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Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) is a key water quality variable that is difficult to measure in the water treatment process. Data-driven soft computing is one of the effective approaches to address this issue. Since the detection cost of NH3-N is very expensive, a large number of NH3-N values are missing in the collected water quality dataset, that is, a large number of unlabeled data are obtained. To enhance the prediction accuracy of NH3-N, a semi-supervised soft computing method using a self-constructing fuzzy neural network with an active learning mechanism (SS-SCFNN-ALM) is proposed in this study. In the SS-SCFNN-ALM, firstly, to reduce the computational complexity of active learning, the kernel k-means clustering algorithm is utilized to cluster the labeled and unlabeled data, respectively. Then, the clusters with larger information values are selected from the unlabeled data using a distance metric criterion. Furthermore, to improve the quality of the selected samples, a Gaussian regression model is adopted to eliminate the redundant samples with large similarity from the selected clusters. Finally, the selected unlabeled samples are manually labeled, that is, the NH3-N values are added into the dataset. To realize the semi-supervised soft computing of the NH3-N concentration, the labeled dataset and the manually labeled samples are combined and sent to the developed SCFNN. The experimental results demonstrate that the test root mean square error (RMSE) and test accuracy of the proposed SS-SCFNN-ALM are 0.0638 and 86.31%, respectively, which are better than the SCFNN (without the active learning mechanism), MM, DFNN, SOFNN-HPS, and other comparison algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the transition to fully automated driving, the interaction between drivers and vehicles is crucial as drivers' emotions directly influence their behavior, thereby impacting traffic safety. Currently, relying solely on a backbone based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) to extract single RGB modal facial features makes it difficult to capture enough semantic information. To address this issue, this paper proposes a Dual-branch Multimodal Fusion Network (DMFNet). DMFNet extracts semantic features from visible–infrared (RGB-IR) image pairs effectively capturing complementary information between two modalities and achieving a more accurate understanding of the drivers' emotional state at a global level. However, the accuracy of facial recognition is significantly affected by variations in the drivers' head posture and light environment. Thus, we further propose a U-Shape Reconstruction Network (URNet) to focus on enhancing and reconstructing the detailed features of RGB modes. Additionally, we design a Detail Enhancement Block (DEB) embedded in a U-shaped reconstruction network for high-frequency filtering. Compared with the original driver emotion recognition model, our method improved the accuracy by 18.77% on the DEFE++ dataset, proving the superiority of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Scientists have developed new techniques that allow them to study the heart at an incredibly detailed level, focusing on individual cells rather than looking at groups of cells together. This is important because the heart is made up of many different types of cells, each with its own role, and understanding how they interact is key to discovering what happens in both healthy hearts and in heart disease. By using methods that look at the genes, proteins, and other molecules inside single cells, researchers can uncover how cells communicate and change over time. These discoveries are helping scientists learn more about how the heart develops, how it stays healthy, and what goes wrong in heart diseases. This knowledge could lead to better treatments and new ways to diagnose heart conditions, helping people live longer, healthier lives. By directly measuring multiple molecular features in hundreds to millions of single cells, single-cell techniques allow for comprehensive characterization of the diversity of cells in the heart. These single-cell transcriptome and multi-omic studies are transforming our understanding of heart development and disease. Compared with single-dimensional inspections, the combination of transcriptomes with spatial dimensions and other omics can provide a comprehensive understanding of single-cell functions, microenvironment, dynamic processes, and their interrelationships. In this review, we will introduce the latest advances in cardiac health and disease at single-cell resolution; single-cell detection methods that can be used for transcriptome, genome, epigenome, and proteome analysis; single-cell multi-omics; as well as their future application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of the fourth industrial revolution, competition among IT industries is becoming increasingly fierce. If a company is weak in its competitive advantage, it can have a huge negative impact on its organizational sustainability and ultimately lead to organizational failure. In such a research background, we highlighted that employees' innovative performance via creativity acts as an alternative lubricant to increase the sustainable competitive advantage and promote overall organizational sustainability. In particular, employees' innovative performance has a great relationship with organizational culture and types of leadership. Hence, we focused on exploring the ways in which visionary leadership increases employees' innovative performance, presenting and verifying a moderated mediation research model related to the innovative performance. To verify our research model, this study conducted a survey of 303 employees from the information technology (IT) industry of SMEs in China. According to the results, visionary leadership was found to have a positive influence on both psychological empowerment and employees' innovative performance. In addition, psychological empowerment partially mediated the impact of visionary leadership on the innovation performance. Finally, the organizational learning culture moderated the effects of psychological empowerment and the innovation performance. Overall, this study contributes to revealing the process that leads to employees' innovative performance and contributes to expanding the research field by verifying the moderated mediation model for a sustainable competitive advantage and organizational sustainability in IT Industry 4.0 for SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent loading systems are extensively employed in coal enterprises. Nevertheless, pre-loading customer vehicle scheduling predominantly depends on manual expertise. This frequently results in extended vehicle waiting periods, elevated carbon emissions, and reduced customer satisfaction, particularly in multi-customer scenarios. Therefore, this study introduces a multi-customer vehicle scheduling optimization approach for an intelligent coal loading system. Customer priorities are first identified to enhance satisfaction. Considering various customers and enterprise factors, the multi-customer vehicle scheduling model is established to minimize the total cost. The optimal vehicle scheduling scheme is obtained by using the enhanced sparrow search algorithm. The validity of the proposed approach is demonstrated through a case study of a coal mining enterprise. The results show that the total cost of the optimized plan was 79% lower than the traditional plan, which means a significant reduction in vehicle waiting time, and an improvement in customer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium spp. can cause root rot in alfalfa, leading to the death of the whole plant, which seriously affects the yield and quality of alfalfa. This study used a Fusarium acuminatum strain labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) to observe the infection process of F. acuminatum on alfalfa by confocal fluorescence microscopy. The aim of this study was to reveal the infection mechanism of alfalfa Fusarium root rot at the cellular histological level. The results showed that conidia of F. acuminatum attached to the surface of the root and germinated at one day post-inoculation, the mycelium then entered the vascular bundle tissue of the alfalfa root at 5 days post-inoculation, reached the base of the plant stem at 14 days post-inoculation, and colonized the stem of the first and second compound leaf at 28 and 49 days post-inoculation, respectively. Moreover, the experiment, which sprayed a spore suspension, showed that the conidia of F. acuminatum could spread through the air to infect the pericarp and seed coat tissue of the pod. For the first time, we report the infection process of alfalfa Fusarium root rot caused by F. acuminatum and clarify that F. acuminatum can initially infect the root tissue of alfalfa, colonize the bottom stem of the plant through systematic infection, and eventually cause the plant to wilt and die. The results reveal the infection mechanism of F. acuminatum at the cell level via histology and provide theoretical support for the development of control strategies and key control technologies for alfalfa root rot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the profound impact of digital media on the lives of Chinese immigrants in Ikebukuro Chinatown. It illustrates how the Internet and digital platforms have transformed their economic, social, and identity landscapes. Employing qualitative methods such as surveys and interviews, this study underscores the pivotal role of social media in creating expansive networks. These networks facilitate ethnic entrepreneurship and enhance cultural visibility, contributing to the deterritorialization of traditional community confines. This empowerment enables the Chinese diaspora in Ikebukuro to cultivate a rich, interconnected social tapestry that extends beyond geographic limitations. The findings underscore the central role of digital media mediatization processes in redefining immigrant experiences. Additionally, they promote deeper, more dynamic integration within the host society's multicultural environment. This transformative shift emphasizes the emergence of a more fluid, networked form of community and identity among immigrants. It challenges conventional enclave models and offers new perspectives on diaspora engagement in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the Density Functional Theory (DFT) Calculations for Molecules and Clusters—ADF module is employed to model carbon-supported nickel catalysts and lignin monomers, integrating the ReaxFF module to simulate molecular dynamics under supercritical water conditions, with a focus on lignin decomposition reactions. Molecular dynamics models for supercritical water gasification are established under various conditions such as catalyst presence, water molecule quantities, and reaction temperature. By comparing simulation systems under different conditions, the yields of and variations in combustible gases (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) are summarized. Introducing heteroatoms into the lattice of the carbon support can alter the electronic structure within graphene, thereby influencing its electrical and electrochemical properties, increasing the number of active sites, and significantly enhancing electrocatalytic activity. Simulation results indicate that carbon-supported nickel metal catalysts can promote the cleavage of C–C bonds in lignin monomers, thereby increasing the rate of water–gas shift reactions and boosting hydrogen production in the system by 105%. Increasing water molecule quantities favored water–gas shift reactions and hydrogen generation while lowering carbon monoxide formation. Moreover, elevating reaction temperatures led to increased hydrogen and carbon monoxide production rates, which were particularly pronounced between 2500 K and 3500 K. These findings offer crucial theoretical insights for advancing efficient hydrogen production through biomass supercritical water gasification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota plays an important role in host nutrient absorption, immune function, and behavioral patterns. Much research on the gut microbiota of wildlife has focused on feces samples, so the microbial composition along the gastrointestinal tract of wildlife is not well reported. To address this gap, we performed high-throughput sequencing of 16s rRNA genes and ITs rRNA genes in the gastrointestinal contents of a wild adult male Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) to comparatively analyze the microbial diversity of different gastrointestinal regions. The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla were Firmicutes (66.19%) and Bacteroidetes (22.7%), while the dominant fungal phyla were Ascomycetes (72.81%). The highest bacterial diversity was found in the stomach, and the highest fungal diversity was found in the cecum. The microbial communities of the large intestine and small intestine were of similar structures, which were distinct from that of the stomach. These results would facilitate the continued exploration of the microbial composition and functional diversity of the gastrointestinal tract of wild Chinese muntjacs and provide a scientific basis for microbial resource conservation of more wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the challenges of data sparsity and personalization limitations inherent in current recommendation systems when processing extensive academic paper datasets. To overcome these issues, the present work introduces an innovative recommendation model that integrates the wealth of structured information from knowledge graphs and refines the amalgamation of temporal and relational data. By applying attention mechanisms and neural network technologies, the model thoroughly explores the text characteristics of papers and the evolving patterns of user behaviors. Additionally, the model elevates the accuracy and personalization of recommendations by meticulously examining citation patterns among papers and the networks of author collaboration. The experimental findings show that the present model surpasses baseline models on all evaluation metrics, thereby enhancing the precision and personalization of academic paper recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of a novel composite carrier of polydopamine-modified carbon fiber/polyurethane foam (PDA-CF/PUF) was proposed to improve cell immobilization and the fermentation of xylitol, which is an important food sweetener and multifunctional food additive. Candida tropicalis was immobilized on the composite carrier by adsorption and covalent binding. The properties and immobilization mechanism of the composite carrier and its effect on immobilized cells were investigated. It showed that the modification of PDA enhanced the loading of CF on the PUF surface and the adhesion of cells on the composite carrier surface. Also, the biocompatibility of carriers to cells was improved. In addition, the introduction of PDA increased the active groups on the surface of the carrier, enhanced the hydrophilicity, promoted the cells immobilization, and increased the xylitol yield. It was also found that expression of the related gene XYL1 in cells was significantly increased after the immobilization of the PDA-CF/PUF composite carrier during the fermentation. The PDA-CF/PUF was an immobilized carrier with the excellent biocompatibility and immobilization performance, which has great development potential in the industrial production of xylitol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) technology is highly promising for its ability to cleanly and efficiently convert biomass to hydrogen. This paper developed a model for the gasification of rice straw in supercritical water (SCW) to predict the direction and limit of the reaction based on the Gibbs free energy minimization principle. The equilibrium distribution of rice straw gasification products was analyzed under a wide range of parameters including temperatures of 400–1200 °C, pressures of 20–50 MPa, and rice straw concentrations of 5–40 wt%. Coke may not be produced due to the excellent properties of supercritical water under thermodynamic constraints. Higher temperatures, lower pressures, and biomass concentrations facilitated the movement of the chemical equilibrium towards hydrogen production. The hydrogen yield was 47.17 mol/kg at a temperature of 650 °C, a pressure of 25 MPa, and a rice straw concentration of 5 wt%. Meanwhile, there is an absorptive process in the rice straw SCWG process for high-calorific value hydrogen production. Energy self-sufficiency of the SCWG process can be maintained by adding small amounts of oxygen (ER < 0.2). This work would be of great value in guiding rice straw SCWG experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophora alopecuroides has important uses in medicine, wind breaking, and sand fixation. The CHY-zinc-finger and RING-finger (CHYR) proteins are crucial for plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation; however, genetic data regarding the CHYR family remain scarce. We aimed to investigate the CHYR gene family in S. alopecuroides and its response to abiotic stress, and identified 18 new SaCHYR genes from S. alopecuroides whole-genome data, categorized into 3 subclasses through a phylogenetic analysis. Gene structure, protein domains, and conserved motifs analyses revealed an exon–intron structure and conserved domain similarities. A chromosome localization analysis showed distribution across 12 chromosomes. A promoter analysis revealed abiotic stress-, light-, and hormone-responsive elements. An RNA-sequencing expression pattern analysis revealed positive responses of SaCHYR genes to salt, alkali, and drought stress. SaCHYR4 overexpression considerably enhanced alkali and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. These findings shed light on SaCHYR's function and the resistance mechanisms of S. alopecuroides, presenting new genetic resources for crop resistance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly interactive honeypots can form reliable connections by responding to attackers to delay and capture intranet attacks. However, current research focuses on modeling the attacker as part of the environment and defining single-step attack actions by simulation to study the interaction of honeypots. It ignores the iterative nature of the attack and defense game, which is inconsistent with the correlative and sequential nature of actions in real attacks. These limitations lead to insufficient interaction of the honeypot response strategies generated by the study, making it difficult to support effective and continuous games with attack behaviors. In this paper, we propose an autonomous attack response framework (named AARF) to enhance interaction based on multi-agent dynamic games. AARF consists of three parts: a virtual honeynet environment, attack agents, and defense agents. Attack agents are modeled to generate multi-step attack chains based on a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) combined with the generic threat framework ATT&CK (Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge). The defense agents iteratively interact with the attack behavior chain based on reinforcement learning (RL) to learn to generate honeypot optimal response strategies. Aiming at the sample utilization inefficiency problem of random uniform sampling widely used in RL, we propose the dynamic value label sampling (DVLS) method in the dynamic environment. DVLS can effectively improve the sample utilization during the experience replay phase and thus improve the learning efficiency of honeypot agents under the RL framework. We further couple it with a classic DQN to replace the traditional random uniform sampling method. Based on AARF, we instantiate different functional honeypot models for deception in intranet scenarios. In the simulation environment, honeypots collaboratively respond to multi-step intranet attack chains to defend against these attacks, which demonstrates the effectiveness of AARF. The average cumulative reward of the DQN with DVLS is beyond eight percent, and the convergence speed is improved by five percent compared to a classic DQN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a risk factor for multiple neurodevelopmental disorders; however, animal models developed to explore MIA mechanisms are sensitive to experimental factors, which has led to complexity in previous reports of the MIA phenotype. We sought to characterize an MIA protocol throughout development to understand how prenatal immune insult alters the trajectory of important neurodevelopmental processes, including the microglial regulation of synaptic spines and complement signaling. We used polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) to induce MIA on gestational day 9.5 in CD-1 mice, and measured their synaptic spine density, microglial synaptic pruning, and complement protein expression. We found reduced dendritic spine density in the somatosensory cortex starting at 3-weeks-of-age with requisite increases in microglial synaptic pruning and phagocytosis, suggesting spine density loss was caused by increased microglial synaptic pruning. Additionally, we showed dysregulation in complement protein expression persisting into adulthood. Our findings highlight disruptions in the prenatal environment leading to alterations in multiple dynamic processes through to postnatal development. This could potentially suggest developmental time points during which synaptic processes could be measured as risk factors or targeted with therapeutics for neurodevelopmental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exogenous selenium application could effectively improve the selenium absorption of crops affected by different climatic conditions due to changes in the planting environment and planting conditions. We planted maize at planting densities of 67,500 plants ha−1 (D1) and 75,000 plants ha−1 (D2). Five selenium fertilizer gradients of 0 mg m−2 (Se0), 7.5 mg m−2 (Se1), 15.0 mg m−2 (Se2), 22.5 mg m−2 (Se3), and 30.0 mg m−2 (Se4) were applied to investigate the response of the plants to selenium fertilizer application in terms of the gradient selenium absorption and substance accumulation. With the increase in the amount of selenium fertilizer applied, more of the selenium fertilizer will be absorbed and transported from the leaves to the grains, and the selenium content of the grains will gradually increase and exceed the selenium content of leaves. Under the D2 density in 2022, the selenium content of the grains under Se1, Se2, Se3, and Se4 treatments increased by 65.67%, 72.71%, and 250.53%, respectively, compared with that of Se0. A total of 260.55% of the plants showed a gradient of grain > leaf > cob > stalk from the Se2 treatment, and the overall selenium content of the plants increased first and then decreased. Under the D1 density, compared with the Se0, the dry matter mass of the Se1, Se2, Se3, and Se4 treatments significantly improved by 5.84%, 1.49%, and 14.26% in 2021, and significantly improved by 4.84%, 3.50%, and 2.85% in 2022. The 1000-grain weight under Se2, Se3, and Se4 treatments improved by 8.57%, 9.06%, and 15.56% compared to that under the Se0 treatment, and the yield per ha under the Se2, Se3, and Se4 treatments was 18.58%, 9.09%, and 21.42% higher than that under Se0 treatment, respectively. In addition, a reasonable combination of selenium application rate and density could improve the chlorophyll content and stem growth of dryland maize. This lays a foundation for the efficient application of selenium fertilizer and provides an important reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilizes meteorological and leaf area index (LAI) data for three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, and SSP5–8.5) from four general circulation models (GCMs) of the sixth climate model intercomparison project (CMIP6) spanning from 2015 to 2099. Employing calibrated data and incorporating future land use data under three SSPs, the distributed hydrology soil vegetation model (DHSVM) is employed to simulate streamflow in the source region of the Yellow River (SRYR). The research aims to elucidate variations in streamflow across different future scenarios and to estimate extreme streamflow events and temporal distribution changes under future land use and cover change (LUCC) and climate change scenarios. The main conclusions are as follows: The grassland status in the SRYR will significantly improve from 2020 to 2099, with noticeable increases in temperature, precipitation, and longwave radiation, alongside a pronounced decrease in wind speed. The probability of flooding events increases in the future, although the magnitude of the increase diminishes over time. Both LUCC and climate change contribute to an increase in the multi-year average streamflow in the region, with respective increments of 48.8%, 24.5%, and 18.9% under SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, and SSP5–8.5. Notably, the fluctuation in streamflow is most pronounced under SSP5–8.5. In SSP1–2.6, the increase in streamflow during the near future (2020–2059) exceeds that of the distant future (2059–2099). Seasonal variations in streamflow intensify across most scenarios, leading to a more uneven distribution of streamflow throughout the year and an extension of the flood season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulnerabilities are often accompanied by cyberattacks. CVE is the largest repository of open vulnerabilities, which keeps expanding. ATT&CK models known multi-step attacks both tactically and technically and remains up to date. It is valuable to correlate the vulnerability in CVE with the corresponding tactic and technique of ATT&CK which exploit the vulnerability, for active defense. Mappings manually is not only time-consuming but also difficult to keep up-to-date. Existing language-based automated mapping methods do not utilize the information associated with attack behaviors outside of CVE and ATT&CK and are therefore ineffective. In this paper, we propose a novel framework named VTT-LLM for mapping Vulnerabilities to Tactics and Techniques based on Large Language Models, which consists of a generation model and a mapping model. In order to generate fine-tuning instructions for LLM, we create a template to extract knowledge of CWE (a standardized list of common weaknesses) and CAPEC (a standardized list of common attack patterns). We train the generation model of VTT-LLM by fine-tuning the LLM according to the above instructions. The generation model correlates vulnerability and attack through their descriptions. The mapping model transforms the descriptions of ATT&CK tactics and techniques into vectors through text embedding and further associates them with attacks through semantic matching. By leveraging the knowledge of CWE and CAPEC, VTT-LLM can eventually automate the process of linking vulnerabilities in CVE to the attack techniques and tactics of ATT&CK. Experiments on the latest public dataset, ChatGPT-VDMEval, show the effectiveness of VTT-LLM with an accuracy of 85.18%, which is 13.69% and 54.42% higher than the existing CVET and ChatGPT-based methods, respectively. In addition, compared to fine-tuning without outside knowledge, the accuracy of VTT-LLM with chain fine-tuning is 9.24% higher on average across different LLMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most commonly used real-time augmentation services in China are the International GNSS Service's (IGS) real-time service (RTS), PPP-B2b service, and Double-Frequency Multi-Constellation (DFMC) service of the BeiDou Satellite-Based Augmentation System (BDSBAS) service. However, research on the performance evaluation, comparison, and application scope of these three products is still incomplete. This article introduces methods for obtaining real-time augmentation information and real-time orbit and clock offset recovery. Based on real-time orbit and clock offset accuracy, positioning accuracy, and positioning availability, this article systematically evaluates the performance and analyzes the application fields of Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), PPP-B2b, and BDSBAS augmentation information. The results of the evaluation revealed that the radial accuracy of the CNES and PPP-B2b real-time orbit product is consistent, and the Root Mean Square (RMS) is better than 5 cm. The CNES real-time orbit product can achieve centimeter-level accuracy in both along-track and cross-track components, surpassing PPP-B2b's decimeter-level accuracy. Both services demonstrate consistent accuracy in the real-time clock offset, with PPP-B2b showing similar standard deviations (STDs) of 0.16 ns for different satellites. However, for CNES, the STD of the real-time clock offset varies, with values of 0.10 ns, 0.19 ns, and 0.60 ns, respectively, for GPS, BDS-3 Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and BDS-3 Inclined Geosynchronous Satellite Orbit (IGSO) satellites. Centimeter-level accuracy is achieved after convergence and positioning availability exceeds 99% for CNES and PPP-B2b services. Therefore, the difference between the two services in application areas depends on the acquisition of augmentation information. However, BDSBAS, which concentrates on code observations, demonstrates inferior performance in real-time orbit, clock offset, positioning accuracy, and positioning availability when compared to the other two services. Its primary application is in the aviation and maritime domains, where there is a greater need for service integrity, continuity, and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to cope with ever-evolving and increasing cyber threats, intrusion detection systems have become a crucial component of cyber security. Compared with signature-based intrusion detection methods, anomaly-based methods typically employ machine learning techniques to train detection models and possess the capability to discover unknown attacks. However, intrusion detection methods face the challenge of low detection rates for minority class attacks due to imbalanced data distributions. Traditional intrusion detection algorithms address this issue by resampling or generating synthetic data. Additionally, reinforcement learning, as a machine learning method that interacts with the environment to obtain feedback and improve performance, is gradually being considered for application in the field of intrusion detection. This paper proposes a reinforcement-learning-based intrusion detection method that innovatively uses adaptive sample distribution dual-experience replay to enhance a reinforcement learning algorithm, aiming to effectively address the issue of imbalanced sample distribution. We have also developed a reinforcement learning environment specifically designed for intrusion detection tasks. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves favorable performance on the NSL-KDD, AWID, and CICIoT2023 datasets, effectively dealing with imbalanced data and showing better classification performance in detecting minority attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chalcone isomerase (CHI) is an important enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of flavonoids, one that is crucial in both plant defense and human health. Although many CHI genes have been previously identified, the function of CHI-like genes in soybean remains unclear. In this study, we cloned the CHI-like genes GmCHI4A and GmCHI4B (GmCHI4s) in soybean. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that GmCHI4s were expressed primarily in soybean root, but were also present in other tissues, including the stem, leaf, and seed with a low expression level. Overexpression of GmCHI4s was able to significantly improve some beneficial traits of the transformed hair roots of cotyledon or composite plants under salt stress conditions. Root length, root wet weight, and the underground biomass was increased, and the elevation of MDA content was inhibited under 100 mmol L−1 or 150 mmol L−1 NaCl treatment. Leaf chlorophyll content was elevated in overexpressed GmCHI4A composite plants under 150 mmol L−1 NaCl treatment. The expression levels of salt-stress-related genes GmSOD1, GmAPX1, GmSOS1, and GmNHX1 were significantly upregulated in overexpressed GmCHI4 hairy roots compared to that in empty-vector-expressed hairy roots. The above results indicated GmCHI4s' potential action against salt stress. Furthermore, overexpression of GmCHI4A and GmCHI4B increased the total isoflavone content by six times and three times, respectively. Glycitin and glycitein levels were significantly elevated in the overexpressed GmCHI4A hairy roots, while glycitin, genistin, daidzein, and genistein were significantly increased in overexpressed GmCHI4B hairy roots. This study identified a new function of the CHI-like gene, as well as providing a new selected gene for salt tolerance and isoflavone improvement using biotechnological approaches in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals can adapt to unique feeding habits through changes in the structure and function of the gut microflora. However, the gut microflora is strongly influenced by the evolutionary relationships between the host, nutritional intake, intake of microorganisms, etc. The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), an herbivorous carnivore, has adapted to consuming bamboo through seasonal foraging strategies and optimization of the composition and function of its gut microflora during long-term evolution. However, to date, studies of the gut bacteria of the red panda have mainly focused on the composition, diversity and function of the gut microflora of captive individuals. There are a lack of studies on how the wild red panda adapts to the consumption of bamboo, which is high in fibre and low in nutrients, through the gut microflora. This paper reviews the technology and methods used in published studies investigating the gut microflora of the red panda, as well as the composition, diversity and function of the identified microbes and the influencing factors. Furthermore, this paper suggests future research directions regarding the methodology employed in analyzing the red panda gut microflora, the interplay between gut microflora and the health of the red panda, the red panda's adaptation to its gut microflora, and the implications of these studies for the management and conservation of wild red pandas. The goal of this review is to provide a reference for the protection of wild red pandas from the perspective of the gut microflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Chironomidae family stands out as the most widely dispersed and often the most abundant insect group in freshwater habitats. The significance of color patterns is well-recognized, as they fulfill multiple roles such as communication, camouflage, mimicking, and defense. However, the taxonomy of species within this family, relying on color patterns, as well as the shape and distribution of thoracic pigmentation, wing markings, and leg pigmentation, remains controversial and unstable. Here, we conduct a comprehensive review on the taxonomy of a Chiromidae genus, Stictochironomus from China, which is characterized by a combination of distinctive wing and leg markings. Using DNA barcode data and morphological data, two new species to science from China are well supported. Species delimitation analyses performed with distance-based approach and coalescent tree-based approaches also support them as distinct species. Therefore, color patterns should be a good diagnostic characteristic for species delimitation in Stictochironomus. Furthermore, we provided an up-to-date taxonomic key for male adults of Stictochironomus from China. The genus Stictochironomus (Diptera: Chironomidae) has an almost worldwide distribution, with more than 30 species. However, species delimitation and identification based on the markings on the wings and legs are controversial and uncertain. In this study, we focused on color patterns to review the adults of the genus from China, and two new species (S. trifuscipes sp. nov. and S. quadrimaculatus sp. nov.) are described and figured. DNA barcodes can accurately separate the two new species with specific color patterns. However, heterospecific individuals form a monophyletic cluster in the phylogeny tree. For example, S. maculipennis (Meigen) and S. pictulus (Meigen), which have a lower interspecific genetic divergence, form a single clade. Sequences with the same species name but with high intraspecific distance form more than one phylogenetic clade, such as S. sticticus (Fabricius) of three clades, S. pictulus of four clades, S. akizukii (Tokunaga) and S. juncaii Qi, Shi, and Wang of two clades, might have potential cryptic species diversity. Species delimitation analysis using ASAP, PTP, and GMYC clearly delineated them as separate species. Consequently, color patterns are a good diagnostic characteristic for species delimitation in Stictochironomus. The distance-based analysis shows that a threshold of 4.5–7.7% is appropriate for species delimitation in Stictochironomus. Additionally, an updated key including color pattern variation for male adults of known Stictochironomus species from China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hundred-seed weight (HSW) and reproductive period length (RPL) are two major agronomic traits critical for soybean production and adaptation. However, both traits are quantitatively controlled by multiple genes that have yet to be comprehensively elucidated due to the lack of major genes; thereby, the genetic basis is largely unknown. In the present study, we conducted comprehensive genome-wide association analyses (GWAS) of HSW and RPL with multiple sets of accessions that were phenotyped across different environments. The large-scale analysis led to the identification of sixty-one and seventy-four significant QTLs for HSW and RPL, respectively. An ortholog-based search analysis prioritized the most promising candidate genes for the QTLs, including nine genes (TTG2, BZR1, BRI1, ANT, KLU, EOD1/BB, GPA1, ABA2, and ABI5) for HSW QTLs and nine genes (such as AGL8, AGL9, TOC1, and COL4) and six known soybean flowering time genes (E2, E3, E4, Tof11, Tof12, and FT2b) for RPL QTLs. We also demonstrated that some QTLs were targeted during domestication to drive the artificial selection of both traits towards human-favored traits. Local adaptation likely contributes to the increased genomic diversity of the QTLs underlying RPL. The results provide additional insight into the genetic basis of HSW and RPL and prioritize a valuable resource of candidate genes that merits further investigation to reveal the complex molecular mechanism and facilitate soybean improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino acid permeases (AAPs) play important roles in transporting amino acids in plant species, leading to increased low-nitrogen tolerance, grain yield, or protein content. However, very few AAPs have been characterized in soybean (Glycine max). In this study, we scanned the soybean reference genome and identified a total of 36 AAP genes (named GmAAP). The GmAAPs were phylogenetically divided into three evolutionary clades, with the genes in the same clades sharing similar gene structures and domain organization. We also showed that seventeen GmAAP genes on ten chromosomes were in collinearity, likely due to whole-genome duplication. Further analysis revealed a variety of cis-acting regulatory elements (such as hormone response elements (ABRE, ERE, GARE, P-box, and TGA-element), stress response elements (LTR, MBS, MYB-related components, TC-rich repeats, TCA-element, and WUN-motif), the tissue expression element (GCN4-motif), and the circadian regulatory element (circadian) present in the 2 kb region of the GmAAP promoter region, demonstrating functional diversity and expression specificity. RNA-Seq data and quantitative real-time PCR identified five GmAAPs showing differential expression under nitrogen limitation, including GmAAP3, GmAAP5, and GmAAP8 showing downregulation while GmAAP14, GmAAP29 showed upregulation, suggesting their involvement in low-nitrogen stress response. These results provide comprehensive information on soybean AAP genes in nitrogen stress, and provide putative candidates with possible roles in enhancing amino acid delivery to seeds for yield improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores trajectory-following control for an unmanned aerial–aquatic vehicle (UAAV) navigating complex ocean disturbances and the interplay of air–seawater coupling factors. First, leveraging the backstepping technology, an adaptive algorithm is proposed to tackle the attitude and position following. Additionally, a nonlinear observer is crafted to estimate complex ocean disturbances. The UAAV model, characterized by six degrees of freedom (DOF) and nonlinear properties, experiences significant pose changes when emerging from water, underscoring the critical importance of precise pose control. Finally, stability analysis and numerical simulations are demonstrated to verify the feasibility and validity of the proposed control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seedling stage of plants is a crucial and vulnerable period in population and community dynamics. Despite this, studies on how plant traits respond to different environmental stresses often tend to overlook this early stage. Our study focused on Sophora alopecuroides L. seedlings in Ningxia Yanchi desert steppe, analyzing the effects of sand burial, salinity, and drought on their key aboveground and belowground traits. The results showed that sand burial significantly negatively affected stem biomass (SB), leaf biomass (LB), stem diameter (SD), leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), leaf area (LA), and total root volume (RV), but positively influenced total root length (RL). As sand burial depth increased, SB, LB, SD, LL, LW, LA, RV, root biomass (RB), RV, and lateral root numbers (LRN) significantly decreased. Salinity stress negatively affected SB, LB, SD, LL, LW, LA, RB, RL, and RV, with these traits declining as the stress concentration increased. Drought stress had a positive effect on SD and LL, with both traits showing an increase as the intensity of the drought stress intensified; however, it adversely affected RL. In Ningxia Yanchi desert steppe, salinity stress had the most significant effect on the traits of S. alopecuroides seedlings, followed by sand burial, with drought having the least significant effect. This study provides essential theoretical support for understanding how S. alopecuroides seedlings cope with environmental stresses in their early life stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we introduce a novel approach for dynamic micro-vibration measurement, employing an Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) interferometer, where the reference beam is Gaussian (GS) and the measurement beam is OAM. The OAM light reflected back from the target carries information about the target's vibrations. The interference of the OAM light with Gaussian light generates petal-shaped patterns, and the target's vibration information can be measured by detecting the rotation angle of these petals. Our proposed method demonstrates enhanced tolerance to misalignment and superior precision. The effects of vibration frequency, CCD frame rates, and Topological Charges (TCs) on measurement accuracy are analyzed thoroughly. Experimental results reveal that the proposed method offers a higher accuracy (up to 22.34 nm) and an extended measurement range of (0–800 cm). These capabilities render our technique highly suitable for applications demanding nanometer-scale resolution in various fields, including precision engineering and advanced optical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comprehensively comprehend the spatiotemporal variations in pollution load within the Sixth Drainage Ditch of the Ningxia Yellow River Diversion Irrigation Area, we employed the LOADEST model. We utilized daily flow data and concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO2-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) to construct regression equations for the pollutant load at four distinct monitoring sections of the Sixth Drainage Ditch. The results unveiled an impressive range of correlation coefficients (R2) for the pollution load regression equations at the four monitoring sections, ranging from 72.42% to 94.4%. This indicates a strong fit for the pollution load regression equations, rendering them suitable for estimating the pollution load of the Sixth Drainage Ditch. Furthermore, the changing patterns of various pollutants in the same monitoring section exhibit a remarkable level of consistency. In each case, they initially experience an upward trajectory followed by a subsequent decrease. Notably, the total nitrogen (TN) load in the drainage area exceeds that of the total phosphorus (TP). The spatial distribution patterns of the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) load within the Sixth Drainage Ditch exhibit a progressive increase from the upstream to downstream areas. Meanwhile, the spatial distribution characteristics of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO2-N) follow a similar pattern of an initial increase followed by a decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, Bacillus coagulants had a role in combating oxidative stress by inhibiting the growth of intestinal pathogens. However, there are few studies on reducing the mechanisms of oxidative stress. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of B. coagulant HYI (BC-HYI) treatment on growth and intestinal functions in laying chickens under LPS-induced oxidative stress. The in vivo experimental group included five groups of laying chicks: normal control, LPS group, B6 group, B7 group and B8 group. The test consisted of six repetitions in each group, with six animals in each repetition. In the in vitro experiment, an LPS-induced oxidative stress model of chicken fibroblast DF-1 cells was established, and the DF-1 cells were divided into control group, LPS-treated group, B5 group, B6 group and B7 group. On the one hand, we found that BC-HYI can inhibit pathological changes in some intestinal tissues. On the other hand, BC-HYI supplementation has a dual effect on the gut microbiota, promoting the proliferation of beneficial microbes such as Barbarella, Lactobacillus, and Antibacterial while maintaining symbiotic balance. The abundance of Barbarella, Bactericide, and Cloistral was significantly different between the LPS group and the BC-HYI group (p < 0.01). Moreover, compared with the LPS group, BC-HYI significantly decreased reactive oxygen species levels and prevented cell apoptosis (p < 0.01). It used to prevent oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2-ARE/HO-1 signaling pathway, enhancing the scavenging of free radicals, and reducing oxidative damage. BC-HYI alleviated oxidative stress in laying chickens by modulating the gut microbiota and activating the Nrf2-ARE/HO-1 signaling pathway. In summary, laying chickens and cell experiments indicate that BC-HYI supplementation can improve the enzyme function of antioxidants, regulate intestinal barrier function and activate the Nrf2-ARE/HO-1 signaling pathway to regulate intestinal barrier function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-h continuous phase modulation (CPM), with extremely high spectral efficiency, involves the plague of high demodulation complexity with a large number of matched filters and a complex trellis. In this paper, an efficient all-digital demodulator for multi-h continuous phase modulation (CPM) is proposed based on a low-complexity decision-directed synchronization algorithm. Based on the maximum-likelihood estimation of the carrier phase and timing errors, we propose a reduced-complexity timing error detector with linear phase approximation (LPA) to the phase of the multi-h CPM. Compared with the traditional synchronization methods, it avoids derivative matched filtering and reduces about 2/3 of matched filters. The estimated accuracy and bit error rate (BER) performance of the LPA-based synchronization algorithm have no loss, as shown by the numerical simulation. Its stability is verified by the derived S-curve. Then, the receivers with the LPA-based synchronization for the three kinds of promising multi-h CPM are implemented on a Xilinx Kintex-7 FPGA platform. The experimental results show that the onboard tested BER of the proposed design has an ignorable loss in the numerical simulation. The implementation overhead on FPGA is significantly reduced by about 27% slices, 64% DSPs, and 70% block RAMs compared with the conventional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the demand for biobased packaging and minimize the oxidation of dried aquatic goods during storage, we created a triple-layer film (TF) with antioxidant capacity. The film was produced using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the protective layer, gellan gum (GG)/PVA composite incorporating Alhagi sparsifolia flower extract (AFE) as the anti-oxidative capability layer, and GG as the anti-oxidative capacity slow-release control layer. The TFs with different AFE additions were characterized and compared to a single-layer film (SF) made of the same material. The results demonstrate that adding AFE to films degraded their water vapour and oxygen barrier properties as well as their tensile strength, but increased their light barrier properties, elongation at break, and anti-oxidative capability. The three-layer structure increased the light, water vapour, and oxygen barrier qualities of films, as well as their slow-release anti-oxidative capability. The application experiment revealed that the inclusion of AFE might aid in the preservation of dried prawn quality. Using TF supplemented with 5 (w/v) AFE to package the dried shrimps reduced the TBARS value by 47.5%. Our research indicated that TFs containing AFE have a wide range of possible applications in dried shrimp preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to develop PTF-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (PTF-SLNs) and investigate their efficacy in treating lung cancer. The PTF-SLNs were prepared by the thin film hydration method and verified by FTIR and TEM. Their physicochemical properties were characterized by particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), etc. Then, the pharmacodynamic studies of PTF-SLNs were performed on Lewis lung cancer cells and tumor-bearing mice. Finally, the safety studies were assessed by organ index, serum biochemical indicators, and histopathological changes. The PTF-SLNs were characterized by around 50 nm sphere nanoparticles, sustained ideal stability, and controlled drug release effects. The pharmacodynamic evaluation results showed that PTF-SLNs had stronger anti-tumor efficacy than PTF. An in vitro study revealed a more obvious cytotoxicity and apoptosis effect. The IC 50 values of PTF and PTF-SLNs were 67.43 μg/mL and 20.74 μg/mL, respectively. An in vivo study showed that the tumor inhibition rates of 2 g/kg PTF and 0.4 g/kg PTF-SLNs were 59.97% and 64.55%, respectively. The safety preliminary study indicated that PTF-SLNs improve the damage of PTF to normal organs to a certain extent. This study provides a nanoparticle delivery system with phenolic herbal extract to improve anti-tumor efficacy in lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium root rot, caused by Fusarium spp. in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), adversely impacts alfalfa by diminishing plant quality and yield, resulting in substantial losses within the industry. The most effective strategy for controlling alfalfa Fusarium root rot is planting disease-resistant varieties. Therefore, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying alfalfa's resistance to Fusarium root rot is imperative. In this study, we observed the infection process on alfalfa seedling roots infected by Fusarium acuminatum strain HM29-05, which is labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Two alfalfa varieties, namely, the resistant 'Kangsai' and the susceptible 'Zhongmu No. 1', were examined to assess various physiological and biochemical activities at 0, 2, and 3 days post inoculation (dpi). Transcriptome sequencing of the inoculated resistant and susceptible alfalfa varieties were conducted, and the potential functions and signaling pathways of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed through gene ontology (GO) classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Meanwhile, a DEG co-expression network was constructed though the weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) algorithm. Our results revealed significant alterations in soluble sugar, soluble protein, and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in both the 'Kangsai' and 'Zhongmu No. 1' varieties following the inoculation of F. acuminatum. WGCNA analysis showed the involvement of various enzyme and transcription factor families related to plant growth and disease resistance, including cytochrome P450, MYB, ERF, NAC, and bZIP. These findings not only provided valuable data for further verification of gene functions but also served as a reference for the deeper explorations between plants and pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease with recurrent seizures. Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most common pathological cause of epilepsy. With the development of computer-aided diagnosis technology, there are many auxiliary diagnostic approaches based on deep learning algorithms. However, the causes of epilepsy are complex, and distinguishing different types of epilepsy accurately is challenging with a single mode of examination. In this study, our aim is to assess the combination of multi-modal epilepsy medical information from structural MRI, PET image, typical clinical symptoms and personal demographic and cognitive data (PDC) by adopting a multi-channel 3D deep convolutional neural network and pre-training PET images. The results show better diagnosis accuracy than using one single type of medical data alone. These findings reveal the potential of a deep neural network in multi-modal medical data fusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of vinyl versatate (VV10) modified poly(vinyl acetate) adhesive (HVPVAc) were prepared using soap-free emulsion polymerization. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the structure of the modified poly(vinyl acetate) latex. The effect of the VV10 content on particle size, viscosity, mechanical properties, and T-peel strength of the modified poly(vinyl acetate) was determined. No absorption peak at 1675–1500 cm−1 in the ATR-FTIR spectrum was observed as a result of the carbon-carbon double bond reacting completely. With the occurrence of -C-O-C and the disappearance of the carbon-carbon double bond in the FTIR spectrum, a more complex structure formed. The structure improves the mechanical properties. Increasing the VV10 content resulted in an increase in particle size from 63 nm to 221 nm, a steady increase in the viscosity of the HVPVAc latex, an increase in tensile strength from 7 MPa to 13.4 MPa, and a decrease in breaking elongation from 1310% to 1004%. As the VV10 content increased from 0 to 30% by weight, the T-peel strength of the HVPVAc adhesive increased from 8.35 N/mm to 18.97 N/mm, indicating improved adhesive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ameliorate the deficient output flow performance of the piezoelectric pumps with cantilever valves, a dual-inlet pump with a simple valves system is proposed. On the basis of explaining the structure design of the prototype, the working principle of the prototype is explained, and the output flow is theoretically analyzed. Then, the manufacturing process of the prototype is introduced. The general operating frequency of the pump was obtained by combining the finite element analysis of the piezoelectric actuator under dry and wet modes with the mechanical vibration test, and a series of measured flow rates were compared and improved through valve stiffness optimization and pump chamber height adjustment in the subsequent control experiment. The proposed piezoelectric pump achieves a maximum flow rate of 33.18 mL/min at a 180 Vp-p voltage with the driving frequency of 100 Hz, which may bring new inspiration for the application of small intelligent pumps in the field of microfluidics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia hispanica (chia) is a highly nutritious food source and has gained popularity due to its high omega-3 fatty acid content. Red spider mites are a serious problem in the production of S. hispanica. However, no study has been conducted to analyze the defensive response to the infestation of red spider mites in S. hispanica. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the defensive response of S. hispanica to red spider mites, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of S. hispanica when infested by red spider mites. In the comparative assessment of leaf transcriptomes, a total of 1743 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between control and mite-infested S. hispanica. From these, 1208 (69%) transcripts were upregulated and 535 (31%) were downregulated. The DEGs included transcription factors, defense hormones, and secondary metabolites that were either suppressed or activated in response to spider mite herbivory. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that plant secondary metabolites, such as glucosinolates, and signaling pathways, including the jasmonic acid signaling pathway, may play an important role in the defense against red spider mites. This study provides novel insights into the defense response of S. hispanica to insect herbivory and could be a resource for the improvement of pest resistance in the chia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological thriving is crucial for the sustainable well-being and continuous growth of employees in the workplace. This study aims to explore the concept, measurement, and heterogeneity of dualistic psychological thriving at work to promote sustainable vitality and learning among employees. In Study 1, we identified psychological thriving at work as a second-order dualistic construct, encompassing the positive psychological state in which individuals experience vitality and learning in their current work and hold high expectations for their future work. This construct consists of two dimensions: psychological thriving of work experience and psychological thriving of work development. In Study 2, we conducted exploratory factor analysis and second-order confirmatory factor analyses using two independent samples, providing empirical evidence for the second-order dualistic structure of psychological thriving at work. Subsequently, we developed a comprehensive scale to measure dualistic psychological thriving at work and assessed its criterion validity by examining its relationship with workplace friendship and work autonomy. In Study 3, we investigated the overall levels and pursuit preferences of dualistic psychological thriving at work among different generations. The findings revealed significant differences in the overall levels and pursuit preferences of dualistic psychological thriving at work across generations. Post-1990s employees exhibited the highest overall level of dualistic psychological thriving at work, while post-1970s employees had the lowest. Moreover, post-1990s employees were more inclined to pursue psychological thriving of work experience, whereas post-1980s employees tended to seek psychological thriving of work development. No significant differences were found among post-1970s employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the two-phase displacement behaviors of oil and water in porous media under different reservoir development modes for enhanced oil recovery is essential. In this paper, the influence of development measures, such as increasing the injection rate, changing the inlet/outlet position, increasing the water viscosity, and reducing the surface tension coefficient, on oil–water dynamic behaviors was studied using a numerical simulation based on the study of the formation of a high-water-cut channel by water flooding at different injection rates. The results show that blockage and restart occur during displacement in the pore–throat channel and during staggered displacement in different pore channels. With an increase in the injection rate, the recovery increases first and then decreases. All the different development measures can increase the swept area and recovery factor. The recovery factor increases significantly by reducing the surface tension coefficient at medium/high injection rates (≥0.01 m/s) and by increasing the viscosity of the water at low injection rates (<0.01 m/s). The numerical simulation study preliminarily revealed the influence of different development measures on displacement behaviors in the pore model. It thus provides theoretical support for understanding the law of oil and water movement in reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helical piles are utilized worldwide as foundations for onshore infrastructure, providing fast installation and high capacity. Their unique advantages have led to their potential as an alternative to monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines. One challenge in their service life is dealing with combined loading caused by wind, waves, current, and the weight of the structure itself. While research has focused on helical piles' capacity for uniaxial tensile loads, there is limited knowledge regarding their performance under combined loads. This study used FEM analysis to investigate the impact of aspects such as helix-to-shaft diameter ratios and helix position on the capacity and failure mechanisms of hollow shaft single-plate helical piles in clay. With 561 analysis cases under both uniaxial and combined loading, failure envelopes were evaluated for various helix-to-shaft diameter ratios and positions. The study revealed a linear positive correlation between helix-to-shaft diameter aspect ratios and load-bearing ability, while the effect of helix positioning on failure envelopes was more complex and nonlinear. The outcomes from this comprehensive analysis enabled the development of a formula to predict the bearing capacity of helical anchors under combined loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holographic data storage (HDS) has emerged as a promising technology for high-capacity data storage. In this study, we propose a novel approach to enhance the storage density in HDS through a multiplexing perfect optical vortex (POV) hologram. By utilizing the orthogonality property of POV, different POV-recording holograms can be multiplexed to store multiple data pages within the single hologram. Compared with the conventional optical vortex, the better storage density of POV through proof-of-principle experiments is demonstrated. For the POV-multiplexing hologram of six data pages, each one can be reconstructed successfully. In addition, we investigate the impact of axicon periods and multiplexing numbers on the storage performance. Our results reveal that an appropriate selection of axicon periods and multiplexing numbers is crucial to balance storage density and bit error rate (BER). The proposed multiplexing approach offers a valuable solution for achieving high-density and secure holographic data storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphones with the Android operating system can acquire Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) raw pseudorange and carrier phase observations, which can provide a new way for the general public to obtain precise position information. However, only postprocessing precise orbit and clock offset products in some older smart devices are applied in current studies. The performances of precise point positioning (PPP) with the smartphone using real-time products and newly smartphones are still unrevealed, which is more valuable for real-time applications. This study investigates the observation data quality and multi-GNSS real-time PPP performance using recent smartphones. Firstly, the observed carrier-to-noise density ratio (C/N0), number of satellites and position dilution of precision (PDOP) of GNSS observations are evaluated. The results demonstrate that the C/N0 received by Huawei Mate40 is better than that of the Huawei P40 for GPS, BDS, QZSS and Galileo systems, while the GLONASS is poorer, and the PDOP of the Huawei P40 is slightly better than that of Mate40. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis of real-time precise orbit and clock offset products performance is conducted. The experiment result expresses that the orbit and clock offset performance of GPS and Galileo is better than that of BDS-3 and GLONASS, and BDS-2 is the worst. Finally, single- and dual-frequency multi-GNSS combined PPP experiments using observations received from smartphones and real-time products are conducted; the results indicate that the real-time static PPP using a smartphone can achieve decimeter-level positioning accuracy, and kinematic PPP can achieve meter-level positioning accuracy after convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient monitoring and early warning are the preconditions of realizing expansive soil landslide hazard prevention and control. Previous early warning of expansive soil landslides was evaluated through soil sampling experiments to analyze the stability coefficient. However, the existing methods lack timeliness and ignore the inconsistent deformation characteristics of different parts of the landslide mass. There are still difficulties in the dynamic numerical early warning of landslides at multiple points. Considering that the degradation of expansive soil landslides' strength is directly reflected by surface displacement, for the Ningming expansive soil demonstration area and based on the GNSS shallow real-time displacement monitoring sequence, a landslide early-warning method based on the GNSS displacement rate combined with the GNSS displacement tangent angle model was proposed, and we thus designed early-warning thresholds for different warning levels. Combined with multi-source data such as soil moisture, soil pressure, and rainfall, the feasibility of accurate early warning of expansive soil landslides based on GNSS real-time surface displacement was verified. The proposed method does not require numerical calculation of internal stress and achieved two successful early warnings of landslides in the test area, which has a certain promotional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-coplanar lasers on both sides of the rail during full-section rail profile measurement based on line-structured light vision will cause the measured profile to be distorted, resulting in measurement errors. Currently, in the field of rail profile measurement, there are no effective methods for evaluating laser plane attitude, and it is impossible to determine the degree of laser coplanarity quantitatively and accurately. This study proposes an evaluation method based on fitting planes in response to this problem. Real-time fitting of laser planes with three planar targets of different heights provides information about the laser plane attitude on both sides of the rails. On this basis, laser coplanarity evaluation criteria were developed to determine whether the laser planes on both sides of the rails are coplanar. Using the method in this study, the laser plane attitude can be quantified and accurately assessed on both sides, effectively resolving the problem with traditional methods that can only assess the laser plane attitude qualitatively and roughly, thereby providing a solid foundation for calibration and error correction of the measurement system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rb/Sr ratio of lake sediments has been widely adopted as an indicator of weathering intensity in studies of past climate change, but the geochemical significance of this ratio varies with timescale. Here, we present Rb/Sr data for the past 300 years for sediments collected from Chaonaqiu Lake in the Liupan Mountains of the western Chinese Loess Plateau as a decadal-scale record of weathering intensity. To validate the application of this weathering proxy, we correlated the record with those of other major elements, rock-forming minerals, and paleoclimatic proxies. We found that Rb/Sr ratios are influenced mainly by Sr activity within the lake catchment (where Sr is likely sourced from albite). In addition, higher (lower) Rb/Sr ratios of bulk sediments from Chaonaqiu Lake are correlated with lower (higher) fractions of terrigenous detritus (SiO2, Ti, K2O, Al2O3, and Na2O). These indicate that the Rb/Sr ratios of bulk sediments in Chaonaqiu Lake are closely linked to terrigenous detritus input on decadal scales and also correlate well with TOC (a precipitation indicator) and other high-resolution paleoclimate records (e.g., tree rings and drought/flood index) in neighboring regions, with higher (lower) Rb/Sr ratios corresponding to more (less) precipitation. Lake bulk sediment Rb/Sr ratios are dominated by the input of terrigenous detritus over decadal timescales. Our data show that physical and chemical weathering in the Chaonaqiu Lake watershed have opposing influences on Rb/Sr ratios of bulk sediment, competing to dominate these ratios of lake sediments over different timescales, with ratios reflecting the relative importance of the two types of weathering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helical piles with small sizes are widely used in traditional civil engineering infrastructure application, especially in onshore electrical power industry. The floating offshore wind power industry has taken an interest in helical piles because of their rapid installation and ability to support immediate loading. Compared with onshore structures, wind power structures suffer larger external load and it becomes necessary to increase the overall size of helical piles, leading to considerable load capacity provided by the shaft, which is typically neglected for a light structure. In this paper, the undrained uplift capacity of helical piles was studied using finite-element limit analysis. The analysis explored various diameter ratios of the shaft to the plate and embedment depths, as well as different interface conditions. The local bearing capacity on the plate was also explored for attached and vented interface conditions. The failure mechanisms of a helical pile were presented to explain the mutual influence between plate anchor and shaft on the uplift capacity. Algebraic expressions for the uplift capacity of a helical pile were proposed. Engineers may use these expressions to improve the accuracy of their estimates for the uplift capacity of helical piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the implementation of deep-market-oriented reforms in China, an accurate interpretation of the effect and transmission mechanism of the marketization of industrial land transfer on carbon emission reduction can provide references for further elevating the role of land policy in China's low-carbon economic transition. Based on the balanced panel data of China's provincial level from 2009 to 2020, this paper uses carbon emission intensity to quantify emission reduction targets, and studies the effects of the marketization of industrial land transfer on regional carbon emission intensity, as well as its internal mechanism, by describing the typical characteristics. Moreover, this paper analyzes the moderating role of environmental governance and conducts area heterogeneity analysis. The main results show that (1) the marketization of industrial land transfer can significantly reduce regional carbon emission intensity, and the negative effect is stronger in the mid-west compared with the effect in the east. (2) Environmental governance can play a positive moderating role in the relationship between the marketization of industrial land transfer and the carbon emission intensity. (3) Industry selection is the internal mechanism by which the effect of the marketization of industrial land transfer on regional carbon emission intensity operates, and the mechanism is represented more prominently in the mid-west. The main conclusions provide inspiration for land policy regulation in relation to carbon emission reduction. China's local governments should implement specific strategies to improve the market-based operation mechanism of land, attracting industries with high energy efficiency and low carbon emissions, and strengthening the intensity of environmental governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the effect of pterostilbene (PTE) on intestinal glucose absorption and its underlying mechanisms in high-intensity swimming exercise (HISE)-treated mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with PTE for 4 weeks and performed high-intensity swimming training in the last week. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) were pretreated with 0.5 and 1.0 μM PTE for 24 h before being incubated in hypoxia/reoxygenation condition. Intestinal glucose absorption was detected by using an oral glucose tolerance test and d-xylose absorption assay, and the levels of factors related to mitochondrial function and pyroptosis were measured via western blot analyses, cell mito stress test, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In vivo and in vitro, the results showed that PTE attenuated HISE-induced intestinal glucose absorption dysfunction and pyroptosis in mice intestine. Moreover, PTE inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome and the mitochondrial homeostasis as well as the ROS accumulation in IEC in vitro. Additionally, knockdown of SIRT3, a major regulator of mitochondria function, by siRNA or inhibiting its activity by 3-TYP abolished the effects of PTE on pyroptosis, mitochondrial homeostasis, and ROS generation of IEC in vitro. Our results revealed that PTE could alleviate HISE-induced intestinal glucose absorption dysfunction associated with the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome-induced IECs pyroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently discovered 460 Gaodi porphyry Mo-Cu deposit is a sub-economic deposit characterized by low Mo-Cu grades, dispersed mineralization, and separated Mo- and Cu-ore bodies. This study aims to elucidate the factors underlying this type of sub-economic mineralization. Electron-microprobe analyses of biotite from ore-related granite porphyry yielded Ti-in-biotite crystallization temperatures of 677–734 °C (an average of 719 °C) and biotite phenocryst crystallization depths of 6.0 to 12.9 km. LA-ICP-MS analyses of zircons from the same sample revealed average zircon Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios of 299.7 and elevated zircon lg(ƒO2) ratios, with an average ΔFMQ of +6.6 ± 1.9. These discoveries suggest that the magma responsible for ore formation boasts a high degree of oxidation, yet also possesses a magma chamber located at a significant depth within the upper crust. This implies an extensive exsolving depth for fluids. Furthermore, our microthermometry analysis of fluid inclusions reveals that a portion of the fluid experiences considerable conductive cooling as it ascends along the conduit, owing to the depth of fluid exsolution. This process results in the ore fluids remaining in the liquid-only region without undergoing boiling, which is conducive to the enrichment of metals. We emphasize the fact that fluid-exsolving depth plays a critical role in determining the metal grades and economic value of a porphyry deposit by regulating the P-T evolution path of the ore fluids [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]