris in the T3 was significantly lower than in the other treatments, with a decrease of 30.2%, 18.3%, and 19.5% compared to CK, T1, and T2, respectively. The growth of P. sylvestris in the T1 treatment exhibited superior performance. Specifically, T1 showed a significant increase of 18.8%, 5.5%, and 24.1% in tree height, diameter at breast height, and crown width, respectively, compared to the CK. The mean trunk biomass ratio in the understory was significantly higher than that in full light by 15.4%, whereas the mean leaf biomass ratio was significantly lower by 12.3%. Understory P. sylvestris trees tended to allocate more biomass to the trunk at the expense of decreasing leaf biomass, which would facilitate height growth to escape the shading environment, although the promotion was relatively limited. Leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, leaf thickness, mesophyll tissue thickness, epidermis thickness, and leaf carbon content were the highest in the CK and tended to decrease with increasing UFD, indicating that a high-light environment favored leaf growth and enhanced carbon accumulation. In summary, young P. sylvestris trees adapted to moderate shading conditions created by the upper canopy, and the T1 treatment was optimal for the growth of understory P. sylvestris. This study provides insights into different adaptive strategies of young P. sylvestris trees to changes in light environment, providing practical evidence for under-canopy afforestation using light-demanding trees during pure plantation transformation.

Heat is almost everywhere. Unlike electricity, which can be easily manipulated, the current ability to control heat is still highly limited owing to spontaneous thermal dissipation imposed by the second law of thermodynamics. Optical illumination and pressure have been used to switch endothermic/exothermic responses of materials via phase transitions; however, these strategies are less cost-effective and unscalable. Here, we spectroscopically demonstrate the glassy crystal state of 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (AMP) to realize an affordable, easily manageable approach for thermal energy recycling. The supercooled state of AMP is so sensitive to pressure that even several megapascals can induce crystallization to the ordered crystal, resulting in a substantial temperature increase of 48 K within 20 s. Furthermore, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept device capable of programable heating with an extremely high work-to-heat conversion efficiency of ∼383. Such delicate and efficient tuning of heat may remarkably facilitate rational utilization of waste heat.

Abstract Background Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is a highly contagious pathogen that strongly influences the productivity of small ruminants worldwide. Acetylation is an important post-translational modification involved in regulation of multiple biological functions. However, the extent and function of acetylation in host cells during PPRV infection remains unknown. Methods Dimethylation-labeling-based quantitative proteomic analysis of the acetylome of PPRV-infected Vero cells was performed. Results In total, 1068 proteins with 2641 modification sites were detected in response to PPRV infection, of which 304 differentially acetylated proteins (DAcPs) with 410 acetylated sites were identified (fold change 1.2 and P

This paper introduces a current control method for permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) using a disturbance sliding mode observer (DSMO) in conjunction with a linear quadratic regulator (LQR). This approach enhances control performance, streamlines the tuning of controller parameters, and offers robust optimal control that is resistant to system disturbances. The LQR controller based on state feedback is advantageous for its simplicity in parameter adjustment and achieving an optimal control effect easily under specific performance indicators. It is suitable for the optimal control of strong linear systems that can be accurately modeled. However, most practical systems are difficult to model accurately, and the time-varying system parameters and existing nonlinearity limit the engineering application of LQR. In the PMSM current control loop, there is strong nonlinear disturbance manifesting as the nonlinearity of its dynamic model. Additionally, substantial noise and variations in system parameters within actual motor circuits hinder the linear quadratic regulator from attaining optimal performance. A disturbance sliding mode observer is proposed to enhance the LQR controller, enabling superior performance in nonlinear current loop control. Simulation and actual hardware experiments were conducted to verify the performance and robustness of the control scheme proposed in this paper. Compared with the widely used PI controller in engineering and sliding mode control (SMC) specialising in disturbance rejection, it offers the advantage of straightforward parameter tuning and can swiftly achieve the robust and optimal control performance that engineers prioritize.

Abstract The saltwater hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria (M. mercenaria) as a representative of low-value shellfish, enhancing its flavor quality, is the key to enter the high-end market. Nevertheless, there has not been reported research on the flavor quality of M. mercenaria. This study compared the flavor quality of selective and non-selective saltwater hard clams of M. mercenaria by using various indicators: proximate component, free amino acids, nucleotides, and metabolomic analysis. The results indicated that selective breeding contributed to the significant improvement contents of crude protein, flavor-associated free amino acids (glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, etc.), and nucleotides (AMP) (P 1 and P

Abstract Magnetic refrigeration around the liquid-helium temperature plays a critical role in many technological sectors. Even if gallium gadolinium garnet (GGG) has been regarded as the benchmark, its application is highly limited by the small magnetic entropy changes, the requirement of superconducting magnets, and the large device sizes. Here, we report that LiREF4 (RE = rare earth) single crystals exhibit significantly superior magnetocaloric performance levels to commercial GGG. Under a small magnetic field of 5 kOe, which can be easily achieved by a permanent magnet, the magnetic entropy change reaches a record-high value of 16.7 J kg−1 K−1 in LiHoF4 in contrast to the value of 1.0 J kg−1 K−1 in GGG. The combination of small driving fields, large entropy changes, and excellent thermal and/or magnetic reversibility enables this series to be employed as the ideal working material for compact magnetic refrigeration around the liquid-helium temperature.

ABSTRACTForest Stock Volume (FSV) is one of the key indicators in forestry resource investigation and management on local, regional, and national scales. Limited by the saturation problems of optical satellite remote-sensing imagery in the retrieving of stock volume, and the high cost of Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) data, it is still challenging to estimate FSV in a large area using single-sensor remote-sensing data. In this paper, a method integrated multispectral satellite imagery and LiDAR data was developed to map stock volume in a large area. A random forest model was adopted to estimate the stock volume of larch forest in China based on the training samples from the Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS)-derived stock volume and corresponding Sentinel-2 imagery. Validation using National Forest Inventory (NFI) data, ALS-derived stock volume and ground investigation data demonstrated that the estimated stock volume had a high accuracy (R2 = 0.59, RMSE = 59.69 m3/ha, MD = 39.96 m3/ha when validated with NFI data; R2 ranged from 0.77 to 0.85, RMSE ranged from 38.68 m3/ha to 67.38 m3/ha, MD ranged from 24.90 m3/ha to 37.27 m3/ha when validated with ALS stock volume; R2 = 0.42, RMSE = 79.10 m3/ha, MD = 62.06 m3/ha when validated with field investigation data). Results of this paper indicated the applicability of estimating stock volume of larch forest in a large area by combining Sentinel-2 data and airborne LiDAR data.

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most widely used plastics around the world. However, PP is recalcitrant to degradation under natural conditions, and its accumulation is increasingly threatening the environment. The stain LICME-ZWZR-10 was isolated from a landfill using PP as its sole carbon source. It was found to share 99.50% genetic similarity with Psychrobacillus sp. AK 1817. Upon incubation with Psychrobacillus sp. LICME-ZWZR-10, PP particles developed a rough surface with depressions and cracks, which were discerned through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At a moderate temperature of 20 °C, this strain successfully degraded PP particles with an average diameter of 850 μm, leading to a 9±0.40% reduction in particle weight over a span of 30 days. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) released the emergence of carbonyl and ether-based functional groups on PP. Furthermore, genomic analysis unveiled the presence of a laccase-encoding gene in Psychrobacillus sp. LICME-ZWZR-10, suggesting its potential involvement in the biodegradation of PP.

ObjectiveTo analyze the recurrence and metastasis patterns and prognosis after complete resection of retroperitoneal liposarcoma.MethodsThe clinical postoperative follow-up data and results of patients who underwent complete resection of retroperitoneal liposarcoma from September 10, 2014, to September 8, 2021, at Hebei Medical University hospital were collected retrospectively.ResultsA total of 60 patients with complete resection of retroperitoneal liposarcoma, including 33 cases of retroperitoneal liposarcoma recurrence, 2 cases of liver metastasis, and 1 case of lung metastasis, were included. The results showed that 100% of the recurrent sites were located in the primary region of the tumor, with most recurrences located near the kidney, paracolic sulci, and iliac vessels. Three patients had distant metastasis without obvious recurrence on imaging examination. The pathological type of retroperitoneal liposarcoma, Ki67 expression, and presence of serum albumin were risk factors for recurrence and metastasis after complete resection of retroperitoneal liposarcoma. The malignancy and Ki67 expression were independent risk factors for recurrence and metastasis as well as for overall survival of patients undergoing complete resection of retroperitoneal liposarcoma.ConclusionComplete resection remains the most effective method to treat retroperitoneal liposarcoma. Patients with pathological types of retroperitoneal liposarcoma showing dedifferentiation, pleomorphism, mixed type, and high Ki67 expression should be closely monitored and observed after complete resection, especially for imaging changes in the primary tumor area.

IntroductionTo achieve effective conservation objectives, it is crucial to map biodiversity patterns and hotspots while considering multiple influencing factors. However, focusing solely on biodiversity hotspots is inadequate for species conservation on a landscape scale. This emphasizes the importance of integrating hotspots with the home ranges of species to identify priority conservation areas.MethodsCompiling the vegetation data with environmental and anthropogenic disturbance data collected from kilometer-grid plots in Bawangling Nature Reserve, Hainan, China, we analyzed the spatial distribution of plant diversity (species richness and Shannon-Wiener index), as well as the main drivers affecting these patterns. We also investigated the spatial distribution of hotspots using a threshold approach and compared them with the home ranges of the flagship species, Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus).ResultClimate and soil are predominant drivers shaping the spatial pattern of plant diversity in Bawangling Nature Reserve, surpassing the influence of anthropogenic disturbance and topographic factors. Both diversity indices exhibit a generally similar pattern with exceptions in surrounding areas of Futouling and Elongling. The hotspots identified by the Shannon-Wiener index showed a higher spatial overlap with the home ranges of Hainan gibbon compared to the species richness hotspots. The recently established Hainan gibbon Group E in 2019, located 8 km away from the original Futouling habitat, does not coincide with identified hotspots.DiscussionOur findings indicate that the hotspots of plant diversity within the habitat of Hainan gibbon Group E are relatively limited, emphasizing the necessity of giving precedence to its conservation. Integrating hotspots with the home ranges of critically endangered species offers decision-makers valuable information to establish rational conservation networks in the context of changing environments, as well as a reference for habitat restoration of species.

Metal additive manufacturing is gaining immense research attention. Some of these research efforts are associated with physics, statistical, or artificial intelligence-driven process modelling and optimisation, structure–property characterisation, structural design optimisation, or equipment enhancements for cost reduction and faster throughputs. In this review, the focus is drawn on the utilisation of topology optimisation for structural design in metal additive manufacturing. First, the symbiotic relationship between topology optimisation and metal additive manufacturing in aerospace, medical, automotive, and other industries is investigated. Second, support structure design by topology optimisation for thermal-based powder-bed processes is discussed. Third, the introduction of capabilities to limit manufacturing constraints and generate porous features in topology optimisation is examined. Fourth, emerging efforts to adopt artificial intelligence models are examined. Finally, some open-source and commercial software with capabilities for topology optimisation and metal additive manufacturing are explored. This study considers the challenges faced while providing perceptions on future research directions.

To enhance the quality of life and ensure sustainability in crowded cities, safe management of drinking water using cutting-edge technologies is a priority. This study developed an intelligent early warning system (EWS) for alarming and controlling risks from bacteria and disinfection byproducts in a drinking water distribution system (DWDS), named BARCS (Bacterial Risk Controlling System). BARCS adopts an artificial intelligence (AI) approach to data-driven prediction and considers total chlorine (TCl) concentration as the pivot indicator for risk identification and control. First, the machine learning-based AI model in BARCS can provide a reliable prediction of TCl concentration in a DWDS, with an average R2 of 0.64 for the validation set, while offering great flexibility for BARCS to adapt to various conditions. Second, TCl concentration was proven to be a good indicator of bacterial risk in a DWDS, as well as a cost-effective surrogate variable to assess disinfection byproduct risk. Third, the robustness analysis demonstrates that with state-of-the-art water quality monitoring technologies, online implementation of BARCS in real-world settings is feasible. Overall, BARCS represents a promising solution to the safe management of drinking water in future smart cities. HIGHLIGHTS BARCS predicts and regulates bacterial risk in pipelines.; TCl prediction module harvests an average R2 of 0.64 for the validation set.; The relationship between TCl and CFU is quantified.; Online implementation of BARCS in real-world settings is feasible.;

Abstract Recently, flexible iontronic pressure sensors (FIPSs) with higher sensitivities and wider sensing ranges than conventional capacitive sensors have been widely investigated. Due to the difficulty of fabricating the nanostructures that are commonly used on electrodes and ionic layers by screen printing techniques, strategies for fabricating such devices using these techniques to drive their mass production have rarely been reported. Herein, for the first time, we employed a 2-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) as both an additive and an ionic liquid reservoir in an ionic film, making the sensor printable and significantly improving its sensitivity and sensing range through screen printing. The engineered sensor exhibited high sensitivity (Smin> 261.4 kPa−1) and a broad sensing range (0.05–450 kPa), and it was capable of stable operation at a high pressure (400 kPa) for more than 5000 cycles. In addition, the integrated sensor array system allowed accurate monitoring of wrist pressure and showed great potential for health care systems. We believe that using h-BN as an additive in an ionic material for screen-printed FIPS could greatly inspire research on 2D materials for similar systems and other types of sensors. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) was employed for the first time to make iontronic pressure sensor arrays with high sensitivity and a broad sensing range by screen printing.

Abstract Background Canine distemper virus (CDV) is one of the most contagious and lethal viruses known to the Canidae, with a very broad and expanding host range. Autophagy serves as a fundamental stabilizing response against pathogens, but some viruses have been able to evade or exploit it for their replication. However, the effect of autophagy mechanisms on CDV infection is still unclear. Results In the present study, autophagy was induced in CDV-infected Vero cells as demonstrated by elevated LC3-II levels and aggregation of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-LC3 spots. Furthermore, CDV promoted the complete autophagic process, which could be determined by the degradation of p62, co-localization of LC3 with lysosomes, GFP degradation, and accumulation of LC3-II and p62 due to the lysosomal protease inhibitor E64d. In addition, the use of Rapamycin to promote autophagy promoted CDV replication, and the inhibition of autophagy by Wortmannin, Chloroquine and siRNA-ATG5 inhibited CDV replication, revealing that CDV-induced autophagy facilitated virus replication. We also found that UV-inactivated CDV still induced autophagy, and that nucleocapsid (N) protein was able to induce complete autophagy in an mTOR-dependent manner. Conclusions This study for the first time revealed that CDV N protein induced complete autophagy to facilitate viral replication.

Tibetan pig is a unique pig breed native to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. To investigate viral communities associated with porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), 167 respiratory samples were collected from Tibetan pigs in the Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Sichuan province. Following library construction and Illunima Novaseq sequencing, 18 distinct viruses belonging to 15 viral taxonomic families were identified in Tibetan pigs with PRDC. Among the 18 detected viruses, 3 viruses were associated with PRDC, including porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2), Torque teno sus virus (TTSuV), and porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV). The genomic sequences of two PCV-2 strains, three TTSuV strains, and one novel Porprismacovirus strain were assembled by SOAPdenovo software (v2). Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that both PCV-2 strains belonged to PCV-2d, three TTSuVs were classified to TTSuV2a and TTSuV2b genotypes, and the Porprismacovirus strain PPMV-SCgz-2022 showed a close genetic relationship with a virus of human origin. Recombination analysis indicated that PPMV-SCgz-2022 may have originated from recombination events between Human 16,806 × 66-213 strain and Porcine 17,668 × 82-593 strain. Furthermore, the high proportion of single infection or co-infection of PCV2/TTSuV2 provides insight into PRDC infection in Tibetan pigs. This is the first report of the viral communities in PRDC-affected Tibetan pigs in this region, and the results provides reference for the prevention and control of respiratory diseases in these animals.

Leaf mass per area (LMA) is a key structural parameter that reflects the functional traits of leaves and plays a vital role in simulating the material and energy cycles of plant ecosystems. In this study, vertical whorl-by-whorl sampling of LMA was conducted in a young Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation during the growing season at the Saihanba Forest Farm. The vertical and seasonal variations in LMA were analysed. Subsequently, a predictive model of LMA was constructed. The results revealed that the LMA varied significantly between different crown whorls and growing periods. In the vertical direction of the crown, the LMA decreased with increasing crown depth, but the range of LMA values from the tree top to the bottom was, on average, 30.4 g/m2, which was approximately 2.5 times greater in the fully expanded phase than in the early leaf-expanding phase. During different growing periods, the LMA exhibited an allometric growth trend that increased during the leaf-expanding phase and then tended to stabilize. However, the range of LMA values throughout the growing period was, on average, 40.4 g/m2. Among the univariate models, the leaf dry matter content (LDMC) performed well (adjusted determination coefficient (Ra2) = 0.45, root mean square error (RMSE) = 13.48 g/m2) in estimating the LMA. The correlation between LMA and LDMC significantly differed at different growth stages and at different vertical crown whorls. The dynamic predictive model of LMA constructed with the relative depth in the crown (RDINC) and date of the year (DOY) as independent variables was reliable in both the assessments (Ra2 = 0.68, RMSE = 10.25 g/m2) and the validation (absolute mean error (MAE) = 8.05 g/m2, fit index (FI) = 0.682). Dynamic simulations of crown LMA provide a basis for elucidating the mechanism of crown development and laying the foundation for the construction of an ecological process model.

Passive differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) is widely used to monitor the three-dimensional distribution of atmospheric pollutants. However, the observational and retrieval accuracy of this technique is significantly influenced by the precise wavelength calibration of solar spectra. Current calibration methods face challenges in automation when dealing with complex remote-sensing conditions. We introduce a novel automatic wavelength calibration algorithm for passive DOAS based on sequence-matching technology to estimate the spectral parameters of the spectrometer channels, integrating advanced processing measures such as feature structure enhancement and sub-pixel interpolation. These measures significantly reduce the dependency on reference spectrum resolution and accurately correct even minor spectral shifts. We perform sensitivity experiments using synthetic spectra to determine optimal retrieval configurations, followed by field tests at four cities on the Yangtze River Delta, China, to calibrate and compare passive DOAS instruments of various resolutions. Comparative verification in these field studies demonstrated that our algorithm was suitable for rapid spectral calibration within a wider resolution range of 0.03 nm to 0.1 nm with a wavelength inversion error < 0.01 nm. This highlights the applicability and calibration precision of our algorithm.

Turpan Basin located in the eastern Xinjiang is a typical arid inland basin with extremely scarce water resources and a fragile ecosystem. Prokaryotic communities with unique genetic and physiological modifications can survive and function in such harsh environments, offering diverse microbial resources. However, numerous microbes can enter the viable but non-culturable state because of drought stress in the desert soil. In this work, next generation sequencing (NGS) technology based on DNA nanoball sequencing platform (DNBSEQ-G400) and sequencing-by-synthesis platform (NovaSeq 6000) were applied to analyze the prokaryotic diversity in three hyper-arid Gobi soils from Flaming Mountain, Toksun, and Kumtag. The comparison between two platforms indicated that DNBSEQ-G400 had better repeatability and could better reflect the prokaryotic community of this hyper-arid region. The diversity analysis based on DNBSEQ-G400 identified a total of 36 bacterial phyla, including Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, Bacillota, Actinomycetota, Methanobacteriota, Acidobacteriota, Nitrososphaerota, and Planctomycetota. The environmental factors, including soluble salt, available potassium, total nitrogen, and organic matter, were positively correlated with the abundance of most prokaryote. In addition, the prokaryotic community assembly in hyper-arid soil was well described by neutral-based models, indicating that the community assembly was mainly controlled by stochastic processes. Finally, the phylogenetic analysis of Actinomycetota proved that such extremophiles played an important role in the ecosystems they colonize. Overall, our result provides a reference for choosing the appropriate sequencing platform and a perspective for the utilization of soil microbial resources from hyper-arid regions.

Chinese medical Named Entity Recognition (NER) is a task of Natural Language Processing (NLP), which aims to extract key information from Chinese medical texts. Recently, Transformer becomes the mainstream approach for NLP due to its powerful capability for global feature extraction. However, entities usually appear in the form of subsequences in NER, therefore the local features are not negligible, and the uncertainty of Chinese word segmentation increases the difficulty of this task. In this paper, we propose a network structure that combines global feature extraction and multi-local feature extraction to enhance the performance of Chinese medical NER. Based on the global feature extracted by the Transformer, Bi-LSTM is used to extract the multi-local features, and a context integration mechanism is used to enhance local features by integrating both forward and backward global contexts in each cell. This allows for a more comprehensive representation of individual cells. And a feature fusion method based on attention mechanism is proposed, which allows the decoder to better focus on the more important information for predicting the current character. During the global feature extraction, the flat-lattice structure is introduced to generate all the potential results of Chinese word segmentation. And the span-based relative positional encoding integrates direction and distance perception, which overcomes the shortcoming of Transformer’s inability to capture sequential characteristics. Finally, a CRF with conditional constraints is used as the decoder of the model. Experimental results on two benchmark datasets show the effectiveness of our model, and the method significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in the medical NER task, achieving $F1$ value of 93.64% on CCKS2017 and 85.01% on CCKS2019.

Abstract Background The national oral epidemiological survey conducted every decade has become an indispensable means of detecting changes in oral disease patterns. This study was undertaken to investigate the oral health status and related factors in 12–15-year-old students in Gansu, China. Methods According to the methodology adopted by the Fourth National Oral Health Survey, a multi-stage, stratified, random sampling method was used to select 3871 adolescents aged 12–15 years from four regions of Gansu Province for oral examination and questionnaire survey. Caries experience was measured using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index; and periodontal health examination included gingival bleeding, calculus, periodontal pockets and attachment loss. The questionnaire included questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics, and oral health knowledge and behaviors. SPSS20.0 software was used for statistical analysis of the survey data. Results The mean DMFT index was 0.83 ± 1.42. The prevalence of caries experience was 38.6%, filling rate was 1.6%, and pit and fissure sealing rate was 0.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed that female sex, rural district, older age, non-only child, frequency of dental visits, and toothache experience were the risk factors for caries experience, with OR ranging between 1.280 and 3.831 (p

Equipment failure risk identification and risk assessment are essential part of offshore platform equipment integrity management. Realizing the risk identification and quantitative assessment of offshore platform equipment and failure modes will help to formulate more reasonable risk management measures. However, the previous methods are not enough to support precise risk assessment of offshore platform equipment. Therefore, this paper proposes a new quantitative risk assessment method based on fuzzy set theory, gray correlation analysis and fuzzy Borda method. This paper creatively proposed the approach, which integrates the solid expressive ability of the fuzzy set theory to vagueness and uncertainty information, the strong point of GRA method in studying the dependence of failure modes, and the advantage of FBM for aggregating experts’ diversity evaluations. Based on the above integrated approach, the proposed risk assessment model can favorably capture and aggregate diversity evaluations of FMECA team members. In addition, the effectiveness of this method is verified by the risk assessment of offshore platform equipment. The new method solves the problem existing in the quantitative risk assessment of multiple risks and multiple FMECA reports. This comprehensive quantitative risk assessment method can screen out high-risk failure modes and essential components in a system, and provide a reference for maintenance decision-making of complex industrial systems. This paper is conducive to promote the application of PHM, RCM and AIM in high-risk industries such as oil and gas production.

Carbon-coated Cu nanocomposites (Cu@C NCs) consisting of core-shell nanoparticles and nanorods were synthesized by arc discharge plasma under an atmosphere of He and H2 gas, and the N-doping of them was achieved by a post-treatment process using ureal as the precursor. The concentration of N in the N-doped samples varies in the range of 0.62%–2.31 % (in mole), with a transformation from pyrrolic N to graphitic N when increasing the relative content of ureal. Dielectric properties of the NCs without or with N-doping in the microwave and THz bands were investigated. The N-doped samples achieve the enhanced dielectric loss in both microwave and THz bands. In the microwave band, dielectric loss was dominated by interfacial polarization, dipolar polarization, and conduction loss, while in the THz band, plasma resonance, ionic polarization and conduction loss are responsible for the dielectric loss, with a strong absorption characteristic dominated by conductive effect.

For the razor clam Solen grandis, siphonal autotomy and regeneration is a necessary means of facing external stress, which is accompanied by a large amount of energy consumption. To explore the function of the ENO4 gene in the siphonal autotomy and regeneration of S. grandis, the full-length cDNA of the ENO4 in S. grandis was cloned and characterized. The full-length cDNA of SgENO4 was 2,773 base pairs (bp), with an 1,851 bp coding sequence (CDS) encoding 616 amino acids. ​Bioinformatic analysis revealed a slightly lower codon usage bias and a relatively stable nucleotide composition in the SgENO4 sequence. Three conserved motifs were found from the SgENO4 sequence. These conserved motifs vary in length from 14 to 27 amino acids. Moreover, in the siphonal pre-autotomy of razor clams, expression level of the SgENO4 gene was significantly higher in the hepatopancreas and siphonal base than other tissues (P < 0.05). However, the expression of the SgENO4 gene in the siphonal base decreased significantly in the siphonal post-autotomy 7 hours and gradually recovered as the regeneration process continued. ​Linear correlation analysis showed that there was a significant linear correlation between specific weight of siphon and relative expression levels of SgENO4 (R2 = 0.826). RNA interference (RNAi) result showed that the specific weight (the proportion of siphonal weight to body weight) is significantly lower than other groups on the seventh day (P < 0.05), suggesting that interfering with the expression of the SgENO4 gene could inhibit the siphonal regeneration of S. grandis. These results further demonstrate that SgENO4 is a conserved sequence and that it plays a crucial role in the siphonal autotomy and regeneration of S. grandis, advancing further understanding in exploring molecular mechanisms in the siphonal autotomy and regeneration.

Background: Using epigenetic markers and fragmentomics of cell-free DNA for cancer detection has been proven applicable. Methods: We further investigated the diagnostic potential of combining two features (epigenetic markers and fragmentomic information) of cell-free DNA for detecting various types of cancers. To do this, we extracted cfDNA fragmentomic features from 191 whole-genome sequencing data and studied them in 396 low-pass 5hmC sequencing data, which included four common cancer types and control samples. Results: In our analysis of 5hmC sequencing data from cancer samples, we observed aberrant ultra-long fragments (220–500 bp) that differed from normal samples in terms of both size and coverage profile. These fragments played a significant role in predicting cancer. Leveraging the ability to detect cfDNA hydroxymethylation and fragmentomic markers simultaneously in low-pass 5hmC sequencing data, we developed an integrated model that incorporated 63 features representing both fragmentomic features and hydroxymethylation signatures. This model achieved high sensitivity and specificity for pan-cancer detection (88.52% and 82.35%, respectively). Conclusion: We showed that fragmentomic information in 5hmC sequencing data is an ideal marker for cancer detection and that it shows high performance in low-pass sequencing data.

Abstract Deinococcus wulumuqiensis R12, which was isolated from arid irradiated soil in Xinjiang province of China, belongs to a genus that is well-known for its extreme resistance to ionizing radiation and oxidative stress. The DNA-binding protein Dps has been studied for its great contribution to oxidative resistance. To explore the role of Dps in D. wulumuqiensis R12, the Dps sequence and homology-modeled structure were analyzed. In addition, the dps gene was knocked out and proteomics was used to verify the functions of Dps in D. wulumuqiensis R12. Docking data and DNA binding experiments in vitro showed that the R12 Dps protein has a better DNA binding ability than the Dps1 protein from D. radiodurans R1. When the dps gene was deleted in D. wulumuqiensis R12, its resistance to H2O2 and UV rays was greatly reduced, and the cell envelope was destroyed by H2O2 treatment. Additionally, the qRT-PCR and proteomics data suggested that when the dps gene was deleted, the catalase gene was significantly down-regulated. The proteomics data indicated that the metabolism, transport and oxidation–reduction processes of D. wulumuqiensis R12 were down-regulated after the deletion of the dps gene. Overall, the data conformed that Dps protein plays an important role in D. wulumuqiensis R12.

Based on recent multiregional epidemiological investigations of Monkeypox (MPX), on 24 July 2022, the World Health Organization declared it a global public health threat. Retrospectively MPX was an ignored zoonotic endemic infection to tropical rainforest regions of Western and Central African rural communities until a worldwide epidemic in May 2022 verified the potential threat of monkeypox virus (MPXV) to be propagated across the contemporary world via transnational tourism and animal movements. During 2018–2022, different cases of MPX diagnosed in Nigerian travelers have been documented in Israel, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the United States. More recently, on 27 September 2022, 66,000 MPX cases have been confirmed in more than 100 non-endemic countries, with fluctuating epidemiological footprinting from retrospective epidemics. Particular disease-associated risk factors fluctuate among different epidemics. The unpredicted appearance of MPX in non-endemic regions suggests some invisible transmission dynamic. Hence, broad-minded and vigilant epidemiological attention to the current MPX epidemic is mandatory. Therefore, this review was compiled to highlight the epidemiological dynamic, global host ranges, and associated risk factors of MPX, concentrating on its epidemic potential and global public health threat.

The transformation of engineered microbial cells is a pivotal link in green biomanufacturing. Its distinctive research application involves genetic modification of microbial chassis to impart targeted traits and functions for effective synthesis of the desired products. Microfluidics, as an emerging complementary solution, focuses on controlling and manipulating fluid in channels at the microscopic scale. One of its subcategories is droplet-based microfluidics (DMF), which can generate discrete droplets using immiscible multiphase fluids at kHz frequencies. To date, droplet microfluidics has been successfully applied to a variety of microbes, including bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi, and the detection of massive metabolites of strain products, such as polypeptides, enzymes, and lipids, has been realized. In summary, we firmly believe that droplet microfluidics has evolved into a powerful technology that will pave the way for high-throughput screening of engineered microbial strains in the green biomanufacturing industry.