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Simple Summary: In commercial aquaculture, aquatic animals are generally administered medicine ad libitum (at one's pleasure) via medicated feed. However, the estimation of withdrawal times for aquatic medicine is mostly carried out through the forced administration of medicine via oral gavage, which is not consistent with commercial aquaculture. This process may influence the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of medicine in aquatic animals and further affect the calculation of withdrawal times (WTs) for medicines. Therefore, in the current study, we selected the important aquatic medicine enrofloxacin (EF) to estimate its WTs in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) after the administration of medicated feed. This study will obtain practical estimations of the WT of EF in actual aquaculture to aid in the surveillance of medication residue in fish products. The present study investigated the residue depletion and WTs of EF and its main metabolite, ciprofloxacin, in largemouth bass after ad libitum administration in commercial fish farming based on statistical approaches. Samples collected at pre-determined time points were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography. If the concentrations of medicine were less than the quantitative limit, they were set to be half of the limit of quantitative. The terminal elimination of the target compound was assumed to fit a one-compartment model. The statistical methods of Bartlett's test and Cochran's test were used to inspect the homogeneity of the log-transformed data. The lack-of-fit test and F-test were used to check the linearity of the regression line. Outliers were assessed using standardized residuals. The final WT was estimated using the 95% percentile with a 95% confidence level. The WTs of EF were calculated to be 46, 29, 33, 46, and 20 days for the muscle + skin, plasma, gill, kidney, and liver, respectively. After the risk assessment, the values of the hazard quotient were calculated to be far less than 1, indicating that the risk of residual EF was particularly low in the edible tissues of largemouth bass after medicine depletion for various WTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing of potato tuberization is affected by potato ripeness, environmental factors, and polygene regulation. The accurate control of the transition to tuberization has both scientific and practical production value, but the key factors regulating this transition remain unclear. This study grafted an early-maturing potato variety (Favorita) scion to the late-maturing Qingshu 9 variety and demonstrated that a heterologous early-maturing scion can induce early potato formation on a late-maturing rootstock. The transcriptome of functional leaves and stolons of grafted plants was comprehensively analyzed and 593 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 38 transcription factors. Based on gene molecular function analysis and previous reports, we propose that PIF5, bHLH93, CBF3, ERF109, TCP19, and YABBY1 are the key DEGs that induce tuber formation in early- and late-maturing potatoes. The YABBY1 gene was subjected to functional verification. The leaf area of StYABBY1-overexpressing plants was smaller than the wild type and no potato tubercles were formed, while an RNA interference plant line showed no change in leaf area and formed tubers, indicating that StYABBY1 has a role in leaf size regulation and tuber formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important mechanism in the post-transcriptional regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, alternative polyadenylation (APA) plays a key role in biological processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the role and dynamic pattern of APA during Litopenaeus vannamei metamorphosis are poorly understood. Here, RNA-seq data covering from the embryo to the maturation (16 time points) of L. vannamei were utilized. We identified 247 differentially expressed APA events between early and adult stages, and through fuzzy mean clustering analysis, we discovered five dynamic APA patterns. Among them, the gradual elongation of the 3′UTR is the major APA pattern that changes over time, and its genes are enriched in the pathways of protein and energy metabolism. Finally, we constructed mRNA-miRNA and PPI networks and detected several central miRNAs that may regulate L. vannamei development. Our results revealed the complex APA mechanisms in L. vannamei metamorphosis, shedding new light on post-transcriptional regulation of crustacean metamorphosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The KR resistance curve for hydraulic crack propagation in a concrete beam was determined and discussed. A semi-analytical method was introduced to calculate the hydraulic crack propagation in concrete. A series of concrete beams with various hydraulic pressures and initial crack depths were tested, and the hydraulic crack propagation in these beams was calculated. The calculated P-CMOD curves were first verified, and then the calculated KR resistance curve for hydraulic crack propagation was determined. Based on the test results and calculation results, the following conclusions can be drawn: The proposed analysis method can accurately predict the hydraulic crack propagation process in concrete. The KR resistance to hydraulic crack propagation in concrete decreases with the increase in hydraulic pressure but is less influenced by the initial crack depth of the test beams. In addition, the concrete beams collapse immediately under hydraulic fracturing once the KIw curve reaches the KR resistance curve. This indicates that the failure of concrete structures under hydraulic fracturing occurs immediately once the driving force of crack propagation, dominated by the hydraulic pressure in the crack, becomes significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetone is a biomarker found in the expired air of patients suffering from diabetes. Therefore, early and accurate detection of its concentration in the breath of such patients is extremely important. We prepared Tin(IV) oxide (SnO2) nanospheres via hydrothermal treatment and then decorated them with bimetallic PtAu nanoparticles (NPs) employing the approach of in situ reduction. The topology, elemental composition, as well as crystal structure of the prepared materials were studied via field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The findings revealed that bimetallic PtAu-decorated SnO2 nanospheres (PtAu/SnO2) were effectively synthesized as well as PtAu NPs evenly deposited onto the surface of the SnO2 nanospheres. Pure SnO2 nanospheres and PtAu/SnO2 sensors were prepared, and their acetone gas sensitivity was explored. The findings demonstrated that in comparison to pristine SnO2 nanosphere sensors, the sensors based on PtAu/SnO2 displayed superior sensitivity to acetone of 0.166–100 ppm at 300 °C, providing a low theoretical limit of detection equal to 158 ppm. Moreover, the PtAu/SnO2 sensors showed excellent gas response (Ra/Rg = 492.3 to 100 ppm), along with fast response and recovery (14 s/13 s to 10 ppm), good linearity of correlation, excellent repeatability, long-term stability, and satisfactory selectivity at 300 °C. This improved gas sensitivity was because of the electron sensitization of the Pt NPs, the chemical sensitization of the Au NPs, as well as the synergistic effects of bimetallic PtAu. The PtAu/SnO2 sensors have considerable potential for the early diagnosis and screening of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selective hydrogenation of the biomass platform molecule furfural (FAL) to produce furfuryl alcohol (FA) is of great significance to alleviate the energy crisis. Cu-based catalysts are the most commonly used catalysts, and their catalytic performance can be optimized by changing the preparation method. This paper emphasized the effect of calcination atmosphere on the performance of a Cu/Al2O3 catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of FAL. The precursor of the Cu/Al2O3 catalyst prepared by the ammonia evaporation method was treated with different calcination atmospheres (N2 and air). On the basis of the combined results from the characterizations using in situ XRD, TEM, N2O titration, H2-TPR and XPS, the Cu/Al2O3 catalyst calcined in the N2 atmosphere was more favorable for the dispersion and reduction of Cu species and the reduction process could produce more Cu+ and Cu0 species, which facilitated the selective hydrogenation of FAL to FA. The experimental results showed that the N2 calcination atmosphere improved the FAL conversion and FA selectivity, and the FAL conversion was further increased after reduction. Cu/Al2O3-N2-R exhibited the outstanding performance, with a high yield of 99.9% of FA after 2 h at 120 °C and an H2 pressure of 1 MPa. This work provides a simple, efficient and economic method to improve the C=O hydrogenation performance of Cu-based catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corner reflector is an effective means of interference for radar seekers due to its high jamming intensity, wide frequency band, and combat effectiveness ratio. Properly arranging multiple corner reflectors in an array can form dilution jamming that resembles ships, substantially enhancing the interference effect. This results in a significant decline in the precision attack efficiency of radar seekers. Hence, it is critical to accurately identify corner reflector array. The common recognition methods involve extracting features on the high-resolution range profile (HRRP) and polarization domain. However, the former is constrained by the number of corner reflectors, while the latter is affected by the accuracy of polarization measurement, both of which have limited performance on the identification of corner reflector array. In terms of the evident variations in physical structures, there must be differences in their scattering characteristics. To highlight the differences, this paper proposes a new method based on the concept of mismatched filtering, which involves changing the frequency modulation slope of the chirp signal in the filter. Then, the variance of width and intervals within a specific scope are extracted as features to characterize these differences, and an identification process is designed in combination with the support vector machine. The simulation experiments demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits stable discriminative performance and can effectively combat dilution jamming. Its accuracy rate exceeds 0.86 when the signal-to-noise ratio is greater than 0 dB. Compared to the HRRP methods, the recognition accuracy of the proposed algorithm improves 15% in relation to variations in the quantity of corner reflectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global aging population increases, the demand for rehabilitation of elderly hand conditions has attracted increased attention in the field of wearable sensors. Owing to their distinctive anti-electromagnetic interference properties, high sensitivity, and excellent biocompatibility, optical fiber sensors exhibit substantial potential for applications in monitoring finger movements, physiological parameters, and tactile responses during rehabilitation. This review provides a brief introduction to the principles and technologies of various fiber sensors, including the Fiber Bragg Grating sensor, self-luminescent stretchable optical fiber sensor, and optic fiber Fabry–Perot sensor. In addition, specific applications are discussed within the rehabilitation field. Furthermore, challenges inherent to current optical fiber sensing technology, such as enhancing the sensitivity and flexibility of the sensors, reducing their cost, and refining system integration, are also addressed. Due to technological developments and greater efforts by researchers, it is likely that wearable optical fiber sensors will become commercially available and extensively utilized for rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing and breaking down nonstationary signals into their primary components is significant in various optical applications. In this work, we design a direct, localized, and mathematically rigorous method for nonstationary signals by employing a modulated short-time Fourier transform (MSTFT) that can be implemented efficiently using fast Fourier transform, subsequently isolating energy-concentrated sets through an approximate threshold process, allowing us to directly retrieve instantaneous frequencies and signal components by determining the maximum frequency within each set. MSTFT provides a new insight into the time-frequency analysis in multicomponent signal separation and can be extended to other time-frequency transforms. Beyond the analysis of the synthetic, we also perform real dual-comb ranging signals under turbid water, and the results show an approximate 1.5 dB improvement in peak signal-to-noise ratio, further demonstrating the effectiveness of our method in challenging conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of doctoral students transitioning from being knowledge learners to being knowledge researchers is beneficial for personal growth and career development. This study explores how doctoral students at Chinese research universities understand academic identity from a psychological perspective based on grounded theory. Understanding academic identity for doctoral students involves three psychological activities: situation recognition, psychological interaction, and reflective positioning. The sense of academic meaning and the sense of academic efficacy shape doctoral students' understanding of academic identity, resulting in four patterns: Adeptness, Academic Pursuit, Alienation and Powerlessness, and Struggling for Meaning. Academic meaning serves as the internal driving force for developing academic identity, while academic efficacy acts as a psychological condition for maintaining academic identity. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance doctoral students' recognition of academic meaning and academic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aluminum silicate fiber/alumina aerogel (ASF/AA) composite was prepared via the sol-gel method and atmospheric drying (APD) method using coal gangue (CG) solid waste from Xingxian county, Shanxi Province, as the aluminum source. Utilizing N2 adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermal conductivity meters, researchers examined the microstructure, composition, pore structure, and thermal insulation performance of ASF/AA composites. The thermal conductivity mechanism of the composite was analyzed. The experimental results show that most of the aluminum in CG is used. More importantly, in the process of aerogel synthesis, the atmospheric pressure drying method is used to obtain similar properties to supercritical drying. The composite material exhibits a low thermal conductivity of 0.047 W/(m·K), a high specific surface area of 416 m2/g, and a low density of 0.26 g/cm3 at room temperature. After heating at 1200 °C for 2 h, the thermal conductivity was as low as 0.071 W/(m·K). This strategy can not only effectively achieve a reduction in the harmfulness of solid waste coal gangue, but also alleviate the shortage of related energy and resources in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

YCA1, the only metacaspase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, plays important roles in the regulation of chronological lifespan, apoptosis, and cytokinesis. YCA1 has protein hydrolase activity and functions by cleaving itself and target proteins. However, there are few reports about the regulation of YCA1 activity. In this study, we observed that reactive sulfane sulfur (RSS) can inhibit the activity of YCA1. In vitro experiments demonstrated that RSS reacted with the Cys276 of YCA1, the residue central to its protein hydrolase activity, to form a persulfidation modification (protein-SSH). This modification inhibited both its self-cleavage and the cleavage of its substrate protein, BIR1. To investigate further, we constructed a low-endogenous-RSS mutant of S. cerevisiae, BY4742 Δcys3, in which the RSS-producing enzyme cystathionine-γ-lyase (CYS3) was knocked out. The activity of YCA1 was significantly increased by the deletion of CYS3. Moreover, increased YCA1 activity led to reduced chronological lifespan (CLS) and CLS-driven apoptosis. This study unveils the first endogenous factor that regulates YCA1 activity, introduces a novel mechanism of how yeast cells regulate chronological lifespan, and broadens our understanding of the multifaceted roles played by RSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study focused on the DNA polymerase β (POLB) gene, which belongs to the DNA polymerase X family involved in DNA replication, repair, recombination, and cell cycle regulation. POLB was identified as a muscle development-related gene through gene screening and gene expression analysis methods. Further validation in bovine primary myocytes showed that overexpression of POLB promoted apoptosis, while gene knockdown had no significant effect. Analysis of related genes revealed that POLB overexpression affected the expression of the CASP9 gene, which is involved in the apoptotic pathway. DNA polymerase β (DNA polymerase beta (POLB)) belongs to a member of the DNA polymerase X family, mainly involved in various biological metabolic processes, such as eukaryotic DNA replication, DNA damage repair, gene recombination, and cell cycle regulation. In this study, the muscle development-related gene POLB was screened by selection signature and RNA-seq analysis and then validated for the proliferation and apoptosis of bovine primary myocytes. It was also found that overexpression of the POLB gene had a pro-apoptosis effect, but interfering with the expression of the gene had no significant effect on cells. Then, the analysis of related apoptotic genes revealed that POLB overexpression affected CASP9 gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the limitations of microbial metabolic resources is crucial for understanding plantation soil quality and enhancing fertility management. However, the variation of microbial resource limitations at the aggregate level in response to changes in stands remains unclear. This research explores carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) limitations affecting microbial metabolism in bulk soils and aggregates in two mixed and one pure Chinese fir stands in subtropical China, analyzing resource limitations concerning soil carbon, nutrients, and microbial indicators. The results revealed that microbes in all aggregates of the pure stands and in the micro aggregates (<0.25 mm) of the three stands were relatively limited by C and P. In contrast, microbial metabolism was more N-limited in macroaggregates (>2 mm) and small aggregates (2–0.25 mm) in the mixed stands. Additionally, in the mixed stands the proportion of soil macroaggregates increased, and that of micro aggregates decreased, resulting in a shift from C and P limitation to N limitation for bulk soil microbial metabolism. Redundancy analysis identified soil aggregate organic carbon and nutrient content as the main factors affecting microbial resource limitation, rather than their stoichiometric ratios. Pathway analysis further confirmed that soil nutrients and their stoichiometric ratios indirectly influenced soil microbe resource limitation by regulating microbial biomass, microbial respiration, and extracellular enzyme activities. Thus, the impact of mixed plantations on soil nutrients and microbial activity at the aggregate level may be crucial for maintaining land fertility and achieving sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic behavior of the end-plate connections between a steel beam and the weak axis of the H-shaped steel column using a U-shaped connector was investigated using numerical analysis. Finite element (FE) models were established using ABAQUS 6.14 software, and the applicability of the modeling approach was verified by comparing the numerical results with the relevant experimental results. This parametric study of the joint was carried out to analyze the effects of the thickness of the U-shaped connectors, the thickness of the end-plates, the axial compression ratio of the columns, and the linear stiffness ratio of the beam to the column. The results show that the U-shaped connector set in the weak axis of the H-shaped column can form a box-shaped panel zone with the column flange and web. The volume of the panel zone and its resistance to shear deformation are increased through this connection. Finally, the recommended reasonable ranges for the thickness of the U-shaped connector, the thickness of the end-plates, the axial compression ratio of the columns, and the linear stiffness ratio of the beam to the column are proposed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents, including the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), play vital roles in ecosystem functioning, with their gut microbiota contributing significantly to various ecological processes. Here, we investigated the structure and function of 94 wild A. agrarius individuals from 7 geographic populations (45°57′ N, 126°48′ E; 45°87′ N, 126°37′ E; 45°50′ N, 125°31′ E; 45°59′ N, 124°37′ E; 46°01′ N, 124°88′ E; 46°01′ N, 124°88′ E; 46°01′ N, 124°88′ E), revealing two distinct enterotypes (Type1 and Type2) for the first time. Each enterotype showed unique microbial diversity, functions, and assembly processes. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated, with a significant presence of Lactobacillus and Muribaculaceae. Functional analysis highlighted metabolic differences, with Type1 emphasizing nutrient processing and Type2 showing higher energy production capacity. The analysis of the neutral model and the null model revealed a mix of stochastic (drift and homogenizing dispersal) and deterministic processes (homogenous selection) that shape the assembly of the microbiota, with subtle differences in the assembly processes between the two enterotypes. Correlation analysis showed that elevation and BMI were associated with the phylogenetic turnover of microbial communities, suggesting that variations in these factors may influence the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota in A. agrarius. Our study sheds light on gut microbial dynamics in wild A. agrarius populations, highlighting the importance of considering ecological and physiological factors in understanding host–microbiota interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power capacity of reflectarray antennas (RAs) is investigated through full-wave simulations and high-power microwave (HPM) experiments in this paper. In order to illustrate the results in detail, two RA elements are designed. The simulated power handling capacity of two RA elements are 7.17 MW/m2 and 2.3 GW/m2, respectively. To further study the HPM RA, two RA prototypes operating at 2.8 GHz are constructed with the aperture size of 1 m × 1 m. Simulations and experimental measurements are conducted for the two prototypes. The experimental results demonstrate that, even when subjected to 1 GW of power, the radiation beam of the RA with the second elements can still propagate in the intended direction. This research will establish a basis for advancing the practicality of RAs in HPM applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moldy corn produces aflatoxin and gibberellin, which can have adverse effects on human health if consumed. Mold is a significant factor that affects the safe storage of corn. If not detected and controlled in a timely manner, it will result in substantial food losses. Understanding the infection patterns of mold on corn kernels and the changing characteristics of the internal structure of corn kernels after infection is crucial for guiding innovation and optimizing detection methods for moldy corn. This knowledge also helps maintain corn storage and ensure food safety. This study was based on X-ray tomography technology to non-destructively detect changes in the structural characteristics of moldy corn kernels. It used image processing technology and model reconstruction algorithms to obtain the 3D model of the embryo, pores and cracks, endosperm and seed coat, and kernels of moldy corn kernels; qualitative analysis of the characteristic changes of two-dimensional slice grayscale images and 3D models of moldy corn kernels; and quantitative analysis of changes in the volume parameters of corn kernels, embryos, endosperm, and seed coats as a whole. It explored the detection method of moldy corn kernels based on a combination of X-ray tomography technology and deep learning algorithms. The analysis concluded that mold infection in maize begins in the embryo and gradually spreads and that mold damage to the tissue structure of maize kernels is irregular in nature. The overall volume parameter changes of corn kernels, embryos, endosperm, and seed coats in the four stages of 0 d, 5 d, 10 d, and 15 d showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The ResNet50 model was enhanced for detecting mold on maize kernels, achieving an accuracy of over 93% in identifying mold features in sliced images of maize kernels. This advancement enabled the non-destructive detection and classification of the degree of mold in maize kernel samples. This article studies the characterization of the characteristic changes of moldy corn kernels and the detection of mildew, which will provide certain help for optimizing the monitoring of corn kernel mildew and the development of rapid detection equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the phenomenon of large deformation and the failure of roadways under dynamic pressure, this paper takes the 10607 gas drainage roadway as the research object and presents the results of a theoretical derivation of equations for the boundary of the plastic zone of a dynamic pressure roadway with and without supporting force. The impacts of the mining influence coefficient and supporting force on the plastic zone boundary were explored for various lateral pressure coefficients. As the supporting force was increased, it was observed that there was a slight reduction in the radius of the plastic zone of the dynamic pressure roadway, while its scope and shape barely changed. Based on the failure mechanism of the dynamic pressure roadway, active and passive support technology was proposed, and the support effect was analyzed using FLAC3D 5.0 numerical simulation software for the case of the 10607 gas drainage roadway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The act of standing up is one of the most important movements in daily life, but it often poses challenges for elderly individuals with declining physical functions. To address this issue, we have designed an assistive device for sit-to-stand (STS) movement. This device aids the upper limbs, allowing them to bear some of the weight during the STS movement, thereby improving the force distribution on the lower limbs and enhancing the stability of the body during movement. The connection to the user is very straightforward; one simply needs to place their hands and arms on the lifting mechanism to connect, and after the STS movement is completed, the user can easily disengage, making it very convenient to use. The device is compact, equipped with wheels and a handle, allowing it to be flexibly moved and used in confined spaces such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and balconies. ADAMS-LifeMOD simulations indicate that the use of the STS movement assistive device can significantly improve the force distribution across the joints of the lower limbs and reduce the pressure on the soles of the feet against the ground. Subsequently, a prototype was built, and four volunteers were invited to conduct further experimental validation, comparing the changes in plantar pressure during the STS movement with and without the assistive device, as well as the subjective feelings of the users. The experimental results demonstrate that the device can effectively help users to stand up more easily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrugated damage to bearings is a common fault in electrical facilities such as new energy vehicles, wind power, and high-speed railways. The aim of this article is to reveal the microscopic characteristics and formation mechanism of such damages. The corrugation with alternating "light" and "dark" shape was produced on GCr15 bearing races in the experimental conditions. Compared to the light area, the dark area (in the images generated by optical microscope) has more severe electrical erosion, lower hardness, more concave morphology, and lower oxidation. As the voltage increases, the width of the corrugation, the height difference between corrugation, and surface roughness all increase. It is believed that the formation of corrugated damage requires a sufficiently high voltage to induce the periodic destruction and reconstruction of the lubrication film. When the bearing is in a metal-lubrication film–metal contact state, the high voltage causes the lubrication film to break down and induce electrical erosion. Then, the contact area is in metal–metal contact, and the surface is mainly damaged by mechanical rolling. After the reconstruction of lubrication film, the next round of electrical erosion begins. The results are helpful for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of bearing erosion in electrical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Copy number variation (CNV) is a critical component of genome structural variation and has garnered significant attention. High-throughput screening of the KCNJ15 gene has revealed a correlation between the CNV region and the growth traits of goats. We aimed to identify the CNV of the KCNJ15 gene in five goat breeds and analyze its association with growth characteristics. (2) Methods: We utilized 706 goats from five breeds: Guizhou black goat (GZB), Guizhou white goat (GZW), Bohuai goat (BH), Huai goat (HH), and Taihang goat (TH). To evaluate the number of copies of the KCNJ15 gene using qPCR, we analyzed the correlation between the CNV and growth characteristics and then used a universal linear model. The findings revealed variations in the distribution of different copy number types among the different goat breeds. (3) Results: Association analysis revealed a positive influence of the CNV in the KCNJ15 gene on goat growth. In GZB, individuals with duplication types exhibited superior performance in terms of cannon bone circumference (p < 0.05). In HH, individuals with duplication types exhibited superior performance in terms of body slanting length (p < 0.05). Conversely, normal TH demonstrated better body height and body weight (p < 0.05), while in GZW, when CN = 3, it performed better than other types in terms of body weight and chest circumference (p < 0.05). However, in BH, it had no significant effect on growth traits. (4) Conclusions: We confirmed that the CNV in the KCNJ15 gene significantly influences the growth characteristics of four distinct goat breeds. The correlation between KCNJ15 gene CNVs and goat growth traits offers valuable insights to breeders, enabling them to employ precise and efficient breeding methods that enhance livestock welfare, productivity, and overall economic benefits in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dong Taijinar (DT) and Xi Taijinar (XT) Salt Lakes have been extensively researched for their mineral richness. However, the composition and distribution of their microbial communities are still poorly known. In this study, we employed metagenomic sequencing to explore the diversity and potential functions of the microbial populations in DT and XT. Our findings indicate that the salinity levels in DT (332.18–358.30 g/L) were tenfold higher than in XT (20.09–36.83 g/L). Notably, archaea dominated the DT domain at 96.16%, while bacteria prevailed in XT at 93.09%. In DT, the bacterial community comprised 33 phyla and 1717 genera, with Marinobacter emerging as the dominant genus, showing a positive correlation with the total phosphorus content. The archaeal community in DT included four main phyla and 153 genera. The most abundant genera were Natronomonas (24.61%) and Halorubrum (23.69%), which had a strong positive correlation with the concentrations of Na+, Ca2+, and Cl−. Conversely, XT hosted 33 phyla and 1906 bacterial genera, with Loktanella as the dominant genus. The archaeal taxonomy in XT encompassed four phyla and 149 genera. In both salt lakes, Proteobacteria and Euryarchaeota were the most abundant bacterial and archaeal phyla, respectively. Our analysis of the halophilic mechanisms of these microorganisms suggests that the bacteria in XT tend to synthesize compatible solutes, whereas the archaea in DT adopt a 'salt-in' strategy, integrating salt into their cellular machinery to cope with the high-salinity environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the R22 (chlorodifuoromethane) steam-cracking process, which is used to produce a TFE (tetrafluoroethylene) monomer, distillation is employed to separate the high-purity TFE monomer from the cracked gas generated during this procedure. Traditionally, this distillation process is carried out using five towers. In this study, the traditional five-tower distillation method was transformed into a four-tower distillation method through the Aspen Plus simulation software, and this process was simulated and optimized. Meanwhile, a double-effect distillation process was designed for the transformed four-tower distillation process. The transformed distillation process not only meets the requirements of 99.999% purity for the TFE monomer and 99.99% purity for R22 recycling, but it also reduces the footprint by eliminating one distillation tower and saves 112.9002 kW of tower load, thus reducing the operating costs. This research provides valuable guidance for practical production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podophyllotoxin (PTOX) is naturally produced by the plant Podophyllum species. Some of its derivatives are anticancer drugs, which are produced mainly by using chemical semi-synthesis methods. Recombinant bacteria have great potential in large-scale production of the derivatives of PTOX. In addition to introducing the correct enzymes, the transportation of PTOX into the cells is an important factor, which limits its modification in the bacteria. Here, we improved the cellular uptake of PTOX into Escherichia coli with the help of the zero-valent sulfur transporter YedE1E2 in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). CTAB promoted the uptake of PTOX, but induced the production of reactive oxygen species. A protein complex (YedE1E2) of YedE1 and YedE2 enabled E. coli cells to resist CTAB by reducing reactive oxygen species, and YedE1E2 was a hypothetical transporter. Further investigation showed that YedE1E2 facilitated the uptake of extracellular zero-valent sulfur across the cytoplasmic membrane and the formation of glutathione persulfide (GSSH) inside the cells. The increased GSSH minimized oxidative stress. Our results indicate that YedE1E2 is a zero-valent sulfur transporter and it also facilitates CTAB-assisted uptake of PTOX by recombinant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of strong ambient vibrations could have a negative impact on applications such as high precision inertial navigation and tilt measurement due to the vibration rectification error (VRE) of the accelerometer. In this paper, we investigate the origins of the VRE using a self-developed MEMS accelerometer equipped with an area-variation-based capacitive displacement transducer. Our findings indicate that the second-order nonlinearity coefficient is dependent on the frequency but the VRE remains constant when the displacement amplitude of the excitation is maintained at a constant level. This frequency dependence of nonlinearity is a result of several factors coupling with each other during signal conversion from acceleration to electrical output signal. These factors include the amplification of the proof mass's amplitude as the excitation frequency approaches resonance, the nonlinearity in capacitance-displacement conversion at larger displacements caused by the fringing effect, and the offset of the mechanical suspension's equilibrium point from the null position of the differential capacitance electrodes. Through displacement transducer and damping optimization, the second-order nonlinearity coefficient is greatly reduced from mg/g 2 to μ g/g 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel single-layer microstrip patch element designed to achieve a wide beamwidth, in order to address the growing demand for wide-angle scanning capabilities in modern phased array systems. The proposed element, comprising a slot-etched circular patch and an array of metallized holes arranged in square rings, offers a unique approach to beam shaping. By carefully adjusting parameters such as the slot structure and feeding position, our element is engineered to simultaneously excite both the TM01 and TM21 modes, a key feature that contributes to its wide beamwidth characteristics. Through the constructive interference of these modes, our element demonstrates a remarkable 3 dB beamwidth of approximately 150° in both principal planes, showcasing its potential for wide-angle scanning applications. To validate the practical performance of this proposed element, two linear phased arrays are manufactured and experimentally evaluated. The simulation results confirm the wide-angle scanning capability of the antennas in both the E-plane and H-plane. Furthermore, the experimental assessment demonstrates that these linear phased arrays can effectively generate scanning beams within a frequency range of 25 GHz to 28 GHz, covering a wide angular range from −60° to 60°, while maintaining a gain loss within 3 dB. This innovative design approach not only offers a promising solution for achieving a wide beamwidth in microstrip patch elements, but also holds significant potential for the development of cost-effective phased arrays with wide-angle scanning capabilities, making it a valuable contribution to the advancement of phased array technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]