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Purpose: This study experimentally developed and characterised dry-blended Polycaprolactone (PCL)/date palm fibre biodegradable composites for sustainable packaging applications. Date palm fibres are collected from date palm trees as by-products or waste materials. They will be valorised in bio-composite application to promote fibre-based sustainable packaging items over their non-biodegradable synthetic polymer based conventional packaging products. In the dry-blending process, fibre and polymer are mixed with a shear mixer, while, in a melt-blending process, an extruder is used to extrude fibre/polymer blends after applying heating and high shear pressure to melt and mix polymer with fibres. Dry-blending process offers many comparative advantages, such as less equipment, steps, cost, process degradation, energy consumption and hence, lower harmful environmental emissions; while, a proper fibre/polymer mixing is a challenge and it needs to be achieved properly in this process. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of dry-blending process on manufacturing of PCL/date palm fibre bio-composites for packaging applications, before promoting the dry-blending as a suitable alternative to the melt-blending process. Methods: Short chopped fibres were grinded as powders and dry-blended at a ratio of (0 − 10%) (w/w) with PCL polymer using hand and a shear mixer for 30 min, following a compression moulding process to produce bio-composite samples. Tensile, water contact angle, SEM, TGA, DSC and DMA tests and analysis were conducted. The dry-blended PCL/date palm fibre composites' properties were compared with reported melt-blended samples' results found in literature. Results: Dry-blended samples showed an increase in tensile modulus values (up-to 20%) with fibre inclusion and these values were found close to the melt-blended samples in the literature. Tensile strength and strain values were reduced which could be related to the poor fibre/polymer interface. Fibre addition affected the thermal, thermo-mechanical and crystallisation processes in PCL polymer matrix. Conclusion: Dry-blending is capable of producing bio-composites with a very comparable properties to melt-blended counterparts, although a more details study is needed to conduct in future. The results of this study, could be used carefully to design dry-blended PCL/date palm fibre bio-composites for possible packaging applications. The irregular fibre distribution in dry-blended samples could be improved in different ways which should be investigated in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new scheme for Majorana modes in systems with nonsymmorphic-symmetry-protected band degeneracy. We reveal that when the gapless fermionic excitations are encoded with conventional superconductivity and magnetism, which can be intrinsic or induced by proximity effect, topological superconductivity and Majorana modes can be obtained. We illustrate this outcome in a system which respects the space group P4/nmm and features a fourfold-degenerate fermionic mode at (π, π) in the Brillouin zone. We show that in the presence of conventional superconductivity, different types of topological superconductivity, i.e., first-order and second-order topological superconductivity, with coexisting fragile Wannier obstruction in the latter case, can be generated in accordance with the different types of magnetic orders; Majorana modes are shown to exist on the boundary, at the corner and in the vortices. To further demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, another example related to the space group P4/ncc based on this scheme is also provided. Our study offers insights into constructing topological superconductors based on bulk energy bands and conventional superconductivity and helps to find new material candidates and design new platforms for realizing Majorana modes. Topological superconductors are highly sought-after systems with potential applications in topological quantum computing. Here, the authors propose a scheme for realizing topological superconductivity based on the bulk energy bands and conventional superconductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Rehmannia glutinosa, a highly valuable medicinal plant in China, is encountering severe replant disease. Replant disease represents a complex stress driven by multiple principal factors (RDFs), including allelochemicals, microbes, and their interactions. miRNAs are recognized as key regulators of plant response to stresses; however, their specific roles within RDFs are not entirely clear. Methods: This study builds six RDF treatments, comprising R. glutinosa continuously planted (SP), normally planted (NP), and NP treated with ferulic acid (FA), Fusarium oxysporum (FO), and a combination of FA with FO (FAFO). sRNA-seq technology was used to identify crucial miRNAs in response to diverse RDFs. Results: In total, 30 sRNA datasets were generated from the SP, NP, FA, FO, and FAFO samples. A total of 160 known and 41 novel miRNAs (RgmiRNAs) were identified in the R. glutinosa genome based on the sRNA database. Abundance analysis revealed that RgmiRNAs in SP exhibited a distinct expression profile in comparison with others. Of these, 124, 86, 86, and 90 RgmiRNAs were differentially expressed in SP, FA, FO, and FAFO compared with NP. Target analysis indicated that RgmiRNAs downregulated in both SP and RDFs impede the organism growth of R. glutinosa. RgmiRNAs upregulated in SP can disrupt root formation and nutrient metabolism, in which, two RgmiR398 were uniquely expressed in SP. It was confirmed to target RgCSD genes. The expression patterns of RgmiR398 and RgCSD indicated that replant disease induces the oxidative damage of R. glutinosa through RgmiR398. Conclusions: RgmiRNA profiling under RDFs provides a theoretical basis for the further clarification of RgmiRNA function in replant disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconductivity involving finite-momentum pairing1 can lead to spatial-gap and pair-density modulations, as well as Bogoliubov Fermi states within the superconducting gap. However, the experimental realization of their intertwined relations has been challenging. Here we detect chiral kagome superconductivity modulations with residual Fermi arcs in KV3Sb5 and CsV3Sb5 using normal and Josephson scanning tunnelling microscopy down to 30 millikelvin with a resolved electronic energy difference at the microelectronvolt level. We observe a U-shaped superconducting gap with flat residual in-gap states. This gap shows chiral 2a × 2a spatial modulations with magnetic-field-tunable chirality, which align with the chiral 2a × 2a pair-density modulations observed through Josephson tunnelling. These findings demonstrate a chiral pair density wave (PDW) that breaks time-reversal symmetry. Quasiparticle interference imaging of the in-gap zero-energy states reveals segmented arcs, with high-temperature data linking them to parts of the reconstructed vanadium d-orbital states within the charge order. The detected residual Fermi arcs can be explained by the partial suppression of these d-orbital states through an interorbital 2a × 2a PDW and thus serve as candidate Bogoliubov Fermi states. In addition, we differentiate the observed PDW order from impurity-induced gap modulations. Our observations not only uncover a chiral PDW order with orbital selectivity but also show the fundamental space–momentum correspondence inherent in finite-momentum-paired superconductivity.Using normal and Josephson scanning tunnelling microscopy, chiral kagome superconductivity modulations with corresponding residual Fermi arcs are detected in KV3Sb5 and CsV3Sb5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Organic fluorine compounds are ubiquitous and pivotally important organic molecules, yet their activation and transformation have long been a formidable challenge due to the high energy and low reactivity of C—F bonds. Organic electrosynthesis, an environmentally benign synthetic method in organic chemistry, enables a myriad of chemical transformations without the need for external redox reagents. In recent years, organic electrochemistry has emerged as a powerful tool for achieving the activation and transformation of C—F bonds in fluorine‐containing compounds. This review aims to succinctly recapitulate the latest advancements in the electrochemical defluorinative transformations of C—F bonds and to delve into the reaction design, mechanistic insights, and developmental prospects of these methods. Key Scientists: In 1959, Lund was the first to pioneer the electroreduction of CF3 to CH3 group. Electrochemistry has lately provided new opportunities for efficient conversion of organic fluorides. In 2020, Zhou and coworkers discovered the electrochemical defluorinative carboxylation of α‐CF3 alkenes. Lambert and colleagues reported electrophotocatalytic defluorinative amination of aryl fluorides. Electrochemical hydrodefluorination of trifluoromethylketones was developed by Lennox and coworkers in 2021. In the same year, Wang and Guo disclosed electrochemical radical defluorinative alkylation of α‐CF3 alkenes with Katritzky salts as the alkyl radical precursors. Subsequently, Wu and Liao described a transition‐metal‐free, site‐selective C—F arylation of polyfluoroarenes with (het)arenes using paired electrophotocatalysis. In 2023, numerous efforts were made to achieve electrochemical C—F bond activation. Xia and Guo developed an organoboron‐controlled method for the chemoselective electrochemical sequential (deutero)hydrodefluorination of trifluoroacetamides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pseudostellaria heterophylla is a Chinese medicine and healthy edible that is widely used to for its immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic and antitussive properties. However, the potential function of P. heterophylla in intestinal microecology remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the impact of P. heterophylla on immune functions and evaluated its potential to regulate the gut microbiota and metabolome. RESULTS: The results showed that P. heterophylla significantly increased the content of red blood cells, total antioxidant capacity and expression of immune factors, and decreased platelet counts when compared to the control under cyclophosphamide injury. In addition, P. heterophylla altered the diversity and composition of the gut bacterial community; increased the abundance of potentially beneficial Akkermansia, Roseburia, unclassified Clostridiaceae, Mucispirillum, Anaeroplasma and Parabacteroides; and decreased the relative abundance of pathogenic Cupriavidus and Staphylococcus in healthy mice. Metabolomic analyses showed that P. heterophylla significantly increased the content of functional oligosaccharides, common oligosaccharides, vitamins and functional substances. Probiotics and pathogens were regulated by metabolites across 11 pathways in the bacterial–host co‐metabolism network. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that P. heterophylla increased the abundance of probiotics and decreased pathogens, and further stimulated host microbes to produce beneficial secondary metabolites for host health. Our studies highlight the role of P. heterophylla in gut health and provide new insights for the development of traditional Chinese medicine in the diet. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) effectively treats end‐stage hemophilic hip arthropathy. Given hemophilia's unique characteristics, perioperative bleeding remains a significant risk for patients undergoing THA. Tranexamic acid (TXA), an efficient antifibrinolytic agent, may benefit the outcomes of THA for patients with hemophilia (PWH). This study aims to explore the clinical efficacy of intra‐articular injection of TXA in treating perioperative bleeding in PWH and assess its additional clinical benefits. Methods: The retrospective study comprised data of PWH who received THA from January 2015 to December 2021 in the research center. A total of 59 individuals were included in the study, divided into a TXA group (n = 31) and a non‐TXA group (n = 28). We compared various parameters, including total blood loss (TBL), visible blood loss (VBL), occult blood loss (OBL), intraoperative coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) consumption, perioperative total FVIII consumption, hemoglobin (HB), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C‐reactive protein (CRP), length of hospital stay, hospitalization costs, length of surgery, total protein, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), D‐dimer, rate of joint swelling, hip joint range of motion (ROM), visual analogue scale (VAS), and Harris hip joint function scale (HHS) between the two groups. Follow‐up assessments were conducted for up to 24 months. A Student's t test was utilized for the statistical analysis. Results: This study demonstrated that intra‐articular TXA effectively reduced TBL (1248.19 ± 439.88 mL, p < 0.001), VBL (490.32 ± 344.34 mL, p = 0.003), and OBL (757.87 ± 381.48 mL, p = 0.004) in PWH who underwent THA. TXA demonstrated effectiveness in reducing VAS scores on POD1, POD7, and POD14 and joint swelling rates on POD1, POD7, POD14, and at discharge (p < 0.05). Additionally, the TXA group achieved higher HHS ratings at all follow‐up time points (p < 0.05), showing superior hip joint mobility, lower postoperative inflammation levels, reduced factor VIII consumption during surgery, and less postoperative nutritional loss. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of hospital stay, hospitalization costs, surgery duration, and coagulation indicators. Conclusion: Intra‐articular injection of TXA reduces perioperative bleeding in PWH undergoing THA while also improving joint mobility, post‐operative rehabilitation, and quality of life. This may provide value for the future application of TXA in PWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of tight oil sandstones in the Extension Formation in the southwestern Ordos Basin and the mode of crude oil migration is a hotspot. A large number of geochemical experiments and computational methods were used to systematically study the crude oil transport characteristics of the Yanchang Formation in the Huaqing area. The results show that four typical types of inclusions are developed in the Yanchang Formation: inclusions in quartz fissures, inclusions in quartz colluvium and large rims, inclusions in calcareous colluvium, and inclusions in sodium feldspar. There are two peaks in the homogenization temperature of the inclusions: 80-100°C and 120-130°C. The Chang 6 and Chang 8 reservoirs in the Huaqing area have experienced the process of densification while forming reservoirs, and the physical properties of the sand body reservoirs during the maximum hydrocarbon discharge period are good, which is an effective channel for oil and gas transportation. The minimum oil column heights for oil and gas transportation in Chang 6 and Chang 8 Members are 7.48m and 15.68m, respectively. Proximity vertical transportation is an important mode of crude oil transportation and aggregation in the Yanchang oil group in the Huaqing area. The physical properties of crude oil in Huaqing area are good, showing low density, low viscosity, low freezing point and good fluidity. The hydrocarbon source rocks of the Chang 7 Member were transported under excess pressure and buoyancy along channels such as cheese root networks, connected sands and microfractures, and thus large composite lithologic reservoirs were formed in the Chang 6 and Chang 8 Members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease affecting the digestive tract, the incidence of which is on the rise worldwide. The most common clinical manifestation of hemophilia is arthropathy secondary to recurrent joint effusions and chronic synovitis. This article reports on a rare 25-year-old male patient with both hemophilic arthropathy and Crohn's disease who was at risk for pathogenic gastrointestinal bleeding. After undergoing endoscopic pathologic testing and genetic testing, a multidisciplinary expert work-up of a treatment and nutritional plan was performed. The patient improved clinically and adhered to conservative treatment. This case report is the first report of this rare co-morbidity, demonstrating the highly pathogenic mutation locus and summarizing the clinical experience of early diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unenhanced CT scans exhibit high specificity in detecting moderate-to-severe hepatic steatosis. Even though many CTs are scanned from health screening and various diagnostic contexts, their potential for hepatic steatosis detection has largely remained unexplored. The accuracy of previous methodologies has been limited by the inclusion of non-parenchymal liver regions. To overcome this limitation, we present a novel deep-learning (DL) based method tailored for the automatic selection of parenchymal portions in CT images. This innovative method automatically delineates circular regions for effectively detecting hepatic steatosis. We use 1,014 multinational CT images to develop a DL model for segmenting liver and selecting the parenchymal regions. The results demonstrate outstanding performance in both tasks. By excluding non-parenchymal portions, our DL-based method surpasses previous limitations, achieving radiologist-level accuracy in liver attenuation measurements and hepatic steatosis detection. To ensure the reproducibility, we have openly shared 1014 annotated CT images and the DL system codes. Our novel research contributes to the refinement the automated detection methodologies of hepatic steatosis on CT images, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of healthcare screening processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting anomalies in large, complex systems is a critical and challenging task, and this is especially true for high-dimensional anomaly detection due to the underlying dependency structures among sensors. To incorporate the interrelationships among various sensors, a novel sparsity-constrained vector autoregressive moving average (scVARMA) model is proposed for anomaly detection in complex systems with multisensory signals. This model aims to leverage the inherent relationships and dynamics among various sensor readings, providing a more comprehensive and accurate analysis suitable for complex systems' complex behavior. This research uses convex optimization to search for a parameterization that is sparse based on the principal of parsimony. This sparse model will not only contribute to meeting the real-time requirements of online monitoring strategies but also keeps the correlations among different sensory signals. The performance of the proposed scVARMA model is validated using real-world data from complex systems. The results affirm the superiority of the proposed scheme, demonstrating its enhanced performance and potential in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Chinese megacities has declined significantly after the implementation of strict mitigation strategies since 2013. However, the concentration of wintertime nitrate in PM2.5 (p‐NO3‐) has only changed slightly and became the dominant inorganic component despite considerable precursor emission reductions. Discerning chemical mechanisms leading to nitrate growth during haze events is critical to implementing effective pollution mitigation policies. The oxygen isotope anomaly of nitrate (Δ17O(NO3−)) is a powerful means to distinguish nitrate formation mechanisms. Nevertheless, the observed high Δ17O(NO3−) values were significantly underestimated by chemical transport models during extreme haze events (PM2.5 > 225 μg m−3) in Beijing, indicating an incomplete understanding of nitrate chemistry. To reconcile this model‐observation discrepancy, we compiled reported Δ17O(NO3−) data in Beijing haze along with relevant observational parameters (e.g., hydroxyl (OH) reactivity, peroxyl radical concentrations), then tested assumptions on Δ17O of key precursors (e.g., OH and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)), recalculated Δ17O(NO3−) and compared them with observations. Our results indicate that considering heterogeneous dinitrogen pentoxide reactions on chlorine‐containing aerosols (N2O5 + Cl− chemistry) with a nitryl chloride (ClNO2) yield of ∼0.75 can explain the observed high Δ17O(NO3−) during extreme haze events. According to the Δ17O(NO3−) data, on average this heterogeneous N2O5 + Cl− chemistry can explain ∼60% of nighttime nitrate production and make daytime and nocturnal pathways equally important in winter Beijing haze (PM2.5 > 75 μg m−3). Our results highlight the critical role of reactive chlorine chemistry in air pollution/chemistry in inland cities. Plain Language Summary: Δ17O(NO3−) is an independent tool to assess nitrate formation mechanisms. However, the GEOS‐Chem model persistently underestimates the observed Δ17O(NO3−) during extreme haze periods in urban Beijing, implying an unknown or misunderstood NOx chemistry characterized by high Δ17O signatures. Here, we aim to reconcile this discrepancy to advance our understanding of nitrate formation mechanisms in winter haze. To this end, we reassess the isotopic signatures of key precursors relating to NOx chemistry constrained by atmospheric chemistry parameters (e.g., OH reactivity, hydrogen peroxyl (HO2) and organic peroxyl (RO2) radicals, and ozone (O3)). We find that (a) steady‐state OH radical should bear positive Δ17O values but are unable to reconcile the gap between the observed and modeled Δ17O(NO3−); (b) ClNO2 production is efficient under haze conditions in urban Beijing, which is able to explain the gap between the observed and modeled Δ17O(NO3−). The photolysis of ClNO2 has significant effects on atmospheric oxidative capacity and aerosol pollution. Although halogen chemistry prevails in the marine boundary layer, our results highlight the importance of halogen chemistry in nitrate pollution, which should be comprehensively incorporated into air quality models and field observational research to better understand atmospheric chemistry in urban air. Key Points: Heterogeneous N2O5 + Cl− chemistry is important for nitrate production in winter Beijing hazeA ClNO2 yield of 0.75 from heterogeneous N2O5 + Cl− chemistry can explain both the observed high Δ17O(NO3−) and ClNO2 concentrationsDiurnal sampling and subsequent Δ17O(NO3−) interpretation in urban regions need to consider differences in the surface and residual layers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to its outstanding properties such as corrosion resistance, low density, relatively low cost, and stiffness, Al2024-T3 aluminium alloy has been widely applied in aircraft manufacturing. To perfectly assemble an aircraft, numerous high-quality holes are drilled into its structures employing conventional drilling processes. Conventional drilling poses some challenges such as thermal distortions, burr formations, and tool wear. Alternatively, abrasive water jet drilling (AWJD) is a thermal-free machining process that can be employed as an alternative to conventional drilling of aeronautical structures. Hence, in this work, the effect of abrasive water jet parameters, namely stand-off distance, water jet pressure, and abrasive mass flow rate, on hole-quality parameters was evaluated at traverse speed = 10 mm/min. Three parameters were stand-off distance = 1, 2, and 3 mm, abrasive mass flow rate = 200, 250, and 300 g/min, and water jet pressure = 1800, 2100, and 2600 bar. Using a 6 mm circular-movement diameter of the nozzle tip, optimal stand-off distance, water jet pressure, and abrasive mass flow rate obtained by multi-objective optimization were 2 mm, 250 g/min, and 2600 bar, respectively. The corresponding hole-quality parameters were Diameter = 6.232 mm, Kerf angle = 0.018°, Cylindricity = 0.051 mm, Perpendicularity = 0.033 mm, Circularity = 0.0041 mm and Surface roughness Ra = 2.909 µm. The results showed that water jet pressure had the greatest influence on Perpendicularity, Circularity; stand-off distance had the highest effect on Kerf angle; and abrasive mass flow rate has the largest influence on Hole diameter, Cylindricity and Surface roughness Ra, and Rz at the given value of traverse speed. The adopted optimization process for abrasive water jet of Al2024-T3 aluminium alloy was successfully verified through confirmation runs, clearly illustrating its benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unsustainable demand for wildlife and its derivatives poses a threat to global biodiversity, requiring attention and intervention. This study investigates the intent to purchase medicines containing saiga antelope horn among respondents in China. Drawing on an expanded theoretical framework rooted in a planned behavior model, and analyzing 576 valid data points collected through online research, this paper employs a structural equation model to consider influencing factors across six dimensions: attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, consumption experience, protective cognitive level, and personal characteristics. The findings reveal that 31.25% of respondents harbor a positive purchase intention toward medicines containing saiga antelope horn. Additionally, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and consumption experience exhibit positive associations with the purchase intention, while the protective cognitive level demonstrates a negative impact. A significant gender gap was identified, with women displaying a greater inclination to purchase compared to men. To support the global conservation efforts of the saiga antelope, this paper advocates for strategic interventions. Recommendations include reinforcing public science education, fostering awareness, advancing the research and development of alternative medicines, strengthening internal market controls, and employing targeted marketing strategies to shift consumer preferences. These measures collectively contribute to a holistic approach aimed at reducing the demand for wildlife products and safeguarding the saiga antelope population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Triassic top unconformity in the Ordos Basin, which serves as a transfer station for hydrocarbon migration, has become a bottleneck for Mesozoic oil and gas exploration. Taking the Sanbian area as an example, based on core observations, petrophysical properties, and a weathering index analysis of five coring wells, a standard for the quantitative identification of the vertical structure of the unconformity is established using the optimal segmentation method and principal component analysis of conventional logging curves. The standard is then applied to 40 real wells, and 32 typical unconformity reservoirs are dissected. The results show that the reclassification of the unconformity surface corrects the 17.5% error in the geological stratification as an unconformity. On this basis, a quantitative identification standard for the structure of the unconformity is established via the principal component curve. The analysis of unconformity structure types applied to five paleogeomorphic units reveals that the slope mouth and slope develop three layers of structure, namely residual layer, weathered clay layer, and weathered leaching zone, while highlands, river valleys, and inter-river hills lack weathered clay layer. As an independent oil and gas-bearing layer, the unconformity has two types of reservoir-forming models. The first is the hydrocarbon accumulation in the Chang1–Chang2 member shielded by weathered clay layer in the slope mouth and slope. The second is hydrocarbon migrated from the residual layer to the local structural high part of the Yan 10–Yan 9 member in the slope mouth. The hydrocarbon in the unconformity is complementary to the upper Yan 10–Yan 9 member and the lower unweathered rock layer of Yanchang Formation. The results of this study are of great significance to the quantitative identification of unconformity structures in exploration wells without coring data in the study area, as well as to future hydrocarbon exploration in the Mesozoic strata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insertional mutation, phenotypic evaluation, and mutated gene cloning are widely used to clone genes from scratch. Exogenous genes can be integrated into the genome during non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) of the double-strand breaks of DNA, causing insertional mutation. The random insertional mutant library constructed using this method has become a method of forward genetics for gene cloning. However, the establishment of a random insertional mutant library requires a high transformation efficiency of exogenous genes. Many microalgal species show a low transformation efficiency, making constructing random insertional mutant libraries difficult. In this study, we established a highly efficient transformation method for constructing a random insertional mutant library of Nannochloropsis oceanica, and tentatively tried to isolate its genes to prove the feasibility of the method. A gene that may control the growth rate and cell size was identified. This method will facilitate the genetic studies of N. oceanica, which should also be a reference for other microalgal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutral particles capable of travelling cosmic distances from a source to detectors on Earth are limited to photons and neutrinos. Examination of the Dark Matter annihilation/decay spectra for these particles reveals the presence of continuum spectra (e.g. due to fragmentation and W or Z decay) and peaks (due to direct annihilations/decays). However, when one explores extensions of the Standard Model (BSM), unexplored spectra emerge that differ significantly from those of the Standard Model (SM) for both neutrinos and photons. In this paper, we argue for the inclusion of important spectra that include peaks as well as previously largely unexplored entities such as boxes and combinations of box, peak and continuum decay spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Be sure your imaging data is heterogeneous with distributional similarity among data partitions. The dataset must be split appropriately before performing any action on the imaging data set, such as image and radiomics feature preprocessing and feature dimensionality reduction [[13]]. Several algorithms perform better when feature values are in a common scale (i.e., feature scaling), which must be fitted exclusively to the training data [[18]]. Feature selection or data transformations should also be applied to reduce the dimensionality of the data. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced dysfunction of pancreatic β-cells leads to impaired insulin (INS) secretion. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a bioactive heteropolysaccharide extracted from Astragalus membranaceus and is a popular Chinese herbal medicine. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which APS affects INS secretion from β-cells under LPS stress. Methods: Rat insulinoma (INS-1) cells were treated with LPS at a low, medium, or high concentration of APS. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Transcriptome sequencing was used to assess genome-wide gene expression. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was used to determine the signaling pathways affected by APS. Quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to evaluate the gene expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), glucokinase (GCK), pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1), and INS. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), total Akt (t-Akt), phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), total mTOR (t-mTOR), and GLUT2. Results: LPS decreased GLUT2, GCK, PDX-1, and INS expression and reduced GSIS. These LPS-induced decreases in gene expression and GSIS were restored by APS treatment. In addition, transcriptome sequencing in combination with KEGG enrichment analysis revealed changes in the INS signaling pathway following APS treatment. LPS decreased p-Akt and p-mTOR expression, which was restored by APS treatment. The restorative effects of APS on GSIS as well as on the expression of GLUT2, GCK, PDX-1, and INS were abolished by treatment with the Akt inhibitor MK2206 or the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin (RPM). Conclusions: APS restored GSIS in LPS-stimulated pancreatic β-cells by activating the Akt/mTOR/GLUT2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a green and environmentally friendly process with high economic benefit, safe operation, low cost, and sustainability is provided, which can replace pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical process. The composition, crystal structure, and electrochemical properties of spent NCM111 are complete recovery successfully. At 0.1C, the discharge capacity of the spent NCM111 particles increased from 124.7 to 142.5 mAh g−1 after regeneration. At 5 C, the discharge capacity of the spent NCM111 increased from 50 to 110.0 mAh g−1. The electrochemical performance of the spent NCM111 particles of is improved greatly by targeted regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observational studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the relationship between tea intake and migraine risk. Residual confounders and potential reverse causality are unavoidable in traditional observational studies. To provide evidence for establishing viable disease screening and prevention strategies, a Mendelian randomization study (MR) was conducted to determine the causal inference between tea intake and migraine. We obtained 28 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for any migraine (AM), 25 SNPs for migraine with aura (MA), and 27 SNPs for migraine without aura (MO) associated with tea intake derived from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) of the UK Biobank (UKBB) (containing 447,485 samples). The largest migraine GWAS performed by the International Headache Genetics Consortium (IHGC), including 29,209 cases and 172,931 controls, provided data on migraines and their subtypes (MA and MO). We used the method of inverse variance weighting (IVW) with fixed effects as the first-string MR selection. Sensitivity analysis and MR-pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) method further assessed the robustness of the findings. Based on the conclusion of IVW in the fixed effects model, we found that tea intake had no causal relationship with AM risk (odds ratio (OR), 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.70–1.25; P = 0.65), MA risk (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.51–1.72; P = 0.83), or MO risk (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.52–1.54; P = 0.69). Sensitivity analyses and MR-PRESSO showed no directional pleiotropy or heterogeneity. Our two-sample MR investigation found no causality between tea intake and migraine risk in European populations, implying that attempts to change tea drinking habits may not lead to a reduced risk of migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation seeks to assess the impact of fillers on the mechanical characteristics of entirely biodegradable composites, introducing an advanced solution to fulfil long-term durability demands within point-of-purchase (POP) industries. The inclusion of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) fillers on the various properties of the flax fibre-reinforced composites, after accelerated irradiation in an ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure has been investigated in the present study. Different types of flax fibre-reinforced poly lactic acid (PLA) biocomposites (with and without filler) were fabricated. The mechanical (tensile and flexural), and physical properties of the specimens were assessed after 500 h of exposure to accelerated UV irradiation of 0.48 W/m2 at 50 °C and were compared with those of the unexposed specimens. The results indicate that the presence of the inorganic filler significantly improved the performance of the biocomposites compared to the unfilled biocomposites after UV exposure. After adding 20% of fillers, the tensile strength was increased by 2% after UV degradation, whereas the biocomposite without filler lost 18% of its strength after UV exposure. This can be attributed to the change in the photo-degradation of the PLA due to the presence of the CaCO3 filler, which acts as a safeguard against UV light penetration by creating a protective barrier. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the degraded specimen surface show substantial difference in the surface topography of the composites with and without fillers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, an event‐triggered control policy is developed for a robotic manipulator with flexible joint (RMFJ) in the presence of finite‐time convergence under the requirement of output constraints. Due to the vibration existing in the flexible joint, compared with the rigid manipulator, it is exceedingly difficult for RMFJ to design an adaptive method for realizing highly accurate control. In order to reduce and restrain the vibration of the flexible joint, a finite‐time convergence policy is designed by introducing the fractional order term. Moreover, the angular displacements of the link are constrained in the predefined region by using the Barrier function, which further enhances the operation safety. Neural networks learning is used to approximate unknown model parameters. Event‐trigger design is used to reduce the communication burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to study the following degenerate fractional Schrödinger–Kirchhoff–Poisson equations with critical nonlinearity and electromagnetic fields in R 3 : { ε 2 s M ([ u ] s , A 2) (− Δ) A s u + V (x) u + ϕ u = k (x) | u | r − 2 u + (I μ ∗ | u | 2 s ♯ ) | u | 2 s ♯ − 2 u , x ∈ R 3 , (− Δ) t ϕ = u 2 , x ∈ R 3 , where ε > 0 is a positive parameter, 3 / 4 < s < 1 , 0

An electrochemical electrophilic bromination/spirocyclization of N-benzyl-acrylamides with 2-bromoethan-1-ol as the brominating reagent has been developed. The paired electrolysis employs low concentrations of bromine produced from both cathodic reduction and anodic oxidation as an electrophile, and realizes an H2O-involved electrophilic spirocyclization. A number of unexplored brominated 2-azaspiro[4.5]decanes are obtained with satisfactory yields under mild conditions, and the reaction exhibits good efficiency at the gram-scale synthesis. In addition, this approach is further highlighted by late-stage transformations and synthetic applications in constructing cyclohepta[c]pyrrole-1,6-diones via debromination tandem cyclization of brominated 2-azaspiro[4.5]decanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering anthocyanin biosynthesis in herbs could provide health‐promoting foods for improving human health. Rehmannia glutinosa is a popular medicinal herb in Asia, and was a health food for the emperors of the Han Dynasty (59 B.C.). In this study, we revealed the differences in anthocyanin composition and content between three Rehmannia species. On the 250, 235 and 206 identified MYBs in the respective species, six could regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis by activating the ANTHOCYANIDIN SYNTHASE (ANS) gene expression. Permanent overexpression of the Rehmannia MYB genes in tobacco strongly promoted anthocyanin content and expression levels of NtANS and other genes. A red appearance of leaves and tuberous/roots was observed, and the total anthocyanin content and the cyanidin‐3‐O‐glucoside content were significantly higher in the lines overexpressing RgMYB41, RgMYB42, and RgMYB43 from R. glutinosa, as well as RcMYB1 and RcMYB3 in R. chingii and RhMYB1 from R. henryi plants. Knocking out of RcMYB3 by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing resulted in the discoloration of the R. chingii corolla lobes, and decreased the content of anthocyanin. R. glutinosa overexpressing RcMYB3 displayed a distinct purple color in the whole plants, and the antioxidant activity of the transgenic plants was significantly enhanced compared to WT. These results indicate that Rehmannia MYBs can be used to engineer anthocyanin biosynthesis in herbs to improve their additional value, such as increased antioxidant contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model-independent search strategies have been increasingly proposed in recent years because on the one hand there has been no clear signal for new physics and on the other hand there is a lack of a highly probable and parameter-free extension of the standard model. For these reasons, there is no simple search target so far. In this work, we try to take a new direction and ask the question: bearing in mind that we have a large number of new physics theories that go beyond the Standard Model and may contain a grain of truth, can we improve our search strategy for unknown signals by using them "in combination"? In particular, we show that a signal hypothesis based on a large, intermingled set of many different theoretical signal models can be a superior approach to find an unknown BSM signal. Applied to a recent data challenge, we show that "mixture-of-theories training" outperforms strategies that optimize signal regions with a single BSM model as well as most unsupervised strategies. Applications of this work include anomaly detection and the definition of signal regions in the search for signals of new physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using high‐precision zircon U‐Pb ID‐TIMS geochronology, tuffs from the Chang 9 shale and the Chang 7 shale were dated. The tuff in the Chang 9 shale is 241.47 ± 0.17 Ma, which falls between the top tuff age of 241.06 ± 0.12 Ma and the bottom tuff age of 241.558 ± 0.093 Ma in the Chang 7 shale. These reveal that the Chang 9 and Chang 7 shales are contemporaneous, belonging to the Ladinian stage of the Middle Triassic. This insight expands the region of the main source rock of Chang 7 to the northeast and will inform the search for the deep Chang 9 shale petroleum system, increasing the scope for exploring the Chang 7 shale system in northern Shaanxi. The research results clarify the relationship between the two sets of shale in the Yanchang Formation and redefine the distribution range of the Chang 7 shale in the Ordos Basin. At the same time, it shows that there is a cross‐layer problem in the stratigraphic division of the Yanchang Formation in different regions, the high‐precision U‐Pb dating technology providing a reference for the fine stratigraphic correlation of other continental basins in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model-independent search strategies have been increasingly proposed in recent years because on the one hand there has been no clear signal for new physics and on the other hand there is a lack of a highly probable and parameter-free extension of the standard model. For these reasons, there is no simple search target so far. In this work, we try to take a new direction and ask the question: bearing in mind that we have a large number of new physics theories that go beyond the Standard Model and may contain a grain of truth, can we improve our search strategy for unknown signals by using them "in combination"? In particular, we show that a signal hypothesis based on a large, intermingled set of many different theoretical signal models can be a superior approach to find an unknown BSM signal. Applied to a recent data challenge, we show that "mixture-of-theories training" outperforms strategies that optimize signal regions with a single BSM model as well as most unsupervised strategies. Applications of this work include anomaly detection and the definition of signal regions in the search for signals of new physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies into environmental conditions and their effects on the properties of renewable materials are gaining significant attention in the research field, particularly for natural fibres and their resultant composites. However, natural fibres are prone to water absorption because of the hydrophilic nature of the fibres, which affects the overall mechanical properties of natural-fibre-reinforced composites (NFRCs). In addition, NFRCs are based mainly on thermoplastic and thermosetting matrices, which could be used in automobile and aerospace components as lightweight materials. Therefore, such components have to survive the maximum temperature and humid conditions in different parts of the world. Based on the above factors, through an up-to-date review, this paper critically discusses the effects of environmental conditions on the impact performance of NFRCs. In addition, this paper critically assesses the damage mechanisms of NFRCs and their hybrids by focusing more on moisture ingress and relative humidity in the impact damage behaviour of NFRCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to maintain different voltage levels between the front and rear dc terminal bus derived from new energy industry, a novel bidirectional wider range of boost-buck three-level LCC resonant converter as an energy link is proposed by combining the LCC resonant tank module with a particular three-level coupling cascaded neutral point clamping active bridges, which is composed of two three-level neutral point clamping bridge arms. Furthermore, the converter can, respectively, establish forward LCC and backward SRC working modes to maintain unified wider bidirectional voltage gain range between the input and output by asymmetric structure of LCC resonant tank module that boost-voltage is enabled by equivalent principle of conventional LCC resonant converter and buck-voltage is enabled by equivalent principle of conventional series resonant converter, while, a unified bidirectional boost-buck voltage gain matching control strategy is designed with an optimization about parameters of LCC resonant tank module under realizing of zero voltage switching-on and reducing of reactive power losses. Finally, according to the simulation platform and experimental prototype, it can be shown that the practical voltage gain is closed to the theoretical designed gain and converter has good dynamic performances after realizing of soft-switching in each mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbreaks of leaf spot disease occurred in Rehmannia glutinosa fields in Henan Province, China, in 2019, with the incidence ranging from 20% to 40%. R. glutinosa plants with diseased leaves were collected, and 25 isolates were obtained. Pathogenicity tests, morphological observations, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to identify the pathogens, and the biological characteristics and control agents of the pathogens were studied. Five isolates of pathogenic fungi were isolated. Three isolates were identified as Fusarium equiseti, which is a new pathogen causing R. glutinosa leaf disease; the other two isolates were identified as Fusarium acuminatum. The mycelia of F. equiseti grew fastest on Czapek medium, and the optimal temperature and pH were 25 °C and 10.0, respectively. The mycelia of F. equiseti grew from 5 °C t o 35 °C, and the lethal temperature was 55 °C. The optimal carbon and nitrogen sources were soluble starch and peptone, respectively. Eight fungicides had inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth of F. equiseti and F. acuminatum. Prochloraz had higher activities against F. equiseti and F. acuminatum, with EC50 values of 0.139 mg·L−1 and 0.123 mg·L−1, respectively. These results provide useful information that will aid the development of management strategies to control leaf diseases of R. glutinosa caused by F. equiseti and F. acuminatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data fusion enables the characterisation of an object using multiple datasets collected by various sensors. To improve optical coordinate measurement using data fusion, researchers have proposed numerous algorithmic solutions and methods. The most popular examples are the Gaussian process (GP) and weighted least-squares (WLS) algorithms, which depend on user-defined mathematical models describing the geometric characteristics of the measured object. Existing research on GP and WLS algorithms indicates that GP algorithms have been widely applied in both academia and industry, despite their use being limited to applications on relatively simple geometries. Research on WLS algorithms is less common than research on GP algorithms, as the mathematical tools used in the WLS cases are too simple to be applied with complex geometries. Machine learning is a new technology that is increasingly being applied to data fusion applications. Research on this technology is relatively scarce, but recent work has highlighted the potential of machine learning methods with significant results. Unlike GP and WLS algorithms, machine learning algorithms can autonomously learn the geometrical features of an object. To understand existing research in-depth and explore a path for future work, a new taxonomy of data fusion algorithms is proposed, covering the mathematical background and existing research surrounding each algorithm type. To conclude, the advantages and limitations of the existing methods are reviewed, highlighting the issues related to data quality and the types of test artefacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastases adjacent to the gallbladder (GB). A total of 113 patients with 118 liver lesions (63 HCC lesions and 55 liver metastases) adjacent to the gallbladder underwent RFA between March 2011 and June 2019. Gallbladder-related complications and technique effectiveness rates were evaluated based on the classification of liver tumors and the distance between the lesion and the gallbladder. Gallbladder-related complications were observed in 13 patients. Among the patients with HCC, there was no significant difference between the ≤0.5 cm and >0.5 cm groups (p =.282). However, among the patients with liver metastases, the incidence of gallbladder-related complications in the ≤0.5 cm group was significantly higher than that in the >0.5 cm group (p =.025). The overall incidence of complications was significantly higher in the ≤0.5 cm group than in the >0.5 cm group (p =.020). Among the patients with lesions ≤3 cm, the technical effectiveness rate in the HCC group was significantly higher than in the liver metastasis group (p =.036). RFA is a safe and effective treatment option for liver tumors adjacent to the gallbladder. Patients with lesions ≤0.5 cm from the gallbladder had higher gallbladder-related complications, especially patients with liver metastases. Among patients with lesions ≤3 cm, RFA showed greater technical effectiveness for treating HCC than for treating liver metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturing has recently experienced increased adoption of optimised and fast solutions for checking product quality during fabrication, allowing for manufacturing times and costs to be significantly reduced. Due to the integration of machine learning algorithms, advanced sensors and faster processing systems, smart instruments can autonomously plan measurement pipelines, perform decisional tasks and trigger correctional actions as required. In this paper, we summarise the state of the art in smart optical metrology, covering the latest advances in integrated intelligent solutions in optical coordinate and surface metrology, respectively for the measurement of part geometry and surface texture. Within this field, we include the use of a priori knowledge and implementation of machine learning algorithms for measurement planning optimisation. We also cover the development of multi-sensor and multi-view instrument configurations to speed up the measurement process, as well as the design of novel feedback tools for measurement quality evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-branch pipeline is a typical structure, which is widely used in aerospace, marine and other hydraulic systems. The multi-branch pipeline suffers serious vibration from fluid–structure interaction, which can cause vibration failures in the pipeline system through overload in engineering fields. Vibrational analysis of the multi-branch pipeline system is increasing as part of the design of hydraulic system. In this paper, the finite element model of a multi-branch pipeline considering fluid—structure interaction is established, and the effectiveness of the modeling is validated through a comparison of the modal test for a typical four-way pipeline. The effects of the flow rate, pressure, fluid medium, pipe diameter, elastic constraint stiffness, and pipeline length and wall thickness on the dynamic characteristics of pipeline system are all considered. The obtained results indicate that the multi-branch junction suffering from significant vortex fluid is the main cause of fluid-induced vibration of the pipeline system. The fluid and structural parameters have great influence on the vibration characteristics of the pipeline, which can serve as an efficient tool in the design and maintenance of multi-branch hydraulic pipeline systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of Yangxin Shengmai (Heart-nourishing Pulse-engendering) Granule (YXSM Granule) on rats with coronary heart disease complicated with anxiety and depression through BDNF/TrKB pathway. Methods 124 SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group (n =14) and the model group (n =110). Except for the blank group, the depression model was established with Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) for 28 days. On the 15th day, the myocardial infarction reperfusion model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Among the rat models, 14 rats were operated but not ligated, and they were set as the sham operation group; the others were randomly divided into model group and low-, medium- and high-dose (2.1,4.2,8.4 g/kg) YXSM Granule groups and 0.29 g/ kg Compound Danshen tablet + Fluoxetine (CDST+Flu) group. After intragastric administration for 2 weeks, the rats in each group undergone behavioral tests. The myocardial injury, left ventricle diameter (LVD) and left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) were observed by HE staining, the protein expression levels of BDNF, TrKB and CD34 in myocardial tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the protein expression levels of BDNF, TrKB and p-TrKB in hippocampus were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the sham group, the frequency of entering the central area of the open field and the total time spent and total distance travelled in the movement track in the model group were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and the frequency and proportion of time spent in the open arm of the elevated cross maze were significantly reduced. Compared with the model group, the frequency of entering the central area of the open field and the total time spent and distance travelled in the movement track in all YXSM Granule groups and CDST+ Flu group were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the frequency and proportion of time spent in the open arm of the elevated cross maze were significantly increased, but with no significant difference. Compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the degree of myocardial injury and LVD were significantly increased (P<0. 01), the LVWT and the protein expression levels of BDNF, TrKB and CD34 in myocardial tissue and BDNF and p-trkb/TrKB in hippocampus decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the degree of myocardial injury was significantly improved, the LVD was significantly reduced (P<0.01), the LVWT and the protein expression levels of BDNF, TrKB and CD34 in myocardial tissue and BDNF and p-TrKB/ TrKB in hippocampus were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in all the other groups. Conclusion YXSM Granule seems to improve the cardiac function and alleviate depressive symptoms in rats with coronary heart disease with anxiety and depression, which may play a cardioprotective and antidepressant role by activating BDNF/TrKB signal pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With simple alkanes as the alkyl radical precursors under microwave irradiation, a convenient and efficient cross‐dehydrogenative alkylation reaction of quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones and other N‐heteroarenes has been achieved. The protocol demonstrates a broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, high atom economy and high efficiency, providing a wide range of valuable, structurally diverse C3 alkylated quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones and other alkylated N‐heteroarenes in good‐to‐excellent yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to widen voltage gain of bidirectional on-board charger to meet requirements of electric vehicle with different voltage levels, a novel bidirectional five-level multimode CLLC resonant converter is proposed by combining the CLLC resonant tank module (RTM) with the five-level cascaded neutral-point clamp active bridge which is composed of two three-level neutral-point clamp (3L-NPC) bridge arms. Furthermore, the converter can, respectively, establish three voltage gain modes of high, medium, and low to effectively widen voltage gain adjustment capabilities through the fixed-frequency plus phase-shift hybrid modulation independently adopted in each 3L-NPC bridge arm, while soft-switching is realized by phase control between resonant current and input voltage of RTM. Meanwhile, the key parameters of RTM would be symmetrically designed to make bidirectional power transmission characteristics, which become consistent based on soft-switching and monotonic voltage gain control. Finally, according to the simulation platform and experimental prototype, it can be shown that the practical voltage gain is close to the theoretical design gain and converter has good dynamic performances after realizing soft-switching in each mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic transformation is critical to microalgal genetic engineering which generally prefers a high transformation efficiency. Here, we describe a simple and efficient method of elevating the transformation efficiency of Nannochloropsis oceanica. Algal cells were treated ahead of transformation with zeocin at 0.2 μg mL−1 for 48 h to cause random double-strand breaks (DSB) of DNA. Active hygromycin B resistance gene (aph7) was then electroporated into the cells. Compared with the untreated cells, the transformation efficiency was significantly elevated at least one order of magnitude. The transformants verified by resequencing have one copy of aph7 inserted. We also found that the transformants from zeocin-treated cells had slightly more InDels in their coding sequence (CDS); however, all transformants survived well in our culturing conditions. This provides a broader avenue of inserting heterologous genes into microalgal genomes than the traditional methods. In addition, the method we have established should be applicable in other species, which should aid to the genetic manipulation of diverse microalgal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting public participation is a practical move to strengthen wildlife conservation. This study focuses on saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica), an endangered species which has received international concern. Based on an extended version of the Theory of Planned Behavior and a sample of 536 Chinese residents aged 16–40 collected through an online survey, we applied Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling to explore the predictors of the behavioral intention to participate in saiga antelope conservation. The results show that perceived behavioral control is the most influential predictor that contributes to the value of the behavioral intention, followed by injunctive norm, attitude to participation, knowledge of saiga antelope, experience of wildlife conservation, and attitude to saiga antelope, altogether explaining 48.4% of the variance of the behavioral intention. To promote public participation in saiga antelope conservation, strengthening science popularization and broadening the channels of participation are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of 2020, China has banned the consumption of wild animals to combat the spread of zoonoses. Most existing studies focus on the intention and behavior of wildlife consumption and their causes; however, few have looked at public willingness to resist wildlife consumption, as well as the cause and effects of such actions. In this study, a framework for an extended theory of planned behavior was constructed. Based on a 7-point Likert scale, a sample of 1194 respondents from eight provinces across China was obtained through an online survey. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze netizen behavioral intention to resist consuming wild animals and their causes to provide a reference for the implementation and optimization of relevant policies. The study model passed the goodness-of-fit test, confirming the robustness of the results. The results showed that Chinese netizens' intention to resist consuming wild animals was moderate, with 55.19% willing to participate in activities against it, i.e., it is important to resist eating wild animals as a standard. Attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and past experience of the Chinese netizen had significant positive effects on resistance intention, i.e., (1) netizens' current living area with severe outbreaks were more likely to resist wildlife consumption, (2) highly knowledge level netizens were more likely to resist wildlife consumption than less knowledgeable ones, and (3) lower income level had higher behavioral intentions of netizens. The findings suggest that the government must take a lead role in wildlife protection and strengthen its restrictions, laws, and regulations. The media should also be used to promote conservation and popularize a protective message in favor of wild animals. Public quality and assurance of wildlife protection should be culturally reinforced to effectively ban the illegal trade of wild animals and their products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]