Search

Smoke mass flow rate (SMFR) is an important factor for smoke control in tunnel fire. The presence of bifurcation structure can lead to the flow redistribution and distinctive characteristics. In the current study, a relational expression for the SMFR in branched tunnel was theoretically derived. A series of numerical simulations with Fire Dynamics Simulator(FDS) were conducted to investigate the effects of multiple factors on the smoke mass flow and validate the predictions. The results indicated that for a T-shaped tunnel, the amount of smoke flowing into the branch is mainly depends on the thickness and temperature of the incoming smoke flow from mainline, affecting by heat release rate(HRR) and tunnel section size, while the influence of the bifurcation angle and longitudinal position of fire source is unremarkable. Fairly good agreement was achieved between the predictions and simulation results. This research can be instrumental in estimating the SMFR in T-shaped tunnel fire scenarios and offer valuable insights for smoke management strategies.

Multiple DC microgrids are interconnected to form a DC microgrid cluster, which can effectively improve the renewable energy consumption capacity and power supply reliability of the microgrid cluster through sharing of energy storage among the participating DC microgrids. However, the existing methods are not able to flexibly coordinate the power flows between DC microgrids connected by a multiport converter. In this paper, a distributed cooperative control method is proposed for a DC microgrid cluster with multiple voltage levels connected by a multi-port interconnected converter. A multi-active-bridge (MAB) converter acts as a bridge for power exchange among microgrids, enabling the sharing of distributed energy storage among microgrids under a sparse communication network. The improved secondary control overcomes the drawbacks of droop control and achieves deviation-free voltage regulation and accurate load/source sharing of the energy storage converters within the cluster. The proposed secondary control can be used to retrofit the existing DC distribution grids to permit access of renewable energy. In addition, the improved voltage observer provides the voltage information of other nodes in a microgrid in addition to the energy storage information, reducing the voltage estimation error caused by the uneven distribution of energy storages. Finally, hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) experiments of the cluster with three DC microgrids verify the control performance, the flexible plug-and-play capability, and the high tolerance of communication failure.

Abstract Objective Ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) is an important subunit of ferro-storing proteins and is indispensable for iron metabolism. Though it has been extensively studied in numerous organs and diseases, the relationship between FTH1 and osteoarthritis (OA) is unclear. Design Primary murine chondrocytes and cartilage explants were treated with FTH1 siRNA for 72 h. Mice were injected with adenovirus expressing FTH1 after destabilized medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. These approaches were used to determine the effect of FTH1 expression on the pathophysiology of OA. Results FTH1 expression was down regulated in OA patients and mice after DMM surgery. Knock down of FTH1 induced articular cartilage damage and extracellular matrix degradation in cartilage explants. Further, over expression of FTH1 reduced the susceptibility of chondrocytes to ferroptosis and reversed decrements in SOX9 and aggrecan after DMM surgery. Moreover, FTH1 relieved OA by inhibition of the chondrocyte MAPK pathway. Conclusion This study found FTH1 to play an essential role in extracellular matrix degradation, ferroptosis, and chondrocytes senescence during OA progression. Further, injection of adenovirus expressing FTH1 may be a potential strategy for OA prevention and therapy.

The advancement of urban rail transit is increasingly confronted with environmental challenges related to vibration and noise. To investigate the critical issues surrounding vibration propagation and the generation of structure-borne noise, a two-story frame building was selected for on-site measurements of both vibration and its induced structure-borne noise. The collected data were analyzed in both the time and frequency domains to explore the correlation between these phenomena, leading to the proposal of a hybrid prediction method for structural noise that was subsequently compared with measured results. The findings indicate that the excitation of structure-borne noise produces significant waveforms within sound signals. The characteristic frequency of the structure-borne noise is 25–80 Hz, as well as that of the train-induced vibration. Furthermore, there exists a positive correlation between structural vibration and structure-borne noise, whereby increased levels of vibration correspond to more pronounced structure-borne noise; additionally, indoor distribution patterns of structure-borne noise are non-uniform, with corner wall areas exhibiting greater intensity than central room locations. Finally, a hybrid prediction methodology that is both semi-analytical and semi-empirical is introduced. The approach derives dynamic response predictions of the structure through analytical solutions, subsequently estimating the secondary noise within the building’s interior using a newly formulated empirical equation to facilitate rapid predictions regarding indoor building vibrations and structure-borne noises induced by subway train operations.

The impact of urban traffic on human health is significant. This research conducts field measurements in Guangzhou, China, focusing on a building situated near subgrade roads and viaducts to investigate the characteristics of airborne and structure-borne noise generated by these infrastructures. The analysis involves the use of both sound pressure level and overall sound pressure level, as well as an examination of the transfer function between outdoor and indoor noise levels. The findings indicate that traffic-related airborne noise demonstrates a characteristic frequency at 1000 Hz in this scenario, while viaduct- and building-generated structure-borne noise is predominantly distributed at lower frequencies. Additionally, it is worth noting that structural vibrations generate significantly less energy compared to airborne traffic noise sources. The variation in outdoor road noise across different floors over the entire frequency range demonstrates an initial increase followed by a decrease with rising floor height due to air damping effects as well as sound barriers’ attenuation properties. These results enhance engineers’ understanding of urban traffic-induced airborne or structure-borne noise while establishing foundational data for designing layouts integrating urban buildings with roads.

ABSTRACTAcinetobacter baumannii is a major opportunistic pathogen causing hospital-acquired infections, and it is imperative to comprehend its evolutionary and epidemiological dynamics in hospitals to prevent and control nosocomial transmission. Here, we present a comprehensive genomic epidemiological study involving the genomic sequencing and antibiotic resistance profiling of 634 A. baumannii strains isolated from seven intensive care units (ICUs) of a Chinese general hospital over 2 consecutive years. Our study reveals that ST2 is highly dominant (90.54%) in the ICUs, with 98.90% of the ST2 exhibiting multidrug resistant or extensively drug resistant. Phylogenetic analyses of newly sequenced genomes and public data suggest that nosocomial isolates originated outside the hospital but evolved inside. The major lineages appear to be stable, with 9 of the 28 identified nosocomial epidemic clones infecting over 60% of the affected patients. However, outbreaks of two highly evolved clones have been observed in different hospitals, suggesting significant inter-hospital transmission chains. By coupling patient medical records and genomic divergence of the ST2, we found that cross-ward patient transfer played a crucial role in pathogen’s nosocomial transmission. Additionally, we identified 831 potential adaptive evolutionary loci and 44 associated genes by grouping and comparing the genomes of clones with different prevalence. Overall, our study provides a comprehensive and contemporary survey on the epidemiology and genomic evolution of A. baumannii in a large Chinese general hospital. These findings shed light on the nosocomial evolution and transmission of A. baumannii and offers valuable information for transmission prevention and antibiotic therapy.IMPORTANCEThis study delved into the genomic evolution and transmission of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii on a large scale, spanning both an extended time period and the largest sample size to date. Through molecular epidemiological investigations based on genomics, we can directly trace the origin of the pathogen, detecting and monitoring outbreaks of infectious diseases in a timely manner, and ensuring public health safety. In addition, this study also collects a large amount of genomic and antibiotic resistance detection data, which is helpful for phenotype prediction based on genomic sequencing. It enables patients to receive personalized antibiotic treatment quickly, helps doctors select antibiotics more accurately, and contributes to reducing the use of antibiotics and lowering the risk of antibiotic resistance development.

Understanding the characteristics of smoke layer thickness is vital for accurate fire detection, efficient smoke exhaust and safe evacuation in tunnel fire. Nevertheless, smoke flow in tunnels with arched ceiling may show different characteristics from the tunnels with flat roof which is usually studied. Theoretical analysis was conducted on the smoke flow characteristics and thickness under the curved roof of natural ventilation tunnel, and further, numerical simulations were performed to elucidate and verify the mechanism. The results show that smoke mass flow rate is positively correlated with heat release rate(HRR) and section radius. However, the smoke layer thickness is not significantly affected by HRR, and is positively related to the section radius. Based on the mass conservation, a practical prediction model for smoke layer thickness under arched ceiling was derived, and an empirical equation for estimating the total smoke mass flow rate was also proposed. The results presented fairly good agreement with simulations and experimental data from previous works.

Abstract We present multiPrime, a novel tool that automatically designs minimal primer sets for targeted next‐generation sequencing, tailored to specific microbiomes or genes. MultiPrime enhances primer coverage by designing primers with mismatch tolerance and ensures both high compatibility and specificity. We evaluated the performance of multiPrime using a data set of 43,016 sequences from eight viruses. Our results demonstrated that multiPrime outperformed conventional tools, and the primer set designed by multiPrime successfully amplified the target amplicons. Furthermore, we expanded the application of multiPrime to 30 types of viruses and validated the work efficacy of multiPrime‐designed primers in 80 clinical specimens. The subsequent sequencing outcomes from these primers indicated a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 89%.

Bivalves are species-rich mollusks with prominent protective roles in coastal ecosystems. Across these ancient lineages, colony-founding larvae anchor themselves either by byssus production or by cemented attachment. The latter mode of sessile life is strongly molded by left-right shell asymmetry during larval development of Ostreoida oysters such as Crassostrea hongkongensis. Here, we sequenced the genome of C. hongkongensis in high resolution and compared it to reference bivalve genomes to unveil genomic determinants driving cemented attachment and shell asymmetry. Importantly, loss of the homeobox gene Antennapedia (Antp) and broad expansion of lineage-specific extracellular gene families are implicated in a shift from byssal to cemented attachment in bivalves. Comparative transcriptomic analysis shows a conspicuous divergence between left-right asymmetrical C. hongkongensis and symmetrical Pinctada fucata in their expression profiles. Especially, a couple of orthologous transcription factor genes and lineage-specific shell-related gene families including that encoding tyrosinases are elevated, and may cooperatively govern asymmetrical shell formation in Ostreoida oysters.

BackgroundCryptosporidium infections in humans typically result in symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. When the diarrhea is severe, it can cause serious complications and even be life-threatening, especially in patients with compromised immune systems.Case presentationHere, we reported the use of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of a 10-year-old boy with severe Cryptosporidium infection. Despite the absence of any history of immunocompromise, the infection still resulted in severe symptoms, including shock, as well as damage to his pancreas and kidneys. The mNGS tests detected the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum when conventional methods failed. The patient received anti-parasite treatment along with supportive care to manage the condition. With disease surveillance based on regular clinical tests and sequential mNGS tests, the child recovered from the severe conditions.ConclusionOur study emphasized the importance of recognizing the potential severity of Cryptosporidium infection, even among individuals with normal immune systems. Timely diagnosis and ongoing monitoring are essential for patient prognosis.

IntroductionPolymyxin-resistant Enterobacterales poses a significant threat to public health globally, but its prevalence and genomic diversity within a sole hospital is less well known. In this study, the prevalence of polymyxin-resistant Enterobacterales in a Chinese teaching hospital was investigated with deciphering of their genetic determinants of drug resistance.MethodsPolymyxin-resistant Enterobacterales isolates identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption were collected in Ruijin Hospital from May to December in 2021. Both the VITEK 2 Compact and broth dilution methods were used to determine polymyxin B (PMB) susceptibility. Polymyxin-resistant isolates were further characterized by molecular typing using PCR, multi-locus sequence typing, and sequencing of the whole genome.ResultsOf the 1,216 isolates collected, 32 (2.6%) across 12 wards were polymyxin-resistant (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range, PMB 4–256 mg/ml, and colistin 4 ≥ 16 mg/ ml). A total of 28 (87.5%) of the polymyxin-resistant isolates had reduced susceptibility to imipenem and meropenem (MIC ≥ 16 mg/ml). Of the 32 patients, 15 patients received PMB treatment and 20 survived before discharge. The phylogenetic tree of these isolates showed they belonged to different clones and had multiple origins. The polymyxin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates belonged to ST-11 (85.72%), ST-15 (10.71%), and ST-65 (3.57%), and the polymyxin-resistant Escherichia coli belonged to four different sequence types, namely, ST-69 (25.00%), ST-38 (25.00%), ST-648 (25.00%), and ST-1193 (25.00%). In addition, six mgrB specific mutations (snp_ALT c.323T>C and amino acid change p.Val8Ala) were identified in 15.6% (5/32) of the isolates. mcr-1, a plasmid-mediated polymyxin-resistant gene, was found in three isolates, and non-synonymous mutations including T157P, A246T, G53V, and I44L were also observed.DiscussionIn our study, a low prevalence of polymyxin-resistant Enterobacterales was observed, but these isolates were also identified as multidrug resistant. Therefore, efficient infection control measures should be implemented to prevent the further spread of resistance to last-line polymyxin therapy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) using pleural effusion and ascites from children with sepsis.MethodsIn this study, children with sepsis or severe sepsis and appeared pleural or peritoneal effusions were enrolled, of whom the pleural effusions or ascites and blood samples were conducted pathogen detection using both conventional and mNGS methods. The samples were divided into pathogen-consistent and pathogen-inconsistent groups based on the consistency of mNGS results from different sample types, and into exudate and transudate groups based on their pleural effusion and ascites properties. The pathogen positive rates, pathogen spectrum, consistency between different sample types, and clinical diagnosis consistency were compared between mNGS and conventional pathogen tests.ResultsA total of 42 pleural effusions or ascites and 50 other type samples were collected from 32 children. The pathogen positive rate of the mNGS test was significantly higher than that of traditional methods (78.57% vs. 14.29%, P < 0.001) in pleural effusion and ascites samples, with a consistent rate of 66.67% between the two methods. Nearly 78.79% (26/33) of mNGS positive results of the pleural effusions and ascites samples were consistent with clinical evaluation, and 81.82% (27/33) of these positive samples reported 1-3 pathogens. The pathogen-consistent group outperformed the pathogen-inconsistent group in terms of consistency with respect to clinical evaluation (88.46% vs. 57.14%, P = 0.093), while there was no significant difference between the exudate and transudate groups (66.67% vs. 50.00%, P = 0.483).ConclusionCompared to conventional methods, mNGS has great advantages in pathogen detection of pleural effusion and ascites samples. Moreover, consistent results of mNGS tests with different sample types provide more reference values in clinical diagnosis.

Since the first strain related to Thermicanaceae was reported in 1999, almost no literature on Thermicanaceae is available, particularly its genomics. We recently isolated a novel pathogenic bacterium, the △ strain DYY3, from the blood sample of a critically ill patient. The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of △ strain DYY3 were presented in this study, and the virulence factor genes and antibiotic resistance of DYY3 were also determined. Interestingly, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and core-genes average amino acid identity (cAAI) analysis indicated that △ strain DYY3 was genus novel and species novel. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis based on both 16S rRNA gene and whole genomic core gene sequences suggested that △ strain DYY3 belonged to the family Thermicanaceae, and this novel taxon was thus named Haemobacillus shengwangii gen. nov., sp. nov. Besides, both the whole genome-based phylogenetic tree and amino acid identity analysis indicated that Thermicanus aegyptius, Hydrogenibacillus schlegelii, Brockia lithotrophica, and the newly discovered species H. shengwangii should belong to Thermicanaceae at the family level, and T. aegyptius was the closest species to H. shengwangii. We also constructed the first high-quality genome in the family Thermicanaceae using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) and single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technologies, which certainly contributed to further genomics studies and metagenomic-based pathogenic detection in the future.

Summary: Accurate reference genomes have become indispensable tools for characterization of genetic and functional variations. Here we generated a high-quality assembly of the melon Payzawat using a combination of short-read sequencing, single-molecule real-time sequencing, Hi-C, and a high-density genetic map. The final 12 chromosome-level scaffolds cover ∼94.13% of the estimated genome (398.57 Mb). Compared with the published DHL92 genome, our assembly exhibits a 157-fold increase in contig length and remarkable improvements in the assembly of centromeres and telomeres. Six genes within STHQF12.4 on pseudochromosome 12, identified from whole-genome comparison between Payzawat and DHL92, may explain a considerable proportion of the skin thickness. In addition, our population study showed that melon domesticated at multiple times from whole-genome perspective and melons in China are introduced from different routes. Selective sweeps underlying the genes related to desirable traits, haplotypes of alleles associated with agronomic traits, and the variants from resequencing data enable efficient breeding. : Biological Sciences; Genetics; Plant Genetics; Plant Evolution Subject Areas: Biological Sciences, Genetics, Plant Genetics, Plant Evolution

A hybrid energy-storage system (HESS), which fully utilizes the durability of energy-oriented storage devices and the rapidity of power-oriented storage devices, is an efficient solution to managing energy and power legitimately and symmetrically. Hence, research into these systems is drawing more attention with substantial findings. A battery–supercapacitor hybrid energy-storage system (BS-HESS) is widely adopted in the fields of renewable energy integration, smart- and micro-grids, energy integration systems, etc. Focusing on the BS-HESS, in this work we present a comprehensive survey including technologies of the battery management system (BMS), power conversion system (PCS), energy management system (EMS), predictive control techniques of the underlying system, application and cost-effective feasibility aspects, etc. This work reflects strong symmetry on different aspects of designing an HESS, and provides guidelines and design references for the research and application of an HESS.

Summary: The Himalayan marmot (Marmota himalayana) is a hibernating mammal that inhabits the high-elevation regions of the Himalayan mountains. Here we present a draft genome of the Himalayan marmot, with a total assembly length of 2.47 Gb. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the Himalayan marmot diverged from the Mongolian marmot approximately 1.98 million years ago. Transcriptional changes during hibernation included genes responsible for fatty acid metabolism in liver and genes involved in complement and coagulation cascades and stem cell pluripotency pathways in brain. Two selective sweep genes, Slc25a14 and ψAamp, showed apparent genotyping differences between low- and high-altitude populations. As a processed pseudogene, ψAamp may be biologically active to influence the stability of Aamp through competitive microRNA binding. These findings shed light on the molecular and genetic basis underlying adaptation to extreme environments in the Himalayan marmot. : Physiology; Genetics; Evolutionary Biology; Bioinformatics; Omics Subject Areas: Physiology, Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Bioinformatics, Omics

Summary: Flax has been cultivated for its oil and fiber for thousands of years. However, it remains unclear how the modifications of agronomic traits occurred on the genetic level during flax cultivation. In this study, we conducted genome-wide variation analyses on multiple accessions of oil-use, fiber-use, landraces, and pale flax to identify the genomic variations during flax cultivation. Our findings indicate that, during flax domestication, genes relevant to flowering, dehiscence, oil production, and plant architecture were preferentially selected. Furthermore, regardless of origins, the improvement of the modern oil-use flax preceded that of the fiber-use flax, although the dual selection on oil-use and fiber-use characteristics might have occurred in the early flax domestication. We also found that the expansion of MYB46/MYB83 genes may have contributed to the unique secondary cell wall biosynthesis in flax and the directional selections on MYB46/MYB83 may have shaped the morphological profile of the current oil-use and fiber-use flax. : Biological Sciences; Evolutionary Biology; Genomics; Plant Evolution; Plant Genetics Subject Areas: Biological Sciences, Evolutionary Biology, Genomics, Plant Evolution, Plant Genetics

Abstract Like many important crops, peanut is a polyploid that underwent polyploidization, evolution, and domestication. The wild allotetraploid peanut species Arachis monticola (A. monticola) is an important and unique link from the wild diploid species to cultivated tetraploid species in the Arachis lineage. However, little is known about A. monticola and its role in the evolution and domestication of this important crop. A fully annotated sequence of ≈2.6 Gb A. monticola genome and comparative genomics of the Arachis species is reported. Genomic reconstruction of 17 wild diploids from AA, BB, EE, KK, and CC groups and 30 tetraploids demonstrates a monophyletic origin of A and B subgenomes in allotetraploid peanuts. The wild and cultivated tetraploids undergo asymmetric subgenome evolution, including homoeologous exchanges, homoeolog expression bias, and structural variation (SV), leading to subgenome functional divergence during peanut domestication. Significantly, SV‐associated homoeologs tend to show expression bias and correlation with pod size increase from diploids to wild and cultivated tetraploids. Moreover, genomic analysis of disease resistance genes shows the unique alleles present in the wild peanut can be introduced into breeding programs to improve some resistance traits in the cultivated peanuts. These genomic resources are valuable for studying polyploid genome evolution, domestication, and improvement of peanut production and resistance.

Genomes: a new map of field mustard A detailed third-generation genome sequence has been published for Brassica rapa, which includes crops such as napa cabbage, turnips, and bok choy. Older technologies required researchers to stitch together many short sequences. Recently developed methods produce long, high-fidelity sequences. Xiaowu Wang at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science and the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protected Vegetable Molecular Breeding, Hongkun Zheng at Biomarker Technologies Corporation, and coworkers in China assembled the new version using 1498 sequences, compared to the 96,883 needed for the previous version. These methods provide a significant improvement in the level of detail, and permit mapping of highly repetitive regions, which were nearly impossible to map using older methods. The new sequence will aid breeding efforts, permit better comparisons with other Brassica genomes, and improve our understanding of genome evolution.

For years, bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has served as the unique vaccine against tuberculosis and has generally been regarded as safe. However, a clinical strain labeled 3281 that was isolated from a TB patient was identified to be BCG. Via the combination of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and comparative genomic analysis, unique 3281 genetic characteristics were revealed. A region containing the dnaA and dnaN genes that is closely related to the initial chromosome replication was found to repeat three times on the BCG Pasteur-specific tandem duplication region DU1. Due to the minimum number of epitopes in BCG strains, 3281 was inferred to have a high possibility for immune evasion. Additionally, variations in the virulence genes and predictions for potential virulence factors were analyzed. Overall, we report a pathogen that has never previously been thought to be pathogenic and initial insights that are focused on the genetic characteristics of virulent BCG.

In contrast to prevalent strategies which make use of β-sheet mimetics to block Aβ fibrillar growth, in this study, we designed a series of sulfonyl-γ-AApeptide helices that targeted the crucial α-helix domain of Aβ13-26 and stabilized Aβ conformation to avoid forming the neurotoxic Aβ oligomeric β-sheets. Biophysical assays such as amyloid kinetics and TEM demonstrated that the Aβ oligomerization and fibrillation could be greatly prevented and even reversed in the presence of sulfonyl-γ-AApeptides in a sequence-specific and dose-dependent manner. The studies based on circular dichroism, Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2D-NMR) spectra unambiguously suggested that the sulfonyl-γ-AApeptide Ab-6 could bind to the central region of Aβ42 and induce α-helix conformation in Aβ. Additionally, Electrospray ionisation-ion mobility spectrometry–mass spectrometry (ESI-IMS-MS) was employed to rule out a colloidal mechanism of inhibitor and clearly supported the capability of Ab-6 for inhibiting the formation of Aβ aggregated forms. Furthermore, Ab-6 could rescue neuroblastoma cells by eradicating Aβ-mediated cytotoxicity even in the presence of pre-formed Aβ aggregates. The confocal microscopy demonstrated that Ab-6 could still specifically bind Aβ42 and colocalize into mitochondria in the cellular environment, suggesting the rescue of cell viability might be due to the protection of mitochondrial function otherwise impaired by Aβ42 aggregation. Taken together, our studies indicated that sulfonyl-γ-AApeptides as helical peptidomimetics could direct Aβ into the off-pathway helical secondary structure, thereby preventing the formation of Aβ oligomerization, fibrillation and rescuing Aβ induced cell cytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryptosporidium infections in humans typically result in symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. When the diarrhea is severe, it can cause serious complications and even be life-threatening, especially in patients with compromised immune systems. Case presentation: Here, we reported the use of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of a 10-year-old boy with severe Cryptosporidium infection. Despite the absence of any history of immunocompromise, the infection still resulted in severe symptoms, including shock, as well as damage to his pancreas and kidneys. The mNGS tests detected the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum when conventional methods failed. The patient received anti-parasite treatment along with supportive care to manage the condition. With disease surveillance based on regular clinical tests and sequential mNGS tests, the child recovered from the severe conditions. Conclusion: Our study emphasized the importance of recognizing the potential severity of Cryptosporidium infection, even among individuals with normal immune systems. Timely diagnosis and ongoing monitoring are essential for patient prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: The production performance of laying hens is influenced by various environmental factors within the henhouse. The intricate interactions among these factors make the impact process highly complicated. The exact relationships between production performance and environmental variables are still not well understood. In this study, we measured the production performance of laying hens and various environmental variables across different parts of the henhouse, evaluated the weight of each environmental variable, and constructed a laying rate prediction model. Results displayed that body weight, laying rate, egg weight and eggshell thickness of hens decrease gradually from WCA to FA (P < 0.05). Serum levels of FSH and LH, as well as antibody level of H5 Re-13, gradually decrease from WCA to FA (P < 0.05). Moreover, the values for temperature (T), temperature-humidity index (THI), air velocity (AV), carbon dioxide (CO2), and particulate matter (PM2.5) gradually increase from WCA to FA (P < 0.05). Conversely, the relative humidity (RH) value gradually decreases from FA to WCA (P < 0.05). Additionally, the weights of the environmental variables, determined using a combination of the grey relational analysis (GRA) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP), were as follows in descending order: RH, THI, T, light intensity (LI), AV, PM2.5, NH3, and CO2. When the number of decision trees in the laying rate prediction model was set to 2,500, the results displayed a high level of agreement between the model's predictions and the observed outcomes. The model's performance evaluation yielded an R2 value of 0.89995 for the test set, suggesting strong predictive effects. In conclusion, the current study revealed significant differences in both the production performance of laying hens and the environmental variables across different parts of the henhouse. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that different environmental factors have distinct impacts on laying rate, with humidity and temperature identified as the primary factors. Finally, a multi-variable prediction model was constructed, exhibiting high accuracy in predicting laying rate.