Search Results (4,520)

The water source protection areas of the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion Project (YHWDP) in Anhui Province serve as crucial ecological barriers to water quality protection. Quantifying their eco-environmental quality (EEQ) dynamics and driving mechanisms is critical for sustainable management. This paper calculated the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) for the study area using Landsat satellite data (2015–2024). Temporal and spatial variation characteristics were analyzed using the Theil–Sen estimator, Mann–Kendall test, and coefficient of variation. Future trends were predicted using the Hurst exponent. Finally, the Geodetector model was applied to assess the impact of driving factors. EEQ exhibited a declining trend (p < 0.05), with significant intra-regional heterogeneity. Mean RSEI values ranked as follows: (1) Yangtze River–Huaihe River Connection < Yangtze River Water Northward Conveyance < Yangtze River–Chaohu Lake Water Diversion. (2) From 2015 to 2024, eco-environmental quality improved significantly, showing a spatial pattern of “south > north, east > west.” (3) Overall EEQ changes were characterized by slight to moderate fluctuations. Stability rankings: Yangtze River–Huaihe River Connection > Yangtze River–Chaohu Lake Water Diversion > Yangtze River Water Northward Conveyance. (4) Geodetector analysis identified precipitation, impervious area, and vegetation coverage as the primary factors influencing EEQ in the YHWDP’s water source protection areas. This study reveals ecological changes in the YHWDP region and validates the effectiveness of the comprehensive evaluation method. The findings provide actionable insights for ecological protection in large-scale water diversion projects. Full article

As a sessile wax scale insect, Ericerus pela heavily relies on its host plant for nutrition. While E. pela utilizes the nitrogen-poor plant sap as its primary nutrient source, the mechanisms by which this insect overcomes the nitrogen deficiency are poorly understood. In this study, we first confirm the nitrogen fixation capability of E. pela through isotopic tracer experiments and the acetylene reduction assay, which demonstrate that female adults exhibit an efficient nitrogen fixation rate. High-throughput sequencing further revealed 42 nitrogen-fixing bacterial species in the tissues of E. pela, most notably including Rhizobiales and Methylobacterium as the dominant species converting atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia. Several critical genes involved in nitrogen fixation, ammonia transporting, amino acid synthesis, and transportation were determined to be transcriptionally active across different developmental stages of E. pela. In addition, the symbiotic fungus Ophiocordyceps—located in the fat body of E. pela—was found to be capable of synthesizing all amino acids, including the essential amino acids required for the survival of E. pela. Taken together, this study demonstrates that E. pela has evolved a highly effective nitrogen acquisition system driven by symbiotic microorganisms, ensuring a sufficient nitrogen supply and enabling it to thrive on nitrogen-deficient food sources. Our findings reveal a unique evolutionary adaptation in which E. pela leveraged both bacterial nitrogen fixation and fungal amino acid synthesis to bolster its growth and development. Full article

The half-sitting posture is essential for many functional tasks performed by industrial workers. Thus, passive lower-limb exoskeletons, known as wearable chairs, are increasingly used to relieve lower-limb loading in such scenarios. However, although these devices lighten muscle effort during half-sitting tasks, they can disrupt walking mechanics and balance. Moreover, rigorous biomechanical data on joint moments and contact forces during walking with such a device remain scarce. Therefore, this study conducted a biomechanical evaluation of level walking with a wearable chair to quantify its effects on gait and joint loading. Participants performed walking experiments with and without the wearable chair. An optical motion capture system and force plates collected kinematic and ground reaction data. Six-axis force sensors measured contact forces and moments. These measurements were fed into a Newton–Euler inverse dynamics model to estimate lower-limb joint moments and assess joint loading. The contact measurements showed that nearly all rotational load was absorbed at the thigh attachment, while the ankle attachment served mainly as a positional guide with minimal moment transfer. The inverse dynamics analysis revealed that the wearable chair introduced unintended rotational stresses at lower-limb joints, potentially elevating musculoskeletal risk. This detailed biomechanical evidence underpins targeted design refinements to redistribute loads and better protect lower-limb joints. Full article

The functional exploration of natural foods, coupled with the increasing prevalence of gastrointestinal motility disorders and the associated therapeutic challenges, has generated significant interest in this field. This study aims to investigate the ameliorative effects of the extract from Pugionium cornutum (L.) Gaertn (EAEPC), a traditional edible vegetable in northwest China’s desert region, on atropine-induced gastroparesis in mice, as well as to elucidate its mechanism in terms of the gut microbiota and major metabolites. The findings indicate that EAEPC effectively reduces the rate of pigment residual in the stomach while shortening the gastrointestinal transit time and alleviating other symptoms associated with atropine-induced gastroparesis. These effects may be mediated through modulation of the expression levels of major intestinal metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs), and L-tryptophan, alongside remodeling of both the diversity and relative abundance of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, correlation analyses were conducted on significantly altered strains and metabolites to clarify their interactions. Moreover, the chemical constituents of EAEPC were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, and the key active components responsible for improving gastroparesis were predicted through network pharmacology approaches and validated experimentally. These results provide a foundation for further research into the functions of Pugionium and offer scientific support for developing natural plant-based strategies aimed at treating gastrointestinal motility disorders. Full article

With rapid advancements in industrialization and urbanization, Beijing is increasingly facing severe urban heat island effects and air pollution, particularly from haze. Urban parks play a vital role in improving the local microclimate and facilitating the dispersion of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). However, most existing studies have focused primarily on the cooling and humidifying functions of urban parks, with limited attention given to the combined assessment of their regulatory effects on both the microclimate and air pollutants. Moreover, the influence of seasonal variation on these ecological services has rarely been systematically examined. To address these research gaps, this study selected three representative urban parks in Beijing and conducted a quantitative analysis of four key environmental parameters—air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and PM_2.5 concentration—during spring, summer, and winter. Using Landsat remote sensing imagery and the ENVI-met v3.1 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, this study simulated dynamic changes in the microclimate and pollutant dispersion within parks. Model feasibility was evaluated through validation metrics and comparisons with field observations. The results show the following: (1) Urban parks significantly improve the local microclimate and reduce PM_2.5 concentrations, with the most notable effects observed in summer when the ecological functions of vegetation are at their peak. (2) The ENVI-met model can be used to simulate the microclimate and PM_2.5 dispersion in the three parks, with the highest simulation accuracy occurring during the summer season. This study provides valuable insights for urban park planning in Beijing, particularly for developing strategies to enhance microclimatic conditions and mitigate air pollution. Full article

The use of organic amine absorbents in CO₂ capture technologies is highly significant. The widespread application of this technique is limited by the heat-stable salts (HSSs) produced during the cyclic absorption–desorption process. This research focused on the HSS removal process using electrodialysis technology and systematically examined the effects of operating voltage, initial concentration, pH, current density, the ratio of liquid volume in the enriched chamber to that in the diluting chamber, and the type of ion-exchange membrane on desalination efficiency, energy consumption, and amine loss. An increase in both voltage and initial concentration significantly enhances the rate of water migration. The rate of ion migration is observed to follow the order of Cl⁻ > ${\mathrm{S}\mathrm{O}}_4^{2-}$> F⁻ in a homogeneous membrane, while in a heterogeneous membrane, the order is ${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-}$ > Cl⁻ > F⁻. The optimal operating voltage is 10 V, with a pH level of 8 resulting in the highest ${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-}$ removal efficiency. An industrial scenario validated the optimized process conditions, which balanced energy consumption with desalination efficiency. This methodology is essential not only for providing a viable solution for the industrial purification of organic amines but also for promoting the environmentally sustainable development of carbon capture technologies. Full article

Optimizing the power allocation and capacity configuration of hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) is crucial for enhancing grid stability, power quality and renewable energy utilization in wind–solar complementary microgrids. However, the conventional configuration methods exhibit inaccuracy and low reliability. To achieve the optimal capacity configuration of HESS in wind–solar complementary microgrids, a power allocation strategy and a capacity optimization configuration model for HESS consisting of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs) and supercapacitors (SCs) were proposed based on parameter-optimized variational mode decomposition (VMD). Firstly, the number of mode decomposition (K) and the penalty factor (α) of VMD were optimized using the random walk grey wolf optimizer (RW-GWO) algorithm, and the HESS power signal was decomposed by RW-GWO-VMD. Secondly, an optimal capacity configuration model was formulated, taking into account the whole life cycle cost of HESS, and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was applied to optimize HESS capacity while satisfying operational constraints on charge/discharge power, state of charge (SOC) range, and permissible rates of load deficit and energy loss. Thirdly, the optimal capacity allocation was obtained by minimizing the whole life cycle cost of HESS, with the frequency division threshold N serving as the optimization parameter. Finally, comprehensive comparison and analysis of proposed methods were conducted through simulation experiments. The results demonstrated that the whole life cycle cost of RW-GWO-VMD was 7.44% lower than that of EMD, 1.00% lower than that of PSO-VMD, 0.72% lower than that of AOA-VMD, and 0.27% lower than that of GWO-VMD. Full article

Mitochondria are central to cellular energy metabolism and play a key role in regulating important physiological processes, including apoptosis and oxidative stress. Mitochondrial quality control has recently garnered significant attention, with the underlying mechanisms traditionally considered to be mitophagy and its dynamics. Various studies have demonstrated that extracellular vesicles are crucial for the transmission of mitochondria and their components. These vesicles effectively transport mitochondria to target cells, facilitating intercellular material exchange and signal transmission, thereby enhancing cellular function and viability. This review explores the mechanisms of mitochondrial transfer through mitochondrial extracellular vesicles (MitoEVs), analyzes the novel roles of MitoEVs in mitochondrial quality control, and discusses their applications in disease treatment. We aim to provide new perspectives for future research and support the development of relevant therapeutic strategies. Full article

Group A rotavirus (RVA) is a leading causative agent of diarrhea in both young animals and humans. In China, multiple genotypes are commonly found within the bovine population. In this study, we investigated 1917 fecal samples from calves with diarrhea between 2022 and 2025, with 695 testing positive for RVA, yielding an overall detection rate of 36.25%. The highest positivity rate was observed in Hohhot (38.98%), and annual detection rates ranged from 26.75% in 2022 to 42.22% in 2025. A bovine rotavirus (BRV) strain, designated 0205HG, was successfully isolated from a fecal sample of a newborn calf. Its presence was confirmed through cytopathic effects (CPEs), the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), electron microscopy (EM), and high-throughput sequencing. Genomic characterization identified the strain as having the G6-P[1]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3 genotype constellation. The structural proteins VP2 and VP7, along with nonstructural genes NSP1–NSP4, shared high sequence identity with Chinese bovine strains, whereas VP1, VP4, and NSP5 clustered more closely with human rotaviruses, and VP3 was related to feline strains. These findings highlight the genetic diversity and interspecies reassortment of BRVs in China, underlining the importance of continued surveillance and evolutionary analysis. Full article

Arthrobotrys flagrans is a typical nematode-trapping fungus that captures nematodes by producing three-dimensional networks. FlbD is a DNA-binding protein containing a Myb domain, which plays a significant role in fungal development. However, the biological function of FlbD in nematode-trapping fungi remains unknown. In this study, we analyzed the physicochemical properties and conserved domains of AfFlbD and constructed the AfFlbD knockout strains (ΔAfFlbD) using homologous recombination. Our functional analysis revealed that the mutants produced more cottony aerial mycelia at the colony center. Additionally, the cell length of the mutants was reduced, indicating that AfFlbD regulates cell morphology in A. flagrans. Chemical stress tolerance assays of the mutants demonstrated reduced sensitivity to NaCl and sorbitol stresses but increased sensitivity to SDS and H₂O₂ stresses compared to the WT strain. Interestingly, the mutants spontaneously produced traps, and its pathogenicity to nematodes was significantly enhanced, suggesting that AfFlbD negatively regulates the pathogenicity of A. flagrans. Furthermore, the number of chlamydospores produced by the mutants was markedly reduced, though their morphology remained unchanged. Fluorescence localization analysis showed that AfFlbD localizes to the nuclei of chlamydospores, thereby regulating chlamydospore formation. This study provides important theoretical insights into the biological function of the FlbD transcription factor and offers new perspectives for the application of nematode-trapping fungi as a method of controlling plant-parasitic nematodes. Full article

Temperature is a key physiological indicator of plant health, influenced by factors including water status, disease and developmental stage. Monitoring changes in multiple factors is helpful for early diagnosis of plant growth. However, there are a variety of complex light interference phenomena in the greenhouse, so traditional detection methods cannot meet effective online monitoring of strawberry health status without manual intervention. Therefore, this paper proposes a leaf soft-sensing method based on a thermal infrared imaging sensor and adaptive image screening Internet of Things system, with additional sensors to realize indirect and rapid monitoring of the health status of a large range of strawberries. Firstly, a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is established by analyzing the environmental interference terms from the other sensors. Secondly, through the relationship between plant physiological metabolism and canopy temperature, a growth model is established to predict the growth period of strawberries based on canopy temperature. Finally, by deploying environmental sensors and solar height sensors, the image acquisition node is activated when the environmental interference is less than the specified value and the acquisition is completed. The results showed that the accuracy of this multiple sensors system was 86.9%, which is 30% higher than the traditional model and 4.28% higher than the latest advanced model. It makes it possible to quickly and accurately assess the health status of plants by a single factor without in-person manual intervention, and provides an important indication of the early, undetectable state of strawberry disease, based on remote operation. Full article

Multi-vessel formation shipping demonstrates significant potential for enhancing maritime transportation efficiency and economy. However, existing route planning systems inadequately address the unique challenges of formations, where traditional methods fail to integrate global optimality, local dynamic obstacle avoidance, and formation coordination into a cohesive system. Global planning often neglects multi-ship collaborative constraints, while local methods disregard vessel maneuvering characteristics and formation stability. This paper proposes GLFM, a three-layer hierarchical framework (global optimization–local adjustment-formation collaboration module) for intelligent route planning of transport ship formations. GLFM integrates an improved multi-objective A* algorithm for global path optimization under dynamic meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) conditions and International Maritime Organization (IMO) safety regulations, with an enhanced Artificial Potential Field (APF) method incorporating ship safety domains for dynamic local obstacle avoidance. Formation, structural stability, and coordination are achieved through an improved leader–follower approach. Simulation results demonstrate that GLFM-generated trajectories significantly outperform conventional routes, reducing average risk level by 38.46% and voyage duration by 12.15%, while maintaining zero speed and period violation rates. Effective obstacle avoidance is achieved, with the leader vessel navigating optimized global waypoints and followers maintaining formation structure. The GLFM framework successfully balances global optimality with local responsiveness, enhances formation transportation efficiency and safety, and provides a comprehensive solution for intelligent route optimization in multi-constrained marine convoy operations. Full article

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

This comprehensive study investigates the spatial distribution of metals in surface water, their accumulation in fish tissues, and their impact on the gut microbiome dynamics of fish in the Qi River, Huanggang City, Hubei Province. Three distinct sampling regions were established: the mining area (A), the transition area (B), and the distant area (C). Our results revealed that metal concentrations were highest in the mining area and decreased with increasing distance from it. The bioaccumulation of metals in fish tissues followed the order of gut > brain > muscle, with some concentrations exceeding food safety standards. Analysis of the gut microbiota showed that Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated in the mining area, while Fusobacteriota were more prevalent in the distant area. Heavy metal pollution significantly altered the composition and network structure of the gut microbiota, reducing microbial associations and increasing negative correlations. These findings highlight the profound impact of heavy metal pollution on both fish health and the stability of their gut microbiota, underscoring the urgent need for effective pollution control measures to mitigate ecological risks and protect aquatic biodiversity. Future research should focus on long-term monitoring and exploring potential remediation strategies to restore the health of affected ecosystems. Full article

This study aims to clarify the nonlinear pressure loss patterns of the pneumatic system in a pneumatic seeder under varying pipeline structures and airflow parameters, and to develop a rapid prediction equation for the main pipe’s pressure loss. The studied multi-branch pipeline system consists of a main pipe, a header, and ten branch pipes. The main pipe is vertically installed at the center of the header in a straight-line configuration. The ten branch pipes are symmetrically and evenly spaced along the axial direction of the header, distributed on both sides of the main pipe. The outlet directions of the branch pipes are arranged in a 180° orientation opposite to the inlet direction of the main pipe, forming a symmetric multi-branch configuration. Firstly, this study investigated the flow characteristics within the multi-branch pipeline of the pneumatic system and elaborated on the mechanism of flow division in the pipeline. The key geometric factors affecting airflow were identified. Secondly, from a microscopic perspective, CFD simulations were employed to analyze the fundamental causes of pressure loss in the multi-branch pipeline system. Finally, from a macroscopic perspective, a dimensional analysis method was used to establish an empirical equation describing the relationship between the pressure loss (P) and several influencing factors, including the air density (ρ), air’s dynamic viscosity (μ), closed-end length of the header (Δl), branch pipe 1’s flow rate (Q), main pipe’s inner diameter (D), header’s inner diameter (γ), branch pipe’s inner diameter (d), and the spacing of the branch pipe (δ). The results of the bench tests indicate that when 0.0018 m³·s⁻¹ ≤ Q ≤ 0.0045 m³·s⁻¹, 0.0272 m < d ≤ 0.036 m, 0.225 m < δ ≤ 0.26 m, 0.057 m ≤ γ ≤ 0.0814 m, and 0.0426 m ≤ D ≤ 0.0536 m, the prediction accuracy of the empirical equation can be controlled within 10%. Therefore, the equation provides a reference for the structural design and optimization of pneumatic seeders’ multi-branch pipelines. Full article