Search Results (3,238)

The bore field in ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems usually encounters thermal accumulation in long-term operation, but there is no quantitative index evaluating this process and its magnitude. A heat accumulation evaluation metric has been proposed, based on the linear trend Slope (°C/a) of the curve of soil temperature variation. Using this metric, the influence of various factors on soil temperature has been quantitatively analyzed. The results indicate that, under constant heating durations, each 10-day extension of cooling periods leads to an increase of 0.038 °C/a in soil temperature. Extending the recovery period within an annual cycle facilitates soil self-recovery and mitigates subsurface thermal accumulation. Increasing the spacing between boreholes effectively reduces thermal interference, whereas a greater number of boreholes exacerbates thermal accumulation. Deepening vertical boreholes from 100 m to 200 m reduces the average annual soil temperature increase by 0.1076 °C. Appropriately increasing backfill thermal conductivity enhances heat exchange efficiency and suppresses thermal accumulation. Higher water flow rates result in logarithmic increases in the evaluation metric, thereby intensifying soil thermal accumulation. Intermittent operation extends recovery periods, thereby alleviating soil thermal imbalance. Under balanced cooling and heating loads, increasing the system lifespan from 10 a to 30 a reduces the evaluation metric by 47.2%. Full article

The current plunger gas lift production process still relies on the traditional ‘one-to-one’ control configuration, where one controller manages a single gas well. This approach does not fulfil platform requirements for centralized, efficient, and unified coordination and management of multiple wells. To increase production, improve efficiency, and mitigate safety risks, this article offers an intelligent optimization method for a collaborative plunger gas lift in multi-objective, multi-well platforms. The method integrates mechanistic modeling and data-driven approaches to develop a collaborative model for multiple wells on the platform, accounting for inter-well pressure interference and pipeline backpressure. A particle swarm optimization algorithm is implemented to solve the model, with a composite fitness function balancing maximum daily gas production and minimum production fluctuations. A case study on the XXX Platform shows that the method enhances total gas production, reduces production fluctuations, and lowers system backpressure compared to the current operating schedule. Implemented via a localized edge computing architecture, it supports real-time scheduling, providing technical references for shale gas development. Full article

To investigate the effect of body size on muscle quality of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), we systematically tracked the dynamic changes in nutrient content, texture, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among small-sized (~100 g), medium-sized (~250 g), and large-sized (~600 g) fish (SYRC, MYRC, and HYRC, respectively) over a 30-week feeding trial. The results indicated that the HYRC showed significantly reduced moisture and lipid content, along with increased protein content, hydroxyproline, hardness, and chewiness compared to the SYRC (p < 0.05). The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and fish lipid quality in the MYRC were significantly lower than those in both the SYRC and HYRC (p < 0.05). The HYRC demonstrated an elevated health-promoting index and a reduced atherogenicity value compared to the SYRC (p < 0.05). The contents of alcohol, ketones, and furans in the HYRC increased by 32.53%, 44.62%, and 144.29%, respectively, compared with those in the SYRC (p < 0.05), including key VOCs in aquatic products such as oct-1-en-3-ol and pent-1-en-3-ol. In conclusion, the SYRC have higher levels of LC-PUFAs and lower hardness; the MYRC have poor levels of LC-PUFAs; and the HYRC have an optimal synergy of nutrition, texture, and VOCs, but the overaccumulation of undesirable VOCs requires mitigation. This provides theoretical references and data support for fish quality optimization, processing, and consumption guidelines. Full article

Megachilidae are crucial pollinators of cultivated and wild vegetation, playing a vital role in ecosystem pollination services, however, there is still a lack of information regarding the ecology and behavior of these species. This study aims to analyze the nesting ecology strategies of four sympatric species of leafcutting bees and their interactions with pollen source plants. Data were collected from April to October from 2019 to 2022 in the Jiyuan section of the Taihang Mountain National Nature Reserve (approximately 35°10′–35°25′ N, 111°55′–112°10′ E) using trap nest methods. Through the dissection of nesting tubes, their structural characteristics were revealed, and the pollen sources collected by the bees were identified. Our results showed that nesting activity of leafcutting bees lasted from May to October, with a preference for nesting tubes of 6 to 10 mm in diameter and 131 to 170 mm in length. We documented 48 plant species used as foraging sources, belonging to 17 orders, 24 families, and 33 genera, with the Fagaceae family (9 species) being predominant. The results indicate that the distinctive traits of these species—such as the asynchronous nesting periods, the types of nesting materials, the dimensions of cavities, and differential utilization of floral resources—likely play a critical role in niche differentiation among sympatric species, thereby ensuring the maintenance and persistence of Megachilidae populations in this region. Full article

In precision livestock farming, synchronous and high-precision instance segmentation of multiple key body parts of sika deer serves as the core visual foundation for achieving automated health monitoring, behavior analysis, and automated antler collection. However, in real-world breeding environments, factors such as lighting changes, severe individual occlusion, pose diversity, and small targets pose severe challenges to the accuracy and robustness of existing segmentation models. To address these challenges, this study proposes an improved model, MPDF-DetSeg, based on YOLO11-seg. The model reconstructs its neck network, and designs the multipath diversion feature fusion pyramid network (MPDFPN). The multipath feature fusion and cross-scale interaction mechanism are used to solve the segmentation ambiguity problem of deer body occlusion and complex illumination. The design depth separable extended residual module (DWEResBlock) improves the ability to express details such as texture in specific parts of sika deer. Moreover, we adopt the MPDIoU loss function based on vertex geometry constraints to optimize the positioning accuracy of tilted targets. In this study, a dataset consisting of 1036 sika deer images was constructed, covering five categories, including antlers, heads (front/side views), and legs (front/rear legs), and used for method validation. Compared with the original YOLO11-seg model, the improved model made significant progress in several indicators: the mAP50 and mAP50-95 under the bounding-box metrics increased by 2.1% and 4.9% respectively; the mAP50 and mAP50-95 under the mask metrics increased by 2.4% and 5.3%, respectively. In addition, in the mIoU index of image segmentation, the model reached 70.1%, showing the superiority of this method in the accurate detection and segmentation of specific parts of sika deer, this provides an effective and robust technical solution for realizing the multidimensional intelligent perception and automated applications of sika deer. Full article

Currently, YOLO-based object detection is widely employed in intelligent inspection robots. However, under interference factors present in dimly lit substation environments, YOLO exhibits issues such as excessively low accuracy, missed detections, and false detections for critical targets. To address these problems, this paper proposes HSS-YOLO, a lightweight object detection model based on YOLOv11. Initially, HetConv is introduced. By combining convolutional kernels of different sizes, it reduces the required number of floating-point operations (FLOPs) and enhances computational efficiency. Subsequently, the integration of Inner-SIoU strengthens the recognition capability for small targets within dim environments. Finally, ShuffleAttention is incorporated to mitigate problems like missed or false detections of small targets under low-light conditions. The experimental results demonstrate that on a custom dataset, the model achieves a precision of 90.5% for critical targets (doors and two types of handles). This represents a 4.6% improvement over YOLOv11, while also reducing parameter count by 10.7% and computational load by 9%. Furthermore, evaluations on public datasets confirm that the proposed model surpasses YOLOv11 in assessment metrics. The improved model presented in this study not only achieves lightweight design but also yields more accurate detection results for doors and handles within dimly lit substation environments. Full article

Global food security relies on wheat, maize, and soybean, yet their cultivation faces escalating threats from Fusarium head blight (FHB) pathogens. We demonstrate that agricultural intensification enables cross-kingdom root infections by Fusarium graminearum and F. asiaticum across these crops. Screening of 180 Fusarium strains revealed tripartite host infectivity, with transcriptomics uncovering host-adapted virulence strategies. Transcriptome analysis identified distinct gene expression patterns during the infection of each crop, with F. graminearum employing host-specific genes, such as FgPPDT1 (a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent transferase), for maize root infection. The FgPPDT1 knockout mutant (Δfgppdt1) exhibited severely impaired root colonization. Our findings establish differential gene expression as a regulatory axis for cross-host adaptation, directly linking FHB transmission risks to wheat–maize intercropping and wheat-soybean rotations. Full article

Background: Varicella remains a prevalent vaccine-preventable disease, but breakthrough infections are increasingly reported. However, long-term, population-based studies investigating the temporal and demographic characteristics of breakthrough varicella remain limited. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed surveillance data from Jinhua City, China, from 2016 to 2024. Varicella case records were obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention (CISDCP), while vaccination data were retrieved from the Zhejiang Provincial Immunization Program Information System (ISIS). Breakthrough cases were defined as infections occurring more than 42 days after administration of the varicella vaccine. Differences in breakthrough interval were analyzed across subgroups defined by dose, sex, age, population category, and vaccination type. A bivariate cubic regression model was used to assess the combined effect of initial vaccination age and dose interval on the breakthrough interval. Results: Among 28,778 reported varicella cases, 7373 (25.62%) were classified as breakthrough infections, with a significant upward trend over the 9-year period (p < 0.001). Most cases occurred in school-aged children, especially those aged 6–15 years. One-dose recipients consistently showed shorter breakthrough intervals than two-dose recipients (M = 62.10 vs. 120.10 months, p < 0.001). Breakthrough intervals also differed significantly by sex, age group, population category, and vaccination type (p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between the initial vaccination age, the dose interval, and the breakthrough interval (R² = 0.964, p < 0.001), with earlier and closely spaced vaccinations associated with longer protection. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that a two-dose varicella vaccination schedule, when initiated at an earlier age and administered with a shorter interval between doses, provides more robust and longer-lasting protection. These results offer strong support for incorporating varicella vaccination into China’s National Immunization Program to enhance vaccine coverage and reduce the public health burden associated with breakthrough infections. Full article

Cobalt, a rare element in the Earth’s crust, is widely used in industries due to its hardness and antioxidant properties. It also plays a vital role in physiological functions, being a key component of vitamin B₁₂. However, excessive cobalt intake can cause health issues. Detecting cobalt ions, especially Co²⁺, in food is crucial due to potential contamination from various sources. Fluorescent probes offer high sensitivity, selectivity, a rapid response, and ease of use, making them ideal for the accurate and efficient recognition of Co²⁺ in complex samples. In this context, a highly selective fluorescent probe, 2,2′-((3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-1,2-phenylene) bis(oxy)) bis(N-(quinolin-8-yl) acetamide) (DQBM-B), was synthesized using chloroacetyl chloride, 8-aminoquinoline, 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, and benzidine as raw materials for the recognition of Co²⁺. Probe DQBM-B can exhibit fluorescence alone in DMF. However, as the concentration of Co²⁺ increased, Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) occurred, which quenched the original fluorescence of the probe. Probe DQBM-B shows better selectivity for Co²⁺ than other ions with high sensitivity (detection limit: 3.56 μmol L⁻¹), and the reaction reaches equilibrium within 30 min. Full article

To enhance regional flood control capacity, this study focused on the DX River section in Zhejiang Province. Unmanned vessel bathymetry was employed to obtain precise river cross-section data. A hydrodynamic model was established to simulate flood propagation processes and conduct flood routing analyses. Flood scenarios under 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year return periods were simulated to assess water level variations and overflow risks. The results indicate that under a 5-year flood, 19.5% of the right bank fails to meet flood control standards. This risk intensifies significantly with increasing return periods. Building on these findings, a flood optimal operation model was developed. The resulting coordinated strategy, which lowers the peak water level by 1.2 m during a 20-year flood, is sufficient to prevent overflow at the critical section and enhances regional flood control capacity. This is followed by dynamic gate regulation to match the outflow to the inflow. Dynamic regulation of spillway gates should then be implemented to achieve outflow rates commensurate with the incoming flood magnitude. This study demonstrates a robust workflow from high-resolution data acquisition to actionable operational rules, providing a transferable framework for mitigating flood risks in complex, regulated river systems. Full article

Urban wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, carbon sequestration, and water purification. Sediments are key carriers for wetlands to store elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the aquatic environment. This study analyzed different sediment layers of seven wetlands in Yangzhou, aiming to explore the relationship between physicochemical factors and microbial communities in wetland sediments, as well as to predict the functions of microbial communities. Functional prediction of microbial communities was conducted based on amplicon sequencing analysis, and the neutral community model was used to determine the formation and evolution process of microbial communities. The results showed that in three wetlands, namely Zhuyu Bay (ZYW), Luyang Lake (LYH), and Runyang Wetland (RYSD), the contents of carbon components (total carbon, total soluble carbon, microbial biomass carbon) in the 0–20 cm sediment layer were higher, while the carbon component contents in Baoying Lake (BYH) showed the opposite trend. Among them, the contents of total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, total potassium, and available potassium in the 0–20 cm sediment layer of Runyang Wetland (RYSD) were significantly the highest. This indicates that in Runyang Wetland (RYSD), the 0–20 cm layer has more abundant carbon components and mineral nutrients compared to the 20–40 cm layer. Among the seven wetlands, it was found that the content of total potassium was all greater than 10 g/kg, which was much higher than the contents of total phosphorus and total nitrogen. Analysis of microbial communities revealed that the dominant archaeal phyla were Thaumarchaeota and Euryarchaeota, and the dominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria. The distribution of functional genes was mainly concentrated in Zhuyu Bay (ZYW) and Luyang Lake (LYH). Zhuyu Bay Wetland (ZYW) had potential advantages in light utilization function, and Luyang Lake (LYH) had potential advantages in carbon and nitrogen cycle functions. The assembly process of the archaeal community was mainly affected by stochastic processes, while the bacterial community was mainly affected by deterministic processes. However, water content, total phosphorus, and available potassium all had strong correlations with both archaeal and bacterial communities. The research results preliminarily reveal the connections between the physicochemical properties of sediments, microbial communities, and their potential functions in Yangzhou urban wetlands, providing an important scientific basis for the protection and management of wetland ecosystems. Full article

Combining antibiotics with propolis is an effective method to combat bacterial drug resistance. Nanoparticles are of interest in the antimicrobial field because of their higher drug stability, solubility, penetration power, and treatment efficacy. In this study, propolis nanoparticles (PNPs) were synthesized, and their antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in combination with ampicillin sodium (AS) were analyzed. The PNPs had an average particle diameter of 118.0 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.129, and a zeta potential of −28.2 mV. The fractional inhibitory concentration indices of PNPs and AS against tested MRSA strains highlighted this synergy, ranging between 0.375 and 0.5. Crystal violet staining showed that combined PNPs and AS significantly inhibited biofilm formation and reduced existing biofilm biomass. We then discovered that PNPs inhibited bacterial adhesion, extracellular polysaccharide synthesis, and mecR1, mecA, blaZ, and icaADBC gene expression. These results indicated that PNPs exerted a synergistic antibacterial effect with AS by inhibiting mecR1, mecA, and blaZ gene expressions to reduce the drug resistance of MRSA. Meanwhile, PNPs weakened bacterial adhesion and aggregation by suppressing icaADBC gene expression, allowing antibiotics to penetrate the biofilm, and exhibiting significant synergistic anti-biofilm activity. In summary, PNPs are promising candidates for combating MRSA-related diseases. Full article

The shrubland ecosystems in arid areas are highly sensitive to global climate change and human activities. Accurate extraction of shrubs using computer vision techniques plays an essential role in monitoring ecological balance and desertification. However, shrub extraction from high-resolution GF-2 satellite images remains challenging due to their dense distribution and small size, along with complex background. Therefore, this study introduces a Feature Enhancement and Transformer Network (FETNet) by integrating the Feature Enhancement Module (FEM) and Transformer module (EdgeViT). Correspondently, they can strengthen both global and local features and enable accurate segmentation of small shrubs in complex backgrounds. The ablation experiments demonstrated that incorporation of FEM and EdgeViT can improve the overall segmentation accuracy, with 1.19% improvement of the Mean Intersection Over Union (MIOU). Comparison experiments show that FETNet outperforms the two leading models of FCN8s and SegNet, with the MIOU improvements of 7.2% and 0.96%, respectively. The spatial details of the extracted results indicated that FETNet is able to accurately extract dense, small shrubs while effectively suppressing interference from roads and building shadows in spatial details. The proposed FETNet enables precise shrub extraction in arid areas and can support ecological assessment and land management. Full article

Due to human activities and the invasion of Spartina alterniflora, the population of Scirpus mariqueter (S. mariqueter) in the Yangtze River Estuary has gradually declined. To address this issue, numerous restoration efforts have been undertaken. To investigate the changes and influencing factors of soil bacterial communities during the restoration of S. mariqueter wetlands, we selected S. mariqueter populations as the research focus and divided the samples into two years, S1 and S2. High-throughput sequencing technology was employed for observation and analysis. The results revealed that from S1 to S2, soil bacterial diversity in the S. mariqueter wetland increased significantly and displayed clear seasonal patterns. The dominant bacterial phyla included Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteriota. Among these, Proteobacteria had the highest relative abundance, while Acidobacteriota showed the most pronounced increase, surpassing Bacteroidota and Firmicutes to become the second most abundant group. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that soil organic matter and electrical conductivity were the key factors influencing the composition and diversity of the soil bacterial community, with Acidobacteriota playing a dominant role during wetland restoration. In conclusion, during the ecological restoration of the S. mariqueter wetlands, attention should be given to environmental factors such as soil organic matter and electrical conductivity, while the regulatory role of Acidobacteriota in wetland soils should not be overlooked. This study provides a microscopic perspective on the interactions between microbial diversity and ecosystem functions in coastal wetlands, offering valuable guidance for the ecological restoration of degraded wetlands. Full article

Grafting serves as a crucial propagation technique for superior Camellia oleifera varieties, where rootstock–scion compatibility significantly determines survival and growth performance. To systematically evaluate grafting compatibility in this economically important woody oil crop, we examined 15 rootstock–scion combinations using ‘Xianglin 210’ as the scion, assessing growth traits and conducting physiological assays (enzymatic activities of SOD and POD and levels of ROS and IAA) at multiple timepoints (0–32 days post-grafting). The results demonstrated that Comb. 4 (Xianglin 27 rootstock) exhibited superior compatibility, characterized by systemic antioxidant activation (peaking at 4–8 DPG), rapid auxin accumulation (4 DPG), and efficient sugar allocation. Transcriptome sequencing and WGCNA analysis identified 3781 differentially expressed genes, with notable enrichment in stress response pathways (Hsp70, DnaJ) and auxin biosynthesis (YUCCA), while also revealing key hub genes (FKBP19) associated with graft-healing efficiency. These findings establish that successful grafting in C. oleifera depends on coordinated rapid redox regulation, auxin-mediated cell proliferation, and metabolic reprogramming, with Comb. 4 emerging as the optimal rootstock choice. The identified molecular markers not only advance our understanding of grafting mechanisms in woody plants but also provide valuable targets for future breeding programs aimed at improving grafting success rates in this important oil crop. Full article