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The annual trading declaration of the electricity market for Kaidu River Cascade Hydropower Station depends on an accurate assessment of their power generation capacity. In order to fully tap the power generation dispatching potential of the hydropower station, rationally declare the annual power generation plan, and guarantee the economic benefits of the hydropower station, it is imperative to carry out research on the power generation dispatching potential of Kaidu River Cascade Hydropower Station. This study focused on Kaidu River Cascade Hydropower Station, aiming to minimize water shortage rates and maximize power generation. A multi-objective optimization dispatching model was created, and it was solved by using an improved NSGA-II algorithm. The model results were compared with simulated dispatching to tap the power generation of optimization dispatching. The results show that: ① Compared with simulation dispatching, optimization dispatching improves output reliability and increases power generation. Under simulation dispatching, the annual average power generation of Kaidu River Cascade Hydropower Station is 1.678 billion kW·h. Optimization dispatching obtains an additional 133 million kW·h (8% increase) in the annual average power generation; ② in different typical years, optimization dispatching has different effects on power generation dispatching potential exploitation of Kaidu River Cascade Hydropower Station, especially in extreme dry years, where the increase is 1.95 times that of normal years and 6.68 times that of extreme wet years. These results provide a decision-making basis for annual trading plan declarations of cascade hydropower stations and ensure the economic benefits of cascade hydropower stations.

[Significance]The rapid development of artificial intelligence and automation has greatly expanded the scope of agricultural automation, with applications such as precision farming using unmanned machinery, robotic grazing in outdoor environments, and automated harvesting by orchard-picking robots. Collaborative operations among multiple agricultural robots enhance production efficiency and reduce labor costs, driving the development of smart agriculture. Multi-robot simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) plays a pivotal role by ensuring accurate mapping and localization, which are essential for the effective management of unmanned farms. Compared to single-robot SLAM, multi-robot systems offer several advantages, including higher localization accuracy, larger sensing ranges, faster response times, and improved real-time performance. These capabilities are particularly valuable for completing complex tasks efficiently. However, deploying multi-robot SLAM in agricultural settings presents significant challenges. Dynamic environmental factors, such as crop growth, changing weather patterns, and livestock movement, increase system uncertainty. Additionally, agricultural terrains vary from open fields to irregular greenhouses, requiring robots to adjust their localization and path-planning strategies based on environmental conditions. Communication constraints, such as unstable signals or limited transmission range, further complicate coordination between robots. These combined challenges make it difficult to implement multi-robot SLAM effectively in agricultural environments. To unlock the full potential of multi-robot SLAM in agriculture, it is essential to develop optimized solutions that address the specific technical demands of these scenarios.[Progress]Existing review studies on multi-robot SLAM mainly focus on a general technological perspective, summarizing trends in the development of multi-robot SLAM, the advantages and limitations of algorithms, universally applicable conditions, and core issues of key technologies. However, there is a lack of analysis specifically addressing multi-robot SLAM under the characteristics of complex agricultural scenarios. This study focuses on the main features and applications of multi-robot SLAM in complex agricultural scenarios. The study analyzes the advantages and limitations of multi-robot SLAM, as well as its applicability and application scenarios in agriculture, focusing on four key components: multi-sensor data fusion, collaborative localization, collaborative map building, and loopback detection. From the perspective of collaborative operations in multi-robot SLAM, the study outlines the classification of SLAM frameworks, including three main collaborative types: centralized, distributed, and hybrid. Based on this, the study summarizes the advantages and limitations of mainstream multi-robot SLAM frameworks, along with typical scenarios in robotic agricultural operations where they are applicable. Additionally, it discusses key issues faced by multi-robot SLAM in complex agricultural scenarios, such as low accuracy in mapping and localization during multi-sensor fusion, restricted communication environments during multi-robot collaborative operations, and low accuracy in relative pose estimation between robots.[Conclusions and Prospects]To enhance the applicability and efficiency of multi-robot SLAM in complex agricultural scenarios, future research needs to focus on solving these critical technological issues. Firstly, the development of enhanced data fusion algorithms will facilitate improved integration of sensor information, leading to greater accuracy and robustness of the system. Secondly, the combination of deep learning and reinforcement learning techniques is expected to empower robots to better interpret environmental patterns, adapt to dynamic changes, and make more effective real-time decisions. Thirdly, large language models will enhance human-robot interaction by enabling natural language commands, improving collaborative operations. Finally, the integration of digital twin technology will support more intelligent path planning and decision-making processes, especially in unmanned farms and livestock management systems. The convergence of digital twin technology with SLAM is projected to yield innovative solutions for intelligent perception and is likely to play a transformative role in the realm of agricultural automation. This synergy is anticipated to revolutionize the approach to agricultural tasks, enhancing their efficiency and reducing the reliance on labor.

In order to optimize engineering layout, alleviate the contradiction between water supply and demand, and improve the comprehensive utilization efficiency of water resources in the basin, this study took the sources of the Tarim River including the Aksu River, Hotan River, and Yeerqiang River and its main streams as the research objects. In response to problems such as the large evaporation and seepage losses of plain reservoirs within the river basin and the prominent contradiction between supply and demand of water resources, a joint allocation model of reservoir groups was established and solved. The research results show that a scheme for replacing plain reservoirs in the main streams with mountainous reservoirs has been developed and optimized. By replacing the plain reservoir groups in the main streams, the total water shortage and water loss in the basin can be significantly reduced, and the contradiction between water supply and demand in the basin can be eased. On the basis of meeting the demand for industrial and domestic water, properly reducing the water discharge in the source area can greatly alleviate the water contradiction between the source area and the main stream area and improve the irrigation water supply in the basin. Under the objective of optimized planning, a water resources allocation scheme is made. To be specific, under the condition of average water supply for many years, the water supply for agricultural irrigation and ecological water supply outside the river are 13.502 billion m3 and 1.404 billion m3, respectively. The research results provide technical support for guiding the abandonment of plain reservoirs and have scientific guiding significance and demonstration value for ecological protection and sustainable utilization of water resources in similar basins in arid areas.

The annual trading declaration of the electricity market for Kaidu River Cascade Hydropower Station depends on an accurate assessment of their power generation capacity. In order to fully tap the power generation dispatching potential of the hydropower station, rationally declare the annual power generation plan, and guarantee the economic benefits of the hydropower station, it is imperative to carry out research on the power generation dispatching potential of Kaidu River Cascade Hydropower Station. This study focused on Kaidu River Cascade Hydropower Station, aiming to minimize water shortage rates and maximize power generation. A multi-objective optimization dispatching model was created, and it was solved by using an improved NSGA-II algorithm. The model results were compared with simulated dispatching to tap the power generation of optimization dispatching. The results show that: ① Compared with simulation dispatching, optimization dispatching improves output reliability and increases power generation. Under simulation dispatching, the annual average power generation of Kaidu River Cascade Hydropower Station is 1.678 billion kW·h. Optimization dispatching obtains an additional 133 million kW·h (8% increase) in the annual average power generation; ② in different typical years, optimization dispatching has different effects on power generation dispatching potential exploitation of Kaidu River Cascade Hydropower Station, especially in extreme dry years, where the increase is 1.95 times that of normal years and 6.68 times that of extreme wet years. These results provide a decision-making basis for annual trading plan declarations of cascade hydropower stations and ensure the economic benefits of cascade hydropower stations.

Millet was treated at 600 MPa for 15 min and 30 min, respectively (millet: water=1∶1 or 1∶2 (w/w). The effects of different treatment conditions on physicochemical and functional properties of millet flour were investigated to provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the quality characteristics of millet powder. The results showed that high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment affected the morphology, particle size, and crystal characteristics of the four different millet powders. The morphology of starch particles in the whole flour changed from a scattered irregular sphere to complex and bonded to block structure with other substances, and the average particle size decreased significantly. The overall particle size shrank, and the crystal structure changed from natural A type to B type. The effect on the microstructure was particularly significant when the ratio of millet to water was 1∶2. The dynamic rheological tests showed that Gʹ and tanδ of millet paste after HHP treatment were higher than those of original powder, and Gʺ was lower than that of original powder. The results showed that HHP treatment could improve the elasticity and viscosity of millet starch, and this technology could be used as an effective physical modification method to improve the physical properties of millet powder.

The continuous evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants poses a challenge to determine the optimal updated composition of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. The present study aimed to investigate the immunogenicity of the Delta monovalent vaccine, the Omicron monovalent vaccine, and the Delta and Omicron BA.1 bivalent vaccine. Three COVID-19 vaccines were designed using the heterologous DNA prime-protein boost strategy, with each vaccine containing either Delta receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein, Omicron RBD, or both Delta and Omicron antigens. Temporal serum antibody binding titers and neutralizing antibody titers induced by the three vaccines in New Zealand White rabbits were analyzed. To further dissect the vaccine elicited antibodies (mAb) responses at the molecular level, a panel of rabbit monoclonal antibodies (RmAbs) was generated by a high-throughput single B cell sorting and discovery pipeline and further comprehensively characterized. The Omicron monovalent vaccine induced higher antibody binding titers and neutralization activities than the Delta and Omicron bivalent vaccine. Four RmAbs with robust neutralization capacity were isolated from rabbits immunized with the Omicron or Delta monovalent vaccine. Notably, 9E11 isolated from the Omicron monovalent vaccine group neutralized all the Omicron subvariants with an IC50 value ranging from 1.5 to 503.6 ng/mL; thus, this vaccine could serve as a prophylactic and therapeutic intervention. Given the increasing incidence of COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant, RBD from the Omicron strain could serve as a candidate immunogen that can induce higher neutralization activities against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages.

The saltwater intrusion in the Pearl River Delta has caused huge economic losses andsocial impacts to the surrounding areas. It is extremely urgent to reduce the adverse effects ofthe saltwater intrusion. Taking the eight key reservoirs in the Xijiang River Basin as theresearch object, this paper formulates the real-time dispatching simulation schemes of singlereservoir, two reservoirs and eight reservoirs in dry season respectively, and aiming at the low-water conditions of 95% and 99% incoming water frequency, establishes and applies the real-timedispatching simulation model of key reservoirs in the Xijiang River Basin to meet the saltwaterresistance and freshwater supplement demand of Wuzhou section at the downstream of Xijiang RiverBasin. The results show that: ① In the case of single-reservoir dispatching, and in the 95%incoming water scenario, Tianyi, Guangzhao, Longtan and Yantan reservoirs can meet the saltwaterresistance demand of the Wuzhou section. In the 99% incoming water scenario, only Tianyi andLongtan reservoirs can meet the saltwater resistance demand; ② The joint dispatching of tworeservoirs and seven reservoirs under different incoming water can meet the target of saltwaterresistance and freshwater supplement, and the water level of Longtan drops at the most flattrend; ③ In the process of saltwater resistance and freshwater supplement, the priority of allreservoirs is: Longtan, Tianyi, Yantan, Guangzhao, Xijin, Baise. The research results haveimportant theoretical significance for reducing the impact of salt tides in the Pearl River Delta,and provide an important reference for the subsequent real-time optimal dispatching of the keyreservoirs in the Xijiang River Basin.

We previously established a trophoblast differentiation protocol from primed human pluripotent stem cells (PSC). To induce this lineage, we use a combination of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-4 (BMP4) and the WNT inhibitor IWP2. This protocol has enabled us to obtain a pure population of trophectoderm (TE)-like cells that could subsequently be terminally differentiated into syncytiotrophoblasts (STB) and extravillous trophoblasts (EVT). However, the resulting TE-like cells could only be terminally differentiated to a variable mixture of STB and EVT, with a bias toward the STB lineage. Recently, methods have been developed for derivation and culture of self-renewing human trophoblast stem cells (TSC) from human embryos and early gestation placental tissues. These primary TSCs were further able to differentiate into either STB or EVT with high efficiency using the lineage specific differentiation protocols. Based partly on these protocols, we have developed methods for establishing self-renewing TSC-like cells from PSC, and for efficient lineage-specific terminal differentiation. Here, we describe in detail the protocols to derive and maintain PSC-TSC, from both embryonic stem cells (ESC) and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), and their subsequent terminal differentiation to STB and EVT. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Trophoblast Differentiation into TE-like Cells Basic Protocol 2: Conversion of PSC-Derived TE-like Cells to TSC Basic Protocol 3: Passaging PSC-Derived TSC in iCTB Complete Medium Basic Protocol 4: STB Differentiation from PSC-derived TSC Basic Protocol 5: EVT Differentiation from PSC-derived TSC Support Protocol 1: Geltrex-coated tissue culture plate preparation Support Protocol 2: Collagen IV-coated tissue culture plate preparation Support Protocol 3: Fibronectin-coated tissue culture plate preparation.

What determines the Chinese firms’ outward FDI (foreign direct investment) entry mode choice, and do they behave differently from the firms from developed countries? To answer this question, this exploratory study firstly summarizes the attributes of the FDI entry modes, including greenfield investment, acquisition, and joint venture. Further based on the different attributes of these three modes, we analyze how Chinese firms choose the entry mode from the role the ownership and network perspectives, which are the important characteristics of Chinese firms.