Search

Variational data assimilation theoretically assumes Gaussian-distributed observational errors, yet actual data often deviate from this assumption. Traditional quality control methods have limitations when dealing with nonlinear and non-Gaussian-distributed data. To address this issue, our study innovatively applies two advanced machine learning (ML)-based quality control (QC) methods, Minimum Covariance Determinant (MCD) and Isolation Forest, to process precipitable water (PW) data derived from satellite FengYun-2E (FY2E). We assimilated the ML QC-processed TPW data using the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) system and evaluated its impact on heavy precipitation forecasts with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) v4.2 model. Both methods notably enhanced data quality, leading to more Gaussian-like distributions and marked improvements in the model's simulation of precipitation intensity, spatial distribution, and large-scale circulation structures. During key precipitation phases, the Fraction Skill Score (FSS) for moderate to heavy rainfall generally increased to above 0.4. Quantitative analysis showed that both methods substantially reduced Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and bias in precipitation forecasting, with the MCD method achieving RMSE reductions of up to 58% in early forecast hours. Notably, the MCD method improved forecasts of heavy and extremely heavy rainfall, whereas the Isolation Forest method demonstrated a superior performance in predicting moderate to heavy rainfall intensities. This research not only provides a basis for method selection in forecasting various precipitation intensities but also offers an innovative solution for enhancing the accuracy of extreme weather event predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliability and stability of marine diesel engines are pivotal to the safety and economy of maritime operations. Accurate and efficient prediction of the states of these engines is essential for performance evaluation and operational continuity. This paper introduces a novel hybrid deep learning model, the multi-dimensional global temporal predictive (MDGTP) model, designed for synchronous multi-state prediction of marine diesel engines. The model incorporates parallel multi-head attention mechanisms, an enhanced long short-term memory (LSTM) with interleaved residual connections, and gated recurrent units (GRUs). Additionally, we propose a dynamic arithmetic tuna optimization algorithm, which synergizes tuna swarm optimization (TSO), and the arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA) for hyperparameter optimization, thereby enhancing prediction accuracy. Comparative experiments using actual marine diesel engine data demonstrate that our model outperforms the LSTM, GRU, LSTM–GRU, support vector regression (SVR), random forest (RF), Gaussian process regression (GPR), and back propagation (BP) models, achieving the lowest root mean squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE), as well as the highest Pearson correlation coefficient across three sampling periods. Ablation studies confirm the significance of each component in improving prediction accuracy. Our findings validate the efficacy of the proposed MDGTP model for predicting the multi-dimensional operating states of marine diesel engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) requires regular follow-up to detect recurrence as early as possible. However, many patients are unable to regularly follow up due to the inconvenience of the conventional approach. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the impact of the online clinic on follow-up compliance and prognosis in NPC patients. Patients who were first diagnosed with NPC between April 2019 and November 2019 were enrolled. Good follow-up compliance was defined as having at least one follow-up visit every 6 months within 2 years after treatment completion. Sensitivity analyses were performed using a propensity score matching model. A total of 539 (42%) patients used online follow-up while 731 (58%) used traditional follow-up. The median age of patients in the online cohort was lower than that in the traditional cohort (44 vs. 47, p < 0.001). Compared with the traditional cohort, the online cohort had significantly better follow-up compliance (57.3% vs. 17.1%, p < 0.001) and a higher 2-year PFS rate (98.1% vs. 94.4%, p = 0.003). Survival analysis showed that online follow-up was an independent factor for better survival prognosis (HR 0.39, 95%CI 0.20–0.74, p = 0.004). Sensitivity analysis further confirmed these results. Our study found that the online clinic increased follow-up compliance and improved prognosis in NPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is often accompanied by irreversible decline in body function, which causes a large number of age-related diseases and brings a huge economic burden to society and families. Many traditional Chinese medicines have been known to extend lifespan, but it has still been a challenge to isolate a single active molecule from them and verify the mechanism of anti-aging action. Drugs that inhibit senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs) are called "senomorphics". In this study, arctigenin (ATG), a senomorphic, was screened from the Chinese medicine Fructus arctii using K6001 yeast replicative lifespan. Autophagy, oxidative stress, and telomerase activity are key mechanisms related to aging. We found that ATG may act through multiple mechanisms to become an effective anti-aging molecule. In exploring the effect of ATG on autophagy, it was clearly observed that ATG significantly enhanced autophagy in yeast. We further verified that ATG can enhance autophagy by targeting protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), leading to an increased lifespan. Meanwhile, we evaluated the antioxidant capacity of ATG and found that ATG increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, thereby reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels to improve the survival of yeast under oxidative stress. In addition, ATG was able to increase telomerase activity by enhancing the expression of EST1, EST2, and EST3 genes in yeast. In conclusion, ATG exerts anti-aging effects through induction of autophagy, antioxidative stress, and enhancement of telomerase activity in yeast, which is recognized as a potential molecule with promising anti-aging effects, deserving in-depth research in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The current study aimed to investigate the virulence and resistance genes associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from the farms of four animal species in selected areas of Xinjiang, China, encompassing cows, sheep, chickens, and pigs. The sensitivity to antibiotics was evaluated. Genetic diversity was assessed using wzi allele typing and multilocus sequence typing. The findings shed light on the antibiotic resistance patterns and genetic diversity among K. pneumoniae isolates originating from different animal sources, highlighting the potential for inter-species transmission of this bacterium. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is recognized as a zoonotic pathogen with an increasing threat to livestock and poultry. However, research on K. pneumoniae of animal origin remains limited. To address the gap, a comprehensive investigation was carried out by collecting a total of 311 samples from the farms of four animal species (dairy cow, chicken, sheep, and pig) in selected areas of Xinjiang, China. Isolates were identified by khe gene amplification and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Genotyping of K. pneumonia isolates was performed using wzi typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). PCR was employed to identify virulence and resistance genes. An antibiotic susceptibility test was conducted using the Kirby–Bauer method. The findings revealed an isolation of 62 K. pneumoniae strains, with an average isolation rate of 19.94%, with the highest proportion originating from cattle sources (33.33%). Over 85.00% of these isolates harbored six virulence genes (wabG, uge, fimH, markD, entB, and ureA); while more than 75.00% of isolates possessed four resistance genes (blaTEM, blaSHV, oqxA, and gyrA). All isolates exhibited complete resistance to ampicillin and demonstrated substantial resistance to sulfisoxazole, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and enrofloxacin, with an antibiotic resistance rate of more than 50%. Furthermore, 48.39% (30/62) of isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, with a significantly higher isolation rate observed in the swine farms (66.67%) compared to other farms. Genetic characterization revealed the classification of the 62 isolates into 30 distinct wzi allele types or 35 different sequence types (STs). Notably, we identified K. pneumoniae strains of dairy and swine origin belonging to the same ST42 and wzi33-KL64 types, as well as strains of dairy and chicken origin belonging to the same wzi31-KL31-K31 type. These findings emphasize the widespread occurrence of drug-resistant K. pneumoniae across diverse animal sources in Xinjiang, underscoring the high prevalence of multidrug resistance. Additionally, our results suggest the potential for animal-to-animal transmission of K. pneumoniae and there was a correlation between virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes. Moreover, the current study provides valuable data on the prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and genetic diversity of K. pneumoniae originating from diverse animal sources in Xinjiang, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible and high-quality urban green space (UGS) can provide significant benefits to refugee children for their development, health, and well-being. However, few studies have examined the actual accessibility of UGS from refugee children's perspectives (i.e., with restricted walking radius, particular vulnerability towards barriers such as traffic infrastructures and disconnected road forms) and related them with other environmental or social burdens under the context of environmental justice. It is necessary to explore related evidence and investigate the underlying causes since refugee facilities are primarily located in areas with restricted social and environmental resources strongly related to attributes of environmental justice. This paper investigated (1) availability, accessibility, and attractiveness of UGS in 30 refugee accommodation locations in Berlin using GIS and Space Syntax, (2) environmental burdens using the Berlin Atlas of Environmental Justice, and (3) neighbourhood characteristics. Findings indicate that 63% of refugee accommodations have availability of green space that is above average official standards, but from refugee children's perspectives, 60% of the locations have limited access to UGS, lower attractive green spaces, and most locations face multi-environmental burdens. Currently, little guidance focuses on ensuring equal access to and the usability of UGS for specific socioeconomic and demographic groups, such as refugee children. Therefore, this paper has contributed empirical materials to begin such research and develop inclusive decision-making strategies in environmental and health policy to ensure the provision and high quality of UGS for refugee children who need it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under natural conditions, T-2 toxin can be easily metabolized to HT-2 toxin by deacetylation, and T-2 and HT-2 are usually co-contaminated in grain and feed at a high detected rate. Our previous information indicated that T-2 toxin could injure the function of the intestinal barrier, but the combined toxicity and mechanism of T-2 and HT-2 on the intestinal cells of porcines are still unknown. Therefore, we aimed to explore T-2 and HT-2 individually and combined on cellular viability, cell membrane integrity, the expression of tight junction-related proteins, and the generation of inflammatory factors in porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2). The results showed that T-2 and HT-2, individually or in combination, could induce a decrease in cell viability, an increase in LDH release and IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α generation, and a decrease in the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. Based on the analysis of immunofluorescence staining, real-time PCR, and western blotting, the tight junction protein expressions of Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1 were significantly decreased in the T-2 and HT-2 individual or combination treated groups compared with the control. Furthermore, all the parameter changes in the T-2 + HT-2 combination group were much more serious than those in the individual dose groups. These results suggest that T-2 and HT-2, individually and in combination, could induce an intestinal function injury related to an inflammatory response and damage to the intestinal barrier function in porcine intestinal epithelial cells. Additionally, T-2 and HT-2 in combination showed a synergistic toxic effect, which will provide a theoretical basis to assess the risk of T-2 + HT-2 co-contamination in porcine feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a control system to address the efficiency and pollutant emissions of heterogeneous traffic flow composed of human-operated vehicles (HVs) and connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). Based on the comprehensive collection of information on the flow of heterogeneous traffic, the control system uses a two-layer optimization model for signal duration calculation and CAV trajectory planning. The upper model optimizes the phase duration in real time based on the actual total number and type of vehicles entering the control adjustment zone, while the lower model optimizes CAV lane-changing strategies and vehicle acceleration optimization curves based on the phase duration optimized by the upper model. The target function accounts for reducing fuel usage, carbon emission lane-changing costs, and vehicle travel delays. Based on the Webster optimal cycle formula, an improved cuckoo algorithm with strong search performance is created to solve the model. The numerical data confirmed the benefits of the suggested signal control and CAV trajectory optimization method based on pre-signal lights and dedicated CAV lanes for heterogeneous traffic flow. Intersection capacity was significantly enhanced, CAV average fuel consumption, carbon emission and lane-changing frequency were significantly reduced, and traffic flow speed and delay were significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Interactions between insects and symbiotic bacteria affect the behavior or biological characteristics of host insects, which in turn affect the intraspecific and interspecific relationships of insects. In this paper, we review multi-trophic interactions among symbiotic bacteria, insects, and their mutualistic partners, and the known or suspected mechanisms that modulate these interactions. The nutritional-, antifungal- and semiochemical-producing functions of symbiotic bacteria in several mutualism systems, as well as the modes of transmission of these bacteria, are summarized in detail. Finally, we also try to provide insights into future research directions. Bacteria associated with insects potentially provide many beneficial services and have been well documented. Mutualism that relates to insects is widespread in ecosystems. However, the interrelation between "symbiotic bacteria" and "mutualism" has rarely been studied. We introduce three systems of mutualism that relate to insects (ants and honeydew-producing Hemiptera, fungus-growing insects and fungi, and plant persistent viruses and vector insects) and review the species of symbiotic bacteria in host insects, as well as their functions in host insects and the mechanisms underlying mutualism regulation. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms and role of symbiotic bacteria, based on metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiology, will be required for describing the entire interaction network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of assimilating Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR) observations on the prediction of two typhoons, Nesat and Haitang (2017), using the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) assimilation system and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Two quality control (QC) methods, Minimum Covariance Determinant (MCD) and one-class Support Vector Machine (OCSVM), were employed to perform QC on the AMDAR observations before data assimilation. The QC results indicated that both methods significantly reduced kurtosis, skewness, and discrepancies between the AMDAR data and the reanalysis data. The data distribution after applying the MCD-QC method exhibited a closer resemblance to a Gaussian distribution. Four numerical experiments were conducted to assess the impact of different AMDAR data qualities on typhoon forecasting, including a control experiment without data assimilation (EXP-CNTL), assimilating all AMDAR observations (EXP-RAW), assimilating observations after applying MCD-QC (EXP-MCD), and assimilating observations after applying OCSVM-QC (EXP-SVM). The results demonstrated that using AMDAR data in assimilation improved the track and intensity prediction of the typhoons. Furthermore, utilizing QC before assimilation enhanced the performance of track forecasting prediction, with EXP-MCD showing the best performance. As for intensity prediction, the three assimilation experiments exhibited varying strengths and weaknesses at different times, with EXP-MCD showing smaller intensity forecast errors on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the air pollution problem in northern China in winter, coal-to-electricity (CtE) projects are being vigorously implemented. Although the CtE project has a positive effect on alleviating air pollution and accelerating clean energy development, the economic benefits of electric heating are currently poor. In this study, a system based on vehicle-to-home (V2H) and photovoltaic power generation that can effectively improve the benefits of CtE projects is proposed. First, a V2H-based village microgrid is proposed. The winter temperature and direct radiation of the Beijing CtE project area are analyzed. Extreme operating conditions and typical operating conditions are constructed for potential analysis. After that, a bi-layer optimization model for energy management considering travel characteristics is proposed. The upper layer is a village-level microgrid energy-dispatching model considering meeting the heating load demand, and the lower layer is a multi-vehicle energy distribution model considering the battery degradation. The results show that the distribution grid expansion capacity of the electric heating system based on V2H and PV generation is reduced by 45.9%, and the residents' electricity bills are reduced by 68.5%. The consumption of PV can be completed. This study has effectively increased the benefits of electric heating in northern China during winter. This helps the CtE project to be further promoted without leading to large subsidies from the government and the State Grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the addition of oregano oil chitosan nanoparticles (OEO-CSNPs) was conducted to enhance the comprehensive properties of gelatin films (GA), and the optimal addition ratio of nanoparticles was determined for its application in the preservation of mullet. Oregano oil chitosan nanoparticles were organically combined with gelatin at different concentrations (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) to obtain oregano oil–chitosan nanoparticle–GA-based composite films (G/OEO-CSNPs), and thereafter G/OEO-CSNPs were characterized and investigated for their preservative effects on mullet. Subsequent analysis revealed that OEO-CSNPs were uniformly dispersed in the GA matrix, and that G/OEO-CSNPs had significantly improved mechanical ability, UV-visible light blocking performance and thermal stability. Furthermore, the nanoparticles exhibited excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and they improved the films' suitability as edible packaging. The attributes of the G/OEO-CSNPs were optimized, the films had the strongest radical scavenging and lowest water solubility, and electron microscopy also showed nanoparticle penetration into the polymer when the concentration of OEO-CSNPs was 6% (thickness = 0.092 ± 0.001, TS = 47.62 ± 0.37, E = 4.06 ± 0.17, water solubility = 48.00 ± 1.11). Furthermore, the GA-based composite film containing 6% OEO-CSNPs was able to inhibit microbial growth, slow fat decomposition and protein oxidation, reduce endogenous enzyme activity, and delay the spoilage of mullet during the refrigeration process, all of which indicate its excellent potential for meat preservation application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) blade battery is a long, rectangular-shaped cell that can be directly integrated into battery pack systems. It enhances volumetric power density, significantly reduces costs, and is widely utilized in electric vehicles. However, the flat open circuit voltage and significant polarization differences under wide operational temperatures are challenging for accurate voltage modeling of battery management systems (BMSs). In particular, inaccurate state of charge (SOC) estimation may cause overcharging and over-discharging risks. To accurately perceive the SOC of LiFePO4 blade batteries, a SOC estimation method based on the backpropagation neural network-extended Kalman filter (BPNN-EKF) algorithm is proposed. BPNN is a neural network model that utilizes the backpropagation algorithm to update model parameters, while EKF is an optimal estimation algorithm. Firstly, dynamic working condition tests, including the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and high-speed working (HSW) condition tests, are conducted under a wide temperature range (−25–43 °C). HSW conditions refer to a simulated operating condition that mimics the driving of an electric vehicle on a highway. The minimum voltage of the battery system is used as the output for training the BPNN model. We derive the Kalman gain by combining the BPNN output voltage. Additionally, the EKF algorithm is employed to correct the SOC value using voltage error information. Concerning long SOC calculation intervals, capacity errors, initial SOC errors, and current and voltage sampling errors, the maximum SOC estimation RMSE is 3.98% at −20 °C NEDC, 3.62% at 10 °C NEDC, and 1.68% at 35 °C HSW. The proposed algorithm can be applied to different temperatures and operations, demonstrating high robustness. This BPNN-EKF algorithm has the potential to be embedded in electric vehicle BMS systems for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, China proposed the ambitious goal of achieving carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. To investigate the impact of emission reduction behaviors of upstream and downstream enterprises in the supply chain, this paper focuses on the influencing factors of the supply chain enterprises' emission reduction decision-making. The study aims to explore the emission reduction behaviors of these enterprises in the context of China's carbon trading market. Using the theory of system dynamics, an evolutionary game model was developed and simulated using AnyLogic software. The simulation analyzed the effects of carbon price, subsidies, and punishment strategies on the emission reduction decisions of supply chain enterprises, providing insights into their behavioral impact. The results demonstrate that punishment, subsidy intensity, and carbon price changes all influence the emission reduction decisions of upstream and downstream enterprises. Suppliers are more sensitive to carbon price, while manufacturers are more sensitive to subsidy intensity. Additionally, the closer the equilibrium carbon price, subsidy, and market are, the shorter the time for the emission reduction probability of both enterprises to stabilize. Therefore, it is recommended that supply chain companies increase their awareness of environmental responsibility and enthusiasm for green innovation, actively respond to the carbon trading system, improve their internal subsidy system, and promote green technology innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal runaway propagation (TRP) is a primary safety issue in lithium-ion battery (LIB) applications, and the use of a thermal barrier is considered to be a promising solution for TRP prevention. However, the operating conditions of the battery are extremely complicated, such as fast charging, low-temperature heating and thermal runaway. To date, there is no consistent answer as to how to choose the appropriate thermal barrier for such a complicated working environment. In this study, the characteristics of hydrogel based on sodium polyacrylate are explored, and the impact of thermal barrier area on TRP is investigated through experiments. Due to the prismatic battery structure, thermal barriers placed between cells are designed with different areas (148 × 98 mm, 128 × 88 mm, and 108 × 78 mm). The results indicate that test 1 without a placed thermal barrier quickly completes the TRP process, and the thermal runaway (TR) behavior is more violent. With a thermal barrier that does not have full area coverage placed between cells (test 2 and test 3), the propagation time is prolonged, but TRP still occurs. Compared with test 1, the triggered temperature of T2 F (the front surface of cell 2) is reduced by 207.6 °C and 295.2 °C, respectively. The complete area coverage thermal barrier successfully prevents TRP, and the T2 F of cell 2 only reaches 145.4 °C under the phase change by the hydrogel. This study may suggest a safety design for battery modules and prevent propagation among batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperatures induce limited charging ability and lifespan in lithium-ion batteries, and may even cause accidents. Therefore, a reliable preheating strategy is needed to address this issue. This study proposes a low-temperature preheating strategy based on neural network PID control, considering temperature increase rate and consistency. In this strategy, electrothermal films are placed between cells for preheating; battery module areas are differentiated according to the convective heat transfer rate; a controller regulates heating power to control the maximum temperature difference during the preheating process; and a co-simulation model is established to verify the proposed warm-up strategy. The numerical calculation results indicate that the battery module can be preheated to the target temperature under different ambient temperatures and control targets. The coupling relationship between the preheating time and the maximum temperature difference during the preheating process is studied and multi-objective optimization is carried out based on the temperature increase rate and thermal uniformity. The optimal preheating strategy is proven to ensure the temperature increase rate and effectively suppress temperature inconsistency of the module during the preheating process. Although preheating time is extended by 17%, the temperature difference remains within the safety threshold, and the maximum temperature difference is reduced by 49.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the demand for cooperative signal control at oversaturated heterogeneous traffic flow intersections containing CAVs and HVs, cooperative control including dedicated CAV lanes has been explored to improve intersection safety capacity and reduce vehicle delays while avoiding uncertain HV driving behaviour. However, this approach does not fully exploit CAV network connectivity advantages and intersection spatial and temporal resources. Here, an oversaturated heterogeneous traffic flow signal control model based on a variable virtual waiting zone with a dedicated CAV lane is proposed. Within the model, CAVs going straight or left share a dedicated CAV lane, a CAV variable virtual waiting zone is within the intersection ahead of the dedicated CAV lane, and CAVs and HVs share the straight-through lane. The model framework has three layers. The upper layer optimizes the barrier time using a rolling time domain scheme. The middle layer optimizes the phase duration and variable virtual waiting zone switching time based on the fixed phase sequence, returning the vehicle delay to the upper optimization model. The lower layer performs CAV grouping and trajectory planning in the dedicated CAV lane based on signal timing and variable virtual waiting zone duration, returning the CAV delays to the middle level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large gas reserves have been found in the Permian platform margin of the Kaijiang-Liangping area of the Sichuan Basin in SW China. They are assumed to be a widely developed reef–shoal reservoir. However, the tight matrix reservoir cannot support high gas production using conventional development technology at deep subsurface. In this contribution, we analyze the fractured reservoirs along the strike-slip fault zones using the compiled data of cores, well logging, and production data, and provide a seismic description. It was shown that the fractures and their dissolution developed along the strike-slip fault zones. The porosity and permeability of the fractured reservoir could increase by more than one and 1–2 orders of magnitude, respectively. The seismic anisotropic energy found in the steerable pyramid process suggests that fractured reservoirs have a strong heterogeneity, with a localized fault damage zone. This fracturing has both positive and negative effects, showing varied reservoir parameters in the fault damage zone. The development pattern should adopt a non-uniform well pattern, in order to target the localized "sweet spot" of the fractures in these deep tight matrix reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being able to explore and play in quality open spaces in the neighbourhood is crucial for refugee children since refugee facilities often have inadequate playspaces indoors and outdoors. Access to meso-environment playspaces (around refugee accommodations) would provide refugee children with the opportunity for optimal physical, cognitive, emotional and social development and support their social inclusion. This study explores refugee children's access to play areas in meso environments with six study sites in Berlin. Active space for refugee children's play is assessed using: (1) open-source data collection, (2) method notions of perceived distance and spaces, (3) staff survey with site investigation and (4) space syntax theories of potential accessibility. Results indicated the fact of unequal playspace distributions for refugee children in Berlin with children-oriented assessment. The utilisation of space syntax in the context of refugee children is relatively unexplored. This study is thereby contributing to the space syntax literature by exploring the broader application potential of its methods. Further studies should broaden study sites with more precise environmental measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils have unique functional properties, but their environmental sensitivity and poor water solubility limit their applications. Therefore, we encapsulated oregano essential oil (OEO) in chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) and used tripolyphosphate (TPP) as a cross-linking agent to produce oregano essential oil chitosan nanoparticles (OEO-CSNPs). The optimized conditions obtained using the Box–Behnken design were: a chitosan concentration of 1.63 mg/mL, TPP concentration of 1.27 mg/mL, and OEO concentration of 0.30%. The OEO-CSNPs had a particle size of 182.77 ± 4.83 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.26 ± 0.01, a zeta potential of 40.53 ± 0.86 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 92.90%. The success of OEO encapsulation was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that the OEO-CSNPs had a regular distribution and spherical shape. The in vitro release profile at pH = 7.4 showed an initial burst release followed by a sustained release of OEO. The antibacterial activity of OEO before and after encapsulation was measured using the agar disk diffusion method. In conclusion, OEO can be used as an antibacterial agent in future food processing and packaging applications because of its high biological activity and excellent stability when encapsulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MaxEnt exhibits good stability; even if the distribution data information and environmental variables of the distribution area are incomplete, the potential distribution area of the species can be accurately predicted [[5], [7]]. A species distribution methodology uses algorithms to link the known distribution point data of the target species to related environmental variables, constructs a model to determine the ecological requirements required for species distribution, and projects the results of the operation to predict the potential distribution of species in a specific period and region in the future [[2]]. Potential Distribution of W. auropunctata in China The potential suitable distribution area of I W. auropunctata i obtained from MaxEnt is shown in Figure 5. [Extracted from the article]

Hyperosmolality-gated calcium-permeable channels (OSCA) are characterized as an osmosensor in plants; they are able to recognize and respond to exogenous and endogenous osmotic changes, and play a vital role in plant growth and adaptability to environmental stress. To explore the potential biological functions of OSCAs in maize, we performed a bioinformatics and expression analysis of the ZmOSCA gene family. Using bioinformatics methods, we identified twelve OSCA genes from the genome database of maize. According to their sequence composition and phylogenetic relationship, the maize OSCA family was classified into four groups (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ). Multiple sequence alignment analysis revealed a conserved DUF221 domain in these members. We modeled the calcium binding sites of four OSCA families using the autodocking technique. The expression profiles of ZmOSCA genes were analyzed in different tissues and under diverse abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, high temperature, and chilling using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). We found that the expression of twelve ZmOSCA genes is variant in different tissues of maize. Furthermore, abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, high temperature, and chilling differentially induced the expression of twelve ZmOSCA genes. We chose ZmOSCA2.2 and ZmOSCA2.3, which responded most strongly to temperature stress, for prediction of protein interactions. We modeled the calcium binding sites of four OSCA families using autodocking tools, obtaining a number of new results. These results are helpful in understanding the function of the plant OSCA gene family for study of the molecular mechanism of plant osmotic stress and response, as well as exploration of the interaction between osmotic stress, high-temperature stress, and low-temperature stress signal transduction mechanisms. As such, they can provide a theoretical basis for crop breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling crushed waste oyster shells (WOS) as a fine aggregate is an attractive method of disposal. However, its use in geopolymer mortar has not been reported. The influence of PVA fibres on the engineering properties of the new geopolymer mortar is still unclear. To bridge the gap, this study investigated the influence of various PVA fibre contents (0–1.05 vol%) on the flowability, compressive, flexural strengths, drying shrinkage, sorptivity, chloride resistance, porosity, fibre dispersion, embodied CO2 emissions (ECO2e), and embodied energy (EE) of the geopolymer mortar. The results indicated that the inclusion of 0.15–1.05 vol% of PVA fibres improved the flexural strength by 10.10–42.31% and reduced the drying shrinkage by 13.37–65.79%. The flowability and compressive strength decreased by 10.78–34.28% and 7.50–27.65%, respectively, but they were sufficient for construction. The sorptivity increased by 1.45–15.16%, and the chloride resistance decreased by 15.09–56.35%, but the geopolymer mortar was still classified as low chloride penetrability. In summary, the optimal content of PVA fibres is 0.45 vol%, and the geopolymer mortar has good engineering properties and eco-efficiency. The cost analysis and high-temperature resistance of the geopolymer mortar are neglected in this study, which should be evaluated in future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato, which is regarded as an important worldwide crop, is susceptible to gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea. Selenium and methyl jasmonate can act as antifungal agents against pathogenic infections. To clarify the effect of selenium and methyl jasmonate on the fungal pathogen, the spore germination and mycelial growth of B. cinerea were investigated in vitro using the growth rate method. Additionally, the electrical conductivity, soluble protein content, malondialdehyde content and oxalic acid secretion of B. cinerea mycelium were also determined to further explore the antifungal mechanism of selenium and methyl jasmonate. The results showed that selenium application significantly increased cell membrane permeability and malondialdehyde content, and methyl jasmonate treatment decreased the soluble protein content in mycelium of B. cinerea. Furthermore, supplementation of the medium with both selenium and methyl jasmonate effectively inhibited spore germination and colony growth of B. cinerea by compromising membrane integrity, and significantly reduced soluble protein content and the oxalic acid secretion of hypha. The resulting incidence of postharvest tomato gray mold with the combination of selenium and methyl jasmonate was 34.7%, which was approximately half of that of the control. To sum up, the combined use of selenium and methyl jasmonate inhibited the normal physiological activity and pathogenicity of B. cinerea, which suggests that selenium and methyl jasmonate have the potential for controlling gray mold disease caused by B. cinerea in postharvest fruits and vegetables. These findings may offer a promising and eco-friendly strategy to control gray mold disease in postharvest fruits and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The leguminous forage Chamaecrista rotundifolia contains a high crude protein content and can be an important feed source for livestock. Forage is preserved mainly as silage, and microbial fermentation is key to high-quality silage. The fermentation quality of silage depends on the microbial community structure and the metabolites produced during silage fermentation. The current study provides evidence that the addition of malic or citric acid and/or Lactobacillus acidophilus (L) improves the quality of silage and inhibits the growth of harmful microorganisms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of citric acid, malic acid, and Lactobacillus acidophilus (L) on fermentation parameters and the microbial community of leguminous Chamaecrista rotundifolia silage. Fresh C. rotundifolia was treated without any additive (CK), or with L (106 CFU/g fresh weight), different levels (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1% fresh weight) of organic acid (malic or citric acid), and the combinations of L and the different levels of organic acids for 30, 45, and 60 days of ensiling. The effects of malic acid and citric acid were similar during the ensiling process. Treatment with either citric or malic acid and also when combined with L inhibited crude protein degradation, lowered pH and ammonia nitrogen, and increased lactic acid concentration and dry matter content (p < 0.05). The neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber increased initially and then decreased with fermentation time in all treatments (p < 0.05). Increasing the level of organic acid positively affected the chemical composition of C. rotundifolia silage. In addition, the addition of 1% organic acid increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, while the relative abundances of Clostridium and Enterobacter decreased at 60 days (p < 0.05). Moreover, both organic acids and combined additives increased (p < 0.05) the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria at 60 days of fermentation. We concluded that adding malic acid, citric acid, and L combined with an organic acid could improve the quality of C. rotundifolia silage and increase the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria. The addition of organic acid at a level of 1% was the most effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Observations in the animal room have shown that the seeds stored by harvester ants, although in a damp environment, are less likely to mold. It was hypothesized that harvester ants may use actinomycetes to protect their seed stores, given that leafcutter ants use actinomycetes as producers of defensive substances. Two actinomycetes were isolated from the harvester ant Messor orientalis. The fermentation broth of the actinomycetes showed significant inhibitory effects on the three indicator fungi. Coculture experiments supported the observed inhibitory effects. The antifungal activities of actinomycetes in harvester ants were revealed. This research provides a significant theoretical reference for the abovementioned hypothesis and for the potential agricultural applications of these actinomycetes for multiple crops. Observations have shown that seeds collected by harvester ants are less likely to mold. Based on evolutionary analysis and other research, it was hypothesized that harvester ants could apply actinomycetes to protect seeds, similar to the protection of mutualistic fungi by leafcutter ants. Two actinomycetes were successfully isolated from the harvester ant Messor orientalis. The taxonomic status of the actinomycetes was determined by 16S rRNA sequence analysis and biochemical experimental observations. Their inhibitory effects on plant pathogens were measured. One of the bacteria was identified as Brachybacterium phenoliresistens and denoted as B. phenoliresistens MO. The other belonged to the genus Microbacterium. It was named Microbacterium sp. Growth rate determination and coculture experiments were performed to explore the inhibitory effect of actinomycetes on indicator plant pathogens. The inhibition rates of the actinomycetes toward Peronophythora litchii and Rhizoctonia solani were 100% in media containing 30% or more fermentation broth, and they also showed an inhibitory effect on Colletotrichum siamense. The coculture experiment supported this result by showing that the growth of P. litchii and R. solani was inhibited in the presence of actinomycetes. Therefore, the results of this study show the agricultural application potential of these bacteria and may provide a reference for research on the symbiosis of harvester ants with actinomycetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three model perturbation schemes, the stochastically perturbed parameter scheme (SPP), stochastically perturbed physics tendency (SPPT), and multi-physics process parameterization (MP), were used to represent the model errors in the regional ensemble prediction systems (REPS). To study the effects of different model perturbation schemes on heavy rainfall forecasting, three sensitive experiments using three different combinations (EXP1: MP, EXP2: SPPT + SPP, and EXP3: MP + SPPT + SPP) of the model perturbation schemes were set up based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)-V4.2 model for a heavy rainfall case that occurred in Henan, China during 20–22 July 2021. The results show that the model perturbation schemes can provide forecast uncertainties for this heavy rainfall case. The stochastic physical perturbation method could improve the heavy rainfall forecast skill by approximately 5%, and EXP3 had better performance than EXP1 or EXP2. The spread-to-root mean square error ratios (spread/RMSE) of EXP3 were closer to 1 compared with those of the EXP1 and EXP2; particularly for the meridional wind above 10 m, the spread/RMSE was 0.94 for EXP3 and approximately 0.85 for EXP1 and EXP2. EXP3 exhibited better performance in Brier score verification. EXP3 had a 5% lower Brier score than EXP1 and EXP2, when the rainfall threshold was 25 mm. The growth of the initial ensemble variances of different model perturbation schemes were explored, and the results show that the perturbation energy of EXP3 developed faster, with a magnitude of 27.22 J/kg, whereas those of EXP1 and EXP2 were only 19.18 J/kg and 20.81 J/kg, respectively. The weak initial perturbation associated with the wind shear north of the heavy rainfall location can be easily developed by EXP3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato cultivation is seriously affected by infection from Botrytis cinerea. The safe and effective control of tomato gray mold remains elusive. Plant-related microbial communities regulate not only plant metabolism but also plant immune systems. In this study, we observed that Selenium application in soil combined with foliar spraying of methyl jasmonate could reduce Botrytis cinerea infection in tomato fruits and leaves and improve tomato fruit quality. The infection rate of leaves decreased from 42.19% to 25.00%, and the vitamin C content increased by 22.14%. The bacterial community structure of the tomato was studied by using amplicon sequencing technology. The leaf bacterial alpha diversity of tomatoes treated with Se plus methyl jasmonate was significantly higher than that of the control. Then we isolated five strains antagonistic to Botrytis cinerea in vitro from tomato leaves in the treatment of Se plus methyl jasmonate. The antagonistic strains were identified as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus velezensis. Spraying mixed antagonistic strain suspension significantly inhibited the diameter of Botrytis cinerea with an inhibition rate of 40.99%. This study revealed the key role of plant-beneficial bacteria recruited by Se combined with methyl jasmonate in improving tomato plant disease resistance. These findings may benefit our understanding of the new regulation of microorganisms on Botrytis cinerea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant height (PH) and its component traits are critical determinants of lodging resistance and strongly influence yield in rice. The genetic architecture of PH and its component traits were mined in two mapping populations. In the natural population composed of 504 accessions, a total of forty simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers associated with PH and its component traits were detected across two environments via association mapping. Allele RM305-210 bp on chromosome 5 for PH had the largest phenotypic effect value (PEV) (−51.42 cm) with a reducing effect. Allele RM3533-220 bp on chromosome 9 for panicle length and allele RM264-120 bp on chromosome 8 for the length of upper first elongated internode (1IN) showed the highest positive PEV. Among the elongated internodes with negative effects being desirable, the allele RM348-130 bp showed the largest PEV (−7.48 cm) for the length of upper second elongated internode. In the chromosome segment substitution line population consisting of 53 lines, a total of nine QTLs were detected across two environments, with the phenotypic variance explained (PVE) ranging 10.07–28.42%. Among the detected QTLs, q1IN-7 explained the largest PVE (28.42%) for the 1IN, with an additive of 5.31 cm. The favorable allele RM257-125 bp on chromosome 9 for the 1IN increasing was detected in both populations. The favorable alleles provided here could be used to shape PH architecture against lodging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene-silica (RGO-SiO2) was successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The composites were used to study the adsorption properties of humic acid and disinfection by-product precursors in natural surface water. Compared with reduced graphene oxide (RGO), the specific surface area of the composites doped with silica (SiO2) increased by 31.2% to 259.43 m2/g. RGO-SiO2 could achieve 66.91% adsorption of humic acid (HA), while the maximum adsorption of HA on RGO-SiO2 reached 925.91 mg/g. The adsorption and removal rates of HA by RGO-SiO2 were significantly higher than those of RGO. The whole adsorption process was in accordance with the quasi-secondary kinetic model, the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model. RGO-SiO2 has good adsorption performance for organic matter of different water qualities. RGO-SiO2 has a better removal ability for hydrophobic organics than hydrophilic and nitrogenous organics. The adsorbent was reusable, and the organic removal efficiency of RGO-SiO2 decreased insignificantly after four cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia is one of the most important environmental factors in aquatic ecosystems. However, there are limited studies on the effects of chronic or long-term ammonia stress and its potential molecular mechanism in fish. This study aimed to investigate the immune response and molecular mechanisms in the spleen and head-kidney of fish following chronic ammonia exposure. Megalobrama amblycephala (9.98 ± 0.48 g) were exposed to different concentrations of total ammonia nitrogen (0–30 mg/L) for 30 days. Ammonia exposure caused significant increases in cortisol levels and decreases in lysozyme and complement 3/4 concentrations in the serum, indicating inhibitory effects of ammonia stress on innate immune responses. Ammonia exposure also induced concentration-dependent increases in ammonia concentrations in tissue, pathological damage and indexes of spleen and head-kidney. Additionally, the contents of immunoglobulin M (IgM), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) as well as mRNA levels of toll-like receptors (TLRs)/Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-independent signaling molecules in the spleen and head-kidney were significantly downregulated after ammonia exposure. Our findings suggested that chronic ammonia exposure caused the suppression of innate and adaptive immune responses through downregulating TLR/MyD88-independent signaling. Adverse influences of chronic ammonia stress were more severe in the spleen than in the head-kidney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to text sentiment analysis, which has gradually become a research hotspot in information extraction, data mining, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and other fields. With the gradual popularization of the Internet, sentiment analysis of Uyghur texts has great research and application value in online public opinion. For low-resource languages, most state-of-the-art systems require tens of thousands of annotated sentences to get high performance. However, there is minimal annotated data available about Uyghur sentiment analysis tasks. There are also specificities in each task—differences in words and word order across languages make it a challenging problem. In this paper, we present an effective solution to providing a meaningful and easy-to-use feature extractor for sentiment analysis tasks: using the pre-trained language model with BiLSTM layer. Firstly, data augmentation is carried out by AEDA (An Easier Data Augmentation), and the augmented dataset is constructed to improve the performance of text classification tasks. Then, a pretraining model LaBSE is used to encode the input data. Then, BiLSTM is used to learn more context information. Finally, the validity of the model is verified via two categories datasets for sentiment analysis and five categories datasets for emotion analysis. We evaluated our approach on two datasets, which showed wonderful performance compared to some strong baselines. We close with an overview of the resources for sentiment analysis tasks and some of the open research questions. Therefore, we propose a combined deep learning and cross-language pretraining model for two low resource expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitivity experiments were conducted on Typhoon Mujigae, which occurred in 2015, wherein the Weather Research and Forecasting Advanced Research (WRF-ARW) model was used to select two local and two nonlocal planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization schemes: the quasi-normal scale elimination (QNSE) and Mellor–Yamada–Janjic (MYJ) schemes, and the Yonsei University (YSU) and medium-range forecast (MRF) schemes, respectively. The differences in rainfall response in the typhoon's inner core and outer region were evaluated by comparing the anomaly rainfall distribution, heat transmission, and mixing processes in the boundary layer among the PBL schemes. The results show that the simulated rainfall in typhoon Mujigae has large uncertainty among the PBL schemes and a significant difference between the inner and outer regions. Compared with the observation, the simulated rainfall was significantly higher in the inner core and slightly lower in the outer region. All PBL schemes accurately identified the rainfall location, although the amounts differed between the schemes. The rainfall levels in the MRF scheme were closest to the observation, followed by those in the YSU and MYJ schemes; the QNSE scheme showed the largest deviation. In general, rainfall simulation using a nonlocal boundary layer scheme such as MRF had the best results for both the inner core and the outer region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, inverse gas chromatography (IGC) and molecular dynamics simulation methods have been used to characterize the solubility parameters and surface parameters of polymers, which can provide quantitative reference for the further study of the surface and interface compatibility of polymer components in the future. In this paper, the solubility parameters and surface parameters of two kinds of common alcoholysis, PVA88 and PVA99, are studied by using the IGC method. The accuracy of the solubility parameters obtained by the IGC experiment is verified by molecular dynamics simulation. On the basis of this, the influence of repeated units of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on solubility parameters is studied, so as to determine the appropriate chain length of the PVA for simulation verification calculation. The results show that the solubility parameters are not much different when the PVA chain length is 30 and above; the numerical trends of the solubility parameters of PVA88 and PVA99 at room temperature are the same as the results of molecular dynamics simulation; the dispersive surface energy γ s d and the specific surface energy γ s sp are scattered with the temperature distribution and have a small dependence on temperature. On the whole, the surface energy of PVA99 with a higher alcoholysis degree is higher than that of PVA88 with a lower alcoholysis degree. The surface specific adsorption free energy ( Δ G sp ) indicates that both PVA88 and PVA99 are amphoteric meta-acid materials, and the acidity of PVA99 is stronger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the status of dietary diversity and nutrient intake among Han and Dongxiang smallholder farmers in poor rural areas of northwest China. In this cross-sectional study, dietary intake was assessed in 499 smallholder farmers aged 18–75 years from two nationally designated impoverished counties in Gansu Province, China, using three consecutive 24 h dietary recalls. The dietary diversity score (DDS) and nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) were adopted to assess dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacy, respectively. The mean DDS (range from 1 to 9) in participants was relatively low (3.81 ± 1.01). Consumption of grains was excessive, while consumption of vegetables, fruits, meat, beans, eggs, fish, and dairy was inadequate. The NAR values were higher in Han Chinese, with the exceptions of vitamin C, potassium, pyridoxine, and selenium (p < 0.05). For each nutrient, the high DDS group had a higher mean NAR (p < 0.05), except for pyridoxine. High household monthly income, being Han Chinese, high DDS, and being aged over 45 years were positively associated with mean adequacy ratio (MAR) of 14 micronutrients evaluated. Lack of dietary diversity and insufficient intake of essential micronutrients are public health concerns in northwest China. Nutrition education and other proper methods to address these issues are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new entomopathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps pingbianensis, collected from Southeast China, was described by mitogenomic, morphological, and phylogenetic evidence. The systematic position of O. pingbianensis was determined by phylogenetic analyses based on six nuclear gene (ITS, tef1-α, nrSSU, nrLSU, rpb1 and rpb2) and 14 mitochondrial protein-coding gene (PCGs) (cox1, cox2, cox3, atp6, atp8, atp9, cob, nad1, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad5, nad6 and nad4L) data. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that O. pingbianensis was belonged to the Hirsutella nodulosa clade in the genus Ophiocordyceps of Ophiocordycipiaceae. This fungus exhibits distinctive characteristics which differed from other related Ophiocordyceps species with slender and geminate stromata, monophialidic conidiogenous cells with an inflated awl-shaped base, a twisty and warty phialide neck and a fusiform or oval conidia, as well as being found on a tiger beetle of Coleoptera buried in moss at the cave. The complete mitochondrial genome of O. pingbianensis was a circular DNA molecule 80,359 bp in length, containing 15 PCGs, 24 open reading frames genes (ORFs), 25 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) and 27 introns. Ophiocordyceps pingbianensis, containing 27 introns, has the second largest mitogenome in Ophiocordycipiaceae and was next to O. sinensis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the mitogenome from a new entomopathogenic fungus, and thus provides an important foundation for future studies on taxonomy, genetics and evolutionary biology of Ophiocordycipiaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Named entity recognition (NER) is an important task in the processing of natural language, which needs to determine entity boundaries and classify them into pre-defined categories. For low-resource languages, most state-of-the-art systems require tens of thousands of annotated sentences to obtain high performance. However, there is minimal annotated data available about Uyghur and Hungarian (UH languages) NER tasks. There are also specificities in each task—differences in words and word order across languages make it a challenging problem. In this paper, we present an effective solution to providing a meaningful and easy-to-use feature extractor for named entity recognition tasks: fine-tuning the pre-trained language model. Therefore, we propose a fine-tuning method for a low-resource language model, which constructs a fine-tuning dataset through data augmentation; then the dataset of a high-resource language is added; and finally the cross-language pre-trained model is fine-tuned on this dataset. In addition, we propose an attention-based fine-tuning strategy that uses symmetry to better select relevant semantic and syntactic information from pre-trained language models and apply these symmetry features to name entity recognition tasks. We evaluated our approach on Uyghur and Hungarian datasets, which showed wonderful performance compared to some strong baselines. We close with an overview of the available resources for named entity recognition and some of the open research questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to viral evolution and recombination, emerging pseudorabies virus (PRV) strains have caused unprecedented outbreaks in swine farms even when the pigs were previously vaccinated, which might indicate that traditional vaccines were unable to provide effective protection. The development of safe and efficacious vaccines presents prospects to minimize the clinical signs and eventually eradicate the infection. In this study, we used an emerging PRV strain, HNX, as the parental strain to construct a recombinant PRV with TK/gE gene deletion and Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) expression, named HNX-TK−/gE−-Flt3L. HNX-TK−/gE−-Flt3L enhanced the maturation of bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. Significantly more activated DCs were detected in HNX-TK−/gE−-Flt3L-immunized mice compared with those immunized with HNX-TK−/gE−. Subsequently, a remarkable increase of neutralizing antibodies, gB-specific IgG antibodies, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was observed in mice vaccinated with HNX-TK−/gE−-Flt3L. In addition, a lower mortality and less histopathological damage were observed in HNX-TK−/gE−-Flt3L vaccinated mice with upon PRV lethal challenge infection. Taken together, our results revealed the potential of Flt3L as an ideal adjuvant that can activate DCs and enhance protective immune responses and support the further evaluation of HNX-TK−/gE−-Flt3L as a promising PRV vaccine candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyimide-graphene composites were synthesized by in-situ condensation polymerization and the thermal stability and decomposition behavior of the composites were studied. Polyimides, because of their aromatic backbone, are a class of fire-retardant polymers. Their high char retention ≥50% at testing temperatures ≥600 °C makes them thermally stable polymers. The effect of nanographene sheets on the decomposition behavior of polyimide is presented in this paper. It is shown that the reinforcement of polyimide with nanographene sheets significantly decreased the rate of decomposition of polyimide and increased the char retention of the composite. Thermogravimetric analysis data were used to assess the thermal stability, rate of mass loss and predicted limiting oxygen index of the neat polyimide and composites. Results obtained showed around a 43% decrease in the rate of polyimide degradation at 50 wt.% graphene loading. The limiting oxygen index of the polyimide nanocomposite was calculated by using the char retention, and it was found to increase by up to 24% at 50 wt.% graphene loading over that for the neat matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In reality, estimations for the unknown parameters of truncated distribution with censored data have wide utilization. Truncated normal distribution is more suitable to fit lifetime data compared with normal distribution. This article makes statistical inferences on estimating parameters under truncated normal distribution using adaptive progressive type II censored data. First, the estimates are calculated through exploiting maximum likelihood method. The observed and expected Fisher information matrices are derived to establish the asymptotic confidence intervals. Second, Bayesian estimations under three loss functions are also studied. The point estimates are calculated by Lindley approximation. Importance sampling technique is applied to discuss the Bayes estimates and build the associated highest posterior density credible intervals. Bootstrap confidence intervals are constructed for the purpose of comparison. Monte Carlo simulations and data analysis are employed to present the performances of various methods. Finally, we obtain optimal censoring schemes under different criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative characterization of the solubility parameters and surface properties of larch bark proanthocyanidins will lay the foundation for quantitative studies of the interfacial interactions of proanthocyanidin/polymer composites and will improve the compatibility of components, with important practical and scientific significance. Here, the solubility parameters of highly polymerized larch polymeric proanthocyanidins (LPPCs) and less highly polymerized larch oligomeric proanthocyanidins (LOPCs) were determined experimentally by inverse gas chromatography (IGC). These values were then compared with the solubility parameters obtained using molecular dynamics simulations. The experimentally measured solubility parameters of LPPCs and LOPCs (20.5 and 22.09 (J/m−3)0.5, respectively) were in good agreement with the solubility parameters determined by molecular dynamics simulations (20.57 and 22.35 (J/m−3)0.5, respectively. IGC was also used to experimentally determine the total surface energy, which includes the dispersive component of surface energy   γ s d   and the specific component of surface energy γ s s p , together with the surface acidity and basicity parameters of LPPCs and LOPCs at different temperatures. The surface properties of proanthocyanidins can be quickly and accurately evaluated by IGC, and both LPPCs and LOPCs were shown to be amphoteric materials. This study provides theoretical and technical support for the use of larch bark proanthocyanidins, which are non-toxic, renewable, and have good ultraviolet resistance, in the field of blending composites. The study also provides a reference for other studies on the interfacial interactions of wood fiber polymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trailing arms are widely used in the automobiles' suspension system, and effective detection of their wall thickness is essential to ensure their mechanical properties and to evaluate the casting process. In this work, an ultrasonic measurement model (UMM) is firstly established with consideration of the curvature and thickness of the trailing arm, then the UMM is introduced to predict the theoretical ultrasonic waveforms with different hypothetical thicknesses of the trailing arm. Next, the experimental ultrasonic waveforms are collected and matched with the predicted theoretical waveforms by using the correlation matching algorithm. The hypothetical thickness with the best match is regarded as the wall thickness of the trailing arm. Finally, an automatic ultrasonic experiment was conducted on a trailing arm with a 5-degrees of freedom (DOF) manipulator, in which the ultrasonic beam can radiate into a trailing arm at normal incidence. The results are compared with those determined by the micrometer and microscope, showing that their relative errors are controlled within 0.08 mm, which reveals the effectiveness of the present method. The method can also work for wall thickness measurements of curved components with CAD models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigate differences in gut microbial diversity driven by drug use or by the widely used methods for drug cessation: methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and compulsory detention (CD). Methods: 99 participants (28 CD participants, 16 MMT patients, 27 drug users, and 28 healthy controls) were selected using strict inclusion criteria. Nutritional intake and gut microbial diversity were analyzed with bioinformatics tools and SPSS 20.0. Results: Alpha diversity was not significantly different among groups, whereas beta diversity of gut microbiota and nutrient intake were significantly higher among MMT patients. Taxa were unevenly distributed between groups, with drug users having the highest proportion of Ruminococcus and MMT patients having the highest abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Conclusion: Drug use, cessation method, and diet contribute to shaping human gut communities. High beta diversity among MMT patients is likely driven by methadone use and high nutrient intake, leading to increased orexin A and enrichment for beneficial bacteria, while diversity in CD participants is largely influenced by diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]