Search Results (144)

Rosa hybrida is a globally important ornamental species, but its economic and aesthetic value is often compromised by rose black spot disease (Diplocarpon rosae). Effective monitoring and early detection are essential for disease management. This study investigated physiological and biophysical responses to infection in a resistant cultivar (‘Carefree Wonder’) and a susceptible cultivar (‘Red Cap’) using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), biochemical assays, and ultrastructural analysis. Key EIS parameters (r_i, r_e, τ), reducing sugar and free proline content, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities, and chloroplast ultrastructure were monitored. The results showed that ‘Carefree Wonder’ had a higher initial EIS arc magnitude and osmolyte levels than ‘Red Cap’. Following infection, ‘Red Cap’ displayed earlier and more pronounced increases in EIS arc magnitude, while ‘Carefree Wonder’ responded more gradually. Reducing sugar and proline levels increased in both cultivars, with earlier accumulation in the resistant cultivar. Notably, extracellular resistivity (r_e) exhibited strong positive correlations with reducing sugar (R² = 0.479), free proline (R² = 0.399), chitinase (R² = 0.399), and β-1,3-glucanase activities (R² = 0.401). These findings highlight r_e as the most reliable EIS-derived indicator for early, non-destructive detection of rose black spot resistance. This study supports the potential of EIS for rapid disease diagnostics in rose breeding and cultivation. Full article

African swine fever virus (ASFV), the causative agent of African swine fever (ASF), poses a catastrophic threat to global swine industries through its capacity for immune subversion and rapid evolution. Multigene family genes (MGFs)-encoded proteins serve as molecular hubs governing viral evolution, immune evasion, cell tropism, and disease pathogenesis. This review synthesizes structural and functional evidence demonstrating that MGFs-encoded proteins suppress both interferon signaling and inflammasome activation, while their genomic plasticity in variable terminal regions drives strain diversification and adaptation. Translationally, targeted deletion of immunomodulatory MGFs enables the rational design of live attenuated vaccines that improve protective efficacy while minimizing residual virulence. Moreover, hypervariable MGFs provide strain-specific signatures for PCR-based diagnostics and phylogeographic tracking, directly addressing outbreak surveillance challenges. By unifying virology with translational innovation, this review establishes MGFs as priority targets for next-generation ASF countermeasures. Full article

During high-speed navigation, boat propellers often become partially exposed due to elevated sailing speeds. This condition results in a unique operational scenario where propellers are only partially submerged. Conducting computational studies on the excitation of propellers under such circumstances is essential for optimizing the dynamic performance of the shafting system. A theoretical calculation method for propeller performance was developed based on the principles of fluid dynamics relevant to water entry, leading to a computational method for determining excitation forces in this specific operational condition. This method was subsequently refined through appropriate adjustments using ANSYS Fluent software to simulate the behavior of partially submerged propellers. The findings highlighted the accuracy of the proposed model in predicting the pulsation of six force components across three distinct directions: along the propeller shaft, vertical, and lateral. Specifically, for a single blade (Blade 1), the pulsation amplitude of the vertical force (Fx) constituted 82.1% of its maximum peak magnitude and equated to 57.5% of the blade’s mean thrust. Analogously, the lateral force (Fz) pulsation amplitude represented 53.3% of its maximum peak magnitude and 40.0% of the mean thrust. These findings indicate the presence of significant unsteady hydrodynamic loads. Furthermore, a visualization approach was presented to analyze blade load phasing, offering insights relevant to the arrangement of blades on partially submerged propellers. Full article

This study proposes a co-hydrothermal method for the dechlorination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the preparation of hydrothermal carbon. During the co-hydrothermal process, lignin was mixed with PVC, with ammonium carbonate serving as a supplementary additive. The effects of hydrothermal temperature, reaction time, and ammonium carbonate concentration on the dechlorination efficiency of PVC and the pH value of the system are discussed. The experimental results showed that the incorporation of lignin and ammonium nitrate manifested a remarkable synergistic effect, which substantially augmented the dechlorination process of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Under optimal conditions (220 °C, 240 min), the dechlorination efficiency of PVC reached 99.43%. The hydrothermal carbon derived from the co-hydrothermal process exhibited a 73.9% higher calorific value (31.07 MJ/kg) compared with that obtained from pure PVC (17.87 MJ/kg). A physicochemical characterization demonstrated that lignin effectively enhanced the uniform dispersion of PVC particles during hydrothermal treatment. Concurrently, ammonium carbonate increased the solution’s alkalinity, facilitating a nucleophilic attack by OH⁻ on C-Cl bonds and accelerating dechlorination through intensified substitution reactions. Full article

In order to solve the problems of low efficiency and insufficient accuracy of the traditional manual template method in the forming detection of shell plates, a digital solution based on laser scanning detection system was proposed. By introducing a six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm and a high-precision line laser sensor to build a three-dimensional detection platform, a digital template method framework including data acquisition, point cloud registration, surface reconstruction, and deviation analysis was innovatively constructed. A point cloud non-penetration registration algorithm fused with boundary geometric information was proposed. Based on the improved Delaunay triangulation algorithm, the surface is reconstructed and the digital template is extracted. Experimental verification shows that the method achieves an accuracy of less than 1 mm of error in the detection of outer plates, shortens the single detection time to less than 10 min, and improves the detection efficiency by more than 75% compared with the traditional method. Full article

The northern slope of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is the crucial affected area for dust originating from the Taklimakan Desert (TD). However, few studies have focused on the meteorological element responses to TD dust over different surface types near the TP. Satellite data and the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) were used to analyze the dust being transported from the TD to the TP and its effect from 30 July to 2 August 2016. In the TD, the middle-upper dust layer weakened the solar radiation reaching the lower dust layer, which reduced the temperature within the planetary boundary layer (PBL) during daytime. At night, the dust’s thermal preservation effect increased temperatures within the PBL and decreased temperatures at approximately 0.5 to 2.5 km above PBL. In the TP without snow cover, dust concentration was one-fifth of the TD, while the cooling layer intensity was comparable to the TD. However, within the PBL, the lower concentration and thickness of dust allowed dust to heat atmospheric continuously throughout the day. In the TP with snow cover, dust diminished planetary albedo, elevating temperatures above 6 km, hastening snow melting, which absorbed latent heat and increased the atmospheric water vapor content, consequently decreasing temperatures below 6 km. Surface meteorological element responses to dust varied significantly across different surface types. In the TD, 2 m temperature (T₂) decreased by 0.4 °C during daytime, with the opposite nighttime variation. In the TP without snow cover, T₂ was predominantly warming. In the snow-covered TP, T₂ decreased throughout the day, with a maximum cooling of 1.12 °C and decreased PBL height by up to 258 m. Additionally, a supplementary simulation of a dust event from 17 June to 19 June 2016 further validated our findings. The meteorological elements response to dust is significantly affected by the dust concentration, thickness, and surface type, with significant day–night differences, suggesting that surface types and dust distribution should be considered in dust effect studies to improve the accuracy of climate predictions. Full article

The rapid identification of process windows in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing garnered significant attention for its ability to reduce upfront engineering costs. This study focuses on accelerating the development of process windows by targeting the elimination of specific-size pore defects in L-PBF IN718. A novel relative density–porosity similarity evaluation method (DPSEM) is introduced to evaluate the reliability of porosity data derived from computed tomography (CT). Using the response surface method, the fully dense forming window (e.g., relative density ≥ 99%) was accurately located within a wide process parameter range (18–1000 J/mm³) in a single test. Comparative analysis with the relative density (RD) model highlighted differences in solution set distribution, positioning efficiency, microstructure, and performance within the process window. Results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively eliminates specified size defects (90 μm), achieving a maximum density of 99.5% alongside excellent mechanical properties, including an ultimate tensile strength of 1155 MPa and a yield strength of 908 MPa. In contrast, the RD model achieved a lower maximum density of 98.5%, with mechanical performance compromised by significant MC compound precipitation and keyhole pore accumulation, resulting in an ultimate tensile strength slightly exceeding 910 MPa. Full article

Background: Terahertz (THz) waves, lying between millimeter waves and infrared light, may interact with biomolecules due to their unique energy characteristics. However, whether THz waves are neurally regulated remains controversial, and the underlying mechanism is elusive. Methods: Mouse brain slices were exposed to 1.94 THz waves for 1 h. Synaptic plasticity was evaluated via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), long-term potentiation (LTP), and neuronal class III β-tubulin (Tuj1) and synaptophysin (SYN) expression. Immunofluorescence (IF) and electrophysiology were used to identify neurons sensitive to THz waves. The calcium activity of excitatory neurons, glutamate receptor currents, and glutamate neuron marker expression was also assessed using calcium imaging, a patch clamp, and Western blotting (WB). Optogenetics and chemogenetics were used to determine the role of excitatory neurons in synaptic plasticity impairment after THz wave exposure. NMDA receptor 2B (GluN2B) was overexpressed in the ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1) by a lentivirus to clarify the role of GluN2B in THz wave-induced synaptic plasticity impairment. Results: Exposure to 1.94 THz waves increased postsynaptic density (PSD) thickness and reduced the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) slope and Tuj1 and SYN expression. THz waves diminished vCA1 glutamatergic neuron activity and excitability, neural electrical activity, and glutamate transporter function. THz waves reduced N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) current amplitudes and NMDAR subunit expression. Activating vCA1 glutamatergic neurons through optogenetics and chemogenetics mitigated THz wave-induced synaptic plasticity impairment. GluN2B subunit overexpression improved synaptic plasticity marker expression, synaptic ultrastructure, and the fEPSP slope. Conclusions: Exposure to 1.94 THz waves decreased synaptic plasticity, glutamatergic neuron excitability, and glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the vCA1. Glutamatergic neuron activation and GluN2B overexpression alleviated THz wave-induced synaptic plasticity impairment; thus, neuromodulation could be a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of THz radiation. Full article

Background/Objectives: The propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) poses a huge threat to environmental and human health. The ballast water from ships has been recognized as an important vector of ARGs. However, little is known about how ballast water from geographically isolated water affects ARGs in receiving waters. Methods: Herein, we investigated the changes in ARGs in receiving water by microcosm experiments simulating the discharge of ballast water. Results: The simulated discharge of ballast water increased the abundances of target ARGs, which were 1.3–5.6-fold higher in the mixture of ballast water and receiving water (microcosm M) than in receiving water at the end of the experiment. The enrichment of target ARGs was significantly associated with MGEs. Moreover, the discharge of ballast water changed the microbial communities in receiving water. Further network analysis identified potential ARG hosts, such as Pseudohongiellaa and Amphritea, with the abundance in microcosm M (0.23% and 0.036%) being higher than in receiving water (0.09% and 0.006%), the changes of which might be responsible for ARG variations. Conclusions: Overall, our findings suggest the discharge of ballast water might promote the spread of ARGs in different geographical waters and the corresponding ecological risks should not be ignored. Full article

The solar air collector (SAC) is one of the key technologies for space heating, with various designs proposed to enhance heat collection, but increasing design complexity makes determining the optimal structure more challenging. In this paper, a gradient optimization method, based on heat transfer and optical models, is established for the structural optimization of SAC and applied to the triangular solar air collector (TSAC). With maximum heat collection during the heating season as the objective function, the TSAC side material and the absorber angles are optimized. The performance improvement of the TSAC before and after optimization is analyzed, and the applicability of the optimized TSAC is compared with traditional flat-plate solar air collectors (FSACs) in different climate and solar resource zones. The results indicate that the heat collection of the TSAC increased by 19.2% and the operating time increased by 106 h after optimization. In various zones, the heat collection of TSAC is superior to that of FSAC, with an average increase of 18.1%. Full article

Nightlily (Hemerocallis citrina Baroni) is an important vegetable with edible floral organs. It possesses considerable economic value due to its edibility, ornamental, and medicinal properties. However, the genetic linkage map construction and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of nightlily have not been performed. This study used two varieties ‘Dongzhuanghuanghua’ and ‘Chonglihua’ of nightlily as cross parents to establish an intraspecific hybridization population of 120 F₁ progenies. The ‘Datonghuanghua’ (female) variety of nightlily and ‘Lullaby Baby’ (male) variety of daylily were selected to construct an interspecific hybridization population of 55 F₁ progenies. A total of 965 expressed sequence tag–simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs), along with 20 SSR markers from various sources, were used for genetic mapping. Among these markers, CT/TC (9.24%) of the dinucleotide and GGA/GAG/AGG (4.67%) of the trinucleotide repeat motifs were most abundant. In the intraspecific hybridization genetic map, a total of 124 markers were resolved into 11 linkage groups, with a total map length of 1535.07 cM and an average interval of 12.38 cM. Similarly, the interspecific hybridization map contained 11 linkage groups but with 164 markers, a total map length of 2517.06 cM, and an average interval of 15.35 cM. The two constructed maps had 48 identical markers and demonstrated good collinearity. The collinearity analysis showed that 161 markers hit the genomic sequence of the published H. citrina genome, indicating that the two constructed genetic maps had high accuracy. Phenotypic data were investigated over two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) for flower bud fresh weight, dry weight, and bud length in two hybridization populations. A total of nine QTLs associated with flower bud-related traits were identified, among which those located on linkage group 8 of the intraspecific genetic map and linkage group 4 of the interspecific genetic map showed good stability. All nine QTLs had LOD values of not less than 4 and PVE values of not less than 15% over two years. This is the first report about the intra- and interspecific genetic map construction and QTL mapping of the flower bud-related traits in nightlily based on a genetic map. The results promote marker-assisted breeding and offer insights into the mechanisms underlying important traits of the genus Hemerocallis. Full article

Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) are critical indicators for assessing grassland ecosystems. Based on global remote sensing data for FVC and LST from 2001 to 2022, this study employs the Mann–Kendall trend test and Spearman correlation analysis to explore the dynamic changes in and spatial distribution patterns of both variables. The results indicate that the FVC is increasing in regions such as Europe, the eastern southern Sahara, western India, eastern South America, western and southern North America, and central China. However, it is decreasing in southern Canada, the central United States, and northern Australia. Significant increases in LST are observed in subarctic regions and the Tibetan Plateau, attributed to polar warming effects associated with global climate change. Conversely, the LST is decreasing in central China, eastern coastal Australia, and southern Africa. The global FVC–LST relationship exhibits the following four distinct spatial distribution patterns: (1) FVC increase and LST increase (Type 1), (2) FVC increase and LST decrease (Type 2), (3) FVC decrease and LST increase (Type 3), and (4) FVC decrease and LST decrease (Type 4). Type 1, covering 33.72%, is primarily found in high-latitude and high-altitude areas, such as subarctic regions and the Tibetan Plateau. Type 2, the largest group (46.98%), is mainly located in eastern North America, eastern South America, and southern Africa. Type 3, which comprises 18.72%, is concentrated in arid and semi-arid regions, while Type 4, representing only 0.59%, lacks clear spatial distribution patterns. Full article

The marine water-lubricated bearing’s (WLBs) dynamic properties are essential for ensuring the shaft system’s operational dependability. The coupled model of mixed lubrication and turbulence under the impact of bidirectional misalignment is proposed in this research, and the perturbation equations of marine WLBs with 32 coefficients are derived. The finite difference method (FDM) is used to solve the steady-state and perturbation equations, and the impacts of turbulence, bearing bush deformation, surface roughness, and bidirectional shaft misalignment on the dynamic characteristics of the WLBs are systematically investigated. The results reveal that under mixed lubrication, surface roughness and the turbulence effect can both greatly improve the stiffness and damping of the bearings, but that there is a threshold phenomenon for the turbulence effect’s influence on these properties. Neglecting the elastic deformation of the bush may lead to an overestimation of the bearings’ stiffness and damping, causing substantial inaccuracies in conditions of heavy load or declined Young’s modulus. The 32 coefficients of the WLB exhibit considerable variation with the misalignment angle; hence, a more comprehensive dynamic model should be developed for misaligned marine WLBs. The study’s findings provide valuable insights for rotor dynamics research and optimal design of lubrication performance in marine WLBs. Full article

Xanthium spinosum (X. spinosum) is a highly invasive weed native to South America and distributed in 17 provinces (municipalities) of China. It has severely negative influences on ecosystems, agriculture, and husbandry. However, few studies have reported on the impact of human activity and climate change on the future distribution and centroid shift of X. spinosum. This study aimed to investigate the potential geological distribution of X. spinosum in China, as well as the distribution pattern, centroid shift, and key environmental factors influencing its distribution, under four future climate scenarios (SSP1-26, SSP2-45, SSP3-70, and SSP5-85) based on the biomod2-integrated model. The results indicated that the suitable habitats for X. spinosum would expand in the future, mainly in Inner Mongolia, Northeast China, and the plateau regions (e.g., Xinjiang and Xizang). Under future climate scenarios, the centroid would shift toward the northwest or northeast part of China, with the SSP2-45-2050s scenario showing the maximum shift distance (161.990 km). Additionally, the key environmental variables influencing the distribution of X. spinosum, including human impact index, bio5, bio7, and bio12, were determined, revealing that most of them were related to human activities, temperature, and precipitation. This study enhances the understanding of the influence of human activity and climate change on the geographic range of X. spinosum. It provides references for early warning and management in the control of X. spinosum. Full article

The ubiquitous presence of phenolic compounds in effluents poses a risk to aquatic organisms and human health. This study investigates the responses of the emerging algal-bacterial granular sludge process in treating phenolic wastewater. The results showed that phenol at 1, 10, and 100 mg/L had little effect on ammonia-N, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and phosphate-P removal. At the highest phenol concentration of 100 mg/L, the average removal rates of ammonia-N, COD, and phosphate-P were 94.8%, 72.9%, and 83.7%, respectively. The presence of phenol led to a decline in chlorophyll content of the algal-bacterial granular sludge, concurrently resulting in an increase in the abundance of microbial diversity. Algal-bacterial granular sludge exhibited mechanisms such as elevated extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) production, which may aid in coping with oxidative stress from phenols. This research underscores the algal-bacterial granular sludge’s potential for treating phenolic wastewater, thereby advancing knowledge in the field of phenol degradation with this innovative technology. Full article