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One of the most significant diseases in the swine business, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes respiratory problems in piglets and reproductive failure in sows. The PRRSV nucleocapsid (N) protein is essential for the virus' assembly, replication, and immune evasion. Stages in the viral replication cycle can be impacted by interactions between the PRRSV nucleocapsid protein and the host protein components. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the interaction between the PRRSV nucleocapsid protein and the host. Nevertheless, no information has been published on the network of interactions between the nucleocapsid protein and the host proteins in primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). In this study, 349 host proteins interacting with nucleocapsid protein were screened in the PRRSV-infected PAMs through a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS)-based proteomics approach. Bioinformatics analysis, which included gene ontology annotation, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database enrichment, and a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, revealed that the host proteins interacting with PRRSV-N may be involved in protein binding, DNA transcription, metabolism, and innate immune responses. This study confirmed the interaction between the nucleocapsid protein and the natural immune-related proteins. Ultimately, our findings suggest that the nucleocapsid protein plays a pivotal role in facilitating immune evasion during a PRRSV infection. This study contributes to enhancing our understanding of the role played by the nucleocapsid protein in viral pathogenesis and virus–host interaction, thereby offering novel insights for the prevention and control of PRRS as well as the development of vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of the surrounding rock in the inclined coal seam stope is crucial for the safety of the gob-side entry. In this article, we systematically analyze the surrounding rock stability of the gob-side entry formed by roof-cutting (GEFR) in an inclined coal seam. We identify three forms of roof structure evolution in the formation process of GEFR and analyze the two main modules affecting the deformation of the surrounding rock structure. We determine the critical elements of surrounding rock deformation in different stages of the GEFR retaining process. Further, we propose a classification of the deformation of the surrounding rock structure of GEFR into stress and structural types during stabilization. We analyze the length of the gangue side's bearing area and calculate the lateral gangue's impact energy. We establish three instability modes of the roof based on the fractured state of the roof structure of the GEFR and provide a mechanical criterion of instability. Finally, based on the results of our theoretical analysis, we propose a control principle for the surrounding rock deformation of GEFR and establish countermeasures for controlling the roof-cutting angle and an asymmetric coupling support system. A field case study was conducted under conditions involving an inclined thick coal seam to investigate the surrounding rock deformation and overburden stress evolution using field monitoring data. The field test results confirm that the control measures of the control roof-cutting angle and the asymmetric coupling support system positively impact the stability of the surrounding rock of the roof-cutting entry in an inclined coal seam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a typical immunosuppressive virus causing a large economic impact on the swine industry. The structural protein GP5 of PRRSV plays a pivotal role in its pathogenicity and immune evasion. Virus–host interactions play a crucial part in viral replication and immune escape. Therefore, understanding the interactions between GP5 and host proteins are significant for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) control. However, the interaction network between GP5 and host proteins in primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) has not been reported. In this study, 709 GP5-interacting host proteins were identified in primary PAMs by immunoprecipitation coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that these proteins were involved in multiple cellular processes, such as translation, protein transport, and protein stabilization. Subsequently, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assay confirmed that GP5 could interact with antigen processing and presentation pathways related proteins. Finally, we found that GP5 may be a key protein that inhibits the antigen processing and presentation pathway during PRRSV infection. The novel host proteins identified in this study will be the candidates for studying the biological functions of GP5, which will provide new insights into PRRS prevention and vaccine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smooth surface blasting control technology is aimed at blasting the rock body until it is left with a smooth surface and to protect it from damage; the current air spaced axial uncoupled charge and air spaced radial uncoupled continuous charge are effective charging structures for smooth surface blasting. Reserved air spacing can effectively reduce the blast wave and the peak pressure of the explosive gas, improving the quasi-static pressure of the explosive gas under the action of rock surface blasting with fracture seam quality. In order to ensure the effect of surface blasting, small-diameter light surface holes are more often used; with the development of drilling machinery, the use of large-diameter light blast holes with an oversized uncoupled coefficient of loading structure effectively improves the efficiency of the construction and at the same time achieves better blasting results. However, according to the bursting assumption of obtaining the theory of light surface blasting in the application of large uncoupling coefficient loading, light surface blasting has certain limitations. In this regard, the bursting theory explores the air spacing uncoupling charge in line with the multi-faceted exponential expansion of the critical uncoupling coefficient and is in accordance with the following: the requirements of light surface blasting and the field loading structure; the derivation of the quasi-static pressure on the wall of the gunhole under the action of large uncoupling, uncoupling coefficient, and the parameters of the spacing between the gunholes; the establishment of the axial uncoupling coefficient and the radial uncoupling coefficient-equivalent relationship between the uncoupling coefficient and the theoretical relationship between the selection of the spacing between the holes; the uncoupling coefficient and the selection of the theoretical relationship between the spacing between the holes. This study reveals the mechanism by which different parameters of surface blasting can achieve good results in engineering practices. A slope in Guizhou is an example of sample calculations and the application of two different charging structures applied to field loading, which have achieved good surface blasting results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a type of vapor chamber with a gradient pore size wick (VC-G) was developed, and its thermal performance was experimentally tested and compared with two types of VCs with uniform pore size wick (which can be defined as VC-U (200) and VC-U (50) as the powder size of the wick is 50-mesh and 200-mesh, respectively) and a VC without a wick (VC-N). In addition, a VC heat transfer ability experiment platform was built, and the thermal resistance, temperature distribution and thermal response time of the VC with different wick structures were experimentally investigated. The experiment results show that the capillary driving force provided by gradient pore size wick increases gradually from outside, which can not only promote the condensation fluid to gather in the central heat source but also facilitate the vapor to spread around. Therefore, compared with VC-U (200), VC-U (50) and VC-N, VC-G shows the best heat transfer performance, temperature uniform performance and start-up performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever (ASF) is an acute, virulent, and highly fatal infectious disease caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV). There is no effective vaccine or diagnostic method to prevent and control this disease currently, which highlights the significance of ASF early detection. In this study, we chose an early antigen and a late-expressed antigen to co-detect the target antibody, which not only helps in early detection but also improves accuracy and sensitivity. CP204L and B602L were successfully expressed as soluble proteins in an Escherichia coli vector system. By optimizing various conditions, a dual-antigen indirect ELISA for ASFV antibodies was established. The assay was non-cross-reactive with antibodies against the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, classical swine fever virus, porcine circovirus type 2, and pseudorabies virus. The maximum serum dilution for detection of ASFV-positive sera was 1:1600. The intra-batch reproducibility coefficient of variation was <5% and the inter-batch reproducibility coefficient of variation was <10%. Compared with commercial kits, the dual-antigen indirect ELISA had good detection performance. In conclusion, we established a detection method with low cost, streamlined production process, and fewer instruments. It provides a new method for the serological diagnosis of ASF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation law of blast stress waves in jointed rock masses is closely related to the characteristics of the joint filling medium. The water content and thickness of the filling medium affect the propagation characteristics of the blast stress wave in the joint surface. Based on similarity theory, mortar-red clay-mortar composite specimens with different moisture contents (36%, 39%, 42%, and 45%) and medium thicknesses (3 mm, 6 mm, and 9 mm) were prepared with red clay as the filling medium. The dynamic uniaxial compression test of the specimen under different strain rates was carried out by using a variable cross-section split Hopkinson compression bar with a diameter of 50 mm. The effects of strain rate, moisture content, and medium thickness on the stress wave propagation characteristics, dynamic stress-strain curve, peak stress, crushing energy consumption density, and crushing characteristics of mortar-red clay-mortar composite specimens were analyzed. The results show that the blocking effect of joints on stress waves increases significantly with increasing filling medium thickness and water content. With increasing strain rate, the peak stress and energy of the composite specimen increase and there is an obvious strain rate effect. With the increase in the thickness and moisture content of the filling medium, the peak stress, dynamic elastic modulus, energy consumption density per unit volume, and crushing degree of the specimen gradually decrease and the nonlinear deformation is more obvious. There is a good linear relationship between the peak stress and the thickness and moisture content of the filling medium. The existence of joints greatly weakens the damage effect of stress waves on the specimens behind the joints, and with the increase in the thickness and water content of the filling medium, the degree of damage to the specimens behind the joint surface decreases under the same impact pressure and the weakening effect becomes increasingly significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever (ASF), the highly lethal swine infectious disease caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a great threat to the swine industry. There is no effective vaccine or diagnostic method to prevent and control this disease currently. The p30 protein of ASFV is an important target for serological diagnosis, expressed in the early stage of viral replication and has high immunogenicity and sequence conservatism. Here, the CP204L gene was cloned into the expression vector pET-30a (+), and the soluble p30 protein was successfully expressed in the E. coli prokaryotic expression system and then labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to be the enzyme-labeled antigen. Using the purified recombinant p30 protein, a double-antigen sandwich ELISA for ASFV antibody detection was developed. This method exhibits excellent specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility in clinical sample detection with lower cost and shorter production cycles. Taken together, this study provides technical support for antibody detection for ASFV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete is widely used in bridge foundation, water supply, and drainage engineering. On the one hand, the saturated concrete is always in the saturated state. In the cold winter, northeast China and the alpine region suffer from freezing disaster. On the other hand, it has to continue to bear the dynamic load action of vehicles and running water, which makes the stress state of saturated concrete more complicated under the coupling action of low temperature and dynamic load. In order to study the mechanical properties and fracture characteristics of saturated concrete under the coupling effect of low temperature and dynamic load, the impact compression tests of concrete under normal temperature 20°C, -5°C, -10°C, and -15°C were carried out with a diameter of 74 mm split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The stress-strain characteristics, energy dissipation, and failure modes of specimens under different low temperatures were studied. From a detailed point of view, the failure mechanism of low-temperature water-saturated concrete is expounded. The results show that under the same dynamic load, the dynamic stress-strain curve of saturated concrete changes obviously with the change of low temperature. The dynamic compressive strength of the natural specimen at room temperature is high while that of the water-saturated specimen is low, and the dynamic compressive strength is opposite at low temperature. At the same temperature, the energy time-history curves of concrete in the saturated state are different from those in the natural state, mainly in the plastic section. The energy time-history curves of saturated concrete are different at different temperatures, and the energy dissipation rate of saturated concrete increases linearly with the decrease of temperature. Under the experimental conditions, the dynamic strength of saturated concrete increases linearly with the decrease of temperature, and the peak strain of saturated concrete decreases linearly with the increase of temperature. With the decrease of temperature, the fragmentation of saturated concrete under the impact of the same air pressure gradually increases, and the integrity of the specimen gradually improves. Low temperature can improve the impact resistance of saturated concrete, which is consistent with the failure law of natural state concrete. The water-saturated low-temperature state of the concrete void is filled with ice crystal particles; for low-temperature water-saturated concrete in the impact of the dynamic load, the microstructure is affected by the ice crystal structure which is not easy to change; the specimen along the axial force direction microdefect development produces a crack, the crack along the parallel to the pressure direction of cracking, through the two ends of the specimen, and finally produces axial splitting tensile damage. The research results have important theoretical significance for the safety design of low temperature saturated concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To acquire a satisfying cutting effect during medium-length hole blasting driving of rock tunnels, an improved wedge cutting blasting method with supplementary blasting of the center holes was proposed. Initially, the cavity forming mechanism of the improved cutting method was analyzed theoretically. The results suggested that cutting hole blasting could realize the ejection of rock within the range from free face to critical cutting depth, and hence reduce the restraining force of the center hole blasting, and the supplementary blasting of the center holes could further accomplish the expulsion of the residuary rock. Subsequently, simulation of the improved cutting method was implemented to exhibit the stress wave evolution and reveal the stress field distribution. The simulation results indicated that cutting hole blasting could cause the preliminary failure of the residuary rock, and center hole blasting could strengthen the stress field intensity in 1.8–2.5 m in order to aggravate the destruction of the residuary rock. Hence, the residuary rock could be broken into small fragments that were easy to expel out. Finally, a field application experiment was conducted in a coal mine rock tunnel. Using the improved wedge cutting method instead of the conventional wedge cutting method, the full-face blasting driving efficiency was obviously enhanced and the overall blasting driving expense was significantly reduced, which forcefully confirmed the engineering usefulness of the improved wedge cutting method in the medium-length hole blasting driving of rock tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep rock bears dynamic loads such as machinery, blasting and disturbance in the mining process. The dynamic fracture mechanism of deep rock is a necessary prerequisite for engineering design and analysis. To study the dynamic fracture mechanism of rock under high in situ stress, deep mudstone and sandstone were selected as research objects. The dynamic mechanical properties and energy dissipation of mudstone sandstone were assessed by using a 50 mm diameter separated Hopkinson test device. According to the similarity criterion, the similarity of strength was assumed as primary factor to prepare similar model materials. Then, dynamic mechanical tests of these similar materials were carried out under dynamic compression splitting and active confining pressure. The results show that materials similar to mudstone and sandstone mainly show axial fracture tensile failure and crushing failure. Both the average strain rate dynamic strength and peak strain of these similar materials increase with increasing impact pressure, and the dynamic strength of similar materials increases exponentially with increasing strain rate. This result is consistent with the regularity of original rock. The dynamic splitting of mudstone-like materials is dominated by the failure of intermediate cracks, and sandstone-like materials also show secondary cracks in addition to intermediate splitting cracks. The dynamic peak strength of mudstone-like materials increases with increasing active confining pressure, and the dynamic peak strength of sandstone-like materials increases nearly twofold under the action of active confining pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to guarantee the safety of adjacent underground structures during the foundation pit blasting excavation of modern city construction. The blasting excavation construction of a large, deep foundation pit near an existing metro station of Guangzhou Metro Line 3 is used as the example in this study. Based on blasting vibration field test results, the influence of blasting dynamic load on the lining of an adjacent metro tunnel is numerically analyzed in simulation using Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua 3D (FLAC3D), and the relationships between the blasting vibration velocity and stress and the displacement of the metro tunnel lining are obtained. The results show that the stress of lining structure is within the allowable range under the experimental blasting conditions, the lining displacement increases linearly with the applied dynamic vibration velocity, and the vertical displacement of the lining is more obviously affected than the horizontal displacement by the dynamic load. This study can be used as a basis for the control of blasting vibration in a complex urban environment. Its practical application shows that the proposed blasting plan and parameters are reasonable and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the problems of poor cutting effects in hard rock roadways, a cut blasting technique with large diameter charges was developed; that is, the cut holes employ 50 mm diameter blast holes and 45 mm diameter explosive sticks, while the other holes adopt 42 mm diameter blast holes and 35 mm diameter explosive sticks. First, the effect of charge diameter on damage range and cut cavity formation was analyzed. Next, simulation of wedge cut for different charge diameters was conducted to reveal the stress wave developments and compare the stress field intensities. Finally, field tests were conducted to verify the viability of this technique. The results indicate that large diameter charges can increase the damage range around cut holes to improve the fragmentation degree of the rock mass in the cut cavity and significantly enhance the cavity formation power to better expel the rock mass fragments. The stress wave evolution of wedge cut was visualized using numerical simulations, which confirmed that the use of large diameter charges in cut holes increases the stress field intensity in the cut cavity and hence increases the damage degree of the rock mass. In this study, the use of a large diameter charge for cut blasting increased the average footage by 0.30 m, and the average utilization rate of blast holes increased by 12.5%. Therefore, the cutting effects in hard rock roadways can be improved by using large diameter charges, which increase the blasting footage and the utilization rate of blast holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever virus (ASFV) poses a serious threat to domestic pigs and wild boars, which is responsible for substantial production and economic losses. A dominant ASFV specific linear B cell epitope that reacted with the convalescent serum was explored and identified with the help of immune informatics techniques. It is essential in understanding the host immunity and in developing diagnostic technical guidelines and vaccine design. The confirmation of dominant epitopes with a positive serological matrix is feasible. To improve the immunogenicity of the epitope, we designed the dominant epitope of CD2v in the form of 2 branch Multiple-Antigen peptide (MAPs-2), CD2v-MAPs-2. Notably, CD2v peptide can be taken up by dendritic cells (DCs) to activate T lymphocytes and induce highly effective valence antibodies in BALB/c mice. The specific CD8+ T cell response were observed. The dominant epitope peptide identified in this study was able to effectively activate humoral and cellular immunity in mice model. • A dominant epitope with a good reaction to African Swine Fever Virus convalescent serum was identified. • CD2v-MAPs-2 can induce robust specific humoral immunity and generate T cell-mediated immune responses • The combination of the bioinformatics method and wet assay for epitope identification was rapid, efficient, and saved time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]