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Using a new type of insect probe trap, the activity and distribution of Tribolium castaneum in wheat grain bulks inside experimental silos were collected and analyzed to investigate its distribution patterns and main influencing factors within the grain bulks. An equation for estimating insect population density was established to provide a scientific basis for accurate monitoring and early warning. The results showed that the daily capture of Tribolium castaneum did not change significantly over time. When the insect population density was low, Tribolium castaneum was mainly distributed in the top and middle layers of the grain bulk. When the insect population density was high, Tribolium castaneum was uniformly distributed within the grain bulk. Tribolium castaneum exhibited thermophilic and hygrophilic behaviors, with an optimal activity temperature range of 22~30 ℃ and a relative humidity range of 40%~53%. By comprehensively analyzing the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of the insect population and the effects of temperature and humidity, the actual insect population density could be estimated based on the number of insects captured by the probe traps. The equation for estimating the insect population density was: y = 10.566 – 0.321 × x1 – 0.017 × x2 + 0.026 × x3, x1: temperature (℃), x2: relative humidity (%), x3: number of insects captured.

BACKGROUND At present, the supervision of antibiotic abuse and its research is being strengthened. In recent years, antibiotics have been detected in varying degrees in water in central China. This reinforces the concern of the pollution of antibiotics in surface and groundwater. OBJECTIVES To investigate the distribution characteristics of 29 antibiotics in groundwater in Harbin. METHODS A total of 26 groups of groundwater samples were collected in Harbin, and the sampling scope included habitation and production areas such as densely populated, industrial production, agricultural districts and animal husbandry. The ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method was used to analyze 29 kinds of antibiotics covering six types, including sulfonamides, quinolones, macrolides, β-lactams, tetracyclines, and lincosamides. RESULTS Antibiotics in the groundwater of Harbin were mainly composed of sulfonamides, quinolones, macrolides and tetracyclines and the detection rates were 61.5%, 46.2%, 42.3% and 38.5%, respectively. The content of antibiotics detected ranged from 0.02 to 681ng/L, and the highest contents of sulfathiazole, sulfadiazine, and lincomycin were more than 100ng/L. The average content of quinolones was low compared with some domestic and international areas (such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Barcelona). Sampling sites with higher antibiotic levels were mainly found in the central, southern and eastern regions of the city. These areas are also relatively densely populated and are generally distributed around pharmaceutical factories, urban sewage outlets, and poultry and livestock farms. CONCLUSIONS The distribution characteristics of antibiotics in groundwater in Harbin are strongly related to the impact of human production and living activities.

The plastic shear resistance of commercially pure titanium (TA1) surface is low and the protective effect of oxide film is limited. Serious wear behavior will occur during sliding friction. The friction and wear behavior of TA1 disc treated by high temperature oxidation was studied by means of high temperature friction and wear tester, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).The results show, because of the lubrication effect of abrasive debris, under the same load and wear time, the friction coefficient of TA1 with oxide layer ranges from 0.07 to 0.3, and that of TA1 without oxide layer ranges from 0.55 to 0.9.The higher the friction and wear test temperature is, the more and deeper the furrow morphology distribution is at the friction area of TA1 with oxidation layer. For TA1 specimens without oxide layer, with the increase of temperature and the prolongation of grinding time, cracks are easier to propagate and form delamination wear. The main wear modes of TA1 material are delamination wear, adhesion wear and oxidation wear. The adhesion wear of TA1 material without oxide film and oxygen-rich layer is more serious. Different surface hardnesses and wear mechanisms result in different friction and wear properties at high temperature.

The radar monitor of aircraft wake vortex is of great significance to air traffic control. Comparing with the case in clear air, the radar signal of wake vortices in rainy conditions is more easily captured due to the higher levels of signal. To able to analyze radar echo characteristics of evolving wake vortices, the numerical simulation of the evolution of the wake vortices in various rain rates has been performed based on the Euler-Euler frame. The result shows that the rainfall can accelerate the decay of wake vortices. A radar simulator has been represented to process the radar echo signal of raindrops around the wake vortex. The Doppler spectrum of echo signals in radar resolution volumes has been analyzed and the straight vortex and the vortex ring phases show different characteristics of spectrum width. The Doppler width information based on this result of interaction between the wake vortex and rain can be used for assessing the decay phase of wake vortices and monitoring potential hazard for wake vortex encounters.

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chinese herb pairs are the most basic and compressed examples of Chinese herbal combinations and can be used to effectively explain the fundamental concepts of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions. These pairings have gained significant interest due to their subtle therapeutic benefits, minimal side effects, and efficacy in treating complicated chronic conditions. The Banxia–Xiakucao Chinese herb pair (BXHP) consists of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. (Banxia) and Prunella vulgaris L. (Xiakucao). This formula was documented in The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor approximately 2000 years ago，and clinical research has demonstrated that BXHP effectively treats insomnia. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and therapeutic mechanism of the BXHP through a comprehensive strategy involving network pharmacology, molecular docking, transcriptomics, and molecular biology experimental validation. The composition of BXHP was characterized using the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. The active compounds were screened to find drug-likeness compounds by analyzing the ADME data. To predict the molecular mechanism of BXHP in sleep deprivation (SD) by network pharmacology and molecular docking. We established a rat model of SD and the in vivo efficacy of BXHP was verified through the pentobarbital sodium righting reflex test, behavioral assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, transmission electron microscopy, HE staining, and Nissl staining, and the underlying molecular mechanism of BXHP in SD was revealed through transcriptomic and bioinformatic analyses in conjunction with quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining. In the present study, we showed for the first time that BXHP reduced sleep latency, prolongs sleep duration, and improves anxiety; lowered serum CORT, IL6, TNF-α and MDA levels; decreased hypothalamic Glu levels; and elevated hypothalamic GABA and 5-HT levels in SD rats. We found 16 active compounds that acted on 583 targets, 145 of which are related to SD. By modularly dissecting the PPI network, we discovered three critical targets, Akt1, CREB1, and PRKACA, all of which play important roles in the effects of BXHP on SD. Molecular docking resulted in the identification of 16 active compounds that strongly bind to key targets. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of network pharmacology and transcriptomics focused on both the regulation of circadian rhythm and the cAMP signaling pathway, which strongly demonstrated that BXHP affects SD via the cAMP-PKA-CREB-Circadian rhythm pathway. Molecular biology experiments verified this hypothesis. Following BXHP administration, PKA and CREB phosphorylation levels were elevated in SD rats, the cAMP-PKA-CREB signaling pathway was activated, the expression levels of the biological clock genes CLOCK, p-BMAL1/BMAL1, and PER3 were increased, and the rhythmicity of the biological clock was improved. The active compounds in BXHP can activate the cAMP-PKA-CREB-Circadian rhythm pathway, improve the rhythmicity of the biological clock, promote sleep and ameliorate anxiety, which suggests that BXHP improves SD through a multicomponent, multitarget, multipathway mechanism. This study is important for the development of herbal medicines and clinical therapies for improving sleep deprivation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]