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Identifying a small set of effective biomarkers from multi-omics data is important for the discrimination of different cell types and helpful for the early detection diagnosis of complex diseases. However, it is challenging to identify optimal biomarkers from the high throughput molecular data. Here, we present a method called protein–protein interaction affinity and co-expression network (PPIA-coExp), a linear programming model designed to discover context-specific biomarkers based on co-expressed networks and protein–protein interaction affinity (PPIA), which was used to estimate the concentrations of protein complexes based on the law of mass action. The performance of PPIA-coExp excelled over the traditional node-based approaches in both the small and large samples. We applied PPIA-coExp to human aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and discovered some important biomarkers. In addition, we performed the integrative analysis of transcriptome and epigenomic data, revealing the correlation between the changes in gene expression and different histone modification distributions in human aging and AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant DNA methylation plays a crucial role in breast cancer progression by regulating gene expression. However, the regulatory pattern of DNA methylation in long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) for breast cancer remains unclear. In this study, we integrated gene expression, DNA methylation, and clinical data from breast cancer patients included in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We examined DNA methylation distribution across various lncRNA categories, revealing distinct methylation characteristics. Through genome-wide correlation analysis, we identified the CpG sites located in lncRNAs and the distally associated CpG sites of lncRNAs. Functional genome enrichment analysis, conducted through the integration of ENCODE ChIP-seq data, revealed that differentially methylated CpG sites (DMCs) in lncRNAs were mostly located in promoter regions, while distally associated DMCs primarily acted on enhancer regions. By integrating Hi-C data, we found that DMCs in enhancer and promoter regions were closely associated with the changes in three-dimensional chromatin structures by affecting the formation of enhancer–promoter loops. Furthermore, through Cox regression analysis and three machine learning models, we identified 11 key methylation-driven lncRNAs (DIO3OS, ELOVL2-AS1, MIAT, LINC00536, C9orf163, AC105398.1, LINC02178, MILIP, HID1-AS1, KCNH1-IT1, and TMEM220-AS1) that were associated with the survival of breast cancer patients and constructed a prognostic risk scoring model, which demonstrated strong prognostic performance. These findings enhance our understanding of DNA methylation's role in lncRNA regulation in breast cancer and provide potential biomarkers for diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the anti-plane dynamics of rare earth giant magnetostrictive material with a cylindrical magnetically conducting inclusion in right-angle domain under the incidence of SH waves are studied. The governing equation and constitutive equation of magneto-elastic coupling are established. The outward scattered wave and internal standing wave caused by the inclusion are given by combining the complex function method, the wave function expansion method and mirror method. At the same time, the magnetic potential caused by wave is given by solving the Laplace equation. On the basis of boundary conditions, the Fourier series expansion method and effective truncated series are introduced to establish and solve infinite linear algebraic integral equations. Finally, based on numerical calculation, the analysis of dynamic stress concentration factor and magnetic field intensity concentration factor under different parameter combinations is given. The purpose of this paper is to provide an effective analytical method for the research of fracture dynamics of giant magnetostrictive materials under multi-magnetic field coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes an exact analytical approach for investigating the steady-state and transient wave dynamic propagation characteristics in frequency and time domain of rectangular sealed plate with a circular surface crack under anti-plane point source wave dynamic load. By introducing revised factor, a modified multi-directional iterative mirroring method is proposed to address the partial differential governing equations of wave propagation with boundary value conditions. Based on wave function expansion method, the scattering wave function is derived after decoupling the governing equation. Fourier integral expansion method is used to solve the infinite linear algebraic boundary equation composed of boundary value conditions. The accuracy of analytical method is verified by numerical calculation and finite element simulation. The results show that the sealed coupled waves have significant effects on dynamic stress concentration and abrupt displacement change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thin plate boundaries will cause multiple coupled scattered waves and reflected waves. • Defect causes dynamic stress concentration and displacement mutation of structure. • Multi-boundary coupling will cancel and amplify the dynamic load excitation signals. • Wave function form frequency-domain signal can be transformed into time-domain signal. The semi-infinite thin plate structure, widely used in aerospace industry devices and spliced functional composites, fails to meet the dynamic response performance and stability requirements due to the dynamic stress concentration or displacement mutation caused by the structure boundary and internal defect under specific external dynamic loads. This study has established an analytical method for the dynamic response characteristics in steady-state frequency-domain and transient time-domain of a semi-infinite thin plate with a cylindrical hole under the excitation of external anti-plane dynamic loads. Based on the wave function expansion method, cumulative mirroring method, and complex variable function method, the distribution of dynamic stress concentration and displacement amplitude under steady-state anti-plane excitation has been given. Based on the Fourier transform and inverse Fourier transform, the analysis of dynamic response behavior under transient anti-plane excitation has been given. Numerical results indicate that the coupled scattered waves generated by multiple boundaries will cancel and amplify the dynamic stress and displacement amplitude within the plate under different parameter combinations, leading to the dynamic stress concentration and displacement mutation of the structure. Therefore, reasonable structural design optimization will benefit the dynamic response performance and stability requirements of the structure. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic stress concentration problem of circular hole defects near the boundary of the right-angle region of rare earth giant magnetostrictive medium under the SH-wave is studied. Firstly, the half space incident field is constructed by using the mirror image method. At the same time, the scattered displacement field and the scattered magnetic field satisfying two right-angled boundary stress free and magnetic insulation conditions are obtained by a complex function method. Then, based on the boundary conditions of the circular hole, the infinite linear algebraic equations are established to obtain the unknown coefficients of wave function and magnetic field function. Finally, the dynamic stress concentration factor and the magnetic field intensity concentration factor caused by the SH-wave scattering are obtained. Numerical examples show that the incident angle, the incident wave frequency, the distance between the circular hole and the two right-angled sides, the dimension-pressure magnetic coefficient, the magnetic permeability, and other factors have an effect on the dynamic stress concentration factor and the magnetic field strength concentration coefficient around the circular hole. Some valuable conclusions are given which are certain to be useful for the study of material properties of rare earth giant magnetostrictive materials with circular hole defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During infection host histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) act as attachment factors that interact with rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and participate in the infectious process. In the present study, baculovirus expressing recombinant RHDV capsid protein (VP60r) as a vaccine immunogen was used to test its antigenicity and immunogenicity via immunization experiments. Each group of rabbits immunized with VP60r was found to be fully protected against RHDV challenge. The duration of immunity of the vaccine following the inoculation of a single dose was determined to be at least 240 days. RHDV-specific humoral responses in antisera from inoculated rabbits were analyzed using VP60r virus-like particle (VLP)-based ELISA. Anti-VP60-specific antibody was produced by 7 days post-primary immunization. Following this stage, the levels of this antibody increased steadily, peaking at 90 days and maintaining a high level until 240 days. We developed a synthetic carbohydrate assay to detect blockage in attachment of RHDV VLPs to HBGAs by the rabbit antisera. On day 7 post-immunization, serum samples were demonstrated to block the binding of H type 2 to RHDV VLPs, with a blocking rate of almost 60%, a value that then increased steadily over time. From day 60 to day 240 post-immunization, serum samples completely blocked the binding of H type 2 to RHDV VLPs, with a blocking rate of almost 100%. This indicated that VP60-induced antibodies neutralize the interaction of RHDV with HBGAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the genetic variability and evolution of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) strains in China, VP60 gene sequences of eight new isolates collected from farms with RHD occurrences in China between 2009 and 2014 were analyzed, and compared with the reference sequence of the vaccine strain WF/China/2007. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Chinese RHDV strains, including hemagglutination tests, western blot and immunosassays of capsid proteins, and phylogenetic analysis, and identified a new distinct antigenic variant. Specifically, strain HB/2014 collected in North China was identified as a non-hemagglutinating strain, and belongs to the original RHDV (G1–G5) group. The other seven isolates were classified in genogroup G6 (RHDVa), which was widely distributed across China before 2014, and was thought to replace the earlier groups. Antigenic characterization of the VP60 genes revealed a large degree of nucleotide sequence divergence between HB/2014 and the other Chinese strains. However, the current vaccine showed complete cross-protection against HB/2014 challenge in inoculated rabbits. Collectively, these data provide new tools and insight for further understanding the molecular evolution of RHDV in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green space and blue space have been separately proved to be effective in mitigating urban PM 2.5 pollution. Nevertheless, there is a lack of understanding on how PM 2.5 concentration responds when these two ecological elements coexist at the intra-urban scale. By using land-use patches as the units of analysis, this study developed a research framework to investigate the interactive and heterogeneous effects of green and blue space (GBS) on PM 2.5 concentration across the metropolitan area of Wuhan. First, based on full-covered remotely sensed PM 2.5 concentration data, we explored the relationships between the landscape patterns of neighboring blue space (NB), neighboring green space (NG) and internal green space (IG) of land-use patches and PM 2.5 concentration. Then, after using principal component analysis (PCA) to create integrated metrics, the interactive effects and spatial heterogeneous effects of NB, NG and IG were detected by geographical detection method (GDM) and geographically weighted regression (GWR), respectively. The results revealed that the aggregation, shape and area of neighboring green space were the most negatively related with PM 2.5 pollution among all GBS landscape attributes. Synthetically, the effects of both NG and IG on PM 2.5 concentration were stronger than that of NB. Compared with independent GBS, the interactions of GBS brought enhancing and scale-dependent effects on PM 2.5 concentration and affected PM 2.5 concentration most significantly in spring. Spatially, the effects of GBS on PM 2.5 pollution were found differences across space, with mitigating effect in one space while positive effect on PM 2.5 concentration in another. Overall, this study generated unique perspectives to understand the effects of GBS on PM 2.5 concentration at the intra-urban scale, and the findings can contribute to the scientific urban GBS planning for PM 2.5 pollution mitigation. • A framework for exploring the interactive and heterogeneous effect of GBS on PM 2.5. • Landscape patterns of green space were closely related with PM 2.5 reduction. • Green space imposed stronger effects on PM 2.5 than blue space. • The interactions of GBS brought enhancing and scale-dependent effects on PM 2.5. • Local effects of GBS on PM 2.5 were found differences across space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clock synchronization is critical for a variety of applications in communication networks. In this paper, we design a clock servo named VI_PID-K, which consists of a variable integral PID controller and a Kalman filter. It is a pre-correction mechanism for the skew based on feedback principle to compensate for the poor stability of local clocks in IEEE 1588 networks. Our contribution is establishing discrete differential equation models, bringing in a variable integral PID controller to adjust the skew error and a Kalman filter to act as a skew estimator to predict the skew during one synchronization interval. Simulation results demonstrate that VI_PID-K provides a more stable disciplined clock, improves the speed of skew convergence, and reduces Allan variance in a large time scale when compared to PI method or Fixed_Integral method.VI_PID-K can improve the stability of slave clock and reduce the frequency that master clock sends Sync messages, so the network overhead for clock synchronization can be reduced. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) phenotype switching, which is characterized by changes in smooth muscle (SM)-specific gene expression, contributes to vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension. In addition, it has been shown that the transcription of SM-specific genes is modulated by cytoskeleton rearrangement. However, the intracellular mechanisms and signaling pathways that regulate these relationships are largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the roles that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (PKB), also known as AKT, play in modulating the cytoskeleton and phenotype of rat PASMCs. To observe the downstream effects of inhibiting or enhancing PI3K/AKT pathway activity, we used various approaches to manipulate protein function and gene expression. Treatment of PASMCs with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB or PIK3CA-adenovirus induced cytoskeleton rearrangements and downregulated SM22α and α -SM actin gene expression. Inhibition of PI3K led to blocking of AKT phosphorylation and attenuated the PDGF-BB-induced downregulation of F-actin and SM-specific genes, the downstream effector of PI3K. The decrease in SM22α and α -SM actin mRNA levels induced by PDGF-BB was markedly and reproducibly blocked by LY294002. PI3K/AKT pathway plays a vital role in the modulation of PASMCs cytoskeleton rearrangement and phenotype switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SC2020 strain is characterized by higher mortality rates and acute RHD symptoms. • Fecal route contributes more to viral dissemination. • Kits infected with SC2020 strain present more severe histological lesions than adults. • SC2020 strain is mainly distributed in the liver of rabbits. • Serum cytokine levels are significantly increased in SC2020-infected rabbits. In April 2020, rabbit hemorrhagic virus type 2 (Lagovirus europaeus GI.2), which causes highly infectious fatal rabbit hemorrhagic disease, was emerged in China. The phylogenetic analyses of the complete genome sequence of GI.2 showed that it belonged to the non-recombinant GI.3/GI.2 genotype. However, the pathogenicity of this GI.2 strain differed from that of early typical GI.2 strains in Europe. To prevent the spread of the new strain in China, its pathogenicity urgently needs to be studied. Thus, viral shedding and distribution as well as clinical symptoms, histopathological changes, and serum cytokines were studied in experimentally GI.2/SC2020-infected rabbit adults and kits. The kit group showed a shorter survival time after the challenge than the adult group did. The mortality rate was higher in the kits (80 %) than in the adults (30 %). Viral RNA could be detected in both nasal and fecal swabs, and the main dissemination route appeared to be the fecal route. Viral RNA rapidly increased in the blood of the adults and kits at 6 h post-infection, indicating that blood viral load testing can be used for early diagnosis. The most affected organs were the liver and spleen, and the lesions were more severe in the kits than in the adults. The liver contained the highest viral RNA levels. Moreover, serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were increased in the infected rabbits. In conclusion, our findings will help to understand the evolutionary trends and pathogenic characteristics of GI.2 strains in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic zinc has emerged as a promising anode material for high‐energy battery systems due to its high theoretical capacity (820 mAh g−1), low redox potential for two‐electron reactions, cost‐effectiveness and inherent safety. However, current zinc metal batteries face challenges in low coulombic efficiency and limited longevity due to uncontrollable dendrite growth, the corrosive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and decomposition of the aqueous ZnSO4 electrolyte. Here, we report an interfacial‐engineering approach to mitigate dendrite growth and reduce corrosive reactions through the design of ultrathin selective membranes coated on the zinc anodes. The submicron‐thick membranes derived from polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs), featuring pores with tunable interconnectivity, facilitate regulated transport of Zn2+‐ions, thereby promoting a uniform plating/stripping process. Benefiting from the protection by PIM membranes, zinc symmetric cells deliver a stable cycling performance over 1500 h at 1 mA/cm2 with a capacity of 0.5 mAh while full cells with NaMnO2 cathode operate stably at 1 A g−1 over 300 cycles without capacity decay. Our work represents a new strategy of preparing multi‐functional membranes that can advance the development of safe and stable zinc metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic zinc has emerged as a promising anode material for high‐energy battery systems due to its high theoretical capacity (820 mAh g−1), low redox potential for two‐electron reactions, cost‐effectiveness and inherent safety. However, current zinc metal batteries face challenges in low coulombic efficiency and limited longevity due to uncontrollable dendrite growth, the corrosive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and decomposition of the aqueous ZnSO4 electrolyte. Here, we report an interfacial‐engineering approach to mitigate dendrite growth and reduce corrosive reactions through the design of ultrathin selective membranes coated on the zinc anodes. The submicron‐thick membranes derived from polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs), featuring pores with tunable interconnectivity, facilitate regulated transport of Zn2+‐ions, thereby promoting a uniform plating/stripping process. Benefiting from the protection by PIM membranes, zinc symmetric cells deliver a stable cycling performance over 1500 h at 1 mA/cm2 with a capacity of 0.5 mAh while full cells with NaMnO2 cathode operate stably at 1 A g−1 over 300 cycles without capacity decay. Our work represents a new strategy of preparing multi‐functional membranes that can advance the development of safe and stable zinc metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is a highly contagious virus that affects cats worldwide, characterized by leukopenia, high temperature and diarrhea. Recently, the continuous prevalence and variation of FPV have attracted widespread concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the isolation, genetic evolution, molecular characterization and epidemiological analysis of FPV strains among cats and dogs in China from 2019 to 2024. The 41 FPV strains, including 38 feline strains and 3 canine strains, were isolated from rectal swab samples by inoculating monolayer FK81 cells and performing a plaque purification assay. The viral and hemagglutination titers of these 41 FPV strains were 104.33~106.33 TCID50/0.1 mL and 7.0 log2~9.7 log2, respectively. Based on the complete VP2 gene, the nucleotide homology of these FPV strains was 98.91~100%, and the homology with 24 reference FPV strains from different countries and hosts was 98.85~100%. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that 41 FPV strains were more closely related to the FPV strains of Asian origin (Asian FPV strain group) than those of European and American origin (European and American FPV strain group). Furthermore, 12 mutation sites of the VP2 protein were found in these FPV strains, of which 91 and 232 amino acid sites were previously reported. Moreover, the 91 amino acid site was found to be a positive selection site with the highest dN/dS value in the selection pressure analysis. Importantly, 35 FPV strains with 91S substitution in the VP2 protein (FPV-VP2-91S strains) had formed obvious evolutionary branches in the Asian FPV strain group. The analysis of all available VP2 protein sequences of Chinese FPV strains in the GenBank database showed that the occurrence rate of FPV-VP2-91S strains had been increasing from 15.63% to 100% during 2017~2024, indicating that the FPV-VP2-91S substitution in the VP2 protein was a noteworthy molecular characteristic of the dominant FPV strains in China. These results contribute to a better understanding of their genetic evolution and renew the knowledge of FPV molecular epidemiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a highly contagious and acute fatal disease caused by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). The first outbreak of RHDV2 in 2020 has posed a serious threat to the rabbit breeding industry in China. An effective and specific detection strategy for RHDV GI.1 (RHDV1) and GI.2 (RHDV2) is urgently needed. In this study, we established a reverse transcription loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (RT‐LAMP)‐CRISPR/Cas12a‐based dual readout portable detection platform. The platform showed excellent specificity to identify RHDV1 and RHDV2 strains and no cross‐reaction with other prevalent pathogens of rabbit. The detection limit for RHDV1 and RHDV2 by RT‐LAMP‐CRISPR/Cas12a could reach 10 copies/μl of the VP60 gene per reaction. Furthermore, 74 clinical samples were detected for both RHDV1 and RHDV2. RT‐LAMP‐CRISPR/Cas12a‐based dual readout portable detection platform showed 25.68% (19/74) RHDV1‐positive samples, 43.24% (32/74) RHDV2‐positive samples, and 8.11% (6/74) RHDV1/RHDV2 double positive samples, respectively. The coincidence rates of detection RHDV1 and RHDV2 between RT‐LAMP‐CRISPR/Cas12a and quantitative real‐time‐polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were both 97.30%. RT‐LAMP‐CRISPR/Cas12a showed higher sensitivity and detection rate compared with qPCR. Moreover, the results were visible to the naked eye within 1.5 h combined with lateral flow strips (LFSs) and visual fluorescence. The RT‐LAMP‐CRISPR/Cas12a portable platform has the advantages of high sensitivity, specificity, fast, low equipment requirements, which can be used in clinical practice in rural areas and resource‐limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The study examines the process of high-temperature spheres entering water. • Four distinct cavity morphologies of spheres entering water are categorized. • The experiment elucidates the evolution of cavities as high-temperature spheres enter water under various closure forms. • The mechanisms and characteristics of drag variation under different conditions are revealed. Our investigation of spheres entering water at high-temperature reveals that elevated temperatures modify traditional cavitation patterns and trigger novel fluid dynamic phenomena. Experimental analysis of the high-temperature sphere's water entry process has identified four distinct cavitation morphologies: small cavities, complete cavities, dual cavities, and unstable cavities. These phenomena result from the sphere's thermal effects altering the local flow dynamics around it, consequently impacting the hydrodynamic coefficients. Notably, thermal conditions cause the contact line from the sphere's midpoint to transition to its tail, leading to transformations in cavity types. Furthermore, simulations employing the lattice Boltzmann method elucidate how unstable steam films formed on hot surfaces induce boundary slip, reducing pressure drag. This observation provides further insight into established mechanisms of fluid drag reduction. Our study deepens the understanding of how temperature influences water entry dynamics and offers new perspectives on reducing drag during the water entry process of objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse effects caused by PM2.5 have drawn extensive concern and it is of great significance to identify its spatial distribution. Satellite-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) has been widely used for PM2.5 estimation. However, the coarse spatial resolution and the gaps caused by data deficiency impede its better application at the urban scale. Additionally, obtaining accurate results in unsampled spatial areas when PM2.5 ground sites are insufficient and distribute sparsely is also a challenging issue for PM2.5 spatial distribution estimation. This paper aimed to develop a model, i.e., spatially local extreme gradient boosting (SL-XGB), combining the powerful fitting ability of machine learning and optimal bandwidths of local models, to better estimate PM2.5 concentration at the urban scale by using Beijing as the study area. This paper adopted simplified high-resolution MODIS aerosol retrieval algorithm (SARA) AOD at 500 m resolution as the major independent variable, hence, ensuring the estimation can be operated at a fine scale. Moreover, the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model was adopted to fill the gaps in SARA AOD, thus improving its availability. Then, based on full-covered SARA AOD and other multisource data, the SL-XGB model, integrating multiple local XGBoost models and particular optimal bandwidths, was trained to estimate PM2.5 concentration. For comparison, SL-XGB and two other models, XGBoost and geographically weighted regression (GWR), were evaluated by 10-fold cross validation (CV). The sample-based CV results reveal that the SL-XGB performed the best as assessed through R2 (0.88), root mean square error (RMSE = 24.08 μg/m3) and mean prediction error (MPE = 16.90 μg/m3). Additionally, SL-XGB also performed the best in the site-based CV with a R2 of 0.86, a RMSE of 26.15 μg/m3 and a MPE of 17.97 μg/m3, which shows its good spatial generalization ability. These results demonstrate that SL-XGB can better simultaneously handle non-linear and spatial heterogeneity issues despite spatially limited data at the urban scale. As far as the PM2.5 concentration distribution was concerned, it presented a gradient increase in PM2.5 concentrations from the northwest to the southeast in Beijing, with abundant spatial details. Overall, the proposed approach for PM2.5 estimation showed outstanding performance and can support preventive pollution control and mitigation at the urban scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three P. multocida populations from rabbits in China were found. • CC9 exhibited the cps A(F)L3 genotype, and was associated with rhinitis. • CC74 exhibited cps AL6, and was associated with hgbB + pfhA - and pneumonia. • ST129 exhibited cps AL1, and was associated higher virulence and septicemia. Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of a wide range of diseases (pasteurellosis) and is a zoonotic pathogen in humans. The molecular epidemiology of P. multocida from rabbits in some southern European countries has been characterized, and the associations of some populations with the respiratory niche or virulence factors have been suggested. However, the population structure of P. multocida from rabbits in China has not been well characterized. In this study, 30 P. multocida isolates from rabbits without epidemiological relations in China were clustered using mutilocus sequence typing (MLST). Then, the genotypes of virulence factors (capsule, lipopolysaccharides, HgbB, and PfhA) of these isolates were determined via multiplex PCR methods. Next, the virulence of the isolates in a mice model was established by determining the 50 % lethal dose. Finally, the associations between MLST types and the prevalence of genotypes, virulent strains, or clinical origins were characterized. The P. multocida isolates identified in this work included 3 major clonal complexes: CC9, CC74, and ST129. CC9 exhibited cps A(F)L3, and was associated with a higher prevalence of rhinitis; CC74 exhibited cps AL6, and was associated with higher prevalences of hgbB + pfhA- and pneumonia; ST129 exhibited cps AL1, and was associated with higher prevalences of high-virulence strains and septicemia. The results provided insights into P. multocida from rabbits in China and suggested the use of strains from different populations in future P. multocida pathogenesis and vaccine studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As for ligand fishing, the current immobilization approaches have some potential drawbacks such as the small protein loading capacity and difficult recycle process. The core–shell metal–organic frameworks composite (Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2), which exhibited both magnetic characteristics and large specific surface area, was herein fabricated and used as magnetic support for the covalent immobilization of porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL). The resultant composite Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2@PPL manifested a high loading capacity (247.8 mg/g) and relative activity recovery (101.5%). In addition, PPL exhibited enhanced tolerance to temperature and pH after immobilization. Then, the composite Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2@PPL was incubated with the extract of Scutellaria baicalensis to fish out the ligands. Eight lipase inhibitors were obtained and identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The feasibility of the method was further confirmed through an in vitro inhibitory assay and molecular docking. The proposed ligand fishing technique based on Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2@PPL provided a feasible, selective, and effective platform for discovering enzyme inhibitors from natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an acute fatal disease caused by the Lagovirus rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), which was first reported in 1984 in China. Strains of two different genotypes (GI.1a and GI.1c) have been detected in China to date. In 2010, a new RHDV variant with a unique genetic and antigenic profile was identified in France, designated RHDV2, which rapidly spread throughout continental Europe and nearby islands. Here, we report the first outbreak of RHD induced by RHDV2 (GI.2) in rabbit farms in the Sichuan province of China. We conducted haemagglutination tests and phylogenetic analysis of the new RHDV isolate SC2020/04, which was identified as a non‐haemagglutinating strain belonging to the RHDV2 (GI.2) genogroup. Considering the serious risk of RHDV2 to the Chinese rabbit industry, the circulation of RHDV2 in the population should be carefully monitored in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the scattering of SH waves by two circular cavities in an elastic plate. In the course of this study, wave function unfolding combined with the complex function, the mirror method, and the multi-polar coordinate translation technique are used to derive the incident and scattered conductive waves that fit the free conditions of stress on the upper and lower surface of the band domain. Then according to the stress free conditions of the edge of cylindrical hole, the infinite linear algebraic equations system is obtained. The unknown coefficients are finally calculated by intercepting the finite terms. The results show that when two cylindrical cavities of the same size are present within the plate, the presence of cavity 2, in most cases, leads to an increase in the concentration of kinetic stress along the edges of cavity 1; When two cylindrical cavity sizes are different, at medium and high frequency incidence, the enlargement of cavity 2 will lead to an increase in the kinetic stress concentration of cavity 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising for large‐scale long‐duration energy storage owing to their inherent safety, decoupled power and energy, high efficiency, and longevity. Membranes constitute an important component that affects mass transport processes in RFBs, including ion transport, redox‐species crossover, and the net volumetric transfer of supporting electrolytes. Hydrophilic microporous polymers, such as polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM), are demonstrated as next‐generation ion‐selective membranes in RFBs. However, the crossover of redox species and water migration through membranes are remaining challenges for battery longevity. Here, a facile strategy is reported for regulating mass transport and enhancing battery cycling stability by employing thin film composite (TFC) membranes prepared from a PIM polymer with optimized selective‐layer thickness. Integration of these PIM‐based TFC membranes with a variety of redox chemistries allows for the screening of suitable RFB systems that display high compatibility between membrane and redox couples, affording long‐life operation with minimal capacity fade. Thickness optimization of TFC membranes further improves cycling performance and significantly restricts water transfer in selected RFB systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an acute fatal disease caused by the lagovirus rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), which was first reported in 1984 in China. Genetic characterization of RHDV has demonstrated that two different genogroups (G2 and G6) are present in China. To gain a better understanding of the molecular evolution of RHDV, we searched for recombination events by analyzing all full-length RHDV capsid VP60 sequences of Chinese isolates belonging to the genogroups 2 and 6. Our results revealed a recombinant origin for the NanBu/China/2011 isolate. This recombination event occurred between G2 and G6 strains with two breakpoints located at nucleotide positions 393 and 1079 of the VP60 sequence. Phylogenetically, the NanBu/China/2011 strain clustered with genogroup G6 in the entire capsid gene sequence except in the fragment between nucleotides 394 and 1078, where it clustered with genogroup G2. As the consequences of the presence of a G2/G6 recombinant strain in China are unpredictable, the circulation of RHDV in the populations should be carefully monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to investigate the scattering of anti-plane shear waves by elliptic notches in a quarter-space piezoelectric material. The wave field and electric field expressions in this region are derived using the wave function expansion method. An infinite linear system of equations is established by applying the boundary conditions of no traction and no potential. The results obtained are accurate due to the good convergence of the wave function. The displacement amplitude and dynamic stress in the vicinity of the elliptic arc notch under different characteristic parameters and different wave numbers are computed numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) based on aqueous organic electrolytes are a promising technology for safe and cost‐effective large‐scale electrical energy storage. Membrane separators are a key component in RFBs, allowing fast conduction of charge‐carrier ions but minimizing the cross‐over of redox‐active species. Here, we report the molecular engineering of amidoxime‐functionalized Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (AO‐PIMs) by tuning their polymer chain topology and pore architecture to optimize membrane ion transport functions. AO‐PIM membranes are integrated with three emerging aqueous organic flow battery chemistries, and the synergetic integration of ion‐selective membranes with molecular engineered organic molecules in neutral‐pH electrolytes leads to significantly enhanced cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) based on aqueous organic electrolytes are a promising technology for safe and cost‐effective large‐scale electrical energy storage. Membrane separators are a key component in RFBs, allowing fast conduction of charge‐carrier ions but minimizing the cross‐over of redox‐active species. Here, we report the molecular engineering of amidoxime‐functionalized Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (AO‐PIMs) by tuning their polymer chain topology and pore architecture to optimize membrane ion transport functions. AO‐PIM membranes are integrated with three emerging aqueous organic flow battery chemistries, and the synergetic integration of ion‐selective membranes with molecular engineered organic molecules in neutral‐pH electrolytes leads to significantly enhanced cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Sequences of OVA CD8+ T epitopes were integrated into VP60 of RHDV at different locations. [•] Four recombinant baculoviruses were generated by baculovirus expression system. [•] Four recombinant proteins were expressed effectively. [•] Four recombinant proteins could self-assemble into VLPs. [•] I1 and I2 were able to elicit high levels of IFN-γ secretion in the murine model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides are widely recognized as potential candidates in areas such as energy storage and sensors. In this work, we explore the mechanical properties of Ti 4 C 3 O 2 with a perfect cell and Ti 4 C 3 O 2 with vacancies by a first-principles method. The results indicate that the loss of C in the outer layer of Ti 4 C 3 O 2 is more likely to occur due to the smaller formation energy of C-vacancy. By considering the charge contribution, the removed atom changes the valence electron equilibrium concentration between that atom and its neighbors, which in turn affects the mechanical properties of Ti 4 C 3 O 2. The presence of various vacancies affects the strength of the Ti O bonds on the shear plane, causing Ti 4 C 3 O 2 to exhibit changes towards brittleness or ductility. It is noteworthy that the elastic modulus, critical strain, and ideal stress of Ti 4 C 3 O 2 with different concentrations of O vacancies are all approximately the same, suggesting that the variations in their mechanical properties are not significant for Ti 4 C 3 O 2 with different degrees of O functional group coverage. Our findings offer valuable insights for the development of MXene-based nanoflexible energy storage devices, gas-sensitive sensors, high-temperature environmental applications, and beyond. Fig. 1. Ti 4 C 3 O 2 with vacancies. [Display omitted] • This work focuses on the effect of different vacancies on the mechanical properties of Ti 4 C 3 O 2. • The strength of the Ti-O bonds on the shear plane is affected by changing the position of the vacancies. • When Ti 4 C 3 O 2 reaches the critical strain, the inner layer of Ti 4 C 3 O 2 will preferentially disintegrate. • The mechanical properties of Ti 4 C 3 O 2 with different concentrations of O vacancies approximate each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of a wide range of disease (pasteurellosis) and a zoonotic pathogen in humans. Some pathogenic bacteria are able to exploit host plasminogen for migration across tissue barriers or evade from host innate immunity. However, there is no study on host plasminogen exploitation of P. multocida. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) has been reported to be a plasminogen receptor in many pathogenic bacteria, but its role in P. multocida exploiting plasminogen has not yet been characterized. The aim of this study was to detect the activity of P. multocida to exploit host plasminogen and evaluate the ability of GAPDH to act as a receptor in the recruitment process. P. multocida could recruit host plasminogen and exhibited plasmin activity when stimulated by urokinase. GAPDH exhibited binding activity to plasminogen. GAPDH Antiserum significantly decrease the plasminogen recruitment activity of P. multocida. In conclusion, P. multocida is able to exploit host plasminogen via GAPDH. To our knowledge, this is the first report on host plasminogen exploitation of P. multocida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The impacts of greenspace spatial patterns on LST varied among UFZs. • The major influencing factors were different from UFZ type to UFZ type. • The percentage of greenspace was consistently the dominant factor in all UFZs. • There were varied and practical thresholds of the percentage of greenspace. Urban greenspace has been proven to play a significant role in mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect, and many studies have provided a strong back for such a cooling effect by exploring the relationship between land surface temperature (LST) and greenspace spatial patterns. However, the specific effect may be affected by the local environment, including landscape features and human activities, which are mostly related to urban functional zones (UFZs). Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the diversified cooling effects of greenspace among UFZs, using Wuhan metropolitan area in China as a case study. The effect of greenspace spatial patterns on LST and the relative contributions of factors were calculated using multivariate stepwise linear regression and variance partitioning, and the threshold of the dominant influencing factor was identified by piecewise linear regression. Results revealed that: (1) Greenspace composition and configuration both affected LST, and their cooling effects varied across UFZs. (2) The major influencing factors of LST variation were different among UFZs, while the percentage of greenspace was consistently the dominant factor. (3) The practical thresholds of the percentage of greenspace for a remarkable decrease in LST variation existed in corresponding UFZs except for the industrial zone, and the thresholds differed from UFZ type to UFZ type. This study quantified the impacts of greenspace spatial patterns on LST and disclosed the difference in such impacts among different types of UFZ, which extended the understanding of UHI mitigation and further facilitated urban planners to propose targeted and effective management strategies and measures to improve the urban thermal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection with rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) can cause acute liver failure (ALF), leading to severe mortality in rabbits. Inflammatory response, especially the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-6, may play major roles in mediating and amplifying the ALF. Among these cytokines, IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine with a central role in various physiological inflammatory and immunological processes. In this study, we found that RHDV infection significantly upregulated IL-6 gene expression in vivo . Next, the rabbit IL-6 promoter was cloned and analyzed. Transfection of full-length RHDV cDNA in RK-13 cells upregulated the activity of the IL-6 promoter. A series of 5′ deletion constructs demonstrated that AP-1 (activator protein 1), NF-IL6 (nuclear factor interleukin-6), and NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) elements were critical for RHDV-induced IL-6 transcription. Besides, the CREB (cAMP-response element binding protein) element may also play an accessory effect on RHDV-induced IL-6 transcription. Collectively, the results elucidate the mechanism of IL-6 induction, and enrich the RHDV pathogenesis in rabbit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pasteurella multocida, the causative pathogen of rabbit pasteurellosis, causes significant economic losses in the commercial rabbit industry. However, the associated pathogenic mechanism of P. multocida remains unclear. The aim of this study is to compare the genomes and pathogenicity of high- and low-virulence strains of P. multocida to advance the current understanding of rabbit pasteurellosis. The high-virulence strain rapidly proliferates in the lung and spleen of infected mice within approximately 9 h, maintaining a high bacterial load until host death. Meanwhile, the low-virulence strain only proliferates in mouse organs for a short time, with the bacterial load beginning to decrease 13 h post-infection. Moreover, the expressions of inflammatory cytokines MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-1β are upregulated in all infected mouse lung and spleen tissue, however, the high-virulence strain induced significantly higher expression than the low-virulence strain. Histopathological analysis revealed greater inflammation and tissue lesions in the lung and spleen of mice infected with the high-virulence strain. Two pathogenicity-associated regions unique to the genome of the high-virulence strain harbor approximately 199 genes, including functional genes related to virulence factors, such as lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, iron acquisition, biosynthesis of outer membrane proteins, and adhesion. These two genomic regions are shared by three previously sequenced, highly virulent P. multocida strains in rabbits. In conclusion, the increased pathogenicity of high-virulence P. multocida may be due to the presence of virulence-associated genes in two unique genomic regions, resulting in strong proliferative activity, significant inflammation, and pathological lesions in the mouse model. These findings provide important insights regarding the pathogenic mechanism underlying rabbit pasteurellosis. • Pasteurella multocida is the main pathogenic cause of rabbit pasteurellosis. • The pathogenic mechanism of rabbit pasteurellosis remains unclear. • The high-virulence strain displayed greater pathogenicity and proliferative ability. • The high-virulence strain harbored 2 unique genomic regions containing 199 genes. • The virulence-related genes were harbored by 3 other highly virulent strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]