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Climate change misinformation refers to inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading climate change-related information created and spread in the public domain. Despite substantial consensus among the scientific community on the reality of anthropogenic climate change, public opinion still remains divided. Combating the climate crisis requires immediate and meaningful actions; however, various actors generate and propagate climate change misinformation, with vested interests in sowing doubts in the public sphere about the reality and urgency of climate impacts. The United States of America, where public opinion holds a strong sway in many social and political spheres, acts as a pertinent case in point, where the prevalence of climate denial fueled by persistent climate change misinformation contributes to this divided public perspective. For this reason, it is imperative to enhance the understanding of the subtle ways climate change misinformation exists and functions. This article employs actor–network theory and the concept of black-boxing to explore a case of climate change misinformation in the United States, with the aim of comprehending the workings of climate change misinformation within its network.

Maize plays a crucial role in China’s grain production, with a cultivation area reaching 44.22 million hectares and an annual yield of 289 million tons in 2023. However, the challenge remains on how to further increase maize yield and water use efficiency (WUE) without adding to the environmental burden. To systematically evaluate the impact of straw incorporation under varying production conditions on maize yield and WUE, this study collected experimental data from multiple locations across China. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effects of straw incorporation versus no incorporation, and the main influencing factors were identified using correlation analysis and a random forest model. The results indicate that straw incorporation significantly enhances both maize yield and WUE, with the most pronounced improvements observed under conditions of an average growing season temperature of 19–23 °C, soil pH of 6.5–7.5, low initial soil organic matter content, and deep plowing for straw incorporation. Additionally, moderate nitrogen application rates and straw incorporation amounts (9000–15,000 kg·ha−2) also significantly boost maize yield and WUE. Field management practices and meteorological conditions are identified as the primary factors affecting maize yield and WUE under straw incorporation conditions. Therefore, straw incorporation stands out as an effective agricultural practice for achieving high maize yields and efficient resource utilization. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for global food security and the sustainable development of agriculture.

Marine mollusks, including oysters, are highly tolerant to high levels of cadmium (Cd), but the molecular mechanisms underlying their molecular response to acute Cd exposure remain unclear. In this study, the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas was used as a biological model, exposed to acute Cd stress for 96 h. Transcriptomic analyses of their gills were performed, and metabolomic analyses further validated these results. In our study, a total of 111 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) and 2108 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified under acute Cd exposure. Further analyses revealed alterations in key genes and metabolic pathways associated with heavy metal stress response. Cd exposure triggered physiological and metabolic responses in oysters, including enhanced oxidative stress and disturbances in energy metabolism, and these changes revealed the biological response of oysters to acute Cd stress. Moreover, oysters could effectively enhance the tolerance and detoxification ability to acute Cd exposure through activating ABC transporters, enhancing glutathione metabolism and sulfur relay system in gill cells, and regulating energy metabolism. This study reveals the molecular mechanism of acute Cd stress in oysters and explores the molecular mechanism of high tolerance to Cd in oysters by using combined metabolomics and transcriptome analysis.

Aquatic animals frequently undergo feed deprivation and starvation stress. It is well-known that the gut microbiota and the gut–brain short neuropeptide F (sNPF) play essential roles in diet restriction. Therefore, investigating the responses of the gut microbiota and sNPF can enhance our understanding of physiological adaptations to feed deprivation and starvation stress. In this study, we examined the alterations in the gut microbiota of juvenile mud crabs under feed deprivation and starvation conditions. The results reveal differences in the richness and diversity of gut microbiota among the satisfied, half food, and starvation groups. Moreover, the microbial composition was affected by starvation stress, and more than 30 bacterial taxa exhibited significantly different abundances among the three feeding conditions. These results indicate that the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota are influenced by diet restriction, potentially involving interactions with the gut–brain sNPF. Subsequently, we detected the location of sNPF in the brains and guts of mud crabs through immunofluorescence and investigated the expression profile of sNPF under different feeding conditions. The results suggest that sNPF is located in both the brains and guts of mud crabs and shows increased expression levels among different degrees of diet restriction during a 96 h period. This study suggested a potential role for sNPF in regulating digestive activities and immunity through interactions with the gut microbiota. In conclusion, these findings significantly contribute to our understanding of the dynamic changes in gut microbiota and sNPF, highlighting their interplay in response to diet restriction.

Examining dual vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) across various turbulence scenarios is crucial for advancing the efficiency of urban energy generation and promoting sustainable development. This study introduces a novel approach by employing two-dimensional numerical analysis through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to investigate the performance of VAWTs under varying turbulence intensity conditions, a topic that has been relatively unexplored in existing research. The analysis focuses on the self-starting capabilities and the effective utilization of wind energy, which are key factors in urban wind turbine deployment. The results reveal that while the impact of increased turbulence intensity on the self-starting performance of VAWTs is modest, there is a significant improvement in wind energy utilization within a specific turbulence range, leading to an average power increase of 1.41%. This phenomenon is attributed to the more complex flow field induced by heightened turbulence intensity, which delays the onset of dynamic stall through non-uniform aerodynamic excitation of the blade boundary layer. Additionally, the inherent interaction among VAWTs contributes to enhanced turbine output power. However, this study also highlights the trade-off between increased power and the potential for significant fatigue issues in the turbine rotor. These findings provide new insights into the optimal deployment of VAWTs in urban environments, offering practical recommendations for maximizing energy efficiency while mitigating fatigue-related risks.

Plant-derived edible nanovesicles serve as crucial nanocarriers for targeted delivery of bioactive substances, including miRNAs and phytochemicals, to specific tissues. They have emerged as a significant focus in precision nutrient delivery research. In this study, Tartary-buckwheat-derived nanoparticles (TBDNs) were isolated and purified using a combination of differential centrifugation and PEG precipitation. A response surface test was employed to optimize the extraction process of TBDNs in terms of yield, total phenol and flavonoid content, as well as antioxidant activity. The results demonstrated that TBDNs exhibited the highest yield and activity at a 10% concentration of PEG, pH 5, and centrifugation temperature of 4 °C. Under these conditions, the measured yield of TBDNs was 1.7795 g/kg, with a total phenol content of 178.648 mg/100 g, total flavonoid content of 145.421 mg/100 g, and DPPH-radical-scavenging rate reaching 86.37%. Characterization through a transmission electron microscope and nanoparticle-size-tracking analyzer revealed that TBDNs possessed a teato-type vesicle structure with dispersed vesicle clusters present within them. Furthermore, the extracted TBDNs were found to have an average particle size of 182.8 nm with the main peak observed at 162.8 nm when tested for particle size distribution analysis. These findings provide a novel method for extracting TBDNs while laying the groundwork for future investigations into their activities.

To assess the biocontrol potential of Nigrospora oryzae against Solanum rostratum, the effects of different medium components and fermentation conditions on the biomass of N. oryzae were investigated to determine the optimal medium composition and fermentation conditions. Subsequently, the pathogenicity of S. rostratum increased after artificial inoculation of S. rostratum with N. oryzae. Additionally, the safety of N. oryzae fermentation on seven crops were evaluated. The results revealed that the optimal shake flask culture ratio for N. oryzae was lactose:glycerol:yeast extract:(NH4)2SO4 = 2:2:1:2. The optimal fermentation conditions were as follows: 15 mL of inoculum, 75 mL of fermentation liquid in a 150 mL shake flask, an initial pH of 5.0, a culture temperature of 20 °C, and 4 days of culture. The disease index of S. rostratum after spraying with N. oryzae fermentation agent was 60.00, indicating strong pathogenicity to S. rostratum. Safety evaluation revealed that N. oryzae exhibited no symptoms on Zea mays, S. melongena, Festuca arundinacea, Bromus inermis, or Medicago sativa but showed moderate susceptibility to Triticum aestivum and S. lycopersicum. This study represents the first exploration of the biocontrol potential of N. oryzae against S. rostratum. These findings suggest the potential of N. oryzae for development as a microbial herbicide targeting S. rostratum.

Integrated pest management relies upon mutual compatibility among pest control tactics. The fruit-boring moths Carposina sasakii and Grapholita molesta can be devastating pests of pome and stone fruit production. Trichogramma dendrolimi parasitizes the eggs of these pests, preventing their eclosion, but its efficacy can be reduced by other pest control tactics. We tested T. dendrolimi attraction to five colors, and moth attraction to six colors, in laboratory choice tests, and thereafter deployed yellow sticky cards in tandem with releases of T. dendrolimi in field trials in a pear orchard. Yellow sticky cards deployed at high density trapped T. dendrolimi and reduced their numbers post-release. They also trapped adult G. molesta, which appeared to compensate for reduced egg parasitism on this species, but not on C. sasakii, which had higher abundance in plots with yellow sticky cards. The cards also captured adult lacewings, likely reducing their numbers in the field, but did not capture large numbers of lady beetles. The results suggest that yellow sticky cards can be used at high density to control aphids, psyllids and leafhoppers in early spring (March and April) when natural enemies are in low numbers, then removed in May so as not to interfere with augmentative releases of T. dendrolimi that must be timed to coincide with peak flights of fruit-boring moths. This strategy should enhance the compatibility of yellow sticky cards with egg parasitoid releases.

Unmanned sailboats can convert wind energy with sails to provide power for navigation, which can independently plan routes and collect data without human intervention. They have received increasing attention in recent years due to their low power consumption and strong self-sustainability. Due to the greater difficulty of manipulation, the unmanned sailboats have a weaker maneuverability than the propeller-driven vessels in the complex and variable marine environment. Typically, the turning motion is evaluated to characterize the maneuverability of a vessel, which has rarely been investigated in the existing research on unmanned sailboats. Therefore, this study builds a motion simulation platform for unmanned sailboats based on the 3 m class Petrel Sail to investigate the turning characteristics. The index of the approximate turning circle is introduced based on the turning motion trajectory, which is used to obtain the effect of rudder angle, wind angle, wind speed, and current speed on the turning performance of the sailboat in ideal hydrostatic conditions and under flow disturbance, respectively. Finally, a harbor pool test is conducted with an unmanned sailboat to verify the analysis results, and the errors in maximum transverse distance and maximum advance distance are in the reasonable range, proving the correctness of the theoretical results. The current study also provides theoretical guidance for subsequent research on sailboat manipulation and maneuverability.

Titanium alloys are difficult to machine and have poor tribological properties. Nanoparticles have good cooling and lubricating properties, which can be used in metal cutting fluid. The lubrication characteristics of the two-dimensional materials Ti3C2TX MXene and graphene oxide in water-based fluid for titanium alloys were comparatively investigated in this paper. Graphene oxide had smaller friction coefficients and wear volume than Ti3C2TX MXene nanofluid. As to the mechanism, MXene easily formed TiO2 for the tribo-chemical reaction, which accelerated wear. Moreover, GO nanofluid can form a more uniform and stable friction layer between the frictional interface, which reduces the friction coefficient and decreases the adhesive wear. The effects of different surfactants on the lubricating properties of MXene were further investigated. It was found that the cationic surfactant Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (1631) had the lowest friction coefficient and anti-wear properties for the strong electrostatic attraction with MXene nanoparticles. The results of this study indicate that 2D nanoparticles, especially graphene oxide, could improve the lubricating properties of titanium alloys. It provides insight into the application of water-based nanofluids for difficult-to-machine materials to enhance surface quality and cutting efficiency. The developed nanofluid, which can lubricate titanium alloys, effectively has very broad applications in prospect.

In 6000-series Al-Mg-Si alloys, Zn is commonly added to enhance the aging response for improved properties. However, the segregation of Zn to interfaces and its interaction mechanisms with strengthening phases remain unclear. Combining experiments and theoretical calculations, we systematically investigated Zn segregation behavior at the β″/Al interfaces in Al-Mg-Si alloys. Using a modified β″-Mg5Al2Si4 model, we determined that the interface (100)β″//(130)Al has a slightly smaller formation energy of 1.06 kJ/mol, while (001)β″//(3¯20)Al has a relatively smaller interfacial energy of 116 mJ/m2. HAADF-STEM analysis revealed these interfacial morphologies and atomic distributions, showing that Zn atoms not only enter the β″ phase but are also inclined to segregate at the interfaces by occupying the Si3/Al sites. Furthermore, the stability of the β″/Al interfaces and the Zn segregation behavior are well explained at the atomic scale, with calculations showing that stronger hybridization between Zn-3d and Si-3s orbitals facilitates Zn segregation at the interfaces.

Microorganisms harbor catabolic plasmids to tackle refractory organic pollutants, which is crucial for bioremediation and ecosystem health. Understanding the impacts of plasmids on hosts provides insights into the behavior and adaptation of degrading bacteria in the environment. Here, we examined alterations in the physiological properties and gene expression profiles of Rhodococcus sp. strain p52 after losing two conjugative dioxin-catabolic megaplasmids (pDF01 and pDF02). The growth of strain p52 accelerated after pDF01 loss, while it decelerated after pDF02 loss. During dibenzofuran degradation, the expression levels of dibenzofuran catabolic genes on pDF01 were higher compared to those on pDF02; accordingly, pDF01 loss markedly slowed dibenzofuran degradation. It was suggested that pDF01 is more beneficial to strain p52 under dibenzofuran exposure. Moreover, plasmid loss decreased biofilm formation, especially after pDF02 loss. Transcriptome profiling revealed different pathways enriched in upregulated and downregulated genes after pDF01 and pDF02 loss, indicating different adaptation mechanisms. Based on the transcriptional activity variation, pDF01 played roles in transcription and anabolic processes, while pDF02 profoundly influenced energy production and cellular defense. This study enhances our knowledge of the impacts of degradative plasmids on native hosts and the adaptation mechanisms of hosts, contributing to the application of plasmid-mediated bioremediation in contaminated environments.

The self-excited oscillation system, owing to its capability of harvesting environmental energy, exhibits immense potential in diverse fields, such as micromachines, biomedicine, communications, and construction, with its adaptability, efficiency, and sustainability being highly regarded. Despite the current interest in track sliders in self-vibrating systems, LCE fiber-propelled track sliders face significant limitations in two-dime nsional movement, especially self-rotation, necessitating the development of more flexible and mobile designs. In this paper, we design a spatial slider system which ensures the self-rotation of the slider propelled by a light-fueled LCE fiber on a rigid circular track. A nonlinear dynamic model is introduced to analyze the system’s dynamic behaviors. The numerical simulations reveal a smooth transition from the static to self-rotating states, supported by ambient illumination. Quantitative analysis shows that increased light intensity, the contraction coefficient, and the elastic coefficient enhance the self-rotating frequency, while more damping decreases it. The track radius exhibits a non-monotonic effect. The initial tangential velocity has no impact. The reliable self-rotating performance under steady light suggests potential applications in periodic motion-demanding fields, especially in the construction industry where energy dissipation and utilization are of utmost urgency. Furthermore, this spatial slider system possesses the ability to rotate and self-vibrate, and it is capable of being adapted to other non-circular curved tracks, thereby highlighting its flexibility and multi-use capabilities.

In this paper, we propose an innovative light-powered LCE-slider system that enables continuous self-circling on an elliptical track and is comprised of a light-powered LCE string, slider, and rigid elliptical track. By formulating and solving dimensionless dynamic equations, we explain static and self-circling states, emphasizing self-circling dynamics and energy balance. Quantitative analysis reveals that the self-circling frequency of LCE-slider systems is independent of the initial tangential velocity but sensitive to light intensity, contraction coefficients, elastic coefficients, the elliptical axis ratio, and damping coefficients. Notably, elliptical motion outperforms circular motion in angular velocity and frequency, indicating greater efficiency. Reliable self-circling under constant light suggests applications in periodic motion fields, especially celestial mechanics. Additionally, the system’s remarkable adaptability to a wide range of curved trajectories exemplifies its flexibility and versatility, while its energy absorption and conversion capabilities position it as a highly potential candidate for applications in robotics, construction, and transportation.

Ecological sustainability quantifies the capacity of an ecological system to sustain its health while fulfilling human survival needs and supporting future development. An accurate projection of ecological dynamics for sustainability is crucial for decision-makers to comprehend potential risks. However, the intricate interplay between climate change and human activity has hindered comprehensive assessments of future ecological sustainability, leaving it inadequately investigated thus far. This study aimed to assess future ecological sustainability shaped by the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) using remote sensing data from a typical arid farming–pastoral zone located at the northern foot of Yinshan Mountain (NFYM), Inner Mongolia, China. Five machine learning models were employed to evaluate the relationship between ecological sustainability and its driving factors. The results indicate that (1) overall ecological sustainability initially decreased and then increased during 2003–2022; (2) the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Earth System Model version 4 (GFDL-ESM4) mode and random forest model demonstrated the best performance in climate and ecological sustainability simulations; and (3) the annual change rates of ecological sustainability from 2023 to 2099 are projected to be +0.45%, −0.05%, and −0.46% per year under the SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively, suggesting that stringent environmental policies can effectively enhance ecological sustainability. The proposed framework can assist decision-makers in understanding ecological changes under different SSPs and calls for strategies to enhance ecosystem resilience in the NFYM and similar regions.

Vaccination is the key to interrupting the transmission of viruses, reducing public health losses, and improving the efficiency of public health emergency management. The implementation of vaccination requires communication between the government and the public, and the participation of multiple subjects. Strengthening the coordination of multiple subjects in the process of vaccination can improve the vaccination rate and broaden its scope. Therefore, from the perspective of inter-organizational interaction, a public health emergency vaccination game model based on health management departments, vaccinologists, and the public was constructed in this study. With the objective of improving the effectiveness of vaccination, the influential factors in a public health emergency vaccination game system and game subjects’ strategy selection were explored using a numerical simulation analysis. The research results showed that the range of vaccination, the diversification of vaccination information release, the level of emergency coordination between health management departments and vaccinologists, and the public’s awareness of emergency protection can all effectively promote vaccination. Among them, the effects of vaccination range (δ) and the diversification of vaccination information release (φ) on game subjects’ strategy selection fluctuated, but did not affect the overall trend. Both the level of emergency collaboration (θ) and public safety awareness (ε) can enhance the initiative of game subjects to participate in vaccination. When the stable strategy combination formed by the game system are positive promotion strategy, active guidance strategy and active vaccination strategy, the convergence rate of health management departments and vaccinologists to form a stable strategy is greater than that of the public. Further, the implications of promoting the effective implementation of vaccination are put forward via improving the vaccination strategy, strengthening vaccination collaboration, mobilizing the enthusiasm of vaccinologists, and enhancing the initiative of the public.

Traditional lightweight foam concrete typically introduces a large number of voids into the concrete using surfactants to reduce density. However, in 3D printing, the instability of lightweight foam concrete can affect the workability of the slurry. Additionally, the lower strength of foam with more pores also reduces its mechanical performance. This study found that by replacing sand with expanded perlite in 3D-printed foam concrete, the stability of the foam is improved, enhancing the workability of the mixture and increasing the constructability of printed concrete. Furthermore, analyses of mechanical properties, porosity, and pore size distribution showed that at the same dry density, foam concrete with a higher expanded perlite replacement ratio exhibited higher compressive strength, with a maximum strength increase of up to 39%. Moreover, the introduction of expanded perlite optimized the pore distribution of the foam concrete, resulting in a more uniform material structure. The 3D-printed expanded perlite–foam concrete (3DPFC) prepared in this study provides new insights for the preparation of lightweight 3D-printed concrete, which is of significant importance for the sustainable development of the construction industry.

Isoamyl 4-methoxycinnamate (IMC) is widely used in various fields because of its exceptional UV-filter properties. However, due to its cytotoxicity and anti-microbial degradability, the potential eco-environmental toxicity of IMC has become a focus of attention. In this study, we propose a host–guest supramolecule approach to enhance the functionality of IMC, resulting in a more environmentally friendly and high-performance materials. Sulfobutyl-β-cyclodextrin sodium salt (SBE-β-CD) was used as the host molecule. IMC-SBE-β-CD supramolecular substances were prepared through the “saturated solution method”, and their properties and biosecurity were evaluated. Meanwhile, we conducted the AOS tree evaluation system that surpasses existing evaluation approaches based on apoptosis, oxidative stress system, and signaling pathways to investigate the toxicological mechanisms of IMC-SBE-β-CD within human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells as model organisms. The AOS tree evaluation system aims to offer the comprehensive analysis of the cytotoxic effects of IMC-SBE-β-CD. Our findings showed that IMC-SBE-β-CD had an encapsulation rate of 84.45% and optimal stability at 30 °C. Further, IMC-SBE-β-CD promoted cell growth and reproduction without compromising the integrity of mitochondria and nucleus or disrupting oxidative stress and apoptosis-related pathways. Compared to IMC, IMC-SBE-β-CD is biologically safe and has improved water solubility with the UV absorption property maintained. Our study provides the foundation for the encapsulation of hydrophobic, low-toxicity organic compounds using cyclodextrins and offers valuable insights for future research in this field.

To achieve the optimal alginate-based oral formulation for delivery of hydrophobic drugs, on the basis of previous research, we further optimized the synthesis process parameters of alginate-g-oleylamine derivatives (Ugi-FOlT) and explored the effects of different degrees of substitution (DSs) on the molecular self-assembly properties of Ugi-FOlT, as well as the in vitro cytotoxicity and drug release behavior of Ugi-FOlT. The resultant Ugi-FOlT exhibited good amphiphilic properties with the critical micelle concentration (CMC) ranging from 0.043 mg/mL to 0.091 mg/mL, which decreased with the increase in the DS of Ugi-FOlT. Furthermore, Ugi-FOlT was able to self-assemble into spherical micellar aggregates in aqueous solution, whose sizes and zeta potentials with various DSs measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) were in the range of 653 ± 25~710 ± 40 nm and −58.2 ± 1.92~−48.9 ± 2.86 mV, respectively. In addition, RAW 264.7 macrophages were used for MTT assay to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of Ugi-FOlT in the range of 100~500 μg/mL, and the results indicated good cytocompatibility for Ugi-FOlT. Ugi-FOlT micellar aggregates with favorable stability also showed a certain sustained and pH-responsive release behavior for the hydrophobic drug ibuprofen (IBU). Meanwhile, it is feasible to control the drug release rate by regulating the DS of Ugi-FOlT. The influence of different DSs on the properties of Ugi-FOlT is helpful to fully understand the relationship between the micromolecular structure of Ugi-FOlT and its macroscopic properties.

The senescence of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) leads to the impairment of stemness and osteogenic differentiation capacity. In a previous study, we screened out stearoyl-CoA desaturase 2 (SCD2), the most evidently changed differential gene in lipid metabolism, using combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, and verified that SCD2 could mitigate MSC senescence. However, the underlying molecular mechanism by which the rate-limiting enzyme of lipogenesis SCD2 manipulates MSC senescence has not been completely understood. In this study, we demonstrate that SCD2 over-expression alleviates MSC replicative senescence and ameliorates their osteogenic differentiation through the regulation of lipogenesis. Furthermore, SCD2 expression is reduced, whereas miR-200c-3p expression is elevated in replicative senescent MSCs. SCD2 is the direct target gene of miR-200c-3p, which can bind to the 3′-UTR of SCD2. MiR-200c-3p replenishment in young MSCs is able to diminish SCD2 expression levels due to epigenetic modulation. In addition, SCD2-rescued MSC senescence and enhanced osteogenic differentiation can be attenuated by miR-200c-3p repletion via suppressing lipogenesis. Taken together, we reveal the potential mechanism of SCD2 influencing MSC senescence from the perspective of lipid metabolism and epigenetics, which provides both an experimental basis for elucidating the mechanism of stem cell senescence and a novel target for delaying stem cell senescence.

In long-distance, high-elevation gravitational water supply systems, it is essential to incorporate energy dissipation to lower pipeline pressures. The energy dissipation box is a novel device for pressure reduction, extensively utilized in gravitational flow transition systems. Despite its appealing contribution, systematic selection methods still need to be used regarding its optimum location. Hence, this paper considers the sum-of-the-maximum hydrostatic pressure head (SMHPH) and derives an extreme location equation for the energy dissipation box (EDB) in the design stage, and then, it comprehensively accounts for the overcurrent capacity and proposes a theoretical comparison and selection method for the optimal location (OL) between the critical and extreme locations. A theoretical analysis with an engineering case study is conducted to compare the theoretical OL, and numerical simulations are carried out to compare the pressure protection effect of the same box cross-sectional area and initial water volume of the theoretical OL and other possible locations with different initial water depths. The results show that the location of the EDB in the design stage should comprehensively consider the overcurrent capacity and the SMHPH. On the basis of both conditions, the oscillation amplitudes of the pressure gradient beyond the box are significantly decreased as the OL approaches closer to the downstream pipe. If the initial water depth in the box is large, the EDB provides greater protection to the pressure head (PH) by decreasing the cross-sectional area and then maximizing the utilization of water depth in the box and decreasing the volume of the EDB.

Nitrogen (N) deposition, as one of the global change drivers, can alter terrestrial plant diversity and ecosystem function. However, the response of the plant diversity–ecosystem function relationship to N deposition remains unclear. On one hand, in the previous studies, taxonomic diversity (i.e., species richness, SR) was solely considered the common metric of plant diversity, compared to other diversity metrics such as phylogenetic and functional diversity. On the other hand, most previous studies simulating N deposition only included two levels of control versus N enrichment. How various N deposition rates affect multidimensional plant diversity–ecosystem function relationships is poorly understood. Here, a field manipulative experiment with a N addition gradient (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 g N m−2 yr−1) was carried out to examine the effects of N addition rates on the relationships between plant diversity metrics (taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity) and ecosystem production in a temperate steppe. Production initially increased and reached the maximum value at the N addition rate of 47 g m−2 yr−1, then decreased along the N-addition gradient in the steppe. SR, functional diversity calculated using plant height (FDis-Height) and leaf chlorophyll content (FDis-Chlorophyll), and phylogenetic diversity (net relatedness index, NRI) were reduced, whereas community-weighted means of plant height (CWMHeight) and leaf chlorophyll content (CWMChlorophyll) were enhanced by N addition. N addition did not affect the relationships of SR, NRI, and FDis-Height with production but significantly affected the strength of the correlation between FDis-Chlorophyll, CWMHeight, and CWMChlorophyll with biomass production across the eight levels of N addition. The findings indicate the robust relationships of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity and production and the varying correlations between functional diversity and production under increased N deposition in the temperate steppe, highlighting the importance of a trait-based approach in studying the plant diversity–ecosystem function under global change scenarios.

Traditional cement epoxy pavements suffer from inherent limitations such as terrible tribological properties, poor wear resistance, and weak impact resistance, presenting significant challenges to ensure the safety and continuous operation of urban roads. As a solution, high-performance cement epoxy composite grouting materials have emerged as the preferred option for engineering construction and road maintenance. In this study, CSP/epoxy cement (CSEC) composite materials were prepared by emulsion polymerization. The thermal properties of the materials were characterized, revealing that CSP enhances the thermal properties of epoxy cement (EC) to a certain extent. Furthermore, the frictional properties of CSEC composite materials and pure epoxy cement under different normal loads were investigated. The results indicated that the CSEC composite material exhibited a slight increase in friction coefficient and a notable decrease in wear rate compared to pure epoxy cement (EC). Specifically, the wear rate of CSEC decreased by 14.4% at a load of 20 N, highlighting the enhanced frictional performance facilitated by CSP. Mechanistic analysis attributed the improvement to the unique core-shell structure of CSP, which imparted higher impact resistance and eliminated alleviate residual stresses at the friction interface. This structural advantage further enhanced the wear resistance of materials, making it a promising choice for improving the durability and safety of urban road surfaces.

In space missions, heating films are crucial for uniformly heating onboard equipment for precise temperature control. This study develops an optimization method using surrogate models for lightweight anisotropic substrate thermal conductive heating films, meeting the requirements of uniform heating in thermal control for space applications. A feedforward neural network optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) was employed to create a surrogate model, mapping design parameters to the temperature uniformity of the heating film. This model served as the basis for applying the NSGA-II algorithm to quickly optimize both temperature uniformity and lightweight characteristics. In this study, the PSO-BP surrogate model was trained using heating film thermal simulation data, and the surrogate model demonstrated an accurate prediction of the mean square error (MSE) of the predicted temperature difference within 0.0168 s. The maximum temperature difference in the optimal model is 1.188 ℃, which is 30.5 times lower than before optimization, and the equivalent density is only increased by 3.9%. In summary, this optimization design method effectively captures the relationships among various parameters and optimization objectives. Its superior computational accuracy and design efficiency offer significant advantages in the design of devices such as heating films.

While confronted with unfavorable growth conditions, bacteria may transform into the dormant state, such as viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state, which is a reversible state characterized by low metabolic activity and lack of division. These dormant cells can be reactivated through the influence of the resuscitation promoting factor (Rpf) family, which are classified as autocrine growth factors and possess peptidoglycan hydrolase activities. To date, with the significant resuscitation or growth promotion ability of Rpf, it has been extensively applied to increasing bacterial diversity and isolating functional microbial species. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the distribution, mode of action, and functional mechanisms of Rpf proteins in various bacterial species. The aim is to create opportunities for decoding microbial communities and extracting microbial resources from real samples across different research fields.

Wound healing progresses through three distinct stages: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Immune regulation is a central component throughout, crucial for orchestrating inflammatory responses, facilitating tissue repair, and restraining scar tissue formation. Elements such as mitochondria, reactive oxygen species (ROS), macrophages, autophagy, ferroptosis, and cytokines collaboratively shape immune regulation in this healing process. Skin wound dressings, recognized for their ability to augment biomaterials’ immunomodulatory characteristics via antimicrobial, antioxidative, pro- or anti-inflammatory, and tissue-regenerative capacities, have garnered heightened attention. Notwithstanding, a lack of comprehensive research addressing how these dressings attain immunomodulatory properties and the mechanisms thereof persists. Hence, this paper pioneers a systematic review of biomaterials, emphasizing immune regulation and their underlying immunological mechanisms. It begins by highlighting the importance of immune regulation in wound healing and the peculiarities and obstacles faced in skin injury recovery. This segment explores the impact of wound metabolism, infections, systemic illnesses, and local immobilization on the immune response during healing. Subsequently, the review examines a spectrum of biomaterials utilized in skin wound therapy, including hydrogels, aerogels, electrospun nanofiber membranes, collagen scaffolds, microneedles, sponges, and 3D-printed constructs. It elaborates on the immunomodulatory approaches employed by these materials, focusing on mitochondrial and ROS modulation, autophagic processes, ferroptosis, macrophage modulation, and the influence of cytokines on wound healing. Acknowledging the challenge of antibiotic resistance, the paper also summarizes promising plant-based alternatives for biomaterial integration, including curcumin. In its concluding sections, the review charts recent advancements and prospects in biomaterials that accelerate skin wound healing via immune modulation. This includes exploring mitochondrial transplantation materials, biomaterial morphology optimization, metal ion incorporation, electrostimulation-enabled immune response control, and the benefits of composite materials in immune-regulatory wound dressings. The ultimate objective is to establish a theoretical foundation and guide future investigations in the realm of skin wound healing and related materials science disciplines.

The main purpose of this research is to develop a solid waste-based cementitious material (SWC) instead of cement for solidifying a large amount of marine soft soil with high water content and low bearing capacity in coastal areas. This aims to solve the problems encountered in the practical application of cement soil, such as slow strength growth and poor durability. The SWC includes ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), dust ash (DA), and activated cinder powder (ACP), with admixtures of naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate (NS) and compound salt early strength agent (SA). Both the 7 d and 28 d compressive strength values of the SWC formulations G4 and G7 are about twice as strong as those of cement soil (GC), even when mixed with seawater. Immersion tests revealed that stabilized soil had superior resistance to seawater corrosion compared to cement soil. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis explained that the main hydration products in cement soil are C-S-H and CH, while in stabilized soil, SWC generates a large amount of C-A-S-H with gelling properties and AFt with filling properties. These hydration products have better effects on strength and seawater erosion resistance.

The hybrid active power filter (HAPF) can effectively suppress the 75–125 Hz low-frequency harmonic current generated by the EAST poloidal field power supply. However, the low-frequency harmonic current suppression performance of HAPF is greatly affected by its control parameters when the circuit parameters are determined. In this paper, the state–space equation of the HAPF system is established, and the relationship between the eigenvalues of the state–space matrix and the HAPF control parameters is analyzed using the Lyapunov method. Based on the variation law of the eigenvalues, by optimizing the control parameters of the HAPF system, the low-frequency harmonic current suppression performance of HAPF is improved by 41.9%.

The distinctive taste of Sichuan sauce-flavored sausage comes from an intricate microbial metabolism. The correlation between microbial composition and distinct flavor components has not been researched. The study used headspace solid-phase microextraction action with gas chromatography mass spectrometry to find flavor components and high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA to look at the diversity and succession of microbial communities. The correlation network model forecasted the connection between essential bacteria and the development of flavors. The study revealed that the primary flavor compounds in Sichuan sauce-flavored sausages were alcohols, aldehydes, and esters. The closely related microbes were Leuconostoc, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, Flavobacterium, and Algoriella. The microbes aided in the production of various flavor compounds, such as 1-octen-3-ol, benzeneacetaldehyde, hexanal, (R,R)-2,3-butanediol, and ethyl caprylate. This work has enhanced our comprehension of the diverse functions that bacteria serve in flavor development during the fermentation of Sichuan sauce-flavored sausage.

Salinity is a common abiotic stress that limits crop productivity. Although there is a wealth of evidence suggesting that miRNA and lncRNA play important roles in the response to salinity in rice seedlings and reproductive stages, the mechanism by which competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) influence salt tolerance and yield in rice has been rarely reported. In this study, we conducted full whole-transcriptome sequencing of rice panicles during the reproductive period to clarify the role of ceRNAs in the salt stress response and yield. A total of 214 lncRNAs, 79 miRNAs, and 584 mRNAs were identified as differentially expressed RNAs under salt stress. Functional analysis indicates that they play important roles in GO terms such as response to stress, biosynthesis processes, abiotic stimuli, endogenous stimulus, and response to stimulus, as well as in KEGG pathways such as secondary metabolite biosynthesis, carotenoid biosynthesis, metabolic pathways, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. A ceRNA network comprising 95 lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA triplets was constructed. Two lncRNAs, MSTRG.51634.2 and MSTRG.48576.1, were predicted to bind to osa-miR172d-5p to regulate the expression of OsMYB2 and OsMADS63, which have been reported to affect salt tolerance and yield, respectively. Three lncRNAs, MSTRG.30876.1, MSTRG.44567.1, and MSTRG.49308.1, may bind to osa-miR5487 to further regulate the expression of a stress protein (LOC_Os07g48460) and an aquaporin protein (LOC_Os02g51110) to regulate the salt stress response. This study is helpful for understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of ceRNA that drive the response of rice to salt stress and provide new genetic resources for salt-resistant rice breeding.

Photodetectors have a wide range of applications across various fields. Self-powered photodetectors that do not require external energy have garnered significant attention. The photoelectrochemical type of photodetector is a self-powered device that is both simple to fabricate and offers high performance. However, developing photoelectrochemical photodetectors with superior quality and performance remains a significant challenge. The electrolyte, which is a key component in these detectors, must maintain extensive contact with the semiconductor without degrading its material quality and efficiently catalyze the redox reactions of photogenerated electrons and holes, while also facilitating rapid charge carrier transport. In this study, α-Ga2O3 nanorod arrays were synthesized via a cost-effective hydrothermal method to achieve a self-powered solar-blind photodetector. The impacts of different electrolytes—Na2SO4, NaOH, and Na2CO3—on the photodetector was investigated. Ultimately, a self-powered photodetector with Na2SO4 as the electrolyte demonstrated a stable photoresponse, with the maximum responsivity of 0.2 mA/W at 262 nm with the light intensity of 3.0 mW/cm2, and it exhibited rise and decay times of 0.16 s and 0.10 s, respectively. The α-Ga2O3 nanorod arrays and Na2SO4 electrolyte provided a rapid pathway for the transport of photogenerated carriers and the built-in electric field at the semiconductor–liquid heterojunction interface, which was largely responsible for the effective separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs that provided the outstanding performance of our photodetector.

Plant-specific TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) proteins play critical roles in plant development and stress responses; however, their functions in chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) have not been well-studied. In this study, we isolated and characterized the chrysanthemum TCP transcription factor family gene CmTCP13, a homolog of AtTCP13. This gene encoded a protein harboring a conserved basic helix–loop–helix motif, and its expression was induced by salinity stress in chrysanthemum plants. Subcellular localization experiments showed that CmTCP13 localized in the nucleus. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of multiple stress- and hormone-responsive cis-elements in the promoter region of CmTCP13. The heterologous expression of CmTCP13 in Arabidopsis plants enhanced their tolerance to salinity stress. Under salinity stress, CmTCP13 transgenic plants exhibited enhanced germination, root length, seedling growth, and chlorophyll content and reduced relative electrical conductivity compared with those exhibited by wild-type (WT) plants. Moreover, the expression levels of stress-related genes, including AtSOS3, AtP5CS2, AtRD22, AtRD29A, and AtDREB2A, were upregulated in CmTCP13 transgenic plants than in WT plants under salt stress. Taken together, our results demonstrate that CmTCP13 is a critical regulator of salt stress tolerance in plants.

Finger vein recognition methods, as emerging biometric technologies, have attracted increasing attention in identity verification due to their high accuracy and live detection capabilities. However, as privacy protection awareness increases, traditional centralized finger vein recognition algorithms face privacy and security issues. Federated learning, a distributed training method that protects data privacy without sharing data across endpoints, is gradually being promoted and applied. Nevertheless, its performance is severely limited by heterogeneity among datasets. To address these issues, this paper proposes a dual-decoupling personalized federated learning framework for finger vein recognition (DDP-FedFV). The DDP-FedFV method combines generalization and personalization. In the first stage, the DDP-FedFV method implements a dual-decoupling mechanism involving model and feature decoupling to optimize feature representations and enhance the generalizability of the global model. In the second stage, the DDP-FedFV method implements a personalized weight aggregation method, federated personalization weight ratio reduction (FedPWRR), to optimize the parameter aggregation process based on data distribution information, thereby enhancing the personalization of the client models. To evaluate the performance of the DDP-FedFV method, theoretical analyses and experiments were conducted based on six public finger vein datasets. The experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm outperforms centralized training models without increasing communication costs or privacy leakage risks.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple food worldwide, and agronomic biofortification with selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) is a simple and effective way to increase nutrient intake. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of Zn and Se on the biofortification of wheat grain. Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4·H2O, 1.74, 2.61 and 3.48 kg Zn hm−2) and sodium selenite (Na2SeO3, 15 and 30 g Se hm−2) were sprayed individually or simultaneously at key stages of wheat growth (the jointing, booting, and filling stage) under field conditions. On the basis of soil Zn application, the foliar application of Zn or Se alone greatly increased grain Zn by 12.07–71.88% (up to 41.66–64.30 mg kg−1), and grain Se content by 131.81–527.21% (up to 0.21–0.50 mg kg−1), while the soil application of Zn had little effect on grain Zn. Compared with the foliar application of Zn or Se alone, the co-application of Se increased the grain Zn content by 1.74–16.15%, while the co-application of Zn significantly reduced grain Se content by 25.43–86.34% and the effect was more pronounced with an increase in Zn dosage. Moreover, positive correlations were found between Zn and copper (Cu) in grains, and wheat grains could provide adequate dietary intakes of manganese (Mn), Cu, and molybdenum (Mo) for humans. In summary, the soil application of 11 kg Zn hm−2 combined with the foliar application of 2.61 kg Zn hm−2 and 30 g Se·hm−2 is a feasible Zn-Se co-enrichment strategy, which would provide the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) of 113.63–124.72% (female) and 68.18–74.84% (male) of Zn and 81.30–95.85% of Se.

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and big data technology, intelligent education systems have become a key research focus in the field of modern educational technology. This study aims to enhance the intelligence level of educational systems by accurately detecting student behavior in the classroom using deep learning techniques. We propose a method for detecting student classroom behavior based on an improved RT DETR (Real-Time Detection Transformer) object detection algorithm. By combining actual classroom observation data with AI-generated data, we create a comprehensive and diverse student behavior dataset (FSCB-dataset). This dataset not only more realistically simulates the classroom environment but also effectively addresses the scarcity of datasets and reduces the cost of dataset construction. The study introduces MobileNetV3 as a lightweight backbone network, reducing the model parameters to one-tenth of the original while maintaining nearly the same accuracy. Additionally, by incorporating learnable position encoding and dynamic upsampling techniques, the model significantly improves its ability to recognize small objects and complex scenes. Test results on the FSCB-dataset show that the improved model achieves significant improvements in real-time performance and computational efficiency. The lightweight network is also easy to deploy on mobile devices, demonstrating its practicality in resource-constrained environments.

In atmospheric modeling, sub-grid parameterization is an important method for studying the topographic effects of solar radiation using high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data. For reducing the amount of computation, some approximate methods that can lead to errors are used in existing sub-grid parameterization schemes for clear-sky direct solar radiation (SPS-CSDSR). The lack of a high-precision fast terrain occlusion algorithm (HPFTOA) remains one of the biggest constraints in this field. This study proposed an HPFTOA. It mainly uses two kinds of acceleration algorithms. One method is to use a dynamic, lossless, and fast occlusion search radius. Another way is to use the rectangular grid for calculations within the accuracy of DEM data to avoid coordinate projection conversions. The test results indicate that the HPFTOA can carry out large-scale computation based on DEM data with a resolution of 90 m. Because it rarely uses approximation algorithms and considers the curvature of the Earth, SPS-CSDSR can achieve unprecedented precision. The HPFTOA can also be used in the fields of mountain solar energy assessment, remote sensing, and telemetry, including terrain-obscuring the probe. As computer performance improves and algorithms and execution code are optimized, the application prospects will be very broad.

Existing sub-grid parameterization schemes for clear-sky direct solar radiation (SPS-CSDSR) assume that the sub-grid cells have the same atmospheric transparency. This study shows that in undulating terrain, significant errors can occur when the sub-grid is in turbid weather or partly above the cloud top. A correction factor was proposed. It can effectively eliminate errors under a cloudless sky and can reduce some errors when part of the sub-grid is above the cloud or fog top. For atmospheric models with high horizontal resolution, example test verification shows that the cast shadowless coverage method can lead to large errors. It should no longer be used based on current computing power. These improvements and the high-precision fast terrain occlusion algorithm in Part I will allow SPS-CSDSR to achieve unprecedented high accuracy. Based on the proposed daily interpolation method, the high-precision SPS-CSDSR is also feasible for regional climate simulation. The analysis pointed out that the sub-grid terrain radiative effect (STRE) is distributed over inclined surfaces with larger areas and at different heights. Existing methods of coupling STRE on one flat surface have certain physical drawbacks. This paper suggests introducing parameterization of STRE at different altitudes and improving the coupling of land–air.

Strawberry red core root rot disease affects the growth and yield of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch), which leads to economic losses in China. The study employed a tissue separation method to isolate and identify the causal agent responsible for strawberry red core root rot. This was achieved by the observation of its morphological characteristics, sequencing analyses, and pathogenicity tests. The sensitivity of five chemical fungicides against the two species of Fusarium was determined using the mycelial growth rate method, and the biological characteristics of the two species were examined. The pathogens were identified as Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum. The optimal conditions for the mycelial growth of F. solani and F. oxysporum were determined to be potato sucrose agar at 25 °C and pH 6, and potato dextrose agar at 30 °C and pH 8, respectively, with a 24:24 light cycle. The most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources for the mycelial growth of F. solani were sucrose and sodium nitrate (NaNO3), while for F. oxysporum, they were glucose and peptone. A fungicide sensitivity test indicated that Prochloraz had a good inhibitory effect on the growth of F. solani and F. oxysporum with EC50 values of 0.088 mg L−1 and 0.162 mg. The growth inhibition effect of Azoxystrobin to F. solani and Carbendazim to F. oxysporum was not obvious. This study provides a theoretical basis for further research on strawberry red core root disease and its prevention.

In the realm of plant biology, small RNAs (sRNAs) are imperative in the orchestration of gene expression, playing pivotal roles across a spectrum of developmental sequences and responses to environmental stressors. The biosynthetic cascade of sRNAs is characterized by an elaborate network of enzymatic pathways that meticulously process double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) precursors into sRNA molecules, typically 20 to 30 nucleotides in length. These sRNAs, chiefly microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), are integral in guiding the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to selectively target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for post-transcriptional modulation. This regulation is achieved either through the targeted cleavage or the suppression of translational efficiency of the mRNAs. In plant development, sRNAs are integral to the modulation of key pathways that govern growth patterns, organ differentiation, and developmental timing. The biogenesis of sRNA itself is a fine-tuned process, beginning with transcription and proceeding through a series of processing steps involving Dicer-like enzymes and RNA-binding proteins. Recent advances in the field have illuminated the complex processes underlying the generation and function of small RNAs (sRNAs), including the identification of new sRNA categories and the clarification of their involvement in the intercommunication among diverse regulatory pathways. This review endeavors to evaluate the contemporary comprehension of sRNA biosynthesis and to underscore the pivotal role these molecules play in directing the intricate performance of plant developmental processes.

Nowadays, as a result of the frequent occurrence of accidental injuries and traumas such as bone damage, the number of people causing bone injuries or fractures is increasing around the world. The design and fabrication of ideal bone tissue engineering (BTE) materials have become a research hotspot in the scientific community, and thus provide a novel path for the treatment of bone diseases. Among the materials used to construct scaffolds in BTE, including metals, bioceramics, bioglasses, biomacromolecules, synthetic organic polymers, etc., natural biopolymers have more advantages against them because they can interact with cells well, causing natural polymers to be widely studied and applied in the field of BTE. In particular, alginate has the advantages of excellent biocompatibility, good biodegradability, non-immunogenicity, non-toxicity, wide sources, low price, and easy gelation, enabling itself to be widely used as a biomaterial. However, pure alginate hydrogel as a BTE scaffold material still has many shortcomings, such as insufficient mechanical properties, easy disintegration of materials in physiological environments, and lack of cell-specific recognition sites, which severely limits its clinical application in BTE. In order to overcome the defects of single alginate hydrogels, researchers prepared alginate composite hydrogels by adding one or more materials to the alginate matrix in a certain proportion to improve their bioapplicability. For this reason, this review will introduce in detail the methods for constructing alginate composite hydrogels, including alginate/polymer composite hydrogels, alginate/bioprotein or polypeptide composite hydrogels, alginate/bioceramic composite hydrogels, alginate/bioceramic composite hydrogels, and alginate/nanoclay composite hydrogels, as well as their biological application trends in BTE scaffold materials, and look forward to their future research direction. These alginate composite hydrogel scaffolds exhibit both unexceptionable mechanical and biochemical properties, which exhibit their high application value in bone tissue repair and regeneration, thus providing a theoretical basis for the development and sustainable application of alginate-based functional biomedical materials.

Vacuolar (H+)-ATPases (V-ATPases) are ATP-driven proton pumps that play multifaceted roles across various organisms. Despite their widespread significance, the functional implications of V-ATPase genes in Hyphantria cunea, an invasive forest pest with a global presence, have yet to be elucidated. In this study, two specific V-ATPase genes from H. cunea were identified and analyzed, namely HcV-ATPase A (accession number: OR217451) and HcV-ATPase C (accession number: OR217452). Phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignment reveal that HcV-ATPase A shares the highest amino acid sequence similarity with SfV-ATPase A, while HcV-ATPase C is most similar to HaV-ATPase C. Spatiotemporal expression profiles, determined via RT-qPCR, demonstrate that both HcV-ATPase A and HcV-ATPase C are expressed throughout all larval developmental stages, with HcV-ATPase A predominantly expressed in the midgut and HcV-ATPase C showing high expression in the epidermis. RNA interference (RNAi) targeting of these genes significantly suppressed their expression by 62.7% and 71.0% 120 h post-injection, leading to halted larval growth and increased mortality rates of 61.7% and 46.7%, respectively. Further investigations using immunohistochemistry, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that gene silencing induced vesiculation and subsequent losses or sloughing of intestinal parietal cells, alongside an increase in the number of autophagic cells. Additionally, the silencing of HcV-ATPase A and C genes resulted in a reduced gut epidermal cell layer thickness and further increases in goblet cell numbers. Importantly, RNAi of HcV-ATPase A and C did not affect the expression levels of one another, suggesting independent functional pathways. This study provides foundational insights into the role of V-ATPase in H. cunea and identifies potential targets for the biocontrol of its larvae, contributing to the understanding of V-ATPase mechanisms and their application in pest management strategies.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of artificial Kandelia obovata forests in wave attenuation through physical model experiments conducted in a wave flume. The experiments meticulously replicated real-world hydrodynamic conditions and mangrove movement responses using the principles of gravitational and motion similarity, with a scaled 1:10 model of Kandelia obovata. Our approach included comparative experiments against a 1:100 gradient concrete slope to isolate the effects of seabed friction and flume wall reflections. The wave height was measured using strategically placed wave gauges. The findings indicated that the artificial Kandelia obovata forests significantly attenuated waves, with a decrease in the total attenuation capacity as the water depth increased from 2.75 m to 3.28 m under both regular and irregular waves. The elastic mangrove model with a canopy effect led to a 15% increase in wave attenuation over cylindrical models. Predictive models using multivariate nonlinear regression and back propagation neural networks showed that the latter provided a superior accuracy in estimating wave transmission coefficients

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a highly destructive invasive pest targeting Solanaceae crops. Its olfactory system plays a crucial role in host location, mate finding, and other behavioral activities. However, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the characterization of its chemosensory genes. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification of 58 odorant receptors (ORs) of T. absoluta. The identified ORs exhibit coding sequence (CDS) lengths ranging from 1062 bp to 1419 bp, encoding proteins of 354 to 473 amino acids. Gene structure analysis showed that the majority of these ORs consist of five, seven, eight, or nine exons, collectively representing 67% of the total ORs identified. Through chromosomal mapping, we identified several tandemly duplicate genes, including TabsOR12a, TabsOR12b, TabsOR12c, TabsOR21a, TabsOR21b, TabsOR34a, TabsOR34b, TabsOR34c, TabsOR62a, and TabsOR62b. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that six TabsORs were clustered within the lepidopteran sex pheromone receptor clade, while an expansion clade containing ten TabsORs resulted from tandem duplication events. Additionally, five TabsORs were classified into a specific OR clade in T. absoluta. Furthermore, through RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR analyses, we identified five TabsORs (TabsOR21a, TabsOR26a, TabsOR34a, TabsOR34c, and TabsOR36) exhibiting female-antennae-biased expression. Our study provides a valuable foundation to further investigations into the molecular and ecological functions of TabsORs, particularly in relation to oviposition behavior. These findings provide foundational data for the future exploration of the functions of female-biased expression OR genes in T. absoluta, thereby facilitating the further development of eco-friendly attract-and-kill techniques for the prevention and control of T. absoluta.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of arginine (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5% arginine supplementation levels were selected) on the ovarian development of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The analyzed arginine supplementation levels in each diet were 2.90%, 3.58%, 4.08%, 4.53%, 5.04%, and 5.55%, respectively. A total of 540 shrimp (an initial weight of approximately 14 g) with good vitality were randomly distributed into six treatments, each of which had three tanks (300 L in volume filled with 200 L of water), with 30 shrimp per duplicate. Shrimp were fed three times a day (6:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m.). The results showed that after the 12-week raring cycle, shrimp fed with 4.08% and 4.53% Arg achieved better ovary development, which was identified by ovarian stage statistics, ovarian morphology observation, serum hormone levels (methylfarneside (MF); 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT); estradiol (E2); and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)), gene expression (DNA meiotic recombinase 1 (dmc1), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (pcna), drosophila steroid hormone 1 (cyp18a), retinoid X receptor (rxra), and ecdysone receptor (ecr)). Further in-depth analysis showed that 4.08% and 4.53% Arg supplementation increased the concentration of vitellogenin in hepatopancreas and serum (p < 0.05) and upregulated the expression level of hepatopancreatic vg and vgr (p < 0.05), which promoted the synthesis of hepatopancreas exogenous vitellogenin and then transported it into the ovary through the vitellogenin receptor and further promoted ovarian maturation in L. vannamei. Meanwhile, compared with the control group, the expression level of vg in the ovary of the 4.53% Arg group was significantly upregulated (p < 0.05), which indicated endogenous vitellogenin synthesis in ovarian maturation in L. vannamei. Moreover, the expression of genes related to the mechanistic target of the rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway and protein levels was regulated by dietary arginine supplementation levels. Arginine metabolism-related products, including nitric oxide synthase (NOS), nitric oxide (NO), and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), were also affected. RNA interference was applied here to study the molecular regulation mechanism of arginine on ovarian development in L. vannamei. A green fluorescent protein (GFP)-derived double-stranded RNA (dsGFP) is currently commonly used as a control, while TOR-derived dsRNA (dsTOR) and NOS-derived dsRNA (dsNOS) were designed to build the TOR and NOS in vivo knockdown model. The results showed that the mTORC1 and NO-sGC-cGMP pathways were inhibited, while the vitellogenin receptor and vitellogenin gene expression levels were downregulated significantly in the hepatopancreas and ovary. Overall, dietary arginine supplementation could enhance endogenous and exogenous vitellogenin synthesis to promote ovary development in L. vannamei, and the appropriate dosages were 4.08% and 4.53%. The NO-sGC-cGMP and mTORC1 signaling pathways mediated arginine in the regulation of ovary development in L. vannamei.

Particle damping technology is applied in vibration and noise reduction because of its good broadband vibration reduction effect. The energy transfer and loss between particles are keys to the role of damping. This paper investigates the relationship between the thermal energy dissipation caused by the collision of particles and the input energy. The temperature rise characteristics under different vibration states are studied. The results show significant differences in the thermal dissipation characteristics of granular assemblies for different vibration states. Under equivalent excitation amplitudes, the frequency increases, and the thermal loss of the particles increases. At the same frequency, the excitation amplitudes increase, and the thermal loss of the particles decreases. Granular assemblies in strong vibrational states, such as a gas-like state, have intense vibrations and apparent temperature-increasing effects. However, in this vibration state, the input energy to the particles is considerable, and the thermal loss accounts for a small proportion of the total energy. In states such as solid-like states, micro-vibrational states, and intermediate vibrational states, the particles interact closely, and the input energy for the particles is small. Additionally, the movement of the particles is not intense, and the thermal loss accounts for a large proportion of the total energy. The thermal loss of the particles also shows a frequency variation characteristic. According to the different temperature rise characteristics of the particles, the proportion of thermal energy consumption is analyzed. The research shows that the proportion of thermal energy consumption is not more than 70%, so there are other forms of energy consumption in the vibration reduction and energy consumption of the particles.

Wind energy, as a key link in renewable energy, has seen its penetration in the power grid increase in recent years. In this context, accurate and reliable short-term wind power prediction is particularly important for the real-time scheduling and operation of power systems. However, many deep learning-based methods rely on the relationship between wind speed and wind power to build a prediction model. These methods tend to consider only the temporal features and ignore the spatial and frequency domain features of the wind power variables, resulting in poor prediction accuracy. In addition to this, existing power forecasts for wind farms are often based on the wind farm level, without considering the impact of individual turbines on the wind power forecast. Therefore, this paper proposes a wind power prediction model based on multi-feature domain learning (MFDnet). Firstly, the model captures the similarity between turbines using the latitude, longitude and wind speed of the turbines, and constructs a turbine group with similar features as input based on the nearest neighbor algorithm. On this basis, the Seq2Seq framework is utilized to achieve weighted fusion with temporal and spatial features in multi-feature domains through high-frequency feature extraction by DWT. Finally, the validity of the model is verified with data from a wind farm in the U.S. The results show that the overall performance of the model outperforms other wind farm power prediction algorithms, and reduces MAE by 25.5% and RMSE by 20.6% compared to the baseline persistence model in predicting the next hour of wind power.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association of maternal first-trimester vitamin D levels and vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy with infant atopic dermatitis (AD) and to determine the effect of variables such as mode of conception on the association. Methods: This study was based on the Shanghai sub-cohort of the International Birth Cohort of China. A total of 4051 woman–infant pairs with singleton pregnancies were recruited. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of 25 and 50 nmol/L, respectively. AD in infants was assessed during the first six months using a standardized questionnaire based on the British Working Party criteria. Modified Poisson regression estimated the association between maternal vitamin D status and infant AD. Results: The risk of AD in infants was higher in women with deficient 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in the first trimester (RR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.41–2.23). This increased risk was seen in naturally conceived pregnancies, but not in those conceived using assisted reproductive technology (ART). The incidence of AD decreased in infants of mothers who took multi-vitamin (RR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.67–1.98) and vitamin D supplements (RR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.37–0.71) compared to those whose mothers did not take any supplements. Maternal vitamin D deficiency had varying effects on AD risk based on passive smoking exposure and breastfeeding patterns. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring and supplementing vitamin D during pregnancy, especially in specific maternal populations, to reduce the risk of AD in offspring.

Oncolytic virotherapy is expected to provide a new treatment strategy for cancer. Aphrocallistes vastus lectin (AVL) is a Ca2+-dependent lectin receptor containing the conserved domain of C-type lectin and the hydrophobic N-terminal region, which can bind to the bird’s nest glycoprotein and D-galactose. Our previous studies suggested that the oncolytic vaccinia virus (oncoVV) armed with the AVL gene exerted remarkable replication and antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we found that oncoVV-AVL may reprogram the metabolism of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to promote ROS, and elevated ROS subsequently promoted viral replication and induced apoptosis. This study will provide a new theoretical basis for the application of oncoVV-AVL in liver cancer.

In 2023, Rana dybowskii exhibiting characteristic skin ulcers were found on a farm in northeastern China. Subsequently, two dominant bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila Rd001 and Acinetobacter johnsonii Rd002, were isolated from naturally infected R. dybowskii. Experimental infection confirmed that Rd001 was the primary pathogen responsible for the disease in R. dybowskii, with a mean lethal dose (LD50) of 6.25 × 102 CFU/g. The virulence genotype of Rd001 was identified as ser+/aha+/lip+/nuc+/hlyA+/aer+/alt+/ast+/act+. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated that Rd001 was sensitive to enrofloxacin, flumequine, and neomycin. MLST analysis showed that Rd001 belonged to a new sequence type of A. hydrophila, named ST2378. This study offered the first comprehensive investigation into the pathogenicity, virulence genotypes, antimicrobial resistance, and genetic traits of A. hydrophila isolated from R. dybowskii, providing a theoretical foundation for preventing and controlling A. hydrophila infections.

The threshing rate is one of the important indexes to evaluate the effect of corn threshing. The weighing method is often used to calculate the depuration rate of maize at present. This method is time-consuming and laborious and can only calculate the overall threshing rate but does not give the threshing rate of individual corn ears. Different parameters of corn ears have complex effects on the threshing rate. By analyzing the threshing rate of each corn ear, we can choose the appropriate ear treatment method, optimize the processing equipment and process flow, and improve the threshing performance. This paper presents a method based on machine vision to detect the threshing rate of corn ears. In this method, machine vision was used to measure the parameters of the corncob and the area of the top of residual kernels. The area of the top of all kernels was restored based on the parameters of the corncob. The threshing rate of corn ears was calculated by the ratio of the area of the top of the missing kernel to the area of the top of all kernels after threshing. A bivariate linear regression area model was established to restore the area of the top of all corn kernels based on corncob parameters. The R2 was more significant than 0.98, and the goodness of fit was good. The machine vision inspection results showed that the maximum relative error of length and midsection radius was 7.46% and 5.55%, and the mean relative error was 2.58% and 2.23%. The maximum relative error of the corn ear threshing rate was 7.08%, and the mean relative error was 2.04%. When the residual kernels were concentrated in the midsection, the inspection result of the corn ear threshing rate was better. The maximum relative error was 3.98%, and the mean relative error was 1.07%. This paper provides a new idea and reference for measuring the threshing rate of corn ears.