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In this paper, kapok-derived carbon/fly ash (KDC/FA) ceramic metacomposites were fabricated by vacuum hot-press sintering with FA and kapok fiber as raw materials, and their conductivity, dielectric properties, and impedance response were researched. The composition and microstructure of the metacomposites had a significantly impact on the electrical characteristics. With the increase of KDC content, a 3D conductive network was formed inside the composite, accompanied by a shift in the conductive mechanism. The tunable plasma-type negative permittivity behavior was observed. The absolute value of negative permittivity and the plasma oscillation frequency became larger as the KDC contents increased, which were consistent with the analytical results of the Drude model. This study designed and prepared a new environmental metacomposite with adjustable negative permittivity using biomass materials (kapok fibers) and solid waste (FA), which had a great significance for development of metamaterials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the association of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor ( IGF-1R ) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with growth traits and carcass traits of quail by PCR amplification and direct sequencing technology. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from 49 female French Giant (FG) quails and 36 female Savimalt (SV) quails as part of this study. Growth traits and carcass traits were measured and assessed for IGF-1R gene analysis in the 2 meat-type quail strains. The results showed that 2 SNPs (A57G and A72T) of the IGF-1R gene were detected in the 2 quail strains. The A57G (P = 0.002) and A72T (P = 0.026) were significantly associated with breastbone length (BBL) in FG. Whereas A57G was significantly associated with chest weight (CW , P = 0.004), BBL (P = 0.009), and body length (BL , P = 0.009) in SV, while A72T was significantly associated with BBL (P = 0.014) and BL (P = 0.028) in SV. Haplotypes based on these 2 SNPs showed significant effects on BBL in FG strain (P = 0.000), and they also had significant effects on CW (P = 0.007), BBL (P = 0.004), and BL (P = 0.001) in SV strain. Additionally, A57G was significantly associated with liver rate (LR) in FG strain (P = 0.017). A72T showed significant associations with dressed carcass weight (DCW , P = 0.048) and breast muscle weight (BMW , P = 0.018) in FG strain. A57G was significantly associated with DCW (P = 0.048), whole net carcass weight (WNCW , P = 0.048), BMW (P = 0.036), and liver muscle rate (LMR , P = 0.003) in SV strain. Haplotypes also displayed significant effects on BMW (P = 0.029) and LMR (P = 0.010) in FG strain. These findings indicated that the IGF-1R gene could serve as a valuable molecular genetic marker for enhancing growth traits and carcass traits in meat-type quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leptin receptor ( LEPR ) gene is a member of the class I cytokine receptor family, which plays an important role in weight regulation, fat accumulation and neuroendocrine function in animals. This study aimed to explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the LEPR gene with growth and carcass traits in meat-type quail by PCR amplification and DNA direct sequencing. In this study, genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples of 36 female Savimalt (SV) quails and 49 female French Giant (FG) quails. Growth traits (measured at 3 or 5 wk) and carcass traits (measured at 5 wk) were used for LEPR gene association analysis. The results showed the existence of 9 SNPs (T81C, G90T, C187A, A191G, A219G, G258A, C286T, G346A, and G373A) of the LEPR gene in the 2 quail strains. The statistical analyses indicated that these SNPs of LEPR gene was significantly associated with shank circumference (SC), shank length (SL), breastbone length (BBL), heart rate (HR), and whole net carcass rate (WNCR) of FG (P < 0.05); chest width (CW), body length (BL), leg muscle rate (LMR), whole net carcass rate (WNCR), and heart rate (HR) of SV (P < 0.05). While haplotypes showed significant effect on SL, BBL, heart weight (HW), WNCR, and HR of FG (P < 0.05). Therefore, the LEPR gene may serve as a molecular genetic marker for improving growth and carcass traits in quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng) is a traditional Chinese medicinal material with high economic and medicinal value. There is an urgent need to find new cultivation areas due to continuous cropping barriers and the effects of climate change. This study integrated the geographical environment of Yunnan with the necessary requirements for a suitable habitat for P. notoginseng and comprehensively analyzed climatic, topographical and soil factors. Furthermore, the criteria were weighted and prioritized by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the best worst method (BWM) respectively, and the overlay analysis method was used to present the suitability map in the GIS environment. Two ecological suitability assessment models were established and compared to explore the ecological suitability regionalization of P. notoginseng in Yunnan Province, China. The results showed that:(1) Among the 12 driving factors, precipitation in the hottest season is the most important, followed by average temperature in the coldest season, average temperature in the hottest season, altitude, and annual precipitation. (2) The most suitable, suitable, and unsuitable regions obtained by the AHP-GIS model accounted for respective 17.98%, 33.41%, and 48.61% of the total area of Yunnan. The values for BWM-GIS model were 13.93%, 40.25%, and 45.81%, respectively. (3) The suitable regions obtained by the two models were overlayed and concentrated in Wenshan, Qujing, Kunming, Chuxiong, Baoshan, Dali, Lijiang, Honghe and Yuxi in central Yunnan, while the unsuitable regions were distributed in Xishuangbanna, Puer, Dehong, Diqing, and southwestern Zhaotong. The sensitivity of the assessment model was analyzed, and its reliability was verified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under curve (AUC). The BWM-GIS model (AUC=0.85) had higher accuracy than AHP-GIS model (AUC=0.822), and was more suitable for ecological suitability analysis of P. notoginseng. Our research results provide a theoretical basis for the rational expansion of cultivation regions of P. notoginseng and agricultural layout planning in Yunnan Province of China. [Display omitted] • BWM, AHP and GIS were integrated together to construct comprehensive evaluation model. • The ecological factors affecting the distribution of Panax notoginseng were finely analyzed. • Sensitivity analysis was used to verify the stability of the model. • Panax notoginseng showed range expansions towards high-latitude regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the polymorphism of the vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor-1 ( VIPR-1 ) gene and its association with growth traits in quail using the PCR-RFLP and sequencing techniques. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples of 36 female Savimalt (SV) quails and 49 female French Giant (FG) quails. Growth traits were measured and used for VIPR-1 gene analysis, as body weight (BW), tibia length (TL), chest width (CW), chest depth (CD), sternum length (SL), body length (BL), and tibia circumference (TC). The results showed that 2 SNPs (Bsr D I and Hpy CH4 IV) were detected in exon 4 to 5 and exon 6 to 7 of the VIPR-1 gene, respectively. The results of association showed that the Bsr D I site was not significantly associated with growth traits at 3 or 5 wk of age in the SV strain (P < 0.05), while the Bsr D I site was significantly associated with BL at 3 or 5 wk of age in FG (P < 0.05). The Hpy CH4 IV site was significantly associated with TL, CW, CD, SL, and BL at 3 wk of age in the SV strain (P < 0.05), while the Hpy CH4 IV site was significantly correlated with BW, CW, SL, and BL at 5 wk of age in SV (P < 0.05). The Hpy CH4 IV site was significantly associated with TL and TC at 3 wk of age in FG (P < 0.05), while the Hpy CH4 IV site was significantly associated with TC at 5 wk of age in FG (P < 0.05). Four haplotype combinations based on 2 SNPs showed significantly association with BW, CW, CD, SL, BL, and TC at 3 or 5 wk of age in SV (P < 0.05). There was not significant association between 3 haplotype combinations with growth trait at 3 or 5 wk of age in FG (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the VIPR-1 gene could be used as a molecular genetic marker to improve growth traits in quail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor ( IGF-1R ) gene is the main effector of insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which plays an important role in growth, development and reproduction of the animal organism. This study aimed to investigate the association of IGF-1R gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with egg quality and carcass traits of quail by direct sequencing. In this study, genomic DNA was extracted from quail blood samples of 46 Chinese yellow (CY) quail, 49 Beijing white (BW) quail and 48 Korean (KO) quail strains. Egg quality and carcass traits were measured and used for IGF-1R gene analysis in 3 quail strains. The results showed that 2 SNPs (A57G and A72T) of the IGF-1R gene were detected in 3 quail strains. The A57G was significantly associated with yolk width (YWI) in BW strain (P < 0.05). Whereas A72T was significantly associated with egg shell thickness (EST) in BW strain (P < 0.05), and significantly associated with egg weight (EW), egg long (EL), and egg short (ES) in KO strain (P < 0.05). Haplotypes based on 2 SNPs showed significant effect on EST in 3 quail strains (P < 0.05), it also has a significant effect on EW in KO strain (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, A72T was significantly associated with liver weight (LW) and dressing percentage (DP) in 3 strains (P < 0.05). Haplotypes showed significant effect on LW (P < 0.05). Therefore, the IGF-1R gene may be a molecular genetic marker to improve egg quality and carcass traits in quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inversion of wave spectrum is the embodiment of the fine observation of ocean swells by synthetic aperture radar. Due to the nonlinear distortion from velocity bunching, the operational Sentinel-1 Wave Mode (WV) level-2 (L2) Ocean (OCN) wave products retrieved by quasi-linear inversion are still quite different from the real wave spectrum, requiring further calibration. Limited by the azimuth cut-off, the quasi-linear inversed wave spectrum mostly concentrates on swells with a wavelength longer than 150 m. 2D spectral partitioning separates different swell systems, denoted as partitions in the Sentinel-1 WV L2 OCN product. We compared and calibrated the Sentinel-1 WV L2 OCN products' swell partitions (More specifically partitioned integral ocean wave parameters: partitioned wave height, partitioned wavelength, and partitioned wave direction) with WAVEWATCH III (WW3) in different polarization modes (HH and VV polarization) and different incidence angles (∼23°-WV1 and ∼ 36°-WV2). The accuracy of swell partitions in the OCN products varies with peak wave direction relative to the Sentinel-1 flight direction, and it is difficult to calibrate the partitions derived from quasi-linear inversion unless deleting partitions severely distorted by nonlinearity and large-scale features. A machine learning method is proposed to calibrate the wave partitions. Spectral distances of collocated Sentinel-1 and WW3 partition pairs larger than two are considered "bad" partitions to be filtered. Inputting high-dimensional features (twenty-one features) derived from Sentinel-1 WV L2 OCN products into the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model can effectively reduce the bias (root-mean-square error, RMSE) of significant wave height (SWH) of all the partitions from ∼0.10 m (∼0.70 m) to ∼0.00 m (∼0.46 m) and the bias (RMSE) of wavelengths of all the partitions from ∼20 m (∼35 m) to ∼0.20 m (∼26 m) compared with WW3 swell partitions. This method improves the precision of the wave partition and retains more partitions in the Sentinel-1 WV L2 OCN products than previous studies, especially for wave partitions with moderate wave height (< 4 m), potentially improving the understanding of swell dynamics globally. • Compare the Sentinel-1 WV L2 OCN wave partitions with the WW3 spectrum. • Show the nonlinearity relative to the Sentinel-1 flight direction. • Distinguish "good quality" and "poor quality" partitions by filtering model. • Calibrate the wave partitions derived from quasi-linear inversion to high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify polymorphisms of gonadotropin-releasing hormone ( GnRH ) gene and their association with growth traits in quail by PCR and direct sequencing. Genomic DNA was extracted from quail blood samples of 36 from Savimalt (SV) and 49 from French Giant (FG). Growth traits were measured and used for candidate gene analysis, as body weight (BW), shank length (SL), chest width (CW), chest depth (CD), breastbone length (BBL), body length (BL), and shank circumference (SC). The results showed that a total of 20 SNPs were detected in GnRH gene, whereas 8 SNPs were significantly associated with growth traits (P < 0.05). The T215C, G279A, C458T, A520G, and C547G were significantly associated with SL at 3 wk of age in the FG strain, whereas A583T was significantly related to BBL and BL, and C591T was significantly related to SL, BBL, and BL, whereas A592G was significantly correlated with SL, CW, CD, BBL, and BL (P < 0.05). The 8 SNPs were significantly related to CW, CD, and BBL at 3 wk of age in the SV strain, whereas A583T, C591T, and A592G were significantly associated with BW (P < 0.05). The G279A showed significant correlations with SL at 5 wk of age in FG, whereas A583T showed significant associations with SC in FG, and C591T was significantly associated with BW and SC in FG, whereas A592T was significantly related to BW, SL, and CD in FG (P < 0.05). The T215C, G279A, C458T, A520G, and C547G were significantly correlated with BW, CW, BBL, and BL at 5 wk of age in SV, whereas A583T, C591T, and A592G were significantly related to BW, SL, CW, BBL, and BL (P < 0.05). Haplotypes based on 8 SNPs showed significant correlation with BW, SL, CW, CD, BBL, BL, and SC in FG (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the GnRH gene could be used as a molecular genetic marker to provide theoretical foundation to improve growth traits in quail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the PtAg 2 /C-D and PtPd 3 Ag 5 /C-D catalysts with Pt-rich surfaces were fabricated via chemical reduction following electrochemical dealloying. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM), atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical methods It is found that external Ag atoms are dealloyed by the cyclic voltammetry (CV) to expose more Pt active sites on the surface, which enhances the electrocatalytic performance greatly. The addition of Pd as another sacrificing element triggers higher activity due to the synergistic effect between Pd and Pt. The mass activity of as-prepared PtAg 2 /C-D catalyst reaches 3.35 times as high as that of Pt/C. The PtPd 3 Ag 5 /C-D catalyst has the highest electrocatalytic activity of 4500 mA mg −1 , which is 6.22 and 1.87 times as high as those of mono-component Pt/C and Pd/C, respectively. Their high electrocatalytic activity is attributed to electronic effects, oxygen-containing species from Pd oxides and higher utilization of Pt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel two-dimensional Ti 3 C 2 T x material exhibits great potential for microwave absorption owing to its 2D layered graphene-like structure and unique physical properties. However, the limited release of absorbing properties due to the low dielectric loss of Ti 3 C 2 T x and its single loss mechanism pose challenges in meeting the functional requirements for microwave absorbers. Herein, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown on the Ti 3 C 2 T x substrates in a tip growth mode under the catalytic influence of Ni using the in situ induced method. Consequently, Ti 3 C 2 T x /CNTs/TiO 2 (TCT) structures were successfully prepared through carbonization conditions. It is worth noting that the composite material TCT-800 exhibits excellent absorption performance. The minimum reflection loss (RL min) value reaches −44.6 dB when the matching thickness is only 1.4 mm, and the corresponding effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL < −10 dB) spans from 11.9 GHz to 15.9 GHz, totaling a range of 4.2 GHz. The excellent electromagnetic wave absorption performance of TCT-800 composites is attributed to the polarization phenomenon of more heterogeneous interfaces constructed by Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets, CNTs, and TiO 2 nanoparticles. This work provides a strategy for synthesizing Ti 3 C 2 T x -based composites with strong electromagnetic attenuation and wide absorption bandwidth performance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MaxEnt and AHP-GIS were used to predict potential distribution. • Bio5, Bio6, Bio12, altitude, slope, sand and silt were the most key factors. • Under SSPs370, the most suitable area of Arabica coffee has increased. • Arabica coffee showed range expansions towards higher elevation and latitude. Coffee, as one of three major beverages all over the world, is featured by many functions mainly including refreshment, diuresis, invigorating stomach and stimulating appetite. However, there still lack of studies regarding the potential distribution of suitable planting regions and the important environmental factors that affect the growth and development of Arabica coffee. Based on climate, terrain and soil data, MaxEnt model and AHP-GIS technology were used to evaluate and analyze the increase and decrease range of Arabica coffee ecological suitability planting areas and most suitable areas in different periods, determine the most significant environmental factors affecting ecological suitability, and determine the distribution transformation under climate change scenario (SSPs370). Results showed that the ecological suitability of Arabica coffee plantation was mainly subjected to the climate factors, among which the maximum temperature in the warmest month, minimum temperature in the coldest month and the annual precipitation were particularly important, followed by terrain and soil factors. The model accuracies of MaxEnt and AHP-GIS were 0.925 and 0.833 respectively, indicating that the two methods were reliable in the ecological suitability evaluation of Arabica coffee. MaxEnt predicted that the most and moderately suitable area accounted for 16.26% and 22.59%, and AHP-GIS predicted that they accounted for 13.35% and 41.32% of the total area respectively. The most and moderately suitable areas were mainly concentrated in west, southeast, south and southwest Yunnan. Under the future climate scenario model, MaxEnt and AHP-GIS predicted that the area of the most suitable area would increase by 2.62 × 104–4.42 × 104 km2 and 3.53 × 104–5.44 × 104 km2 respectively from 2021 to 2100, which were mainly concentrated in west, southwest and southeast Yunnan. At the same time, the distribution of the most suitable area migrated northward generally to higher altitude and higher latitude, and the migration distance was 27.44–92.22 km. The predicted potential distribution of Arabica coffee based on MaxEnt model and AHP-GIS model could provide reference for the implementation of long-term planning and development programs so as to alleviate the effects of climate change on the distribution of Arabica coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]