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To promote the application of automated vehicles in large airports, in this study, we present an integrated optimization method for scheduling Unmanned follow-me cars. The scheduling process is divided into three phases: Dispatch, Guidance, and Recycle. For the Dispatch phase, we establish a vehicle assignment model, to allocate the vehicle resource equitably. For the Guidance phase, we offer an quantitative way, to measure the spacing between Unmanned follow-me car and aircraft. To optimize the efficiency of airport operation in the three phases and ensure safety, the collaborative planning model, and the conflict prediction model are established. An improved grey wolf optimization algorithm is adopted to enhance the convergence speed and generalization performance. A case study at Ezhou Huahu Airport in China demonstrates the effectiveness of the methods. The results show that the model of collaborative planning can make the balance of path selection, Unmanned follow-me car's working time, and departure sequence. The convergence speed of the improved algorithm has been increased by 18.75%. The inequity index of vehicle assignment is only 0.015731, and the spatiotemporal distribution of conflicts is influenced by the airport's surface layout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to unveil the spatiotemporal evolution of congestion within terminal airspace, offering an in-depth analysis of congestion concerns to effectively utilize airspace resources and devise targeted control strategies, thereby enhancing airspace operation safety and efficiency. Initially, converting segment flow rates into equivalent speeds serves as a quantitative benchmark for operational status. Subsequently, an enhanced version of the ST-Moran's I index model, specifically tailored to terminal airspace, is developed by incorporating improvements across spatial weight matrices, standard state parameters, and temporal dimensions. Validating this model with actual operational data from Chengdu's terminal airspace, the research demonstrates significant advancements. Compared to conventional models, the proposed model enhances recognition rates for congestion in spatial and temporal dimensions by 62.5% and 43.61%, respectively. Congestion within terminal airspace predominantly occurs at the intersection of departure-climb and approach-departure segments, exhibiting evident spatiotemporal migration behavior. The proposed model accurately delineates the spatiotemporal characteristics of segment congestion, offering support for tailored congestion management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Combined therapy with DHA and cisplatin exerts synergistic anti-NSCLC activity through activating ROS-mediated ER stress, JNK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways both in vitro and vivo. • PTGS1 is identified as a potential novel target of DHA. Knockdown of PTGS1 enhanced DHA-induced cell death in NSCLC cells through stimulating ROS-mediated ER stress, JNK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exerts an anti-tumor effect in multiple cancers, however, the molecular mechanism of DHA and whether DHA facilitates the anti-tumor efficacy of cisplatin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are unclear. Here, we found that DHA potentiated the anti-tumor effects of cisplatin in NSCLC cells by stimulating reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, C-Jun-amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo. Of note, we demonstrated for the first time that DHA inhibits prostaglandin G/H synthase 1 (PTGS1) expression, resulting in enhanced ROS production. Importantly, silencing PTGS1 sensitized DHA-induced cell death by increasing ROS production and activating ER-stress, JNK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. In summary, our findings provided new experimental basis and therapeutic prospect for the combined therapy with DHA and cisplatin in some NSCLC patients. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder coating is a widely utilized and environmentally friendly coating method. It is well known that the particle size distribution (PSD) of a powder coating significantly impacts its properties and film performance. However, current powder coatings generally have wide PSDs, primarily due to the suboptimal classifying function of the grinding system—air classifying mill (ACM). In this study, self-designed ACM classifiers were built and tested to improve the classifying function and attain narrow-PSD powder coatings. These self-designed classifiers contributed to powder coatings with narrower PSDs (span ≤ 1.4), which have significantly decreased D 90 and increased D 10 compared to the ones prepared by the control classifier (span > 1.6). Furthermore, these narrowed-PSD powder coatings demonstrated improved flowability, and the coating films displayed superior gloss and smoothness. Overall, this facile and straightforward modification to the ACM classifier has effectively enhanced the classifying function of ACM, contributing to a narrowed PSD and improved quality of powder coatings. [Display omitted] • Serrated-edge classifiers of ACM yielded powder coatings with narrower PSD. • Narrower PSDs enhanced flowability, film smoothness, and gloss of powder coatings. • Serrated-edge's enhanced classifying function led to higher production yield. • Novel ACM classifier design has potential for versatile powder process industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a hierarchical cementitious calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) superstructure with high Young's modulus, super-low porosity, and low mass density is reported. It has a very high Young's modulus at 47.5 GPa, three times higher than our reference synthetic C-S-H. Its specific surface area is merely 0.4509 m2/g, two orders of magnitude smaller than our reference synthetic C-S-H and the most common construction materials. In addition, the skeletal density of this composite is 1.96 g/cm3, much lower than C-S-H and hardened cement paste. In a density-Young's modulus diagram, this composite is located at the intersection of metals, ceramics, and polymers, approaching the carbon fiber region, implying lightweight and stiff characteristics. The cryogenic stability is also evaluated. It shows a satisfying applicability potential for cryogenic engineering with stable pore structure and nanoscopic mechanical properties. We confirm that the assembly of hierarchical C-S-H superstructure requires both hydrophilic amide and anionic carboxylic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, metallic powder coatings (MPC) were investigated as base powder coatings incorporating metallic flakes, providing finishes with a sparkly metallic effect. While MPC offers environmental advantages over liquid coatings by eliminating the usage of solvents, it presents challenges in achieving an intensified and stable metallic effect required by high-end products. This is primarily due to the limitations of the friction-based bonding technique, such as non-selective heating, employed in the current commercial production of MPC. To address this challenge, a microwave-based bonding method was developed that utilizes microwave energy as the heating source instead of stirring friction. This innovative approach leverages the selective heating properties of microwaves to produce qualified MPCs suitable for high-end products. Compared to the current friction-based method with a heating rate of approximately 4 ∘ C/min, microwave heating achieved a significantly faster heating rate of approximately 16 ∘ C/min, owing to the interface polarization effect. The microwave heating engendered a heightened efficacy in forging bonds between coating particles and Al flakes. As a consequence, in scenarios where equal weight percent of Al flakes was introduced, the microwave-treated specimens evinced a stronger metallic effect and enhanced stability compared to friction-heated ones. Furthermore, three-dimensional images of the Al flakes in the coating confirmed that microwave-heated films manifested an elevated flip-flop effect. Tribocorrosion test outcomes underscored that microwave-heated films exhibited higher open circuit potentials (OCP), indicating superior corrosion resistance, alongside better wear resistance compared to friction-heated ones. The microwave-based method obtained stronger and more stable MPCs with better corrosion and wear resistance, showing the promising potential for the expansion of MPC applications into the domain of high-end commodities. [Display omitted] • Innovatively using 2.45 GHz microwaves for heating/bonding metallic powder coatings. • Interface polarization of microwaves greatly improved bonding efficiency. • Microwave heating enhanced film stability and intensity significantly. • Microwave heating improved film wear/corrosion resistance vs. friction heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica) is an important commercial freshwater aquaculture species in China. This species is a highly sexually dimorphic species, with males growing at a faster rate than females and exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), in which the incubation temperature during embryonic development determines the sexual fate. However, the mechanisms of the sex determination or sex differentiation in the Asian yellow pond turtle are remain a mystery. Results: Temperature-specific gonadal transcriptomics of the Asian yellow pond turtle were performed during the thermosensitive period (stage 15) using RNA-seq technology to identify candidate genes that initiate gonadal differentiation. We uncovered candidates that were the first to respond to temperature. These candidates were sexually dimorphic in expression, reflecting differences in gonadal (Cirbp, Runx1) and germline differentiation (Vasa, Nanos1, Piwil2), gametogenesis (Hmgb3, Zar1, Ovoinhibitor-like, Kif4), steroid hormone biosynthesis (Hsd17b5, Hsd17b6), heat shock (Dnajb6, Hsp90b1, Hsp90aa1) and transient receptor potential channel genes (Trpm1, Trpm4, Trpm6, Trpv1). Conclusions: Our work will provide important genetic information to elucidate the mechanisms of sex control in the Asian yellow pond turtles, and will contribute important genetic resources for further studies of temperature-dependent sex determination in turtles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectrum is a key environmental factor, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can influence the growth and development of crustaceans by altering the composition of the spectrum. This study conducted a 30-day experiment to investigate the effects of five LED spectra (red, yellow, blue, green, and white light) on the growth, antioxidant and immune enzyme activities, stress hormone levels, and the expression of α-amylase (α-AMY), ecdysone receptor (EcR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) genes in juvenile redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus). The results show that the survival rate of juveniles is markedly higher in the yellow and red-light groups than in the other three groups (P < 0.05). The green light group exhibits the lowest survival rate, yet it demonstrates the highest weight gain rate and specific growth rate. Regarding enzyme activity and hormone levels, the yellow light group shows the lowest malondialdehyde content, with higher superoxide dismutase and acid phosphatase activity than the other groups; no significant differences are observed in lysozyme activity among the groups (P > 0.05). The melatonin content in the green and blue light groups is significantly higher than that in the other three groups (P < 0.01). In terms of growth gene expression, the expression of α-AMY, EcR, and RXR in juvenile C. quadricarinatus is regulated by the spectrum. In conclusion, when raised under the yellow light spectrum, juvenile C. quadricarinatus displays elevated survival rates, rapid growth, and robust antioxidant and immune defenses. This study provides important technical parameters for optimizing and enhancing the industrial cultivation of juvenile C. quadricarinatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Soil organic carbon (SOC) stability greatly affects soil carbon sequestration capacity and carbon emissions, is related to soil bacterial communities, but it remains unclear whether such relationships exist in alpine wetland biogeomorphic succession. Methods: Here, we used a space-for-time approach across hydrological gradients, and alpine wetland succession can be divided into three types: "Swamp" (S), "Swamp Meadow" (SM), and "Meadow" (M) to examine the dynamics change of SOC fractions and bacterial communities. Results: The succession from S-SM-M resulted in decreased SOC stability (SM and M decreased by 18.65% and 31.88% compared to S). Furthermore, the decrease in SOC stability was primarily due to the decrease in soil moisture during succession and moisture-induced changes in bacterial community structure. e.g., the relative abundance of Proteobacteria decreased significantly by 40.99% and 52.87% in SM and M, while the relative abundance of Acidobacteria increased by 43.49% and 185.04% in SM and M compared to S. Co-occurrence network and random forest analyses further identified that changes in keystone taxa of bacteria, including Deltaproteobacteria, Acidimicrobiia, Bacteroidia and Gammaproteobacteria, were associated with SOC stability. Conclusions: In conclusion, bacteria shifted their community composition to reduce SOC stability in response to soil moisture variations during succession, and underscores the importance of identifying keystone taxa that are crucial for maintaining SOC stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The DKK gene family plays an important role in immune mechanisms and embryonic development, but studies on Pelodiscus sinensis have not been reported. In this study, for the first time in the context of P. sinensis, we analyzed the relevant features of the DKK gene family using bioinformatics methods and constructed transcriptional profiles and tissue expression profiles. The DKK1 and DKK3 genes were found to be highly expressed in the ovaries, while DKKL1 and DKK4 were significantly differentiated in the testes. In this study, we preliminarily investigated the function of the DKK gene family in the context of P. sinensis, and this study lays the foundation for further systematic research on the molecular mechanism of sex differentiation in P. sinensis. The DKK family is a canonical small family of WNT antagonists. Though recent studies have suggested that the DKK gene family may be involved in sex differentiation in Pelodiscus sinensis, there are still a lot of things about the DKK gene family that we do not know. In this study, we used bioinformatics methods to identify members of the DKK gene family in P. sinensis and analyzed their phylogeny, covariance, gene structure, structural domains, promoter conserved sites, signal peptides, gonadal transcription factors, transcriptional profiles, and tissue expression profiles. Additionally, qRT-PCR results were utilized for the validation and preliminary investigation of the function of the DKK gene family in P. sinensis. The results showed that the DKK gene family is divided into six subfamilies, distributed on six different chromosomal scaffolds containing different gene structures and conserved motifs with the same structural domains, and all of the members were secreted proteins. Our transcriptional profiling and embryonic expression analysis showed that DKKL1 and DKK4 were significantly expressed in the testes, whereas DKK1 and DKK3 were significantly upregulated in the ovaries. This suggests a potential function in sex differentiation in P. sinensis. Our results may provide a basic theoretical basis for the sex differentiation process in P. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica) is widely traded in China, and its artificial breeding has now become a major industry. However, the insufficient offspring supply and reproductive decline of farmed turtles make wild turtles more vulnerable. The present study was mainly designed to quantify the fecundity of M. mutica and attempt to screen for good reproductive performance in females. The parent–offspring relationships of all offspring in four consecutive years were confirmed using sixteen microsatellite loci. We also summarised the reproductive results of all females and counted the annual number of offspring and the variation in the number of offspring. The females were then divided into three types (stable, undulating and levelling off) according to the continuity. This study can provide the basis and materials for the creation of a good reproductive group and the study of the reproductive biology of turtles in M. mutica aquaculture. The Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica) is widely traded in China, and its artificial breeding has now become a major industry. However, the insufficient offspring supply and reproductive decline of farmed turtles make the wild turtles more vulnerable. The present study was mainly designed to quantify the fecundity of M. mutica and attempt to screen for good reproductive performance in females. The genetic variability of the population and its genetic structure were also analysed. The parent–offspring relationships of all offspring in four consecutive years were confirmed using sixteen microsatellite loci. The genetic variability between the parents and offspring was low, and offspring of different years also showed little variability. We summarised the reproductive results of all females and counted the annual number of offspring and the variation in the number of offspring. The females were then divided into three types (stable, undulating and levelling off) according to the continuity. We selected seven females with good reproductive ability, which provided 16.94% of the annual contributions, while there were two females that had no offspring in four years. We also analysed the possible reasons for this difference and the importance of carrying out a family survey. This research can provide the basis and materials for the creation of a good reproductive group and the study of the reproductive biology of turtles in M. mutica aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In aquaculture, the survival and health of aquatic organisms are influenced greatly by external environmental factors. Photoperiod is one of the key environmental factors that affect the early growth, survival, metabolism, and immune system of crustaceans significantly. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of photoperiod on the growth, survival, enzyme activity, body color, and expression of growth-related genes in juvenile redclaw crayfish. Five photoperiod experimental groups were established (0L:24D, 6L:18D, 12L:12D, 18L:6D, and 24L:0D), each with three replicates, and reared for 30 days. The group with an 18L:6D photoperiod had higher juvenile crayfish survival rates, better growth performance, stronger antioxidant stress response, and immune defense capabilities. Additionally, artificial photoperiods altered the body color of the redclaw crayfish. The results of the present study lay a foundation for the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying photoperiod regulation of the physiological and biochemical responses of juvenile redclaw crayfish. Through a 30-day experiment, this study investigated the effects of five photoperiods (0L:24D, 6L:18D, 12L:12D, 18L:6D, and 24L:0D) on the survival, enzyme activity, body color, and growth-related gene expression of redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) juveniles. The results showed that C. quadricarinatus juveniles under 18L:6D and 24L:0D photoperiods exhibited the highest survival rate, which was significantly higher than the survival rates of juveniles under the other three photoperiods (p < 0.05). However, the 0L:24D group had the highest final body weight and weight gain rate, significantly surpassing those of the 12L:12D, 18L:6D, and 24L:0D groups (p < 0.05). Regarding enzyme activity and hormone levels, juveniles under the 18L:6D photoperiod exhibited relatively higher activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), acid phosphatase (ACP), and lysozyme (LZM) enzymes than those under other photoperiods, but their levels of melatonin and cortisol were relatively low. In addition, the 24L:0D group showed the highest malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Analysis of gene expression levels revealed that retinoid X receptor (RXR) and α-amylase (α-AMY) genes in C. quadricarinatus juveniles exhibited significantly higher expression levels under the 18L:6D photoperiod than those under the other four photoperiods (p < 0.05). With increasing daylight exposure, the body color of C. quadricarinatus changed from pale blue to yellow–brown. In summary, C. quadricarinatus juveniles achieved high survival rates, good growth performance, strong antioxidant stress response, and immune defense capabilities under an 18 h photoperiod. Therefore, in the industrial seedling cultivation of redclaw crayfish, it is recommended to provide 18 h of daily light. Further, the study demonstrated the ability to manipulate the body color of C. quadricarinatus through controlled artificial photoperiods. These findings provide essential technical parameters needed for the industrial cultivation of C. quadricarinatus juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male and female Chinese soft-shelled turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis) have sex-dimorphic growth patterns, and males have higher commercial value because of their larger size and thicker calipash. Thus, developing sex-specific markers is beneficial to studies on all-male breeding in P. sinensis. Here, we developed an accurate and efficient workflow for the screening of sex-specific sequences with ZW or XY sex determination systems. Based on this workflow, female and male P. sinensis reference genomes of 2.23 Gb and 2.26 Gb were obtained using de novo assembly. After aligning and filtering, 4.01 Mb female-specific sequences were finally identified. Subsequently, the seven developed sex-specific primer pairs were 100% accurate in preliminary, population, and embryonic validation. The presence and absence of bands for the primers of P44, P45, P66, P67, P68, and P69, as well as two and one bands for the PB1 primer, indicate that the embryos are genetically female and male, respectively. NR and functional annotations identified several sex-determining candidate genes and related pathways, including Ran, Eif4et, and Crkl genes, and the insulin signaling pathway and the cAMP signaling pathway, respectively. Collectively, our results reveal that a ZW-type sex-determination system is present in P. sinensis and provide novel insights for the screening of sex-specific markers, sex-control breeding, and the studies of the sex determination mechanism of P. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in-depth investigation on mechanical and microstructural properties of cementitious materials subjected to cryogenic freeze-thaw cycles (CFTCs) is essential to efficiently improve their resistance to CFTCs. This study examines the effects of CFTCs ranging from 20 °C to −170 °C up to 9 cycles on geopolymer mortars (GPMs), including the role of polypropylene (PP) fiber on their responses to CFTCs. The compressive strength of GPMs initially improved with the CFTCs up to 3 cycles, followed by a decreasing trend with the CFTCs up to 9 cycles. The GPMs with PP fiber exhibited a monotonic and more significant decrease in the compressive strength after exposure to CFTCs. The permeability of GPMs increased with the increasing number of CFTCs due to the increasing cumulative pore volume and deteriorating microstructure, which are also found to be responsible for the decrease in compressive strength. Notably, pores with a diameter of 2500 nm are identified as a critical value in affecting GPMs' compressive strength. Higher proportions of pores with diameter smaller than 2500 nm enhance compressive strength, while pores exceeding the values have the opposite effect. Additionally, the compressive strength tends to decrease with the increase of microcrack attributes including total microcrack area, total microcrack length, and average microcrack width. GPMs with PP fiber exhibited weaker resistance to CFTCs due to the presence of more free water and the negative thermal expansion attribute of PP fiber. This exacerbates the adverse effects of frost-heave stress and thermal-stress on GPMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in-depth investigation on the toughness and ductility strengthening mechanism by fibres is essential to efficiently design geopolymer composites with high toughness and ductility. This paper investigates the influence of fibre type (steel and PP fibre) and fibre content (0 %, 0.5 %, 1.0 %, and 1.5 %) on the flexural performance of geopolymer mortar (GPM) with acoustic emission (AE) technology. The results reveal that GPM specimens with steel fibre exhibit higher ultimate flexural strength compared to those with PP fibre. Additionally, both flexural toughness and ductility of GPM specimens exhibit an increasing trend with fibre content. A novel finding is that steel fibre displays a greater sensitivity to external load than PP fibre, which explains the distinctive load-deflection characteristics observed in GPMs with steel and PP fibre. Furthermore, steel fibre is found to be more advantageous in improving flexural strength and toughness, while PP fibre exhibits a more favourable effect on enhancing ductility. The AE results confirm that the bond strength between matrix and steel fibre is higher than that between PP fibre and matrix. Moreover, the inclusion of PP and steel fibre increase the proportion of shear cracks caused by fibre-matrix debonding and fibre pullout. These increasing shear cracks are responsible for tortuous flexural paths in fibre-reinforced GPMs. Significantly, the flexural toughness of GPMs with fibres are found to exhibit a positive correlation with the proportion of shear cracks. These findings can contribute to the optimization of GPM design for various applications where enhanced toughness and ductility are required. • Steel fibre is more advantageous in improving flexural toughness than PP fibre. • PP fibre has more favourable effect on enhancing ductility than steel fibre. • Steel fibre exhibits a greater sensitivity to external load than PP fibre. • The inclusion of PP and steel fibre increase the proportion of shear cracks. • Toughness has a positive correlation with the ratio of shear cracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powders play a crucial role in a wide array of industrial applications such as powder coating, food, and pharmaceutics. The flowability of powder, both in static and dynamic conditions, is paramount for its practical utility. Among various factors influencing powder flowability, the particle-size distribution (PSD) stands out as a significant feature. Nevertheless, the impact of PSD on powder flowability remains empirical and not fully characterized. This study undertakes an in-depth investigation into the intricate relationship between PSD and powder flowability, utilizing advanced machine learning models. The angle of repose (AOR) and outflow mass rate (OMR) were employed to measure the static and dynamic flowability, respectively. Artificial neural network (ANN) and decision-tree models identify the impactful particle-size bins with positive and negative effects on static and dynamic flowability. These established models unveil the specific influence regions of PSD on powder flowability and hold potential for broader applications across various industries. [Display omitted] • Using machine learning pioneers the analysis of PSD on powder flowability. • The ANN models reveal the influential regions of PSD for powder flowability. • The decision tree model has the potential to replace powder flowability tests. • The influential regions of PSD provide valuable insights for powder production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feature of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is seasonal spermatogenesis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is not well clarified. Here, we firstly cloned and characterized P. sinensis DKKL1 , and then performed comparative genomic studies, expression analysis, and functional validation. P. sinensis DKKL1 had 2 putative N-glycosylation sites and 16 phosphorylation sites. DKKL1 also had classic transmembrane structures that were extracellularly localized. DKKL1 's genetic distance was close to turtles, followed by amphibians and mammals, but its genetic distance was far from fishes. DKKL1 genes from different species shared distinct genomic characteristics. Meanwhile, they were also relatively conserved among themselves, at least from the perspective of classes. Notably, the transcription factors associated with spermatogenesis were also identified, containing CTCF , EWSR1 , and FOXL2. DKKL1 exhibited sexually dimorphic expression only in adult gonads, which was significantly higher than that in other somatic tissues (P < 0.001), and was barely expressed in embryonic gonads. DKKL1 transcripts showed a strong signal in sperm, while faint signals were detected in other male germ cells. DKKL1 in adult testes progressively increased per month (P < 0.05), displaying a seasonal expression trait. DKKL1 was significantly downregulated in testes cells after the sex hormones (17β-estradiol and 17α-methyltestosterone) and Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor treatment (P < 0.05). Likewise, the Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor treatment dramatically repressed CTCF, EWSR1, and FOXL2 expression. Conversely, they were markedly upregulated after the 17β-estradiol and 17α-methyltestosterone treatment, suggesting that the three transcription factors might bind to different promoter regions, thereby negatively regulating DKKL1 transcription in response to the changes in the estrogen and androgen pathways, and positively controlling DKKL1 transcription in answer to the alterations in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Knockdown of DKKL1 significantly reduced the relative expression of HMGB2 and SPATS1 (P < 0.01), suggesting that it may be involved in seasonal spermatogenesis of P. sinensis through a positive regulatory interaction with these two genes. Overall, our findings provide novel insights into the genome evolution and potential functions of seasonal spermatogenesis of P. sinensis DKKL1. • DKKL1 had a relatively conserved function across species, but also underwent functional evolution. • Expression of DKKL1 exhibited testis-biased, age variation, and seasonal variation characteristics. • DKKL1 predominantly was localized in sperm and could be used as a molecular marker for male germ cells in P. sinensis. • CTCF , EWSR1 , and FOXL2 most likely bind to different promoter regions regulating DKKL1 transcription in different pathways. • DKKL1 may be involved in seasonal spermatogenesis of P. sinensis through a positive regulation with HMGB2 and SPATS1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]