Search Results (177)

Artificial gynogenesis is an essential technique for aquaculture breeding. Fertile offspring of the WuLi carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Quanzhounensis, 2n = 100, WLC) were successfully produced via gynogenesis using ultraviolet-irradiated sperm from the blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala, 2n = 48, BSB). As anticipated, gonadal section examination confirmed that all gynogenetic WuLi carp (2n = 100, GWB) were female. To investigate whether paternal DNA fragments from BSB were integrated into the GWB genome, comparative analyses of morphological traits, DNA content, chromosomal numbers, 5S rDNA sequences, microsatellite DNA markers, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), growth performance and nutritional composition were systematically conducted between GWB and maternal WLC. The results revealed pronounced maternal inheritance patterns across morphological characteristics, DNA quantification, chromosomal configurations, 5S rDNA sequences and FISH signals, while microsatellite detection unequivocally confirmed paternal BSB DNA fragment integration into the GWB genome. Remarkably, GWB demonstrated significantly superior growth performance and elevated unsaturated fatty acid content relative to the maternal line. This approach not only addressed germplasm degradation in WLC but also provided valuable theoretical foundations for breeding programs in this commercially significant species. Full article

In recent years, with the development of science and technology and the transformation of economic structures, rubidium and cesium have gradually become indispensable rare metal resources as important materials for high-tech industries. However, the relationship between supply and demand of resources is unbalanced, industrial demand is much higher than production, and the rubidium and cesium resources in hard rock minerals such as traditional pegmatite minerals are no longer enough to support global scientific and technological upgrading. There is therefore an urgent need to expand sources of resource extraction and recovery to meet market demand. This paper summarizes the current feasible technologies for extracting rubidium and cesium from pegmatite minerals, silicate minerals, salt lake brines and other potential resources. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence are prevalent conditions among women, significantly affecting their quality of life. Vaginal mesh surgeries, including the use of the Calistar mesh, have become an essential intervention aimed at alleviating symptoms associated with POP and urinary dysfunction. This study evaluates the clinical outcomes of Calistar vaginal mesh surgeries, focusing on pre- and post-operative changes in urinary parameters and prolapse severity. Methods: Data from 180 patients undergoing Calistar procedures were analyzed, revealing significant improvements in anatomical markers (Aa, Ba, C, Ap, and Bp) and urinary distress metrics (UDI-6 and IIQ-7) postoperatively. Results: The results demonstrate that Calistar mesh procedures are effective in reducing urinary frequency, incontinence, and incomplete bladder emptying. Conclusions: Calistar mesh procedures offer a safe and effective surgical option for managing POP and associated urinary dysfunction. The observed anatomical and functional improvements suggest that Calistar mesh significantly enhances patient outcomes and quality of life. Full article

Pulmonary dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI is clinically useful for assessing pulmonary perfusion, but its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is limited. A self-supervised learning network-based plug-and-play (PnP) denoising model was developed to improve the image quality of pulmonary perfusion MRI. A dataset of patients with suspected pulmonary diseases was used. Asymmetric pixel-shuffle downsampling blind-spot network (AP-BSN) training inputs were two-dimensional background-subtracted perfusion images without clean ground truth. The AP-BSN is incorporated into a PnP model (PnP-BSN) for balancing noise control and image fidelity. Model performance was evaluated by SNR, sharpness, and overall image quality from two radiologists. The fractal dimension and k-means segmentation of the pulmonary perfusion images were calculated for comparing denoising performance. The model was trained on 29 patients and tested on 8 patients. The performance of PnP-BSN was compared to denoising convolutional neural network (DnCNN) and a Gaussian filter. PnP-BSN showed the highest reader scores in terms of SNR, sharpness, and overall image quality as scored by two radiologists. The expert scoring results for DnCNN, Gaussian, and PnP-BSN were 2.25 ± 0.65, 2.44 ± 0.73, and 3.56 ± 0.73 for SNR; 2.62 ± 0.52, 2.62 ± 0.52, and 3.38 ± 0.64 for sharpness; and 2.16 ± 0.33, 2.34 ± 0.42, and 3.53 ± 0.51 for overall image quality (p < 0.05 for all). PnP-BSN outperformed DnCNN and a Gaussian filter for denoising pulmonary perfusion MRI, which led to improved quantitative fractal analysis. Full article

To address the disposal challenges of waste SCR catalysts and the urgent need for sustainable solutions in heavy metal pollution control, this study proposes a green resource utilization strategy based on the sub-molten salt method to convert waste SCR catalysts into highly efficient lead ion adsorbents. Titanate-based adsorbent materials with a loose porous structure were successfully prepared by optimizing the process parameters (reaction temperature of 160 °C, NaOH concentration of 70%, and reaction time of 2 h). The experiments showed that the adsorption efficiency was as high as 99.65% and the maximum adsorption capacity was 76.08 mg/g under ambient conditions (adsorbent dosage of 1.2 g/L, initial Pb(II) concentration of 100 mg/L, contact time of 60 min, and pH = 4). Kinetic analysis showed that the quasi-second-order kinetic model (R² = 0.9985) could better describe the adsorption process, indicating chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. Characterization analysis confirmed that subsequent to the adsorption process, Pb₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂ formed on the surface of the adsorbent material is the adsorption product of Pb(II) and C-O through ion exchange and surface complexation. This study transforms waste SCR catalysts into sustainable titanate adsorbents through a low-energy green process, providing an eco-efficient solution for heavy metal wastewater treatment while aligning with circular economy principles and sustainable industrial practices. Full article

The accurate extraction of mountainous cropland from remote sensing images remains challenging due to its fragmented plots, irregular shapes, and the terrain-induced shadows. To address this, we propose a deep learning framework, SE-ResUNet, that integrates Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) modules into ResUNet to enhance feature representation. Leveraging Sentinel-1/2 imagery and DEM data, we fuse vegetation indices (NDVI/EVI), terrain features (Slope/TRI), and SAR polarization characteristics into 3-channel inputs, optimizing the network’s discriminative capacity. Comparative experiments on network architectures, feature combinations, and terrain conditions demonstrated the superiority of our approach. The results showed the following: (1) feature fusion (NDVI + TerrainIndex + SAR) had the best performance (OA: 97.11%; F1-score: 96.41%; IoU: 93.06%), significantly reducing shadow/cloud interference. (2) SE-ResUNet outperformed ResUNet by 3.53% for OA and 8.09% for IoU, emphasizing its ability to recalibrate channel-wise features and refine edge details. (3) The model exhibited robustness across diverse slopes/aspects (OA > 93.5%), mitigating terrain-induced misclassifications. This study provides a scalable solution for mountainous cropland mapping, supporting precision agriculture and sustainable land management. Full article

Tianjin is a typical industrialized city of 13.64 million people, and the urbanization rate is 85.49%. The risk of heavy metals in the soils of the typical agricultural land around Tianjin poses a significant challenge to the sustainability of the ecosystem’s health and human health. Different heavy metals in different land-use types in Tianjin have all accumulated in the soils, and the vegetable base had the highest total of accumulated heavy metals. This study took the surface soil of farmland Xiqing District—the main vegetable and crop area in Tianjin—as the research object, and the concentrations of eight heavy metals were analyzed. The geo-accumulation index (I_geo), principal component analysis (PCA), absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS–MLR), positive definite matrix factorization (PMF), and health risk assessment model were used to evaluate the degree, sources, and health risks (to adults and children) of heavy metal pollution. This study compares the APCS–MLR model with the PMF model. The results showed that Cd and Hg pollution were the most severe among the eight heavy metals in agricultural soil, with the average values exceeding the background by 151.9% and 324.1%, respectively. About 15% of the sites were at moderate to severe pollution levels. The PMF model can better analyze the sources of heavy metals in the study area, showing that the main sources of heavy metal pollution include natural source, mixed source of agriculture and transportation, coal combustion source, and pesticide source. The total carcinogenic risk index (TCR) of natural source is the highest, with Cr being the main contributor to maximum total non-carcinogenic risk indices (HI) and TCR for children; Hg contributes the most to HI in the coal combustion source, while Cu and Zn contributes most in the mixed source of agriculture and transportation. Full article

The gut–liver axis is essential in animal disease and health. However, the role of the gut–liver axis in the anti-disease mechanism of disease-resistant grass carp (DRGC) derived from the backcross of female gynogenetic grass carp (GGC) and male grass carp (GC) remains unclear. This study analyzed the changes in gut histopathology, fecal intestinal microflora and metabolites, and liver transcriptome between GC and DRGC. Histological analysis revealed significant differences in the gut between DRGC and GC. In addition, microbial community analyses indicated that hybridization induced gut microbiome variation by significantly increasing the proportion of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in DRGC. Metabolomic data revealed that the hybridization-induced metabolic change was probably characterized by being related to taurocholate and sphinganine in DRGC. Transcriptome analysis suggested that the enhanced disease resistance of DRGC was primarily attributed to immune-related genes (SHMT2, GOT1, ACACA, DLAT, GPIA, TALDO1, G6PD, and FASN). Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a significant association between the gut microbiota, immune-related genes, and metabolites. Collectively, the gut–liver axis, through the interconnected microbiome–metabolite–gene pathway, may play a crucial role in the mechanism of greater disease resistance in DRGC, offering valuable insights for advancing the grass carp cultivation industry. Full article

The aim of this research was to characterize the structure, physicochemical properties and anti-complement activities of two strawberry fruit polysaccharides (DSFP-500 and DSFP-700) obtained by ultrasonic degradation. The molecular weight (M_w) of DSFP-500 was 809 kDa and the M_w of DSFP-700 was 791 kDa, obviously lower than the 9479 kDa weight of the native polysaccharide (PSP). DSFP-500 and DSFP-700 were both composed of the same monosaccharides (Man, Rha, Gal, Glc, Gal and Ara) but the molar ratios were different. The two degraded polysaccharides had good thermal stabilities, as well as good water holding capacity (WHC) and oil holding capacity (OHC). The WHCs of DSFP-500 and DSFP-700 were 5.53 ± 0.08 and 5.70 ± 0.03 g water/g, and the OHCs of DSFP-500 and DSFP-700 were 9.34 ± 0.15 and 9.28 ± 0.29 g oil/g. DSFP-500 and DSFP-700 showed strong free radical scavenging activities in vitro; the ABTS⁺• scavenging rates of DSFP-700 and DSFP-500 were 55.97 ± 0.68% and 52.06 ± 0.85% at 4.0 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, DSFP-500 and DSFP-700 both had anti-complement activities through the classical pathway and the alternative pathway, though DSFP-700 was more effective than DSFP-500. These findings indicated the potentiality of the degraded polysaccharides from strawberry fruits in functional food and medicine development. Full article

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) can operate efficiently in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and/or solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) modes, and are one of the most promising electrochemical devices for energy conversion and storage, facilitating the integration of renewable energies with the electric grid. However, the SOC electrodes suffer performance and stability issues, especially in the case of fuel electrodes when SOCs are fueled by cheaper and more available fuels such as methane and natural gas. Typical Ni-YSZ cermet fuel electrodes suffer problems of coarsening, carbon deposition, and sulfur poisoning. Therefore, developing new electrodes using novel design strategies for SOCs is crucial. In this review work, the fuel electrode development strategies including the in situ exsolution of nanoparticles, multi-elemental nanocatalysts, and nanofiber materials have been reviewed and summarized for the design of new electrodes for SOCs. Nanofiber electrodes with in situ exsolved nanoparticles, which combine the advantages of a unique nanofiber microstructure and stable and active exsolved nanoparticles, are of great interest and significantly contribute to the development of high-performance fuel electrodes for SOCs. Full article

During the extraction and utilization of coal resources, a large amount of CO₂ and coal-based solid wastes (CBSW), such as coal gangue, are generated. To reduce the carbon and waste emissions, an effective approach is to mineralize the CO₂ with the CBSW and then backfill the mineralized materials into the goaf area. However, efficient CO₂ mineralization is challenging due to the low reactivity of coal gangue. To this end, mechanical activation was used for the modification of coal gangue, and the mechanical activation mechanism of coal gangue was revealed from a microcosmic perspective by dry powder laser particle size testing (DPLPST), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that compared with the unground coal gangue, the average particle size of coal gangue after 0.5 h, 1 h, and 1.5 h milling decreases by 94.3%, 95%, and 95.3%, respectively; additionally, the amorphous structures of the coal gangue after milling increase, and their edges and corners gradually diminish. After the pressure mineralization of coal gangues with different activation times, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis was performed, and the CO₂ mineralization effect of the mechanically activated coal gangue was explored. It is found that the carbon fixation capacity of the coal gangue after 0.5 h, 1.0 h, and 1.5 h mechanical activation is increased by 1.18%, 3.20%, and 7.57%, respectively. Through the XRD and SEM, the mechanism of CO₂ mineralization in coal gangue was revealed from a microcosmic perspective as follows: during the mineralization process, alkali metal ions of calcium and magnesium in anorthite and muscovite are leached and participate in the mineralization reaction, resulting in the formation of stable carbonates such as calcium carbonate. Full article

Background/Objectives: Repeated spiking and serving movements in volleyball can lead to alterations in shoulder range of motion among athletes, potentially increasing the risk of shoulder instability and injury. Hence, assessing and understanding the shoulder range of motion of volleyball players is a critical concern. Therefore, this study aimed to understand and evaluate the bilateral shoulder joint range of motion (ROM) in high-school male volleyball athletes and to discover the adaptation characteristics. Methods: Forty high-school male volleyball athletes participated in this study. Shoulder ROM measurements were taken via video with an iPhone 12 Pro Max, and we analyzed the ROM data using Kinovea software (Version 0.9.5) for both the dominant and non-dominant side. The shoulder ROM measurements included shoulder hyper-extension (SE), flexion (SF), internal rotation (IR), external rotation (ER), horizontal adduction (Sadd), and horizontal abduction (Sabd). After taking shoulder ROM measurements, the total rotational range of motion (TROM) was calculated based on the participants’ shoulder internal rotation and external rotation data, and we calculated the incidence of glenohumeral internal rotation deficiency (GIRD) among participants. Paired samples t-tests were used to analyze shoulder ROM differences between the dominant and non-dominant side. Results: The dominant side of the shoulder showed significantly lower internal rotation (dominant side: 42.17 ± 11.23°; non-dominant side: 52.14 ± 10.46°; p = 0.000) and total rotational ROM (dominant side: 137.11 ± 13.09°; non-dominant side: 141.96 ± 13.22°; p = 0.021) compared to the non-dominant side. Conversely, the dominant side of the shoulder exhibited significantly greater external rotation (dominant side: 94.96 ± 10.02°; non-dominant side: 89.83 ± 7.84°; p = 0.001) and shoulder horizontal adduction (dominant side: 44.87 ± 8.10°; non-dominant side: 39.60 ± 7.24°; p = 0.000) than the non-dominant side. No significant differences were found in other measured parameters. The incidence of glenohumeral internal rotation deficiency (GIRD) among all subjects was 37.5%. Conclusions: High-school male volleyball athletes in this study exhibited tightness in the posterior shoulder of their dominant side, indicating specific adaptations in shoulder ROM and a considerable prevalence of GIRD, observed in approximately one-quarter of the athletes. In conclusion, these data suggest that stretching and eccentric muscle training focusing on the posterior shoulder have potential value in mitigating these adaptations and reducing the risk of shoulder injuries. Full article

The appetite of honeybees for food is crucial to their survival and reproduction, as they sustain their entire colony by collecting pollen and nectar for nutrients. Dopamine, an important neurotransmitter, regulates appetite and satiety. However, how dopamine regulates honeybee foraging behavior remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated dopamine expression in 23-day-old Apis mellifera under different food-wanting conditions and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the brains of honeybees using RNA sequencing technology. We showed that dopamine levels in honeybees starved for 2 h were higher than those sated after 2 h of starvation. RNA-seq results revealed there were differences in the expression of cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase (CYP9Q1) in honeybees, which regulated the sucrose sensitivity of honeybees under different intake states. Furthermore, CYP9Q1 targeted the expression of the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) to promote dopamine synthesis. Our findings emphasize the relationship between dopamine and honeybees’ desire for food at the molecular level, providing a reference for further exploring the mechanism of food wanting. Full article

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Materials and Methods: 20 women with SUI were delivered a treatment course with HIFEM technology. Patients attended 6 therapies scheduled twice a week. Validated questionnaires were assessed, including the overactive bladder symptoms score (OABSS), urogenital distress inventory-6 (UDI-6), incontinence impact questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7), international consultation on incontinence questionnaire (ICIQ), and valued living questionnaire (VLQ). Some urodynamic parameters, such as maximum flow rate (Qmax), residual urine (RU), and bladder volume at first sensation to void (Vfst). Bladder neck mobility in ultrasound topography was also collected pre- and post-treatment at 1- and 6-month follow-up visits. Results: HIFEM treatment significantly improved SUI symptoms on pad tests from 4.2 ± 5.5 to 0.6 ± 1.3 and patients’ self-assessment in the 6-month follow-up. Additionally, the data from urinary-related questionnaires, including OABSS (5.3 ± 3.9 to 3.9 ± 3.6), UDI-6 (35.7 ± 22.3 to 15.2 ± 10.6), IIQ-7 (33.1 ± 28.7 to 14.3 ± 17.2), and ICIQ (9.4 ± 5.0 to 5.4 ± 3.6), all showed a significant reduction. Then, the analysis of the urodynamic study revealed that only maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) (46.4 ± 25.2 to 58.1 ± 21.2) and urethral closure angle (UCA) (705.3 ± 302.3 to 990.0 ± 439.6) significantly increased after the six sessions of HIFEM treatment. The urethral and vaginal topography were performed and found that HIFEM mainly worked on pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and enhanced their function and integrity. Conclusions: The results suggest that HIFEM technology is an efficacious therapy for the treatment of SUI. Full article

The presence of particles leads to varying degrees of mass loss on a metal sealing surface, which severely affects the seal’s lifespan. Understanding the complex wear mechanism and optimizing the surface roughness morphology are particularly important in engineering. By characterizing the surface of the metal (SS 304) with different roughness parameters Ra, Rp, Rpk, Rpc and Rku, the variation mode of mass loss under abrasive wear conditions was revealed. Unlike traditional two-body wear, the involvement of abrasive particles significantly impacts surface Ra and other surface morphologies (asperity peak features). A contact model for metal rough surfaces, distinct from two-body contact, was established to clarify the changes in removal mechanisms. It was found that the change in the contact between the particle and the asperity peak led to a change in the mass loss and guided the appropriate metal roughness range: Ra 0.05 μm and Ra 0.6–0.8 μm. In addition, it was found that the removal of asperity peaks is holistic under low roughness, and only parts of asperity peaks are removed under high roughness. Notably, the metrological methods used in this study supplement existing roughness measurements. By exploring the complex removal mechanism of asperity peaks, micro-scale guidance for surface (texture) design, machining, and optimization is provided. Full article