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The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) wild boar is an excellent model for investigating high-altitude adaptation. In this study, we analyzed genome-wide data from 93 wild boars compiled from various studies worldwide, including the QTP, southern and northern regions of China, Europe, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia, to explore their phylogenetic patterns and high-altitude adaptation based on genome-wide selection signal analysis and run of homozygosity (ROH) estimation. The findings demonstrate the alignment between the phylogenetic associations among wild boars and their geographical location. An ADMIXTURE analysis indicated a relatively close genetic relationship between QTP and southern Chinese wild boars. Analyses of the fixation index and cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity between populations revealed 295 candidate genes (CDGs) associated with high-altitude adaptation, such as TSC2, TELO2, SLC5A1, and SLC5A4. These CDGs were significantly overrepresented in pathways such as the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling and Fanconi anemia pathways. In addition, 39 ROH islands and numerous selective CDGs (e.g., SLC5A1, SLC5A4, and VCP), which are implicated in glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function, were discovered in QTP wild boars. This study not only assessed the phylogenetic history of QTP wild boars but also advanced our comprehension of the genetic mechanisms underlying the adaptation of wild boars to high altitudes.

Train fault detection often relies on comparing collected images with reference images, making accurate image type recognition crucial. Current systems use Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) devices to recognize carriage numbers while capturing images, but damaged Radio Frequency (RF) tags or blurred characters can hinder this process. Carriage linear array images, with their high resolution, extreme aspect ratios, and local nonlinear distortions, present challenges for recognition algorithms. This paper proposes a method tailored for recognizing such images. We apply an object detection algorithm to locate key components, simplifying image recognition into a sparse point set alignment task. To handle local distortions, we introduce a weighted radial basis function (RBF) and maximize the similarity between Gaussian mixtures of point sets to determine RBF weights. Experiments show 100% recognition accuracy under nonlinear distortions up to 15%. The algorithm also performs robustly with detection errors and identifies categories from 79 image classes in 24 ms on an i7 CPU without GPU support. This method significantly reduces system costs and advances automatic exterior fault detection for trains.

The photoelectric sensing unit in a large-space measurement system primarily determines the measurement accuracy of the system. Aiming to resolve the problem whereby existing sensing units have difficulty accurately measuring the hidden points and free-form surfaces in large components, in this study, we designed a multi-node fusion of a combined sensor. Firstly, a multi-node fusion hidden-point measurement model and a solution model are established, and the measurement results converge after the number of nodes is simulated to be nine. Secondly, an adaptive front-end photoelectric conditioning circuit, including signal amplification, filtering, and adjustable level is designed, and the accuracy of the circuit function is verified. Then, a nonlinear least-squares calibration method is proposed by combining the constraints of the multi-position vector cones, and the internal parameters of the probe, in relation to the various detection nodes, are calibrated. Finally, a distributed system and laser tracking system are introduced to establish a fusion experimental validation platform, and the results show that the standard deviation and accuracy of the three-axis measurement of the test point of the combined sensor in the measurement area of 7000 mm × 7000 mm × 3000 mm are better than 0.026 mm and 0.24 mm, respectively, and the accuracy of the length measurement is within 0.28 mm. Further, the measurement accuracy of the hidden point of the aircraft hood and the free-form surface is better than 0.26 mm, which can meet most of the industrial measurement needs and expand the application field of large-space measurement systems.

Rapeseed siliques easily shatter after ripening, resulting in a significant amount of grain loss, which delimits the development of rapeseed machine harvest. However, the effect of nitrogen (N) and density interaction on the characteristics of rape siliques and shattering resistance index is still vague. During the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 growing seasons, we selected the Jiayou No. 5 rapeseed variety and set three N application levels (N1: 90 kg ha−1, N2: 180 kg ha−1, N3: 270 kg ha−1) and two density treatments (M1: 150,000 plants ha−1, M2: 300,000 plants ha−1) to research the effects of N and density interaction on morphological indexes, physiological indexes, shatter resistance index and yield of direct-seeding rapeseed siliques. The silique shatter resistance index, silique’s length, weight, moisture content, silique shell’s weight, thickness, lignin content, cellulose content and phenylalaninase (PAL) activity all increased first and then decreased with the increase in the N application rate; the N2 treatment increased by 18.38% and 26.92%, respectively, compared to the N1 and N3 treatments; 3.65%, 2.48%; 6.70%, 3.58%; 20.46%, 18.33%; 5.97%, 5.96%; 8.82%, 9.60%; 9.12%, 19.90%; 43.85%, 69%; 2.10%, 11.04%. Compared with the M1 treatment, the silique shatter resistance index, silique’s length, weight, moisture content, silique shell’s weight, thickness, lignin content, cellulose content and PAL activity were lower under M2 treatment. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the silique’s length, water content, silique shell’s weight, thickness, lignin content, cellulose content and PAL activity were significantly positively correlated with the silique shatter resistance index. Therefore, this study shows that N2M1 treatment can carry off synergy between silique shatter resistance and yield.

A novel microchannel heat sink (TFMCHS) with trapezoidal ribs and fan grooves was proposed, and the microchannel was manufactured using selective laser melting technology. Firstly, the temperature and pressure drop at different power levels were measured through experiments and then combined with numerical simulation to explore the complex flow characteristics within TFMCHSs and evaluate the comprehensive performance of microchannel heat sinks based on the thermal enhancement coefficient. The results show that, compared with rectangular microchannel heat sinks (RMCHSs), the average and maximum temperatures of TFMCHSs are significantly reduced, and the temperature distribution is more uniform. This is mainly caused by the periodic interruption and redevelopment of the velocity boundary layer and thermal boundary layer caused by ribs and grooves. And as the heating power increases, the TFMCHS has better heat dissipation performance. When P=33 W and the inlet flow rate is 32.5 mL/min, the thermal enhancement factor reaches 1.26.

The anechoic coating capable of absorbing sound energy in low frequencies within broadband is essential to conceal underwater vehicles. However, the geometric deformation and modification of mechanical parameters under hydrostatic pressure affect the prediction of absorption performance in deep water environments. An anechoic coating embedded with tandem resonant voids is proposed in this work to achieve quasi-perfect low-frequency and broadband absorption. The analytical method based on the effective medium approach and numerical simulation are performed to estimate the effects of hydrostatic pressure on sound absorption. When additionally considering the dynamic mechanical parameters of the compressed viscoelastic medium, the original absorption humps in low frequencies are inclined to higher band, accompanied by the expanded absorption bandwidth. Then, the tandem coating specimen is measured in a water-filled impedance tube. The experimental spectra are consistent with the analytical and numerical results under various hydrostatic pressures, demonstrating the efficient absorption (α > 0.7) in broadband low frequencies via ordinary pressure. At the same time, the absorption spectrum under higher hydrostatic pressures is also verified in the tube. Consequently, this work paves the way for a broadband low-frequency underwater absorber design and provides an efficient method to characterize the low-frequency and broadband absorption from the coupled resonant coatings in deep water environments.

This research investigates the impact of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DOP) with different molecular weights on antioxidant effects, lifespan enhancement, and obesity reduction, utilizing both in vitro analyses and the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. Through a series of experiments—ranging from the extraction and modification of polysaccharides, Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), and analysis of composition to the evaluation of antioxidant capabilities, this study thoroughly examines DOP and its derivatives (DOP5, DOP15, DOP25) produced via H2O2-Fe2+ degradation. The results reveal a direct relationship between the molecular weight of polysaccharides and their bioactivity. Notably, DOP5, with its intermediate molecular weight, demonstrated superior antioxidant properties, significantly extended the lifespan, and improved the health of C. elegans. Furthermore, DOP15 appeared to regulate lipid metabolism by affecting crucial lipid metabolism genes, including fat-4, fat-5, fat-6, sbp-1, and acs-2. These findings highlight the potential application of DOP derivatives as natural antioxidants and agents against obesity, contributing to the development of functional foods and dietary supplements.

China’s policies about reducing carbon emissions mainly focus on saving energy and reducing pollutant emissions. However, the carbon emissions of the logistics industry remain high. Thus, logistics companies should not only reduce distribution costs, but also consider the impact of carbon emissions when planning distribution routes. This paper studies the supermarket delivery distribution route planning problem considering carbon emissions. Aiming at the lowest economic operating cost composed of fixed cost, driving cost, and carbon emission cost, we propose a grey wolf optimized genetic algorithm to generate delivery route plans, where the social rank and hunting behavior of the grey wolf optimization algorithm are integrated into the selection operation of the genetic algorithm. Finally, a real case of a large third-party logistics enterprise in Beijing is studied. The case study results verify the effectiveness and applicability of the model and algorithm.

Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of different proportions of controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer mixed with quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer on the yield and nitrogen utilization efficiency of direct-seeding rapeseed. Using a conventional nitrogen application rate of 180 kg ha−1 as a control, a total of 5 types of available nitrogen fertilizers and different proportions of controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers were mixed for fertilizer treatment. The proportion of available nitrogen fertilizer used was 135 kg ha−1, and the addition ratios of the five types of controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers were 0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%, respectively (i.e., the proportion of controlled-release nitrogen to the total nitrogen application amount). These ratios were represented as N135R0, N135R1, N135R2, N135R3, and N135R4, respectively. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per pod, or the grain yield under the treatment of controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer mixed with quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer for proportions of 30–50% (N135R1~R3) when compared with the control, and a stable yield was achieved. Mixing controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer under reduced nitrogen application can significantly improve the apparent utilization rate of rapeseed nitrogen fertilizer, but it first increases and then decreases with the increase of the controlled-release nitrogen mixing ratio, reaching its highest under the N135R2 treatment. The agronomic utilization efficiency and partial productivity of nitrogen fertilizer first increased and then decreased with the increased proportion of controlled-release nitrogen, and both reached their highest utilization with the N135R2 treatment. The mixed treatment of controlled-release nitrogen did not affect soil urease activity, but significantly increased soil sucrase activity. The mixed treatment of controlled-release nitrogen also increased soil microbial biomass nitrogen and carbon content. Especially in the flowering stage, the soil microbial biomass nitrogen and carbon content was significantly higher under a controlled-release nitrogen mixing ratio of 30–50%. At the same time, it had a similar effect on soil inorganic nitrogen content. Therefore, a controlled-release nitrogen mixing treatment provided sufficient nitrogen for the key growth period of rapeseed. Under the condition of reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer by 25% based on the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to conventional rapeseed, the application of controlled-release urea mixed with common nitrogen fertilizer mixed at a ratio of 30–50% can be an effective way to maintain grain yield levels and improve nitrogen utilization efficiency.

The oxidation of β-NiAl at high temperatures leads to the preferential formation of metastable alumina, such as θ-Al2O3, which exhibits a significantly faster growth rate compared to stable α-Al2O3. However, our recent research has shown that through the use of the surface-dispersing nanoparticles (NPs) of metal oxides with a hexagonal closed pack (hcp), such as α-Al2O3, the thermal growth of α-Al2O3 can be facilitated. The present study employed laser additive manufacturing (LAM) to develop an integrated α-Al2O3 NPs surface-seeded two-phase intermetallic alloy comprising brittle β-NiAl and tougher γ’-Ni3Al, which demonstrated better comprehensive mechanical properties. It was found that seeding the α-Al2O3 NPs promoted the early stage growth of α-Al2O3 on both β and γ’ phases during oxidation in air at 1000 °C. This led to a decrease in the oxidation rate but an enhancement in adhesion of the formed alumina scale in comparison to the naked β/γ’ two-phase alloy. The reasons for this result were interpreted.

Regional flood frequency analysis (RFFA) is widely used to estimate design floods in ungauged catchments. Most of the RFFA techniques are based on the annual maximum (AM) flood model; however, research has shown that the peaks-over-threshold (POT) model has greater flexibility than the AM model. There is a lack of studies on POT-based RFFA techniques. This paper presents the development of POT-based RFFA techniques, using regularised linear models (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, ridge regression and elastic net regression). The results of these regularised linear models are compared with multiple linear regression. Data from 145 stream gauging stations of south-east Australia are used in this study. A leave-one-out cross-validation is adopted to compare these regression models. It has been found that the regularised linear models provide quite accurate flood quantile estimates, with a median relative error in the range of 37 to 47%, which outperform the AM-based RFFA techniques currently recommended in the Australian Rainfall and Runoff guideline. The developed RFFA technique can be used to estimate flood quantiles in ungauged catchments in the study region.

Four Ni-Al intermetallic compounds with the Al concentrations in range of 28 to 35 (in atomic percentage) have been fabricated by laser metal deposition (LMD) through mixing appropriate contents of pure Ni powder with pre-alloyed high-Al nickel aluminide powder. Ni-35Al and Ni-32Al are both composed of more than 45 vol.% β-NiAl matrix phase dispersing γ′-Ni3Al, while Ni-30Al and Ni-28Al consisted of worm-like, needle-like γ′-Ni3Al mainly and less than 37 vol.% β-NiAl. After 20 h oxidation in air at 1000 °C, the results of thermobalance, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microcopy, indicated that Ni-35Al and Ni-32Al are more oxidation-resistant than the Ni-30Al and Ni-28Al. Because the first two can thermally grow an external Al2O3 scale but the second two form a duplex oxide scale consisting of outer NiAl2O4 layer and inner Al2O3 layer.

In crowded waters with unknown obstacle motion information, traditional methods often fail to ensure safe and autonomous collision avoidance. To address the challenges of information acquisition and decision delay, this study proposes an optimized autonomous navigation strategy that combines deep reinforcement learning with internal and external rewards. By incorporating random network distillation (RND) with proximal policy optimization (PPO), the interest of autonomous ships in exploring unknown environments is enhanced. Additionally, the proposed approach enables the autonomous generation of intrinsic reward signals for actions. For multi-ship collision avoidance scenarios, an environmental reward is designed based on the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea (COLREGs). This reward system categorizes dynamic obstacles into four collision avoidance situations. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the popular PPO algorithm by achieving more efficient and safe collision avoidance decision-making in crowded ocean environments with unknown motion information. This research provides a theoretical foundation and serves as a methodological reference for the route deployment of autonomous ships.

It has been demonstrated that lignin was efficiently degraded by Lentinula edodes (L. edodes). However, the process of lignin degradation and utilization by L. edodes has not been discussed in detail. Therefore, the effects of lignin on L. edodes mycelium growth, chemical compositions, and phenolic profiles were investigated herein. It has been revealed that 0.10% lignin acted as the most effective concentration to accelerate mycelia growth, which yielded the highest biomass of 5.32 ± 0.07 g/L. Furthermore, a 0.10% concentration of lignin promoted the accumulation of phenolic compounds, especially protocatechuic acid, with peak value of 48.5 ± 1.2 μg/g. In contrast, the higher concentration of lignin (0.20%) exerted an inhibitory effect on the growth of L. edodes. Overall, the application of lignin at the optimal concentration of 0.10% could not only enhance the mycelial growth but also accumulate the phenolic acids and raise the nutritional and medical values of L. edodes.

Traditional building energy consumption prediction methods lack the description of occupant behaviors. The interactions between occupants and equipment have great influence on building energy consumption, which cause a large deviation between the predicted results and the actual situation. To address this problem, a two-part prediction model, consisting of a basic part related to the building area and a variable part related to stochastic occupant behaviors, is proposed in this study. The wavelet decomposition and reconstruction method is firstly used to split the energy consumption. A relationship between the low frequency energy consumption data and the building area is discovered, and an area-based index is used to fit the basic part of the prediction model. With a quantitative description of the occupant–equipment interaction by classifying the equipment into environmentally relevant and environmentally irrelevant equipment, an agent-based model is established in the variable part. According to the validation given by two case office buildings, the prediction error can be controlled to 2.8% and 10.1%, respectively, for the total and the hourly building energy consumption. Compared to the prediction method which does not consider occupant–equipment interactions, the proposed model can improve prediction accuracy by 55.8%.

Heterogeneity of therapeutic Monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs are due to protein variants generated during the manufacturing process. These protein variants can be critical quality attributes (CQAs) depending on their potential impact on drug safety and/or efficacy. To identify CQAs and ensure the drug product qualities, a thorough characterization is required but challenging due to the complex structure of biotherapeutics. Past characterization studies for basic and acidic variants revealed that full characterizations were limited to the basic charge variants, while the quantitative measurements of acidic variants left gaps. Consequently, the characterization and quantitation of acidic variants are more challenging. A case study of a therapeutic mAb1 accounted for two-thirds of the enriched acidic variants in the initial characterization study. This led to additional investigations, closing the quantification gaps of mAb1 acidic variants. This work demonstrates that a well-designed study with the right choices of analytical methods can play a key role in characterization studies. Thus, the updated strategies for more complete antibody charge variant characterization are recommended.

Increasing extreme rainfall and increasingly severe flood disasters worldwide make it essential to enhance flood resilience research and practice. The Sponge City Approach (SCA) has been proposed as a nature-based solution for solving pressing water problems in cities, but there is an urgent need to apply the approach at the broader catchment scale to address the rising challenges driven by climate change. This study established a Sponge Watershed Approach (SWA) using the “Source-Flow-Sink” framework and applied it in the Sishui River Basin in Zhengzhou, China, to reconstruct a town after a heavy rainfall disaster and enhance its resilience to future floods. An integrated modeling approach utilizing hydrologic, hydraulic, and flood-loss curve models was used to analyze and evaluate the flood-reduction effects of different strategies under multiple scenarios. The results show that: (1) a strategy focusing solely on interventions at the source of runoff cannot adequately cope with extreme rainfall, and a whole-system approach to managing floods is necessary instead; (2) the effectiveness of the flow strategy depends on the intervention magnitude and the location where interventions are made; (3) the sink strategy offers the most effective way (approximately 30% decrease in flood loss) to adapt to extreme rainfall; (4) the risk and impact of flood disaster in the town was significantly reduced with the SWA (approximately 35–50% decrease in flood loss) compared to those without any interventions; (5) the effects of these strategies are interactive, and the optimal strategy depends on the rainfall condition. These results demonstrate the practicability of SWA by integrating the source, flow, and sink strategy at the whole-catchment scale, which will help promote natural flood management and enhance the climate resilience of catchments worldwide.

The river border positioning is an important part of river surveys, which is crucial for water conservation project development, water resource use, water disasters, river regime monitoring, and many other applications related to water resources. Currently, satellite images or field measurements are used to extract river channels. However, satellite images are insufficiently precise, and field measurement requires significant manpower and cost. In this paper, a new method for river channel extraction is proposed, which is based on the combination of Jenks natural breaks classification method and digital elevation model (DEM), and then the river channel range is complemented by using the water range monitored by GF-1(Gaofen-1 satellite) in flood season. The overall precision is greater than 85%, and the Kappa values achieve moderate stability (0.41–0.60). Using this method, the extraction of river range is practicable and achievable, and the higher the DEM resolution, the better the extraction result.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has become an important therapeutic strategy in the treatment of cancer. However, exploring novel photothermal nanomaterials with satisfactory biocompatibility, high photothermal conversion efficiency, and efficient theranostic outcomes, remains a major challenge for satisfying clinical application. In this study, poly-ethylene glycol modified rhenium disulfide (PEG-ReS2) nanosheets are constructed by a simple-liquid phase exfoliation method. The PEG-ReS2 nanosheets were demonstrated to have good solubility, good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and strong capability of accumulating near-infrared (NIR) photons. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, the PEG-ReS2 nanosheets were found to have an excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (PTCE) of 42%. Moreover, the PEG-ReS2 nanosheets were demonstrated to be ideal photothermal transduction agents (PTAs), which promoted rapid cancer cell death in vitro and efficiently ablated tumors in vivo. Interestingly, the potential utility of up-regulation or down-regulation of miRNAs was proposed to evaluate the therapeutic outcomes of PEG-ReS2 nanosheets. The expression levels of a set of miRNAs in tumor-bearing mice were restored to normal levels after PTT therapy with PEG-ReS2 nanosheets. Both down-regulation miRNAs (miR-125a-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-132-3p, and miR-148b-3p) and up-regulation miRNAs (miR-133a-3p, miR-200c-5p, miR-9-3p, and miR-150-3p) were suggested to be important clinical biomarkers for evaluating therapeutic outcomes of breast cancer-related PTT. This work highlights the great significance of PEG-ReS2 nanosheets as therapeutic nanoagents for cancer therapy.

Landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) in Northeast China are rare because of the region’s high latitude (>40°N). In 2020, Northeast China was affected by three TCs within half a month—the first time on record. We used the Global Precipitation Measurement orbital dataset to study the precipitation microphysics during the TC period in Northeast China in 2020 (2020-TC), and during September in this region from 2014 to 2019 (hereafter September 2014–September 2019). FY-4A was used to provide cloud top height (CTH). The results show that, compared with September 2014–September 2019, the 2020-TC precipitation has stronger precipitation ice productivity, weaker deposition efficiency, stronger riming, and stronger coalescence processes. The storm top height (STH), CTH, and the difference between the two (CTH-STH) are indicative of the near-surface droplet size distribution (DSD), but there are differences: STH and CTH-STH both correlate significantly with mean mass-weighted drop diameter, whereas only the positive correlation between CTH and normalized drop concentration parameter passes the significance test. These results reveal for the first time the precipitation microphysics of landfalling TCs in Northeast China, and allow discussion of the validity of convective intensity indicators from the perspective of DSD.

We report a deep penetration microscopic imaging method with a non-diffracting Airy beam. The direct mapping of volume imaging in free space shows that the axial imaging range of the Airy beam is approximately 4 times that of the traditional Gaussian beam along the axial direction while maintaining a narrow lateral width. Benefiting from its non-diffracting property, the microscopic imaging with Airy beam illumination can acquire image structures through turbid medium and capture a volumetric image in a single frame. We demonstrate the penetration ability of the Airy microscopic imaging through a strongly scattering environment with 633 nm and 780 nm lasers. The performances of the volumetric imaging method were evaluated using HeLa cells and isolated mouse kidney tissue. The thick sample was scanned layer by layer in the Gaussian mode, however, in the Airy mode, the three-dimensional (3D) structure information was projected onto a two-dimensional (2D) image, which vastly increased the volume imaging speed. To show the characteristics of the Airy microscope, we performed dynamic volumetric imaging on the isolated mouse kidney tissue with two-photon.

The microphysical characteristics of tropical cyclones vary in different rain regions, which affects not only the dynamic and thermodynamic mechanisms of the typhoon system but also the development of tropical cyclones. This study analyzed the raindrop size distribution (DSD) and the gamma DSD parameters associated with Typhoon Mangkhut using three two-dimensional (2D) video disdrometers from the Longmen Field Experiment Base for Cloud Physics, China Meteorological Administration in Guangdong, China during 16–17 September 2018. According to the observed track and radar reflectivity, this process can be divided into three distinct segments: the outer rainband before landfall (S1), the inner core (S2), and the outer rainband after landfall (S3). The outer rainband mainly produces stratiform rains, while the inner core mainly produces convective rains. The temporal and spatial variations in the rain rate, radar reflectivity, and DSD parameters of the different segments were analyzed and compared at three sites. Although the DSD characteristics are distinctly different in the three segments, the DSD characteristics of the same segment were similar at different sites. In the inner core (S2), the precipitation contains smaller drops (around 0.5 mm) and the concentrations are higher within each size bin compared with those of the other segments, resulting in the maximum rain rate (11.66 mm h−1), radar reflectivity (34.53 dBZ), liquid water content (0.65 g m−3), and number concentration (4.12 mm−1 m−3 on a logarithmic scale) occurring in this segment. The Nw–Dm scatter pairs have maritime-like convection, which increases outward from the inner core (S2). The relationship between the shape (μ) and slope (Λ) was also investigated. The microphysical characteristics determined in this study provide useful information for understanding microphysical precipitation processes and for improving the precision of numerical weather prediction models.

Transit network optimization can effectively improve transit efficiency, improve traffic conditions, and reduce the pollution of the environment. In order to better meet the travel demands of passengers, the factors influencing passengers’ satisfaction with a customized bus are fully analyzed. Taking the minimum operating cost of the enterprise as the objective and considering the random travel time constraints of passengers, the customized bus routes are optimized. The K-means clustering analysis is used to classify the passengers’ needs based on the analysis of the passenger travel demand of the customized shuttle bus, and the time stochastic uncertainty under the operating environment of the customized shuttle bus line is fully considered. On the basis of meeting the passenger travel time requirements and minimizing the cost of service operation, an optimization model that maximizes the overall satisfaction of passengers and public transit enterprises is structured. The smaller the value of the objective function is, the lower the operating cost. When the value is negative, it means there is profit. The model is processed by the deterministic processing method of random constraints, and then the hybrid intelligent algorithm is used to solve the model. A stochastic simulation technique is used to train stochastic constraints to approximate uncertain functions. Then, the improved immune clonal algorithm is used to solve the vehicle routing problem. Finally, it is proved by a case that the method can reasonably and efficiently realize the optimization of the customized shuttle bus lines in the region.

Online autonomous perception of pantograph catenary system status is of great significance for railway autonomous operation and maintenance (RIOM). Image sensors combined with an image processing algorithm can realize the automatic acquisition of the pantograph catenary condition; however, it is difficult to meet the demand of long-term stable condition acquisition, which restricts the implementation of online contact state feedback and the realization of railway automation. This paper proposes an online intelligent perception of the pantograph and catenary system (PCS) status based on parameter adaptation to realize fast and stable state analysis when the train is in long-term operation outdoors. First, according to the feature of the contact point, we used histogram of gradient (HoG) features and one-dimensional signal combined with a KCF tracker as the baseline method. Then, a result discriminator located by L1 and hash similarity constraints was used to construct a closed-loop parameter adaptive localization framework, which retrieves and updates parameters when tracking failure occurs. After that, a pruned RefineDet method was used to detect pantograph horns and sparks, which, together with the contact points localization method, ensure the long-term stability of feature localization in PCS images. Then, based on the stereo cameras model, the three-dimensional trajectory of the whole pantograph body can be reconstructed by the image features, and we obtained pantograph catenary contact parameters including the pantograph slide posture, contact line offset, arc detection, separation detection, etc. Our method has been tested on more than 16,000 collected image pairs and the results show that the proposed method has a better positioning effect than the state-of-art method, and realizes the online acquisition of pantograph catenary contact state, representing a significant contribution to RIOM.

Urban building energy modeling (UBEM) is arousing interest in building energy modeling, which requires a large building dataset as an input. Building use is a critical parameter to infer archetype buildings for UBEM. This paper presented a case study to determine building use for city-scale buildings by integrating the Geographic Information System (GIS) based point-of-interest (POI) and community boundary datasets. A total of 68,966 building footprints, 281,767 POI data, and 3367 community boundaries were collected for Changsha, China. The primary building use was determined when a building was inside a community boundary (i.e., hospital or residential boundary) or the building contained POI data with main attributes (i.e., hotel or office building). Clustering analysis was used to divide buildings into sub-types for better energy performance evaluation. The method successfully identified building uses for 47,428 buildings among 68,966 building footprints, including 34,401 residential buildings, 1039 office buildings, 141 shopping malls, and 932 hotels. A validation process was carried out for 7895 buildings in the downtown area, which showed an overall accuracy rate of 86%. A UBEM case study for 243 office buildings in the downtown area was developed with the information identified from the POI and community boundary datasets. The proposed building use determination method can be easily applied to other cities. We will integrate the historical aerial imagery to determine the year of construction for a large scale of buildings in the future.

Macropinocytosis is a unique pathway of endocytosis characterised by the nonspecific internalisation of large amounts of extracellular fluid, solutes and membrane in large endocytic vesicles known as macropinosomes. Macropinocytosis is important in a range of physiological processes, including antigen presentation, nutrient sensing, recycling of plasma proteins, migration and signalling. It has become apparent in recent years from the study of specialised cells that there are multiple pathways of macropinocytosis utilised by different cell types, and some of these pathways are triggered by different stimuli. Understanding the physiological function of macropinocytosis requires knowledge of the regulation and fate of the macropinocytosis pathways in a range of cell types. Here, we compare the mechanisms of macropinocytosis in different primary and immortalised cells, identify the gaps in knowledge in the field and discuss the potential approaches to analyse the function of macropinocytosis in vivo.

This study theoretically proposed a novel surface plasmon resonance biosensor by incorporating emerging two dimensional material blue phosphorus and graphene layers with plasmonic gold film. The excellent performances employed for biosensing can be realized by accurately tuning the thickness of gold film and the number of blue phosphorus interlayer. Our proposed plasmonic biosensor architecture designed by phase modulation is much superior to angular modulation, providing 4 orders of magnitude sensitivity enhancement. In addition, the optimized stacked configuration is 42 nm Au film/2-layer blue phosphorus /4-layer graphene, which can produce the sharpest differential phase of 176.7661 degrees and darkest minimum reflectivity as low as 5.3787 × 10−6. For a tiny variation in local refractive index of 0.0012 RIU (RIU, refractive index unit) due to the binding interactions of aromatic biomolecules, our proposed biosensor can provide an ultrahigh detection sensitivity up to 1.4731 × 105 °/RIU, highly promising for performing ultrasensitive biosensing application.

Location-based social networks have been widely used. However, due to the lack of effective and safe data management, a large number of privacy disclosures commonly occur. Thus, academia and industry have needed to focus more on location privacy protection. This paper proposes a novel location attack method using multiple background options to infer the hidden locations of mobile users. In order to estimate the possibility of a hidden position being visited by a user, two hidden location attack models are proposed, i.e., a Bayesian hidden location inference model and the multi-factor fusion based hidden location inference model. Multiple background factors, including the check-in sequences, temporal information, user social networks, personalized service preferences, point of interest (POI) popularities, etc., are considered in the two models. Moreover, a hidden location inference algorithm is provided as well. Finally, a series of experiments are conducted on two real check-in data examples to evaluate the accuracy of the model and verify the validity of the proposed algorithm. The experimental results show that multiple background knowledge fusion provides benefits for improving location inference precision.

Astaxanthin-loaded liposomes were prepared by a thin-film ultrasonic method, and the effects of the different membrane surface modifiers chitosan hydrochloride (CH) and lactoferrin (LF) on the physicochemical stability of the liposomes and bioaccessibility of astaxanthin were studied. Based on the negative charge characteristics of egg yolk lecithin, LF and CH with positive charge were assembled on the surface of liposomes by an electrostatic deposition method. The optimal concentrations of modifiers were determined by particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. The interaction between the liposomes and the coatings was characterized by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. The stability of astaxanthin in different systems (suspension and liposomes) was investigated, and its antioxidant capacity and bioaccessibility were determined. The results showed that both membrane surface modifications could interact with liposomes and protect astaxanthin from oxidation or heat degradation and enhance the antioxidant activity of the liposome, therefore membrane surface modification played an important role in stabilizing the lipid bilayer. At the same time, the encapsulated astaxanthin exhibited higher in vitro bioaccessibility than the free astaxanthin. CH and LF modified liposomes can be developed as formulations for encapsulation and delivery of functional ingredients, providing a theoretical basis for the development of new astaxanthin series products.

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated protein kinase (PKR) is a critical upstream mediator of the ribotoxic stress response (RSR) to the trichothecene deoxynivalenol (DON) and other translational inhibitors. Here, we employed HeLa cell lysates to: (1) characterize PKR’s interactions with the ribosome and ribosomal RNA (rRNA); (2) demonstrate cell-free activation of ribosomal-associated PKR and (3) integrate these findings in a unified model for RSR. Robust PKR-dependent RSR was initially confirmed in intact cells. PKR basally associated with 40S, 60S, 80S and polysome fractions at molar ratios of 7, 2, 23 and 3, respectively. Treatment of ATP-containing HeLa lysates with DON or the ribotoxins anisomycin and ricin concentration-dependently elicited phosphorylation of PKR and its substrate eIF2α. These phosphorylations could be blocked by PKR inhibitors. rRNA immunoprecipitation (RNA-IP) of HeLa lysates with PKR-specific antibody and sequencing revealed that in the presence of DON or not, the kinase associated with numerous discrete sites on both the 18S and 28S rRNA molecules, a number of which contained double-stranded hairpins. These findings are consistent with a sentinel model whereby multiple PKR molecules basally associate with the ribosome positioning them to respond to ribotoxin-induced alterations in rRNA structure by dimerizing, autoactivating and, ultimately, evoking RSR.

A series of new aminomethylated derivatives of isoliquiritigenin was synthesized. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by IR, MS, NMR, 13C-NMR and elemental analyses. Cytotoxic activities of these derivatives towards the human prostatic cell line PC-3, human mammary cancer cell line MCF-7 and human oophoroma cell line HO-8910 in vitro were tested. The IC50 values showed cytotoxic activities of some of these new derivatives were relatively strong. Furthermore, tumor growth inhibition in vivo of aminomethylated derivatives of isoliquiritigenin 15 was superior to that of isoliquritigenin and reached inhibition rates of 71.68%. The detailed synthesis, spectroscopic data, biological and pharmacologicalactivities of the synthesized compounds were provided.

Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) is one of the major CYP450 enzymes (CYPs) in the liver, and participates in the biotransformation of various xenobiotics and endogenous signaling molecules. The expression and activity of CYP1A2 show large individual differences, due to genetic and environmental factors. In order to discover non-invasive serum biomarkers associated with hepatic CYP1A2, mass spectrometry-based, untargeted metabolomics were first conducted, in order to dissect the metabolic differences in the serum and liver between control rats and β-naphthoflavone (an inducer of CYP1A2)-treated rats. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and pharmacokinetic analysis of phenacetin and paracetamol were performed, in order to determine the changes of mRNA levels and activity of CYP1A2 in these two groups, respectively. Branched-chain amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine were ultimately focalized, as they were detected in both the serum and liver with the same trends. These findings were further confirmed by absolute quantification via a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based targeted metabolomics approach. Furthermore, the ratio of phenylalanine to tyrosine concentration was also found to be highly correlated with CYP1A2 activity and gene expression. This study demonstrates that metabolomics can be a potentially useful tool for biomarker discovery associated with CYPs. Our findings contribute to explaining interindividual variations in CYP1A2-mediated drug metabolism.

Structured-light vision sensor, as an important tool for obtaining 3D data, is widely used in fields of online high-precision measurement. However, the captured stripe images can show high-dynamic characteristics of low signal-to-noise ratio and uneven brightness due to the complexity of the onsite environment. These conditions seriously affect measurement reliability and accuracy. In this study, a wheel size measurement framework based on a structured-light vision sensor, which has high precision and reliability and is suitable for highly reflective conditions, is proposed. Initially, the quality evaluation criterion of stripe images is established, and the entire stripe is distinguished into high- and low-quality segments. In addition, the multi-scale Retinex theory is adopted to enhance stripe brightness, which improves the reliability of subsequent stripe center extraction. Experiments verify that this approach can remarkably improve measurement reliability and accuracy and has important practical value.

The Scalar Triangulation and Ranging (STAR) method, which is based upon the unique properties of magnetic gradient contraction, is a high real-time ferromagnetic target localization method. Only one measurement point is required in the STAR method and it is not sensitive to changes in sensing platform orientation. However, the localization accuracy of the method is limited by the asphericity errors and the inaccurate value of position leads to larger errors in the estimation of magnetic moment. To improve the localization accuracy, a modified STAR method is proposed. In the proposed method, the asphericity errors of the traditional STAR method are compensated with an iterative algorithm. The proposed method has a fast convergence rate which meets the requirement of high real-time localization. Simulations and field experiments have been done to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The results indicate that target parameters estimated by the modified STAR method are more accurate than the traditional STAR method.

Fusarium solani KMZW-1 is recognized for its potential as a biocontrol agent against agricultural and forestry pests, particularly due to its compatibility with integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. This study aimed to investigate the complete genome of F. solani KMZW-1 and assess its pathogenicity against Bactrocera dorsalis. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 47,239,278 bp, comprising 27 contigs, with a GC content of 51.16% and fungus identified as F. solani KMZW-1. The genome completeness was assessed as 97.93% using BUSCO analysis, the DFVF sequence identifier was Fusarium 0G092560.1, and AntiSMASH analysis identified 35 gene clusters associated with secondary metabolite biosynthesis, providing insights into the genetic basis of its pathogenic mechanisms and biocontrol potential. Comparative genomic analysis found 269 unique genes for F. solani KMZW-1, and collinearity analysis exhibited a high degree of synteny with Fusarium solani-melongenae. The pathogenicity of F. solani KMZW-1 was assessed using concentrations ranging from 1 × 104 to 1 × 1011 conidia/mL. Higher concentrations (1 × 1010 to 1 × 1011 conidia/mL) resulted in significantly increased cumulative mortality rates of B. dorsalis adults compared to the control group. Notably, the pathogenicity was higher in male adults than in females. Probit analysis yielded LC50 (50% lethal concentration) values of 5.662 for female and 4.486 for male B. dorsalis adults. In summary, F. solani, KMZW-1 exhibits strong insecticidal activity against B. dorsalis and shows potential as a biocontrol agent with IPM strategies. These findings provide robust genomic evidence supporting the use of F. solani KMZW-1 in managing against B. dorsalis populations.

In recent years, transdermal drug delivery systems have gained considerable attention for their ability to enhance patient compliance and provide consistent drug release. However, the barrier function of the skin’s outermost layer remains the foremost challenge in these systems. As a result, there is a growing interest in the use of ethosomes as a cutting-edge nanocarrier in drug delivery. This review presents the concept and mechanism of action of ethosomes as well as the numerous types and preparation techniques available. It also discusses the significance of characterization methods and how they impact ethosomal properties along with recent advancements and applications in the realm of transdermal drug delivery. Ethosomes exhibit tremendous potential for the pharmaceutical industry, and optimizing preparation methods, performing comprehensive property studies, and exploring their applications are critical areas for future research.

Recent advancements in vascular organoid (VO) and vessel-on-chip (VoC) technologies have revolutionized our approach to studying human diseases, offering unprecedented insights through more physiologically relevant models. VOs generated from human pluripotent stem cells exhibit remarkable self-organization capabilities, forming complex three-dimensional structures that closely mimic human blood vessel architecture and function, while VoCs are engineered with microfluidic systems that meticulously recreate the physical and functional attributes of blood vessels. These innovative constructs serve as powerful tools for investigating vascular development, disease progression, and therapeutic efficacy. By enabling the creation of patient-specific VOs and VoCs, they pave the way for personalized medicine approaches, allowing researchers to delve into genetic variations, intricate cellular interactions, and dynamic processes with exceptional resolution. The synergy between VOs and VoCs with newly developed cutting-edge technologies has further amplified their potential, unveiling novel mechanisms underlying human pathologies and identifying promising therapeutic targets. Herein, we summarize different types of VOs and VoCs and present an extensive overview on the generation and applications of VOs and VoCs. We will also highlight clinical and translational challenges and future perspectives around VOs and VoCs.

In the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART), mortality among people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has significantly decreased, yet the population of people living with HIV remains substantial. Among people living with HIV (PLWH), HIV-associated lymphoma (HAL) has surpassed Kaposi’s sarcoma to become the most common tumor in this population in developed countries. However, there remains a dearth of comprehensive and systematic understanding regarding HIV-associated lymphomas. This review aims to shed light on the changes in the immune system among PLWH and the characteristics of the immune microenvironment in HIV-associated lymphoma, with a specific focus on the immune system’s role in these individuals. Additionally, it seeks to explore recent advancements in immunotherapy for the treatment of HIV-associated lymphoma, intending to enhance strategies for immunotherapy in this specific population.

Dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are dietary supplements that can be utilized as prophylactics against thrombus formation. Low-molecular-weight dermatan sulfate (LMWDS) is particularly advantageous due to its high absorbability. The enzymatic synthesis of low-molecular-weight dermatan sulfates (LMWDSs) using chondroitin B lyase is a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to manufacturing. However, the industrial application of chondroitin B lyases is severely hampered by their low catalytic activity. To improve the activity, a semi-rational design strategy of engineering the substrate-binding domain of chondroitin B lyase was performed based on the structure. The binding domain was subjected to screening of critical residues for modification using multiple sequence alignments and molecular docking. A total of thirteen single-point mutants were constructed and analyzed to assess their catalytic characteristics. Out of these, S90T, N103C, H134Y, and R159K exhibited noteworthy enhancements in activity. This study also examined combinatorial mutagenesis and found that the mutant H134Y/R159K exhibited a substantially enhanced catalytic activity of 1266.74 U/mg, which was 3.21-fold that of the wild-type one. Molecular docking revealed that the enhanced activity of the mutant could be attributed to the formation of new hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with the substrate as well as neighbor residues. The highly active mutant would benefit the utilization of chondroitin B lyase in pharmaceuticals and functional foods.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a multifaceted neurodegenerative disease predominantly defined by the extracellular accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. In light of this, in the past decade, several clinical approaches have been used aiming at developing peptides for therapeutic use in AD. The use of cationic arginine-rich peptides (CARPs) in targeting protein aggregations has been on the rise. Also, the process of peptide development employing computational approaches has attracted a lot of attention recently. Using a structure database containing pentapeptides made from 20 L-α amino acids, we employed molecular docking to sort pentapeptides that can bind to Aβ42, then performed molecular dynamics (MD) analyses, including analysis of the binding stability, interaction energy, and binding free energy to screen ligands. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), circular dichroism (CD), thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence detection of Aβ42 polymerization, MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay, and the flow cytometry of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were carried out to evaluate the influence of pentapeptides on the aggregation and cell toxicity of Aβ42. Two pentapeptides (TRRRR and ARRGR) were found to have strong effects on inhibiting the aggregation of Aβ42 and reducing the toxicity of Aβ42 secreted by SH-SY5Y cells, including cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and apoptosis.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), as one of the most significant food crops worldwide, holds paramount importance for global food security. Throughout its extensive evolutionary journey, rice has evolved a diverse array of defense mechanisms to fend off pest and disease infestations. Notably, labdane-related diterpenoid phytoalexins play a crucial role in aiding rice in its response to both biotic and abiotic stresses. This article provides a comprehensive review of the research advancements pertaining to the chemical structures, biological activities, and biosynthetic pathways, as well as the molecular regulatory mechanisms, underlying labdane-related diterpenoid phytoalexins discovered in rice. This insight into the molecular regulation of labdane-related diterpenoid phytoalexin biosynthesis offers valuable perspectives for future research aimed at improving crop resilience and productivity.

Degradable and high-barrier plastic packaging materials draw more attention with the development of a social economy and the demands of environmental protection. In this study, poly(propylene carbonate phthalate) (PPC-P) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends with different ratios were designed and prepared, marked as PPC-P/PBAT. Chain extenders were introduced into the blends, and the mechanical properties, thermal properties, and barrier properties of the composites were studied. The 75PPC-P/PBAT with 2% extenders represent the best performance. The addition of the chain extender has significantly improved the thermal stability and tensile elongation of PPC-P/PBAT. On this basis, the PPC-P/PBAT composite film was coated with PVA and borax using the dipping and pulling method. The oxygen barrier properties have been further improved for the composite film with a coating layer. Considering the characteristics of biodegradability and a high-barrier property, the 75PPC-P/PBAT/2MDI@Gly blend coated with 2 wt% PVA and 3 wt% borax exhibits potential as a superior food/pharmaceutical plastic packaging material with excellent tensile and barrier properties.

High particulate matter levels in cage-free (CF) houses have led to concerns from producers, as that can pose significant risks to the health and well-being of hens and their caretakers. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an electrostatic particle ionization (EPI) + bedding management (BM) treatment in reducing particulate matter (PM) concentrations. Four identical CF rooms each housed 175 hens for six weeks, with two rooms assigned to the EPI + BM treatment (EPI + 20% wood chip topping over 81-week-old litter) and the other two as controls. Measurements of PM were conducted twice a week for 10 min using TSI DustTrak. Additionally, small and large particle concentrations were monitored continuously using a Dylos monitor, with a sampling period of one minute. Footpad scoring was recorded for logistic analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with the Tukey HSD method (p < 0.05). Results demonstrated that the EPI + BM treatment significantly reduced particle counts (37.83% decrease in small particles, 55.90% decrease in large particles) compared to the control group (p < 0.01). PM concentrations were also substantially lowered across different size fractions, ranging from 58.41% to 64.17%. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the EPI + BM treatment in reducing PM in CF houses. The integration of EPI and bedding management innovated in this study holds promise for improving air quality and contributing to the well-being of hens and caretakers in CF housing systems.

Extracellular electron transfer (EET) by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), such as Desulfovibrio ferrophilus IS5, enables bacterial interactions with minerals, which are vital for biogeochemical cycling and environmental chemistry. Here, we explore the direct EET mechanisms through outer-membrane cytochromes (OMCs) using IS5 as a model SRB. We employed nanostructured electrodes arrayed with 0, 50, 200, and 500 nm long nanowires (NWs) coated with indium–tin–doped oxide to examine the impact of electrode morphology on the direct EET efficacy. Compared to flat electrodes, NW electrodes significantly enhanced current production in IS5 with OMCs. However, this enhancement was diminished when OMC expression was reduced. Differential pulse voltammetry revealed that NW electrodes specifically augmented redox peaks associated with OMCs without affecting those related to redox mediators, suggesting that NWs foster direct EET through OMCs. Scanning electron microscopy observations following electrochemical analyses revealed a novel vertical cell attachment and aggregation on NW electrodes, contrasting with the horizontal monolayer cell attachment on flat electrodes. This study presents the first evidence of the critical role of electrode nanoscale topography in modulating SRB cell orientation and aggregation behavior. The findings underscore the significant influence of electrode morphology on the direct EET kinetics, highlighting the potential impact of mineral morphology on mineral reduction and biogeochemical processes.

Hollow structures are essential for development and physiological activity. The construction and maintenance of hollow structures never cease throughout the lives of multicellular animals. Epithelial tissue closure is the main strategy used by living organisms to build hollow structures. The high diversity of hollow structures and the simplicity of their development in Drosophila make it an excellent model for the study of hollow structure morphogenesis. In this review, we summarize the tissue closure processes in Drosophila that give rise to or maintain hollow structures and highlight the molecular mechanisms and distinct cell biology involved in these processes.

In light of the small ring strain of five/six-membered cyclic ethers, constructing complex molecules via ring-opening reactions has consistently been a highly challenging topic in organic synthesis. Induced by Lewis acids, the charge redistribution in cyclic ethers forms oxonium ylide intermediates, thereby activating the C–O bond and subsequently facilitating nucleophilic attack for ring opening. In recent years, a variety of novel Lewis acids, encompassing those with new metal centers and frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs), have been effectively utilized to induce the formation of oxonium ylides, offering a diverse array of methods for the ring opening of five/six-membered cyclic ethers. This review conveys the extensive application advancements of diverse Lewis acid types for cyclic ether ring-opening reactions over the past two decades, originating from the perspective of the classification of Lewis acids. Furthermore, the substrate applicability and chemical transformation efficiency of these Lewis acids in the ring-opening reactions of cyclic ethers have also been discussed herein.

Neuraminidases catalyze the desialylation of cell-surface glycoconjugates and play crucial roles in the development and function of tissues and organs. In both physiological and pathophysiological contexts, neuraminidases mediate diverse biological activities via the catalytic hydrolysis of terminal neuraminic, or sialic acid residues in glycolipid and glycoprotein substrates. The selective modulation of neuraminidase activity constitutes a promising strategy for treating a broad spectrum of human pathologies, including sialidosis and galactosialidosis, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and pulmonary disorders. Structurally distinct as a large family of mammalian proteins, neuraminidases (NEU1 through NEU4) possess dissimilar yet overlapping profiles of tissue expression, cellular/subcellular localization, and substrate specificity. NEU1 is well characterized for its lysosomal catabolic functions, with ubiquitous and abundant expression across such tissues as the kidney, pancreas, skeletal muscle, liver, lungs, placenta, and brain. NEU1 also exhibits a broad substrate range on the cell surface, where it plays hitherto underappreciated roles in modulating the structure and function of cellular receptors, providing a basis for it to be a potential drug target in various human diseases. This review seeks to summarize the recent progress in the research on NEU1-associated diseases and highlight the mechanistic implications of NEU1 in disease pathogenesis. An improved understanding of NEU1-associated diseases should help accelerate translational initiatives to develop novel or better therapeutics.

Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is an important veterinary pathogen and a noteworthy threat to human and animal health. Recently, there has been a significant rise in the number of moose fatalities caused by this rare, endemic species in China. Currently, there is an increasing trend in conducting whole-genome analysis of C. perfringens strains originating from pigs and chickens, whereas fewer studies have been undertaken on Elaphurus davidianus-originating strains at the whole-genome level. Our laboratory has identified and isolated five C. perfringens type A from affected Elaphurus davidianus. The current study identified the most potent strain of C. perfringens, which originated from Elaphurus davidianus, and sequenced its genome to reveal virulence genes and pathogenicity. Our findings show that strain CX1-4 exhibits the highest levels of phospholipase activity, hemolytic activity, and mouse toxicity compared to the other four isolated C. perfringens type A strains. The chromosome sequence length of the CX1-4 strain was found to be 3,355,389 bp by complete genome sequencing. The current study unveils the genomic characteristics of C. perfringens type A originating from Elaphurus davidianus. It provides a core foundation for further investigation regarding the prevention and treatment of such infectious diseases in Elaphurus davidianus.

The poultry industry is shifting towards more sustainable and ethical practices, including adopting cage-free (CF) housing to enhance hen behavior and welfare. However, ensuring optimal indoor air quality, particularly concerning particulate matter (PM), remains challenging in CF environments. This study explores the effectiveness of electrostatic particle ionization (EPI) technology in mitigating PM in CF hen houses while considering the height at which the technology is placed and the duration of the electric supply. The primary objectives are to analyze the impact of EPI in reducing PM and investigate its power consumption correlation with electric supply duration. The study was conducted in a laying hen facility with four identical rooms housing 720 laying hens. The study utilized a Latin Square Design method in two experiments to assess the impact of EPI height and electric supply durations on PM levels and electricity consumption. Experiment 1 tested four EPI heights: H1 (1.5 m or 5 ft), H2 (1.8 m or 6 ft), H3 (2.1 m or 7 ft), and H4 (2.4 m or 8 ft). Experiment 2 examined four electric supply durations: D1 (control), D2 (8 h), D3 (16 h), and D4 (24 h), through 32 feet corona pipes. Particulate matter levels were measured at three different locations within the rooms for a month, and statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA with a significance level of ≤0.05. The study found no significant differences in PM concentrations among different EPI heights (p > 0.05). However, the duration of EPI system operation had significant effects on PM1, PM2.5, and PM4 concentrations (p < 0.05). Longer EPI durations resulted in more substantial reductions: D2—17.8% for PM1, 11.0% for PM2.5, 23.1% for PM4, 23.7% for PM10, and 22.7% for TSP; D3—37.6% for PM1, 30.4% for PM2.5, 39.7% for PM4, 40.2% for PM10, and 41.1% for TSP; D4—36.6% for PM1, 24.9% for PM2.5, 38.6% for PM4, 36.3% for PM10, and 37.9% for TSP compared to the D1. These findings highlight the importance of prolonged EPI system operation for enhancing PM reduction in CF hen houses. However, utilizing 16 h EPI systems during daylight may offer a more energy-efficient approach while maintaining effective PM reduction. Further research is needed to optimize PM reduction strategies, considering factors like animal activities, to improve air quality and environmental protection in CF hen houses.

Cultural routes are a composite set of heritage sites that refer to historical routes of human communication. As key products of cultural tourism, they provide visitors with rich cultural experiences across regions. We systematically review reports and studies related to the tourism development of 38 cultural route cases worldwide, with a special focus on their distribution, typology, planning patterns, and tools for cultural tourism. We summarized eight tools and found some differences in how often these eight tools are used by the different types of routes and different planning patterns for route tourism. This study also developed an evaluation system based on the conservation principles of cultural routes to determine how different tourism tools affect the conservation and development of historical regions. Although tourism decision-makers have made numerous efforts to protect and develop cultural routes, there are still many problems and challenges in the process of tourism development along cultural routes. We conclude the paper by making recommendations for decision-makers and researchers concerning future route tourism planning and study.